Farai Kuvirimirwa Herald Reporter
At least 70 buildings, including houses and business premises at different levels of construction in Chitungwiza were yesterday razed down during a pre-dawn operation by council using front end loaders.
The operation to rid the town of illegal structures built on wetlands, left hundreds of people homeless.

The properties were demolished between 1 and 3am in St Mary’s, Units A, P, O and G.

A thatched bar and gazebo owned by one Mr Marufu and situated next to St Mary’s police station, a shopping complex under construction and tens of houses went down.

Chitungwiza council chamber secretary, Mrs Priscilla Vengesai, said the demolitions were targeted at illegal structures only.

“Those structures were built by people on undesignated areas. They do not have stand numbers and they allocated themselves land on those sites. They can come to our offices with their stand numbers for verification,” she said.

Upon being asked why the demolitions were conducted at night, Mrs Vengesai referred the questions to town clerk Mr George Makunde, whose mobile number was not available.

When The Herald visited Chitungwiza, scores of residents were still in shock over what had happened to the buildings.

In St Mary’s, a resident identified as Mr Maxwell Chayemura, said the bar and the gazebo were completed last year.

“We anticipated it was going to be opened anytime from now but it has been turned into rubble overnight. Graders made noise during the night and when we went outside to investigate, we were shocked to see them destroying the buildings,” he said.

At St Marys complex, one of the tenants and brother to the owner of the building who identified himself as Manyonganise, said he was shocked to see his refrigerators underneath the rubble before being informed council officials were responsible.

“I came expecting to start on a good note but I was surprised that my clients’ refrigerators had been damaged in the course of the demolition process.
“If it was proper, they would have come during the day and I am wondering why they did it at night and without giving us a notice.

“They should have told us in advance such that we remove our belongings than for them to be damaged. The building was constructed with full approval of the council and inspectors came to approve the building when it was at various stages,” he said.

In Unit A and next to Chibuku Stadium, one of the victims Mr Tawanda Musosa, said he was devastated with the demolition of his seven roomed house.

“I incurred several expenses exceeding $10 000 during the construction and purchase of the stand. Now I am not sure of where I will go from here since I invested all I worked for.

“I could not open the door in the middle of the night since I thought they were thieves. I was surprised with the rumbling noise before the wall was pushed to where I was sleeping,” he said before showing his bruised hand.

Another victim, Mr Admire Ruganhire, said his neighbours were spared and given notices to vacate the area.

“We are paying water bills to council every month and they should have said it before we parted with a lot of money,” he said.

Innocent Ruwende and Nyemudzai Kakore
Government has struck deals with financial institutions, housing co-operatives and other development partners to build over 300 000 houses in the next three years in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
Zim-Asset requires the Social Services and Poverty Eradication cluster to collectively deliver 250 000 housing units/serviced stands in the next four years against an estimated backlog of 1,25 million people on the housing waiting list.

Officially launching the National Housing Delivery Strategy in Harare yesterday, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said each province had been given a target to deliver a certain number of houses within the three-year period.

Banks are being roped in to mobilise resources for mortgage financing for potential beneficiaries.

“It is estimated that this programme will result in annual mortgage repayments of more than $360 million,” said Dr Chombo.

“This will go a long way in strengthening the depth of the financial markets in Zimbabwe and to generate liquidity in the market.

“Land developers who shall be allocated land as part of the housing delivery system shall work with a bank, which bank shall relate with the beneficiaries.

“All payments to contractors for works undertaken will be scrutinised by a management committee of the housing cooperatives/pay schemes under close supervision by an Inter- Ministerial Technical Committee to be established for that purpose.”

Dr Chombo said the programme would go a long way in reviving the mortgage market in Zimbabwe that had been depressed by the absence of new housing developments.

He said the huge housing backlog was a result of low investments into housing delivery by all stakeholders, but the strategy had come at a time when the economy was showing signs of steady recovery.

“In Harare, 105 935 units will be built, while Midlands will built 56 582 housing units, Matabeleland North will built 28 772 units, with Masvingo accommodating 20 269 housing units,” said Dr Chombo.

“Mashonaland West 23 819, Manicaland 21 830, Mashonaland Central 16 700, Bulawayo urban 15 100, Matabeleland South 12 500 and Mashonaland East 11 776 housing units.”

Dr Chombo said councils issue title deeds and directed the local authorities to sell urban houses to sitting tenants.

He said an implementation guide had been developed outlining the scope and conditions and roles of various players, with local authorities required to have one stop shop to expedite the implementation of the programme.

Dr Chombo said there would be no direct link between land developers and beneficiaries in terms of both stand allocation and payments.

The beneficiaries would instead deal with banks who provide the mortgage.

Speaking at the same event, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said building by-laws needed to be revised to suit modern markets.

“There is a huge gap between supply and demand, but certain statutes of the Constitution should be met for our targets to be realised,” he said.

“Demolitions need to happen. We cannot allow people to build in school yards, that is unacceptable.”

Economist Mr Brains Muchemwa, who was representing the financial sector, said Government should incentivise banks to offer mortgage to more people.

“Currently, mortgage is only taking 11 percent of the total assets under management by the banks, which means that the other 89 percent has been allocated to other competing interests,” he said.

“How do we incentivise banks to ensure that they do much more and be able to provide more mortgages to address the needs of the society?

“The structure of mortgage for low cost houses is attractive because beneficiaries can pay within a short period of time. Government should put the right structures in place.”

Businessman Mr Philip Chiyangwa, who was representing land developers, urged private land developers and cooperatives to co-exist.

Zimbabwe Property Rights Organisation founder and former Cabinet minister Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said Zimbabweans with properties should be issued with title deeds.

“Most of the properties in Zimbabwe have no value because the owners do not have title deeds,” he said. “We only have two deeds offices, but they should be more because most houses are built without any legal documentation.”

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa, Lands and Rural Settlement Minister Douglas Mombeshora, Harare Metropolitan Minister of State Miriam Chikukwa, Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Tongai Muzenda, senior Government officials, town clerks, mayors and Zanu-PF officials attended the launch.

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter—
Five senior police officers have been arrested on allegations of conniving with a private laboratory to take blood samples from civilians at the expense of the force’s hospital in Chikurubi and converting the money to their own use. The five are Support Unit Camp Hospital officer-in charge Chief Inspector Joshua Gambiza (44), Inspector Mercy Mberi (44), Inspector Alice Sibanda (42), Assistant Inspectors Shamiso Ziki (29) and Sydney Betera (34).

They were arrested after it was discovered that they were taking the blood samples to the private laboratories instead of Parirenyatwa Hospital or PSMAS for laboratory tests as per the hospital’s requirements.

The five appeared in court before magistrate Mr Milton Serima charged with criminal abuse of office.
They were remanded to October 31 on US$100 each.

As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered to surrender their passports and to report to CID Fraud squad once a week, among other conditions.
The prosecutor, Miss Sharon Mashavira, alleged that during the period extending from February to September this year, the five accused persons acting in connivance, entered into a private arrangement with private laboratories, where they would receive private clients referred from the said laboratories for blood samples.

The five, the court heard, would offer the services at the expense of the police and would not remit the payments to the force’s hospital.
It is the State’s case that they would then refer them back to the laboratories and in turn they were paid for their services, but they neither receipted the payments, nor disclosed the nature of transaction to the police general headquarters.

Their actions were contrary to the hospital requirements that all blood samples be sent to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals or PSMAS for laboratory tests.
According to the State, the offence was discovered after a messenger from Greigestone laboratories, Vengai Janyamahwe, had gone to Support Unit camp hospital to deliver blood samples results and US$110 cash for the accused persons.

Investigations revealed that the five had received US$505 from the laboratories as payment.

Temba Mliswa

Farirai Machivenyika and Walter Nyamukondiwa—
THERE was drama at a Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial executive committee meeting which ended prematurely yesterday afternoon after embattled provincial chairman Cde Temba Mliswa refused to recuse himself when asked to do so over the spy-gate saga in which he is being accused of working with and receiving money from a CIA operative attached to the US embassy in Harare.

Mashonaland West is reportedly seeking guidance from the Politburo over Cde Mliswa’s continued leadership of the province.
Despite admitting to asking for money from the US embassy at a Press conference he convened in Harare in the morning, Cde Mliswa launched into a tirade against senior party members in the province in the afternoon when confronted over the spy-gate saga as he trashed Politburo members Cdes Ignatius Chombo, Patrick Zhuwawo, and Mr Ziyambi Ziyambi and his wife Florence whom he accused of corruption.

Cde Mliswa then had an altercation with Women’s League secretary for finance Mrs Beauty Zhuwawo, wife to Cde Zhuwawo, who slapped him over the insults he was heaping on her husband who was not in the meeting.

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The fallout was reportedly sparked by alleged disparaging remarks made by Cde Mliswa to the effect that Cde Patrick Zhuwawo and his wife Beauty were a “disgrace to the First Family”.
Cde Patrick Zhuwawo does not sit in the provincial executive committee meeting.

Sources said this did not go down well with Mrs Zhuwawo who confronted Cde Mliswa and slapped him right in the face, shouting angrily that she would do more harm to him as he had no right to talk about her husband who was not in the meeting.

Earlier on, according to sources, Mrs Zhuwawo had thrown a bottle of water at Cde Mliswa which, however, missed the target.
Sources said the meeting had shown simmering tensions from the onset.

Some members wanted the “Spy-gate” issue on the agenda.
Cde Mliswa, the sources said, was asked to recuse himself from chairing the meeting in the face of the serious allegations being levelled against him.
“The meeting showed ominous signs from the onset after people argued over the inclusion of the allegations levelled against the chairman of spying for the American Government. Some said they could continue the meeting with Cde Mliswa as chairman,” said a source.

The attack on the Zhuwawos by Cde Mliswa allegedly stems from comments made by Cde Patrick Zhuwawo in articles carried in our sister paper The Sunday Mail.
According to the sources Cde Mliswa also made corruption allegations against Mrs Florence Ziyambi, who is the deputy Attorney General and wife to Mashonaland West deputy provincial chairman Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi.

“He also accused Minister (Ignatius) Chombo of corruption and also said President Mugabe didn’t like Cde Patrick Zhuwawo,” the sources added.
After the altercation, Cde Mliswa went to the police station and The Herald caught up with him as he came out of the station.
He denied knowledge of the altercation and referred all questions to the provincial Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Simbarashe Ziyambi.

“I don’t know anything about the issue. Talk to the provincial secretary for Information and Publicity,” he said.
Cde Ziyambi would, however, not comment on the issue.
Makonde District police officer Superintendent Moyo, said police had not received a formal report on the matter.

Mrs Zhuwawo referred questions to Cde Ziyambi.
Cde Ziyambi confirmed the meeting was aborted after Cde Mliswa refused to recuse himself from chairing the meeting.
“The meeting was aborted. People were dissatisfied by the conduct of the provincial chairman of taking Americans to the province. It then generated personalities with Cde Mliswa insulting me saying I was a corrupt and useless minister. He also insulted my wife, Minister Chombo and everyone. He said there was nothing wrong with Americans,” he said.
Cde Ziyambi said they were going to take the matter to the Politburo.

“We will compile a report and hand it over to the Politburo. Politburo who will then give us direction on whether he should continue as the provincial chairperson. If he is cleared, that is ok,” he said.

In an interview with our sister publication, The Sunday Mail this week, Cde Mliswa admitted that he had taken suspected US CIA operative, Mr Eric Little, to his constituency (Hurungwe West) in June and allegedly told constituents to stop saying “Pamberi neZanu” and embrace US money.

Party officials on the tour also said Cde Mliswa introduced Mr Little to headmen and villagers, and held meetings in wards 15 and 20 of the constituency with councillors.
In the interview Cde Mliswa said there was nothing wrong with the meeting because security agents in Mashonaland West cleared it.

“We are even using the US dollar . . . that is the biggest infiltration by the Americans because we are using their money.
“The visit by Little was well known by the police and the President’s Office; he was accompanied by two State security agents. I am not stupid; I can prove that by way of producing all the communication to show that everything was above board

“There is nothing amiss about the US funding projects that help the ordinary; they are allowed by Government. Let’s not play cheap politics.
“We know it’s a few months before the (Zanu-PF) Congress and people are plotting a coup against me. It’s a witch-hunt,” he said.

Temba Mliswa

Herald Reporter—
Zanu-pf Mashonaland West provincial chairperson and Hurungwe West legislator Cde Temba Mliswa yesterday thumbed his nose at the revolutionary party, openly insisting that he would continue receiving money from US aid agencies against a party directive. Cde Mliswa also made scandalous allegations against three zanu-pf Politburo members — Professor Jonathan Moyo, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere and Cde Patrick Zhuwawo — whom he claimed were “gay gang- sters.”

Prof Moyo is Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, while Cde Kasukuwere is Environment, Water and Climate Minister.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and Leader of Government business in Parliament, told the National Assembly last week that legislators should not seek aid from foreign embassies and Governments, especially those hostile to Zimbabwe.

Cde Mliswa told journalists in Harare yesterday that there was nothing wrong with receiving money from the US.
He said he would accept it if it was offered for development projects in his constituency.

He claimed that reports linking him to the US secret agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, were preposterous in that while he had sought aid from the embassy, his application had been turned down.

Cde Mliswa said the Politburo had not been doing enough to report about its meetings to the Central Committee as required by the party constitution, though he appeared to backtrack when pressed to substantiate the claim.

He admitted that he took suspected CIA spy, Mr Eric Little, to meet local government leaders in Hurungwe West in his bid to secure funding from the US.

“I am not naïve. The Americans and the British have been running programmes in Zimbabwe for the past 34 years. Why has that become an issue now? I am a legislator and one of my roles is to represent my people,” said Cde Mliswa.

During the press conference, Cde Mliswa read to journalists several text messages that he exchanged with Mr Little in his bid to secure the diplomat’s visit to his constituency.
He said allegations being levelled against him were part of a grand plan to smear him ahead of Zanu-PF’s elective congress in December this year.
He said Prof Moyo, Cdes Kasukuwere and Zhuwawo were “gay gangsters” being paid by CIA.

“I will prove it. It’s the whole crew. We will not allow the party to be run by gay gangsters. They are constantly loaded with money because the CIA funds them,” he said.
The trio were not available for comment last night.

Cde Mliswa claimed that some politicians from his province were fighting him because he was not their preferred candidate for the post of chairman.
“They don’t control the province. They have tried a vote of no confidence but they have failed,” he said.

He also attacked the State owned media, particularly The Herald which he said was being used by Prof Moyo whom he said had influence in other private media.
Cde Mliswa said when some senior party officials met ambassadors from Western countries, it was interpreted as Government engagement but the same did not happen when he and other MPs did the same.

He claimed that people disliked him because he was “courageous” to tell the truth.
Cde Mliswa is one of the 12 MPs known as the “dirty dozen” who have been accused of wining and dining with US embassy officials despite frosty relations between Harare and Washington.

However, the 12 MPs who have been named as receiving direct US grants have since denied the allegations.
This was after they were invited for a handover of a $90 000 US grant by US ambassador, Mr Bruce Wharton, to be distributed in various constituencies.

Others are Cdes Paul Mavhima (Gokwe Sengwa); Walter Kanhanga (Guruve North); Adam Chamwemurombe (Chipinge West); Chriswell Mutematsaka (Guruve South); Batsirayi Pemhanayi (Mutare North); and Enock Porusingazi (Chipinge South).

The list also includes Shurugwi South MP Tapiwanaishe Matangaidze, Kindness Paradza (Makonde), David Butau (Mbire), and Uzumba MP Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.
However only Cde Kanhanga, Chamwemurombe and Mutematsaka attended the ambassador’s function.

Municipal Reporter
Illegal settlements are mushrooming between Hatfield and Epworth in Harare, prompting the city council to warn those building on undesignated land that they risk losing their money as the structures would be demolished.Council authorities have said they will soon carry out demolitions of illegal structures sprouting around the city.

Illegal settlers have set up structures near and around the preserved balancing rocks between Epworth and Hatfield, which are a tourist attraction and used to feature on the Zimbabwean currency.

The unplanned settlements are concentrated on wetlands.

Harare’s Environmental Management Committee chairperson, Councillor Christopher Mbanga, said people who had erected illegal structures should approach council before their homes are demolished. The city is also set to demolish more than 300 structures illegally built in Glen Norah after serving the settlers with 48-hour eviction notices. Some illegal housing structures have already been demolished in Chitungwiza and parts of Seke communal lands.

“That exercise is merciless. We have to restore order in the city,” said Mr Mbanga. “We cannot allow people to continue abusing wetlands.

They are our sources of clean water. The clear message to all would be developers, be it business or housing cooperatives, is that they have to visit the relevant council offices starting with district offices where the development is taking place.

“It is no excuse for anyone to first break the law and try to get sympathy after the act. No one in Harare is allowed to construct any structure within the city without getting approval from the city.”

Mr Mbanga said council would not entertain illegal activities as the city was not a village where people could build without approved plans.

Bulawayo Bureau
A 42-YEAR-OLD Chiredzi man lost an arm and sustained multiple fractures on his other hand as he wrestled a crocodile that attacked him and tried to pull him into Chiredzi River.Pascal Dyangwe of Crown Range, Village 8 under Chief Tshovani, is battling for life at Masvingo Provincial Hospital following the attack last Thursday.

Acting Masvingo Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna could neither confirm nor deny the incident yesterday.

Chronicle caught up with Dyangwe at hospital yesterday where he said he was in excruciating pain.

He told of the horrific moment when he came face-to-face with the huge reptile.

He said he battled it with his bare hands and had to pull them out of its jaws several times as the brute tried to drag him into the deeper part of the river.

Dyangwe said he was fetching water from the river to water his vegetable garden at around 3PM when the crocodile emerged from behind and attacked him.

“After I was dragged underwater I fell down but later regained my composure. I fought with the reptile by poking my hand, which was in its mouth deeper into its throat. It was forced to let go momentarily,” said Dyangwe.

He said he used the brief moment to rush closer to shore but the reptile was upon him seconds later.

“I could feel searing pain on my left arm but I continued fighting. The crocodile kept making scary splashing noises in the water and I thought the end had come.”

“I was losing strength and I could see the water around us turning red, showing that I was badly injured. I summoned my remaining energy and made one final push to get out of the river,” said Dyangwe.

He said he only realised the crocodile had gone off with his left arm after he had reached dry ground.

The crocodile had disappeared into the water. Dyangwe said he screamed for help and attracted the attention of a passer-by who rushed him to hospital.

“A good Samaritan then appeared from nowhere as I screamed for help and rushed me to Chiredzi District Hospital after which I was transferred to Masvingo General Hospital. I was bleeding so much that the vehicle I was in became slippery and red with my blood. I thank God that at least I am alive even if I have remained with one hand,” he said.

The hospital report revealed Dyangwe sustained multiple compound fractures on his remaining right arm.

A man from Dyangwe’s village said he was a very brave and lucky man.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Deputy Minister Dr Godfrey Gandawa chats with Colonel Jardinous Garira after addressing senior Defence Forces officers at the National Defence College yesterday

Crime Reporter
Security forces should strive to be advanced in technology as countries are confronted with unprecedented and invisible types of technology-driven threats, a Government official has said. Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Dr Godfrey Gandawa said yesterday that some of the threats were cybercrime, terrorism, abuse of social media, laboratory made diseases and possible nuclear and chemical warfare.

He was addressing senior army, Air Force of Zimbabwe and police officers at the National Defence College in Harare.

“The Zimbabwean military and other national security outfits should never allow themselves to be underdogs in advancing science and ICT as key elements of strategic importance in pursuit of guaranteed territorial integrity and sovereignty in an environment of sustained peace, stability and socio-economic development,” Dr Gandawa said.

He said political will was a prerequisite in African governments to invest in research and development to advance hard sciences, engineering technology and information communication technologies.

“African States remain seriously exposed to high security threats related to socio-economic instability, destabilisation and disease burdens if Africa does not embark on its own research and development in bio-medical sciences,” said Dr Gandawa.

“Infrastructure should be developed to attract and retain African medical scientists, who in turn become the required critical mass for training African scientists as they collaborate on common health concerns, share expertise and build capacity.”

Dr Gandawa said Africa lagged behind both in civilian and military research and development in strategic and security areas.

He said some of them were nuclear energy technologies and satellite applications for health, agriculture, security, wildlife, parks and environmental and social transition management programmes. The others were combating advance cybercrime and terrorism and drug discovery.

Dr Gandawa said they should embark on a collective Pan-African drive to develop infrastructure for intensive research and development and innovation in strategic sciences, ICT and other technologies.

“Security forces are also called upon to step in, in the event of epidemic outbreaks such as cholera, Ebola, HIV and Aids and malaria,” he said.

“The question that begs an answer is; as we speak, in the event that the evil of Ebola decides to visit Zimbabwe, are you as our national security system adequately trained and equipped to handle such an outbreak of the magnitude seen in West African countries today?”

Dr Gandawa said African economies were paying heavily for the sins of not having developed scientific platforms to deal with diseases.

Mr George Makunde

Municipal Reporter
More illegal structures are set to be demolished in Chitungwiza as the Urban Development Corporation, which was tasked by the Government to draw a layout plan of the town, submits the design this week with recommendations on the way forward.The plan will come up with recommendations on which illegal structures can be regularised and those which should be demolished.

Chitungwiza town clerk Mr George Makunde said yesterday that council would be guided by recommendations given by UDICORP.

“When we carried out demolitions, we did not destroy completed houses, but structures which were at various levels of construction which were not occupied,” he said. “The 22 000 houses whose case was taken to court were spared from the exercise. When the report (UDICORP’s) is out, however, we will know which of the 22 000 houses can be regularised and how many should be demolished. We will give people notice to vacate the affected structures before demolitions.”

Mr Makunde said residents should approach the relevant offices before deciding to build on stands they would have acquired.

Residents who exposed themselves to varying degrees of danger by settling on wet lands, municipal servitude lines and directly under Zesa high power lines are likely going to be affected, while structures which are not on dangerous zones will be regularised.

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Chitungwiza municipality last Friday demolished illegal structures after residents who were given an order to stop construction work on unapproved land defied the directive.

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Chivero Dam wall faces collapse if the hyacinth weed that is choking the dam and throwing water back is not removed, engineers have warned.The collapse of the dam wall would trigger a chain reaction as it would cause flooding and subsequent collapse of Darwendale and Biri Dams along the Manyame River, putting lives and property at risk.

Speaking during a tour of Manyame River by Mashonaland West Minister of State Cde Faber Chidarikire and officials from the Environmental Management Authority, Middle Manyame Sub-catchment manager engineer Munashe Mvura said the weed should be removed before the onset of the rainy season to avert danger.

“There is need to have the Civil Protection Unit come together while concerted effort is needed to remove the weed before the onset of the rains which will cause the Lake to spill, he said.

“The water will not flow thereby threatening the livelihoods of people if the dam collapses.”

Zinwa hydrologist engineer Graham Mugati said the dam was designed to allow continuous flow of water without any impediments.

“There is a primary dam and a secondary dam and water from the secondary dam is now being forced to return to the base of the dam wall thereby weakening it. This causes a risk of the dam giving in,” he said.

Lake Chivero has a carrying capacity of 247 million cubic metres of water.

It supplies water to Harare, Chitungwiza, Norton and Ruwa.

Cde Chidarikire said the weed had been a problem for the past 30 years.

He suggested the creation of bio-digesters to address the problem.

Morgan Tsvangirai

Herald Reporter
MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s time as a meaningful political force is over and Zanu-PF will not have any problem romping to victory in the 2018 harmonised elections, a respected United Kingdom academic and author has said.Zimbabwean watcher, Professor Stephen Chan, an International Relations lecturer at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, gave his damning assessment of Mr Tsvangirai in an interview published on Wednesday last week by World Politics Review.

His views came as Mr Tsvangirai has blamed himself and his party for entering the inclusive Government, saying it had a bearing on their dismal performance in the 2013 harmonised elections.

Mr Tsvangirai made the remarks during a programme on South Africa’s e.tv Africa last week on the in-fighting in MDC-T and failure to deliver what the opposition had promised its supporters.

Prof Chan said Mr Tsvangirai’s problems mounted since the elections last year.

“The former premier’s political prospects have been mortally wounded by a combination of his inept campaign for last year’s elections, the MDC-T party’s split after the vote, infighting in the faction he leads as well as the cutting of financial support by the West,” he said.
Prof Chan attributed Mr Tsvangirai’s demise to the splits that have haunted the MDC since it was formed in 1999.

“The current splits in the MDC reflect fissures that have been building for a long time,” he said.

“The nature of the 2013 electoral defeat (is) because of a spectacularly inept MDC campaign led by (Mr) Tsvangirai — (it) was the nail in the coffin.”

Prof Chan said the opposition underwent a process of self-destruction.

“(Mr) Tsvangirai will seek to retain control of a reduced party, but his time is over as a meaningful Zimbabwean political force,” he said.
“The British and Scandinavian governments are cutting his funding and he seems to have no new ideas.”

Mr Tsvangirai recently told e.tv Africa that he had only himself to blame for the 2013 defeat by Zanu-PF.

“I think with hind sight, it was important to have a GNU. We resolved a number of issues. I know (President) Mugabe was talking about horror. It was not horror. In fact, for the first time we started to see things stabilise,” Mr Tsvangirai said.

“The economy stabilised, the education sector, the social sectors restored, people planning about their future in a more effective way. But what has now happened as far as that GNU is concerned is that we actually saved (President) Mugabe and Zanu-PF. On that you can criticise us.”

But Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said it wrong for Mr Tsvangirai to suggest the inclusive Government saved President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

“He offered nothing in the inclusive Government. He is seeking relevance. Zanu-PF saved itself, we are a revolutionary party that fought for the independence of this country and Tsvangirai cannot find an answer to the political situation in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Former MDC-T secretary general and leader of the splinter MDC Renewal Team Mr Tendai Biti laid the blame on Mr Tsvangirai’s ineffective leadership for the party’s defeat last year.

Mr Biti, who was also on the same e.tv Africa programme, compared Mr Tsvangirai, who has led the opposition in the last 15-years, to a “mad person’’ for doing the same things over and over again.

Mr Biti was responding to a question why he broke away from the MDC-T and also why he thought the opposition party lost the elections.

“Only a mad person does the same thing over and over again and in Zimbabwe in our opposition trenches we have been doing the same things for the past years and we have come out with no tangible thing,” he said.

Mr Biti said the MDC, and Tsvangirai in particular, should take responsibility for the election defeat last year.

The MDC-T was humiliated by Zanu-PF in the harmonised elections in both the National Assembly and the Senate where the ruling party garnered a two thirds majority.

President Mugabe romped to victory with 61,09 percent of the presidential vote compared to Mr Tsvangirai’s 34,94 percent.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
KELVIN Kaindu has resigned as Highlanders FC coach. Sunday’s 1-3 defeat to ZPC Kariba signaled the end of the Zambian expatriate’s three-year reign at Highlanders during which the league title has eluded him.

He tendered his resignation letter on Monday evening.

Bosso confirmed Kaindu’s exit is a statement.

“The head coach Kevin Kaindu officially tendered his resignation yesterday after being with us for almost three years where he twice finished joint top with only the goal difference separating us from eventual winners. In 2013 he won the Mbada Diamonds Cup. May God bless him where ever he goes. The executive has not come up with the final position on replacing him,” reads part of the statement.

Kaindu leaves Highlanders sitting on position four with 39 points after 24 matches and trail pacesetters Dynamos by seven points.

Bosso are in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final.

More details to follow.

KELVIN KAINDU

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS coach Kelvin Kaindu was forced out of the club yesterday, just two days after a demoralising home defeat at the hands of ZPC Kariba torched violent disturbances in Bulawayo. The Zambian gaffer had been in charge of Bosso since 2011 and, in the last two years, only lost the championship race to Dynamos on goal difference. A former player at the club, Kaindu has come under intense pressure in recent weeks with the fans questioning his credentials after a poor run.

On Monday, Kaindu told our sister newspaper, Chronicle, that he was going nowhere with club chief executive, Ndumiso Gumede, taking a swipe at the hooligans who rioted after the loss to ZPC Kariba.

Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches’ Association condemned club administrators who remain in comfort zones when their coaches are at the mercy of rowdy fans because of poor results.

Bekhi Nyoni, the ZISCA chairman, yesterday said it was disheartening to note that a number of Castle Lager Premiership coaches have to live in fear of reprisals from a section of their fans.

Nyoni pointed out that Kaindu and Taurai Mangwiro of CAPS United should have been protected by their clubs’ executives.
“When the season starts, it’s the executive committee who enter into an agreement with a coach. The parties set out their targets and there should be need for a review of those targets in mid-season.

“There is need to find out if the coaches had the resources to achieve the goals or if the executive failed to provide the resources.
“Now we have this issue where violent fans besiege the coaches yet it’s the executive committee who have a contract with the coaches,” said Nyoni.

Nyoni felt that the Highlanders leadership succumbed to the pressure from their fans to force Kaindu out.
“The administrators should be strong and point out that they are sticking with the coach or that there are partying ways.

“It’s bad for club officials to hoodwink the coaches that they are together yet they try to be clean when confronted by their fans.
“The supporters do not have contracts with the club but it’s the coaches.

“Failure by a team should be viewed in its wholesome and if the administrators are genuine, they should also resign along the coaches,” he said.
Nyoni said it was important for fans to understand that football becomes very competitive towards the end of the season.

“If a club like Highlanders, who are third on the log, loses to a club that is second on the table like ZPC Kariba, there is no reason to throw missiles.
“How Mine are in the same league with CAPS United and the fact that they drew at Rufaro should not be a reason for firing coaches. As ZISCA we are challenging administrators to have total control of their fans otherwise we might have coaches being attacked at their homes,” he said.

Business Reporter
ZIMPAPERS has successfully commissioned a refurbished CD102 commercial printing machine purchased from Italy for its printing division, Natprint, which has increased the unit’s capacity threefold. The group’s chairman, Dr Charles Utete, said the recapitalisation exercise is almost complete. “The new Orient X-Cell printing press is now fully operational, although there is still room to achieve the expected optimum production capacity, efficiency and quality,” Dr Utete said.

“The company has also finished installation of its new production and accounting system, 4CPlus. The system is robust and watertight. The new system has greatly improved the production and reporting processes by providing real-time information flow availability,” he said.

Dr Utete said the full benefits of the recapitalisation are now starting to take effect especially the expected production efficiencies and quality.
The company has identified non-core assets for disposal in order to liquidate part of its debt in an effort to reduce high interest charges and also pay some the pressing statutory obligations.

Zimpapers’ newspaper division recorded an operating profit of $1,9 million before finance costs for the half year to June compared to $3,1 million for the same period last year.
Dr Utete said the division continues to perform well despite the competition and the harsh economic environment.

The division is adopting new technology to fully exploit opportunities being offered by new media.
The commercial printing division recorded an operating loss of $434 310 in the six months to June compared to a loss of $51 654 the same period last year. The division’s performance was negatively affected by the use of antiquated machinery.

“The division continues to have a healthy order book which it could not process previously due to lack of capacity. The division’s performance is now poised for growth with the commissioning of the refurbished CD102 machinery.

“The division is now geared to service its valued customers that include beverage manufacturers, food processors, publishers and manufacturing companies due to the increase in capacity,” said Dr Utete.

The broadcasting division recorded an operating loss of $112 600 in the period under review compared to $104 244 for the comparative period last year. Digital platforms contributed 4 percent to Group’s total revenue.

The group’s revenue was down 6 percent to $21 million from $22,4 million last year while gross profit fell marginally to $16,2 million from $16,5 million during the same period last year.

The decline in gross profit was marginal due to efficient procurement of raw materials and efficiencies in the production cycles brought about by recapitalisation.
Dr Utete said Zimpapers is focusing on developing digital platforms compatible with mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, and android devises as well as on-line products like online classified adverts, email advertising and also coming up with advertising platforms that suit the various sectors of the economy especially informal sector.

Zimpapers digital platforms have to date contributed four percent to the group’s total revenues. The company continues to grow these platforms which represent the future, according to Dr Utete.

“Although there are a number of players on the market, Zimpapers still maintains its market leadership as confirmed by different independent surveys. Most of the company’s publications have defined their key editorial propositions and are dominating their respective markets in terms of content,” said Dr Utete.

A survey carried out by Topline Research Solutions on behalf of the Zimbabwe Advertising Research Foundation, a board mandated to monitor and undertake independent market research on behalf of advertisers, the media, publishers, advertising agencies and public relations consultants in Zimbabwe, revealed that The Herald had more than 1,972,441 readers in the last three months compared to the closest rival the Daily News’ 1,051,399 in the same period.

Zamps showed that The Herald gained 2 percentage points on its daily readership to 26 percent from 24 percent recorded in the same period last year.
The Herald commands 26 percent of the market compared for the paper read in the last three months.

The Herald is also leading on the digital platforms with 6 percent of readers accessing the paper through the internet an increase from 2 percent recorded last year.
Newsday and Daily News follow The Herald at 5 percent while other dailies are at 2 and 1 percent respectively.

The survey also showed that The Herald is the preferred choice for local news commanding 24 percent of the readership, 17 percent for sports and 8 percent for business and entertainment news and 2 percent for regional news.

First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe (left), accompanied by sons Robert Junior and Bellarmine Chatunga, follows proceedings during the UZ graduation ceremony where she graduated with a doctorate

Hebert Zharare Deputy News Editor
VICE President Dr Joice Mujuru’s thesis is already in the University of Zimbabwe Library barely a month after she graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree along with 11 other graduands among them First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe. Investigations by The Herald, however, show that out of the 12 doctorates, only the VP’s thesis titled “A Strategic Exploratory Entrepreneurship Study of Sustainable Agricultural Business: Case Studies of Mitchel and Mitchel in Mashonaland East and Dotito Irrigation Scheme in Mashonaland Central Province’’ is on the library shelf and has been archived.

The First Lady and Vice President were part of the 12 doctorate holders capped by UZ Chancellor, President Mugabe on September 12, the others being:

• Masaka Johnson,
• Dokora Lazarus, 
• Maposa Richard,
• Mlambo Obert, 
• Nhamo Ancila, 
• Zengeya Fadzai,
• Icishahayo David, 
• Munyati Shungu,
• Gumbe Samuel
• Marunda Edmond 

In the wake of the First Lady’s graduation, there have been frenzied reports by some sections of the local private and international media questioning the First Lady’s degree, with some reports claiming she enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe a few months before the graduation ceremony.

The local private and international media have published some scandalous articles about Amai Mugabe’s doctorate and just recently the Daily News led the charge saying: “The First Lady Grace Mugabe’s PhD thesis is mysteriously missing on the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) website.”

The paper also quoted the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union as piling pressure on the University of Zimbabwe, describing Amai Mugabe’s PhD as a “genetically modified doctorate” which shamed local academia.

On September 22, the Newsday weighed in with a story headlined “Grace Mugabe’s masters research ‘upgraded’ to PhD,” that was picked from Reuters.
And the mysterious appearance of only VP Mujuru’s thesis on the library shelf out of the 12 theses points to a sinister agenda on the part of those behind the media offensive to fuel their allegations on the First Lady’s PhD.

A senior academic at the University of Zimbabwe, who didn’t want to be named given how the matter has been politicised, yesterday said the process of authenticating, indexing and publishing dissertations and the theses took at least 12 months after graduation.

“When the student’s final thesis has been accepted by the supervisor or nominated academic (by the Panel of Examiners) the student submits bound copies and a CD to the Post-Graduate Centre. These items are then submitted or deposited to the library.

“The library will also place the thesis in a queue so that it can be processed (indexing and cataloguing are carried out by the library) until the thesis is finally placed on the shelf and the university’s e-resources. These processes take a while after graduation.

“Some thesis will take about a year or more to be available on the shelves of the library. There is, however, no stipulated time on how long it will take to have a thesis available in the library. But surely it cannot be found in the library’s shelf immediately after graduation. It is highly unusual and raises eyebrows,” the academic said.

A staffer in the Great Library also said whoever was behind the mysterious appearance of the VP’s thesis wanted the spotlight on the First Lady’s doctorate by virtue of the absence of her thesis.

“It’s a clear abuse of the VP and the First Lady. The move is meant to raise questions about the authenticity of the First Lady’s academic achievements, yet the records are there to prove that she went through all the processes.’’

Amai Mugabe’s thesis is titled ‘‘The Changing Social Structure of the Family: The Case of Children’s Homes in Zimbabwe’’ obviously motivated by her philanthropic work countrywide and at the state-of-the-art orphanage and children’s home she built in Mazowe.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga cuts a ribbon with the help of Mrs Enjula Shanyurai, a beneficiary of one of 72 houses built under the Defence Forces Benefit Fund at Simbi Park in Redcliff yesterday.

John Manzongo recently in Kwekwe
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga yesterday handed over 72 houses to soldiers in Simbi Park in Redcliff constructed under the Defence Forces Benefit Fund. The contributory housing scheme was launched in 1988 and provides cheaper accommodation to members. It has benefited more than 700 soldiers countrywide. Addressing beneficiaries, Gen Chiwenga said the force was complementing Government efforts at providing affordable accommodation.

“Despite this being at a minimal level, I am glad that the ZDF is playing its part to augment Government’s accommodation requirements in addition to assisting in enhancing our efforts towards fulfilling the United Nations Millennium Development Goals on the provision of accommodation.

“Construction of these houses is meant to spur development by improving social and economic conditions of members,” he said.
Gen Chiwenga dissuaded beneficiaries from selling the houses to earn quick money.

“These houses are for your families, do not dispose of the houses as a way of raising quick money. Remember the few dollars so raised may be blown in a matter of minutes while a house in your possession is an asset for life,” he said. He thanked local authorities for allocating land to the ZDF for housing.

One of the recipients Captain Talent Murugani thanked the ZDF for providing them with decent and affordable accommodation.
ZDFBF secretary Mrs Florence Sigudu-Matambo said the fund uplifted the standards of living of soldiers.

Dr Chombo

Municipal Reporter
Government will set up an inter-ministerial technical committee to monitor the operations of housing co-operatives to ensure sound corporate governance following cases of abuse of funds by some co-operative leaders . Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said yesterday it would be ideal for housing co-operatives to conduct their development through banks.

“Land developers who shall be allocated land as part and parcel of the housing delivery programme shall work with a bank which shall relate with the beneficiaries in terms of both stand allocation and payments,” he said.

“All payments to contractors for works undertaken will be scrutinised by management committees of the housing co-operatives/pay schemes under close supervision by an inter-ministerial technical committee to be established for that purpose.”

Dr Chombo said the infrastructure service provider in any housing development would develop the off-site and on-site infrastructure inclusive of tarred roads, water and sewer reticulation, storm water drains, street lighting, optic fibre cabling for smart metering, crèches, schools and clinics as approved in the lay out plans.

Dr Chombo said to realise the full potential of the housing delivery model, an implementation guide had been developed outlining the scope, conditions, procedures and roles of all involved.

“I want to recognise the significant contribution made by housing co-operatives, especially in the last decade in delivering low cost houses at a time both Government and local authorities were finding it difficult to do so,” he said.

“This was chiefly due to the devastating effects of illegal sanctions visited upon the polity and instigation of our erstwhile detractors, the West, as a result of our successful land reform programme.”

Housing co-operatives have been rocked by abuse of funds by their leaders who sometimes disappear without allocating stands to beneficiaries.
While launching the National Housing Delivery Strategy last week, Dr Chombo said Government was committed to providing decent affordable housing for its people, adding that a major housing delivery programme required concerted efforts from all stakeholders.

Entertainment Reporters—
The Zimbabwe Music Awards ceremony that was set for Harare International Conference Centre on Friday has been postponed to October 29 to allow awards chairman Joseph Nyadzayo to attend to an important commitment that has arisen. The venue, nominees and performers of the ceremony remain the same. ZIMA organisers yesterday announced that they could not hold the ceremony without their chairman who is expected to deliver a keynote address on the return of the awards after a seven-year sabbatical.
He is also expected to hand over a surprise package to musician Cde Chinx who has been selected for the Chairman’s Award category.

The organisers said Nyadzayo is supposed to attend an urgent professional assignment and would not be available on Friday.
“This is an important ceremony for us because we are coming back after a seven-year absence. Everything is in place for the awards but the chairman has another commitment and we cannot proceed without him,” noted the organisers.

“We cannot continue with the ceremony without him. Such an important event needs his presence and we regret to announce that we have to move the awards to October 29 in accordance with his schedule. We regret for any inconvenience caused.”

ZIMA will this year honour musicians in various categories and United International Family Church Choir is dominating the nominees list with five nominations.
Jah Prayzah has four nominations while dancehall musician Soul Jah Love is vying for three awards.

Other musicians that are up for awards in different categories include Mawungira eNharira, Suluman Chimbetu, Shinsoman, Mathias Mhere and Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave among others.

Most of the musicians that have been nominated will perform on the night.
Headlining the performance line-up would be Jah Prayzah and Soul Jah Love while the highlight of the night would be the temporary reunion of Afrika Revenge.
Other musicians set to perform are Sebastian Magacha, Cynthia Mare, Tehn Diamond, Bulawayo band Djembe Monks, Shingisai Mangoma and Malimba.

Meanwhile, Cde Chinx who is receiving an uncontested accolade said he is happy with the recognition ZIMA had given him.
“I never thought that at one time my works will be appreciated. I am grateful to the organisers of ZIMA and the people of Zimbabwe for this recognition but I am curious on what I am going to get,” said the ecstatic Cde Chinx.

The event which will be a red carpet affair will see some artistes being dressed by local designers who are ready to take the platform to market their projects.

Golden Sibanda Senior Business Reporter
Cairns Holdings Limited is planning to increase the contribution of exports to revenue from 7 percent to 20 percent over the next two years, as part of concerted efforts to grow the business. The fast moving consumer goods manufacture also sees growth in exports as a way of securing the group’s future foreign currency availability, which helped support operations prior to dollarisation.

Acting chief executive Mr Jeremiah Kwenda said in an interview last week that the export market provided a growth opportunity for the group and Cairns was probing factors constraining exports.

Mr Kwenda said that growing exports was one of the strategic growth targets Cairns was planning to pursue once the group manages to get significant fresh capital to recapitalise its operations.

He said Cairns was exporting most of its product to South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Australia and US while only negligible quantities of wines were being exported to Mozambique and the DRC.

“But, exports at the moment are not more 7 percent of revenue and this is one growth platform for us because we are not only sitting comfortably in a US dollar denominated economy, we are looking at a time when we will need to bring in foreign currency,” he said.

“We are looking at expanding the market. Therefore, we are not focusing at this market alone, we are looking at exports. But the contribution of exports to our overall performance is still low.

“Therefore, we have said what is standing in our way to get back to where we were, where exports were contributing 30 percent of revenue,” he said.
His remarks come as Cairns has been able to exponentially increase production from an all time low of 5 percent and prejudicial management level of 20 percent, to an average of 40 percent.

Cairns was placed under judicial management in September 2012 due to serious financial constraints, but has made huge strides since then to attain profitability as it awaits fresh equity capital injection.

The exponential growth, aided by the $1 million loan facility that Cairns got under the Distressed and Marginalised Areas Fund, saw the group growing its monthly revenue to about $2 million.

Mr Kwenda said that the company had benefited significantly from Government protection and notable improvement has been seen in the canned products, potato crisps and biscuits business units.

He said measures put by Government in terms of the tariff regime, despite the Sadc trade protocols, for revival and survival of industry, were also critical for growth of local farm produce suppliers.

This comes as import duty regime increase on certain products helped level the playing field as some cheap products of inferior quality were either being dumped in Zimbabwe or were grossly discounted to undercut local producers.

Against this background Mr Kwenda said there was need for increased action by Government to plug loopholes at the ports of entry to prevent the smuggling of grossly discounted imported products.

He said Cairns has benefited strongly from brand equity, good relationship with suppliers and good skills base.
The group produces a variety of goods broadly classified under chips, snacks, cereals, wines, fruits and vegetables.

St John Ambulance CEO Mr Bruce Grant (right) speaks while vice chairman Mr Jaret Sibanda (left), Bishop of Anglican Church Reverend Chad Gandiya, Mayor of Harare Clr Bernard Manyenyeni and Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Yoshi Hiraishi look on after the embassy donated five ambulances to the association in Harare yesterday

David Shumba and Nyasha Weluzani
THE Japanese Embassy yesterday donated four ambulances to St John Ambulance Association to complement the institution’s efforts to supply ambulances countrywide. St John Ambulance Association offers first aid and related services throughout the country. Officially handing over the ambulances in Harare, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Yoshi Hiraishi, said the embassy donated the vehicles to improve the association’s ambulance service provision.
“It is our hope that procurement of these ambulances will be of great assistance to their own efforts to improve people’s access to appropriate medical services.

“We hope this will help them provide emergency ambulance services in a timely manner and thereby reduce unnecessary loss of life,” he said
Ambassador Hiraishi said they had donated the vehicles to ensure sustainability and universality in emergency ambulance services.

“We have been assured that these ambulances will be cared for so as to ensure a constant and reliable service to the public.
“Their service will certainly help to realise people’s universal access to medical care,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, the association’s vice chairman Mr Jaret Sibanda, said the donation had come at the right time when the association needed to expand its service provision.
“The donation has come at a right time when we need ambulances all over the country. It is going to make us more efficient in attending to emergencies,” he said.

He said one ambulance would be sent to Bulawayo, one to Mutare and two will be in Harare.
Mr Sibanda said the ambulances would complement the City of Harare, assist Ministry of Health and Child Care in ensuring quality health provision.

Harare mayor Clr Bernard Manyenyeni, who attended the ceremony, said the goodwill had come due to good deeds by St John Ambulance Association.