Ms Liona Kiti (centre), mother to the late Tanatswa Neil Mutyora and relatives, speak about the two-year-jail term slapped on the killer kombi driver Lloyd Kusotera yesterday. — (Picture by Munyaradzi Chamalimba)

Herald Reporters
The mother of four-year-old Tanatswa Neil Mutyora, who was struck and killed by a kombi fleeing police, has said the two-year-sentence slapped on the driver yesterday was “harsh”.
Ms Liona Kiti said the Mutyora family would approach the courts soon and ask for a new trial.
Mrs Jacqueline Kusotera, wife of commuter omnibus driver Lloyd Kusotera (28), also said her husband did not receive a fair trial and that the family had lost its breadwinner.

Kusotera was sentenced to an effective two-year prison term by Harare provincial magistrate Mr Douglas Chikwekwe.
His licence was cancelled and he was fined US$100 for driving a public transport vehicle without medical endorsement.
In an interview in Rugare last night, Ms Kiti said she was unhappy that they had not been called to testify in court.

“We feel the judgment is too harsh for the driver. No one drives a car with the intention to kill someone. What happened was an accident. Those who were called as key witnesses were biased and it seemed they were drilled on what to say in court. Even my sister, Samantha, who was with Tanatswa when the accident happened, was not afforded an opportunity to give evidence in court,” she said.

In Chitungwiza, Mrs Kusotera told The Herald that her husband’s imprisonment was devastating.
“My husband was the breadwinner and driving was his only profession for the past nine years and he was sustaining the family through it,” she said.
“I don’t know how I am going to take care of these three children.”

Mrs Kusotera, who was with her mother and sister, maintained that her husband was innocent.
“The police caused my husband to run over the toddler as he was fleeing from them. If it was not for them the accident would not have happened.”
She said police should take registration numbers of vehicles for action later instead of chasing them.

Mrs Kusotera said her husband did not get a fair trial.
“The key witness in the case, a 16-year-old girl who was holding the late toddler’s hand when the accident occurred, did not testify. We don’t know why.”
Mrs Kusotera said although cases of kombis running over people were on the increase, her husband deserved a lighter sentence.

“The court should have sentenced him to perform community service. The two-year sentence was too harsh and his licence was also cancelled,” she said.
Mrs Kusotera said they had consoled the toddler’s family and supported them with food and cash during the funeral.

Kusotera pleaded guilty to driving without medical endorsement and not guilty to culpable homicide.
Harare provincial magistrate Mr Chikwekwe evoked mandatory provisions of the Traffic Act after ruling there were no special circumstances.

In addition, Kusotera was barred from driving all classes of vehicles for six months and heavy vehicles and commuter omnibuses for the rest of his life.
Mr Chikwekwe said: “Something must be done to ensure sanity prevails in our roads. Many people have been injured and a dear life was ended prematurely, there is a public outcry.

“The police had a constitutional mandate to approach Kusotera as an offending person but running away from the police against a one way is not a special circumstance.

“Ignorance of the law or greed for money led him to drive without a medical endorsement.
In aggravation, prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri said: “It is now scary to move around the CBD to the extent that people anticipate writing a will before going for shopping. It is wrong for Kusotera to transfer liability to the police.”

In mitigation, Kusotera’s lawyer, Mr Tawanda Takaendesa, told the court that his client panicked after being chased by the police.
At around 5pm on April 22, 2014 Kusotera stopped a white Toyota Hiace at an undesignated pick-up point to load passengers.

Police officers approached him and he sped off against traffic in a one-way street, knocking down Tanatswa.
The child was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Avenues Clinic.

Douglas Chiteka Herald Reporter
Thirty-seven people died of malaria throughout the country in one week, bringing the total number of deaths from the disease to 424 since the beginning of the year.
According to the latest Health and Child Care Ministry disease surveillance report, more than 19 000 people were treated for malaria in the week ending May 4, more than 20 percent of whom were children under the age of five.
“A total of 19 730 cases and 37 deaths were reported in week 18 and of the reported cases 3 962 and three deaths were under the age of five years,” reads part of the report.

Mashonaland Central recorded the highest number of malaria cases, with 7 600 people treated and discharged. Districts worst affected in the province are Mazowe, Rushinga and Mt Darwin.

Manicaland also had many malaria cases (6 300) with Buhera, Mutare, Chimanimani and Mutasa districts the worst affected.
Health Ministry national programme manager Dr Joseph Mberikunashe said malaria remained a great concern to the nation.

Dr Mberikunashe said the malaria peak season was usually between February and April when conditions for mosquito breeding were high due to the rains.

Musician Alick Macheso (in checked jacket) and fans leave the Harare Civil Courts after the passing of a judgment on his maintenance case in Harare yesterday. -(Picture by William Mafunga)

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Sungura ace Alick Macheso’s estranged wife, Tafadzwa Fortunate Mapako, was yesterday awarded US$1 030 monthly maintenance rather than the US$7 130 she was demanding in the emotionally charged case that saw her being escorted in and out of court by riot police for fear of public outrage.
Magistrate Mr Tafadzwa Muvhami ordered DNA tests to determine paternity of the children on or before June 6 this year.
Mapako’s lawyers, Mr Gift Nyandoro and Mr David Ngwerume, made an application for judgment to be delivered in chambers following disturbances the previous day when Macheso’s sympathisers verbally abused Mapako.

Mr Muvhami dismissed the application for lack of merit after Macheso’s lawyer, Mr Norman Mugiya, opposed it.
The magistrate, however, said police could ensure “her safety during and after the proceedings” and warned people against attacking Mapako.

In his maintenance ruling, Mr Muvhami said in the absence of witnesses to testify that Macheso gave Mapako a divorce token (gupuro), he was liable to maintain her until she died or she remarried.

“In an unregistered marriage, a gupuro or divorce token is paid to the woman who will then go and tell her parents that she has been divorced. Absolutely, there is no procedure that I know of other than giving it to her or her relative. In other cultures the gupuro is just thrown at the woman’s house.

“If Mapako had rejected it, Macheso was to go to her relatives like her aunts, hence without calling those witnesses, the only conclusion I came to is that the union still subsists, hence he should maintain Mapako,” he said.

But he rejected several of Mapako’s demands, saying only food, medical, clothing, fuel, accommodation and utility bills were important.
For the children’s welfare, Macheso was ordered to pay US$750 broken down as follows: US$350 for rentals, US$200 for food, US$40 for clothes, US$50 for water, US$80 for medical bills and US$30 for fuel monthly. He was also ordered to pay US$280 for Mapako’s food, medical and clothing to bring the total to US$1 030.

Mr Muvhami said: “All the other things can be done away with. For example, a maid when she is not employed, and also the issue of a driver; she should get a licence and drive her car rather than to burden Macheso.”

He said Mapako also failed to prove that Macheso could afford to pay US$7 130 a month.
Mr Muvhami did not have kind words for Macheso, either.

“He is being economical with the truth. As the King of sungura, he commands a huge following and the court cannot ignore the contents of a letter in which Macheso initially offered to pay a monthly maintenance of US$1 200; only three weeks down the line he is now offering US$150, clearly he is not being candid with this court.
“Mapako failed to justify the US$7 130 while on the other hand Macheso also failed to justify the US$150,” he said.

The Warriors leaving for Tanzania at Harare International Airport

Warriors team manager Shariff Musa handing out passports at the Harare International Airport to the players

Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE national team coach Ian Gorowa says the technical team did their best to prepare the Warriors for the African Nations Cup preliminary round qualifier against Tanzania in Dar-as-Salaam on Sunday.

Gorowa and his troops left Harare around midday today on an Ethiopian Airways flight and will make a stop-over in Addis Ababa.

Speaking as he checked in at the Harare Airport, Gorowa said he was hoping for the best and believes the task is now upon the players to deliver a positive result against the Taifa Stars.

The Warriors outside the Departures section at the Harare International Airport

“We did our best in terms of preparation and it’s now up to the players. We did not have the ideal preparations but we are not complaining. The attitude is that we should go and get a win. Most of these players have been at the Chan tournament before, so playing in the qualifiers is not going to be a big transition for them,” he said.

From the 19 players who were in camp, Gorowa has dropped goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya while Patson Jaure is the team captain. The Warriors drew 0-0 with Tanzania on their last visit to East Africa for a match in November last year.

Goalkeepers: G. Chigova, W. Arubi

Defenders: H. Zvirekwi, E. Chipeta, P. Jaure, M. Ncube, R. Pfumbidzai

Midfielders: W. Kapinda, D. Phiri, P. Manhanga, S. Alimenda, K.Mahachi, T. Chawapiwa, P. Moyo, M. Mudehwe

Strikers: T. Ndoro, K. Musharu, C. Malajila

Simiso Mlevu Online Reporter
Conservationists have launched a petition to save the Presidential Herd of Elephants following reports that some people have occupied Kanondo conservation area in Hwange. The Presidential Herd are elephants found in Hwange Game Park and given the name after President Robert Mugabe awarded them a presidential decree in 1990 and reasserted in 2001.

The decree was awarded as a reaffirmation of Zimbabwe’s commitment to responsible wildlife management and was intended to protect these elephants against hunting and culling.

The petition is addressed to Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Cde Douglas Mombeshora and Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Cde Walter Mzembi.
They accuse one Elisabeth Freeman also known as Elizabeth Pasalk of barring many of the eco-tourism operators and the Presidential Elephant Conservation Project in the area.

“We, the undersigned, contend that the herd of elephants known as the Presidential Elephants by Decree of the President the Hon Robert Mugabe in 1990 and reiterated in 2011 are an important part of Zimbabwe’s international reputation as a premiere wildlife tourism destination.

“We contend that the safety of the Presidential Elephants is a very important issue to Zimbabwe. The Kanondo area’s existing photographic safari operators and the Presidential Herd Conservation Project have protected the elephants by their presence and active conservation activities.

“Since the occupation by Elizabeth Freeman (aka Elizabeth Pasalk) and her cohorts the land, they have named “Gwando Conservancy” has been advertised as a safari destination. The land has been closed to many of the eco-tourism operators and the Presidential Elephant Conservation Project, this denial of access puts the Presidential Elephants and their protected conservation status at risk,” reads part of the petition.

Min Mzembi said he is aware of the petition but has not responded to it because the issue is custodial.
“I am aware of the petition and neither have I responded to it. The duty of my ministry is to market the product and the issue being raised by the petition is political. I think it has to be answered at political level.

“The issue must go before the Politburo. It is a custodial issue and the ministries directly involved are the Ministry of Lands and that of Environment,” he said.
Min Mombeshora said he is not aware of the petition arguing that he does not even go onto the internet.

“I have not heard anything about what you are asking. Handiende paInternet. They (conservationists) should come in person and tell us or write to me or the permanent secretary,” he said.

The conservationists said they notified the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, about the possible danger facing the Presidential Herd but he has not done anything about it.

“Our community has contacted the Hon Minister for Environment Saviour Kusukwere with urgency in March and April 2014 in regards to this matter and no response or action has been forthcoming.”

Min Kasukuwere confirmed being approached regarding the special herd of elephants but said his office could not do anything because it does not deal with land issues.
“It is true they approached my office but I do not deal with land allocation. The rightful office to talk to is the Ministry of Lands,” the minister said.

On Monday the Zanu PF Politburo made a decision to boot out all those that had been allocated land in the Save Valley Conservative, including party big wigs.
The conservationists pleaded with Cde Mzembi and Cde Mombeshora to take up the issue with the powers that be and ensue that a similar directive is issued to force people out of Kanondo conservation area.

Mr Manyenyeni

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter…
Harare City management has used part of the US$144,4 million loan from China for water and sewerage reticulation to buy 25 luxury cars, which include Land Rovers and Range Rovers. Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni revealed this at a full council meeting on Thursday, where acting town clerk Engineer Christopher Zvobgo said he was aware of 13 vehicles — though he first said eight had been bought.
The value of the cars was still to be established.

Yesterday, deputy mayor Thomas Muzuva revealed further lack of clarity on the whole deal when he said: “I understand 25 vehicles were bought. When I asked the town clerk (Dr Tendai Mahachi) he said 21 were bought, but Engineer Zvobgo told full council that 13 vehicles were bought.
“We will need proof in the form of receipts to know the actual number of vehicles bought as well as the price,” he said

On Thursday, Clr Manyenyeni told the full council, “Every day we are waking up to surprises, the deal continues to be too cloudy to be ignored.
“There are reports that council bought vehicles using funds from the water project. We cannot continue to ignore these reports, we have to do something about them.”
In 2010, the city secured a US$144,4 million loan for China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation to refurbish water and sewage treatment plants.

Government guaranteed the loan, which was signed for by Dr Mahachi and the then Mayor Mr Muchadeyi Masunda.
Councillors expressed outrage over the purchase of the vehicles, with former finance committee chairperson Clr Norman Markham saying there was too much opacity in how council spent money and that is why he had resigned from his brief earlier this year.

Deputy mayor Muzuva added: “Your Worship, the finance committee should have been involved because these officials are diverting funds from the Chinese loan facility. This is a loan, it is not a grant and residents will pay for it.

“We want a breakdown of how the money was used. We might wake up to be told that there is no money left.”
Cllr Muzuva said Dr Mahachi should have left officials responsible for water to run the programme “instead of imposing himself in the committee”.

“We are smelling a rat,” he said “We want to know how many cars were brought because we hear 26 vehicles were bought, including some Range Rovers.”
Mr Manyenyeni asked acting town clerk Eng Zvobgo to comment, and he responded: “Under the project, there is a provision of eight cars.”
Pressed further, Eng Zvobgo then said 13 vehicles were bought for the project team.

Cllr Febion Kufahakutizwi argued that the project team already had council vehicles.
Hatcliffe’s Cllr Naboth Munyengera alleged that Dr Mahachi knew the deal would be questioned, hence he absented himself from the meeting. Dr Mahachi sent apologies saying he was unwell.

Council resolved to establish a committee of two councillors and three experts to probe the entire deal after acting chamber secretary Mr Charles Kandemire said it was possible for council to set up such a special team.

A report by consultant engineer Mr Peter Morris shows that council could lose more than US$100 million in the deal because many project items are grossly overpriced.
The city has denied irregularities in the deal.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Cde Supa Mandiwanzira

Herald Reporters—
Government is mobilising resources to enable Transmedia Corporation to spearhead migration to digital broadcasting ahead of the International Telecommunications Union 2015 deadline for the switch, which will see Zimbabwe capacitated to have at least 80 television channels. Modalities for licensing more broadcasters by next year, in a sector long monopolised by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, are being worked out.

After the migration to digital, national broadcaster ZBC will have a multiplex frequency, the country will have an ultra high frequency (UHF) platform with four multiplexes, each of which will have capacity to carry about 20 channels.

That means in all, the UHF platform will be able to beam 80 channels.
ZBC will get a 20-channel multiplex, and Government will decide who holds the other ones.

Zimpapers (1980) Ltd has already been awarded a broadcasting licence and is likely to benefit from digitalisation.
Addressing journalists in Chinhoyi on Thursday, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Supa Mandiwanzira said Transmedia was establishing the digital network.

“As a ministry, we are in the process of ensuring that we raise sufficient resources to give to Transmedia which is building a network of digital transmitters so that we are ready for 2015,” he said.

“As a result of the migration, one frequency will translate into 20 new TV channels. We have four frequencies, which means we can have up to 80 TV channels.”
Deputy Minister Mandiwanzira said there was no doubt Zimbabwe would have more television stations next year, with the licensing of other players by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe underway.

“The Broadcasting Authority is right now working on the framework on how do we licence, do we licence per channel or per multiplex as ZBC will be licenced per multiplex,” he said.
He said those interested in establishing television channels should prepare adequately to apply for a license.

Zimpapers chief operations officer Mr Pikirayi Deketeke welcomed the digitalisation drive, saying the publishing and broadcasting group was already finalising establishment of its TV station.

“This is really good news for us,” he said. “We expect more channels to be created and this is healthy for the media industry in terms of competition. Viewers will have more channels to sample as there will be more players in the sector.”

There are fears that Zimbabwe could fail to meet the ITU deadline to migrate to digital broadcasting platforms from the analogue system, which uses a narrow VHF spectrum with low coverage capacity.

Transmedia needs about US$30 million to migrate from analogue to digital, and is working to increase the reach of radio and television across the country where many remote areas have no transmission, leaving them open to international broadcasters, including pirate stations that beam hate messages into Zimbabwe.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter—
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo yesterday said Zanu-PF’s resounding victory in last year’s harmonised elections has created an opportunity for Zimbabweans to unite in the same manner they did when the country attained independence in 1980. Prof Moyo was speaking at a discussion organised by the Zimbabwe Media Commission to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, that falls on May 3, last night.

“We have a new environment again,” he said. “As new as the one we had in 1980. In fact, we have some kind of spirit of 1980 prevailing in our country and from where we sit, the resounding victory of Zanu-PF in the last harmonised general elections has created an opportunity for us to go back to the beginning again so that now we can start to try to find each other again as Zimbabweans outside the partisan box, outside the box of party politics such that we have a new environment.

“How long it will last depends on what we do about it and each day that goes by without us doing something serious is a cost.”
Prof Moyo said Zimbabweans had written a home-grown Constitution that was unique as it had provided media freedom for every Zimbabwean.

“With this new environment, there is something particularly new which is the new Constitution and this new Constitution is similar in a way to the situation we had in 1980 when we also had a new Constitution, but a Lancaster one crafted by our erstwhile colonisers,” he said.

“This one has been crafted by ourselves, this is a truly homegrown Constitution. There maybe some people still with outstanding issues, but the fact is this was crafted by Zimbabweans after an outreach exercise and adopted after a national referendum.

“For the first time, we have a justiciable right. Freedom of the media for the first time is a justiciable right and this is in terms of Section 61 (2) of our Constitution and interestingly it says every person is entitled to freedom of the media.”

Prof Moyo said Zimbabwe had a background of polarisation that had negatively affected the country’s image and efforts to attract investment.
“We have come from a background of serious polarisation, we have been polarised not just the media, but in fact a polarised society, country deeply so, and if we have to do something about this and we have to try and find out whether the new Constitution helps us do something about this problem of polarisation,” he said.

“We need to do something about it because it has kind of damaged us as a country, certainly we have heard from the Minister of Finance (Patrick Chinamasa) that this has increased the cost of offshore money, it has increased the cost of doing business in our country, raising our sovereign risk.”

Prof Moyo said the new Constitution had provided an opportunity for every Zimbabwean to access information held by the State and its institutions as a way of holding public authorities accountable.

He said commemorations to mark the World Press Freedom Day would now be held at a date to be announced after the initial march organised by journalists was stopped by the police.

Prosper Dembedza Herald Reporter
A 44-year-old Goromonzi woman died shortly after being intimate with her boyfriend in a car on Tuesday night.
Mashonaland East Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Nobert Muzondo confirmed the incident which occurred along Warrendale Road in Goromonzi.
He identified the woman as Cathrine Takawira.
On the day in question at around 6pm, Takawira received a call on her mobile phone and informed her 11-year-old daughter that she was going to meet someone and that she would be back shortly.

It is alleged that at around 9pm, Takawira’s body was found by a passer-by lying dead along Warrendale Road.
A report was made to Goromonzi Police who attended the scene.

Police also discovered that froth was coming out of Takawira’s mouth and the body was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for a post-mortem which revealed that she had succumbed to pulmonary oedema or acute cardiac failure.

Police investigations led to a male suspect who had called Takawira prior to her death who acknowledged that she was his girlfriend.
He told police that he had picked Takawira and drove off with her to the place in question where they had sexual intercourse once in the car.

After the encounter, the man said Takawira started gasping for breath, which resulted in her frothing from the mouth.
The man said he took her out of the car in a bid to resuscitate her, to no avail. He said this prompted him to drive off to his house, leaving Takawira lying on the ground.

Crime Reporter
A Karoi man has been arrested on allegations of stealing $20 000 from a car following an accident in Chikuti area along the Harare-Chirundu Highway that killed Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi’s son, Shungu last week.Shungu (28) was travelling to Chirundu to meet Zambian business associates and had two passengers in the car when the accident occurred.

He was travelling in a Mercedes Benz and side-swiped a haulage truck about 40km before Karoi.Sources close to the investigations said following a report from Karoi that the money Shungu had was stolen, they conducted some investigations leading to the arrest of Nomatter Mind Mandova (26) on Wednesday. Mandova, who is an illegal fuel dealer along the Harare-Chirundu Highway, was found with an undisclosed amount of money.

He was yesterday still in custody and assisting police with investigations. It is believed that Mandova, who resides at house number 114 Mhunga Street in Karoi, went on a spending spree and also gave one of his girlfriends $1 000.

Last week, relatives said they knew Shungu had a huge amount of cash in the car’s dashboard.

More than 50 villagers were at the scene and none of them knew about the money. The truck driver was also questioned and professed ignorance about the cash.

At Shungu’s burial last Wednesday, Dr Sekeramayi said his son was on his way to Chirundu for a business meeting.

Herald Reporters
War veteran Cde Wilfred Mhanda, who died on Wednesday after battling colon cancer, will be buried at Glen Forest cemetery in Harare today.Family spokesperson Mr Munyaradzi Mhanda said Cde Mhanda will be buried at 2pm.

He said Cde Mhanda was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent chemotherapy for about six months, during which time he also battled inflammation of leg joints and swelling of the stomach.

Mr Munyaradzi Mhanda said Cde Mhanda was not married and had no children.

Cde Mhanda was a member of the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform founded in 2000, which was set up as an alternative to the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. For a while he played a prominent role in the Second Chimurenga, but fell from grace after being central in a rebellion that sought to destablise the leadership of the struggle, which saw him imprisoned in Mozambique until 1979, when he was released at the behest of British and white settler authorities.

In his memoirs, titled “Dzino – Memories of a Freedom Fighter”, Cde Mhanda reveals how he was debriefed by the colonial Special Branch weeks before Independence Day and had an operative assigned to him.

“Sixty-four of us flew from Beira to Salisbury (now Harare) towards the end of January 1980 and became the responsibility of Lord Soames, transitional governor of Southern Rhodesia. As we walked across the tarmac to the Rhodesian air force plane at Beira airport, we could hardly believe what was about to happen . . .

“I was in a very confused state of mind . . . We had become outsiders, distanced from the contagious euphoria gripping the country . . .
“Upon our arrival, we were taken to Tomlinson Depot of the BSAP. There, over a period of two days, we were debriefed and vetted by the Rhodesian Special Branch and then transferred to the Skyline Motel, about 20 kilometres to the south of Harare. Superintendent Jeff Price of the Rhodesian Special Branch was assigned to us.”

Chief Court Reporter
Mbare MP Cde Tendai Savanhu’s appeal against a High Court decision to return a vehicle he used when he was Hwange Colliery Company board chairman to the firm has been dismissed with punitive costs.Cde Savanhu, who is Lands and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister, was Hwange non-executive board chair from 2006 to 2011.

He was allocated a Toyota Land Cruiser in July 2011, but was removed from the board a month later. The coal mining giant claimed its vehicle back, but Cde Savanhu clung to it even though it was registered in the company’s name, resulting in him being sued at the High Court.

The court ruled that he had no legal right to hold on to the vehicle after he was removed from the board. Cde Savanhu appealed at the Supreme Court. Justice Vernanda Ziyambi threw out the appeal in a ruling in which she hit out at Cde Savanhu for wasting the court’s time by making a case he could not win. Justices Anne-Mary Gowora and Susan Mavangira (Acting Judge of Appeal) concurred.

Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who appeared for Hwange, told the court that Cde Savanhu failed to set out a defence required at law.

Prosper Dembedza Court Reporter
A woman stunned the gallery on Wednesday when she told a Harare magistrate that her ex-husband played pornographic videos in the presence of their three minor children.Sekai Zinyama also claimed that she walked out of their 10-year-old marriage in December 2013 because Emmanuel Chiganga physically and verbally abused her. This was said at the Harare Magistrates’ Civil Court where Zinyama was seeking a protection order against Chiganga.

Magistrate Ms Gamuchirai Siwardi granted the protection order, barring Chiganga from physically or verbally abusing Zinyama, she said she could not bar him from visiting because they had children together. “I left his house last year in December because he used to physically and verbally abuse me over nothing. He used to watch pornographic videos in front of our three children, which resulted in them playing the dirty video during our absence,” she said.

President Mugabe shares a lighter moment with Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa (centre) and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Zimbabwe Military Academy graduation ceremony in Gweru yesterday. — (Picture by John Manzongo)

Assistant News Editor Takunda Maodza in GWERU
President Mugabe has bemoaned the low number of women enrolling for gruelling military officer cadet training.
He was speaking at the commissioning of 188 cadets who included personnel from the army and air force at the Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru yesterday.

“The Zimbabwe Military Academy Cadet Course commenced on 17 September 2012 with an initial enrolment of 293 students comprising 188 Zimbabweans and five Namibians. Obviously, there was no gender balance at enrolment when out of the enrolling 183 students, only 22 were female,” President Mugabe said.

The selection process was aimed at achieving equal representation from all of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces and from serving members of the Zimbabwe National Army and Air Force of Zimbabwe.

“From the initial enrolment, 45 males and five females failed to meet the gruelling demands and rigours of the course. They were, therefore, duly withdrawn from the course. Meanwhile, three students from this course, nominated for further studies in the People’s Republic of China, though in absentia, are also being commissioned today,” President Mugabe said.

One officer cadet, Vitalis Zenda, died during training.

President Mugabe noted that the graduation of five Namibians showed the cordial relations existing between Harare and Windhoek.

“I am pleased that five students from the Namibian Defence Forces being commissioned today are the third group to be trained here by the Zimbabwe Military Academy. This demonstrates the strong bilateral ties that exist between our two defence forces and indeed our two countries,” he said.

“Allow me to pay special tribute to our Namibian graduands for their remarkable perseverance in successfully completing this demanding basic military training. Their participation on this training has, once gain, demonstrated our strong belief in mutual military co-operation, and the existence of a peaceful and stable SADC region.”

President Mugabe also hailed the relationship between the Zimbabwe Military Academy and Midlands State University.

“I am reliably informed that this is the fourth Officer Cadet Course to graduate with a Military Training and Education Diploma, which is accredited by the Midlands State University, to which the ZMA is affiliated. Active arrangements are in place for officer cadets from this academy to study for degree programmes with the MSU,” he said.

Among the graduands were 41 AFZ officers who underwent the Joint Training Pilot and Regular Officer Cadet Course Number 67.

George Maponga recently in Chiredzi
The European Union has set aside 31 million euros to boost sugarcane farming by resettled small-holder farmers in the Lowveld through the Zimbabwe National Sugar Adaptation Strategy (ZNSAS).The strategy seeks to restore sugarcane output to pre-2002 levels in Zimbabwe before the imposition of the illegal sanctions by the West.

At least 11 million euros have already been used to rehabilitate 2 000 hectares of sugarcane fields owned by 125 Chipiwa resettled farmers at Mkwasine Estates.

A further 5,8 million euros is being used to rehabilitate the 34,5 km long Nandi-Mkwasine railway line that links Mkwasine Estates with sugarcane mills at Triangle and Hippo Valley.

Upon its completion, the railway line will move an estimated 700 000 tonnes of cane per annum.

Funding by the EU under ZNSAS will also help most resettled farmers to produce 100 tonnes of raw cane per hectare beginning with the 2014/ 15 season, up from a low 40 tonnes/ha which is not economically viable.

This will see Zimbabwe coming closer to producing about 640 000 tonnes of sugar per annum, which is the milling capacity of the two mills at Hippo Valley and Triangle.

Speaking during the handover of medical equipment at Chiredzi General Hospital hospital funded by the EU under ZNSAS last Friday, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made, hailed the EU and Tongaat Hulett for assisting resettled sugarcane farmers in the Lowveld.

In a speech read on his behalf by Cde Davis Marapira, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for Cropping, Dr Made said the investment by the EU into the local sugarcane farming sector was in line with the country’s development plans under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation(Zim-Asset).

“Today, we are gathered to recognise and appreciate the support the EU provided to the sugar sector through the Zimbabwe National Sugar Adaptation Strategy amounting to 31,4 million euros.

“Sugar is a very important crop which sustains livelihoods of over 200 000 people living in this part of the country, the Lowveld,’’ he said.

Dr Made said besides making Zimbabwe’s sugar competitive in the European market, EU support under ZNSAS would restore the viability of hundreds of resettled out-grower farmers whose yields had dipped to critical levels.

“I am informed that during the current (2013/ 14) agricultural season, these farmers achieved yields of 66 tonnes up from 40 tonnes/ha before the ZNSAS, earning them a net income of US$17 500 per farmer per annum.

“The yield is set to increase to 100 tonnes/ha during the forthcoming 2014/ 15 season, this is quite a commendable improvement, ’’said Dr Made.

He said the EU support had also unlocked investment by other players, with Tongaat Hulett following Brussels’ footsteps by embarking on the rehabilitation of 6 000 ha of cane fields at Mkwasine, Hippo Valley and Triangle estates owned by resettled farmers.

ZNSAS was approved by Government in 2006 with the EU providing funding to support the local sugar industry to adapt to changes in the bloc’s previously preferential pricing sugar regime, with a view to enhancing competitiveness of the local industry on the international markets.

Ultimately, the EU hopes that ZNSAS will help Zimbabwe’s sugar production to hit the one million tonne mark after sustained decline in production that started in 2002.

At Chiredzi General Hospital, more than five EU envoys led by the bloc’s head of delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia, witnessed the handover of various facilities funded under ZNSAS to the tune of 360 000 euros.

Among the new facilities were an operation theatre and laboratory equipment and an incinerator.

There was also refurbishment of the hospital mortuary together with male, female and children’s recovery wards.

Storage water tanks were also installed to ease water shortages at the hospital, which services nearly 200 000 people in the district.

Midlands Correspondent
Vice President Joice Mujuru has challenged land reform beneficiaries to ensure maximum land use, thereby enabling Government to alleviate poverty and hunger.She said this was critical to the fulfilment of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

Addressing members of the Zanu-PF Midlands Women’s League during a provincial conference held in Gweru yesterday, VP Mujuru said it was disheartening to note that some beneficiaries of the land reform were underutilising land.

“Our first cluster in the Zim- Asset is to ensure food security at household level. This comes through increasing food production. There are those people who benefited from the land reform, but they are failing to produce enough food as expected. In some instances, these beneficiaries do not have know how on which crops or what type of farming is suitable for their land.”

“Some are even failing to maintain the infrastructure that was left by white farmers.  When we allocated you land either A1 or an A2 farm, we did not say go and destroy the infrastructure that you found there. Continue with production. Kana paiitwa mombe ita mombe nekuti zvinorwadza kuona kuti vamwe vanhu vakawana minda vanosvika voputsa zviripo zviya. Let us utilise the land and increase food production.”

It had emerged that some of the new farmers were failing to maintain the infrastructure they found in place when they took over from white former farmers.

She said the Midlands province was doing better than most because many farmers continued with dairy farming, which was more suitable for the area.

She also said there was need for farmers to be paid promptly after delivering their produce to markets, adding this would enable farmers to buy inputs.

On its part, the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development was responsible for ensuring increased food production by imparting the necessary knowledge to farmers.

Vice President Mujuru said the Ministry of Agriculture should support farmers and avoid delays in paying for produce sold to the Grain Marketing Board.

“I am challenging Minister (Joseph) Made to ensure that our farmers are equipped with necessary information on how to increase food production.

“Let us make use of our extension officers, they should impart knowledge to the people.  We should not take long to pay farmers for their produce. I also want Industry and Commerce Minister (Mike) Bimha to provide information to farmers on which farm produce can be utilised by our industries,” she  said.

Cde Mujuru challenged women to participate and benefit from indigenisation and empowerment programmes.

Members of the European Union Council on Tourism who are in Zimbabwe to present two tourism awards pay their respects to fallen heroes at the National Heroes Acre in Harare last Friday

Farai Kuvirimirwa and Macdonald Mudzaki
A five-member European Union Council on Tourism and Trade delegation is in Zimbabwe to officially handover to President Mugabe two awards Zimbabwe won recently.The council, which consists of 27 EU tourism organisations, chose Zimbabwe as the best tourism destination for 2014 as well as the world’s most preferable cultural destination after the country successfully co-hosted the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference with Zambia in August 2013.

Speaking after touring the National Heroes Acre in Harare and ex-Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono’s New Donnington Farm in Norton on Friday, EUCTT president Professor Anton Caragea said Zimbabwe’s peaceful environment was conducive for maintaining its status as the best tourism destination in Africa.

“Our main issue is to honour Zimbabwe as the best tourist destination for 2014 and the country was elected and cherished for its diverse culture and natural beauty. Zimbabwe is a beacon of tourism and a symbol of the African renaissance,” said Prof Caragea.

Prof Caragea and his group toured the national shrine to pay respects to Zimbabwe’s liberators.

“Few people in Europe know Zimbabwe was involved in a fight for freedom which contributed to the end of imperialism in the southern African region,” he said. “We appreciate and congratulate the continent for attaining 50 years of African freedom. We anticipate the country in the future to complete the revolution by exporting tobacco as end products and not in their raw form which can be achieved by bringing Cuban experts who can advise on making cigars.”

Prof Caragea said they would present the two accolades to President Mugabe on Wednesday.

Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Nicholas Goche expressed his hope that the delegation’s visit would help present a truer picture of Zimbabwe to the world.

“We are fighting an economic struggle and friends are coming in so that they will tell the truth about the country. We are grateful for the award and honour bestowed on our country and it is a big achievement.

“There have been unfavourable Press reports and it is an opportunity to judge on the real situation on the country. You are free to tour farms as part of agricultural tourism,” said Minister Goche.

New Donnington group chief operating officer Mr Velenjani Lupankwa said the farm currently produced 300 000 eggs per day and was working to reach one million by 2016.

The farm produces six thousand tonnes of soya beans and 16 thousand tonnes of maize per harvest for organic chicken feed.

The delegation consisted of director of the European Tourism Academy Mr Mircea Constantinescu, EUCTT director for hospitality and amenities Mr Loan Matei, Romanian senator Mr Lonel Agrigoroaiei and chairman of the trade committee Mr Mihai Prundianu. They were accompanied by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Deputy Minister Brigadier-General (Retired) Walter Kanhanga and ZTA chief executive Karikoga Kaseke.

EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Aldo Dell’Ariccia,

George Maponga in Chiredzi
Government’s review of the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy to facilitate sector-specific implementation of the law could speed up normalisation of Zimbabwe-European Union relations, a top diplomat has said.While touring EU-funded agricultural projects in Chiredzi last Friday, the bloc’s Head of Delegation in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia, expressed optimism that they would lift all sanctions on Zimbabwe when they meet on November 1, 2014 in Belgium.

“The messages that are coming from the Zimbabwean Government at the highest level are really constructive.  We are happy that there is now a realisation that in implementing the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy the one-size-fits-all (approach) does not work.

There is need for Government to respond to the necessities of international capital.

“We are happy that Government is now talking about the need to adapt the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy depending on each specific sector,” Ambassador Dell’Ariccia said.

The landmark proposals for changes to the empowerment laws will see Zimbabweans owning 100 percent of their resources with investors owning equity in firms.

This dovetails with a lobby for Zimbabwe to indigenise its resources instead of seeking to merely indigenise foreign-owned companies.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo announced the proposals last week.

The Indigenisation and Empowerment Act of 2008 requires all foreign-owned businesses worth at least US$500 000 to cede no less than 51 percent shareholding to indigenous Zimbabweans.

Zanu-PF’s Politburo, in its meeting on Wednesday, is likely to be seized with the proposals, among other key national and party issues.
Government has directed Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Francis Nhema, to work on realigning the law.

Ambassador Dell’Ariccia also said the review augured well for Zimbabwe as it could unlock Foreign Direct Investment and buoy economic turnaround efforts.

“The EU has always been supporting the people of Zimbabwe and of course there are some measures (sanctions) that are there but I am happy to say that there is really progress in alleviating them because of positive messages that are coming from Zimbabwe. We are really pleased by the positive and constructive messages that are coming from the ground and these should help in the restoration of normal ties and corporation between Harare and the EU.”

Government, added Ambassador Dell’Ariccia, should speedily gazette the changes.

The amended policy will be implemented through the Production Sharing Model (PSM), and the Joint Empowerment Investment Model (JEIM).

PSM will see Zimbabweans retaining 100 percent ownership of mineral resources and agricultural land, while sharing production would either be fixed or based on a sliding scale depending on the specific mineral or agricultural product and could be linked to profitability.

Under the model, investors would be allowed to recover their initial capital investment and operational costs before the sharing of production outputs or profits.

With JEIM, Zimbabweans – outside mining, agriculture and some investments in tourism – will enter joint ventures to generate capital to build enterprises they wholly own.

Experts have said Government should redefine the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act to give it clarity and stimulate the economy through synergies with experienced and trustworthy international partners.

The Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation, whose four clusters – Food Security and Nutrition, Social Services and Poverty Eradication, Infrastructure and Utilities, and Value Addition and Beneficiation – requires US$27 billion between 2013 and 2018.

Minister Kembo Mohadi

Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
Twenty members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu Apostolic Sect led by Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani have been arrested in connection with the brutal attack on seven police officers, journalists and members of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe last Friday in Budiriro 2, Harare.

This came as Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi yesterday issued a stern warning against violent sect members who he said would face the full wrath of the law.

Those arrested are likely to appear in court today.

Seven police officers in riot gear, journalists and members of the ACCZ were seriously injured when the Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect members attacked them with knobkerries, sticks and stones as they sang a song that went “Hondo yepfumo neropa’’.

This was after ACCZ president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga announced that the sect had been banned from operating in Zimbabwe because it violated national and Christian laws.

Sources close to the investigations yesterday said most of the suspects had been arrested in Epworth at the weekend and were being held at Harare Central Police Station.

Some of those arrested were assisting police to identify other suspects.

“They are likely to appear in court on Monday (today) facing public violence charges and for undermining the police,” said a police source.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba would not comment,  saying she no longer talks to The Herald.

Last Friday, Snr Asst Comm Charamba told ZBC News that police were investigating and perpetrators would face charges of assault and inciting public violence.

Minister Mohadi said everyone should observe the country’s laws and never undermine its enforcers.

“We strongly condemn such behaviour by church members. We condemn that with the strongest terms. People should not take the law into their own hands. No Zimbabwean should take the law into his or her hands.

“If they are aggrieved, there are procedures to follow. We are all Zimbabweans, we should observe the laws of the country,” said Minister Mohadi.

The Herald yesterday visited Budiriro 2 and spoke to residents who said they always suspected wrongdoing at the shrine.

They said Madzibaba Ishmael took over the church sometime in 2004, following the death of Madzibaba Nehemiah.

One resident said members from other apostolic sects were unhappy with the way Madzibaba Ishmael had been conducting his business and had on several occasions warned him to reform.

“He has between 300 and 400 followers who strongly believe in him. These people have been seriously brainwashed and they do everything that he orders.

“They are not also allowed to own television sets and women do not use electric stoves for cooking. We also hear that men are not allowed to wear underwear. What kind of church is that?” asked another resident.

There are allegations of widespread abuse of women in the sect, and children are not allowed to attend conventional schools.

The violence started when congregants started singing a song called “Hondo Yepfumo Neropa” before smashing a ZBC vehicle.

They said they only recognised President Mugabe’s leadrship and not Archbishop Ndanga.

The archbishop had come with police and journalists to disband the sect, a move that legal experts who spoke to The Herald, said he had no locus standi to make.

The injured, including ZBC camera person Relax Mafurutu were taken to Harare Hospital and Garden City Clinic in Highfield.

Yesterday Mafurutu was still admitted at West End Hospital, with his condition said to be stable.

Some cops were treated and discharged.

Archbishop Ndanga beat a hasty retreat to his Range Rover and escaped the mob that was baying for his blood.

Cuthbert Dube

Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Warriors’ elimination from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations has sparked nationwide outrage with pressure being exerted on Zifa president Cuthbert Dube to quit his post after the latest humiliation under his watch.
The Warriors fell to a surprise defeat, at the hands of Tanzania, to crash out of the Nations Cup, at the first hurdle, for only the second time in their history.
It’s the fourth big tournament that the Warriors have plunged into, since Dube took over as leader of domestic football, and on all occasions they have struggled to make an impact.

Even when they were presented with a golden opportunity to just beat two teams, and take their place at the 2015 Nations Cup finals, the Warriors still came short and followed that up with their worst World Cup campaign in history where they failed to win even a single game on the Road to Brazil.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa apologised to the nation when he addressed a media conference yesterday.

“I want apologise for what happened at the National Sports Stadium yesterday (Sunday). Remember that we played Tanzania two weeks ago and we went down 1-0 in their home stadium,” Langa said.

“So, as they came to Zimbabwe, we ensured that we made all the necessary preparations and mobilised all our support for the Warriors. Everyone decided to go and support our national team and many were following the action on radio and television.

“As a Ministry we thank all those who came to the National Sports Stadium, especially our Senior Minister SK Moyo, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and Senate from across the political divide, the Mayor of Harare and the fans.

“We also had our soccer legends like John Phiri and Peter Ndlovu who came to support our national team and expected a win and I believe that they deserved it. We thank them for coming and I am sorry for the disappointment.

“Unfortunately the result that we realised was not what we had expected as Zimbabweans and I want to to say to all fellow Zimbabweans, that we are sorry for the result.

“Yes, we received the support from the fans but our performance was not up to the expectations. Maybe we are still yet to hear from Ian Gorowa as to what happened but I am not blaming anyone here.”

Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association leader, Eddie “Mboma” Nyatanga said the honourable thing for Dube to do would be to resign.
“When you have been the leader in four big tournaments and the result is the same and, in fact, it’s getting even worse, I think the best thing for one to do, if you are a true leader, is to hand in your resignation,” said Nyatanga.

“We have changed coaches and I think Ian is the seventh we have employed, if I’m not mistaken, since Dube became the president of Zifa but the results have continued to get worse and worse because the administration is not playing its part.

“We had problems in camp with players refusing to train, on the eve of the match, because of money and this was also the case at CHAN and we lost that game against Libya and we seem not to have learnt any lessons from that.

“Of course, the economy is not in good shape but Dube promised us that he had dozens of sponsors but we are yet to see even one and given the controversy that now follows him, after what happened at PSMAS and ZBC, it’s unlikely that any sponsors will now come on board.

“For the first time we will not have international football for two years and if Zifa are there to take care of our national teams and there is no national team football to talk about, can we still continue having them in those positions?

“The Government should just come in and dissolve the entire Zifa board and we will be punished by Fifa but it’s the same because already we are out of international football for two years and we can bring in some new faces who can lead our football in an interim basis.

“Our other big problem with Dube is that for everything that he says he is doing for the team, he somehow doesn’t have the courtesy to come and support the team when it plays its international matches and we didn’t see him again on Sunday.

“Football cannot be run by remote control, you need to be there in the trenches and the players also want to see their leader coming to shake their hand just before the match and giving them support at the stadium and not at a lodge where they will be camped.”

Nyatanga said while the Zifa leaders have found it easy to get councillors to vote for them, finding the right formula to turn the Warriors into a success story was a different and more difficult task.

“The biggest story that the media hasn’t explored adequately is the way Zifa abused our Young Warriors and they ended up being banned from international football, how then do you develop a competitive national team when you are not exposing the Under-17s and the Under-20s to international football?” Nyatanga asked.

“That should have been enough for Zifa to be dissolved but we appear to have celebrated it and now we are in the doldrums.”
Veteran football administrator, Francis Zimunya, said Dube had to take responsibility for the “mess that our football finds itself in.”

“Cuthbert Dube’s record since he took over as the Zifa boss tells us that we are not progressing as a football nation but we are nose-diving at an alarming rate and the sooner that he leaves that post, or is even forced out, the better for our game,” said Zimunya.

“He doesn’t have the confidence of the players because they have seen promises being broken left, right and centre and even the little boys who played at CHAN were ‘robbed’ of what they earned by his association.

“How can you have a leader who is in charge of your football who doesn’t come to watch the matches and we are talking about a very big international like the one that we had on Sunday?”

Football fans, too, were scathing in their condemnation.
“And the billboards will read, ‘Probably the worst Warriors team ever,’” said Ignatius Nyoni. “I used to side with Gorowa but the man has been exposed. How can we fail to win against a team of Tanzania’s calibre at home?

“Cuthbert Dube must shoulder the blame for this poor, poor show. He frustrated (Sunday) Chidzambwa before muscling out (Norman) Mapeza from the national team. Gorowa hapana.”

Another fan, Thabani McGuci, said football administrators had let the nation down.
“I don’t know where to start but when a fish rots, it starts from the head, this is the case with our soccer administration, Zifa actually uninspired our warriors instead of supporting them.

“Cuthbert Dube reminds me of politicians who always shake our hands when canvassing for votes and then shake our confidence after.
“He is nowhere to be seen in the picture, there is no proper plan and roadmap in place, we are always dropping in rankings, our soccer is once again taking on a nosedive.

“Ian Gorowa is a good coach, but I doubt if there is anything outstanding about him. He is trying his best but here is a coach who has been thrown by fate into the mix probably because Zifa cannot afford a suitably qualified coach potent enough to make a difference with our soccer.”