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Chamisa holds crunch

meeting over party name
. . . As by-elections loom
BY SHARON BUWERIMWE

T
HE Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance
will tomorrow hold a “crucial” meet-
ing to deliberate on a possible new
name for the party ahead of the March 26
by-elections and the 2023 plebiscite after
their nemesis, the MDC-T led by Douglas
Mwonzora laid claim on any name with the
acronym MDC.
MDC Alliance presidential spokesperson

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

The aftermath . . . Harare City Coun-

cil demolished informal traders’
tuckshops and stalls around Muped-
zanhamo area in Mbare, Harare, yes-
terday. Picture: Shepherd Tozvireva.
SEE STORY ON PAGE 2

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2 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Chamisa in crunch meeting
over party name
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Nkululeko Sibanda confirmed the Monday meeting to The
Standard.
“The party will hold a crucial meeting to resolve that is-
sue. You may ask our national party spokesperson Fadzai
Mahere for further clarification because I only speak on
behalf of the president. She will also make an official an-
nouncement after the meeting,” Sibanda said.
Mahere said the party would, at the “appropriate” time,
set its position to the people.
“The party is ready for the by-elections, but there is need
to implement electoral reforms, which are not negotiable
— to solve the governance crisis in Zimbabwe,” Mahere said.
“We need to align our electoral laws to the Constitution
and there is need for full disbandment of the partisan and
militarised Zimbabwe Electoral Commission secretariat.”
Chamisa’s party lost the MDC headquarters, Morgan Ts-
vangirai House, and the funds that it is supposed to get
through the Political Parties Finances Act to the Mwonzo-
ra faction, which claimed to be the legitimate MDC and the
courts ruled in its favour.
Mwonzora’s party also recalled MPs affiliated to the MDC
Alliance, and has since replaced about 15 proportional rep-
resentation seats with its MPs.
About 133 Parliamentary seats and council wards are
now vacant after the recalls of MDC Alliance MPs. Other va-
cancies were caused by the deaths of MPs and appointment
of others to Ambassadorial posts.
The MDC-T has since threatened to use the MDC Alliance
name in the forthcoming elections, a situation which has
now forced the MDC Alliance to think about changing its
identity.
MDC Alliance deputy national spokesperson Felix
Magalela Mafa Sibanda said the party was ready to take part
in any “credible, legal, free and fair elections”.
“By-elections were stage-managed by Mwonzora, a sur-
rogate of Zanu PF. It is going to be a humiliation to Mwon-
zora and his henchman,” Sibanda said.
Mwonzora’s MDC-T also said it was ready to participate in
the by-elections and reiterated they would use any of the
MDC names that may come up.
Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba said the names
MDC- T and MDC Alliance were both theirs to use as elec-
toral vehicles for different times depending with the situa-
tion on the ground.
“So we are going to use any of the names and no one out-
side of our party is allowed to use any of the above,” he said.
“Our claim to the MDC Alliance name is not to spite an-
yone, but is embedded in the history of the MDC name, of
which the resolution was made on the 27th of July 2017 and
the signing of the pact on the 5th of August 2017 in Zimba-
bwe Grounds.”
  Coalition for Democrats (CODE) leader, Trust Chikoho-
ra who lost the 2018 Presidential elections said his party
would not contest the by-elections as they were a waste of
time and resources.
Zanu PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa said "the dem-
ocratic ethos" of his party would lose no time to prepare for
the by-elections as well as the 2023 polls.
  “Zanu PF has just finished its own internal provincial
elections. To underscore the serious commitment, the par-
ty even held them during seasonal holidays on the annual
calendar. The cadre ship and membership enthusiastically
responded even as the other population partook in festivi-
ties,” Mutsvangwa said.
Weather report
www.thestandard.co.zw
Forecast for today:
Scattered clouds and isolated thunderstorms, as well
as warm afternoon conditions, are expected in areas to
the north of the main watershed (namely matabeleland
North, northern parts of Midlands, harare Metropolitan,
northern parts of Manicaland and all Mashonaland
provinces) Heavy rains (in excess of 20mm) remain
probable, especially along the Zambezi valley. Mostly
sunny and warm conditions are expected in matabele-
land South, Bulawayo metropolitan, masvingo as well
as southern areas of Midlands, manicaland province,
becoming mild towards evening. Brief cloudy periods
and isolated thunderstorms remain probable.
Temperatures for the main city centres (°c):
Minimum Maximum
Today Today allowed to conduct voter education and
Harare 17 26 that those that were not listed could not
Bulawayo 18 28 do so, without violating the law.
Gweru 17 26 The commission also said it would mon-
Mutare 18 27 itor all the activities of the CSOs that had
Kwekwe 18 28 been given the nod to perform the task of
Kadoma 16 29 voter education, as well as the materials
Masvingo 19 29
Chinhoyi 19 28
Lupane 21 29
Bindura 19 28
Marondera 15 25
Gwanda 20 31
—MSD
Local News
Fresh demolitions hit Mbare
BY HARRIET CHIKANDIWA /SHARON BUWERIMWE and order.”
H
The affected vendors and tuckshop
ARARE City Council (HCC) owners blasted the government and the
backed by the Zimbabwe city council for literally condemning
Republic Police yesterday them to poverty.
demolished vendors’ mar- Those that spoke to The Standard said
ket stalls and tuckshops in after getting wind that demolition would
Mbare, Harare, leaving the area resem- take place, they rushed to remove their
bling a battlefield. merchandise out of the shops while some
There was heavy police presence in pulled down part of their structures in a
Mbare most of yesterday with the area bid to save building material from ruin.
having been cordoned off to vehicular Some vendors were however, caught una-
traffic very early in the morning. Only wares and their goods were destroyed as
pedestrians could get in or out of this their structures were pulled down.
populous suburb. The traders said they had recently sent
On Friday, the opposition MDC Alli- emissaries to government seeking to
ance party had informed residents of the have the authorities provide them with
impending demolitions in Mbare, accus- proper and legal market places to oper-
ing Harare Provincial Affairs secretary ate from.
Tafadzwa Muguti and Zanu PF of spear- Relating yesterday’s operation, one of
heading the demolitions. the affected traders, Simbarashe Chibaya
“In Harare Metropolitan Province, said the police were deployed in Mbare
Zanu has directed Harare City Coun- very early in the morning and they gave
cil to demolish markets and tuckshops no chance to vendors that came trying to
in Mbare. The process will start tomor- remove their wares.
row Saturday, 8th of January 5am in the  “We had heard that they were com-
morning,” the MDC Alliance advised on ing, and so some traders started remov-
social media. ing their stuff last night, but most failed
Contacted for comment during the to do so. These people are really heart-
demolitions yesterday, Muguti refused to less; they came before 8am just to demol-
say anything about the operation.   ish our vending stalls. Personally, I have
“I cannot comment on that,” Muguti said been hurt beyond words. I have a son
curtly before cutting off the conversation. who will soon be going to university and
The demolitions began around 8.00am I need to raise school fees for him. What
with bulldozers and front-end loaders pull- am I going to do now?” asked Chiba-
ing down all structures deemed illegal. ya who appeared distraught and disillu-
Scores of informal traders were left count- sioned. “Can you imagine what was go-
ing their losses with some saying they ing on in their heads, coming to destroy
had been ruined permanently. Most of our livelihoods during the rains?”
the structures that were torn down in yes- A retired teacher, Mary Mujokoto, who
terday’s operation were those built along had now turned into vending for survival
roads around the Mupedzanhamo area. said her market stall had become her ma-
The operation was rolled out under the jor source of income.
watch of police officers and soldiers de- “I am a retired teacher and selling
ployed in the area to avoid likely back- wares has been providing me with in-
lash from angry victims. come. I had 12 employees that were sell-
National police spokesperson Assis- ing different wares for me in Mbare. The
tant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: affected traders need to support their rel-
“Police were just there to maintain law atives in rural areas too. Some of our
ZEC ‘bans’civic groups from conducting voter education
BY MIRIAM MANGWAYA wants to engage in voter education must
submit an application to the commis-
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission sion,” Kazembe said.  “They will be stat-
(Zec) has banned Civic Society Organisa- ing their particulars and the activities
tion (CSOs) that are not accredited with they want to conduct. The content must
them from conducting voters’ education, be approved by the commission.”
a move viewed as a blow to voter mobili- “Those that are not on the list that
sation efforts ahead of the 2023 elections. we submitted, but are conducting voters’
The ban comes at a time when oppo- education must not be doing that without
sition parties and civic groups have ac- permission. They must stop forthwith.
cused Zec of lack of transparency on the They must do that only after they have
voters roll after the electoral body recent- been registered with us. Those that are
ly released disputed figures of newly-reg- doing that have been doing so illegally,”
istered voters. Kazembe said.
On Friday, Zec published a list of 76 Some of the organisations that have
CSOs that it has approved to conduct vot- of late been conducting voter education,
er education countrywide. This then trig- but are not on the Zec list include Project
gered uproar amongst other civic organ- Vote 263.
isations that have of late been involved Recently, Project Vote 263 claimed that
in voter education, but have not been ac- it had facilitated registration of 9 635 new
credited by the electoral body. voters throughout the country in 2021.
Since last year, various political parties Project Vote 263 however claims that it
and civic groups have been encouraging is constitutionally mandated to conduct
eligible voters to register. voter education.
Zec spokesperson, Commissioner Project Vote 263 chairperson Alan Chi-
Joyce Kazembe yesterday told The Stand- poyi said: “We will continue encouraging
ard that only the organisations that were people to vote.  Zec has no mandate to se-
approved by the electoral body would be lect the parties that are consulting, but
they can regulate the content that is dis-
seminated. We are conducting a consti-
tutional mandate to encourage citizens
to register to vote and no one will stop us
from carrying out that mandate.”
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC),
a conglomeration of over 80 civic society
that they would be using during the cam- organisations said the accreditation pro-
paigns. Only material approved by the cess would create unnecessary bureau-
commission could be used in the voter ed- cracy. They also said the requirement
ucation exercise, she said. was meant to frustrate the voters’ mobili-
Zec said it would also monitor the sation campaign.
CSOs programmes as stipulated in the “It is not a crime to mobilise people to
Electoral Act. vote,” CiZC spokesperson Orbert Masa-
“The procedure is that anyone who raure said. “Casting a vote is a constitu-
relatives are sick, and vending was our
source of livelihood,” she said.
Another vendor who could not reveal
her identity as she was sobbing bitterly
kept asking rhetorical questions and ac-
cusing the government of being cruel to
its own citizens.
“Covid-19 affected us yet they come and
rub salt on the wound. Where do they
want us to get the money to survive? The
government just wants to see us suffer-
ing, yet they are living luxurious lives.
Maybe they should just kill us; we are
tired of these continued demolitions,”
said the vendor.
Mbare resident Takudzwa Moyo said
the government was now pushing people
to resort to crime in order to survive.
Vendors for Social and Economic
Transformation executive director Sam-
uel Wadzai said the demolitions were il-
legal as there was no court order.
“It is barbaric to destroy people’s liveli-
hoods when there are no alternative plac-
es provided,” Wadzai said.
MDC-Alliance secretary for Local Gov-
ernment Sesel Zvidzai said government
should legalise the informal sector rath-
er than abuse citizens that were trying to
earn an honest living through vending.
“Traditionally, whenever it’s cold or
raining, Zanu PF always wants to punish
people in cities because they know that
they rejected them long back. So they are
trying to punish them,” Zvidzai said.
“Our policy is that we support the poor,
we don’t punish them because they are
already suffering. If there is need for reg-
ularisation of informal sectors, we be-
lieve we must regularise rather than pun-
ish the people.”
Acting Mayor Stewart Mutizwa was
not answering calls yesterday.
But suspended Harare Mayor Jacob
Mafume said: “Whenever there is rain,
the demon of destruction awakens in
Zanu PF without notice or care. They de-
stroy households on the order of unelect-
ed officials.
tional right; hence people need to acquire
the necessary information that will en-
hance them to make informed decision
on that key right. When the electoral
body then starts the vetting process, it be-
comes problematic. CSOs should proceed
with the voters education drive ensuring
that they are following the constitutional
dictates.”
Last week, Zec torched a storm follow-
ing its announcement that only 2 000 vir-
gin voters were registered in 2021. It lat-
er revised the number to 2 971, after op-
position political parties and civic groups
challenged its statistics on newly-regis-
tered voters
On Thursday Zec announced plans
to remove 35 085 names of deceased per-
sons from the voters’ roll, two months af-
ter identifying only 22 000 deceased voters
on the roll, which sparked public outcry.
Meanwhile, Zec has published a list
of voter registration centres in rural ar-
eas. The list shows that the centres are so
far apart that people would need to trav-
el long distances to be able to register to
vote.
While urban dwellers have the option
to register online, Zec established one
registration centre in each district, locat-
ed at the growth points. 
Home Affairs minister Kazembe Ka-
zembe told The Standard: “We are going
to be rolling out our biometric voter reg-
istration (BVR) kits so that we get clos-
er to the people. It is our plan, and we
should have done that earlier, but we were
waiting for the youth to get their identity
cards first. We are sure that we will roll
out the BVR exercise in the first quarter
of this year. On whether we will get there
before the holding of the by elections, the
matter is still under discussion.”
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 3
Local News

Covid-19
Zim one of biggest
severely affects labour exporters to UK
tourism sector BY PRIDE MZARABANI one in five doctors in the UK were from a non-
European Union and non-UK country.
greener pastures, with 2021 recording around
2100 workers that left the country,” Marisa said.

U
NITED Kingdom’s National Health Ser- Other countries whose health workforce has He said several health professionals in the
vices (NHS) has revealed that Zimba- sought greener pastures in the UK include In- country were not motivated to work as they
bwe is one of its biggest exporters of la- dia and the Philippines, but the biggest num- were not well remunerated.
bour in the health sector, ranking it as the sec- ber of health employees is from Africa. “This has been fuelled by both intrinsic and
ond country after Nigeria in terms of the num- Over the past years, Zimbabwean nurses extrinsic factors that include poor remunera-
bers of health professionals working in the UK. and doctors have been engaged in strikes over tion, lack of incentives, lack of motivation, or
In 2021, 4 780 medical professionals re- poor remuneration and bad working condi- the general poor working conditions. We ex-
BY LORRAINE MUROMO portedly left for the United Kingdom at a time tions where they work without medicines and pect the government to seriously consider
when the country is struggling to offer effec- other medical equipment. health workers who have been grumbling for
THE tourism sector in Zimbabwe lost close tive health services. Dental Private Practitioners Association of a long time now with no remedy in sight,” he
to US$1 billion due to the Covid-19 pandem- “In the year 2020 Zimbabweans recorded by Zimbabwe president Johannes Marisa said the said.
ic last year, but players in the industry are the National Health Service (UK) were 4 049, massive brain drain to Europe began in 2019. “Non-monetary incentives like duty- free ve-
still optimistic of a rebound in 2022. with Nigeria being the top African importer of “That’s true there is massive brain drain to hicles, stands, and accommodation are some
Covid-19 disrupted tourists from visiting medical professionals to the UK,” read a state- countries such as the UK. Since 2019, there has of the items that can be urgently put in place in
the country due to prolonged lockdown pe- ment by the NHS last Thursday. been a more than 200% increase in the num- a bid to retain staff. High staff turnover is detri-
riods to curb further spread of the respira- They also said one in seven nurses, and over ber of health workers leaving Zimbabwe for mental to good health delivery.”
tory infection.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head
of corporate affairs, Godfrey Koti told The
Standard that although the industry experi-
enced several challenges and lost close to a
billion dollars, there was still hope for the
future.
“We made zero dollars but we hope that
2022 will be a different year when we get to
quantify it financially. It’s been a tough 2021
for tourism but there has been a bit of activ-
ity,” Koti said.
“We have seen a bit of movement where
the accommodation sector in particular
was fully booked in the Eastern Highlands,
Kariba, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, thus
contributing 60%.”
Koti said ZTA has put in place measures
to mitigate further losses and restore the
country's status on the tourism map.
“In 2020 we launched the national tourism
recovery and growth strategy, which strat-
egy was based on three pillars that include
domestic tourism focus, the regional mar-
keting element and then international tour-
ism,” he said.
“Pillar number one was the major factor
and we predicted that it would be the major
focus for three to four years depending on
when the pandemic will dissolve.
“We have been focusing on domestic tour-
ism and coming up with a campaign that
we want to sustain for a foreseeable future,
which is the 'Zimbo campaign'. It is meant
to encourage, bolster and push domestic
tourism by all means possible. So far we
have seen good results as opposed to 2019
where we lost about US$1 billion worth of
income.
“In 2020 we managed to get US$369 mil-
lion, and this largely came from the domes-
tic market which shows that there is hope
of improvement. We have ultimately decid-
ed to focus on it in 2022 as this will help us
in mitigating some of these gaps that have
been shown by the pandemic.”
Koti said the 2022 strategy was to push for
domestic tourism by maintaining a serious
vaccination drive in the country.
“This makes the country a safer desti-
nation although unfortunately towards the
end of 2021, we have seen that some of the
European countries decided to use a blan-
ket statement to deal with matters that con-
cern the Covid-19 pandemic with an exam-
ple of the Omicron discovery and commu-
nication by one of our Southern African
countries,” he said.
Tourism Business Council president
Wengai Nhau said the success of the tour-
ism industry in 2022 would hinge on accept-
ance of ‘the new normal’.
“By having intercity travel banned, and
other bans that were imposed on the tour-
ism sector, it meant that whatever prof-
it projections and business performances
were made for the year 2021 - these did not
come to realization,” Nhau said.
“Out of the 12 months we have on the cal-
endar, as a country we only operated for
seven months last year, and we can’t have
a vibrant domestic tourism sector with in-
tercity travel banned. A lot of our opera-
tors have closed the year on a minus and
it is our fear that if we continue doing the
same, we are putting operators in a predic-
ament where they might have to close off
completely and we do not hope for that.”
4 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Standard
PEOPLE
Daring thieves break into defence ministry offices
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
D
ARING thieves broke into the
offices of the ministry of De-
fence at Batanai Gardens and
stole various items includ-
ing computers and food items
worth nearly $4 million.
The break in was revealed yester-
day when Kumbirai Mashiri (19), Allen
Hillary Madziwa (16) and Panashe Gunz-
vi (20) appeared before Harare magistrate
Yeukai Chigodora facing unlawful entry
charges.
The trio was remanded to tomorrow for
bail application.
The complainant in the matter is the
ministry of Defence and War Veterans
represented by Owen Seketa.
It is alleged that all the three accused
persons are relatives of one Innocent
Gunzvi, an employee at the ministry. The
5 million people food insecure: WFP
BY NUNURAI JENA
FIVE million Zimbabweans, 42% of
which are urban dwellers are food inse-
cure despite government claims that the
country has enough grain stocks to see it
through to the next harvest.
World Food Programme (WFP) country
spokesperson Maria Gallar told Stand-
ardpeople recently that the organisation
was currently supporting 860 000 people
with food and cash handouts.
“According to vulnerability analysis,
more than five million people are esti-
mated to be food insecure in Zimbabwe
today and humanitarian assistance is
still required. Only last month (Decem-
ber), the World Food Programme sup-
ported 860 000 people, with food and cash
assistance,” Gallar said.
Gallar added that WFP was also con-
cerned about the rising number of city
dwellers in need of food.
“We are particularly concerned about
cities. The increased crop yield has not
driven improvements for the urban poor,
who are constrained by Covid-19 contain-
ment measures. Forty-two percent of all
city dwellers in Zimbabwe are food inse-
cure,” said the WFP official.
“Unfortunately, food insecurity and
stolen items were taken to Gunzvi’s girl-
friend, and some to his wife. Gunzvi is
said to be on the run.
The state alleges that on December 24
last year at about 9am, the complainant
knocked off from duty and secured his
offices by closing all the windows and
doors. He then went for the Christmas
holidays leaving everything intact in the
office and in the storeroom.
It is alleged that during that period
when the complainant was away, the three
accused persons teamed up with Innocent
Gunzvi and proceeded to the ministry’s of-
fices at Batanai Gardens in the CBD.
They allegedly stole from the store-
room after breaking in through the ceil-
ing.
The trio took seven Infinity Desktop
computers and various food and clean-
ing items.
An alert Modern security guard, who
malnutrition are not problems from the
past. Additional investments and re-
sources are required to achieve zero hun-
ger in Zimbabwe. In the first half of 2022,
the World Food Programme has a short-
fall of US$74 million.”
But Grain Marketing Board (GMB)
spokesperson Nixon Kanyemba, told
Standardpeople that the country has
enough grain to sustain it until the next
harvest, which will be around April 2022.
“Yes we are food secure until the next
harvest,” Kanyemba said.
He, however, refused to shed light on
why organisations like WFP continue to
support families when the country has
enough grain.
Kanyemba then referred questions to
senior government officials in the minis-
try of agriculture who were not respond-
ing to questions despite numerous prom-
ises to do so.
Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) di-
rector Paul Zacharia said the country has
enough grain, but only faces distribution
challenges as some areas receive more
grain than others.
“With the 2.7 million metric tonnes
harvested this year, the country is food
secure but what is lacking is equal dis-
tribution that has deprived urban areas,”
was on duty noticed that the accused
looked suspicious, but still they got away
with the loot.
They hid the stolen property in Bor-
rowdale, where Phoncine Nhanga, a girl-
friend to Innocent Gunzvi resides. Other
items were taken to Southlea Park where
Brenda Chitsinde, who is the wife to Gun-
zvi resides.
It is further alleged that on December
28, the offence was discovered and a re-
port was made to the police.
On Friday, the police arrested Mashi-
ri and Madziwa in Bindura. The pair
then led the police to the recovery of two
computers and various food and clean-
ing items from the homes of Phoncine
Nhanga in Borrowdale and Brenda Chit-
sinde in Southlea Park.
The total value of the stolen property is
$3 500 000, and the value of the recovered
property was $485 000.
MDC A activist
Makomborero
Haruziviishe was
released from Harare
Remand Prison
yesterday. Picture:
Shepherd Tozvireva
Zacharia said.
Zimbabwe Integrated Commercial
Farmers’ Union president Mayiwepi Jiti
said the country should invest more in
dam construction and irrigation equip-
ment for continuous water supplies, and
not to solely depend on the rains.
“For the country to be food secure, we
should invest more in dam construction
and irrigation equipment because of the
erratic rains caused by climate change,”
Jiti said.
Agriculture meteorologist Benja-
min Kwenda said for the country to be
food secure, farmers should grow small
grains that are quick to mature because
the country is now experiencing erratic
rains due to climate change.    bemoaned lack of draught power after a significant number
MDC Alliance shadow agriculture min-
ister Allan Markham blasted the govern-
ment for its lack of transparency on how
the Agriculture ministry uses its budget-
ary allocations.
Markham said the Agriculture min-
istry traditionally receives the biggest
chunk of the national budget, but fails to
account for the funds.
WFP said this year alone they distrib-
uted 107 000 metric tonnes of cereal, puls-
es and vegetable oils to 1.5 million people
in rural Zimbabwe.
BRIEFS
Zim bus driver arrested
in SA for bribery
ABOUT 14 illegal Zimbabwean immigrants were arrest-
ed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) police on Fri-
day, while the driver of the bus they were travelling in was
nabbed for bribery.
The illegal immigrants were travelling to Gauteng from
Zimbabwe.
SAPS confirmed the arrests, and accused the driver of the
bus of trying to bribe his way through.
“Fourteen illegal immigrants travelling from Zimbabwe
to Gauteng were arrested by Gauteng police during opera-
tion #OkaeMolao,” SAPS tweeted yesterday.
“The driver was also arrested for bribery after he offered
law enforcement officials an amount of money for them to
be allowed to go through.”
This comes a week after South Africa’s Home Affairs minis-
ter Aaron Motsoaledi accused local security forces of taking
bribes to let undocumented immigrants into the country.
Hundreds of Zimbabweans were last week deported
back home after the South African government intensified
its clampdown on border jumpers.
— MIRIAM MANGWAYA
Notorious burglars nabbed
TWO burglars were last week caught feasting on groceries
and whisky that they had stolen from a resident in Mvurwi.
Graham Zuze (37) and Frank Chipesani (28) also stole
other valuables and were then caught feasting on some of
the groceries at Pembi Farm in Mvurwi by police.
The matter came to light when they were arraigned be-
fore Guruve magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa on Friday
and were slapped with a three-year jail term each.
Prosecutor  Albert Charewa told the court that the con-
victs broke into Juster Gotosa’s homestead last year on De-
cember 6 and stole alcohol, groceries, solar panels and a Wi-
Fi router.
They dumped some of the loot in the bush near their
farm. Working on a tip off from members of the public, the
police then pounced on the pair while they were drinking
Jameson Whisky and braaing meat. — SIMBARASHE SITHOLE
Woman bashes
neighbour over goat
A BINDURA woman was dragged before the courts last Fri-
day for assaulting a neighbour after a misunderstanding
over a goat.
Perseverance Pashibheyi pleaded not guilty to the as-
sault charge when she appeared before Bindura magistrate
Ruramai Chitumbura.
The state led by Sheilla Kudzai Maribha alleges that
on December 9 last year at Nyanhehwe village in Bindura,
the accused approached Marvellous Tamira (26) asking her
about her mother-in-law’s goat. An altercation then en-
sured.
Pashibheyi allegedly started assaulting Tamira with open
hands before throwing a brick at her.
Tamira bled and was rushed to hospital.
A police report was filed leading to the arrest of the ac-
cused.The matter will be heard again on January 13.
— SIMBARASHE SITHOLE
Mhondoro villagers
lose draught power
VILLAGERS in Mhondoro, Mashonaland West province have
of their livestock died due to an unknown disease.
Moses Nyekete of Mamina Irrigation scheme in Mhon-
doro-Ngezi told Standardpeople that most farmers in the
area were in need of farming equipment to use this agricul-
tural season after losing draught power.
“We lost a lot of cattle in the past year due to an unknown
disease, and we now need equipment support to enable us
to perform our farming activities,” Nyekete said.
“We are also experiencing several cases of livestock theft
in the area. We have since engaged the services of law en-
forcement agents, and we hope that the situation will nor-
malise soon.” — OBERT SIAMILANDU
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 5

Local News

Zanu PF ‘rejects’
land top posts

Dr Munyaradzi George Manyaya

Board Chairperson
The Board, Management and Staff of the Zimbabwe National Road Administration would like to congratulate Dr Munyaradzi George Manyaya on his
recent appointment as the Chairman for the ZINARA Board of Directors. Dr Manyaya is a holder of a Doctorate in Business Management among
other several qualifications.As an institution, ZINARA is ready to tap from his vast and unparalleled experience gained from various sectors that he
has worked in. Dr Manyaya is firmed for his exceptional management style that has transformed the reputation of various companies and
corporates. His appointment to ZINARA is a timely boost to the rebranding journey that we have embarked on as an institution. To us, 2022 is a Year
of Rebranding and Dr Manyaya's experience in the corporate and communications sector is going to help us achieve this critical objective.

Dr Manyaya is a recipient of various accolades for his outstanding and shining leadership in corporate governance and communications. As
ZINARA, we welcome you and wish you a rich and successful tour of duty.

Congratulations!! Makorokoto!! Amhlophe

Aplonia Munzverengwi.
by JAIROS SAUNYAMA ter she was elected in the provincial basket in
Mutoko.

O
N this summer day, two years ago,
Nyarai Tsvuura cut a lone figure at a
Provincial Coordinating Committee
(PCC) meeting in Marondera during Zanu PF
gatherings.
She was the provincial women’s league
chairperson but could not occupy the front
seat due to the party factional fights.
Instead, Lyn Gororo occupied the position,
with the blessings of a group of powerful
women in the party.
The late Joel Biggie Matiza, who was the
then provincial chair-
person, read a letter to
the effect that Tsvuu-
Though tormented, rejected and barred
from executing her duties, the politician has
shrugged off stiff competition in the just end-
ed provincial elections and waits to be accord-
ed an influential post as the province’s wom-
en's league political commissar.
Across the province lies Wedza District, the
home of provincial affairs minister Aplonia
Munzverengwi.
She reportedly fell out of favour with influ-
ential women in the national women's league
executive where she held the political commis-
sariat post.
She was seen
as a threat to

"The elections are

ra, also a Mutoko leg- her colleagues
islator (PR) was the who reported- Ms Lizwe Fungai Bunu
substantive women’s ly crafted friv- Vice Board Chairperson
league boss.
The decision was over, we are now olous accusa-
tions against Ms Lizwe Fungai Bunu is a seasoned strategist, women leader, and an accomplished businessperson. She has vast experience in the service industry;
Customs Clearance & Forwarding including vessel management. Currently, she is the Managing Director of Veer Freight (Private) Limited. Ms Bunu is

working towards
made after the polit- her before be- a holder of Bachelor of Business Studies (Hons) degree with a local University. She possesses various professional qualifications in Business
buro had found Tsvuu- ing demot- Leadership, Management, FIATA, Business Administration, Public Relations, and Marketing among others. She is a committed mother and is blessed
with 4 children.
ra not guilty of the ac- ed to a lesser
cusations, which were
noted as ‘gossiping’.
But this group of
mobilising people post.
Now nick-
named Deb-
In her various achievements in business, she ran the Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), the Japanese shipping line, and achieved 90% of the client base
throughout various sectors in Zimbabwe. She also successfully launched the MOL main line vessel from the Far East into Beira for the first time.

to join us so that
Due to her contributions in the commercial sector, Ms Bunu is currently serving as a Board Member for Shipping & Forwarding Association of
women did not take orah in the Zimbabwe. She was appointed as a ZINARA Board Member and has been acting as a Board Chairperson for over a year. She contributed to the
cleaning process & re-branding process for ZINARA. We wish to congratulate her for her re-appointment in the ZINARA Board and as the Vice-
heed of the decision. province, Chairperson and wish her all the best.

we achieve the six

They responded Munzvereng-
through holding fresh wi was as-
elections claiming signed to the
that Tsvuura was not
voted to the position.
Tsvuura did not par-
million votes tag." deputy secre-
tary for lands
in the wom-
ticipate in the elec- en’s league.
tions resulting in In a bid to
Gororo claiming the show her abil-
posts as planned. ities and influence, the former top cop contest-
The province disregarded the results but Ts- ed in the provincial elections for the women's
vuura was barred from exercising her duties league post.
as the women’s league provincial boss. She defeated incumbent, Gororo by a wide
The Central Committee (CC) recommended margin and is now back at the top.
that Tsvuura be reinstated as the provincial "The elections are over, we are now working
women's league boss in the last conference towards mobilising people to join us so that
held in Bindura last year. we achieve the six million votes tag," Munz-
Fai:DI6562359-Y9

The reinstatement was captured in the final
CC report.
But her joy was short-lived as the same
group of women barred her again.
Senate President Mabel Chinomona, Sec-
retary for Administration (women's league)
Monica Mutsvangwa among others, wrote let-
ters defying the CC order and prevented Tsvu-
ura from taking the reins.
Today, Tsvuura has had the last laugh af-
verengwi said during victory celebrations in
Marondera.
The province was tasked to deliver 800 000
votes come next year's elections.
The tales of both Tsvuura and Munzvereng-
wi have revealed how Zanu PF has been im-
posing candidates or leaders for factional rea-
sons.
Today, the party’s rejects have bounced back
boasting of top posts in the province.
ALDERMAN MUDZARA
RE-APPOINTMENT AS A BOARD MEMBER
Alderman Mudzara is a professional and experienced corporate governance expert. He has vast experience of over a decade in leading local
authorities and a War Veteran of the Liberation Struggle. He is a holder of a Master of Commerce in Strategic Management with a local University.
Alderman holds various professional qualifications in Corporate Governance, Business Leadership, Business Administrations and Accounts. He is
currently studying towards being a Doctor of Business Administration with UNICAF University.
Alderman Mudzara is the Chairperson of Manyame Rural District Council and has risen through various ranks within local authorities. In 2019, he was
appointed as a ZINARA Board member and has been acting as a Vice-Chairperson for over a year. We congratulate him on his reappointment as a
ZINARA Board member.
6 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022

Local News

Underfunded and deadly

By Busani Bafana

B
ULAWAYO — Global
efforts to end tuber-
culosis (TB) are futile
without dedicated in-
vestment in research

TB needs its own Bill Gates

into the debilitating disease that
is killing 4 000 people a day, Stop
TB Partnership warns.
“TB is a disease that is not a dar-
ling of donors and investors,” Lu-
cica Ditiu, the executive director
of the Stop TB Partnership, told
IPS in an interview from Geneva.
“We do not have a Bill Gates
that can support TB research, yet
TB remains a disease of concern
with deaths increasing for the
first time in over a decade,” she
added.
TB, a bacterial disease main-
ly affecting the lungs, has been
around for over millennia and re-
mains one of the top killer diseas-
es globally. But it is preventable
and curable with the right invest-
ment in diagnosis and treatment.
Ditiu attributed the rise in TB
incidents to several factors; many
people diagnosed and on treat-
ment for TB have defaulted ow-
ing to the disruption of health
services in the wake of the Cov-
id-19 pandemic and global lock-
down. Furthermore, many people
remain undiagnosed because they
have not been reached.
“Southern Africa has done a
good job in respect of Zambia,
Zimbabwe and South Africa as
well as Rwanda in trying to dis-
rupt as little as possible the treat-
ment and diagnosis of people with
TB,” Ditiu said. She commend-
ed awareness programmes in the
media and community door-to-
door campaigns to promote diag-
nosis and treatment.
Countries need to invest more
in finding people with TB and put-
ting them on treatment. Until you
find people, you cannot put them
on treatment, and this is where
we are very much lagging, she
said.
Ditiu fears the worst should the
world fail to change the current
TB transmission trend. An esti-
mated 5.8 million people received
treatment for TB in 2020; a drop of
21% from 2019, and more than 4
million people worldwide remain
untreated. According to Stop TB
Partnership, half of those un-
treated are likely to die from the
disease.
Admitting that funding for TB
has always been insufficient,
Ditiu said TB was the poor cousin
compared to the deep pockets for
sis (TB) research totalled 915 mil-
lion US dollars in 2020 — less than
half the goal of 2 billion US dol-
lars set forth by participating
country governments at the 2018
United Nations High-Level Meet-
ing on TB.
In 2021, TB had a funding gap of
13 billion US dollars globally, with
only 5,3 billion US dollars availa-
ble for its programmes. It experi-
enced a drop in funding amount-
ing to 500 000 US dollars in 2020 as
many countries took money away
from TB to respond to Covid-19.
A new report, Tuberculosis Re-
search Funding Trends, 2005–
2020 by Treatment Action Group
(TAG) and the Stop TB Partner-
ship, found that TB received less
than 1 percent of the amount in-
vested in Covid-19 Research and
Development over the first 11
months of the pandemic.
“The mobilisation of over 100
billion US dollars for Covid-19 re-
search and development in the
first 11 months of the pandemic
shows us just how powerful a co-
ordinated effort against a disease
can be,” noted Ditiu.
While the pandemic has shown
that effective vaccines can save
lives, the world is still banking on
a 100-year-old vaccine, Bacillus
Calmette-Guérin or BCG. Howev-
er, a more effective vaccine could
have higher efficacy rates, espe-
cially for adults. Why has it taken
so long to develop a new, more ef-
fective TB vaccine when the health
burden of TB is increasing?
“This is the drama,” Ditiu com-
Executive director of the Stop TB Partnership Dr Lucica Ditiu mented. “We have a vaccine for a
hundred years that we know for
HIV and Aids. has resources.” the last 40 years does not work (ef-
“In general, we have availa- According to the Stop TB Part- fectively) except for newly-born
ble only 30 percent of the fund- nership, a network of interna- babies, and yet we have not done
ing needed globally. We have plac- tional organisations established much about it.”
es that have done well in prevent- in 1998 to help end TB as a pub- While ongoing research on new
ing TB in people living with HIV. lic health problem, funding for TB vaccines had been slow because
Prevention of TB in people living research and development (R&D) of poor funding, Ditiu said sever-
with HIV is going well, especially has remained flat since 2018. al potential vaccines were in the
in African countries because HIV Global funding for tuberculo- pipeline, and a vaccine could be
expected by 2027.
“It takes a long time to get a vac-
cine. But because of Covid (we re-
alised), it is possible to have a vac-
cine much quicker, and we hope to
use the learnings from Covid-19 to
get a TB vaccine,” Ditiu said.
Tuberculosis vaccine research
has been slowed by chronic un-
derfunding with only one moder-
ately effective century-old TB vac-
cine, compared to over 20 Covid-19
vaccines.
“What’s enabled the develop-
ment of dozens of Covid-19 vac-
cines in less than a year has es-
sentially been money,” noted Aus-
tin Aurinze Obiefuna, executive
director of the Afro Global Health
Alliance and incoming vice-chair
of the Stop TB Partnership board.
“I think that the same enor-
mous amount of funding should
be applied with equal vigour to
the development of TB vaccines.
But that simply doesn’t seem to be
happening.”
According to the Stop TB Part-
nership, making much-needed
progress against TB demands in-
vestment that matches the threat
of the disease around the world.
This includes a commitment to
rectify the inadequate funding of
the past. Over the next two years,
10 billion US dollars are needed
to close the tuberculosis research
and development funding gap.
“Wealthy countries need to step
up and put more money into cor-
recting global health inequalities,
which Covid-19 vaccine allocation
inequities laid bare,” urged Mark
Harrington, executive director of
TAG, an independent activist, and
community-based research and
policy think tank.
“Covid-19 made more people
around the world aware of the im-
portance of research and develop-
ment spending than ever before.
Now is the time to finally start
making investments ambitious
enough to end TB for good.”—IPS

Plastic recyclers clamour for government funding

BY TAPFUMANEI MUCHABIWA
REFUSE collection in Harare
used to be purely the business of
the local authority, but now coun-
cil is being assisted to do the task
by freeloaders who move around
picking up litter that is strewn
all over the city for sale mostly to
Chinese businesses into the man-
ufacture of plastic products.
Despite picking up litter for lit-
tle money, very few freeloaders
understand that they are actually
freeing the environment from tox-
ic waste which might add onto cli-
mate change effects threatening
Zimbabwe.
The government is also missing
out on promoting local SMEs to
produce plastic products, and has
left Chinese businesses to domi-
nate the industry.
But while poverty has pushed
freeloaders to pick up waste for
recycling, some of them are now
becoming aware that they are ac-
tually voluntarily cleaning up cit-
ies; and that it is an essential ser-
vice, which is part of green jobs.
They now want government
funding to support their activi-
ties, taking a leaf from countries
such as China, where the plastic
waste industry is big and plastics
for recycling are actually bought
from these “scavengers” or free-
loaders at good prices in order
to recycle them to produce final
products.
A freeloader in Harare, Amon
Nyoni, told The Standard that
he picks a huge chunk of plastic
waste in order to get paid US$2
only.
“While I am not making a lot
of money from collecting plastic
waste for recycling, I now under-
stand that it is an important thing
to do for the environment,” Nyoni
said.
“If only we can get government
financial support for this task be-
cause we know that President Em-
merson Mnangagwa introduced
a day when everyone has to help
clean the environment every first
Friday of the month.”
Small to medium enterpris-
es minister Sithembiso Nyoni ac-
knowledged that plastic recyclers
were an important stakeholder in
business and were doing a good
job to keep the environment clean.
“The ministry is encouraging
every SME to promote green jobs,
and people in the plastic industry
are no exception,” Nyoni said.
“We are happy that they are do-
ing a good job. The first thing is
that they are responding to the en-
vironmental challenges by clean-
ing up toxic waste, and secondly,
they are supporting the produc-
tion of goods that are later used in
the market.”
She encouraged freeloaders to
seek funding from banks such as
the Women’s Bank and Empower-
ment Bank.
Used plastic collector Edward
Nyirongo said they work hard to
collect the used plastics.
“We are actually working for
the Chinese who are buying the
used plastics for recycling at very
low prices. In turn, they sell the
recycled products for higher prof-
its,” Nyirongo said.
“Government should extend its
helping hand to the indigenous
people by funding our projects so
that we can also manufacture ben-
eficiated products such as plastic
buckets, cups and dishes. We are
not mechanised, and our produc-
tion is very low. We cannot com-
pete with the Chinese who are
now opening plastic product busi-
nesses in the Graniteside area of
Harare.”
Zimbabwe is party to various
environmental protocols and con-
ventions, among them the Kyoto
Protocol and the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), which support
interventions to combat climate
change effects and emphasise on
environmental conservation.
Harare Residents Trust (HRT)
director, Precious Shumba said:
“The Vision 2030 was derailed a
long time ago. Service delivery
has deteriorated in Harare. Re-
fuse collection is nearer to non-ex-
istent.”
Harare city council’s dump
sites have reduced in number
with some sites having been con-
verted to other use, mostly due to
the increased demand for houses
and other infrastructure.
Council does not have enough
space to deposit garbage but ob-
servers say if the recyclers are
supported with better working
conditions and mechanisation,
Zimbabwe can benefit from plas-
tic recycling.
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 7

PUBLIC NOTICE: RETURN SUBMISSION & PAYMENTS

DUE 10 JANUARY 2022 FOR:
1) Pay As You Earn [PAYE]
2) Withholding Taxes / Royalties / Presumptive Tax
3) Intermediate Money Transfer Tax (IMTT)
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) hereby reminds all its valued clients that the following returns and payments for the month of December 2021 are due on the 10th of
January 2022.
1. Returns Due
a) Employees Tax or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Remittances – [ P2 Remittance Advice Form]
b) Withholding Taxes / Royalties Returns / Presumptive Tax – [ REV5 Form]
c) Intermediate Money Transfer Tax (IMTT) – [ REV5B Form]

2. HOW TO SUBMIT THE DUE RETURNS?

The following issues are reminded to all taxpayers in this regard:
 All PAYE Remittances Advices (P2 forms) should be completed in full and submitted through the ZIMRA e-services platform (http://efiling.zimra.co.zw).
 In the event a taxpayer fails to submit the P2 form on the e-services platform, taxpayers are encouraged and reminded to proceed scanning and emailing the return to the
relevant email address from the list below depending on the region the taxpayer is in.
d) All Withholding Taxes / Royalties Returns / Presumptive Tax – [ REV5 Form] and IMTT return (REV 5B form), should be submitted via relevant email addresses as shown below

Station Tax Head E-Mail Address

PAYE returns PAYELCOreturn@zimra.co.zw
LCO Clients Withholding Tax returns WHTLCOreturn@zimra.co.zw
IMTT Returns IMTT@zimra.co.zw
PAYE returns PAYEMCOreturn@zimra.co.zw
MCO Clients Withholding Tax returns WHTMCOreturn@zimra.co.zw
IMTT Returns IMTT@zimra.co.zw
PAYE returns PAYESCOreturn@zimra.co.zw
SCO Clients Withholding Tax returns WHTSCOreturn@zimra.co.zw
IMTT Returns IMTT@zimra.co.zw
Bulawayo All Tax Heads mhlahlandlelareturn@zimra.co.zw
Victoria Falls All Tax Heads vicfallsreturn@zimra.co.zw
Hwange All Tax Heads hwangereturn@zimra.co.zw
Gwanda All Tax Heads gwandareturn@zimra.co.zw
Beitbridge All Tax Heads beitbridgereturn@zimra.co.zw
Masvingo All Tax Heads masvingoreturn@zimra.co.zw
Mutare All Tax Heads mutarereturn@zimra.co.zw
Gweru All Tax Heads gwerureturn@zimra.co.zw
Chiredzi All Tax Heads chiredzireturn@zimra.co.zw
Zvishavane All Tax Heads zvishavanereturn@zimra.co.zw
Chipinge All Tax Heads chipingereturn@zimra.co.zw
Rusape All Tax Heads rusapereturn@zimra.co.zw
Kwekwe All Tax Heads kwekwereturn@zimra.co.zw
Kadoma All Tax Heads kadomareturn@zimra.co.zw
Chinhoyi All Tax Heads chinhoyireturn@zimra.co.zw
Kariba All Tax Heads karibareturn@zimra.co.zw
Marondera All Tax Heads maronderareturn@zimra.co.zw
Bindura All Tax Heads bindurareturn@zimra.co.zw

3. Currency of transaction
Taxpayers should ensure that all taxes are remitted on time, in full and in the currency of transaction through banks. The following link provides ZIMRA banking details to
make payments: https://www.zimra.co.zw/profile/2037-zimra-bank-accounts

4. Payment of taxes to ZIMRA

When making payments to ZIMRA, please ensure that the following details are provided and correctly captured so that the payments may be credited on correct accounts:
i. Name of Company
ii. Business Partner Number (BPN)
iii. Tax obligation e.g. PAYE, VAT, Withholding Tax etc

5. OUTSTANDING RETURNS AND DEBTS

Taxpayers who are in arrears with regards to their tax obligations are required to settle the outstanding amounts or to engage their nearest ZIMRA Offices to discuss
and agree on a way forward. ZIMRA urges its valued taxpayers to file their returns and pay taxes due on time and in full in the currency of trade to avoid follow-ups.

My Taxes, My Duties: Building My Zimbabwe!!

Public Notice No. 1 /2022, issued on 04/01/2022.

www.zimra.co.zw @Zimra_11 ZIMRA.ZW

 8 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022

Analysis

What are the options for Chamisa in the

I
n 1998, in Russia’s St Pe-
tersburg, Oleg Sergeyev ran
for the Governor’s position.
When he officially launched
his campaign, to his chagrin
there were two other opponents.
Opponent one was Oleg Sergeyev,
opponent two was Oleg Sergeyev.
On voting day, voters were unsure
which Sergeyev they were voting
for. For students of politics, it was
therefore not a shock when in au-
thoritarian Zimbabwe, Morgen
Komichi, the chairperson of the
splinter MDC-T led by Douglas
Mwonzora announced on 24 Octo-
ber 2020 that his party was going
to contest in future elections as
MDC Alliance. Yet MDC Alliance
is led by Nelson Chamisa, who
has used that name in polls since
the 2018 general election. So MDC
Alliance, like Sergeyev of Russia,
faces opponent number two as
MDC Alliance at the nomination
court for by elections on January
26, by elections voting day on 26
March and the subsequent gener-
al election constitutionally due in
2023. What then are the political
options? I am not here to be over-

Under normal dem- MDC A president Nelson Chamisa

ocratic conditions,

parties do not make
significant changes
such as relabelling, re-
branding, creating new identities
because political parties are large-
ly conservative in nature. Howev-
er, internal or external shocks can
break the status quo and trigger
the need to weigh options as part
of strategic insulation and self-
preservation especially in authori-
tarian contexts bent on annihilat-
ing the opposition.
indepth analysis
BY DR PHILLAN ZAMCHIYA
ly prescriptive but to lay the basis
for democratic debate.
The first option for Chamisa’s
MDC Alliance is party relabel-
ling. Party relabelling means the
continuation of the same par-
ty but under a new label. There-
fore, the relabelled party is not a
brand new party. For this reason,
party relabelling does not recon-
figure party structures, member-
ship and identity. It does not ex-
tinguish the Gweru Congress pro-
cess outcome held by the MDC Al-
liance in May 2019. The branches,
the wards, the districts, the prov-
inces, the National Executive
Committee (NEC), the National
Standing Committee (NSC) and
the President remain the same.
Inter alia there is no freezing of
current party systems. In this re-
gard, the next congress date, un-
less varied by an extraordinary
congress, remains earmarked for
2024. This option does not provide
room for those that see an oppor-
tunity to grab power for the sake
of power at every opportunity of
change. On the other hand, it does
not give room for consolidation of
power by cliques. Party members
can still make claims to the par-
ty’s historical legacy, the memory,
blood and pain of the past. There
is some degree of continuity un-
der this option. When faced with a
Sergeyev crisis, the late founding
President of the MDC, Morgan
Tsvangirai, had to relabel from
MDC to MDC- T in 2008. Howev-
er, the political stakes are higher

No evidence of pandemic ‘mass formation psychosis’

facts&fiction
REUTERS FACT CHECK
“Mass formation psychosis” is
not an academic term recognised
in the field of psychology, nor is
there evidence of any such phe-
nomenon occurring during the
Covid-19 pandemic, multiple ex-
perts in crowd psychology have
said.
Online searches for the phrase
have spiked this month, as seen
in worldwide Google trends data,
after it was used in a popular
podcast as the reason why people
comply with public health meas-
ures.
Dr Robert Malone, told The Joe
Rogan Experience that “mass for-
mation psychosis” is a phenom-
enon that occurred in 1920s and
30s Germany when a highly edu-
cated population “went barking
mad”.
“And that is what’s happened
here,” he said, referring to the
Covid-19 pandemic
According to Malone, the con-
dition occurs when a society “be-
comes decoupled from each oth-
er and has a free-floating anxiety
in a sense that things don’t make
sense… And then their attention
gets focused by a leader or series
of events on one small point, just
like hypnosis.”
He added: “They literally be-
come hypnotised and can be led
anywhere… They will follow that
person — it doesn’t matter wheth-
er they lie to them or whatever,
the data are irrelevant.”
As of January 3, the term has
gathered more than 100 000 in-
teractions (likes, comments and
shares) on public Facebook pages,
groups and verified profiles, ac-
cording to social media monitor-
ing tool CrowdTangle.
Users on Twitter have also
shared the term, applying it as if
it were a legitimate condition to
describe those receiving Covid-19
vaccines, tests and following oth-
er health measures
The phrase does not appear in
the American Psychological As-
sociation (APA) Dictionary of
Psychology nor does it appear
in the PsycNet database of pub-
lished research articles. Numer-
ous psychologists have also told
Reuters that such a condition is
not officially recognised.
“I have never heard of this con-
cept,” John Drury, Professor of
Social Psychology and Director
of Research and Knowledge Ex-
change at the University of Sus-
sex, wrote in an email to Reuters.
Jay Van Bavel, Associate Pro-
fessor of Psychology and Neural
Science at New York University,
said the term “doesn’t exist as a
real academic concept”, adding:
“I’ve been studying group iden-
tity and collective behaviour for
nearly two decades and just pub-
lished a book on the topic (www.
powerofus.online/) and not once
have I come across this term.
“It seems to have been made
up recently. There are similar-
sounding concepts, like ‘mass
psychogenic illness,’ but the
scope of these is relatively nar-
row compared to what is being
proposed here.”
Reuters also spoke to Steven
Reicher, Professor of Social Psy-
chology at the University of St
Andrews, who has studied crowd
psychology for more than 40
years. He described the concept
of a “mass psychosis” as “more
metaphor than science, more ide-
ology than fact”.
“It arises out of mass society
theories and crowd psychology
theories which developed in the
19th century, and which reflect-
ed a fear of the masses,” he said.
“The claim was that people in the
mass lose their sense of identity
and their ability to reason, they
regress to an inferior mental
state where they are manipulable
by unscrupulous leaders.
“It has been totally discredited
by contemporary work on groups
and crowds.”
Van Bavel, who said he found
the idea of mass formation psy-
chosis “reductionist”, highlight-
ed a different account of the role
of psychology, groups and leader-
ship in the rise of Naziism.
He also pointed to a study he
co-authored and released in No-
vember 2020 analysing the move-
ment of approximately 15 million
Americans during the early stag-
es of the pandemic, finding that
one of the “single biggest predic-
tors of following social distance
guidelines was political partisan-
ship.
“What is true, of course, is that
people do have to make sense of a
confusing and complicated world
with different accounts coming
from different sources,” said Re-
icher.
“We are not vaccinologists so
when people tell us contradictory
things about vaccines, who do we
listen to. That is a matter of trust
and of our social relationship to
the source of information. So, the
politicisation of the pandemic,
the creation of a sense of an es-
tablishment enemy who wants to
control us is certainly important.
It makes the establishment of
trust an absolutely critical aspect
of the pandemic and hence such
things as transparency, respect,
clarity etc. become critical.”
He added: “But telling people
who disagree with you that they
are deluded and in a state of psy-
chosis is essentially a device to
silence them and a form of dis-
respect. It alienates and hence
undermines an attempt at dia-
logue. It isn’t an explanation of
the problem; it is part of the prob-
lem.”
Verdict
Missing context. There is no
evidence to suggest a “mass for-
mation psychosis” has occurred
during the pandemic, experts
told Reuters. The term itself is
not recognised among academ-
ics, and modern research into
crowd psychology has shown that
crowds do not behave in mindless
or non-individualistic ways.
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 9

Analysis

context of despotic capture of MDC A?

at this historic juncture and the post-coup milita- tion is a long term gamble and a rushed history of struggle, pain, blood and mem- es such as relabelling, rebranding, creat-
rised party-state is bent on eliminating Chamisa rally to launch a new party will not suf- ory are embedded in the name. In addi- ing new identities because political par-
and his party. Therefore, what is likely to be at the fice especially ahead of the by-elections. tion, the legacy of Tsvangirai is part- ties are largely conservative in nature.
centre of legal contestation is the name MDC. Pre- The fourth option is to maintain the ly embedded in the name. The Mwonzo- However, internal or external shocks can
fixes or Suffixes to it — such as MDC C or MDC party name as is. The logic is based on an ra effect is also considered as a tempo- break the status quo and trigger the need
Z — might not resolve the conundrum, hence the assumption that the MDC Alliance is a rary inconvenience that will crumble in to weigh options as part of strategic in-
need for a new way of relabelling. strong brand with long term political ex- due course. The idea is to fight for the re- sulation and self-preservation especially
The second option is party rebranding. This does posure. Even a person with a remote in- tention legally and politically and allow in authoritarian contexts bent on anni-
not entail the formation of a new party but it is a terest in politics knows that the MDC is the political burden and responsibility hilating the opposition. The shock thera-
surgical process that requires transformation of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party. It has on Mwonzora and Mnangagwa the auto- py here is despotic-capture of the name
substantive aspects of the party. It means a strate- long term exposure both locally and in- cratic President of Zimbabwe as part of MDC Alliance. The MDC Alliance, like
gic review of the party’s goals, core objectives, prin- ternationally. As a result, relabelling, re- a total de-legitimisation strategy. So all Sergeyev of Russia, faces opponent num-
ciples and values and its ideology. This might re- branding or forming a new party is seen things being equal (ceteris paribus), all ber two as MDC Alliance. In the event of a
quire cleaning up and waterproofing the constitu- as a radical and risky step that might players would want to keep their name shock therapy of this nature, history has
tion to avoid unnecessary legal loopholes manipu- simply destroy the opposition. MDC is and fight to the end. However, this might taught us that partial rather than whole-
lated by opponents. The party organs might need to embedded in the political marketplace be foolhardy given the balance of politi- sale changes have significantly yielded
be repurposed in line with the new core objectives. for 22 years. There are also sentimental cal forces in Zimbabwe today. more positive electoral effects. My mod-
The secretariat might as well need a complete over- and emotional attachments to the name Under normal democratic conditions, est contribution to the democratic debate
haul under rebranding in order to streamline with especially by the older generation. The parties do not make significant chang- is stated. I am out.
the new strategic focus. In other words, if a collec-
tive decision is taken to rebrand Chamisa’s MDC
Alliance, it must not just be about the change of a
name. The result should be a total refurbished par-
ty so that it is presented to the people in a new and
pulchritudinous form. This is a time-consuming
process. Given that politics is fluid and moving very
fast, one can relabel as a first step to deal with the
immediate questions of the day like how to register
candidates at the nomination court set for 26 Janu-
ary 2022 and rebrand thereafter.
Before we move to the third and fourth options
here is a question. What are the prospects of the
masses resonating with relabelling and rebrand-
ing in the Zimbabwean context? I think they are
high. Why? Zimbabwe has a politically hyper ac-
tive society. There are strong levels of political at-
tention among the electorate so the changes will
not evade the curious public eye. From the history
of splits, Zimbabwean voters have predominantly
utilised personalistic signals in identifying parties
and making voting decisions, therefore they are
able to reorient to a relabelled or rebranded party
more easily. Voters can identify the party under a
new label or brand by simply checking out its lead-
ers. Is Chamisa there, are his deputies, Lynette
Karenyi-Kore, Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube
there, and is the national chairperson Thabitha
Khumalo there including her deputy Job Sikhala
and the secretary general Charlton Hwende as well
as treasurer general David Coltart. By looking at
who the leaders are, that is whether the leaders re-
main in the party, voters would associate easily. In
addition, the MDC Alliance is a less institutional-
ised party system, an embedded weakness but one
which makes it less arduous to change based on
the weak party hypothesis. Finally, the larger de-
mographics of the voting population are the young
with less sentimental value to the old ways of do-
ing things.
Now the third option will entail forming a new
party. A new party has to break orthodoxy and
think afresh to be presented in a pulchritudinous
form. This is a laborious process because it is not
about trying to resurrect the MDC through reani-
mating the Tsvangirai days. A new party needs to
think about big problems in a fresh way and come
up with new big ideas. One cannot just jerry-build
ideas from the previous era. Continuity with the
noble ideas can be valuable, but it is not enough to
build a new party. This will require a competent in-
frastructure to develop new ideas followed by build-
ing a national movement with presence in every
corner of Zimbabwe to advance the new big ideas.
This is important because durable new parties have
to start from the bottom up around a popular big
idea. Even if you capture voters’ attention around
the charismatic Chamisa, he has to stand for a gen-
uine national movement rising from the people.
A new party implies an inaugural congress
which might produce an entirely new leadership
from the current presidium to the branches. There
is no guarantee, for example, that all the current
deputies, national chairperson, Secretary Gener-
al, Treasurer General et cetera will be retained.
It might be determined by a whole different par-
ty structure, constitution, party roots in socie-
ty, membership, ideology and identity. For a new
party will technically freeze the Gweru Congress
and usher in a new birthday. The outcome is a dou-
ble edged sword. This process can pilot a new, dy-
namic and competent leadership unchained to or-
thodoxy, which will not merely hitch-hike old ide-
as but usher in fresh big ideas with renewed ener-
gy. However, it is common to see actors who will
not make it in new parties, get disappointed at the
shattering of their dreams and form splinter par-
ties to restore a status quo ante. This can plunge
the opposition into the old cycle of splits. This op-
10 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Comment & Opinion
Demolitions leave women,
children worse off
H
arare yesterday woke up to what has become
an annual ritual of horror. Once again, the
government brought heavy road construc-
tion equipment, including bulldozers and front-
end loaders to tear down illegal structures, most-
ly wooden and metal market stalls in the capital’s
oldest and most populous suburb of Mbare.
Needless to say, the exercise is violently merci-
less, targets some of the poorest citizens of the
country and affects mostly women and children.
This happens virtually every year and the tim-
ing is almost always during the rainy season, or
in winter.
Every time this happens, questions are asked
around the demolitions — the same questions eve-
ry year. Why do authorities let people put up ille-
gal structures, including houses and market stalls,
and then raze them down when they are complete
and occupied? Why do authorities always wait for
the bad times to demolish the structures?
Right from the biggest urban tragedies in mod-
ern times, Murambatsvina of 2005 which hap-
pened at the height of winter, all demolitions seem
to happen during the bad times of the year. This
coincidence in timing patterns makes it difficult
not to think that the human tragedy that follows
these demolitions is well thought out and planned
by certain people in certain offices.
Whatever the reasons behind this exercise; good
or bad; the undeniable fact is that the human suf-
fering that follows these demolitions is clearly
pre-meditated and deliberate. The sight of wom-
en and children huddled around broken pieces
of furniture and wet blankets — out in the open
in the biting cold or lashing rains, is a deliberate
plan by authorities.
The victims of these demolitions may be to
blame for the action they take to build and occu-
py illegal structures, but authorities must take
the responsibility to find a lasting solution to this
perennial problem. As it is, both central and lo-
cal government have failed to take charge of the
growing problem in urban areas caused mainly by
unemployment.
Promises to avail more market places have not
been fulfilled and attempts such as one near Coca-
Cola along Seke Road and refurbishment of Mu-
pedzanhamo in Mbare appear to have been aban-
doned. The people that suffered the cruel demo-
litions yesterday and whose families are today
without food and may have spent last night in the
rains are victims of the government’s incompe-
tence and premeditated cruelty.
The authorities have shown that they have no
idea how to deal with the thousands of homeless
citizens and growing multitudes of jobless youths
and vendors. They seem only capable of crafting
sadistic solutions such as the on-going demoli-
tions — as if the Zanu PF government has a politi-
cal axe to grind with city and town dwellers.
The constitution makes it mandatory for gov-
ernment to ensure that citizens enjoy basic digni-
ty. This destruction of shelter and means of sur-
vival infringes on people’s basic human rights by
their government.
Quote of the week
“We the teachers of Zimbabwe organis-
ing under the ‘Save Our Education’, are wor-
ried about massive spreading of Covid-19 in
schools, angered by the slave wages we are
receiving, infuriated by government’s failure
to pay invigilation allowances, enslaved by 12% towards edu-
cation in the 2022 budget." — Teachers’ petition to Parliament
last week.
OPINION
Zimbabwe students the biggest
losers as new year begins
BY JOSEPH NDONDO
G
lobally over 1.38 learners were
affected by the Covid-19 pan-
demic since it was first report-
ed two years ago in Wuhan, China, in
December 2019. The pandemic subse-
quently spread globally to become the
fifth documented pandemic since the
1918 flu pandemic. Many schools were
forced to shut their doors in compli-
ance with gGovernment lockdown di-
rectives that were a major character-
istic of the year 2020.
Global impact of Covid-19 on ed-
ucation
To date, many countries are still re-
sorting to lockdowns and shutdowns
of various forms in order to curb re-
surging variants of the virus and ris-
ing infection cases. When schools were
shut, some had to shift to online learn-
ing which is sometimes referred to as
virtual learning, remote learning and
e-learning. While the rapid shift to on-
line learning was a noble idea, it how-
ever exposed huge inequalities that
existed in societies around the world,
with Zimbabwe not an exception. Some
students could not afford to continue to
learn due to a number of reasons chief
among them, the high internet costs,
slow internet connectivity, the lack of
resources such as laptops, radios and
smartphones and the lack of electrici-
ty among other reasons.
The challenges faced in implement-
ing e-learning revealed the great dig-
ital divide, a term that refers to the
gap between people and regions that
have access to modern Information
and Communications Technology
(ICT), and those that do not or have
restricted access. In Zimbabwe when
the nationwide lockdown was first an-
nounced on March 24, 2020, more than
4.6 million children were subsequent-
ly affected in the whole country ac-
cording to statistics from the United
Nations Children’s Education Fund.
According to the Zimbabwe national
Statistics Agency (Zimstat), only 40%
of students in the country could man-
age to continue learning after schools
had been closed (Zimstat, 2020). Zim-
stat reported that rural students were
affected the most, with only 25% of ru-
ral students managing to continue to
learn.
Learning after school closures
In Zimbabwe, like in most sub-Sa-
hara countries, internet is expensive.
In addition to the high cost of inter-
net, the network speeds have been far
from amusing in most parts of the
country, with rural areas most affect-
ed. This has seen students facing chal-
lenges in accessing the internet. The
government and policymakers must
work to ensure that they subsidise
the internet to enable students to ac-
cess online education affordably. In
this Information revolution, inter-
net is a prime currency. Students use
the internet not only for communica-
tion and learning, but many use it to
search for opportunities such as schol-
arships and employment while other
students and young people digital en-
trepreneurs, utilise it to perform in-
ternet-based tasks such as digital mar-
keting, web design, graphic design
and other digital skills. The internet
is the fuel of digital entrepreneurship.
When schools shifted to online
learning in Zimbabwe, the tuition fees
in most schools were not reviewed
downwards. Students have argued
that the school fees for online learn-
ing must not be the same with that for
physical classroom learning. With an
online learning approach, there is a
strong case to argue for reducing the
tuition fees for learning, based on the
fact that students will not be fully on
campus physically and so will not be
using some university facilities such
as WIFI, electricity, library, and other
facilities.
As we enter 2022 students in Zimba-
bwe begin the new year on a sad note.
As if rubbing salt to their wounds, on
New Year’s Eve the government of
Zimbabwe announced an extension of
the nationwide lockdown by a further
two weeks and further announced
that the school calendar, would be de-
layed until further notice. Although
the government exempted students
with examinations in this order, many
students will remain home indefinite-
ly until further notice.
The full impact of school closures
will certainly bear long-term nega-
tive impacts on student development.
The United Nations has reported that
the Covid-19 pandemic has wiped out
20 years of education gains, with 9%
of children in grades 1-through grade
8 falling below the minimum reading
proficiency levels in the year 2020. In a
recent research on The Impact of Cov-
id-19 Pandemic on Education in South
Africa, researchers reported that long
periods of learning would be lost for
as long as the closures lasted and the
temporal damage would be disrup-
tion of curriculum, which could take
a long time to be recovered, while the
permanent damage include the fact
that some learners may never return
to school even when the disease out-
break is ended.
Schools closures are likely to have
ripple effects, leading into other com-
plex challenges such as drug abuse
and teenage pregnancies. In Zimba-
bwe, this trend has started to mani-
fest as observed in the past year. Gov-
ernment reported a major increase
in teenage pregnancies in January
and February 2021. Nearly 5 000 teen-
age girls fell pregnant in those two
months in the year 2021 while about
1 800 girls entered into early marriag-
es. Many educational analysts have at-
tributed this trend to school closures.
Students in Zimbabwe lost long peri-
ods of learning since the start of the
pandemic.
Although the Omicron variant has
seen rising infection cases and in
some countries emerging to be a dom-
inating variant, this variant has how-
ever been found to be less severe in
terms of virulence than other var-
iants in scientific studies. New re-
search by a large consortium of Japa-
nese and American scientists has sug-
gested that the Omicron variant may
cause less damage to the lungs as com-
pared to earlier variants. In addition,
a spate of studies led by Dr Gupta,
Professor of Theoretical Epidemiolo-
gy at the University of Oxford, on lab-
oratory animals and human tissues
are providing the first indication of
why the Omicron variant causes mild-
er disease than previous variants, es-
pecially in vaccinated people.
According to Economists at JP Mor-
gan, the Omicron variant will thus
not pose the same economic and so-
cial threat as previous virus waves. In
neighboring South Africa, the govern-
ment announced on December 30, that
they were likely past the peak of the
Omicron wave and that the variant did
not bring a large jump in virus deaths.
This has left many in Zimbabwe ques-
tioning why the Harare government is
resorting to hard lock downs closing
schools against the backdrop of this
emerging scientific evidence on the
Omicron variant.
l Joseph Ndondo (MBL) is a writer
with the Institute for a Greater Eu-
rope. You can contact him for feed-
back via email on kunashe@outlook.
com
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 11

Letters to the Editor

The army must stop meddling in Feedback

civilian affairs, political choices
The emergence of denial to access
maternal health care services have
resurfaced in Harare at Glen View
and Budiriro Poly Clinics, a situation
that has a potential to claim lives if
not addressed urgently.
Pregnant women allege that Glen

T
he army was instrumental in effect-
ing a change of leadership within Zanu
PF and government when it engineered
a military coup which dethroned Robert
Mugabe and installed Emmerson Mnangag-
wa as president in November 2017. But peo-
ple still ask questions, why did the Sadc re-
main quiet when dangerous statements were
made by the army? Where was African Union
which should be aware of the code of conduct
of the security forces? The disturbing state-
ments were tantamount to unconstitutionally
taking over elected government which is what
during the coup.
Those who suggest that the late Morgan Ts-
vangirai was robbed of his victory in 2008 af-
ter election were delayed for five weeks before
it was announced that he had scored 47% com-
pared to Mugabe’s 43% of the total vote cast,
cannot be dismissed.
The involvement of the military is now as
obvious as darkness after sunset. The Mnan-
gagwa administration, in a bid to pacify the
military, has gone on an overdrive to not only
militarise Zanu PF, but also the national insti-
tutions. This has by and large resulted in the
capture of one of the pillars of state: the ju-
diciary. It’s not bad that our retired soldiers
are absorbed in government and in other pro-
fessional jobs, but it is the intentions that are
spoiling the smooth running of government.
As spelt out by the constitution, security forc-
es are there to serve the nation and not an in-
dividual or political party. By supporting a po-
litical party, they have relegated themselves
to willing agents to be used at every turn by
politicians. They now act as an extension of
the ruling party.
Indeed, the Mnangagwa administration has
View Poly Clinic is no longer regis-
made use of the available arsenal to suffocate Are we going to witness any changes as we tering pregnant women for mater-
and suppress the opposition in the mould of enter 2022? Recent reports of Chamisa being nal health services while health per-
MDCA under the leadership of Nelson Chami- denied free passage to meet with his support- sonnel at Budiriro Poly Clinic are in-
sa. It has never been recorded during the over ers in the countryside, if anything, could be a structing those who want to register
three decades of Mugabe’s rule that soldiers tip of an ice-berg of what awaits us as we edge for maternal health services to come
shot at defenceless and unarmed civilians towards 2023 elections. It’s not too late for our and register on the day of delivery.
in the city of Harare. But with Mnangagwa, security officers to stand for the people and “I wanted to register for mater-
it happened before he could even spend 12 not a political party as has been advocated by nity but I was told by the Sister in
months in office as President. The shooting their leadership of late. The military should Charge that Glen View Poly Clinic is
of people in August 2018 and in January 2019 never make political statements. no longer offering maternal health
are cases in point. This idea that the existence of the opposi- care services and that I should go
For whatever reasons, soldiers were wrong tion is at the behest of the western nations is somewhere but now am stuck”, be-
to use live bullets on civilians who were un- a charade and it has to be treated as such. moaned a pregnant woman.
armed and the late former army general and The opposition and the west are not respon- At Budiriro Poly Clinic the situa-
the Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo sible for the massive looting that has para- tion is astonishing and terrifying as
agreed that punishment was to be meted out lysed our economy and caused untold eco- the health personnel are not moved
on all those who were found on the wrong side nomic, social and moral decadence. How can or treating pregnancy as an emer-
of the law. However, the nation still awaits we not say our economy is on its knees when gency.
recommendations of the Kgalema Motlanthe one needs to change his or her salary soon af- “My delivery dates were due in
commission to be implemented. For all we ter earning it so as to store value? Workers are December but the nurses told me to
know, the wait seems prolonged. paid in our own currency but the same gov- come on the day of delivery with the
The fact of the matter is that Zimbabwe is ernment charges for services in United State registration money”, said a hopeless
not the only country with the army and again dollars. nine-month pregnant woman who
we are not the only nation which was un- If people want a change of government, visited Budiriro Poly Clinic last week.
der colonialism. Why is our case different in which is their democratic right, let the army CHRA has engaged the manage-
terms of how our soldiers operate? Why are not intervene and tell the people what not to ment in the City Health Department
they not being professional like their counter- do. After all, sufferings cuts across the politi- on the matter and they have prom-
parts in the region? Why should Zimbabwe- cal, social and religious spectrum. ised to conduct a fact-finding mission
ans be afraid of their soldiers and police offic- Nobody is spared; we all go to the same su- at the clinics to address the crisis.
ers? Our soldiers should not be conditioned to permarkets, tuck shops and black market to The denial of access to maternal
work against any opposition political parties change our currency to United States dollars. health services also came at a time
in Zimbabwe. This trend will not get Zimba- If people now want someone and not Mnan- when the City of Harare unilaterally
bwe anywhere and it’s the recipe for disaster. gagwa to lead them, let them not be blocked resolved to close nine clinics in the
The people are watching and by supporting from making that choice. If they still want city citing health personnel short-
Zanu PF, the security forces have joined the him to continue, let them also vote for him ages and to this end CHRA has en-
gravy train. In fact, they should advise the po- freely. Zimbabwe has the potential to do well, gaged legal experts for possible lit-
litical leaders to respect the constitution and let not anyone or institution be blamed tomor- igation.
serve the people. The security services sector row for blocking progress and prosperity. In October 2020 the High Court
is supposed to be neutral. Mtape Mamuse Maunganidze granted an Interim Relief to preg-
nant women and ordered the Ha-

Citizens under siege from authoritarian govts

rare City Council to open all its 42
clinics and offer pregnant women
emergency treatment after the lo-
cal authority had closed more than
30 clinics.
Insiders have pointed out that

T his year starts on a bedrock

of a myriad of challenges in
Southern Africa, which include
the Covid-19 pandemic which has
seen hundreds of thousands los-
ing their lives through uncom-
prehensive medical response
and lack of epidemiological re-
search for many Sadc countries
with the exception of South Afri-
ca and Botswana, the loss of live-
lihoods for millions whose jobs
and enterprises were affected by
the hard hitting effects lockdown
measures in the absence of emer-
gency relief funds and the wan-
ton human rights violations of
citizens and vulnerable groups
under the guise of lockdown en-
forcement across the region. The
violent and brutal clampdown of
human rights defenders and citi-
zens through arrests, killings and
the inception of prohibitive legis-
lations on the operation of CSOs
such as the PVO Amendment Bill
in Zimbabwe has been a signal on
the increase on authoritarianism
in eSwatini and Zimbabwe in the
year 2021. The scourge of GBV
and femicide in South Africa
has been on a consistent rise and
forms part of the major crises the
region is facing and this reverses
gains made on women empower-
ment and the realisation of wom-
en’s rights.
Corruption engineered by car-
tels and government functionar-
ies, diminished regulatory over-
sight on state-owned enterpris-
es across the region has also seen
countries losing billions of dol-
lars that could have supported
the provision of basic service de-
livery in the wake of devastat-
ing impacts of the Covid-19, ref-
erence can be made to the revela-
tions that have been made on the
commission of inquiry into state
capture in South Africa which re-
vealed the massive grand looting
that happens on state resourc-
es. We hope that institutions that
fight corruption are empowered
and that whistle-blowers on any
acts of corruption are protected.
Legislations that prohibits illicit
financial flows and interstate co-
operation on fighting against illic-
it financial flows must be effected
in 2022.
Climate change also remains
one of the biggest threats to the
region, the region has not man-
aged to effectively deal with the
causes such as the continued re-
liability of energy on fossil fu-
els ahead of green energy and at-
tendant effects of the same such
as power outages with countries
such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and
South Africa going through mas-
sive power reduction programs
which gravely impacted on the
provision of service delivery for
citizens.
CIASA, however, notes the posi-
tives that emanated from the year
2021 across the region and com-
mends the Republic of Zambia for
holding a relatively peaceful elec-
tion and seamless transition and
South Africa for holding credible
local government elections. These
two electoral processes are a posi-
tive reference for other countries
in the region on how to engage in
electoral processes that pass the
integrity test and also transfer of
power that does not lead to unnec-
essary conflicts and loss of lives.
Further CIASA applauds Tanza-
nia on having its first female lead-
er, this shows the improvement in
women participation in politics
and decision-making within the
region and we hope that she leads
with the highest form of integrity
with respect to the country’s con-
stitution and spearheading devel-
opmental initiatives that are in-
clusive of everyone.
As we get into 2022, CIASA re-
affirms its commitment to defend,
protect and empower various
communities across the region,
especially those from marginal-
ised, hard to reach, minority and
indigenous groups. Further we
strongly urge governments to re-
spect human rights and advance
developmental initiatives that are
not exclusionary, and strength-
en institutions that advance good
governance and accountability.
Lastly, we urge the regional body
Sadc to provide guidance on all
matters affecting the region with
impartiality and holding the in-
terests of all citizens in the region
at the centre.
May 2022 be a year of inclusive
growth, and enjoyment of rights
for all in Southern Africa.
CIASA Information Depart-
ment
moral is too low in the health de-
partment due to poor working con-
ditions and the recent proposal to
transfer local authority nurses to the
central government to access their
wages and salaries.
CHRA
Voluntary Media
Council
of Zimbabwe
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12 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Opinion
Why Mugabe honours are awkward
letter to my people
BY DOCTOR STOP IT
M
Y Dear People,
I hope you had
restful holidays
and for once you
forgot about the
people that pretend to rule you
when all they do is loot.
The year started with the gov-
ernment postponing the opening
of schools indefinitely because
of a “rise” in Covid-19 cases, a
laughable excuse if you ask me.
I am really beginning to not un-
derstand this Covid-19 thing, at
first it was straightforward; avoid
large gatherings and groups to
prevent it, but now it seems it is
selective.
Zanu PF recently held elections
across the country and Covid-19
was not raised as an issue.
The country cannot hold by-elec-
tions but Zanu PF can go ahead
with its internal elections. You see
my problem with Covid-19.
Nero tried to distribute goods
Legitimising wrong-doing in the guise of rule of law
BY LINDIWE SISULU
APARTHEID was “legal”. Jim
Crow laws in the United States
were “legal”. Colonialism was
“legal”. Even the Nazis were “le-
gal”. So what does it mean to have
the rule of law? And whose law is
it anyway?
In South Africa, a constitution
in 1994 and the rule of law took
on a new lofty meaning after the
deck had been heavily stacked
against the victims of the “rule
of law.” It was a new dispensation
of justice after centuries of vi-
cious oppression of the indigenes
of the land by invaders. But what
has this beautiful constitution
done for the victims except as a
palliative (Panadol)?
If we look around, we see a sea
of African poverty.
Let’s not fool ourselves and one
another; the primary motivation
for the evils of colonialism was
and still is economic. It is an or-
ganised crime; the robbery of oth-
er people’s land and resources; as
well as the exploitation and de-
spiteful use of their labour. It is
also about the reduction of these
people to mass consumers and ex-
clusion from the ownership of the
factors of production and wealth
creation.
But it seems today we have le-
gitimised wrongdoing under the
umbrella of the rule of law. Many
years down the line Africans man-
age poverty while others manage
wealth. When we talk about trans-
formation, it is just a buzzword?
When we talk about reconcilia-
tion, what we don’t hear is eco-
nomic reconciliation?
There are excellent reasons why
the late Sampie Terreblanche, re-
nowned economist and fighter for
justice, kept insisting on a new
Truth and Reconciliation Com-
mission focusing on economic
justice. But obviously his voice,
like other voices calling for eco-
nomic justice, economic restora-
to the elderly but was told there
was Covid-19, but Profit Java is
allowed to gather hundreds of
people without anyone raising
the C word — I mean coronavirus
— get your mind out of the gut-
ter kkk.
It really doesn’t make sense
that Covid-19 discriminates along
party lines and Zanu PF gather-
ings are spared.
Even schools have to be closed
to reduce Covid-19 cases, but
Zanu PF functions proceed as
planned.
Last year, at the height of the
Omicron variant, Launchmore
held his functions regardless of
Covid-19 regulations, yet schools
opening has to be deferred indef-
initely.
Speaking of education, nor-
mally schools would be re-open-
ing this week, but up to now,
Grade 7 results are yet to be re-
leased, meaning it’s not possible
tion, and economic reparations
as essential for reconciliation,
has been consistently ignored by
those with the power to actually
give effect to these calls.
That demand should be made
with greater urgency now than
ever before. We should insist, and
not give up until they are met.
Colonised capital and politi-
cal brokers
What we have instead wit-
nessed under a supreme constitu-
tion, and the rule of law since 1994
has been the co-option and invita-
tion of political power brokers
to the dinner table, whose job is
to keep the masses quiet in their
sufferance while they dine cavi-
ar with colonised capital (CC). Af-
ter dinner many things take place
under the table and around the ta-
ble. Some call it stomach politics.
The politicians take care of them-
selves and their families while
those who put them there go to
bed hungry, waiting for crumbs
from the table.
Otherwise, what explains the
sudden astronomical wealth of
so-called “liberators” over such
a short period of time? How
did some become multi-million-
aires and billionaires overnight
while a third of their fellow citi-
zens languish on social grants?
It takes several years for families
and businesses to earn the status
of multi-millionaires or billion-
aires, after real hard work and
value creation. But like Mzansi
magic we have some socialism-
spouting “liberators” draped in
flags, transformed and co-opted
into the capitalist class and leafy
suburbs.
In 1994 they struggled to put
petrol in their cars. Some didn’t
even own one. And yet when it is
election time you will hear them
spouting “Our people, our people.
Surely, this was not the vision of
the real liberators. Those whom
we revere as the “struggle stal-
warts”. They have gone to their
to have a Form 1 intake.
This has never happened in the
history of this country. This is
literally the height of incompe-
tence.
Baba was an educationist and
would have never let this happen.
But this lot have no regard for
education and this is why this is
happening.
On the other hand, pupils are
still sitting for their ordinary and
advanced levels that were sup-
posed to be completed in 2021, but
will now be written this year.
Can someone explain to me
how we have degenerated into
such. Baba made sure Zimbabwe
was one of the most literate coun-
tries in the world and now his
work is being reversed by people
that have no idea on the impor-
tance of education.
For them, literacy and intellec-
tualism are subservient to mili-
tary power and force, this is why
they allow the education system
to collapse in such a manner.
Obviously, the easy excuse is
that Covid-19 made it difficult for
education to continue last year.
However, they won’t say
why Covid-19 did not stop
Launchmore’s rallies that were
held every other two days.
These ones prioritised politics
graves, with a dream deferred,
their life’s work besmirched, and
their sacrifices spat upon. What
happened to us?
Where is the economic recon-
ciliation?
The land is where it all begins.
And the law of the land makes or
breaks. The law pervades every
aspect of our lives, including the
allocation of wealth and poverty.
We are all too familiar with the
history of land theft in South Af-
rica that began in 1652. The infa-
mous 1913 Natives Land Act that
just took from Africans has mere-
ly been a legalisation and legiti-
misation of this scandalous pro-
cess. Its disastrous effect has had
a very long life. After more than
a century later, the very same Af-
ricans are unable to take back
what belongs to them. They have
been co-opted in patches to work
against the interest of their own;
trapped in the politics of mean-
ingless language, political crap
and stupor.
In 1913 those who took from Af-
ricans were never conflicted in
what they wanted to do. How long
will the centre hold if economic
reconciliation, restoration of the
land, and meaningful redistribu-
tion of wealth is not addressed as
a matter of urgency?
The July 2021 looting was a
massive warning shot. Our coun-
try cannot afford second and third
warnings.
Whose law is it?
Politicians in parliament are
called lawgivers. They make
the law. During colonialism and
apartheid, the lawgivers were
purposeful. Their purpose was
rooted in the philosophy of white
supremacy and entitlement to
everything, including the bodies
of those they falsely believed to be
inferior. It was simply to take and
colonise and defend, for kith and
kin. It was about power. Econom-
ic power, political power, military
power, and social power.
at the expense of education and
in the process they are creating a
generation that is uneducated but
sits for examinations almost reli-
giously.
A bit like our elections kkk;
they are held regularly as and
when they are due, but they can
never be said to be democratic.
The government has to rethink
its attitude towards education be-
cause we are creating an illiterate
generation and that is very dan-
gerous for the country’s future.
I see the government has
come up with the Robert Gabri-
el Mugabe Commendation Award
for Service in Human Capital De-
velopment and I can’t wrap my
head around what the big idea
here is.
One moment, they describe
Baba as a dictator, a person who
brought sanctions on Zimbabwe
and someone who had to be de-
posed by a coup, yet on the other
they name an award after him.
This feels a bit dishonest for
me; they should choose whether
they want to demonise Baba or
honour him.
Sisi Oppah described Baba as
a traitor, so why should an award
be named after Baba.
Also, don’t forget that these
are the same people that want to
Today, the language of law has
done little to really change an-
ything. We have parallels. One
must look at the January 6 insur-
rection in the United States of
America, and whether its propo-
nents really care about democra-
cy or only care about power. And
ask ourselves why almost half
the country voted for a man who
seemed to care nothing about de-
mocracy and the rule of law. At
the deepest level, it is not very dif-
ferent from South Africa.
The stark reality is that if you
don’t have land, you don’t have
a country. That is why an over-
whelming majority of wars in
history have been fought over
land and territory. In South Afri-
ca 8% of the population control
80% of the land and its resourc-
es. So, who are the real owners of
the country? Meanwhile 80% of
the majority in the country con-
trol less than 10% of the market
capitalisation at the Johannes-
burg Stock Exchange. Who is fool-
ing who?
Meanwhile, our black politi-
cians have become black assets
for colonised capital. And that
capital keeps knocking at their
doors for them to facilitate eco-
nomic returns to multiply their
investments.
The legal brokers and judi-
cial reform
The most dangerous African to-
day is the mentally colonised Af-
rican. And when you put them
in leadership positions or as in-
terpreters of the law, they are
worse than your oppressor. They
have no African or Pan-African
inspired ideological grounding.
Some are confused by foreign be-
lief systems.
In America these interpreters
are called the House Negroes. It is
what the father of black history
Carter Woodson strenuously com-
plained about in his famous book
The Miseducation of the Negro.
Woodson wrote, “If you control
disturb Baba’s rest by exhuming
him and burying him in a place
that he refused to be buried at.
Baba described these people as
his tormentors and did not want
anything to do with them. If he
was alive, I know he would refuse
to have his name associated with
this award.
If they are trying to appease
Baba, it’s too late, the damage was
long done.
Will my family be part of this
charade? Wait and see kkk.
I saw raging debate on voter
registration figures and I thought
my people were missing the for-
est for the trees.
A high voter turnout is bad for
the party in power, so they will do
their utmost best to suppress vot-
er registration and the number of
newly registered voters.
If you believe that only 2 000
people registered to vote in 2021,
then you will believe anything.
ZEC must be challenged on these
figures rather than a situation
where people spend days debat-
ing those figures.
Put plainly, those figures aren’t
true and the rigging has started.
Stop it!
Munopengaaaaaa
Dr Amai (PHD Fake)
a man’s thinking you don’t have
to worry about his actions. You
do not have to tell him to stand
here or go yonder, he will find his
proper place. You do not need to
send him to the back door, he will
go without being told. In fact, if
there is no back door, he will cut
one for his special benefit.”
When it comes to crucial eco-
nomic issues and property mat-
ters, the same African cosies up
with their elitist colleagues to
sing from the same hymnbook,
spouting the Roman Dutch law of
property. But where is the indig-
enous law? It has been reduced
to a footnote in your law schools.
Where are the African value sys-
tems and customs of land, wealth,
and property?
Today, in the high echelons
of our judicial system are these
mentally colonised Africans,
who have settled with the world-
view and mindset of those who
have dispossessed their ances-
tors. They are only too happy to
lick the spittle of those who false-
ly claim superiority. The lack
of confidence which permeates
their rulings against their own
speaks very loudly, while others,
secure in their agenda, clap be-
hind closed doors.
There is a need for an overhaul
of a justice system that does not
work for Africa and Africans. If
the law does not sufficiently ad-
dress the issue of the food fight,
the law will fail and inevitably
it will play out in the streets. We
have a neo-liberal constitution,
with foreign inspiration, but who
are the interpreters? And where
is the African value system of
this constitution and the rule of
law? If the law does not work for
Africans in Africa, then what is
the use of the rule of law?
 Lindiwe Sisulu is a mem-
ber of the ANC’s national ex-
ecutive committee. She writes
in her personal capacity.
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 13

New perspectives

Transitional mechanisms for more effective

service delivery in peri-urban areas
by Masimba Manyanya

E
arly November Sab-
huku Samaita escaped
death by a whisker
after being pumme-
led by hail stones in a
freak storm that intercepted him
on his way to his village home, as
he came back from the business
centre where he had quite ironi-
cally, escaped to for a drink with
fellow mates. “Escaped to” (in
his own narration of events) be-
cause he had spent a whole previ-
ous week literally besieged at his
home trying, with his Commit-
tee of Seven, to resolve mounting
village challenges, without much
success. There were issues to do
with new stands allocations, il-
legal land sales, repairs to bore-
holes, destruction of early plant-
ed maize crop by rains, village
roads destroyed by rains and were
now rivers in the making, gaps in
the distribution of Pfumvudza ag-
ricultural inputs, boundary dis-
putes between villagers, delays
with the village clinic fund con-
tributions and impending visits
by council officials to talk about a
new Covid variant.
A serious concern that always
bothered Samaita was the con-
tentious pegging of communal
land without warning by the lo-
cal council during the time of his Peri-urban zones are now conflict areas as urbanites seek land and yet destabilise the rural ecosystem and social order
predecessor in the 1990s. Appar-
ently council had allocated 10 ur- al functions, addressing funer- er parts of Zimbabwe. Peri-ur- criminality equipping them with information
ban type stands as compensation al events, and mediating conflict ban lands (also called outskirts vi. Extreme vulnerability of about local challenges and poli-
to villagers affected by pegging within the village. or the hinterland,) include spac- poor and landless people living in cy opportunities in emergent eco-
exercises. But these stands nev- In Zimbabwe cities and towns es, forms, and structures result- the peri-urban regions. nomic and policy environments.
er reached their beneficiaries. tend to expand outwards, or hor- ing from urbanisation. As rural Quite noteworthy, the peri-ur- Below are possible areas of prior-
A potential corruption case that izontally, and as this happens, spaces for the expansion of cities, ban region degenerates into a ity for the Transitional Council;
was now hanging over Samaita’s large crowds of often wealthy in- peri-urban areas encompass land- conflict zone, bringing huge bur- a) Minimising land losses, pop-
head. dividuals, invade the rural land- scape interfaces between town dens on local traditional leader- ulation relocations/ displace-
The day had started busy as scapes with their perimeter walls, and country; a rural-urban transi- ship structures that are, on the ments and disruptions of liveli-
usual. By 5pm, and in the midst boreholes and driveways. The tion zone where urban and rural other hand, ill-equipped (techni- hoods;
the pressures of work, Samaita population influx means an un- mix tend to clash”. In Zimbabwe, cally, financially, or organisation- b) Developing adequate legis-
told his secretary that he was precedented spike in population peri-urban regions typify conflict ally to cope with the serious im- lative, institutional and policy
going “next door”. If he delayed demand for basic local services. zones as cities and towns expand pending challenges. Samaita and mechanisms to protect the poor
coming back the team could The new entrants also bring new into communal areas without his league find themselves in a and vulnerable rural communi-
just continue with the meetings social values as well as shifts in clear land rights or coping mech- corner that is difficult to escape ties during acquisition of com-
and do the best they could, then local power balances, often associ- anisms in dealing with emergent from. This all is further compli- munal lands by municipalities
brief him upon his return. He ated with the erosion of tradition- conflicts. cated by the lack, or absence of and councils;
just then disappeared, with his al constituencies of village heads. The disappearance of agricul- systematic planning by govern- c) Developing educational and
US$10 in his pocket to pay for The new urbanites can easily drill tural land as a primary livelihood ment and council authorities. public awareness campaigns on
some “breathing space” at the their own borehole at their own source, against the background of Meaning to a very large extent Constitutional rights and policy
local business centre. But after premises and donate water to the expanding human needs in com- the peri urban area is shaped by privileges in the context of the
a short two hours of revelry, Sa- whole community. When this hap- munal areas sparks off an eco- ad-hoc reactions to emerging cri- encroaching urbanisation, tar-
maita had to rush back home as a pens they suddenly have a social nomic and also social livelihood ses. With the perspective on the geting in particular, councils,
dark ominous cloud showing im- power base that even competes crisis, resulting in intensive land life experience of Sabhuku Sa- traditional leaders, and rural
minent rains had covered the sky. with the village head. Sudden- utilisation of limited spaces, and maita and his poor village, it be- communities;
The freak storm brought great ly there is intense local competi- environmental degradation. With- comes important to address im- d) Prioritising regularising ex-
damage to homes in its wake and tion among all locals to “build up in a short space of time commu- peratives of “economic justice” isting land holdings in peri urban
many had to flee elsewhere for to standard”. Prospects of quick nal residents, particularly wom- which the Zimbabwe Coalition on and communal areas for conver-
safety. As the freak storm relent- money, fuelled in part by relent- en, will be scrounging for money Debt and Development (Zimcodd) sion into urban residential plots.
lessly pounded earth, all Samaita less poverty, become very real to pay for basic necessities such defines as “a set of moral princi- Where land had been taken away
could do as he struggled to reach through illegal land sales. Soon- as food, shelter, health and educa- ples for building economic insti- by Councils, compensation has to
home was cover his head with his er rather than later the whole tion. In summary, the general ex- tutions, the ultimate goal of is to be considered;
arms for protection. Rains often village is transformed with the perience points to; avail an opportunity for each per- e) Developing properly planned
bring blessings. But sometimes erection of new urban dwellings, i. Rapid increases in local pop- son to create sufficient material peri-urban regions as these lay
great damage. Meaning more cas- boreholes, and electricity connec- ulation foundation upon which to have a the essential basis for well ser-
es for Sabhuku to deal with. As it tions. More often than not, exclud- ii. Spike in population demand dignified and creative life.” (www. viced urban, industrial, agricul-
lies within the perimeters of the ing the village head’s own person- for roads, health, education and zimcodd.org) tural, commercial and housing in-
expanding Harare city, Samaita al dwellings. He remains impover- other services frastructure in the future
village faces challenges typical to ished. iii. High population mobility Transitional solutions
many peri-urban regions around as people continually migrate be- A ‘transitional council’ of local l Masimba Manyanya is a
the country. Challenges of change tween urban and rural during the chiefs, headmen and village head- Policy Analyst.
In a pre-urbanisation era, ru- transitory phases, which particu- men who regularly interact in ad-
The village headman ral communities earn their live- larly complicates local service de- visory capacity with the Local Au- *These weekly Insights arti-
The village headman remains lihoods tilling the land for maize, livery thority is one proposal to address cles are coordinated by Lovemore
an intrinsic aspect of Zimbabwe’s as well as livestock production. iv. Intense competition and con- peri-urban land conflicts. Tran- Kadenge, an independent consult-
rural and cultural life. A village When urbanisation inevitably flict for land between “invaders”, sitional here applies to the grad- ant, past president of the Zimba-
head in Zimbabwe really sym- “arrives” villages wake up sud- (also represented by advancing uation from rural to urban. This bwe Economics Society (ZES) and
bolizes respected, revered leader- denly to the realisation that the municipality interests on the oth- suggestion is reinforced by con- past president of the Chartered
ship, whose activities are shaped farming and grazing lands are er hand and retreating rural pop- stitutional responsibilities of lo- Governance & Accountancy Insti-
by close genetic and social con- no longer theirs, and that it was ulations on the other) cal authorities in terms of build- tute in Zimbabwe (CGI Zimbabwe)
nections. The village head is gen- going to be sold to prospective v. The flourishing of illegal land ing local knowledge, and the con- . Email – kadenge.zes@gmail.com
erally responsible for ceremoni- private homeowners from oth- transactions and other acts of fidence of local communities, and Mobile no. +263 772 382 852
14 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Opinion
C What I learnt from Bishop Tutu: There
OMPARE to what
awaits us, the universe
in which Bishop Des-
mond Tutu operated
was very simple and
straightforward. Both oppressors
and the subjects agreed as to what
was right and what constituted
wrongdoing. Therefore, the moral
arch of the universe, though long,
usual tilted towards justice.
When one has the privilege to
meet such a great man, the wis-
est thing to do is to let the old man
speak while the shisya (Hindu for
learner) listens attentively. I had a
privilege to sit at the feet of Bish-
op Tutu twice in my life.
The most singular lesson I
learned was that in a fight with
evil, there is no neutrality. But let
me start with the memorable sto-
ries of his life. Tutu had just been
appointed Bishop of Johannes-
burg in the 1980s. He went to reg-
ister for a vote. Of course, he was
denied. He asked a simple ques-
tion.
“How is it that common Jo-
hannes Van Tonder there, a white
truck 28-year-old driver can qual-
ify to vote while I, a Bishop of the
universal Episcopal Church can-
not?” Of course, there was no an-
swer. He went further.
“In your scheme of things, do
you hold Johannes to be wiser
than a bishop of the universal
church?” Of course, there was no
answer from the commissioner.
In another incident, Bishop
Tutu went to register at the Na-
tionalities Registration Commis-
sion. He was asked to what na-
tionality he belonged. Now, if I
remember correctly, there were
only nine nationalities recog-
nised in South Africa at the time.
He was ear-marked for one of the
Bantu nationalities, Xhosa, Zulu,
Venda and Sotho.
He wrote the name “human”
under the title nationality. The
Boers in South Africa were re-
nowned for their stupidity. The
Community-based rehabilitation post Covid-19 era
IT is a fact that worldwide, per-
sons living with disabilities have
and are still struggling to be part
of the communities in which they
live. Yes, we are in the 21st century
where we would expect people, gov-
ernments and communities to em-
brace PWDs but, inasmuch as there
are few changes, we are still behind
insofar as accepting these mem-
bers of society.
Chinua Achebe writes about this
issue in his book Things Fall Apart
and states how people living with
disabilities were ostracised and lit-
erally condemned as societal mis-
fits. In Igbo-land, there existed the
“evil forest” where cursed people
and such rejected items were dis-
carded and abandoned — left to die
or rot. People with disabilities were
treated as such in Igbo land. They
were presumed “cursed”.
It took generations to wake up
from this barbaric mindset and to
start accepting these unfortunate
members of society as human be-
ings and part and parcel of society.
However, we need to do more to
eradicate segregation, abuse and
exclusion of PWDs. We still need to
improve in areas that these mem-
bers of society require special at-
tention because of their various
conditions. More still needs to be
done to ensure that they are pro-
vided with facilities and amenities
that allow them to live better than
they are now.
With the limitations in Zimba-
bwe’s health services, community-
based rehabilitation (CBR) for peo-
ple with various disabilities must
be absolutely essential.
According to the Swedish Inter-
is no neutrality in a fight with evil
Letter from America
WITH KENNETH MUFUKA
commissioner “took that under
advice” and returned a reply. “Af-
ter some consideration the com-
mission has ruled against your
application, there being no such
nationality as or tribe called hu-
mans.” Now my group was up in
tears with laughter. Bishop Tutu
remained serious in countenance.
Then he would retort.
“That is how ridiculous these
people were. They missed the
whole point I was trying to make.
There is only one race. All of us
are humans.” Tutu’s eyes would
protrude out of their sockets as if
to emphasize the point.
Singular lesson
The most singular lesson Tutu
taught us was that when fighting
evil there are no neutral bystand-
ers. He illustrated it this way. “If
you are neutral in situations of
injustice, you have chosen the
side of the oppressor. If an ele-
phant has its foot on the tail of a
mouse and you say that you are
neutral, the mouse will not appre-
ciate your neutrality.”
On the other hand, taking a po-
sition in favour of justice always
costs something. There is no free-
dom without costs. Usually, the
people who oppress others have
vast resources at their disposal.
Village Rhapsody
WITH EVANS MATHANDA
national Development Coopera-
tion Agency (SIDA), CBR was first
introduced in Zimbabwe in 1982
when the Zimbabwe Red Cross So-
ciety established its first project
in Mutoko District, Mashonaland
East Province. The evaluation was
carried out in 9 CBR districts in
Zimbabwe. The main aim of the
evaluation was to assess the im-
pact of the programme and its ben-
efits to people with disabilities and
their families.
The government should also con-
sider CBR as a good strategy that
focuses on providing equal oppor-
tunities to persons with disabili-
ties to ensure that they can partic-
ipate in community life and devel-
opment initiatives. CBR can there-
fore enhance the quality of life for
PWDs.
The Covid-19 pandemic has
shown the need to strengthen reha-
bilitation centres to assist vulnera-
ble sections of the Zimbabwean so-
ciety, especially the elderly and per-
sons with disabilities. Even though
communities have been offering
support since the onset of Covid-19,
the pandemic has exposed grave
limitations and several challeng-
es in third world countries where
there are little rehabilitation ser-
vices available for those living in
poverty.
Taking a position against British
Prime Minister Tony Blair dur-
ing the Iraq war and suggesting
that Blair be tried for genocide
was costly for Tutu. He was disin-
vited by the British Broadcasting
Corporation, which until then had
been on friendly terms with him.
Furthermore, his greatest con-
tribution to humanity was his
philosophy of forgiveness and
Ubuntu. His book, Reconcilia-
tion: Ubuntuism (1997) empha-
sized what Bantu etymology had
long emphasized that wrongdoing
cannot escape the spiritual forces
that supersede the physical world.
By releasing the apartheid crim-
inals, Tutu was certain that liv-
ing with shame was more severe a
punishment than any physical in-
carceration would have done.
This philosophy will work
where participants are in some-
way ennobled by conscience.
Tutu often repeated a story of
an English anthropologist who
asked three Tanzanian boys ages
5 to 7 to run a race. The winner
would enjoy a bunch of bananas,
The three boys threw their arms
across each other’s shoulders and
proceeded to the goal post so that
they arrived at the same time.
The anthropologist was aston-
The CBR programme was initi-
ated by the World Health Organisa-
tion (WHO) following the Declara-
tion of Alma-Ata in 1978 in an ef-
fort to enhance the quality of life
for people with disabilities and
their families to meet their basic
needs as well as to ensure their in-
clusion and participation. Since
1979, WHO has been advocating
CBR as an integral component of
healthcare.
The United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF 2016) estimates that
between 5% and 10% of all children
in Africa are children with disabil-
ities where 90% of these children
do not attend school, making them
less likely to engage in other oppor-
tunities for social participation.
The process of rehabilitation
must involve the grassroots to pro-
mote participatory development
and inclusiveness. CBR processes
should take place in the home, at
local clinics or at district hospital
level.
Of course, there are several civ-
il society organisations implement-
ing CBR programmes across the
country but a lot should be done
to create awareness in the commu-
nities and to encourage PWDs to
form self-help groups to advocate
for their needs and rights.
In Zimbabwe, Jairos Jiri is one
ished at their lack of competitive-
ness.
“What would be the point of eat-
ing all the bananas when my sib-
lings remain hungry. In any case,
we can share the bunch, so each
one of us has something.” They
spoke in unison.
The threat from China
Tutu’s opponents were large-
ly of European descent and de-
spite their racism, their Christian
background allowed them a com-
mon moral universe.
The entry of China into Africa
changes the equation. It has es-
caped the African sluggards who
rule over us that the Chinese have
only one universe; that universe
begins and ends in China.
No moral arguments will suf-
fice with them. In August 2018,
the Macro Police Region in Peru
which polices the Las Bambas
Chinese Copper Mining area was
paid US$1.2 billion. The police
“receive logistical support, food,
lodging and legal advice” (Reu-
ters, December 15, 2021).
Here are the complaints of the
Peruvians.
They say that this contract with
Chinese mining companies and
their law enforcement compro-
mises the sovereignty and im-
partiality of the law enforcement
agencies.
Secondly, the Chinese “habits
and practices” bypass the natives
and, therefore, the wealth of the
country disappears into foreign
countries.
of the CBR centres that has been
helpful in reaching out to persons
with disabilities through commu-
nity development approaches de-
spite limited resources.
CBR should make use of local
available resources including bene-
ficiaries, the families of PWDs and
the community.
According to the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Per-
sons with Disabilities, the com-
prehensive rehabilitation servic-
es should focus on health, employ-
ment, education and social servic-
es to capacitate PWDs/CWDs.
Therefore, the absence of CBR
can be detrimental to PWDs and
other vulnerable groups and
the impact on PWDs can be ex-
treme. If we keep hiding behind
limited resources, CBR will be
forgotten in Zimbabwe and other
developing countries. If there is
totally no government support,
some aid agencies will not step in
with financial assistance for such
rehabilitation programmes.
There is an urgent need for com-
munity-based or home-based reha-
bilitation programmes during and
post Covid-19 era. The most effec-
tive way to provide services is to
rehabilitate CBR centres as part of
the system. Developing countries
spend less of their annual budget
on health services despite that the
Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbat-
ed the frailty of healthcare systems
across the world.
The need for rehabilitation cen-
tres has increased and will contin-
ue to rise further due to population
growth, global health trends, espe-
cially due to Covid-19. The govern-
Whenever the natives file com-
plaints against the company, the
Chinese tell them that they have
no rights.
The Chinese do not provide jobs
for the locals.
President Pedro Castillo, who
came to power with the support of
the rural communities and tribes-
men is alleged to have signed se-
cret treaties with the Chinese
whose details are not open to the
public.
The issue here is that the world
in which Tutu lived was very
simple. The oppressors and the
subjects spoke from a common
platform. What was wrong was
wrong, and right was right. In the
new world of Chinese domina-
tion, all roads lead to China and
our leaders have been bought.
Lithium is the new gold stand-
ard in the world as the world
moves towards electric cars. Zim-
babwe registers as number two
in the availability of this miner-
al after the Congo. Having sold out
the Marange diamonds to the Chi-
nese Anjin Company, we are on
the verge of repeating the same
mistake.
Parliament should demand to
see the terms of these lithium
agreements.
 Ken Mufuka is a Zimba-
bwean patriot. His books can
be found at kenmufukaooks.
com in the wider world and
at Innov Bookshops in Zimba-
bwe.
ment must come up with develop-
ment strategies to strengthen com-
mitments on CBR programmes.
In countries like India, persons
with disabilities still struggle to get
assistance, including pensions, dur-
ing the pandemic.
Non-governmental organisations
like World Vision Zimbabwe have
been doing better in the adoption
of CBR programmes. Their pro-
grammes started in 2002, in areas
like Chipinge. The adoption of CBR
by World Vision is meant to explore
and cover the areas that are not ful-
ly addressed as far as rehabilitation
is concerned.
The programmes that target-
ed PWDs focused mainly on chari-
ty and medical issues but turned a
blind eye on other important factors
of life that lead to holistic achieve-
ment of quality of life. Among other
factors, these include issues such as
access to school, community’s nega-
tive attitudes towards children with
disability and integration of these
children in the community.
In African countries, most CBR
programmes do not result from the
creativity and hard work of the lo-
cal people themselves but they are
products of foreign aid and interest,
with the input of foreign policies
and monetary aid.
Most CBR programmes are large-
ly financed by donor agencies and
ideas are made to fit donors’ re-
quirements, aid remains an integra-
tion, some argue, meant to exclude
Africans.
 Evans Mathanda is a jour-
nalist and development prac-
titioner who writes in his per-
sonal capacity. For feedback
email: evanngoe@gmail.com or
call 0719770038 and Twitter @
EvansMathanda19
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 15

Standard

EDUCATION
More or less full-ishness
BY TIM MIDDLETON from George Orwell’s Animal Farm that noted that, “It has been said that there director of the Association of Trust

M
“Some are more equal than others” is is no fool like an old fool, except a young Schools [ATS]. The views expressed in
ANY a time we will have felt that equally confusing and naturally but to- fool. But the young fool has first to grow this article, however, are solely those
Maths is an extremely confusing tally wrong. The Maths does not add up. up to be an old fool to realise what a damn of the author in his private capacity
subject; indeed, it will probably Very often in life, less is more and the last fool he was when he was a young fool.” and do not necessarily represent the
have made a fool of us all at some are first. So let the last word be the same Let us help children be full of this, nei- views of the ATS.
stage in our lives. Yet it is fair and as the first. Harold MacMillan, a British ther more or less. email: ceo@atschisz.co.zw
accurate to say that English is an equally confus- Prime Minister, ruefully (not ruelessly)  Tim Middleton is the executive website: www.atschisz
ing subject and makes a fool of us as well. Let us
consider some of these now.
If we were to be asked what the opposite of
“less” is, we would no doubt say it is “more”; that
sounds sensible, does it not? Yet, there are very
few examples where words ending in the suffix
“less” have as their opposite a word ending in the
suffix “more”. Indeed there are very few words
that end in “more” — evermore, furthermore, an-
ymore are the few but surprisingly their opposite
is not everless, furtherless, anyless.
We may be encouraged and relieved, however,
to realise with a renewed hope in language that
some words ending in the suffix “less” do have as
their opposite words ending with a related suffix,
that being “ful”. There is some sanity, after all! So
we find that “faithless” has as its opposite “faith-
ful”, “useless” has as its opposite “useful”, “help- BY- ELECTIONS NOTICE: 2022
less” has as its opposite “helpful”, in the same way
that all these words are (more or less) equal with INVITATION FOR APPLICATIONS TO OBSERVE 28 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
their opposites — lawless (lawful), hopeless (hope-
ful), fearless (fearful), painless (painful), harmless
CONSTITUENCY AND 117 LOCAL AUTHORITY BY- ELECTIONS
(harmful), fruitless (fruitful).
Some order would appear to have been restored, The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) hereby invites applications from
thankfully (or thanklessly). However, it is a sad
fact to note that the reverse process does not work,
observers and the media for accreditation to observe by-elections in respect of 28
that the opposite of words ending in “ful” do not National Assembly Constituencies as indicated in Proclamation No.1 of 2022 and 117
always end in “less”. We speak of something be-
ing “peaceful” but do not use the word “peace-
Local Authority Wards to be held on 26 March 2022.
less”; we speak of “truthful” but not “truthless”
(just “toothless”, which perhaps could be inad- All applications must be received at ZEC Head Office no later than 22 March
vertently taken to be the same — though we do not
2022.
use the word “toothful” — or “toothmore”…) We
describe something as “awful” but not “aweless”
(only “awesome”, just to complicate this even fur- The accreditation of successful applicants shall be conducted between 8 am and 5
ther); we employ the word “beautiful” but never pm at venues to be advised commencing 18 January 2022.
the word “beautiless”; there is “woeful” (a fitting
word to describe this article, perhaps) but never
“woeless” (only “Whoa! Less of that!”). ACCREDITATION FEES
Where then does that leave us? Perhaps we are
simply left thinking, as the saying goes, that the
 Local observers – US$10 or ZWL equivalent at prevailing Bank rate
less said the better — or should that be, the more  Observers from the continent of Africa - US$20
said the better? However sometimes the less said
does not mean more or full. The opposite of “time-  Observers from foreign Embassies in Zimbabwe - US$50
less” is not found in “timeful” or “timemore”;
similarly, the opposite of “limitless” is not “limit-  Observers from any country outside Africa - US$100
more” or “limitful”; we will not find “pointmore”
 Zimbabwean media practitioners accredited with the Zimbabwe Media
or “pointful” but we do have “pointless”; we may
have “reckless” but we do not have “reckmore” Commission and working in Zimbabwe for foreign media houses - US$50
or reckful”; we use the word “ruthless” but nev-
er “ruthmore” or “ruthful”, “senseless” but not
 Zimbabwean local media practitioners accredited with the Zimbabwe Media
“sensemore” or “senseful”, “heartless” but not Commission – US$10 or ZWL equivalent at prevailing Bank rate
“heartmore” or “heartful”. Why not? Maybe we
can start using them!
It would seem therefore that this whole exercise For further information please contact ZEC on +263-4-759130/774095/770340;, Fax
can only be described as being senseless, point-
less, hopeless, useless, reckless — at least we do +263-4-781903/770660
have the right words to describe it! Indeed, we are
probably left breathless right now (even if we will
never be breathful or breathmore). We might go
further and declare it all as being awful, frightful,
dreadful (not dreadless, or even dreadlocks).
So there we have it: we are more or less back at
the beginning. And what have we learned from
all this linguistic lessons? Probably not a lot, oth-
er than that these suffixes are suffocating! Do we
want more of this? No, once again, we need less,
not more! The opposite of less is rarely more, but
is sometimes full. We must not let our faith fool us
with all this but rather be faithful, and trust that
we will eventually know the right word to use. The
fact is, opposites do not seem to attract!
It does all have a deeper lesson perhaps (which
is not to say that the opposite of “less-on” is “mor-
on” or “fool on”). We love, as individuals and as
society, to try to rank children and adults as be-
ing more or less than others, rather than seeing
them as more or less the same. The famous line
16 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Solar, wind still lead generating capacity additions
S
OLAR, wind, and other renew-
able energy sources (includ-
ing biomass, geothermal, and
hydropower) added more than
2,250 MW of new generating ca-
pacity each month during 2021.
That was according to the SUN DAY
Campaign, which based its finding on
data from both the Federal Energy Reg-
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Who should attend
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RENEWABLE
ENERGY
ulatory Commission (FERC) and the En- Separately, the EIA’s most recent In December, the Solar Energy Industries As-
ergy Information Administration (EIA). “Short-Term Energy Outlook” forecast- sociation (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie said that
The report said that according to the ed that small-scale distributed solar less trade policy uncertainty and supply chain con-
FERC’s “Energy Infrastructure Update” than 1 MW in size was on track to grow straints were driving solar price increases across
(with data through October 31), utility- by about 5,100 MW in 2021. Both figures all market segments. They warned that logistical
scale renewable facilities at least 1 MW led SUN DAY to conclude that utility- challenges and price increases in the solar supply
in size added 18,255 MW of new generat- scale renewables plus distributed solar chain would likely depress deployment over the
ing capacity during the first 10 months were adding more than 2,250 MW of new next year, resulting in a 7.4 GW (25%) drop in the
of 2021. capacity each month. forecast for 2022 compared to previous forecasts.
The industry trade group’s analysis said that so-
lar projects would continue to face supply chain
challenges in the near term. It added that clean
energy provisions in the Build Back Better Act
would stimulate solar market growth and avert
the expected slowdown.
Days after the SEIA outlook was released, Sen.
Joe Manchin (D-WV) publicly announced his op-
position to Build Back Better, drawing White
House ire and prompting the United Mine Work-
ers of America, among others, to urge the senator
to reconsider his opposition.
According to the SUN DAY Campaign’s analy-
sis, during the first 10 months of 2021, solar and
wind added 9,604 MW and 8,580 MW of capacity,
respectively. Including new hydropower (28 MW),
geothermal (25 MW), and biomass (18 MW), re-
newables provided 83.6% of all new generating ca-
pacity through the end of October. Natural gas ca-
pacity grew by 3,549 MW and new oil and coal ca-
Ÿ Standards: focus on ISO 50001 pacity increased by 19 MW and 11 MW respective-
Ÿ Local Government catalysing ly. No new nuclear capacity additions were tallied
Renewable Energy upatake in 2021.
Ÿ Nuclear Energy Renewable installed generating capacity now
stands at 25.47%. That is up from 23.31% a year ago
and 18.58% in 2016, SUN DAY said.
It said that growth was “almost entirely attrib-
utable” to a nearly three-fold increase in wind’s
share of installed generating capacity and a 35-
fold increase in solar’s share. Wind is now more
than 10.54% of the nation’s generating capacity,
Independent Power Producers up from 3.80% in October 2011. Utility-scale solar
Insurance Firms now accounts for 5.21% of total installed capacity,
Local Authorities not counting small-scale distributed solar.
During the first 10 months of 2021, solar and
Power Developers
wind have each set new records for capacity ad-
Legal Institutions ditions. SUN DAY said. The 9,604 MW of new so-
Development Bankers lar through October exceeded the 6,516-MW added
Utility & regulators during the same time period in 2020, or the 3,758
Fund Managers MW added in 2019. Likewise, the 8,580 MW of new
Motor Vehicle Manufacturers wind capacity exceeded the 7,161 MW reported for
Technology Developers 2020, or the 4,721 MW added in 2019.
Regional & International energy bodies According to the EIA’s “Electric Power Month-
ly” report, utility-scale solar and wind generation
during the first 10 months of 2021 rose by 27.9%
and 11.1% respectively compared to the same pe-
riod in 2020. Wind now accounts for 8.64% of US
electrical production while solar — including
small-scale — is providing 4.08%, SUN DAY said.
Solar and wind both are on track to continue
growing through 2024. FERC said that there may
be as much as 170,941 MW of new solar capacity
in the pipeline with 52,692 MW classified as “high
probability additions.” That was offset by around
92 MW of projected retirements.
A year ago, FERC reported 128,001-MW of solar
in the three-year pipeline with 32,784-MW classi-
fied as “high probability.” In addition, new wind
capacity by October 2024 could total 71,929 MW
with 23,180 MW being “high probability” with
around 150MW of retirements expected.
“High probability” generation capacity addi-
tions for utility-scale solar and wind combined,
minus anticipated retirements, reflect a project-
ed net increase of 75,630-MW, SUN DAY said in its
analysis. Its figure does not include new distribut-
ed, small-scale solar capacity or additions by hy-
dropower, geothermal, and biomass. By compar-
ison, net growth for natural gas will be around
Payment from 14,327 MW.
The SUN DAY analysis said that if just FERC’s
1 March 2022
latest “high probability” projections materialise,
USD1300 by October 2024 renewable energy sources should
account for more than 30% of the nation’s total
available installed generating capacity. Utility-
scale solar and wind would account for 9% and
11.81% respectively.
— Renewable Energy World

Standard
RELIGION
To the reader of the Bible
sundayword
BY PROSPER TINGINI
T
HOSE who have as-
sisted in the correc-
tion and amendment
to some defects of the
older version of the
Bible culminating in the outputs
of the Revised Standard Version
Bible had this to say to the read-
er (Page VIII): You will find a new
line of illustration in this Bible.
Instead of the usual type of sto-
ry-picture, there are simple little
drawings that look more like up-
to-date visual aids than illustra-
tions. That is indeed what they
are; and they have been fitted into
the text just at the place where
help is needed.
There are, for example, many
little route-maps. The Bible is a
great Travel Book, and where so
many journeys are made a map
is essential. But a general map is
often more difficult to read than
a page of type. What is wanted
for easy reference is a simplified
map, or many such maps, each
showing only the places men-
tioned in the text, and if possi-
ble also the route taken by the
person concerned. To know the
distance between the different
places would be an advantage. In
some cases it adds to the point of
the story. So, along with the maps,
drawings of milestones have been
inserted to give this information.
It is no less important when the
events about which one is reading
How to accomplish the impossible
divineinsight
BY HUMPHREY MTANDWA
GOD has deposited in man
tools that if he can only use, he
would accomplish anything. In
the book of Genesis, God came
down to confound the language
of the builders at Babel because
he noticed the success of com-
mon purpose. In our time there
are buildings that are taller
than the height the builders at
Babel had reached and even as
man we have flown to space yet
still at that height, we have not
reached heaven or God’s dwell-
ing. It was not just a tower but
a portal they were making. This
was not just about the height
the tower would reach.
took place. A simple artistic de-
sign has therefore been devised to
show the date. But the use of this
time-signal, as we may call it, has
had to be limited to marking the
centuries rather than the years.
Precise dates could have been giv-
en from some of the events, but for
many others the specific year has
not yet been determined, through
scholars have reduced uncertain-
ty to the difference of a few years.
There is, however, little doubt
about the century to which the
great events belong. So we have
kept to these broad spans of time.
For, although it is often impossi-
ble to give the exact date, there is,
we feel, some advantage in having
at least an indication of the pe-
riod about which one is reading;
and this applies particularly to
parts of the Old Testament, where
the material does not always run
in historical sequence.
When the scene is set in time
and place, interest is naturally fo-
cused on the people who appear in
the story. What a strangely mixed
company! They come in from all
sides, people of many nations,
who come and go and keep reap-
pearing until the mind is bewil-
dered by their variety and move-
ments. Who are they? How can
they be distinguished? By giving
each nation an appropriate sym-
bol — a sort of badge or identity
flash — so that, when the reader
God acknowledged that these
people, because they spoke one
language, they had the poten-
tial to do the impossible. When
God confounded the language,
he did more than we may no-
tice with the natural eye. In our
time, man can translate lan-
guages and its easier to com-
municate but even with all that,
man don’t have the same uni-
ty as the men at Babel. It seems
Babel did not corrupt just the
words man use for communica-
tion, but it uprooted something
else that caused man to come
together. I have seen man who
speak the same language but
see it, he knows at once whether it
is the Egyptians, the Philistines,
the Syrians, or Babylonians who
have stepped into the picture.
So much for the foreign na-
tions of the Bible. But what of Is-
rael and Judah, whose complicat-
ed fortunes are interlocked in his-
tory and so interwoven in the sa-
cred narrative that it is difficult
to separate them. Can anything
be done to enable the most casu-
al reader to follow easily the des-
tinies of these two Kingdoms?
By using of Jacob’s well for Isra-
el and one of the Gate of Jerusa-
lem for Judah, the separate chap-
ters of their history are plainly
displayed.
But more is needed if the his-
tory is to become alive. More win-
dows must be put into the pages of
letterpress. As one reads, the con-
tour and character of the country
must be as clear to the eye as an
open landscape. So little sketches
have been inserted of the moun-
tains and deserts, valleys and
hills that mould the features of
the land of this Book. And there
are, what might be called, snap-
shot drawings of the interesting
things to be found there, wheth-
er by the wayside or in the city
street. It may be a bird or a flow-
er, a beast of burden or a flock of
sheep, and perhaps a travelling
minstrel or a night watchman.
Here and there are objects of
more passing interest. They have
a mission and a message for all
mankind and all for close-up pic-
tures on a large scale. Such are
the early altars of these people
of God, the Tabernacle in the wil-
derness and the Temple on Zion’s
failing to come together.
When you look at the bees, they
have an ability to communicate in
a language man cannot compre-
hend. Scientists believe in what
they term the “hive mind talk”,
which refers to the ability of a
bee to communicate its thoughts
to others through the mind with-
out using audible language but
projecting thoughts. So, the theo-
ry is expanded when they say just
a single thought can be communi-
cated from one bee to all the other
bees in the hive. Meaning what’s
on one’s bee’s mind can be shared
with all the bees within the hive.
Have you noticed that a friend-
ship can grow to a point that
the friends can think the same
thoughts and have the same plans
at the same moment? At Babel,
men lost that deep connection
that allowed their thoughts to
The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 17
Hill. Who would not linger at these
sacred shrines? Or study in detail
these monuments of worship? In
this series of drawings that illus-
trates the religion of Israel, some
pictures have been used more
than once — a most unusual pro-
cedure in modern book produc-
tion. The repetition is deliberate.
It has been done to emphasize the
unity and coherence of the 66 dif-
ferent books that together make
our Bible, and so show the stream
of continuity that runs through
the scriptures. By using, for exam-
ple, one common picture through-
out the Bible for the Book of Law,
the general reader gathers at once
an impression of the place and
power of this work in the people’s
life and history. He realises that
the Book of the Law about which
the Psalmist sings, and the Proph-
ets preach, is in effect the Book of
Law that is described in Exodus
and discussed by Paul in his Epis-
tles. Later, if the reader wishes, he
can with the scholars go more ful-
ly into the matter, but for time be-
ing this general idea will serve his
purpose. By a similar repetition
of pictures the Fall of Jerusalem
recorded in the historical books is
directly linked with the writings
of the Prophets. There are other
instances of the same kind.
Many pictures included in this
work need no explanation and
carry no caption. So close is the
connection between the drawings
and the texts that the line of letter
press beneath them, or in the ad-
joining column, will suffice to de-
scribe them.
A word about the letter press
and its layout is essential. The
text is that of the Revised Stand-
ard Version. It is the plain text,
without note or comment, and it
is complete. Two changes have
been made in the layout of its pag-
es, both with the hope that they
will contribute to the easier read-
be synched. No wonder bees can
build such amazing structures
because their connection is com-
plex.
In marriage couples can restore
that hive connection that was lost
at Babel. Couples can grow to a
point that they share thoughts
and emotions. Some couples can
know that the other one is not
well even if they are hundreds
of miles away. What creates that
bond is love.
This tool was lost at Babel but it
seems it can be activated through
love. I have seen people working
together on one project and be-
cause of the love they have for
that, they develop that hive con-
nection.
In a hive each bee’s focus is on
the hive and not on itself as an in-
dividual. The reason why some
marriages have this hive connec-
ing of the Book. The first change
is not new. It has often been done,
and obviously it meets the needs
of modern readers. It is the ar-
rangement of the text in para-
graph form instead of the usual
division into verses, with head-
lines to indicate the contents of
the main sections, and sub-head-
ings to mark the flow of the sto-
ry. Great restraint has been ex-
ercised to keep the divisions as
few as possible, and to use for the
headings such words of scripture
as occur in the text.
The second change is a later de-
velopment in the direction of the
simplified page. In order that the
reader can more readily distin-
guish the nature of the material
before him, two different sizes of
type are used, without implying
and difference in the value of such
material. It is purely a visual aid
for the convenience of the reader.
The position becomes clear
when we realise how mixed and
varied the material to be found
in the Bible is. Every kind of lit-
erature is there. But whereas in a
modern library, history is in one
section, law in another, philoso-
phy in a third, and all the official
documents of church and state
are separated from them, in the
books of the Bible all these forms
of different literature are inex-
tricably woven together. It is this
that makes the reading of scrip-
ture so difficult. Surely some-
thing can be done, and should
be done, to indicate the different
types of material without lessen-
ing in any way the value of any
of them.
 Prosper Tingini is the
Scribe of the Children of God
Missionary Assembly - God’s
messengers. Contact details:
Mobile & Whatsapp – 0771 260
195. Email address: ptingini@
gmail.com
tion is because that self-aspect is
no longer in existence. Men at Ba-
bel became selfish and more self-
driven and because of this they
lost an ability that could have
pushed them to accomplish great-
er things. At Babel God said noth-
ing will be impossible for these
people because of their unity. Im-
agine if the world had that unity,
how much we would accomplish.
Love, not selfishness is that key
that unites. Happy New Year
 Humphrey Mtandwa is an
anointed minister of the gospel
and teacher of the Word based
in South Africa. He has written
several books including The
Enoch Generation, Truthful-
ness and Theophany. He blogs
at mtandwa.blogspot.com and
can be contacted via e-mail or
WhatsApp on +27 610286350.
18 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
A A new year, a new beginning
S we reflect on the
year 2021, there is a
strong temptation to
focus on the losses
and pain associated
with Covid-19, other challenges
— physical, emotional, relation-
al, lives, financial and missed
opportunities. This can easi-
ly bring a sense of hopelessness
and even fear as we now move
into 2022.
There is a temptation from
those of us who do not know the
nature and character of God to
blame Him for all these mishaps.
God is not an author of those mis-
haps. It is the devil that is the au-
thor of all your problems. Howev-
er, God is able to make all these
things work together for good in
2022, as long as we love Him and
are called according to His pur-
poses.
If you are to have a successful
2022, it is very important to al-
low God to direct your footsteps
“Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your un-
derstanding, in all your ways
submit to Him and He will make
your paths straight” (Proverb 3:
5-6).
A new year gives us an oppor-
tunity to redefine our vision and
purpose. We need to stretch our
minds and heighten our stand-
ards. So why settle for mediocri-
ty?
The New Year gives you anoth-
er opportunity to redefine your-
self or reimagine yourself. Most
people underestimate the power
of imagination. There is no limit
to what one can imagine. We see
the power of imagination in Gen-
esis 11:6, in the story of the Tower
of Babel, God Himself said “Be-
hold, the people is one, and they
have all one language and now
nothing will be restrained from
them, which they have imagined
to do”.
Paul says in Ephesians 3:20
that God is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above that which we
can think or imagine”. My ques-
tion to you is — have you spend
time imagining yourself in 2022
and beyond? What kind of a per-
son do you want to be by the end
Our souls don’t need saving
IN winter of the year 5760 - 2000
the beginning of a new millen-
nium in the Christian calendar
— certain Evangelical Christian
groups had been engaging in ag-
gressive missionary activities
which had been targeted at Jews.
One of them was the largest
Protestant denomination in the
United States — the Southern
Baptist Convention. Three years
ago, they issued a resolution call-
ing on Christians to proselyt-
ize among Jews, and they estab-
lished a well-funded programme
which sends missionaries to
Jewish communities all over the
world. In that year, in honour of
the “millennium,” they have in-
creased their efforts to convert
the Jews.
It is, therefore, relevant for us
to remind ourselves of the sa-
cred principles that Jews have
lived for and died for, and there is
one particular principle that can
serve as a good starting point for
study and discussion — the pu-
rity and dignity of the human
soul.
According to the Christian
doctrine of “original sin,” the
human soul became innately sin-
ful after the sin in the Garden of
gracetidings
WITH DR DOUG MAMVURA
of 2022? What accomplishments
or goals have you set for your-
self ?
Your future self isn’t you. Your
future self should be evolved and
different from your current self.
To stay the same, although it is
expected and even culturally cel-
ebrated, means you’re not learn-
ing, advancing, and changing.
Instead, you’re stuck in a story,
avoiding new experiences, and
limiting your potential. Refuse to
be like that in 2022.
There’s another reason why
viewing your future self as a dif-
ferent person from your current
self is essential for making big
changes in your life, otherwise
your 2022 will just be identical to
2021, if not worse.
Without viewing yourself in an
imagined and different way, it’s
actually not possible to engage
in “deliberate practice.” Your be-
haviour has to be deliberate. You
have to leave the junk and bag-
gage you had in 2021. Be inten-
tional. There are certain friends
you have to get rid of, if you are
to accomplish your goals in 2022.
The Bible says bad company cor-
rupts good character.
There are certain habits you
have to get rid of if you are to
succeed in 2022. You have to have
a goal and your focus should be
targeted directly at that goal. The
practice is purposeful and meas-
ured, not random and based mere-
ly on a “love of the process”. You
need something to be working to-
ward. You need a vision that gives
meaning and purpose to your life.
hebrewscriptures
WITH YOSEF B S HAKOHEN
Eden, and since the soul is in-
herently sinful, it can only be re-
deemed through accepting the
belief that Jesus is both God and
the messiah. Judaism teaches,
however, that although the hu-
man being descended to a lower
spiritual level after the sin in the
Garden, the soul remains inher-
ently pure.
This ancient teaching is elabo-
rated on in the biblical commen-
tary of Rabbi Samson Raphael
Hirsch, a noted sage of the 19th
century:
“To this day every human child
springs forth from the hand of
God in the same state of purity
as did Adam; every child comes
into the world as pure as an an-
gel. This is one of the basic con-
cepts in the essence of Judaism
and Jewish living.”
(Commentary to Genesis 3:19)
Rabbi Hirsch adds: “As for the
doctrine that, because of Ad-
That vision then requires a con-
crete plan to accomplish it.
This is what you then need to
commit to the Lord. It is very im-
portant for you to realise that as
a believer your foundation has to
be Christ. He has to be at the cen-
tre of these plans. Proverbs 16:3
clearly states that if we commit
our work to the Lord, our plans
will succeed.
I know most people are cur-
rently fasting during this month
of January so that God moves on
their behalf. Fasting is very good
provided it is not being done just
as a tradition or because one is
just being religious.
Please note that you don’t
move God by fasting. God is not
stuck. It’s you and I who need to
renew our minds. When we fast,
we are the ones that change and
we are the beneficiaries of the
fast. Our fasting doesn’t change
God for the scriptures say in
Malachi 3:6 “I am the Lord, I
change not”.
Secondly, unless you have a
clear plan of what you want to
do in 2022, you can go on a 40-day
fast, but nothing will change in
your life. At times we waste a lot
of time praying and begging God
for the things that He has already
given us. It’s because we are igno-
rant and stuck in tradition and re-
ligion.
For example, you can’t ask God
to prosper you because for your
sake though He was rich, He be-
came poor (2 Corinthians 8:9).
You can’t ask Him to bless
you in 2022 because “He has al-
am’s sin, all of mankind has be-
come ‘sinful,’ that the human
being has lost the ability to be
good and is compelled to go on
sinning, and that the human be-
ing’s return to God and the res-
toration of Paradise on earth
require something other than
a revival of devotion to duty —
an effort within the capacity of
every human being — these are
notions against which Judaism
must offer its most categorical
protest. The human being needs
no intermediary, dead or res-
urrected, in order to return to
God.”
Rabbi Hirsch reminds us that
this teaching is expressed in the
opening words of a prayer that
Jews chant each morning — a
prayer which was composed sev-
eral centuries before the begin-
ning of Christianity:
“My God, the soul that You
placed within me is pure. You
ready blessed you with all spirit-
ual blessings in heavenly places
(Ephesians 1:3). You can’t ask Him
to heal you because by His stripes
you were healed.
God has already provided eve-
rything that you need in order
to live a victorious life hence the
Bible says “His divine power has
given us all things that pertain
to life and godliness through the
knowledge of Him”. (2 Peter 1:3).
All you need is faith to appropri-
ate what God has already given
you.
Stop asking for what He has al-
ready given you. What you lack
is either knowledge. When you
therefore fast, you are aligning
your mind to the spiritual man.
You want the flesh to subject it-
self to the spirit so you are able to
hear God who is Spirit. You want
to make sure that your spiritual
acumen is sharp and you are sen-
sitive to the Spirit of God. Your
flesh can’t comprehend the things
of God.
Fasting for success without a
plan is waste of time. You have
to have something that you are
expecting God to give you vic-
tory for. Make sure it is in line
with the Word of God. Do you
have a scripture you are basing
your prayer request on? Prayer
and fasting is not just abstinence
from food. Prayer and fasting,
includes regular intervals of
prayer, study and meditation of
the Word.
Having mentioned about the
importance of planning, as you
move to 2022, it is important
to review your past year. What
worked? What didn’t work? What
were the key highlights of the
previous year? What were your
major failures or challenges last
year? What are the lessons you
have learnt from those experienc-
es?
created her, You fashioned her,
You breathed her into me.”
These words had a profound
effect on the spiritual journey
of an African-American Chris-
tian minister who eventually
converted to Judaism. The for-
mer minister is Ahuvah Gray,
who now lives in Bayit Vegan,
a haredi (traditional Orthodox)
neighborhood in Jerusalem. Be-
fore becoming a Jew, she was
struggling with a number of
spiritual issues. One issue was
the Christian doctrine of “orig-
inal sin.”
She began to read books on
Judaism, and one day, she came
across the words of the above
daily prayer words which filled
her with an inner peace. She
found in these words the confir-
mation of her own spiritual in-
stincts concerning the inner pu-
rity of every human soul, and she
felt herself drawn to the Jewish
teaching that each human being
can come close to God through
study, prayer, refining one’s char-
acter traits, and good deeds. (She
has written a book about her life
which will be published by Tar-
gum Press, and she also speaks to
Jewish groups about the signifi-
Religion
You then want to see if your vi-
sion or purpose is still relevant
as you proceed to the New Year.
Everything has to be driven by
your future self. How do you see
yourself by end of 2022? What
is the key vision that will drive
you? What are the key goals you
intend achieving in various as-
pects of your life, financial, fam-
ily, health, spiritual, academic,
career etc?
What daily, weekly and month-
ly routines do you need to follow
if you are to accomplish your
goals?
My challenge is to stretch your
imagination. Forget about the
economic climate or inflation as a
believer as you plan. God will sup-
ply all your needs not according
to the economy of Zimbabwe, but
according to His riches in glory
through Jesus Christ. You should
attempt something so big that
without God it is bound to fail.
Dream big as you enter into
2022. Remember you have been
blessed with all spiritual bless-
ings in heavenly places and you
are seated with Christ far above
inflation, fuel shortages, cash
shortages or whatever excuse
you may want to have. I know
some of you may not agree with
me but please don’t wake me up
because I believe the people who
know their God shall do exploits
and the Bible doesn’t give any
conditions.
Whatsoever is born of God
overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).
You are an overcomer not a vic-
tim.
Happy New Year.
 Dr Doug Mamvura is a grad-
uate of Charis Bible School.
Feedback: drdoug@corporat-
emomentum.biz or Twitter @
dougmamvura
cance of her journey.)
The journey of a convert to Ju-
daism can remind us that we, as a
people, have a unique and sacred
heritage. If we rededicate our-
selves to the preservation and re-
newal of this heritage, we will
be able to convey an ancient and
universal message to all peoples
— not through proselytizing, but
through the power of our ethi-
cal and spiritual example: “I call
upon heaven and earth to testi-
fy that whether one is an Israel-
ite or a Gentile, man or woman,
a bondsman or a bondswoman —
according to the deeds that one
does, so does the Holy Spirit rest
upon a person.”
 Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen
is the author of “The Universal
Jew - Letters to My Progressive
Father” published by Feldheim
Publishers. He is also the coordi-
nator of a study-program called
“Hazon - Our Universal Vision.”
Hazon explores the universal vi-
sion of the Torah for Jews, hu-
manity, and all creation.
The web site address is: www.
shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/ha-
zon/
 Standard
BUSINESS
The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Assets requirement headache for insurers
By Melody Chikono
T
HE life assurance sec-
tor is battling to com-
ply with the minimum
prescribed asset re-
quirement with life as-
surance companies and reassur-
ance companies failing to meet
their regulatory requirements in
the third quarter of the year 2021.
The Insurance and Pensions
Commission (IPEC) announced
mid last year the commencement
of the development of a new pre-
scribed assets framework that
will ensure that institutional in-
vestors’ funds are hedged against
inflationary pressures.
Prescribed assets are bonds or
securities issued by the govern-
ment, Local Government, quasi-
government organisations or any
other bond that may be accorded
the prescribed asset status. Dur-
ing the period under review all
life assurance sector players re-
ported prescribed asset ratios
that were below the minimum re-
quired threshold of 15% while
only one out of four life re-assur-
ers was compliant with the mini-
mum prescribed asset threshold.
In its Q3 life report Ipec said
prescribed assets investments
were an important resource mo-
bilisation tool for funding infra-
structure development and oth-
er projects of national interests
to foster socio-economic develop-
ment.
The regulator called on indus-
Tariff hikes reflect erosion of Zim dollar, raise inflation fears
BY FIDELITY MHLANGA
TARIFF hikes on electricity and
toll gates among others have piled
more misery on consumers who
are already battered by the tough
economic environment and ex-
pose the vulnerability of the local
currency.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Sup-
ply Authority (Zesa), increased
tariffs by 12.3%.
The new charges will see do-
mestic consumers on pre-paid me-
ters forking out $1 265.11 to buy
200 units per month.
Consumers on post-paid meters
will pay similar charges plus an
additional $35.68 monthly fixed
charge.
The Zimbabwe National Roads
Administration also hiked toll
gate fees in Zimbabwe dollar
terms to align with the exchange
rate shifts.
Light vehicles will now pay $220
up from $165, while minibuses
now pay $330 from $245. Haulage
trucks now pay $1 100 from $820.
Toll fees in other currencies did
not shift.
Labour and Economic Develop-
ment Research Institute of Zim-
babwe economist Prosper Chitam-
bara expressed concern over the
IPEC commissioner Grace Muradzikwa
try players to continuously carry
out compliance self-assessments,
developing compliance road-
maps in cases of noncompliance
and come up with viable projects
hikes on utilities which he said
would stock inflationary pres-
sures on the economy.
“The hikes will increase the
cost of doing business and cost
of living and this will ultimately
result in an increase in inflation;
and for this year there is going to
be sustained pressure on the infla-
tionary front,” Chitambara said.
“We are expecting the price of
fuel to increase like it was doing
last year. Of course, the improve-
ment in the global economy puts
pressure on commodity pricing,
especially the price of fuel. We are
likely to see continued pressure
on the inflationary front. As long
as inflation is high, it makes the
environment uncompetitive and
affects investment inflows into
the economy. Investment thrives
in a stable economy.”
Inflation which reached a post
dollarisation high of over 830%
in July 2020  has been spiralling
downwards and was at 60,7% in
December 2021.
Economist Takudzwa Chisango
said the hike was reflective of the
erosion of the domestic currency.
“The hikes are reflective of ero-
sion of value of the domestic cur-
rency on the exchange rate,” Chi-
sango said
for possible conferment of pre-
scribed asset status by the Minis-
ter of Finance and Economic De-
velopment.
“Non-compliant life re-assur-
“To me, there’s economic sense
by Zesa to upwardly adjust the
electricity tariffs by such a mar-
gin. There’s a insignificant nega-
tive effect to be conjured up by this
adjustment to business consider-
ing that their pricing models are
perfectly elastic to exchange rate
movements while electricity tar-
iffs have been highly inelastic.”
He hoped the power increase
would lead to consistent power
supply.
“While there’s economic ration-
ale in this move by Zesa, it should
however ensure that they restore
a sustainable supply of electricity,
especially noting that the greater
part of 2021 was riddled with pow-
er outages which hugely affect-
ed industry and commerce opera-
tions,” he said.
Economist Clemence Machadu
said the power tariff hike would
choke domestic demand as well as
the competitiveness of products
on foreign markets, which too
might affect exports revenue.
“We have started the New Year
with these new threats to the ease
of doing business environment in
the productive sectors that rely
on electricity to produce goods,”
Machadu said.
“Take the manufacturing sec-
ers are encouraged to develop pre-
scribed asset compliance plans
in line with SI 206 of 2019 and
come up with viable projects for
the possible conferment of pre-
tor for instance, which requires
about 18 hours of uninterrupted
power supply and electricity is
also a major cost driver to them;
a power tariff hike of such sig-
nificant increase will definitely
take a toll on the cost of produc-
tion and those increased costs will
be passed along the upper value
chains, right up to the final con-
sumer who will bear the brunt of
such a hike.
“So this power tariff hike might
somehow choke domestic demand
as well as the competitiveness of
our products on foreign markets,
which too might affect exports
revenue. So this power hike might
reverse the small gains that we
were starting to accrue from the
building-back efforts which start-
ed last year.”
He said the increase in power
tariffs would also erode farmers’
earnings.
“Also noting that the producer
prices for agricultural crops such
as maize have already been set for
2022, the rise in power tariffs will
definitely shrink the expected bot-
tom-line for farmers, thereby dis-
incentivising them from growing
such crops, and also affect cere-
als production. Most commercial
farmers also require electricity to
Domestic
rabbit market
set for growth
scribed asset status by the Minis-
ter of Finance and Economic De-
velopment .
Prescribed asset investments
are an important resource mobili-
sation tool for funding long term
government projects of national
interests to foster socio-econom-
ic development towards a middle-
income economy and the attain-
ment of Vision 2030,” the commis-
sion said.
Statutory Instrument 206 of
2019 requires all life re-assurers to
have a minimum of 15% of their
assets invested in prescribed as-
set securities.
For life assurers, total invest-
ments in prescribed assets by
the life assurance sector amount-
ed to ZW$1.83 billion translating
to a compliance level of 2.84%
while for the nine months to 30
September 2021, the total invest-
ments in prescribed assets by the
life re-assurance sector amount-
ed to ZW$45.5 million translating
to an average compliance level of
3.90%.
All things being equal, pre-
scribed assets, such as stocks,
bonds and other types of Govern-
ment paper should be generating
significant returns.
However, inflationary pres-
sures have affected the level of re-
turns investors can generate from
such assets as prescribed assets
are mostly fixed interest assets.
Over the years it has become dif-
ficult to reconcile a fixed interest
instrument amid high inflation.
irrigate their crops and plan their
costs in advance, and an ambush
tariff hike such as this comes as
a huge threat to agricultural pro-
duction,” Machadu said.
Economist Victor Bhoroma said
while Zesa  tariff hikes would in-
evitably lead to marginally in-
creased cost of business conse-
quently resulting in the upsurge 
in  cost of living ,low tariffs usu-
ally attracted power cuts.
“However, the increase has to
be assessed with objectivity. Zesa
tariffs have to be cost reflective so
that the utility can import power
since we have a generation defi-
cit locally (Average 300W in im-
ports). A low tariff is also a huge
cost as power cuts become more
pronounced, debt to regional pow-
er suppliers skyrockets and ser-
vice delivery deteriorates. Pro-
longed power cuts mean going for
alternative power sources such as
diesel in production and running
generators is more costly. As such,
Zesa has to charge a tariff which
is sustainable (cost reflective to
pay for coal & power imports) and
ensure the utility’s survival. This
also calls for addressing structur-
al issues that cost the utility mil-
lions in indirect expenditure,” he
said.
20 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Business
BRIEFS
Bill to unlock tech sector potential
ABUJA— Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari
looks set to hand the country’s vibrant tech ecosystem
an olive branch, following years of fraught relations
with the sector.
In his New Year’s speech to the nation he stated:
“In year 2022 and going forward, our administration
would intentionally leverage ICT platforms to create
jobs while ensuring that the diversification of our econ-
omy creates more support to other emerging sectors.
“I am proud to announce that several foreign inves-
tors are taking advantage of our ranking as one of the
leading startup ecosystems in Africa to invest in our
digital economy.”
This follows approval by cabinet in December of Ni-
geria’s Startup Bill (NSB). The fruit of a year-long collab-
oration between the government and startup inves-
tors, law firms, entrepreneurs, policy advocacy groups,
the NSB will set in stone a new relationship between
Nigeria’s regulators and startups. — Africa Business
SA spectrum auction delay
NETWORK operator Telkom has approached the coun-
try’s High Court seeking an urgent order to prevent tel-
ecoms regulator ICASA from holding a spectrum auc-
tion in March.
On January 5, Telkom said it had filed an applica-
tion asking the Gauteng High Court to review and set
aside the invitation to apply, which outlines the auc-
tion rules, spectrum bands and licence obligations,
published by ICASA in December.
In court papers seen by Reuters, Telkom called the
contemplated auction process unlawful, illegal, irra-
tional and unreasonable given that the invite is “taint-
ed by a number of reviewable errors”.
These errors include the auctioning of the sub 1 Gi-
gahertz (GHz) frequency band when it is not yet avail-
able and is the subject of a legal challenge brought by
e-tv, similar to objections raised by the company last
year.
—Business Tech
US, Asia stocks slide
STOCKS in Asia and US and European futures extend-
ed a global selloff Thursday as the rout in technology
shares accelerated after the Federal Reserve signaled
interest-rate hikes may be more aggressive than many
had expected. Treasuries held losses. 
An MSCI Inc. index of the region’s equities retreat-
ed for the third day in four with a gauge of tech shares
among the worst-performing.
The Nasdaq 100 tumbled the most since March
Wednesday as rising Treasury yields added to concerns
over growth and profitability. The S&P 500 retreated as
traders increased bets US rates will rise at least three
times this year. The yield on the US 10-year note held at
the highest since April.
Overnight swaps markets moved to price in an 80%
chance of a 25 basis-point hike at the Fed’s meeting
in March. The dollar was little changed, while the yen
climbed. A selloff in Chinese tech companies contin-
ued on concerns firms will pare holdings amid Beijing’s
regulatory crackdown on the sector. The Hang Seng
Tech Index fell for a fourth day.
Investors fear tightening monetary policy will choke
global growth and crimp company profits just as the
omicron Covid variant leads to fresh curbs.
— Bloomberg
Apple hits $3tn market value
United States technology giant Apple has become
the first company to hit a stock market valuation of
$3tn (£2.2tn).
The firm’s share price has risen by around 5,800%
since co-founder and former chief executive Steve Jobs
unveiled the first iPhone in 2007.
However, its value slipped a little from that mile-
stone, to end Monday’s trading session in New York at
$2.99tn.
Apple has been one of the big winners of the pan-
demic, as coronavirus lockdowns saw spending on
gadgets jump.
It took just over 16 months for Apple’s stock market
valuation to rise from $2tn to $3tn, as the world’s big-
gest technology companies saw demand soar as peo-
ple became more reliant on smartphones, tablets and
laptops during lockdowns.
The company became the first company to hit a
stock market valuation of $1tn in August 2018.
— BBC
‘Zim needs infrastructure overhaul’
BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA
Z
IMBABWE Institute of Engi-
neering (ZIE) president Engi-
neer Tamsanqa Mpala says his
organisation was carrying out
a research on the state of infra-
structure in the country and preliminary
investigations showed the country was
in dire need of infrastructural rehabili-
tation requiring a lot of money.
The Treasury reported in the 2022 Na-
tional Budget that a total of US$8 063 788
836 was required for programmes and
projects under the National Development
Strategy 1 document this year.
The requirement is higher than the
US$4 130 358 599 required for last year
which the Zimbabwe government failed
to raise because of poor foreign invest-
ment returns.
ZIE found that infrastructure invest-
ments are urgently needed in ICT, re-
newable energy, power, roads, highways,
bridges, housing, health, water and san-
itation. Existing infrastructure has be-
come dilapidated due to many years of
neglect.
“We have done some preliminary in-
vestigations and research and we dis-
covered that our infrastructure is in real
need of rehabilitation. There is signifi-
cant investment that is required to scale
up infrastructure development in the
country,” Mpala told Standardbusiness in
an interview.
“It is quite significant money that we
are looking into if we want to look at all
the sectors that require the money. I don’t
have a figure as such but I think it would
Domestic rabbit market set for growth
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
ZIMBABWE’S domestic market for rab-
bit meat is projected to grow by at least
50% this year on the back of a raft of in-
itiatives set to be unveiled by industry
players during the course of the year, a
top industry official has said.
The Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit
Breeders Association (Zicorba) secre-
tary general, Siphosethu Ncube Moyo,
told the country’s rabbit farmers that
the domestic market for rabbit meat
was projected to grow by at least 50 %
over the next 12 months.
“Our estimation is that between 2,5
tonnes and 3,5 tonnes of rabbit meat is
being consumed on the local market per
month currently, bringing to about 30
tonnes per year. We expect this figure to
increase by about 15 tonnes at the end
of 2022,” she said in the sector’s latest
newsletter.
“While rabbit meat is currently be-
ing sold in major supermarket chains,
eateries, hotels and restaurants, we are
working with leading industry players
to ensure that new innovative ways of
marketing rabbit meat are introduced
on the domestic market in the coming
12 months. We are very confident that
our plans will yield positive results, cat-
apulting rabbit meat into becoming one
of the leading meat dishes in the coun-
try,” Ncube-Moyo said.
She revealed that Zicorba had been un-
dertaking an incisive analysis of costs
across the rabbit meat value chain to en-
sure that the industry was competitive
in juxtaposition with other meats such
as pork, chicken, fish and crocodile.
“This study is very important for us
to avoid pitfalls that befell some rabbit
industries elsewhere that collapsed due
to the application of archaic production
and marketing approaches which left
many farmers deep in the doldrums. We
have learnt the importance of involving
be quite significant if we are going to
tackle some of the low hanging fruits in
each of these sectors.”
He said the funds that would be need-
ed for ICT, renewable energy, roads, high-
ways, bridges, housing, water and sanita-
tion would run into the billions.
“When you apportion this amount of
investment in each of the sectors, you
take into account everything including
the materials, consultants that will work
on the projects and the commissioning of
it. It could run into billions,” Mpala said.
“If you really want to get to an upper
middle-income economy those are the
types of figures, in all fairness, that we
should be looking at.”
The Parliamentary Portfolio Commit-
tee on Budget and Finance revealed a few
weeks after the 2022 National Budget was
released last November that the amount
allocated by the Treasury was below
their submissions.
As we head into 2022, government min-
istries are already underfunded to meet
the costs of critical infrastructure pro-
jects.
The continued depreciation of the Zim-
babwe dollar continues to raise the cost
of infrastructure projects making the sit-
uation worse.
“We have to improve our ranking on all
indices that are measuring competitive-
ness in the economy, the things that in-
vestors look at globally when they com-
pare countries in looking for the best
place to put their investment,” Confeder-
ation of Zimbabwe Industries chief exec-
utive officer Sekai Kuvarika said.
“It is about the ease of doing business.
everyone in the rabbit meat value chain
to ensure the success of our industry,”
she said.
The association has dispatched some of
its top officials to study the export market
for rabbit meat in Africa, Middle East and
Asia region and there were prospects that
Zimbabwe could be exporting rabbit meat
before the end of 2022.
“Before this happens, we would like
to ensure that our production is at the
level which can sustain both the local
and the export markets. For us, this is
key and we will soon be engaging with
our farmers to ensure that this vision is
actualised. We will come up with some
incentives for them to produce more,”
Ncube-Moyo said.
Meanwhile, Zicorba said the con-
struction of Zimbabwe’s first rabbit
meat distribution hub was nearing com-
pletion in Harare’s Waterfalls suburb,
setting the stage for a sustained growth
of cuniculture production in the south-
ern African country.
This follows hot on the heels of the
opening in Harare of Zimbabwe’s first
rabbit abattoir early this year. The abat-
toir, which has a capacity to slaughter
upwards of 3 500 rabbits per eight-hour
shift, is one of the biggest in Africa.
The country’s second rabbit abat-
toir is planned for Bulawayo next year,
which will be followed by the launch of
satellite abattoirs in major centres in
Zimbabwe.
Rabbit meat producer Raymeg Con-
sultants Private Limited (Raymeg),
which owns Zimbabwe’s first rabbit
slaughterhouse, is also the sole inves-
tor in the country’s rabbit meat distri-
bution hub, which will be the first such
facility in Africa.
Raymeg is one of the corporate mem-
bers of Zicorba. It has interests in ag-
riculture, real estate, strategic commu-
nication, leisure and resorts and ener-
gy and has operations in a number of
We have to move up on that. It is about
being the best place to do anything and
that is one of the things we have to aim
for. For me, it is not just about foreign in-
vestors but local investors as well. If the
environment is good for local investors,
it will also attract foreign investors be-
cause they take a cue from the companies
that are already in the economy.
“So, once the companies that are al-
ready invested are expressing high lev-
els of confidence and positive sentiment
about the business environment, outlook
and prospects then that will also give an
indication to foreign investors as it were.
So, satisfy the investors that are here.
The second thing, for me, is that we re-
ally need to retire the currency challenge
that we have.”
The African Development Bank’s
(AfDB) 2019 Zimbabwe Infrastructure re-
port found that the sustained deteriora-
tion in the quality of infrastructure as-
sets stemmed from inadequate levels of
public expenditure on routine and peri-
odic maintenance of the existing infra-
structure networks.
The bank also noted that despite mul-
tiple policy reforms aimed at stimulating
the economy, implementation plans had
not been clear.
The deterioration in Zimbabwe’s basic
infrastructure over the past decade has
had a serious impact on other productive
sectors of the economy and on the level
and quality of services to the public at
large, the bank noted.
Previously, AfDB experts have stated
that Zimbabwe has an annual capital ex-
penditure of at least US$2 billion.
countries in southern, eastern and the
Horn of Africa.
Raymeg executive director Paida-
moyo Nyamakanga said the rabbit meat
distribution hub was set to be opened
during the first half of 2022.
“We are excited to launch another first
in the rabbit industry in Zimbabwe and
the Africa region. Our rabbit meat dis-
tribution hub naturally complements
the rabbit abattoir that we launched re-
cently. It will have the capacity to han-
dle at least 50 tonnes of rabbit meat per
month, which will be distributed to ma-
jor centres in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Nyamakanga said other smaller rab-
bit meat distribution centres would be
opened in main regions of the country
soon to complement the satellite rabbit
slaughter houses that are planned for
these centres.
“We have a very clear strategy of tak-
ing rabbit meat to every household in
Zimbabwe and of making rabbit pro-
duction one of the mainstays of Zimba-
bwe’s agricultural sector. And this we
will do in the shortest possible time,”
the Raymeg boss said.
Nyamakanga revealed that through
its sister company, Raymeg was toying
with the idea of launching game-chang-
ing initiatives in South Africa, where
the rabbit industry has been reeling un-
der the weight of the recent collapse of
one of the country biggest rabbit abat-
toir, which left many producers there in
dire straits.
Rabbit farming has significant po-
tential to generate foreign currency
through exports. It can also improve
food security and nutrition in develop-
ing countries.
Zimbabwe’s rabbit industry has been
affected by prohibitive pellet costs and
lack of quality and affordable breeds.
Now, with more farmers venturing
into the industry with government sup-
port, the sector is set to grow.
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 21

Business

Tile entrepreneur looks to tap into construction boom

Z
IMBABWE’s construction sector has
been growing steadily in the past years
and Treasury has projected that it will
grow by 17,4% this year. The growth is
set to be propelled by authorities who
are planning to build health and education infra-
structure across the country supported partly, by
funds from the International Monetary Fund Spe-
cial Drawing Rights allocations. The private sec-
tor and individuals are also expected to drive that
growth. In this interview construction industry
player, Tile Essentials managing director Spencer
Madziya (SM) speaks to our Business Reporter Fi-
delity Mhlanga (FM) to give insights on the sector
and more. Below are the excerpts.
 
FM: Give us the company overview... its
scope of operations and target market.
SM: Tile Essentials is a Pvt Ltd company pro-
viding a range of products in tiling, lighting and
materials for domestic and commercial construc-
tion industry. Born out of Tiles For Africa our
company boasts of a team with 20 years plus expe-
rience in the industry led by myself.
ness as the Diaspora market did not manage to
travel in their usual numbers back home as the
Covid-19 Omicron scare shook the world. The Di-
aspora ordinarily spend much on construction by
way of buying building materials for new hous-
es and renovations during the festive season. Also
traditionally due to rains the construction indus-
try takes a break from the 5th till around the 19th
of January.
FM: What’s your business plan for 2022?
SM: Our focus is mainly on retaining and grow-
ing our domestic markets and consolidate 2021
gains. We are expecting huge business at the back
of a boon in construction business being champi-
oned by government. As you are aware according
to the 2022 budget statement authorities have pro-
jected a 17% growth for the construction sector.
This means that with government, private sec-
tor and individuals expected to spend big on con- Spencer Madziya
struction, we as suppliers of the sector’s consum-
ables are in for brisk business.

FM: Tell us, to what extent has Covid-19 af-

fect your business operations?
SM: The Covid pandemic adversely affected our
operations. We experienced shorter trading hours
as the mitigatory lockdown measures were ef-
fected. Our supply chain was severely affected as
goods could not meet targeted timelines. Staff was
affected and we lost some workers. We are still
fighting on despite the impact of  the pandemic. It
is a struggle.

FM: What has been the uptake of products

you distribute since you started operating.
PLEASE TICK THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT AND INDICATE THE NUMBER OF COPIES
SM: The last quarter has seen a steady increase
in the uptake of our products as the market has
begun to ease and Covid restrictions relaxed.

FM: What opportunities are you seeing on PUBLICATION No. of copies 1 Month 3 Months
the Zimbabwean market and do you think
there is still space for local manufacturing of NEWSDAY(Mon-Fri) ZW5,500.00 ZW16,500.00
tiles in the country?
SM: The Zimbabwean construction industry has
RTGS

taken quite a huge leap and indeed there is room NEWSDAY(Mon-Sat) ZW6,500.00 ZW19,500.00
for our local manufacturer of tiles to sufficient-
ly supply the market, however competition from ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT ZW2,000.00 ZW 6,500.00
the region is also quite strong, which is healthy, as
suppliers fight for quality and good service. THE STANDARD ZW1,000.00 ZW 3,250.00
FM: Zimbabwe is generally perceived as a
tough operating market. How does it feel to be
an entrepreneur in Zimbabwe?
SM: Being an entrepreneur in Zimbabwe is
no easy walk in the park as we suffer from poli-
cy inconsistencies and lack of confidence in our
banking system. There is a lot of red tape to ac-
cess lines of credit as international and regional
financiers are hesitant to channel money due to SUBSCRIBER DETAILS: DELIVERY ADDRESS:
the currency volatility obtaining in our economy.
This and other factors makes it quite a struggle. Who is the party responsible for payment? Where do you want us to deliver the paper?
It also does have its good side as the government
Name: Name:
through the Small to Medium Enterprise ministry
has been doing its part to assist. Address: Address:

FM: Take us through the general trend of Telephone: Telephone:

your products.
SM: The general consumption trends of our
products is determined by various factors. We
have seen the emergence of luxurious apartments
commonly referred to as Estates, they have an ap-
petite for the bigger and more stylish tiles mostly
in the northern suburbs. A lot of funds have also
been channelled to low-cost housing for example,
FBC houses in Kuwadzana roundabout. This has
seen our product that suits those projects having
quite a high uptake. The availability of local tiles
have also seen a lot of consumers preferring those
because of lower pricing and those well to do in-
dulging mostly on the imported tiles. There is def-
initely a balance in the market.
FM: The construction industry is seen as
one of the fastest growing sectors in the coun-
try. How do you intend to tap into this growth
in 2022?
SM: Zimbabwe’s construction industry is in-
deed one of the fastest growing with the NDS1 pro-
gramme initiated by the government having seen
an increase in the uptake of our products in the
market. We intend to tap into the vast buildings
in the commercial and housing developments na-
tionwide.
FM: How has business been faring this fes-
tive season?
SM: This festive season saw a decline in busi-
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22 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Business
Branding in the age of entrepreneurship and industrialisation (Part 9)
T businessopinion
HE curtains of a daunt-
ing year, 2021 have slow-
ly but surely touched the
grounds. That 2021 was
a hard year for Zimba-
bwe and the broader community is
an understatement. It was survival
of the fittest. The facts are evident
across our enterprising sectors of
both the national and global econ-
omy. Of the 12 months of the year,
possibly we had half of them under
lockdown and the usual uncertain-
ty brought forth by executive or-
ders in the form of statutory instru-
ments, which by now have reached
300. Simply put, every day we had a
statutory instrument, breaking and
turning predictability into a tail-
spin. Thanks to editions from the
home-grown PEOPLE model to the
specialised branding in the age of
entrepreneurship, which I believe,
have informed and transformed the
landscape into doing real business.
Especially for those with a mind-
set geared for achieving vision 2030
and beyond for our great nation. As
we gaze into 2022, we do so, knowing
that it can only be further complex
and pray that our local brands will
navigate the treacherous waters.
One of the key areas that require
marketers and brand managers for
the SMEs to master is the concept
of brand ambassadors and how
their advocacy roles cost-effective-
ly gear competitiveness. A point of
loyalty is an invitation to real busi-
ness sustainability (we need to go
beyond). That one which goes be-
yond repeat purchasing as alluded
to in the previous edition. We need
self-driven and literally talking re-
lationships for continued engage-
ment and scaling up into the zone
of sustainable and above industry
profits. Having our key brand stake-
holders thinking beyond instruc-
tions (for content and ingredients),
promotions (that are routine) and
other luring talks (which become
monotonous as over emphasised re-
peatedly), towards building an ex-
Drafting non-pathological dispute resolution clauses
FORECASTING the nature of fu-
ture contractual disputes is diffi-
cult if not impossible. Attempting
to figure out which side of the dis-
pute you will be when a dispute aris-
es is, frequently, a futile exercise. You
may not even be able to pinpoint the
identity of your future adversary be-
cause interests may be ceded, enti-
ties may be acquired or merged and,
in the case of investor-state agree-
ments, governments may change. As
a result, dispute resolution clauses
should be drafted in the simplest and
clearest terms possible. One should
resist the temptation of drafting dis-
pute resolution clauses without tak-
ing advice from their international
arbitration lawyers.
An appropriately drafted dispute
resolution clause will save parties
both money and costs. This article
outlines the components that you
should include or consider when
drafting dispute resolution clauses.
Rules of arbitration
In electing the procedural frame-
work of an arbitral process, parties
have two basic options. They can ei-
ther adopt the arbitration rules of
an institution which will administer
the arbitration for them or employ
non-administered rules for an ad
hoc arbitration. Whichever method
you settle for, it is invariably prefer-
able to choose modern international
arbitration rules. It is ill-advised to
craft a procedural framework from
scratch or use the arbitration law at
the place of arbitration. You should
choose rules of established and rep-
WITH DR FARAI CHIGORA
perience through such associations
driven by the brand ambassadors.
At this point, we should engage
in the brand advocacy and ambassa-
dor’s concept in-depth. [We choose]
those who think and talk like us, for
us. When they are loyal and we now
have them in our business, they are
at home (both clients and partners).
We can now have lunch and dine to-
gether. Such a scenario creates end-
less lineages and family trees that
we refer to and most of the times
emulate for generations.
Brands should do the same rath-
er than be a once off and done con-
cept of marketing by SMEs. When
advocacy and ambassadorship is
considered, the brand should per-
petuate a lifetime return that propa-
gates into fellowships and follower-
ship, which exudes the same as the
originator and in the current needs
of the time. Coca-Cola is that brand
which is still talking the same and
even more than in its inception (it
created its advocates and ambassa-
dors through excellence). For exam-
ple, “Always Coca-Cola” making it a
driver and quencher in every hap-
py moment from sports to lifetime
events. It is about the brand crafts-
manship that is infused with crea-
tiveness for longevity that has made
such brands last the stretch and
stand a lifetime of serenity (rath-
er than an outcome of serendipi-
ty). It is out of a well-planned com-
mitment for lifetime engagement
that one which energies and last in
the minds and living souls of pre-
sent and future generations. Those
that have made it have gone far into
brand inheritance where the found-
er has gone but not forgotten. Their
lives have remained in those talking
arbitration insights
WITH JACOB MUTEVEDZI
utable arbitral institutions such as
the International Chamber of Com-
merce (ICC) or the Kigali Interna-
tional Arbitration Centre (KIAC).
Before you agree to use an arbitral
institution’s rules, you must make
sure that your lawyers are familiar
with the institution, its rules, case
management skills, quality of arbi-
tral panels, its default appointment
mechanisms and fee structure.
Wide form clause
A dispute resolution clause
should be drafted in such a manner
that it will encompass all disputes
which may arise. It is inadvisable
to narrow a clause down to exclude
certain kinds of disputes. Such an
approach is injudicious because it
can result in disputes over the scope
of the clause thus potentially in-
creasing costs.
Broad clauses come in an as-
sortment of forms depending on
the draftsman. The clause can be
couched in the following simple
terms: “Any dispute arising out of
or relating to . . .”. A dispute can be
defined in the following broad lan-
guage: “Dispute means any dispute,
controversy, or claim (of any and
every kind or type, whether based on
and lasting brands. We talk of the
McDonalds, Ford, KFC and many
more that have lived more than
the human mind behind the crafts-
manship. If we treat our brands the
same in this age and take them not
only for oiling but sustaining exist-
ence SMEs will win the show. Not
only escalating in the current mar-
kets, but will also create newer ones,
withhold and dominate future mar-
kets as well forecasted in the pre-
sent.
This being said and done, how do
we fix our fractures in this regard?
Entrepreneurship in this perspec-
tive of construct should respect that
“no man is an island”. We need to
start with such a mind-set as we do
business now (and move to all those
who matter most). Brands in their
competitiveness are also meant to
fellowship with others as a first
stance of existence in the global
market space. You cannot be rated
as the best when there is no compe-
tition. Denial and fear of competi-
tion should not be part of entrepre-
neurship in the brand craftsman-
ship and positioning. We should be
happy about this and even create
our own edge for lasting position-
ing. Yet at the same time those who
have chosen and walked with us as
customers and partners should feel
that dominance when they chose us
compared to the rest. That pride of
moving with the winners inspires
closeness and transformative en-
gagements with enjoyments. This
will lure them with confidence into
our brand selling journey as advo-
cates and ambassadors. They will
go beyond the dictionary and mar-
keting literature to be part of our
brand strategy (more fortunes as
contract, delict, statute, regulation,
or otherwise) arising out of, relat-
ing to, or connected with this Agree-
ment, or the operations carried out
under this Agreement, including but
not limited to any dispute concern-
ing the existence, validity, interpreta-
tion, performance, breach, or termi-
nation of this Agreement.” Parties
must avoid multiple definitions for
the term “Dispute”. It must only be
defined once to avoid conflicting def-
initions that will cause confusion
when a dispute arises.
Arbitrator appointment
The outcome of a dispute usual-
ly relies on the arbitrator or panel
of arbitrators you appoint. There-
fore, when drafting your dispute
resolution clauses there are sever-
al things that you should consid-
er. The first issue is the number of
arbitrators. It is obviously foolhar-
dy to appoint more than one arbi-
trator to deal with unsophisticated
disputes of low value. Conversely,
three member arbitral tribunals are
recommended for complex and high
value disputes. The more the arbi-
trators, the greater the cost and the
longer it will take for them to ren-
der an award. I usually advise com-
returns here). We have come to
this end which is a start of all the
aforementioned in the relay that we
have been engaged into. Where are
we then? Let’s take a closer look at
these fundamental nodes within
our existing broken chains. That is
brand advocacy and ambassador-
ship. These two variants seem to be
taken as mere words for concluding
any brand storytelling rather than
a practice. Unfortunately, SMEs
have adopted the same downplaying
viewpoint (there is a need to think
new). Our customers and partners
will always stand for us in the mar-
ket and other spaces where we are
not physically present. They car-
ry our burden as if it’s theirs. They
will become brand soul mates. They
defend our muddled image as creat-
ed by those brand terrorists in our
operating ecology. How good will
it be if our enterprise is in such a
state and defence? There is a need
to relook at these issues and put in
place systems and structures that
encourage our customers to be
our brand advocates and ambassa-
dors (not merely for database rank-
ing and instant benefits). It is high
time we engage with our customers
and partners by going to an extent
of providing toolkits and any other
brand supporters so that they repre-
sent our vision as they move around
in all platforms. This cuts across
all sectors of the global economy.
We need to invest in these relation-
ships where we have time to share
our experiences with customers
and partners. Sharing brand strat-
egies in various ways, even simple
workshops and focus groups. These
do not expose our strategy for com-
petitiveness but encourage us to
share the brand vision and practice.
That is walking the talk with those
who matter most in our brand life.
Of course charity begins at home.
Such that our localised business en-
vironment should have a common
share of brand advocacy and ambas-
sadorship. We should remove all ex-
panies to maintain flexibility by
providing for both a single arbitra-
tor and a three arbitrator panel and
use the value of the dispute as a de-
terminant of the number of arbitra-
tors required.
The appointment of arbitrators
can either be the prerogative of the
parties or be left to an arbitral insti-
tution. Experience has taught me
that parties usually prefer to retain
control of the appointment process
because the choice of arbitrators
has a considerable impact on the
outcome of their dispute. The dis-
pute resolution clause can achieve
this by providing that each party
will appoint an arbitrator and that
those two arbitrators will appoint
the chair of the tribunal. Where the
arbitrators cannot agree on a chair,
the designated institution can act as
the defaulting appointer. If the dis-
pute resolution clause says noth-
ing about the appointment process
the default appointment mecha-
nism in the chosen arbitration rules
will kick in. You must avoid naming
a specific person as arbitrator be-
cause if he or she dies, is incapaci-
tated, or declines to serve as arbitra-
tor, it is an instant default in the ap-
pointment process.
The seat of arbitration
Choosing the seat of the arbitra-
tion is one of the key decisions to
make in the negotiation of a dispute
resolution clause. The seat of the ar-
bitration normally determines the
procedural law of the arbitration,
including enforcement of and chal-
isting silos due to functional struc-
tures and organisational seniori-
ty syndrome. Every member of the
organisation is an advocacy or am-
bassador and should be given that
space to practise and express them-
selves. This is not a role for the mar-
keting department only or those in
sales. In branding we are all repre-
sentatives and custodians of what
matters most. It is that high time to
reconfigure and come up with pro-
cesses that consider such an instal-
lation where a full force is exerted
on what makes the brand talk to the
global village. This is by consider-
ing;
Brand vision openness
Most operations are configured as
“open for business”. Let’s think be-
yond the boardroom as we construct
our brand vision. It should be open
to stakeholders (mainly employees,
customers and partners).
Brand shout capitalisation
More should be allocated in im-
proving brands’ shout. Toolkits are
not enough but a composite of hu-
man and non-human mechanisms
in a systemised approach will help.
Brand trust
Though not measurable but do-
able. We should trust those we deal
with in our branding. These are the
custodians of our name, symbol,
colours and brand ownership. They
should feel excited to showcase rath-
er than moving by the book. It gives
them a brand sense of ownership
and their own creativity and inno-
vation is selling and showcasing.
 Dr Farai Chigora is a busi-
nessman and academic. He is
the Head of Business Science at
the Africa University’s College
of Business, Peace, Leadership
and Governance. He is into ag-
ribusiness and is a consultant.
He writes in his personal capac-
ity and can be contacted for feed-
back and business at fariechig-
ora@gmail.com, WhatsApp mo-
bile: +263772886871.
lenges to the award. You should se-
lect a seat in a jurisdiction that has
a mature arbitration law that your
lawyer is familiar with; for exam-
ple the UNCITRAL model law. The
country of your chosen seat of ar-
bitration should preferably be one
that has ratified the New York Con-
vention on the Recognition and
Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral
Awards. A good seat is one whose
courts have a proven track record
of supporting international arbitra-
tion. These are the courts that have
supervisory jurisdiction over the
arbitration. They will deal with ju-
risdictional challenges, handle ap-
plications for interim measures,
and any applications to set aside ar-
bitral awards.
Language of arbitration
While this is imperative, it is not
ordinarily a critical aspect of the
dispute resolution clause. If the
parties speak different languages,
it is prudent to clarify the language
of the proceedings. For instance
where your company uses English
but the other party speaks French.
Not choosing a language for the pro-
ceedings can potentially result in a
disagreement over the applicable
language. This could subsequently
give rise to a dispute over the pool
of arbitrators to choose from. If not
properly managed, this issue could
lead to the use of multiple languag-
es in the pleadings and hearings re-
sulting in higher costs.
 Jacob Mutevedzi is a commer-
cial lawyer and partner at Clairwood
Chambers Attorneys and writes in his
personal capacity. He can be contact-
ed at +263775987784 or at jmuteved-
zi@gmail.com
 JANUARY 9 to 15 2022

Mane is on a
quest to earn
Senegal’s Afcon
redemption
AFCON: COMPLETE
52-MATCH SCHEDULE

MHARI RELISHES
AFCON CHANCE

VINICIUS
DECLARED
WORLD’S MOST
EXPENSIVE
PLAYER
SH24 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Soccer
Struggling Sadio Mane is on a quest
to earn Senegal’s Afcon redemption
YAOUNDÉ — Over two years have
passed since the 2019 Africa Cup of
Nations final in Cairo, but the wounds
probably still feel fresh for some mem-
bers of the Senegal side that lost to Al-
geria.
The sight of nearly every Lions of
Teranga player falling to the turf at the
final whistle underscored the hurt of
another opportunity missed on a night
that promised so much.
Indeed, it was meant to be the West
African nation’s time to finally reign su-
preme on the continent. But the mood
soured after 90 minutes.
As Algeria celebrated only their sec-
ond Afcon crown and a first since 1990,
Senegal were left to lick their wounds
after failing to recover from Baghdad
Bounedjah’s fortuitous second-minute
strike.
The cameras caught a crestfallen Sa-
dio Mane sat on the turf, despondent
at the result and an eventuality Sene-
gal dreaded. Having waited 17 years to
make another final since their 2002 de-
feat, Egypt 2019 was a real kick in the
teeth.
An entire nation’s hopes of a fair-
ytale ending were dashed for the sec-
ond time, and the disappointment was
palpable.
Perhaps Mane’s post-match sullen-
ness communicated the displeasure at
his performance in the decider. In ar-
guably the nation’s biggest game in al-
most two decades, the Liverpool super-
star could not replicate the decisive-
ness from previous rounds.
Mane had scored the sole strike in
the 1-0 success over Uganda in the
round of 16 and expertly slipped in Id-
rissa Gueye for the winner in the quar-
ter-final win over Benin. However, the
country’s best player was shot-shy
against Algeria, managing only one at-
tempt all night.
In a sense, Mane somewhat epito-
mised the Teranga Lions’ inability to
consistently play through a dogged
North African side that defended for
their lives after netting the quickest
goal in an Afcon final.
Despite out-shooting Djamel Belma-
di’s men 12-to-one, the majority of Sen-
egal’s attempts were low-percentage
efforts from range.
Admittedly, they were denied an op-
portunity to level from 12 yards on the
hour when Sidi Alioum overturned his
original decision of a penalty after a
pitch-side review of Adlene Guediou-
ra’s handball. But there was no guar-
antee of success given their failed at-
tempts prior to the final, missing three
of four penalties in the competition.
Senegal manager Aliou Cisse insist-
ed his team edged the game and mer-
ited more.
“A final is decided by fine margins
and we deserved better tonight,” the
45-year-old stated after the defeat.
“They put away the chance they need-
ed. On the whole, we didn’t let our-
selves down. We created chances but
weren’t able to score.
“When you concede a goal so early in
the match the plan becomes clear. You
have to attack against an aggressive
defence but we weren’t able to find the
solutions.”
The former Lions of Teranga cap-
tain, who took over the national team
in 2015 and led them to the 2018 World
Cup in Russia, was pleased by the pro-
gress they had made preceding that
defeat by Algeria.
“The last time Senegal reached this
point was in 2002. The experience of
big matches, we want to be here more
often,” Cisse said. “We’re getting closer
Sadio Mane.
to winning. The team has been making
progress these past five years.
“It’s been 17 years since Senegal got
to this stage of the competition. We’ve
only experienced disillusion and disap-
pointment.”
Indeed, Cisse has first-hand experi-
ence of Senegal’s 2002 heartache, hav-
ing captained the country’s Golden
Generation at the turn of the millenni-
um.
The Lions of Teranga had conceded
only one goal all the way through the
2002 tournament — in their 2-1 semi-
final win over Nigeria — but had to
contend with defending champions
Cameroon in their first-ever Afcon final.
A strong Indomitable Lions side were
favourites, owing to the sheer strength
of Winfried Schafer’s squad and their
performance before that encounter in
Bamako.
The Central African nation, looking
to become the second team in over
three decades to retain their title, were
the only side to navigate the group
stage with a 100% record and boasted
a watertight rearguard, demonstrated
by a goals-conceded column that read
zero all tournament.
Senegal could not breach the Cam-
eroon backline, but neither could Cam-
eroon beat the Senegal defence. Penal-
ties ensued after a goalless final.
Once Pierre Wome’s opening penalty
had been thwarted by Tony Sylva and
the underdogs capitalised, Senegal ap-
peared destined for a maiden crown.
Yet misadventure loomed.
A trio of failures from superstars Khal-
ilou Fadiga and El Hadji Diouf as well as
captain Cisse dashed their hopes. The
latter, in particular, rankled as the skip-
per could have forced the shootout
into sudden death after Rigobert Song
was denied the winning kick by Sylva.
“I want this Africa Cup of Nations. I
have been running after it since 1999,”
Cisse remarked in December 2021 after
unveiling his 27-player squad for the
2022 tournament.
The Lions’ preparations have been
far from ideal, with coronavirus forcing
three players and six coaching staff into
quarantine while the fitness of Kalidou
Koulibaly and Ismaila Sarr is uncertain.
The former went off injured for Napo-
li in early December and the latter, de-
spite Watford’s reluctance, will hope to
feature in some capacity having been
ruled out with a knee ligament damage
since November.
Be that as it may, Senegalese Presi-
dent Macky Sall threw down the gaunt-
let before the team departed their
camp.
“This time, I’m not talking about the
final but the cup. You will have to fight
to bring us the cup,” the nation’s leader
told the side at the presidential palace.
“You can do it. You are the best tactically,
technically and qualitatively.”
The West Africans are 20th in FIFA’s
rankings, but the continent’s top-ranked
AFCON: COMPLETE 52-MATCH SCHEDULE
A COMPLETE 52-match schedule for
the Africa Cup of Nations in Came-
roon from January 9 to February 6.
*Kick-off all Zimbabwe time
Group A:
(Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, un-
less noted)
Sunday, 9 January
OPENING MATCH: Cameroon v
Burkina Faso - 18:00
Cape Verde v Ethiopia - 21:00
Thursday, 13 January
Cameroon v Ethiopia - 18:00
Burkino Faso v Cape Verde - 21:00
Monday, 17 January
Cameroon v Cape Verde - 18:00
Burkino Faso v Ethiopia, Bafous-
sam - 18:00
Group B:
(Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam,
unless noted)
Monday, 10 January
Senegal v Zimbabwe - 15:00
Guinea v Malawi - 18:00
Friday, 14 January
Guinea v Senegal, 15:00
Malawi v Zimbabwe - 16:00
Tuesday, 18 January
Malawi v Senegal - 18:00
Guinea v Zimbabwe, Yaounde
(Ahmadou Ahidjo) - 18:00
Group C:
(Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Ya-
ounde, unless noted)
Monday, 10 January
Ghana v Morocco - 18:00
Comoros v Gabon - 21:00
Friday, 14 January
Comoros v Morocco - 1800
Gabon v Ghana - 21:00
Tuesday, 18 January
Gabon v Morocco 21:00
nation would trade that for an Afcon ti-
tle in an instant. They are the only nation
among Africa’s top eight to have never
won the competition, something they
aim to correct in Cameroon.
Undoubtedly, the weight of expec-
tation is firmly placed on Mane’s shoul-
ders, just as it was in 2019.
Despite missing the opening game
through suspension, the Liverpool for-
ward was the only Senegal player to
score more than once at the finals, rack-
ing up three goals. Throw in his sole as-
sist, and four goal involvements outdid
Comoros v Ghana, Garoua - 21:00
Group D:
(Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua,
unless noted)
Tuesday, 11 January
Egypt v Nigeria - 18:00
Guinea-Bissau v Sudan - 21:00
Saturday, 15 January
Nigeria v Sudan, 18:00
Egypt v Guinea Bissau - 21:00
Wednesday, 19 January
Guinea Bissau v Nigeria - 21:00
Egypt v Sudan, Yaounde (Ahma-
dou Ahidjo) - 21:00
Group E:
(Japoma Stadium, Douala, unless
noted)
Tuesday, 11 January
Algeria v Sierra Leone - 15:00
Wednesday, 12 January
Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast -
21:00
Sunday, 16 January
Ivory Coast v Sierra Leo-
ne - 18:00
Algeria v Equatorial
Guinea - 21:00
Thursday, 20 Janu-
ary
Algeria v Ivory Coast
- 18:00
Equatorial Guinea v Sier-
ra Leone, Limbe - 18:00
Group F:
(Limbe Stadium unless
noted)
Wednesday, 12 January
Mali v Tunisia, 15:00
Gambia v Mauritania,
everyone except Odion Ighalo’s six goal
contributions for Nigeria at the 2019
tournament.
Yet it would be misguided to suggest
the 29-year-old is playing at the same
level as three years back.
Not only did the attacker head to the
finals in Egypt after a season in which
Liverpool claimed a sixth European Cup
and narrowly missed out on the Premier
League title but his deadly finishing em-
phasised his all-round brilliance.
By contrast, Mane enters Afcon 2021
a slightly diminished player whose fi-
nal-third menace has dipped somewhat
in the last 18 months or so. Underlying
numbers reveal a drop off in the wide
attacker’s finishing, with the Reds for-
ward scoring fewer goals than expected
in the aforementioned period.
While the strike against Chelsea at
Stamford Bridge in early January end-
ed a nine-game drought in all compe-
titions, there are doubts about the su-
perstar’s form before the competition’s
commencement.
Owing to the squad’s relative inexpe-
rience at this level — 17 members of the
group are making their tournament de-
buts — the onus will be on Mane to ac-
complish what is necessary for the Lions
of Teranga.
In a sense, they could count them-
selves unlucky to have faced off with
Cameroon and Algeria in 2002 and
2019 respectively, as those sides pos-
sessed the individual and technical
quality to rival both Senegal itera-
tions.
This time around, regardless of the
difficulties and a fluctuating star play-
er, Senegal are fuelled by their ambi-
tion to right those previous wrongs to
secure an elusive African title. A na-
tion expects. —Planetfootball.com
18:00
Sunday, 16 January
Gambia v Mali, 15:00
Mauritania v Tunisia, 18:00
Thursday, 20 January
Gambia v Tunisia - 21:00
Mali v Mauritania, Douala - 21:00
Round of 16:
Jan 23: (1) 2A v 2C, Limbe, 18:00;
(2) 1D v 3B/E/F, Garoua, 21:00
Jan 24: (4) 2B v 2F, Bafoussam,
18:00; (3) 1A v 3C/D/E, Yaounde
(Olembe), 21:00
Jan 25: (5) 1B v 3A/C/D, Bafous-
sam, 18:00; (6) 1C v 3A/B/F, Yaounde
(Ahmadou Ahidjo), 21:00
Jan 26: (7) 1E v 2D, Douala, 18:00;
(8) 1F v 2E, Limbe 21:00
Quarter-finals:
Jan 29: (B) Winners 4 v winners 3,
Douala, 18:00; (A) winners 1 v win-
ners 2, Garoua, 21:00
Jan 30: (C) Winners 7 v winners
6, Yaounde (Olembe), 18:00; (D)
winners 5 v winners 8, Douala,
21:00
Semi-finals:
Feb 2: Winners A v win-
ners D, Douala, 1900
Feb 3: Winners B v winners
C, Yaounde (Olembe), 1900
Third place:
Sunday, 6 February
Losing semi-finalists, Yaounde
(Ahmadou Ahidjo) - 18:00
Final:
Sunday, 6 February
Winning semi-finalists, Yaounde
(Olembe) - 21:00 — AFP
 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 SH25

Football

Mhari relishes
Afcon chance
BY TERRY MADYAUTA

FC PLATINUM shot stopper Petros Mhari is relishing the prospect

of donning the Warriors Number one jersey at the Africa Cup of
Nations finals which kicks off in Cameroon today
Mhari, who kept goal for the Warriors in the World Cup qualifi-
er against South Africa, will battle for the first team spot against
South Africa based Talbert Shumba and Spain-based Martin Mapi-
sa
The Warriors begin their campaign tomorrow with a tough en-
counter against 2019 losing finalists Senegal tomorrow in a Group
B clash.
Fellow Southern African country Malawi and Guinea are in the
same group.
And being one of Norman Mapeza's Petros Mhari (left) is relishing the chance of donning the Warriors number one jersey at the Afcon finals which kickoff today
first choice goalkeeper at FC Platinum, it
would not be surprise if the coach gives
the 32- year- old the nod in the competi-
tion.
But unlike at his club, FC Platinum, he
faces stiff competition from Shumba and
Mapisa who have been in fine form for
their respective clubs.
The former Hwange keeper, though, is
brimming with confidence to make a de-
but appearance for the country at the Af-
con tournament having been previously
overlooked by other coaches in the past.
"It's going to be tough because there are
good goalkeepers and I think whoever is
selected will represent the country with
pride and from the heart," Mhari said.
"For now, the focus is on fighting for a
spot in the team and the rest is up to the
coaches to decide.
"As players we can only hope to push
the interests of the squad. With competi-
tion I am sure the best will be selected at
the end of the day," he said.
Mhari gave a good account of himself
when he played in a narrow 1 - 0 loss to
South Africa in the World Cup qualifiers
in November.
Only four locally based players were
able to make the final squad for the pre-
mier Africa football competition which
runs until February 6.
Apart from Mhari there are defenders
Peter Muduhwa and Godknows Murwira
who play for Highlanders and Dynamos
respectively as well as FC Platinum mid-
fielder Kelvin Madzongwe.
Mhari reckons that the quality of goal-
keepers in the team will give the techni-
cal team a selection headache.
"I know the caliber of keepers avail-
able, and the top players in the team as
well. We all want the same thing.
"We possess different qualities and we
all have different strengths which I am
sure will give all the coaches a headache
when it comes to selection," Mhari said.
Whether he plays or not Mhari's name
will forever be etched in Zimbabwe foot-
ball folklore as one of the goalkeepers to
have been to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Other goalkeepers who have been to Af-
con in the five times that Zimbabwe has
been to the competition include Energy
Murambadoro, Tapuwa Kapini, Ephraim
Mazarura and Gift Muzadzi who went to
the 2004 and 2006 finals.
In 2017 Donovan Bernard, Tatenda
Mkuruva and Takabva Mawaya were the
goalkeepers while George Chigova, Ed-
more Sibanda and Elvis Chipezeze were
part of the team in 2019.

AS players we can only

hope to push the interests
of the squad. With com-
petition I am sure the best
will be selected at the end
of the day.
SH26 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Vinicius declared world’s most expensive player
R
EAL MADRID star
Vinicius Junior tops
the rankings as the
most expensive play-
er in the world with a
an eye watering market value of
€166.4m right now, according to a
recent study by the CIES Football
Observatory.
After a tough start to life at
Real Madrid following a high-
profile move from Flamengo, the
Brazilian winger has blossomed
into a seriously good player.
Vinicius has tormented defend-
ers for fun this season, scoring 12
goals and providing nine assists
in 25 appearances for the Whites
this season.
As a result of his turnaround at
Real Madrid, the 21-year-old for-
ward is now ranked as the most
valuable footballer on the planet
by the CIES Football Observatory.
Their complex algorithm -
which also factors in the length
of each player's current con-
tract - has Vinicius even ahead
of the enigma that is Erling Haal-
and, with an estimated value of
€166m.
Vinicius is ahead of the young
English duo of Phil Foden and
Mason Greenwood who are sec-
ond and fourth respectively on
the list of the world's top 10 most
expensive footballers.
The young duo, who play for
Manchester rivals City and Unit-
ed respectively, are considered
two of English football's hottest
prospects, both tipped to enjoy
glittering careers.
Their talent and potential has
been recognised by CIES Football
Observatory, who estimate that
Foden and Greenwood are each
worth well over £100million.
They join England teammate
Jude Bellingham in the rankings,
with Borussia Dortmund sensa-
tion Erling Haaland high on the
list.
But the Manchester hot shots
can still boast about their es-
Football Fixtures
2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)
Today: Cameroon v Burkina Faso
(Olembe Stadium, 1800), Ethiopia v Cape
Verde (Olembe Stadium, 2100)
Monday: Senegal v Zimbabwe (Koue-
kong Stadium, 1500), Morocco v Gha-
na (Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo,
1800), Guinea v Malawi (Kouekong Stadi-
um, 1800), Comoros v Gabon (Stade Om-
nisport Ahmadou Ahidjo, 2100)
Tuesday: Algeria v Sierra Leone (Sta-
de Omnisport de Douala, 1500), Nigeria v
Egypt (Stade Omnisport de Garoua, 1800),
Sudan v Guinea-Bissau (Stade Omnisport
de Garoua, 2100)
Wednesday: Tunisia v Mali (Stade Mu-
nicipal de Limbe, 1500), Mauritania v
Gambia (Stade Municipal de Limbe, 1800),
Vinicius Junior
timated transfer values, with
Foden's being rated at an eye-
watering €152.6million (£127m)
which puts him second on the list
behind Vinicius.
Meanwhile, CIES claim it
Equatorial Guinea v Cote d'Ivoire (Stade
Omnisport de Douala, 2100)
English Premier League
Tuesday: Southampton v Brentford (St.
Mary's Stadium, 2145), Everton v Leicester
City (Goodison Park, 2200)
Wednesday: West Ham v Norwich (Lon-
don Stadium, 2145)
Italy Serie A
Today: Empoli v Sassuolo (Carlo Cas-
tellani, 1330), Venezia v AC Milan (Pier Lui-
gi Penzo, 1330), Cagliari v Bologna (Unipol
Domus, 1530), Torino v Fiorentina (Olimpi-
co Grande Torino, 1530), Udinese v Atalan-
ta (Dacia Arena, 1730), Napoli v Sampdoria
(Diego Armando Maradona, 1730), Genoa
v Spezia (Luigi Ferraris, 1930), AS Roma v
Juventus (Olimpico, 1930), Internazionale
v SS Lazio (Giuseppe Meazza, 2145), Hellas
would take a bid in the region
of €133.9million (£111m) to prize
Greenwood away from Old Traf-
ford.
Bellingham, still just 18 years
of age, closely follows with a val-
Verona v Salernitana (Marcantonio Bente-
godi, 2145)
French Ligue 1
Today: Brest v Nice (Stade Francis-Le
Blé, 1400), Clermont v Reims (Stade Gabri-
el-Montpied, 1600), Montpellier v Troyes
(Stade de la Mosson, 1600), Metz v Stras-
bourg (Stade Saint-Symphorien, 1600),
Nantes v Monaco (La Beaujoire-Louis-Fon-
teneau, 1805), Olympique Lyonnais v Paris
Saint-Germain (Groupama Stadium, 2145)
FA Cup
Today: Luton Town v Harrogate Town
(Kenilworth Road, 1430) v Cardiff v Pres-
ton (Cardiff City Stadium, 1600), Charlton
v Norwich (The Valley, 1600), Liverpool v
Shrewsbury Town (Anfield, 1600), Stoke
City v Leyton Orient (Bet365 Stadium,
1600), Tottenham Hotspur v Morecambe
ue of €130.1million (£108m)
Centre-back Ruben Dias is the
most valuable defender on the list
as CIES rate the Portuguese at
€120.5m (£100m) after 18 months
of stellar displays in blue.
(Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 1600), Wol-
verhampton Wanderers v Sheffield Unit-
ed (Molineux Stadium, 1600), West Ham
v Leeds (London Stadium, 1600), Notting-
ham Forest v Arsenal (The City Ground,
1910)
FA Cup
Today: Manchester United v Aston Villa
(Old Trafford, 2155)
LaLiga
Today: Rayo Vallecano v Real Betis (Es-
tadio de Vallecas, 1500), Sevilla v Getafe
(Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, 1715), Depor-
tivo Alaves v Athletic Club (Mendizorro-
za, 1930), Osasuna v Cadiz (El Sadar, 1930),
Villarreal v Atletico Madrid (Estadio de la
Cerámica, 2200)
Tomorrow: Espanyol v Elche (RCDE Sta-
dium, 2200)
For now, the focus is on fighting
for a spot in the team and the
rest is up to the coaches to
decide.
Pg 25
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the
most valuable Liverpool player,
according to the algorithm. He's
13th on the list with an estimated
value of €112.8m.
Diogo Jota is the next highest
Liverpool player on the list as his
value is estimated at €79.6m. Mo
Salah follows him at €66.1m, with
his value probably affected by his
age and the remaining contract
duration.
CIES' top 20 most expensive
players in the world:
1. Vinicius Junior — Real Ma-
drid (€166m)
2. Phil Foden — Manchester
City (€152.6m)
3. Erling Haaland - Borussia
Dortmund (€142.5m)
4. Mason Greenwood — Man-
chester United (€133.9m)
5. Florian Wirtz - Bayer Lev-
erkusen (€133m)
6. Jude Bellingham - Borussia
Dortmund (€130.1m)
7. Alphonso Davies — Bayern
Munich (€122.3m)
8. Ruben Dias — Manchester
City (€120.5m)
9. Pedri Gonzalez — Barcelona
(€118m)
10. Frenkie de Jong - Barcelona
(€115.2m)
11. Jadon Sancho - Manchester
United (€115m)
14. Bruno Fernandes — Man-
chester United (€113.9m)
13. Trent Alexander-Arnold —
Liverpool (€112.8m)
14. Mason Mount — Chelsea
(€108.9m)
15. Achraf Hakimi — Paris
Saint-Germain (€108.2m)
16. Reece James — Chelsea
(€108m)
17. Bukayo Saka — Arsenal
(€103m)
18. Leroy Sane — Bayern Mu-
nich (€102.4m)
19. Jamal Musiala — Bayern
Munich (€101.7m)
20. Kai Havertz — Chelsea
(€101.2m)
— Mirror
Bundesliga
Today: Hertha BSC Berlin v FC Koln
(Olympiastadion, 1630), VfL Bochum
1848 v VfL Wolfsburg (Vonovia Ruhrsta-
dion, 1830)
Rugby Union
Gallagher Premiership
Today: Bath v Worcester Warriors (Rec-
reation Ground, 1700), Wasps v Leicester
Tigers (Coventry Building Society Arena,
1700)
Top 14
Today: Toulon v La Rochelle (Stade
Mayol, 1900), Stade Toulousain v Mont-
pellier (Herault Stade Ernest-Wallon,
2205)
International Cricket
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(Test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, 0000)
 January 9 to 15, 2022
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28 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
CELEBRATING A LIFE WELL LIVED
Grief and New YEAR
W
hen we are grieving, it is
hard enough to live each
day as it comes. It can be
daunting to face a whole
new year stretching out in front of us.
We may be afraid of what the new year
might bring. We may worry whether or
not we can handle any more challeng-
es. Our current experience of empti-
ness and loneliness may make us reluc-
tant to face a new year.
We might say to ourselves, “I used
to be so busy. I used to feel so needed,
so useful. Now it seems there’s nothing
but empty space and empty time.” It’s
bad enough to wake in the morning not
sure what we’ll do with the day; what
will we do with a whole year?
Longing to recover the past can
sometimes make us resist to accepting
the new year. The past was where we
were comfortable, where we felt safe,
felt good. Grief burdens us today and
we fear the new year won’t hold any-
thing different for us. We pine for the
person we miss and the precious past
we shared. We think about how it was,
and wish we were back there.
Approach of a new year may mean
different things for different mourners.
Whether we welcome, dread or ignore
a new year probably depends on where
we are in our grief process. The ques-
tion is not whether, but how grief will
show up, and how we’ll work with it.
A Learning Process
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expected, you might experience it as a
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As you courageously work through
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new year with interest and wonder
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feel eager to welcome change, now that
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You might find comfort and joy in
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Bookmakers rule out Warriors
insidesport
with MICHAEL KARIATI
S
O, after all the specu-
lation over a Fifa ban,
the Warriors of Zimba-
bwe are still in Came-
roon and are tomorrow
ready to kick off their 2021 Afcon
campaign against a talent-laden
Teranga Lions of Senegal.
It has been a difficult and divi-
sive time, one in which the whole
of Zimbabwe and the Warriors
themselves were not sure wheth-
er Zimbabwe would — after all —
be part of this 24-team continental
football gathering.
Such has been the state of af-
fairs but with the tournament’s
opening game set for today, there
is no way that Fifa at this stage
will throw the Warriors out of Af-
con 2021 as this would throw the
whole competition into disarray.
Surely, the game against Sene-
gal would not have been the start
the Warriors would have want-
ed as patriotism aside the Zimba-
bweans are facing defeat although
they might avoid total humilia-
tion.
Even bookmakers are prepared
to offer odds that the Warriors
will not stand a chance by offering
a 73 percent chance of the Teran-
ga Lions winning the game com-
pared to Zimbabwe’s 27 percent.
There is also a 63 percent
chance that in their win Senegal
will score more than two goals.
The fact remains that defeat
against the Lions of Teranga will
be hard to avoid and the focus
will be on how the Warriors will
build on from that first match for
the coming games against Malawi
and Guinea.
A lot has happened with inju-
ries to Marvelous Nakamba, Per-
fect Chikwende, Brendan Gallo-
way, and Marshall Munetsi, and
MANY readers will no doubt have
made the customary New Year
Resolutions (and may even have
broken them already) though
many will not have come up with
the following wacky ones: “I will
keep it to myself that I have trou-
ble with authority when I'm being
interviewed.”
One declared that “I will check
my work e-mail account at least
once this year” while another one
has announced that he will “help
kids stay safe by not texting on my
cell phone while eating McDon-
ald’s and speeding through cross-
walks in school zones with a frost-
covered windshield”.
However, let us be serious now
and reflect on what resolutions we
need to make with regard to coach-
ing youngsters sport.
We need to go right back to ba-
sics and remind ourselves afresh
that school sport is not profession-
al sport.
School sport is obviously done at
school and the purpose of school
is for pupils to learn. It does not
take a genius therefore to work out
that the reason that we do sport at
school is for the pupils to learn –
as with academics when they have
classes, homework and exams, so
with sport pupils will have prac-
tices, individual training and fix-
tures, all geared for the purpose
of the pupils learning. Fixtures
are not there for the parents’ en-
the withdrawal of Khama Billiat,
and Tendai Darikwa, but the rules
are clear that Zimbabwe must
compete irrespective of whom
they select to play.
Surely losing such a high num-
ber of high profile players is a
big blow considering the fact that
they are almost half of the team
that helped Zimbabwe qualify for
the finals but what else can the
country do under such circum-
stances.
History has its own uses and on
that premise, it should be remem-
bered that in 1993, Zambia lost its
entire squad in an air crash off
the coast of Gabon but still man-
aged to build a new team that
reached the 1994 Afcon final be-
fore narrowly losing out 2-1 to Ni-
geria.
From the outset, Norman
Mapeza’s team looks weak but in
reality a team with such players
as captain Knowledge Musona,
Teenage Hadebe, Tino Kadewere,
Jordan Zemura, Prince Dube, Kel-
vin Madzongwe and Onismo Bha-
sera, should be able to handle and
overcome the likes of Malawi and
Guinea.
Surely, enough talent still floods
in the Warriors changing room as
the absence of Nakamba and com-
pany has also helped to open up
new horizons for the likes of Kun-
dai Benyu, Ishmael Wadi, and Ad-
miral Muskwe, who were over-
looked in the past but now have
the chance to prove a point.
Musona, Thabani Kamusoko,
Bhasera, Never Tigere, Bruce
Kangwa, Godknows Murwira,
and Kuda Mahachi, are also play-
ing in probably their last Nations
Cup finals and should be hungry
to leave a mark to be remembered
for years to come.
United coaches resolutions
school of sport
with TIM MIDDLETON
tertainment, the coach’s CV or the
school’s reputation; they are held
for the pupils’ learning, not just
about sport but also and equally
about life.
It is on that basis therefore that
coaches (and parents) must make
the following resolutions, the
greatest of which is to coach for
the children’s learning – not just
one or two of them but all of them.
I will ensure all my players en-
joy sport, not endure it. I will do
everything possible to ensure eve-
ry child wants to continue with
sport after school.
I will ensure I enjoy the time
with them, as an example to them,
and I will look to gain my enjoy-
ment from seeing progress rather
than success.
I will encourage youngsters to
learn to play in different positions
and different sports for as long as
possible, to broaden their under-
The Warriors are facing a tough opening match against Senegal at the Afica Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon tomorrow
Also of importance is the fact
that the Warriors do not have
money issues as was the case
in the last edition in Egypt and
should be able to perform freely
and normally without pressure
over bonuses.
Team manager Wellington
Mpandare reports that morale is
high in the camp as the $1 million
from the government is enough to
take care of the Warriors welfare,
appearance fees and winning bo-
nuses — that is if they manage to
win any of their games.
That Norman Mapeza is leading
the team is not by accident as he is
widely regarded as the best coach
around but he should be warned
standing of sport and to develop
their all-round ability.
I will give all my players oppor-
tunities to have game time, and not
just keep using my best players, as
I am there to develop each child,
not just some.
I will give every player the op-
portunity to captain the team
on one occasion, especially at a
younger age, and thus teach them
to take responsibility and to think
about the bigger picture.
I will treat all players individu-
ally. I will encourage and inspire
each child.
I will apply life lessons to every
practice session and every match. I
will coach according to my school’s
Vision and Values, not my own.
I will look to Long Term Player
Development, not quick-fix instant
gratification. I will coach players
to take responsibility and to make
decisions for themselves by giving
The Standard January 9 to 15 2022 29
that he will lose all the respect he
has should the Warriors lose to
Malawi on January 14.
No excuses or mitigating factors
will be entertained since he select-
ed the team, the money for bonus-
es is available and all the teams at
the competition did not play many
friendlies and - just like Zimbabwe
— were also affected by Covid 19.
Mapeza should also be told that
there is nothing like building for
the future when a team qualifies
for a major tournament like Af-
con and failure to produce results
will mean he will never get anoth-
er chance to handle the Warriors
again.
That might look cruel but that is
them responsibility.
I will ensure that I use the five Cs
of twenty-first century learning to
enhance their sporting progress –
I will get my players to think crit-
ically, to show creativity, to apply
communication, to develop collab-
oration and above all to produce
character.
During matches I will remain
silent on the side-lines and allow
the players to put into practice
what they have learned; only a bad
coach has to shout instructions.
I will refrain from questioning
decisions by officials and concen-
trate on my role as coach.
At half-time I will only ask ques-
tions, for the pupils to work out
for themselves what they must do.
At full-time I will not have a post-
match de-brief but leave such for
the next training session.
I will not promote results or re-
cords but commend attitudes and
values shown.
I will react in exactly the same
way, whether my team wins or los-
es, with humility, dignity and re-
spect. I will ensure I have equipped
every player to know how to han-
dle success and failure. I will in-
spire each player to look at what
Sport
what football is all about. Coaches
stay on their jobs because of good
results and are fired if they fail to
deliver.
As the Nation’s Cup gets into
gear, there are too many doubting
Thomases and the Warriors have
to prove that they are good if not
better than what some think they
are.
Surely, the Warriors might be
disabled but let us give them the
benefit of the doubt at this Afcon
2021.
 For your comments,
views, and suggestions mkar-
iati@gmail.com or WhatsApp
on 0773 266 779.
can be learned from winning as
much as losing.
Above all, I will set a positive
example at all times in terms of
dress, punctuality, behaviour, lan-
guage.
We need to understand this is
not a laughing matter. These are
not fun suggestions or crazy inten-
tions.
If we are to fulfil our responsi-
bilities, we must honour these res-
olutions, in their entirety, not just
for a short time, as we would do
for United Nations Resolutions.
Sport at school is all about the chil-
dren, not the coaches. It is all about
learning, not about winning.
We are to give them life-long les-
sons, skills and values. If we do
not understand that, we need to
go back to school ourselves – and
hope that we get a coach who has
grasped the importance of such
resolutions.
 Tim Middleton is a for-
mer international hockey play-
er and headmaster, currently
serving as the Executive Direc-
tor of the Association of Trust
Schools Email: ceo@atschisz.
co.zw
 30 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
Sport
Much-coveted Afcon
is finally here!
YAOUNDÉ - A couple of hours earlier than
the much-awaited Sunday’s graduation of
the African Cup of Nations 2021 competi-
tors, the host Cameroon is now set to stage
the much-coveted event on the continent.
The first match will pitch the hosts, the In-
domitable Lions of Cameroon versus Burki-
na Faso in Yaounde on Sunday at Olembe
stadium.
Cameroon was initially speculated to be
the host nation in 2019, earlier than being
stripped of the event resulting from delays
in its preparations, with Egypt changing it.
The thirty third Cup of Nations was then
postponed final year due to the pandemic.
Cameroon, although, is soccer mad and
lots of followers can be determined to at-
tend video games in a rustic that has solely
hosted the Cup of Nations as soon as earlier
than, in 1972 when there have been simply
eight members.
The dream for Cameroon this time is to
be in the ultimate in the capital Yaounde
on February 6, as they give the impression
of being so as to add to their 5 titles, a tal-
ly bettered solely by Egypt, African champi-
ons a file seven instances.
Other international locations eying to
win the 2021 event embody Senegal, Alge-
ria, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt amongst others.
On Friday, the President of Cameroon’s
soccer federation Samuel Eto’o visited the
Cameroonian participant on their coaching
floor to encourage them as they put togeth-
er to show their price.
The Central African nation of 27 million
folks was due to this fact decided to press
on with the competitors amid experiences
final month that main European golf equip-
ment wished it postponed once more re-
sulting from Covid considerations.
This time it does go forward, beginning
Sunday when Cameroon, coached by Portu-
gal’s Toni Conceicao, tackle Burkina Faso in
Yaounde, however the spectre of the coro-
navirus is not going away.
Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
and his Gabon team-mate Mario Lemina
Afcon 2021: Caf confirms VAR for all 52 matches in Cameroon
YAOUNDÉ - Video assistant referees (VAR)
will be used at all 52 matches at this month’s
Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
The 2019 edition in Egypt only saw the
technology introduced from the quarter-fi-
nals by the organisers, the Confederation of
African Football (Caf ).
“With Caf advancing with plans not only
to improve the image of refereeing but also
produce world-class match officials in Af-
rica, the implementation of VAR in all 52
matches is a step in the right direction,” said
examined optimistic on Thursday and had
been in isolation in their lodge.
Senegal, Africa’s top-ranked nationwide
group, traveled to Cameroon with out three
members of their squad who had examined
optimistic.
“Unprecedented times,” tweeted Egypt
coach Carlos Queiroz on Friday after expe-
riences emerged of optimistic assessments
in his squad’s camp.
“The more the situation becomes diffi-
cult, the more we stay together and strong,”
he added.
– Covid not the one concern –
Covid, although, is removed from the one
concern in a rustic coping with a battle in
the English-speaking west.
Matches in Group F, that includes Tunisia,
Mali, Mauritania and Gambia, are resulting
from be performed in Limbe, a coastal me-
tropolis near Mount Cameroon which is ad-
ditionally a hotspot of separatist unrest.
Jihadist raiders additionally pose an issue
in the north, at the least past town of Gar-
oua the place Salah’s Egypt and Nigeria will
play group video games.
It is due to the well being disaster that or-
ganisers have capped crowd limits at 60 %
of capability, or 80 % when the hosts play.
Spectators have to be vaccinated and
have a detrimental check outcome, howev-
er solely six % of the grownup inhabitants
is inoculated.
It due to this fact stays to be seen what
number of venues will come near filling the
restricted capability, in explicit the huge
new 60,000-seat Olembe Stadium in Ya-
ounde and the 50,000-seat Japoma Stadi-
um in Douala.
Cameroon, although, is soccer mad and
lots of followers can be determined to at-
tend video games in a rustic that has solely
hosted the Cup of Nations as soon as earlier
than, in 1972 when there have been simply
eight members.
The dream for Cameroon this time is to
be in the ultimate in the capital Yaounde
on February 6, as they give the impression
a Caf statement.
Caf has selected 24 referees, 31 assis-
tant referees and eight video assistant ref-
erees from 36 countries for the tournament
in Cameroon, with Rwandan referee Salima
Mukansanga among four female officials.
Two officials from North and Central
American and Caribbean football confeder-
ation Concacaf, Guatemalan referee Mario
Escobar and Mexican VAR official Fernan-
do Guerrero will also be included as part of
an inter-confederation skills exchange pro-
of being so as to add to their 5 titles, a tal-
ly bettered solely by Egypt, African champi-
ons a file seven instances.
“We know that Cameroonians have high
hopes because the competition is taking
place here,” coach Conceicao informed the
BBC.
– Senegal, Algeria the favourites –
However, the nation that gave the world
the likes of Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o —
the latter now president of the Cameroo-
nian Football Federation — not boasts the
identical degree of stardust.
They have Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana
and Bayern Munich striker Eric Maxim
Choupo-Moting and they need to definitely
qualify from a bunch additionally contain-
ing Ethiopia and Cape Verde, however the
true superstars of the continent can be else-
where.
Senegal, who face Zimbabwe, Guinea
and Malawi in the western metropolis of Ba-
foussam, boast not simply Liverpool ahead
Mane but in addition Chelsea goalkeep-
er Edouard Mendy, Napoli center-back Ka-
lidou Koulibaly and Paris Saint-Germain
midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Holders Algeria, unbeaten in 33 aggres-
sive video games, can be led by Manches-
ter City’s Riyad Mahrez, whereas Morocco
have PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi and Se-
villa goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, amongst
others.
Little surprise some European golf equip-
ment usually are not glad about dropping
such a caliber of participant for as much as a
month mid-season.
Nigeria, in the meantime, cross the bor-
der with out Napoli striker Victor Osim-
hen, or Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis, whose
membership mentioned they obtained dis-
cover of his call-up too late.
In any case this Cup of Nations is not sim-
ply concerning the large names, because
the Gambia, ranked 148th in the world, and
the Indian Ocean island state of Comoros
make their debuts, whereas South Africa
are amongst these to overlook out. — AFP
gram.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Nations
Cup will now receive prize money of $5 mil-
lion, an increase of $500,000 from 2019.
The runners-up will get $2.75m, while
beaten semi-finalists and quarter-finalists
will receive $2.2m and $1.175m respective-
ly, helping boost the total increase in prize
money from 2019 to $1.85m.
The Nations Cup kicks off on Sunday
when hosts Cameroon play Burkina Faso
(16:00 GMT). — BBC Sport
BRIEFS
Conte vows to deliver harsh
truths to Tottenham players
LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte stressed the
importance of truthful communication with his players in the wake of
Spurs' 2-0 defeat in the first leg of a League Cup semifinal against Chel-
sea.
Chelsea, who dominated from the start and had enough chances to
put the game beyond doubt, seized control of the two-legged semifi-
nal thanks to an early goal by Kai Havertz and an own goal by Spurs de-
fender Ben Davies.
Conte pulled no punches after the match, saying his Spurs side were
nowhere near Chelsea in terms of quality, and on Friday, the Italian
manager reiterated his desire to be honest with his players.
"My relationship with the players is based on the truth. Not only here,
but also in the past," Conte told reporters.
"When I was a player, I hated the coach that told me nice lies to keep
me calm and relaxed in a good relationship. If you want to improve it's
important for players to hear the truth.
"My players know that I'll always tell them the truth, because with the
truth you can improve. With good lies I don't think you have a chance
to live."
Conte added that the defeat against Chelsea would help Spurs gain
a more complete understanding of their shortcomings.
"We have space for improvement and we started to analyse the
game after Chelsea, and it's a good example of where we can improve,
not just in a tactical aspect, but also in mentality," Conte said.
"I think we can use this game an example to improve for the people
to see outside. You learn more after a loss than a win."
Spurs welcome third-tier Morecambe in the FA Cup third round on
Sunday before games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester City over
the next fortnight. — Reuters
Djokovic held at airport for 8 hours
'mostly incommunicado': lawyers
MELBOURNE – Australian border agents held tennis superstar Novak
Djokovic for eight hours at Melbourne airport, mostly incommunica-
do, before cancelling his visa and sending him to a detention centre, his
lawyers said Saturday.
Djokovic secured a Covid-19 vaccine exemption from Tennis Austral-
ia and the Australian government because he had tested positive for
the virus in December, which should have qualified him for entry, the
lawyers argued.
"The date of the first positive Covid PCR test was recorded on 16 De-
cember 2021," his legal team said in a 32-page submission ahead of a
federal court hearing Monday to appeal the visa decision.
Djokovic, who touched down in Melbourne on Wednesday night af-
ter a 25-hour trip via Dubai, had asked for a time to rest and consult his
lawyers the following morning, his lawyers said.
But after a border official initially agreed, his superiors successfully
pressured Djokovic to allow them to take an immediate decision on his
visa, the lawyers said.
Foreigners are still mostly banned from travel to Australia, and those
granted entry must be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.
The tennis star has been held since Thursday morning in a Mel-
bourne detention centre "notwithstanding his requests to be moved"
to another facility to train for the Australian Open, they added.
Although Djokovic has won a legal reprieve from deportation, it is
unclear whether he will play in the January 17-30 tournament.
If successful, he will be gunning for a 10th Australian Open crown
and a record 21st Grand Slam title -- a milestone that Spanish great Ra-
fael Nadal is also chasing.
In an internal video leaked Saturday, Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley
said his organisation had done "everything they possibly could".— AFP
Lewandowski, Messi and Salah
finalists for FIFA Best award
LONDON - Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah
were named on Friday as the three finalists for the FIFA Best Men's Play-
er award, while Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas was nominated for
the women's prize.
Poland star Lewandowski won last year's FIFA award but had to set-
tle for second in the 2021 Ballon d'Or voting behind Messi, winner of
the accolade for a record seventh time.
The awards ceremony will be held virtually from FIFA's headquarters
in Zurich on 17 January.
Putellas, Barcelona team-mate Jennifer Hermoso and Chelsea's Aus-
tralian striker Sam Kerr are the finalists for the FIFA Best Women's Player
award. The trio were also the top three vote-getters for the Ballon d'Or.
The winner will succeed England's Lucy Bronze, who took home the
previous award.
The prizes for the best men's and women's player, coach and goal-
keeper are voted for by the captains and coaches of all national teams
around the world, as well as an online ballot of fans and a select num-
ber of journalists.
Voting closed on 10 December. — AFP

Warriors suffer Zemura blow
BY MICHAEL KARIATI
W
ARRIORS rising star
Jordan Zemura, will
miss Zimbabwe’s Afcon
2021 opening match against Sen-
egal following confirmation that
he is likely to arrive in Came-
roon after the first match due to
a Covid-19 outbreak at his Eng-
lish Championship club Bourne-
mouth.
Team manager Wellington
Mpandare revealed that the
22-year-old England-born sensa-
tion will only join camp either on
Monday or Tuesday which would
be late to face the star-studded Li-
ons of Teranga at the Bafoussam
Omnisport Stadium tomorrow af-
ternoon.
“As you know, Bournemouth
was hit hard by Covid-19 and Jor-
dan was caught in the crossfire.
We are expecting him on Monday
or Tuesday. Right now, he is not
available for the Senegal match,”
said Mpandare.
Zemura went into isolation last
Saturday after the majority of ti-
tle chasing Bournemouth play-
ers tested positive for Covid-19
just before their Championship
match against struggling Peter-
borough which was later called
off.
His absence means coach Nor-
man Mapeza will have to reshuf-
fle his team once again as the on-
fire Zemura, who can also play in
midfield was a certain starter for
the Warriors against the 2019 los-
ing Afcon finalists.
Zimbabwe are already without
Brendan Galloway, Marvelous
Nakamba and Marshall Munet-
si, who are injured while Tendayi
Darikwa has asked to be excused
on personal grounds. Khama Bil-
Ervine ‘humbled’ to reach 100 ODI milestone
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
ALREADY affirmed as one of Zimbabwe’s
most consistent one-day players, Craig
Ervine is set to further cement his status
as one of the most gifted players of his
generation in white ball cricket when he
plays in his 100th One Day International
(ODI) game during the upcoming series
in Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe’s opening ODI against Sri
Lanka on January 16 in Kandy will bring
up a century of one-day internationals
for Ervine, who debuted against India
in May, 2010 as a dashing 24-year-old
tipped to follow in the footsteps of his
older brother Sean, who had taken his
talents to the English County scene.
In fact the left-handed middle order
batsman made an impressive entry into
international cricket, striking an unbeat-
en 67 that guided Zimbabwe to a fa-
mous sic-wicket ODI victory over India at
Queens Sports Club in 2010.
He went on to make his Test debut in
Zimbabwe’s historic comeback triumph
over Bangladesh in 2011 after the coun-
try’s six-year self-imposed exile.
However it has been in the ODI format
where Ervine has flourished more and
his upcoming milestone will make him
just the 18th Zimbabwean to feature in
100 ODIs.
“I’m very excited to get to 100 ODI’s,”
Ervine told StandardSport just before
the Chervons’ departure for Sri Lanka
yesterday.
“When you start your career you nev-
er know if you will make these sort of
milestones so to be able to have that op-
portunity is very humbling,” he said.
In addition to the impeding mile-
stone, Ervine will also have the honour
of leading the side after being retained
Jordan Zemura
liat is also unavailable for the
continental tournament follow-
ing his decision to retire from in-
ternational in November.
Mpandare, however, is confi-
dent that the highly rated Eng-
land-based star would arrive in
time for the Warriors’ second
game against the Flames of Ma-
lawi on January 14.
Zemura has made four appear-
ances for the Warriors since mak-
ing his debut against African
champions Algeria in November
2020 and will be looking to use
the Afcon finals as a springboard
in his fledgling career.
The defender has been one of
the rising stars in the English
Championship since impressing
on his league debut in August in
the Championship’s curtain-rais-
er, with Scott Parker entrusting
as stand-in captain for the tour.
The 36-year-old veteran of 99 ODIs,
18 Tests and 34 Twenty20 Internation-
als took over the captaincy duties from
Sean Williams ahead of the limited-
overs tour to Ireland and Scotland in Au-
gust-September last year.
After leading the side admirably dur-
ing the previous tour, Ervine is set to
continue in the leadership role after be-
ing entrusted with the responsibility to
lead Zimbabwe once again by Zimba-
bwe Cricket.
“Again it’s a huge responsibility (to
captain the team) and I feel a number of
guys can do it, so I am grateful to have
been given another opportunity to lead
my country and I hope I do justice to
the position and lead from the front,” he
said.
Ervine leads a 15-
man squad that in-
cludes the
uncapped
duo of
opening
batter Takudzwa-
nashe Kaitano and
former Zimbabwe
Under-19 wicket-
keeper batsman Clive
Madande who have
been rewarded for
their form on the do-
mestic scene.
Twenty-eight-
year-old Kaitano,
whose only previ-
ous appearance for
Zimbabwe came in
a Test match against
Bangladesh in Ha-
rare in July, will be
seeking to make an
him with being his first-choice
left-back.
Zemura’s biggest asset is sure-
ly his athleticism given the way
he bounds up and down the flank.
Meanwhile unlike the chaos
that characterised Zimbabwe’s
2019 Afcon campaign in Egypt,
morale is reportedly high in the
Warriors camp after the players
were paid part of their dues by
the Sport and Recreation Com-
mission.
“The players do not have any
other distractions. They are more
focused on their matches after
they were paid part of the money
they were promised by the SRC
and in cash,” said Mpandare.
Apart from Senegal and Mala-
wi, Zimbabwe also have Guinea
in Group B whom they play on
January 18.
impact in white ball cricket.
All-rounder Tino Mutombodzi, who
last played for Zimbabwe during their
tour of Bangladesh in March last year
has returned to the national side.
Ervine, who is amongst the several ex-
perienced players in the squad together
with Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Tend-
ai Chatara and Regis Chakabva, is antici-
pating a tough series in Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lanka is going to be a tough op-
position for us especially being in Sri
Lanka but we have to look at it as anoth-
er opportunity to pick up points in the
Super League and play our best cricket
with more pressure being on Sri Lanka
as they are expected to win,” he said.
The ODI series will commence on Jan-
uary 16 with the last two games to be
played on January 18 and 21.
All the matches which are art of the
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super
League will be played at the Palle-
kele International Cricket Stadium
in Kandy and will be day-night af-
fairs.
SQUAD: Ervine Craig (C), Burl
Ryan, Chakabva Regis, Chatara
Tendai, Jongwe Luke, Kaitano
Takudzwanashe, Madande
Clive, Madhevere Wess-
ly, Masakadza Wel-
lington, Mutom-
bodzi Tinoten-
da, Muzarab-
ani Blessing,
NgaravaRich-
ard, Raza
Sikandar,
Shumba
Milton,
Williams
Sean
The Standard January 9 to 15 2022
More sexual harassment cases emerge: SRC
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
THE Sports and Recreation Commis-
sion (SRC) has revealed that sexual har-
assment cases in Zimbabwean foot-
ball continue to rise as more victims are
coming forward to report their ordeals.
This follows the suspension of the
Zifa board by the SRC for a cocktail of
transgressions among them the failure
to deal with allegations of sexual harass-
ment of female referees by key technical
staff within the football governing body
Female commissioners in the SRC
board Karen Mutasa and Gail Van Jaars-
veldt revealed the latest development
in an exclusive interview with Standard-
Sport.
“One of the key discussion points
that the SRC has brought to the atten-
tion of FIFA, is the sexual harassment
cases whose number continues to in-
crease as more victims emerge. We be-
lieve that when the women made their
complaints to ZIFA, CAF and FIFA - these
issues should have been prioritized and
given due attention,” Mutasa said.
“There has been a significant in-
crease in sexual harassment incidenc-
es over the last few years, aside from
this just being totally unacceptable, this
trend has further widened the gap with
regard to gender equality within the
sports and recreation sector,” she added.
Van Jaarsveldt also added her voice
to the matter that came to light back
in 2020 and seemingly died a natural
death until the SRC intervened.
“Football has long held a special
place in the affections of Zimbabweans.
This status has largely protected the sec-
tor from scrutiny in as far as sexual har-
assment incidences are handled.
“Regrettably, the suspended ZIFA
Zifa Councillors determined to oust board
BY SPORTS REPORTER
IT never rains but pours for the sus-
pended Zifa board after Zifa Congress
approached Fifa informing them that
the Extraordinary General Meeting
that is set to revoke the mandate of
the local football leadership will go
ahead as planned.
The EGM has been set for 29 Jan-
uary 2022 where the suspended Fel-
ton Kamambo-led board is supposed
to answer several issues among them
failure to call for their Annual Gener-
al Meeting (AGM), failure to appoint
ZIFA Electoral Committee and divert-
ing of Covid-19 funds to other pur-
poses.
The suspended Zifa board mem-
bers, who include Felton Kamambo,
Philemon Machana, Brighton Maland-
ule, Sugar Chagonda, Stanley Chape-
ta, Barbara Chikosi and Farai Jere, also
stand accused of usurping the powers
of the congress in key decisions.
While the suspended Zifa officials
accused its secretariat of improperly
calling for the EGM, the Zifa Congress
members revealed that it was them
who submitted a request to convene
the meeting.
In a letter to the Fifa Legal Counsel
on behalf of the Zifa Congress Mem-
bers on Friday, Northern Region chair-
man Martin Kweza said due process
was followed and the EGM Is in line
with the association’s constitution.
“We advise that the members of
ZIFA called for an Extra Ordinary Meet-
ing, which meeting has been set for
29 January 2022. The suspended ex-
ecutive committee of ZIFA is however
of the view that the meeting was set
prematurely. In sharp contrast, we are
of the firm view that the procedure we
adopted is correct,” Kweza.
“In terms of Art 28(2) of the ZIFA
constitution one-third of the mem-
bers of ZIFA can request the executive
31
Sport
Board did not conclusively deal with
sexual harassment incidences with-
in its structures, leaving the profession-
al women in football very vulnerable to
continued abuse by their perpetrators.
“Anyone within ZIFA who spoke out
or supported the complainants were
side-lined or ‘frozen out’ and in some
cases, threatened. So not only were
these women subjected to work relat-
ed trauma of unwanted sexual advanc-
es, they also lost their means of income
and careers,” she added.
It is understood that the SRC wrote
to ZIFA on several occasions requesting
that they institute an investigation into
the matter and also requested ZIFA to
avail reports of the findings but nothing
materialized.
“Due to the severity of the issues,
the Sports and Recreation Commission
was compelled to take the necessary
steps in order to protect the integrity of
the sector. This has brought to the fore,
deep routed issues of sexual harass-
ment within the ZIFA structures.
“The SRC has since engaged the af-
fected parties together with other rel-
evant stakeholders in a bid to obtain a
holistic appreciation of the gravity of
the matter. What is quite apparent is
the absolute relief and gratitude by the
victims that this issue is finally being ad-
dressed,” Mutasa said.
According to the SRC the Zimbabwe
Republic Police has opened dockets for
the cases that have been reported while
the Zimbabwe Gender Commission has
shown key interest in the matter.
Mutasa and Van Jaarsveldt appealed
to women whom have been subjected
to sexual harassment during the course
of their work to come forward and re-
port.
committee to convene an Extraordi-
nary meeting. This threshold was met,
and in fact surpassed as is apparent
from the attached request,” reads part
of the letter.
Kweza also wrote a separate let-
ter to the FIFA secretary general Fat-
ma Samoura titled “State of football in
Zimbabwe” which painted a grim pic-
ture of the state of the domestic game
under the suspended leadership.
The ZIFA members threw their
weight behind the SRC’s decision to
suspend the Zifa board while calling
out the suspended executive mem-
bers for their alleged failure to dis-
charge their duties.
“We also note that the ZIFA board
was inept in the way and manner in
which it dealt with allegations against
match fixing and sexual abuse by one
of their colleagues,” Kweza wrote.
“It is again the view of the ZIFA As-
sembly that the board has not been
diligent in the discharge of its duties
and obligations:
 They failed to maintain amica-
ble relations with key stakeholders, in
particular (SRC)
 Failed to call an AGM for year
ending 2021 as per our constitution
 Failed to protect the interest of its
members
 Failed to protect the integrity of
the game as clearly spelt in Article 2(f )
“In view of the above, more than
one-third of the ZIFA Assembly
signed a petition to call for an EGM,
in terms of the ZIFA constitution Art
28(2). The members as conveners
of the meeting, through the Acting
General Secretary Mr Xolisan Gwese-
la, have served the members with a
Notice and Agenda for the meeting,”
he said.
The EGM has also been endorsed
by the SRC, with chairman Gerald
Mlotshwa describing the develop-
ment as “interesting”.
32 The Standard January 9 to 15 2022

Standard Lewandowski, Messi and Salah

finalists for FIFA Best award

SPORT
Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Mes-
si and Mohamed Salah were named
on Friday as the three finalists for the
FIFA Best Men's Player award, while
Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas was
nominated for the women's prize.
www.thestandard.co.zw Page 30

Warriors ooze confidence

Knowledge Musona (right) and Norman Mapeza: Picture by ZIFA

BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE month ago. time. what we have been working on.
The 31-year-old star reckons that the “I have already played at two AFCON "Everything is falling into place. I am

W
ARRIORS captain Knowledge
Musona is confident that the
team will make the country
proud at the Afcon finals despite missing a
number of top players ahead of the Group
B opener against giants Senegal at the
Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam in Came-
roon tomorrow.
The premier football event which kicks
off today is set to run until February 6.
Making their fifth appearance at the Af-
con finals, the Warriors have never pro-
gressed beyond the Group stages of the
tournament while they have also failed
to claim three points in their first match
since their debut in 2004.
And this time around a star-studded
Senegal side offers the Warriors their first
acid test in Cameroon in a group that also
includes Guinea and Malawi.
“It’s unfortunate that we are missing
some players who were with us during the
qualifiers because of injuries and other
issues, but I think we still have the qual-
ity to compete with any team. I definite-
ly think that we are going to have a good
tournament, especially with the prepara-
tions that we have done so far, and what we
will still do in the remaining days,” Muso-
na told Cafonline.
Notable players who are unavailable for
Zimbabwe this time around include Mar-
velous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi and
Brendon Galloway while the star of the
previous two tournaments Khama Billi-
at retired from international football two
Warriors will benefit from being one of
the first participating teams to travel to
Cameroon as it has helped them to accli-
matize to the conditions in that country.
“Coming in early was really important
for us to be together for longer as a team,
while we also acclimatize to the environ-
ment for those players who are
based in places with different
weather conditions.
“We still have more
days to train, and we
will be ready for our
first game. I am con-
fident that we will
have a good tourna-
ment that will make
the whole country
proud,” he said.
The Warriors ar-
rived in Cameroon on
December 30, to prepare
for the tournament camp-
ing in Yaounde before mov-
ing to their Bafoussam.
And on a personal level, Musona will be
making a record third appearance at Af-
con which he shares with teammates Tino
Kadewere who plays for Olympique Lyon
in France, US-based Teenage Hadebe and
Supersport United winger Kudakwashe
Mahachi.
The Zimbabwe captain who is in the twi-
light of his career is hoping for third time
luck to help the country reach the knock-
out stages of the competition for the first
finals without progressing to the knock-
out stages and doing it now will mean a
lot to me as an individual and to the whole
team, because it will be historic for every
player. It’s an opportunity for us to show
that we can perform at big tournaments
like AFCON,” said Musona.
Coach Norman Mapeza revealed
that the technical team has
been working more on the
psychology of the play-
ers as well as sharpness
ahead of the Senegal
tie.
“The training ses-
sion was brilliant.
The guys are work-
ing hard and I am
happy. The guys are
really pushing and
their attitude is good.
My prayer is that we do
not get any injuries as we
are left with just three days be-
fore the first game,” said Mapeza.
“I just hope that everybody will be ready
by the time we play against Senegal. It’s
all about the psychological part of the
game, and we have been working on it. So
far so good,” he said after Friday’s train-
ing session.
“The friendly match we played against
Sudan gave us a clear picture of where we
are coming from and where we are going.
In terms of fitness, I am more than hap-
py, we lacked a bit of sharpness but that's
more than grateful to the government.
They gave us this opportunity to come
here early and acclimatise,” he said.
Zimbabwe play Malawi on January 14
before concluding group matches with a
tie against Guinea on January 20.
Zimbabwe’s 23-man squad for the
2021 CAF Africa Cup of Nations:
Goalkeepers: Petros Mhari (FC Plat-
inum), Martin Mapisa (FC Zamora,
Spain), Talbert Shumba (Free State
Stars, South Africa)
Defenders: Peter Muduwa (High-
landers), Alec Mudimu (Torpedo
Kutaisi, Georgia), Takudzwa Chim-
wemwe (Nkana, Zambia), Jordan Ze-
mura (FC Bournemouth, England),
Godknows Murwira, Gerald Takwara
(Venda Football Academy, South Afri-
ca), Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dyna-
mo, USA), Bruce Kangwa (Azam, Tan-
zania), Onismor Bhasera (SuperSport
United, South Africa)
Midfielders: Kelvin Madzongwe (FC
Platinum), Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco
United, Zambia), Never Tigere (Azam,
Tanzania), Ishmael Wadi (JDR Stars,
South Africa), Kudakwashe Mahachi
(SuperSport United, South Africa),
Kundai Benyu (Vestri, Iceland)
Strikers: Admiral Muskwe (Luton
Town, England), Prince Dube (Azam,
Tanzania), David Moyo (Hamilton Ac-
ademia, Scotland), Knowledge Muso-
na (Al-Tai, Saudi Arabia), Tinotenda
Kadewere (Olympique Lyon, France)
 Standard

OLLAH JURU
January 9 TO 15 2022 BACK WITH A
BANG

Artists
optimistic
about 2022
Why I chose
Professor: Sandy

 Celebrating the
"legend" of Harare
MUMC choir

Gibson Brown
Foundation gives Mabvuku
Christmas cheer
S2 Standard Style |January 9 to 15 2022
Arts
Artists optimistic about 2022
By Sindiso Dube
T
he last two years have
been gloomy for the arts
industry and saw most
artists shelving their mu-
sic due to Covid-19 re-
strictions that came with the sus-
pension of live musical shows.
The last quarter of 2021 saw
shows being held under strict Cov-
id-19 regulations. However a few
would break the law and hold per-
formances after curfew times and
exceeding maximum numbers.
Many artists predict a better 2022
that will see them releasing music
and holding live shows.
Others have expressed the need
to turn their brands from just artist-
ry to entrepreneurship and owning
platforms in the age of Covid-19.
Mbeu released an album, Manera
in November and hopes to market it
through live shows and visual.
“2022 is an exciting year for us,
Stunner the dynamics of music are chang-
ing due to the spread of the novel
corona virus. We are excited to be
Stunner joins ED
in the trenches again and we see
ourselves doing a lot of shows and
pushing for the culture of family
bandwagon
shows that will be adhering to Cov-
id-19 regulations and curfew stipu-
lated times,” said Mbeu.
“We will be marketing our latest
release, Manera (Album) that we re-
By Sindiso Dube leased in November. That will be
our key activity and we will be re-
Hip-hop veteran Stunner has joined the bandwagon leasing videos from the album, with
of local artists who support President Emerson Mnan- our first video dropping in February.
gagwa, if a video making rounds on social media is an- We have a special collaboration that
ything to go by. will be out on January 21, we can-
Stunner is seen in a video with three fans endorsing not divulge the name of the artist,
Mnangawa’s rule whilst showing off Men BelievED de- we want to surprise our fans, all I
signer clothes. can say is it’s going to be huge.
Men BelievED is a movement by men meant to gar- "We will be releasing new mu-
ner support for the Zanu PF leader ahead of the 2023 sic when we are convinced that
elections. we have served and exhausted the
The video was received with mixed feelings amongst market with Manera. We want to
the artist’s fans with some blasting him for joining Zanu share the album Manera with eve-
PF whilst others defended his constitutional right to
support whoever he wants.
Stunner could not be reached for comment as his BY NOMALANGA KABANZI
mobile phone was not reachable.
Other artists who have publicly expressed their sup- South Africa-based veteran gos-
port for Mnangagwa are DJ Towers and Passion Java, a pel musician Bishop Ollah Juru is
record label owner which houses artists such as Roki, back with a bang following the re-
DJ Oskid and others. The two have been embarking on lease of his 12th album that is lad-
nationwide campaigns for Mnangagwa and donating en with social commentary.
food. The Rhabahoma hitmaker re-
Late last year, Zanu-PF appointed musician and leased a six-track album lased with
raunchy dancer Sandra Ndebele as its representative human interest lyrics well-blend-
for young women in economic development and em- ed with fast beats on songs Sefa
powerment in Bulawayo. Mashoko, Kufa Kuripo, Shave Re-
After the appointment, Independent Member of Par- urombe, Nzou Nembwa, Baba and
liament for Norton, Temba Mliswa scoffed at the recruit- Mujombonono.
ment as ‘pittful’ Sefa Mashoko is a song that urg-
“Another dry, cut and paste job as Zanu PF_Official es people to have a good diction as
has appointed Sandra Ndebele as their Bulawayo repre- inappropriate words can break re-
sentative for Young Women in Economic Development. lationships.
However, the abiding idea behind the move makes the Juru sings that words can either
whole thing pitiful. It’s a clear scramble for popularity make or break relations; hence
and youth support," said Mliswa. they ought to be chosen wisely.
“The move exhibits a low regard for the Zimbabwe- He urged people to be accom-
an electorate’s mentality. People can now see beyond modative of others, regardless of
these platitudinous actions which seek to harness and their status, social standing, ability
transfer popularity from a different sphere into the par- or lack of but should embrace each
ty’s community of politics." other and live as one.
Last year, comedienne Mai TT led a women’s dele- Juru added that in life people
gation that met Mnangagwa at State House under the will always need each other and
banner Women for ED [economic development]. should, therefore, lend each other
Modeling instructor and mental health advocate a helping hand.
Sipho Mazibuko also joined the ruling party and is reg- The message is so touching on
istered under ward four in Bulawayo. the song Kufa Kuripo as death is
In an interview with Standard Style after joining Zanu so difficult to fathom. It is a reali-
PF, Mazibuko said she joined out of her own volition as ty that “every person born out of a
she believes it is the “right party” to belong to as it offers woman has few days on earth”, but
many opportunities. this is a bitter pill to swallow.
“Previously I didn’t belong to any political party, but People have failed to be accus-
I would vote. However, now I have chosen to associate tomed to death as the departure of
myself with a party, which is Zanu PF," she said. a loved one is painful, hence Juru,
“I feel Zanu PF is the right party to join since it has in an allegorical message urges a
proper structures that can be used nationwide. son to be worry of death and do
“I really like the initiatives that the second repub- good while alive. Juru pointed out
lic is doing to better the lives of the youths and wom- that the giver and keeper of life is
en spearheaded by the first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa. I God who should be praised by all
want to use my influence and skills to help in the socio- and sundry.
economic change of my country.” True to the proverb that even
The country which is battling an economic crisis, seated elders can see far that a
high unemployment, corruption and lack of investment standing youth, Juru urges the
will hold its harmonised elections in 2023. young to listen to the advice given
by those who have seen it all in life
ryone across the country. We want
to perform it live before we start re-
leasing new music."
Comedian and Umahlekisa com-
edy club founder Ntando Moyo said
they want to enhance their digital
footprint in 2022.
“As Umahlekisa comedy club, we
are expecting to enhance our digi-
tal footprint and explore more on
social media and other online plat-
forms. We are looking at our anni-
versary which is coming in March
and we want to hold a comedy fes-
tival to celebrate our fete," he said.
"On a personal level, I want to
grow my brand and diversifying it
to consultancy, and administrative
work that means there will be less
performances from me this year.”
Rapper and founder of Masofa
Panze Art Consultancy Noble Stylz
said artists should venture more
into owning platforms rather than
concentrating on content produc-
tion alone.
“2022 presents a new landscape
for creative, the digital age made a
very rapid engulfment for our space
which has its serious advantages
and challenges. The synergy of ide-
as and processes to execute are key
to survival and growth in our realm,"
said Noble Stylz.
"On a personal level, I look for-
ward to ownership as a key thing
to many of the projects I will em-
bark on. Institutions will surely out-
live artistry and I am going to bank
more into owning spaces and mar-
ket share. It will also be key to part-
ner with platforms who are onto the
same path and increase equity."
Amapiano and house star Mzoe
7 who managed to perform in the
United States of America last year
said he will be broadening his brand
more into business.
“We are growing the brand, mov-
ing it up to entrepreneurship and
not limited to music. I am in col-
Ollah Juru back with a bang
Bishop Ollah Juru
because there is nothing new un-
der the sun. Indeed, life is so pre-
cious that the song urges people
to preserve it and reap the rewards
of long life.
Life has its fate and sometimes
evil spirits can haunt people and
deny them chances to prosper
and suffer in abject poverty as Juru
sang on the song Shave Reurombe.
When things do not go accord-
ing to plan, people have a tenden-
cy to blame either witchcraft or
some bad spell casted on others
by family relations. In that typical
African concept, a nephew com-
plains to his uncle of some evil
Mbeu
laboration with X Studios in Bula-
wayo and Gwanda. We are creating
a platform that will make it easy for
artists to record their projects any-
time even if they don’t have mon-
ey at hand. I will also be producing
and directing television shows and
a movie in collaboration with Keait-
se films” he said.
Zambian-based rapper Sinbad
90 will dish out videos and also try
out new genres.
spirits casting bad omens on fam-
ily members so that whatever they
intend to do crumbles.
The nephew asked the uncle
why he was not doing anything to
cast out the evil spirit so that they
can enjoy good living like oth-
er normal families free from such
spirits.
The old Shona adage Usaenza-
nisa nguwo nedzaTarubva (do not
compare your belongings with
others) came clean on the song
Nzou nembwa. The song is about
opportunities that do not come at
the same time by differs according
to people.
Noble Stylz
“This is an exciting year that will
see me featured on a song with
one of Zambia’s finest artist but I
won’t be revealing the name till
everything is on track. You should
also expect more videos from my
side and I will be fusing hiphop
with other genres. I bet many have
never heard me sing, I will be sing-
ing this year,” said the Boyz Remuku-
te hit maker.
Juru sang that people are born
with their talents and they ma-
ture differently just like the way el-
ephant’s gestation period differs
with a dog’s. Therefore, Juru urged
people to wait for their chances to
make it in life than to give up early.
On the song Baba, Juru urg-
es people to eat a humble pie to
apologies and seek reconcilia-
tion whenever they wrong their
parents. The song is a campaign
against domestic violence where
children side with their mother to
mete violence against their father.
Whether it was be design or coin-
cidence, these children faced mis-
fortunes in their life and blamed
it on the assault cases of their fa-
ther. Upon realisation that they
had done a bad thing against their
father, they swallowed their pride
and apologised to him promising
not to do such an evil act on him
again.
Mujombonono is a song that
preaches about unity in families
warning people who are bent on
causing disharmony in other peo-
ple’s families.
Juru said the album cuts across
the social divide.
“This album mainly touches on
issues that affect people in their
everyday life. It is the duty of mu-
sicians to tackle issues that affect
people in their life and proffer solu-
tion to people in such circumstanc-
es,” he said.
“As musicians, we have a way to
say out such issues in a social way
that does not negate those in that
situation.”
 Standard Style | January 9 to 15 2022 S3

Arts
BY RANGANAI DZOTIZEI

H
ISTORICAL under-
tones and emotions
ran high recently
as revered United
Methodist Church
music ensemble Harare MUMC
Choir (Vabvuwi) launched their
20th music project at Hara-
re Inner City United Methodist
Church.
The choir, formerly known as
Harare West MUMC Choir, yet
again produced a masterpiece of
an album titled Mhururu (Silver
Jubilee Edition) as they celebrat-
ed 26 years in existence.
Their 25th anniversary fell in
2020 with the recording of the al-
bum shelved because of the Cov-
id-19 pandemic but a year later,
they lived to their reputation as
the icons of traditional gospel
music with a 10-track project,
laden with hymnals from the
United Methodist Church and
the title track, which is the only Harare MUMC Choir
chorus on the set, befitting the
celebratory mood.
Going way back in time in her

Celebrating the "legend"

opening devotion, deputy admin-
istrative assistant to the Bishop
in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area
Reverend Vienna Mutezo, hailed
the choir for keeping the dream
alive and implored them never to

of Harare MUMC choir

forget the very firm foundations
on which this choir was built.
“I was looking back at your
videos from yesteryear as I real-
ized some of the members who
were part of you who are no
longer with us, reminiscing the
performances you did in Kari-
ba and at state functions at the
Heroes’ Acre where the former
president (the late Cde Robert
Mugabe) said he won’t speak be-
fore you sing. Never waiver from
those acts of faith!” said Rever-
end Mutezo.
“You started a good thing now
copied by many male choirs in
other denominations. Don’t go
back. Push on with the legacy.
Challenges will always be there
but always stand firm. I recall
when you started this project
to build a clinic in Mhondoro.
Starting something with a vi-
sion. The choirs that have now
come through, always see them
as your offsprings.
“As you continue, always bear
in mind that those that were
with you, the likes of the late
Bishop Christopher Jokomo, Mi-
chael Muzondo, Mushoperi and
others will always ask what has
come of you along the journey.
Keep the legacy going.”
Guest of honour David Dzum-
bira echoed the same senti-
ments, urging the choir to look
beyond the 26 years and contin-
ue being relevant in preaching
the gospel.
“Indeed, you are launching
this album and in saying con-
gratulations, we are also say-
ing what next after this. We still
want to see you impact our lives
musically. We still want to see
you putting smiles on our faces.
Celebrate with us in our joyous
moments. Dry our tears in the
difficult moments of life,” Dzum-
bira said.
“Yes, the scourge of the glob-
al Covid-19 pandemic has not
spared you. Performances have
been coming few and far be-
tween. However, you have perse-
vered and launching this album
itself is a triumph amidst adver-
sity. We are here to help you keep
the fire burning in a new nor-
mal.”.
Choir chairman Abraham
Kawadza said the album’s thrust
too was to raise funds to ensure
the maintenance of the bus, pur-
chasing of the public address
system and other choir require-
ments needed to enhance their
ministry.
The choir sampled songs from
their huge discography and from
the new album with a poignant
emotional moment coming as
they belted the song Varume, a
tribute to their fallen members
and the ones surviving.
The album indeed earns its
corn with songs evenly arranged
and thought of to capture the
celebratory mood and share the
choir’s long walk in music.
Songs on the album include;
Mwari Muri zuva rangu, Nyika
Yakanakisa, Toenda Kune umwe
musha, Jerusarema Musha wan-
gu, Ndomuteera, Ngatiite zva-
kanaka, Padyo nemuchinjiko,
Kwese Kwese Tinoona, Jehovha
anotipa Chisepe and the title
track Mhururu kumatenga.
The choir is widely recognised
as the first choir within the Unit-
ed Methodist Church and in the
nation to introduce and popular-
ize the gospel music brand in-
volving the use of drums and
shakers (ngoma nehosho), intro-
ducing it to an already breaming
gospel circuit that already had
established stars like Mechanic
Manyeruke, Brian Sibalo, Carol
Wutaunashe and Gospel Trum-
pet to mention but a few.
The choir started as a district
fundraising initiative in August
1995 with over 40 men forming
the choir.
Their debut album Mwari
Mubatsiri wedu came in 1996
with the song Upenyu hwan-
gu nemasimba, fondly known as
Ndomugarira, becoming a break-
through hit that will define the
choir’s positive musical trajecto-
ry for the years that followed.
Songs like Vimba naJesu and
Rwendo Rwevatendi that came
off the albums Vimba na Jesu
and Kune Nyika kudenga raTenzi
respectively cemented the choir’s
rising stock, earning them rave
reviews at the time.
Such was and still is the choir’s
pedigree and reputation that
they guest performed at the fu-
nerals of the late state vice presi-
dent Dr Joshua Nkomo and Gen-
eral Solomon Mujuru at the na-
tional shrine, leaving great im-
pressions on both occasions.
They have over the years
toured neighboring countries
and at the peaking of their musi-
cal excellence went to China.
As if to mark their year in
some fashion, the choir, on top
of this Christmas present, did a
remix to their popular hit Vim-
ba naJesu featuring Mutare City
Council brand ambassador Jai-
rous Mutambikwa with the ac-
companying video launched on
December 19.
In keeping with the party, this
album for the first time was re-
corded and produced in Mutare
at legendary music producer Pe-
ter “Cool Dude” Muparutsa’s
PAYS Studio.
Muparutsa, a mainstay and an
architect of some of the choir’s
greatest albums, not only pro-
duced the album but added a bit
of his musical spice on the song
Ngatiite Zvakanaka.
The album also features cele-
brated lead chorister for Mutare
based music ensemble Hilltop
and Friends MUMC, Gwinyai
Mutsongodza whose versatile
musical prowess is felt in songs
Ndomuteera, Padyo Nemuchin-
jiko, Nyika yakanakisa and the
title track.
Other albums in their long cat-
alogue over the last 26 years in-
clude Apo Jesu Anouya, Tenzi
taungana, Best of Harare West
MUMC Choir Volumes 1 to 3, Tiri
vawadzani, Mwari baba wangu,
Kune Kupenya Mugomo, Mharid-
zo (Tribute to Rev Katsande),
Ndakabarwa mune dima, Kue-
dza kwazosvika, Tsitsi Dzinon-
dishamisa, Ebenezer Convention
and Tiri pano Baba.
They have done at least seven
DVD compilations along the way.
Their enduring legacy is the
proliferation and growth of Vab-
vuwi choirs within the UMC and
beyond.
With such a rich library, there
is no end in sight to the legend-
ary musical story of the legends,
Harare MUMC Choir Vabvuwi.

Morline Shalom back in studio

BY JOTHAM GUTSA

AFRO-JAZZ gospel artiste, Mor-

line Shalom Kuwana, who had
gone into a five-year sabbatical,
will release her fifth album ti-
tled The Very Best Of Morline
Shalom later this month
The multi-talented musician-
cum-businesswoman, fronts
Morline Shalom and Shammah
Music group and is the owner
of Platinum Home Incorporat-
ed Pvt Ltd, a designer compa-
ny of home interiors, exteriors
and antique furniture. Morline
Shalom said she was enthralled
by music at a tender age of
three years.
“I feel it is a purpose. That
is what I was also born to do.
I had the feeling from a tender
age and from Grade 3 I joined
the choirs until I completed my
tertiary education. I have been
in almost all Christian choirs,”
Morline Shalom said.
“Lincoln Muchinga inspired
me in the industry when we
were having leadership work-
shops at Laying Solid Founda-
tion.
“There you are helped to find
your career path when I shared
my experience and dreams; he
encouraged me to always re-
cord on my phone so that I
won't forget what I was singing.
“The moment I started do-
ing this, music was flowing and
the next thing I found myself
at Monolio studios where Clive
Mono Mukundu told me that I
had a gift of melody.”
Morline said she first record-
ed her first album titled Mwari
Utatu which refers to the Holy
Trinity in 2010. She released
her second album Nyaya Yacho
in August 2011, which features
the popular video Zimbabwe.
She went on to release her
third album Mira (Be Still) in
2014 and the fourth album Zvib-
vunze in 2017.
A product of Clive “Mono”
Mukundu, Morline said her
music was a fusion of Afro-
jazz, kwaito, rhumba, sungura
and reggae.
“Music just comes and I feel
it is good to sing gospel in all
these beats so that everyone
will be ministered to spirit
while enjoying the beat,” she
said.
“I am a product of Clive
Mukundu at Monolio Studio.
With God all things are possible
and I am pursuing my dreams.
“While others are limited by
the sky I am not going to be lim-
ited because our God is a God
of no limits.”
Morline said she was looking
forward to do collaborations
with a number of established
gospel musicians in the coun-
try to spread the word of God.
“I will be very much happy to
have collaboration with Shin-
gisai Siluma, Olivia Charam-
ba, Mechanic Manyeruke and
of course Jah Prayzah. People
may wonder why I would want
to collaborate with him but I
love his music and somehow he
has his own way of preaching
and inspiring people of which I
like,” said Morline.
S4 Standard Style | January 9 to 15 2022

Chics’ Galaxy

Why I chose Professor: Sandy

BY SHARON SIBINDI

AWARD-WINNING mu-
sician-cum business-
woman Sandra “Sandy”
Ndebele-Sibindi (pic-
tured) says South Afri-
can Kwaito musician
Professor (born Mk-
honzeni Langa) has
taught her that artistes
need to be creative and
innovative if they are to
remain in the game for
long.
Sandy said this last
Monday when the two
dropped their Afro-pop
track titled Sara Baart-
man on video-sharing
platform YouTube.
“Professor is an ar-
tiste through and
through, who never
runs out of ideas. His
work ethic is admira-
ble and I love how he
is not afraid to try out
new things,” Sandy told
Standard Style.
“He taught me that
we need to keep on cre-
ating works as this is
our most valuable cur-
rency. So, this year I am
putting that advice into
practice with a goal to
release new music each
month.”
The Bulawayo diva
said she roped in Pro-
fessor for the project be-
cause it had been part
of their long-term plan
since the release of
their duet — a single ti-
tled Lizwile in 2018.
“This was always
part of a long-term plan
when we released Li-
zwile a few years ago.
From the onset we want-
ed to do something in
Zimbabwe with Zim-
babwean creatives and
then conclude the col-
laboration in South Af-
rica using that coun-
try’s creatives,” Sandy
said.
“Sara Baartman is a
happy song that people
are going to groove to
but with a very serious
message. Sara Baart-
man was one of the first
black women known to
be subjugated to human
sexual trafficking and
exploitation because of
her body and figure.
“So, the song speaks
out against that and
urges young women not
to allow this to happen
to them. It’s a song that
celebrates African wom-
en and speaks against
all forms of exploitation
and abuse.”
She said the video was
shot in South Africa and
released on her birth-
day.
“The video is out to-
day (January 3) to coin-
cide with my birthday
celebrations and the au-
dio should be available
for purchase on all on-
line platforms at the end
of this week,” Sandy
said.
“People are excited
about it and we are con-
fident that it’s going to
do well. We are also in-
creasing our output
this year. So, look out
for more music, videos
and performances,” she
said.

Spitzkop Leisure Centre:
A rare jazz outlet
BY STYLE REPORTER
M
OST imbibers, es-
pecially the ma-
ture ones have al-
ways had a strong
affinity with jazz,
which has seen most liquor out-
lets exclusively playing the genre
either through disco or live bands.
Jazz remains a booming art
form that packs out liquor outlets
and one such rendezvous is Spitz-
kop Leisure Centre on the periph-
ery of the capital in Snake Park
area close to the Harare-Bulawayo
Road.
The joint has become the talk of
town offering a potpourri of en-
tertainment throughout the week,
ranging from live bands, which
play jazz, blues and soul music,
especially on Fridays and Satur-
days.
Takunda Maravanyika, the
joint’s director told Standard
Style that apart from a recreation
venue with an assortment of so-
Spring Publishing company
launch Nytra e-learning app
By Sindiso Dube
A local publishing company,
Spring Hub Publishing in part-
nership with an Indian-based
company has launched a free mo-
bile learning application called
Nytra which has been described
as ‘value-adding to students’ by
the ministry of Primary and sec-
ondary education.
Nytra means eye, ziso in Sho-
na or ilihlo in Ndebele. It’s an ap-
plication that brings textbooks
to life by mainly using the pow-
erful sense of the eye as it inte-
grates the modern learners’ love
of short videos, gadgets, and the
cial amenities, Spitzkop Leisure
Centre boasts of a bar that pro-
vides intimate jazz music.
He said the joint offers various
spirits, lagers, ciders and classic
cocktails complemented by sultry
live jazz.
“We want to be an exclusive jazz
outlet, although we would host
other groups playing different
genres,” Maravanyika said.
“We have our very own Spitz-
kop Jazz band plus we invite out-
side artists at least twice a month.
We have both outside and inside
performance stages.
“Recently we had Selmor
Mtukudzi, Sir Albert and his fa-
ther Bob Nyabinde and Josh
Meck, just to mention a few.”
“During the days when the live
bands are not playing, we will
have jazz, blues and soul music
available on our speakers.
“Music is one of the most essen-
tial elements of the centre; hence
our tag line: ‘Home of Jazz, Blues
and Soul Music’.”
educative content that they need
to absorb.
The Nytra digital content is em-
bedded in the publisher’s Spring
Up textbooks that have been ap-
proved as following the New
Competence-Based Curriculum
and is therefore very relevant to
the learners of Zimbabwe.
The application was launched
in early December in the capi-
tal in a bid to elevate electronic
learning for students during the
times of Covid-19 where students
are learning from their respec-
tive homes.
“This application is meant to
augment the learning experience
Standard Style | January 9 to 15 2022 S5
With youth in mind
Maravanyika said the joint
serves various dishes and has
braai facilities.
“We have ample guarded park-
ing spaces and we offer beef, pork,
chicken, and mabonzo. But here’s
the catch we make our own sau-
sages to braai,” he said.
“We have two greenhouses
where we cultivate our vegetables
and we make our pizzas and burg-
ers. When I say we make I mean
we actually make them from
scratch, from the buns to the piz-
za base.”
Maravanyika said the leisure
centre also caters for kids.
“We have a children’s play cen-
tre where kids can enjoy while the
parents enjoy. In that regard, we
have meals, including ice cream
that we make on our own,” he
said.
Located a stone’s throw from
the White House, the joint is de-
signed to provide patrons with a
fresh, modern and recreation ven- Spirtzkop Leisure Centre resident band in action
ue.
of learners inside and outside of
the classroom in this modern era
where access to digital platforms
is increasingly exponentially.
“As a publisher, we believe we
have a social contract with the
learners, parents, and the minis-
try to ensure relevant and mod-
ern ways of learning and teach-
ing are .That is what we were try-
ing to achieve with the introduc-
tion of this application. Nytra
has been met with a lot of appre-
ciation from relevant stakehold- ter positioned to answer related She added that the application
ers- learners and teachers were questions following use of the ap- is in line with the ministry’s e-
all quick to state that it made un- plication,” said Nyunyai Machi- learning agenda of digital learn-
derstanding of abstract concepts wenyika, the managing director ing as well as that inclusivity.
better and learners were bet- of Spring Hub Publication.
S6 Standard Style | January 9 to 15 2022
Arts
Music industry predictions for 2022
in the groove
with Fred Zindi
I
am not a prophet like the late T.B.
Joshua or his subordinates, but I
can make predictions for the mu-
sic industry in the year 2022 which
I see as the transformative year for
Zimbabwean music.
Predictions are usually statements
about what one thinks will happen in
the future. I have made several of them,
some positive and others negative in a
list below.
Let’s take a look back at the year 2021
then go out on a limb for what could
happen in 2022. We are in unpredict-
able territory for a bunch of reasons,
but there are encouraging trends in the
music industry.
As we already know, the music indus-
try has been hit hard by the coronavirus
pandemic with live performance reve-
nue being the biggest casualty.
It’s undeniable that 2021 has been
the year where a lot of musicians have
been more creative online and have
used live streaming platforms like Tik-
Tok, Instagram or Twitch to provide high
quality content to audiences and very
often by incorporating licensed music
in their streams. Last year, streaming
accounted for 83% of music consump-
tion.
In 2022, this trend will continue for
many consumers. This year, we will see
more and more creators and artistes
showcasing their own music creations
when streaming in order to promote
their content, attract new followers,
and engage with their fans online.
The live streaming space will be-
come incredibly noisy as every band
and singer searches for new ways to
provide a live music experience during
these weird times.
With the advancement in technol-
ogy, music consumption through CD
sales is going to be a thing of the past
in the year 2022.
TikTok will become even more domi-
nant. TikTok is an absolute monolith.
In September 2021, the platform an-
nounced a whopping 1 billion active
users, and its growth does not show
any signs of stopping.
The opportunity for virality and so-
cial media explosion on TikTok is huge
for artistes.
This makes it one of the most impor-
tant digital platforms for music in 2022.
Gone are the days when one would
Pair drops multilingual Covid-19 song
BY CHELSEA MUSAFARE
UPCOMING music group Decade Dif-
ference recently released a single which
carries a message of hope in view of the
Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to Standard Style, the duo
of Rumbie Rue (Rumbidzai Chakanza-
Mamvura) and Cinatra (Angela Cinatra
Moyo) said depression and grief among
citizens inspired their latest offering ti-
tled Tinosvika Chete.
“This pandemic era has taken us to
places of fear, loneliness and confusion
as people lose their loved ones and jobs,”
Mamvura said.
“We thought of a song that will give
hope to communities so that these tur-
bulent emotions will pass. Allow them
to wash over you like water and then
you can start the re-born process. Be pa-
tient! Change takes time and do not take
shortcuts. Pay attention to all details and
you will reach your desired destination.
“New opportunities for change and
development present themselves every
day. We pictured a train, whether it takes
simply walk into a record shop and buy
a vinyl disc to play on a gramophone at
home. Today’s kids do not even know
what a record player looks like, let alone
a 12-inch vinyl record.
Over the last few years, consumption
habits have been slowly changing.
It's here now and figuring out how to
smash short form TikTok style content
for our music is how artistes can meet
this growing demand.
The industry is fighting back with
new ways to monetise music consump-
tion and innovative models: It is easy to
host a live concert using online plat-
forms that will attract millions of live
viewers.
The crisis is likely to accelerate un-
derlying trends in the music industry,
based on the importance of streaming,
which has grown from 9% to 47% of to-
tal industry revenues in just six years.
Album launches will be fewer in 2022
and podcasts will be the new trend that
will be competing more and more for
fans as podcasts do not really require
the artistes to get paid. A lot of music
consumers will try to download music
for free, which is a big disadvantage to
the creators of such products.
The global music industry is worth
over $50 billion, with two major income
streams.
The first, live music, makes up over
50% of total revenues and is derived
mainly from sales of tickets to live per-
formances. There will be few live per-
formances this year which means that
50% of music industry revenue will be
lost.
As the world welcomes 2022 amid
Covid-19 explosion, bars and restau-
rants will continue to close while mu-
sicians will continue to play hide and
seek with law enforcement agents as
they try to make a living. Other artistes
do not even know that there are restric-
tions in place as they keep on looking
for work.
It looks like the end of the world for
humanity; what with floods, drought,
fires, volcanoes, earthquakes and of
course Covid-19 variants such as delta
and omicron.
Using the law of averages and based
on 2021 statistics of artistes’ deaths in
Zimbabwe where Soul Jah Love, Friday
Mbirimi and Cuthbert Maziwa died, at
least two well-known artistes will also
hours, it just reaches its destination and
that is how life is like.”
The song, which was launched at Zim
Events Family Fun Day at the Hockey Sta-
dium in Harare, was recorded in five dif-
ferent languages.
“Tinosvika Chete is sung in five lan-
guages (Shona, Tonga, Chewa, Ndebele
and English) to cater for all cultures,”
Mamvura said.
“The song was produced by DJ Mar-
velle at McChevy Studios. We sing afro
but we are not restricted to one genre as
we want to bring out the yesteryear vibe.
“Music which is authentic and live
for decades like True Love by Ilanga and
Hapana Mazwi by Michael Lanas. We can
still vibe to those jams as if they are still
fresh.
“We are busy composing songs for
Decade Difference project and we will
be flexible to use different studios in and
out of Zimbabwe as we want to expand
into other markets.
“Many thanks to Plot Mhako, who sup-
ported our collaboration idea and be-
lieved that we could bring a strong vibe
Eve Kawadza is now married to Jamaican,
Noel Blair and lives in Orlando, Florida
die this year. There is also the possibil-
ity that several bands are going to dis-
integrate this year. This includes musi-
cians fleeing from one top artiste.
The year 2021 for musicians was in-
teresting to say the least.
So much happened that we may
have been able to expect, and some
parts of the music industry took us
completely by surprise.
Quite a few female musicians left
Zimbabwe to seek greener pastures.
We have the likes of Eve Kawadza (now
married to Jamaican, Noel Blair and
lives in Orlando, Florida), Claire Nyaku-
jara, a solo artiste at Disneyland, Cindy
Munyavi and Fatima Katiji, aka ‘Stimela’
( former member of Jah Prayzah’s Third
Generation Band and backing vocalist-
cum- dancer) who are all now comfort-
ably settled in the United States.
Some have quit the industry alto-
gether while others are seeking alter-
native ways of making it.
Despite this, there are going to be
several new kids on the block.
Out of desperation for something to
do, many unemployed youths will soon
surface onto the music scene.
The landscape for artists is changing
every single day.
So how does 2022 look for the mu-
sic industry, and how can independent
artistes stay ahead of their game? No
doubt, there will be a huge increase in
prices for music products just like there
has been increases in prices of other
goods in the supermarkets, in electric-
ity and fuel.
to the music industry with great guid-
ance on taking our time to think deep-
ly about our content before just rushing
to record.
She added: “For our individual brands,
recently Cinatra released her EP called
Multilingual and is working on releas-
ing videos whilst Rumbie Rue is working
on releasing her single produced by DJ
Miles from Propabless Studios a reggae-
conscious song titled Thank You.
“She is recording some Afro-fusion
and gospel songs to be released dur-
ing the course of the year using differ-
ent genres.”
Rumbie Rue and Cinatra formed the
group Decade Difference at Mhako’s
Kombi Station where they felt they must
be a group like Mafikizolo, which is free
to do work under individual’s brands and
group brands.
They named the group Decade Differ-
ence because that is their age difference
and they believe each decade has a dif-
ference and will aim to bring that posi-
tive change regardless of their differenc-
es.
Consumers will try their best to
avoid paying for music. More market-
ing strategies need to be thought out.
Here are more music industry pre-
dictions and upcoming music business
trends to look out for in 2022.
The first one is that the thirst for live
concerts becomes greater this year.
The current state of live music is that
it's still trying to get back on its feet.
In Zimbabwe, we are lucky to be still
operating on level 2 of the pandemic
restrictions. Small gigs which will at-
tract no more than 100 patrons in small
venues will continue to take place, but
curfew time must be observed. This
is not good news for the likes of Jah
Prayzah or Winky D whose fan bases
exceed 100.
However, as we enter 2022, efforts
will be made by music promoters to
arrange big concerts but despite this,
more concerts will be postponed and
huge tours will also be cancelled.
We have already seen evidence of
this. In November 2021, Major League
from South Africa came but were not
allowed to perform in Harare after fans
had already paid for tickets to watch
them.
They promised to come back on De-
cember 22, but failed to do so.
Fans eager for that live music buzz
have simply been waiting far too long
to watch their favourite bands and
singers tear it up on stage. The mu-
sicians too, who seem to be getting
rusty, are more than eager to get back
on stage in front of hundreds of fans.
Rumbie Rue (Rumbidzai Chakanza-Mamvura) and Cinatra (Angela Cinatra Moyo)
The late Soul Jah Love
Keeping fingers, toes and everything
else crossed, 2022 should be one of the
biggest years for live concerts and gigs
as people crave the booming return of
the live music industry, but for as long
as the omicron, this new Covid-19 var-
iant continues to affect the world, live
music will continue to be a scarcity.
It is clear to see that static images
will become more video-based in gen-
eral as they are more engaging overall
for fans and music consumers.
We are already seeing this with the
rise of Spotify canvas and consumption.
I think there will always be artwork but
there will also be versions for Apple/
Spotify and more.
There are going to be more online
music teachers in 2022.
As music professionals search for
more ways to monetize their knowl-
edge and skills, the rise in music teach-
ers online will be insane in 2022.
Everyone is more than comfortable
on video calls and Zoom webinars now
that monetising this space seems obvi-
ous.
Music teaching online is really, really
noisy. Artistes who are simply good at
their craft but do not know how to deal
with computers or other online gadg-
ets will be at a loss. If they are going to
tackle this, they need to become mu-
sic marketing experts in order to stand
a chance.
Only the strongest will survive! Ar-
tistes are responsible for sitting in the
driver’s seat and for driving their music
to their fans. There will be need for this
hustle in 2022.
We hope that 2022 will bring a hap-
py new year and better fortunes for
musicians.
 Feedback: frezindi@gmail.com

Claritas expands its doors
Vengai Mukwati and wife Carol
By Takemore Mazuruse
Pride Manyika, or simply Miss
Pride as the CEO of tech compa-
ny Parul Tech, is not just another
businesswoman.
She is on a mission to raise an
empowered generation of female
entrepreneurs and has set up a
powerful vehicle to drive this mis-
sion.
This noble and well structured
business incubation venture is
called Business Shower with
Miss Pride and it promises to be
the go to company for most rising
female entrepreneurs.
The scope is to give passionate
and self-driven female entrepre-
neurs a head start into business
with many free business events
and showers for selected benefi-
ciaries that make the grade lined
up for 2022.
A seasoned and respected en-
trepreneur in her own right, the
affable businesswoman has seen
it all in the business world thanks
to her dalliance with some of the
big mobile tech companies in
Zimbabwe before she resigned to
start her own mobile and techno-
logical gadgets supply venture
aptly named Parul Tech.
Her own business struggles and
experiences have exposed her to
the highs and lows of business.
She believes there is no bet-
ter way to contribute to econom-
ic and business growth in Zimba-
bwe than through nurturing her
female entrepreneur peers.
“I didn’t start my business
journey with ease. I had to face
a lot of struggles and resistance
and more often than not I would
contemplate quitting and going
back to the usual 8 to 5 job but I
am grateful for my resilience and
the continued support and in-
spiration I got from peers,” said
Manyika.
"Parul Tech has risen to be-
come a force in the mobile and
technological gadgets supply ser-
vice in Zimbabwe and we are not
looking back. We have serviced
the entire Zimbabwe for over
10 years with official registra-
tion only taking place in 2018 but
our strides to date have given us
so much confidence to continue
working hard and for that reason
we want to inspire and support
others to achieve their dreams.”
Businesswoman on mission to
empower female entrepreneurs
Pride Manyika (in black) with her staff
The soft spoken businesswom-
an who co-directs the compa-
ny with her husband Davies Ma-
sango told The Standard Style
that she felt blessed to be work-
ing with some of the blue chip
companies in Zimbabwe and will
use her new born Business Show-
er with Miss Pride venture to in-
spire fellow women entrepre-
neurs to dream.
“God has blessed me in many
ways and I am grateful for the
continued confidence in my busi-
ness and the products that we
supply. At Parul Tech we supply
quality LED Tvs, mobile phones,
laptops, printers, gas tanks and
gas stoves and these have taken
By Jotham Gutsa/Brenda
Manyembere
C
ONTEMPORARY
boutique shop, Clar-
itas, opened its reno-
vated state-of-the-art
lingerie and under-
wear urban shop last week along
Jason Moyo Avenue in the capi-
tal as the company continues to
expand its market share and im-
prove customer experience.
Claritas offers Panache sport
collection with a glamorous and
intense feel.
Prominent brands that are
crafted to fit and styled for com-
fort also available in the bou-
tique shop are Wonderbra, Tom-
my Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secrets,
Kenneth Cole, Playtex and Cal-
vin Klein to name but just a few.
The company’s director Ven-
gai Mukwati told Standard Style
that they were buoyant about
the future and had in place var-
ious strategies and initiatives
to safeguard and entrench their
market hold.
“We are going to introduce di-
verse brands and unique prod-
ucts,” Mukwati said.
the market by storm even amidst
the economic challenges. This
goes to say we live in a world of
possibilities and I am happy to
inspire fellow women to dream
even bigger," Manyika said.
“Business Shower with Miss
Pride will therefore focus on
helping identified female entre-
preneurs start on their business
journey from a vantage position
courtesy of well structured busi-
ness shower events that will help
them mobillise the right resourc-
es both financial and material to-
wards sustainable business oper-
ations.”
While many that claim to be
supporting fellow business play-
Standard Style | January 9 to 15 2022 S7
“People take pride in putting
on something that you don’t al-
ways find at every other street
corner.
“We thrive in trying to pro-
duce uniqueness that is why our
procurement is so diverse.”
He said most of their products
were from Poland, United King-
dom, China, Turkey, UAE, Thai-
land as well as India.
“We do that so that when one
market has a limitation, the oth-
er market should come in as a
solution,” Mukwati said.
“When it comes to underwear
or lingerie for teenagers or preg-
nant women or whatever social
we cater for you.”
He said the renovations come
at a time business is poised
to improve following the Cov-
id-19-induced hard lockdowns,
which affected economic activi-
ty and disposable incomes for its
customers.
“We do understand the eco-
nomic situation in Zimbabwe,
the buying power is so com-
pressed, it weakens everyday
particularly for those earn-
ing Zimbabwe dollar,” Mukwa-
ti said.
ers charge a fee, Manyika said
her business shower concept was
unique in that it comes free of
charge with those that make the
grade qualifying for the free yet
empowering positive nudge.
“We are doing it differently
with Business shower with Miss
Pride. Our beneficiaries and cli-
ents under this undertaking wont
be having to pay for the service.
All they need to do is present
sound business models that con-
vinces our panel and once they
make that grade we work on the
business shower parameters,”
she said.
“The showers are aimed at em-
powering entrepreneurs and
“One minute the exchange
rate is wherever it is and the
next minute it’s gone up, but the
income is static and that aspect
of deflation that we are facing
as a country weakens the buy-
ing power.
“So one minute you are afford-
ing to buy something like US$10
then next same day that same
income you had will buy US$5.
And then priorities will defi-
nitely shift.
“No one should be scared of
walking in. Our promise is we
have everything and for every-
one but doesn’t mean compro-
mising on quality and class.
“We have split our market to
downtown and uptown, however
we don’t discriminate our prod-
uct range, we just sell every-
thing everywhere.”
Besides Claritas, the business
executive also runs Carols Clos-
et and Underwear City which
are lingerie and underwear
shops. Adore is also part of his
empire and it specialises in cor-
porate wear.
shifting mindsets so that all our
clients and beneficiaries rise to
become well to do with and suc-
cessful players that contribute to
a viable economy in Zimbabwe.”
The Business Shower concept
is already in motion with initial
meetings with potential benefi-
ciaries having been held.
Manyika said they are widen-
ing their nets and ensuring more
visibility and presence for the
brand to attract and reach many
across Zimbabwe.
“We don’t want this idea to ben-
efit people in our circles only. We
want all progressive female busi-
ness minds around Zimbabwe to
tap into this hence we have scaled
up our brand visibility and pres-
ence on digital platforms for eas-
ier engagement and communica-
tion of our ideals and services,”
she said.
"We intend to roll out a mas-
sive national campaign that will
take Zimbabwe by storm and we
are happy that we are receiving a
lot of enquiries from doers that
want to be part of this movement.
There is no going back in this
venture and we thank the vari-
ous partners coming on board to
work with us.”
The noble community pronged
venture is creating a strong foot-
print online and a number of pro-
grammes and events have been
lined to rump up support and
buy-in so that many can benefit
from this undertaking.
“Our presence and visibility is
deliberate and there is no wish-
ing us away. We want to be part
of the national drive to raise pro-
ductive entrepreneurs that em-
body excellence and we are happy
that we are operating in the right
era,” Manyika said.
Entrepreneurship is the new
normal in Zimbabwe and there
is no better way to support this
ideal than through creating the
right linkages and partnerships
for those with the mind to work.”
S8 Standard Style | January 9 to 15 2022
Communities
Gibson Brown Foundation gives
Mabvuku Christmas cheer
Gibson Brown Foundation representative Rtd Major Sydney Musafare Mangwende
with some of the beneficiaries
Kusi Chemicals records marked growth
BY TAKEMORE MAZURUSE
DOMESTIC and industrial chemicals
manufacturing company Kusi Chemi-
cals has continued to register steady
growth following a raft of measures to
satisfy the market and circumvent Cov-
id-19 induced limitations.
The company’s innovation has seen
the fledgling business player continu-
ing to make inroads into various sectors
of the economy thanks to its wide array
of quality and market tested products.
Kusi Chemicals CEO Maxwell Mug-
wagwa told Standard Style that the
company is fast becoming the go to
company for all chemicals and cleaning
detergents needs in Zimbabwe and the
region thanks to its unparalleled work-
manship and customer satisfaction.
“Kusi Chemicals is a subsidiary of the
Kusi Group, which incorporates Kusi
wholesale, Kusi hardware and Kusi min-
ing. We are more than encouraged by
our growth particularly at a time the
economy continues to bear the brunt
of the Covid-19 induced lock-down
which affected operations over the past
two years,” Mugwagwa said.
“Our product range and services are
quite in sync with the covid-19 situa-
tion which has made us one of the key
players in combating this disease. From
hand sanitisers, deep cleaning chem-
icals and other related disinfection
chemicals and services, Kusi Chemicals
has become the flagship service pro-
vider and supplier.”
The company specialises in various
products namely hard surface cleaner,
scouring powder, fabric softener, regu-
lar bleach, thick bleach, toilet cleaner,
household sanitizer, all purpose clean-
er, pine gel, floor polish, tile cleaner,
floor glaze, hair shampoo, foam bath,
washing powder, detergent paste,
channel blocks, de greaser as well as
car wash and drain cleaner.
The 100% Zimbabwean owned com-
pany which was founded in 2017 has
continued to contribute towards a
healthy nation and Mugwaga said be-
yond their leading role in fighting Cov-
id-19, they have always believed in a
clean and fresh environment for all.
“Beyond the work we are doing in
combating covid-19 through our prod-
ucts and services, we believe a clean
and fresh environment is a must hence
we have been specialising in the busi-
ness of manufacturing cleaning deter-
gents for both domestic and industrial
purposes," Mugwagwa said.
Our vision is to reliably surpass ex-
pectations of our customers and cli-
ents through provision of eco-friendly
products and offering quality cleaning
solutions to people in Zimbabwe, the
Southern African region and beyond."
Thanks to innovation and continued
research on growing the entity, Kusi
Chemicals has opened branches in Ha-
rare, Gweru, Bulawayo and Chinhoyi
since inception in 2017. The company
has also acquired industrial land where
a state of the art manufacturing facili-
ty will be constructed within the next
five years.
“We have registered marked growth
in our operations and we are happy
to have opened 4 branches in Harare,
Gweru, Bulawayo and Mutare thanks to
our quest to satisfy the market," Mug-
wagwa said.
"In 2019, Kusi Chemicals also diver-
sified into cleaning, fumigation and
landscaping services from domestic
to commercial level and the success
community builders
with Takemore Mazuruse
U
NITED Kingdom-based
philanthropist Gibson
Brown has given Mab-
vuku residents something to
smile about this festive season
after donating groceries to dis-
advantaged and less-privileged
families in the high-density
suburb through his foundation.
Other beneficiaries also in-
cluded health workers at the lo-
cal clinic.
Beneficiaries of the Gibson
Foundation Christmas Cheer
include the elderly, orphans
and vulnerable children as well
as the generally disadvantaged.
Speaking from his UK base,
the educationist and philan-
thropist said giving was in their
DNA as Gibson Foundation and
they will continue reaching out
to the less privileged with sup-
port from their funding part-
ners.
“We are very much alive to
the challenges that the disad-
vantaged families continue to
face and we are doing all we
can to play our part in assisting
them,” Brown said.
“As a progressive organisa-
tion, we want to play our part in
complementing government ef-
forts towards social welfare and
Kusi Chemicals CEO Maxwell Mugwagwa and wife
has been resounding. We have also re-
ceived various accolades in recognition
of our work and we are grateful for the
strides."
Some of the accolades received to
we are grateful to the partners
that continue to heed our call
particularly during this festive
season of giving.”
The recent Mabvuku grocery
donations covered home basics
like maize-meal, cooking oil,
rice, soap, salt and sugar and
the beneficiaries thanked the
Gibson Foundation for the no-
ble gesture.
Lord Gibbo, as Brown is com-
monly known, said the dona-
tion was their way of giving
cheer to the less-privileged dur-
ing the Christmas season.
“Christmas is all about giving
and merry-making and we are
happy to play our part in giving
cheer to the needy,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is generally go-
ing through challenging times
and such a scenario calls for all
actors including development
players to play their hence this
donation of groceries from the
Gibson Foundation to the Mab-
vuku people.”
Brown, who was born and
raised in Mabvuku also pro-
vides educational support to
children in the area and has
supported the local clinics and
schools with grocery and other
infrastructure related develop-
date include the Gold Medal Product
Marketing award at the SME Expo in
2017 and 2018 respectively followed
by a silver award at the Zimbabwe In-
ternational Trade Fair (ZITF) in 2019 and
ments.
“I grew up here and I feel du-
ty-bound to give back to the
community hence the contin-
ued donations and community
development initiatives by the
Gibson Brown Foundation,” he
said.
“The goal is to reach more
people with sustainable pro-
jects and support that can
change lives and the commu-
nity at large and we are push-
ing for more partner support to-
wards that drive.”
One of the beneficiaries Gogo
Chitewe thanked Gibson Brown
Foundation for the gesture and
highlighted the grocery dona-
tion is timely.
“Our Christmas was going to
be bleak but we thank them for
remembering us from faraway
UK. May the good Lord bless
them," said Chitewe.
“It takes a lot of character
to spare a thought for the less
privileged especially for some-
one who is in far away UK and I
just want to thank the organisa-
tion’s founder and his partners
for this gesture,” said one elder-
ly among the beneficiaries.
“May the dear Lord bless and
protect you as you continue giv-
ing yourself in service to oth-
ers.”
The foundation’s represent-
ative Retired Major Sydney
Musafare Mangwende, who
handed over the donations,
said the charity drive was part
of the organisation's ongoing
outreach programmes.
“We want to continue reach-
ing more lives and we are work-
ing with local authorities to
identify more beneficiaries,”
he said.
“Our hope is to make a last-
ing difference in the lives of the
less privileged. Through such
initiatives we will make life bet-
ter for all.”
then the Manufacturing company of
the year and Manufacturing Business-
man of the year award at the Zimbabwe
Business Awards (ZIBA) in 2021.
“Other 2021 accolades include the
2021 SMEs Expo, Silver Medal Entrepre-
neurship and Manufacturing award as
well as the 2021 Gazelles, 4th Award for
Great performance in the year 2021.
“I also received the following Honor-
ary Doctorates in November 2021. The
first one is the Honorary Doctor of Hu-
mane Letters, DHL from the Institute of
Philanthropy (IIP) and the second one is
the Honorary Doctor of Business Lead-
ership & Entrepreneurship from the In-
ternational Women’s University (IWU),”
Mugwagwa said.
The passionate businessman also
told The Standard Style that the compa-
ny will be on a major expansion drive
in 2023 and will be launching various
campaigns and promotions to that ef-
fect.
“We are embarking on a major ex-
pansion plan for the coming business
year with a bias on spreading into the
retail market. We are therefore going to
introduce various campaigns which we
believe will take the market by storm,"
he said.
“Our thrust is to become a trusted
and valued player in the cleaning and
detergents making business and we are
doing all it takes to achieve this ideal.”
Kusi Chemicals has also been com-
mended for its Corporate Social Re-
sponsibility work and over the years
they have reached out to various char-
ities including Chinyaradzo Children’s
home as well as Prison services where
they have donated both food and non
food relief materials to the less privi-
leged.

Health
NAC: CO-ORDINATING
MULTI-SECTORAL
Telephone: +263(0242) 791171/2/8,
  Website: www.nac.org.zw
  Website: www.nac.org.zw
Telephone: +263(0242)
  Website: www.nac.org.zw National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe
Post Covid-19 syndrome also
known as “Long Covid-19"
BY DR HELEN KABAYA
THE majority of Covid-19 patients
recover fully within weeks of ill-
ness.
However, a subset of Covid-19
patients will present with new, re-
turning or persistent symptoms of
at least 2 months' duration after se-
vere acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infec-
tion.
These symptoms can occur even
in people who did not have Cov-
id-19 symptoms when they were in-
fected, those who had a mild SARS-
COV2 infection or in patients who
do not have any underlying medi-
cal condition.
The commonly reported symp-
toms are prominent fatigue, short-
ness of breath, chest tightness,
anxiety and inability to focus, also
known as brain fog.
Other symptoms that have been
reported are depression, loss of
sense of smell and/or taste, a dry
or productive cough, muscle pain,
joint pain, symptoms that get
worse after physical or mental ac-
tivities (post-exertional malaise),
2022 needs drastic health sector solutions
health talk
with Dr Johannes Marisa
THE year 2021 was a miserable for
many people with even illustrious peo-
ple succumbing to the heinous Cov-
id-19 with many others suffering from
the effects of the coronavirus.
In 2007, the World Health Organi-
sation came up with a framework for
good health delivery service.
These were labelled as the building
blocks of health service delivery and
included here are health workforce,
leadership, health delivery service,
medicines, financing and information
systems.
A robust health service is made up
of candid structures that derive their
strengths from the mentioned pillars.
The year 2021 had three intertwined
waves of the Covid-19 with the second
wave extending from December 2020
and lasting up to March of 2021 while
the third wave had the delta variant
strangulating people from end of June
to end of August.
July became the deadliest month
ever since the emergence of the cor-
onavirus with over 1000 deaths. The
number of cases admitted with respir-
atory complications was unprecedent-
ly high and many hospitals were over-
95-95-95 by 2025
THE NATIONAL
NAC: CO-ORDINATING
RESPONSE TO
MULTI-SECTORAL HIV & AIDS
RESPONSE
NAC: CO-ORDINATING THE NATIONAL
Telephone: 790575
+263(0242)
MULTI-SECTORAL Tel/Fax:
791171/2/8,
RESPONSE 791243.
790575
TO HIV
National AIDS Council
791171/2/8, 790575
@naczim
Co-ordinating the national multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS
Prevent Covid by wearing a mask
subjective fevers, headaches, poor
appetite and insomnia (inability to
sleep).
These symptoms represent a
post viral syndrome Covid-19 pan-
whelmed fast.
The health professionals remained
astute and focused and the country
managed to contain the virus with
government imposing lockdowns, en-
hancing vaccination processes, scaling
up testing and creating more beds for
admission.
All health professionals were per-
mitted to attend to Covid-19 patients
from anywhere and many patients at
least managed to access some health
service.
There was to be the natural grace
period between September and No-
vember 2021 before the emergence of
the 4th wave which had extraordinary
panic from global super-powers when
a new variant of the Covid-19, the Omi-
cron, was reported on 24 November
from South Africa before being de-
clared a variant of Concern by WHO on
the 26th of November 2021.
Our health delivery service was
marred by serious challenges that con-
tinue to threaten us as a nation. It is
time some of these ills are taken seri-
ously if we are to be a strong country
health-wise.
Health and development are symbi-
THE NATIONAL
TO HIV & AIDS
Email:
Tel/Fax:
secretariat@nac.org.zw
& AIDS791243. Email: secretariat@nac.org.zw
@naczim
Tel/Fax:of AIDS
National Zimbabwe
Council
791243. Email:of Zimbabwe
secretariat@nac.org.zw
demic that has been associated
with increases in mental health is-
sues among Covid-19 patients.
Along with social isolation re-
sulting from Covid-19 prevention
otic in nature and it is thus imperative
to understand that there is no mean-
ingful development that comes with-
out a robust health delivery.
As we round up 2021, the year 2022
should see us improving on numerous
areas which surely need the collabora-
tion of key stakeholders who include
government, churches, health work-
ers, non-governmental organisations,
financial institutions and local author-
ities.
It is quite appalling that the fol-
lowing are real factors that de-
serve special attention in 2022:
Brain- drain in the health sector—2021
becomes one of the worst years in the
history of Zimbabwe if worker migra-
tion is to be talked of.
Today, the United Kingdom boasts of
about 4780 health workers from Zim-
babwe, second from Nigeria that has
about 10494 health workers working
in UK.
At least 2200 health workers left
Zimbabwe in 2021 for countries like
Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zea-
land, USA.
In 2020, about 1100 health work-
ers left Zimbabwe while in 2019, only
about 700 health workers deserted our
country for greener pastures.
If the rate of staff turn-over is not
slowed down, I foresee many public
clinics and hospitals running with skel-
eton staff in 2022, a development like-
ly to further cripple the health sector.
Standard Style | January 9 to 15 2022 S9
@naczim
measures, patients frequently suf-
fer from symptoms of depression,
anxiety or mood changes. Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
is triggered by a terrifying or trau-
matic event, which could result
from either experiencing it or wit-
nessing it.
As for Covid-19, the emergen-
cy environmental conditions that
have been induced with this in-
fectious disease might produce
unique characteristics that are re-
sulting in PTSD among Covid-19
survivors.
Of note, most Covid-19 patients
are more likely to be infected by
close contact from family mem-
bers. As a result, those patients
might be experiencing the impacts
of both Covid-19 exposure in them-
selves as well as witnessing it in
their family member.
This could result in a double
exposure effect and could have a
more severe impact.
It is important for anyone who
experiences any of these symp-
toms to seek medical care from
their nearest health facilities.
Consultation from medical per-
Action is urgently required in order
to stem brain drain and that should
see an improvement of remuneration,
heightened worker motivation, better
incentives amongst other benefits.
Husky and incontrovertible actions
are supposed to be taken especially
by government. Why is there no plau-
sible action when the health sector is
drowning?
Uncompetitive remuneration—
health workers have been crying
about poor salaries and benefits which
have haunted them for long. The poli-
cy makers have come up with a raft of
measures some of which have died a
natural death as there is often lack of
implementation.
The inter-ministerial taskforce con-
sidered a number of factors which in-
cluded the need for wi-fi, food, accom-
modation for health staff.
Health workers have been clamour-
ing for vehicle loans, residential stands,
farms and it is now national anthem,
alas, nothing concrete is coming up
with the employer.
It is time all the involved ministries
put their heads together in a bid to
bring relief to the disgruntled health
workers.
The year 2022 should be a year of ac-
tion because failure to act will see the
further demise of the health sector, a
development that is detrimental to the
nation at large in view of the ravaging
effects of the coronavirus.
sonnel and examination is needed
to rule out other possible causes of
these symptoms like unmasking
of pre-existing health conditions
or even SARS-COV2 re-infection.
Targeted pharmacologic treat-
ment for symptomatic improve-
ment is currently being done to
reduce symptom burden and im-
prove quality of life in affected pa-
tients.
However, studies are being done
to quantify the symptom burden
in those with persistent symp-
toms and to evaluate the response
to these and other potential thera-
pies.
Long-term psychological sup-
port could be a crucial element aid-
ing in reducing mortality and mor-
bidity.
The best way to prevent post-
Covid syndrome is to prevent Cov-
id-19 illness. For all those who are
eligible, getting vaccinated against
Covid-19 is the best way to prevent
getting Covid-19 and can also help
protect those around you.
Remember to always follow the
recommended preventative meas-
ures of:
Wear a facemask
Keep a social distance of at least
2 meters
Frequently wash hand with soap
and water or alcohol-based sanitis-
er
Avoid crowds and poorly venti-
lated spaces
 Dr Kabaya is currently
studying for a Masters in Pub-
lic Health programme and is at-
tached to NAC
Where are the Ministries of Finance
and Local government to collabo-
rate with the ministry of Health to sal-
vage the health worker catastrophe?
Corruption in the health sector—This
scourge remains pertinent if the nation
is to archive its vision of a robust health
delivery service.
Many cases of corruption have been
reported at hospitals where tender
procedures have been flouted by those
responsible for purchasing.
Recently, the Supreme Court up-
held a judgement by the High Court
where the Judicial Services Commis-
sion sought to confiscate Russell Ta-
tenda Mwenye’s Ruwa property which
was said to have been bought from
the proceeds of corruption. Corrupt
tendencies are rampant at many lev-
els of health leadership. Surprisingly,
the same people who are known to be
pursing this unethical act, remain in of-
fice as if they are the only ones who can
occupy the respective offices.
The ministry of Health should se-
riously investigate corruption in the
health sector and take appropri-
ate action in order to bring sanity.
We hope for a better 2022 in terms of
health service delivery.
All ills should be nipped in the bud
for a better Zimbabwe. Say no to cor-
ruption and save the nation from col-
lapse. Let us all value our health work-
force!
S10 Standard Style | January 9 to 15 2022
People & Places
Willmore plays up The Sparrows
out & about
with Grant Moyo
W
ILLMORE Dube, a con-
tent creator from Bula-
wayo is using all the nec-
essary techniques and
know-how that he has
acquired over the years to better his sto-
rytelling ability.
Having been put on the right path to
prevail steadily through eMoyeni Digi-
tal Storytelling master classes — a pro-
gramme that brought together young
Zimbabwean content creators between
the ages of 18 to 35 — the desirous crea-
tive, who is involved in loads of communi-
ty outreach programs, provides boys and
girls with sessions solely focusing on how
to be influential on YouTube, Snapchat, Tik
Tok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, as well
as through vlogging and blogging.
Buoyed up by the eagerness to close-
ly look into the psychological and so-
cial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on
the normalcy of the livelihoods of mass-
es, Dube and his peers Musa Ntaisi, Mu-
sawenkosi Sibanda and Nathan Mukasa
— who are lifestyle custodians of crea-
tive activity— created a YouTube channel
called Sparrows ZW.
Dube attended several educational in-
stitutions including Greenfield Primary
School, John Tallach High School, Matopo
High School and the National University
of Science and Technology.
As a co-founder of The Sparrows — an
organised movement of young men who
are curators of art, music, dance, business
and culture collectively — Dube is dedi-
cated to using digital media to tell perti-
nent stories that depict the truth behind
societal issues befalling communities in
Zimbabwe and across Africa.
“Being exposed to arts and entertain-
ment throughout my childhood and ad-
olescence boosted my understanding of
artistry at a deeper level. Due to my ap-
preciation of various kinds of music gen-
res I found my niche as an amateur disc
‘Continue putting Zim on the world map’
travelling & touring
with Burzil Dube
NINETY- seven year old Walter Bing-
ham is the oldest living and practic-
ing journalist who has seen it all.
Bingham was recently inducted
into the Guiness Book of Records for
being the oldest journalist current-
ly hosting a popular radio talk show
which is keenly followed by millions
of listeners across the globe.
He is also an actor, producer and
entrepreneur par-excellence.
The British-Israeli journalist is a
decorated World War II veteran, hol-
laucast survivor and contributes reg-
ularly to The Jerusalem Post and The
Jerusalem Report. He is a modelling
expert, playwright and also an ac-
tor who starred as a wizard in Harry
Potter and the Philosopher's stone as
well as Harry Potter and the Chamber
secrets.
Yours Truly wishes to emulate
Binghamis whose Fourth Estate feat
drew commendations from far and
wide, not only for his age but works
which continue to inspire scribes
from all walks of life.
Talking of commendations, Yours
Truly would like to put a closure of
2021 in style by paying tribute to fol-
lowers of this column whose 'mem-
bership' continue growing in leaps
and bounds, judging by the number
jockey (DJ) who headlined people’s par-
ties and various events.
“I credit The Believers Boppers Battle
Dance Competition for giving me an in-
sight into events management. The plat-
form modelled me into a unique content
creator who distinctly partook in different
forms of content creation like photogra-
phy, videography and graphic designing
which eventually sparked the conception
of Sparrows ZW in the midst of a global
epidemic (coronavirus),” Dube said.
“The YouTube channel came into ex-
istence when my peers and I, publicly
known as The Sparrows, got caught up
in an online discussion in which we were
weighing in on the extent at which quar-
antining was emotionally and psycholog-
ically draining children, teenagers and
adults that lacked positive relationships
and warmly friendships in their lives. In
essence, our other goal was to create an
online community to serve young people
and everyone who is young at heart.”
Paying attention to social struggles
youths face on a daily basis and helping
them relate better to the outside world,
The Sparrows provide young people with
a fully packaged edutainment content
tackling various life orientation skills.
Accordingly, helping them to identi-
fy themselves and people around them
under any given circumstances, and feel
deeply connected to a cause after going
through the intense process of accept-
ance and tolerance. Dube pointed out
that Sparrows ZW is also an online plat-
form where people from all walks of life
gather, find a target audience, and form
a community of innovators and propo-
nents who create positive impact both
online and in real life scenarios.
“It’s more of a panel discussion where
one of us takes the role of a host who
leads the discussion and gives other par-
ticipants turns to speak. We do it in a hap-
hazard manner to keep it interesting, fun
of feed backs being received.
The previouś year was full of ad-
ventures both high and low and
some of them need to be tabulated
in months or years to come in the
form of a book.
One prominent Zimbabwean mu-
sician remarked in one of his numer-
ous life teaching hits where he lik-
ened himself to fish whose survival
is premised on water and in this case
he literally meant his followers.
He also extolled the virtues of his
followers who were applauded for al-
ways sticking with him even in times
of hardships.
The same applies to readers of this
travelling and touring column whose
main thrust is promotion of various
untapped tourism places starved of
publicity.
This week's article is all about can-
onising readers whose constructive
criticism of Yours Truly's columns
continue to grow in proverbial leaps
and bounds thus in the process in-
vigorating the writer to churn out
more tourism tidings.
One reader who has been consist-
ent throughout the past year is Au-
gustine Zimbili whose input and
comments were well received and di-
gested without any misgivings what-
Willmore Dube
and more casual. To date, we have talked
about identity, paying attention to how
young people are being shaped by al-
cohol, peer pressure and the night life
in pubs and clubs. We have looked into
personal development, focusing on how
young people can make themselves bet-
ter socially and financially. We have dis-
cussed mental health, the misconcep-
tion around it, its effects, and how to spot
red flags in regards to depression among
close friends and colleagues. Sparrows
ZW has also put spotlight on love lan-
guages, dwelling on how people love
and receive love, giving emphasis on the
importance of valuing love for one’s fam-
ily, friends and colleagues without ne-
glect,” Dube said.
“What makes The Sparrows different
from other creatives is our synergy in
front of the camera, which is due to the
fact that we are genuinely friends off the
camera. That on its own helps us to add
some uniqueness in our content. The
first thing that happens when we come
Augustine Zimbili
soever.
The Gokwe-based senior police
officer is a gifted wordsmith and it
is no surprise that he is also an ac-
complished journalist as we did the
same journalism course in the capi-
tal albeit different enrolment years.
To describe him as the legendary
jack of all trades would be an un-
derstatement because he has seen
it all including the public relations
profession and also portrait artist
of note, hence the sobriquet 'Samo-
ra' after he drew a picture of the late
up with content is to get a topic, usually
based on something we encountered or
felt the need to address. After coming up
with the topic we then go and research
and also try to structure the episode.
Structuring does not really work most of
the time because once the camera starts
rolling, we just freestyle, making it more
authentic than a staged dramatic com-
position. We also have what we call ‘ice-
breakers’ at the start of each and every au-
diovisual. These are used to help people
settle down before we unpack the topic
of the day.”
The straight-from-the-shoulder con-
tent creator noted that besides talking
about personalities — why people be-
have in certain ways and what shapes
them — The Sparrows have a series
called Hangout With The Sparrows, where
they shed light on creatives and explore
their work. Creating media artworks and
performances, Dube believes that ex-
treme poverty can be eliminated, and
that the resources to end it can be mobi-
Samora Machel, the Mozambican
president.
Zimbili is also a poet cum musician
with a couple of albums under his
belt and his stars continue to shine.
"This article about Queen Eliza-
beth II second visit to Zimbabwe
was also ideal for international me-
dia houses because of the way how
you articulated the royal tour of Vic-
toria Falls.
"Most people are not even aware
that one can also tour the Falls at
night courtesy of the moon. Thanks
to your free publicity which other
tour operators were failing to utilise.
"Thank you for putting Zim (Zim-
babwe) on the world map in terms
of its natural attractions. I believe
God will reward you in future," said
Zimbili commenting on the column
headlined Moonlight viewing of The
Falls.
Linah Mpala is an entrepreneur
based in the coal mining town of
Hwange never misses a copy of The
Standard and is an avid follower of
Yours Truly's travelling and touring
column.
In one of her numerous comments,
MaMpala as she is popularly known,
paid tribute to Yours Truly for his un-
dying efforts on promotion of indig-
enous tourism players who some of
them were not even known.
"Sekuru, your articles are very in-
cisive and thought provoking. I will
certainly pay a visit to Shadows
eatery and sample for myself the
lised if people collectively take action.
“Taking note of the fact that one of the
problems millennial and generations face
is poverty, we try to confront the negative
circumstances tooth and nail. Learning
about the systemic inequalities that fuel
poverty, racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, and
economic inequalities, empowers young
people with knowledge that enlightens
them on possible means to eradicate so-
cial ills," Dube said.
“Therefore, preparing them to have lu-
crative careers and to occupy jobs that
will make them more confident, gives
them the chance to learn from others and
allow them to earn a good living that will
go a long way in laying a solid foundation
that will be essential in their adulthood.
“Meaning that, in the near future when
these youngsters become parents, the
education and job occupations they ac-
quired will help secure a better future for
their kids. In a nutshell, using The Spar-
row’s YouTube channel (Sparrows ZW) we
will continue giving more power to the
people through education, information,
coaching and counselling.”
Amplifying the possibilities to get or
create a job or commercial enterprise
is of paramount importance. It helps
in grooming and sustaining active and
innovative global citizens, especial-
ly among the lower, middle and upper-
class African millennial as well as gener-
ations.
Thinking about people that do not
have positive relationships and friend-
ships, Sparrows ZW continues to be an
online platform where The Sparrows lead
from the front in their capacities as pro-
ponents of positive social change. The
Zimbabwean content creators vow to fre-
quently share their energy and vibe with
the rest of the world throughout 2022,
so as to vividly set an example of good
friendships.
BIOGRAPHY: Grant Moyo is a prolific
writer, innovative media personality,
entrepreneur and a creative artist who
is passionate about using his creative
mind for the betterment of society.
Follow him on Twitter: @TotemGrant
type of food and service which you
wrote glowingly about.
The remarks were meant for an ar-
ticle which Yours Truly wrote about
an outdoor lesuire family outlet re-
cently opened in Hwange meant for
picnic enthusiasts.
On column entitled Hwange's
Vulindlela exports ungwavhang-
wavha to the airwaves, MaMpala
could not hide her excitement on
having another drama group from
the coal mining town being able to
feature in the country's broadcast-
ing stations.
"I cannot wait to see and hear
what our youngsters have to offer
and what this ungwavhangwavha
is all about as far as Hwange is con-
cerned," she said.
Ma Mpala also 'confided' to Yours
Truly that the first missionaries to
set base in Matabeleland North en-
tered through Pandematenga and
she promised to provide more de-
tails concerning this topical issue.
On a parting note, Yours Truly's
new year resolution is 'stolen' from
the late Nelson Mandela famous
words when he was released from
prison: "As I stand before the door
to my freedom, I realise that if I do
not leave my pain, anger and bitter-
ness behind me, I will still be in pris-
on."
Let those with ears hear.
If you know you know.
Till we meet again in the next col-
umn.
 Comments always welcome
on: dubebasill@gmail.com or Twit-
ter@DubeBurzil
 The Standard
Southern RELEVANT, CREDIBLE NEWS

Eye Southern Eye on Sunday | January 9 to 15 2022 S11

BRIEFS
BCC incurs US$3500 loss
after fight with vendors
BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has reportedly lost
an estimated US$3500 after it failed to find suitable
property to attach from a vendor’s union it had won
a lawsuit against.
Town clerk Christopher Dube is quoted in the lat-
est council minutes as saying the Bulawayo Upcom-
ing Traders Association had taken the BCC to court
after the closure of their vending sites in the city cen-
tre, along 5th Avenue.
"Council had defended the matter and the court
had ruled in favour of council. They were further or-
dered to pay council’s wasted costs which were in
the region of US$3500. Efforts to recover this mon-
ey were proving to be fruitless and unfortunately
this association did not have any attachable prop-
erty," read the council minutes. "Authority was here-
by sought to write-off these costs to avoid further
loss of money in pursuit of a debt whose recovery
chance was very slim. Discussion ensued and the
Chamber Secretary (Sikhangele Zhou) explained
that the 5th Avenue vending site had been closed
due to the COVID-19 outbreak." – BY SILAS NKALA
Minister petitioned over bulk meters
BY STAFF REPORTER
GWANDA residents and a local civic group
have petitioned Matabeleland South Pro-
vincial Affairs minister Abednico Ncube to
facilitate the removal of bulk water meters
at the town’s main reservoir.
In the petition dated January 3, which
was copied to the Zimbabwe National Wa-
ter Authority (Zinwa), the Gwanda Resi-
dents Association (GRA) and the Commu-
nity Youth Development Trust (Cydt) said
residents were being denied access to wa-
ter following the installation of the meters.
Zinwa installed the meters at the main
reservoir to stop the municipality from ac-
cessing treated water without payment.
The petitioners said Zinwa often discon-
nects water supplies to the municipality
over outstanding payments, denying rate-
payers access to water.
“The residents and the youths are of the
opinion that if nothing is done to force Zin-

Power outages hit Dete, wa to disconnect these meters, the com-

munity of Gwanda is bound to face exten- Zinwa spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga

Hwange businesses
SOME businesses in parts of Hwange and
Lupane districts in Matabeleland North have com-
plained that they have incurred huge losses due to
an almost month long power outage.
A representative of the businesses, Jealous San-
sole who operates a service station and butchery
at Cross Dete said they have since been forced to
scale down operations due to the problem.
“Since December we have no electricity and
during the festive season we lost quite a lot in busi-
ness. I operate butchery and a service station at
Cross Dete turn off Binga centre but we have since
closed due to absence of electricity,” Sansole said.
sive water supply challenges,” the petition
reads.
“Facilitate a disconnection of those bulk
prepaid water meters and advise Zinwa to
consider installing them in all government
departments, which have proven to be the
biggest debtors. Zinwa should always con-
sider the plight of residents in as far as ac-
cess to water is concerned – many women
and girls were raped in the previous years
in their quest of looking for water in ward
5.”
Zinwa spokesperson Marjorie Munyon-
ga said the water authority has no plans to
remove the meters.
"At the moment, our position has not
changed. We are installing prepaid water
meters to all our clients. We have written
to all the ministries informing them of the
same, and also consulted our clients,” Mu-
nyonga said.
Ncube could not be reached for comment
on the issue.
The municipality and Zinwa are at log-
gerheads over the control of water reticu-
lation. In August 2021, GRA and CYDT rep-
resentatives met the Local Government
minister July Moyo over the control of the
precious resource.
Government allowed Zinwa to take over
all water functions countrywide in 2006, a
decision that was later reversed following
protests from local authorities.
But Zinwa still controls the water sup-
plies at the town, and sewer infrastructure
of councils such as Gwanda.

Bulawayo dam levels still depressed

“The meat in our cold rooms and refrigerators
got rotten because of lack of electricity. I am also
not able to sell fuel at the service station because
the generator cannot run for more than 24 non-
stop. I am speaking on behalf of many business
people here who are all at standstill because of this
problem.– BY SILAS NKALA
Visually-impaired
children face challenges
VISUALLY-IMPAIRED children in Bulawayo and
other cities and towns in Zimbabwe are struggling
to access learning materials amid revelations that
most public libraries in the country do not have
books in Braille for the new curriculum.
This comes at a time when most pupils with vis-
ual impairment are struggling to take part in online
lessons, which require one to have a learning gadg-
et, and a good eyesight.
Bulawayo Public Library Braille coordinator Kil-
lion Dube told The Southern Eye that visually im-
paired students had no Braille exercise books to
write on.
“We have a challenge with getting Braille paper,
and to produce books in Braille for the new curricu-
lum, and for the embossers to manufacture Braille
books,” Dube said.
“We have also been severely affected by the
Covid-19 pandemic, which has resulted in limit-
ed resources and funding. This has affected us im-
mensely as some pupils lack books in Braille for
both reading and writing.” - BY METHEMBE SIBANDA
BY PATRICIA SIBANDA
WATER levels in Bulawayo city’s dams re- Umzingwane Dam
mains low at 53% despite the heavy rains that
pounded the area over the past few weeks
with the Bulawayo City Council saying it is
still reviewing plans to decommission Umz-
ingwane Dam.
Last month, BCC announced plans to de-
commission the dam after the water levels
went down to 6.7%.
BCC Engineer Sikhumbuzo Ncube told
The Southern Eye on Sunday said it was not
automatic that inflows to the dams would im-
mediately rise despite the current good rains.
“Indeed there is too much rain in the city
but not where our dams are situated. There-
fore, we are still examining Umzingwane
dam so that we can make a decision on wheth-
er to decommission it or not,” Ncube said on far the water has gone up, but as of now noth- to last time,” Moyo said.
the side-lines of the water and sewerage ser- ing is showing in terms of that dam,” Ncu- If the decommissioning is done, the de-
vices improvement project, water and servic- be said. velopment is set to pile more misery on res-
es delivery indaba that was held at the Large Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo idents who are currently grappling with wa-
City Hall in Bulawayo on Friday. said the current dam water levels in Bula- ter-shedding.
He also said the ground water level has not wayo were averaging 53%. Ncube said they recommissioned Umzing-
significantly increased. “We are currently looking at 53% dam wa- wane last year when it was at 16% in terms
“The ground water level is a little high but ter levels for all the dams combined in the of water levels. He said the Upper Ncema
the inflows are seriously not that much. We city. The situation at Umzingwane dam is not Dam was also recommissioned two years
make use of a gauge so that we can see how looking good as it is sitting at 5, 7% compared back when it was at its lowest.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
NKAYI — Lilian Mdlongwa, 19, a first-time moth-
er from Manomano village, recalls how she almost
lost her baby when she went into labour at Nkayi
district hospital a month ago, when there was com-
plete shutdown of electricity at the whole hospital
as part of load shedding.
“The nurses had only a small rechargeable light
that they used to deliver my son and that of anoth-
er expecting mother that I went into labour with,”
Mdlongwa narrates.
“It was tough, and when I had just delivered, the
nurse who stitched me noticed that she had almost
left some cotton wool inside me.”
“It was dark because the small light had been put
at the centre for them to share, and even that lady
had a similar tale as they almost stitched her cuts
while the cotton wool was inside,” Mdlongwa says.
When The Citizen Bulletin visited the hospital re-
cently, the whole hospital was in complete electric-
ity blackout and none of the administration, thea-
tre and X-ray duties among other day-to-day pro-
grammes of the hospitals were being conducted.
Patients that had come for X-ray examinations,
for instance, were being told to go back to their
homes, or wait until electricity was restored.
But, even for those that waited for up to eight
hours, their examination could not be complet-
ed as electricity was restored and immediately cut
off ten minutes later with the darkness extending
throughout the night.
In September the country’s electricity provider,
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution
Company (ZETCDC) implemented countrywide 12-
hour load shedding due to power generation issues
at Hwange coal powered station.
According to the District Medical Officer Thaba-
ni Moyo, the problem of electricity the hospital is
experiencing started about two months ago, and
has seen many expecting or just delivered mothers
struggling to nurse their babies successfully, espe-
cially at night.
“The challenge, especially to patients and nurs-
ing staff, is largely felt at night,” Moyo notes.
“We have tried to purchase four small lights,
but we can only give them one per ward, and that
light is only used by the nurses on duty, so patients
struggle a lot during this time,” says Moyo.
Matabeland North women with
disabilities at double risk of GBV
BY GEORGINA SOKO.
Emily trips and falls to the ground as she tries
to escape her attacker; she fumbles into the air
as if trying to grab something but she is just not
strong enough.
An order clothed in a cold threat booms as she
recognises the voice as belonging to her uncle.
Everything around her is blurry as she retreats
into a cocoon as he rapes her repeatedly. She
knows in a moment it will all be over and her mind
wanders off.
Emily (15) is not your typical ordinary teen-
ager. She is visually-impaired and is heavily de-
pendent on adult members of her family to get
around, something that increased her risk of sex-
ual abuse and the subsequent cover-up that en-
sued.
She has been subjected to sexual violence at
the early age of 11 by several members of her
family.
Her attempts to report the abuses to her
mother were in vain as instead of taking action
she was cowed into hiding them.
At 14, she stopped reporting and along the
way she contracted a sexually transmitted infec-
tion and was denied medical treatment over us-
ing traditional herbs for fear it might expose the
abuse.
Emily’s heartbreaking story is an example of
many similar testimonies of persons with disabil-
ities in Hwange and Binga.
Making up an estimated 10% of Zimbabwe’s
national population according to ZIMSTAT 2019
census, persons with disabilities seemingly re-
main an invisible and excluded group across all
levels of society.
It is also widely acknowledged that women
with disabilities are at a heightened risk of sexu-
al violence and twice as likely to experience do-
mestic violence.
Further evidence indicates that women with
disabilities are four times more likely to suffer
sexual violence as well as at risk of intimate part-
In Nkayi, pregnant women
deliver in the dark
The power cuts at Nkayi district hospital pose a great danger to delivering mothers
Mdlongwa says during the week she was in hos-
pital following delivery, she relied on her neigh-
bour’s phone torch to change her newly-born nap-
pies, clean the umbilical cord or comfort her wail-
ner violence than their able-bodied counter-
parts. Research has shown that generally wom-
en and girls will experience physical or sexual vi-
olence in their lifetimes.
There are no official statistics on the total
number and percentage of women with disa-
bilities in Zimbabwe however, the Inter-Cens-
al Survey by ZIMSTAT states that the proportion
of males to females with disabilities is 56 and 44
percent respectively.
Although women with disabilities represent
56% of the female population there is too little
attention given to them with the few studies de-
voted to disability and gender-based violence
all highlighting the vulnerability of women and
girls with disabilities to various forms of violence.
Interestingly 80% of women with disabilities
living in rural areas are unable to meet their own
needs and are heavily dependent on family and
friends.
According to a case study carried out by Dis-
ability Agenda Forum (DAF), a Matabeleland
North focused disability rights organisation in
Hwange and Binga districts, women and girls
with disabilities are at a heightened risk of vio-
lence and remain excluded from basic services,
such as education, health, work and social sup-
port.
“Our field experience and research in Binga
and Hwange districts have shown us that wom-
en and girls with disabilities in particular face
double marginalisation as they remain excluded
from basic services, such as education, health,
work and social support,” says Octavia Phiri, DAF
director.
“This development in turn heights their risk
of exposure to gender-based violence and ex-
ploitation. Having the disability in the first place
makes them vulnerable and their inability to
fight back when attacked or violated. Our con-
dition exposes us as women with disabilities to
abuse as we are taken advantage of easily and
that is what results in us being at double risk to
Southern Eye on Sunday January 9 to 15 2022 S12
ing baby.
“We breastfed in the dark,” she adds.
“The light that the nurses use services everyone
and during that time, there were over ten of us in
GBV,” says Phiri.
She says myths, culture, stigma and discrim-
ination were fueling the risks of women falling
victim to different forms of abuse resulting in un-
derreporting.
“Stigma, myths and cultural beliefs amongst
other factors play a leading role in fueling GBV.
You find women and girls with disabilities be-
ing sexually abused for ritual purposes as well
as because of beliefs such as if one sleeps with
a woman who has a disability you get rich or will
be cured of a disease or curse.”
Phiri adds that most of them don’t report
because they fail to get services due to being
shunned by service providers as there is a lot of
stigma and discrimination when it comes to dis-
ability.
So most cases go unreported and when they
are reported, are taken for granted.
She says oftentimes perpetrators are family
members on whom the woman or girl depends
on which led to cases being covered up and the
abuse continues unabated.
Phiri has called for disability inclusion in the
fight to end GBV arguing that it is part of the in-
terventions that can fight stigma and discrimina-
tion.
Anna Mandizha-Ncube, director of Buwalo
Matiliko Trust (BMT), a Hwange-based human
rights organisation says access to services such
as the police station or health facility is one of
the factors that make women and girls with dis-
abilities experience a higher degree of vulnera-
bility to GBV.
“You want to talk about issues to do with re-
liable transport, access to the road network, ac-
cess to health facilities that accommodate peo-
ple living with disabilities as they come into the
health facility or police station. A very good ex-
ample is if you go to Hwange police station there
are a flight of stairs as you get into the charge of-
fice. Now a woman with a disability is unable to
negotiate entry into the charge office for them
News
the ward and the same light was also being used to
assist in the labour section, so its use was based on
emergencies.”
Moyo says they have tried to rope in the ZETCDC
officials from the district without any fruitful out-
comes.
He says the feedback that they get is that the
hospital is equipped with a solar system, but it also
has some issues despite it being only two years old.
“We have a solar system that covers the materni-
ty labour wards, post-natal ward, theatre, mortuary
and the pharmacy but even so, we have a challenge
with that solar system because it doesn’t pull and
the batteries are always too low such that we fail to
even use them.” Moyo said.
Provincial medical director Admire Kuretu says
the Nkayi solar system has not been connected to
the whole hospital and is only meant to cover criti-
cal areas like maternity and theatre and the health
ministry’s head office is aware of the Nkayi situa-
tion..
“The solar system works, the problem is that the
installation is not complete and it covers a small
part of the hospital,” Kuretu says.
He adds that they have been pushing the head
office to connect the other departments like the
wards, the mortuary health information, the admin-
istration block and the X-ray department.
* This article was originally published by The
Citizen Bulletin, a nonprofit news organisation
that produces hard-hitting, hyperlocal report-
ing and analysis for the southwestern region of
Matabeleland.
to place their report, it then becomes cumber-
some and a hindrance.”
She blames the justice delivery system for fail-
ing survivors of GBV as most cases fail to see the
light of day as a result of poor investigations.
This she says also contributed to the low re-
porting of GBV cases amongst the special group.
“Yes, a certain number is reported but what
happens after the report is what is very key,
there is a lot of gender injustice within the de-
livery system. Sometimes a report is made infor-
mally and when it comes to investigations where
a survivor has to assist police like making state-
ments it will continuously need one to be pre-
sent at the station and sometimes this is not so
feasible for women living disabilities.”
Human rights activists agree that the Covid-19
pandemic and lockdown have had a very seri-
ous negative impact on women especially wom-
en with disabilities as they were locked down to-
gether with their perpetrators with no way of re-
prieve as imposed restrictions stifled reporting
of these abuses. Accessing services such as a po-
lice station or health centre were made impossi-
ble as one had to have travel documents to pass
through roadblocks.
Matabeleland North provincial development
officer, Masauso Phiri says the government has
several interventions in place to end GBV which
included laws and programming.
“The Domestic Violence Act which criminalis-
es GBV is another intervention that the govern-
ment has put in place to curb the scourge. The
government, in partnership with organisations
such as Leornard Cheshire, is implementing the
“access to justice for disabled women and girls
as well as the inclusive mainstreaming of gen-
der and GBV. Disability-friendly programmes for
women and girls living with disabilities through
education and social welfare are also being im-
plemented.”
He says limited access to opportunities such
as education, decision making and productive
assets coupled with biological make-up is expos-
ing the special group to abuse and exploitation.
* This article was originally published by
The Citizen Bulletin, a nonprofit news organi-
sation that produces hard-hitting, hyperlocal
reporting and analysis for the southwestern
region of Matabeleland.