Yeukai Munetsi

Gweru City Council had raised concern over low youth, women and People with Disabilities (PWDs) turn out at budget consultations.
At least ten youth and four women attended the budget consultation meeting hosted by council, with only a few representing people with disabilities.
Speaking at the event GCC ward 15 councillor Trust Chinene expressed concern over the low turnout by vulnerable groups saying that it defeated the whole purpose of consultations.
“I am worried with this small number present at this juncture considering that this meeting is very important in addressing key issues that are affecting youth, women and PWDs with regards to budget.
“It is very sad to note that the same vulnerable groups that make noise on social media are not taking budget consultations seriously,” he said.
Gweru Council Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee concurred with Chinene saying the low turnout was a disappointment.
“As local authority, we are very disappointed by the low turnout of youth, people with disabilities and women. We thought that giving them space was important to let them air their views as we always see them on social media complaining.
“Participating in these budget consultations was going to ensure that their needs are addressed and council provide quality services. As council we are heart-broken as we thought the 2023 budget was going to address their concerns through participation,” she said.
She further encouraged youth, women and PWDs to attend such meetings whenever they are called for.
A youth, Kuchineyi Lewis said the politicised system is to be blamed for low turnout as it automatically discourages people from playing their part.
“What’s in it for the youth to participate? Should they come simply because council says come or there should be some form of investment that motivates youth, women and the general populace to participate?
“We are where we are in non-participation because of the conscious effort and investment of politicians bent on exclusion and partisan politics. Let’s not take the input of our patriarchs for granted in creating such a situation that best serve their selfish political ambitions.
“As such, instead of castigating the youth for a no show, research and investment should be on ways of fostering comprehensive participation,” he said.
Gweru City council is engaging various stakeholders as it seek to come up with a ZW$ 46 billion budget.

Andrew Zhou

Masvingo- Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Regional Manager for Masvingo Daniel Mupande has applauded Chesvingo Karanga village as one of the community based tourism enterprises that is playing a key role in conserving local trails as a result of community members’ commitment.
Speaking during a familiarization tour of the Chesvingo-Karanga community projects held on November 2, Mupande said the project is key to conservation while at the same time he thanked Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for assisting the local people financially and with a laptop.
“Chesvingo Karanga village is one of the community based tourism site which is being managed by the villagers and it benefits them through conservation of available trails.
“JICA assists the village with technical assistance where the villagers are educated on community based tourism so that they uplift their lives. JICA also helped with the money for banners and provided a laptop and a tablet for marketing purposes,’’ said Mupande.
Speaking at the same event on behalf of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Permanent Secretary Dr Jefta Sakupwanya said the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) currently running since 2021 and will end in 2025, has identified tourism as a major pillar to economic development in the country.
He further said, Masvingo also identified tourism as the key driver of economic development in the province hence there is need to develop it using available natural resources that is animals, water and mountains.
‘’The National development Strategy 1 identifies tourism as one of the anchors underpinning economic revival at national level and for Masvingo province; it is also recognised at provincial level.
‘’This beautiful Chesvingo Karanga village is a welcome development that creates conducive environment for tourism and economic growth for the province,” said Dr Sakupwanya.
Chesvingo Karanga Village Project Chairperson Josias Shuro appealed for a solarized water pump to use at their borehole which was drilled by the help from government.
“The borehole was drilled but it is too far away from the site, so we seek help from government officials to help with a solarised water pump to bring water from the borehole because without water, the project will not develop,” said Shuro.
Shuro further said they need tittle deeds for the site from Masvingo Rural District Council so that they will be not evicted.
“We also want council to give us tittle deeds for the site so that we will not be removed from the place with other people who will come and claim that the place is theirs,” added Shuro.
The Chesvingo Karanga Village was discovered in 1992 by Mabehe in order to reduce hunger and starvation through selling available foods to tourists.

Courage Dutiro

There was heated debate during recent Masvingo City full council meeting over the naming of the newly constructed clinic in Runyararo West with councilors saying they were not comfortable with a name carrying political connotations.
Deputy Mayor Councilor Wellington Mahwende standing in for Mayor Collen Maboke and Chamber Secretary Vitalis Shonhai representing Town clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa who were not at the meeting had to refer the matter back to the responsible committee for further deliberations.
Ward 10 councilor Sengerayi Manyanga who had throughout the full Council meeting been boasting of attending Zanu PF national congress held in Harare recently said the name North West medical clinic is associated with the economic sanctions placed on Zimbabwe by the West.
“The name Northwest is not ok with me. We don’t want to be associated with anything to do with the West because of the sanctions.
“The name is associated with sanctions, let’s look for a better name,” said Manyanga.
Masvingo Urban Ward 7 Cllr Richard Musekiwa said councilors run the risk of politicizing council institutions because of this issue.
“I second the name that was given by the committee (North West Medical Clinic), we don’t want to politicize our institutions.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable when visiting the institution,” said Musekiwa.
His sentiments were echoed by ward 4 councillor Alec Tabe who said serious consideration was done before naming it Northwest.
“The name (Northwest) was reached at after serious deliberations by the committee and should stand. We must avoid referring back the issue to committee because it would lead to the clinic not being named at all and thus operating without a name at the end,” argued Tabe.
Ward 3 councilor Rockford Kamuzonda said council could name the institution after some influential people in the City.
“Let’s name the clinic after some people who are influential in the city or who contributed towards the development of the city or the ward.
“Maybe we may get donations towards the institution from those who are associated with the name,” said Kamuzonda.
Mahwende told councilors to revert the name issue to the responsible committee as he suggested naming it after liberation war heroes from Masvingo province.
“Let’s return the name issue to the committee. When you bring it back here next time, let it be with another name without politicization,” said Mahwende.
Among the names that were suggested by the health, housing and environmental services committee chaired by ward 9 councillor Against Chiteme before naming it Northwest Medical Clinic was Hlupeko which translates to Dambudzo in Shona.
The name however failed to pass through the committee deliberations.
According to the full council minutes on the health, housing and environmental services committee nine names were suggested after stakeholder engagement and management consultations.
“It was reported that after stakeholder engagement and management’s input, the following names were proposed; (a) Masvingo Poly Clinic (b) Dzimbabwe Poly Clinic (c) Hlupeko Poly Clinic (after his Excellency E.D Mnangagwa) (d) Runyararo West Clinic (e) Morris Clinic (after Tsunga Morris Mhangami the first black Town Clerk) (f) West end Clinic (g) Nyanda clinic (h) Northwest Medical Clinic and (i) Garikai Clinic.
“After some deliberations, the Committee unanimously agreed that the newly constructed Council Clinic be named Northwest Medical Clinic,” read part of the minutes.

Beverly Bizeki

In yet another sad incident, a Zaka home belonging to Peter Mazuru was destroyed by fire on October 26, 2022 leaving the family with only one building as shelter.
Zaka North Ward 5 Councilor Livison Makwanye confirmed the incident and said the family was in need of assistance as most of their property was destroyed by fire.
“The house caught fire after a child disposed ash and wind came blowing the hot ash leading to the inferno,” said Makwanye.
The fire razzed down the entire place with only a one roomed building left.
Mazuru who is a gardener lost some gardening inputs which include 15 kg maize seed and 5 kg of cowpeas as well as a knapsack sprayer.
“The fire also destroyed 14 chickens, 19 turkeys, 50 kg of maize that was in the kitchen and 5 nests for laying chickens,” said Makwanye.
Household items in the kitchen and bathroom as well as clothing items that were on the washing line were not spared.
Those who wish to assist the family can get in touch with Peter Mazuru on 077 135 4354.
Recently a family from ward 24 in Zaka West lost their home to an inferno although the cause is yet to be established.

TellZim reporter

Limited resources have been cited as one factor hampering Civic Society Organizations (CSOs) from reaching out to people notably youth in marginalized communities for the purpose of ensuring they access information and services on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH).
Speaking during a ‘Girls choose’ champions engagement meeting organised by MyAge in Masvingo on November 2, the organisation’s Board Chairperson Angeline Mikiri bemoaned limited resources as the major challenge obstructing the organization from reaching out to marginalized people though the youth there possess much potential as future national leaders.
“When I look at young people, I see people with potential to develop Zimbabwe or even the continent of Africa, but it is very unfortunate that where they spend their time, they do not have opportunities to develop themselves as young people.
“ I feel MyAge as an organization is being limited in terms of resources to reach various areas so that the voices of those marginalized youth can have their voices amplified and be heard by various constituencies that can help them.
“Youth in the remotest parts of Zimbabwe need that conscentization should there be more resources. I have observed that there are so many talented boys and girls out there with potential of greatness out there, but because they are being limited of what they can access in society, our wish is that young leaders in MyAge if capacitated should go to those communities and help develop them,” said Mikiri.
She also said as an organization they are concerned about the increased effects of drugs on young people with some turning fatal.
“Young people are suffering silently from drugs because they do not have anyone to share such problems with like they are neglected and ignored. MyAge is trying to get to the bottom of such problems as we cannot continue losing young people to these societal ills,” she added.
MyAge Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Isheanesu Chigumbo said lack of information access to SRH by People with Disabilities (PWDs) is another cause for concern for the organization.
“One of our projects focused on PwDs after noticing that there is a gap in terms of actual inclusion in service provision and prioritization of such people during Covid-19 era or even SRH. We have noted that in programming people just talk and deliberate on issues of inclusion of such people, but when it comes to the actual practice, those people are left out as the resources allocated for them would be used for the benefit of the other constituency that is not theirs.
“There has been a lack of disability-responsive information and services to Covid-19, SRH, HIV and AIDS targeting young people. All the information was prepared in such a manner that people with visual, speech and hearing impairments could not access it,” she said.
The engagement meeting saw ‘girls choose’ champions sharing experiences on the works they are carrying out in communities notably Masvingo district.
Also in attendance were stakeholders from the media, Women Coalition in Zimbabwe (WCoZ), Ministries of Youth, Women Affairs, Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) and SAYWHAT.

TellZim reporter

Masvingo City Council is set to revive its defunct youth friendly corners in 2023 as part of efforts to ensure youth have enough access to social interactions which would also promote engagements that help them desist from harmful practices like drug and substance abuse.
The revelation was made by council’s Health Director Suzanne Hazel Madamombe during a ‘Girls choose’ engagement meeting organized by MyAge at the Civic Centre in Masvingo on November 2, 2022 where young people working as champions shared experiences in as far as sexual reproductive health issues are concerned.
“As council, we used to have quite a number of youth friendly corners where young people would have access to various services like information on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), but right now they are not functional due to various reasons beyond council’s control.
“However, we are going to make sure that in 2023, we try and revive such facilities for the benefit of the youth and ensure they once again have access to such facilities. Currently Masvingo is offering some of those services at our four clinics where young people can go and get help.
“We really hope that as Masvingo City Council will work closely with partners like MyAge in 2023 to ensure we make Masvingo health system is open to all youth with no discrimination and increasingly build confidence of the youth to even have more health seeking behaviour as a way of protecting all people from issues surrounding sexual reproductive health,” Madamombe said.
She went on to applaud the youth for the role they are playing in society through information dissemination concerning their health.
“Let me take the opportunity to applaud MyAge Girls Choose champions for the roles they are playing in the community at each city health facility in particular. As council, we would like to thank you for the role you have played in Masvingo as we have seen that through your strategies and interventions, cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have been going down. The girls have been trained to work responsibly serving the community in promoting sexual and reproductive health in the community.
“This group of youth is helping disseminate information to youth and adolescence as well as young people aged between 16 and 25. The champions have assumed responsibility on distribution of materials focusing on sexual abuse, gender based violence, necessary information on HIV and AIDS and STIs. They also assist in creating awareness among the youth of the services city health department is offering at our health facilities like HIV testing, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) initiation, viral load checking, monitoring and emergency contraceptions,” she added.
Madamombe said the champions have acted as a bridge between health service providers and the community thereby promoting health-seeking behaviour among adolescence while at the same time promoting efficient health service delivery.
The situation facing youth in as far as sexual reproductive health is concerned has further been exacerbated by the increased uptake of drugs and other toxic substances leading to risky sexual behaviours in young people.