Beverly Bizeki

Morgenster Central Primary School on Thursday (October 20) held a colorful speech and prize giving day where pupils were awarded for excellency in academia and other disciplines.
N.Richards Director for Southern Region Andrew Chekani who was the guest of honor at the event applauded the school for organizing the event saying it helps in preserving and upholding standards.
HE urged learners to embrace studies in Information Communication Technology (ICT) saying the world has gone digital and they should build more on their characters in the fight against intolerance, drug abuse and hate speech.
“Institutions like this must be preserved by maintaining the standards of the school like we are doing here hence these programs are important.
“To you learners, the world is going digital so you should embrace ICTs in your studies and avoid drug and substance abuse if you are to make it in life,” said Chekani.
Also present at the event was RCZ education secretary DR Witmos Mutumburanzou, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education inspectors Otilia Maramwidze and Cosmas Musasa who was representing Masvigo District Schools Inspector (DSI) Ishmael Chigaba
Musasa urged parents present to pay their fees on time to enable the school to engage in development projects saying the money could easily be eroded by inflation.
“I urge all parents to pay fees in time for the money to be used before it is eroded by inflation,” said Musasa.
The school head Percy Chigumbu said the school is a hub for academic and sporting activities saying their pupils reached provincial level in soccer while others reached district level in other sporting disciplines like netball, volleyball, quiz and basketball as well as sampling Continuous Assessment Learning Activity (CALA) last year.
“We strive to be the best and when we submitted Social Science CALA at National Level, our presentation was the best in 2021 and this year we presented a Maths CALA and we hope to be the best always,” said Chigumbu
He went on to say they had long term and short term aspirations which involves infrastructural development at the school.
“Our long term aspirations include construction of an administration block, ECD block, ablution blocks for both boys and girls and also to establish a modern library.
“Our short term goals include painting building walls, tiling of classroom floors, fixing ceiling on semidetached roof, purchasing a generator, roof renovations on classrooms and teachers houses, putting ramps on doorsteps and installing tanks for water storage,” said Chigumbu.
Inspector Musasa volunteered to pay fees for one term for a pupil who was awarded a price for being the first to pay fees at the school every term.
Not to be outdone, Dr Mutumburanzou also pledged to pay fees for the most behaved student at the school.
Station Medical Superintendent Dr Magara also pledged to pay fees for six of the best pupils, currently in grade 6, for the whole year.
Key among top students was Samuel Mutemachimwe who scooped awards for academic excellence and excellence in quiz competitions.
With an enrolment of 508 leaners, Morgenster CPS has 20 classrooms 12 houses for teachers and a staff compliment of 19 qualified teachers and 14 student teachers.

Livingstone Mtetwa

CHIPINGE- Driving from Chinheya to Gaza High School is a smooth sail on a tarred road with a few potholes to glide upon; however as you reach the school gate, the tarred road ends and you start rumbling in the heavily potholed dust road.
About 150 metres along that road to your left, you notice a freshly constructed solid bar security fence commonly referred to as “palisades” which extends right round about the stadium compound and a fading ‘Welcome to Gaza Stadium’ billboard.
It took council almost seven months from March 2022 to refurbish the facility, with final touches to the fence being done in October under a week ago.
Acting town Secretary James Mutemera confirmed that indeed the refurbishment of the stadium is underway.
“The renovations for the stadium are underway and the first stage which is fencing is now complete. We are now moving towards the second stage which is developing the internal infrastructure,” said Mutemera.
Chipinge ward 6 councillor Lovemore Mutimwii attributed the delay to financial constraints.
“It is true that the refurbishment of Gaza Stadium has unfortunately taken a long time. However, this has been due to financial constraints. At one point the contractor who was contracted to erect the palisades abandoned the project citing late payment by council and work stopped for almost seven months,” said Mutimwii.
He also said that the low fees that are being charged to those who want to use the stadium are the reason for its poor standards.
“I would also like to inform the public that we are unable to up the stadium’s standards because we are charging sub-economic rates to the users.
“And, lastly, the stadium is now vastly dilapidated that we need a huge capital injection to bring it back to the required standards,” he added.
Gaza stadium boasts of being the biggest stadium in Chipinge district where most of the crowd drawing events like the Independence Day, the Defence Forces Day, musical galas, rallies and church gatherings are held.

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- Central Region Division 1 Champions Sheasham FC is set to use Bata Stadium as their new home ground.
This was reviewed by Club President Clever Mandaza during the club’s fundraising dinner held last week in Gweru.
Speaking at the dinner Mandaza said as a company, Sheasham construction is in the process of revamping the grounds.
“We are in the process of renovating our Bata grounds. Work is on-going at the site as we need to have a proper facility to host our matches. The pitch, changing rooms, VIP stands are being worked on and we hope before the beginning of next season, our ground will be complete.
“For a team to be at its best ability of performing there is need for proper infrastructure and facilities. All the equipment which is being used is ours.” Mandaza said.
Mandaza assured the team that the club was going to try and flex their muscles to meet the demands of the top flight.
“Now that we have achieved our goal, we ought to be strong and need to put in place proper training facilities, improve transportation of our players, housing among other things.
“So this means we need more money to meet our goals. The family is now big and we say to our friends in the corporate sector, join us and be part of the team as we market you,” he added.
Glow Petroleum Company Founder Aaron Chinhara pledged to closely work with Sheasham ahead of the coming season.
He further pledged to support the team with a US$ 50 000 package throughout the upcoming 2023 season.
“I am willing to walk along with, partner and work with Sheasham as I have heard testimonies of the hard work which they have done in uplifting sports,” he said.
Bata grounds were last used by Bata Power FC long back while the stadium became defunct in the late 80’s after the club’s demise.

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- A breast cancer survivor Juliet Maziriri who resides in Mbizo, Kwekwe recently said there was hope and life in the battle against cancer.
Speaking during a Cool Cakes Company Breast Cancer Sensitization Campaign in Gweru last week, Maziriri said she is a testimony to how early treatment of breast cancer can save life.
“I can testify as a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 but I saw the hand of God. I went through a lot but my family, church members as well as relatives stood with me.
“My case was discovered earlier and this helped me to access treatment sooner than later. I was referred to South Africa for treatment. Though the mammography, radiation and chemotherapy treatments were painful and expensive, I kept my faith in God. If you are a patient, you need to have a positive mind and listen to all advice which these doctors give you.
“On December 27, I am marking 14 years as a survivor, and am grateful. God is there and so is hope in Christ because there is need to get the treatment right and putting your trust in Christ,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, Medical Practitioner and Health Expert Doctor Willard Mushiwokufa said breast cancer was the second deadliest type of cancer behind cervical cancer and called for the need to unite and raise awareness on breast cancer if ever the fight is to be won.
He added that men were also at risk of getting breast cancer.
“Worldwide, we are commemorating breast cancer month and breast cancer is number 2 killer after cervical which is rated as the world deadliest disease in the world.
“However, we have some special groups who are at high risk of contracting breast cancer. These include people who smoke especially men, women between the ages 15-40 going up to 60, anyone who has been a victim of cancer before or whose genealogy has a history of cancer, I advise you to go and get tested if you feel that your breasts are not well.
“I therefore urge mothers who are breast feeding, to at least breast feed up to 1 year 6 months. This helps you reduce high risk of contracting cancer,” he said.
Cool Cakes Bakery director Shamiso Zvidzai expressed gratitude to the company saying it is a dream come true as they had managed to give back to the community.
“We are grateful as an organisation that we managed to give back to our breast cancer survivors. We are giving cakes and food hampers as we hear testimonies which are here to give us and others out there hope.
“We need to give to others this hope and be united in this fight because no one is safe. As Cool Cakes, we have some of the survivors out of these 8 who couldn’t make it to this occasion; we will follow them with their cakes as we continue with our awareness. We want to reach out to cancer patients with the word of hope, together we can beat cancer,” she said.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October is a time to come together to raise awareness; promote education, screening, and early detection; raise money, honour the fallen, and support patients and survivors.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s 2019 /20 report on cancer assessment, out of 2 062 recorded cancer-related deaths so far in Zimbabwe, breast cancer has been responsible for 7 percent of the fatalities, with cervical cancer being the highest killer accounting for 13 percent cancer deaths in the country.
Meanwhile latest findings by scientists revealed that about 1 500 women succumb to cervical cancer while over 1 000 fall prey to breast cancer each year.

Cephas Shava

Mwenezi-As part of efforts to bolster export development in the Marula sector, ZimTrade recently organised a training workshop for local Marula pickers and processors exploring export opportunities in the sector.
The gathering which was convened at Mwenezi Subcatchment Council’s Rutenga offices saw stakeholders being enlightened by experts on the diverse export opportunities in the Marula sector.
Speaking at the event, ZimTrade Eastern Region client advisor Simbarashe Tasekwa said the organisation’s objective is to energise the country’s exports by capacitating potential players through such trainings and Mwenezi district being home to the Marula fruits has been identified as having the potential to energise the country’s export.
“As ZimTrade our aim is to energise the country’s exports and also initiate export development where we capacitate potential players through these trainings where we have hired experts to explore the market expectations of the European and African market.
“We have identified potential export clusters which comprises of Marula pickers and processors here in Mwenezi. We are enlightening them on the export opportunities in the Marula sector. We are also helping these farmers in making sure that their produces are organic certified so that they had the chance to value add the fruits from Marula oil to Marula beverages and juices,” said Tasekwa.
Participants appreciated the programme which they described as an eye-opener though they however expressed concerns over the snail pace at which the Mwenezi mapfura plant used to operate whenever they deliver their fruits.
“We are really excited about the export opportunities you are preaching but what worries us as locals is that whenever we deliver our produces at the local processing plant last season, the process was very slow. Some of our fruits lost value right at the plant’s doorstep owing to some delays beyond our control. There is need for the local plant to upgrade its machines such that unnecessary delays which resulted in farmers spending several hours queuing to deliver their Marula fruits,” said one of the participant.
On its part, the National Biotechnology Authority’s (NBA) Mwenezi Mapfura Plant representative took the opportunity to enlighten farmers on the possible best ways to deliver quality grade produces as well as sharing tips for the effective handling of the harvested fruits.
Having already registered 850 local farmers, NBA urged more to register with their organisation so that they could properly plan knowing the exact number of potential Marula fruits suppliers saying this will definitely improve efficacy at the plant.