By Meditation Mposi

Munyikwa Primary and High Schools in Gutu district’s old students have united to fundraise for the renovation of the schools that were affected by the recent rains that left a trail of destruction in several school and other institutions in the southern region of the country.
Speaking to TellZim News, former learner and Vanobva KwaMunyikwa Development Trust (VAMDET) Administrator Tryphine Panashe Jazi said Munyikwa Primary School Old Students Association together with the trust were pooling funds for renovation of the school.
“Munyikwa Primary School was affected by wind and rain two weeks ago. As VAMDET we are trying to source resources to renovate the school. The school’s old Students Association created a WhatsApp group where former learners are mobilizing funds for the renovation of the school.
“Every member is expected to pay US$10 or any amount affordable for the progress of the renovations. However, currently the majority have not yet contributed therefore we are waiting for month end for people to contribute more,” said Jazi.
She said the target was US$1000 which she said from the quotations made was enough and said their organisation was yet to get funds and were currently relying on the old students’ contributions.
“At least if we mobilize US$1000 will be enough to meet the quotations then we would also want to put long term measures since the infrastructure is now old and prone to damages by wind and rains.
“As VAMDET there is nothing yet on the table but we are still sourcing funds, but Munyikwa Old School Association is currently leading,” said Jazi.
Another Munyikwa Primary former learner Talent Maisokwadzo said they were now 221 members aiming to raise US$2 210 by December.
“As Munyikwa Primary former learners we have managed to raise US$341 and we are targeting to reach US$2 210 by December.
“So far we are 221 members and we are encouraging others who want to contribute to feel free to join in this project,” said Maisokwadzo.
Another former learner Watson Chatiza said VAMDET spearheaded the project to mobilize resources for the renovation.
“We are trying to mobilise resources for this mishap. As VAMDET we regrouped the former students and created a platform towards the contributions,” said Chatiza.

By Beatific Gumbwanda

Chiredzi Rural District Council (CRDC) recently presented its ZWG$235 million 2025 budget premised mainly on infrastructural development across the district.
This includes the establishment and maintenance of road networks, construction of shopping malls, erection of solar powered boreholes as well as servicing and development of 1 000 stands on the remainder of Buffalo Range among others.
Through its 2025 budgetary projections, CRDC has exhibited it’s potential to take over and develop 400 hectares, which is part of the 750 hectares on the remainder of Buffalo Range which they jointly own with Chiredzi Town Council (CTC), where Full Life Open Arms Investment (FLOAI) Private Limited was developing and servicing 350 hectares.
Presenting the 2025 budget in a full council meeting recently, CRDC Finance Committee Chairperson, Waini Marufu indicated that through the local authority’s vision, ‘to grow the District’s GDP by 5percent by the year 2025′, the budget was programme based, devolving on indigenous resources running under 2024’s positive economic trajectory budget theme (Resilience for sustainable economic transformation).
“We shall efficiently and effectively utilise our geographical resource as our budget is programme based devolving on indigenous resources,” said Marufu.
The key operational budget activities highlighted the local authority’s focus which is premised on infrastructural development in commerce, housing, education, health, road networking as well as water and sanitation in communities.
“The 2025 Financial Year focus will be skewed towards the following key operational activities:- Finding investors and partners in the construction of commercial shopping malls, Finding development partners/borrowings to service and develop 1 000 stands for the remainder of Buffalo Range, to develop by-laws to enforce licensing, Public Health, Property Management, Building by-laws, Domestic Animals and undeveloped stands within the district,” Marufu said.
He said the budget seeks to maintain 700 kilometres of council gravel road and open 20 kilometres of new roads in resettlement areas and communal areas, to construct two secondary schools’ science laboratories and also complete the construction of eight health care centers.
He also highlighted that NGOs were to drill and install two solar powered community piped water systems and council to equip fifty solar powered community water systems.
The budget will be ZWG$234 012 011.70 with ZWG$130 735 511.70 being their own revenue and ZWG$103 276 500.00 being government fiscal transfers.
“Council is going to spend some ZWG$160 669 091.10 in water and sanitation, education, health, road construction and rehabilitation, electricity, agriculture and also in the construction of council administration offices.
“Transfers from central government will find most of the capital projects complemented with councils domestic funding,” said Marufu.

…urgent need for training, reorientation

By Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has rendered the whole of Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) clueless following an investigation conducted by the ministry at the local authority.
A crippling knowledge gap among district leaders was identified as the major obstacle to development, with the ministry recommending urgent training and reorientation for councilors, management, chiefs, and the District Development Coordinator (DDC), as they lack understanding of their roles.
Ministry of Local Government and Public Works deputy director of development Cephas Mudavanhu revealed this at a full council meeting at the local authority while presenting findings of investigations carried out by the team from the ministry.
Embattled Zaka RDC Council Chairperson Fungai Maregedze had earlier written to the ministry accusing council management of being a stumbling block to development in the district, which prompted the investigations.
Speaking during the meeting Mudavanhu said the councilors and management needed to be capacitated so that they know their respective responsibilities.
He said training of committee chairpersons was a matter of urgency as they were supposed to be capacitated so that they know their mandate.
“There is need for training of all committee chairpersons immediately to catch up with the task of their duties as chairpersons. You were not born chairpersons, you were elected councilors but to be chairpersons you need training because you were breaking laws in committee meetings, so you need to be trained.
“There are resolutions that you made that broke the law and we asked the minister to rescind them especially when you arbitrarily reduced transport and housing allowances for management; go and address that,” said Mudavanhu.
He went on to say the traditional leaders also needed to be oriented on what their roles in council business are, especially when they attend full council meetings. Council management was also berated for its shortfalls in record keeping and writing and distribution of meeting minutes.
“Chiefs need to be trained so that they know their roles when they come to council meetings. Management needs to be capacitated especially on recording and keeping minutes. They are delaying in sending minutes and at times they would only send them a day before the next meeting,” said Mudavanhu.
He further said there was need for a nationwide training for DDCs, adding that in Zaka there was no trio-meeting between the council chair, Chief Executive Officer and the DDC.
“The ministry should contact refresher courses for DDCs across the board looking at issues of call-to-action and service delivery.
“There were no trio meetings where the CEO, DDC and council chair meet. Those three should regularly meet to discuss the running of the district. The DDC speaking on government position, chair on council business and council CEO on implementation,” said Mudavanhu.
“We looked at issues of call-to-action and service delivery and realize that you must drill more boreholes here. We saw you have challenges with your rig, but you have to do more, that is what is meant by call-to-action.
“Zaka RDC has 44 councilors but we discovered that the local authority has only two vehicles. With your number, you have only two cars. Something needs to be done,” he said.
The full council meeting had initially been scheduled for October 28 but was postponed after Council Chair Maregedze wrote a letter through her lawyers arguing that only she had the power to call for a meeting despite her being on bail.
Maregedze was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on several charges including abuse of power.
Council vice chairperson Svinurai Dawn Chivore however convened another meeting held on Thursday November 7 despite efforts by Maregedze to stop the meeting.
Maregedze boycotted the meeting allegedly without explanation and Chivore chaired the meeting and was instructed by Ministry officials to make sure that their recommendations were met.
The majority of local authorities in the country have been found wanting by the Office of the Auditor General, with many lacking basic policies, systems and procedures for the proper running of the entities.

By Rangarirai Shanyurai

People in Ward 4 Mudadisi area of Chivi North are appealing for assistance to repair Tsiru Dam wall which collapsed in 1998 as effects of drought bite.
Tsiri Dam is situated along Tsiri River which runs from Jenya Mountains through Mudadisi area on its way to the Runde River.
The dam is close and used to service Tsiri dip tank, a source of water for cattle and gardening to Mashawi, parts of Chitowa, Madokugwa and Tagwireyi villages.
Speaking to TellZim News, a local elder Genesia Rubaya said the dam wall collapsed long back can no longer hold water forcing cattle to travel for around 10 kilometres in search of water.
“The dam wall collapsed in 2000 during Cyclone Eline, one of the most deadly cyclones to ever reach Zimbabwe, leaving the community in a sorry situation.
“Elderly people some with terminal illnesses are forced to endure the scotching sun for about 10km driving their animals to Nyarutedzi River,” she said.
The dam project coordinator Ezekiel Takawira said the dam used to benefit a very big community and they tried reconstructing at some point but failed.
“The dam was constructed before Independence with the purpose of supplying water to surrounding communities, for watering cattle, dipping, gardening, fishing among other uses. The river is no longer perennial, often drying as soon as the rainfall season ends but the dam used to serve the community throughout the year.
“During its time in the early 90s people used to come as far as Mashava and Zvishavane buy vegetables and green mealies. The community used to pay their children’s school fees from the garden produce,” said Takawira.
“The local community at some point contributed and bought cement to rehabilitate the dam but failed due to lack of technical expertise and other resources. We are now humbly asking the assistance and we are ready to provide labour and other local resources,” said Takawira.
Ward 4 Chivi North Councillor Elfas Runoinda emphasized the need for the dam wall construction saying as villagers were suffering.
“We lost hundreds of cattle in our area over the years due to shortage of water as 13 villages historically depended on the dam water to support their farming activities with 400 people and animals now relying on a borehole for water which runs dry in some seasons,” said Runoinda.

By Rangarirai Shanyurai

Sinomine owned Bikita Minerals Company recently commissioned its US$1 million state-of-the art clinic, a development that is meant to improve health care for the mining community and the province at large.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on November 19, Bikita Minerals managing director, Xuedong Gong said the company decided to invest in healthcare as demand for it had increased with an expanded workforce.
“The number of employees at the mine was 250 and that number has increased to 1 081employees this year, if we add the members of our contractors, it can go up to 2 500 people. We realized our clinic was no longer able to meet our health and wellness needs, so we invested over US$1 million in the construction and refurbishment of the clinic.
“The mine has been investing in various environmental and social governance issues in the community that include education, facilitation of water borehole drilling, health initiatives, road power generation and empowerment through chief community funds. As a company we believe the well-being of the community we serve is important as they are the backbone of the work we do every day,” said Gong.
Gong also spoke about the company’s future plans involving a multi-million dollar smelting plant for value addition.
“Being the largest regional mining company, we have been experiencing challenges that include deprived region prices on the international market, which has made it difficult for the company to carry out some projects we intended to undertake. However, the company is committed to setting up a US$400 million smelting plant over the next four years
“The smelting plant will further add value to our region from the current manifestation process. We have already submitted our proposal for the smelter to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and we are working on the feasibility studies of the plant and continue to work towards achieving our target,” said Gong.
Speaking at the same event, Chief Marozva said he was happy because the clinic would benefit the community and the initiators of this clinic.
“We really appreciate that the clinic is going to serve its employees and members of the community. We used to travel to Silveira Mission or Masvingo General Hospital for medical attention but with this facility we are now accessing improved healthcare. A healthy workforce is essential for achieving 100 percent production,” said Marozva.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Ezra Chadzamira said Bikita Minerals clinic will operate as private urban clinic aligning with national development goals.
“I am informed that the clinic will offer services just like those offered in private clinics in urban areas, thus contributing immensely to the achievement of Knowledge Based Prosperous and Empowered Upper-Middle Income Society by 2030.
“I urge all development partners, business communities and private sector companies to continue with this same trajectory that has been taken by Bikita Minerals until the vision envisaged by our President is realized.
“The newly constructed clinic has a casualty, observation, dressing and doctors’ rooms. The facility has male, female and labour wards. The coming on board of this clinic in Bikita District is an addition to the 28 health care centres that are in the District,” said Chadzamira.
He mentioned that the Health Centre benefited local communities, supported by government initiatives to enhance primary healthcare access. In addition, Bikita Minerals engaged in health sector activities, providing clinic materials and assisting Cyclone Idai victims.
“We believe this health care centre will go a long way in assisting our communities here in Bikita, Gutu and part of Zaka. The Government, through the national budget, has targeted interventions aimed at providing primary health care through the construction and rehabilitation of 50 clinics this year targeting the underserviced areas, the Government will also ensure that the referral system is reinvigorated to decongest the next level of health care.
“Apart from this clinic, Bikita Minerals has been involved in a lot of activities in the health sector, they provided building materials for clinics and assisted victims of Cyclone Idai under the Civil Protection Unit.
“Every quarter the company offers free medical check-up for communities and employees with the Chinese doctors. In October, the company offered free breast cancer screening for women in the mine and surrounding communities.
“The country is committed to the provision of standard health care and quality of life for its citizens, specifically targeting health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care,” said Chadzamira.

By Virginia Njovo

Despite the completion of Mutirikwi Hydro -Power Plant which commenced power generation recently, awaiting official opening, Masvingo is still facing long hours of loadshedding.
Masvingo is currently facing around 16 hours of load shedding and only gets power between 10 pm and 5 a.m despite government promises that the hydropower plant generating 5MW which are fed into the national grid will ease the province’s power problems.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa told TellZim News that as generation commenced they were going to speak to ZESA officials so that Masvingo benefits more from the project.
“The plant has now started generating the 5 MW which is almost quarter of what Masvingo needs and the generated power is fed into the national grid so we will talk with ZESA that Masvingo must benefit more from this plant so as to improve the power situation in the province,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
Dr Pazvakavambwa added that there is also a 15 MW plant to be established at Tugwi-Mukosi which is in Chivi.
“Work has already started at Tugwi Mukosi where a 15 MW power plant is to be established, and we have a vision of establishing more power plants in Masvingo as we hold much capacity of water and by then woes to power shortages will become a dream in the province,” he said.
From the statement which was released by the Executive Director of Great Zimbabwe Hydropower Plant Memory Mashingaidze on November 12, said that the operations at the power station commenced after two complete years.
“The much anticipated Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Plant, located at the heart of Masvingo has officially commenced operations, marking a significant milestone in Zimbabwean’s efforts to bolster its renewable energy sector and address growing electricity demands,” said Mashingaidze.
She said the power plant was going to play a pivotal role in enhancing Zimbabwean’s energy security as well as driving sustainable development.
“The project is the first of its own kind in Zimbabwe to be built adjacent to an existing Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) dam, blending modern hydroelectric technology with an established water infrastructure which leads the plant to play a critical role in enhancing the country’s energy security and driving sustainable development,” reads the statement.
She thanked stakeholders whom they were working with from the commencement of the project until completion.
“I am delighted to see Great Zimbabwe Hydropower Project commissioned and begin contributing to Zimbabwe’s electricity generation. I thank our stakeholders, contractors, advisors, project managers, and all those who have supported this project both directly and indirectly over the last couple of years in constructing this landmark project,” said Mashingaidze.