Home Blog Page 284

‘I don’t want to see you in my area’ : Chief bans Minister

TellZim News
-
0
‘I don’t want to see you in my area’ : Chief bans Minister

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA–Chief Nhema born Rangarirai Bwawanda of Zaka who recently made headlines after promising Zanu PF more than five million votes in 2023 has given Zaka East MP who is the ruling party District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson and Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development Clemence Chiduwa an order not to cross Chiredzi River into wards that fall under the former’s area of jurisdiction.
Chiduwa is not allowed to be in wards 20, 21, 26 and 31 that fall under his constituency and also under Chief Nhema’s area after the two allegedly clashed over Zanu PF’s Central Committee nominees in Zaka with Chiduwa alleged to be supporting Nyasha Gavaza whilst Nhema is in support of Davis Marapira who recently transferred from Masvingo to Zaka district.
Marapira is the sitting MP for Masvingo North but is said to be eyeing Zaka Central and is also the Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
Sources who spoke to TellZim News claim that the Chief has since ordered all party chairpersons in these wards not to attend any meeting organized by Chiduwa or else they will face serious consequences.
However, when contacted for comment, Chief Nhema refuted the allegations saying it’s actually Chiduwa who was instructing the party chairpersons not to go to him.
“If anyone is saying I have banned Chiduwa from my area, he or she is lying. I have never instructed anyone from my area not to attend his programmes, it’s actually him who instructed the chairpersons from visiting me their Chief,” said Nhema.
Quizzed on why Chiduwa was banning chairpersons from visiting him, Nhema said Chiduwa was the best person to answer that saying he was not aware of the reason.
He went on to say he doesn’t fear Chiduwa and if there is anything that needs clarification, he would just face him as he has been doing all along and as it stands there is nothing much that warrants him to ban him in his area.
“I don’t fear him and if there is anything I simply tell him man to man, he is my MP and I am a Chief with an area within his constituency so we have to work together for development. I have not reached a point of banning him in my area like I did to Chakona (former Zaka Central MP Paradzai Chakona) at some point and if need be I can simply tell him that. I have talked to his constituency coordinator over the matter,” added Nhema.
On his part Chiduwa said it was not a ban but they had some issues which they deliberated and ironed out saying he was working well with Marapira who is being fronted by the Chief as government officials.
“We had some disagreements over some issues but I think they have been resolved. I cannot say I was banned by Chief Nhema because if he does that, it would affect development,” said Chiduwa.
However, sources who spoke to TellZim News said the issue emanated from Marapira’s transfer to Zaka and being seconded into the Central Committee (CC) aspiring candidates and him being Nhema’s favorite candidate for both CC and MP for Zaka Central come 2023.
“When Marapira’s transfer letter was presented to the DCC, it appeared as if his issue had been deliberated by Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) but Ophias Murambiwa (Maga–Maga) of Zaka West and Pepukai Chiwewe who is Chiduwa’s right hand man questioned where it was deliberated since they sit in both PEC and Zaka DCC.
“Chiduwa was then tasked to enquire by the DCC and it was established that his transfer was not done procedurally but the issue was just dropped and Marapira was welcomed in Zaka,” said the source.
The source went on to say the matter only got sour when Marapira indicated that he wanted to contest in the Central Committee and Nhema pushed party chairpersons in Zaka East to drop the constituency nominee Nyasha Gavaza and vote for Marapira.
“The four MPs of Zaka had each seconded a person for the post with Zaka West’s Maga Maga having thrown his hat in the ring. So Gavaza was nominated for Zaka East since he is the only interested candidate who qualifies. However, Nhema started to influence chairpersons in Zaka East to vote for Marapira ahead of Gavaza.
“He even told Chiduwa that the chairpersons were against Gavaza’s candidature but Chiduwa told him to let them contest and indicated that Marapira could win or lose and that’s when Chief Nhema told Chiduwa that he never wants to see him crossing Chiredzi River which boarders Nhema and Bota areas in Zaka East,” said the source.
Chief Nhema is a staunch supporter of ZANU PF who openly supports the party and each election he has his own favourite candidate.
In the run up to 2018, Nhema was rallying behind James Makiya and he often had clashes with Chakona whom he openly banned from his area.
Both Makiya and Chakona went on to lose in the primary elections to Davison Svuure who is the current MP and has found another candidate in form of Marapira who hails from his area.

State Security agents perpetuating human rights violations in Marange

TellZim News
-
0
State Security agents perpetuating human rights violations in Marange

Branton Matondo

Marange villagers are bemoaning the infestation of corruption, perpetration of intimidation, illicit sexual advances and gross prevalence of bribery by state security agents who man the area against the unlawful handling and leakages of diamonds.
Marange natives went out guns blazing on September 24 as they lamented the disappearance of peace, economic freedom and movement allegedly at the hands of State Security officers that have become vanguards of awful harassment, bribery, corruption and unlawful battery.
Cases of assault and intimidation spanning from the end of August to mid-September this year at Tonhorai village of Marange and Mudzeengwa village have been confirmed.
Speaking at a recently held engagement hosted by Centre for Research Development (CRD) a resident and former councillor in Marange Daniel Nyazika claimed the locals were suffering at the hands of soldiers and other authorised officers that have gone to use illegal miners as objects for use in the orchestration of mineral leakage in the process violating the constitutional right to dignity.
“We are human beings and we do not only survive on diamonds but also rely on farming crops and livestock rearing but all these things are going down the drain because of diamond mining taking place in Marange. At the end of the day we are suffering at the expense of soldiers and the enacted PPAA law. As Chiadzwa dwellers, have no business whatsoever because mining has become the enemy of our progress. The belief that diamond is benefiting Zimbabwe is absent among us Marange people,” lashed Nyazika.
Another resident (who anonymously spoke) lamented the continued harassment alleging Chiadzwa is now a ‘haven of intimidation and momentous bribes’ a situation that has reached unprecedented levels.
He added that high prevalence of foreign illegal miners known in mining circles as Magweja has placed Marange natives under ‘the guillotine’.
“A lot of people are coming from outside our area to mine and they end up wreaking havoc in our society. They pass through seven road blocks freely but us Marange dwellers, are becoming aliens to our own land. We appeal to you leaders to use local police force from Bambazonke because they are familiar with our struggles as we are being harassed and intimidated by the same State Security that is supposed to protect us. A lot of unknown personnel pass through the official entrance and it’s uncertain if our community has any hope.
“We are violated by outsiders who tell us, Chiadzwa dwellers not to pass through tagged points. We have cases of Chiadzwa villagers being told to pay fines and bribes amounting to US$ 20 at Nyanyadzi just to get a pass. We are arrested without committing a crime and there is not even a clear verification of arrests. They (state security) do not even verify identities, they just arrest with the aim of collecting money from us at the end of the day, we have to bear the brunt of selling property, livestock and clothes so that we bribe the security agents whenever we want to move from one point to another. Limitations are affecting us. We are now unable to move freely. Gone are the days when we unveiled documentation, now it’s no longer applicable,” he said.
An investigation on the issue of community insecurities has revealed that communities in protected areas is harbouring illegal miners from outside and sending vulnerable groups like women and children to pan for diamonds on restricted areas.
An investigation carried out by CRD presented in their latest report indicate that 13 blocks and checkpoints have become permeable, a reality that has laid the base for corruption, sexual manipulation and intimidation prevalence.
Other reports indicate that properties meant to be guarded by state security are either being vandalised or stolen from while they are in communities thwarting natives.
Zimbabwe Diamonds and Allied Workers Union (ZIDAWU) member Cosmas Sunguro confirmed the challenges taking place at Chiadzwa.
“PPAA should benefit both Chiadzwa dwellers and law enforcers because at the moment economic freedoms are being violated. Guarantee of free movement is now thing of the past but remember there are families that need to survive but it’s difficult when a basic human right of movement is being curtailed,” said Sunguro.
Onayi Marange a denizen from the mining community said how life has become expensive through the high levels of bribes that have exercabated since the initial diamond rush in 2007.
“It’s now expensive to live and survive in Chiadzwa. Once you meet state security, they try to find ways to make you pay or bribe them. Identity documents like National ID’s or passes from Chiefs are no longer serving their purpose but they are being by passed. Corruption has infested itself in state security and it’s now troubling our freedom as Zimbabwean citizens. Unlawful charges range from US$ 1, US$ 2 to as high as US$ 20,” said Marange.
Raids by authorised officers at business centres like Tenda, Mashugashuga, Makotamo and Muchena have affected native business operators.
CRD leader James Mupfumi underscored the harsh situation emanating from Marange due to abused governance of PPAA noting that the abuse of power by state security is attracting negative attention on the global arena.
“What is happening in Marange is something that is placing Zimbabwe on the spotlight in a bad manner. They should work in recognition of peoples’ challenges rather viewing natives as subjects. It’s uncalled for Villagers are trying to make ends meet to then use his or her meagre resources for the sourcing off assistance and paying bribes all because of tasked law enforcement officers who abuse their power knowingly. This information which is crucial is being ignored by government but you will be surprised how it’s gaining limelight on the international arena. There is lack of relationship between State and human rights and that’s a disadvantage,” said Mupfumi.
He added that state security is doing the opposite of fair enforcement of PPAA law.
“There is need to remove the people and extract the mineral so that government reveals the rotten state security system in Marange because it’s a challenge to manage close to 26 000 people and it’s not healthy that people live in a flee, cat and mouse environment. State security is orchestrating leakages of diamonds because when they are practicing their bestowed power, they are fortune hunting rather than serving the common cause,” he added.
Home Affairs top brass Prisca Madziviridze enlightened on the statutes of PPAA citing that the act is among the 40 areas that are administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs in line with section 86 of the constitution.
CRD inquiry on the issue brought about set recommendations that were also detailed during the assemblage at Utopia Lodge.
“Binding CDA/CBA with community security operational model recognizes communities in protected areas as strategic partners not subjects in security diamond fields. Review of emergence powers in Marange /review of PPAA powers in view of government failure to relocate people from diamond mining areas. Application of PPAA populous and open communities like Marange needs review. The constitutional rights of those communities to economic development and secured livelihoods to be upheld,” read the recommendation.
CRD has called for government to relocate families first to curb the challenge.
Recently published 2022 household and population census figures reveal that 26 461 people occupy Marange.
Similar challenges of insanity brewed by frantic mineral rush have been a prominent occurrence dating back to Epworth gold rush, the recent Penhalonga and Shurugwi gold rush frenzy in the Midlands.

Kuchenesa nyika yese nemagetsi was cheap talk after all

TellZim News
-
0
Kuchenesa nyika yese nemagetsi was cheap talk after all

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, ehe nevamwe vese vandasiya, it’s this time again where our revorushinary party is in election mode. In fact they are always in election mode forgetting to deliver on promises they did on the previous election like kujekesa nyika yese nemagetsi kkkk. If it was kudara ichiri Zanu yedu yakare nana Baba Muzenda nana Zvobgo I would have thrown my CV nevamwe, after all I am a better candidate for any post in Zanu than many of my fellow comrades there kutosvika even kumusoro chaiko kkk. Dai ndisingatyi zvangu these guys who wear cheap Nylon suits and dark specs dai ndatokuudzai kuti I can be a better president than this one, yes uyu ndomudarika manje mmm regai ndinyarare zvangu ndisati ndavingwa ndikamwiswa sewerage yakadai kuzara in Mucheke river apa ini ndichitobvira zvangu president weZifa kkk.
Is there anyone who knows what these Central Committee members do in Zanu PF.? What I have discovered is that they are always mentioned during rallies and other Zanu PF gatherings but kuti vanoita basa rei I really don’t know kkk. …Tine nhengo dzedu dzeCentral Committee, Umwe wavo ngaaite slogan kkkk, zvoga izvozvo, nxaaa kutogara party isina mastructures se CCC senani than kupanana useless positions seizvi kkk. Ku CCC kuna president Chete kkkk, But chakapenga chiparty chiya. Ukaona uri Mukadzi ukanzi uri structure less unenge watukwa but vanhu vanongochida chisina structure kudero kkk. Iyi central committee iyi haa hazvisi zvekungoda kudiverter attention yevanhu kuti vasaona the real issues here. I mean ivo veZanu vacho they are being blinded by these useless elections so that they don’t see, because they are the ones who don’t see nhamo yatinayo senyika. Isu vana Mapombi takaonera kudara makasi acho.
But Mazimbos hatina kukwana, we cannot see kuti no election promises were fulfilled kana one. Free education, zero, 2 million jobs jobs jobs zero kkk, kuzoti pakujekesa nyika yese apa kkkk. mmm apa panondibata, handibiki nemagetsi and I don’t have any phone to charge but just seeing the lights across Mucheke river ndiri pedu paChitima apa gives me hope that I will see tomorrow kwete kubva kwati diii kumbaati diii chaiko. Ah imi zvotyisa. Vachitanga we said they have managed to remove menacing police muroad but they are back with a bang. Vari kutora mari chete. There is nothing to show off than the incomplete Harare Beit-Bridge Highway.
But those who cared to listen paya ndakambotaura kuti uyu munhu anonzi Soda uyu mmm I don’t trust him vamwe venyu vakati Mapombi atanga but ndaitoonera. He is just a catalyst like Soda zvino he is busy kukata kata magesti zvake kunge soda iri kugura muboora kana derere kkkk. Mukati Chasi aisatova nani here imi kkkk. haa iyi Zhemu iyi hapana zvairi kuita iyi. Kutozonzi Minister of Energy and Energy Development, where is the development ipapa? Maybe he is concentrating neOil yekuMuzarabani forgetting about electricity. I am sure at some point ED admitted to have fired a competent Minister but apa he should just do the same. Zvitori nani kupa chero Chinotimba zvenyu Ministry yacho I am sure he can run it better. Inga Skilled Rebara vari kuchimhaanya kuHealth wani. Mind you he was given that post after post he got sick for a long time kusvika vaona kuti he has experience in hospitals kkk ini zvangu ini.
Mr President, we beg you to fix the power outages or at least fire Soda so that we just feel kuti pane zvamuri kuita or you care even though we know you don’t care. Magetsi kumukira kuenda achidzoka usiku kunge ari kuenda kubasa, haa imi ka imi. I know ukatanga this issue neVarakashi for ED they will tell you kuti it’s also happening in South Africa nxaa, ko kuMozambique hakuna wani, even Zambia, nxaa tikwanirei apa, we need electricity isu. Have you seen that there is a new kid in town? I thought we had seen enough after Mahwindi and Mahure4ED, we now have pastors and Mapositori4ED. Hakuna vanoda kusara kkkk.
Before I go hangu kunokanga maputi angu for lunch, what happened to the Coup yekuChina, asi dzaiva nhema kkk. I thought it was true and was waiting to see him rushing here to seek refuge kkk. We have a history of harbouring fugitives in here. We have Mengistu here. This former president of Ethiopia kkk. Chiri kugara muno since the 1990s, iye arikumbonyanyoita nezvei chaizvo. I just heard that his residence is where meetings to rig elections are done. I don’t know if he is the one giving them ideas or it’s just a quiet and safe haven for such kind of discussions. I just need an explanation from you baba Sean on why the former dictator all the way from Ethiopia is still holed up here if the arrangement was made by Uncle Bob. Who brought this guy to Zimbabwe? Just a few months ago, another most wanted criminal Mpiranya’s grave was found pedu paMbudzi apo. But hopefully haasiye ane zvipoko zvinopota zvichinetsa paHighway kungonzwawo ini ndozvigarira kuChitima kwangu. This issue of housing wanted criminals’ iyi, kuitira kuti zvikaitikawo kwenyu mowana kwekutizirawoka kkkk.
I hear my fellow comrades in Zanu who presented their CVs are holding their fingers crossed especially here in Masvingo they haven’t been told whose have sailed because akawanda akaraswa as the factional wars take centre stage. Zvobva nekuti uri kupi kkkk. Chakachaya and munozviziva kuti the revorutionary party is running on parallel lines with the party’s top brass of Garwe and Generari fronting the two camps and each of the two camps seem to be strategically positioning their candidates in form of loyalists to take the reins.
Why is this Second Republic sanitizing looting and stealing of public funds by the way? I heard that Affirmative Action Group (AAG) Chimombe has been granted bail of a mere US$ 91 after all that looting. What has gone wrong with our society? Where is the moral fibre that used to bind this society? Yaaa in terms of nyadzi, I know Zanu PF yakadya ikamedza dzikaramba kubuda saka chakabaya chikatyokera zveidi. What kind of precedence are you setting nhaiwe Scarfmore? Haa chikomana chepaKutama chachaona hacho chikadzinga manje hamenowo avo vepaWedza vakabva nepi kutidzorera dambudziko rakadai senyika. The level of captivity our judicial system is exposed to, leaves a lot to be desired to say the least. Shame on you. Dr Stop it was right when she called for you to stop it. Right now as a nation, we are even confused as to the actual role of the judiciary. I am not computer literate zvakanyanya hangu but I know kuti there is a tender that had gone wrong. Ukaona tichibata zvakadai, ko kuzoti zvatisina kuona. Where are our MPs zvese izvi zvichiitika, ko toti kudii kana maComputer anoshanda ikoko achinyepewa mutengo kudare reParliament maMPs akati vavava pasina kana neromuromo, haa Themba is the only man muya. He always never gives in without a fight.
Ko where is this Chivi South Legislator Chizhou or Zizhou, the name doesn’t matter, is he not involved in the Lundi fuel scandal where thousands of litres were recovered. Ndokubasaa kwake mfana uya, ndiyo empowerment yacho here kuba diesel kudaro. Anyway, thanks to our police though vachibavo.
If anyone sees Susan Mutami please tell her to come out, I need to see her. I also want to see Dr Stop it and lastly I want to see Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru kkk. I last saw her pictures achinja kuita kunge Biti. Today I am not going to ask about Mphoko. But idzo dzorovawo zvadzo. Mboko Imboko !!!

GRRA trains ward service delivery champions

TellZim News
-
0
GRRA trains ward service delivery champions

…Says champions should leave a legacy, solutions towards deteriorating service provision

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru-Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) last week trained service delivery champions from Gweru’s 18 wards in a move meant to equip them with necessary advocacy skills towards the subject.
Speaking at the engagement meeting last week in the Midlands capital, GRRA director Conerlia Selipiwe said well-informed residents would talk and advocate for such issues in an improved manner.
“The reason why we have decided to impart skills to you as champions is so that you know how to hold leaders accountable.
“It’s only trained champions who know how to empower others in the community. We have issues of services delivery which need urgent attention like roads and sewer networks. For us to address this, we need people who stand for such issues. If you as champions are well trained, you can then mobilize other residents on how best to demand accountability,” said Selipiwe.
Development and local governance expert Didymus Dhewa said as local development champions, there was need for them to put more focus on solutions rather than challenges.
“As a champion you must be competitive because we don’t want to dwell much on loopholes. There are many challenges we have in our various wards with regards to service delivery,” he said.
He added that champions are supposed to be accessible and have knowhow of their geographical location among other factors.
“As a local champion, there are many things you ought to adopt. A local champion must be accessible, be a person who talks to everyone and engage with everyone without favoritism or taking sides. We want service delivery champions who will leave a lasting legacy of proffering solutions to the long standing challenges affecting the city.
“Also a champion must be a listener, people come with different ideas and feelings but as a champion you happen to be a leader. We need a situation were by you will be able to go back to your communities and help people to advocate for change towards issues affecting them on services.
“We know that if we inform you, you will be able to talk better because of that knowledge. If you are well informed, you will know how to report your issues and where to report them,” he added.
Dhewa however urged service delivery champions to be able to demand accountability in their wards.
“If refuse collection is not done, let’s ask what would be taking place, if there is no water let’s demand not only answers, lets also proffer solutions to these challenges.
“Let’s also understand the nature of the leaders we work and live with in our wards. We also need to approach our management and every council meeting that is full councils, quarterly review and budget consultation meetings so that we can even break down this subject to our fellow citizens,” he added.
GRRA’s Mtapa Ward 6 chairperson Sipiwe Nzira urged the trained champions to change their attitude to assume leadership positions.
“Let’s change our attitudes in order for us to change the communities we come from.
“We need to change our attitude so that we assume positions. We want to have women in leadership positions, we want a woman to be our Mayor next year as well as considerable women representation in council because they can be better leaders than men,” Nzira said.
GRRA Finance director Taurai Demo urged the participants to go and equip others as it was part of the community’s wishes that leaders will also be born from GRRA.

We should be frightened by drug abuse in Mutare – Chief Svosve

TellZim News
-
0
We should be frightened by drug abuse in Mutare – Chief Svosve

Branton Matondo

The bigger chunk of youth in the border town of Mutare have gone craze with drug abuse due to idle minds and the continued scourge of poverty, a social custodian has said.
With majority of unemployed youth across the city’s suburbs falling prey to Methamphetamine better known as Guka or Mutoriro which is currently going for US$ 20 a gramme, marijuana, bronclere which is ranging between US$ 8 and 15, and other unknown drugs that make their way through the Mozambican border from a foreign channel, the future sanity of the city hangs on a pin.
Traditional leader and Director of Mhakwe Heritage Foundation Trust (an organization which rests on ubuntuism) Chief Svosve said it is high time responsible authorities take drastic measures because everyone should be alarmed and terrified by the spread of the social and medical evil.
“Let me hasten to say that everyone should be frightened because this challenge is affecting many youth especially those that are idle. The situation has been made worse by the sharp rise of poverty levels and lack of occupation. The dilemmas that we are facing as a city is that the industrial sector is no more and so are recreational facilities,” said Chief Svosve.
With majority of industries in Mutare closed, families have now turned to selling second hand clothing at dotted centres in Chikanga, Sakubva and agricultural produce that stream daily from surrounding areas like Honde Valley, Chipinge, Bocha, Rusape and Dora estate.
The high rate of competition in these two informal sectors has led to a sharp rise in poverty since most fail to face the competitive challenge. Chief Svosve added that high poverty level is the major culprit.
“Poverty is the chief cause. Drug abuse and spread of other illicit social deeds is all because of desperation to pass the day. It’s a matter of survival,” added the social custodian.
This publication got in touch with one drug addict from Hobhouse, a low density suburb in Mutare who spoke on condition of anonymity drugs were everywhere alleging that most houses are now drug taverns thereby enabling easy access.
“Gone are the days when we used to get drugs in remote locations and secluded places. At the moment people are now selling drugs in their backyards, especially marijuana and mutoriro because they know that hotspots like Motomoto and places like Old Nandos are now on police radar. It’s now a job and people are surviving on that. We know of backyard sellers in Sakubva who sell drugs 24/7,” said the source.
He added that the mixture of drugs and popular alcoholic beverage Teku Teku manufactured in Mutare and going for $1 for two bottles at retail price is the order of the day.
“Teku Teku is cheap and readily available. Doing drugs and drinking such at the same time is what makes the day here because we do not have anything to do,” added the source.
Cases of drug paddlers falling in the hands of Mutare Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotic Section have been common occurrences, one being recent arrest of drug suppliers in Sakubva, Dangamvura and Chikanga.
Police recovered 120 grammes of crystal meth and 15 kilograms of mbanje.

Copper cables thief caged 10 years

TellZim News
-
0
Copper cables thief caged 10 years

Lydia Koto

A 27 year-old man from Temeraire in Mashava will spend the next 10 years behind bars after being found guilty of stealing Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) cables in former mining town.
Masvingo magistrate Innocent Mudzingwa on 21 September 2022 sentenced Anesu Kweshira to an effective prison term.
Representing the State, Nixon Chamisa told the court that on July 31, 2022 at around 1000 hours, a team of police officers from Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Mashava was carrying out some investigations to weed out culprits who were stealing scrap metals within Shabanie and Mashava mines and selling them to scrap buyers from Masvingo.
During the investigations, the police officers received information that Kweshira was dealing with copper.
Assistant Inspector Ingwani Albert, Sergeant Allan Mugweni and Terrence Mupedzi who is the security supervisor at Gathsmine raided Kweshira’s residence although he was not around and recovered 4.5 kilograms of armored cables.
However, Kweshira denied the allegations before Mudzingwa saying that he did not steal the copper cables but rather he picked them up in the bush.
“I did not steal the copper cables but rather l came across them in the bush,” said Kweshira.
However, he was convicted due to overwhelming State evidence and sentenced to 10 years.

Only 1 government water drilling rig in Masvingo – Minister Masuka

TellZim News
-
0
Only 1 government water drilling rig in Masvingo – Minister Masuka

…Government to provide five more in October

Beverly Bizeki

Government has provided only one water drilling rig for the whole of Masvingo province and is set to provide five more in October for the implementation of the rural development programme.
Addressing scores of villagers gathered for the commissioning of the Fuve-Panganai B Irrigation Scheme in Zaka on September 17, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water Fisheries and Rural Development Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka revealed the development.
“In Masvingo we have given you one water drilling rig and I will give you five more next month for the drilling of boreholes in Masvingo.
“We have 14 wards in Chief Nhema’s area and we will drill two boreholes per ward starting with drought stricken areas first before December,” said Dr Masuka.
He said government is however set to provide five more drilling rigs next month for the implementation of the water provision project.
“The thrust of the project is to enhance gardening projects for farmers in a bid to bring industrialization to rural areas.
“We know that Agricultural development will spur industrialization. We also know that rural industrialization will spur rural development,” added Dr Masuka.
The programme is part of the Rural Development 8.0 comprising of various presidential schemes such as Presidential Climate-Proofed Input Scheme, The Presidential Cotton Scheme, The Presidential Blitz Tick Grease, Presidential Rural Development programme which focuses on providing water for various projects, Presidential Community Fisheries, Presidential poultry scheme, Goat scheme as well as local innovations and interventions.
Masuka further promised to deliver one tractor for the irrigation farmers after the scheme appealed for help as the four sections A, B, C and D are currently relying on one tractor.

Masvingo loses over 25k hectares to veld fires

TellZim News
-
0
Masvingo loses over 25k hectares to veld fires

Beverly Bizeki

The Environment Management Agency (EMA) has reported that 29 730.31 hectares of land have been burnt down in Masvingo province since the beginning of the fire season which spans from 31 July to 31 October.
A document released by the Agency shows that most veld fires in the province are caused by land clearing.
“For the fires noted and attended to so far, 27% have been caused by land clearing, and 36% are unknown. Other causes documented are charcoal making, burning of waste, fireguard construction and suspected hunting,” read part of the document.
In the fight against veld fires, the Agency has managed to support the construction of fireguards on 28 farms, with a total length of 333.3km protecting 159 930 hectares of land.
The Agency also reportedly made efforts to fight veld fires by supporting the harvesting and production of hay bales which helps to reduce biomass that may are prone to burning.
“So far 7 464 hay bales have been prepared in Masvingo and Zaka districts, protecting an area measuring 415.2hectares,” read another part.
The document further states that EMA has supported 18 farm projects in Gutu, Masvingo and Zaka to harvest thatch grass bundles which like hay is prone to burning.
“So far 5 233 combed bundles have been produced, with a further 375 not yet combed. This has resulted in an area measuring 590.5 hectares being protected from veld fires,” read the document.
A Model anti-fire project with a total of 41 beneficiaries designed to serve as a model for fire management was also established in Bon Domi Farm in ward 1 in Zaka.
“The project components include the preparation of fire breaks around ash pits (ash pits have been observed over the years to be a source of uncontrolled veld fires), construction of a perimeter fireguard and fire breaks between plots, harvesting of grass for hay bales and thatch grass bundles.
“Beekeeping, hay bales and thatch grass harvesting are livelihood interventions within the project designed to help in fire suppression,” added the document.
To date, a fireguard measuring 26 km has been constructed around Bon Domi Farm and 88 hay bales and 405 thatch grass bundles produced and resultantly, no fire has been recorded on the farm so far.

EFZ weighs in with solidarity on IDPC

TellZim News
-
0
EFZ weighs in with solidarity on IDPC

Innocent Muraiwa

Masvingo-The Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) showed its undying spirit in upholding everlasting peace and solidarity through joining the September 21, 2022 International Day of Peace Commemoration as a way reinforcing unity and prune down violent acts by the members of the Zimbabwean society so that people live peacefully.
EFZ Reverend Nyasha Rich identified different types of conflicts as well as best ways in which they can be solved.
“Conflicts are an enemy of unity and peace and there are types of conflicts which are intra-conflicts, inter-personal conflicts, intra-group conflicts, inter-group conflicts, all these conflicts exist in our today’s societies.
Just to take a mile of explanation, intra-conflict is a conflict within a human being whereas inter-personal conflict exists between two people with different opinions, same applies to inter-group conflict which is characterized with some conflicts within two groups and also intra-group conflict exists when there is a fight within a group.
“Within all the conflicts that might emerge in different societies of the world, as a Reverend under the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, I urge every member of society to be able to manage conflicts and refrain from triggering commotions which may lead to antagonism,” said Rich.
Speaking at the same event, the EFZ Bishop Philip Mahove also put across the notion of effective communication strategies and advocacy in a way to build up long standing peace and unity.
“People should be well conversant with their communication strategies so that they will be able to manage some conflicts that might arise for instance, in churches or certain organizations, when a leader fail to handle a duty, one may invite them to a private place and have some advice than to sharply rebuke them within the public which is a very provocative strategy that begets violence,” he said.
Mahove further illustrated some key effective communication strategies like listening carefully to what the next speaker is saying to avoid being led by emotions and said though conflicts are inevitable, people should bear in mind that communication solves everything.
The EFZ is a body under the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations which includes other three churches, Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Union for the Development of the Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa.

Mazodze ‘refutes’ claims of harboring political ambitions

TellZim News
-
0
Mazodze ‘refutes’ claims of harboring political ambitions

Courage Dutiro

American-based Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) Eastern Region Division One side (FC Wangu Mazodze ) owner has dismissed claims that he was planning to contest in the upcoming 2023 general elections.
Dr Richard Wangu Mazodze on Sunday (September 19) sarcastically said he was not even aware of the Zimbabwean elections which are looming above the horizon.
“You are having elections here? I only know about those in America where I stay. In America, this year they are having midterm elections but I am not a candidate though,” said Dr Mazodze.
He said those who are speculating that he has ambitions to join politics are right but he does not know which side they are aligning him with in America (The Republicans or Democrats)
He also said here in Zimbabwe, he was only focusing on football alone.
“Here in Zimbabwe, I am only focusing on football. We are planning to bring Premier Soccer League (PSL) to Masvingo province,” he said.
FC Wangu Mazodze best known by its fans as Zhalala Zhululu joined the Zifa eastern region D1 camp this season.
The team is only left with a single match to play before the season’s curtain comes down.

1...283284285...963Page 284 of 963