…Residents plan mass sit in demonstration over poor service

Tinaani Nyabereka/ Yeukai Munetsi

Gweru- Residents have sought police clearance to conduct a mass sit-in demonstration as service provision continues to deteriorate in the Midlands capital.
According to a letter written by three residents associations namely, Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association (GUPRARDA) Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) and Gweru Residents Association (GRA) dated October 11, the mass action is set for (Monday) October 17, 2022.
The development comes as council has reportedly refused to address a number of issues affecting the city.
Some of the cited service delivery challenges are the on-going property seizure by council, estimates of bills and unrealistic water bills, the unprocedural implementation of the rebasing of 2022 budget and suspected contaminated water and outbreak of water borne diseases among other issues.
“Despite several attempts by resident associations collectively to have several service delivery issues addressed, council refused to attend to our concerns. The concerns are representative of the challenges that council is not addressing city wide, thus affecting the wellbeing of residents.
“Therefore it is with a heavy heart that residents of Gweru have asked us to engage your esteemed office after ward consultations, to notify you of the planned (sit in) to be held at town house offices in Gweru.
“Residents sincerely hope that the planned mass action will force council to address their plight with immediate action” read part of the letter signed by GUPRARDA director David Chikore, GRRA director Cornelia Selipiwe and GRA director Taurai Mukarati.
Of late Gweru has been facing a host of challenges from different angles among them inconsistent refuse collection prompting the Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi to mull use of scotch carts, ever flowing sewerage in sections of Mutapa suburb as well as erratic water supplies due to old water infrastructure.

…Gweru council quivers over planned service delivery demo

Tinaani Nyabereka

The Gweru City Council has called to the table residents in a move to persuade them to stop the planned mass (sit-in) action demo.
The meeting was called on October 12, 2022 by the Acting Town Clerk Douglas Chikwekwe as a matter of urgency.
Chikwekwe however pleaded with residents to grant the local authority at least seven days, up to next week (Thursday) October 20 to come up with solutions.
“As council, we call upon you as residents to give us a grace period of up to seven days so that we can try to come up solutions to the challenges you presented,” said Chikwekwe.
The planned demo which had been set for (Monday) 17 October 2022 at Gweru Town Council Offices was aimed at addressing various service delivery issues affecting the city.
Representatives from the residents associations, Women, Media, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and youth attended the meeting.

…Colleagues mourn veteran football administrator

Emmanuel Chitsika/Fredrick Moyo

“When I have done the work you gave me Lord, give me that crown”-such goes the biblical quote, which veteran soccer administrator Tedious Machawira seems to be reciting in the spiritual realm to the “football gods” after his untimely demise earlier this week.
Once again Zimbabwean football has been robbed of one of their most revered and valued giants in the beautiful game, veteran soccer administrator Tedious Machawira, who in all honesty deserved all his flowers.
The football family is mourning a man who served the game with distinction while at the same time making sure the Eastern Region Soccer League (ERSL)’s needs were well catered for.
Born 59 years ago in Gutu district of Masvingo, the late Machawira who served in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) before his retirement from the force in 1997 was a dedicated football administrator who fought tooth and nail towards the cause of the game.
Tichaona Machawira, son to the late football icon said the icon was their fortress, hence the family had been robbed of a father figure par excellence.
“As a family, we have lost a father figure who was a father and grandfather to many. In our clan he was the only surviving elder whom we would always consult for advice. His passing on is a great loss to the family as we no longer have a father to look up to.
“My father retired from ZRP in 1997 and he got employed at Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) offices in Harare before transferring to Masvingo where he was the founding father of the ERSL around 2000-01,” said Tichaona.
Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke said the region has lost a fountain of football knowledge and experience which shall be difficult to replace when considering his vast experience.
“There is need for ERSL to find an administrator with experience that matches the late Machawira. I am not sure if the region will get a proper replacement of his calibre because even after his retirement from football, he would always avail himself and provide advice to several clubs. He is one who was always committed to the cause of the game.
“Despite the challenges that most Masvingo clubs faced in securing sponsorship packages, he remained committed to working with us. He would stand in for several clubs I worked at like Masvingo United, FC Roma, Don Bosco and Mucheke Pirates. While working with him, I learnt a lot about football administration,” said Maboke.
Masvingo Zifa chairperson Nobioth Magwizi said the late administrator left a trail of achievements in the region during his tenure of office.
“Despite being a pioneer in formation of the ERSL as the administrator, the late Machawira was instrumental in bringing the Sylvia Dube cup to the eastern region while he was also part of the negotiating team for the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
“In other words, he was behind the success of the ERSL is as a result of his commitment. He also spearheaded the transfers of soccer stars Ovidy Karuru, Johnson Zimbabe, Progress and Jolly Musepa from ordinary secondary schools to football powerhouses like Pamushana and Gokomere High Schools.
“It was out of his idea that the then young players began to play for Masvingo United in Premier Soccer League,” said Magwizi.
Division 1 side Masvingo United spokesperson Omen Mafa released a club statement that expressed how sad the club felt on the passing on of Machawira whose leadership qualities he said were indisputable.
“Our club will forever cherish the moments we interacted with him as he was an accommodating character who always had the region (Eastern) at heart and wanted to see local teams excel on the domestic football arena. We can attest his leadership qualities which can never be doubted and were crystal clear for everyone to see; hence he was a celebrated administrator par excellence.
“Indeed the region would be poorer without him and his void will be felt as he was now more of an advisor to the regional leadership helping them steer the ship in the right direction.
“To the Machawira family, we say ‘Know that we are thinking of you, remembering our father and celebrate his life. Mr Machawira will always be in our hearts and memories,” read the statement.
Acting Zifa General Secretary Xolisani Gwesela issued a statement in which he said the late administrator had an immense contribution to the beautiful game from ‘an unrivalled passion’.
“Known by many as the Father figure, the association recognizes his immense contribution to the development of the game in his region and the country as a whole. He will forever be remembered for his unrivalled passion and dedication for the development football.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the departed one in this time of sorrow. He served the association with great honour for a period spanning over two decades. He started his journey in 1998, when he majored into full time football administration after retiring from ZRP.
“Zifa expresses it sincere condolences to the family and country’s football fraternity at large following the death of former ESRL general manager. Machawira was one of the longest serving football administrators,” read the statement.
Survived by five children, three girls and two boys and his wife, the late Machawira was buried at his rural home in Zimbizi village of Bhasera area in Gutu East constituency on October 14, 2022.

Sports writer

Volleyball fanatics in the former mining town of Mashava will be treated to a sports fiesta this coming weekend (October 15-16) when athletes take to the courts to showcase their talents in a tournament meant to raise awareness on breast cancer.
Zimbabwe Volleyball Association (ZVA) Masvingo Provincial Media and Marketing Officer Frank Tsuro said the two day tournament is set for Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) volleyball courts where all teams from the country’s ten provinces will battle it out for top honours.
“This year Masvingo is hosting the tournament which is held annually. Both ladies and gents teams from the ten provinces will be grouped into two groups where only two top teams will proceed to the semi-finals.
“There are no restrictions other than that players registered in provincial leagues are eligible to play,” said Tsuro.
He however bemoaned lack of sponsorship for the sport and appealed to the corporate world to chip in and save the game.
“There is no sponsorship, teams are funding themselves. We are appealing for sponsorship. For example we have our local league here in Masvingo Dzimbahwe volleyball association but there is no sponsorship,” he added.
Masvingo teams got their kits from New Horizon Pharmacy while their training needs are taken care of by Dr Richard Makoni of Masvingo City Medicals.
Masvingo province ladies team is coached by Glenn Tavarwisa assisted by Tichaona Shambare while men’s team is under the tutelage of Clemence Muzondo assisted by Kudzai Chibi.

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru – In a move meant to foster transparency and accountability, residents and stakeholders have urged Gweru City Council to prioritize consultation on public funds to promote inclusivity and effective citizen participation.
The call was made during a pre-budget review consultative meeting held in Gweru last week.
The budget performance review and pre-budget consultation was focused on assessing how the 2022 budget funds were used and taking in community’s input ahead of the formulation of 2023 budget.
Speaking during the engagement, Gweru Residents Forum director Charles Mazorodze said council does not consult residents and stakeholders properly with regards to public funds as the disbursements of the devolution funds are not communicated to the people.
He added that, it is hard for residents to be actively involved in key decision processes like budget formulations as management and council would have passed their positions on certain decisions in most cases.
“The most key and important thing we value as stakeholders is inclusion in most council processes and projects mapping. As residents, we have a say in every decision you may sort to implement as we are the ratepayers.
“Consultations are key, we need them. A platform like this one where we undergo the budget review would encourage residents to attend in their numbers. Right now the community is not aware how much devolution funds were disbursed, how were they disbursed and used. We want to be active players in project mapping and have our areas of concern addressed as residents,” he said.
This year Gweru City was allocated ZW$ 302 million under devolution but due to delays in disbursement, a lot of projects are on hold, a development which has been seen as a major setback to the community.
Gweru Council Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee however said as of last month about ZW$ 44 million out of the ZW$ 302 million had been disbursed.
She added that with this year’s allocation which had been disbursed, council has managed to do something for the city.
“As for our 2022 devolution funds, we received something. The money which was disbursed is ZW$ 44 million. So we deposited a tender for two trucks.
“However, the money disbursed is not enough for a single truck, so we are still trying to raise more money to ensure that we procure the trucks as per plan,” she said.
However some of the paid up projects as reflected by the 2022 devolution funds statement as of July 31, 2022: four skip bins were paid for at ZW$ 704 024, street lights rehabilitation at ZW$ 5 million, transformer at ZW$ 6 million, new Front End Loader at ZW$ 15 million, New Tipper at ZW$ 9 million, Ambulance at ZW$ 7 million, tractor at ZW$ 2 million and Electrical fittings/ boards at ZW$ 6.7 million.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) representative Rebecca Butawu said under next year’s devolution funds, there was need to prioritize the resuscitation of roads networks.
“Our council has a challenge, if your funds are allocated by the Central government under devolution they are not disbursed in time.
“As council, I want to know if follow ups are ever done to account for the remaining money. At least we need that money to be carried over to the following year.
“Kindly consider the state of our road networks in the city in next year’s budget, we need proper roads in our wards,” she said.
Brisky Ncube a Gweru youth also urged council to prioritize resuscitation of entertainment facilities in order to curb drug abuse.
“Yes, water is a priority; we need our water networks to be revamped. Invest again in the social wellbeing of the community. We no longer have sporting facilities as young people like theatres and recreational centres to keep youth away from social ills.
“Let’s combat the spread of drug abuse by establishing such therapeutic facilities. Prioritize youth needs in our next year’s devolution funds budget,” he urged.
Gweru Council Finance Committee chairperson and ward 3 councillor Martin Chivhoko said delays in the disbursement of devolution funds was greatly affecting proper consultation to be conducted.