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Manicaland table tennis shines amid sponsorship challenge

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Manicaland table tennis shines amid sponsorship challenge

Branton Matondo

Mutare-Manicaland table tennis players, who have wailed for long on lack of sponsorship rose to the occasion at this year’s edition of Zim Open Table Tennis tourney in the capital Harare scooping gold, silver and bronze medals in different age groups.
Kudakwashe Madoro who participated in the Under 10 category scooped silver behind Kundai Goremushanu from Old Windsor Primary School.
Trust Madoro who already has over 40 medals in his six year career was the major highlight as he proved too good for his age.
Trust, aged 14 scooped gold in Under 15 cluster ahead of Emmanuel Muzeza from Winwood College of Mashonaland East.
As if that was not enough Trust went on to scoop a well-deserved bronze medal in the Under 21 group behind Makanaka Muriravanhu (Gold) and Kuzivakwashe Chidakwa (Silver) from Goromonzi High.
Commenting on the tournament held at Divaris Makaharis, Coach Kudakwashe Madoro said the tournament was tough but Manicaland representatives managed to get their name on the medals board.
“We went to Harare with 12 players from under 10 to open. It was a tough tournament altogether. However, we managed to win in various age groups. Nyasha Ganyekanye scooped silver, Adriel Kasikira scooped bronze and Tristein Gororo finished fourth. All of them are from Rock of Ages Primary. In the boys Under 10, Kudakwashe Madoro scooped a Silver medal and Kuzivakwashe Nyamasoka scooped Bronze. In the girl’s under 12, Tamukanashe Katsikira settled for Bronze. Then in the Ladies open, Vimbai Makuvaza scooped Silver and in open men, Mulungisi Moyo settled for fourth place,” said Madoro.
Madoro added that participants from Manicaland would have gone with more than 12 athletes but the main obstacle is poor funding and sponsorship in the sport.
“The reason why we went with 12 athletes is that athletes fund themselves. We are appealing to the corporate world to assist us in terms of funding so that our players are able to participate. Since table tennis is still not yet a main stream game, there is no funding. We have a lot of talented players that fail to participate in these tourneys. This weekend, there was a tournament in Gauteng, South Africa but no one managed to go there to represent us. There is also a Capetown open tournament in South Africa underway but there is also no one there from this side,” he added.
Meanwhile Vikram Singh, who has vast experience in the sport was edged by rising talent Tinotenda Fambira in the Open Men finals.
Fambira won 3-2 after a stellar performance in the final set.
The two day tournament graced by athletes from all four corners of Zimbabwe was sponsored by Divaris Makaharis High School, Chakaz, Old Mutual, Devine International Travel, Nashenic Freight Services and Huatai Batteries.
Table tennis is a staple in the eastern parts of the world. Over the years, the mini version of court tennis has grown through leaps and bounds in Africa.

It’s difficult to find relevance -Hip hop sensation Arthur Kay

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It’s difficult to find relevance -Hip hop sensation Arthur Kay

Branton Matondo

MUTARE-Budding Mutare based hip hop artist Arthur Takudzwa Kaaraidze who is known in music circles as Arthur Kay is bubbling with excitement following his latest released album recently took time to shed on his career.
While the hiphop genre took time to feature prominently on the local scene, Arthur Kay said he has worked on a number of projects, which he believes are going to take the local hiphop scene by storm despite the road being bumpy.
“So far I have worked on a couple of projects with Pathum records and C Bleech Music. With Pathum I have worked on an album called Pathum which was released in 2018. It was nominated for the best duo in 2020 at Zim Hip Hop awards.
“After that I worked on a mix tape called Takudzwa (We’re Honoured) in 2020 with Pathum records which featured Aguila, Top dogg, Chana and Herb mixed and mastered by Pathum records and produced by Tupoetik, Aky oan and Sos. I then started a project with C Bleech music and we worked on a project (album) called Chikanga which we released on March 22, 2023.
“Relevance is a challenge as a hip hop artist but it can be worked on because people need to relate and understand the art of hip hop. In terms of finances, it’s also a challenge because marketing wise, finances are very much crucial in the industry,” he added.
Arthur Kay also declared his wishes to work on collaborations with prominent artists and shed light on his recently released album which seems to have left the artist on cloud nine.
“I have done collaborations with artists like Aguila on a number of tracks. I have worked with Chana, Virus and Chakwiiti. I’m also looking forward to working with prominent artists in the future.
“On my latest album, I can say social experiences motivated this project. Growing up every day in Chikanga facing reality, I believe as a youth there are a lot of things we take for granted as time passes by and we don’t advise each other on things that are crucial in our lives, so I used this project as a voice to speak all the matters that we tend to give a blind eye to,” he said.
Arthur Kay also highlighted that he is working on a new project though he could reveal much on it.
“Yes, I am currently working on many projects but cannot mention much upon that upcoming project,” said Arthur Kay.

Adventurous RBZ: Finding A Balance Is Becoming a Tall Order

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Adventurous RBZ: Finding A Balance Is Becoming a Tall Order

By Zvikomborero Sibanda

Generally, monetarists believe that price inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon. This view holds for Zimbabwe, a country that has struggled to enjoy durable stability whenever it has access to money printing machines. The local currency is injected into the system at a faster pace than the rate of growth of economic activity in the real sector.
Since the introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar in 2019, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has tried to implement a myriad of policy actions to clamp instability including the enactment of an infamous ban on all commercial bank lending. In addition to gold coins which have failed to arrest incessant ZWL and price instability, the Bank is now introducing digital gold tokens. The column, therefore, seeks to explore the benefits and likely shortcomings of gold tokenization.
The RBZ introduced gold coins in July 2022 in an attempt to clamp incessant ZWL decline and out-of-control price inflation by reducing the domestic demand for the US dollars (USD) and mopping excess ZWLs in circulation. RBZ statistics show that as of 10 March 2023, a cumulative 31 866 gold coins had been sold for more than ZWL25.8 billion. However, price developments show that the injection of gold coins is outpaced by the injection of new ZWL liquidity into the economy as fiscal spending escalates ahead of the 2023 harmonized elections. This is exerting excessive borrowing pressure on the Treasury. Latest RBZ statistics show treasury bill (TB) issuance gaining 4% in February 2023 to reach ZWL332.6 billion. In year-on-year terms, issued TBs mounted by a staggering 576% from ZWL49.2 billion in Feb 2022.
Increased fiscal spending coupled with rising quasi-fiscal operations from the RBZ is creating excess ZWL liquidity and destabilizing the exchange rate. Latest February 2023 statistics show ZWL-denominated broad money (M3) spiking by 13.2% to ZWL1.21 trillion from January 2023 levels. In annual terms, the monetary aggregate registered a 334% growth from ZWL279.38 billion attained in February 2022. Disaggregating M3 into ZWL and USD components removes the effect of exchange rate movements. As such, these statistics are showing unsustainable growth in money creation putting pressure on ZWL prices to mount.

The latest April 2023 inflation statistics show the weighted consumer price index (CPI) gaining 2.3 percentage points on March 2023 rate of 0.1%. The increase in April blended inflation rate is the biggest monthly jump since June 2022. Elevated inflationary pressures particularly for ZWL transactions are largely emanating from the massive deterioration of the local currency against the US dollar in both markets. In year-to-date terms, the ZWL has lost about 34.7% and 55% in the official interbank and alternative markets respectively. Largely due to forex liquidity challenges in official markets, businesses are forced to benchmark their ZWL prices at or above the parallel rate. Yet, RBZ exchange regulations allow only for a 10% margin above the prevailing official rate.
Apart from the exchange rate pass-through to inflation, price inflation is also being fuelled by prolonged electricity load-shedding (rationing) schedules. Generally, electricity is a critical production enabler, its scarcity is an albatross to domestic production as it increases business operating costs. In addition, fragile global supply chains due to the Russia-Ukraine war are sustaining global inflation thereby disproportionately affecting net-importing nations like Zimbabwe through imported inflation -mainly high prices of food, fertilizers, and fuels.
With ZWL and inflation running amok, the monetary authority has now introduced digital gold tokens. Tokenization operates on the premise that the use of technology such as distributed ledger technology (blockchains) enables the conversion of real-life tangible assets such as gold into digital tokens representing them. These can be further split into fractions, meaning that everyone can own a part of the asset they are keen on without possessing a large financial capital.
The gold-backed digital tokens will be issued with effect from 8 May 2023. The tokens will be fully backed by physical gold held by RBZ and shall be introduced in two (2) phases; Phase 1 where gold-backed digital tokens (e-gold cards/wallets) will be issued for investment purposes and Phase 2 where digital tokens will become tradable and capable of facilitating person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-business (P2B) transactions and settlements.
Generally, gold is considered a safe haven investment during downturns and financial crises because of its long history of use as a store of value. Helping it achieve this status are its properties: malleability, portability, aesthetic appeal, virtual indestructibility, universal acceptance, liquidity, and rarity. So, hypothetically, the gold-backed digital tokens complementing the physical gold coins will deepen Zimbabwe’s shallow financial markets, slow ongoing rapid economic re-dollarization, and strengthen the ZWL.
To extract the maximum benefit, the RBZ must adopt advanced technologies such as distributed ledger technology which guarantees transparency and efficiency of transactions and are even difficult to disrupt. Also, advanced technology ensures that all transactions are safely recorded as no documents can be falsified since all data is immutable – it cannot be modified by any person. This will circumvent the dangers of reliance on centralized traditional database systems. These are highly prone to manipulation, may be hacked, and are susceptible to genuine human error.
The tokenization initiative also requires frequent auditing of gold reserves (backing the digital tokens) in RBZ vaults by reputable and independent audit institutions. This will help avoid prior experiences with bond coins which were introduced in 2014. The RBZ introduced the bond coins on the pretext that they were supported by a US$50 million facility extended by the AfricanExport–Import (Afreximbank) bank. Over time, it emerged that authorities minted the coins beyond their collateral limit due to a lack of frequent audits. The bond coins ended up trading at a premium to the US dollar as opposed to the official 1:1 fixed rate. So, if there are no trusted audits of the quantum of gold reserves in vaults versus issued digital tokens, the tokens risk suffering the same fate as bond coins. More so, there is a great need to guard against gold leakages caused by theft and fraud.
Nevertheless, in reality, the use of gold or its variants will likely fail to ameliorate the fragility of the local currency and resultant chronic inflation. This is mainly due to dwindling market confidence and trust in the government which consistently exhibits policy inconsistencies and lacks transparency and accountability – rising corruption cases perpetrated by both elected and unelected public officials.
Zimbabwe also lacks adequate infrastructure to support advanced technologies which are key in ensuring gold production tracking & monitoring to minimize chances of gold leakages and illicit trading. Traceability measures help in curbing criminality as information such as the exact source of gold, holder of gold buying license, and amount of taxes paid on gold exports can be collected and analyzed. Official statistics which are too conservative thanks to Al Jazeera’s Gold Mafia documentary indicate that the nation is losing a staggering US$1.2 billion annually to gold smuggling alone.
These rampant illicit flows will militate against the accumulation of gold reserves which are crucial in supporting the value of gold e-cards. Enabling smuggling are porous borders and ports of entry. The Mines & Minerals (Minerals Unit) Regulations of 2008 (SI 82) established a crack unit, Minerals Unit, composed of the Ministry of Mines, the police, and RBZ. This Minerals Unit however seems to have been captured by a gold smuggling syndicate. It is also demonstrating severe constraints in discharging its mandate partly due to excessive political interference in gold mining, marketing, and trading decision-making.
Furthermore, the nation lacks a clear gold policy. The current policies are not hinged on a clear policy framework for the exploration, production, beneficiation, marketing, and management of gold thus creating room for policy reversals and inconsistencies. Also, there is a limited political will to fully implement direly needed economic and structural reforms to strengthen institutional & regulatory framework, curb leakages, improve social fairness & inclusion, thwart fiscal indiscipline & impunity, and eliminate prevailing excessive pricing distortions inhibiting market competition and innovation.

Zvikomborero Sibanda is an economic analyst and an astute researcher. He writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted via email:

bravosibanda@gmail.com
Twitter: @bravon96

Drunk Chiwundura man kills own father

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Drunk Chiwundura man kills own father

Tinaani Nyabereka

Chiwundura -A 43-year-old man was arrested after fatally assaulting his 76-year-old father in an incident that occurred on April 30, 2023 at around 0700 hours in Kurimakwakanaka village under Chief Gambiza in Gweru.
Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident and urged the members of the public to respect life.
“Once again, we urge members of the public to desist from resorting to violence when resolving disputes to avoid unnecessary loss of lives,” he said.
On April 30, 2023 and at about 0700 hours Amos Tshuma (43) reportedly arrived at his father’s homestead from a beer drink.
It is alleged that he had a misunderstanding with his sister and started assaulting her.
Remias Tshuma (76), father to Amos tried to refrain him from further assaulting his sister.
It is said that this did not go well with Amos who turned to his father and assaulted him indiscriminately all over the body with a stick until he died on the spot.
Matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and arrested Amos.

ZRP nabs two robbers, recovers AK 47 rifle

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ZRP nabs two robbers, recovers AK 47 rifle

TellZim reporter

Following a spate of armed robberies that occurred around Masvingo province between March 2022 and May 2023, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) recently arrested two of the suspects responsible for over 25 robbery cases.

ZRP confirmed the arrests on their official Twitter handle on May 5, 2023.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Nelson Masvingo (44) and Frank Tirivani (36) in connection with 25 armed robbery cases which occurred between March 2022 and May 2023 in Masvingo.

“On 1st May 2023, detectives from CID Masvingo arrested Nelson Masvingo at village 13 Crown Range, Zaka after CCTV footage linked him to a case of armed robbery which occurred at Musvovi Business Centre, Renco, Masvingo. The suspect implicated two other suspects who are still at large and Frank Tirivani, leading to his arrest at Ringirayi village, Zaka,” read the tweet.

Police also recovered an AK 47 and some stolen goods hidden in a cave in Chivamba area of Zaka.

“The arrest led to the recovery of an AK 47 rifle which was hidden in a cave in Chivamba area, Zaka, with a magazine of 31 live rounds of ammunition, five cellphones, an HP Laptop, satchel, two machetes, a comforter blanket and US$ 50.

“The suspects are linked to 25 cases of armed robbery and one of unlawful entry into premises and theft which occurred at Manjirenji Game Park, Chiredzi in March 2022 where an AK 47 with 31 live rounds of ammunition were stolen. The suspects cleared a case of robbery which occurred at Machava clinic, Zaka in January 2023 and four robbery cases which occurred at Gororo Business Centre, Chivi in May 2023,” added the tweet.

Police however urged business people to enhance security at their premises while at the same time declaring war on armed robbery syndicates.

Pay salaries in US$ – ZCTU tells government

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Pay salaries in US$ – ZCTU tells government

Beverly Bizeki

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has urged government to pay workers’ salaries in US$ unlike the current situation whereby workers are paid only allowances in foreign currency while salaries are paid in local currency.
In a speech read on behalf of ZCTU President Florence Taruvinga by second Deputy Secretary General Kudakwashe Munengiwa during Workers’ Day commemorations held in Masvingo at Mucheke Hall on May 1, 2023, the union said the general welfare of workers and citizens has now become pathetic due to the inflation-hit local currency.
“We are aware of the deceitfulness of government and employers in their piecemeal approach of paying allowances in US$ while suppressing salaries in ZW$. That practice is killing us softly,” said Taruvinga.
The union also urged government to honor its October 2022 pledge where the social partners agreed on a minimum wage in US$.
“Labour is currently at war with government over the minimum wage. Social partners agreed on a US$ 150 minimum wage which was supposed to be gazetted with effect from October 2022. That has not been effected and government is adamantly claiming that the US$ 150 was just a recommendation,” added Taruvinga.
As the economic situation worsens, workers have been plunged into deep suffering as the meagre salaries cannot meet the basics required by the citizen and worker.
“Our demand for US$ salaries still stands and is becoming more relevant by the day. The US$ is the only currency that can restore wage value and enhance social security,” said Taruvinga.
As the union celebrated the day under the theme ‘workers demand an inclusive Zimbabwe free from poverty, corruption and oppression’, it also lamented the high unemployment rate faced in the country.
“According to Zimstat, we have 2.8 million unemployed people of working age but its common knowledge that the figure is much higher. There is no way we can address poverty with such a huge number of unemployed and under-employed people in this country. Our government has failed to implement the available frameworks on decent work and formalization of the informal economy,” she said.
The event was attended by various organizations from Masvingo and representatives from across the political divide.

Man kills workmate for demanding respect

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Man kills workmate for demanding respect

Perpetua Murungweni

A 33-year old Chivi man is on the run after he allegedly attacked and killed his workmate who was demanding respect from the former saying he was his senior at work.
The two were reportedly in drunken stupor when they broke into a fight while in a camping tent where they worked for Musipa Construction Company on a project as bricklayers at Nyika Growth Point in Bikita.
On May 2, 2023 at around 10 pm, the now deceased Coolwe Muzamba and his workmate Lawrence Njiva went for a beer drinking at the growth point and came back around 2 am sat before a fire in their tent.
The two reportedly broke into an argument where the deceased was claiming that his co-worker Njiva should respect him because he was a senior employee.
Njiva got angry, picked up a burning stick and hit Muzamba three times and he fell into the fire.
Muzamba was then rescued by colleagues who were there but had sustained burns on his head and he was rushed to Silveira Hospital for treatment.
At around 2 pm the same day his condition worsened and he died.
Njiva had ran away by the time the report was made.
Masvingo Police Provincial Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and said police are appealing for information that may lead to Njiva’s arrest.
“Njiva had ran away by the time the report was made and we are appealing to the public to assist us with information that can lead to his arrest,” said Dhewa.

Mentally challenged woman (22) kills own newborn

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Mentally challenged woman (22) kills own newborn

Beverly Bizeki

In a bizarre case of infanticide, a mentally challenged Mucheke suburb woman killed her child and hid the remains in a plastic bag in her bedroom.
Masvingo Province Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and said the woman is admitted at Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
It is alleged that on April 28, 2023, Rosewita Mupfinho an elderly woman who stays with her 22-year-old challenged relative (name withheld) in Mucheke A suburbs in Masvingo, went home at around 1500 hours where she was met by a bad smell coming from the house.
Mupfinho met the blood drenched woman (name withheld) and asked her where the smell was coming from and the latter told her that was she was on her period which is why she had blood on her clothes.
Mupfinho asked her what had happened to her stomach as she was pregnant and the latter told her that she had been praying seriously and a spirit left her.
Mupfinho however suspected that something terrible could have happened and reported the matter to police.
Police details came and searched the house only to find the remains of the child hidden in a plastic bag with the head and hands cut from the rest of the body.
Police took the remains to the mortuary at Masvingo Provincial Hospital and the woman was taken to the same hospital where she is admitted.
Dhewa urged members of the public to monitor their mentally challenged relatives always.
“We advise members of the public with mentally challenged relatives to always look for their relatives and ensure that they take their medication on time,” said Dhewa.

Wangu Mazodze FC bus accident claims one, injures 30

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Wangu Mazodze FC bus accident claims one, injures 30

TellZim Reporter

Masvingo based Eastern Region Division 1 side Wangu Mazodze FC family has been plunged into mourning following the death of one of their supporters through a road accident.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the death of one person while 30 others sustained injuries when the club’s Rusitu bound bus carrying supporters veered off the road and plunged into a river on May 5, 2023.

The bus was going towards Rusitu where Wangu Mazodze was to play Rusitu Tigers on Saturday.

ZRP confirmed the news on their official Twitter account.

“The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident in which one person died while thirty others were injured when a Higer bus, carrying members of Mazodze Football club veered off the road to the right before plunging into a river at the 9 kilometre peg along Jopa-Kopa road on 07/05/23 at around 1400 hours.

“The body of the victim was taken to Chipinge District Hospital mortuary for post mortem whilst the injured are admitted at the same hospital,” read the tweet by ZRP.

No immediate comment could be obtained from the club by the time of writing.

The team which is riding on a fairy tale start to the 2023 season has won four of their five opening games and reportedly drew in their last fixture over the weekend against Rusitu Tigers.

Manicaland CSOs drive PWD inclusion agenda

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Manicaland CSOs drive PWD inclusion agenda

Branton Matondo

MUTARE-Civic Society Organisations from Manicaland recently conducted a workshop aimed at ensuring inclusion of People with Disabilities (PwDs) as well capacitating non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) sector on how best to handle issues around people with disabilities.
Disability inclusion has been one of the focal points in the drive to deal with segregation of disability organisations and movements.
The training, held at Presbyterian Church in Mutare on April 28, 2023 was earmarked on capacitating CSOs in Manicaland in the area of disability inclusion along with National Association for Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) thematic areas.
NANGO Provincial Coordinator Frank Mukwavaira said disability inclusion is a cross cutting issue that has respects on human rights.
“NANGO carries under its wings an amalgamation of various issues, constituencies and representative groups all with the singular focus of meeting the developmental needs of men, women and children in Zimbabwe. To achieve this, the association has its membership segmented into 10 different thematic sectors including Disability, as one of the cross cutting sectors,” said Mukwavaira.
He said sustainable development of human rights have over the years translated to disability inclusion.
“Mainstreaming human rights-based approach to disability, in combination with targeted measures, will then make the concerns and experiences of persons with disabilities an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all developmental spheres. It was against this background that CSOs within the NANGO Eastern Region in Manicaland province convened for a CSO Disability Training for Civil Society Organizations, facilitated by the Federation of Organizations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ).
“This was also aimed at learning on how to integrate disability inclusion across all sectors to ensure that CSOs inculcate provisions to accommodate PwDs in their programming including the correct terminology as well as right approaches and responsibilities of all stakeholders,” he added.
Mukwavaira added that NANGO remains steadfast on following National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) which also preaches the gospel of inclusivity.
“Disability inclusiveness therefore requires placing PwDs at the centre of any CSOs response, without discrimination, to ensure that they have equal and meaningful access, both in terms of protection, assistance as well as participation in decision making processes.
“NANGO remains committed to complement all efforts in line with the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on ‘leaving no one behind and to reach those furthest first’,” Mukwavaira added.
Quizzed on how important it is to capacitate CSOs with relevant Disability Inclusion programmes, Mhakwe Heritage Foundation Trust Director David Mutambirwa said there is already a gap that needs to be filled when it comes to issues of including PwDs.
“There is a gap on inclusion of people living with disabilities in programming from inception, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. As civil society, we have a propensity to think for them rather than getting it from them. I personally have a problem with the terms consult and participation. Many times these terms are used for cosmetic purposes,” said Mutambirwa.
The workshop was attended by 38 participants from across the civic society sector.

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