Former Orlando Pirates striker Takesure Chinyama is set to sign for Wits, where he has been on trial for close to a month, after being released by Bucs.

It was reported last week by Soccer-Laduma that Mpumalanga Black Aces had requested for Chinyama to come train with the team, with a view of adding him to their new-look roster under the guidance of head coach Clive Barker.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Mutare – Zimbabwe’s sole television station, state-owned and tightly controlled by President Robert Mugabe, is targeting the private life of his arch rival Morgan Tsvangirai with “attack ads” aimed at discrediting him before 31 July elections.

In the adverts, three former lovers reveal how they were dumped by Tsvangirai, 61, before Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party chimes in to tell voters that the prime minister is unfit for office.

While there are many questions about the tone and taste of the adverts in the socially conservative southern African nation, the message is rubbing off on even die-hard Tsvangirai supporters, who say he has only himself to blame.

“Five years ago, I would have risked my life for Tsvangirai. I would have assaulted anyone who insulted him,” said Gerald Mlambo in the eastern city of Mutare, a Tsvangirai stronghold.

Now Mlambo is sufficiently racked by doubts to stay away from a nearby stadium where deafening music and a huge crowd chanting anti-Mugabe slogans are revving up for a campaign rally appearance by his one-time idol.

Tsvangirai’s sex scandals, along with his failure to deliver on key promises while in government, have steadily eroded the almost messianic support he once enjoyed among many of Zimbabwe’s 13 million people for daring to challenge the three-decade rule of the ruthless and cunning Mugabe.

Since the death of Tsvangirai’s wife Susan in a car crash in 2009 – the year after he and Mugabe sealed a power sharing deal – the prime minister has fathered a child with a 22-year-old woman and been locked in a court battle with another lover.

The Harare media also feasted on the claims of a South African woman who said Tsvangirai ditched her by SMS after a two-year affair studded with expensive, exotic holidays.

Gift to propagandists

Tsvangirai’s supporters point out that Mugabe, 89, has also been no angel in his personal life, having fathered two children out of wedlock with Grace Mugabe, a secretary 41 years his junior whom he married after the death of his first wife, Sally.

But Tsvangirai’s troubled private life has been a gift to propagandists working to ensure Mugabe carries on as president, a post he has held since independence from Britain in 1980.

For the prime minister’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the campaign ads merely serve as proof that Mugabe and Zanu-PF have nothing to offer the country.

“They are desperate,” MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said. “Thank God, no one is listening and people are going to dump them come July 31 because our country needs politicians and leaders who focus on policies.”

But Tsvangirai faces criticism over his track record too, after five years as prime minister in the South Africa-brokered unity government under Mugabe that followed the bloody and disputed 2008 election.

His first promise was to end an economic crisis that had triggered inflation of 500 billion percent, unemployment of 80% and a stream of economic refugees into South Africa, Zimbabwe’s larger southern neighbour.

On that front, he has largely delivered: scrapping the worthless Zimbabwe dollar in early 2009 stabilised prices and since then the economy has bounced back strongly.

But as memories of the economic meltdown have faded and the grind of day-to-day government has set in, the former trade unionist has lost some of his shine.

MDC-headed ministries have struggled to deliver promised dams and electricity plants and to overhaul dilapidated water and sewage systems, while the questions have mounted about Tsvangirai’s character and ability to govern.

Woolly on policy

“They promised so much and delivered so little. I don’t buy the nonsense that Zanu-PF is to blame for our condition,” said John Cheukai, a 40-year-old labourer at a Mutare timber firm.

“Tsvangirai has a responsibility to manage his life in an exemplary manner. Based on some of the things we have seen from the MDC, people are not so hopeful anymore.”

While there are no formal opinion polls, surveys conducted by Freedom House, a US political think tank, and African research group Afro-Barometer give Mugabe a narrow lead.

Critics say Tsvangirai is woolly on policy and weak on principles, pointing to how readily he dropped opposition to Mugabe’s homophobia and seizure of white-owned farms, and how he took up the fight for media and security reform only weeks before the election.

His lieutenants argue Tsvangirai has taken the strategic view of pushing through a new constitution that balances power between the president and parliament, while parking other issues on the sidelines until the MDC comes to power.

The path to power remains far from assured.

“The MDC ran most of the local councils very badly,” said 50-year-old financial analyst Boniface Chirandu in the town of Chimanimani on the Mozambican border.

“That, coupled with issues over Tsvangirai’s private life, has persuaded me – and I’m sure others too – that the MDC cannot take our vote for granted.”

Reuters

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-Molopo Magistrate Court is expected to sanction a woman who robbed unsuspecting clients at Absa bank in Mahikeng.

Dineo Molete is due to appear before court after she was arrested a month ago. Molete went through into Absa bank wearing a t-shirt depicted with a bank logo and pretend to be for the bank.

Police said Molete only targeted clients who deposited bulk cash.

“Molete allegedly took a man who came to deposit money to her “office” and pretend as if she is helping him” police said.

She allegedly left office with cash and ran out of the bank. The victim started to suspects something is wrong after the latter fails to return.

He stormed out of the bank and noticed the perpetrator. The businessman chased her and discover his cash from Molete.

Molete was subsequently arrested and according to police’s preliminary investigations, Molete was found in possession of 13 IDs.

Molete is connected to other fraud cases in Gauteng and is expected to be sanctioned by Molopo Magistrate Court.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

The triple medals that Stephen “Tshipi-Tshipi” Mokoka’s scooped at the 27

th Summer Universiade / World University Games in Kazan, Russia is a great achievement that should boost his morale and confidence for yet another sterling performance at the Commonwealth Games, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Monday.

“Tshipi Tshipi is maturing with each race, is a worthy champion and our ambassador who continues to prove that with determination, aspirant athletes from rural communities can rise to dominate the international marathon platform. He is an inspiration and a role model for our youth,” said Premier Modise.

The Premier said that the provincial government joins the Mokoka family and the community of Ramatlabama village outside Mahikeng in the North West Province in congratulating Tshipi Tshipi who scooped the men’s 10 000m final in Kazan, and grabbed individual silver and team gold in the half-marathon recently.. 

The 27-year-old Mokoka ran away with title in 28:45.97 after toying with the Rybakov brothers (Anatoly and Evgeny) from Russia throughout the race.Mokoka  had also finished in eighth position at the World Half-Marathon Championship held in Kayama, Bulgaria in October last year and  at the global half-marathon  championship in Birmingham ,England in 2009. 

The incident in which a teenager allegedly stabbed his father to death and wounded his 8-year-old sister is stark reminder of the extend to which drugs are destroying families and calls for intensified united action against drugs, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in expressing shock on Sunday.

“We are saddened by the incident and call on our communities to blow the whistle on those who are destroying our youth and families, support collaborative efforts of crime prevention structures and police to uproot drug dealers and to reclaim their schools, streets and neighbourhoods from criminals,” emphasised Premier Modise in condemning the incident.

According to police, the 17-year-old arrived late at home in Hartbeespoortdam and when his father questioned him about this, an argument ensued between the two before the suspect who was allegedly under the influence of drugs stabbed his father on his back and chest. The victim reportedly died on the scene. 

The suspect who was later arrested and is police custody pending his appearance in the Brits Magistrates Court tomorrow reportedly also stabbed his 8-year-old sibling on the throat and waist when she tried to intervene.

She was rushed to hospital. 

It should be a shame to men that incidents of gender based violence continue during men’s month they are supposed to be committing themselves to promoting gender equality, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in condemning the strangling of a woman to death by her boyfriend who later took his own life in Klipgat near Mabopane over the weekend.Premier Modise urged men who are insecure in their relationships to seek urgent counselling and professional help instead of resorting to violence which results in dire consequences for all parties involved.

“Prevention of violence against women should be supported by real men who understand it to be key to achieving gender equality as well as women’s access to human rights in general and sexual and reproductive rights in particular,” stressed Premier Modise.

According to police, the suspect went to his girlfriend’s house at Odineburg /Bheki Township Settlement at around 21:00 and allegedly grabbed and strangled his 35-year-old girlfriend after an argument that led to a fight.

The mother of the victim reportedly tried to stop the suspect from strangling her daughter, but was unsuccessful. The suspect fled the scene and allegedly hanged himself at another house around the vicinity after he learnt that the woman had died on arrival at the nearby Odi District Hospital.

Police are investigating a murder and inquest case.