SEASONED Glen Norah (Ward 27) councillor Herbert Gomba (MDC-Alliance) was yesterday elected Harare mayor, becoming the first mayor from western suburbs to take over the coveted post, while Councillor Enock Mupamawonde retained his position as deputy mayor.
Herbert Gomba
Clr Mupamawonde’s ward is also in western suburbs (Mufakose).
Clr Gomba was unanimously elected after the only zanu-pf councillor Martin Matinyanya, who had nominated himself, failed to get a seconder.
Clr Matinyanya also tried his luck on the post of deputy mayor, but fell on the wayside after failing to get an endorsement.
In his acceptance speech, Clr Gomba said he accepted his election with the intention of being a servant and a listening mayor.
“Allow me to itemise problems being faced by the City of Harare.
These are water shortages, roads in need of resealing/reconstruction, debts ballooning due to unemployment, mushika shika, congestion, uncontrolled vending, illegal occupation of council land, lack of financial support from central Government just to mention a few,” he said.
Harare has been led by MDC councils since the turn of the millennium.
“Our transformation agenda will also be anchored on the need to review the Harare Combination Master Plan and strategic plan document and work towards attaining the 2025 goal of becoming a World Class City.
This will be done collectively, working together with all relevant stakeholders.”
He said the current review of the Harare Combination Master Plan should take into consideration the need to de-congest the city and prepare a road map for the future construction of ring and overhead highways as well as spaghetti junctions.
Cllr Gomba implored Government to pay through the national budget the five percent constitutional allocation to local authorities.
“Councils should be allowed the latitude to reconnect with the outside world through exchanges, visits and bilateral relations. This can only be achieved if we are allowed to travel for the purposes of engagement and mobilisation of financial support and resources,” he said.
“Government has emphasised re-engagement but we feel at our level we should be allowed full room to engage and source partnerships with the international community. We are the arm of Government closest to the people.”
Cllr Mupamawonde said council welcomes devolution currently taking effect.
“This councils’ mandate is not to fight the Government nor the parent ministry but rather to deliver service to residents.
Therefore, a harmonious and progressive relationship cannot be overemphasised for the betterment of all stakeholders,” he said.
“The fight against corruption will be priority for this council. This council will not tolerate any corrupt and unethical tendencies in the rank and file of council.” The Herald.
A SHORTAGE of chicken caused the closure of Chicken Inn outlets in Bulawayo yesterday afternoon.Scores of customers at the popular fast food outlet were left stranded by the shutdown.
Chicken inn outlet
A snap survey by The Chronicle showed that Chicken Inn outlets in the central business district closed as early as 3PM.
Mr Warren Meares, a senior official at Chicken Inn, said there was a countrywide shortage of chicken that had affected their supplier.
“We need about 20 000 chickens a day, therefore there is a shortage of chickens countrywide which has affected all Chicken Inn outlets in Bulawayo, forcing them to temporarily shut down. This has also affected Chicken Inn outlets nationwide,’’ said Mr Meares.
Many people in Bulawayo were shocked when they were told there was no chicken in stock.
According to Mr Meares, a truck is enroute to Bulawayo to bring chickens and everything will be back to normal today.
“A truck is on its way to the city carrying the stock and as of tomorrow things will be back to normal,’’ said Mr Meares.
“So far we had only one supplier and we are currently engaging new suppliers who will also provide us with chickens,’’ he added.
Chicken Inn is popular in the country with their “Munchie Mondays” specials where if one buys two pieces of chicken and chips, they will get an extra piece of chicken for free.
Disappointed Chicken Inn customers said they were “shattered” to miss out on their Munchie Mondays special yesterday .
“I can’t see myself buying chicken from other outlets. I just hope they will fix the situation soon,’’ said Mr Lulekani Mzaca, one of the customers.
“I love Munchie Mondays. Today I was disappointed to find Chicken Inn closed, I hope things will be okay soon,” said Ms Natasha Moyo. The Chronicle.
At least eight people have been killed in an explosion at a munitions factory in South Africa, a spokesman for the fire and rescue services has said.
TWITTER/TONY DA SILVA/VIA REUTERS Image caption The cause of the blast is not yet known
The incident happened in the Somerset West district near Cape Town during the afternoon.
The cause of the blast is not yet known but an eyewitness reported seeing a huge fireball from 5km (3 miles) away.
Firefighters are continuing to search for others believed to be trapped.
The Rheinmetall-Denel plant is joint owned by German-South Africa companies and manufactures munitions and explosive products for the South African military and police, as well as international clients. –BBC
BBC Radio 5 Live news presenter Rachael Bland, who has incurable cancer, has revealed on social media that she has “only got days” to live. The 40-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2016.
Newsreader Bland co-hosts the You, Me and the Big C podcast with Deborah James and Lauren Mahon.
Writing on Twitter on Monday, she said the pair would continue to present the podcast.
She tweeted: “In the words of the legendary Frank S – I’m afraid the time has come my friends. And suddenly.
“I’m told I’ve only got days. It’s very surreal. Thank you so much for all the support I’ve received.”
Cardiff-born Bland, who lives in Cheshire, was told in May this year that her cancer was incurable and she said her hopes rested with a clinical trial.
But two months on, a scan revealed her cancer had spread further.
Former BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Richard Bacon was among those to send their support to Bland on social media.
He tweeted: “Days. Devastating. Rachael I know saying I’m thinking of you (and our magnificent time together on air, especially all that late night fun) doesn’t change anything.
“But I am and I’m so very sorry. Your podcast has helped change the way people talk about all this. You’re wonderful.”
Fellow 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell told her: “You are an astonishing human being. Love to all.”
Tony Livesey, who presents 5 Live Drive, wrote on Twitter: “So much courage. To the lady who held my hand when I started on @bbc5live I want her to know we’re all spiritually holding hers right now.”
Other colleagues also shared their support on Twitter:
BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, told Bland: “Courage, grace, laughter – that’s you. You are amazing.”
Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid said: “Oh Rachael. You have so much courage. You are loved beyond measure by people you haven’t even met because of the way you have dealt with this.”
Presenter and four-time Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent posted: “Bravery, professionalism, humour in one tweet.”
And BBC Breakfast’s Steph McGovern told Bland: “I am so gutted for you and your family.
“The podcast has clearly helped so many people and you did it with such style, humour and bloody brilliance. Thank you for everything you have done.”
Bland, who was previously known by her maiden name, Hodges, has been a BBC news presenter for more than 15 years, most recently for Radio 5 Live.
Her breast cancer has metastasised, where the cancer cells have spread from the primary cancer in the breast through the lymphatic or blood system to other parts of the body.
She has been writing a memoir for her two-year-old son Freddie, to share “all the stories and advice I would have given… but won’t be around to do in person”.
“I’m not scared of dying. I only fear for those I leave behind,” she wrote in the Sunday Telegraph last month.
An American football star who sparked a furore by kneeling during the national anthem has been unveiled as the new face of a major advertising campaign. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will front Nike’s “Just Do It” 30th anniversary campaign, reports said.
REUTERS Image caption Colin Kaepernick was a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers for six years
In 2016 Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem in protest at police violence against African-Americans.
Many other players followed suit but the protest has divided the country.
President Donald Trump has called players who “disrespect” the US flag “sons of bitches” and called for them to be sacked.
The Nike adverts show Kaepernick with the slogan: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”
Kaepernick is one of a number of sports stars – including National Football League (NFL) players Odell Beckham Jr and Shaquem Griffin, as well as tennis star Serena Williams – to appear in the 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign.
On Monday the star posted the advert and the slogan on his Twitter account.
Gino Fisanotti, Nike’s vice president of brand for North America, was quoted by cable sports network ESPN as saying: “We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward.”
Kaepernick, 30, signed a sponsorship deal with Nike in 2011 and has been kept on its payroll throughout the kneeling controversy, ESPN reported.
The player opted out of his contract with the 49ers in 2017 and has not played since. He is currently suing the NFL claiming he is being kept out of the league because of his part in the protests.
In May this year, the NFL announced that players who knelt for the national anthem would be fined under a new policy.
The league said players not willing to stand for The Star-Spangled Banner could stay in the changing rooms until it had been performed.
The NFL also vowed to “impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem”. – BBC
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has delayed announcing his Cabinet to give talks with youthful MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa a chance, highly-placed sources told the Daily News yesterday.
Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Zimbabwe has been without a Cabinet since August 26, when Mnangagwa took oath of office after a lengthy hiatus caused by Chamisa’s Constitutional Court application, challenging his electoral victory.
The only appointments he has so far made relate to his deputies, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, who were reappointed last week.
Highly-placed sources told this publication yesterday that the Zanu PF leader, who has “out-stretched” his arms to Chamisa, was not rushing to appoint his Cabinet in the hope that the MDC Alliance leader would agree to working with him in some form of broad-based government.
This comes as the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) are said to be nudging protagonists in the Zimbabwe crisis to smoke a peace pipe to release pent-up pressures contributing to an on-going meltdown of the country’s economy.
Reports, which have not been denied by Brussels and Number 10 Downing Street, suggest that their diplomats are proposing an arrangement that mirrors the system in Britain, where the leader of the opposition and his chief whip are paid by the State.
As if to confirm this, a shadowy columnist in one of the State newspapers believed to be Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba, has hinted that there could be behind the scenes negotiations for the two leaders to work together.
He said the administration was just waiting for Chamisa to cool down after losing the elections for meaningful talks to proceed.
“Looking in the crystal ball, much really depends on how soon and well the young man (Chamisa) recovers his poise so he merits the regard and package that awaits him from his winning rival.
“Far more than all of us, he stands to gain a great deal in the impending Second Republic, until now a blank concept and cheque needing some ink, pen and a steady scrawling hand, if Zimbabwe is to enter a new and mature phase in its national politics,” the columnist wrote.
The writer said a key paradoxical assignment for Mnangagwa was going to be one of drawing in and closer what he described as an immature and disloyal opposition, while not bringing them in by way of an inclusive government which no one in Zanu PF countenances at this stage.
“This needs great creativity, even greater courage, bearing in mind it is on this question that ED either stumbles or else over-leaps, the latter allowing him to lay an enduring basis for a lasting legacy. And once this puzzle is resolved, the challenges on the economy will be an easy run down the hill,” the columnist said.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told the Daily News that the duty to appoint ministers was that of the president, adding that no one could be privy of how Mnangagwa was going to choose his Cabinet.
“You can ask the chief secretary in the office of the president, Dr Misheck Sibanda, because Cabinet appointments are a prerogative of the president. I don’t even expect the chief secretary to know, the rules of appointment are that it is the prerogative of the president,” Khaya Moyo said.
MDC Alliance national chairperson Morgen Komichi said he was not yet aware of any overtures from Mnangagwa.
“As far as I am concerned they have not yet approached us,” Komichi said.
Despite the denials, Chamisa has been mandated by his national council to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders in the local and international community.
Chamisa, however, said the dialogue will be anchored on five key issues, chief among them, the respect of the true election outcome, return to legitimacy and democracy and institution of electoral reforms for the conducting of free, fair and credible elections in the country.
He said dialogue will be around reviving the country’s economy.
Analysts believe it is important for the two parties to work together for the good of the country, as this creates great chances of improving the country’s economy.
Political analyst Stephen Chan said Western powers were eager to see an accommodation between Mnangagwa and Chamisa.
He said the delay in announcing Cabinet might also be linked to Mnangagwa’s need to balance the divisions within the ruling party.
Within his party, Chamisa has a number of forces to appease based on tribe, gender, other social inclusion factors, the military and war veterans.
“There are many factions in Zanu PF to be balanced, and it was never going to be just a contest between technocrats and military figures, or between some fabled new guard and the old guard. In any case, as far as I can see, there are few really able technocrats in Parliament. Bright and sensible people have all gone into business,” said Chan.
Maxwell Saungweme, another political analyst, said Mnangagwa was trying to manage people’s expectations, with high chances that he might work with Chamisa.
He said it was increasingly becoming clear to Chamisa and the alliance that Mnangagwa is the President and regardless of rigging claims Zimbabwe has to move on.
“I see Chamisa working with Mnangagwa soon under the guise of putting the country first. Otherwise politically it will be difficult for him to refuse to work with Mnangagwa given that he has MPs and local councils the alliance won,” said Saungweme.
“Whether he likes or not his party is definitely part of government. I think Mnangagwa is doing well in embracing him so that a win-win alternative is found instead of a winner take all. Chamisa has over two million votes and is difficult to ignore. But Mnangagwa is also the President and difficult to ignore for Chamisa”.
Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said working together comes with its fair share of problems which might not be good for the country.
“While it may bode well for Zimbabwe that our political leaders find each other this may not resolve the fundamental contestations on electoral results hence a lack of trust within any GNU (Government of National Unity). I think the MDC and Zanu PF must simply agree on a politics of respect and rule of law,” he said.
The debate in Zanu PF on plans by some in the ruling party to push for a constitutional amendment that will raise the minimum presidential age limit from the current 40 to between 55 and 60 years is very retrogressive.
MDC-T president Nelson Chamisa
Clearly, the suggested constitutional amendment is being mooted primarily to bar MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa who was narrowly beaten by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the recent elections from running for the same post again.
When the idea was first raised by controversial Zanu PF legislator Joseph Chinotimba, many of us thought at the time that the Buhera South legislator was just expressing an uninformed opinion not shared by many in the ruling party.
How wrong we were!
Recently, Zanu PF politburo member Lovemore Matuke shocked many when he confirmed that the ruling party would indeed use its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to revise upwards the presidential age limit.
Given the fact that, unlike Chinotimba, Matuke is a Zanu PF bigwig who was the ruling party chief whip in the last Parliament, the threat to tweak the presidential age limit should not be taken lightly.
But why should a party that claims to have won the harmonised elections fairly and squarely be this desperate to bar Chamisa from standing again come 2023? Why is Zanu PF and its underlings so determined to block another Chamisa presidential run merely because he exercised his rights by petitioning the Constitutional Court to set aside the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s declaration of Mnangagwa as the winner of the July 30 presidential election?
This clearly exposes their fear of the rising youthful politician and the rut we are stuck in as a country. The Zimbabwean economy is in the doldrums but sadly for ordinary citizens, economic revival appears not to be the priority of the ruling party.
Instead of thinking of ways of utilising their majority in Parliament to breathe life into the economy, Zanu PF is already focusing on the 2023 harmonised elections. And this is barely a month after winning another mandate to govern Zimbabwe.
A Constitution is supposed to be fundamental document underpinned by enduring principles and as such change and modification should be rare.
Given the foregoing, it would be treacherous for Zanu PF to use its majority in the National Assembly to amend willy-nilly a Constitution that was borne out of extensive nationwide consultations.
We should not allow a situation where our Constitution is amended upon a few selfish people’s wishes.
Brazil World Cup winner Ronaldo has become the majority shareholder of Real Valladolid, after purchasing a 51% controlling stake in the Spanish club.
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo (C) holds a symbolic Real Valladolid jersey as he poses with Valladolid mayor Oscar Puente (L) and Real Valladolid president Carlos Suarez during a press conference in Valladolid on September 3, 2018 after the former Brazil striker took control of Real Valladolid after buying 51 percent of the La Liga club’s shares.
The 42-year-old played for Real Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Barcelona in an 18-year playing career.
Valladolid are 16th in La Liga and yet to win a game this season.
“The arrival of Ronaldo puts Real Valladolid on the map and will allow the club to take a leap in quality,” said president Carlos Suarez.
Ronaldo scored 62 times for Brazil, including both goals when they beat Germany in the 2002 World Cup final.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, he said: “I have gone through many stages in my training in football to prepare. Football is a passion.
“This new management will be defined by four words: competitiveness, transparency, revolution and social.”
Ronaldo won two La Liga titles with Real Madrid and the Uefa Cup with Inter. He was part of the Brazil squad who won the 1994 World Cup – although he did not play – and helped them reach the 1998 final.
He picked up the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world in 1997 and 2002.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah are the finalists for Best Fifa Men’s Player award for 2018.
ristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah are up for Best Fifa Men’s Player award
Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, missed out on a place in the top three.
There was also no place for any member of France’s World Cup winning squad.
Lyon’s Champions League winning duo Ada Hegerberg of Norway and Germay’s Dzsenifer Marozsan are the finalists for Best Fifa Women’s Player, alongside Brazil forward Marta.
Portugal winger Ronaldo, the 2016 and 2017 winner, won a fifth Champions League title with Real Madrid in May before joining Juventus for £99.2m.
Real midfielder Luka Modric was named the World Cup 2018’s player of the tournament as Croatia reached the final against France.
Egypt forward Salah scored 44 goals as Liverpool reached the Champions League final, losing to Real.
Modric beat Ronaldo and Salah to win the Uefa Men’s Player of the Year last week
Ada Hegerberg of Norway, Germay’s Dzsenifer Marozsan and Brazil forward Marta are the finalists for Best Fifa Women’s Player
England striker Harry Kane, who won the World Cup Golden Boot and was on the original 10-man shortlist, has also missed out.
Didier Deschamps, who led France to the World Cup, is nominated for coach of the year, alongside Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.
The awards are separate to the Ballon d’Or, after world football’s governing body ended its association with that honour in 2016.
A panel of Fifa legends and experts drew up 10-man shortlists for each award and a jury consisting of national team captains, coaches, selected journalists and fans choose the winner, each group accounting for 25% of the vote.
Ronaldo’s overhead kick against Juventus and Gareth Bale’s overhead kick against Liverpool in the Champions League final are among the 10 nominees for the Puskas award for best goal, which is voted for by the fans.
The winners will be announced on 24 September at Royal Festival Hall in London.
Valencia defender Geoffrey Kondogbia will have to wait to make his debut for Central African Republic due to injury.
Valencia’s Geoffrey Kondogbia was an unused substitute for France in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Belarus
The 25-year-old had to withdraw from coach Raoul Savoy’s 23-man squad for the game in Guinea on 9 September.
Kondogbia chose to switch allegiances from to CAR after playing five times for the French senior team and helping them win the 2013 Under-20 World Cup.
As all those appearances have been in friendlies meaning he can still swap to CAR with Fifa permission.
He holds dual nationality and has not played for France in a competitive fixture, making him eligible for the Wild Beasts – once his application has been approved by Fifa.
CAR will count themselves lucky as Kondogbia was an unused substitute when France played a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Belarus in September 2013.
If he had come onto the pitch at all he would have been ineligible to play for CAR.
Kondgobia, whose older brother Evans has five caps for CAR, had been expected to join up with his prospective teammates this week in the Senegalese seaside resort of Saly.
Savoy has called up unattached France-born striker Quentin Ngakoutou as a late replacement for Kondogbia, who has swiftly reassured the Swiss coach of his availability for the double-header against Ivory Coast in October.
Kondogbia began his professional career at Lens, before switching to Spanish club Sevilla in July 2012, stints at Monaco and Inter Milan followed ahead of a move to Valencia in August 2017.
Meanwhile, another former France youth international Frederic Nimani, who plays for Swiss club Xamax, has been cleared by Fifa and is expected to make his debut against the Group H leaders on Sunday.
CAR are second in the group after they beat visiting Rwanda 2-1 in the opening group fixture in June 2017. Guinea remain top on goal difference after a 3-2 away win in Ivory Coast. BBC.
