By Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-Chiredzi Rural District Council (CRDC) is currently being bled by its debtors owing the local authority an approximate of US$2 million on housing schemes, safari operators with A2 farmers topping the list with an estimated debt of US$1 million on development levies.
CRDC recently held its first quarter council meeting where Chief Executive Officer, Ailes Baloyi highlighted that the council was owed close to US$2 million by various stakeholders including farmers, safari operators and housing conglomerates.
Speaking during the meeting at the council boardroom, Baloyi said A2 farmers owe the local authority close to US$1 million in land development levy while housing schemes and safari operators share the other million.
“A2 farmers owe council some US$1 million while safari operators owe council a total of US$314 175-10. Some of these debts date back to 2019 and 2022 respectively,” said Baloyi.
The finance committee highlighted that SSG Safaris’ total debt was US$228 087.90, Yatani Safaris with US$72 128.70 and Liloma with US$13 956.50.
Baloyi said stand owners formed the other group of debtors, which the finance committee urged the council to repossess stands for Buffalo Range Housing Project was owing the local authority close to a million dollars.
“Another group of debtors consist of stand owners. A number of Buffalo Range Housing Scheme beneficiaries owe council, since 2016, US$700 995.00 despite the window period having expired in 2019.
Baloyi further said the council was moving towards zero tolerance on corruption which they had advanced through setting up an integrity committee as well as council hotline.
“In its effort to promote integrity and fight corruption, council managed to set up an integrity committee. Management calls on all council employees and councilors to shun corruption and promote transparency at all times.
“For residents’ convenience, council operates a hotline. Please report any corrupt activities you come across by any members of council and staff. Residents can use the hotline to raise complaints with council. The hotline number is 0782287879,” said Baloyi.

By Decide Nhendo

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is alleged to have abandoned the repair and placement of pipes supplying water to some parts of Chivi Central, Ward 20 which has seen some residents in the ward going for about four years without piped water.
Chivi Central Ward 20 councilor Alec Nhundu said the pipes were damaged by Exodus and Company in 2020 when they were rehabilitating roads in the area and the company supplied new pipes to replace the damaged ones, but it seems ZINWA was dragging its feet in replacing the pipes.
“We have a water crisis in our area caused by damage of pipes which occurred when Exodus was rehabilitating roads in the area.
“The company made efforts to replace damaged pipes and bought new ones and ZINWA is now delaying to fix the pipes giving excuses, some other time they said they had no generator.
He said the pipes were the ward’s main source of safe water to the community with villagers resorting to boreholes and open sources for domestic uses and subjected to traveling long distances.
“We are experiencing a serious water crisis in the ward because the pipes to our main source of safe water are yet to be replaced. People are now using water from boreholes and open sources which put their lives at risk.
“Residents have to travel long distances to fetch water from rivers and boreholes where they crowd for the precious liquid,” said Nhundu.
The water was being taken from Tugwi Mukosi and Manyare dam. The piped scheme supplied water to Sese Business Centre, schools including Danhamombe High, St Simon, and Jaka.
It also served villages like Zhara, Mudziwedare, Mupepeti, Charumengwe, Mashamhanda, and Tavagadza.
No comment could be obtained from ZINWA information officer Obert Muchena whose phone went unanswered several times.

By Beverly Bizeki

Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Director (Potraz) Dr Gift Machengete recently said the network regulator was in the process of licensing satellite internet provider Starlink to start operating in Zimbabwe if it meets the requirements, after confirming receipt of the latter’s application.
If approved, the development will see Zimbabweans accessing faster internet connectivity, which is more desired.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation constructed by SpaceX, an aerospace company founded by American technology tycoon Elon Musk, and has been making headlines as some Zimbabweans have been using it despite authorities saying it was yet to be licensed in the country.
Dr Machengete was responding to Parliamentarians who had asked the regulator why the country was not yet using satellite services like Starlink during an induction workshop for the joint portfolio committees on Information Communication Technologies Postal and Courier Services and Media and Broadcasting Services held at Clevers Hotel in Masvingo on May 12.
“There is nothing difficult at all on licensing Starlink. What we should be clear about is that as Potraz our licensing framework is technology-neutral.
“We do not care what type of technology you are bringing, what we care about is the service and we would want you to offer that service at the lowest possible rate but our licensing technique is not technology specific but is neutral,” said Dr Machengete.
Dr Machengete went on to say during the time when a lot of Zimbabweans were accusing the regulator for banning Starlink, the internet provider had not yet applied, but confirmed that it has applied now.
“We have no problem with licensing Starlink but there was a lot of talk that Potraz was resisting licensing Starlink which was not correct. That was a lie because at that time when people were saying that Starlink had not even applied. It would not have made sense for us to beg Starlink to apply because people were making noise.
“Right now Starlink has applied and we are processing their application so if they meet their obligations then they will be licensed like any other service provider because it is not the technology that they are bringing that matters. After all we already have others operating on VISAT which is also a satellite so it is nothing new,” said Dr Machengete.
Potraz also promised a better service to Zimbabweans stating the increased flow of foreign currency which will enable operators to procure equipment for upgrading their services.
“We are expecting network operators to improve because it seems foreign currency is now available. The challenge was on foreign currency for investments which had reduced of late hence they could not bring in new machines to upgrade systems and maintenance was even difficult,” said Dr Machengete.
Speaking at the same event, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda implored the Ministry of ICT to thrive on new technologies to better the country’s economy, urging them to come up with proper legislation for using these technologies.
“This ministry has the power to drive the economy of Zimbabwe using Artificial Intelligence. There is need to come up with appropriate laws in line with new ICTs for national development, we need to come up with legislation that promotes the ease of doing business in the country,” said Adv. Mudenda.

By Decide Nhendo

Some residents in Chikombedzi are bearing the brunt of poor service delivery going for nearly 11 years without running water on their taps due to a problem which started in 2013.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is alleged to have abandoned pumping water from Chikombedzi River for this part of the country located in the southeastern part of Zimbabwe on the edge of Gonarezhou National Park in Masvingo Province after a pump started malfunctioning.
Chiredzi South Ward 11 councilor Urombo Makolo told this publication that Chikombedzi has not had running water from their taps since 2013 after a pump at the station stopped working.
People had to resort to other sources of water for domestic uses enduring long distances and long queues to access the precious liquid.
“ZINWA had been pumping water to the community in Chikombedzi and township but the service stopped in 2013 after the pump they were using stopped working. People have since resorted to getting water from boreholes and open wells for water to drink and use for domestic purposes.
“Many people travel for about two kilometers to fetch water and often have to wait in long queues at the boreholes,” said Makolo.
He said when they engaged ZINWA officials over the matter they were told that the authority had not yet found the pump to replace the failing one.
Makolo further said there were no decent road networks in Chikombedzi which was bad for cars and buses, saying there was need for rehabilitation.
“Our roads are in a bad state and most private cars and buses are no longer plying the route to Chikombedzi as they fear for their vehicles. There is need for grading and graveling of roads because most motorists struggle to use these roads going to and from Chikombedzi,” said Makolo.
He said state of the roads had resulted in motorists charging US$7 for distances that normally used to cost US$3 because of lack of competition as many avoid the roads.
“This state of the roads has caused motorists to charge around US$7 on 85kilometres journey that normally costs around US$3 because there are a few motorists plying the area ,” said Makolo.
He said most bridges were not standard and it was difficult to cross them during rainy season as they can be overflowing for a week or two.
“Chilonga is our main bridge, we have to cross it to Chiredzi, but during rainy seasons, it will be dangerous to cross the bridge as it sometimes overflows.
“This is the same with other bridges like the one in Mwenezi, since the bridge is low lying, it easily overflows leaving people with no option but to go through game reserves where they are asked to pay in order to pass,” said Makolo.
He further said that electricity was another challenge in ward 11 as nearly 16 poles fell down in 2022 and ZESA replaced the poles last month although the challenge still persists in the township area where an amour cable was stolen and is yet to be replaced.
“Electricity was another challenge in Chikombedzi, but ZESA has restored poles that fell down and the only place left without electricity is the township because an amour cable was stolen,” said Makolo.
Efforts to get a comment from ZINWA communications officer Obert Muchena were futile as he promised to call the reporter with response and failed to answer his cell several times.