Lydia Koto

Masvingo Teacher’s College Pre-school recently launched career guidance for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) kids at the institution’s pre-school in Rhodene suburb.
Speaking at the launch on September 30, 2022, Pauline Ngirazi who is one of the ECD teachers at Masvingo Teachers Pre-school, said their main thrust of organizing the event is based on the new curriculum which is competence-based education.
She also added that kids should acquire the knowledge of different occupations at a tender age as this will help them in choosing the jobs they want to do when they grow up.
“Our main thrust for organizing the event is to educate the kids basing on new curriculum which is competence-based. Education system in Zimbabwe is now starting from ECD so it is important for the kids to acquire the knowledge of different occupations at a tender age as this will help them in choosing which path to pursue when they grow up,” said Ngirazi.
She appreciated the support they got from parents saying they complied when they were asked to prepare for the day.
All the clothes that the kids were putting on came from their homes. Two parents voluntarily came to give career guidance to the kids.
“We want to thank the parents for their support. We sent newsletters some time ago informing the parents about this day and how they should prepare their kids for the big day. The parents complied. All the uniforms that these kids are wearing today, they brought them from their homes. Two parents also voluntarily came here to give these kids career guidance for free,” said Ngirazi.
The programme was meant to align education practically in line with education 5.0 that promotes the use of new technology and providing more humanized teaching with a focus on student’s social and emotional development as well as solutions that improve life in society.
Learners at the Pre-school came to school wearing different uniforms representing different career paths.
Some of the kids were wearing work suits, some with formal clothes and others with sports attire.

Own correspondent

Masvingo City Council (MCC) has presented a budget proposal estimated at US$ 3.5 for the upcoming 2023 fiscal year.
According to part of the city’s 2022 half-year budget review report presented recently by Acting Finance Director Dannister Jori, the local authority expects the said amount to cater for most if not all of their capital or major projects.
“We expect our capital budget to be an average of US$ 3.5 million. We are requesting for input from residents and stakeholder on their needs based on priority areas and other justifiable needs,” said part of the report.
The report also outlined the key areas to which the budget would be focused on among them water supply infrastructure, sewerage infrastructure, markets upgrading and construction of new markets, public lighting infrastructure, Rujeko secondary school, landfill construction, road maintenance, Mucheke stadium repair, ward development projects and health services.
The upcoming 2023 budget whose consultations are now underway is running under the theme ‘Re-tooling for improved service delivery’ and directs its focus towards the acquisition and construction of critical assets for service delivery.
In the past, Masvingo has faced a host of challenges on the service delivery front among them operating with a depleted fleet that saw garbage in residential areas and even the Central Business District (CBD) going uncollected for days before roping in of vehicles from the Central Mechanical Engineering Department (CMED) to ease the burden.
Water supplies also caused headaches for the authority while liquid waste management was also a major challenge either due to vandalism on key infrastructure or breaking down of old pipes.
Financial challenges also coupled by late disbursement of devolution funds from Treasury have derailed progress of the projects earmarked to be bankrolled by the fund.

…Council bosses accused of awarding tender to own company

Melinda Kusemachibi

Heads are expected to roll Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) following allegations by Bikita Residents Association (BIRRA) that council bosses awarded the local authority’s business to a private entity (Hanyanya Private Limited) they own.
The company is allegedly owned by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Chibhi and Executive Finance Officer Never Mavhuna.
The resident association has since written a petition in which they are complaining over the matter.
However, Chibhi denied allegations that he co-owns the company saying it is wholly owned by Bikita RDC
“The company (Bikita Hanyanya) is owned 100 percent by Bikita RDC. We are interim directors, I, council chairperson, finance committee chairperson, human resources chairperson, the CEO and the executive finance officer and the company has a separate administration system.
“For record sake, the company is 100 percent owned by Bikita RDC. Directors sit to consider reports from the company’s management and feedback to council which owns the company,” said Chibhi.
He went on to say the company was formed to become the commercial vehicle for the council to improve efficiency in its operations.
“Bikita Hanyanya pvt ltd is there to be a commercial vehicle for Bikita RDC. This commercial vehicle will see improved efficiency and effectiveness while the local authority will focus on their mandate of service delivery. This is the practice even by Central government. They outsourced services so that they focus on their key mandate of service delivery.
“Bikita Hanyanya as a private limited company is currently carrying out the clamping function and more other functions. In other local authorities, clamping is done by a private company owned by the local authority. In April 2020, Bikita RDC resolved to form a company (Bikita Hanyanya) meant to be a vehicle for income generation projects. However, due to Covid-19, the company could not be fully operationalized,” added Chibhi.
He also said Section 80 of the Rural District Councils Act chapter 29:13 allows local authorities to run income generating projects where Bikita has two in form of Pambudzi Lodge and Umkondo ranch in Save Conservancy which are run separately from council.
However, in a petition letter dated October 4, 2022 addressed to council management, ministry of local government and copied to Bikita District Development Coordinator (DDC), Police, President’s Office among other government departments, BIRRA expressed dismay and their rejection to the arrangement while at the same time calling for action from the authorities.
“We have noted with great concern and suspicion on the existence and operation of a private company called Bikita Hanyanya at our council. What we have gathered as residents is that the company whose directors are council bosses was formed in 2020 and given the mandate to run operations on behalf of council.
“It is said the company, has already taken over collection of revenue from all council commercial entities that include Pambudzi lodge, Save conservancy and vehicle clamping operations contradicting section 276 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that clearly states that it is the duty of the local authority to collect public funds not private companies,” read part of the letter.
The letter undersigned by Mark Mutengani (BIRRA spokesperson) and Berlina Sithole (president) went to express fear over continued dripping of council resources at the expense of service delivery as they say Bikita Hanyanya is duplicating roles by council at the expense of residents and villagers.
“Plans are there for the company to act as an employment agent for council starting from 2023 taking over the role of councillors (committee on human resources) and technocrats. We are worried all this is done at the cost (commission) from our council coffers.
“The decision to engage the company to run parallel if not duplication to what council employees are doing was reached at without residents’ knowledge. We strongly suspect the move is meant to siphon and loot resources from council. As residents, we are pretty sure the dubious resolution was reached at during the Covid-19 era, when our councillors were ‘coerced and misrepresented’. If this continues, we foresee a situation where the operations of council that is a public entity being privatised for the benefit of few individuals,” added the letter.
However, Bikita RDC chairperson Benjamin Masakadze said all resident representatives that is BIRRA and Bikita Business Association (BBA) are aware of the Hanyanya’s existence as they were informed in a meeting held on October 4 at council boardroom at Nyika growth point.
“We met with the team from BBA and BIRRA on October 4, 2022 in the council’s boardroom. The operation of Bikita Hanyanya which is 100 percent Bikita Council Income Generating Project was well explained to them. They even gave a green light to its operations,” said Masakadze.
Mutengani however refuted the claims by Masakadze labelling his statements ‘a lie’ as he claims BIRRA never attended the so-called meeting saying their association was never invited to it.
“It’s unfortunate to hear such a lie that BIRRA attended a meeting on October 4 at council boardroom. Setting the record straight, BIRRA was never invited to that meeting. We know that because of unearthing the rot in council that include the vehicle purchase scandal where the chairperson is a beneficiary, they resolved to side line BIRRA at all council meetings.
“Now they are at it again and the chairperson is singing the technocrats’ song instead of siding with residents. We are not deterred by that as we will continue to expose and shame corrupt elements as Bikita residents
“It’s very sad that one entrusted with Bikita resources becomes the chief culprit. It is clear Bikita Hanyanya is owned by council bosses with each having 50 percent shareholding. As BIRRA, we totally reject the engagement and operation of the company at our council. We strongly condemn the daylight looting of resources and this self-enrichment programme disguised as enhancing efficiency,” said Mutengani.
Bikita RDC finance chairperson is Ruwaya Taruvinga, while Sarah Mandiki chairs human resources.

Emmanuel Chitsika

Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) has said budgets that local authorities use in running their affairs should reflect the will of residents who are the chief financiers.
In an interview with TellZim News, MURRA director Anoziva Muguti urged council management to make sure that budget consultations are done in good faith and incorporate their views.
“Budget consultations, if done properly and in good manner would ensure the input of residents. Since a budget is a plan on how to spend/utilize given resources by the local authority, there is need to ensure it captures development projects proposed by the people.
“Residents are the ones who fund these budgets to a greater extent hence the need for them to have a say in the distribution of such resources. It is important that if residents participate and have their ideas captured in such consultative processes,” said Muguti.
Muguti however said MURRA has held several workshops conscentizing residents on importance of participating in the upcoming meetings.
“As an organization, we have held several workshops and meetings with residents raising awareness on budget processes and importance of their participation. We have also held pre-budget consultative meetings where we gathered the views of residents and are currently in the process of compiling a document that we are going to submit to council for consideration in preparation for the 2023 budget,” added Muguti.