*Evening News Round-up: Tuesday 21 January 2025* *Headlines* *Tshabangu Withdraws Supreme Court Appeal Against Order Reversing Unlawful Parliamentary Changes* *Harare Councillors Accused Of Misconduct In Pre-Election Recruitment Scandal* *Cop Hit By Train While Chasing Fleeing Kombi* *Family of Cattle Thieves Busted...* *Trump Shuts Down US-Mexico Border* *Mozambique Opposition Leader Open To Serving In Rival's Government* *Angola Central Bank Holds Key Rate With Inflation Still High* *Nigeria Death Toll From Fuel Truck Blast Reaches 98* *Russia, Ukraine Continue Strikes Despite Trump Promise To Bring Swift Peace* *South Korea President Denies Ordering Arrest Of Lawmakers At Impeachment Trial* *TikTok Gets Reprieve With Trump Order But With Twist* *At Least 8 Killed, Dozens Wounded In Israeli Army Attack On Jenin* *'I Couldn't Do Any Worse': Mbappe On His Real Form* *Themba Mliswa Withdraws ZIFA Court Case* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *Tshabangu Withdraws Supreme Court Appeal Against Order Reversing Unlawful Parliamentary Changes* Self-styled interim CCC secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu has withdrawn his Supreme Court appeal against a High Court judgement which nullified his controversial changes to the main opposition party’s leadership structure in parliament. Parties had met at the Supreme Court to hear the appeal on Monday but Tshabangu then tendered a notice of withdrawal. This development means the High Court’s decision now stands. Tshabangu was recently ordered to stop the recalls by the High Court which also ruled he was in breach of an existing ruling. The ruling came after an urgent application filed by CCC acting president Welshman Ncube, who argued that not only did Tshabangu not have authority to reassign MPs but he was in fact carrying out back-door recalls he had been barred from doing by an earlier High Court judgement. Justice Neville Wamambo of the Harare High Court agreed with Ncube’s contention that Tshabangu’s decision to remove Lynette Karenyi-Kore, Sessel Zvidzai and Edwin Mushoriwa from the parliamentary Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) amounted to recalls. The judge also said the position of opposition chief whip to which Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa had been appointed by Tshabangu did not exist under Zimbabwe’s constitution. Following the latest development, CCC said its members who were reshuffled will be going back to their original positions. “The removal of Hon Lynette Karenyi and Hon Edwin Mushoriwa from their membership of the SROC in their ex official capacities as leader of the opposition in the National Assemble being unlawful and ultra vires the Constitution of Zimbabwe is null and void. Accordingly the two remain in their positions. “The appointment of Nonhlanhla Mlostswa as overall chief whip is unlawful and a legal nullify and of no force or effect,” said CCC in a statement. Tshabangu, styling himself as CCC secretary general, wreaked havoc on the party after elections in August 2023 when he recalled dozens of elected party representatives from both parliament and councils. The CCC filed a court application under case number HC 6872/23 in October 2023 arguing that Tshabangu was an imposter who had no authority to make the recalls which triggered some by-elections in affected constituencies. That case is pending. The CCC then obtained an order granted by Justice Tawanda Chitapi interdicting Tshabangu from making any further recalls until the determination of the main matter on whether he had a legal basis to initiate the recalls in the first place. It is this order on which the present application by Ncube hinged. *ZimLive* *Harare Councillors Accused Of Misconduct In Pre-Election Recruitment Scandal* Councillors in the Harare City Council allegedly dismissed the acting human capital director, Bozman Matengarufu, ahead of the August 2023 elections to facilitate the recruitment of party-affiliated youths into the municipal police force. This revelation emerged during a commission of inquiry hearing led by retired judge Justice Maphios Cheda, investigating corruption and financial mismanagement at Town House. Matengarufu, giving evidence at the hearing, explained the standard recruitment procedures followed during his tenure but acknowledged allegations of politically motivated employment processes. The commission’s evidence leader, Thabani Mpofu, revealed claims that the increased hiring within the Harare Municipal Police (HMP) after the elections was a strategy by councillors to reward youths who allegedly voted favorably in the polls. Matengarufu detailed his role in the recruitment process, stating, “The procedure started around February or January of 2023 while I was still in office. We had received a request from the HMP head of department to fill vacancies. Following verification of the need, we sought and obtained external recruitment authority from the Minister of Local Government.” He confirmed that procedures, including fitness assessments for recruits, were conducted under his supervision before he handed over the process to retired major Matthew Marara, who finalized appointments. When questioned about his removal before the elections, Matengarufu expressed difficulty in denying the allegations. “It could be true. I cannot deny that, because I was an enemy of both councillors and some members of my group. I believe I was a victim,” he said. He recalled clashes with councillors over recruitment policies, revealing that at one point, tensions escalated during a meeting. “I told them, if you feel I cannot advise you as your HR director, you can remove me. Maybe that prompted my removal,” Matengarufu stated. The commission, appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in May 2023, continues to probe allegations of misconduct, including claims of using employment opportunities as political leverage. *Cop Hit By Train While Chasing Fleeing Kombi* A POLICE officer escaped death by a whisker after the vehicle he was driving was hit by a train as he chased a fleeing kombi. The accident happened at a level crossing in Marondera on Saturday evening. The officer was injured. He did not observe level crossing rules which instruct all drivers to stop and only proceed after establishing there was no train which was approaching. Indications are that the officer was chasing after a fleeing kombi. In a statement, the NRZ highlighted the importance of adhering to level crossing regulations, which require all drivers to stop and confirm that no train is approaching before proceeding. “We urge motorists, including law enforcement agents, to always exercise caution when approaching level crossings and never try to race an approaching train. “This relentless pursuit culture has frequently resulted in accidents, endangering the lives of both officers and civilians.” *H-metro* *Family of Cattle Thieves Busted...* A SIX-MEMBER gang of cattle rustlers, which includes five members from one family, has been busted by police. The youngest of the family members is 25 and the olders is 44. The family members are Philip, LIoyd, David, Peter and Abel Chirasasa. Tinashe Mandizvidza Mutungamiri, 25, is the only gang member who is not part of this family. Mashonaland West Provincial Police Spokesman, Inspector Ian Kohwera, told H- Metro, on January 2, this year, the suspects went to Chikanga Farm, Chegutu, and stole four cattle belonging to two different complainants during the night. Kohwera said the first complainant is Forget Mupande (33). “Mupande saw five people running towards the Chegutu-Chinhoyi Road,” said Kohwera. “He went to the place and discovered that the suspects had already slaughtered four beasts, of which two of them belonged to him. “Mupande then alerted other villagers, including the second complainant Charles Svevere (54).” *Trump Shuts Down US-Mexico Border* The US-Mexico border is effectively closed off to migrants seeking asylum in the United States within hours of President Donald Trump taking office, an extraordinary departure from previous protocols that has left many concerned migrants in limbo. It’s a rare combination of two policies — one from former President Joe Biden and other from Trump — that have nearly sealed off the US southern border to asylum seekers. With refugee admissions also set to be suspended, there are few, if any, avenues available to people seeking refuge in the United States. Biden’s executive action last summer restricting asylum for people crossing the border illegally was condemned by Democrats and immigrant advocates. Biden administration officials argued that migrants still had an option available to them through the border app known as CBP One to schedule an appointment at a legal port of entry. That option was shut down minutes after Trump was sworn in, leaving thousands of migrants in limbo and resulting in a border that is largely sealed off to asylum seekers. Migrants who had been waiting for their appointments along Mexico’s northern border expressed shock and disappointment. Luis, a Venezuelan migrant who has lived in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez for the past nine months, told CNN’s Valeria León he was “trying to do things the right way,” before learning that his appointment scheduled for Monday through the CBP One app had been abruptly canceled. Venezuelan Yenyile Díaz, who has also spent months living in Ciudad Juarez with her family, said they had all lost their appointments following the shutdown of CBP One. “The Biden administration had managed to restrict asylum by opening up some other legal avenues and hope that would stand in the court. As of today, there’s almost no way of getting protection at the US border or anywhere along a route to the United States,” said Andrew Selee, president of the think tank Migration Policy Institute. “That’s a huge shift.” Republicans have argued that the US asylum system has been taken advantage of in recent years, saying that migrants are claiming asylum even though they don’t meet the definition and may instead be coming to the US for economic reasons. When people request asylum, they are meant to be seeking protection from violence or persecution that keep them from feeling safe in their home country or keep them from returning safely to their home country. The process to be granted asylum can take years, and some claims are ultimately denied. In an executive order signed Monday, Trump effectively suspended US asylum law until what he’s called an “invasion at the southern border has ceased.” He also directed federal agencies to “repel, repatriate, or remove” migrants coming across the border. “The decision to eliminate all avenues to seek asylum, even for families with children fleeing for their lives, is a stunning development, one that makes a mockery of our post WWII commitment never to summarily send people back to danger,” said Lee Gelernt, ACLU attorney who led many of the challenges to Trump’s border policies in the first administration, in a statement. Covid-era restrictions along the border, known as Title 42, also barred asylum and allowed border authorities to turn migrants back. That policy was challenged in court. Trump is inheriting a relatively quiet border, as Biden’s asylum restrictions sent migrant crossings plummeting. In the early days of Trump’s first term, border crossings remained low as migrants waited to see and game out his actions. But eventually they increased. While it’s difficult to predict migration patterns, Homeland Security officials warn that might happen again. “They may wait for a while and see what’s going to happen. Whether they wait for a day or a few months, if they’re this far and committed, they’re eventually going to try anyway,” the Homeland Security official said, referring to migrants. Johana Conde, from Cuba, told CNNE from the Mexican border city of Piedras Negras that she now plans to return home but is unsure of what her future holds. “They say they do want immigrants in the United States, but legal ones. Obviously, we did all this legally. … Right now we don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said. *CNN* *Mozambique Opposition Leader Open To Serving In Rival's Government* Mozambique's main opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane has told the BBC he is prepared to serve in the government if President Daniel Chapo meets his demands to end the political crisis that has hit the country following disputed elections. Chapo said he had set up a team that was "considering" whether his rival should be invited to join a new "inclusive" government. The two men outlined their positions in separate interviews with the BBC, giving the impression that they were open to rapprochement after the deaths of about 300 people in post-election unrest. Mondlane rejected his defeat in October's election, saying the result was rigged - something that Chapo denied. Mozambique's highest court declared Chapo the winner with 65% of the vote to Mondlane's 24%. Chapo was the candidate of the ruling Frelimo party, as his predecessor, Filipe Nyusi, had to step down after serving two terms in office. Chapo was officially sworn in as president on 15 January, about a week after Mondlane held his own inauguration to declare himself the "people's president". Mondlane told the BBC that Chapo was "forced" on the nation, and was the "president of the defence force". Mondlane said that he had, nevertheless, decided to suspend protests for the first 100 days of his rival's term on condition he did the following: ●unconditionally release about 5,000 people detained for participating in demonstrations against the election result ●pay financial compensation to the families of people killed by police during the protests and ●offer free medical treatment for about 200 people injured by the police. Mondlane said that if Chapo agreed to this, he would "open a window" for negotiations or else he would call on his supporters to renew protests. Asked whether he was prepared to work in Chapo's government, Mondlane replied: "Yes, if he has a genuine interest to work with me. He's got a chance to invite me to the table of dialogue." In his interview with the BBC, Chapo said he wanted to "govern in an inclusive way", and to introduce reforms to address concerns about the electoral law, human rights and freedom of expression. He said talks were currently taking place with opposition parties represented in the new parliament, and they would later be widened to include "all segments of society". Chapo added that he wanted to form a government that was "open to all Mozambicans", but he wanted to stress that "the profile of the people is very important". Asked whether he believed Mondlane qualified to serve in government, Chapo replied: "It will depend... because there is a team that is right now considering that, on the profile of the people, their competencies, their meritocracy, the patriotism - all these pre-requisites that I'm alluding to. "If the team reaches the conclusion that these people have the right profile, they will be part of the government. Those who do not have that profile will not take part." Aged 47, Chapo was chosen by Frelimo, which has been in power since independence 49 years ago, as its candidate to rally young voters affected by high unemployment, and fed up with the party's decades-long rule. *BBC* *Angola Central Bank Holds Key Rate With Inflation Still High* Angola's central bank left its main interest rate unchanged on Tuesday for the fourth meeting in a row, as inflation continued to ease in the oil-rich Southern African country but remains above 27% in annual terms. The Bank of Angola maintained its key rate at 19.50% after "hold" decisions at monetary policy meetings in July, September and November. "Prices for goods and services remain at a high level, but there is a slowdown in monthly and year-on-year inflation after peaking in June-July 2024," central bank Governor Manuel Tiago Dias told reporters. Inflation in Angola fell slightly last month to 27.50% year on year Dias said the Angolan economy was expected to have grown 4.4% last year, quicker than the 4% forecast given at November's monetary policy meeting. The governor forecast economic growth of 3.5% for 2025. *Reuters* *Nigeria Death Toll From Fuel Truck Blast Reaches 98* The death toll from a weekend fuel truck blast in Nigeria has reached 98 after more bodies were recovered from the wreckage on Monday, the head of the regional emergency agency said, adding 69 people were receiving treatment in hospital. A petrol truck overturned and exploded on Saturday in Dikko, northern Niger State, killing people who had gone to scoop up fuel from the wreckage. Abdullahi Baba-Ara, director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency said earlier 80 of the victims were buried in mass grave at a health centre in Dikko over the weekend. "After clearing the wreckage of the Dikko tanker, we discovered an additional 12 corpses today, which puts the death toll now at 98," he told Reuters. Saturday's accident is the deadliest since a similar one in the state of Jigawa in October, which killed 147 people. Such accidents have become common in Africa's largest oil producer, which is grappling with its worst cost of living crisis in a generation. The price of fuel has soared since 2023 when President Bola Tinubu ended a petrol subsidy as part of a package of economic reforms. *Russia, Ukraine Continue Strikes Despite Trump Promise To Bring Swift Peace* Russia and Ukraine have continued to exchange barrages of air attacks, despite Donald Trump having said he would end the war within 24 hours of becoming US president. While Trump was inaugurated on Monday afternoon, neither Kyiv nor Moscow have shown signs of de-escalating the drone and missile strikes they have been launching against one another in recent months. Both launched barrages overnight on Tuesday. Russia said it downed 55 Ukrainian drones, more than half of which were intercepted over regions on the border. Kyiv said it struck an oil depot near the town of Liski in the Voronezh region, sparking a blaze at the facility for the second time in less than a week. The region’s governor, Alexander Gusev, said the fire was caused by debris from a downed drone and that no one was injured. Kyiv also said its forces struck an aviation plant producing “combat aircraft” in the western Russian city of Smolensk, creating “explosions”. Ukraine’s air force claimed it shot down 93 of 141 drones Russia launched overnight, noting others were “lost” while two returned to Russia. Russian troops took control of the village of Vovkove in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, TASS, Russia’s state-run news agency, reported on Tuesday, citing the Ministry of Defence. Vovkove is about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) southwest of the city of Pokrovsk, a key front in Moscow’s offensive in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv has yet to comment on the Defence Ministry’s claim. Trump told reporters on Monday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told him he wanted to make a peace deal and voiced hope that Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would follow suit. The newly inaugurated US president said that Putin would be destroying Russia by failing to make a deal, pointing out Russia’s economic troubles, including high inflation. The same day, Putin said Moscow was open to dialogue with the Trump administration on the conflict, emphasising the need to respect Russia’s interests. Trump has repeatedly said that he would end the war “in 24 hours,” yet he has never provided any details of his plan. However, his team has hinted Trump may let Russia hold on to occupied chunks of Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and four Ukrainian regions. The Kremlin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said on Tuesday that Moscow has received “no specific proposals” from Washington concerning a Ukraine settlement. In the immediate aftermath of Trump’s inauguration, Putin held a long phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The conversation on Tuesday saw the pair confirm their mutual support and dedication to securing a multipolar geopolitical environment. “Russia and China’s joint work plays an important stabilising role in international affairs,” Putin said in the call. “Both sides should continue to deepen strategic coordination, resolutely support each other, and safeguard the legitimate interests of both countries,” Xi said according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. *Aljazeera* *South Korea President Denies Ordering Arrest Of Lawmakers At Impeachment Trial* South Korea's suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol has made his first appearance at his impeachment trial, where he denied ordering the arrest of lawmakers during his attempt to impose martial law. Parliament voted to impeach Yoon last month, and last week the Constitutional Court began a trial to decide whether to permanently remove him from office. Yoon is also facing a separate criminal investigation into whether he led an insurrection. He has been detained since last week. Security was tight on Tuesday as Yoon was transported by van from the detention centre, where he is being held, to the Constitutional Court. Police formed human walls and held up anti-riot barricades to stop hundreds of his supporters who had gathered nearby from getting too close. Last weekend saw violence as dozens of Yoon's supporters clashed with law enforcers and broke into another court house. On Tuesday, Yoon was asked if he had ordered military commanders to "drag out" lawmakers from parliament on the night he declared martial law, in order to prevent them from overturning his order. He replied: "No." Military commanders had earlier alleged that Yoon had given such an order on 3 December, after lawmakers climbed fences and broke barricades to enter the parliament building and vote down Yoon's martial law declaration. "I am a person who has lived with a firm belief in liberal democracy," Yoon said in his opening remarks on Tuesday. "As the Constitutional Court exists to safeguard the constitution, I ask that you thoroughly examine all aspects of this case," he told the judges. During the hearing, which lasted nearly two hours, Yoon and his lawyers argued that the martial law order was "a formality that was not meant to be executed". Yoon had cited threats from "anti-state forces" and North Korea when he declared martial law, but it soon became clear that his move had been spurred not by external threats but by his own domestic political troubles. The lawyers prosecuting the case, who were selected by the parliament, accused Yoon and his lawyers for making "largely contradictory, irrational, and unclear" comments. "If they continue to evade responsibility as they did today, it will only work against them in the impeachment trial and cause even greater disappointment among the public," the prosecutors told reporters after the hearing. Outside the courtroom, Yoon's supporters - who have become more agitated and aggressive lately - demanded that the suspended president be released and restored to office immediately. They were forced to set up some distance from the court due to tight security. Waving their trademark combination of Korean and US flags, some wore Maga-style baseball caps embossed with the slogan "Make Korea Free Again", an echo of the campaign slogan used by US President Donald Trump. Some of their chants included calls for the leader of South Korea's main opposition party, Lee Jae-myung, and the investigator leading Yoon's criminal case to be executed. Several of the supporters told the BBC they believed Yoon's martial law declaration was an attempt to protect the country's democracy. They accused the opposition party of being pro-China and pro-North Korea, and for wanting to turn South Korea into a communist country. "This is a conflict between people who pursue communism and people who pursue democracy," said Wongeun Seong, a 49-year-old businessman who joined the protest on the way back from a lunch meeting. *BBC* *TikTok Gets Reprieve With Trump Order But With Twist* President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday seeking to delay by 75 days the enforcement of a ban of popular short-video app TikTok that was slated to be shuttered on Jan. 19. While signing the order, Trump suggested the United States government should be a half owner of TikTok's U.S. business in return for keeping the app alive and warned that he could impose tariffs on China if Beijing failed to approve a U.S. deal with TikTok. The executive order capped 48 hours of legal maneuvering and political intrigue that left millions of U.S. TikTokkers struggling for answers about the fate of their app. The drama began Saturday when the short video app used by 170 million Americans was taken offline for users shortly before a law that said it must be sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance on national security grounds, or be banned, took effect on Sunday. The next day Trump said he had plans to "Save TikTok". Within hours, the company began restoring its service in the U.S., thanking the soon-to-be-inaugurated President for providing assurances to TikTok and its business partners that they would not face hefty fines to keep the app running. The app and website were operational on Monday, but TikTok is still not available for download in the Apple and Google app stores. Trump's order, signed hours after he was inaugurated on Monday, mirrors his earlier promises and directs the attorney general to not enforce the law to give his team time "to determine the appropriate course of action with respect to TikTok." But the legality of Trump's executive order is unclear. The law requiring the divestiture was passed by big majorities in Congress, signed by President Joe Biden, and upheld by a unanimous Supreme Court. The law also does not grant Trump authority to extend the deadline unless ByteDance has "binding agreements" to sell TikTok and it is unclear any agreements exist. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Representative Frank Pallone said Trump's order is "circumventing national security legislation passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress." The debate over TikTok comes at a tense moment in U.S.-China relations. Trump has said he intends to place tariffs on China but has also indicated he hopes to have more direct contact with China's leader. While signing the executive order Monday evening, Trump said that he “could see” the U.S. government taking a 50% stake in TikTok and as part of that stake, the U.S. could police the site. Trump added that if a deal isn't approved by China, "there's no value. So if we create that value, why aren't we entitled to like half?" He said the company could be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. The U.S. has never banned a major social media platform. The law passed last year gives the Trump administration sweeping authority to ban or seek the sale of other Chinese-owned apps. Trump saving TikTok represents a reversal in stance from his first term in office. In 2020, he unsuccessfully sought to ban the app -- as well as Tencent's 0700.HK WeChat -- over concerns the company was sharing Americans' personal information with the Chinese government. More recently, Trump has said he has "a warm spot in my heart for TikTok," crediting the app with helping him win over young voters in the 2024 presidential election. When asked about the app's restoration and Trump's desire for a deal, China's foreign ministry told a regular news briefing on Monday that it believed companies should "decide independently" about their operations and deals. It repeated the same comment on Tuesday when asked about Trump's executive order. *Reuters* *At Least 8 Killed, Dozens Wounded In Israeli Army Attack On Jenin* At least eight Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. The Israeli army said earlier on Tuesday that soldiers, police and intelligence services launched a “counterterrorism action”, but gave no further details. The identity of those killed was not immediately clear. The health ministry said that more than 35 people have been injured. A spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) security forces said in a statement that Israeli forces “opened fire on civilians and security forces, resulting in injuries to several civilians and a number of security personnel, one of whom is in critical condition”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation aimed to “eradicate terrorism”. An Israeli military spokesperson said the ongoing operation was dubbed the “Iron Wall”. Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub called the action “an invasion”, according to the AFP news agency. “It came quickly,” he said. “Apache planes in the sky and Israeli military vehicles everywhere.” The attack in Jenin, where the Israeli army has carried out multiple raids and large-scale incursions in recent years, comes just days after a ceasefire took effect in the Gaza Strip, and underscores the threat of more violence in the West Bank. Before the Israeli action, the PA’s security forces had been conducting a weeks-long operation to reassert control of the city of Jenin, as well as its refugee camp. Last week, an Israeli air raid on the refugee camp killed at least three Palestinians and wounded many more. On Monday, Israeli settlers set vehicles and properties on fire under the protection of Israeli forces while also injuring at least 21 Palestinians across the West Bank. The Israeli military said it has opened an investigation into the incident, which it said involved dozens of Israeli civilians, some in masks. *Aljazeera* *'I Couldn't Do Any Worse': Mbappe On His Real Form* Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe says a "mentality issue" prevented him from finding his best form earlier this season. The France captain, 26, joined Real on a free transfer last June after leaving Paris St-Germain. But he struggled in the early months following his move, at one point scoring just three times in 11 appearances. That run included penalty misses against Liverpool in the Champions League and Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, with Madrid losing both matches. Mbappe says he felt at "rock bottom" after those misses but a shift in his mindset has led to four goals in his past three appearances. "I believe it was a mentality issue and that was a point I realised that I had to work harder," said Mbappe. "I was thinking too much about how to do things. Whether to go into space, whether to go to Vini's [Vinicius Jr's] area of the pitch, to Rodrygo's area. When you overthink, you don't focus on your game. "I was fine physically and with the group but I knew I had to do more, that was the time to change the situation. "I couldn't do any worse, so when you hit rock bottom you can only go up." Since the defeat by Bilbao on 4 December, Mbappe has scored eight goals in 10 appearances in all competitions. Meanwhile, Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed speculation that he has decided to leave the club at the end of the season. "I will never decide to leave Real Madrid," said the Italian. "This day will come, but it won't be me the one who decides. It could be tomorrow or in five years. The plan is to be here with Florentino [Perez] for another four years and say goodbye." Real, who are 20th in the 36-team Champions League table, take on Red Bull Salzburg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday (20:00 GMT). *BBC* *Themba Mliswa Withdraws ZIFA Court Case* High Court Judge Tawanda Chitapi dismissed Themba Mliswa’s application to stop ZIFA elections set for Saturday January 25 as not an urgent matter. After failing an integrity test, Mliswa approached the High Court with an urgent application seeking to stop the elections. In his arguments Mliswa stated that the councilors who passed the new ZIFA Constitution and will act as the electorate had no legal standing since their term of office had expired. Representing ZIFA, Proffesor Lovemore Madhuku asked the court to dismiss the urgent application. “I will not be long in my submissions as my compatriot was. The matter isn’t urgent. “Urgency is a time and consequence matter. From a time perspective it’s very late as the processes were completed two months ago. “Eight weeks from 18 November ended on 2 January. It means the applicant filed his papers beyond the stipulated time. “We can’t have any remedy granted on an urgent basis. “The review application sought is out of time. The applicant is seeking a final order through a review application which the Supreme Court has refused.,” argued Madhuku during submissions. Madhuku went on to question the sincerity of Mliswa who brought the matter before court after having participated in the initial process of the elections. “The applicant participated in the nomination under the new Constitution and was disqualified. “So the applicant accepted the new Constitution. So the applicant is blowing hot and cold. Either he accepts it and participates or he doesn’t and doesn’t participate.,” said Madhuku. Justice Chitapi appeared to side with Madhuku as he brought out the time factor in the application advising Mliswa to file for a proper normal court application. “We have to consider if this matter is indeed urgent. How many weeks are they from 18 November? If we have 11 weeks, do we then have a review application in that case? “Do we have a review application filed within time. Can a court recognise an application which isn’t timeous? “In that case the honourable thing to do is to make a normal court application,” said Justice Chitapi. Following the dismissal of the case as not urgent and the advice to file for normal court application Mliswa decided to withdraw the case. “This application is withdrawn by consent and the applicant will pay the costs of the hearing,” said Justice Chitapi. *Game-on*