Follow the Chaminukanews24.com channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAiZu0HQbS0w1lUez3v Thursday 19 June 2025 *MORNING NEWS UPDATES* _• USD: ZiG Official Exchange – Z$26.50_ • _Black Market Rate - Zig 37: USD1_ • _Innscor in-store – Z$35_ • _KFC, Slice, Eat'n'Lick – Z$35_ *THE HEADLINES* *Don’t your stomachs get full? – Chamisa berates Chivayo’s cancer machines tender* *Chivayo’s US$400 million medical bid: government sees no wrong…When the government is a serious threat unto its own people* *The Scrouge of Corruption and State Capture: Eddie Cross* *Mawarire accuses Mnangagwa of 'monetising Zimbabwe’s problems'* *Wicknell Chivayo’s arrogance is an insult to millions of suffering Zimbabweans: Mbofana* *First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Dubai Meeting with Indian Billionaire Sparks Outrage* *Karanga Mzembi welcome to rejoin Zanu PF – ruling party says as they try to isolate Zezuru and powerful Kasukuwere* *Teachers seek ILO intervention* *Property mogul arrested for land theft* *Zimbabwe And Zambia Sign MoU To Strengthen Cross-Border Medical Regulation* *Rights doctors push for Commission of Inquiry into Zimbabwe’s collapsing public health sector* *Mafume Faces Prison as Harare Commission of Inquiry Concludes* *UZ using conciliation hearings to buy time – striking lecturers say as job action clocks day 66* *Detergents, edible oils sector agrees to pay 70% of salaries in US$* *Vendors To Be Driven Out Of Mutare CBD* *ZRP Cracks Down On Drug Smuggling At Beitbridge Border* *Zimbabwe asks South Africa to back G-20 debt overhaul* *Zim removed from global hunger list* *Correspondent banks return to Zim* *UK Zimbos Successfully Block Auxillia from London Summit* *UK Denies Julius Malema Visa Over “Extremist” Song and Support for Hamas* *US to suffer colossal damage if enters military conflict with Iran — Khamenei* *SPORTS* *Club World Cup updates: Real Madrid wilt in Al Hilal draw* *Xabi Alonso says Real Madrid makeover 'a process' after draw* *Chelsea signing Mamadou Sarr: I want to be next Virgil van Dijk* *Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk faces up to 4-year ban after doping charge* *Gyokeres rejects Sporting talks* *Arsenal full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly is close to signing a new contract that will make the 18-year-old England international one of the best-paid young players in the world* *But assistant manager Carlos Cuesta is set to leave Arsenal to take his first head coach role at Serie A side Parma* *Chelsea retain an interest in England midfielder Morgan Rogers, 22, should Aston Villa be open to a sale* *Chelsea have made initial contact with Brighton over Brazil striker Joao Pedro, 23, who is also wanted by Newcastle* *Brentford have put a £50m price tag on striker Yoane Wissa, with the 28-year-old DR Congo international a target for Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray* *The News in Details* _*Don’t your stomachs get full? – Chamisa berates Chivayo’s cancer machines tender*_ FORMER opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has criticised the government for awarding a tender to ZANU PF member and businessman Wicknell Chivayo for the procurement of cancer machines, a move widely viewed as a conduit for corruption. A South African company, TTM Global Medical Exports, owned by Chivayo, was awarded the tender to procure cancer equipment and stands to receive US$437 million. The decision has sparked widespread criticism of the government, coming shortly after President Emmerson Mnangagwa visited public referral hospitals on Monday to assess the state of healthcare institutions. Chamisa stated that corruption had become deeply entrenched in the government. “Thieves in governments elsewhere steal from their countries, but thieves in our yard actually steal the whole country. What a shame! We can’t allow you to steal the future,” said Chamisa. Chivayo is no stranger to corruption allegations. Last year, he was embroiled in controversy after reports revealed that he fronted a company awarded a US$100 million tender by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to supply materials for the 2023 general elections. In April, Chivayo was flagged by South African authorities over suspicious money movements in company accounts linked to the businessman. However, the tenderpreneur has denied the allegations, accusing the opposition of a political witch hunt. Posting on social media under the pseudonym Jamwanda, Deputy Chief Secretary for Presidential Communications George Charamba dismissed the allegations as “folly”. “This is plain folly!!! How is procurement for a ministry or whole government done from the Office of the President and Cabinet?” said Charamba. _*Chivayo’s US$400 million medical bid: government sees no wrong…When the government is a serious threat unto its own people*_ The government appears to be giving the nod to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s bid to supply over US$400 million worth of medical drugs and cancer treatment equipment. The Information Ministry Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana, has seemingly confirmed that Chivayo’s firm, TTM Global Medical Exports (Pvt), submitted an official proposal to supply cancer treatment equipment and medical consumables. TTM Global Medical Exports (Pvt), a South African-based firm, lists Chivayo as a director and was registered in November 2024. Its registered address – a hotel in Sandton, Gauteng province – has raised eyebrows and fuelled questions about the company’s credibility. There is speculation surrounding the potential contract between the Zimbabwean government and TTM Global Medical Exports. Critics allege the deal, if awarded, would represent another instance of corruption linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The uproar follows Mnangagwa’s recent “familiarisation tour” of public hospitals, including Sally Mugabe and Parirenyatwa. Shortly after these visits, a purported contract between the government, and TTM Global Medical Exports, leaked online, sparking public fury. The leaked document indicated that the government would pay US$110 million annually for four years. Mangwana, however, insists the document is an unsigned draft proposal. “So, the fuss is about an unsigned draft document, which for all intents and purposes is a proposal? Doesn’t the country have a Cabinet to make decisions on all our behalf? And linking this March document to HE’s unannounced hospital visits is to have an overactive imagination,” Mangwana wrote on X on Tuesday. Chivayo himself has dismissed the contract as a “fake” and accused opposition figures of focusing on irrelevant issues. He stated he was currently on holiday. “For a whole group of opposition outfits to team up and make noise about an unsigned FAKE document is an embarrassing desperation for political relevance…Please put some respect to my name,” Chavayo wrote on X on Wednesday. “You are too DESPERATE for content and have nothing else to do than circulating such UNFOUNDED and NONSENSICAL misinformation,” he added. Chivayo’s recent lavish spending spree, including the gifting of luxury vehicles to Zanu PF supporters, social media influencers, and artists, has further fuelled public suspicion. Questions remain unanswered regarding the source of his wealth, with the government’s apparent reluctance to investigate only strengthening the perception that Chivayo is Mnangagwa’s protégé, using his wealth on the President’s behalf. Conflicting opinions reportedly exist within the highest echelons of power. While Mnangagwa allegedly views Chivayo as a “philanthropist”, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is said to consider him a “crooked businessman.” _*The Scrouge of Corruption and State Capture: Eddie Cross*_ In China all cases of corruption are treated as serious crimes and since 1975 up to 300 000 cases have resulted in executions – often in public to act as a deterrence. In Africa, Chinese based activities are almost always associated with corrupt activities and even a form of State Capture as they seek opportunities and resources. The cost to the host country can be massive. But these forms of corruption are also often associated with international firms seeking access and opportunities. I once had a conversation with a major European company from a country with a reputation for good government and humanity and he said to me that they did not do business in countries with a competitive market for their products, they preferred to operate in countries with corrupt governments as they made much more money. Petty crime in the form of State employed persons with some power – the ability to control permits, licenses and other forms of State control, will often ask for a bribe to do so. Threats of a fine or even detention can be used to extort payments. Do not think that such activities are insignificant – they are not at all, and I see evidence of the wealth created in unlikely hands every day. I once sent a member of staff to a country in Africa to supervise deliveries of our product there and we used the postal service for some communications. He rented a post office box near his home and when no post was delivered for some weeks he asked if the postal service worked. He was told to put US$10 in the box and wait. Sure enough, in half an hour his post box was full. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. In Africa there is no culture of support for politicians and political parties. In the USA and Europe, companies and individuals contribute to their Parties and individual candidates. Politics takes money, large amounts of it. In the early days of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe, when we set out to challenge the ruling Party, we were sent to a workshop sponsored by a German political party. There they told us “You cannot fight a political campaign without money.” In the trenches of the political struggle that followed, we had to operate on our own funds or tiny budgets fed by well-wishers. Companies were fearful of making contributions and individuals even more so. We find that political parties with power in their own countries almost always use such power to raise funds. This can be in the form of international funding by States seeking influence or companies who want to seek the approval or support of the Government. Often such companies operate schemes that make them a great deal of money, but which require protection, either from competition or to facilitate the schemes that they benefit from. This form of corruption often leads to State Capture, where the political elite is influenced by a cartel of private interests or major players in a country to make decisions that not in the interests of the State itself. The Gupta scandals in South Africa is a good example. The men responsible for this episode now live in the Middle East in luxury whilst they left the ANC in a shambles and were probably partly responsible for their loss of power in the last election. The cost to South Africa was immense. Another common form of corruption that has plagued Africa is the access to State controlled funds in all its different forms. In every country the State is always the biggest business, in every City, the local authority is always the biggest business. State controlled enterprise are nearly always sources of funding and personal enrichment. In Zimbabwe the SOE sector contributed 40 per cent to the GDP of this country at Independence in 1980, now 5 per cent. The country is littered with bankrupt and broken assets that were created by the State, nothing works. The reason in most cases is simply various forms of corruption. The cost to the nation has been enormous. Air Zimbabwe gone, we now pay the highest cost of flying in the world. NRZ no longer functioning, our imports and exports now have to move by road at three times the cost. The CSC collapsed and our one million cattle owners are exploited by buyers who take advantage of the open market. Cottco, closed down and burdened with more debt than its assets, directors fled; the result of decades of under invoicing exports. 400 000 growers left destitute. Virtually every City and town is broke, unable to supply even basic services and the maintenance of infrastructure. The list of failures goes on and on. The corruption takes many forms – overpriced contracts, side payments to individuals, high salaries that are not justified in any way – the CEO of the State controlled medical aid organisation paying himself US$6 million a year plus perks. He is fired but without consequences. The management of the City of Harare has just been investigated, I am told the results are shocking by any measure, will we see the report? Will there be any action apart from the Opposition led Council swinging its support to the Ruling Party? A cartel of private companies operates in the field of maintenance of our national roads. They charge up to three times the cost of the work involved claiming late payment by Government and other issues. Yet we continue to issue major contracts worth billions without proper financing in place or tenders. Similar cartels exist in other sectors, taking excess margins on trade that cost us billions, most of it externalized. In the gold industry Ghana has just announced that last year US$11 billion in gold sales were externalized. They only discovered this when the Gold Traders in Dubai told them that they handled nearly 250 tonnes of gold from Ghana and only a small proportion was an official trade. In 2024, the Dubai gold market handled over 1000 tonnes of gold from Africa. That is worth a Trillian US dollars a year. Half was smuggled and without certificates of origin. The cost of this activity to Zimbabwe was probably US$5 billion – equivalent to 70 per cent of our budget and 40 per cent of our exports. The impact of Ghana trying to close these gaps has been dramatic, they are now Africa’s largest gold producer, and their currency has strengthened 40 per cent this year. I have said that we are among the most heavily taxed countries in the world. Yet we do not have the money to pay our civil service properly or to educate our children or to ensure decent health services. The reason is partly that our grey economy is so large and does not pay significant taxes but the combined impact of corruption, rent seeking, over inflated contracts and supplies, lower export earnings because of under invoicing as well as leakages in our tax system, far exceeds what we must pay in taxes. Put that right and we could lower the tax burden and increase the budget for the benefit of everybody. Eddie Cross _*Mawarire accuses Mnangagwa of 'monetising Zimbabwe’s problems'*_ President Emmerson Mnangagwa's surprise visits to Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe Hospitals, as well as the NatPharm warehouse on Monday, June 16, have sparked a storm of controversy, with former National Patriotic Front (NPF) spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire accusing the move of being a "window dressing gimmick" to justify a multi-million-dollar, untendered contract. Mnangagwa had described the tour - publicised on his X (formerly Twitter) account - as an effort to personally assess the state of Zimbabwe's public healthcare facilities. However, Mawarire has rubbished the explanation, claiming the visit was orchestrated to create political cover for what he alleges is a corrupt procurement deal. Mawarire specifically pointed to a US$437,282,400 contract signed between the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and TTM Global Medical Exports (PTY) Limited, a South African firm reportedly linked to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo. The deal, he says, was signed without going to public tender. "We know you have already, through your office, signed a $439 million dollar contract with a South African company, TTM Global Medical Exports, without going to tender," Mawarire wrote. He accused the government of monetising the country's health crisis and claimed the recently introduced "sugar tax" was being abused to finance such deals. Taking aim at Chivayo, Mawarire referred to him as Mnangagwa's "obese proxy," and alleged that Chivayo had proposed what he described as a "silly ‘presidential scheme for the provision of cancer treatment equipment,'" which the OPC approved. He labelled the entire arrangement a "scam." The controversial contract, reportedly signed in March 2025, involves the supply of 178 pieces of cancer treatment equipment to hospitals across Zimbabwe's 10 provinces over four years. The deal includes an upfront payment of US$52.5 million, with monthly instalments of over US$9 million to follow. Mawarire questioned the timing of Mnangagwa's hospital visits, which came nearly two months after the contract was allegedly signed. He described the tours as a "retrospective gimmick meant to sanitise the more than $400 million heist that Rushwaya & ED pulled with the TTM Global scandal." He was referring to Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya, who also accompanied Mnangagwa during the hospital inspections. In a scathing remark, Mawarire branded Rushwaya "the most scandalous & corrupt govt official that Zimbabwe has ever had since 1980." The accusations add to growing public scrutiny over government procurement processes and rising concern about the lack of transparency in multimillion-dollar deals. Despite the outcry, the government has yet to issue a detailed response to the allegations surrounding the TTM Global contract. _*Wicknell Chivayo’s arrogance is an insult to millions of suffering Zimbabweans: Mbofana*_ THERE’S a saying: “A soft answer turneth away wrath”—but what happens when arrogance and contempt are the response to a nation’s cry for accountability? There is something profoundly disturbing about the attitude displayed by controversial tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo in his recent public response to reports linking him to a murky US$439 million deal to supply cancer treatment equipment to Zimbabwe—allegedly without following due tender procedures. In a brazen show of arrogance, Chivayo chose to brush off the legitimate outrage of the Zimbabwean people as the noise of “a group of opposition outfits desperate for political relevance.” Such a response is not only a slap in the face of those raising valid concerns about the mismanagement of public funds, but also a cruel insult to millions of long-suffering Zimbabweans. It is this very arrogance—by individuals closely aligned with the ruling elite—that has become the defining feature of state capture and grand corruption in our country. The level of contempt displayed toward the suffering masses, many of whom die daily due to an underfunded and crumbling health system, is both unforgivable and inexcusable. While it is true that opposition figures like Advocate Fadzayi Mahere and Jealousy Mawarire have taken to social media to demand answers, the outrage is far wider and deeper than any political faction. The truth is that countless ordinary Zimbabweans—those who wake up every day in a country where 80% of the 15 million population (i.e., 12 million people) live in poverty—are asking the same difficult questions. Are these citizens, who want only dignity and survival, also to be dismissed as opposition agents? Does Chivayo genuinely believe that questioning the opaque awarding of billion-dollar tenders automatically makes one an enemy of the state? Zimbabweans are angry—and rightly so. They are tired of seeing their futures mortgaged for the benefit of a privileged few. They are tired of watching politically connected individuals amass obscene wealth almost overnight, while the rest of the population scrounges for food, medicine, and basic necessities. The question that remains unanswered is simple yet urgent: On what basis is someone like Chivayo, with such a controversial track record, being repeatedly associated with multi-million-dollar government contracts? Even if Chivayo’s dismissal of the US$439 million contract as a “fabrication” is to be taken at face value, what explanation does he have for the R800 million (approximately US$42 million) that was inexplicably deposited into his accounts by the South African company Ren-Form CC, which itself received the money from the Zimbabwe Treasury? Is he asking the people of Zimbabwe—who cannot even afford Panadol in public hospitals—to simply shut up and cheer him on as he gallivants across Paris, posting selfies and flaunting his wealth? It is obscene that at a time when thousands of cancer patients in Zimbabwe are dying needlessly due to the unavailability of radiotherapy and chemotherapy machines, someone can arrogantly scoff at public concern over how such large sums of money are being handled. If Chivayo truly believes that Zimbabweans should not be outraged when they learn of massive contracts being awarded under suspicious circumstances, then he has grossly misjudged the pulse of this nation. In a country where mothers give birth in candlelit maternity wards, where our children sit under trees in schools with no furniture or books, and where universities have become factories of hopelessness due to underfunding, it is not only fair—it is moral and just—for people to demand transparency and accountability. Are we now supposed to stay silent while this looting spree continues under the guise of Vision 2030? Let it be said plainly: Chivayo does not get to define who has the right to speak up. It is not up to him to dismiss every critic as a political opponent. This is gaslighting of the highest order—a cynical attempt to divert attention from real issues by framing them as partisan attacks. But this issue transcends political lines. It is about lives. It is about justice. It is about a nation bleeding under the weight of corruption. To label those speaking out as “opposition outfits” is the highest form of disrespect to the people whose suffering has bankrolled the obscene lifestyles of a connected few. Many of these people, like myself, are not politicians. We are simply Zimbabweans who want a better life—not only for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren. When I speak out, I do so because I have received thousands of messages from Zimbabweans across the country—men, women, and even schoolchildren—who are fed up and disillusioned. They urge us to keep raising our voices because they themselves are unable to do so, fearing victimization or simply lacking the platforms. That is why I will not allow Chivayo—or anyone else—to reduce our cries for justice to political noise. We are not barking. We are demanding answers, and we do so backed by the lived reality of the majority of Zimbabweans. And yes, if calling out corruption and demanding fairness makes us part of an “opposition outfit” in Chivayo’s eyes, then so be it. Because at this rate, it is Chivayo himself who is manufacturing the opposition by pushing more and more people into political consciousness through his arrogant dismissal of their pain. We cannot and must not be gaslighted into silence. The millions of Zimbabweans who suffer in silence every day are not nameless pawns in a political game. They are real human beings—deserving of dignity, of healthcare, of education, and of opportunity. Their outrage is not manufactured. It is the natural response of a people who have been betrayed too many times by those who claim to lead and serve them. Wicknell Chivayo must answer the people’s questions. No amount of deflection, no volume of Parisian selfies, and no barrage of insults will erase the deepening anger and hunger for accountability. This is not about politics. This is about survival. And if he cannot see that, then he is even more out of touch with reality than we feared. Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 _*First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Dubai Meeting with Indian Billionaire Sparks Outrage*_ Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, met with Indian billionaire Prateek Suri during her visit to Dubai, and the internet has a lot to say about it. The First Lady is currently attending the 7th Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025 in Dubai. On Wednesday, 18 June, she posted on her official X account that she’d had a side meeting with Suri, the CEO of Maser Group. She said the two explored several areas of investment in Zimbabwe, including education, mining, infrastructure, and sports. “Today, I met with Mr. Prateek Suri, an Indian billionaire and CEO of Maser Group, on the sidelines of the 7th Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025 underway in Dubai, and we discussed several investment opportunities in Zimbabwe in education, sports, mining and infrastructure development sectors,” she said. According to her, the Indian billionaire expressed interest in building a university in Harare with on-campus accommodation. Mnangagwa said she invited Suri to visit Zimbabwe for follow-up meetings with Cabinet Ministers. “Mr. Suri expressed interest in the construction of a university in Harare with student accommodation facilities at the campus. I invited him to Zimbabwe to have further deliberations with the relevant Cabinet Ministers because Zimbabwe is open for business,” Mnangagwa added. But not everyone was impressed. While some commended her for showing initiative and promoting education, others questioned her authority to conduct state business, with some even accusing her of running “a parallel government.” Here’s a snapshot of how Zimbabweans reacted: @mcbaudy: Thank you, Amai, for your heartfelt efforts to uplift our youth! Your role as a mother figure shines through in advocating for more universities and student accommodation in Zimbabwe, truly a blessing for our students who deserve opportunities at home. I strongly support the vision of a new university in Harare, and I urge that it be designed as an inclusive and accessible campus, ensuring every student, regardless of ability, can thrive with proper facilities and support. Let’s build a future where no one is left behind! #educationforall #inclusiveeducation @Manpardyfp: On whose behalf do you invite them? Are you in government now, Magogo? @KwadaddyJay78: Why don’t you support local businesses to grow? These takers will never end poverty in Zimbabwe. Have your own to grow this economy and do our own thing as Zimbabwe, not this nonsense of inviting takers who do not respect your very own people. It’s so so wrong. Aaaaaaa nxa @redbakkie13: You might be ED’s wife (fake first lady), but that does not give you the legal right to discuss govt business with foreigners, especially seeing you even mention ‘billionaire & mining’ in the same breath.. You are running a parallel structure, Auxie, that’s why you have the audacity! _*Karanga Mzembi welcome to rejoin Zanu PF – ruling party says as they try to isolate Zezuru and powerful Kasukuwere*_ THE ruling Zanu PF party has said it is willing to readmit jailed former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi to the party if he wishes to and meets the requirements. Mzembi, who was exiled in Zambia, returned to Zimbabwe last week and was arrested at the airport. When he left the country in 2018, he was on trial for criminal abuse of office and theft of trust property and has three outstanding arrest warrants for failing to attend trial. Mzembi was reportedly scheduled to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa upon his return and possibly rejoin Zanu PF. Speaking to local radio station ZiFM, Zanu PF Information Director Farai Marapira on Wednesday said Mzembi will only be allowed to rejoin the party if he formally applies and meets all internal requirements. “If he wishes to rejoin, there are processes through which this is done, and if these processes are fulfilled and the requirements that are needed for his reentry are fulfilled again, then of course the party will take him in. “The party is always looking for new members or old members to rejoin, but he has to be in fulfillment of the requirements and dictates of the party. “It has to be in the party’s wisdom to see if it is worthwhile to readmit him or not to do so, so if he wishes to rejoin, I am sure he knows how to apply since he is a former member,” Marapira said. Meanwhile, Mzembi was denied bail and remanded in custody until July 1 for the resumption of his corruption trial. _*Teachers seek ILO intervention*_ TEACHERS are seeking the intervention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in their ongoing labour dispute with the government over working conditions and salaries. The educators said they approached ILO after submitting a petition and getting no joy from their employer including President Emmerson Mnangagwa over a basket of grievances. In May, unions representing teachers petitioned the Finance ministry as well as the Public Service Commission (PSC) demanding a formal response to their grievances. The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) had submitted a similar petition before the schools opened. The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) later sent a delegation to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office requesting his intervention in the resolution of their grievances and various challenges bedevilling the education sector. The PTUZ delegation did not meet Mnangagwa, it submitted a petition in which it warned the President that the education system was crumbling under his watch. Teachers are decrying low salaries and are demanding to be paid at least US$540 per month by their employer, which they were earning before October 2018. Currently, teachers earn an average of US$250 per month and around ZiG3 000. In a letter dated June 11, 2025, addressed to Karen Curtis, ILO chief — Freedom of Association Branch — Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) stressed its disappointment with government’s lack of urgency in addressing the educators' grievances. “We note with disappointment that the government seems not to be taking this matter seriously,” Artuz leader Obert Masaraure stated. “To date, the only feedback we have received was an informal call from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, ZCTU, requesting us to propose two conciliators for the process. “This request was made on 21 March 2025 and to date we have not received any feedback on progress despite our efforts to inquire through the ZCTU.” “We were hopeful that by now we could have engaged and resolved the raised complaint and subsequent issues that arose post filing the complaint.” Curtis acknowledged receipt of the letter and pledged to facilitate dialogue between the union and the government. “I acknowledge receipt of your communication dated 11 June, 2025 by which you forward additional information relating to the complaint of infringement of trade union rights which was presented by your organisation against the government Zimbabwe,” Curtis said in response. "In accordance with the procedure in force, the contents of your communication will be transmitted to government for its observations thereon.” Masaraure complained that educators were facing systematic persecution for demanding redress to their grievances. “On 12 May, 2025, suspected State agents broke into our offices ahead of a planned legitimate job action. The intruders dismantled office surveillance equipment and went through files kept at the office,” Masaraure claimed. “On 24 April, 2025, the Zimbabwe Republic Police blocked the hosting of the elective congress of the union. The congress was only allowed to proceed on condition that the union agreed to allow seven police officers to join all the proceedings of the programme.” Early this week, nine Artuz members were arrested in Mutare, Manicaland province, after participating in a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday. The group delivered a petition to PSC after the mini-protest. Artuz condemned the arrest of its members saying it was in violation of section 59 of the Constitution which speaks to the right to peaceful petitioning and demonstration. “Artuz will be engaging the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the International Labour Organisation to register this gross abuse of human and workers’ rights,” Artuz said. The Parents Teachers Association joined Artuz in calling for the immediate release of the detained teachers. Government previously said it was seized with addressing the plight of its employees. Newsday _*Property mogul arrested for land theft*_ HARARE property magnate Patrick Paul Kennan was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly colluding with his lawyers and court officials to fraudulently secure a default judgment in a long-running legal battle over a prime property in Borrowdale, Harare. Kennan faces allegations of corruption, judicial fraud and obstruction of justice. His arrest follows a Supreme Court judgment ordering reinstatement of a case in which Courchgrass (Pvt) Ltd is being challenged by Sayles Corporation over a prime piece of land, Lot 4 Rietfontein, in the leafy Borrowdale suburb. Courchgrass, which is controlled by Kennan and John De Wet, is believed to have subdivided and sold the fraudulently acquired land to 23 unsuspecting members of the public. The company allegedly transferred title of the piece of land after securing a fraudulent default judgment. The piece of land under dispute, measuring 6,8 hectares, was bought by Samalyn Investments from June Searson before selling it to Sayles Corporation. Mark Warhurst of Warhurst Attorneys, who is now being jointly charged with Kennan, has already been convicted by the Law Society of Zimbabwe over the judicial crime and awaits sentencing. In a Supreme Court ruling delivered on May 25, 2025, Courchgrass was also implicated in tampering with court papers in order to secure a default judgment which it used to transfer the prime land. Newsday _*Zimbabwe And Zambia Sign MoU To Strengthen Cross-Border Medical Regulation*_ The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the regulation of medical products between the two countries. The five-year agreement, signed on 17 June 2025, outlines a framework for collaboration in key regulatory areas. These include the detection of substandard and falsified medicines, implementation of track-and-trace systems, and advancement of research in nanotechnology and biotechnology as applied to medicines and vaccines. The MoU also aims to support the development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production and ensure the availability of safe and quality-assured medical products. Under the agreement, the two authorities will cooperate through information sharing, capacity building, mutual recognition of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspections, and promotion of investment in the pharmaceutical sector across both countries. MCAZ Director-General Richard Rukwata described the MoU as a significant step toward regional regulatory alignment, noting its potential to enhance efforts to prevent the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines. He said: This collaboration marks a significant milestone in regional regulatory convergence. By working together, ZAMRA and MCAZ will leverage each other’s expertise and resources to strengthen the fight against substandard and falsified medical products and promote public health and safety in both nations. ZAMRA Director-General Makomani Siyanga also welcomed the agreement, highlighting the shared goal of ensuring the availability of effective and safe medical products in both markets. He said: This partnership underscores our shared commitment to ensuring that only safe, effective, and quality-assured medical products are accessible in our respective markets. It represents a proactive step toward harmonisation, efficiency, and innovation in our regulatory systems. Both agencies reiterated their commitment to strengthening regulatory systems and improving access to quality-assured healthcare products, aligning with regional efforts to advance Universal Health Coverage. _*Rights doctors push for Commission of Inquiry into Zimbabwe’s collapsing public health sector*_ The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to institute a Commission of Inquiry on the state of the health sector. This follows Mnangagwa’s visits to Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe Hospitals on Monday. There has been an uproar over the dilapidated state of public hospitals where there is a lack of basic medicines, malfunctioning equipment and low morale among the healthcare professionals. Doctors said Mnangagwa has had an opportunity to have a first-hand account of the situation and should institute an inquiry in a bid to address the challenges. “ZADHR believes that the visit provided President Mnangagwa with an opportunity to appreciate, first-hand, the state of public health services delivery system in Zimbabwe, which is generally plagued by dilapidated infrastructure, shortages of drugs and consumables and demoralised human resources. “ZADHR also takes this opportunity to urge President Mnangagwa to institute a Commission of Inquiry on the state of the health sector,” said Doctors in a statement. According to ZADHR, the Commission of Inquiry should be mandated to enquire into the situation of health service provision by government and its agencies with a view to ensuring service delivery that responds to the obligations created by the Constitution, which under section 76 guarantees the right to health care. In such an enquiry, the Commission of Inquiry may need to scrutinise the current health financing mechanisms in Zimbabwe and the challenges and opportunities. Zimbabwe’s performance in relation to the Abuja Declaration commitments on health financing and the amounts raised by government using specific health-related taxes such as the “sugar tax” since their inception, and their utilisation and utility, and “The current situation in public hospitals, with a focus on referral institutions, including staffing levels in relation to the staff establishment for these institutions and the poor remuneration of all medical practitioners and addressing the massive exodus in this critical sector. “The process must, therefore, be robust with full engagement of public health institutions, health workers, communities and other relevant stakeholders on the state of affairs. “Citizens must also be allowed to give evidence of their actual experiences of the health sector,” doctors said. Recently, nurses also issued a statement urging the government to immediately intervene as the situation has already gotten out of hand. Nurses said they are working under impossible conditions. “As nurses, we are working under impossible conditions. We are forced to improvise daily just to preserve life. But we cannot continue like this. The system has failed, and the suffering is unbearable. “We call on the government of Zimbabwe to urgently prioritise the health sector. Equip hospitals. Support nurses. Save lives. This situation must be addressed without delay,” nurses said. _*Mafume Faces Prison as Harare Commission of Inquiry Concludes*_ Sengezo Tshabangu close ally and Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume could face jail time after Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe recommended prosecution of city officials implicated in corruption and poor governance, following the conclusion of a year-long Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of the Harare City Council. The commission, chaired by retired High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda, submitted its final report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House on Tuesday The inquiry was initiated by the President in 2023 to investigate suspected financial mismanagement, corruption, and service delivery failures within Zimbabwe’s capital city. The commission’s findings painted a grim picture of systemic rot at Town House. It exposed widespread corruption, abuse of office, and lavish spending by officials under Mafume’s leadership—despite the council routinely citing a lack of funds to justify failure to deliver basic services to residents. “Harare City Council is decayed to the core,” Garwe said following the handover of the report. “That is why the President established the Commission of Inquiry—to investigate the severe governance failures in our urban local authorities. Harare is the worst, followed by Bulawayo.” He said the commission uncovered shocking levels of extravagance, with top city officials awarding themselves hefty perks and allowances while ordinary residents grappled with unsafe drinking water, garbage piles, and deteriorating roads. Garwe indicated that if the commission’s report provides evidence of criminal conduct, including financial impropriety, the implicated officials—Mayor Mafume included—could face arrest and prosecution. “The President will study the report and act on its recommendations. Where criminal activities are confirmed, those responsible should face the full wrath of the law, including imprisonment,” Garwe said. Justice Cheda confirmed that the commission conducted nine months of public hearings, during which various stakeholders—including residents, city employees, and experts—testified about the dysfunction at Town House. The report is expected to trigger a major clean-up of the city’s governance structures once reviewed by the President. Mafume, as the sitting mayor, remains politically and administratively accountable for the state of affairs at the Harare City Council. His future now hinges on the decisions President Mnangagwa will take after reviewing the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. _*UZ using conciliation hearings to buy time – striking lecturers say as job action clocks day 66*_ The Association of University Teachers (AUT) has accused the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) of stalling negotiations while profiting from the labour of adjunct staff filling the roles of striking lecturers. With the UZ lecturers’ wage strike now entering its third month, lecturers remain resolute in their demand for salaries to be raised to US$2,250. In a recent interview with NewZimbabwe.com, AUT spokesperson Professor Obvious Vengeyi said that no substantial offer has been made by the government, despite previous assurances. As a response to the ongoing impasse, coalition meetings among various university unions have been convened to strategise next steps, reinforcing their commitment to a united front in this labour dispute. “All state universities unions including non-academics and academics, attended conciliation hearings yesterday 17 June 2025. “The proceedings were again adjourned to 08 July 2025. We feel that this is a strategy by the employer to endlessly buy time while we are working as their slaves for free. It’s cruel. “But in principle, non-academics and academics are on the same page, there is no going back. “They have resolved to join AUT in the industrial job action. There is no going back,” he said. Students also said they are worried that the situation has remained unresolved for a long time. Zinasu spokesperson for UZ Chapter, Darlington Chigwena, said their future has already been compromised as the review of UZ qualifications has gone down. He said students will fight in the corner of their lecturers because they are excessively affected. “The return of our lecturers means that we are going to have credible and quality education. “We are together with lecturers, we are working hand in glove. “Also, as students, we are not only showing substantial solidarity to the lecturers because we are aware that if they are treated in a proper manner, it means that we are going to excel as students. “We are also aware that as students we are workers in transit so if the rights are being respected it means that our rights as future workers are also going to be respected so the picket which is going to happen on Monday, we are going to partake, we are goi g to participate as students, we are going to be there as many as the sand of the sea showing our solidarity with them making sure that justice prevails both for the lecturers and the students,” he said. The next picketing will be held on Monday. _*Detergents, edible oils sector agrees to pay 70% of salaries in US$*_ THE Detergents, Edible Oils and Fats Sector has reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which approved to pay workers 70% of their salaries in foreign currency. The CBA covers the period commencing January to June 30 2025. The agreement should be read as one with clause 6 (Grading and Wages) of the Agreement published in Statutory Instrument 194 of 2018 in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Act as amended. “The US$/ZWL payment ratio has been adjusted from the current 55^ US$: 45% ZWG to 70:30 split starting May 1 2025. From January 2025 to April 2025the USD: ZWG split remains at US$55% and ZWG 45%. The USD 70%: ZWG 30% portions shall be paid in the currency split. The 30% ZWG portion shall be paid at the prevailing exchange rate as at the date of Payment,” the CBA reads in part. However, the agreement did not alter monthly allowances, which include Transport allowance and Housing Allowance, which have remained stuck at US$44,88 per month and US$61,20 per month, respectively. “The concept of 70%:30% ZWG split shall apply to NEC levies and trade union dues,” the CBA added. _*Vendors To Be Driven Out Of Mutare CBD*_ City of Mutare has resolved to embark on an operation to rid the Central Business District (CBD) of street food vendors. Mayor Simon Chabuka said the operation is to restore sanity in the CBD when he addressed a full council meeting on Monday. “People are roasting meat and corn on the main street. This is happening everywhere in the CBD. Soon we will do an operation because we need to restore order and sanity in our CBD,” said Chabuka. Council Health Services Director, Eunice Muyambuki expressed concern at the increase of unregulated food outlets in the CBD in an interview with Chipinge Times. Muyambuki said the outlets pose a risk to consumers, particularly in terms of food handling and hygiene. “Illegal street food cooking in Mutare poses significant public health risks due to unsanitary conditions, lack of regulatory compliance and inadequate infrastructure. “The most common health hazards linked to street food include a variety of biological, chemical, and physical risks that can negatively affect public health. These are especially prevalent when food is prepared, stored, or served in unsanitary conditions,” said Muyambuki. Masvingo Mirror _*ZRP Cracks Down On Drug Smuggling At Beitbridge Border*_ The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has intensified efforts to curb drug smuggling, leading to multiple arrests at Beitbridge Border Post and surrounding areas. ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said that on 15 June 2025, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics intercepted a haulage truck at Bubi Roadblock, and arrested its driver, Temptation Guzhira (41), for the unlawful possession of dagga and 289 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup. The crackdown continued the following day, 16 June 2025, when truck driver Philip Gangata (53) was arrested at Beitbridge Border Post with 50 boxes of Broncleer cough syrup (100ml bottles). Meanwhile, on 15 June, Brighton Bongiseni (36) and Pardon Mutsvairo (34) were arrested at the Northbound Buses searching bay at Beitbridge Border Post for possessing 222 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup, concealed in two 20-litre containers. _*Zimbabwe asks South Africa to back G-20 debt overhaul*_ - Zimbabwe has asked South Africa to help garner support for its debt to be revamped under the Group of 20’s Common Framework. - The framework, created in 2020, helps poor nations restructure debts by bringing together a diverse set of creditors. - Zimbabwe has made efforts to restructure its $21 billion debt owed to multilateral lenders since 2022, but is yet to receive concrete commitments for $2.6 billion in bridge finance. Zimbabwe has asked South Africa to help garner support for its debt to be revamped under the Group of 20’s Common Framework, a step that could restore its access to international capital markets for the first time in more than 25 years. “South Africa has been approached by Zimbabwe to consider assisting the country in mobilizing international support for Zimbabwe’s planned application for debt treatment under the Common Framework,” South Africa’s National Treasury said in an emailed response to Bloomberg questions. South Africa, led by Cyril Ramaphosa, currently holds the G-20 presidency and will hand over the reins later this year to US President Donald Trump. The framework was created in 2020 to help poor nations bring together a diverse set of creditors to restructure debts. Zambia, Ethiopia and Ghana have used the template, which has been criticized for being too slow. The framework is being “explored,” according to the head of Zimbabwe’s Public Debt Management Office Andrew Bvumbe. “We want to maximize the debt relief to the country,” he said Wednesday by text message. It has appealed to 10 nations to assist in raising $2.6 billion in bridge finance but is yet to receive any concrete commitments. “South Africa has not been approached to consider providing bridge finance to Zimbabwe,” the National Treasury said. Africa’s largest economy is owed $24 million by its neighbor, according to data provided by the Zimbabwean Treasury. _*Zim removed from global hunger list*_ In a significant stride towards food security, Zimbabwe has been officially removed from the Hunger Hotspots list, according to the latest joint FAO-WFP report, developed and published with financial support from the European Union through the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC). This milestone marks a turning point for the nation, demonstrating the tangible impact of concerted efforts to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition and improve livelihoods. A time to celebrate and to reflect As the FAO Representative in Zimbabwe, I am proud to have contributed to this achievement. For Zimbabwe, exiting the Hunger Hotspots list represents more than just a statistical shift; it signifies renewed hope, enhanced stability, and the potential for accelerated economic and social development. The designation as a “hunger hotspot” carries significant weight, often triggering emergency aid and focusing attention on immediate needs. Removing this label allows Zimbabwe to shift its focus towards long-term sustainable development, fostering resilience within its food systems, and attracting investments in critical sectors. The hunger hotspots framework: A critical early warning system For years, FAO and WFP have collaborated through the Hunger Hotspots program to identify regions facing acute food insecurity, driven by factors like conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability. This framework serves as an early warning system, alerting the international community to impending crises and enabling timely interventions. Being on this list means that Zimbabwe faced significant challenges in ensuring its population had consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. Over the past decade, Zimbabwe has been flagged multiple times, particularly during periods of severe drought and economic instability, highlighting the persistent vulnerability of communities. From 2014 to 2019, Zimbabwe was placed on the list as more and more households began to experience food insecurity. The country was on the list a total of 6 times in the last 10 years. _*Correspondent banks return to Zim*_ THE Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has revealed that some regional and niche international financial institutions are “cautiously” re-engaging with local banks to re-establish correspondent banking relationships, NewsDay Business can report. Zimbabwe lost over 100 correspondent banking relationships as international banks held back from conducting business with their local counterparts over fears of attracting penalties from the United States Treasury Department, which had placed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe. However, in March 2024, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control terminated its targeted financial sanctions regime after then US President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) terminating the national emergency concerning Zimbabwe. This termination revoked the Executive Order that had been authorised against the country, a move that reopened re-engagement talks for local banks seeking correspondent banking relationships. Correspondent banking ties help local banks to process international transactions for their customers. “Zimbabwe had lost several correspondent relationships over the past decade due to compliance concerns and perceived reputational risks and country risk,” BAZ’s recently appointed president, Sibongile Moyo, told NewsDay Business. “However, some local banks still maintain correspondent banking relationships with US banks and some regional and niche international banks are beginning to cautiously re-engage. A few local banks have secured new correspondent relationships with smaller international banks in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.” She said there was increasing dialogue with development finance institutions to facilitate structured trade finance and guarantee arrangements that could bridge the confidence gap. While the issue of sovereign debt and country risk has been hanging for a while, Moyo revealed that the central bank’s monetary policy statements frequently emphasised stability and foreign exchange management. This, she added, created a conducive environment for business and attracted foreign capital, which indirectly assured foreign lenders and supported exporters. BAZ supported these efforts and advocated for a stable banking environment conducive to attracting foreign lines of credit. “Total public debt reached US$21,2 billion in 2023 (96,6% of GDP), classified as unsustainable and in distress, severely limiting access to international financing. Efforts to convince foreign lenders are largely aligned with broader government and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe initiatives,” Moyo said. “These include improving public debt statistics, implementing economic reforms aimed at fostering price, currency, and exchange rate stability, enhancing confidence, and ensuring compliance with Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards (leading to removal from the FATF grey list).” The African Development Bank’s outgoing President Akinwumi Adesina revealed during the bank’s annual meetings in the Côte d’Ivoire last month that Zimbabwe needed US$2,6 billion in bridge financing. Zimbabwe cannot access traditional lending from foreign lenders due to its huge external debt burden of US$12,2 billion, according to the Treasury. Newsday _*UK Zimbos Successfully Block Auxillia from London Summit*_ LONDON – Zimbabweans based in the United Kingdom have successfully blocked First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa from attending a high-profile summit in London, forcing organisers to quietly remove her from the programme. Mnangagwa was expected to speak at the First Ladies of Africa Impact and Resilience (FLAIR) Summit, held from 17 to 18 June at the Royal Leonardo Hotel near Tower Bridge. However, she was noticeably absent from the event after activists mobilised demonstrations against her visit, citing allegations of corruption, abuse of state resources, and complicity in human rights violations in Zimbabwe. The protests had been brewing for weeks, with UK-based Zimbabwean civil society organisations, human rights activists, and members of the diaspora issuing public calls for the UK government to bar her entry. They also petitioned event organisers to deplatform the First Lady, accusing her of using philanthropic fronts to sanitise a repressive regime. In anticipation of protests, Labour MP Dawn Butler withdrew from the summit in protest against Auxillia’s scheduled appearance. According to The Standard newspaper, Butler’s exit triggered an emergency meeting among the organisers, which resulted in Auxillia being quietly dropped from the speaker lineup. Instead of travelling to London, Auxillia flew to Dubai, where she attended the Merck Foundation’s First Ladies Initiative Summit from 18 to 19 June. _*UK Denies Julius Malema Visa Over “Extremist” Song and Support for Hamas*_ South African opposition leader Julius Malema has once again been denied a UK visa, this time in a damning refusal letter from the United Kingdom Home Office citing his “extremist” positions, repeated justification for terrorist violence, and incendiary comments about race. The decision, made by the UK Visas and Immigration Decision Making Centre, explicitly states that Malema’s presence in the country is “not conducive to the public good.” It is the second time the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has been blocked from entering the UK. According to the letter dated 17 June 2025, the UK Home Secretary referenced Malema’s repeated public support for Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation under British law, and his controversial remarks regarding the “slaughter of white people.” “I note that you have made statements calling for the slaughter of white people or hinted that it could be an acceptable option in the future,” reads the Home Office letter, citing Malema’s 2016 statement: “We are not calling for the slaughter of white people… at least for now.” Malema’s refusal comes in the wake of fresh scrutiny over his public speeches and online posts, including an October 2023 rally outside the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria where he vowed to “arm Hamas” if his party came to power. He later posted on X (formerly Twitter), defending the Hamas-led 7 October attack on Israel, writing, “There is nothing wrong Hamas did.” _*US to suffer colossal damage if enters military conflict with Iran — Khamenei*_ TEHRAN,- Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned the US of irreparable consequences if Washington joins Israel’s aggression against the Islamic republic. “Wise people who are familiar with Iran, its people and history, will never use the language of threats with this country because the Iranian people never surrender. The Americans must know that as a result of any military interferences, the US will undoubtedly suffer irreparable damage,” he said, addressing the nation, as quoted by his press service. The press service noted that this was the country’s supreme leader’s response to “ridiculous remarks” by US President Donald Trump, who earlier demanded Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.” *SPORTS WITH MABLANYO* _*Club World Cup updates: Real Madrid wilt in Al Hilal draw*_ Meet the new Real Madrid? They're just like the old Real Madrid, even when it comes to missing penalties. Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham & Co. didn't play well in their 1-1 draw with Al Hilal on Wednesday, but that shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody who watched the team regularly last season. And when Federico Valverde's late penalty was saved by Bono in added time, that added even more deja vu. Madrid failed to convert six penalties last season between Kylian Mbappé (three), Vinícius (two) and Bellingham (one). Now Valverde can be added to that list of unsuccessful takers. Penalty-taking practice might be top of the to-do list for Xabi Alonso in Madrid's next training session in Palm Beach Gardens. But Wednesday's performance, in punishingly hot and humid conditions at Hard Rock Stadium, was proof that there's a lot of work to do. There are plenty of reasons for Madrid's slow start at this tournament: some of these players have been here for just a few days, the team were without last season's top scorer Mbappé through illness and, of course, there's the heat. But still, expectations are high for the Alonso era, and in this first showing, Madrid didn't deliver. Instead, it was Al Hilal who -- under another new coach, Simone Inzaghi -- often looked the more dangerous side. Madrid's new-look defense featuring two new signings, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, looked creaky, just like the old one last season. And once again, there was a desperate lack of an organizing, ball-playing midfielder, highlighted by Alonso's decision to throw on Arda Güler at half-time. _*Xabi Alonso says Real Madrid makeover 'a process' after draw*_ Xabi Alonso called for patience after Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Al Hilal in their opening game at the Club World Cup, saying implementing the changes he wants to make "will take time." Madrid struggled in the first half at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, before young forward Gonzalo García put them ahead in the 34th minute. _*Chelsea signing Mamadou Sarr: I want to be next Virgil van Dijk*_ New Chelsea signing Mamadou Sarr has set his sights on becoming the Premier League's next Virgil van Dijk. The 19-year-old joined up with the Blues earlier this month after Chelsea agreed a deal with Strasbourg in January to sign Sarr for €14 million. Sarr, a France Under-20 international, has only played 40 senior games -- 27 of which came in a breakthrough year at Strasbourg last season -- and he was an unused substitute in Monday's 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC at the Club World Cup. However, Sarr is hoping to make an impact similar to Van Dijk, who won the Premier League title with Liverpool last month to earn the 11th major trophy of a career and cement his status as one of the world's best centre-backs. "I want to be like Virgil van Dijk," said Sarr. "I love Van Dijk. But some people tell me I play like [Liverpool's] Ibrahima Konaté. It's very similar. He's a leader. For a defender, it's very important to be a leader. Off and on the pitch, I talk a lot. It's an important job. _*Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk faces up to 4-year ban after doping charge*_ Mykhailo Mudryk is facing a potential ban of up to four years after the Football Association charged the Chelsea winger with a doping offence. The 24-year-old was provisionally suspended in December having tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance named meldonium. The Blues were awaiting the results of a 'B' sample test to support or contradict the initial 'A' results and the FA announced on Wednesday that the Ukrainian winger now faces potential further punishment. "We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of Regulations 3 and 4 of The FA's Anti-Doping Regulations," said the FA in a statement. "As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time." _*Gyokeres rejects Sporting talks*_ Arsenal and Manchester United target Viktor Gyokeres, 27, has refused to have clear-the-air talks with Sporting and threatened to go on strike as he tries to force through a move from the Portuguese clubs *sports tit bits:* *Arsenal full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly is close to signing a new contract that will make the 18-year-old England international one of the best-paid young players in the world* *But assistant manager Carlos Cuesta is set to leave Arsenal to take his first head coach role at Serie A side Parma* *Chelsea retain an interest in England midfielder Morgan Rogers, 22, should Aston Villa be open to a sale* *Chelsea have made initial contact with Brighton over Brazil striker Joao Pedro, 23, who is also wanted by Newcastle* *Brentford have put a £50m price tag on striker Yoane Wissa, with the 28-year-old DR Congo international a target for Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray*