NewsHawks Life & Style Page 51
Issue 113, 23 December 2022
For four days, 15 African and 12
European movies will be showcased in
Harare in free of charge.
Much more than movies, the 2022
edition celebrated the success of previ-
ous editions, and in particular on the
wide range of activities.
The festival was not only about
screening movies in Harare and Bul-
awayo, it also includes input confer-
ences, a masterclass, a short film com-
petition, and a curated selection of
African cinema.
Leonard Zhakata Sports, Arts and Recreation November
minister Kirsty Coventry Rick Ross staged his debut performance
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA at the Harare International Conference
2022: Zimbabwean arts Centre before a sellout crowd on 18
THE year 2022 showed signs of recov- sector in recovery mode November 2022.
ery for the creative sector in the after-
math of the Covid-19 pandemic. What Dominic Benhura has long been a gan in 1982 when he founded Amak- Bongo Maffin performed while Zim- Despite the late start of the concert,
is all the more worrying is that the arts world-renowned sculptor from Zim- hosi which started as a youth karate babwean acts, among them Shaback Rick Ross did not disappoint. Ross
sector will rise again on its own with babwe, with worldwide recognition club but switched to professional the- the Band, Fusion 5 Mangwiro, Anita performed his yesteryear hits, includ-
zero support from either the govern- coming his way over the years. Few, atre in 1988. Mhlanga wrote more than Jaxson, Morda, Enzo Ishall, King Her, ing those he collaborated with other
ment or anyone else. though, eclipse being awarded a “day” 20 plays, among them The Good Pres- Chucknosis Monster DJ, Jah Prayzah, artistes, which drove fans into a frenzy.
by a city in the United States of Amer- ident, The End, Sinjalo, Children on Gwevenzi, Mwenje Mathole, Solution The whole auditorium, which was close
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and ica. 14 May 2022 will remain etched Fire, and Vikela. He has three books to GC, Feli Nandi, African Strom and to full capacity, could be heard singing
also the Sports, Arts and Recreation in the sculpture sector as historic after his name. He also adapted the popular Mary Anibal performed to satisfaction. along with Rick Ross whose trade name
minister Kirsty Coventry have been James Brainard, the mayor of Indiana play Stitsha to a TV series. It featured European Film Festival is The Boss as he felt the Zimbabwean
making promises which in the end they city Carmel, proclaimed it Dominic the late Beater Mangethe. The European Film Festival is back in love.
failed to fulfill. This is in spite of the pil- Benhura Day. October Harare beginning 27 to 30 October
lar within the National Development Organisers of Stanbic Bank Jacaranda 2022! “I am happy to be in Zimbabwe and
Strategy 1 that the arts have a role to This follows the installation of Ben- Music Festival held a successful fest that it is amazing. The people are full of
play within the economy. Sadder still, hura’s sculpture as part of the perma- features a number of Zimbabwean and After two years of the Covid-19 pan- love,” he said.
Ncube and Coventry seem not to have nent collection to the public art display, South African artistes over three-days at demic, the 6th edition of the European
clear understanding of how the arts can bringing value and cultural diversity to Old Hararian Sports Club. Film Festival Zimbabwe will be hosted The event saw high-profile celebri-
be developed and sustained. a city labelled one of the safest in Amer- live at MMX. ties, socialites, millionaires, models in-
ica. The sculpture was commissioned The 2021 edition was much small- cluding some from as far as Namibia,
In other words, the artists and cre- by owner of Kuaba Gallery, Jayne er in attendance because of Covid re- The festival is a platform to share, Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana flying
atives have been lied to and treated like During, who for the last 20 years has strictions and was held indoors. South promote and create exchange between all the way for Rick Ross.
desperate people following the negative been handling Benhura’s work both lo- African DJ Zinhle, Zakes Bantwini and African and European culture, focusing Star FM’s DJ Mbale sacked!
impact of Covid-19 which on its own cally and internationally. on Zimbabwean filmmakers. Star FM radio presenter/producer DJ
was the height of ludicrousness. As Mbale was sacked from the station over
2022 comes to an end, one can only The unveiling of Benhura’s new misconduct. The station announced
hope for a better 2023 and also support sculpture was presented by The Carmel via a Facebook post on its official page
from the government. The entertain- Art District and Kuaba Gallery at Main that DJ Mbale had been relieved of
ment scene was largely dominated by Street and Veterans Way, next to the his duties over “various issues”. DJ
live shows and festivals. Carmel Chocolate Café. According to Mbale, whose real name is Gabriel
March the Kuaba Gallery website, Benhura‘s Mbale, had a fallout with a number of
South African music duo Major League pieces are said to be, “daring and bold” dancehall musicians who accused him
DJz finally fulfilled their promise when as he strives to capture balance and of demanding kickbacks in return for
they performed in Harare at the Bor- movement physically and emotionally airplay.
rowdale Race Course. The sold out in his work. “Inspired by nature and his Skha drops her film titled HER- A
concert proved the group’s popularity family, the family dynamic is a theme Disintegrated Notion
in the country. Initially, the twin broth- found most often throughout his Filmmaker Sikhanyisiwe Sebata’s film,
ers Banele and Bandile Mbere were work,” a statement reads. HER- A Disintegrated Notion, which
scheduled to perform at Palm Estate in is a Magamba production under the
Borrowdale at a concert dubbed "The July Mokooomba New Narratives For Accountability pro-
City Shutdown" in 2021 before the po- Legendary playwright and Amakhosi gramme by Accountability Lab Zimba-
lice stormed the show and shut down Theatre founder Cont Mhlanga dies bwe, is a film that focuses on bringing
the event. aged 64! to the fore questions on gender. The
film has received great attention locally,
To compensate for the no-show, Mhlanga was hospitalised 10 days regionally and internationally. Since its
Major League DJz promised to re- before he breathed his last in Bulawayo release, it has been shown at the Zimba-
turn to Zimbabwe in December for a due to pnuemonia. bwe International Film Festival as well
free show. Unfortunately, that did not as in various festivals in India, Zambia,
happen due to the Covid-19 lockdown National Arts Council of Zimbabwe The Netherlands, Ethiopia and most
plus the fact that Major League DJz director Nicholas Moyo said they were recently in New Zealand. It has been
were fully booked during the festive saddened by death of Mhlanga. showcased by UNFPA as part of their
season in 2021. World Aids Day initiative for the Edu-
April Mhlanga was a playwright, filmmak- cation Plus campaign. The film has also
Nigerian star Joeboy performed in Ha- er and creative director. His career in been nominated for Outstanding Short
rare courtesy of arts promotion com- the cultural and creative industries be- Film at the Bulawayo Arts Awards held
pany Infinity Sky Entertainment. The in December.
show was initially scheduled for 21 De- December
cember 2021, but it was postponed to ChillSpot record producer Levels ap-
Independence Day eve 17 April 2022 peared at Harare Magistrate Court to-
due to Covid-related issues. Joeboy's day where he was granted ZW$20 000
lacklustre performance at the Borrow- bail. Levels, real name Rodger Tafadzwa
dale Racecourse left many wondering Kadzimwe (33), was facing charges of
why he failed to bring a live band. violating the Data Protection Act after
May musician Shashl withdrew the rape and
Benhura gets lofty US city honour abuse charges.
This followed a nasty break up be-
tween the two involving leaked X-rated
tapes and nudes which trended on so-
cial media. The 23-year-old Shashl had
claimed that she was raped by Levels in
July 2021 at his apartment in Harare's
Eastlea suburb.
Page 52 People & Places NewsHawks
Issue 113, 23 December 2022
Scenes at ANC's 55th National Conference being held in Nasrec, South Africa.
NewsHawks Sport Page 53
Issue 113, 23 December 2022
International ban, Sables’ great disappointment
to the Chevrons’ dramatic turnaround in 2022
TO suggest, at the beginning of the year, … The highs and lows of 2022
that Zimbabwe’s cricket team would be
the biggest success story of 2022? Zimbabwe qualified for the Super 12 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup with wins over Ireland and Scotland, as well as a defeat to West Indies.
Not only the most hardened cynic tory over Bangladesh, on both occasions order that has been met with dogged re- For four years, rugby World Cup qual- Cup berth.
would have ridiculed such prediction! securing victory for Zimbabwe when sistance by the SRC. ification was uppermost on Zimbabwean In the shorter version, which is easier
chasing big targets. A recently publicised forensic audit has minds.
You could hardly blame the pessimism. He then smashed another ton against found the fired Zifa officials to have been to qualify, Zimbabwe played in the Rugby
The year had started on a very bad the Indians, although he ended up on the involved in financial fraud, but weeks lat- The Sables coach, Brendan Dawson, World Cup Sevens and came a dismal sec-
note, with the country’s only world-class losing side, wrapping his accolade on had declared at an event last year that his ond from bottom, only one place above
cricketer of the past decade or so — Bren- all-round form by taking seven wick- team would not only “qualify, but would minnows Jamaica.
dan Taylor — being banned from interna- ets in the month in the two versions. be threatening other teams.”
tional cricket for failing to report a 2019 What a relief it was that one of the A bad year, overall, for ZimRugby on
spot-fixing approach from an Indian busi- country’s flagship teams was able to HawkZone The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) the field and at the head office.
nessman. compete at that level, after the foot- wanted it so bad that nearly all other
A bad omen, it looked like — at the ball team failed to kick a ball in the teams, and activities, took a back seat as The future, though, is promising. The
beginning of a brand new year — for a Enockyear due to an international suspen- the Sables topped the priority list. Zimbabwe Under-20 side proved that by
country whose obituary in this sport was winning the youth Africa Cup in Kenya
nearly complete. sion by world governing body Fifa. Participation in South Africa’s Super- in April, under the stewardship of the
When rank outsiders Namibia visited MuchinjoZimbabwe was in March slapped Sport Challenge and Currie Cup seemed head coach, former Sables star back Shaun
and left with a 3-2 T20I win in May, the to put the Sables in good stead. De Souza.
eulogy was ready to go public. with an indefinite ban by Fifa for gov-
Then it was Afghanistan, who not so ernment interference after the Sports But as the run-down started for the If there is however a team that Zimba-
long ago needed our Under-19 side for and Recreation Commission (SRC) African qualification tournament for the bwean sports fans have been accustomed
some competition. fired the national football federation World Cup — bizarrely hosted by France to celebrating, it is the netball side.
They came and whitewashed the Chev- late last year. er, nothing has been heard from the SRC, — reality began to dawn that the ZRU
rons 3-0 in both white-ball formats. The SRC — which charged the Zifa of- which said it would push for criminal and the coaches had led us up the garden In August in a qualification competi-
What needed to be done, therefore, to ficials with corruption and sexual harass- prosecution. path. tion in South Africa, the Gems secured
save the integrity of a nation that used to ment of female match officials — is not In the meanwhile, Fifa continues to their second straight World Cup appear-
be well respected in this sport? moved an inch by the ban. recognise the Kamambo leadership, de- News quickly spread how the ZRU ance following their maiden tournament
At the rate things were going, even a In the meanwhile, the adamant Sports spite an interim Zifa board having long had clashed with some top-class players in Liverpool, England, in 2019.
change of coaches, even if it means replac- Commission, which is a government-ap- been put in place. who had pledged to play, but were not
ing the no-hoper Lalchand Rajput, did pointed regulatory body, says it will pour At this point, Zimbabwean football is offered half what the union had pledged. The feat came in the same year that
not seem like the magic wand in the bag. all efforts into “reforming” Zimbabwean well and truly in limbo regarding the fu- their captain, Felisitus Kwangwa, won
But, as it turned out, it was. football during the suspension. ture. The SRC, meanwhile, believes it has The Sables are one hell of a team, a two awards at UK top-flight club Surrey
As Afghanistan romped to a series How the SRC intends to do that, in it all figured out. good bunch of players who love what they Storm — the Coaches’ Players of the Year
whitewash in the last match, news filtered the absence of Fifa funds which are frozen The jury is out whether they do or not. do and cherish every moment they run and the Fans’ Player of the Season.
in that legendary ex-Zimbabwe batter whilst under suspension, remains a source With the footballers prevented from onto the park to represent their country.
Dave Houghton has been appointed to of mystery for now given the Zimbabwe- playing for their country due to board- But it was clear Zimbabwe did not have Staying with the ladies, another cause
take over from the Indian Rajput. an government’s shut-wallet attitude to- room politics, and the cricketers surpris- the right mix we had been promised to for cheer was the boxer Kudakwashe
Suddenly, the T20 World Cup dream, wards sport. ing us all with their quick turnaround, finally knock mighty Namibia off their Chiwandire, appropriately nicknamed
which was certainly never going to come To lift Zimbabwe’s ban, Fifa has de- there was also one team we pinned our perch for a place in the World Cup. “Take Money”. The fighter from Harare
true under Rajput, was alive. manded the reinstatement of the sacked hopes to provide the headlines this year in March defended her World Boxing
The Houghton impact was immediate Zifa board led by Felton Kamambo, an — for the right reasons of course. Zimbabwe huffed and puffed to beat Council bantamweight interim title after
as Zimbabwe won all five games of the Ivory Coast in a quarter-final tie of the defeating Mexican challenger Zulina Mu-
qualification tournament in Bulawayo qualifiers, but were well beaten by the Na- noz in the Zimbabwean capital in Octo-
in July, including the final against Neth- mibians in the semi-finals, as the Welwits- ber.
erlands, to qualify for the World Cup in chias went on the defeat Kenya in the final
Australia in October and November. to clinch their seventh consecutive World A feat worth mentioning, in an other-
With Brendan Taylor retiring amidst wise quiet year for sport in the country.
the wreckage of his bookmaker scandal,
and subsequent three-and-a-half-year ban
by the ICC in January, Sikandar Raza
filled in effortlessly as the new kingpin of
the Zimbabwe side.
The Pakistan-born batting all-rounder
took his majestic form beyond the qual-
ifiers, inspiring Zimbabwe to a 2-1 series
wins in both short versions against touring
Bangladesh.
India came in August and clean-
sweeped the ODI series 3-0, although
Zimbabwe’s gusty resistance and per-
formance was another sign of the Chev-
rons showing their real potential under
Houghton.
Weeks later, the Zimbabweans were in
Australia, losing the ODI contest 2-1, but
recording the African side’s historic first
win on Australian soil, in the final match.
By the time of the T20 World Cup, the
team’s tails were up, and the fans’ hopes
high – something unimaginable only four
month earlier when all the unwanted
records were tumbling as Zimbabwean
cricket hit new lows.
The Super 12 stage of the World Cup
was the target, which was achieved with
wins over Ireland and Scotland as well as
defeat to West Indies, which never should
have.
A stunning last-over win over Pakistan
was the Super 12 highlight for Zimbabwe,
who at one stage had the very realistic goal
of the World Cup semi-finals.
A fairly satisfactory year, made better
by Raza’s heroics in becoming the first
Zimbabwe international to win the ICC
Player of the Month award.
For that award in August, Raza hit two
splendid unbeaten centuries (135 not out
and 117 not out) during the 2-1 series vic-
Sports SRC pushes The collective
shame of Africa
for action after and the football
Zifa damning World Cup
exposéThursday 1 October 2020
Friday 23 December 2022 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com
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disappointment to the Chevrons’StoryonPage 3
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oCuhtamtoisKahruepaecdramatic turnaround
Unofficial president calls for emerge
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The highs and lows of 2022