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Masvingo province targets over 5,000 hectares for winter wheat

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Masvingo province targets over 5,000 hectares for winter wheat

By Virginia Njovo

MASVINGO – Masvingo Province is poised to exceed its 5,000-hectare target for winter crops in 2026, with farmers expected to plant from May 1 to May 31 in order to stay within the optimal timeframe before the summer cropping season.

According to the ARDAS weekly report as of May 4, 2026, the province has adequate water for winter cropping and is expected to surpass the target. 

“Masvingo Province has 100 percent full dams and plans to grow more in the province are well advanced. As of now, the area registered for winter crop has surpassed our expected target, with 5,468 hectares already registered,” read the report.

The report also outlined national targets and average dam levels that are above 90 percent signaling a good winter cropping season.

 “A total of 125,000 hectares of winter wheat is targeted across the country, with an expected yield of 662,500 tonnes. As of May 1, 2026, the area registered stands at 116,084 hectares, and 4,901 hectares have been planted. The national average dam level is 93 percent, reflecting sustained water availability across the country, with 97 percent of key dams at full capacity,” the report stated.

The report further stated that farmers were well prepared for winter wheat farming. 

“Provincial wheat seminars have been conducted in all eight provinces and will continue to cascade down to district and village level. Winter wheat land identification and area registration is in progress in all provinces. Contracting of farmers for winter wheat by financiers is now at 73 percent. Farmers are encouraged to do land preparation for winter wheat and apply lime in harvested fields,” read the report.

Speaking during the recently held inter-ministerial games at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resource Management, Professor Obert Jiri, urged farmers to speed up planting so as not to miss the cut-off date.

“We are urging all farmers to harness their planting so that they will not be affected by the cut-off date. We expect that they will not go beyond May 31, as their yields will become compromised,” said Professor Jiri.

He added that in addition to wheat, farmers will also plant barley and potatoes other than the usual wheat

“Apart from wheat, we are also targeting to plant 7,000 hectares of barley and more than 9,000 hectares of potatoes. Inputs for the Presidential Input Support Programme for wheat are available, and distribution has already started. Those under the programme are receiving a full package including seed, Compound D fertilizer, top dressing, and the necessary herbicides for wheat,” said Professor Jiri.

In 2025, the country planted 120,000 hectares of winter wheat with a target yield of 600,000 tonnes.

Redefining Real-World Readiness: Beyond the Exam Certificate

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Redefining Real-World Readiness: Beyond the Exam Certificate

For too long, “readiness” in Zimbabwe meant passing exams. A student could score 15 As, enter university, and still not know how to wire a circuit, budget a salary, or speak confidently in a job interview. The classrooms produced theorists, not builders. That definition is outdated.

“ Real-world readiness” today means a graduate can identify a local problem, design a solution, fund it, and sustain it. It’s not just what you know. It’s what you can do, how you manage yourself, and how you work with others. This redefinition rests on three pillars: “industry-driven curricula and skills pathways, mandatory financial and life literacy, and power skills and literacy.”

1. Industry-Driven Curriculum and Skills Pathways

A classroom disconnected from industry trains students for a job market that no longer exists. Industry-driven curriculum flips that model. It brings the workplace into the school and the school into the workplace.

What it looks like

At Zimuto High, the robotics team didn’t learn coding from a textbook alone. They designed robots to competition standard, iterated prototypes under pressure, and represented Zimbabwe internationally. At Chibuwe Technical High, Tinotenda Mapipi’s motorized buggy wasn’t a science fair project. It was used during Cyclone Idai to ferry villagers across flooded rivers when bridges collapsed. That is learning that saves lives and solves real problems.

Why it matters 

Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 adds Innovation + Industrialization to the traditional missions of Teaching, Research, and Community Service. The Heritage-Based Curriculum grounds that innovation in local context — our resources, our history, our challenges. Together, they create skills pathways where a student moves from Form 1 clay radio experiments to Form 6 robotics gold, and from there to apprenticeships, startups, or factories.

The shift From “learn for the exam” to “learn for production”

When  schools treat Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET ) as equal to academics, students become creators and producers, not just job seekers. ZITF 2026’s theme “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries” only works if the curriculum feeds the economy with skilled hands and minds.

2. Mandatory Financial and Life Literacy

Technical skill without financial sense is dangerous. You can build a buggy but bankrupt yourself building it. You can win a robotics medal but fall into a more of debts because you don’t understand interest, contracts, or savings.

Financial literacy means knowing how money works: budgeting, saving, borrowing, investing, and understanding taxes. Life literacy means managing adulthood: health, relationships, conflict resolution, time management, and mental wellbeing.

Why it’s mandatory

Most young Zimbabweans enter adulthood without a bank account, without a budget, and without negotiation skills. They’re vulnerable to debt traps, scams, and poor decisions. If schools teach calculus but not compound interest, we’re failing students.

How it fits real-world readiness

A Pamushana High student who designs a smart car park system must also know how to cost materials, price the service, and manage revenue. A Zimuto graduate representing Zimbabwe in Turkey must understand travel budgets, contracts, and cultural etiquette. Life literacy ensures that when opportunity arrives, the student is psychologically and socially ready, not just technically ready.

3. The Power Skills and Literacy

Power skills are the human skills machines can’t replace: communication, critical thinking, teamwork, adaptability, creativity, and leadership. Literacy here goes beyond reading. It’s “digital literacy”  using technology responsibly and  cultural literacy understanding identity, values, and context.

Why power skills are the multiplier

A robot can calculate faster than a human. AI can code faster than a junior programmer. What AI can’t do is lead a team during a crisis, persuade a community to adopt a new technology, or design with empathy.

Zimuto’s Drummies team shows this. National champions in performance arts, they also display discipline, coordination, and cultural pride — power skills that make them ambassadors. The same applies to Pamushana’s learners pitching their car park to ZITF visitors. The technical solution gets attention, but communication wins trust and investment.

Cultural literacy ties it together. The Heritage-Based Curriculum centers Ubuntu: “I am because we are.” That value shapes how students collaborate, serve community, and build solutions that respect local context. Without it, innovation becomes copy-paste from the West.

Conclusion: The New Graduate Profile

Redefining real-world readiness means we stop asking – “What grade did you get?”- and start asking – “What can you build? What can you manage? How do you lead?”

Masvingo man secretly taps into council water for 20 years, owes council US$46k

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Masvingo man secretly taps into council water for 20 years, owes council US$46k

By Staff Reporter
MASVINGO – A Bushmead Farm resident has been exposed for secretly tapping into Masvingo
City Council’s water supply for two decades, accumulating a staggering US$46,800 debt after
council disconnected him years ago only for him to reconnect himself and continue using treated
water without paying a cent.
The brazen theft came to light during a recent full council meeting when the Public Works and
Housing Committee revealed that a man identified only as L Chengeta had applied for a formal
reconnection.
A quick check by officials uncovered that Chengeta had already been illegally drawing water
from the main line for the past 20 years.
The committee resolved to recommend that his application for water connection be turned down
on the basis that he had illegally connected himself. It further instructed the finance director to
refer to management the debt of US$46,800 for water consumed over two decades without
authorization.
Councillors expressed shock during the debate, with some demanding the man’s arrest. Ward 10
Councillor Sengerayi Manyanga suggested that the water Chengeta had been stealing was
exactly the “non-revenue water” that council records show as lost every month.
However, other councillors noted that the engineering department had advised the committee
that council could not bill for water still in the main line before it reaches council storage tanks a
technicality that appears to have saved Chengeta from an even bigger bill.
Masvingo City Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa explained that Chengeta had
originally been connected years ago but failed to pay his bills, leading to disconnection.
However, instead of staying off the grid, he simply bypassed the system and reconnected himself
illegally and continued using treated water as if he owned the pipeline.
After two decades of freeloading, Chengeta recently had the audacity to apply for a legal
reconnection. Council has now turned him down flat, leaving the matter with management to
decide how to recover the staggering debt.

Power FC eyes momentum after narrow cup win

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Power FC eyes momentum after narrow cup win

By Tadiwa Shunje
MASVINGO – Power FC will be aiming to build on their recent victory when they face Africa
Minerals Ventures at Vengere Stadium in match day eight today (May 07, 2026).
The side edged Four Lions 1-0 on 2 May in a tightly contested encounter of ZIFA Munhumutapa
Challenge Cup, securing a crucial win that keeps their cup hopes alive.
The result boosted confidence in the camp as they prepare for what promises to be another
challenging fixture in Rusape against Africa Minerals Ventures.
Speaking to TellZim News after the previous match, Power FC head coach, Wilson
Chinosengwa expressed satisfaction with the performance, highlighting both tactical discipline
and resilience shown by his players.
“Yes the game went according to our plans. We knew it was going to be a difficult game since
the teams knew each other but the boys played well and managed to get a goal that was meant to
unsettle them,” said Chinosengwa.
“In the second half we did well by absorbing pressure. Special thanks goes to our supporters who
pushes the boys all the way, we are hoping for a positive result in Rusape against Africa
Minerals Ventures,” he added.
The goalkeepers’ coach, Lloyd Moyo also praised the team’s execution and focus, emphasizing a
steady approach moving forward.
“The game was ok, we played well and the boys executed our game plan very well. We are
looking forward to our next match in Rusape and we are just taking each game as it comes
because we still have a long way to go,” he said.
With momentum on their side, Power FC will be hoping to carry their winning form into the
clash against Africa Minerals Ventures as the league campaign continues.

Zimbabwe’s Drug Plan on Paper vs. Pavement: A Community Psychologist’s view

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Zimbabwe’s Drug Plan on Paper vs. Pavement: A Community Psychologist’s view

By Ivy Manyepa, Community Psychology Intern
Zimbabwe is in the grip of a substance abuse crisis that no single ministry can solve. More
than 60 percent of patients admitted to the country’s mental health institutions are there
because of drug- and substance-related conditions, and alcohol and drug use is now the eighth
leading cause of disability-adjusted life years lost. Behind the numbers are young people who
lost routines and hope during COVID-19 lockdowns, families shattered by addiction, and
communities trapped between stigma and silence. A new government plan promises a
multisectoral fix, but from where I stand as a community psychology intern, good policy will
only translate into real change if the voices of affected communities finally move from the
margins to the centre.
An ambitious blueprint
In 2024 the government launched the Zimbabwe Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse
Plan (2024–2030), replacing an earlier National Drug Master Plan. The vision is bold: a
healthy, secure nation free from illicit drugs. The plan rests on seven pillars—demand
reduction, supply reduction, harm reduction and treatment, community reintegration, policy
and legal enforcement, media and communication, and resource mobilisation.
On paper, this marks a welcome shift from purely punitive approaches. An Inter-Ministerial
Committee and a National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse have been established,

specialised drug courts are being trained, and a new national enforcement and coordination
agency is being created. For the first time, the policy architecture acknowledges that
substance abuse is as much a health and social challenge as a law-enforcement one.
Why the cracks matter
Yet between the policy launch and the daily lived reality, the cracks are wide. Rehabilitation
centres remain understaffed and under-equipped. Police operations such as “No to Illicit
Drugs and Substances” have dismantled drug dens and made thousands of arrests, but
enforcement alone does not heal a person or rebuild a life. Outdated laws like the Dangerous
Drugs Act still dominate, and agencies often work in silos with little communication between
health workers, police and social services. Rural communities, where home-brewed alcohol
and inhalants are common, face near-total absence of services.
Perhaps the most troubling gap is the one I am trained to look for: the almost complete
absence of community voices shaping the plan. Where, in the design of this national strategy,
are the active drug users, the recovering youth, the grandmothers raising grandchildren of
addicted parents, the village health workers, the traditional chiefs, the faith leaders? Without
their knowledge and ownership, even the most sophisticated document risks gathering dust.
Stigma, secrecy and the community psychology blind spot
From a community psychology lens, substance abuse cannot be understood as individual
moral failure. It emerges from the interplay of economic stress, family disruption, peer
pressure, cultural norms and institutional responses. Stigma, in particular, operates at every
level: self-stigma that stops a young person seeking help, family rejection that pushes them
deeper underground, neighbourhood gossip that isolates, and institutional discrimination that
treats them as criminals rather than people needing care.
The national plan mentions “community reintegration” but does not unpack what that means
in a high-density suburb or a rural village where a returning user may face ridicule, rejection
or violence. Practical steps to reduce stigma—community dialogues, contact-based education,
and the deployment of peer supporters with lived experience—remain largely absent from the
implementation roadmap.
Harm reduction on the ground

Harm reduction is listed as a pillar, yet concrete, culturally anchored strategies are rarely
discussed. Needle and syringe programmes, overdose-reversing naloxone distribution, and
safe spaces for people who use drugs are often politically uncomfortable. However, a drop-in
centre in Highfield, Harare, supported by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, is already
showing what is possible: HIV prevention, primary health care, a community kitchen, peer
support and skills-building, all under one roof. This model of trust-building and health-first
engagement needs to be adapted and spread, not tucked away as an exception.
Similarly, the plan does not adequately distinguish between rural and urban substance use
patterns. Rural communities require solutions that fit their context: training chiefs and
headmen to recognise early warning signs, integrating substance abuse messages into
agricultural extension visits, and forming village-based mutual aid groups that meet under a
tree, not in a clinic.
Power, peers and the missing empowerment
Almost all the original recommendations target government institutions: modernise laws,
scale up services, fund the new agency. These are necessary, but they are not enough.
Sustainable change requires redistributing power and resources directly to communities. Peer
recovery coaches—former users trained to offer hope and accountability—can reach hearts
that professionals cannot. Youth-led prevention clubs in schools and churches can shift norms
from within. Mutual aid groups adapted to indigenous languages in Zimbabwe, meeting in
safe local spaces, can offer ongoing support far beyond the reach of a formal rehabilitation
centre. Funding must flow not only to government facilities but also to community-based
organisations run by and for people who use drugs and their families.
Walking the ethical tightrope
I must also name an uncomfortable truth. As a community psychology intern, I write from a
position of relative power, and I enter communities where mistrust of outsiders, especially
those linked to government or law enforcement, runs deep. When the police are
simultaneously arresting people who use drugs, how do I build trust with those same
individuals? The answer requires transparent agreements about confidentiality, collaborative
problem-solving with local leaders, and an unwavering commitment to do no harm—even
when that means refusing to share information with authorities. This ethical complexity is not
a footnote; it is the daily work of community psychology.

From paper to pavement
Zimbabwe’s multisectoral plan is a genuine step forward, but a plan only lives when it is
owned by the people it intends to serve. To move from paper to pavement, we must actively
involve people who use drugs, their families, and their neighbours as co-designers of
solutions. We must confront stigma openly, embrace harm reduction as a practical
community-level strategy, differentiate between rural and urban realities, and invest heavily
in peer support. A national dialogue on stigma and harm reduction, co-facilitated by people
with lived experience, could produce a concrete community action framework that guides
everything from training traditional leaders to integrating substance abuse prevention into
school feeding programmes.
The vision of a healthy, secure nation free from illicit drugs is not impossible. But it will not
be achieved by experts in boardrooms alone. It will be built slowly, in the homesteads, the
churchyards, the village paths and the drop-in centres, by empowered communitiesew

Zimuto High robotics team wows ZITF with mine safety innovation

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Zimuto High robotics team wows ZITF with mine safety innovation

By Own Correspondent
Zimuto High School turned heads at the just-ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair
(ZITF) 2026, showcasing a rare blend of technological innovation and performance
excellence that drew crowds to its exhibition stand.
From the synchronized rhythms of its drummies to a student-built robot designed to improve
mine safety, the Reformed Church run school demonstrated that it is producing more than
just exam results.
At the centre of attention was the school’s robotics team, which unveiled Geendah 2.0, a
robot designed to protect miners from hazardous gases in underground tunnels.
The project which was developed by Ashley Makonese and a team comprising of Praise
Pabwe, Pfuluphelo Singo, Nokutenda Manasidze, Evelyn Rwakonda and Madhlazi Blessing.
Robotics team mentor Victor Gonese said the innovation improves the working environment
for workers by purifying the air apart from detecting hazards.
“The robot navigates through mine tunnels and absorbs toxic gases such as carbon
monoxide and methane. It purifies the air, using an activated carbon filter effectively
improving the working environment in addition to detecting hazards, said Makonese.
By combining safety and productivity, the innovation addresses both life-threatening risks
and operational challenges in the mining sector.
Pfuluphelo Singo said the project offers an affordable and mobile solution that could
significantly reduce fatalities, particularly in small-scale mining operations.
Beyond the exhibition booth, Zimuto High made its mark through performance.
The school’s drummies, now a regular highlight at ZITF, delivered high-energy routines
marked by precision and flair, earning them the honour of representing Masvingo Province.
Dressed in their signature white, blue, grey and gold uniforms, the team was ranked the third
best dressed at the event and performed during key segments of the trade fair.
In 2025, the school’s drum majorettes also stood out, captivating audiences at the 65th ZITF
and earned four top awards.
Zimuto High School Head Langton Chikaka applauded the team’s performance and said the
school greatly supports co-curricular programmes.
““Zimuto’s co-curricular program ensures learners are doing wonders and are now present in
international circles,” said Chikaka.

The school has placed the province on the map with its learners’ outstanding innovations. In
2025, Zimuto High displayed a smart navigation kit for the visually impaired at the
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE) exhibition stand. The kit
comprised of three active components namely a walking stick, navigation spectacles and
Global Positioning System (GPS) module.
From innovation to artistry, Zimuto High used ZITF 2026 to send a clear message: it is not
just producing certificate holders, but creators, problem-solvers and future leaders.

Minister Mhona apologizes to Masvingo over completion of Mucheke Bridge

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Minister Mhona apologizes to Masvingo over completion of Mucheke Bridge

By Tadiwa Shunje
MASVINGO- Government ministers have apologized to Masvingo residents following months
of traffic congestion caused by delays in the completion of Mucheke Bridge, which was officially
opened on April 30, 2026.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister of transport and infrastructural
development Felix Mhona acknowledged the inconvenience faced by motorists and residents,
admitting the prolonged works had disrupted commuting to work, school travel and also
transporting goods and business activities.
He said he personally experienced the heavy traffic while travelling to the event, highlighting
the extent of the congestion.
“I also experienced the traffic while coming to this event. We are sorry for the delays and the
inconvenience caused to the people of Masvingo. Today marks an important milestone,” he
added.
He said the opening of the bridge was expected to ease congestion, allowing smoother traffic
flow with no long queues or late arrivals to work and will support continued progress in the
area.
“The opening of the bridge will help decongest traffic, and people will no longer experience
long queues. We will also continue to support development and progress in the area,” said
Mhona.
Masvingo Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa also
spoke on the pressure surrounding the project, saying he endured sleepless nights as residents
constantly demanded to know when the bridge would be completed.
“I spent sleepless nights over this bridge, especially knowing that during the festive season this
road becomes very busy with people travelling from South Africa to Zimbabwe. I kept thinking
about when the bridge would completed,” said Pazvakavambwa.
He said he used to receive calls as late as midnight from frustrated members of the public
questioning what was delaying the completion of the bridge and would assure them that he
was working on resolving the matter.
He said the project attracted concern from different people speaking various languages all
seeking updates on the projects.
“I used to receive calls at midnight from frustrated members of the public asking what was
delaying the completion of the bridge. I would assure them that I was working on addressing

the matter and I also received calls from different people speaking various languages, all
seeking updates on the project,” said Pazvakavambwa.
He also said he was extremely happy following the completion of the Mucheke bridge while
expressing regret and apologizing to residents of Masvingo for the delays and inconvenience
they experienced.
“I am the happiest person ever that this bridge has been completed. I also wasn’t emphasize
my apology to the residents of Masvingo,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.

Two more bridges to be completed in Masvingo before the end of 2026

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Two more bridges to be completed in Masvingo before the end of 2026

By TellZim Reporter
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, has pledged to
complete two additional bridges in Masvingo before the end of 2026, as the Ministry
intensifies efforts to improve transport infrastructure in the province and across the country.
Speaking during the official opening of the Chevron Bridge on April 30, Mhona said the
Ministry was expected to return later this year to commission two more bridges.
“The development forms part of the ongoing road and bridge rehabilitation works, which are
aimed at reducing transport challenges for both commuters and businesses. This is especially
important during the rainy season, when water levels often disrupt movement and damage
road infrastructure,” said Mhona.
He said the Ministry expects to return for the commissioning of the Chimusana Bridge and
the Masvingo Polytechnic Interchange, which will be known as Masvingo Trabablas.
“Masvingo Trabablas will improve connectivity between key areas in and around Masvingo.
It will also strengthen access to markets and support day-to-day economic activities for
communities,” said Mhona.
Mhona also explained that delays and funding constraints may occur during construction,
saying Zimbabwe faced difficulties accessing certain loans and support mechanisms.
“The Ministry cannot access loans from the World Bank like some other countries due to
sanctions. Some of the delays we may experience during the construction of bridges will
require us to rely on the national Treasury,” he said.
He went on to say the Ministry would continue with the refurbishment of Chilonga Bridge,
underscoring the Government’s commitment to improving transport infrastructure and
reducing disruptions on the road network.

Matthew Rusike Donga Child Care excels in farming, appeals for support

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Matthew Rusike Donga Child Care excels in farming, appeals for support

By Tavonga Munyanyi
SHURUGWI – Matthew Rusike Donga Child Care Center, an extension of the Matthew Rusike
Children’s Home under the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe scooped first position under the
Pfumvudza/Intwasa farming scheme and third position in small grain farming, demonstrating its
commitment to supporting orphans and vulnerable children through agriculture.
The center, located in Pavi village under Chief Ndanga in Shurugwi, hosted a field day on April
27 to celebrate its achievements.
Addressing farmers during the event, guest of honour and Agricultural Business Advisory
Supervisor for wards 3, 8, 9 and 10, Memory Chitava, encouraged every farmer to acquire
knowledge through Farmer Field Schools and Master Farmer Training to enhance yields.
“As farmers, you must develop a zeal to learn. Acquiring knowledge from Agricultural Business
Advisor Officers is very crucial because they are the sources of appropriate information, which is
a necessity for every farmer’s success.
“Each and every village must have a Farmer Field School, and every farmer must be trained
under Master Farmer Training. This will help you elevate your standards as a farmer,” said
Chitava.
She urged farmers to be cautious during the harvesting period to avoid post-harvest losses.
“During harvesting, one must be careful to avoid unnecessary losses. Without diligence, you may
labour in vain. As farmers, you must set targets towards your goals without recklessness,” she
said.
Speaking to TellZim News after the event, Matthew Rusike Children’s Home Director Reverend
Linrielink Mutendzwa said he was thrilled by the farmers’ performance and dedication.
“I’m thrilled with the farmers’ achievements. They did extremely well. Their dedication to
promoting food security for orphans and vulnerable children is an earnest gesture,” said Rev
Mutendzwa.
He described farming as a technique that transforms and empowers one’s life.
“Farming alleviates hunger and starvation in daytoday life. In Epworth, we are practising
farming at a commercial level.
We want children to gain more farming skills through working in the fields. We want them to be
empowered and selfreliant because there is life after the children’s home. Farming is mitigating
the effects of drug and substance abuse because the majority of children at the home are
spending ample time working in the fields and engaging in different agricultural practices,” he
said.

He said despite its farming success, Matthew Rusike Donga Child Care Center is plagued by
dilapidated infrastructure, inadequate water supply, and financial constraints.
“The organisation is striving to assist its beneficiaries, but our buildings are now dilapidated. We
drilled a borehole which supplies inadequate water. We also face financial constraints to pay
school fees for our beneficiaries.
“We therefore appeal for assistance from wellwishers in cash or kind – it will make a difference.
We need another borehole that sustains the centre with adequate water supply. We don’t have
appropriate infrastructure for our roadrunner chicken and piggery projects,” said Mutendzwa.
Matthew Rusike Donga Child Care Development Officer Lloyd Kupeta expressed appreciation
to Agricultural Business Advisors for imparting farming skills.
“I want to thank Agricultural Business Advisors for providing us with farming knowledge, which
has brought successful results,” said Kupeta.
He emphasised the importance of timeliness, stating it has positive impacts on plant growth at
every stage and said the prolonged dry spell and heavy rains affected the organisation’s
expectations.
“It is important to commence land preparation and plant seeds in time. As a farmer, you must
keep records to ensure accuracy.
“During this farming season, our crops were affected by a prolonged dry spell. Heavy rains also
affected us towards the harvesting period, contributing to some losses,” he said.
Despite working tirelessly to produce better yields, shortage of farming equipment and human
resources are affecting the organisation’s progress.
“We are trying to sustain our children through food security, but we have few farming
equipment. We are only two farmers. We appeal for assistance from wellwishers through
equipment and from those who want to assist us by working in the fields,” said Kupeta.
He urged farmers to prioritise small grain farming, stating that these are droughtresistant crops
that promote a healthy lifestyle.
“Farmers, let’s prioritise small grain farming because they can survive without enough water.
Sorghum and finger millet meal may appear dull in colour, but it is very healthy,” he said.
As the farming season approaches harvest, Matthew Rusike Donga Child Care Center expects to
reap one and a half tonnes of maize, approximately a quarter tonne of finger millet, and a quarter
tonne of groundnuts.
The centre currently supports 88 children in Shurugwi district.

Mixed feelings over proposed ban on Medical Aid Societies owning clinics

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Mixed feelings over proposed ban on Medical Aid Societies owning clinics

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.

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