By Ndinatsei Mavodza                                                

               
With over 80 percent of the Harare-Beitbridge highway now completed and open to traffic, the government has announced a final deadline of end-2025 for the full rehabilitation of this critical North-South corridor. The remaining work, including urban dualisation, bridge construction, and interchanges, is slated for completion to enhance regional trade and safety.

This was revealed by Exavier Chisoko, who was representing Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe, at the commissioning of a completed 5km section of the Harare-Masvingo reconstruction, upgrading, and widening project. It was mentioned that about 402 kilometers of the road have been completed.

“I am pleased to report that 492 km of the 580km stretch, has been completed and opened to traffic. The remaining 88km of rehabilitation, the dualization of urban sections in Harare and in Masvingo, the construction of grade-separated junctions including the trumpet interchange at Masvingo Polytechnic connecting the Masvingo bypass on the Masvingo-Beitbridge road, the new Mucheke-Chevron Bridge—which will cater for northbound traffic while the existing bridge caters for southbound traffic—and the installation of street lighting are all to be completed this year,” said Chisoko.

Chisoko emphasized that the upgrading of the road network is a crucial project for the nation and the SADC region, enhancing both trade and travel experiences.

“This will finalize a truly efficient North-South bound corridor that will serve not only Zimbabwe but the entire SADC region. The Harare-Masvingo road project is therefore not merely an upgrade of asphalt and concrete; it is a national strategic imperative. It enhances the crucial corridor, improving connectivity, reducing travel time, and most importantly, saving lives.

“The 5km section we opened today, and the project as a whole, will catalyze economic activity across the province by providing a reliable, world-class transport link. It unlocks immense potential in agriculture, tourism, and commerce,” said Chisoko.

Masimba Holdings, which is constructing the Mucheke and Chimusana bridges, contract manager Marlvin Mnemo reported that completion of the Mucheke Bridge near Chevron Hotel in Masvingo is nearing completion, with the bridge expected to be opened to users by the end of November.

“Most of the work being done in Masvingo town is at 84 percent completion, and this includes a bypass which is 2.4km. The bypass includes the construction of structures like bridges and interchanges, which will assist in reducing congestion in Masvingo. The structures include a bridge at Chevron Hotel, which we are expecting to be opened to traffic at the end of November. Vehicles coming from South Africa will be using this bridge, and traffic to South Africa will use the existing bridge.

“Another bridge will be constructed at Chimusana, and an interchange at Masvingo Poly,” said Mnemo.

In his opening remarks, Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr. Addmore Pazvakavambwa said the project is important for enhancing the provincial economy.

“This development typifies the seriousness of the second republic under the astute leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa; it resonates with our own objectives as a province. As a province, we are looking at enhancing our provincial economy, and we cannot talk about enhancing our provincial economy without the requisite infrastructure development, without a good road network,” said Dr. Pazvakavambwa.

By Brighton Chiseva                                                              

MASVINGO – Masvingo Mayor Councillor Alec Tabe has been added to a growing list of Masvingo City councillors facing imminent recall, in a dramatic escalation of the internal purge within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), TellZim News can reveal.

The move, however, is shrouded in controversy, with some allegations appearing inconsistent and politically motivated and now threatens to severely undermine service delivery for Masvingo residents.

This development comes after TellZim News recently reported that three Masvingo CCC councillors Esther Zishiri, Alaica Time, and Bernad Muchokwa were facing recall over accusations of supporting an independent candidate linked to former opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

The initial recall letter was dated September 4 and addressed to the Town Cleck and signed by Rocky Kamuzonda who referred to himself as the CCC Interim Secretary General Masvingo Province.

The three were accused of breaching the party’s electoral code of conduct by campaigning for an independent candidate in the ward 7 by elections.

“This conduct directly contravene section 67 of the constitution of Zimbabwe which outlines political Rights and the principal’s (sic) they are expected to uphold the highest standard of integrity and impartiality.

“We have received many compliment (sic) from Rujeko and Masvingo residents. As a part (sic) we request immediate action. Remove the aforementioned officials from their position, citing their breach of Electoral Conduct. We are writing to you to withdraw them from their position,” read part of the letter.

However, highly placed sources within the CCC confirmed that Mayor Tabe had been included in the recall list, which originates from the camp of Sengezo Tshabangu, the controversial interim CCC secretary-general who asserted control over the party’s structures.

“Kamuzonda wrote the letter to Masvingo City Council deliberately without Tabe’s name but on the report he sent to Tshabangu, he included his name. So Tshabangu and team are coming to investigate the allegations,” said a source.

The four councilors are accused of defying party directives by allegedly campaigning for Struggle Nyahunda, an independent candidate in the upcoming Ward 7 by-election. Nyahunda is widely perceived to be aligned with Chamisa, who resigned from active politics earlier this year.

However, the allegations against Muchokwa have raised eyebrows, as multiple sources confirm he had been openly hostile towards Nyahunda. Of all the 11 opposition councilors, Muchokwa is the only one who was not supporting Nyahunda. Their rivalry stems from Nyahunda’s alliance with Thomas Mbetu, who challenged Muchokwa in the fiercely contested 2023 primary elections.

“The claim that Muchokwa supports Nyahunda is laughable to anyone who knows local politics. They are rivals, not allies. If anything, Muchokwa is being targeted for being one of the most vocal councilors who consistently posted and praised Nelson Chamisa. All the other 10 councilors openly supported Nyahunda so we wonder why they only chose those 4 leaving all the others,” a party insider revealed.

Other sources suggest that there was a more sinister motive behind Muchokwa’s recall that is to facilitate the return of former Ward Councillor Against Chiteme of ZANU-PF, a known close ally of controversial businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.

This theory gains credibility given ZANU-PF’s recent landslide victory in Masvingo Urban’s Ward 7 by-election, where their candidate won with more votes than the other four candidates combined.

Contacted for comment, Mayor Tabe said he was not aware of such a development and would revert if he gets any communication.

“I am not aware of any such meeting or recall threat. No one has informed me of the meeting or the recall,” said Tabe.

Should the recalls proceed, the impact on Masvingo residents could be catastrophic. Zishiri and Time, both proportional representation councilors, had finally mastered the art of council debate and procedure after nearly two years in office and were beginning to contribute meaningfully to council discussions and oversight.

The loss of Mayor Tabe, an experienced administrator familiar with the complexities of urban governance, would deal an even heavier blow to the city’s stability and development momentum.

The move against Tabe marks a significant escalation in the ongoing factional battles within the CCC. As the most high-profile local government figure in the province, his targeting suggests the purge is intensifying, blending genuine factional discipline with what critics call political victimization and external manipulation.

Sources further revealed that a replacement lineup has already been prepared, with Kamuzonda, former Ward 3, allegedly positioning his wife and former ward 3 aspiring candidate Linnet Tendai Sibanda to take over from either proportional representation councilors Zishiri or Time.

The situation underscores the chaotic nature of Zimbabwean opposition politics, where recalls have become a common tool for factional leaders to purge dissenting voices. The Zimbabwean constitution permits political parties to recall elected officials, but this power rests solely with parties, not the electorate, raising concerns about the undermining of democratic processes and now, critically, the continuity of essential public services.

This expanding recall has sparked fears about the erosion of elected officials’ autonomy and the stifling of democracy, where allegiance to a faction is prioritized over service delivery and constituency representation. The ongoing power struggle in Masvingo represents a microcosm of the broader battle for control within the CCC, threatening to further weaken the opposition’s presence in local governance at the direct expense of Masvingo residents.

By Staff reporter

ZAKA – Chief Ndanga of Zaka has issued a stern warning against the desecration of funerals, emphasizing the sacred nature of burial ceremonies and calling for utmost respect for the deceased.

The chief made these remarks during a crime awareness campaign organized by the Zimbabwe Republic Police at Gumbo Business Centre, where he gathered with his headmen, village heads, and local residents.

The traditional leader condemned the practice of transport touts taking coffins and running with them on top of vehicles, stating that such behavior showed disrespect for both the dead and mourning families. He reminded communities that touting remains illegal in Zimbabwe and would not be tolerated at funerals.

Chief Ndanga specifically addressed cases involving deceased sex workers, warning community members against stripping or mocking bodies based on the deceased’s profession. He emphasized that death cleanses all worldly habits, quoting the Shona principle “Wafa Wanaka” (the deceased is now clean).

“Funerals are sacred occasions that demand respect. Whether the deceased was a saint or a sinner in life, in death they deserve dignity. Those who mock or disrespect the dead will face consequences.

If heard of such an incident, I will punish the headman who in turn would punish the village head. So you village heads, you cannot allow that to happen in your eyes,” said Chief Ndanga.

The chief also condemned the growing practice of taking photographs during body viewings, describing it as “unAfrican” and disrespectful. He urged people to take pictures of their relatives while they are still alive rather than during funeral proceedings.

In addition to funeral regulations, Chief Ndanga addressed sanitation concerns in his jurisdiction. He announced that by the end of the month, every household must have a functional toilet or face consequences.

“We agreed in January that by this time everyone would have a toilet. So I will start by fining village heads two goats if they are found without toilets in their areas. This is not just about cleanliness but also about safety and dignity,” said Chief Ndanga. “

The chief highlighted the security risks particularly faced by women who relieve themselves in bushes, noting several cases of rape and assault. He also mentioned the social embarrassment that comes from being seen in compromising situations by neighbors, which sometimes leads to people avoiding each other in the community.

Chief Ndanga gave until the end of September for all households to construct toilets, warning that those who fail to comply would face traditional justice through the court system.

ZRP Officer Commanding Masvingo Province, Commissioner Friedrick Mbengwa, who was guest of honor at the event, urged village heads to collaborate with police to combat crime. He emphasized the importance of reporting all criminal activities and ensuring proper follow-up on cases.

“Village heads should have contacts of the Officer in Charge and the District Police Commander so that if cases are not handled properly, they can escalate them through the chain of command. Community cooperation is essential in fighting crime effectively,” said Commissioner Mbengwa.

…. businesses pay for power fix but get only darkness.

By Andrew Zhou

Mwenezi – Maranda Business Centre, located in the Mwenezi district within the Mwenezi South constituency, has been without electricity for over two years. The prolonged blackout has left residents and business owners struggling to keep their operations running.

Shop owners have been forced to rely on petrol and diesel generators, leading to soaring operational costs that threaten their livelihoods.

Speaking to TellZim News, Maranda Business Centre chairperson Chipo Chinyoka expressed deep concern over the impact on local commerce. She accused the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) of failing the community with constant excuses and unfulfilled promises.

“We are approaching two years without electricity here at our business centre after poles fell down due to heavy rains. Our members are bleeding financially while ZETDC keeps making empty promises.

“The ZETDC Rutenga depot said they did not have the manpower to dig holes, so we raised money here and managed to dig them ourselves. We informed them, and then they said they did not have a truck for pole distribution,” said Chinyoka.

Chinyoka further stated that poles were on the ground, stretched from Dinhe Business Centre to Nikita Mangena High School. She explained that the business committee also provided labour for pole distribution, but there has been no further progress from ZETDC. She appealed to the authorities to act to ensure the smooth running of business in the community.

“Poles are on the ground from Dinhe to Nikita Mangena High School. We provided labour, and the poles are distributed, but there is no further progress from the ZETDC team. We are appealing to the responsible authorities to take action because this is affecting the smooth running of business here at Maranda,” said Chinyoka.

A hardware dealer and welder at the centre, Zvanaka Rutetera, said it had been too long without power. He explained that each business person paid R100 to facilitate the electricity restoration process and provide labour, but there has been no progress from the Rutenga depot team.

“We last saw electricity here two years ago, just after the 2023 harmonized elections. We have been paying R100 to facilitate the restoration process, but there is no progress. Sometimes the depot sends only three men to do the distribution, saying there is a manpower shortage at their depot,” said Rutetera.

Zvanaka added that he was struggling to sustain his business due to the high cost of petrol. He also faces challenges with police, who accuse him of buying fuel on the black market.

“We are now relying on petrol generators to do our welding. The cost of powering generators daily is unsustainable for small businesses; a five-litre container of petrol costs R200. We also face challenges with the police, who say you are not allowed to be seen holding petrol and accuse us of buying it from the black market, but we are buying from the service station in Rutenga,” said Zvanaka.

Another business person, Samson Muboyi, questioned whether it was constitutional for residents to pay extra money and provide labour to ZETDC when they already pay bills for the service. He said frustration is growing at the business centre.

“I’m not aware if it is constitutionally accepted for residents who pay bills to ZETDC to pay extra money for restoration and maintenance. We are now fighting here because the money we paid to the chairperson has yielded no progress and no hope. The holes are now closed. The responsible authority, and even the Minister of Energy and Power Development, should assist us,” said Muboyi.

Contacted for comment, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) Masvingo manager, Jacqueline Hlatswayo, said she was checking on the issue. She encouraged clients to make reports on their 24-hour contact centre for seamless service and added that the matter had been referred to the acting district manager for Mwenezi, Engineer Shungu.

“Let me check if the fault was reported and recorded. We are also encouraging our clients to make reports on our 24-hour contact centre for seamless service. I have also referred the issue to our Acting District Manager, Engineer. Shungu,” said Hlatswayo.

By Andrew Zhou

Masvingo – The National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe (NAC) is fundamentally transforming lives and challenging deep-seated cultural norms through its DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) program, which provides comprehensive support to vulnerable young women across Masvingo Province.

The initiative represents a significant intervention in regions where traditional practices have historically prioritized boys’ education over girls’, often leading to early marriages and limited opportunities for female advancement.

Launched in 2021, the programme supports 7,000 girls across the province’s seven districts, with each district assisting 1,000 vulnerable beneficiaries.

The selection process carefully identifies deserving recipients based on vulnerability factors including orphanhood, single parenting, or lack of guardianship.

The comprehensive initiative provides essential educational support including stationery, sanitary wear, uniforms, school fees, and examination fees, alongside practical life skills training that empowers young women beyond the classroom.

Speaking during a media tour recently, NAC’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Munorwei Munyikwa said the programme used a multifaceted approach

“The program targets marginalized girls and young women between 15 and 24 years, providing basic educational needs and life-changing skills. It covers free HIV prevention services, testing, treatment, and social empowerment through agricultural and baking skills, among others. This year each district has 1,000 girls which are benefiting from the program,” said Munyikwa.

The programme’s implementation in Chiredzi district demonstrates its significant reach and impact.

Chiredzi NAC’s District AIDS Coordinator, Peter Nyakudya, said the programme supported 1000 leaners in the district.

 “The DREAMS program is currently paying school fees for about 1,000 learners for both primary and secondary schools in Chiredzi district only. Chigwedziva High School has a total of 31 girls who benefit from the project, and we pay $50 for each learner,” said Nyakudya.

The transformative impact of the DREAMS program is particularly evident at Hlanganani High School, where teacher and mentor Linda Matsilele reported substantial institutional benefits.

“Since the inception of the program in 2021, we have supported 68 learners, with 29 currently under sponsorship in 2025. Twenty-six of the beneficiaries are at Ordinary Level and 3 at Advanced Level doing arts subjects. This year alone, NAC has paid $7,185 to the school, resulting in meaningful development such as the construction of a computer laboratory,” said Matsilele.

Matsilele further emphasized the programme’s reliability and cultural impact as the fees were paid timeously to facilitate and that helped school developmental programmes.

“I want to thank NAC for its reliability in the provision of its services; we never saw any problems in the payment of the fees, and the beneficiaries are coming to school every day.

“The programme has boosted attendance at the school as it was low due to period poverty and lack of school fees, and it has covered the cultural gap in Shangani community where girls were viewed as inferior.”

The personal stories of beneficiaries illustrate the programme’s profound impact on individual lives.

Monica Masungwini, who has been sponsored by DREAMS since Form 2 and is now doing Form 6, shared her journey encouraging fellow beneficiaries to take advantage of the programme and finish school than rushing into marriages.

“DREAMS supported me when I had nothing. They paid for my 6 O-Level subjects, and I passed 8. Now I’m doing A-Level, and they’ve already paid for my examination fees for this year, and I hope I will pass and proceed to tertiary level. I encourage my fellow girls to continue going to school and avoid rushing into marriages,” said Masungwini.

Her experience was echoed by 17-year-old Letty Ingwani, who highlighted the programme’s role in challenging cultural barriers.

“As a girl child in the Shangani culture, we used to be left out, especially in education and life-changing skills given to boys. But now we are being given equal opportunities, and that has given us confidence and a future. DREAMS is a mother to us, it provides everything for us from uniforms to examination fees.”

The programme’s benefits extend beyond individual learners to entire educational institutions.

At Nikita Mnagena High School, teacher and mentor Loveness Magaya detailed the infrastructure improvements made possible through the programme.

“The programme started in 2022 with only four learners benefiting. This year a total of 58 learners are currently benefiting from DREAMS, and with the funds, the school has managed to renovate Form One classroom block, install 3kV solar power, and Starlink wifi installation at advanced level block to enhance researches between teachers and learners to embrace the heritage based curriculum,” said Magaya.

The DREAMS program represents a comprehensive approach to addressing multiple challenges facing vulnerable young women in Masvingo Province.

By combining educational support with life skills training and healthcare services, the program not only keeps girls in school but also provides them with the tools and confidence to build better futures.

The initiative’s success in improving school attendance, academic performance, and institutional infrastructure demonstrates the far-reaching impact of targeted interventions that address both immediate needs and underlying cultural barriers.

As the programme continues to expand its reach, it offers a model for how coordinated support can transform educational outcomes and life opportunities for vulnerable populations while simultaneously challenging harmful traditional practices that have limited girls’ potential for generations.