Home Blog Page 249

CCC Gweru ready for candidates nomination

TellZim News
-
0
CCC Gweru ready for candidates nomination

Tinaani Nyabereka

GWERU-Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has confirmed its readiness to nominate its candidates who will represent the party in the upcoming harmonized elections today (5 April 2023).

CCC Gweru District Senior official (who preferred anonymity) confirmed the development to TellZim News during a telephone interview.

“We are ready for the nominations which will take place in all the various wards in Gweru. All has been set and we believe people nominate their preferred leadership,” he said.

CCC president Nelson Chamisa last week said his party was abandoning the old primary election candidate selection process for a citizens’ anchored consensus.

“The selection process is called citizenocratic. It is a brand new candidate selection process; it’s fresh. It is novel and it’s modern and places the citizen at the centre of the process. Citizenocracy is government by the citizens. It’s a citizenocratic selection process.

“Citizens want candidates to be selected on merit, integrity, dignity, suitability and accountability. Citizens prefer representatives who are visible, accessible and available.

“These are leaders who regularly report back to constituencies and communities to get instructions and progress on policies and national priorities,” said Chamisa.

CCC National deputy Chairperson Sesel Zvidzai said the process was a milestone towards selecting leaders whom citizens believe will table solutions for the good of the nation.

Continued Hillside illegal mining activities raise concern

TellZim News
-
0
Continued Hillside illegal mining activities raise concern

TellZim Reporter

Concerns have been raised at Masvingo City Council over continued illegal mining activities taking place on the hills adjacent to Hillside suburb with fears that continuous environmental degradation can lead to serious consequences on part of residents.
The hills are where the city’s water storage tanks are situated.
Speaking during a full council meeting held on March 27 at the Civic Centre councillor Alec Tabe called upon the local authority to devise ways to ensure safety is guaranteed for the residents and their properties adjacent to the hills.
“What mitigatory measures have council especially the Public Works Committee put in place concerning the threats posed to residents and properties as well as council water storage tanks by the continued illegal mining activities by artisanal miners?
“We have witnessed enormous destruction resulting from such illegal activities with the recent example being of that primary school in Kwekwe (Phoenix) which succumbed to illegal mining,” said Tabe.
Public Works Committee chairperson Sengerayi Manyanga said it would be proper for council led by the Town Clerk (Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa) and Mayor Collen Maboke to engage stakeholders like the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to address the issue.
“I think the matter needs to be deliberated on in the public works committee but we would also ask the TC and Mayor to help us in form of even writing an official letter to the police to help stop the activities since we passed a resolution against such activities.
“The ZRP maybe the rightful authority to help us address the issue by arresting the culprits as that may also be helpful. If there is need for us to invite the ZRP as part of engagement efforts and ask them to work alongside our municipal police, then we can go that way. Some of these activities may be done during the night,” said Manyanga.

Mwenezi Council chair suffers humiliating defeat in Zanu PF primaries

TellZim News
-
0
Mwenezi Council chair suffers humiliating defeat in Zanu PF primaries

…as delimitation costs sitting councillors

Cephas Shava

Mwenezi-Mwenezi Rural District Council Chairperson Jorum Ncube who after being councillor for 20 years, suffered a humiliating defeat in the recently held Zanu Pf primary elections.
Ncube, who first became councillor in 2000 only took a break for a single term and had been Mwenezi RDC chairperson twice, serving for two terms in that capacity.
Ncube, one of the local authority’s longest serving councillors, whose ward 6 was merged with ward 4 to make a combined ward 4 following the recent delimitation got 640 votes while his rival, incumbent ward 4 councillor Passmore Madzudzu garnered 1238 votes.
Altered ward 1 saw the defeat of incumbent Collen Musariwa to Neshuro-based businessman Maxwell Muzvidziwa.
The merging of ward 2 and ward 3 to make ward 3 saw the defeat of incumbent ward 2 councillor Zephania Zhou by current ward 3 councillor Samuel Mabhena.
Ward 18 which houses the populous Rutenga growth point and is the only ward in the entire district which is under an opposition councillor will see Zanu Pf being represented by Tawanda Muza after he defeated his rivals.
In ward 7 and 14 Killion Murabharari and Admire Matutu respectively returned the right to represent their party in the coming harmonized elections.
Former Mwenezi East’s long time losing parliamentarian aspirant, Marvelous Chifumuro won the right to represent Zanu Pf as councillor in the newly gazetted ward 6.
Other Zanu PF councillors who have lost tickets for re-election include ward 13’s Takura Mudavose, Gilbert Gondo of ward 9, ward 5’s Tinashe Yingi, ward 15’s Samuel Kwinika, ward 17’s Simon Chabata and ward 11’s Gorden Magogo.

Bikita RDC urged to allocate stands to potential business investors

TellZim News
-
0
Bikita RDC urged to allocate stands to potential business investors

Perpetua Murungweni

Bikita Business Association (BBA) has urged Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) to allocate stands to potential investors and individuals to build permanent structures as a way of promoting business growth, development and employment.
BBA chairperson Charles Musimiki said the association has since approached council requesting them to give land to those operating viable businesses in the growth point.
“As an association, we urge council that those operating viable businesses should be given land and should not be put on the waiting list for more than five years because these companies and individuals are contributing so much to the growth of Bikita and it also creates employment for the community.
“If these companies and individuals are given fixed assets, we will be sure as a community that the investors will not go anywhere else and it helps us to capture good investors for our place to grow and achieve the vision of making Bikita town by the year 2030,” said Musimiki.
Musimiki went on to add that council should follow the footsteps of the president Emmerson Mnangagwa who went to as far as Belarus to source for potential investors.
“I don’t see any reason why companies such as Bata, Econet and N. Richards should continue renting. Bikita RDC should try and follow the footsteps of the President who recently went to Belarus to source and identify potential investors,” added Musimiki.
Bikita District Development Coordinator (DDC) Bernard Hadzirabwi also urged council to try by all means and allocate stands to potential business investors operating at Nyika Growth Point.
“I urge council to identify and allocate potential investors stands so that they can build permanent structures as this helps in the growth of Bikita and towards achieving the vision of making Bikita a town by the year 2030,” said Hadzirabwi.
The DDC also urged the business association to be patient with council because it will take time to allocate investors stands as it requires physical planning with the Head Office and various stakeholders.
“The business association should be patient with council because allocating investors stands takes time as it requires physical planning with the Head Offices and various stakeholders,” added Hadzirabwi.
He also encouraged potential business investors in Nyika to apply with council so that they can be first allocated when all the procedures are done and approved.
“I urge all the business operators in Nyika to apply for land with council, put on the waiting and they will be the ones to be allocated when all the procedures and physical planning are done and approved,” he said.
Efforts to get comment from Bikita RDC Chief Executive Officer Peter Chibhi were fruitless.

Man axed over snooker token

TellZim News
-
0
Man axed over snooker token

Tinaani Nyabereka

Shurugwi- Police in Midlands are appealing to the public for information that can help in locating and arresting a man only known as Tinashe who allegedly killed his friend last week.
Tinashe is reported to be on the run after he allegedly murdered his beer drinking mate at a Tuck shop at Chinyoka Mine, Shurugwi on March 24, 2023 after drinking beer together.
It is reported, the suspect Tinashe and the now deceased Prosper Gumbo whose full particulars also are unknown, were drinking beer and playing snooker at one Tapiwa Takavarasha’s wooden tuck-shop in Shurugwi.
A misunderstanding arose between the two over ownership of a snooker token.
The two engaged in a fight and Tinashe struck Prosper Gumbo once below the left ear and on the left shoulder with an axe.
Gumbo reportedly ran away and Tapiwa also left for an unknown destination.
The suspect later vanished from the scene without trace.
At about 2300 hours, the tuck shop owner Takavarasha (29) discovered the dead body of the late Gumbo lying on the ground about 30 metres from his tuck shop.
The matter was reported to the police at Shurugwi who in their preliminary investigations established that the body had deep cuts below the left ear and on the left shoulder.
A blood stained axe was recovered at the scene while an Itel cell phone was recovered from the deceased’s trousers’ pocket.
Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident urged members of the public to respect the sanctity of life.
“We are appealing to members of the public who might have information on the whereabouts of the suspect to assist police.
“This is another case where we feel that dialogue could have been the best way to settle the issue and saved precious life,” he urged.

SA-based ‘multi-millionaire’ sent packing

TellZim News
-
0
SA-based ‘multi-millionaire’ sent packing

…As three Chiredzi MPs fail to make it through Zanu PF primaries

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-A South African-based business magnate and Chiredzi West Parliamentary aspirant had his hopes to become a parliamentarian dashed as he lost to a former Member of Parliament (MP) during the recently held Zanu PF primary elections on March 26, 2023.
It was a tale of two contrasting candidates with relatively wealthy Shingirayi Mubhoyi being defeated by Darlington Chiwa, who seemed to have slimmer chances.
While Chiwa emerged victorious, his former colleagues in Parliament Farai Musikavanhu (incumbent Chiredzi West MP), Denford Masiya (Chiredzi East) and Retired Brigadier General Kalisto Gwanetsa (Chiredzi South) failed to pass the primary elections test with Musikavanhu losing in newly gazetted Chiredzi Central.
Mubhoyi who seemed to be the system’s favourite going into the election, was popularly known for parading his top of the range vehicles with South Africa’s Gauteng Province registration plates in the sugarcane growing town, initially with an ambition to face the outspoken Chiredzi North Member of Parliament, Roy Bhila before the delimitation exercise, which left him with the charismatic Darlington Chiwa as a thorn in his flesh.
Mubhoyi, who was highly confident he was going to Parliament later this year, was defeated by Darlington Chiwa by 101 votes, with the two women, Mirriam Dhanda and Eustina Magocha scoring a collective 104 votes.
Tawanda Chisasa did well with 1 040 votes while the Education Inspector Norman Sharara trailed with 110 votes.
During their discussions as Chiredzi West contenders after some election irregularities which needed their attention were reported on the election’s first day, Mubhoyi is alleged to have bragged about his wealth.
“You guys are poor. You can just give me a million Rand and you will never see me again, I will withdraw from the election,” he allegedly said.
In Chiredzi Central, it was a battle for the giants, where mudslinging failed to materialize, with Francis Moyo defeating former Tongaat Huletts Agricultural Director and current Chiredzi West MP, Farai Musikavanhu.
In Chiredzi North, it was a walkover for Roy Bhila, becoming the first Zanu PF Member of Parliament to be re-elected for the second time in a row to represent the constituency.
Bhila’s chances to win the seat are much higher as no opposition candidate scores 10 percent votes in Chiredzi North.
In Chiredzi South, it did not go well for Brigadier General Gwanetsa, who served for two consecutive terms.
Renowned businessperson, Joel Sithole managed to get the ticket to represent the ruling party in Chiredzi South constituency in the upcoming general elections.
Gwanetsa fell by 1 545 votes from Sithole and 687 from Hahlani Makondo while being 837 votes ahead of Hahlani Habwane. Sithole faces a mammoth task ahead with Chilonga Bridge which has now taken the government 23 years to construct, waiting for him as well as disgruntled Chilonga villagers who are reportedly facing displacement threats from Dendairy, a Kwekwe-based company which is likely to develop close to 12 000 hectares for its Lucerne project.
Denford Masiya and Jevas Masosota lost to Primary School teacher Siyaki Mundungehama in Chiredzi East who was leading with 4 507 votes against Masiya’s 3 490 and Masosota’s 1 237.
Zanu PF District Secretary for Information Daniel Mawere, who contested in Chiredzi North, encouraged fallen cadres to give the winners the necessary support they need ahead of the watershed harmonized elections.
“No one has lost in our primary elections but the system has won. Primary elections are a Zanu PF culture to nurture democracy and helps in protecting our national values and ethos as a revolutionary entity.
“Let’s unite as one people, Zanu PF and focus our efforts to wrestle the seats from the opposition,” said Mawere.
All sitting Zanu PF councillors namely Obert Ngwenya (ward 2), Josphat Nzombe (ward 8), Liberty Macharaga (ward 1) and Blessings Mazinyani (ward 5) managed to sail through party primaries, with many who had flashed a lot of resources to represent the ruling party in the local authority being dismally defeated.

Masvingo City ready for cholera

TellZim News
-
0
Masvingo City ready for cholera

…identifies North West clinic as isolation center

Staff reporter

As the country grapples with yet another cholera outbreak that has seen Masvingo province recording one case so far, Masvingo City council has since identified one of its health centers as an isolation center in case of an outbreak in the city.
The local authority has resolved to make its newest health center, North West Clinic the isolation center owing to its closed sanitary disposal system.
This was revealed in the Health, Housing, and Environmental Health Services Committee meeting minutes held on March 20 2023.
“The Chief Environmental Health Officer reported that there was one confirmed case of cholera in Masvingo. It was noted that Northwest Medical Clinic was earmarked as the Cholera Isolation Centre due to its closed sanitary disposal system which helps reduce the spread of the diseases in the event of an outbreak,” read the minutes.
The minutes also added that The province’s referral hospital, Masvingo Provincial Hospital pledged support to the local authority in an event of an outbreak in its locality.
“It was reported that Masvingo Provincial Hospital also pledged to assist council with staff, supplies and other related services in the event of a cholera outbreak,” read part of the minutes.
As at March 15, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the province recorded one case in Chivi district with the patient having been admitted at Chivi District Hospital.
The first case in Zimbabwe was recorded on February 13 and the country has recorded 98 cases with a recovery percentage of 99 with only one death which is said to have happened before getting into the country.
A budget worth millions of United States dollars has been set aside by the government of Zimbabwe as part of cholera epidemic preparedness response plan with also support from various development partners like World Health Organization (WHO) pledging to support part of the budget.

Death penalty discriminatory-Masvingo residents

TellZim News
-
0
Death penalty discriminatory-Masvingo residents

Beverly Bizeki

Masvingo residents who on March 28, 2023 at Mucheke Hall attended a public consultation meeting on the death penalty have said the death sentence law is discriminatory and advocated for stiffer penalties instead.
The meeting saw residents giving different views on the death penalty.
Leading one of the two teams, Charles Manhiri, Chief Law Officer in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (MoJLPA) in the department of Policy and Legal Research said they were carrying out the consultations in order to establish a position for Zimbabwe on the death penalty.
Manhiri said the feedback from the public was varying in that others supported the death penalty while others were against it, depending on their backgrounds.
“What we are getting is that others say this type of penalty is discriminatory because it excludes women because of what is happening right now that there are lots of murder cases which are heinous.
“Some are saying from a religious point of view that we are not the Lord and only God has the right to take life while some other people think we must look at what other countries are doing most of which are advocating for the removal of the death sentence,” said Manhiri.
David Vurayayi a local pastor in Masvingo said the law is unfair if it leaves out women although the sentence should be abolished.
“The law is not fair if women are not subjected to the death sentence since there is now equality between men and women. However, the sentence is not good in that a person who has committed murder when hanged would not have experienced the kind of pain he deserves to go through so it’s better to have them serve lengthy jail terms,” said Vurayayi.
Others however said the law should be abolished as there are some people who are imprisoned and yet innocent.
“The justice system in the country is supposed to be perceived, straightforward and transparent but ours is said to be lacking transparency and having corruption so innocent people might get implicated in such laws,” said Kudzai Chimhanda.
“Our justice system must be restorational and not retributive, there are chances that innocent people might get killed as well as violation of the right to life which means violation of the African Charter on the right to life overally,” said a human rights activist only identified as Madzinga.
Henry Chivhanga, a human rights defender with the Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT) said those without resources would be victims of this law as they have little to nor resources to help themselves.
“Some people have submitted that prison cells are filled with people but you might realize that those inside are at times innocent but are lacking financial resources to get their freedom so it’s not good to have people killed,” said Chivhanga.
Gambiwa Simeon said the proposed sentence in a way targeted the ‘have nots’ because the rich can always buy their freedom but he however said there needed to be stiffer penalties.
However some people were of the view that some murder cases deserve a death penalty citing that the punishment prisoners get was not enough but is having its toll on the tax payers’ money.
“Murder under aggravating circumstances is very bad and should be punishable by death rather than have such criminals being fed from the country’s resources while doing nothing in prison cells,” said another attendee.
Tavengwa Mazhambe said although the death penalty law is discriminatory, it can help curb heinous crimes.
Musoni also said the death penalty can serve as a deterrent and help reduce cases of murder in the country.
Zimbabwe has however not hanged anyone since 2005 although the moratorium is unofficial.
The MoJLPA is partnered by Centre for Applied Legal Research and funded by the Swiss Embassy in these consultations.

Government plans to table Child Justice Bill

TellZim News
-
0
Government plans to table Child Justice Bill

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- In a move aimed at curbing rampant cases of child abuse, government has put in place plans to introduce the Child Justice Bill to protect children.
The bill seeks to incorporate protection laws including provisions forbidding vendors and beggars from taking minor children to vending sites and begging ventures.
According to findings obtained by ZimFact reported on March 19, 2023, under the current legislation, it is already illegal for adults to be accompanied by children to their vending or begging work, or to use or exhibit them during public entertainment shows in a manner ‘detrimental’ to their general welfare.
Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s Social welfare officer Susan Ngani in an interview last week highlighted that government was working on the new Child Justice Bill to strengthen the existing Children’s Act.
“As part the protection of minors, the ministry is working on establishing a day-care facility in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) where vendors and working parents could leave their children under the care of skilled social welfare workers.
“This initiative was long overdue as many other countries had such day-care centres for children,” said Ngani.
The Children’s Act, Chapter 5:06 stipulates that any parent or guardian of a child or young person who allows that child or young person, or any person who causes any child or young person to (a) beg; or (b) to accompany him or any other person while he begs; or (c) to induce or endeavour to induce the giving of alms; or (d) to perform or be exhibited in any for public entertainment in a manner likely to be detrimental to the child’s or young person’s health, morals, mind or body; shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or to imprisonment.
Findings from social welfare further reveals that, children who grow up on the streets get mentally damaged and need legal and social protection from an environment that exposes them to witnessing or suffering psychological, verbal, and physical and other forms of abuse.

Matutu ‘bites dust’ in Mwenezi North

TellZim News
-
0
Matutu ‘bites dust’ in Mwenezi North

Cephas Shava

Mwenezi-Home is no best for former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) heavyweight Tongai Matutu who defected from opposition ranks to Zanu PF after he was trounced in the primary elections held on March 26 with the former Masvingo Urban legislator suffering a humiliating defeat in his bid to represent Mwenezi North constituency.
After unceremoniously breaking ties with the opposition movement, Matutu who has on record vowed to destroy his former paymasters found the going tough against current Mwenezi East MP Master Makope.
Matutu came last in the three-horse race with 799 votes after being walloped by former School head Master Makope who amassed 5 399 votes securing himself a clean ticket to represent Zanu PF in the newly gazetted Mwenezi North.
The humble Makope who has been credited by many locals for his servant leadership style became Mwenezi East legislator after being elected in last year’s by-election to replace the late legislator Joosbi Omar.
In second position in the Mwenezi North race was Peter Shotere who garnered 2 233 votes.
The Mwenezi East race which was probably one of the tightest without a predetermined winner, saw youthful Sheillah Chikomo securing 3 448 votes which makes her the Zanu PF candidate for Mwenezi East in the upcoming harmonized elections.
Trailing her in second position was Tavengana Muzenda who got 2 021 votes followed by Yunis Omar who garnered 1 526 votes. In fourth position was lawyer Jabulani Mberesi who secured 1 120 votes followed by Kenneth Sibanda who got 362 votes. One Wamambo and Matutu got 316 and 105 votes respectively.
In Mwenezi West Priscilla Zindari-Moyo, wife to Central Intelligence Director General Isaac Moyo, who is the incumbent went on to be re-elected to represent the party.
In second position was Tafadzwa Masvayamwando who is on record claiming that the elections were rigged in favour of Moyo after several cell registers reportedly went missing in his strongholds.
Other candidates who contested for the Mwenezi West are Obey Mbiza, Clearance Mhosva, one Mlilo and Renious Muchoko.
The primary elections which were marred by countless irregularities especially in Mwenezi East and West where several party members found their names missing in party cell registers had left contestants and several party members extremely disgruntled with some vowing for a ‘Bhora Musango’ to avenge for their frustration.
Those who were elected in Zanu Pf primary elections will square off with members from the opposition parties which are yet to name their representatives in the yet to be announced dates for the harmonised elections which are expected this coming August.

1...248249250...972Page 249 of 972