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Bishop Mawewe declared liberation hero

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Bishop Mawewe declared liberation hero

By Brighton Chiseva

The late Judea Zion Christian Church Bishop Dr Ofiro Mawewe, who died two weeks ago, has been declared a provincial liberation war hero.
Dr Mawewe passed on at Noraz Clinic due to diabetes related ailment, and his family declared two weeks of morning. The burial is set for Saturday March 30, 2024.
In a statement seen by TellZim News, addressed to the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, and signed by Zanu PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu, the government will make burial arrangements and pay benefits to his family.
“His Excellency the President and First Secretary of Zanu PF Cde Dr.E.D Mnangagwa has conferred a Liberation Hero status to the late Cde Ofiro Mawewe who died on 16 March and will be buried at Matekwe Village, Chief Ndanga, Zaka. The family can be contacted through our Masvingo Provincial office.
“I shall be most grateful if you would make the usual arrangements for his burial and payment of benefits to his family,” reads the statement.
His son Oriah Mawewe confirmed the latest development and thanked President Mnangagwa for the recognition and declaration of a liberation war hero status to his father saying he was indeed a hero, who apart from being a faith leader, rolled out many programmes towards the development of the communities he served.
“We were called from the Minister of State’s office and were told that President Mnangagwa had declared Dr Mawewe a liberation war hero. We were elated by the news as a family and church because we know he deserved the recognition,” said Oriah.
He went on to say they were not worried about material benefits associated with the recognition but the mere fact that the President honored the late Bishop was enough for them as a family.
“Our happiness is not from the material things that may be associated with the recognition, but the mere fact that the President recognized the work that our late father did before and after Independence, until his time of death is enough for us. “We feel proud to be his sons and we promise the President that as his family, we will continue with his work just like he did following our grandfather’s death,” he said.
The conferment of hero status for the late Bishop could be attributed to his work because apart from being just a religious leader, he was a philanthropist, educationist, and Pan-Africanist who contributed to the development of education, promotion of indigenous churches as well as supporting the liberation struggle.
His contributions to the liberation struggle included leading the church and the family during his father’s various detentions and incarceration by the Rhodesian government where he assisted his mother in taking care of the liberation fighters in the absence of his father as the family had become a target of the Smith regime for supporting the war.
Bishop Ofiro would pray for the liberation fighters and the release of his father and other indigenous church leaders. Upon the release of his father, Dr Ofiro continued assisting the liberation war fighters by providing them with food and clothing, as well as conveying prophetic messages from his father to the liberation war fighters
He was also credited for influencing his father’s followers to support the liberation struggle that bore the Independence of Zimbabwe.
A writer who authored books on the history of indigenous churches, Bishop Mawewe was also a supporter and beneficiary of the land reform programme where he was allocated with number 17 Dawlish Farm in Manjirenji where he established two mission schools; a primary and a secondary.
At the time of his death, Dr Ofiro was said to be working on plans to establish a hospital and a vocational training center at the farm.
Bishop Ofiro was born on 17 June 1952 in Ndanga where he grew up. As a boy, he grew up during the liberation struggle and served as a war collaborator of distinct nature.
As the only son to his father Late Rev Saul Maguta Mawewe and founder of the church, Bishop Mawewe took the reins of the church in 1979 following his father’s death.
The church was founded in 1938 and as such the family became a target of the colonial regime as Dr Ofiro helped his father to support the revolution.
Mawewe is credited for growing the Judea ZCC congregation from half a million to 1, 5 million followers during the 44 years he was leading the church and established branches all around Zimbabwe and abroad in countries like Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, the UK, Australia, Poland among others.

Golfers bemoan lack of competitive tournaments

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Golfers bemoan lack of competitive tournaments

By Beatific Gumbwanda

TRIANGLE-Zimbabwe Golfers Association (ZGA) has lamented the lack of competitive tournaments and called upon corporates to continue supporting the golfing fraternity by sponsoring more tournaments to enable golfers to have more experience and sharpen their skills ahead of international competitions.
Zimbabwe’s sole sugarcane producer Tongaat Huletts Zimbabwe (THZ) recently held the Lowveld Pro-Am tournament at its state-of-the-art golf courses in Hippo Valley and Triangle respectively, one of the biggest events held outside the capital, where professional and amateur golfers exhibited their talent, sharpening their skills ahead of the Zimbabwe Open Tournament to be held in two months.
Speaking during the event in Triangle, Zimbabwe Golfers Association (ZGA) President, Martin Chikwana thanked the former ZGA president and outgoing THZ Managing Director, Aiden Mhere for reviving the Lowveld Pro-Am and urged corporates to continue supporting the golfing fraternity by sponsoring more competitions.
“I would like to thank the former ZGA President, Aiden Mhere who played a huge role in this second biggest event outside the capital.
“This event also affords our professionals a chance to sharpen their skills in preparation for the Zimbabwe Open Tournament coming in two months. This has been the battle cry for our professionals that they need more competitions of high intensity. We pray that more like-minded corporates continue supporting this important part of the golfing fraternity, “said Chikwana.
Zimbabwe’s Professional golfer, David Amm who walked away with a US$ 10,000 price for being the overall winner said the golfing fraternity was still lagging behind due to a lack of more competitive tournaments.
“To us professional golfers, this is our profession, it’s our job and these events allow us to go out and showcase our talents. The more tournaments we have, the better.
“If you just look at other big tours, they have almost 40 tournaments a year and I think we only have 4 or maybe 5 tournaments annually and it’s challenging. Every time we get an opportunity like this, it means a lot to everyone,” said Amm.
Head of Corporate Affairs at THZ, Dr Dahlia Garwe said it was a precious moment for the corporation to revive the Lowveld Pro-Am tournament as a way to give space for the amateur as well as fundraise towards the underprivileged, especially on the medical side.
“This is an exciting moment for us as we are reviving the Lowveld Pro-Am tournament to raise funds, especially for the underprivileged in our society, in particularly the medical side of things.
“We want to upgrade clinics in our area and this is, in my opinion, a very good start. We also want the young golfers to become involved not just making golf an elite thing, “said Dr Garwe.
Corporates like ZB Bank, Ecocash, Econet, ETG, Nyaradzo Funeral Services, Natpak, First Mutual, Old Mutual and Delta sponsored the tournament.

My Age, DAWA join hands towards HIV prevention

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My Age, DAWA join hands towards HIV prevention

By Veeslee Mhepo

My Age Zimbabwe in collaboration with Development Agenda for Girls and Women in Africa Network (DAWA) through the support from ViiV Healthcare have joined hands to implement a project known as ‘Connecting Adolescent Girls and Women for HIV Prevention’.
The two organisations have kick-started the training of Adolescent Girls and Women for HIV Prevention in Mwenezi and Masvingo jointly.
Through the ViiV project, the two organizations are focusing on reducing the number of new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women in Masvingo Urban and Mwenezi districts, as well as promoting health-seeking behavior among girls and young women.
Mwenezi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Innocent Mutambara welcomed the initiative in Mwenezi and said it was very important considering the number of HIV infections among young people and said HIV prevention will help protect the future.
“HIV prevention is the way to go as this is a good platform to protect the future. We welcome this initiative in the district as it will help reduce HIV infections in our communities and we will be supportive throughout the project to have a good outcome,” said Mutambara.
Mwenezi District Medical Officer (DMO) Doctor Matibhiri said the project was vital in Mwenezi, has full support and is looking forward to great outcomes with increased HIV and Aids knowledge among adolescent girls and young women.
Mwenezi District Ministry of Women’s Affairs representative Abdiel Mboweni said the project will enhance advocacy on gender equality as gender inequalities contribute to the spread of HIV.
“As the Ministry of Women’s Affairs we welcome this project as we continue to advocate for gender equality since gender inequalities contribute to the spread of HIV,” Mboweni said.
With a primary objective of scaling up into districts with high HIV incidence among AGYW in Zimbabwe, the project will then proceed to engage with community-based, youth-led, and women-led organizations to foster collaborations and pool resources.

Farmers urged to destock in face of drought

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Farmers urged to destock in face of drought

By Bright Zhou

Chief livestock officer in the Department of Livestock Production and Development Wisdom Gunzvenzve has tipped farmers with measures to manage livestock during El Nino induced drought.
Gunzvenzve said there were measures farmers could take to overcome the situation they are faced with regarding the impending drought. He also said the El Nino caused water shortages to livestock, especially cattle, was the reason why livestock farmers ought to reduce the distance livestock have to endure searching for water.
“El Nino is likely to cause water shortages for our livestock, especially cattle and as farmers we are urged to reduce the distance livestock move searching for water.
“The other thing is that livestock ends up being trapped in mud trying to seek for water,” Gunzvenzve said.
He added that farmers should build troughs at community boreholes to avail water to livestock.
He said farmers should know the difference between productive and non-productive livestock, saying farmers should sell non-productive animals to save productive animals.
“Also the other action that farmers need to take is the element of destocking. As farmers we have non-productive and productive animals and would try to sell non-productive animals so that we save on productive animals.
“Productive animals are the breeding animals; the heifers and the cows, animals involved in draft power and farmers should save those animals as they destock non-productive animals.
“Money gotten from selling those animals can be used to buy feed for the remaining animals or even constructing boreholes. Livestock farmers sometimes fail to realize how rich they are in terms of conversion of their livestock into monetary terms,” said Gunzvenzve.
Farmers need to identify relief grazing sites in their areas and they should work with veterinary services to prevent the spreading of diseases from one area to another.
“Farmers also need to identify relief grazing sites near their areas, doing this in conjunction with veterinary officers so that diseases do not spread from one area to another,” said Gunzvenzve.
He also spoke on the impact of veld fires on grazing land, which is a perennial cause for concern, urging farmers to work with relevant departments to avert this scourge.

Puma opens new branch in Masvingo town

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Puma opens new branch in Masvingo town

By Decide Nhendo

Puma Energy Zimbabwe has officially opened its Masvingo industrial retail branch at a colorful ceremony that was officiated by Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira on March 20.
The fuel station, which is located along Access Road, Masvingo Industrial Area attached to the new fast food outlet KFC becomes the third Puma service station in town with its first located next to Total service station along Robert Mugabe Road and another one located at Wimpy along Masvingo – BeitBridge road.
In his speech, at the event, Chadzamira described the move as a great catalyst to development towards the attainment of vision 2030 saying it was going to help accelerate development in all sectors of production and development as most business activities depend on fuel energy.
“I applaud the establishment of another Masvingo Puma Energy retail in Masvingo as it is going to foster progress and production since most of our businesses including mining, tourism and agriculture need fuel as energy so all sectors are going to benefit from this retail,” Chadzamira said.
Chadzamira also said the development done by Puma Energy Zimbabwe in Masvingo was in line with the country’s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy (NDS1) mantra which targets to ensure development in all sectors and all places in the country to ensure that by 2030 Zimbabwe will be an upper middle income economy.
Speaking at the commissioning event, Puma Energy Zimbabwe General Manager Donatien Kodog said Masvingo industrial Puma Energy retail was established in order to keep bringing energy to communities as the company’s mandate.
He said the company’s main vision was to procure clean and safe fuel to all communities in the country including communities which are not easily accessible and said they had almost all motor lubricants at their retails.
“Masvingo Puma Energy retail was established so as to provide fuel to the Masvingo community as it is our mandate to procure clean and safe fuel to all our customers and I am sure the business community is going to benefit a lot from this,” said Kodog.
In Zimbabwe the energy firm now has 52 service stations countrywide, servicing four airports, operating one terminal and has four storage depots and mainly sell fuel, lubricants, refreshments and convenience shopping needs.
Kodog expressed the company’s commitment to solarize their retail network in the company, of which part of the broader plan is to install 300 solar systems across their network to help fight escalating climate change effects that are hazardous to environment.
The business community in Masvingo welcomed the move and described it as an added advantage that was going to fuel development as they now access fuel from one of major fuel giants in the country.
“Puma Energy Zimbabwe is one of the major fuel service providers in the country and globally, I am sure this development is going to help us with safe and clean fuel especially in my line of business as a taxi operator who plies Masvingo-Mashava route,” said Simbarashe Muchato.
One of small scale farmers from Mushandike John Machabi said the pump is a blessing as he is going to access clean fuel on his way in or out of town as he supplies his goods to Chitima market.
There is a proliferation of fuel service stations in Masvingo Town with another new station being Express Service station located in Hofmeyer Street near Makurira Memoral Clinic.

Chivi’s Banga Irrigation Scheme awarded national best

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Chivi’s Banga Irrigation Scheme awarded national best

By Bright Zhou

Banga Irrigation Scheme in Chivi District of Masvingo Province was on Saturday (March 16) crowned the best irrigation scheme in Zimbabwe, receiving a US$ 10,000 cash prize and an award.
The irrigation scheme was handed over the US$10,000 cash prize by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka at a function held at the irrigation site near Ngundu Business Centre.
Speaking at the event, Masuka said he was impressed by Banga’s performance, saying it continuously plays a vital role in its contribution to the country’s food security.
He went on to encourage Banga farmers to keep the standards high and continue working hard to win the competition again next time while promising that the government is committed to providing the scheme with fertilizer and seeds.
“Banga plays a major role by leading the country to become food secure with major staples like maize and wheat. Farmers here should increase their pace, they should work hard to win again next time. The government is going to give Banga Irrigation Scheme fertilizer and seeds so that they continue the good work,” said Masuka.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said Banga farmers had put their effort into the development of the country and should now focus on small grain crops that are tolerant to drought as the country received low rainfall this season.
“It is important to note that Banga farmers put their effort to raise the development of the country; however, when there is little rainfall the government is not going to give irrigation schemes maize seed but to offer them drought-tolerant crops like wheat, millet or rapoko.
“This year there is drought in Masvingo province because of climate change but people should not worry much as the government is going to make sure that no one dies of hunger,” said Chadzamira.
Banga Irrigation Scheme representative Engineer Justice Musadaidzwa said their primary source of water, Banga Dam did not have enough water, which forced them to reduce the size of land under production, but regardless, they managed to beat other schemes to scoop the first prize.
He went on to say there were plans to siphon water from Tugwi Mukosi dam that was upstream to supplement water for the scheme
Lukosi irrigation scheme from Matabeleland North came second and walked away with US$7.500 followed by Maunganidze from Manicaland which walked away with US$5000.

Is there a place for everyone in the skyline?

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Is there a place for everyone in the skyline?

… as new buildings create new barriers for PWDs

By Beverly Bizeki

Masvingo City has been on a drive for economic development as the city is growing with new buildings sprouting every now and then. On the other hand, talk about disability inclusion is also on a high note but the development has brought new challenges for inclusion as almost all these new buildings are hardly accessible to people with disabilities.
The city has gained multiple high rise buildings over the past few years but it is business as usual in terms of facilities in the buildings; staircase after staircase. This becomes worrying as PWDs find themselves unable to easily access these facilities.
Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT) Director Henry Chivhanga said the development in the city is welcome but said it was saddening as the buildings are not accessible to PWDs, despite council ensuring the disability community during previous engagements that plans for buildings without proper facilities would not be approved.
“When we see new buildings going up in town it is a sign of economic development. The sad thing however is that those buildings when completed won’t be accessible to PWDs because of lack of ramps and elevators.
“We engaged the city fathers and we were told that if a plan is brought to them with no provision for elevators or ramps as the case may be, such plans are not approved. We further engaged them on existing buildings and they indicated that they will communicate with the owners of the buildings. If the PWDs Bill becomes law, Adjustment Orders as envisioned in the bill would resolve most of these challenges,” said Chivhanga.
Masvingo Provincial National Council of Disabled Persons Chairperson Moses Chitombo lamented the issue and said development was now becoming a deterrent for PWDs.
“It is saddening to witness the construction of new buildings within the city in such a way that creates inaccessibility to others especially PWDs as they barred from entering those buildings. The buildings however house various facilities addressing any other person so this affects the lives of PWDs as they cannot go to places where other people can get a source of livelihood.
“We are worried because we have always had meetings to address these issues between office bearers and PWDs to check whether their services are satisfying everyone, council included.
“Different organizations in Masvingo have spoken on the inaccessibility to buildings but they are continually being erected in Masvingo in council’s presence and ministries. I do not know why they are not taking this matter seriously, buildings are erected without having facilities to address PWDs. There is a need for improving these buildings to have facilities that enable PWDs to get access,” said Chitombo.
Chitombo said there was need for people constructing the buildings to obey the law and involve PWDs when they do their work so that they can be able to offer contributions to address this challenge.
“People must obey the law and take serious steps towards this issue. These people should work together with disability leaders in the community so that when they do their plans they can even ask for information from these leaders. City council must also involve PWDs in various meetings so that these issues can be aired out because we will continue to witness such blunders even though they have the Disability policy at hand. Even if the Bill is passed into law but there are no PWDs at the core of decision-making boards no change is likely to be effected anywhere. PWDs must be involved whenever there is planning for cities or other local authorities so that all buildings are constructed with disability consciousness,” said Chitombo.
Chitombo also said they have been doing awareness campaigns and holding various meetings with stakeholders to no avail as there has been little progress concerning the matter.
“We have been doing awareness campaigns with various organizations, service providers, and meetings whereby we have tasked them to improve accessibility at their organizations but it has not yielded much fruit. For some government offices, they have said the policy does not allow them to change the original buildings so it is a great challenge for us. Maybe the challenge will receive the attention it deserves when the bill is passed into law, maybe by then we will have our weapon to enable us to take legal action against them,” said Chitombo.

Drug taskforce takes awareness to schools

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Drug taskforce takes awareness to schools

By Decide Nhendo

Masvingo Provincial Drug Taskforce which comprises of the Provincial Information Office, Ministry of Health and Childcare, Zimbabwe Republic Police among other stakeholders has taken drug abuse awareness to schools with the determination to nip the menace in the bud.
Determined to educate students in Masvingo schools on the escalating drug misuse in schools and the country as a whole, the task force is speaking to learners, encouraging them to shun substance and drug abuse.
On March 18, the taskforce visited three schools namely Gokomere High, Mushagashe Training Centre and St Stanislaus Secondary School where learners interacted with members of the taskforce and got firsthand information on the dangers of drug abuse.
Commenting on the sidelines of the school visits, Masvingo District Schools Inspector (DSI) Ishmael Chigaba applauded the move saying it was a great solution in bringing awareness to the dangers of drugs and substance abuse which has taken schools by storm, mainly in urban centers.
“I applaud this move which is being run by the government organs on drugs and substance abuse chaired by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira as it is going to help learners know the dangers of drugs to their mental and physical health.
“This program should be done at all schools in Masvingo province and I think schools that need this awareness most are those in urban areas because that’s where drug abuse is more prevalent compared to those in rural areas,” said Chigaba.
Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Rogers Irimayi said the program was targeting secondary schools, institutions like universities and colleges, church gatherings, social meetings as well as any another meeting points in the province.
“Our task force targets any social gatherings including schools, colleges, universities church gatherings, and any areas where people gather to make them aware of the harm being disposed to our communities by drugs.
“We are targeting all the people elderly, youths as well as opinion leaders so that they educate children in their communities to shun drugs as they are destroying lives. We want people to know that overcoming addiction and substance abuse is a tough choice that requires great determination and sacrifice,” said Irimayi.
Echoing the same sentiments, Masvingo District Mental Health Coordinator Elliot Chidakwa said drugs were affecting youth leading to child marriages, dropping out of schools, and wild behaviors.
“If we look into our communities, it is clear that there are a lot of problems being brought by drug and substance abuse including suicides, child marriages, as well as mental disorders, a clear testimony that learners should walk away from dangerous drugs,” said Chidakwa.
Students from Mushagashe Training Center applauded the drug awareness campaign saying it gives them a clear picture of how drugs affect their lives and said the programme must be done in all schools within Masvingo.
“This programme is important to us, it is an eye opener that we should not keep on putting effort and energy into wrong things. We have a great task to shape our future through opportunities granted to us by our parents,” said Naison Maranda.
He said they were ready to take action and react to all the information they got on the dangers posed by drugs to help in community development.
Denzel Mabvundwe also thanked the programme and said it helps youth to select life paths that are good for health and mental well-being. He said the visit by President Emmerson Mnangangwa at the school where he also talked about the dangers of drug abuse challenged them to heed the calls.
“I thank the government for doing a programme like this, raising awareness on dangers brought by drugs to youths. From the negative effects that can be caused by drugs, it is clear that they are an enemy to progress as they are harmful to mental health, so it is left to us to select life paths that bear fruits for us,
“The fact that when President Mnangangwa came for Youths Day commemorations at Mushagashe raised issues concerning drugs shows that drug and substance abuse is becoming a pandemic, especially to the youth, the future,” said Mabvundwe.

62-year-old disabled, homeless Masvingo man appeals for wheelchair

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62-year-old disabled, homeless Masvingo man appeals for wheelchair

By Bright Zhou

A 62-year-old disabled man living in the streets of Masvingo is appealing for assistance to get a new wheelchair as the one he is using is worn out, making it difficult for him to move around as he begs for a living.
He said he can also accept help in form of food and clothes but his major worry was on mobility.
Speaking with TellZim News, Shadreck Charubvuka said he became wheelchair bound in 2011 after one of his legs got amputated following an ailment that he suspected to have been caused by fellow workmates where he was working as a security guard.
“I grew up in Shurugwi and was later employed as a security guard at a security company called Security Partners and was transferred to Masvingo where I was posted at N.Richards Group, in 2001.
“In 2011, I started to develop some sores on my thigh, from the hip to the knee after I had a misunderstanding with workmates over duties and could not go to work,” said Charubvuka.
Charubvuka added that his manager said he could not continue working and gave him money to go to hospital which he did and after two months the doctors recommended an amputation.
He said after he lost his job, the company offered him US$45.00 per month for six months and that was not enough to cover his living costs. After six months he was told that the company could no longer pay him as he was not working
“After losing my job, the company offered me US$45.00 for only six months and then the manager told me the company was not going to give me the money while I was not working and that’s when I started struggling and everyone deserted me,” said Charubvuka.
Charubvuka said he received his first wheelchair in 2011 from his uncle who is in South Africa and his two daughters left for South Africa in 2013 and never looked back since then.
He said his wife died in an accident after the operation and all his relatives deserted him so he has nowhere to go.
“My wife passed away in an accident just after the operation and my two daughters left for South Africa in 2013 and never came back. I was booted out of my rented house in Mucheke over unpaid rent and no relative wanted to take me in.
“I desperately need a wheelchair as the one I have is difficult to push because the wheels are worn out. I am currently staying at Old Croco Motors terminus since 2013 and I use scavenge for used plastics and sacks to build shelter. It is difficult for me to go around begging for food and at times I go for days without a proper meal,” Charubvuka said.

Agric Minister warns presidential schemes abusers

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Agric Minister warns presidential schemes abusers

By Bright Zhou

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka has warned beneficiaries of the Presidential goat and rural poultry schemes against eating the livestock prematurely before they breed.
He said the government was committed to the livestock development plan so the beneficiaries were not supposed to eat the livestock but rear them for sale.
Masuka who was speaking at Banga Irrigation Scheme where the scheme was celebrating being adjudged the best irrigation scheme nationally, said under the programme each household will receive ten chickens as a starting point.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa introduced Rural Development 8.0 programme where in each household, the woman will get ten chickens to start a project so you are not allowed to eat those chickens, and you must keep them for business. In Masvingo West, Chief Charumbira area people have already received the chickens,” said Masuka.
Masuka went on to ask his subordinates why people in the Madzivire area of Chivi were yet to receive their share of which the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services acting director Leonard Munamati said they were doing it systematically and their turn will come.
Masuka said the Presidential Goat Scheme was going to be rolled out soon and each man from every household will benefit although they will start by giving village heads before cascading down to other people.
“Presidential Goat Scheme is coming where each family man is going to get one she-goat to start a business, however, the programme will start benefiting village heads,” said Masuka.

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