….plot thickens as Masunda files formal complaint

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – The saga between two Zanu PF Councilors, Livison Paradza and Beatrice Masunda, from Ward 9 in Zaka, who recently clashed over a funeral speech, has escalated to new heights after Masunda threw a dramatic twist into the turmoil by filing a formal complaint of abuse and victimization.
In a letter seen by this publication, Masunda’s complaint has been dispatched to an extensive list of recipients, including Zaka Rural District Council, Zaka Central MP, the Office of the President and Cabinet, Zaka District Development Coordinator (DDC), Zaka Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson, Zanu PF provincial chairperson, and the provincial women’s league chair, among other influential figures.
Paradza is the ward sitting councilor while Masunda got in through proportional representation and according to a local arrangement, she was assigned to work mainly in wards 9, 13, 14, and 15.
In the letter, which was copied to a number of authorities both in party structures and in government the councilor said she was verbally abused and was being distracted from executing her duties.
“I hereby write to present a grievance against the above-stated Councilor over a verbal abuse incident among a plethora of other such incidents which I priorly have deliberately let go unrecorded and unsaid with the hope that the working relationship between me in my capacity as a Proportional Representation (PR) /Women Quota Councillor resident in Ward 9- Zaka Central Constituency and the above stated Councilor would improve,” reads part of the letter.
On November 14, Masunda attended a funeral in ward 9 at Choga homestead, which Paradza did not attend most probably because he was at work since he is a teacher at a local school.
As the only councilor present at the funeral, Masunda claims that during the course of the funeral proceedings, she was accorded a privilege to relay a condolence message to the bereaved family which she did.
“I as the councilor present on site, during the course of the funeral proceedings, was accorded the privilege to relay a condolence message to the bereaved family and the community members (males and females) present which I did in confidence.
“This did not go down well with my colleague Councilor who after getting wind of this particular incident later called me at a date and time already stated above indicating that I had overstepped my responsibilities and mandate as a PR Councilor,” read part of the letter.
In the audio, Paradza told Masunda that she could not proceed to any gathering or any such social events or address the Ward 9 community without his consent and that the PR councillor was inferior since they had not garnered direct votes from the electorate so they should stay away and confine themselves to women issues only.
In the letter, Masunda said she was no longer able to discharge her duties well after the intimidation and sought protection as her name and image were being soiled.
“I can no longer execute my duties as mandated, am not psychologically well as I continue to visualize the monster personality in my colleague Councilor who I however revere so much. I am also afraid that my confidence, personal image, and integrity as a public figure continue to be eroded as my counterpart continues to spread word in Ward 9 that the PR (Woman Quota) Councillor post is not authentic. It is very unfortunate that my colleague Councillor continues to betray the social trust and responsibility bestowed on him by the electorate – “to be the social custodian of the community, women inclusive bearing in mind that women are naturally more vulnerable than men and always look up for protection from men,” said Masunda in the letter.
However, other sources said the matter was not between the two but between Paradza and the Member of Parliament for Zaka Central Davis Marapira who is alleged to have assigned PR councilors in his constituency to different wards for easy coordination and this did not go down well with the male councilors who felt that Marapira was overriding them and working with women.
“The feud is between Paradza and Marapira as well as some Zaka Central councilors like Tererai Tererai of ward 8 and Hakufiwi Hakufiwi of ward 18 as well as Paradza who are being alleged to be siding with Marapira’s party rivalry Manfred Mada who lost to him in the party primaries and eyeing the seat in 2028,” the source said.
Contacted for comment earlier Provincial party chair Robson Mavenyengwa seemed to have sided with Paradza saying PR councilors should seek permission and should address gatherings in consultation with the ward councilor.
Interestingly, Zaka RDC chairperson is a woman who got in through the quota system.

… As Mthuli proposes to bleed the poor through taxes

Beverly Bizeki

Barely four months into office after wooing the general public to vote them into office and making empty promises, Zanu PF is proposing oppressive taxes in the 2024 budget to bleed the already poor public reminding people why Chimurenga war was fought.
Some of the major highlights of the budget include household tax, high tollgate fees, high passport fees, and beverage taxes.
Commenting on the budget on her post on X, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Member of Parliament for Mount Pleasant and former spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the budget was anti people and hostile.
“The entire budget is anti-people. Why would you punish someone who is trying to register their motor vehicle by charging US$500 for that simple administrative task? Why is the amount not in ZWL? When it comes to taxing us they want USD. When it comes to health, education and public service spending, they denominate in Zim Dollars. It’s a mess we need new leaders.
“The attack on new businesses is staggering. The value added tax threshold has now been reduced to US$25 000 from US$40 000. In simple terms this means that any small business that makes an average of US$ 2100 per month will now have to register for VAT (Value Added Tax).
“When we say the budget is anti-people this is what we mean, government refuses to pay municipal rates to local authorities. Currently government is the biggest debtor in most councils. Government owes City of Harare $25BN, City of Bulawayo $18BN, City of Masvingo $3BN and Chiredzi Municipality $500M.
“They use council services but refuse to pay. The same government is imposing a ‘wealth tax’ on homeowners for simply breathing in their homes. No service, no rational basis, nothing but the desire to inflict pain. The budget is anti-people. It’s a mess,” said Mahere.
Director Centre for African Governance and Development Professor Gift Mugano said the budget was anti people and anti-industry and must be rejected in parliament.
“Parliament must reject the anti-people and anti-industry budget which was represented by Ncube yesterday. The following increases in taxes, levies, and fees are a thorn in the flesh for an already struggling population.
“More than 100 percent increase in toll fees will push up bus fares and transport cost for the commuting public. The rural folks and pensioners will suffer the most as the timing of this policy measure is coinciding with a devastating drought- they will have to bear with these new measures over and above their struggle to put food on the table.
“Introduction of levies on beverages with sugar is again insensitive as these are the drinks of the poor and our children. Passport and vehicle number plates fees hikes are again schemes put in place to milk the poor. The US$300 will be taxed come January so insensitive to the underpaid civil servants who were expecting a salary hike,” said Prof Mugano.
He further said the wealthy tax was a resuscitation of the hut tax in the Rhodesian government.
“Wealth tax reminds of the Rhodesian government which introduced the hut tax and Ncube admires the very same exploitative tax regime and introduces it again in independent Zimbabwe,” he added.
Renowned journalist Hopewell Chin’ono condemned the taxes and said the ‘hut tax’ was just a disproportionate tax on the already burdened citizens.
“You don’t tax wealth or savings, you tax earnings, an old couple is earning nothing in their home in Chisipite or Hatfield, a roof over their heads is a human right not a luxury to be taxed. The state should be providing housing and not taxing those that have done so for themselves under difficult economic circumstances.
“This ‘hut tax’ will also stop property ownership for those already struggling to meet the basic necessities of life like healthcare and daily upkeep,” he said.
Political commentator Dr Takavafira Zhou said while a pensionable salary was welcome, the number of taxes introduced worsened the lives of the people particularly teachers
“The budget is saddening to the general populace of Zimbabwe particularly teachers with a number of taxes, the whole essence of a one percent tax on property, toll fees and increase of vehicle licenses you can tell that those who own will transfer the burden to lodgers who are apparently our teachers and the increase of transport costs, as much as we are happy that the allowance US denominated allowance is now a salary and would also cater for the pensionable period we are not happy about the quantum that the teachers would get since it will be subject to taxes and teachers will suffer.
“Prof Ncube has simply taken us back to the 1884 period saddled with a lot of taxes and overburdened by the elite and the future is bleak. The new dispensation promised Zimbabweans a new car in terms of livelihoods but if the new budget is anything to go by it is clear that he is taking us to the 19th century whereas we are in the 21st century and his prescription is like a treatment that treats a disease by killing the patient so the 2024 budget is atrocious and would worsen the plight of the civil servants in particular teachers.
“We do not see any positives emanating from such an atrocious budget and it is unfortunate that Prof Ncube has decided to overburden the general populace of Zimbabwe at a time we hope that a budget would better the livelihoods of the general populace of Zimbabwe,” said Dr Zhou.
Ncube presented his ZWL 58.2 trillion budget to parliament on November 28 and the budget has since sparked outrage from all corners in the country because of the taxes included in the budget.
Some of the sections that have caused debate among citizens include an upward review of toll fees for premium roads, US$0.02 per gram of sugar contained in beverages, taxing of USD allowance for civil servants that will be turned into a pensionable salary, increased passport fees and a housing tax

… As candidates deface each other’s campaign posters

Beverly Bizeki

It is a dog-eat-dog situation in Masvingo West ward 2 by-election campaign as three of the four contesting candidates are embroiled in a bitter battle, accusing each other of tearing each other’s campaign posters.
The three candidates involved include the recalled Ward councilor and former Mayor Shantiel Chiwara, former councilor for the same ward Roki Kamuzonda, both contesting under the CCC banner, and Zanu PF candidate Benson Hwata.
Chiwara is accusing Kamuzonda of sending his kid to deface her posters and on the other side Hwata is also accused of having done the same in one of the streets, where he is said to have passed through during the Zanu PF campaign launch.
Speaking to TellZim News, Chiwara, denied ever tearing any candidate’s posters and said she was instead a victim in the situation and had replaced her posters thrice in the current the campaign period.
Chiwara was accused of sending his brother to tear Kamuzonda’s posters around the ward.
“My team and I have never torn nor deface any poster and we have no intention to do that, in fact, it’s me who is a victim of that and right now I am replacing my posters for the third time but his (Kamuzonda) are still there in the street I stay.
“Hwata also defaced my posters as he prepared for their (Zanu PF) rally and wanted his leaders to see his posters. They destroyed all my posters in Calvin Majange Street and placed his.
“Roki is the one who is responsible for tearing my posters inside the streets, kwete zvekuti ndozomuka asipo (not that I wake up to find them destroyed) he does it in everyone’s presence as people even call our team to notify us of his actions together with his son so that is what is happening where he placed his posters; they are still there and are actually discoloring to show nothing happened to them,” said Chiwara.
On his part, Kamuzonda said he too was a victim and accused Chiwara’s brother Hillary and team of destroying his posters saying he caught them in the act.
“The campaign is going well but the only challenge I am facing is that of my posters are being defaced by Hillary Chiwara (Shantiel’s brother) and his team. This shows they are panicking and are afraid of me. If I was not a threat, there was no need to deface my posters,” said Kamuzonda.
He said it was a lie that his son was destroying his rival’s posters and dared Chiwara to provide proof if it was true and said his son was too young to be involved in such political madness.
“If they have proof they can bring it out; is my son able to place posters over there? Madumeja naOsy mwana waVaSiniya naHilary ndovari kubvarura evamwe proof iripo pedo nekumba kwavo pasnooker (Chiwara’s team are the ones doing that and there is proof closer to their home. Today I saw them tearing my posters too,” said Kamuzonda.
Responding to allegations of defacing other candidates’ campaign posters, Zanu PF candidate Benson Hwata said it was not true and said he too was a victim.
“There is nothing like that, kungoda kuisvibisa vamwe, vanenge varikudamburirana pachavo. I will send you anguwo akadamburwa so ndototi ndivo. (It is just mud-slinging, I think they are doing it amongst themselves, my posters have been torn too and I can say it is them),” said Hwata.
Ward 2 fell vacant in October after CCC’s self-imposed Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu recalled Chiwara and several others across the country.
Chiwara and Kamuzonda are both representing CCC with Kamuzonda being reportedly Tshabangu’s front runner whilst Chiwara is alleged to belong to the party leader Nelson Chamisa’s faction.
Chamisa’s team has since deployed the party’s director in the organising department Farai Chinobva to declare Chiwara the official candidate.
However, questions have been raised on Chinobva’s interests in the ward as he was there during the primaries prior to the August 23 election.
He was there when Chiwara was elected Mayor and was back again to launch her by-election campaign.
The fourth candidate, Frank Chirairo was dropped by CCC in the primaries despite having commanded a bigger following than others during the bereka mwana voting system, where supporters of each candidate stood behind their favourite and the one with more people became the winner.