Four suspects who were reportedly caught attempting to bomb Alpha Omega Dairies yesterday applied for refusal of further remand, accusing the State of infringing on their right to be tried within a reasonable period of time.

Jailed president of the Zimbabwe People’s Front political party, 34­year­old Owen Kuchata, Zimbabwe National Army corporals — Borman Ngwenya, 30, Solomon Makumbe, 29 — and an ex­soldier Silas Pfupa, 37, are facing treason charges. They appeared before Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande. Makumbe and Pfupa’s lawyer, Gamuchirai Dzvitiro, slammed the State for dragging the case and prejudicing the accused. “The accused persons’ constitutional rights, as envisaged in Section 69 which guarantees right to a public trial within a reasonable period, have been breached,” Dzvitiro said.

“We came today anticipating to be served indicts for trial at the High Court since on August 18 the State said it was unable to indict us because the superior courts were on vacation and would undertake to do so for the third quarter.” “We requested to see if there was any form of communication between State and the registrar of High Court but the correspondence we got today is from the prosecutor general’s office instead,” Dzvitiro said. Prosecutor, Sabastian Mutizirwa, indicated that the quartet’s trial would be held in the first quarter next year. He requested for time to prepare his response to Dzvitiro’s submissions before the matter was postponed to October 30.

Mutizirwa alleged that sometime in August last year, the accused persons held several meetings at Queens Hotel in Harare and planned to subvert a constitutionally­elected government.

Pursuant to their plan, the four allegedly went to Mapinga in Mashonaland West and formed a camp from which their members would be trained and operate. On January 1, they went to Mugabe’s rural home in Zvimba and carried out surveillances to identify suitable vulnerable points to carry out the sabotage. They later met on January 19 at Queens Hotel and resolved that they would use fertiliser bombs to fulfil their mission. On January 22, at around 4pm, police received a tip off that the quartet were planning to bomb Alpha Omega Dairies’ processing plant and tuck­shop during the night.

It is alleged that the four accused Mugabe of causing suffering to Zimbabweans because of his “dictatorial leadership”. Police detectives proceeded to the farm and laid an ambush about 100 metres from the quartet’s target. Around 10pm, detectives saw the quartet approaching the dairy’s processing plant and immediately arrested them. They searched them and recovered four Molotov cocktails (petrol bombs), ammonium nitrate, nails and sand in 750 millilitres Chateau bottles. They also recovered Zimbabwe People’s Front Party manifesto, party constitution and documents relating to its activities

Outgoing presidents in Ghana could be forcibly evicted from their official residences if they fail to move out in time, under new laws

Presidents and vice­presidents will have to hand over official homes and vehicles at least two weeks before the inauguration of a new leader. Ministers and other officials will have one month to do the same. With general elections due on 7 December, the law aims to reduce delays in transferring government property.

The bill, which was passed by MPs on Wednesday, will now go to the president to sign into law. Existing legislation requires officials to hand back government property after they leave office, but this is the first time there has been a strict time limit applied. Ghana’s current leader John Mahama lives in his private residence, while the official presidential residence Flagstaff House is being renovated. Mr Mahama is standing for re­election and his main opponent is Nana Akufo­Addo. The winner will be inaugurated on 7 January 2017. In previous transitions of power, some officials have had to be forcibly evicted and had their state­owned vehicles seized after failing to hand them over

NAIROBI, Kenya: A man was shot dead after stabbing a policeman guarding the perimeter wall of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi and trying to take his gun, a Kenyan police official said Thursday.

The policeman who had been stabbed opened fire in self-defense and killed the attacker, said Vitalis Otieno, the officer in charge of the Gigiri area that hosts several embassies and the U.N’s African headquarters.“He fired first and shot the person and the person died on the spot,” Otieno said.

The identity of the attacker, a Kenyan from the volatile region of Wajir near Somalia, is known to police, Otieno said.Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel were seen collecting evidence at the scene of the shooting.The U.S. Embassy confirmed there was a shooting and said no embassy personnel were involved.

Wajir county has been cited by Kenyan authorities as a hot spot for recruitment by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab from neighboring Somalia.

Al-Shabab has vowed retribution on Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to fight the militants. The group has carried out a wave of attacks in Kenya that have left hundreds dead.

The extremist group claimed responsibility for an attack Tuesday in Mandera county that killed 12 people, saying its fighters were targeting Christians.

Al-Shabab is al-Qaida’s affiliate in the region, and it hosted Fazul Abdallah Mohammed, who was accused of masterminding the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 that killed over 200 people. Mohammed was shot dead by Somali troops in 2011.

Recently, Kenya has been battling the recruitment of youth by the Islamic State group, which is al-Qaida’s rival. Kenyan police have linked three women who were killed after they allegedly attacked a police station in Mombasa to the Islamic State.

ALL minors aged 18 years and below entering Botswana will now be required to produce their birth certificates and passports to be allowed entry in a bid to curb human trafficking.

In a statement, Botswana’s Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs said the move was also aimed at monitoring movement of children across the country’s borders.

“The Botswana government has tightened travel regulations with a new requirement for certified copies of unabridged birth certificates for all minors under the age of 18 travelling through its ports of entry.

“Minors will now be required to produce birth certificates in addition to the standard requirement of a valid passport at all ports of entry and exit,” reads the statement.

The Ministry said in the event that one parent is not travelling with the child, the other parent’s affidavit consenting to the travel should be produced.

“However, an affidavit will not be required if the father’s name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate,” it added.

“Botswana, like other countries is affected by this (human trafficking) problem, and as such, has enacted (legislation to implement) the United Nations Anti-Human Trafficking Protocol, which calls upon governments to come up with deliberate measures aimed at combating human trafficking

FORMER National Railways of Zimbabwe general manager and board chairperson, Mr Alvord Mabena (66), has been reported to the police for allegedly se.xually assaulting his niece (21).

Mr Mabena said  yesterday  he was not aware of the matter and was hearing about it for the first time.

“My Uncle (Mr Mabena) had brought firewood and was with his gardener. He asked me where my mum and granny were and I told him they were away,” said the woman.

“We left the maid and his gardener offloading the firewood and we went into the house as he had asked for a drink. In the house, he grabbed me and f0ndled my breasts and bum.”

She said she was stunned and begged Mr Mabena to stop but he was too strong for her.She said she started crying and escaped into her bedroom where she locked the door.

“Later I went out to help in offloading the firewood and he came and asked for water. As I’m [sic] putting ice into the water, he comes behind, grabs me and presses me against the sink. He’s grabbing me and asks me to kiss him… He unzips his trousers and asks me to touch his d**k. Funny thing is he’s pressing me against the sink and wants to j3rk off on me,” said the woman.

She said as soon as he left, she cried and called a friend who told her mother about the se.x attack.

“My mum told my uncle in the UK. Even today, I don’t think he (Mr Mabena) was in his right senses. What he wanted to do is tab0o in our African culture,” she said.

She said family members tried to stop her from making a police report but her uncle, a Mr Ncube, phoned Hillside Police Station from the UK on Wednesday last week and reported the matter.The woman said her mother suffered a mild stroke after she heard the news.

The Chronicle has WhatsApp chats forwarded by some family members in which one of the relatives verbally attacked the victim for letting the matter be reported. The relative accused her of trying to destroy Mr Mabena’s marriage.

President Mugabe yesterday slammed the leadership of Mashonaland Central for neglecting some areas in the province which are lagging behind in development. He was dismayed that 36 years after independence, places such as Murongwe in Dande did not have primary schools, let alone secondary ones. Officially opening Murongwe Primary School and clinic in Dande, built by the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) and its partners among them Zimplats Holdings, Liquid Telecoms and individuals like Prof Hope Sadza yesterday, President Mugabe said his focus was on the construction of secondary schools not knowing there were some areas without primary schools.

Pupils were learning in dilapidated makeshift classrooms that have since been transformed into modern learning structures, courtesy of funds from the AFZ’s Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe Charity Fund and the partners. The school, whose construction began in 2011, now has eight electrified classroom blocks including a computer laboratory and 10 teaching staff quarters.

The Dande community also contributed towards construction of the school and clinic by providing labour and other services while AFZ Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri promised to construct a secondary school soon.

The clinic was equipped courtesy of the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Air Marshal Shiri said he identified the educational needs of the area during his visits to the Dande area to reconnect with people he had earlier on worked with.

“Hongu, tingati taita mufaro nekuona chikoro ichi asi chokwadi, chokwadi pamoyo pangu ndatsamwa. Ndatsamwa zvikuru-kuru,” said President Mugabe.

“Where was the leadership yeMashonaland Central? Kumahombe-kombe takatenderedza. Kuno kwakasara sei? I hope we do not have spots such as this one.

Ini ndange ndichitofunga kuti basa ratave naro harisi rekuvaka primary schools but is establishing secondary schools kwadzisiri kana kune shoma. Ndichiti tatenderera, tapedza. Ndisingazive kuti I am cheating myself. Tichine mabhanga saka takasiya nzvimbo nenzvimbo dzichine mabhanga. Kurima kwatakaita hatina kutsetsa. Perhaps sezvandataura, this may not be the only place that has experienced our omission, our lack of attention. Anyway, there it is. Vanoti better late than never.”

Before the intervention of the AFZ and its development partners, the school comprised of makeshift grass-thatch, pole and dagga structures. President Mugabe handed over two symbolic keys to Chief Chiswiti representing the two institutions, the clinic and primary school.

Mashonaland Central leaders who were present when the President Mugabe registered his displeasure included Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere who is also the Zanu-PF national political commissar, Mashonaland Central Minister of State Advocate Martin Dinha and Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Dickson Mafios.

President Mugabe continued: “Hurumende yedu tichivamba, takati hapana mwana anofanira kusarira shure. Dzidzo kuvana vose. Haisisiri dzidzo yevarungu chete, dzidzo kuvana vose. Dzidzo kunzvimbo dzose. Vatungamiri vedu vekuparty, vehurumende chionai nzvimbo dzakasiyana-siyana hurongwa huripo here hwekuvaka zvikoro?

“Nzvimbo dzose parege kuita nzvimbo inosaririra. Zhinji nzvimbo dzaive nemaprimary schools. Chipata-pata chakaitwa nevanhu chekuzvivakira zvikoro chakave chipata-pata chekuvaka masecondary schools. Asi isu takave neruzivo rwekuti nzvimbo dziri kumahombekombe hadzina kunge dzichisvikwa nyore-nyore. Ngadzitarisiswe, zvikoro zvivakwe. Zvino kuti tisvike muna 2016 kuno kuDande, hapana ange asingazive mbiri yako. Hayaingove mbiri yekurwa chete, inova mbiri yenhoroondo yevakuru vedu yematongerwo enyika yedu yaMunhumutapa.

“Literacy rate yedu yange ichisiyaka izvi. In addition, ini ndakaita policy yekuti ngatitsvagiridzei kumahombe-kombe nzvimbo dzatinofanira kubatsira nezvikoro. Takagona kuzviita kuvaTonga kuisa zvikoro ikoko, kuita kuti tsika yavange vainayo yekungoraura hove ichinjwe. Iyezvino vave nevakomana vakaenda kumauniversity – Presidential Scholarship.”

He thanked the Air Force for initiating such a huge project adding that they should do at least three or more projects of the same nature. President Mugabe said he had donated computers to all electrified schools across the country in line with Government’s computerisation programme. He said Government had plans to set up giant television screens in schools to ensure that children followed events happening across the country.

President Mugabe said he was happy that the people of Dande continued to support Zanu-PF despite being marginalised, adding that Dande was important in the history of Zimbabwe as it pioneered the Second Chimurenga.

Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri chronicled how construction of the school started in 2011 through the Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe Charity Fund. He said the fund had also helped to implement other diverse projects.

Said Air Marshal Shiri: “Zimbabwe’s education is highly rated in Africa and we are amongst the countries with the highest literacy rate in Africa. However, those statistics amount to nothing if we still have pole and dagga schools.

“Inspired by the late nationalist Nelson Mandela’s adage that education is the most powerful weapons you can use to change the world, we agreed and dedicated ourselves as the Air Force of Zimbabwe to build the school together with the parents and corporate partners.”

Prophet Sham Hungwe says he has powers to kill people who practice witchcraft and is ready to do that at his highly touted service dubbed ‘Rest in Peace’ this Sunday.

The House of Grace International ministries leader is holding this service at his Machipisa base on Sunday and he says witches should stay away or risk dying if they attend.

The prophet who once grabbed headlines with miracles was on Star FM on Tuesday night where he had no kind words for transgressors. Contacted for comment, prophet Shame Hungwe stood by his words though he was not comfortable to speak at lengthy concerning the deaths issue.“I stand by my words, such people have no place in the church, they will die,” said the prophet.

We are inviting people to come on Sunday and see the power of God. Those who practice witchcraft will be haunted by their evil spirits as we will be saying go back to sender. We have named the service Rest in Peace Sunday and we are saying it’s a Sunday for breakthrough. The day all your problems will be a thing of the past, they will rest in peace.

To those who have been cursed with evil spirits, we are saying go back to sender thus the theme for the day,” he said. Prophet Sham grabbed headlines a fortnight ago after a snake appeared in his church after allegedly coming out of a congregant. The man of God, who operates at Machipisa Shopping centre has been drawing crowds to his church, of late.

Two Plumtree police officers who were recorded on camera by a cross border transporter demanding and receiving a bribe from him at the Plumtree Border Post have each been sentenced to an effective 18 months in jail.

Fume Chibvuri (34) and Aaron Zivuku (28) yesterday pleaded not guilty to extortion when they appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa but were convicted due to overwhelming evidence. They were each sentenced to 24 months in prison but six months were suspended on condition that they do not within the next five years commit a similar offence. In passing sentence, Mr Ruvetsa said the cops deserved a custodial sentence to send a message to other corrupt police officers. “Extortion is a serious offence especially when committed by police officers who are supposed to be custodians of the law. Your actions show that government is losing a lot of revenue to police officers that are demanding bribes from smugglers at our borders.

“Therefore order has to be restored and this can be done through a deterrent sentence,” he said. Mr Ruvetsa said while Chibvuri and Zivuku had denied the charges, they had failed to present a reasonable defence to prove that they did not commit the offence. He said their record would be sent to the High Court within the next seven days for review. The two cops, through their legal counsel, Mr Norman Mugiya of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, claimed that on the day in question, they were not stationed at the border complex.

They said Mr Gift Moyo, who recorded them demanding payment to grant him passage through the border in July last year, had fabricated a video of them and then circulated it on social media in a bid to tarnish their images. The cops said Mr Moyo did that in retaliation after they had testified against him in a case of kidnapping. “Your Worship, on the day in question my clients were working from outside the border conducting some patrols and they didn’t come across the complainant.

“To prove that the video was fabricated, the complainant didn’t report the case but he merely circulated the video. The video shows the complainant giving money to someone but it’s not clear to whom. Maybe he was donating money to a friend and decided to pinpoint my clients,” said Mr Mugiya. Prosecuting, Mr Stanley Chinyanganya said the police officers approached Mr Moyo on July 14 last year and threatened to arrest him if he did not bribe them.

He gave them $20 but they complained that it is was not enough. Mr Chinyanganya said tension between the two cops and Mr Moyo heightened after he failed to meet their demands. “Mr Moyo arrived at the border at around 3PM driving a Toyota Grand Hiace on his way to Bulawayo from Botswana and upon reaching the entrance gate, he was approached by Chibvuri and Zivuku who demanded money from him and threatened to arrest him if he did not comply,” he said. Mr Chinyanganya said Mr Moyo gave them $20 and requested $10 back saying he did not have any money left but they refused. Mr Moyo, upon realising that the cops wanted more money, recorded a video of what was transpiring using his cellphone

Senator for Zvimba Constituency and Zanu­PF Central Committee member Virginia Muchenje (66) has died. Muchenje died yesterday of suspected diabetic complications.

Zanu PF Mashonaland West Province has since recommended provincial hero status. The provincial secretary for administration Simbarashe Ziyambi confirmed the death of Muchenje, who got involved in politics in the 1970s when she provided material support to liberation war fighters

“Details are still sketchy but we can confirm that Senator Muchenje has died. We are still to get details of where she died and the cause, though it is thought to be related to diabetes,” he said. Born on August 7 1950 , Muchenje held several lower posts in Zanu­PF in post­independent Zimbabwe, starting in 1981. She rose through the ranks to become a Central Committee member in 2000 before being elected senator for Zvimba Constituency, a position she held until her death. Burial arrangements are still being finalised.

Parliament’s Youth and Indigenisation portfolio committee has summoned Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) executive director, Livingstone Dzikira, to respond to allegations of abusing Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) resources, after he failed to turn up for a hearing yesterday

The Justice Mayor Wadyajena ­chaired committee said Dzikira had been evading invites to appear before it, prompting the resolve to summon him. “If you see Dzikira tell him…that the committee sat and resolved to summon him. Havasisina matiziro avachaita, havasisina manzvengero avachaita (he has got nowhere to run),” Wadyajena said telling the Youth ministry’s secretary, George Magosvongwe, yesterday.

This came after Magosvongwe, together with other ministry officials, attended the committee’s hearing, instead of ZYC, which had been scheduled to appear before the committee. According to Magosvongwe, the youth council is a department under the ministry, which however enjoyed some “autonomy”. Apparently, the ministry officials had ambushed the committee to make its pre­budget consultative presentation, as they just turned up in place of the youth council.

“We were not expecting you today. We were expecting the youth council. You don’t just turn up, what has changed ” Wadyajena said as he read out an earlier letter in which the ministry’s officials had given an excuse that they would not be able to attend yesterday’s meeting, citing various reasons.

“We were not prepared to meet you today; we understood the contents of the letter that you were not coming today,” he said. ZYC has been accused of misappropriating 100 000 litres of fuel, from Zimdef, which the council said it had transferred to the Zanu PF Youth League to facilitate its activities. The fuel allegations followed investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti­Corruption Commission (Zacc) into Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo and his deputy Godfrey Gandawa’s alleged fraudulent activities involving Zimdef funds.

There have been growing calls for President Robert Mugabe to suspend Moyo and Gandawa over the deepening scandal involving over $400 000, with Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying everyone, including vice presidents and ministers, is subject to criminal persecution. During yesterday’s committee sitting, Wadyajena quizzed Magosvongwe if he as the accounting officer of the ministry and the youth council was aware of donations made by other government departments.

Magosvongwe said he would only know after the information had been availed to him. In their presentation, the Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment ministry officials said they required $10 million more from the budgetary allocation in order to upscale the youth service as well as increase vocational training centres.

A huge debate over who is the greatest Zimbabwean soccer player of all time has been torched by South African publication Soccer Laduma.

One Mamelodi supporter questioned whether Khama Billiat can now claim to be Zimbabwe’s greatest player. With the debate being on the South African platform, it was heavily influenced by the players they have watched in Super Diski over the years. Other great players such as George Shaya, Freddy Mkwesha (late), Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa and Moses “Bambo” Chunga did not feature in that debate at all. Nicholas Mafukidze: “Khama is not the best, he’s even not in the top 20. If you find Zimbabwe’s TV and radio commentator Charles Mabika, he will tell you the truth.” Eyesofaneagle:

“He’s not even half of Mwaruwari or Ndlovu, Sundowns supporters are mad.” Milindos: “A good player, but not the best, Musona is the best.” Papa­Ona: “Taking nothing away from Khama, very sneaky, talented and nag for goals . . . he reminds me of the young Peter Ndlovu . . . but to say he is the greatest that Zimbabwe has ever produced is an insult . . . he might be on the up to become one but for now . . . it’’s a NO.”

Zimbabwean22: “Nope it’s definitely Peter Ndlovu, he played for 13 years in England. No other African player has reached that milestone. Benjani comes second, he played for top clubs in Europe, including Man City. Meanwhile, Billiat is 26 years old and he is stuck in SA.” princebaloyi903: “Editor better ask who’s the best Zimbabwe player between Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat.” Papa­Ona: “Let’s not confuse winning the Champions League and the phrase the greatest of all time from Zimbabwe . . . taking nothing away from Khama, he is of course a fantastic, intelligent player in the current Zim crop . . . but truth is he must emulate Peter Ndlovu and Benjani by playing in the highest competitive leagues . . . e.g. EPL, Bundesliga or La Liga . . .

Benni McCarthy won the most prestigious accolade . . . the UEFA Champions League, scored SA’s first ever World Cup goal (France ‘98), obtained a silver medal at the Nations Cup, played in Spain, Portugal and England but still that didn’t mean that he was the greatest South African . . . but was the best of his GENERATION . . . Khama still has a lot to do to be declared greatest Zimbabwean ever… “I have realised that people have no idea about Zimbabwe soccer players. They only know those who played in the (ABSA) PSL, other African countries don’t take SA as a home, it’s either they’’re using the PSL as a ladder to get abroad or they just come here to retire.” Mhlonishwa: Khama has a Champions League medal, and no other Zimbabwe player you have mentioned has that medal. Khama contributed in Zimbabwe’s qualification for AFCON. I can’t recall seeing Zimbabwe at that tournament.

Overall, Khama is the best Zimbabwe player ever.” Setlaboswana: “To say Billiat is the Zimbabwe’s greatest footballer of all­time because he won CAF CL is incorrect. We look at his overall contribution and attributes, consistency, agility, mobility, mental strength are some of considerations.” Mehluli Moyo: “The Bulawayo Bullet will be always the best l know nothing about Billiat because Ndlovu spent 13 years in England but where as Billiat now stuck at Sundowns.” Makarina: “I am surprised by the fact that the Legendary Tinashe Nengomasha is not even mentioned amongst the Zimbabwe greats. It is a dam shame… Roxion: “Let Zimbabweans vote. Okpara won a star with Bucs but he was not automatically declared a Nigerian Messiah, any team can win a star. Chiefs are capable of winning it, it is just that they don’t want to pay for travel costs or don’t have money to pay for travelling in Africa

Masvirirwo andakaitwa nemurume wemunhu ndikaita kunge beche richabvaruka. Ko ndaizivei kuti kusvirwa kunonaka kunge sugar chaiyo. Ndaigara nevabereki vangu apa ndainge ndavane 26years, baba vangu was so strict hanzi uchaita mukomana kana wakugara wega. Chokwadi ndainge ndakushaya kana shungu nevarume until one day, zvinhu zvainge zvawoma muZim apa basa ramudhara rainge rapera saka akatsvaga vanhu kuti vagare muma rooms ekuseri. He made sure kuti atsvaga a married couple yainge ine mwana one ndivo vakatanga kugara ku cottage. Mumwe musi mukadzi wekuseri akaita problem and aida kumhanyira ku interview ku chicken inn saka akandikumbira kuti ndisare nemwana mumba make.

Ndakasara nemwana apa baba vacho ndokusvika ndakagara hangu pasofa ndichitamba hangu nemwana. Vakayenda kunogeza ndikaramba ndakagara pasofa ndakamirira kuti vapedze then ndozoyenda hangu kumba. Bathroom yavo vaipfuura nemudinning ndikawona munhu ainge ane chipfuva iyeye I am sure vaiyenda ku Virgin Active chete mazuva avaigara kuSA, ndainge ndakawudzwa nemukadzi wacho since we were the same age. Murume ainge akasimba iyeye zvekuti ndakanzwa zemo and semunhu ainge ajaira kuwona pono pafoni yangu zvangu zvakatanga kudzoka.

Mwana akabva akotsira baba vacho vasati vapedza kugeza saka ndakabva ndavamirira, vakati vachingobuda kunogeza ndokubva ndavati ndakuyenda mwana arara, vakafamba vachiwuya close kwandiri kuti vanzwe zvandaitaura vasati vasvika ndakanzwa zvambu katowel kainge kakamonerwa ndokubva kawira kwakadaro kuzoti mboro yacho iwe masasi eharare, ndakamhanya kuti ndibatsire munhu. Ndakapotsa ndokubva ndabata mboro by mistake imimi ndakanganwa kuti murume wemunhu. I helped him kusofa apa towel rainge rasara pasi ndokubva ndazouya kuzoritora and covered him but pandidzoka ndakawona zimboro ramira ndakambomira ndisati ndavapa towel apa munhu ainge akunyara, ndakangoramba ndakavarairwa ndakatarisa mboro.

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Low-cost carrier, fastjet Zimbabwe, has said it can no longer process online payments above $200 using the Zimbabwean Visa or MasterCard, citing the “current” financial cash crisis.

In a post on its website, fastjet Zimbabwe said: “We would kindly inform you that Zimbabwean Visa/Master Cards for online purchases above $200 may not be processed as a result of the current financial situation in Zimbabwe.”

It said those experiencing challenges in the payment process could either select the pay later platform or visit its offices.

The move by fastjet Zimbabwe comes as banks have started limiting the usage of the VISA/MasterCard for local transactions and are only allowing them to be used for foreign transactions.

Early this month, BancABC told its clients that Visa/MasterCard would no longer be available for local transactions and instead use ZimSwitch-enabled debit cards.
Even though payments made to fastjet are online, the limitation comes on the basis that the low-cost carrier airline serves the local market and if the card is from a local bank.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has not implemented any regulations on the limited use of Visa/MasterCard for local transactions, with banking sources saying the move was the brainchild of the banks to augment efforts by the regulator in stabilising the nostro accounts.

Efforts to reach fastjet Zimbabwe were unsuccessful.

Recently, Reserve Bank governor John Mangudya said the banking sector was operating under stringent circumstances, as foreign institutions were closing their [local banks] offshore accounts.

Mangudya said banks were failing to meet the high cash demand and were being forced to dip into their nostro accounts, which traditionally are for reserve money and foreign currency.

“What is happening is this, Visa/MasterCard are backed by nostro accounts. So when you make a payment using a Visa/MasterCard, you are essentially using the money in nostro accounts to service that transaction. This, however, is unsustainable as there is a high demand for cash, while nostro accounts are offshore and are only meant for foreign transactions,” financial expert Persistence Gwanyanya said.

DEALERS that have set up companies to “burn” cash have been cautioned ahead of the coming of the bond notes in November.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) breakfast meeting in Harare yesterday, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, John Mangudya said selling money was not a business, but one needs to produce something other than money to be called a businessman.

“Some of you think you are going to ‘burn’ the bond notes. The dealership mentality does not build a country.

That’s why I become emotional when I am talking about this issue. In fact, we are issuing a statement on Friday (today) or Monday to warn those who are opening companies to externalise currency. We know the people behind it,” he said

Mangudya said the features of the $2 and $5 bond notes would be unveiled during countrywide campaigns by the central bank.He said the idea was to have the bond notes as scarce as possible.

“Some of you will be asking me where the bond notes are?,” Mangudya said
He said RBZ has been quiet on the notes because they were waiting for the legal and due processes to be finalised.
Bond notes are coming under the $200 million export incentive, where exporters get an extra 5%.

Mangudya said nationwide campaigns will begin on Monday, as the bond notes were expected to be in place in November.

“We are finalising the independent board on the issuance and managing of the notes. Let’s not panic about bond notes, but should panic about being poor,” he said

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director, Rosemary Siyachitema said they had carried out a survey of 300 consumers, who were sceptical about bond notes and were scared of being poor and impoverished.

She said some of the questions from consumers include clarity on how the bond notes would help, some were afraid that it was a way of bringing back the Zimbabwe dollar.

“We don’t really have a choice. We also want a Zimbabwe that is operational. Remember the coin we embraced it because we want a Zimbabwe that works, but there are a lot of things that have to be resolved,” Siyachitema said.
Economist and academic, Ashok Chakravarti said there was need to cut the unsustainable government wage bill, which was chewing over 96,7% of revenue.

Chakravarti said giving incentives on minerals would not make a difference, as the prices were usually determined by the international market, therefore, there was need to put a 10-15% incentive on non-traditional exporters through a 2 to 3% import tax.

“I am not in favour of the $200 million facility; let’s finance the export incentive through a minor import tax. I have been advocating the use of the South African rand since 2009. It is possible to have the rand internally without joining the union and we didn’t get the permission from South Africa to use the rand in 2009,” he said.

Two minor siblings from Jaji primary school who were run over by a kombi driver and perished on the spot on Monday the 24th of October were laid to rest yesterday (Wednesday).

Circumstances are that the two sisters Sharmain (grade 2) and Precious (grade 5) aged 8 and 12 years respectively were on their way to school carrying fire wood used to prepare supplementary meals at schools due to the prevailing drought.

A white Nissan Vannete driven by Dominic Machise of Kunzekwenyika village crushed the two at around 7 am in a bid to overtake another kombi which was pirating.

Machise dismissed the pirating aspect as the kombi has a yellow registration plate (ADU 8854) and his driver’s licence was issued 3 months ago hence both the car and the driver are not fit for public transport.

He further alleges that the kombi that was in front of him blocked his way and when he tried to overtake that is when he hit the two and stopped after realizing the tragic accident.
According to a family spokesperson Precious and Sharmain were buried at two separate places and Machise contributed US$50 towards the funeral.

We are very saddened by the terrible loss of our innocent children who were killed as a result of the rowdy and wayward behaviour of kombi drivers on the roads.

We had to bury Precious at Nzvimbo growth point and Sharmain at Rwere village as the pain of burying the two at the same place was too much to bare,” he said in tears

The owner of the kombi identified as Patson managed to give the alleged killer US$50 as contribution for funeral expenses and said the kombi was not pirating but instead it was going to ferry cement that he had purchased.

The family also bemoaned police reaction as they are said to have attended the scene three hours later.

Efforts to contact Mashonaland Central spokesperson were fruitless as he and most senior officers are said to be on leave however, constable Nyandoro who is in the office said dishing out information to the private media is a punishable offence in the force.

“I am happy with the chance I have been given and it is my first time to sing outside Zimbabwe. My music has been received within Zimbabwe and I hope those in the Diaspora will receive my music very well.”

The above quote came from high ­flying musician Jah Prayzah back in 2012 when he got his first shot at spreading his music to an international audience as he embarked on his maiden UK tour. Who would have thought that four years later The Third Generation band frontman would be a contender for the Listener’s Choice Award at the prestigious MTV Africa Music Awards and then walk away with the gong?

Winning the MTV award is a milestone representing Jah Prayzah’s expanding fan base given that music fans across Africa voted for him ahead of other popular acts like Bebe Cool, Burna Boy, Prince Kaybee and EL. Having conquered the local music scene on radio, television and the stage by a long stretch, the talented artiste finally got his big break on the international arena after collaborating with Tanzanian superstar, Diamond Platinumz, on the song “Watora Mari”. The video became an instant hit on release in August, clocking one million views on YouTube in just 18 days and dominating many international music video channels.

While recognition as a continental fan favourite might be a feat on its own, the man from Uzumba believes this is just the beginning as he intends to expand his influence beyond Africa. In an interview with The Sunday Mail Leisure last week, Jah Prayzah said he was lining up more collaborations with international heavyweights. “Right now I need more collaborations and videos with top acts from around the globe in order to spread my brand further. “Our target is to get even more recognition from the likes of BET Awards and the Grammy Awards, but if we don’t dream it we can never achieve it,” said Jah Prayzah. “I am trying to avoid a situation where we just make one international hit and we end there.”

Jah Prayzah would not divulge the names of the artistes he is targeting for collaborations but promised fans would be dancing to one of these songs before the end of 2016. “We are talking to several top acts from across the continent and while I cannot disclose the names at the moment all I can say is that something big is cooking and fans should brace for more exciting international hits. “We want to try and maintain the quality we have achieved with videos for ‘Watora Mari’ and ‘Mdhara Vachauya’. The money we have to invest to achieve that is a bit steep so we might end up just making a few videos.

” Jah Prayzah has one of the biggest catalogues of collaborations in the country having worked with almost every top local act including Oliver Mtukudzi, the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Fungisai Zvakavapano­Mashavave and Suluman Chimbetu. He has also collaborated with other international acts such as Jamaican reggae icon Luciano and Botswana’s Chama Girl. Although his previous collaborations failed to make a significant impact internationally, Jah Prayzah believes that they contributed a lot to his growth. “I can’t dispute that my collaboration with Diamond Platinumz is the biggest yet, but I believe all the other collaborations I have done in the past contributed to getting me where I am today. For example, when I collaborated with Chama Girl, our fan base in Botswana started growing and there is a probability that there are some people in Jamaica who have also listened to my song with Luciano.”

The artiste is working on a project with platinum­selling British pop group Sam and the Womp. This could be another opportunity for Jah Prayzah to spread his wings further considering that Sam and the Womp has already tasted the UK Singles Chart number one spot with their 2012 debut single “Bom Bom”. “We are working on a huge project with a British pop group, Sam and the Womp, which is nearing completion. This is going to be new territory for us considering that we tried to fuse pop music with our own sound but I am sure when it comes out, people will like it.” Commenting on his recent award, Jah Prayzah said this has been his dream for a long time to be recognised at such a big stage. “It has been a couple of days since I won the award but it’s still difficult for me to accept the fact that I actually have an MTV award, right here, in my office. “This has been my wish for a long time, to be recognised out there because on the local front I think we have managed to win almost every award and we have achieved so much here so being recognised internationally is a very big achievement for us.” He went on:

“I want to give credit to Diamond Platinumz because I realised that the song and video we did together pushed my brand big time because Diamond is well known across the continent so some of his followers also started following me. Even when it came to voting, some of the people who voted for me were his fans.” Meanwhile, Diamond Platinumz will share the stage with the MTV award­winner on December 2 at the Harare International Conference Centre at a concert dubbed “Watora Mari”

Flamboyant businessman and Zimbabwe Football Association president, Philip Chiyangwa has lashed out at the country’s political leadership, saying they were responsible for the current decay, telling them to go to hell.

Chiyangwa demanded that political leaders should not put barriers in front of those trying to get the economy running and make money.

“Please, they must get the hell out of our way,” he thundered in a short video that has since gone viral.

“We need space and we need people who are able to embrace change, who accept that I can be able to become a multi-millionaire without them.

“This country has so many smart people, (but) where is Mthuli Ncube, located somewhere in the Netherlands … big brains. Where is Nkosana Moyo or even Arthur Mutambara

Ncube, who set up Barbican Bank, left the country under a cloud after he was accused of externalisation and had his financial institution shut down.Moyo quit as a minister and is now running a leadership think-tank in South Africa.

“We cannot have Strive Masiyiwa (Econet Wireless founder) stay way out of here because the moment he is here, they start cooking up charges of externalisation,” Chiyangwa continued.

The businessman, never far from controversy, urged the government to put in place progressive policies that allow for development of the economy.

Contacted for comment, Chiyangwa confirmed the video and indicated it was a shorter version of a longer presentation he had given.

Employers in Zimbabwe are considering docking salaries for workers who squander productive time on cash queues but labour unions say they are prepared to fight such an “injustice” to the hilt. Cash shortages began in March this year and have since worsened.

Banks are currently limiting withdrawals to between US$30 and US$100 per day. The Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz) president, Mr Joe Kahwema said that while industry had been afforded the opportunity to compete on the local market as a result of the recent import restrictions, workers have to work even harder than before. It is believed that through increasing production and improving capacity and efficiencies, local companies will be able to reduce costs associated with locally­produced goods.

“This (deducting salaries) seems like the natural reaction. We have to understand that we have to earn the money we receive and if we are to spend all our time in bank queues, where are we going to get the money to pay the people? “Zimbabwe has a very low productivity rating in the region. Absence from work can only worsen the productivity levels and this is how we price ourselves out of the market. “Banks have ameliorated the situation by promoting plastic money,” said Mr Kahwema. Though plastic money and alternative transacting methods are considered viable, some services such as public transport and rentals still heavily rely on cash.

Emcoz is currently assessing the impact of cash­induced absenteeism on productivity. The loss is thought to be significant. There is debate on whether slashing workers’ salaries in such circumstances is legal. Last week, Advocate Arthur Marara, a partner at Mutamangira and Associates, said it is within employers’ rights to deduct wages that are commensurate with the time spent away from work.

Section 12A of the Labour Act specifically spells out that “no deduction or set­off of any description shall be made from any remuneration except — (a) where an employee is absent from work on days other than industrial holidays or days of leave to which he is entitled, the proportionate amount of his remuneration only for the period of such absence”. “Essentially, Section 12A (6) is codifying a common law principle of no work no pay. However, the Labour Act does not provide for ‘hours’ of absence as in whether an employee can have salaries deducted for the hours that they would not be at work. That is certainly an arguable point,” said Advocate Marara.

He, however, also noted that it is prudent for employers and employees to engage in dialogue since cash shortages are a reality. Of interest is that some retrenchments are now being carrying out in accordance with the new amendments to the Labour Act.

“Employees are now being retrenched in terms of the new amendment as it has made termination flexible. There are no rules that have been set out to govern confirmation of decisions from labour officers and designated agents. “There is still a lot of work to be done, and still need for more amendments to the Labour Act in order to ensure that disputes are expeditiously dealt with and disposed of. The labour laws are circumlocutory and make the whole process expensive and beyond the reach of many Zimbabweans,” added Advocate Marara. Labour unions opine that reforms to the Labour Act give too much power to employers since they “make labour a commodity and an employee a mere production tool”

Some experts say the labour law reforms create a worse situation than the original provisions of the Labour Act (28:01) in as far as termination of employment contracts is concerned. Employers have been lobbying Government to amend the Labour Act in order to ensure that wages and salaries are linked to production. Most legacy debts carried on companies’ balance sheets are accrued due to unpaid wages and salaries, especially during times when the companies were idle. But Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Mr Peter Mutasa last week said that if employers takes this route, that will be tantamount to addressing the symptoms and completely ignoring the problem. “Zimbabweans, collectively, Emcoz included, have the responsibility to demand policymakers to address the problem.

Workers cannot be singled out for blame or punishment for a problem they have not caused, and which is affecting every Zimbabwean. “Again, the planned action is not feasible legally for most collective bargaining agreements provide that workers must be paid during working hours; hence, the time they spend queuing for their hard­earned wages must be regarded as working hours. “If the employers want workers to be at work, then they should source for cash and pay workers their weekly or monthly wages at the workplaces,” said Mr Mutasa. ZCTU said it is prepared to consider its options if employers take this route. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Dr John Mangudya has proposed to introduce bond notes to alleviate paper money shortages. The RBZ says it will issue smaller denominations of bond notes — $2 and $5 — in November. Emcoz believes bond notes will help reduce the impact of liquidity challenges in the country. “Yes, it is obvious that bond notes will reduce the cash shortages. The question we should be asking is: what will be the implication of the bond notes?’ This is a question we can only answer after the event.

“If the bond notes are introduced and controlled as promised by the Reserve Bank, then there should be no problem. However, if the bond notes are used as part of quantitative easing to assist the Government to meet recurrent expenditure obligations, then there will be serious problems and the bond note will suffer the same fate as the Bearer Cheques. This is the fear in the market,” said Mr Kahwema. The bond notes will be backed by a US$200 million Africa Export­Import Bank (Afreximbank) facility. An initial US$75 million worth of bond notes will be injected into the market before the end of the year. The surrogate currency will be issued as an export incentive. Small­scale exporters of gold and tobacco will get 5 percent while large­scale exporters of the same will get 2 percent of their total exports

President Robert Mugabe has reportedly given the green light for law enforcement agencies to arrest senior State and public officials who engage in corrupt activities, with the courts able to jail them for up to five years upon conviction.

According to a report in the State owned but Zanu PF controlled Sunday Mail newspaper, President Mugabe has also empowered permanent secretaries of ministries to fully oversee financial management of public entities and statutory funds. It remains to be seen if the latest move is a mere publicity stunt given previous reluctance to investigate cabinet ministers like Saviour Kasukuwere, Ignatius Chombo, Obert Mpofu and Jonathan Moyo among others who have been accused of corruption and looting state coffers.

According to a Government Gazette published last Friday, Government officials and bosses at public entities will be jailed for up to five years if convicted of accepting monetary or other benefits “inconsistent with discharge of duty”, such as tokens of appreciation, travel, fuel, holiday, management committee and trustee allowances. The Government Gazette said President Mugabe had signed into law the Public Finance Management Amendment Act (Chapter 22:19) which contains the new provisions. The amendment to Section 51A of the principal Act says; “The accounting authority and every member or employee of a public entity, and the accounting officer and every member of the civil service employed in an appropriate ministry responsible for that entity, shall (not)…

“(2)(a) act in a manner or receive any monetary or other benefit that compromises the supervisory or regulatory role of the appropriate ministry or infringes on the autonomy of the public entity.”

It is an offence for ministry officials to accept “(2)(b)(iii) or receive any monetary or other benefit inconsistent with discharge of the appropriate ministry’s supervisory or regulatory role including (but not limited to) any payment or benefit in the way of or in guise of – management committee allowances; or trustee or trustee representative allowances; or travel allowances, fuel coupons or holiday allowances”. According to the Act, any person who wilfully or with gross negligence contravenes the regulations “(4) shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment”.

The Act empowers permanent secretaries to recommend to ministers to either approve or reject recurrent capital budgets of public entities. The amendment to Section 10 of the principal Act says, “(4) Every accounting officer with regard to public entities and statutory funds for which his or her ministry is responsible shall – “(a) ensure that each such public entity or statutory fund has systems in place for planning, allocating, budgeting and reporting the use of public resources and that public resources are safeguarded against loss; … “(c) have power to call upon any accounting authority of each such entity (public entity) or (statutory) fund to provide an explanation on an issues affecting the use of public resources.” Permanent secretaries are empowered to order investigations into the conduct of a public entity or statutory fund. In recent weeks, several ministers and senior Government officials have been accused of using their positions to abuse funds from departments, companies and other entities falling under their portfolios.

His Presence Ministries International (HPMI)’s Pastor Petunia Chiriseri has taken the reigns at the church following the death of her husband Apostle Charles Chiriseri in a car accident last month.

Presiding over Apostle Chiriseri’s funeral service in Bulawayo last Saturday, former Zambian Vice President and Victory Bible Church Pastor, Dr Nevers Mumba ordained Pastor Chiriseri to lead the church. She becomes one of the few female pastors leading big churches in the country. “Apostle Chiriseri died during the prime of his life and the church has lost a mentor, we have lost a great man but God is never careless,

He saw it fit, it is not a trial and error thing. “God knew that you (Pastor Chiriseri) is capable of moving ahead with His work as the leader of HPMI, God has confidence in you, pursue and you shall recover,” Dr Mumba said. He went on, “God is expecting you to raise the standard, not maintain it. Please don’t disappoint, the best is yet to come from HPMI.” Dr Mumba also told the gathering that Pastor Chiriseri has what it takes to lead the ministry.

“This is why God miraculously saved her,” he said. Dr Mumba asked the congregation to pray for Pastor Chiriseri as she prepares for her new role. HPMI senior Pastor Edmore Shumba said Apostle Chiriseri laid a firm foundation for the church. “Here is a man that I have walked with for 25 years. I observed a few things, he was consistent and non­compromising with regards to the kingdom of God.

He had amazing wisdom, he spent private time discussing intimate things. The man is gone but the vision lives, it will outlive him. “He taught us to be good leaders, he challenged us to desire the presence of God and he challenged us to know the vision by heart,” said Pastor Shumba. Apostle Chiriseri founded His Presence Ministries International Church which has 10 branches across Zimbabwe and more in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

At the time of his death, he was a member and leader of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) and Council of Apostles. Apostle Chiriseri, who was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo, died on the spot on September 15, 2016 when the vehicle he was driving hit a donkey along the Harare­Bulawayo Road near Mbembesi. His wife, who is a member of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised for more than three weeks and was was discharged on October 18.