By Beatific Gumbwanda

Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHIRRA) is haunting Full Life Open Arms Africa Investments (FLOAAI) which they blocked from deducting money from civil servants who were supposed to get residential stands from Buffalo Range’s 750 hectares meant for Chiredzi town expansion.
In July 2024, CHIRRA sought a court order barring FLOAAI Director Pastor Nelson Godfrey Madanyaya from selling unserviced residential stands, which was granted by Masvingo High Court Judge Justice Zisengwe.
“The first respondent and all those acting through him should stop selling any stands on the 750 hectares Remainder of Buffalo Range, Chiredzi until after servicing of the stands and being issued with a compliance certificate by the second and third respondents,” read the order.
Chiredzi Town Council and Chiredzi Rural District Council were the second and third respondents in the application.
In response, FLOAAI, through its Facebook page, Buffalo Sweets Chiredzi assured stakeholders that they will stop selling stands until they have been issued with a compliance certificate.
“On the second of July 2024, the High Court sitting in Masvingo granted an order to stop selling of stands until compliance on the Remainder of Buffalo Range which is currently being developed to meet compliance requirements with Chiredzi councils.
“Full Life Open Arms Africa Housing Trust will comply with the High Court Order without fail. Please note that the High Court did not order any cancellation of existing arrangements,” read part of the statement.
Efforts to get a comment from Madanyaya were futile, as usual as it has become a habit that he does not answer calls from this reporter.
FLOAAI however continued to deduct money from civil servants salaries registered with them, which CHIRRA said was akin to them still selling the stands.
CHIRRA, through the Messenger of Court served FLOAAI with an urgent notice, urging them to cease the deduction of any money from promised home seekers.
“CHIRRA is reminding you and FLOAAI to abide by the Masvingo High Court Case Number HSMSVCAPP72/23 Judgment and order between CHIRRA and FLOAAI which was handed down on the 2nd of July 2024 by Justice Zisengwe J.
“Please stop the deduction from teachers’ salaries, who are paying for unserviced stands through stop order by SSB, and workers who are paying each month.
“FLOAAI is not allowed to sell stands at 750ha Remainder of Buffalo Range,” read part of the urgent notice.
FLOAAI had been selling unserviced residential stands at the cost of US$20.61 per m2 , with one supposed to deposit US$1500 and pay the balance in installments over a period of four years.
A non-refundable fee of US$50 was requested in order to open a file with FLOAAI.
The company did a feasibility study for the 750 hectares and to develop 350ha phase one and handed it over to Chiredzi Town and Rural District Councils.
FLOAAI Directors, Madanyaya and Dr Andrew Chigudu have a pending case of fraud for allegedly using 1 700 residential stands as collateral for a US$1.2 million loan they got from NMB bank which was intended to pay for the feasibility studies.
They are being accused of misleading both councils by presenting 1 700 residential stands as security in order to secure a loan from NMB Bank for the purposes of developing the Buffalo Range Project and allegedly diverted the funds for personal use.
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By Richard Mukwenya

In a classic case of serious incompetence and maladministration, Zaka Rural Disctrict Council (RDC) spent over US200 000 to procure a water drilling rig about five years ago, but the rig has never drilled even a single borehole since then despite the fact that the district is facing acute shortage of clean and safe water.
To make matters worse, Zaka district was hard hit by cholera last year with a number of villagers losing their lives because they were using contaminated water from rivers and unprotected wells. The councilors led by chairperson Fungai Maregedze revealed, in a leaked letter to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, which TellZim is in possession of that the local authority bought a drilling rig sometime in 2018 but did not sink even a single borehole since then.
The letter was signed by Maregedze dated June 7, and was a follow up to another letter written on May 20 where the councilors were seeking the minister to intervene following an impasse between the management and the councilors.
Contacted for comment, Zaka RDC Chief Executive Officer David Majaura gave a different version and said procurement of the rig started in 2021 not 2019 as been alleged and said they drilled five boreholes with it.
“The procurement started in 2021 and it took time to be delivered. It was said to be at a port in South Africa and was finally delivered in 2023 end of year.
“On testing, it was noted that it had parts vandalised while at the port, so the supplier took it for fixing. We were handed over the rig back in February this year and we have since drilled five boreholes. One is in Jerera, one in Charuka, another one at Charingeno Secondary and two at Charingeno Primary School,” said Majaura.
However, the council chairperson claimed in the letter that each time the councilors sought the CEO and his management to account thats when they claimed the councilors were interfering with their work.
Chairperson Maregere said council bought a water drilling rig in 2018/2019 but has never used it.
“The council bought a rig in 2018/19 and paid over or around US$200 000 but never drilled a single borehole up to today as they cite problems with the rig. When we tried to get clarification on that the CEO then wrote to you saying we are interfering yet we are playing our oversight role.
“Is this interference Honourabe Minister? How do we achieve our call to action if Government invests in equipment and we take five years with a non-functional rig listening to stories and fearing to be labeled interfering? Who is supposed to ask the management why it’s not functioning from the day of purchase to five years then…,” reads part of the letter to the minister.
Maregedze also raisedcorruption suspicions in the manner council properties such as halls were being leased but the management could not account for the rentals being paid.
“We have Gain Wholesale renting our community hall. The resolution is that council was to improve the vendor market and since 2019 Gain was paying US$ 2000 per month but there is nothing to show for it. If you ask it’s labeled. Why are we in council Honourable Minister if we are not allowed to understand this serious mismanagement of resources,” questioned Maregedze in the letter.
“We have a worst budget performance of 11 percent in June. What miracles are we going to perform Honourable Minister if we are at 11 percent while 2024 is at 50 percent going to December? When the finance committee requests for strategies to cover the gap it’s called usurping powers and interference and our good CEO secretly writes letters to you without copying me on the same issues which I copied him which clearly shows he is getting sympathy somewhere,” Maregedze further alleged in the letter.
Minister Daniel Garwe has since dispatched a five member team to investigate a number of issues at Zaka RDC.

By Perpetua Murungweni

Masvingo City Council has failed to deliver on its promises to decommission the Runyararo West dumpsite and move to the new Cambria Farm Landfill despite the health and environmental risks that the old dumpsite is posing to residents who live close to the dumpsite.
Residents in Runyararo West and Victoria Ranch might have to endure another three or four months of air pollution as the local authority is still unsure of when the dumpsite will be decommissioned, citing lack of funding to procure equipment for the new dumpsite.

Residents raised concern over the dumpsite in an engagement meeting between residents and councillors organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) recently.
Masvingo City Mayor Alec Tabe told TellZim News that plans to improve the new dumpsite and relocate were underway and they were expecting to start using the landfill by the end of this year.
“Council has already completed the drafting of a decommissioning plan, a document that elaborates on the current situation of the Runyararo West dumpsite and relocation to the new landfill is earmarked for any month in the fourth quarter.
“The relocation is necessary because we have heard the plea of residents in Runyararo West and Victoria Ranch who have undergone immense suffering due to uncontrolled fires that occur at the dumpsite.
“Council is working frantically to move to the landfill as soon as possible. The plans are that we will be using the sanitary landfill by latest end of December 2024,” said Tabe.
Tabe said council was waiting for funding to complete the project and had since applied for borrowing powers from the Ministry.
“The landfill has been completed and related structural works have been completed, the major outstanding items include the sanitary landfill compactor. Council has not yet secured funding from Steward Bank to facilitate procurement of the landfill compactor; financing of the landfill shall be through a local bank.
“Council has also applied for borrowing powers from the Ministry and we are waiting for the borrowing certificate,” said Tabe.
According to a recent ZHRC report, council was violating environmental human rights and the right to administrative justice, years after the old dumpsite became cause for concern.
In the ZHRC report, Masvingo City Council Public Relations Officer Ashley Jinjika highlighted that council was still using Runyararo dumpsite because the construction process of the new landfill was hindered by lack of funding.
“The first cell of the landfill was completed and was supposed to be commissioned in February last year. However the whole construction process was hindered by lack of funding hence council was still using the Runyararo West dumpsite awaiting the construction of the landfill to be finalized,” Jinjika was quoted in the report.
Masvingo City Council secured 10 hectares of land on Cambria Farm which is on the western outskirts of the city for the establishment of the new landfill in 2019 and was set to move there by the end of October the same year.
In October 2022, Acting City Engineer Kudzaishe Mbetu, said council was only left with construction of the site offices which was already underway. He was quoted saying council was going to start using the landfill at the end of the same month, adding that three boreholes had been drilled but only the control borehole had been equipped.
Masvingo City Council in June 2023 invited Vice President Kembo Mohadi to officially open the landfill despite it not being functional until now.
A research conducted by this publication indicated that Masvingo City has approximately 16 655 housing units that pay monthly rates. From the 16 655 housing units Masvingo City Council charges US $8.72 for refuse collection per housing unit per month and is getting about US $ 145 231.00 every month which translates to about US$1 742 779.2 million.
This year’s refuse collection tariffs increased with 50 cents from US $ 8.25 last year to US $ 8.75 this year, all this in light of council’s failure to complete the landfill project due to lack of funding.

By Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Gonarezhou National Park has been hit by anthrax disease which is killing wildlife, especially buffaloes.
The Park is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) together with Limpopo and Kruger National Parks in Mozambique and South Africa respectively.
Gonarezhou National Park Senior Area Manager Lloyd Nzombane told TellZim News that they had employed several methods to contain the spread of anthrax in the park as well as surrounding communities.
“At this stage, the focus of our efforts is on containment of the outbreak to limit any potential spread of the disease to other wildlife, domestic animals and humans.
“All animal carcasses found in the area are being destroyed upon discovery using a combination of either burying or burning. We are flying aerial transects daily to assist with early detection of carcasses, ten two-man (10×2 men) patrol teams are reacting to aerial reports and five vehicle mobile ground teams follow up and dispose of carcasses.
“Responsible authorities such as the veterinary division and the Ministry of Health were informed and all traffic driving through the affected area is going through a decontamination process at all exit points,” said Nzombane.
Government has responded by vaccinating livestock from the surrounding communities in order to contain the spread of the disease.
Chiredzi District Veterinary Officer, Doctor Kudakwashe Makwangudze said they received vaccines for cattle from diptanks around the National Park.
“We are vaccinating cattle from diptanks around the game park. We have 31 800 doses,” said Makwangudze.
Communities surrounding Gonarezhou National Park usually drive their livestock in the national park for grazing during drought and this increases the chances of them getting the deadly diseases.
Recently, government finished constructing the 192-kilometre Gonarezhou Veterinary Game Cordon fence in an effort to combat the spread of foot and mouth disease in the cattle-rich southern and eastern parts of Chiredzi.
Anthrax, which mainly affects livestock and wild game while humans can also be infected, is caused by a spore-forming bacterium, Bacicillus anthracis. These spores are formed by anthrax bacteria that occur naturally in soil in most parts of the world that can remain dormant for years until they find their way into a host.

By Virginia Njovo

Chiredzi is poised to welcome its third sugar mill, a move that is expected to boost output, stimulate competition in the local sugar industry as well as end monopoly by Tongaat Hulett.
Sugar cane farmers in the Lowveld were forced to deliver their cane to Tongaat Hulett mills allowing the company to determine price fixing among other things, which government has responded to by establishing another mill to give growers an option.
This was revealed by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira during Masvingo Business Expo held at Urban Lifestyles Hotel in Masvingo recently.
“Government has noticed the manipulation of Chiredzi Farmers by Tongaat Hulett since it is the only company in Zimbabwe which has processing mills, and has decided to decentralize power in the sugar industry,” said Chadzamira.
He also added that the government was doing inquiries and sourcing for investors who might want to come and invest in Chiredzi, with several investors already showing interest.
“The new mill aims to provide farmers with more choices and curb Tongaat’s monopoly in Chiredzi. We have called for investors willing to invest in that area and several of them have already shown interest so we hope that the work will begin soon,” added Chadzamira.
One Chiredzi sugarcane farmer Maria Kujinga said she welcomed the government’s intervention, saying it will diversify choices for farmers and minimize monopoly in the industry.
“If government sets up the mill in Chiredzi, farmers will have a choice and that means we will get better services,” said Kujinga.
Former Chiredzi South MP who is also a farmer Kalisto Gwanetsa, welcomed the development and said government involvement in sugarcane production was overdue.
“Government should intervene in the cane farming the way it does to other crops like maize and wheat,” said Gwanetsa.
Another farmer David Jani Masomere told TellZim News that it was the best idea that government will establish a mill as there was a lot of sabotage and delays by Tongaat Hulett.
“The idea of the third mill is the best since farmers are waiting in long queues for milling which causes the depreciation of value of sugar cane. As far as we know, Tongaat is also a farmer and they prioritize their cane first,” said Masomere.
Masomere also said the country will benefit from the products, not only sugar but molasses as well as ethanol.
“If the government can establish the third mill it will benefit farmers as well as the nation at large since all the end products like molasses and ethanol will be held by government,” added Masomere.
Over 1 200 indigenous commercial sugar cane farmers in the Lowveld are waiting for two mills at Hippo Valley and Triangle which are not adequate for them since farmers will be spending several days waiting for milling, which compromises the sugar cane’s quality.
Tongaat runs the country’s only two sugar mills at Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates, having a combined annual milling capacity of 600 000 tonnes.

By Tatiana Mhararira

In a sad development, a Grade 7 pupil failed to get medical attention and died four days later from the burns after the dress she was wearing caught fire while cooking.
Chief Chitsa, born Nyika Chibvongodze, confirmed the death of Rachel Masango whom she said died four days later after the incident as she failed to get medical attention on time.
“I confirm the death of Rachel Masango who succumbed to severe burns after the dress she was wearing caught fire while cooking. Masango died at her parents’ home four days later as no one sought medical treatment for her,” said Chief Chitsa.
Chief Chitsa bemoaned the death of the young girl and said he had since summoned the deceased’s parents over the matter.
“Masango’s parents committed a crime of infringing her right to life as they indirectly contributed to her death by failing to seek medical assistance for the child. We are going to question them and clarify to them the child’s rights they abused before handing them over to Bhasera Police Station,” said Chief Chitsa.
“We are seeking help from organisations that cater for children’s rights to help us in raising awareness especially among the apostolic church sects,” he added.
Circumstances are that Masango’s dress caught fire as she was cooking and she failed to dowse off the fire. She screamed for help from her siblings but they allegedly ignored her thinking that she was joking.
After some time, the siblings later noticed that her dress had indeed caught fire and they rushed to assist. Unfortunately, they failed prompting them to scream for help from the elders who later rushed to assist. However, the elders came a little bit too late when Masango’s dress was completely burnt.
The parents did not rush her to clinic for medical treatment, rather they kept her home using traditional remedies to heal the wounds. She then succumbed to the burns after four days.

By Tatiana Mhararira

The first African Indigenous Church (AIC) bible college, that was formalized earlier this year, held its first graduation at the church’s headquarters at Mandadzaka in Bikita where about 80 students graduated.
Speaking to TellZim News, Zion Christian Bible college founder and leader of one of the many Zion Christian Church (ZCC) denominations, Dr Bishop Mutendi Mutendi said classes started earlier this year with more than 100 students but other dropped along the way due to various reasons.
The guest of honor at the graduation ceremony was Reverend Oria Mawewe, son to the late ZCC Judea Bishop Dr Ofiro Mawewe.
Dr Mutendi said he was inspired by his late father Reuben to formalize education within the church and decided to partner South Africa’s Reformer Theological Seminary to develop a model for the AICs in Zimbabwe.
“I was inspired by my late father Bishop Reuben Mutendi who was son to Samuel Mutendi to allow the formal education of the Bible. My father always told me that l want you to learn and uplift God’s work and the church.
“We started the college this year to formalize Bible education. We offer a certificate in Biblical Studies and Ministry. We have online lessons and physical lessons during the block release sessions,” said Dr Mutendi.
Dr Mutendi said the program started at congregation level in 2013 where church leaders did bible studies but it was not formal.
“In 2013 we started with a Bible study which was a more organized way of studying the Bible which was being done in all the congregations. After obtaining my Master’s degree in Theology, we improved the structure of Bible Study finding ways of having a curriculum,” said Dr Mutendi.
He said the college was open to everyone especially those in AIC churches whose doctrine is almost the same saying the church values and doctrines differed from Pentecostal and mainline churches hence it was difficult for them to enroll.
“The courses at the college are meant for everyone from any church without institutions to equip them with Biblical skills including groups such as apostolic sects that read the Bible,” said Dr Mutendi
Some of the modules that students studied at AIC College include discipleship evangelism and missions, trustworthy faith which is systematic theology that teaches the nature of God, listening and encouraging that is responsible for counselling and Homiletics which is Bible interpretation.
Dr Mutendi said the next intake of the college will introduce practical subjects at the college saying the certificate course was one year long for part-time students but for fulltime students it is six months long.
“Our next intake will introduce practical subjects such as agriculture, building, carpentry and dressmaking. These will work as options that an individual will take so as to have skills that will empower themselves afterwards,” said Dr Mutendi.
Dr Mutendi said bible education level was low in AICs and that often led to unnecessary divisions and splits in the churches hence there was need to equip pastors, who were mostly appointed not on qualification, with theological education.