Wednesday 11 June 2025 *AFTERNOON NEWS UPDATES* _• USD: ZiG Official Exchange – Z$26.50_ • _Black Market Rate - Zig 40: USD1_ • _Innscor in-store – Z$35_ • _KFC, Slice, Eat'n'Lick – Z$35_ https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDbHKp3GJOtlMM4PA39 https://wa.me/263718497005?text=advert *THE HEADLINES* *Parliament demands urgent action as UZ's lecturers strike enters Day 58* *Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) sounds the alarm over what it describes as a “massive looting spree” of Zimbabwe’s lithium resources* *Minister Garwe Orders Harare Council To Pay Chiyangwa* *Chivayo Car Supplier In Massive Government Tender* *Conservation Group Slams Elephant Cull In Save Valley As A “Veiled Effort To Generate Ivory”* *Serial rapist who preyed on female job seekers jailed 80 years* *High Court Bars United Methodist Church From Holding Services In Borrowdale* *Govt advances transparent land allocation system to support vulnerable groups* *NDS2 to focus on roads: Government* *Ranger Killed By Rhino Had Just Married, Leaves Behind Pregnant Wife* *US wants Rwandan troops out of DRC before peace deal signed* *Gold rally is bringing new riches to rural Zimbabwe* *Dog eats newborn baby in Kwekwe* *Susan Mutami Asks Mliswa for Another Child* *Chivayo Pledges US$1 Million Sponsorship To Highlanders: Critics Dismiss Move As Zanu PF Ploy To Capture The Matebeleland Vote And Nullify Chiwenga’s Popularity As Bulawayo Mkwenyana* *Questions Swirl Over Source of Wicknell Chivayo’s US$1 Million Sponsorship to Highlanders FC* *Manchester City bolsters Pep Guardiola's midfield options with the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan* *Ancelotti's first Brazil win clinches 2026 World Cup berth* *THE DETAILS* _*Parliament demands urgent action as UZ's lecturers strike enters Day 58*_ HARARE – Parliament has demanded a ministerial statement from Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Frederick Shava, as the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturers’ strike reached day 58, with CCC chief whip Charles Moyo accusing Shava of routinely snubbing Parliament amid worsening campus chaos. Raising the matter in the National Assembly yesterday, Moyo described the situation at UZ as “chaotic” and a “sheer waste of time” for students, warning that dissertations are going unsupervised, exams are not being written, and even newly recruited adjunct lecturers are not showing up. New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. “Yesterday, there were demonstrations from the lecturers, yet other students are to go for attachments. It seems this semester is a sheer waste of time to students as well as a loss to parents' hard-earned money," Moyo said. He added: "There is chaos and uncertainty at our institution. If it pleases you Hon. Speaker Sir, I request the absent Hon. Minister of Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, to come only once and give us a Ministerial Statement on the negotiations, deadlocks or practical police intervention to bring normalcy to our tertiary institution. I thank you." Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda accepted the request and pledged to alert the Minister, saying he would be advised to issue a Ministerial Statement explaining the deadlock and outlining any planned interventions. The crisis has escalated in recent days after the university withheld salaries for striking lecturers in an apparent retaliation for their continued industrial action. The lecturers are demanding a return to pre-2018 wage levels of US$2,250 per month for junior staff — a steep increase from the current US$230. Obvious Vengeyi, spokesperson for the Association of University Teachers (AUT), slammed the move as an attempt to intimidate lecturers back to work. “Of course, it is an act of trying to force our members to return to work for the US$230 they initially rejected. It's a way of arm-twisting certain members of our community to resume teaching,” Vengeyi said. He added that the salary cuts had only strengthened the lecturers' resolve. “Many here who have not been paid have resolved that, whether they receive the US$230 or not, they will not return. Until junior lecturers get US$2,250, we will not go back to class.” The university has remained officially silent on the strike but has hired adjunct lecturers in an attempt to fill gaps left by striking staff. However, the AUT has dismissed the replacements as largely unqualified and ineffective. “There is no teaching happening at the university. No supervision is taking place. A few scabs have been hired to replace — sort of — the lecturers on strike,” Vengeyi added. _*Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) sounds the alarm over what it describes as a “massive looting spree” of Zimbabwe’s lithium resources*_ The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a “massive looting spree” of Zimbabwe’s lithium resources under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s watch, warning that the country is exporting its future for a pittance while local communities are left in ruin. New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. In a statement CNRG said up to 3,000 tons of lithium ore are being extracted and exported daily—amounting to an estimated 1.62 million tons in just the past 18 months—with little to no benefit accruing to the country or its citizens. The watchdog criticised the government’s newly announced 2027 ban on raw lithium exports as “too little, too late,” warning that by then, Zimbabwe’s most strategic resource would be depleted and sold off to foreign companies—mostly Chinese—with little value addition. “This timeline is too distant,” said CNRG. “At current extraction and export levels, the nation will have exported millions of tons of unprocessed lithium ore by then, enriching foreign capital while eroding our chances for sustainable economic development.” Zimbabwe, home to Africa’s largest lithium reserves and one of the world’s most strategic sources for the mineral essential to electric vehicle and battery production, is now at risk of losing control over its future. CNRG points to a combination of weak regulation, corruption, opaque deals, and porous borders that have enabled rampant smuggling into neighboring South Africa and Mozambique. Worse still, affected communities in lithium-rich areas such as Goromonzi, Buhera, Mutoko, and Bikita have become what CNRG terms “sacrifice zones,” plagued by water shortages, forced displacements, environmental degradation, and social instability. Women and children are particularly vulnerable, facing heightened risk of exploitation and economic insecurity. While President Mnangagwa’s government continues to trumpet foreign direct investment in mining as a victory for development, CNRG paints a much darker picture—one in which elite networks, foreign multinationals, and politically connected cartels are plundering national resources with impunity. “The continued extraction without robust beneficiation and a regulatory framework is contradictory to the African Mining Vision and Zimbabwe’s own beneficiation policy,” said CNRG, which called for an immediate moratorium on lithium exports, an audit of current mining operations, and urgent reforms to the Mines and Minerals Act. Chinese companies dominate the lithium sector in Zimbabwe, raising additional concerns over labor rights abuses, unfair compensation practices, and environmental irresponsibility. Despite widespread community resistance, most mining contracts are negotiated behind closed doors, often without consultation or environmental assessments. “Zimbabwe must assert control over its critical minerals, ensure just transitions for its communities, and align its natural resource governance with the aspirations of its citizens—not the short-term interests of foreign buyers and elite networks,” the statement concludes. If no decisive action is taken, Zimbabwe risks turning one of the world’s most promising lithium booms into yet another chapter of lost opportunity, exploitation, and environmental ruin. _*Minister Garwe Orders Harare Council To Pay Chiyangwa*_ Government has ordered the City of Harare to compensate Pinnacle Holdings, a company owned by business and property mogul Phillip Chiyangwa, for the land he lost in the capital. In a letter addressed to Harare mayor Jacob Mafume, Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe said council should compensate Pinnacle Property Holdings with council land. He cited several confrontations between Town House and Pinnacle Property Holdings while responding to Mafume’s letter dated May 23 this year. Garwe referenced earlier minutes dated December 17, 2024, and May 8 this year. “As you are aware and highlighted in the above postcode in the previous discussion, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works signed a compensation agreement with Pinnacle Holdings for his land in Harare South and Warren Park,” the minister said. Mafume said the directive must be followed. “The relationship of Pinnacle Property Holdings and this council is not new. At some point, we had an agreement in the memorandum of understatement signed with Pinnacle, ourselves, the Local Government minister and Pinnacle over Stone Ridge Properties. The Stone Ridge Properties, as we know, part of them belong to Pinnacle and they have been occupied. “Pinnacle has been engaged in legal disputes between us, the government and the Supreme Court, which could lead, maybe, to the eviction of people at that place if the interpretation of the law is taken to the letter. But the route that has been taken by Pinnacle is to negotiate with council. The first attempt at our negotiation was abortive. New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. "Among the properties identified for compensation by claimants, there are properties that are owned by the City of Harare. Below is the list of properties.” Councillor Denford Ngadziore said the land issue must be dealt according to procedure. “If we are to do this land transfer, we cannot sit as council and agree to things without following the right path; we love to stick to the Constitution, not just agree,” he said. “We are not going to hand over land without doing the land evaluation process, because what if we give someone property that is not equivalent to the space of his land?” Meanwhile, addressing a full council meeting yesterday, Mafume said Harare would co-operate with the Local Government ministry to the benefit of residents in the capital. “As Harare City Council, we will co-operate with the government for the benefit of the residents and we have had problems with refuse collection for a long time in Harare,” he said. “As council, we have no capacity for refuse collection, but our government has said it will help us, and we are happy.” Mafume applauded the government for completing the Trababalas Interchange, formerly known as the Mbudzi Roundabout. He said the government would construct 10 other interchanges in the capital. Newsday _*Chivayo Car Supplier In Massive Government Tender*_ Followers of fraud-accused and controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo are familiar with his recurring message: “Go and see Victor” or “Go and collect your vehicle at FaraMatsi at the Club Chambers, Corner Nelson Mandela and 3rd Street, Harare.” This has become a familiar instruction each time Chivayo dishes out luxury car gifts to select public personalities, raising eyebrows across the nation. Questions continue to swirl over how Chivayo-linked car dealers repeatedly win government vehicle supply contracts. Their close association with Chivayo—who enjoys strong ties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa—has heightened public suspicion over how state tenders are awarded, often without transparency. On Tuesday, President Mnangagwa presided over a handover ceremony at State House, where vehicles, grain carriers, and solar kits were given to Agriculture Extension Officers, commonly known as Madhubani. The supplier of these vehicles? FaraMatsi Motors—again bringing the controversial dealer’s name to the forefront. The government has not disclosed the cost of these vehicles or the procurement process used, triggering fears of yet another scandal reminiscent of Chivayo’s previous state contracts—where millions were disbursed without due diligence or delivery. Mnangagwa’s administration has long been accused of awarding tenders without public bidding, often funneled through his twin sons, Sean and Collins Mnangagwa. New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. The two have previously been implicated in questionable business dealings involving opaque state contracts and preferential access to lucrative government tenders. Central to these dealings is Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga, reportedly the key facilitator of such contracts. Sources allege Guvamatanga authorizes payments for dubious deals using public funds, allegedly receiving kickbacks in return. A former managing director at Barclays Zimbabwe, Guvamatanga is said to have accumulated vast unexplained wealth—including multimillion-dollar properties in South Africa, held under proxies. Despite mounting calls for lifestyle audits and investigations, no action has been taken by Zimbabwe’s state institutions. FaraMatsi Motors owner Farai Matsika could not be reached for comment by the time of publication, though efforts to get his response are ongoing. Matsika, a self-made multimillionaire, is also the owner of Doves Funeral Holdings and has global business interests. He co-founded Croco Motors and served as its CEO before selling his stake to establish FaraMatsi Motors. While Matsika is widely regarded as focused and determined, his association with Chivayo—particularly at a time of alleged state looting—has put his business dealings under public scrutiny. _*Conservation Group Slams Elephant Cull In Save Valley As A “Veiled Effort To Generate Ivory”*_ The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has condemned a decision by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to issue permits for the culling of 50 elephants in the Save Valley Conservancy, labelling the move a “violent, short-term fix” disguised as an elephant management exercise. In a statement, the CNRG rejected culling as an ethical or scientifically sound solution to wildlife overpopulation, warning that it could traumatise surviving herds, undermine human-wildlife coexistence efforts, and damage Zimbabwe’s vital tourism sector. The organisation argued that the decision marks a major policy reversal, returning to a controversial practice largely abandoned in the 1990s due to its cruelty. The statement reads: Killing wild animals that are the basis for the tourism economy threatens sustainable livelihoods. In Zimbabwe, tourism is the third largest economic sector and contributed US$ 433 million to the country`s GDP. ZimParks has justified the cull by citing ecological pressure, arguing that the conservancy’s elephant population of 2,550 far exceeds its estimated carrying capacity of 800. However, the CNRG dismissed this justification as flawed, arguing that such carrying capacity models are often “outdated and based on narrow ecological calculations that ignore broader landscape-level dynamics.” It said: Wildlife does not recognise artificial boundaries, and isolating Save Valley from the broader ecological system reduces conservation to spreadsheet arithmetic. Furthermore, the organisation raised alarms over what it termed “disguised commercial interests,” suggesting the plan could be a veiled effort to generate ivory stockpiles. The CNRG expressed concern that the planned distribution of elephant meat to local communities might mask the true commercial motives. It said: We are alarmed by the quiet commodification of this exercise. The planned distribution of elephant meat to communities masks what may be a veiled effort to generate ivory stockpiles. The CNRG argued that viable, non-lethal alternatives are being ignored. While acknowledging that the conservancy had previously translocated 200 elephants, the organisation called for a much broader national strategy focused on expanding elephant ranges, establishing ecological corridors, and investing in transboundary conservation efforts. Contraceptives and community engagement were also cited as more humane and sustainable options. The CNRG has called for an immediate cessation of the planned elephant cull in Save Valley and proposed a transparent, multi-stakeholder dialogue concerning ethical elephant management. The CNRG also demanded substantial investment in non-lethal, community-based conservation strategies. It said: Zimbabwe’s elephants are not surplus biomass to be disposed of for convenience. They are sentient beings, ecological engineers, and national treasures whose future must not be traded for short-term expediency. _*Serial rapist who preyed on female job seekers jailed 80 years*_ A rapist who targeted female job seekers has been convicted and sentenced to 80 years imprisonment on four counts of rape. Aaron Sanyamahwe (36) of Unit N, Seke, Chitungwiza appeared at Chitungwiza Regional Magistrates Court this week. In passing sentence, the court imposed a severe penalty of 20 years per count, with the sentences to run consecutively. It was the State’s case that on diverse occasions, the offender targeted vulnerable young women seeking jobs, posing as an employment agent in order to gain their trust. Court heard that Sanyamahwe would lure his victims to secluded locations in the Dema area, where he would blindfold them before moving them to another location, strangulating and violently sexually assaulting them. In a statement following Sanyamahwe’s sentencing, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) noted that the jail term sends a clear message that sexual violence will be met with the full force of the law. NPA further highlighted the devastating impact of rape on survivors while urging job seekers to be vigilant and desist from putting their trust in strangers. _*High Court Bars United Methodist Church From Holding Services In Borrowdale*_ High Court Judge Justice Munangati Manongwa has issued an interim order barring the United Methodist Church from holding services and events at its Borrowdale property in Harare, following a 15-year dispute with residents. Residents of Doveton Avenue argued that the church’s activities, which began in 2006 without the required permits, caused noise pollution and traffic congestion. Despite obtaining a town planning permit in 2017, the court found it did not authorise the property’s use as a worship venue. The church claimed to have a change-of-use permit, but the court ruled this did not constitute an operating licence. Justice Manongwa said that residents’ rights to peaceful enjoyment were being violated and that the church’s operations lacked a legal basis. The court ordered the church to cease all activities at the site until it secures proper authorisation and to cover legal costs. Newsday _*Govt advances transparent land allocation system to support vulnerable groups*_ GOVERNMENT is taking substantial steps towards establishing a transparent and equitable land allocation system, emphasising the need for minimal human intervention and the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This initiative aims to prioritise vulnerable and marginalised groups, especially women, youth, war veterans, and persons with disabilities, ensuring that everyone has a fair opportunity to access agricultural land. During a national consultative stakeholders’ validation workshop on equitable access to agricultural land in Harare yesterday, Zimbabwe Lands Commission chairperson Commissioner Tendai Bare, representing Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, highlighted the urgent need for transparency in land distribution.New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. “At the core of our land policy is the principle that all Zimbabweans, regardless of gender, age, disability, or social status, must have fair and just access to agricultural land,” Dr Masuka said. This commitment to inclusivity is crucial for fostering a more equitable society. The Government is also reviewing and reallocating underutilised or multiple farm holdings to ensure a fair distribution of land resources. Dr Masuka further emphasised the importance of adhering to established farm size regulations, which are essential for promoting equity and sustainability. Herald _*NDS2 to focus on roads: Government*_ THE rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway is among priority projects that have been set by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development’s ambitious roadmap for National Development Strategy Two (NDS2). The roadmap reaffirms the ministry’s commitment to modernising the country’s transport network to propel the nation towards Vision 2030 goals. Speaking at the Projects Management Institute (PMI) Zimbabwe 2025 Annual Conference in Victoria Falls yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona represented by the chief director Roads Engineer David Jana, outlined the priority projects set to transform the country’s roads, railways, aviation and border facilities. He said the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway was a critical road for tourism and regional trade. The upgrade was expected to enhance connectivity, improve road safety and boost economic activity along one of Zimbabwe’s most scenic routes. Minister Mhona said NDS2, which will run from 2026 to 2030, is an important blueprint for achieving an upper-middle-income society by 2030, saying project management plays a big role in delivering these initiatives efficiently. “The value of project management cannot be ignored in this quest as a key enabler in the delivery of programmes and projects enunciated in NDS2. It is therefore essential to manage the projects in any strategic environment professionally and deliver them within expected scope, schedule and within budget,” he said. Minister Mhona said that the Government’s focus on innovation and sustainability aligns with global trends, ensuring Zimbabwe remains competitive in infrastructure development. The rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway is a cornerstone of the Ministry’s NDS2 agenda. This project is expected to address long-standing challenges such as deteriorating road conditions and safety concerns. The upgraded highway will facilitate smoother movement of tourists to Victoria Falls, one of Africa’s premier destinations, while also enhancing trade links with neighbouring countries like Zambia and Botswana. “It is expected that these and other projects lined up will employ certified local project managers, support our private sector, connect our communities and improve the quality of life for all citizens.” The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road rehabilitation is part of a larger strategy to modernise Zimbabwe’s road network, which includes other key projects such as Harare-Beitbridge highway rehabilitation and upgrade (nearing completion), Harare-Kanyemba highway upgrade, Harare-Chirundu highway rehabilitation and upgrade, Lion’s Den to Kafue railway link construction and Ponto-Techobanine railway project (upgrading the line linking Zimbabwe to Mozambique and Botswana) herald _*Ranger Killed By Rhino Had Just Married, Leaves Behind Pregnant Wife*_ The game ranger, who died on Sunday after a black rhino attack in the Savé Valley Conservancy, had only recently tied the knot and leaves behind a wife who is expecting their first child. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo, the now-deceased Knowledge Mudzimureka (28), and a fellow ranger were on routine patrol in the Savé Valley Conservancy when they unexpectedly came across a mother black rhino and her calf. In a defensive reaction, the rhino cow charged, inflicting severe injuries to Mudzimureka’s abdomen, particularly his left lung, as well as his head, shoulder, and knee. _*US wants Rwandan troops out of DRC before peace deal signed*_ Summary U.S. brokering talks between Congo and Rwanda Deal would facilitate billions of dollars in Western investment Conflict in eastern Congo has roots in 1994 Rwandan genocide Rwanda denies backing M23 rebels and says it is acting in self-defence Qatar also hosting talks between Congo and M23 June 10 (Reuters) - The United States is promoting a deal that would require Rwanda to pull troops from eastern Congo before the two sides sign a peace agreement, sources say, a condition that is sure to rankle Kigali, which describes Congo-based armed groups as an existential threat. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is holding talks to end fighting in eastern Congo and bring billions of dollars of Western investment to the region, which is rich in minerals including tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium. _*Gold rally is bringing new riches to rural Zimbabwe*_ Filabusi, in south-eastern Zimbabwe the streets are packed with BMW X5s and Land Rover Defenders, modern houses paid for in cash are springing up and whisky is only sold by the bottle in the small town’s bars. The three-year surge in gold prices, driven to a record this year as US President Donald Trump’s trade war bolstered its allure as a safe-haven, is enriching the country’s more than 700 000 informal, or artisanal, miners. They are flocking to gold mining belts and throwing a lifeline to an economy that’s been in economic turmoil since the turn of the century. In the first five months of this year, those miners almost doubled the metal they delivered to a state refinery from a year earlier to more than 11 t, swelling the country’s export income. At the current pace of production the country could earn a billion dollars more from gold shipments this year than in 2024. New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. “The prices have been very favorable to the miners which is something we are so happy about,” said Wellington Takavarasha, the president of Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small Scale for Sustainable Mining Council. “This year is looking very good. We must capitalize on this rally.” It’s a scene that’s playing out across Africa for good and bad. Ghana, the continent’s biggest producer, expects to double the amount of gold it gets from small-scale miners to $12-billion by the end of next year and Ethiopia’s central bank said record deliveries of the metal are boosting its reserves. In the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo rebel groups are pressing ordinary citizens into mining the metal to capitalise on the price surge. For the about 4% of people living in Zimbabwe, and their dependants, who are involved in the gold mining its been a vital source of income in a country where a botched and violent land reform program in 2000 saw exports slump, setting off a spiral of famine, hyper-inflation and currency collapses that persists to this day. Formal employment has withered and millions of citizens have emigrated to South Africa, the UK and other countries in search of economic opportunities. For now it’s their only hope and one that depends on the high prices holding. So far there’s no sign that the rally will come to end. The price of the metal has surged 22% since Trump’s inauguration and is up by three-fifths since the beginning of last year. It hit a record of $3 432 an ounce on May 6 and Goldman Sachs forecast it will reach $3 700 by year end. That’s pushed Zimbabwe’s central bank to paying cash for gold deliveries, targeting a record 40 t of purchases this year after it earned $2.5-billion in 2024, a 37% jump from the year earlier. Artisanal producers supplied three-quarters of the metal delivered in April, whereas a few years ago the majority of their output would have been smuggled out of the country. For artisanal workers like Mxolisi Dube, clad in navy blue work overalls with a miner’s torch strapped to his head as he walks through Filabusi, the gold price rally has been a boon. The 33-year-old began mining for gold illegally in 2008, becoming a “makorokoza,” a reference in the Ndebele language to the action of sifting gold-bearing river silt in a pan. But now with higher prices and the cooperation of mine owners, who have have begun to invite artisanal workers onto their properties to boost production, his earnings have surged. “You are assured of getting something at the end of the month,” said Dube, who has a copper dental filling and a brass chain around his neck. “You are protected. If you are not under a company you always have to run away.” Mine owners, struggling with dilapidated equipment and a lack of finance, are increasingly urging those operators to swap the pans they used to sift through river sand for gold flecks for picks and shovels to help them extract as much gold ore to process as quickly as possible. “This means we always have ore available and are milling more,” said Meli Nkulumo, plant manager at Macoomber 7 mine, which lies 12 miles west of Filabusi down winding dirt roads. Artisanal miners were invited onto the property two years ago. At the mine, workers use Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service to compare the prices offered by the central bank to global benchmarks. Goldprice.org is their favored website. “Higher gold prices are better for everyone,” said Thulani Ndlovu, the acting mine manager. “We can also look forward to a raise in salaries.” Still, it’s backbreaking work that’s carried out around the clock. The miners break up rocks underground with picks, shovel it into a loader which is then winched to the surface. During their eight-hour shifts their only sustenance is maheu, a drink made from fermented corn meal. But for artisanal miners the price surge has been life-changing and nowhere is that more evident than in Bekezela, a suburb of Filabusi where property owners are busy putting up brick houses ringed by electric fences and equipped with water storage tanks and solar panels. The town council is having to rezone more land for residential and commercial use and at car washes 4x4s queue to have the dust of the surrounding savannah rinsed off. Drinking holes are busy with “all sorts of people” spending big, Thabo Mpofu, the manager of Next Generation bar, said, adding that he has seen clients buy bottles of Hennessey Cognac and pour them out on the ground as a show of wealth. It’s also curbed crime including invasions of local mines by illegal operators. “There’s nothing bad here that happens,” said Melusi Nyoni, the manager of Fred and Fernando mines, which are on the outskirts of Filabusi town, He now allows artisanal miners to work in shafts as deep as a kilometer (0.6 miles). “There is gold just all over,” he said. Still, with rudimentary equipment and limited safety protocols, digging up the ore is dangerous work. Informal miners accounted for 87% of the 186 deaths in Zimbabwean mining accidents, the Chamber of Mines said in its last annual report. As recently as late May four died at a mine near Chegutu in northern Zimbabwe when a wall of earth collapsed onto them, according to local media reports. But as long as the rally lasts, that’s little deterrence for artisanal miners who until recently were eking out a living by camping out and panning for gold in remote wild areas for several months. “The high prices mean in the near future I will also be seen in a car,” says Dube, a father of four. “I want a Toyota Hilux 4x4, with a 2.7 liter engine.” _*Dog eats newborn baby in Kwekwe*_ THE Mbizo 19 community in Kwekwe is in shock after residents this week stumbled upon a stray dog feasting on the remains of a new-born baby. Residents told Southern Eye that the chilling discovery was made near a church under construction. Circumstances surrounding the baby’s abandonment are unclear, and it remains unknown whether the it was dead or alive when it was dumped. “The police took the remains of the baby to the mortuary and authorities are working to uncover the details behind this devastating situation,” said a resident. Recently, there was a public outcry over dogs that attacked human beings after several cases were reported of pitbulls that mauled people. Midlands provincial police spokesperson Emmanuel Mahoko could not be reached for comment. Southern Eye _*Susan Mutami Asks Mliswa for Another Child*_ Controversial socialite and whistleblower Susan Mutami has ignited fresh headlines after publicly requesting her ex-lover, former Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa, to father another child with her — this time a baby girl — for the sake of their son, Tino. In a dramatic and emotional message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mutami addressed Mliswa directly, writing: “Your son has asked me countless times if he can have a baby sister… whatever Tino wants Tino gets, now I don’t know what to do Baba Tino.” Mutami explained that their son had been saddened by comparisons at daycare where other children had baby sisters. Despite being told he has many sisters in Zimbabwe, the child insists he wants a baby sister “in the house.” The message took an even more personal turn when Mutami revealed she had “unblocked” Mliswa to allow him to reconnect with their sons and extended an olive branch by requesting that former ZANU PF Minister Saviour Kasukuwere mediate peace between the estranged parents. “I would also appreciate we have a mediator someone like @Hon_Kasukuwere… hopefully he might assist us in ironing out our differences for Tino’s sake.” New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. Mutami described how the boy frequently searches for Mliswa on a world map and is being taught by his older brother how to navigate back home — a poignant image of longing and loss. The public appeal has shocked social media, given the tumultuous history between Mutami and Mliswa, who previously exchanged bitter accusations in the press and on social media. Their past feud involved explosive claims ranging from political sabotage to personal betrayals. While Mliswa has yet to respond to the latest call, the post has already sparked widespread speculation about a possible reconciliation — or at least a co-parenting truce — between the two fiery figures. This is not the first time Mutami has used public platforms to air private grievances or make intimate appeals. _*Chivayo Pledges US$1 Million Sponsorship To Highlanders: Critics Dismiss Move As Zanu PF Ploy To Capture The Matebeleland Vote And Nullify Chiwenga’s Popularity As Bulawayo Mkwenyana*_ Businessman Wicknell Chivayo has announced a landmark US$1 million sponsorship package for Highlanders Football Club, revealing that the pledge is in fulfilment of a deathbed promise made to his late uncle, former Vice President John Landa Nkomo. In a social media post on Wednesday, 11 June, Chivayo declared his deep-rooted connection to the Bulawayo-based club, affectionately known as “Bosso,” and outlined a multi-layered support plan to revive its competitive edge. The sponsorship will begin with an immediate cash injection of US$250,000 to assist with the club’s administrative needs. Chivayo said the remaining US$750,000 will be disbursed over the next year, specifically earmarked to help the club secure new talent and cover player sign-on fees for a more competitive 2025 Premier Soccer League season. Citing a powerful final conversation with the late Vice President Nkomo in December 2012, Chivayo said his uncle had three dying wishes for him: to support the ruling ZANU PF party, to look after the family trust, and to provide meaningful support to Highlanders FC. Chivayo wrote: Being the avid football supporter that he was, he asked me to assist Highlanders FC in every possible way, in order to preserve its HISTORY, shape its FUTURE, and create a lasting LEGACY of the football club in Zimbabwe, for GENERATIONS to come. To ensure financial transparency, Chivayo has appointed a curator, Jabulani Nkomo, a Bulawayo businessman and trusted relative, to oversee the disbursement of the funds. Said Chivayo: I have nominated JABULANI NKOMO, a long-standing, trusted relative of mine and a successful businessman who’s a respected figure in BULAWAYO, to assist the Club in a CURATORSHIP role. His involvement will ONLY be to work closely with the leadership of Highlanders FC, ensuring that the disbursement of this sponsorship is strictly in ACCORDANCE with the Club’s budgeted expenditures to support PLAYER WELFARE and strengthen administrative excellence. Chivayo described the 98-year-old club, founded by grandsons of King Lobengula, as a “phenomenal cultural icon that represents heritage, pride and unity.” He also framed his contribution within a national context, aligning it with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for private sector involvement in national development under Vision 2030. Chivayo said: It is my humble CONVICTION that there should be significant private-sector involvement in sports development, in order to make a NOTABLE difference to the game of FOOTBALL. This latest multi-million dollar pledge is not the first time Wicknell Chivayo has extended financial support to Highlanders. Earlier this year, the businessman was instrumental in helping the club avoid a FIFA transfer ban by settling an outstanding US$27,000 debt owed to former coach Baltemar Brito and his assistant, Antonio Joao Torres. That intervention was critical, as the ban on registering new players threatened to cripple the team ahead of the Premier Soccer League season. Chivayo’s history of support dates back even further, as he also covered a US$4,000 fine imposed on the club in 2017 following crowd trouble during a match against rivals Dynamos. _*Questions Swirl Over Source of Wicknell Chivayo’s US$1 Million Sponsorship to Highlanders FC*_ Flamboyant businessman and political benefactor Wicknell Chivayo has once again made headlines, this time after announcing a jaw-dropping US$1 million sponsorship deal for Highlanders Football Club — Zimbabwe’s second-most supported football team. But while fans celebrate, serious questions are being raised about the source and legitimacy of the funds behind the dramatic gesture Chivayo, who has faced repeated accusations of tender fraud, money laundering, and illicit enrichment, declared on Facebook this week that his love for Bosso — and a family promise to the late Vice President John Landa Nkomo — had inspired him to bankroll the club’s revival. He stated that US$250,000 has already been disbursed in cash as the first tranche of his sponsorship pledge. “It is my greatest pleasure to avail US$250,000 in cash as part of a broader US$1 million sponsorship package to help preserve Highlanders’ history and shape its future,” wrote Chivayo. But Where Is the Money Coming From? While fans danced in the streets of Bulawayo and #bossongenkani trended online, economists and governance watchdogs have sounded the alarm. “It’s irresponsible for any major institution — let alone a century-old football club — to accept large sums of cash without demanding audited proof of source,” said one anti-corruption analyst, Terrence Dube. “Given Chivayo’s ongoing public controversies and links to state procurement scandals, this sponsorship risks laundering not only money but also public perception,” he added. The Ministry of Finance recently came under fire for disbursing over US$4.2 million to a company linked to Chivayo’s business circle, Betterbrands Petroleum. That transaction, exposed via a leaked Treasury letter, sparked public outrage over alleged abuse of public funds routed through the National Budget. The timing of the Highlanders deal — mere weeks after that revelation — has raised eyebrows. Critics argue that diverting illicit funds into popular causes is a classic soft-power strategy used by politically connected elites to sanitise their reputations and entrench influence in civil society. Chivayo’s “Curator” and the John Landa Nkomo Connection In a move to deflect accountability concerns, Chivayo has appointed Jabulani Nkomo, a family relative and Bulawayo businessman, to oversee the use of the funds at Highlanders. Chivayo says Nkomo will serve as a curator, ensuring compliance with the club’s budget and that “every dollar benefits the players and administrators.” New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. But observers note that the lack of a formal trust fund, third-party audits, or ZIFA oversight renders the arrangement vulnerable to abuse. “There’s no framework. No audit trail. And this is the same man who previously failed to deliver on the Gwanda solar project after receiving US$5 million. Are we seriously trusting him again — with cash, and with our national football legacy?” asked one prominent supporter-turned-critic. A Club Between Gratitude and Governance Highlanders FC, founded in 1926 by the grandsons of King Lobengula, is one of Zimbabwe’s most revered institutions. The move has put the club in a difficult position — caught between welcoming a much-needed financial injection, and protecting its name from potential reputational harm. ZIFA, the Premier Soccer League (PSL), and Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) have yet to comment on whether they have been consulted or have oversight over the arrangement. As supporters chant “Bosso Ngenkani” and welcome the prospect of a title-challenging squad, the unanswered question remains: Is this football funding — or political theatre funded by the ghosts of stolen tenders? _*Manchester City bolsters Pep Guardiola's midfield options with the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan*_ Manchester City have bolstered Pep Guardiola's midfield options with the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, the club announced on Wednesday. City said he has signed a five-year contract and will be available for the Club World Cup -- City's first game will be June 18 against Moroccan side Wydad AC. The move comes after City have already signed defender Rayan Aït-Nouri, winger Rayan Cherki and backup goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. The Netherlands international registered the most goals and assists of any midfielder in Serie A last season. "I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City," Reijnders said in a statement. "City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities. Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so many titles, and I want to help keep that going with a lot more success in the coming years." City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak had promised the club's summer transfer business would be "very swift" and they intend to be "ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup." The first period of this summer's transfer window closed on Tuesday. It will open again on Monday. _*Ancelotti's first Brazil win clinches 2026 World Cup berth*_ Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Paraguay on Tuesday night in Sao Paulo. The win was the first for new manager Carlo Ancelotti, whose first match in charge was a 0-0 draw with Ecuador on Thursday.