Combative war veterans chairperson, Victor Matemadanda has urged war vets to reject bond notes saying they will be introduced to enrich a few individuals in the G-40 faction.

Matemadanda was speaking at a war veterans meeting held at Masvingo Polytechnical College last week Saturday.

“The black market is already there – and now they want to bring bond notes? This must be a joke, where is the money – I mean US dollars! These people think they are clever, they are very corrupt and they want the ordinary person to suffer.

“I passed through town only to see thousands of people queuing to get their money – that is not acceptable at all,” said Matemadanda.

Turning to the missing US$15 billion, Matemadanda said it was shocking that no one was arrested over the issue, adding that it was proof that some ministers know the person(s) who took the money.

“USD$15 billion went missing and there are people who know the exact figure to the last cent but I shudder to imagine no one knows where the money is. No arrests have been made and no suspects were apprehended. This clearly shows the levels of corruption in this government.

“For the past months there were no queues at banks like what we are seeing today. There was enough money for everyone, where did the money go now. Are the banks leaking? They want to give us bond notes while they loot all the US dollars,” bemoaned Matemadanda.

The current cash shortages were caused by one of the alleged G40 frontman, Patrick Zhuwao, who caused panic in the banking sector earlier this year with his threats to forcibly shut down foreign banks that failed to meet requirements for his discredited interpretation of indigenisation.news

War veterans last weekend pulled off their gloves and unleashed their wrath on Generation 40 (G40), saying the faction that is allegedly led by Grace Mugabe is a Western-funded project meant to destroy the ruling party from within.

Speaking during an explosive meeting at Masvingo Polytechnical College last Saturday, the war veterans hailed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa whom they equated to biblical Moses. 

Taking turns to praise the embattled VP whom they said will definitely succeed President Robert Mugabe, the visibly angry war veterans repeatedly chanted the contentious slogan ‘Pasi ne G40’ from the start of the meeting right to the end.

Although he tried hard to speak in metaphors, war veterans Secretary General, Victor Matemadanda made his point clear, saying it was foolish for anyone to believe that Mugabe will be succeeded by anybody other than Mnangagwa.

“Mnangagwa will never unseat Mugabe – he will patiently wait but kana vaMugabe vasisipo (when Mugabe is no longer there) …,” said Matemadanda without completing his statement amid thunderous applause from the floor.

“Mnangagwa is already one step in …he (Mnangagwa) worked with Mugabe for over 50 years now, nhasi ndiye oita havi iyo mhino yapinda? Mnangagwa is not under any pressure, in fact how can you be seen putting yourself under pressure to get in the bus when you are already inside? Those outside are the ones under pressure, not Mnangagwa,” said Matemadanda.

Punctuating his speech with bits of the Karanga dialect, Matemadanda sounded as if he wished he were from the southern region of the country and as if to say it was a given that the next President would be none other than Mnangagwa.

The outspoken war veteran also savaged Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial political commissar, Jeppy Jaboon who is believed to be a disciple of G40, saying he was a small boy who did not understand how the country is ruled.

Matemadanda said war veterans do not recognise the Acting Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Amasa Nhenjana saying he was imposed on them by Saviour Kasukuwere.

 “As war veterans we nullify the decision to suspend Ezra Chadzamira from his post as provincial chairperson. According to us, Chadzamira is still Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson – not Nhenjana,” said Matemadanda.

Matemadanda took also took the opportunity to congratulate Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Shuvai Mahofa saying she was lucky to be alive since some people wanted to kill her for supporting Mnangagwa.

“I am happy to see you Cde Mahofa, you were supposed to be the first to die but they failed,” said Matemadanda without elaborating.

Mahofa thanked the war veterans for being with her in their prayers while she was undergoing treatment in South Africa.

“I am sorry to address you while seated because of my health. I am lucky to be alive and to be with you all today. I could have died but because of your prayers I made it out of hospital.”

“Before I came here, some people called me saying I must not attend the meeting but I told them we have to defend the revolution. Even if I die today, I know I would have contributed towards safeguarding of the revolution,” Mahofa said.

Zanu-PF Youth League national secretary and politburo member Pupurai Togarepi also told the gathering that his life was in danger.

“They want to kill me for standing for the truth. My life is in danger but I will soldier on, I will not quit. Muduvuri and I are targets but we are not looking back.

“Mutsvangwa has been loyal to the President for so long but now he is labelled a sell-out. We have a problem with political scientists who teach what they would have researched in America. People create lies because they want positions,” said Togarepi.

Former Zanu-PF central committee member Jimaya Muduvuri, who was involved in an accident near Mvuma while on his way to the meeting, narrated how he cheated death.

“I was almost gone macomrades, these people kill and they are targeting me and Togarepi. I am a man on a mission and I shall not stop. VP Mnangagwa is the one who sent me to do this job and I will be doing this to the dot,” said Muduvuri.

War veterans national chairman, Christopher Mutsvangwa, who was the guest of honour, castigated ministers who belong to the G40 faction saying they were clueless and only good at twitter.

“G40 ministers are all fools and they do not know how to attract investors. They are given money by Wicknell (Chivayo) so that they go and buy groceries from Dubai but they are very selfish and naïve,” said Mutsvangwa.

Mutsvangwa said his time as a cabinet minister was horrible as he had to be in meetings with G-40 ministers who were ‘daft’.  

“Now they say war vets want Mugabe out. We put Mugabe into office and stood by him all this long and they say we want to betray him now. They should keep dreaming. This is the problem of dealing with people without a direction,” said Mutsvangwa.

The meeting was attended by over one thousand war veterans from Masvingo province and some representatives from all the ten provinces in the country.news

Moses Ziyambi

Just recently, United States Embassy announced the selection of 60 young Zimbabweans who were invited to participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in the United States of America.

YALI is part of the United States’ commitment to invest in the future of Africa and was created out of a recognition of the critical role that young Africans play in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.

The list has 31 males and 29 females with 19 participants residing outside Harare. Three participants are young leaders with disabilities. The participants were selected through a competitive application process and more than 1 600 had applied.

TellZim News caught up with four of the participants.

Samuel Wadzai: Is founder and Executive Director of Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), an organisation representing street vendors; working to enhance their ability to trade freely and create a favourable policy and legislative framework which facilitates access to finance and profitable markets.

Wadzai says he is troubled that vendors are not recognised as entrepreneurs but are instead demonised and harassed like criminals.

“VISET therefore champions their cause by pushing for the removal of obstacles that inhibit street vendors from trading freely and profitably,” says Wadzai.

He has over seven years’ experience in the fields of human capital development, human rights, community mobilisation and institution building. He is also the founding Director of National Vendors Union Zimbabwe (NVUZ).

Wadzai is a former president of the Student Executive Council at the Midlands State University (MSU), Treasurer General of Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) and the Networks Coordinator of Elections Resource Centre.

Nobukhosi Ndlovu: A holder of an Honours degree in human resource management and a Master’s in Marketing Strategy, Nobukhosi worked for a human resources consultancy firm for five years before pursuing her own dream and starting her own company in 2013.

She started Caudliss Trading, a company which trades as Nutrie Foods, with the aim of value addition to agricultural produce while economically empowering rural women farmers.

Her company manufactures peanut butter, maputi, and packages matemba and salt.

“My aim is to grow the Nutrie brand and make it a household name. I want to grow the business, create more employment and tap into the export market. I started small but with hard work and determination, I am growing big,” said Ndlovu.

Faith N. Ndlovu: Is a Programmes Officer at the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) and has worked in the media and non-profit sector for over six years.

Faith’s current work involves initiating, designing and implementing interventions to promote a free, professional, accountable and ethical media sector in Zimbabwe as well as monitoring and evaluating programmes.

She started her career as a researcher with the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe, an independent Trust working to promote balanced news reporting in Zimbabwe.

She joined the VMCZ in 2014 where she has assisted the organisation to enhance its public engagement programmes, which has contributed to increased public media literacy skills and promoted ethical and professional journalism in Zimbabwe.

She holds an Honours Degree in Journalism and Media Studies from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and is working towards attaining a law degree with the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Sarah Kabiseni: Is a Business Science Accounting graduate from Monash University and is alumnus as a finalist to the prestigious SAICA leadership (SLS) venture. 

She is an advocate of the Green Earth Initiative, a cause aimed at proper waste management through recycling, reducing and reusing for sustainable environmental management. 

An astute entrepreneur, she has run various business ventures in the fields of events and waste management. Currently Sarah works for Total Zimbabwe, mainly in the finance department as an accountant. Within Total she is an active member of the innovation team that focuses on corporate culture improvement and all areas that motivate growth in innovation.

She has passion for sport, and is a co-founder and member of the Lady Hustlers community basketball team that plays in the Harare Basketball League and also plays soccer for the Total football team.news

Tell me something, I mean ndiudzeiwo hama dzangu. Remember some of these things are only understood by those who went to school, I mean vaya vema Standard Six and Form Fours, not isu vana Mapombi. Tell me the reason why people would march against themselves … aah isu we just ask questions because we are not really informed about these things tinozongonzwa yava mhere-mhere people running up and down nekwedu kwaDr Grace Trade Centre kwatinogara uko.  Thousands of people with all their knowledge or lack of it organising that kind of a march in honour of their veteran leader – hanzi he is the best in Africa when I am told Zimbabwe is the worst in terms of economic state. How can you celebrate someone who saw his currency losing value until it became useless, kutorashiwa zvekuti ndikaona Zim dollar kuno kwandinogara ndorikanda muna Mucheke. Ko ndoridii? It’s almost ten years Zim dollar rakandwa mubin and the ministers today are busy kuita majana to tell us kuti Zim dollar is not coming any time soon.  Kkkk hiii varume hamunyari here! 

And someone is busy kuti national pledge muclassroom, kkk this pledge thing is very good but must be done by Mugabe and his ministers! The ministers who have misled the President for 36 years are the ones who are not patriotic not our young children who have never seen Zim dollar. A country which is busy attacking the West and yet the ministers are busy grabbing anything that comes from the West – haa ko Singapore dziripiko West or East? I am not sure but I don’t care about directions but what irks me is that vakangwara havana nhamo, you gather to celebrate when mzaya achizvarirwa in the East kkkk. I was wondering last night apa ndanga ndarohwa nechando munongohwa imi, but I could not imagine Obama’s daughter going to another country to give birth – these are just questions one can’t help but keep asking oneself. When our children are busy ‘pledging’, theirs are busy doing other things with some whites abroad…just my winter thoughts.

Haiwawo iniwo ndinazvo, after all my children will never go to school because I can’t afford to pay fees. Ini ndichitoshaya zvangu yema banana kuzoti fees. I was shocked this week when I decided to do my usual checks mu town, you know, looking for some leftovers from some shops and restaurants mutown. I was really shocked to see that a million men are marching everywhere. Go to every bank you want and you see people marching in support of our iconic leader kkkk hey mavakoshesa. Are they still celebrating? We have queues everywhere!

Tsvangirai was right after all – soon after 2013 elections, Tsvangirai said Zanu-PF was not going to rig the economy. Look at what is happening! I think very few people have something to celebrate since 2013, we are going back. By the time we reach 2018, Zimbabwe will be worse than her 2008 situation – so basically, someone has literally reversed all the efforts to rebuild this country made during the inclusive government.

Ndini uyauya wekusaziva so be patient I will ask another question- pakazomboiswa mamwe masanctions here after 2013? I think some people must just learn to tell the truth! Vakomana kupedza term yose kuri kutukana nekudzingana mugovernment chete and nothing developmental and then someone calls for a million men march – a march that leaves Mapombi with a million questions!

Murombo munhu hamundivigi ndirimupenyu so you must listen when I ask these million questions! Tell me what you achieved by the million march apart from leaving the schools impoverished. Kwedu kuchitima uko tinomahwa maticha achichema-chema…

Regai ndinyarare mungazoti ndotaurisa… Mukadarika nekwedu kwaChirimudombo movaudza kuti Mapombi mupenyu but wanzwa nechando, gore rino kwatonhora vakomana ….lonyaka kuyaqanda bakithi, icho chando chazotaurisa Mapombi ne Ndebele vamwe zvavo varimo mudzimba umo. When is another million march? Kkkk.mapombi

…As Chinda boys dominate central region league

Shabanie football club is in a no nonsense mood this season as it continued to dominate the Zifa Central Region Division One League with a two-nil drabbing against Kwekwe Sables at Maglass Stadium over the weekend.

The win over the weekend saw Chinda Boys, as Shabani FC is popularly known by its legion of fans, remaining on top of the log table.  

Kwekwe Sables started on high note exchanging clean passes and switching play from left to right but lost concentration in the dying minutes of the first half. It was in fact a tale of two halves as the hosts also dominated the second half and, it seems, lucky was on the Chinda Boys’ side as they managed to convert all the chances that came their way.

Shabani skipper Nixon Mpote fired home a cross from the right flank before Eria Phiri converted a penalty to seal Shabani’s victory. The penalty came after Maxwell Mpofu was hackled down in the 18-Area box.

Shabanie FC gaffer Tendai Chikuni was happy with the performance of his boys after 90 minutes. 

“I am happy; the boys played well and we hope to maintain the winning formula,” said Chikuni.

Sables coach Kenneth Chembe also said he was happy with the performance of his boys despite loosing the match. 

“The boys played very well since we are still trying combinations.This is a new team, it’s different from the one that was playing last year, so the boys showed character and we lost fighting,” said Chembe.sport

The Minister of State for Liaison on Psychomotor Activities in Education, Josaya Hungwe told people who attended the launch of the provincial Culture Week at Danamombe High School in Chivi that they should be proud of their culture if they want to be respected by the outside world.

Hungwe said observation of totems was one tradition that people no longer take seriously.

“As we grew, we spoke dialects with deep Shona expressions with which we would easily be identified as people from Masvingo. We were so proud to be recognised as such because it revealed who we were, and being recognised from such archetypal traits is culture, that’s what makes you who you are.

“Culture can also be upheld through recognising ourselves with totems. Totems are an integral part of our culture,” said Hungwe.

Hungwe called for cultural exchange programmes to promote cross-cultural harmony.

“Let’s involve the elderly from different places in the country as they are the custodians of our culture from whom we can learn a lot,” added Hungwe.

Provincial Education Director (P.E.D) Zedias Chitiga said it is the parents’ duty to teach their children cultural values at home.

“Children learn better from their parents than they can ever learn from school teachers or from anyone else. The duty to instill cultural values should therefore start at home,” Chitiga said.

The launch of the week-long programme marked the beginning of the celebration of cultural diversity in the country through various cultural and artistic expressions.

The programme falls under the auspices of the National Arts Council with this year’s theme being ‘Towards Increased Community Participation’.

The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity by UNESCO in 2001 proclaimed May 21 of each year as the World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.news

Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday mocked the snail pace at which Zimbabwe is developing its institutions, saying if the trend continues, it will take a whole generation before anything new is built.

Mnangagwa was speaking during the official opening of the new Masvingo High Court, the country’s third, while long cash queues loomed nearby at ZB bank, CBZ and CABS.

The court is not only the country’s first High Court in the 36 years of independence, but is also the first to be opened after the Bulawayo High Court was opened by White settlers in 1894, following the Matabeleland Order-in-Council.

“Kana zvichidazve mamwe makore akadai, kuzowana toona imwe ahhh tose tinenge taenda kuvazhinji (If it would take as many more years, we would all be dead when the next high court is opened),” said Mnangagwa.

He took a jibe at the ‘we don’t have money’ bandwagon in government, saying the tired excuse was leading to stagnation.

“Ukanomutsa Chinamasa avete uchiti ‘Chinamasa, Chinamasa!’ unohwa oti, ‘handina mari.’ Ndo mamukire ake iwawo. Ukanomutsa Mangudya uchiti ‘Mangudya, Mangudya!’ unohwa oti, ‘the economy is about to take off.’ Asi tichangoramba tichienda kuvarume ivava kuti tibatsirike. (The Finance ministry and the Reserve Bank have now perfected the excuse),” said Mnangagwa.

Earlier on Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku had also spoken out against making excuses of lack of money on projects that require little funding.

“The budget we used to establish this court took very little of the country’s budget. We chose Masvingo over places like Gweru because we had our own building which we simply upgraded. We do not have a similar property in Gweru but we are working on the plans,” said Chidyausiku.

Chidyausiku praised the determination of Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Vice-Chancellor, Rungano Zvobgo, who had offered the prestigious Herbert Chitepo Law School’ Moot Court as a seat for the high court, though the offer was turned down on technical grounds. 

Council of Chiefs President, Chief Fortune Charumbira castigated official ineptitude, saying lack of resources was no longer an excuse when others are making a difference.

“Be a resource yourself, that is why you were put in that job. It only requires some innovativeness and some common sense which a university degree on its own cannot give you,” said Chief Charumbira.

After the event, throngs of people who had queued for cash at the banks were seen scurrying to join the queue for the free food offered to invited guests.news

War veterans aligned to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa are baying for Bikita South Member of Parliament (MP) Jeppy Jaboon’s blood amid reports that the Zanu PF Masvingo province Political Commissar (PC) has jumped ship to join the Generation 40 (G40) faction.

Addressing liberation fighters and war collaborators in Masvingo over the weekend, War Vets secretary general Victor Matemadanda attacked Jaboon for aligning with G40 before he wished him dead.

“Nyika ino haina here varoyi zvife (Are there no witches in this area to kill him?). We used to work together with his father but I don’t know what got into the mind of this young man,” said Matemadanda.

When contacted for comment, Jaboon refuted allegations that he is aligned to G40 faction and insisted that he supports President Robert Mugabe and the entire leadership.

“I am a son of a war veteran and I respect all who fought for the liberation struggle. I think its mere politics to say I am aligned to G40 – the truth is that I am even closer to VP Mnangagwa than them and I respect him because he is the second in command. The VP even attended the burial of my father. Those who wish me dead have a different agenda and wanted to hide behind VP Mnangagwa’s name,” said Jaboon

Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa however said war vets should not worry because she knows how to deal with Jaboon.

“He (Jaboon) is a small boy; I know how to handle him,” said Mahofa.news

Samson Karekwaivanane Mudzanire, the father of the Spirit Embassy Church founder, Ubert Angels, has died. He was 79. 

Burial arrangement details were still sketchy by the time of going to print but one of the children confirmed the death and said burial has been slated for today (Thursday).

“We are still working on burial arrangements but it’s likely to be on Thursday at our home in Chief Bota’s area in Zaka. We are still in the process of chronicling his life history,” he said.

Mudzanire was a teacher by profession and he rose through the ranks to become a headmaster, a position he held until he retired a few years ago.news

Pupils at Mukaro High School who are expected to sit for the June and November Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC) examinations respectively are at risk of failing following the closure of the school last week by the authorities (Roman Catholic Church) amid reports that the church wants two teachers at the school transferred with immediate.

Masvingo Provincial Education Director (PED) Zedius Chitiga said the school is still closed but said the ministry is running around to make sure that the situation is back to normal.

“Mukaro is still closed; we are in the process of solving the problem. The school authority closed the school without consulting the parents and the ministry, however, we are taking measures to make sure that pupils rights are upheld. I cannot ascertain the dates for the reopening but we are expediting the process and very soon the situation will be back to normal,” said Chitiga.

The Roman Catholic indicated in a press statement last week that the closure was a result of two ‘stubborn’ teachers whom they accuse of masterminding the 2012 pupils demonstration which saw female pupils walking 20km from the school to the District Education offices at Mpandawana town.news