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Bring on Mahrez, Warriors ready for the Desert Foxes test

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Nehanda Radio
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Tonderai Ndiraya and Zdravko Logarusic
Tonderai Ndiraya and Zdravko Logarusic

By Eddie Chikamhi

The stage is shaping up for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations football qualifiers between Zimbabwe and Algeria after the Desert Foxes announced a star-studded unit led by Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez at the weekend.

Tonderai Ndiraya and Zdravko Logarusic
Tonderai Ndiraya and Zdravko Logarusic

The Algerians, who top Group H and followed by Zimbabwe in the 2021 AFCON qualifying race, have drawn together players from some of Europe’s top leagues like the English Premiership, the Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1, the German Bundesliga and the Spanish La Liga.

With a few exceptions, Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi called on virtually the same team that won the last AFCON finals in Egypt in 2019.

Some of the notable names in the selection include Said Benrahma (West Ham, England), Yacine Brahimi (Al-Rayyan, Qatar), Adam Ounas (Cagliari, Italy), Andy Delort (Montpellier, France) and Ismael Bennacer of AC Milan in Italy.

France-based defenders Youcef Atal and Djamel Benlamri, who did not take part in the recent training camp in Europe from October 5 to 13, were also called-up in the 24-member side.

Belmadi also did not recall a few players who participated in this training camp, which was marked by the two matches played by Algeria against Nigeria (1-0) and Mexico (2-2). They are Zinedine Ferhat (Nîmes, France), Abdel jalil Medioub (CD Tondela, Portugal) and Maxime Spano-Rahou (Valenciennes, France).

The squad is also missing Youcef Belaili, who played a role in the Greens’ coronation in the 2019 African Cup of Nations finals in Egypt. The international midfielder has been without a club for several months.

The Algerians will host the first leg of the AFCON qualifiers at the 5 July 1962 Stadium in Algiers on Thursday night (9pm Zim time) before coming down to Zimbabwe for the return leg four days later at the National Sports Stadium.

Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic said he was not intimidated by the strength of the Algeria team. The Croat sounded confident and was content with the underdog’s tag in this Group H contest.

“Firstly, what is important is that I am optimistic. If I am somebody who is scared in life I would not have been here in Zimbabwe; I would not have been here in Africa,” he said.

“Plus, in football, in 90 minutes, I have to talk on the bench and the players have to talk on the field. Why should we be scared?

“At this moment Algeria are really the best but I want to see where we are now. We don’t know where we are. We want to see because there are always some stories like we were unlucky in AFCON, we were unlucky in maybe this and maybe that. Let’s see really where we are.”

The Warriors began trooping into camp on Friday but they could not arrange training sessions since they had only eight players by yesterday. The majority of the Zimbabwe internationals could not travel early as they were expected to feature for their clubs on Saturday and Sunday.

Skipper Knowledge Musona is expected to be among the 10 foreign-based players scheduled to arrive today. Also expected today is Jimmy Dzingai, Jordan Zemura, Tendayi Darikwa, Adam Chicksen, Tafadzwa Rusike, Kuda Mahachi, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Khama Billiat and David Moyo.

The quartet of Teenage Hadebe, Marvelous Nakamba, Tino Kadewere and Marshall Munetsi will be the last to arrive tomorrow. The United States-based duo of Tendai Jirira and goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva could not make it because of the travel complications in the USA.

Zimbabwe will depart for Algeria aboard a charter flight later tomorrow.

Unlike their opponents who had a week-long training camp in Europe during the recent FIFA window, Logarusic bemoaned the limited time he has had with the Warriors.

His players could not make it for the international friendly match against Malawi because of logistical challenges.

“Do we will bring the best of what we have at this moment?” Logarusic said.

“It’s not realistic because we could not have trainings together. Look at those boys, they are traveling 15 hours from Europe and to travel to Algeria nine to 10 hours, that means they will be 24 hours in the plane.

“Plus, they are eating this and that and the changing climate for sure they will have so many disadvantages. But let’s try our best. Let’s see, can we compare with them (Algeria)?

“If we cannot compare with them 90 minutes, can we compare 70 minutes, can we compare 60 minutes, then we know if we cannot compare 60 minutes maybe it’s lack of fitness or maybe lack of this and that but let’s see exactly where we are at the moment.

“That’s most important for us, then we know that is our fundamental and from there we can build up more. We must be realistic they are the favourites.

“First game is out there, secondly we are coming without proper training, am I right? We are coming with some players that didn’t meet the coach but we are Warriors. Sometimes you have to go into a fight without knowing what’s going on out there but we have to do our best,” said Logarusic.

Squads:

Zimbabwe

Goalkeepers – Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka, SA), Talbert Shumba (Nkana, Zambia).

Defenders: Jimmy Dzingai (Nkana, Zambia), Alec Mudimu (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldova), Jordan Zemura (Bournemouth, England), Teenage Hadebe (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Divine Lunga (Golden Arrows, SA), Tendayi Darikwa (Nottingham Forest, England), Adam Chicksen (Notts County, England)

Midfielders: Marshal Munetsi (Stade de Reims, France), Ovidy Karuru (Unattached), Butholezwe Ncube (Amazulu, SA), Tafadzwa Rusike (Zesco United, Zambia), Kuda Mahachi (Supersport, SA), Knowledge Musona (KAS Eupen, Belgium), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Orlando Pirates, SA), King Nadolo (Dynamos), Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa, England), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs, SA)

Strikers: Tino Kadewere (Olympique Lyon, France), David Moyo (Hamilton Academical, Scotland) Prince Dube (Azam, Tanzania)

Algeria

Goalkeepers: Rais Mbolhi (Al-Ettifaq – Saudi Arabia), Azzedine Doukha (Al-Raed – Saudi Arabia), Alexandre Oukidja (FC Metz – France)

Defenders: Mohamed Fares (Lazio, Itay), Youcef Atal (OGC Nice – France), Aissa Mandi (Real Betis – Spain), Djamel Benlamri (Lyon – France), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Mönchengladbach – Germany), Mehdi Tahrat (Abha Club – Saudi Arabia), Réda Halaïmia (K Beerschot VA – Belgium)

Midfielders: Mehdi Abeid (Nantes – France), Mehdi Zerkane (Bordeaux – France), Sofiane Feghouli (Galatasaray – Turkey), Adlène Guedioura (Al-Gharafa – Qatar), Ismaël Bennacer (AC Milan – Italy), Haris Belkebla (Brest FC – France), Farid Boulaya (Metz – France)

Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City – England), Adam Ounas (Cagliari – Italy), Saïd Benrahma (West Ham – England), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd – Qatar), Andy Delort (Montpellier – France), Karim Aribi (Nimes – France), Yacine Brahimi (Al-Rayyan, Qatar). The Herald.

Lawyer refutes Mubaiwa ‘clothes dumping’ claims

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Nehanda Radio
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Mrs Mary Chiwenga - Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda

By Fidelis Munyoro

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s lawyer says reports that military personnel were used to dump his estranged wife’s property at her house in Eastlea were not only misleading, but a vain attempt to scandalise their client’s name by a newspaper struggling to make sales.

Mrs Mary Chiwenga – Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda

In fact, the Vice President hired a vehicle to deliver the personal items, which cannot be part of a divorce settlement to Ms Marry Mubaiwa after a pre-trial conference agreement that the property would be delivered.

But her family suggested it should be handed over at Ms Mubaiwa’s house, rather than her parents’ house.

It was only after this delivery that a letter was received from Ms Mubaiwa’s lawyer asking for the delivery of the personal items to be delayed until Ms Mubaiwa had given her lawyer instructions on where the personal property should be sent.

The Vice President and his estranged wife Ms Marry Mubaiwa are entangled in a divorce action at the High Court, centred on a custody dispute for their three children and the usual discussions over how property should be divided.

The private weekly newspaper, The Standard, in its article titled “Chiwenga humiliates ‘seriously ill’ ex-wife Marry”, claimed that VP Chiwenga used military personnel to embarrass his estranged wife by dumping her property at her house in Eastlea on Friday.

The VP’s lawyer, Mr Wilson Manase, dismissed the report as meant to deliberately scandalise the good name of his client.

“We read with utmost dismay the report which is replete with falsehoods,” he said.

“We are studying the purport of the article in order to correctly advise our client on whether he should take an appropriate action, more particularly when they claim that military personnel were involved.

“I do believe this is a headline to sell the newspaper, more particularly in an economic environment where people are not buying their paper.”

Vice President Chiwenga, said the lawyer, never wanted to humiliate his estranged wife, with whom he has children together.

“VP Chiwenga never used military personnel to transport the property in question but hired a truck.”

To set the record straight, Mr Manase said the property alluded to in the report was delivered to Ms Mubaiwa following an arranged meeting attended by both parties in Advocate Lewis Uriri’s chambers and an agreement that purely personal property belonging to Ms Mubaiwa should be delivered to her.

Ms Mubaiwa’s lawyer, Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, and her father, Mr Kenny Mubaiwa and his wife Helga, were all present and made a request that they be urgently given immediate access to all outstanding clothing, her vehicle and her personal items, said Mr Manase.

According to the lawyer, Ms Mubaiwa had alleged that the Vice President was denying her access to clothes which are not part of the dispute over the sharing of property now before the courts.

“These sentiments were aptly captured in the pre-trial conference minutes drafted and filed with the High Court,” he said.

Initially the property was supposed to be delivered to where Mubaiwa is staying, which is her parents’ home in Folyjon Crescent in Glen Lorne.

According to correspondences between the parties’ lawyers, an attempt was made to deliver the property at the agreed address, but Ms Mubaiwa’s father, Mr Kenny Mubaiwa, indicated that the goods should not be delivered there since his house was not his daughter’s home, as she had her own house in Eastlea.

Mr Manase said after delivering the goods to the Eastlea house, he afterwards received a letter from Ms Mtetwa advising them that she had not got full instructions from her client on the delivery of the property to Eastlea house.

“Without instructions from client, we are unable to respond to your letters,” wrote Ms Mtetwa to VP Chiwenga’s lawyer, requesting for stay of the delivery until she has received full instructions.

In this regard, Mr Manase said the reporter should have verified the facts from both parties to come up with an accurate and objective piece imbued with credibility.

“The article clearly insinuate that our client was abusing his position which the paper is repeating for the second time now, just to tarnish the image of the Vice President,” he said. The Herald.

Phase III: Pupils back in class

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Nehanda Radio
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5

By Victor Maphosa

Classes for learners from Early Childhood Education up to Grade Five, as well as Form Ones and Twos start today amid calls for Government to avail more buses to ferry day scholars.

Government is implementing the last phase of the school re-opening strategy.

The phased reopening, approved by Cabinet in September was being done in three stages.

Yesterday, learners who were going to different boarding schools were gathered at various pick-up points dotted across Harare.

Some parents who spoke to The Herald appealed for more buses to ferry children to and from school.

Zupco marketing and public relations officer Ms Sikhanyisiwe Ncube assured parents of a more efficient service.

“The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company will scale up its operations and scheduling initiatives to ensure that the commuting public is not disadvantaged.

“We have a schedule of pick up points which we published September 30, 2020 to notify commuters, especially learners of the designated pick up points for our buses.

“We have positioned point monitors at these points to ensure that order prevails as well as to keep updating our operations team on the prevailing situation at designated points,” she said.

However, parents felt that the initiative by Zupco is not enough since children were spending long hours in queues.

Some suggested that learners should be given first preference, especially in the morning while others said Government should provide more buses.

“We are happy that at last schools have opened. However, our children are facing transport problems. I have a child who goes to school in Mbare yet I stay in St Mary’s in Chitungwiza. I am pleading with the Government to avail more buses through Zupco so that our children can attend school in time.

“Now that private commuter omnibuses have been banned from operating, it is incumbent for more buses to be on the roads, for the sake of our children,” said Mr Wilson Chikomo from Chitungwiza.

Another Chitungwiza resident, Mrs Vongai Mhizha also pleaded with Government to avail more buses for school children.

In keeping with social distancing rules, classes must be smaller and so more teachers are being employed, classes might be split and steps taken to ensure no class will have more than 30 pupils in one classroom, a measure that will help teachers in the catch-up process.

Also Government is encouraging hot-sitting at schools that may have inadequate infrastructure and resources to properly implement Covid-19 prevention regulations.

Further, Government has put in place guidelines to monitor learners’ individual performance levels and compare them to where one was at the close of the first term when schools were shut. The Herald.

Ginimbi death: The details

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Nehanda Radio
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The wreckage of the Rolls Royce in which Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure and his three friends were killed following a head-on collision with a Honda Fit in the Philadelphia area, along Borrowdale Road in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Tawanda Mudimu
The wreckage of the Rolls Royce in which Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure and his three friends were killed following a head-on collision with a Honda Fit in the Philadelphia area, along Borrowdale Road in Harare. — Picture: Tawanda Mudimu

By Tafadzwa Zimoyo

Businessman Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure, who died on the spot along Liberation Legacy Way in Harare, ordinarily known by many as Borrowdale Road, when his speeding Rolls Royce collided head-on with a Honda Fit, veered off the road and hit a tree before catching fire, was with two foreigners who had come for the Saturday night party.

The wreckage of the Rolls Royce in which Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure and his three friends were killed following a head-on collision with a Honda Fit in the Philadelphia area, along Borrowdale Road in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Tawanda Mudimu
The wreckage of the Rolls Royce in which Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure and his three friends were killed following a head-on collision with a Honda Fit in the Philadelphia area, along Borrowdale Road in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Tawanda Mudimu

Limumba Karim from Malawi and a Mozambican, who was only iden- tified as Elisha and the birthday girl, Mitchelle “Moana” Umali were burnt beyond recognition after the doors of the Rolls Royce jammed on impact and it took many hours for police and the Fire Brigade to retrieve their remains from the wreckage.

Yesterday, Ginimbi’s sister, Nelia, said her brother was having fun at Dreams Nightclub and had invited his other two friends — Karim and Elisha — to celebrate Moana’s birthday.

I did not meet the two who were involved in an accident with my brother. I only heard him saying he was going to Moana’s party with friends.

“The next thing I get a phone call that my brother was involved in an accident. I am still in shock and it is scary. I arrived at the scene and saw the remains of my brother and his friends. “I am hurt. We were now four in our family thus, my sister Juliet, myself, Ginimbi and my father Anderson. The funeral wake will be at his Domboshawa home,” she said.

Tinotenda Marimo, popularly known as “Dj Rimo”, who was Ginimbi’s close friend, described the accident as a shock. “It seems mukomana (Ginimbi) was speeding. I am trying to think of how the car exploded and hit the tree. Usually that is his time of going home after partying, the wee hours of Sunday. I am saddened and at a loss for words,” he said.

Ginimbi’s friends, family and other local celebrities and businesspeople gathered at the accident scene as they tried to comprehend what could have happened.

Notable faces included comedienne Madam Boss, Albert Ndabambi, Jackie Ngarande, Thompson Dondo, Keen Mubaiwa and Wanisai Mtandwa (Mahwindo) among others.

One security guard identified as Martin said that he was patrolling the area when he witnessed the accident.

“I always see Ginimbi at this hour (5am) when I finish work and he will be driving to his Domboshava house. Today he had his Rolls Royce and was speeding as usual. I heard a bang and I rushed to investigate. I saw him trying to open the doors with a view to rescuing his friends.

“He was struggling to breathe and was visibly shaking. Genius was shouting for help. When I arrived, the car exploded. “The fire was scary and we could not do anything to help.

“Some neighbours gathered at the scene of the accident. We unsuccessfully tried to put out the fire using water buckets and tree branches,” he said.

Ginimbi’s manager identified as Shally said she was deeply hurt.

“I feel like hell. I don’t even know which words to even use. Genius Kadungure has been called by God. He is no more. He was in a terrible accident around 5am and he died on the spot with three of his friends in the car, Karim, Elisha and Moana,” she said.

Moana’s father Mr Ishamel Amuli said he last saw his daughter early last year and was distressed and worried about her partying behaviour.

Speaking at the funeral wake in Highfield, Mr Amuli (58) told The Herald that his relationship with Moana went sour in 2017 when she left her husband.

“In 2017, Mitchelle had problems with her husband, who came to drop their child in Domboshava. Mitchelle later came to pick her daughter and I sat down with her, telling her that I wasn’t happy with her behaviour. I heard a lot about my daughter that she had become a party animal and was featuring in several musical videos. I got angry and slapped her twice and she left home for good.

“Last year I saw her, but we never talked much. I am a Muslim and what she was doing was against our religion. Now how do I tell my elders at church and how will she be buried? We are now at her mother’s house in Highfield because I did not fully pay lobola for her mother. I still owe in-laws, but that is a story for another day,” he said.

Mr Amuli said he broke up with Moana’s mother while his daughter was still a toddler.

“I quit my job to look after my children. I had five children and Mitchelle was the second born and only girl. She had a daughter named Tyra. I stay in Domboshava in Chirombo Village. I used to hear some neighbours telling me that my daughter was at Ginimbi’s house. Today, was told that she had a birthday party at a night club in Harare and she died on her way back,” he said.

Mr Amuli broke down during the interview. Moana’s funeral wake is at Number 547 Engineering, Highfield.

Burial arrangements will be announced after post-mortem.

Moana featured in several musical videos which include Takura’s popular track “Zvemoyo”, Enzo Ishall’s “Mwenje” and Freeman’s video “Muridzo”.

Apart from being video vixen, she was a fitness trainer.

Burial arrangements for Ginimbi, Karim and Elisha were by last night yet to be announced. The Herald.

Covid-19 chews Truworths earnings

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Nehanda Radio
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By Enacy Mapakame

Listed clothing retailer, Truworths Zimbabwe’s earnings for the year to July 2020, took a dip due to Covid-19 induced restrictions to trade.

During the second half of the year under review the country was in a lockdown, which started in March as part of efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic. For Truworths, its stores were closed the entire month of April and the first two weeks in May in compliance with lockdown restrictions.

As a result, units sold went down 59,9 percent on an overall basis and 57,5 percent on a like for like basis.

“The second half period was negatively affected by the Covid-19 lockdown,” said chief executive officer Br Bhekithemba Ndebele in a statement accompanying the financial results.

Despite the movement restrictions effected, the debtors’ collection teams worked virtually and the collections for the months of April and May were acceptable, according to Mr Ndebele. The period was also characterised by high inflation, reduced disposable incomes and foreign currency shortages, which had a knock-on effect on product availability.

The foreign currency situation has, however, improved since the introduction of the Foreign Exchange Auction by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). During the year under review, revenue went down seven percent to $165 million from $177 million recorded in the prior year. Operating profit came in at $17 million, which was 56 percent below prior year’s $39 million.

Profit for the period took a 60 percent dip to $9 million compared to $23 million recorded during the same comparable period. Basic and diluted earnings per share came in at 2,46 cents from 6,15 cents. Gross profit margins held firm at 64 percent with no merchandise markdowns.

Total assets went down 26 percent to $157 million from $213 million in the prior year.

During the paid under review, active accounts decreased by 0,5 percent as the hyper-inflationary conditions forced the business to conservatively and judiciously manage the granting of credit.

The tenure of the credit period was also reduced and monthly interest charges were reviewed upwards.

Mr Ndebele said the doubtful debt provision as a percentage of gross debtors was 13,5 percent compared to 15,2 percent in the prior period. Although lockdown restrictions have eased with the environment slowly returning to normal, the business environment is expected to remain constrained due to waning disposable incomes as well as Zimbabwe dollar liquidity shortages.

The adverse impact of Covid-19 is also going to pose challenges for businesses across sectors due to international supply chain disruptions.

Said Mr Ndebele: “Since the easing of the lockdown restrictions, trading has been in line with our expectations in the current environment except for Harare CBD stores.”

Truworths did not declare a dividend due to the need to finance increased working capital requirements in a hyperinflationary environment with limited or reduced supplier credit terms. The Chronicle.

Young Mighty Warriors in sweet comeback victory

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Nehanda Radio
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Young Mighty Warriors
Young Mighty Warriors

By Grace Chingoma

Zimbabwe Under-17 women 3-2 Comoros Under-17 women.The Zimbabwe Under-17 women’s national football team saved themselves the blushes at the Cosafa Championships yesterday when they scored three second-half goals to beat Comoros at The Oval Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Young Mighty Warriors
Young Mighty Warriors

The Young Mighty Warriors, who trailed 2-0 at half-time, dug deeper in the second period and were on target in the 78th, 82nd and 94th minutes to win their first match at the regional tournament.

The tournament is running concurrently with the senior team at the Nelson Mandela Bay. And, today their senior team, the Mighty Warriors, need such a huge fighting spirit when they take on Botswana in a Group C decider.

The Mighty Warriors need to win with two clear goals to progress to the semi-finals.

But the Young Mighty Warriors, who were hammered 7-0 last Friday by hosts South Africa in their first match at the tournament, found a way back to winning ways.

The script had appeared to continue yesterday after Zimbabwe conceded in the fourth minute. They had a goal ruled out for off-side and had a penalty saved in the 45th minute.

Zimbabwe were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time of the first half, but midfielder Bethel Kondo shot straight at the Comoros keeper Ben Ali Said.

But the Zimbabweans, playing in their first Under-17 Women’s’ Cosafa tournament, pulled one back after defender Morelife Nyagumbo rifled home a shot from the edge of the box to beat Comoros keeper with 12 minutes remaining.

Zimbabwe equalised in the 82nd after midfielder Ropafadzo Maferefa, who had missed before finally got it right, heading into the nets to hit the back of the roof.

The Young Mighty Warriors were smelling victory and coach Annie Konje’s tactical change in the 68th minute paid off. Substitute Brenda Ndarowa repaid the coach’s confidence with an added time match winner that broke the hearts of the islanders.

The Young Mighty Warriors meet East Africans guest Tanzania tomorrow before they complete their round-robin matches with a date against Zambia on Thursday.

The two teams that finish top will proceed to the final this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Mighty Warriors coach Sithetheliwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda says they have been working on the poor finishing which was their biggest let down in the 0-1 defeat to Tanzania in the Group C opener.

The group was thrown wide open on Saturday following Botswana’s 1-0 victory over the Tanzanians.

The Mighty Warriors, who are still to taste victory in the three-team group, just need to win by at least two goals without conceding to finish top in the group and proceed to the last four. The best runners-up from the three groups make the fourth team in the next round.

“The group is still very much open, so if we only can manage to defend well, create chances and utilise them by scoring.

“In as much as we don’t have pressure as a team, we are looking at it as a must-win game. In the match versus Tanzania we missed chances, so we have been addressing finishing at goals in our training sessions so we hope we can get better tomorrow.

“First game we created chances but we didn’t utilise, so our emphasis was a lot on finishing,” said Sibanda.

Teams
Zimbabwe Under-17: Timmly Kavhura, Lucia Chisvo, Tinotenda Taurai (Elise Moyo, 78th minute), Tanyaradzwa Chihoro, Morelife Nyagumbo, Bethel Kondo, Rudo Machadu, Ropafadzo Maferefa, Thando Sibanda (Brenda Ndarowa, 64th minute), Priscilla Marikosi, Melinda Mapasure.

Comoros: Ben Ali Said Amina, Kadafi Naima, Nadjima Youssouf, Issouffi Nilmat, Mohamed Dalila, Ahamed Nourouzamane, Noussrat Mistoihi, Mohamed Chaharizade, Said Ali Hauodhoiti, Saoudata Rachid Athmoumane, Moinahedji Mohamed. The Chronicle.

Pakistan thump Zim to seal T20 series

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Nehanda Radio
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Pakistan proved too strong for a sloppy Zimbabwe as they won the second Twenty20 international cricket match by eight wickets in Rawalpindi yesterday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Haider Ali
Haider Ali

Riding on half-centuries from skipper Babar Azam (51) and 20-year-old Haider Ali (66 not out), Pakistan made short work of a modest 135-run target, achieving victory with 29 balls to spare.

Zimbabwe, who were sent in to bat, never recovered from early strikes by paceman Haris Rauf (3-31) and spinner Usman Qadir (3-23) as they were restricted to 134-7 in 20 overs.

Haider, playing only his third international match, cracked three sixes and six boundaries in a 43-ball knock and was declared man of the match.

Azam, ranked second in the world T20 batting rankings, smashed eight fours and a six off just 28 balls, the fastest of his 16 T20 international fifties.

Haider and Azam added 100 for the second wicket, taking away the game from Zimbabwe despite losing opener Fakhar Zaman for just five in the third over.

Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani took two wickets for 33 runs, including Azam.

Khushdil Shah cracked the winning boundary in his 11 not out.

The last match of the series is scheduled for today, also in Rawalpindi.

Earlier, Ryan Burl (32 not out) and Wesley Madhevere (24) were the main scorers for Zimbabwe, with Burl smashing the last ball of the innings for a big six.

Pakistan’s Rauf, who took 20 wickets in last year’s Big Bash in Australia, removed Brendan Taylor (three) and skipper Chamu Chibhabha (15) in successive overs.

Donald Tiripano (15) added 30 for the seventh wicket with Burl before falling to Rauf in the 19th over.

Usman, son of the late Pakistan star spinner Abdul Qadir, chipped in with the wickets of Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (seven) and Elton Chigumbura (18) to further derail Zimbabwe.

Pakistan’s Ahsan Raza became the first umpire to officiate in 50 T20 internationals.

Teams
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (capt), Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain

Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (wk), Chamu Chibhabha (capt), Sean Williams, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Donald Tiripano, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava. AFP.

EcoCash, Steward Bank drive Cassava Smartech revenue

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Nehanda Radio
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Listed financial technology firm Cassava Smartech’s revenues for the four months to February 2020, jumped 318 percent to $4,6 billion from $1,1 billion in the prior comparable period.

“Despite the challenges in the obtaining operating environment, the group recorded revenue of $4,6 billion, compared to four months revenue for the period ended February 2019 of $1,1 billion,” reported management.

Cassava recorded an increase in gross profit margin to 68 percent from 57 percent in 2019 and in the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin to 29 percent, from 27 percent in the prior year.

According to the group, the increase occurred despite the pressure that the economic environment has continued to place on the business margins.

“To mitigate this, the business embarked on an elaborate cost optimisation drive to complement the revenue generation initiatives being implemented,” said management.

Cassava said continued depreciation of the Zimbabwe dollar against the United States dollar, during the period under review, had a significant impact on the company’s financial performance as it realised foreign exchange losses amounting to $2 billion.

As at the reporting date, the group had net foreign liabilities amounting to US$42,8 million, of which US$30,5 million comprise of the group’s 50 percent allocation of the overall liability in the debentures issued by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Limited.

When the group was spun off telecommunications giant Econet Wireless Zimbabwe in 2018, it basically consisted of the mobile money (EcoCash) and banking (Steward Bank) segments.

The company has been consistently diversifying to include remittance service, an insurance technology company for cars, education, a ride hailing service and healthcare.

Although the mobile money and banking segments still account for the bulk of its revenue, management is pleased with the growth of the novel segments.

“Mobile money and banking businesses contributed 89 percent (FY19: 91 percent) of total revenue for the year.

“The decline in percentage contribution for the Fintech business segment reflects the positive effects of the group’s revenue diversification strategy.

“The ongoing transformation of the business within the group remains a priority as we work on scaling up the new businesses and diversifying our revenue earnings for sustainability,” said the group.

“We are excited about the growth of Agritech and Moovah revenues included in our Insurtech and Other segments respectively. The growth was largely driven by the digital on-demand agriculture platform catering for both small-holder and large-scale commercial farmers as well as the non-motor business for the short-term insurance business unit.

“Our Life business (EcoSure) maintained solid performance, anchored on innovative digital on-boarding platforms as well as enhanced product mix to cater for the cross profile of the segments we service.” The Chronicle.

Gringo is not dead!

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Nehanda Radio
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18
Lazarus Boora aka Gringo
Lazarus Boora aka Gringo

This story has now been overtaken by events….

Veteran comedian Lazarus “Gringo” Boora has died. He was 47. Gringo who was admitted at Westview Hospital in Zimre Park died this morning barely a day after his doctor had to deny premature reports that he had died over the weekend.

Below is the old story…….

By Tafadzwa Zimoyo

Local comedian and actor Lazarus Boora (Gringo) is alive and recovering at Westview Medical Centre in Zimre Park, Harare where he is hospitalised.

Lazarus Boora aka Gringo
Lazarus Boora aka Gringo

This was confirmed by Gringo’s doctor, Dr Johannes Marisa yesterday after social media was awash with messages claiming that the popular actor had died.

“I’m surprised by the reports on social media. Gringo is still recovering at our hospital and I’ve just attended to him,” Dr Marisa said yesterday morning.

In an interview on Saturday, the doctor revealed that they conducted tests on Gringo and were awaiting some of the results.

Lazarus Boora (Gringo) is alive and recovering at Westview Medical Centre in Zimre Park, Harare where he is hospitalised.“We’ve conducted all the necessary tests and check-ups that where need to be done. Unfortunately, because of medical ethics and council, I can’t divulge the results and what Gringo is suffering from. For now, we request you to go with what his wife has told you,” he said.

The actor’s wife Netsai Meki, said she was shocked by the fake news of her husband’s death. She also confirmed that he is alive before asking for people to respect Gringo and desist from taking pictures of him on the hospital bed each time they visit him.

“I just fed him this afternoon. I’d like to thank everyone who’s concerned over Gringo’s health and I ask those who visit not to take photographs of him on his hospital bed. They are causing unnecessary alarm and despondency as it sends a wrong signal.

“They can visit, but for now, no pictures,” she said.

According to family members, Gringo is battling intestine obstruction and has a sitting discomfort, backache, hearing and talking difficulties.

Last year the actor underwent surgery for an appendix rupture before he relocated to his rural home in Rusape. He recently returned to Harare where has been staying with his wife and three children. The Chronicle.

No by-elections anytime soon: VP Chiwenga

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Nehanda Radio
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2

By Moses Matenga and Harriet Chikandiwa

Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga has vowed that by-elections will not take place anytime soon during the COVID-19 pandemic period despite health officials saying polls were possible.

Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga (Picture by © AFP/Wilfred Kajese)
Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga (Picture by © AFP/Wilfred Kajese)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued a statement saying that it was safe to conduct elections.

In his opposing affidavit in response to a High Court application by the Election Resource Centre (ERC), the Women’s Academy for Leadership (Walpe) and six other applicants, Chiwenga claimed that banning by-elections would save lives.

This is despite other countries successfully holding elections in spite of the COVID-19 crisis.

Ironically President Emmerson Mnangagwa this week rushed to Tanzania to observe the inauguration of President John Magufuli who was elected in last week’s highly-contested polls.

Other countries like Malawi have also held presidential elections during the COVID-19 era.

In the High Court application, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is cited as the first respondent while Mnangagwa is the second respondent.

“There is, therefore, already an existing considerable risk of a conflagration in the spread of the pandemic due to the laxity which has developed among the population. It is as if the pandemic has ceased to exist,” Chiwenga said.

“As such, any additional restrictive measure to curb the increase of the risk of infection is essential to protect the population,” he said, adding that infections could spiral out of control “to an extent where they can become unmanageable and overwhelm the country’s medical resources”.

Chiwenga said Zimbabwe could not blindly follow what other countries were doing by holding elections during the COVID-19 period.

“It is up to Zimbabwe to take such measures to safeguard its people and it cannot do that blindly following what other countries are doing.

“Some countries in Europe, for instance, went overboard with relaxations, now they are hastily re-introducing the stringent measures which they had before. Now they are reaping the fruits of having opened up too much and having failed to exercise caution, we do not want our country to get into that same situation.”

Chiwenga continued: “It should be noted that while WHO guidelines permit the holding of elections, they require that they should be held in circumstances where the risk of the spread of the pandemic is minimal or minimised.

But Chiwenga said: “With the kind of medical resources available to us, we cannot afford to have a situation such as is taking place in the United States. The numbers of infections and deaths in Zimbabwe may presently be low when compared to the statistics of other countries. This, however, is no justification for holding by-elections which may result in a spike in those numbers, leading to unnecessary suffering or deaths. Government would be irresponsible if it were to allow that to happen.”

Chiwenga then cited the Constitution, saying it clearly states that everyone has a right to life, adding that “there is no need for even one life to be lost simply because we want to hold elections”.

He also said Zec’s functions were not prescribed as an essential service under lockdown legislation and the COVID-19 regulations, hence elections could not be called.

He denied that his move was unconstitutional, saying: “I deny that SI 225A of 2020 is ultra vires section 68 of the Public Health Act or sections 158 and 159 of the Constitution. I further deny that in enacting SI 225A of 2020, I suspended the operation of the Constitution, or acted above, or in conflict with, the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“I also deny that the regulations contained in SI 225A 2020 are grossly irrational and unreasonable and in support of my denial. I wish to make it clear that I enacted SI 225A of 2020 after taking expert legal advice from officials in my ministry.”

Chiwenga said he had observed that Zimbabweans were no longer wearing masks and observing social distancing in public places. NewsDay

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