FC Platinum players celebrate scoring a winning goal
By Mukudzei Chingwere
Log leaders FC Platinum are hoping for perfection when they take their quest for a second Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship to relegation-threatened Nichrut at Ascot this afternoon.
FC Platinum players celebrate scoring a winning goal
The champions are in a good position to retain the title after taking a five-point lead in what has been a riveting battle against fellow miners Ngezi Platinum, with as many games left before the close of the season.
Coach Norman Mapeza said his men will summon all their might to get maximum points against the relegation-threatened side as they push for another league success.
Mapeza, addressing his weekly Press conference, said the just-ended international break is likely to slow down his charges, but was quick to say his team long made a resolution to avoid losing to recently promoted teams.
The former Warriors coach said he was confident his charges would fight to keep their record intact.
Of the four teams promoted into the elite division this season, only Bulawayo Chiefs managed to collect a full set of points against the defending champions and the Shurugwi-based side will be hoping to emulate that success.
“It is the same mentality and principle that will never change, we will not lose to a team that was recently promoted into the top-flight league, I agreed with the boys long back and that still stands.
“There is no dropping points at this stage, we have to win this game, I do not care how we are going to get the points, but what we want is to win the game,” said Mapeza.
“Everybody knows that we have been having challenges every time after going for a break, we have not been doing well after these breaks, but we know the challenge we are going to be facing against Nichrut on Saturday.
“They are fighting relegation and we are also pushing for the championship and most importantly, we have been preparing for the last two weeks and everything looks okay.
“We just hope the journey to Gweru on Saturday will bring a good result back home.
“Breaks kill momentum, when we played against Dynamos we were cruising and going for the break would have a negative bearing on our momentum.
“At the end of the day, it is not only us but every club in the league might suffer the same scenario except for Dynamos, Highlanders, Herentals and others who were playing in the Chibuku Super Cup, so we cannot complain but we have to maximise the chances we get against Nichrut,” said Mapeza. The Herald.
Caps United are hoping to finally win a knock-out tournament in a decade, but the Green Machine will have to be at their best if they are to eliminate holders Harare City in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals. The two sides were drawn to face each other in Harare yesterday, with the other semi-final pitting Dynamos and Triangle.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe (centre)
The games are scheduled for next weekend.
CAPS United have struggled to retain their status as the “Cup Kings’’ of Zimbabwean football since they won the BancABC Sup8r trophy under controversial circumstances in 2008.
Now they have set their eyes on the biggest knock-out tournament in the country, which comes with a ticket to represent the nation in the CAF Confederation Cup.
But they will have to first find a way past the Harare City hurdle in the semi-final.
Harare City have monopolised the competition in the last two years and they have been in terrific form in this year’s edition as they are angling for a hat-trick of titles.
CAPS United chief executive Cuthbert Chitima said his team would not be intimidated by the Sunshine Boys’ remarkable achievements in this competition.
Chitima, however, admitted that Harare City are not an easy opponent, but reckoned Makepekepe will progress to the final and ultimately win the tournament.
“Remember there are only four teams that are left in the tournament out of the 17 clubs which took part, so it’s obvious when only four are left it becomes tough. So it’s not an easy draw against Harare City.
“These are teams playing in the league, but as CAPS United, we are ready to face anyone.
“Definitely, CAPS United will be victorious, we are going all the way to the final. This is the cup that we have been waiting for and this is the chance,’’ Chitima said.
But CAPS United will need to improve on their precision if they are hoping to win this competition.
Lloyd Chitembwe’s men have not scored even a single goal in the tournament as they progressed from the first round against Chapungu and in the quarter-finals against ZPC Kariba via penalties, but Chitima believes that it is not a sign of weakness on his team’s part.
“All the matches which we have played were decided by penalties and its part of the game as well as the rules.
“So we didn’t labour to those victories, we are in the semi-finals because we deserve to be there.
“And like I have always been saying, we are going to the final and what we want is to lift the cup.”
The administrator said his team intends to have another dance in the African Safari, where they reached the CAF Champions league group-stages in 2017 after winning the Premiership title the previous year.
“The fact that winning the Chibuku Super Cup comes with an opportunity to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup is another motivating factor on our part, looking at the fact that we have to go back to compete in Africa. I am quite positive and confident that we will play in Africa again.”
Chitima’s Harare City counterpart Tafadzwa Bhasera welcomed the draw and warned Makepekepe to brace for a tough ride.
“It’s a fair draw, definitely. Look, we have always been like that, any team that comes our way should be the one sweating over facing the defending champions. We have got that feeling that whichever teams comes our way, we are ready. So facing CAPS United in the semi-final is not an insurmountable task.” said Bhasera.
“It will take a lot more hard work from our boys to be champions again. We believe in ourselves and what we are capable of doing. Harare City is no longer a small team. We are eyeing a hat-trick.
Bhasera said her team will be out to win the trophy for a record third time in a row.
“We won the cup in 2016 as well as last year, so we can also do the same this time around. CAPS United is a big team, but we also have an exciting band of determined individuals who know what they are doing. We have always been ready to face any team, so there is nothing to panic about.
“We play in the same league and those are the same teams which were there when we won the trophy in the past two years.
“Obviously a lot might have changed since we beat How Mine in the final last year, but we are still Harare City and we have even improved in the way we play as evidenced by our performance in the league,” Bhasera said.
But, in the meantime, both clubs have their full attention in the league where they are fighting for strong finishes.
Harare City have a date against Shabanie at Maglas tomorrow, while CAPS United are away to ZPC Kariba this afternoon. The Herald.
Zimbabwe and Nottingham Forest defender Tendayi Darikwa has singled out the duo of Teenage Hadebe and Marshal Munetsi for special praise following the Warriors’ solid performances in the back-to-back clashes against the Democratic Republic of Congo during last week’s African Cup of Nations soccer qualifiers.
Tendayi Darikwa
Though generally happy with the level of talent in the Zimbabwe team, which also has the likes of Belgium-based captain Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat, Darikwa felt the defensive players are exceptional talents.
“I am happy that we took four points from these two games.
“We have a group of players that has a mixture of talent and experience. I also think Teenage (Hadebe) and Marshal (Munetsi) are very good players who will achieve great things in future.
“I also enjoyed the warm reception that I received from the players and supporters. The celebrations in the dressing room were great and I am making strides (in) learning Shona,” said Darikwa, who could be seen singing with his teammates in the dressing room moments after defeating the DRC in the first match in Kinshasa.
However, Darikwa expressed his disappointment at missing next month’s penultimate Group G qualifier against Liberia due to suspension.
The 26-year-old is ineligible for the trip to Monrovia, Liberia, on November 16 after picking two yellow cards in the back-to-back ties against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Darikwa was booked in the Warriors’ 2-1 triumph in Kinshasa last Saturday and saw yellow again three days later in the 1-1 draw in Harare.
“I am naturally disappointed to be missing the match, but I am sure the boys will post a positive result in Liberia. It is not about me, but the team.
“We have some exceptional players who can do the job for the country,” he said.
Zimbabwe top the four-team group with eight points, three ahead of the second-placed DRC and four in front of third-placed Congo and basement side Liberia.
The Warriors will seal their place at the June 2019 African Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon with a point from their remaining two games, but they might not need that point should their chasing rivals cancel each other out.
They travel to Liberia next month and then host Congo in their last match of the qualifiers in March next year.
DRC and Congo will also be involved in a crucial meeting next month. DRC are second in the group with five points, while Congo and Liberia are tied on four points from as many matches.
Reflecting on his home debut appearance, Darikwa said he was happy that his close family members, that included his grandmother from Harare’s high-density suburb of Mufakose (Mbuya Darikwa), were part of the crowd at the National Sports Stadium on Tuesday night.
“I was so happy to get the chance to finally play for Zimbabwe.
“Obviously, playing away from home, my first match eased off the pressure on my part.
“I managed to gel into the team without (any) pressure at all.
“I cannot explain the excitement I felt playing in front of the home crowd in Harare. The fans were great. My relatives, including my grandmother, also got a chance to watch me play and that was a very proud moment for me.
“I also have plans to source football equipment for disadvantaged communities,” Darikwa said.
Though Darikwa will be out of the Liberia tie, coach Sunday Chidzambwa is set to welcome back Wales-based defender Aleck Mudimu and captain Musona from suspensions.
The Warriors coaching department also looks forward to the return to full fitness of Tinotenda Kadewere, Divine Lunga and Evans Rusike. Midfielder Danny Phiri and goalkeeper George Chigova picked up knocks in the last assignment.
Darikwa has also called upon the authorities to speed up the processing of relevant documents of all other foreign-based soccer players of Zimbabwe origin willing to retrace their roots.
The Nottingham Forest defender is the first of the UK-based players, among them Tristan Nydam (St Johnstone), Macaulay Bonne (Leyton Orient), Adam Chicksen (Bradford City), Kundai Benyu (Celtic), and Germany-based striker Kelvin Lunga (SV Rodinghausen), to regularise his documents and become eligible to play for Zimbabwe.
“The current team is very strong, but we need everyone so that we have more depth.
“The paperwork for other players should be sorted out as soon as possible.
“We definitely need players such as (Macaulay) Bonne,” he said.
ZIFA representative in United Kingdom and Europe Marshal Gore said efforts are being done to process the documents of the remaining players.
“I have been in touch with Bonne and we are making arrangements to sort his passport. He is still very keen to play for Zimbabwe.
“We are also working on other players’ documents as well, but it is not as easy as people think. We are also happy with Darikwa’s performance,” said Gore. The Herald.
US President Donald Trump said Friday he found Saudi Arabia’s explanation about the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi credible and termed it an “important first step.”
FILE- In this Saturday, May 20, 2017 file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman during a bilateral meeting, in Riyadh. Mohammed bin Salman was named crown prince in a sudden royal shake-up in Saudi Arabia early on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, but that is just the latest wild card in days of head-spinning developments in the typically staid Gulf, including the unexpected cutting off of nominal ally Qatar from the powerful Gulf Cooperation Council and Iran firing a missile into Syria for the first time, targeting Islamic State militants. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
And he said that if the US did take action over Khashoggi’s death — which Saudi Arabia said came as a result of a fight at its consulate in Istanbul, while Turkish officials have pointed to a state-sanctioned hit — he does not want it to impact arms sales to the kingdom.
“I do, I do,” Trump said when asked if he found the Saudis’ explanation credible, adding: “It’s early, we haven’t finished our review or investigation, but… I think it’s a very important first step.”
“I would prefer, if there is going to be some form of sanction or what we may determine to do, if anything… that we don’t use as retribution canceling $110 billion worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs,” he said during a visit to Arizona, referring to a major arms deal with the kingdom.
Trump has sent mixed messages about Khashoggi for days, vowing a severe response but also saying that the United States wants to preserve its close relationship with the conservative kingdom.
Turkish officials suspected within hours of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance that he had likely been killed and raced to Istanbul airport to intercept a private Saudi plane that was waiting to take off, CNN has learned.
Members of the US Congress were far harsher in the wake of the kingdom’s announcement of Khashoggi’s death.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally who has nonetheless been outspoken about Khashoggi, doubted the credibility of the Saudi authorities, which insisted for weeks that he left the consulate.
“To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr Khashoggi is an understatement,” the Republican senator tweeted.
– Targeting Saudi officials –
Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the United States should pursue sanctions against Saudis involved in Khashoggi’s death under a US law named after Sergei Magnitsky, the anti-corruption Russian accountant who died in custody.
“The Global Magnitsky Act doesn’t have exceptions for accidents. Even if Khashoggi died because of an altercation, that’s no excuse for his murder,” Menendez tweeted.
“This is far from the end and we need to keep up the international pressure.”
Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor who lived in suburban Washington, was a former insider who turned into a critic of the kingdom’s direction under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to sort out marriage paperwork, but his fiancee saw nothing more of him after he entered.
Representative Mike Coffman, one of a number of lawmakers from Trump’s Republican Party facing a tough race in November 6 elections, said the United States “must stand up for our values and demand our ‘allies’ respect human rights.”
The Colorado lawmaker, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, urged Trump to immediately recall the acting US ambassador from Saudi Arabia. Trump has yet to nominate a permanent envoy to the kingdom.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres meanwhile demanded that those responsible for Khashoggi’s death be held to account.
“The Secretary-General is deeply troubled by the confirmation of the death of Jamal Khashoggi. He extends his condolences to Mr Khashoggi’s family and friends,” Guterres’s office said in a statement.
“The Secretary-General stresses the need for a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Mr Khashoggi’s death and full accountability for those responsible.” AFP
Burundi’s public security ministry has accused a prominent opposition MP of planning the assassination of President Pierre Nkurunziza and other top officials, in an address on state television.
The authorities announced the arrest of a “commando unit” over the alleged plot to murder the president, his two deputies and the parliament speaker, in the televised statement late Thursday.
The spokesman for the public security ministry, Pierre Nkurikiye, accused Pierre-Celestin Ndikumana, of the Amizero y’Abarundi (Burundians’ Hope) coalition, of being behind the plan.
Three alleged members of the commando unit were paraded on television during the address, including a man who was a domestic worker at Ndukimana’s home for a few months in 2015.
“The details (of the plot) are on this piece of paper written by the criminal you have just seen (the domestic worker) while he was in the car of honorable Pierre-Celestin Ndikumana, who dictated it to him,” said the spokesman.
Nkurikiye said the former domestic worker had confessed to being recruited by Ndikumana to carry out the assassinations, and also confessed to trying to kill a married couple of ruling party lawmakers at the beginning of October.
Parliamentary sources said that a procedure to lift Ndikumana’s immunity would be launched soon, while Nkurikiye said a probe would seek to find others involved in the alleged plot.
Ndikumana told AFP the accusations were a “crude setup aimed at intimidating me and keeping me quiet”.
Burundi has been locked in crisis since President Pierre Nkurunziza in April 2015 announced he would seek a controversial third term in office, sparking civil unrest that has left 1,200 dead and over 400,000 displaced.
Amizero y’Abarundi, led by former Hutu rebel Agathon Rwasa, is considered the main rival to Nkurunziza’s ruling CnDD-FDD, and local NGOs as well as the United Nations have condemned a crackdown on their supporters. AFP
A pastor from Nkulumane suburb poisoned his two daughters before killing himself in South Africa where the family was based citing marital and other problems.
The late Pastor Precocious Mpofu
Precocious Mpofu (36) allegedly forced his two daughters, Shalom (11) and Panashe (7) to drink a drainage cleaning chemical before also taking it in Yeoville suburb, Johannesburg.
The deceased, who is alleged to have been a pastor at Prophet Blessing Chiza’s Eagle Life Assembly and his wife, Ms Chido Chipangura had recently separated but she was still living in South Africa.
Family members said the bodies of the two girls and their father were found in his apartment while a container of the chemical was found in Pastor Mpofu’s car.
The bodies are expected to arrive in the country today.
Pastor Mpofu allegedly left a suicide note in which he stated that he was facing a lot of problems most of them in his marriage.
He also allegedly said they were some people who were stalking him and mentioned four people with their contact details.
Pastor Mpofu however did not give reasons why the individuals were stalking him.
The now deceased also sent a lot of messages to his family on the fateful day although he did not mention his intentions to kill his children and commit suicide.
He however gave a hint when he directed how his property should be shared.
The family members told the Chronicle at their family home in Nkulumane suburb yesterday that from the information they received, the tragedy could have happened on Monday between 2PM and 4PM after pastor Mpofu had just returned from collecting his children from school.
The deceased’s father, Mr Sipho Mpofu, confirmed his son’s and grandchildren’s deaths.
He said his son and his wife had recently separated and the pastor was staying with his daughters.
“I am reliably informed residents at his apartment saw him carrying each of the daughters on his shoulders into their flat at around 2PM. At 2:40PM he sent his sister here in Bulawayo a WhatsApp message saying one of his daughters, Shalom had died.
“Exactly 10 minutes later, he sent another message saying his second daughter had also passed on. This puzzled his sister who was trying to call him to understand what exactly he was trying to say,” said Mr Mpofu.
He said when she tried to text him back, messages were no longer being delivered and the sister phoned Ms Chipangura telling her to go and check on her husband as he was texting strange messages.
“Ms Chipangura dashed to the flat only to find three bodies. The kids’ bodies were neatly laid in bed between blankets while Precocious body was on the floor,” he said.
Mr Mpofu said his son had earlier told him that he was being stalked by four men that he named in his suicide note.
He said his son also listed the four men’s phone numbers.
Mr Mpofu said he used to hear through rumours that his son and his daughter-in-law were having marital problems.
“My son was at times coming to Zimbabwe alone or with his kids and we would hear of his marital problems from other people,” he said.
The deceased’s mother, Mrs Sibangani Mpofu said earlier on the fateful day, her son was texting his sister strange messages giving directives on how his assets should be distributed.
He is said to have ordered his sister to sell his car that is in South Africa and said the money should be given to his parents so that they “fund a huge task “ that was coming.
“It’s like he had already planned everything and shared his assets. In his numerous texts, he mentioned that his wife should never set foot at this family home. It means he meant she shouldn’t attend this funeral I guess,” she said.
At the Chipangura’s family home in Mpopoma suburb the news crew was chased away by family members who said they did not want to be disturbed while mourning.
“We are at loss and talking to you won’t bring back our children.Go to the guy’s family and get a comment from them and not us,” said a woman at the family home. The Chronicle
Most tales about Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo are colourful. What else can they be when the musician was affectionately known as Father Flower? Although – like anyone else – his life and career had their dark spots, Dhewa was colourful in many ways.
Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo
His style, brand and stage work were amazing. He was ever-smiling on stage, making statements that enticed female fans.
He called his band “vakomana vemucheno” (smart boys) and he enforced that tradition in his team.
He adorned himself with many imaginary labels to decorate his brand. Muchina Muhombe, Igwe, Father Flower, Mopao Mkonzi – the ornamental titles were coined willy-nilly.
As people commemorated Dhewa’s death this week, many shared sweet memories of the late musician who passed away on October 15, 2011.
Memory Lane had a chat with long-serving Utakataka Express band member Spencer Khumulani who revisited experiences with his late boss.
Among many memories about Dhewa, Khumulani revealed that the musician’s popular smile concealed another side that many of his fans did not know. The late musician was short-tempered and tough.
“Most people do not know that Dhewa was short-tempered. There are many backstage incidents that people never got to know. He would be angry backstage, but his smile concealed everything when he went on stage,” recalled Khumulani.
“He hated indiscipline in the band and talked tough when he was upset. At one time he actually beat up our drummer when he misbehaved during our tour of South Africa.
“The drummer, Guyson Sixpence got drunk before the show and failed to perform. We had left another drummer back home to cut costs and Guyson had promised to be a good guy.
“He disappeared just before the show and returned sloshed. He failed to lead the tempo of the first song and Dhewa signaled that he goes off the stage, but the young drummer was resistant. Our bouncer had to force him off the stage.
“We stopped the performance as Dhewa followed him backstage. The boss was shaking with anger and he heavily slapped Guyson several times.”
Khumulani said Dhewa had to use the physical remedy because Guyson’s parents had given him the green light to discipline their son in any way.
“Guyson had been previously fired on several occasions over indiscipline until both his parents approached Dhewa and told him to treat the drummer like his son.
“They suggested he should punish him even physically. They were also having a hard time to control him.
“After that incident Guyson changed his behaviour, but he later went back to his old ways after Dhewa’s death and he was fired from the band for good.”
Khumulani also remembers another incident when Dhewa let his anger off his “smile mask” in Mt Darwin.
“That time I was still taking turns to play the bass guitar with Ronnie Mundindo. Ronnie was a bully and he refused to go on stage that night.
“He did not know I was at the venue because I had not travelled with the rest of the band. There was a serious altercation backstage when Ronnie refused to go on stage saying he wanted an advance payment for the performance.
“Dhewa got angry and told Ronnie to immediately go away. Ronnie was surprised to see me going on stage. He was told to leave the band for good. That was how I permanently replaced him as bass guitarist in the band.”
There are many incidents in Khumulani’s tale that revealed Dhewa’s tough side including a narration of how the musician went off stage to save one of his tour organisers in Mozambique. The incident involved the late MC Esau Ganizani who was popularly known as Dhiziri or DJ December.
“Dhiziri was assisting us in marketing the show in Mozambique. During the show, he had an argument with some security details from that country and the situation turned nasty. Dhewa had to drop off his guitar. He ran off the stage to save Dhiziri when the guys started physically assaulting him.”
It is that resilience and tough character that made Dhewa a fighter in the face of stiff competition in the industry. He was a fighter even in the face of nature’s misfortunes.
When he became frail due to ill health in his last days, the musician did not easily give up. He would sneak out of hospital to go for shows against doctors’ instructions.
Khumulani remembers one incident when his late boss forced himself to the stage but failed to perform.
“We were in Mbare at a venue called The Place. We all knew he was not well, but he insisted he would come for the show. He pulled himself up the stage. It was evident that he was in pain.
“He tried to use the microphone stand for balance. He tried to sing, but his voice failed him. He had to apologise to his fans. He needed a rest. He walked off the stage bitter and dejected. He was extremely disappointed that he had failed to serve his fans.
“We did the rest of the show with fellow musician First Farai. Dhewa was bitter about his failure to perform at the show. That was his character. He was a fighter. I believe he was not even prepared to let off his last breath despite evident pain. I know he died fighting,” Spencer said. The Herald
Hardlife Kawara with Save The Children communications and advocacy advisor Sophia Hamandishe
By Mirirai Nsingo recently in Mbire
Hardlife had indeed a hard life at a very tender age. He had to wrestle a crocodile that devoured his leg while he was attempting to cross a river on his way to school.
Hardlife Kawara with Save The Children communications and advocacy advisor Sophia Hamandishe
Perhaps his parents should have renamed him “Miracle” after he miraculously survived that vicious crocodile attack at the age of nine?
Hardlife Kawara (19) from Mupedzapasi village under chief Sunga, Mbire, in Mashonaland Central Province still vividly remembers how he survived the crocodile attack when he was in Grade Two back in 2008.
Yes, that dreaded year in which everyone has their own story of strife!
His village is more than 10 kilometres from the nearest school and he had to walk to and from school whilst crossing the crocodile infested Angwa River.
It was a daily case of playing Russian Roulette with his life, punctuated by two weekend days of rest before restarting the dicing with death routine come Monday!
Although the river has a bridge, the bridge is far away and would mean walking for another five or more kilometres to school while using the bridge. So they used a crossing path while risking life and limb as they had no option.
The 19-year-old recounted how he escaped death to The Herald Saturday Lifestyle recently during a visit in Mbire at Mushumbi Primary. He believes had his brother who was then in Grade Four not helped wrestle the crocodile, he could be history.
Known to be crocodile infested, the river is not only a death trap but has resulted in most pupils from the other side missing school during and after the rainy season as they cannot risk crossing it.
“We were crossing Angwa River to school when it attacked me. It grabbed my leg and was already pulling me into the river and when my brother heard me scream, he turned back and rushed to wrestle it.
‘‘I only managed to hold firmly onto the grass on the riverbed as my brother held the jaws of the crocodile until it finally let go of me.”
The harm had already been done as the reptile had already devoured the leg of the then grade-two pupil but thanks to his brave brother, he survived.
“I still remember how my brother wrestled the crocodile as I held firmly to the grass. When it finally let me go, it had already destroyed my leg. He pulled me to safety and meanwhile the other pupils we were with had run to the nearby village to call for help. So when the villagers came I was lying helplessly while bleeding profusely.
“I was rushed to Mushumbi Clinic and I was referred to a hospital in Harare. As there was no ambulance at the clinic, I remember some organisation volunteered their vehicle to take me to Harare,” recalls Hardlife.
He then spent six months at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where he was amputated. He was to spend more years out of school after he was discharged from hospital due to disability as he could no longer walk the long distance to school.
He then spent six months at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where he was amputated. He was to spend more years out of school after he was discharged from hospital due to disability as he could no longer walk the long distance to school.
Thanks to a Government partnership with Save The Children and Leonard Cheshire Disability Trust of Zimbabwe (LCDZ) through the inclusive education programme that is fighting to keep children with all forms of disability in school, Hardlife went back to school after spending more than three years out of school.
Since he had missed out on school for years, when he finally went back he was taken back to Grade One at Mushumbi Primary School and he sat for his Grade Seven examinations this year at the age of 19.
The Resource Person at Mushumbi Primary School, Caroline Madimbu who is in charge of all pupils with disabilities at the school said Hardlife was one of the pioneers of the inclusive education programme at the school which started in 2011.
“Hardlife was attacked by a crocodile while crossing the river to school and this resulted in him being amputated. Due to the disability he could no longer walk the long distances to school hence spent years out of school.
“When this programme was started, pupils like him were identified and we have 15 children who are being housed at the school where we have improvised to come up with a make shift boarding school to accommodate the pupils who come from different areas in the province and some come as far as Harare because the service is for free.
“Through the Government Inclusive Education programme, Mushumbi was identified as one of the schools that could pioneer the programme. While we work with various partners to implement this programme, Save The Children has been instrumental as they have helped us make the school environment safe and accessible for children with disabilities. So they have helped with construction of ramps, toilets that are accessible by children with disabilities.”
“When the programme was started at this school, we realised that the distances most of these pupils have to travel daily from their homes to school will be an obstacle hence we came up with a make shift boarding school. At the moment we have 15 pupils and we use school funds to cater for their needs such as food and other needs and sometimes we get support but it is not consistent.
“We remain determined to keep pupils like Hardlife in school and we call for more support from partners and the Government so that we can keep these children in school. They have a right to education too,” added Madimbu.
Save The Children communications and advocacy advisor, Sophia Hamandishe said it is pupils like Hardlife who make them support the Inclusive Education programme.
“I still vividly remember visiting Hardlife in hospital back in 2008 when he was attacked by the crocodile. We even supported in paying part of his medical bills at the hospital and provided his first prosthetic leg after he was amputated. We have been supporting him since then and we intend to get him another prosthetic leg as he has outgrown the one he has.
“I remember two days after he got into hospital, another child who had been attacked by a crocodile in the same Angwa River came at Parirenyatwa. The place is a death trap for all especially the pupils who have to cross it daily to reach the nearest school. There have been several calls by the community to have a foot bridge or a school built so that the pupils do not risk lives but that is yet to be done.
“I still remember us buying groceries for him and I’m glad he survived and he is back in school and I pray his dreams come true,” she said.
Save The Children is working in resource limited 8 districts (Mbire, Rushinga, Gokwe North, Gokwe South, Matobo and Beitbridge) where through the inclusive education work, they are implementing work on improving quality environment for children with disabilities so as to keep them in school.
Inspired by the doctors who save his life at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Hardlife who believes he owes his life to his brother who risked his life to save him, says he wants to be a doctor.
“I’m grateful that I got another chance to go back school and I want to be a doctor when I grow up.
“If my brother had not wrestled the crocodile, I could have died. I’m forever grateful that he braved to save me when the other boys ran for cover in the nearby village.”
So if you think 2008 was unkind if not downright evil to you, think for a moment of Hardlife! The Herald
An inquiry probing the killing of six people after soldiers opened fire on post-election protesters in Zimbabwe will summon police and the army to appear before it, an official said Friday.
Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe heads a panel of inquiry probing post-election violence in Zimbabwe
Kgalema Motlanthe, the former president of South Africa and the commission chairman, said the military and police would give evidence next month.
“We will be hearing from the army and the police,” Motlanthe told a news conference in the capital Harare where the killings occurred on August 1.
“We will ask all pertinent questions and expect to get pertinent answers,” he said.
Motlanthe was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to lead a seven-member team to investigate the killings.
Former South African President and chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 post-election violence Cde Kgalema Motlanthe flanked by Professor Charity Manyeruke (right) and Chief Emeka Anyaoku at a public hearing in Harare 16 October 2018. —(Picture by Innocent Makawa)
The deaths occurred after protesters took to the streets accusing the country’s electoral commission of delaying the announcement of results for the July 30 general election.
Mngangagwa succeeded long-time ruler Robert Mugabe who was ousted in November 2017 following a brief military takeover.
This week, several witnesses, including relatives of the deceased, gave their testimony.
Elizabeth Rubinstein, sister of one of the victims, Gavin Dean Charles, called for justice.
“I find what happened to him was brutal and it… (caused) indescribable pain to my family. The perpetrators should face justice,” a sobbing Rubinstein said in her evidence to the inquiry.
A soldier fires shots towards demonstrators, on August 1 2018, in Harare, as protests erupted over alleged fraud in the country’s election. Protests in Zimbabwe’s historic elections turned bloody on August 1 as a man was shot dead during demonstrations over alleged vote fraud and the president appealed for calm. The man died after soldiers fired live ammunition during opposition protests in downtown Harare, AFP reporters saw. / AFP PHOTO / Zinyange AUNTONY
She said her unemployed brother was hoping to get a job after Mugabe’s ouster.
“He just wanted a better life. He was harmless, and to be shot twice, unarmed. The pain has been indescribable. My mum is not well, she had a stroke (and) she is not aware of his death. If we tell her it will kill her,” she said.
Some of the relatives want the government to compensate the victims’ families.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the main opposition party has vowed not to take part in the inquiry calling it a “circus” and a “big sham”.
“The actual issue is supposed to be on how soldiers ended up in the streets, firing live ammunition at unarmed civilians,” MDC said in a statement on Thursday.
The commission has three months to complete its investigations and report back to the president. AFP
Saudi Arabia has confirmed the death of missing Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in an announcement on Saudi state TV.
Jamal Khashoggi and Prince Mohammed bin Salman
The Saudis have set up a commission that will investigate Khashoggi’s death and will have one month to release a report, according to state TV. The commission will consist of national security officials, the foreign ministry and the interior ministry.
Discussions between Khashoggi and those who met him during arrival at the consulate in Istanbul led to an argument and physical altercation that led to his death, the state TV report said.
A total of 18 Saudi nationals have now been detained for investigation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In the announcement on Saudi State TV, it said a royal order has been issued to release Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Asiri from his duty as the deputy of the intelligence services.
Asiri was believed to be the chief architect of the war with Yemen. He was previously the Saudi-led coalition spokesman in the kingdom’s war against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The two-star general’s position as spokesman made him a household name and he was soon part of the Crown Prince’s inner circle.
According to several sources, he chose the team involved in Khashoggi’s disappearance.
In their announcement the Saudis expressed deep regret over Khashoggi’s death and the “painful developments” in the case. They affirmed the “commitment of the authorities in the Kingdom to bring the facts to the attention of the public and to hold accountable all those involved,” according to a CNN translation of the announcement.
Khashoggi disappeared October 2 after going to the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul to obtain paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz.
She raised the alarm to police just before 5 p.m. on October 2 — three and a half hours after the journalist entered the consulate. At that time she was still waiting outside.
Turkish officials now say they believe that 15 Saudi men who arrived in Istanbul on October 2 were connected to Khashoggi’s death. At least some of them appear to have high-level connections in the Saudi government.
