Mr Abednego Chigwada

Stanford Chiwanga , Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s leading manager in the field of mining occupational safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ), Mr Abednego Chigwada has been invited to be a guest speaker at the Mining, Technology and Operations (MTO) Forum which will be held in Perth, Australia from tomorrow to Tuesday.

The SHEQ management field is concerned with advising, assisting and auditing company operations to ensure that standards are adhered to. The main objective is to prevent accidents or incidents that might result from abnormal operating conditions and to reduce adverse effects that result from normal operating conditions in mining.

In an interview on Friday, Mr Chigwada said the forum will be made up of mining executives from Australia and New Zealand. He has been invited because he is viewed as a leading figure in mining occupational safety, health and environment.

“The forum agenda is aligned with the most relevant market developments. The event brings together executives from Australia and New Zealand’s leading mining companies, and with such a high-level audience it is imperative that they have the best of the best presenting.

“This is not my first summit. I was the distinguished speaker at the global health and safety summits in London in 2012, Perth in 2013, Johannesburg in 2014 and this year. My presentations have been described as passionate, insightful, good, powerful and energetic.

“In February 2016, I will be in Las Vegas. All these summits focus on high level global trends in occupational safety and health with a view to contribute to the body of knowledge on this subject matter and influence technology and innovation in the SHEQ field” said Mr Chigwada.

Mr Chigwada is rated as one of the top five presenters.

He said: “I have made achievements of an outstanding safety culture built upon an exceptional understanding of human factors. I have developed an accident prevention model; the AKBC model which emphasises on a strong safety leadership culture. I happen to be the founding president of the Zimbabwe Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (ZIOSH) and I also drafted the National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy.

“I have assisted a number of companies from small to large to successfully develop, implement and maintain world class SHEQ standards. I also have assisted my current employer to be the leading company in SHEQ management in the region.”

Mr Chigwada bemoaned the occupational safety, health, environment and quality standards of companies in Zimbabwe and said ZIOSH was finding it hard to induce employers to invest more in protection their employees and the environment they operate in.

“The employment sector is unsuccessfully grappling to find solutions that create zero harm operations. Although large investments have been channelled towards operational risk management, little dividends have been realised, largely because the delivery did not relate to self, other, and the social setting of the recipients to uncover imbalanced worldviews from mono-cultural to trans-cultural realities.

“Analysis of accidents and incidents shows that human error contributes to cause most accidents and exposures to substances hazardous. Hence I have found it necessary to unravel some important aspects of the human factors and share the AKBC model as tested in a mining house in Zimbabwe which managed to attain more than 10 million fatality-free shifts,” he said.

Mr Chigwada is employed by one of the mining giants in Zimbabwe and the company revealed that “Abednego is currently responsible for ensuring that the Group operates according to vigilant SHEQ (safety, health, environment and quality) management practices. As the Group SHEQ Manager he is responsible for the development of a strong and well-informed SHEQ management culture within the company, enabling sound business decisions that balance risk and reward. More to that he assists management in complying with applicable statutory, regulatory and supervisory requirements and coordinating the overall operational risk management system.”

Mr Chigwada has a diploma in Mining Engineering from the Zimbabwe School of Mines, a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Zimbabwe and a Masters Degree in Strategic Management from the Chinhoyi University of Technology. He is currently studying for a PHD in Management, Technology and Innovation at the Da Vinci Institute in South Africa.

Minister Mzembi

Richard Muponde, Business Correspondent
THERE could be a boon for tourism in the country after Zambia, Zimbabwe’s neighbour has introduced an e-visa, a situation expected to see improved tourist arrivals into the two countries which share the majestic Victoria Falls.

The two sister countries had for a long time been using a system where visitors apply for visas at the port of entry which was cumbersome and frustrating especially to tourists who intended to visit the two countries. Tourists can now apply online in their home countries and have them stamped at the port of entry to visit the two destinations which also have a UniVisa.

Zambia Tourism Agency last week announced that the e-visa was introduced last month in the neighbouring country.

The new development also comes in the wake of United Nations World Tourism Organisation secretary-general Dr Taleb Rifai announcing that Zambia was one of the top three fastest growing tourist destinations in the world sharing the spot with China.

The situation will see both Zambia and Zimbabwe benefiting from this vote of confidence as tourists who flood to see the Victoria Falls from Zambia cross to the Zimbabwean side using the same visa. In 2013 the two countries co-hosted the UNWTO general assembly which put them on the world map as safe tourism destinations.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head of corporate affairs Mr Sugar Changonda said the developments happening in Zambia were a boon for Zimbabwe tourism too.

“As you know Zambia and Zimbabwe are Siamese twins. The introduction of an e-visa is a positive development as they have followed in our footsteps as we also recently introduced the same facility. You are also aware that we introduced a UniVisa between our two countries. It’s good that tourists apply for visas online in their home land and have them stamped at the port of entry,” said Mr Changonda.

He added: “For Zambia to be ranked one of the fastest growing tourism destinations is also a bonus for the two countries as the same was said of Zimbabwe by the same UNWTO secretary general, Dr Rifai when we attended the 21st UNWTO general assembly in Colombia.”

He said the vote of confidence in the two countries also led to the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Walter Mzembi unanimously re-elected chairman of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Regional Commission for Africa (CAF), during the 57th meeting of CAF, which was presided over by Dr Rifai.

“So seeing Zambia growing like this is good for the growth of our regional tourism which has been on the agenda of our Honourable Minister Mzembi as the chairman of CAF. It’s really a compliment to Zimbabwe and the whole region,” he said.

Sharmaine Walderman

Mbongeni Msimanga, Sunday Leisure Correspondent
MENTION the name Sharmaine Walderman and chances are that most Zimbabweans will give you blank stares and you can’t blame them because among them little is known about the 26-year-old woman.

But, all this will change with time because Sharmaine’s deejaying skills are too good to remain hidden. Therefore, write down the name SHARMAINE WALDERMAN so that when we remind you about her you won’t say we didn’t tell you so.

It is hard to believe that Sharmaine started turning tables last year, but you better believe it. Her rise in the music industry has been nothing, but a fairytale. She has managed, in her short time as a DJ, to be the opening act at concerts of musicians such as Casper Nyovest and Black Motion.

“I only started deejaying last year when a hangout spot called Tshisa Nyama was opened. Within a year I have managed to play at big events and the highlights so far was when I featured at Casper Nyovest and Black Motion shows, “ she said.

Sharmaine believes that her coming out would have been difficult had it not been for 3D Management and Events, a company that brings foreign artistes to Bulawayo.

But her journey has not been an easy one. Her academic prowess — Sharmaine has a degree in Human Resources Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal — saw her parents disapproving her desire to be a DJ. But they relented after she quit her human resources management job at a company in Harare — like a donkey that does not want to drink water at a river, Sharmaine could not be forced to do what she did not love.

“I remember my parents did not understand why I was into showbiz, but I always had the passion to DJ. I had a short stint in Harare as a human resources personnel, but I could not take it and I came down in three months,” she said.

Now that she is doing what she loves, Sharmaine is determined to leave no stone unturned to become a well renowned DJ.
She said: “I enjoy getting people dancing and I believe I have done just that. Whenever there are big 3D events, I also dress the women. I have developed an interest in fashion as well.”

Sharmaine has resisted the temptation to rush in like a fool. She is taking her time and has resolved to work on an album only after she has reached her niche.

“I have not reached where I want to get to. I’m not doing it for fame, like what other people do. I am hoping that I make it to radio soon. For now I just love it when I stand in front of people and watch them dance while I play my music. There are few women who can play deep house and I never thought it would take me this far,” she said.

Dumisani Nsingo , Senior Farming Reporter
AN outbreak of blackleg which claimed about 30 cattle in Hwange district since the first case was reported in September has been contained, an official said.

Department of Veterinary Services Hwange district veterinary officer Dr Lovemore Dube said cases of blackleg were reported in the eastern part of Hwange in Dete and Mabale areas at the end of September and beginning of October, with one farmer in Songwa village losing 10 animals on the same day.

“We conducted an investigation and later did a post-mortem of the carcasses in a bid to determine what might have led to the death of the animals. At first we strongly suspected that they might have been poisoned. It later came out that it was blackleg and upon further probing we found out that seldom do farmers in the area know what blackleg is thus they weren’t taking any preventative measures against the disease through vaccinating,” Dr Dube said.

The outbreak claimed 29 cattle while 14 were treated of the disease with 2 187 being vaccinated at the three dip tanks in the affected area. Dr Dube said following the outbreak, the Department of Veterinary Services embarked on an extensive sensitisation programme aimed at educating farmers about the disease.

“Following the outbreak we embarked on a sensitisation programme for farmers and their traditional leaders. We told farmers to form groupings and pool their finances to purchase vaccines, of which they did.

“They bought the vaccines and asked us to come and carry out the vaccination and we did it at three dip tanks that are in the area. We even taught them how to vaccinate and the number of cases reported has been reduced to zero,” he said.

Dr Dube said the blackleg outbreak was peculiar as it occurred during an unusual period.

Blackleg is a highly fatal disease of young cattle caused by the spore forming, rod shaped, gas producing bacteria Clostridium chauvoei. The spores of the organism can live in the soil for many years.

The bacteria enters the calf by ingestion and then gains entrance to the body through small punctures in the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

Cattle that are on a high plane of nutrition, rapidly gaining weight and between six months and two years of age are most susceptible to the disease. The disease is not transmitted directly from sick animals to healthy animals by mere contact.

“Cattle in good and peak condition are susceptible to the disease but the story is different and the findings contradict this.

However, the first scenario is that the animals are not vaccinated; they are exposed to stress due to lack of feed, moving long distances to the nearest water point and are exposed to heat further affecting their immune system. Furthermore they eat the grass and soil with bacteria and thus they might be another serotype Clostridium species so we need to conduct further test of the carcasses at the laboratory,” Dr Dube said.

He said the Department of Veterinary Services was poor resources to embark on fully fledged disease control programmes.

“We should be doing more extension services, educating farmers about diseases which are prevalent in their areas as in this part of the country their livelihood is largely dependent on rearing livestock than cropping. Thus there is a need for us to prevent morbidity and mortality rates,” Dr Dube said.

He also said farmers in Hwange district were losing most of their livestock to carnivorous wild animals.

“In as much as farmers in this area would like to contribute to Zim Asset they are hitting a snag as 30 to 60 animals are being killed by predators every month. We are therefore appealing to our sister department, the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to conduct further studies or researches aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality by predators mostly lions and hyenas,” Dr Dube said.

Philip Chiyangwa

Munyaradzi Musiiwa , Midlands Correspondent
THE High Court has given Redcliff Town Council up to the end of this month to resolve a land dispute with Harare businessman Mr Philip Chiyangwa, failure of which the matter will spill into the courts.

Mr Chiyangwa and Redcliff have been locked in a land dispute for more than five years after the local authority backtracked and reversed a land deal which it had entered into with Pinnacle Holdings, one of Mr Chiyangwa’s construction companies.

Pinnacle had purchased 200 hectares of land for $658 000 in 2009. The Harare-based businessman paid $375 000 as deposit.

Redcliff later withdrew from the deal claiming that the piece of land which the cash-strapped municipality impulsively sold to Pinnacle while on the verge of bankruptcy had been sold for a song.

After reversing the deal in 2010, Redcliff Town Council immediately engaged its lawyers as it sought the way forward.

The council said then that it wanted the matter resolved amicably with Mr Chiyangwa who had bailed the municipality during its hour of need. Mr Chiyangwa responded by dragging the local authority to court.

Redcliff mayor Councillor Joseph Matewa recently confirmed that the council was in the process of negotiating with the business mogul on how best the local authority could refund him. He confirmed that the local authority had been given an ultimatum which expires at the end of this month to settle the dispute with Mr Chiyangwa.

“We have been given up to the end of this month and we hope that we will have reached a compromise. We invited Mr Chayangwa and we met him last month. Our lawyers and his are in negotiations and they are likely to beat the deadline,” said Clr Kapuya.

Mr Chiyangwa has been insisting that the piece of land at the centre of controversy is still his property and he is not willing to give it away on a silver platter. In an earlier interview, he said he rescued Redcliff when the council was in a financial quagmire.

“Redcliff municipality officials are inconsistent and unprofessional. I never expected them to reverse the deal after helping them at their hour of need. We did not only help Redcliff Town Council, but many other local authorities among them Kariba, Victoria Falls and Kadoma,” said Mr Chiyangwa.

Meanwhile, Redcliff is set to raise close to $4 million after it got the green light to sell over 800 housing units in Torwood compound. Clr Kapuya said the local authority had finished the valuation of the houses and will gazette the prices soon with first preference being given to occupants.

“We are to deliberate as council and see the mark up that we can put on the houses. The houses were handed over to us by Ziscosteel when it was still functional,” he said.

Makomo Resources washing plant

Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
COAL miner Makomo Resources has started exporting coal and coke to Zambia, as it starts seeing results of its capital expansion projects which culminated in the installation of a $14 million coal washing plant late last year.

Makomo Resources general manager Mr Samson Mabvira expressed satisfaction about the demand of their product in Zambia and hinted that prospects of tapping into other regional markets were high.

“We are always looking for new markets, we just found our way into Zambia and we are still trying to extend what we are doing right now. We started delivering in Zambia sometime this year,” Mr Mabvira said.

The company last year started processing coal at its Entuba Coalfields in Hwange after acquiring a $14 million coal washing plant.

The move was part of beneficiation process which was meant to convert coal into coke.

The company’s biggest customer, however, is Zesa’s subsidiary, Zimbabwe Power Station (ZPC) where it delivers about 100 000 tonnes per month. It also supplies its coal to tobacco farmers and other industries locally.

“Most of our coal has been consumed internally, the bulk of it to ZPC, tobacco farmers and various industries within the country but as with the external market it’s a new dimension which we are exploring and we are even looking into the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have dropped some coal in Ndola and Lusaka and once it’s in Ndola you are already talking about DRC. There are DRC companies who are picking coal from here (Zimbabwe). If it’s in Ndola they might as well pick it from there so we are looking into DRC as well,” Mr Mabvira said.

Makomo Resources produces over 200 000 tonnes of coal a month but has capacity to produce 450 000 tonnes following its massive recapitalisation programme it undertook over the last two years.

“Our export markets are going to grow because what we are seeing is that Zambia opening doors for us means we can do even bigger things. So I’m happy with what is happening so far. So we just need to consolidate that,” Mr Mabvira said.

Meanwhile, the company is in the process of arranging a Power Purchase Agreement to ascertain the company, which would buy its electricity upon the construction of its proposed $1,5 billion 600 megawatt (MW) thermal power station in Hwange.

“We are in the process of looking for a financier but for us to get financed we need to establish who is going to buy our power within the country or region. This is the work we are doing right now. When we do it on very firm basis that’s when we can go to the financiers and say can you finance this project for us because we have a company which has promised to buy power from us,” Mr Mabvira said.

The other issues which are expected to be finalised before commencement of the construction work are the acquisition of a tax exemption certificate, investor’s project or legal due diligence, land registry, grid connection design, lender’s due diligence and the financial clause.

Mr Mabvira said feasibility studies at the proposed site for the construction of the power station were carried out early this year by Chinese firm Sino Hydro.

Lungile Tshuma, Business correspondent
RELIGIOUS groups should constantly hold conferences across the country as religious tourism has proved to be essential in growing the economy through steering up both domestic tourism and increased arrivals, an official has said.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head of corporate affairs Mr Sugar Chagonda said tourism players were elated by the pace at which religious tourism is growing in the country. His remarks comes hard on the heels of media reports that the recently held PHD Ministries conference led by Walter Magaya held in Harare attracted tens of thousands of people, some from outside the capital city and from neighbouring countries. Some of the people who attended the conference came from countries like South Africa, Botswana and also as far as Tanzania, a development Mr Chagonda said “steers up economic activity.”

United Family International Church leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa in August also held the “Judgment Night 3” at the National Sports Stadium that was estimated to have attracted more than 100 000 congregants from around the country and abroad.

“Religious tourism is good as the country experiences large volumes of people visiting. People coming from around the globe do come into the country and some of these people later visit some of the tourism sites of their choice. Through these religious conferences domestic tourism is also steered up as people across the country do come and converge on a particular city and economic activity, that is, an increase in the circulation money in that particular place will be improved,” said Mr Chagonda.

“If we look at the recently held church conference by Prophet Walter Magaya, hundreds of people from neibhouring countries like South Africa, Botswana and Tanzania and the number of arrivals also means that it was increased. If you also recall that last year thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses members came to Harare from all African countries and hotels were fully booked and as a result tourism was steered up and this is the reason why we encourage religious tourism.”

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Eng Walter Mzembi has been on the fore front advocating for an increase in church conventions. Recently, he said religious tourism presented a major opportunity for Zimbabwe as it accounts for a significant portion of global arrivals.

The minister said, for example, 60 percent of tourist arrivals into Nigeria visit prophet T B Joshua’s Synagogue Church Of All Nations. International statistics also show that out of the five billion domestic arrivals, people moving within their borders, between 45-50 percent are for religious tourism.

Through religious tourism, Mr Chagonda said the sector’s aim of growing the country’s annual tourism earning from $1 billion as of December to $5 billion in 2020 is becoming more attainable. He also encouraged other church organisations which command a large following and has branches outside the country to host conventions in the country.

“As the association we are very certain that religious tourism is going to help us achieve a lot of goals. Tourism has the potential to contribute more than any other sector to the country’s fiscus.

“While as the tourism sector we have challenges that we are facing just like some industries, we hope that our efforts in promoting religious tourism is going to bear fruit as we have already seen that religious tourism steers economic activity through improved domestic tourism and an increase in arrivals in the country,” he said .

“We call upon churches with branches abroad to host conferences in the country and as the association we will help them organise and facilitate some of the issues that might need our attention.”

Chief Ndiweni

Mbongeni Msimanga, Sunday Leisure Correspondent
MANY chiefs in Zimbabwe sire children who go on to inherit their thrones when they pass on. Those with no children have sleepless nights as they worry that when they die, relatives will fight over the vacated seats of power.

However, Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni, the son of the late maveric chief, Khayisa Ndiweni is proving to be a rare breed, as he revealed to Sunday Leisure that he has not sired a child, and declared that at the moment he harbours no ambition to be a father as children would prove to be a distraction.

The 52-year-old, who was residing in the United Kingdom since 1981, is married to Florence Sikhosana and revealed that he will never subject her to the trials and tribulations of a polygamous marriage like what happens in other chieftainships.

“I am married to Florence Sikhosana. We met in the UK at a New Year’s Eve party 18 years ago. She is also from Ntabazinduna and we don’t have children yet. Had I come to my position as chief with children left, right and centre, it would plunge the Ndiweni chieftainship into jeopardy and as children could fight for the chieftainship. Besides, Ndiweni people have never believed in polygamy,” he said.

Chief Ndiweni said his wife is based in Saudi Arabia where she is a specialist nurse at a royal hospital. They see each other “from time to time”.

Chief Ndiweni’s ascendance to the throne was not without controversy as he was once locked in a bitter dispute with his elder brother, Joram, over the chieftainship. The damage that resulted from that wrangle is yet to be repaired.

“Relations with Joram are still sour and we are still licking our wounds. He is old enough to be my father and we will eventually patch up the differences that we have. I reckon in time it will heal up. The good thing is that we are far apart as he is based in the UK,” he said.

The former Falcon College pupil said staying in the UK for long had changed him and it gave him a better understanding of the world.

“It is totally different there. There are no comparisons at all with Zimbabwe. I went to the United Kingdom in 1981 to live full-time and it was straight after my A-levels that I did at Falcon College. I knew that one day I would come back to Zimbabwe and it’s not as if I was not prepared and the late chief had exposed me a great deal to the world and I was given a lot of advice.

“Fusion of culture changed me in a profound way. It made me look at my strengths and weaknesses and value the individual I am. Zimbabweans have often been accused of being culturally weak abroad,” he said.

Chief Ndiweni has been described as snobbish by his detractors, but he says such criticism does not bring him down in anyway.

“I have broad shoulders and that is one thing the late chief taught me. I can say it only comes with being a chief and so far I have been here for too small a stint for people to call me a snob,” he said.

During his stint in the United Kingdom, Chief Ndiweni studied engineering technology at diploma level, Mechanical Engineering at HND level, Degree in Management Studies specialising in local governance, and also attained a law degree.

Not even a single child, are you sure Chief?

“I have no children even outside my marriage, purely because when you know your destiny you have to be careful with what you do and always remind yourself who you want to be. I am leaving it for the Ndiweni clan,” he said.

Professor Lindela Ndlovu

FORMER National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Vice Chancellor Professor Lindela Rowland Ndlovu has died.

Professor Ndlovu died on Wednesday at a Bulawayo hospital.

Nust director of information and public relations Mr Felix Moyo confirmed the death, but could not give further details.

He referred all inquiries to Professor Ndlovu’s family spokesperson Mr Tymon Mabena, who again was not in a position to give more details of the death.

“Right now I don’t have much information. Can you call me in the evening that is when we will be able to furnish you with all the details that you want,” said Mr Mabena.

The cause of professor Ndlovu could not be immediately established but he however had been battling with diabetes for a long time.

Professor Ndlovu was a holder of a Ph. D. in Animal Nutrition with emphasis on Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

He served in the area of higher education for 27 years, rising from lecturer to full professor. He served Nust in management roles from Departmental level (as Post-graduate Coordinator and as Chairperson) to Faculty level (as Deputy Dean and as Dean) through to University level (as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Acting Vice-Chancellor).

He was appointed Nust Vice Chancellor on 14 October, 2005.

Professor Ndlovu took over from Professor Phineas Mogorosi Makhurane who was the university’s first Vice Chancellor.

Prior to his appointment, Prof Ndlovu was the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic and Research).

His contract with the University expired this year and was replaced by Professor Samson Sibanda in an acting capacity.

 Mhlupheki Dube

ONCE in a while farmers are faced with animals which after lying down will be unable to rise and stand on their own. An animal which is lying down and cannot stand on its own is called a recumbent animal. Recumbent animals can become common depending on the causes.

Nutrition induced recumbence tends to be common especially during this time of the year and more so during the transition period between an overgrazed veld and the emergence of new grass. There is always a gap of a week and some days between the time effective rains are received and the regeneration of pastures to the size which animals can graze. So during this period there is no dry grass because it was over grazed during the dry season and the little that was left rots due to rains and animals cannot eat it, while the emerging grass is still too small for animals to graze. This is one of the reasons why higher livestock mortalities are recorded from the onset of the rains because animals will be too weak in most cases and they still have to endure that transitional gap. This is the time when most animals get recumbent and farmers in over grazed areas have to deal with large numbers of animals which are recumbent. This article will therefore help understand the issue of recumbence from a broader perspective and how to manage it.

Malnutrition is usually a major cause of recumbence especially in over grazed velds. Pregnant cows are affected mostly due to the fact that they have a high demand for nutrients. Poor-quality feed does not have the protein and energy needed to maintain the good condition of the animals. Animals gradually lose energy until they are too weak to walk short distances or even stand. However, recumbence in animals can also be caused by damaged nerves during a difficult calving. A difficult calving can damage nerves especially in the inner part of thighs and make the cow fail to stand.

However, if there is a large number of animals within the herd which are recumbent at once, a possibility of poisoning should be investigated and this can even be water related of feed related poisoning. Milk fever can also cause recumbence in cows just two to four days after calving down. Also a general fever caused by a sick animal for example causes cattle to be recumbent.

Broken bones, dislocated hips, foot rot, arthritis or any spinal problem can also result in an animal being recumbent.

Deficiency of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in the body causes an animal to be recumbent.

A lack of phosphorus also causes pica in animals which manifests as an appetite for strange objects such as plastics, clothes and decaying carcasses. Eating decaying carcasses and contaminated vegetation causes botulism in cattle.

Signs of a recumbent animal include an animal lying on its side or chest for a period longer than normal. When it is prompted to stand it may not even try to or it will make unsuccessful attempts.

In some cases recumbence comes gradually such that during first days if the animal is assisted to stand it will stand and even walk and graze. As the disease progresses the animal fails to rise altogether and remain recumbent even when efforts are made to assist it.

Treating a recumbent animal is not easy as being recumbent is a problem in itself as an animal can damage its muscles and nerves. However, animals suffering from malnutrition should receive adequate nursing and feeding care.

They should be given clean water and good-quality feed and also a multivitamin injection. If the animal is lying in the sun, move it to a place where there is enough shade and the surface is not rough. Change the position of the animal by turning it from side to side in the morning, during the day and at night. This is done to minimise muscle damage and to prevent sores on the hip bones. Try to make the animal stand by supporting it under the body with homemade slings made from feed bags.

Specific treatment can be given once the proper diagnosis is made. Consult a veterinarian or an animal health technician.

To prevent occurrence of recumbence in your herd avoid overgrazing your veld. This may be easier said than done especially in communal areas where the veld is jointly owned and used. Veld fires should be avoided at all cost as these destroy your only source of cheap feed and leave you with a huge task of finding commercial feed for your animals which is really expensive.

Also provide supplementary feeding for your livestock during the dry season so that they maintain a reasonable body condition score. Take care when assisting a cow when she is calving down. Keep animals away from places where poisonous plants grow.

Chicken Inn players celebrate their goal against Harare City at Luveve Stadium yesterday

Chicken Inn …………………………………………………………… (2) 3
Harare City ……………………………………………………………. (1) 1

CHICKEN Inn yesterday became Zimbabwean club champions for the first time in their brief history when they walloped Harare City in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo.

With FC Platinum held to a 1-1 draw by Caps United in Zvishavane, there was no denying the Danny Phiri captained Chicken Inn who are five seasons into the top flight, their moment of glory.

Coach Joey Antipas has also won the championship with two different teams after picking his first title with Motor Action in 2010. It is the first time that the championship will be coming to Bulawayo since 2006 when Highlanders were crowned winners. Since then Harare clubs Dynamos, Monomotapa United, Gunners and Motor Action have taken turns to keep the accolade in the capital city.

As soon as referee Thabani Bhamala blew the final whistle, Chicken Inn players and officials, initially not aware that FC Platinum had failed to collect maximum points against Caps United, burst into celebration as it dawned on them that they had wrapped up the title with one match to go.

With the Gamecocks victorious, Kugona Kunenge Kudada had to beat Makepekepe to take the race to the wire on Saturday, but it was not to be.

Chicken Inn took their points tally to an unassailable 58 while FC Platinum are now on 54 and Dynamos moved to 53.

Essentially, a Chicken Inn victory had also eliminated four times in a row champions Dynamos who had earned fame for winning it right at the end from the race despite the Harare giants beating Chapungu 2-0.

A sumptuous goal by George Majika was complemented by a Tafadzwa Kutinyu easy goal and a strike by Michelle Katsvairo while Harare City got their face saver from a marvellous strike by the talented Talent Chawapihwa.

The match started off at a high tempo with Chicken Inn the first to get a goal scoring opportunity, with Katsvairo shooting weakly at goal, an effort not enough to trouble Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, with three minutes played.

As action quickly swung to the other end, the home side nearly got punished when their poorly executed offside trap was beaten by Harare City burly forward Francisco Zekumbawira who did well to dribble his way past goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze only to slam his goal attempt on the side netting.

In the sixth minute, Phiri saw his shot from the edge of the box tipped over the bar for a corner by Nyamupangedengu.

Majika opened the scoring 13 minutes into the encounter with a stunning strike taken with his right foot, the ball hitting the inside of the upright and into the nets.

Six minutes later, Chicken Inn were 2-0 up, Kutinyu going high for an Edmore Chirambadare cross, Nyamupangedengu missed the ball, presented the midfielder with the easiest of tasks of pushing the ball into the back of the nets.

Harare City found the target when a brilliant move saw Zekumbawira sell a dummy to an opposing defender before laying the ball to Chawapihwa who released a dazzling left footer that struck the inside of the woodwork on its way in.

The Gamecocks rounded off the scoring with six minutes to go, Chirambadare setting up Katsvairo for his eighth goal of the season.

An elated Antipas attributed the team’s success to oneness that prevailed throughout the season which saw the Gamecocks on top of the log from week six.

“I’m at a loss for words, I am really chaffed with our performance, and we knew it was in our hands. I’m really proud of the boys, we had a couple of defeats which could have derailed us. Our togetherness has won it for us. We would have loved to win it with some matches to go but winning the championship is not easy,’’ said Antipas.

On how they will approach their season ending away fixture against Flame Lily in Harare on Saturday, Antipas said they will be at ease and more relaxed.

Teams

Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Tafadzwa Kutinyu(Jackson 75 minutes), Lawrence Mhlanga, Passmore Bernard, Brian Mbiriri, Clemence Matawu, Ben Nyakunzvi, George Majika(Goredema 55 minutes), Danny Phiri, Edmore Chirambadare, Michelle Katsvairo ( Lawe 90+2 minutes)

Harare City: Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, Gilroy Chimwemwe, Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye, Themba Ndlovu, David Kutyauripo( Vengesayi 59 minutes), James Jam, Tendai Samanja, William Manondo, Kudakwashe Kumwala, Francisco Zekumbawira(Ziwini 85 minutes), Talent Chawapihwa

Harare Bureau
PRESIDENT Mugabe appointed Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko after assessing their capabilities and those looked over for the posts simply did not deserve them, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has said. She also said the President would not impose his successor, andthat only God chose a nation’s leaders.

Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at a rally in Murehwa yesterday, Amai Mugabe said the President was satisfied that his two VP picks merited their positions in both Zanu-PF and Government.

She once again dismissed private media claims that she was eyeing a VP post at the ruling party’s conference in Victoria Falls next month, saying her plate was already full with her duties as First Lady and Zanu-PF Women’s League National Secretary.

“Zvigaro zvishoma, hazvikwane tese. Zvigaro zvinokwana vanhu vashoma. VaMugabe ndovano appointa maVice-Presidents vachi shaye shaye vachitoshaya kuti vopa ani vachisiya ani, zvichitovanetsa.

“Apihwa iyeye ngatigutsikanei. Kana apihwa takumurwisa kuti apihwirwei. Iwewe wakawonekwa hauna kukodzera; akapihwa akawonekwa kuti anogona basa racho ipapo.

“Zvino ini ndinogutsikana nezvandiri. Iyi position yaSecretary for Women’s Affairs yakaoma handidi kukunyeperai. Musangano kuti umire iyi wing yeWomen’s League inofanira kushanda saka murikuona tiri kumiramira, hakurarwe; hakudyiwe sadza. Hatirare tichifunga kuti, ‘Toitirei madzimai nemayouths emuZimbabwe?’”

She went on: “(Friday) kuMidlands, tanga tiri tese kuMberengwa naVice-President Mnangagwa and tikataura isusu ndikati, ‘Veduwe, we don’t want to confuse the electorate’.

“Pane vanhu varikufamba vachiuudza vanhu, the electorate, varikufamba vachiti taakuyenda kuConference kwakunochuzwa maleaders and Amai Mugabe vanoda kuita Vice-President.’

“And vamwe vacho vanondipa chepamusoro ndogopihwa hwuPresident. Ndikati, “Hekani waroo!” Ndikati hekani waro zvauya zvega kutyei  . . . muchawona mangwana zvichabuda zvichinzi First Lady has confirmed she is now the President of Zimbabwe, mirai muone.”

On the matter of divisive succession politics, she said: “Let me tell you, mugoti unopihwa anyerere. Ukashambadzira uchiita mapapiro kuti vanhu vakuone, ziva kuti vanhu havasi mafuza.

“Nekuti kune vanhu vakawanda varikuita factionalism mazuvano. Itai zvenyu. Magrass roots aya havasi marema. Take them for granted then uchadya zvawakarima. Usafunge kuti ukadyara tsenza unokohwa nyimo. Uchanokohwa zvawakadyara. Zvinonzi izvo ukadyara zvakashata pasi apa uchakohwawo zvakashata. Ndozvazvakanakira.

“Haungatarisire iwewe kuti unofamba uchiita sow seeds of despondency wogoti iwewe uchakohwa mufaro. Kwete. Zvinokupandukira mangwana. Nokuti hatione here zvakamboitika? Asi vamwe havadi kuona. Woti tikakutaurira isusu ana Amai Mugabe motipandikira, ndipandukire zvako asi uchazviona zvako nerimwe remazuva. Pauchandifunga nguva inenge yapera.

“Ingomira pachokwadi. Ukadaro hapana chinokunetsa. Haikona kuzviremedza nemaitiro ako asina kutsarukana.

“Shanda, ita basa. Vanhu vane maziso varikuona. Kana vachikuda iwewe, kana Mugabe akati inini ndaneta, Mugabe akati uyo munhu . . . Munoziva zvinoitika, zvinoita vanhu. Nyangwe Mugabe akaita zvenyasha zviya zvekuti uyu ndiye wenyu uyu, vanhu vachiziva kuti hauite basa vanokuramba pachena.”

Amai Mugabe condemned those spreading lies that the forthcoming Zanu-PF Conference would see her appointed VP, further explaining that leaders were elected constitutionally.

“Conference iyi haineyi nekuelectwa kwema ma leaders ikozvinezvi, ndeyekutarira kuti basa ratakazvitarira raitwa here nekuti tinofanira kumeeta tichitarira kuti basa rakaitwa here, chete. Ndozvatiri kuyendera kuConference. PaCongress inoitwa every five years, takatoita isu gore rapera, izvezvi tirikungoyenda kuConference iya inoitwa every gore.

“PaCongress ndopanozo sarudzwa maleaders manyowani kana zvawonekwa kuti ahh vamwewo havasi kuita basa zvakanaka pachipinzwa vamwe zvichidaro zvichifamba, asi hazvisi zvekumanikidzira nekuti kazhinji paCongress ipapo ndopatino sarudza munhu wepamusoro saPresident Mugabe; ivo ndovanozoti mamwe mamembers apo apo.

“Ndoo democracy iri muparty medu iyoyo. Hatidi vano imposer. Vanozviita, you stop it! Party yedu ine gwara, ine discipline, vanoda kuti kanganisa ngativaudzei kuti kwete,” said Amai Mugabe.

The First Lady questioned why people were suggesting that she wanted to be a VP yet the President appointed his deputies whom he works with well.

She went on, “Ndakati inini President vakachuza maVice-Presidents kuparty, maSecond Secretary varipo VaMphoko na VaMngangwa. Voenda futi kuhurumende vono chuza maVice-Presidents avo kuti imi ndimi vandirikuda kushanda nemi. Amai Mugabe vanopinda papi ipapa?

“Yes, ndinenge ndiri pamusoro apo saFirst Lady. Saka pandakataura ipapo ndikati inini ndinenge a novice mupolitics; ndinoda kudzidza kubva kwamuri VaSekeramayi. Hanzi, ‘Ahh, vazokonfema manje kuti VaMnangagwa ndiboss wavo’… . . . hh, makudhunya; ndokunyimai mupunga manje (laughing).”

Amai Mugabe fired a broadside at the private media for peddling falsehoods that she harboured Presidential ambitions.

“Even panobuda President munyika muno vakafamba zvinonzi ‘heee, Amai Mugabe vava kutonga’. Asi pandinosara makambonzwa zvichinzi ndiri Acting President inini? Ko tinodarirei? Nhayi vana vangu, why do you do that, chii chakupindai, inzara here? Ingabva yanyanya kurwadza kudaro? Ngatiregei kudaro, ngatipanane respect. Inga ini handimbokutukai wani. Taurai zvandinenge ndataura, ndakataura kuti ndinotadza asi haikona kupota muchindinyepera, hazvina kunaka,” said the First Lady.

She singled out a report in Saturday’s NewsDay headlined “Grace paves way for Mnangagwa” as misleading.

Amai Mugabe said, “Nezuro ndakati inini Vice-President is my Vice-President nekuti ndivo vanoshanda naPresident Mugabe. Yamuka nhasi mupepa, hanzi izvo ‘Grace Mugabe paves way for Mnangagwa’. Imi hokoyo! Ndokudhuzha iwe (laughing).

“Saka apa manje ndakuda explanation: murikuti Mugabe ava mugay here? Murikuti Mnangagwa aakuuya kuzoita Amai Mugabe here kana mati ndakuita pave way for Mnangwagwa? Maakuti Mugabe akuroora Mnangagwa here imi? Ndozvamakutaura because handizvinzwisise ini nekuti nzvimbo yangu chete yandinonzi ndinobviswa kuchiiswa mumwe munhu ndeye mudzimai waMugabe ye huFirst Lady.

“Ngatitaureiwo zvinhu zvine musoro veduwee, tinoda kutengesa mapepa. Kana nesuwo tinogadzira mukaka tinogona kunyora zvinonakidza pamukaka iwoyo asi zvisingakanganise magariro evamwe vanhu.”

Amai Mugabe handed over agro-equipment, tonnes of maize, rice, cooking oil, soap and other items to the people of Mashonaland East.

Present at the rally were several Government ministers and other officials, top Zanu-PF figures and traditional leaders.

RELEGATION-haunted Tsholotsho should not expect any favours from resurgent Highlanders when the two clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.Tsholotsho are entangled in a battle for survival with Buffaloes, the Matabeleland North side holding the edge with two matches to go.

Heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures, Iziqholo zeZhwane had a one point advantage over Buffaloes who are away to Triangle at Gibbo this afternoon.

Highlanders, who at some stage found themselves in an unfamiliar 11th position on the log, have gone up to a sixth placing, thanks to a 4-2 win over Hwange last Wednesday.

Highlanders’ head of the technical department Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu said they were not going to show any mercy to Tsholotsho. Zulu declared that if Tsholotsho wanted to beat them, they have to play better than FC Platinum and Hwange, the teams Bosso beat recently.

Zulu’s reasoning is that since they are on 38 points, the same number as Harare City, Hwange and Chapungu, any slip up in the last two matches could see them slide down the log to 10th place, something which has financial consequences as some competitions are only reserved for teams which finish in the top eight.

Bosso have now gone for six matches unbeaten, five of those matches in the league and the other in the EasyCall Cup quarter-final against FC Platinum. In the league, Highlanders have four wins and one draw from their last five matches.

“We have now gone six matches unbeaten, Tsholotsho is a tricky game, and for us we are chasing a couple of things. There are four teams on 38 points, if we lose any of the matches we could go down the log. If we win our last two games, we can finish fourth or fifth. Finishing outside the top eight costs a lot of money to the club because some competitions are reserved for the top eight finishers.

“We as Highlanders are professionals, we cannot be seen doing an unprofessional thing. We are fielding a strong team against Tsholotsho, we will never do such kind of favour. We are not going to do any favours, if they are going to beat us they must earn it,’’ said Zulu.

Zulu, however, admitted that the match will not be a stroll in the park as Tsholotsho had a good schemer in coach Lizwe Sweswe and his assistant Bongani Mafu. The former Bosso coach, Mafu, could prove a decisive factor in the fixture as he has inside information on the Highlanders players.

Tsholotsho have not lost a match since they roped in Mafu to assist Sweswe at the end of September. The Naughty Boys have not tasted defeat in their last five matches with wins over Whawha, Hwange while recording draws against Buffaloes, FC Platinum and champions Chicken Inn.

Highlanders, without hard man Douglas Sibanda who is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards and Erick Mudzingwa who was sent off against Hwange, will once again look to their man of the moment Knox Mutizwa, the league’s leading goal scorer with 14 goals, a feat that makes him favourite to walk away with the Golden Boot award worth

$4 000.

Mutizwa, who last Friday committed to Highlanders by signing a one year contract extension, has formed a feared striking pairing with Obadiah Tarumbwa and of late with the seasoned Ralph Matema.

The Highlanders strikers will have to be on top of their game to get past the resolute Tsholotsho defence expected to be commanded by influential captain William Stima.

In other matches lined up for this afternoon, How Mine meet already demoted Dongo Sawmill at Luveve, Whawha, who have also kissed top flight football goodbye clash with Flame Lily at Ascot while Triangle will be looking to preserve their fourth position when they meet Buffaloes at Gibbo.

Fixtures

Today: How Mine v Dongo Sawmill (Luveve Stadium), Highlanders v Tsholotsho (Barbourfields Stadium), Whawha v Flame Lily (Ascot Stadium), Triangle United v Buffaloes (Gibbo Stadium)

Eva Mnkandla

Ntombiyolwandle Ndlovu, Sunday Leisure Reporter
SELF discipline and a healthy diet is what probably saw a Mzilikazi centenarian reach the age of 103.

Eva Mnkandla, who suffered a cardiac arrest a fortnight ago and was laid to rest last Wednesday, is said to have lived a humble a life.

The family spokesperson, Bongani Ndebele, said the late Mnkandla, popularly known as MaGumede, lived this long thanks to a diet of traditional foods that included inkobe, umxhanxa, umfushwa, idelele, isitshwala senyawuthi, esamabele and umpholokoqo.

Ndebele said MaGumede was an inspiration to his family, adding that the family was shocked by her death, as they expected her to keep on defying death.

“Gogo MaGumede passed on in the early hours of last week Saturday and was buried on Wednesday at West Park Cemetery.

We had just celebrated her birthday and little did we know it was the last,” said Ndebele.

He said she died due to a cardiac arrest.

Ndebele said: “Most people these days die at a tender age. We are proud that she lived this long and we were part of her life.”

MaGumede’s picture shows her heavily weathered skin, a sign of her life’s long journey. She had six children, three are late, 37 grandchildren and 81 great-grandchildren.

She was born in Gwanda District, but later relocated to Gomoza in Lupane. By the time of her death she was staying in Mzilikazi.

According to the World Health Organisation 2013 statistics, life expectancy on average for both sexes globally is 71, 56 years in low-income countries and 79 years in high-income countries.

PRESIDENT Mugabe has called for peace and unity among party members, reiterating that members must be guided by party principles and policies.

Speaking to party supporters during the official handover of a house built for the First Family by Gweru businesswoman Mrs Smelly Dube, the Head of State and Government said there was a need for unity among party members and Zimbabweans in general.

The “Gushungo House”, which chronicles the life history of President Mugabe through images and portraits dating back to the liberation struggle, was built in Woodlands Park in Gweru. It is expected to enhance township tourism in the Midlands capital.

“Takanzwa kuti nezuro kuno maive naAmai vakazonditaurira manheru kuti havasi nvanhu ivavo vakauya kumusangano zvinofadza. Ndine ruzivo rwekuti kuno ku Midlands Province makabatana. Tinoda kuti vanhu vabatane muno mu Province pamwechete ne nyika yose tiri mugwara remusangano. Kuno Tinoda kuti mubatane kuitira kuti rwendo rwunouya tikunde chero muno muGweru (we heard that the First Lady visited the province and people turned out in their numbers. This shows that there is unity in the province. We should be united in this province and the country at large),” he said.

President Mugabe said Government had committed itself to give food supplements to areas that have been hard hit by hunger and those whose stocks cannot sustain them up to the next harvesting period.

He said people should complement Government efforts to alleviate hunger and ensure maximum utilisation of land to curb perennial droughts that have bedevilled the country in the past few years.

President Mugabe said there was a need for people to be innovative and employ other strategies that can extricate them from hunger and other challenges rather than waiting for handouts from Government.

“Tirikuona kuti makore maviri apfuura goo redu harina kuita zvakanaka uye mvura yakaita shoma. Ikozvino kune nzvimbo kune vanhu vasina chavakakohwa seHurumende tichavabatsira nzvimbo nenzvimbo nekuti hatidi kuzonzwa kuti pane vanhu vakafa pamusaka penzara zvingatinyadzise zvikuru. Asika imi munoitao nepenyu chero muchiziva kuti rubatsiro runenge rwuripo. Ndizvo zvatinoda kuti vanhu vaite edzai kuzvibatsira hatidi kuti vanhu vagogara vachiti hurumemnde ichatibatsira. Tine zvatinogona kuita seHurumende koitao patitadza kubatsira nguva dzose (Government has committed itself to give food aid to areas that have been hard hit by hunger. People, however, should complement Government efforts and ensure that they alleviate poverty and avert hunger in their respective communities),” he said.

President Mugabe’s remarks come in the wake of Government distributing 200 000 tonnes of maize to areas that have been hard hit by drought amid reports that the country has a maize deficit of 700 000 tonnes.

He also took a swipe at party members who deviated from the party ideology and principles in pursuit of selfish interests.

President Mugabe rebuked former party spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo for deviating from the party principles and plotting to topple party leadership using unorthodox means.

“Vamwe vakadzimara vabuda pachena vakuda kuti vauraye vakuru vatore umambo nechisimba. VaGumbo ndisekuru kuniozvarwa mai asi kana voita zvakadaro ipapo tinopesana. Vaida hukuru muno mu province tikati imi mungaite mukuru kuna VaMnangagwa vasina kumbobvira vapanduka ivo vakapanduka nguva yehondo tikazovadzora navaMuzenda,” he said.

President Mugabe said the two MDC formations championing the Western imperialist agenda of regime change have also failed to dismantle the robust revolutionary party which liberated the country through a protracted war.

President Mugabe had a time to view all the images at Gushungo House that also capture the life of the First Family. After touring the house President Mugabe thanked Mrs Dube for coming up with the historic initiative.

“I was taken aback by some of the pictures I saw in the house. They are from long back during the time of the liberation struggle. I look back with nostalgia. I want to thank you Mrs Dube for building a house. I will visit regularly to Gweru now that I have a house here,” he said.

Mrs Dube is one of the most prominent property developers in Midlands and Bulawayo.

She has serviced over 20 000 stands in the Midlands Province through her company River Valley Properties.

Ngamo Safaris Swimming pool

Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
THE Forestry Commission has embarked on an extensive refurbishment programme of its two photographic lodges in Matabeleland North province which are part of its tourism and hospitality wing Ngamo Safaris to ensure that the facilities remain competitive in the market.

Ngamo Safaris marketing manager Mr Enock Mandura said the hospitality and tourism concern had started upgrading its facilities at Ganda Lodge in Dete and had set sights at commencing renovations at Jafuta Lodge in Victoria Falls next year.

He said the company had already spent $200 000 in renovating Ganda Lodge using funds realised from their safari operation but could not be drawn into revealing the estimated budget for the refurbishment project, stating that the work was being carried out depending on the availability of funds.

Forestry Commission is also seeking joint ventures for its hospitality and timber divisions as part of its efforts aimed at improving viability and profitability of its entities.

“We have started refurbishment work at Ganda where we are removing the ceramic tiles replacing them with modern tiles. We are also sprucing up our bathroom facilities, replacing tubs with the shower system because we have realised that it is more convenient to most clients.

“We are also looking at installing a Wi-Fi network facility because nowadays people are fond of showing and sharing their experiences to friends and relative on social media. Gone are the days when one would go on an expedition and lose connection with those that might have remained home,” Mr Mandura said.

Ganda Lodge is located within the beautiful teak woodlands of the Sikumi Forest bordering the Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s premier wildlife area.

It overlooks the Ganda pan, a natural waterhole which attracts a wide variety of bird and animal species including elephants, buffaloes, lions and a large variety of waterfowls. The lodge has eight double storey chalets of stone under thatch.

Each of the chalets has four three quarter beds, a fireplace, a bathroom, shower and overhead ceiling fans to cool the rooms.

The interiors are decorated in distinctly African style and include teak furnishings.

“By next year we should be working on sprucing up Jafuta because we feel it’s now rustic though its appearance is still attractive to some foreign tourists. It’s no longer appealing to locals and as such we are looking forward to face-lifting it so that it suits all,” Mr Mandura said.

Jafuta Lodge is situated in the Fuller Forest and it overlooks a waterhole. It is just 13 kilometres from the world famous Victoria Falls.

The lodge affords tourists access to the Victoria Falls as well as to the undisturbed and carefully managed teak forests.

“We are also improving on our activities and in that same vein we intend to have game drive vehicles at Ganda of which one has already been purchased including a transfer or shuttle to transport non-driving guests from their drop off points.

“We are also looking at improving our wildlife management processes by having new boreholes to pump water for the animals so that we can attract more numbers for our guests to view,” Mr Mandura said.

Ngamo Safaris was voted the Best Safari Company at the Megafest Tourism Awards held in Victoria Falls on 25 September under the theme: Appreciating Business. Honouring Leaders!

“Winning the award was an indication of the efforts we have put in terms of marketing our product and the quality of service we are giving to our customers as we make efforts to raise revenue for our natural resources conservation programmes,” Mr Mandura said.

“Our performance has been on an upward trend since the dollarisation from 20 to 30 percent to about between 65 and 70 percent. We have a two-tier pricing system whereby we charge less to locals to enable them to enjoy the benefits of their resources,” Mr Mandura said.

Charles Nyoni

Dumisani Nsingo , Sunday Leisure Reporter
“MY friend you should feel what it’s like to truly starve, and you’ll forever think twice before wasting food. To me crumbs are just as important as a decent meal nowadays.”

These were the heart-rending words, which Zimbabwe’s colossal man, Charles Nyoni, popularly known as “Big Charlie” mumbled when greeted by this Sunday Leisure reporter at his residence in the sprawling Lwendulu compound at the coal-mining town of Hwange.

Big Charlie surely knows that his herculean stature won’t stand a chance or scare away his unforeseen enemy, HUNGER. Of course he is already calling for back-up, an SOS to repel his nemesis.

Weighing 280 kilogrammes and standing at 2,10 metres tall, he is only 41 centimetres shy of the Guinness World Record for tallest living male, Sultan Kosen from Turkey who stands at 2,51 metres.

“Hunger is getting the better of me ever since I was retrenched from work. I hardly have a decent meal and to make matters worse I’m now diabetic and I need a special diet. A five-kilogramme bag of mealie-meal only lasts me three days,” he said.

True to his assertion, a glance into Big Charlie’s rather property-less kitchen, this reporter only saw a half cut cabbage, which probably had been part of his daily meal for about a week, a plate of boiled maize kernels and an almost empty bag of mealie-meal, which was tucked under a mini-wooden table stand for his two-plate stove — his most valuable kitchen asset.

An antique table and a chair make up the valuables in this room.

“I now owe my living to the benevolence of my neighbours like Weekly (Mwale). I did not invest during my time while I was employed because I had to pay for my siblings’ school fees, as well as fend for them thus I couldn’t afford to buy any property due to my low salary,” said Big Charlie.

Big Charlie was born in 1966 at Bingwa Farm, Hwange in a family of eight, being the first born of the late Robison Samurobu Nyoni and Estel Ndlovu.

“I understand I was so huge that my mother couldn’t afford to carry me on her back like what other mothers do to their children at the time when they are toddlers,” said Big Charlie.

His father was part of the miners who died in one of the world’s biggest mine disasters, the then Wankie Colliery Company (now Hwange Colliery Company)’s Kamandama Mine disaster of 6 June 1972.

In 1984, Big Charlie was hospitalised to undergo a surgery in gigantism and acromegaly to determine what led to his rare growth.

Big Charlie was to be employed by Hwange Colliery Company in 1989, starting off as an assistant builder for two years thereafter as a garbage collector, up until the time he was retrenched in 2012.

Upon his retrenchment, the big man bought a Madza Bongo lorry with a carrying capacity of 850kg, which he meant to hire out or ferry people and property to areas on the periphery of the coal-mining town.

“I bought this lorry with the pension I got from the Mining Industry Pension Fund and my initial idea was to use it to transport people to neighbouring villages and get a few bucks from it but the number of vehicles plying the rural routes has tremendously increased and it’s no longer a viable business at all,” said Big Charlie. However, because of his huge frame he cannot fit in the front seat of the truck, which is being driven by a friend.

Despite his enormous stature, Big Charlie also wishes to get married one day.

“Just like any normal boy I used to have a girlfriend during my teen years and just after my initiation into adulthood, I think ladies were sort of scared of my giant body. I wish to get married one day, though I know no woman would want to live with me when I am penniless like this. How will I fend for her? But I leave that to God, He has plans for me,” he said.

Big Charlie said the coal mining company managed to organise an EcoCash outlet for him and even allowed him to stay at the company house until he deemed necessary to vacate.

“The company is, however, still to pay me my retrenchment package over three years down the line. I’m therefore appealing to well-wishers to assist me by buying me a residential stand at Mpumalanga high-density suburb so that I can build my own house or to be kind enough and buy me a bigger lorry at least a seven-tonner, which I will hire out to ferry sand for those that might be involved in construction and get some money to build my own house,” Big Charlie said.

During his working days, Big Charlie used a long shovel specially designed for him to effectively carry out his chores.

Failure to get a shoe which fits him, has been his biggest problem since his teenage years. All local shoe manufacturers have over the years failed to manufacture size 20 shoes that fit the giant, prompting him to get specialised shoes specifically crafted for him from South Africa.

Big Charlie’s shoes

“Through the assistance from the Colliery I would occasionally get my shoes made from South Africa, as there was no local shoe manufacturer who could mould them for me. Over the last few years there are two members of the Methodist Church from America who have been bringing me shoes and clothes,” Big Charlie said.

In January this year, Big Charlie met George Wessels in Johannesburg, South Africa. Wessels is a German shoe-maker who is famed for manufacturing big shoes for the world’s tallest men and women who are recorded in the Guinness Book.

A German, Melanie Assauer is one of the people who made this day possible, along with one of Nyoni’s friends, as they had contacted Wessels many years ago.

Wessels has made shoes for Big Charlie before, but has never actually met or handed over to him in person and in their first meeting, the German gave him his fifth shoe.

“I was very delighted to meet Wessels in Joburg. He gave me a pair of shoes and various clothes and promised to visit the country where upon he will seek an audience with the President to give me more gifts as he reckons that I am one of the few big men in the world,” Big Charlie said.

Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
THE Department of Irrigation in Matabeleland North has started installing equipment acquired under Brazil’s $98, 6 million loan facility at all irrigation schemes that benefited under the programme in the province.

The Brazil loan facility is part of the South American country’s More Food Africa programme.

Matabeleland North provincial chief engineer Charles Makhula said installation of the equipment started two weeks ago and was expected to be completed before the end of this month.

Eight irrigation schemes benefitted under the Brazilian facility, which also saw 23 tractors being distributed in the province.

The irrigation schemes that were allocated the equipment are Bulawayo Kraal, Phaphamani, Alicedale, Bona, Redwood, Thuthukani, Diglis Park and Fanisoni.

“We have started installing the Brazilian irrigation equipment with all the irrigation schemes being fitted with the horse reel irrigating system except Bona and Bulawayo Kraal, which will be fitted with centre pivots.

“Two weeks ago we fitted boreholes at some of the schemes and I think we will complete fitting equipment at Phaphamani this week following the arrival of gate valves that were stalling work including fabrication work and some few touch ups there,” Eng Makhula said.

He said work on the other irrigation schemes would be completed before the end of the month as it was being delayed by the unavailability of some components.

“We have since received the PVC pipes, which convey water from the booster pumps to the horse reels. We are, however, expecting to receive these pipes sometime next week. Fitting the pipes is a one day job and on the third day we are likely to be conducting trial runs,” Eng Makhula said.

He urged farmers to effectively utilise the equipment to enhance their production so as to enhance food security as well as to enable them to repay the loan.

“Some of the schemes didn’t benefit from the facility because they are surface schemes while others are likely to benefit in the second phase. All things being equal the equipment must enable them to boost production and what could be a plus to the farmers is that these systems are highly mechanised thus they need less labour.

“The new system brings in the concept of group dynamics, which is otherwise coherent meaning that instead of apportioning the fields among themselves the farmers will now have to plough, sow and irrigate at one go. Since this is a loan they must also be geared to pay back,” Eng Makhula said.

Matabeleland North Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services provincial officer Mr Dumisani Nyoni said the installation of equipment would go a long way towards increasing productivity at the irrigation schemes, which has over the years been affected by issues to do with soil fertility and moisture.

“The mitigating thing has always been issues to do with soil fertility and moisture and this irrigation equipment will go a long way in addressing issues to do with soil moisture but farmers should now up their management practices so as to maximise on yields.

“Since it’s a loan they should ensure that their production should meet their production costs to enable them to pay back. They should be optimising yield per unit area,” Mr Nyoni said.

THE Minister of Youth Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Development Cde Patrick Zhuwao (right) presents a gift to Mrs Mercy Chinomona who was the best overall student in Hotel and Catering during a graduation ceremony of Sizinda Vocational Training Centre at Sizinda on Thursday

Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
THE Government has come up with a modified and simplified way of distributing the new $10 million youth fund launched last month with the money being distributed at constituency level with each constituency expected to be allocated
$45 000 to accommodate more youths and spread beneficiaries.

In addition, said the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Patrick Zhuwao, the Localised Empowerment Acceleration Facility (Leaf) fund will also target youths whose parents are working in the country’s security sector and those who have undergone skills training programmes in various sectors.

In a wide ranging interview on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 10th Sizinda Vocational Training Centre graduation ceremony in Bulawayo, Minister Zhuwao said measures have also been put in place to ensure that punitive measures were taken against those who defaulted on loans disbursed under the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Empowerment Fund over the last four years.

“Each of the 210 constituencies will be allocated $45 000,” said Minister Zhuwao.

Previously the youth funds were distributed according to the country’s 10 provinces.

“The criteria of accessing the Leaf fund will be based on many things. Firstly, part of the criteria is going to be opened to those that have accessed biggest facilities under the Youth Development and Employment Creation Fund and then paid back,” he said.

Minister Zhuwao said the second criteria will focus on those youths who had undergone training on how to start and manage businesses and then thirdly to those who have got support from their local communities.

He said the Leaf fund would also open a special window to cater for security forces’ children and youths that would have undergone the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment’s training programmes.

“We also provide two special windows within the Leaf fund. One of the special windows that will provide Leaf fund is what we call the legacy window. This is a fund that recognises the work that is done by our Defensive Security Forces and is available for the descendants or children of our Defensive Security Forces. We are working on the assumptions that these children are disciplined primarily because their parents are within disciplined units of our society,” Minister Zhuwao said.

He said the second window, which would be known as the youth alumina window, would provide loans to youths that would have undergone the ministry’s training programmes such as Start and improve your business, Integrated Skills Outreach Programme (Isop) among others.

Minister Zhuwao said the way the Leaf loan facility had been crafted and the criteria to be used in disbursing the fund would ensure that all its beneficiaries manage to pay back.

Over 70 percent of loans disbursed under the youth fund in the past four years have not been repaid, prejudicing the Government of millions of dollars.

The loans were being disbursed under the Youth Development Fund launched by Government in 2006 as a revolving fund.

The projects managed by IDBZ were classified under the Isop, General Fund and Meikles Fund which were funded to the tune of $500 000 after re-launch in 2009.

The Meikles fund accounted for $200 000 of which half was yet to be disbursed.

“We are engaging the financial institutions. We have requested them first and foremost to provide us with information on who accessed the facility and who paid, so that we know the beneficiaries whom we really want to promote further.

“Secondly, we are also asking the financial institutions to write to those that have not yet paid to remind them to pay and if they are not in a position to pay they must come forward with payment plans,” Minister Zhuwao said.

He said youths who fail to pay back loans risked being blacklisted and fail to conduct any financial transaction at any financial institution upon the setting up of a Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).

A CRB is an establishment that collects and compiles data regarding the solvency, character, responsibility, and reputation of a particular individual or business in order to furnish such information to subscribers, in the form of a report, allowing them to evaluate the financial stability of the subject.

“If they don’t come with payment plans we would be engaging other measures to ensure that they do pay and one thing that everybody who has accessed the facility of the Youth Fund and not paid must be aware of is that the Ministry of Finance is in the process of drafting a Credit Reference Bill, which will end up with some of our young people being blacklisted. As a Minister responsible for the youths I need to safeguard our young people from being blacklisted and I think it’s within their interest to make sure they make payment plans,” Minister Zhuwao said.

He said the Ministry was in the process of setting up VTCs in every district in the country as it seeks to equip youths with livelihood skills which would enable them to earn a decent living.

Presently there are 42 VTCs in the country. However, Matabeleland North has no such facility despite the fact that it is most needed there as the province has a deplorable academic pass rate of below 10 percent.

“As a Ministry we intend to establish a VTC in each and every district of the province. We acknowledge that the VTC for Matabeleland North was meant to be at Kamativi but the mining operations are going to restart there, which therefore means we have to move that VTC. We are still working on the Umguza VTC. We are moving towards making sure that we have a VTC for each and every district,” Minister Zhuwao said.

Matabeleland North provincial head in the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Mr Buthumuzi Ngwenya said it was of paramount importance for VCTs with a bias towards comparative economic activities of the selected area to be set up so as to improve the livelihoods of communities.

“It’s disadvantaging youths considering that Matabeleland North has one of the lowest pass rates at Ordinary Level. We really need a VTC in all the districts that are related in economic activities taking place there.

“If one is in Lupane, we are talking about a VTC which specialises in carpentry because the resource is easily accessible there, Umguza, it should be horticulture as it is a predominantly cropping area, in Bubi one will be talking about a VTC attached to the Zimbabwe School of Mines because there are mining activities there,” Mr Ngwenya said.

A total of 272 youths graduated in hairdressing, hotel and catering, travel and tourism, fitting and turning, diesel plant fitting, plumbing, boiler making, carpentry and joinery, clothing technology, home decor, motor mechanics, electrical systems, house wiring and electronics.

Danai Gurira on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

Senior Leisure Reporter
UNITED STATES-based Zimbabwean actress Danai Gurira, who most of us have grown to know as Michonne from the sci-fi thriller series, The Walking Dead, recently spoke of Christmas in Zimbabwe on the popular American TV show — The Tonight Show.

“Christmas is actually really big in Zimbabwe,” Danai Gurira said on the Tonight Show.

“They have a lot of British influences. A lot of it was very very similar. They call it Father Christmas. Though I think now they call it Santa, but back then it was Father Christmas,” she said candidly.

The Zimbabwean-American actress and playwright sat down with Jimmy Fallon last Tuesday to chat about her experiences growing up in Zimbabwe.

“You’re from Iowa?” Fallon asked.

“Sort of,” responded the 37-year-old actress.

“It’s where her mother gave birth to her. When she was five, Gurira and her family moved to Zimbabwe, where her parents are from. A lot of people were moving back after independence,” she explained.

“Let’s go back and sort of invest in the new nation and bring our children home to be raised there, so that’s what my parents did,” said Gurira.

2015 has been a monumental year for Gurira. Last Saturday she was honoured as “Person of the Year” at the African Diaspora Awards in New York City.

She starred as Michonne in The Walking Dead, Eclipsed, the Liberian civil war drama Gurira penned in 2009, debuted at New York’s Public Theater with Lupita Nyong’o in the lead. In February, the play will head to Broadway.