By Staff ReporterMASVINGO – A proposed amendment to Statutory Instrument 330 of 2000, which seeks to prohibit medical aid societies from owning clinics, pharmacies or hospitals, has divided opinion among health sector stakeholders, with some welcoming the move while others warn it would hurt ordinary patients.The amendment, put forward by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, aims to stop medical aid societies from venturing into healthcare service provision, ensuring they focus solely on their core business of pooling resources and purchasing services on behalf of members.Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director Itai Rusike said the proposal was justified, arguing that medical aid societies cannot be both fund managers and care providers because it becomes difficult for them to concentrate on their core business.“They cannot be fund managers and care providers because it will be difficult for them to focus on their core business of pooling resources and purchasing services on behalf of their clients. While the idea was meant to minimize care, that has since been abused,” said Rusike.He pointed out that some providers connive, for example, doctors refusing to allow diagnostic tests to be done by any laboratory other than one they favour.Rusike also said small medical aid providers had lost business, and the trickle of patients that come their way mostly uninsured or underinsured were charged exorbitant fees to compensate for low numbers.“Health care is not an ordinary good such as bread or drinks where one can make a choice of either to consume or not. Sickness always comes unexpectedly and when sick, people have no freedom or luxury to make choices. This desperation is then taken advantage of by providers of care. Maybe what this is all pointing to is the need for a well-defined and well-crafted National Health Insurance Scheme,” he said.A local doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity agreed with Rusike, likening the current situation to a football league regulator owning its own team.“The current situation is not proper because there are no checks and balances. If you are the one providing insurance, you are saying you are covering the medical risk. You cannot be a service provider; you have to strictly be a funder. If you provide that service, who will guarantee value? Who will determine quality?” the doctor asked.The Doctor argued that insurers should not open clinics but instead focus on quality checking to ensure members receive what they deserve.“It is daylight robbery to beneficiaries. If we don’t address this, everyone will start venturing into medical aid societies, then they will want to establish hospitals and start giving substandard services, and patients will suffer,” said the Doctor.However, a medical aid holder who also refused to be named said ordinary policyholders would suffer from the change. Saying it would become more difficult to access services, forcing patients to pay cash on top of their medical aid contributions.“The reason these clinics and pharmacies were created is that ordinary aid holders were failing to get services from private medical practitioners. You would be told the medical aid was not working there, so they needed cash because medical aids were delaying payments to service providers. Some would even require unnecessary top-ups,” he said.He urged the government to address unstable pricing in the health sector than imposing a ban.“Pricing is not stable. Everyone charges what they want depending on the desperation of the patient. Issues of health are a matter of life and death, so you have no choice but to pay.“Exchange rate issues also need to be addressed. You go to a practitioner, they charge in US dollars; if you ask for the charge in local currency, the price triples even surpassing black market rates,” he said.He added that contributions were already high especially those paying in local currency saying the rates surpassed balckmarket rates by far.“I pay ZiG7,000 (close to US$300) for myself and my three children not even for the best medical aid. That is what the government should be reigning in.”Batanai HIV and Aids Service Organisation (BHASO) Director Farai P. Mahaso suggested an alternative approach than imposing a ban.“Instead of banning medical aid societies from owning healthcare facilities, adopt conflict-of-interest safeguards such as transparent pricing and independent audits, while strengthening solvency rules and member protections. This balances regulatory clarity with affordable access,” said Mahaso.The Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) has backed calls for the establishment of a medical aid society’s regulatory authority to address challenges targeted by the proposed amendment. AHFoZ chief executive Shylet Sanyanga was recently quoted in the media saying an outright ban would be a setback.“When we look at the ban or prohibition of medical aid societies from going into healthcare services, that is, banning them from owning clinics and hospitals, we believe that would be a retrogressive position. It will take away the current option that medical aid members have. If a service provider rejects their medical aid card, they have at least the option of going to their medical aid society’s units. But if those units are forced to close, patients are left at the mercy of service providers who may not be willing to accept medical aid as a form of payment,” said Sanyanga.She noted that these facilities play an important role in the health sector by providing services and easing pressure on the country’s health delivery system.“If anything, those facilities are actually contributing to offering healthcare services, not only to medical aid societies’ members, but to any other patient seeking healthcare services,” she said.AHFoZ has also called for a transition to a risk-based capital model, a supervisory framework designed to strengthen financial oversight and sustainability within the sector. The proposed amendment seeks both the prohibition on service provision and the shift to this new capital model.
Minister Garwe fires warning shot at councils over abuse of cabinet travel authority
By Own Correspondent
HARARE – The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has issued a stern circular
to all mayors and council chairpersons across Zimbabwe, ordering an immediate halt to the
misuse of Cabinet Authority granted for external travel, benchmarking visits, conferences,
and official engagements.
The strongly worded circular, dated April 28, 2026, and signed by Minister Daniel Garwe,
warned that Cabinet Authority was being grossly abused by policymakers and officials who
treat sanctioned foreign travel as a personal privilege rather than a public duty.
“Cabinet Authority is granted solely for the purpose of representing the Republic of
Zimbabwe, your province and your local authority in pursuit of national interests, investment
promotion, service delivery partnerships and the advancement of the government’s
development agenda. It is not a privilege for personal aggrandisement,” reads part of the
circular.
He further expressed grave concern that some officials were using official trips primarily for
shopping sprees and tourism rather than business interaction.
“It has, however, been noted with great concern that some policymakers and officials treat
such authority as an opportunity for personal shopping expeditions and social engagements,
only becoming visible during official dinners and photo opportunities. Such conduct
undermines the government’s austerity measures, erodes public confidence in local
authorities, and brings the entire local government system into disrepute,” reads part of the
circular.
The circular’s timing is particularly pointed for residents of Chiredzi, where the town
council’s track record on external travel has already drawn sharp public scrutiny.
In June 2025, Chiredzi Central MP Ropafadzo Makumire raised alarm over the council’s
decision to fund a US$50,000 trip to the International Youth World Camp in Busan, South
Korea, despite the local authority’s welldocumented financial difficulties and months of
unpaid staff salaries. Residents say they never received feedback on what transpired at the
event or what opportunities were created for the betterment of Chiredzi. That controversy,
barely a year old, now appears to be precisely the kind of conduct the Minister’s circular is
targeting.
The directive orders that the practice of using Cabinet Authority for personal business and
leisure must come to an immediate end. It instructs that the circular’s contents be cascaded to
all councillors, town clerks, chief executive officers, and council officials.
Against this backdrop, the Ministry’s directive carries both administrative and moral weight.
The message is unambiguous: officials entrusted with public resources at a time when
citizens are demanding better services must demonstrate the highest levels of discipline,
accountability, and commitment to duty.
In practical terms, the circular tightens the conditions under which local authority leaders can
seek Cabinet Authority for foreign travel. Officials will now be expected to demonstrate a
direct, verifiable link between proposed travel and national interests, investment promotion,
or service delivery partnerships. They cannot treat such authority as an entitlement attached
Heavy Hailstorm Tear Roofs Off Homes in Two Shurugwi Villages
By Staff ReporterSHURUGWI – A violent hailstorm accompanied by strong winds swept through Chiriya and Mutandavari villages in the Mfri area of Shurugwi South on April 20, blowing roofs off several homes and leaving a trail of destruction.The storm struck around 4pm, catching residents off guard. In Chiriya Village, the hardest hit was the home of Edson Mpofu, whose seven-roomed house had its entire roof blown off. The home of 90-year-old Dzoki Mutwayo, popularly known as Mbuya Magidha, was also badly damaged, as was a five-roomed house belonging to Mudavanhu Chimunhu. Another resident, Shylet Ducha, also lost her roof.At Penny Dendere’s home, hailstones left a deep crack on one of the walls. Farai Ngariyako lost one roofing sheet, while Simbarashe Matsanzikeni saw his toilet structure collapse during the storm.In Mutandavari Village, a five-roomed house belonging to the Maturure family lost its roof, while Egina Mutandavaro and Sekai Mutandavari each lost two roofing sheets. The Chibahure homestead also lost two sheets.Ward 5 councillor Jeniffer Shumba confirmed the incident, saying the community was shocked by the misfortune.“We were caught off guard. The storm came with such force that within minutes, roofs were flying off. As a community, we managed to pool resources to assist those affected,” said Shumba.She added that Edson Mpofu, who lost seven sheets, managed to buy replacements and also helped the 90-year-old Mbuya Magidha with sheets to restore her roof. Local residents also chipped in with labour to assist the affected families.However, said noted two of the affected houses currently remain deserted because their owners are either in the diaspora or in other towns.“Tow homesteads were not repaired, the occupants are away, so those houses are still in a bad state. We hope they will be able to return and make repairs soon,” she said.No injuries were reported. Affected families are now working to restore their homes with the help of neighbours and local volunteers.
Chiredzi RDC Takes Over Rehabilitation of Key Rutenga-Boli-Sango Road
By Beatific GumbwandaCHIREDZI – Chiredzi Rural District Council has assumed responsibility for rehabilitating a badly damaged 20-kilometre stretch of the Rutenga-Boli-Sango road in the Makambe area, partnering with the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure Development, sister local authorities, and other stakeholders after years of unfulfilled promises.The Rutenga-Boli-Sango road is a major artery in Chiredzi South Constituency and serves as the shortest route connecting Zimbabwe to Maputo through the Sango Border Post. The road’s poor condition has severely affected trade, tourism, and the movement of goods and people, particularly during the rainy season when parts become impassable.The deterioration comes against a backdrop of long-standing unfulfilled government promises. In 2024, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development purported to have secured funding from the Development Bank of South Africa for the upgrade of Sango Border Post and the construction of the 149.9-kilometre Sango-Rutenga/Chiredzi Road. Two years later, nothing has materialized.In an interview with TellZim News, Chiredzi RDC Chairperson Aspect Mashingaidze said the council had stepped in to address the most critical section of the road.“We have taken over the Rutenga-Boli-Sango road rehabilitation in the Makambe area. This is a Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development road being attended to by CRDC as a partnership arrangement to improve accessibility and trafficability of a 20-kilometre stretch which had been badly damaged by the rains,” said Mashingaidze.He added that stakeholders rallied together to raise 2,200 litres of diesel to power the rehabilitation effort.“A total of 2,200 litres of fuel was raised by stakeholders, including support from the Ministry, Chiredzi Town Council, Koala Park Abattoirs, Wenjaile Logistics (Pvt) Ltd, myself, Mr Chidhakwa, and Mr Ngwenya. We sourced equipment from councils, a grader and TLB from CRDC and a tipper truck from Chiredzi Town Council,” he said.Mashingaidze expressed hope that the partnership model could be extended to cover more sections of the road network in the district.Chiredzi South is one of Zimbabwe’s most remote yet strategically significant constituencies. Its proximity to the Port of Maputo, one of the busiest ports in the region and its location within the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a major tourism destination, make good road infrastructure critical for economic development.Improved access would boost cross-border trade, tourism, and agricultural value chains, particularly for sugarcane, citrus, and livestock farmers who rely on efficient transport to markets.However, the constituency remains neglected. Its only link to the urban centre of Chiredzi the Chilonga Bridge requires an estimated US$75 million for proper construction. Reports indicate only ZiG30 million (approximately US$1.2 million at the bank rate) has been allocated, a figure barely scratching the surface of what is truly needed.The current rehabilitation of the Rutenga-Boli-Sango road, though limited to 20 kilometres, is seen by locals as a welcome stopgap measure.
Teacher scoops best pfumvudza farmer award
By Yvonne P ManganiGOKOMERE – While many civil servants rely solely on their monthly salaries, a 53-year-old teacher from Stanislaus Primary School chose a different path, scooping the top farmer award in Matova Village, Ward 3 under Chief Zimuto, after excelling in the Pfumvudza farming method.Esther Mwapenya was named the overall winner during a field day held on April 17, 2026, which drew more than 200 villagers from different wards, councillors, and village heads.The guest of honour was Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Masvingo Provincial Advisory and Rural Development Services Director Courage Mahoya.Mwapenya, who planted Panner 53 seeds using the Pfumvudza method on seven plots, said she is expecting at least seven tonnes of maize. She encouraged other women to take up farming and avoid laziness, emphasizing that women are the backbone of the community.“I planted Panner 53 seeds through Pfumvudza on seven plots, and I am expecting plus or minus seven tonnes. “That is why I want to encourage other farmers, especially women, to use the Pfumvudza method because it is costeffective in terms of manure and moisture conservation,” said Mwapenya.The Pfumvudza programme, which requires minimal space and is ideal for smallholder farmers, allowed her to produce food for her family while still fulfilling her teaching duties.For her prize, she received two 20kg bags of Valley Seeds maize seed, an oxdrawn plough, chemicals and other farming implements.On his part, Mahoya said they were expecting a bumper harvest from Pfumvudza compared to last season since there were more hactarage under pfumvudza compared to the previous season.Valley Seeds National Chief Agronomist Tinashe Bvukumbwe urged farmers to follow the advice of agricultural extension officers.“Farmers, I encourage you to consider climate change because it is here to stay. As farmers, we should stand together and fight against it. Do not buy seeds just anywhere; first get advice from farming assistants because seeds differ from type to type,” said Bvukumbwe.Chief Zimuto Gilson Makusha, applauded the Pfumvudza programme, saying it had greatly benefited the community.“Problems are now few because most villagers are practicing Pfumvudza, from the chief down to the least resident. When we attend functions, even at funerals, we encourage people to practice this so as to achieve our President’s Vision 2030,” he said.Villagers under Chief Zimuto expressed happiness with the Pfumvudza programme and said they were more than ready for the next rainy season to practice it again.
From childhood playground to gold rush battlefield
By Brighton ChisevaRENCO – When I was a young boy learning to herd cattle, Chebundi Mountain was our playground. The mountain cleaves Chiponda and Muvango villages, and for us, it was everything. Its summit is a flatland where we scraped together a football pitch, and its sloping sides were our adventure rails.On the other side of the mountain stood a famous rock called Svimborume, facing Chiponda Village. From an outcrop above it, we could see most of our village, Muzenda, Chitorido, Muchibwa, and the sprawling farmlands of Mushawasha.Back then, no one knew we were playing on top of gold. If we had known then, we could have used the energy we spent on playing to pan instead.The situation is oddly familiar. It reminds me of the diamond rush in Chiadzwa, where locals once used diamonds as pebbles in slings to kill birds or decorated their homes without knowing their value. Here, we played football on a mountain that held gold beneath our feet.Chebundi Mountain sits within Renco Mine’s claim. We grew up hearing theories that the gold there was too deep for open cast mining, which is why the mine operated underground. The mountain also houses the mine’s Atlas shaft, used to lower heavy machinery into the depths. Gold rushes did happen, but they were small and localised. People panned along the Tetenu and Nyamaunga rivers and in the Manguma mountain range that seperates Chiponda and Muzondo Villages. But that was subsistence, mainly a response to famine, not frenzy. Arrests were made by police, but the mine authorities never seemed bothered. A few local guys would scratch around Chebundi, but it was minimal.Today, that mountain, every path, every cave, every feature I once knew by heart has been turned upside down.The recent gold rush has drawn people from across Masvingo province and beyond. They dig and pack ore, a muddy mixture of rock and earth, then descend using the very cattle paths we once used to reach Chiponda village. There, they hide the sacks in contour ridges and other secluded spots before going back for more. Trucks are hired to collect the bags, charging US$3toUS3toUS$5 per sack. In the past, panners would sift gold in rivers using water. Now, the ore is trucked to the Gororo area in Chivi and other local mills, where grinding machines separate the gold.At some point, everyone became a panner, teachers, nurses, shopkeepers, the who’s who of our area all tried their luck on the mountain. Some got enough to put food on the table; others had a little to spare. The gold rush brought sudden life to Muchibwa Shopping Centre. Panners from outside the area would stop there to buy food, and many spent hours in the bars, drinking while waiting for their shifts. Even local police officers were not spared; they reportedly received tips from panners and transporters, looking the other way when needed.The economic pulse of the area lifted. Every Tom, Dick could go up the mountain and come back with something. Around five milling centres have now sprung up in surrounding areas, giving panners a choice of where to take their ore for processing. Transporters have also thrived, from heavy duty trucks to small vehicles, each carrying whatever load they could manage.The new panners have no place to sleep. They endure rainy nights in the open. Some have invaded abandoned homes. Locals are afraid to confront them, haunted by tales of mashurugwi gangs groups known for violence and disregard for human life.I spoke to former councillor Siyai Neshanje during a recent visit home. He told me he woke up one day to find strangers occupying a disused flat less than 50 metres from his homestead. “I woke up to see people in that flat; they occupied it like it’s theirs. I was afraid to confront them. You know how they are. Now they continue using it. What can I do? They are just people trying to make ends meet,” said Neshanje.Violence has already touched the rush. Recently, a local panner was shot and injured by Renco Mine security officers. There are also rumours of a missing gun allegedly taken from the security guards during a confrontation with panners.Beyond the fear of violence, residents worry about the environmental wreckage, deep pits, and eroded soils. Many now call on authorities to allow organised mining so that locals can benefit from their own resource.The local headman, Muchibwa, said the community is worried about how the situation is being managed. “The area is under Renco Mine’s claim, but it would be wise for the mine to allow locals to pan using best practices,” he said.Ward 25 Councillor Tarusenga Mapamba echoed the sentiment, saying it was difficult to stop the panning simply by using security agents. “It is difficult for the mine to stop the community from panning. Continued catandmouse games will lead to unnecessary conflict and could cost lives,” said Mapamba. He proposed that the mine set up milling machines so locals can bring their ore for milling a model similar to Tongaat Hulett’s arrangement with outgrower sugarcane farmers in Chiredzi. “Once locals are involved, they will control others and ensure sustainable mining that does not harm the community,” he said.The gold rush has now spread along the mountain range in Chiponda village eastward, and westward to Maramba and Nyajena areas. What was once a place of childhood joy sledding down mutondo bark canoes and kicking a ball on a flat mountain summit is now a scarred landscape of desperate digging. The mountain that fed our games now feeds a gold rush, and the people who call it home are left hoping that this time, they will not be left behind.
Ministry of Lands, unveils transformative initiative to drive rural industrialisation
By Virginia Njovo
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Development has unveiled a transformative initiative aimed at advancing rural industrialisation, noting that agriculture and land-based investments are key drivers of rural and national economic growth.Speaking during the stand visit at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo recently ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, said government was implementing the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy.“The Government of Zimbabwe is advancing rural transformation. We are now seeing that agriculture and land-based investments are among the most powerful drivers of rural and national economic growth, four times more effective than any other sector because they spur faster industrial transformation when paired with local beneficiation.“The overall thrust is clear build grassroots economies around specific products and keep value addition local to accelerate rural transformation and industrialisation across Zimbabwe,” said Prof Jiri.Prof Jiri further encouraged parastatals such as the Grain Marketing Board, ZINWA Agricultural Development Authority, Agricultural Finance Corporation, Agricultural Marketing Authority, and Kutsaga to spearhead rural and agricultural transformation by expanding their roles.“Parastatals should reinvent themselves as drivers of rural and agricultural transformation, operating as integrated and commercially viable entities with a focus on food security, economic development and value addition,” he said.At the 2026 Rural Industrialisation Indaba in Bulawayo, Minister of Lands and Rural Development, Vangelis Peter Haritatos, said Government was shifting from policy to production.“The Government is now moving from policy to production, prioritising action over talk. Land is the bedrock of development, and rural economies must move up the value chain by processing, packaging and profiting locally rather than exporting raw materials.“Agriculture’s gross value rose from US$5 billion in 2019 to US$10.3 billion in 2025. However, we are now focusing on value addition and beneficiation, not tonnage. Anchored in National Strategy 2, the Zimbabwe National Industry Policy, and the Agriculture and Food Systems Rural Transformation Strategy 2, Government is scaling Rural Development 8.0 nationwide to establish local industrial hubs and aggregation centres that bring together Government, the private sector and rural partners, turning rural production into industrial output,” said Haritatos.
Masvingo City unveils major infrastructure projects to drive metropolitan vision
By Staff ReporterBULAWAYO – Masvingo City Council has unveiled an ambitious infrastructure development programme featuring a new swimming pool, a maternity wing, a truck stop, a secondary school, and a 150-kilometre road rehabilitation project, as part of its drive to become a world-class metropolitan city by 2030.Speaking to Great Zimbabwe University Campus Radio at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) where the council is showcasing “Brand Masvingo”, Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa detailed several key projects at various stages of completion.“Currently we are constructing a swimming pool in Runyararo suburb, which will serve the greater part of our high-density suburbs including Mucheke, Runyararo and also part of Rujeko. We are almost complete with that project. The pool has been completed, and we are now working on the changing rooms and landscaping the site,” said Mukaratirwa.He went on to say a maternity wing at Runyararo Clinic was now open to the public and council was working on fully equipping the clinic“That facility is now open to the public, though we are also in the process of fully equipping it. But expecting mothers are now using that facility,” he said.He said a major truck stop was under construction along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway and now at 90% complete. “The changing rooms, toilets and other facilities are there. We are now finalising the landscaping. We expect that by the first week of May, trucks should be starting to park there. It will bring quite a lot of convenience and safety for the truckers,” he said.The Town Cleck said council was also set to construct a new Secondary School in Runyararo, which will be the city’s second secondary school after Rujeko Secondary.“We have already written to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for them to approve our site. We are happy that they have promised us that within this coming week, our approval should be coming, paving the way for physical construction work to start on the ground,” said Mukaratirwa.On road rehabilitation, he revealed a major programme targeting nearly 150 kilometres of roads this year saying the machinery was already on the ground ready for work.“We have already bought the necessary equipment, a dozer, an excavator, a roller, and a grader. Three of those pieces have been delivered to Masvingo, and our operators are undergoing training as we speak. What is only outstanding is the delivery of a grader, which we are expecting in the next two weeks,”said Eng Mkaratirwa.Eng Mukaratirwa described the ZITF as a vital platform for interaction with government agencies and industry partners saying that it allows the council to resolve outstanding issues and forge new partnerships in one convenient location.“It is very important for us to be here, first for interaction. We need to interact with government agencies that assist us in our daily operations, raise issues with them, have side meetings, and get outstanding issues resolved. It’s convenient because everyone else will be here. We are also interacting with industry and potential partners in different service delivery areas,” he said.He also highlighted Masvingo’s strategic position as a key link to the country’s borders. “We are a hub in terms of connectiveness, being very strategically positioned at the centre of the major cities in this country. That makes us a major connection point to the border facilitating trade and movement of goods and people to and from South Africa and Mozambique. As such, we have a transit population of almost about 5 million people per year who pass through the city,” he said.He appealed to the Masvingo community to support the local authority by honouring bills and contributing to development and also implored them to come and advice council on their expectations rather than just complaining“We can only sustain service delivery if there are resources to support. We want our stakeholders to support us and also to come up and contribute to the development of our city,” he said.
Degrees of distress: The Economic and mental cost of being a student at campus
By Fine ChiviruAs the sun drops behind the Great Zimbabwe horizon, darkness does not only arrive on campus pathways. For too many students, it settles in the mind—quietly, daily, and dangerously. We keep treating student mental health as an individual weakness or a private matter to be endured. It is neither. It is the predictable outcome of a system that piles pressure onto young people while stripping away the support that would help them survive it.From Africa University to Midlands State University, the pattern is the same: academic pressure collides with rising living costs, shrinking opportunities, and deepening isolation.Consider Sekai (not her real name), a final year student whose biggest worry is no longer the next test—but the semester balance: US$400 still outstanding. She has three siblings still in school. Her parents scrape together fees term after term, and she feels the weight of their sacrifice every time a deadline approaches. She rents off campus, and when money for rent arrives late, the stress is immediate and humiliating. And like many finalists, she carries an extra fear that no lecturer can mark: what if there is no job after graduation?When students are worrying about rent and food, “focusing on assignments” becomes a slogan, not a realistic expectation. Many are stuck chasing basic needs—the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy—long before they can think about “self-actualisation” in the classroom. Some try to hustle between lectures; others make riskier choices to survive. Tarisai (not her real name) says she depends on an older, married man for upkeep. That dependence leaves her with little bargaining power, including around safer sex, and exposes her to harm she did not come to university to face. If we can name these realities, we can stop pretending this is simply about ‘resilience’.Distress may be common, but seeking help is not. In Zimbabwe, mental illness is still heavily stigmatised; many students fear being labelled “weak” or “mad” if they are seen asking for support. On many campuses, counselling services are understaffed and overwhelmed—and private psychological services are priced beyond student reach. Gender expectations make it worse: men are told to “man up”, not speak up. Tanaka (not his real name) told me he would rather go for a drinking session than visit the clinic to manage distress. That is not bravado; it is a warning sign.Add a high cost of living, a shrinking job market, and a loud “success” narrative on social media, and chronic stress becomes the norm. For some, alcohol and drugs turn into an escape route. Campuses and surrounding communities increasingly talk about misuse of cough mixtures such as Bron Cleer and the spread of crystal meth—substances that intensify anxiety, depression, and risky behaviour. We also hear, far too often, of students who self-harm or die by suicide after academic failure, relationship breakdown, or financial collapse. Even when these tragedies are whispered about, they are rarely confronted with the seriousness they deserve.If universities can require registration fees, attendance, and examinations, they can also require care.Mental Health First Aid should be introduced in the first semester for every student—not as a once-off talk, but as practical training on recognising warning signs, supporting peers, and knowing where to get help. Resilience and emotional intelligence should be integrated across faculties, and peer-support networks should be properly trained and supervised, not left to improvise in emergencies. Universities should also expand low-cost, confidential counselling (including after hours) and use telehealth platforms that offer evidence-based tools such as cognitive behavioural techniques in local languages. Most importantly, university leadership must treat mental health services as core infrastructure—like libraries and laboratories—because a degree that costs a student their wellbeing is not an education success story. It is institutional neglect.Fine Chiviru is a final year psychology student at Great Zimbabwe University
Zaka high learner invents sunflower oil hydraulic jack, seeks sponsorship to fulfil ambition
By Staff ReporterZAKA – A Form Six science student at Zaka High School has developed a hydraulic jack prototype that operates using sunflower oil instead of expensive GTX oil, earning recognition at district, provincial and national level. Progress Munashe Mtisi, who studies Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry, now appeals for sponsorship to commercialise his innovation and advance his education.Mtisi’s hydraulic jack model uses oil extracted from sunflowers, a readily available resource in Zimbabwe. He said the idea came after observing that existing jacks are expensive because they rely on costly GTX oil.“I designed my hydraulic jack model after seeing certain challenges in our society. Number one, it was a way of cutting cost constraints as I discovered that existing jacks are more expensive since they use GTX oil. I implemented this idea to cut those cost constraints since my hydraulic jack model will operate with oil from sunflower under the theme of utilizing available resources,” said Mtisi.He also highlighted educational and entrepreneurial motivations, noting that the innovation aligns with Education 5.0, which promotes teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation.“We want these young scientists to implement their ideas practically. Prototyping assists them to see the concept of fluid mechanics and Pascal’s law. I also came with the innovation of using oil from sunflower because sunflower contains natural fat acids which give decent lubricity to moving parts. “This oil is biodegradable and non-toxic, so it is environmentally friendly and leads us to socio-economic progress and self-reliance,” he said.Mtisi noted that his prototype addresses limitations of existing jacks, including slow lifting speed. “I implemented this to cut those limitations so that it can be a lifeline for productivity and safety.”His model emerged as the best under Zaka District, went on to win at Masvingo Province level, and proceeded to the National Chishawasha Career Expo sponsored by Nyaradzo Funeral Assurance Company, where the guest of honour was First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa. Mtisi presented his model on behalf of all secondary schools in Zimbabwe and has been selected to exhibit at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo in April 2026.The hydraulic jack works on Pascal’s law, which states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted equally in all directions. In this model, sunflower oil serves as the hydraulic fluid, transmitting force from a small pump to a larger piston, thereby multiplying the input force to lift heavy loads. Unlike conventional jacks that require expensive GTX oil, sunflower oil is locally produced, renewable, and significantly cheaper. Additionally, sunflower oil’s natural viscosity ensures smooth operation of the pump and valves while its biodegradable nature eliminates environmental hazards associated with oil leaks or disposal.Mtisi sees the prototype as a springboard for business. He aims to commercialise the product, create jobs, and reduce dependence on imported hydraulic fluids. “I designed my hydraulic jack model for entrepreneurial opportunity. I prototyped this hydraulic jack so that I can assess demand before mass production, as I have discovered that existing jacks are expensive and not affordable for personal use or for small-scale users,” he said. He said hydraulics were widely used in Zimbabwe’s mining sector in lifting heavy machinery and moving massive loads. He added that with adequate resources, he could industrialise the idea and boost economic growth.“A hydraulic jack is a testament from car repairs to construction. This model can be used in mines to lift heavy equipment, in workshops, on farms, and even in the braking systems of vehicles,” he said. His model emerged as the best under Zaka District, won at Masvingo Province level, and proceeded to the National Chihawasha Career Expo sponsored by Nyaradzo Funeral Assurance Company, where the guest of honour was First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa. Mtisi presented his model on behalf of all secondary schools in Zimbabwe and has been selected to exhibit at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo in April 2026.Speaking to TellZim News, his father Jonah Mtisi, said he was discharged from the Zimbabwe Republic Police on medical grounds after suffering an ankle fracture in a road traffic accident while in the line of duty. He said he was not paid fairly and has been struggling to make ends meet since 2023. The boy’s mother, Alice Mtisi, works as a vendor.“I am appealing to well-wishers, companies and the government to sponsor my son. He has shown great potential, but we cannot afford to take him further. He needs help to advance his education and to turn his prototype into a real product that can benefit the country,” he said,