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GZU challenged to start support groups in fight against drug abuse

Beverly Bizeki

Deputy Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare Senator Lovemore Matuke has challenged the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) to be the first tertiary institution to come up with peer to peer support groups and be champions of anti-drug abuse and suicide prevention.
Speaking at the International Day against drug abuse and Illicit Trafficking and World Suicide Prevention belated commemorations held at GZU’s Robert Mugabe School of Education on September 7, 2022, Matuke urged multi stakeholders to coordinate and collaborate in fighting against drug and substance abuse for the sanity of the nation.
“While government departments are responsible for drug and substance abuse as well as suicide prevention strategies, there is need to emphasize more on peer to peer support. Universities and communities should have champions of anti-drug abuse and suicide prevention and provide information to support their friends. I am challenging the youths at Great Zimbabwe University here today to be the pioneers of this initiative.
“Suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration with multi stakeholders for example education, justice, labour, agriculture, business etc.
“Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death with the youth being the most affected, a cold relation exists between suicide and mental health disorder in particular depression and alcohol use disorders,” Matuke said.
He went on to pledge US$500 towards the introduction of the initiative at the University.
The call to fight against drug and substance abuse comes at a time when men’s mental health issues and suicide are trending topics on social media circles with other stakeholders in the tourism sector already hosting campaigns for the awareness of these two issues.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said drug and substance abuse menace has robbed the sanity of the nation as it is not only affecting families but has far reaching consequences.
Globally Zimbabwe is ranked among countries with high rates of suicide with statistics released in 2020 showing that between 2015 and 2019 over 2000 men committed suicide and 500 women died of suicide.
Researches have shown that the suicide gender paradox show that men commit suicide three times more than women and women attempts suicide four times more than men.
The reason for that gender difference is that men are alleged to use more lethal methods than women and they do not seek treatment where as women are quick to seek medical attention when they attempt suicide.
Glenlivet Resort in Masvingo is set to host a marathon as a men’s mental health awareness campaign in the fight against suicide on September 24 this year.

Zimbabwe ranked top drug abuser in Africa

…As more than 2.5k are arrested within 6 months for drug abuse

Brighton Chiseva

Zimbabwe is ranked among the top drug abusers on the continent among people between the ages of 15 and 19 with more than 2 500 people having been arrested for drug abuse related cases in a period of six months.
This was said at the belated International Suicide Prevention and International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking commemorations held at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)’ s Robert Mugabe School of education recently.
Director of Social Development in the Ministry of Public Services and Social Welfare Tawanda Zimhunga who presented on the state of drug abuse in country said Zimbabwe is on top of the ladder in terms of drug abuse in Africa among the age range of 15 and 19 saying drug abuse was more prevalent in mining towns, schools and tertiary institutions while youth as young as 10 already use illicit drugs.
“According to research, Zimbabwe has the highest number of 15 to 19 year olds in Africa who engage in heavy episodic drinking with 70.7 percent being males and 55.5 being females and this was worsened by Covid-19 which triggered a sharp rise in the use of Crystal Meth (Mutoriro),” said Zimhunga.
He went on to say a number of factors contributed to the rise in drug abuse but the major factors were Zimbabwe being a transit country as well as the cheap price of some backyard brews.
“A number of factors have been attributed to among them availability, drugs are trafficked to countries like South Africa and Botswana through Zimbabwe and a transit country becomes a consumption country.
“When truck drivers stop at shops for a rest, they are selling drugs to our people and some of them are being brewed in backyard industries so the availability of drugs and cost of the drugs which the youth can afford is another factor,” added Zimhunga.
He went on to say other factors include peer influence and a general culture of drinking at parties as a country and other events but said they were working flat out to make sure that drug issue is addressed.
“As a country, we want to focus on prevention programmes and ensure that we arrest this menace, just like HIV and Aids, Covid-19, we want to make sure that we prevent the use of drugs. Awareness campaigns on the dangers of drug abuse are key in the success of the prevention programmes therefore the inter-ministerial committee on drug and substance abuse are doing awareness campaigns. We want to go to mining towns and clean up Zimbabwe operation by the Police targeting hotspots will continue,” he added.
He called for the need of establishing stand-alone rehabilitation centers to cater for survivors of drug abuse saying it was not proper for them to mix with people with other conditions.
“We realized the need for stand-alone rehabilitation centre facilities and in the medium term, government will establish stand-alone rehabilitation centres for drug and substance abuse survivors. We want the survivors to be rehabilitated. We don’t want them to be rehabilitated elsewhere mixed with people with other conditions,” he said.
Speaking at the same event GZU Pro Vice Chancellor Academics Professor John Chimbari, who was representing Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Jonas Zvobgo, said it was important to have a conversation around raising awareness on suicide prevention, substance and drug abuse among young people as it was topical.
“Just to provide a sense of the seriousness of the matter, I want to share with you some important statistics on arrests made by the Zimbabwe Republic Police from January to July 2022. 2 618 people were arrested, of that number 1 976 are males while 642 are females and 2 061 of the total number are above the age of 32 while 870 are below that age.
“1 748 supplies were arrested and 2 082 end users were also arrested within the same period and 21 drug bases were destroyed within that similar period. A total of 557 people were referred to court and 74 convictions ranging from community service to 10 years were delivered with 483 trials pending,” said Prof Chimbari.
He went on to say the number of suicide cases in Zimbabwe remains high in the country and could worsen now as evidenced by reports shown in some sections of the social media.
Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Criminal Investigative Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics Detective Sergeant Netty Kundizeza warned youngsters against using skin enlightening creams and body enlargement creams which she said had long after effects.
She also warned against the use of aphrodisiacs which she said should be prescribed by doctors.
The Inter-ministerial committee is premised on five pillars that is supply reduction pillar chaired by ministry of National Security, demand reduction pillar that is chaired by the ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation.
Ministry of Health and Child Care chairs harm reduction and treatment and rehabilitation pillars.
The fifth pillar that is the reintegration is chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

 

Be actively involved in decision making processes- GUPRARDA urges Gweru residents

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- Residents have been urged to be actively involved in decision making processes in order to be drivers of development in the community.
The call was made by the Women Institute of Leadership Development (WILD) in partnership with Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association (GUPRARDA) during a citizen participation engagement in the Midlands capital last week.
The aim of the engagement was to equip the 25 selected local champions who were drawn from Gweru Urban Constituency with skills to hold office bearers to account.
Unpacking the concept of citizen participation in his presentation, GUPRARDA director Pastor David Chikore said it is important for citizens to be involved as there was nothing for them without them.
“It is important to know what drive citizen participation and be equipped with the necessary skills so that you go and capacitate others. The problem why most projects without our input fail is because we are not involved in the first place. If ward meetings are called, we don’t attend; none of our input is given. Lack of involvement affect you tomorrow because no one will stand for your ideas or concerns as residents.
“In Zimbabwe citizen participation is grounded primarily on the Constitution. The Preamble to the Constitution highlights the need to entrench democracy, good, transparent and accountable governance and reaffirms commitment to upholding and defending human rights and freedoms.
“The power to govern by any tier of government is derived from the people of Zimbabwe, an indication that they should be active participants in governance and development issues in their jurisdiction. In addition, citizens have inalienable rights (access to information, freedom of expression, (being heard among others) which only a well-defined citizen participation agenda can satisfy. More specifically, the supreme law of the land confers powers to the citizens.
“One thing we ought to understand is that when we select our leaders or representatives, it is assigning them to go and do what we want in the office. So as our mouths and ears they go either to council or parliament but we remain as the mind. At a local level, we then stand as the council and those in office are implementers of the work we task them. The problem comes when our leaders become everything that is our eyes, our mouth and our mind, there must be a collective approach always so that we attain development and well maintaining the checks and balances.
“In our communities we have a spate of challenges, poor roads, service provision and water supply, we need to come up with lasting solutions as a people because sometimes we cannot burden our elected leaders to craft solutions,” he said.
Chikore added it is also crucial for citizens to know how to advocate and lobby for their challenges.
“Advocacy is about identifying a problem in a community, coming up with a solution to that problem, establishing strong support for that solution and providing an effective implementation plan. Lobbying influential people for support is part of the advocacy process.
“Advocacy is essentially all about three things that is creating policies where they are needed when none exist, reforming harmful or ineffective policies and ensuring good policies are implemented and enforced,” Chikore added.
Another participant Richard Chimbudzi of Mtapa ward 6 said there was need for constant engagement to capacitate citizens more on community participation programmes.
“There is need to constantly have such workshops as we need to be well equipped with knowledge. We also have citizens in the rural areas, we need the same for them in order for development to take shape. I now have knowledge of what citizen participation is all about because I have been taught.
“As residents, let me say we have an active role to play in our own constituency. If we don’t see the need to participate, we are only crippling ourselves not the councillor or MP. It was our duty to be well informed always with calendar of events such as ward meetings and constituency feedback meetings,” he said.
GUPRARDA Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Lewis Kuchineyi urged Gweru residents to be in charge of their own development.

ICOD Zim bemoans rising sexual abuse against women with disabilities

…move to promote SRH and HIV/AIDS justice for survivors applauded by communities

Priscilla Mafa

Institute for Community Development (ICOD) Zimbabwe’s move to promote Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV/AIDS justice for women and girls with disabilities in Gutu, Masvingo rural, Chiredzi, Zaka and Zvishavane districts has been applauded by traditional leaders, women and girls with disabilities in the districts as cases of sexual exploitation and abuse among them continue to escalate.
The organization recently held a series of sensitization meetings as they launched the project in the five districts.
In an interview, ICOD Zim Director Talent Maphosa said the meetings in the districts were meant to change communities’ attitudes, beliefs and cultural norms towards sexuality of women and girls with disabilities and to advocate for disability inclusion and mainstreaming in promoting access to comprehensive SRHR services and products and bodily autonomy by women and girls with disabilities.
“A lot of issues were raised during the sensitization meetings in the districts which included marital rape of women with disabilities. Women and girls with disabilities also lamented that communities have become agents of sexual exploitation and abuse,” Maphosa said.
Community members in Zaka district reiterated that marital rape was common among spouses but they did not consider it an issue worth reporting to authorities as women were expected to consent because in some way they owed their spouses.
Women with disabilities also indicated that they had to submit to whatever treatment or abuse because their spouses considered that had done them a favour by considering to marry them.
ICOD Zim Communications and Advocacy Officer Vongai Tinarwo highlighted that in Gutu, community members reported that women and girls with disabilities (WGWDs) were falling victim to sexual exploitation and abuse as lack of livelihood programmes was causing sexual predators to take advantage because they wanted to ‘taste’ and ‘test’ the sexual abilities of WGWDs.
She went on to say community members in this district expressed their disgruntlement over the way perpetrators were allowed to patronise survivors of sexual abuse while awaiting their trial.
Tinarwo indicated that with marital rape on the rise and sexual exploitation of women and girls with disabilities, the organization was going to establish a dialogue platform with community leaders and members.
“Our aim as we create these dialogue platforms is to provide a platform for community leaders to discuss marital rape and to dialogue on abuse and exploitation of women and girls with disabilities so that they can come up with appropriate solutions,” emphasized Tinarwo.
ICOD Zim’s move to promote women and girls with disabilities SRH and HIV/AIDS justice who have been invisible in all societal spheres and continue to face challenges in accessing SRH, HIV/AIDS and justice services has helped in creating safe spaces for women and girls with disabilities.

Women with disabilities spearhead ‘No to dependence syndrome’ assembly

Branton Matondo

Women with disabilities from all four corners of Zimbabwe will on September 24 converge in Harare for an assembling day when they will be spearheading a crucial themed event underpinned on women independence and how best they can come out of their isolation and dependence shells.
The upcoming pioneer event resting on the theme ‘No To Dependence Syndrome’ is meant to address women with disability issues that range from self-empowerment, self-motivation and issues that hover around #Youcandoit.
Zimbabwe Women with Disabilities advocacy leader Nyasha Mahwende said the programme will be held in the capital at St Marceline Children’s Village in Hatfield.
She urged women with disabilities to be part of the one day event as it seeks to tackle issues on why women with disabilities in most cases look up other people for survival, a behaviour that has matured into a syndrome.
“Yes, the event will take place in the capital. We have seen that women with disabilities look down on themselves but this event is meant to uplift and instill in them confidence such that they are able to look and empower themselves. Our target is to wipe out dependency syndrome even on the basic of needs. We want to show the world that women with disabilities can do what other able bodied people can,” said Mahwende.
The event which is self-funded has one attached partner, Reach Out Foundation.
Reach Out Foundation has assisted in sourcing a convenient venue and printing of T-shirts.
Besides that, all the logistics and planning is managed by women with disabilities who will be in attendance.
“This event is self-funded. We encourage women living with disabilities to be part of the event. Only US$ 10 entry fee is required. We haven’t found donors and partners yet since we are basically funding ourselves, a sign that we can do it. The only notable partner is Reach Out Foundation which helped us in sourcing the venue and printing of T-shirts,” added Mahwende.
The aim of the September event, according to Mahwende is to produce a complete woman who can stand her ground and do what is done by others.
“At the end of the event, we wish to create a complete and confident woman who works for herself without basing on other people’s assistance. We aim at creating a woman who does not rely on his husband’s pocket. We objectively aim at the removing the barrier between women living with and women living without disability preaching the gospel of unity. We are all women and should support each other,” said Mahwende.
Sinikiwe Kademaunga who will also be part of the event said the event is an eye opener as it seeks to empower women with disabilities.
“It is very important for us to have such an event because a lot of women isolate themselves to such an extent that they rarely come out of their houses to interact with the society. Such an event gives women with disabilities an opportunity to interact and feel loved. When people come together, the usual tendency is laughing, sharing and motivating and that’s what we want to achieve through this September event. They will get to realise that they are not the only people going through the same problem,” said Kademaunga.
She added that a lot of gaps and misinformation exist in society when it comes to women with disabilities’ priorities though the September event is meant to cover such gaps.
“A lot of information is fabricated when it comes to fundamental women with disabilities issues and events like these are an eye opener as we will be divulging correct, educated, proved and tested discourses,” she added.

Gutu man brutally axes father over trees

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Precila Takabvirakare

A 22 year-old Gutu man Alouis Mafukidze of Mafukidze village under Chief Gutu appeared before Gutu magistrate Mitchell Panavanhu this week facing murder charges for killing his father after he tried to stop the former from chopping down a tree.
Alouis struck his father six times with an axe.
It is the State case as presented by prosecutor Bati Bati, that on September 2 this year at around 1900 hours in Mazonde village, Alouis had a misunderstanding with the now deceased Tsikirai Mafukidze (45) (his father) after he tried to stop him from cutting down trees which he said belonged to him.
It is said that Alouis was at a nearby bush which is about 800 meters from their homestead where he was cutting down trees when Tsikirai stopped him from doing so saying they belonged to him.
That angred Alouis who also indicated that the poles belonged to him as well.
The two had a misunderstanding and Alouis charged towards Tsikirai and struck him with an axe six times on the head and he died.
Investigations were carried out leading to Alouis’ arrest.

Masvingo province tops emigrants stats

…over 150k emigrants from Masvingo scattered around the world

Beverly Bizeki

The 2022 National Population and Housing census has revealed that Masvingo province has the highest number of emigrants with a record 153 384 out of a total of 908 914 (nationally) people living abroad.
In a preliminary report released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency on September 6 in Harare, Masvingo has 153 384 emigrants of which 104 716 are males whilst 48 668 are females followed by Matabeleland South that has 81 656 Males and 61 656 Females.
Zimstat director general Dr Taguma Mahonde confirmed the development in the report.
“The number of emigrants was increasing since the 1980s. There was a sharp increase on the number of emigrants between 1980 and 1990 that was followed up by a sharp decline between 1990 and 2000. There was a steady increase between 2001 and 2015.
“The highest numbers of emigrants were reported between 2020 and 2021,” he said.
The report showed that most people left the country for employment reasons with both provinces having the highest numbers of emigrants seeking employment outside the country.
The report follows the July 26 one that Masvingo has the highest number of females more than males with men dominating the number of emigrants at the same time in the same province.
The report also showed that generally there was a rise in the number of emigrants since 1980 with most people migrating between 2020 to 2021.
It was also discovered in the same report that Harare and Bulawayo had the highest number of internal migrations.
“Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces had relatively more people who had emigrated for employment purposes than any other provinces.
“Harare and Bulawayo provinces had relatively more people who had emigrated for education or training purposes,” he added.

Chishanga served the association with distinction-ZIFA

Tinaani Nyabereka

GWERU-The late veteran Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Midlands Province chairperson has been described as a man of honour who served the association with distinction during his tenure.
Austin Brian ‘Boston’ Chishanga as he was known passed on on September 4, 2022 at Arundel Hospital in Harare and was laid to rest on (Thursday) September 8, 2022 at Senga Cemetery in Gweru.
As one of the outspoken ZIFA councillors of his time until November 2018, he was recognised as one of the longest serving councillors having been part of the regional and provincial structures for 21 years, with three terms served as chairman.
In its condolence message released in a statement on (September 5), ZIFA said the late football administrator was indeed the ‘Archbishop of local football’.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the Chishanga family, the football fraternity at large as well as the loved ones of the late Mr Chishanga following news of his passing on. Fondly known as ‘Archbishop of Football’ in the circles of football in the Midlands province, Chishanga served the association with great distinction.
“He was one of the longest serving ZIFA councillors having begun his journey as a football administrator when he joined ZIFA as chairperson for Mashonaland West province in 1987.
“In 1998, he assumed the chairpersonship of the Midlands province after his elevation from the being vice to the top office until September 2018. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the departed. May his Soul Rest in Eternal Peace,” read part of the message.
Chishanga rose through the ranks from Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officer to a bus driver at Fletcher High School, before venturing into full time football administration.
He was also a key figure during the time of Cuthbert Dube’s reign at the helm of ZIFA, up until the time when Philip Chiyangwa assumed presidency.
He remained influential up to the time of his death as he was serving as one of the chief advisors of Central region side TelOne FC.

New headache for AFM

Beatific Gumbwanda

MUFARO-The battle for control of Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe seems to be far from over after the faction calling itself Apostolic Faith Mission of Zimbabwe (AFM) led by Reverend Cossam Chiangwa was recently recognized and admitted into the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) International as a member.
This follows a nasty tussle for leadership with the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe led by Reverend Amon Madawo, which won the battle through the courts.
The AFM International Council recently gave the Reverend Madawo-led faction a heavy blow after it admitted the faction led by his nemesis Reverend Chiangwa as a member in a meeting which was held in Gaborone, Botswana, where 29 Presidents from across continents deemed it necessary for AFM of Zimbabwe to become a member.
AFM International Council President Reverend George Mahlobo who attended the AFM of Zimbabwe’s Conference at Mufaro, Chatsworth in Gutu recently said the council concluded that AFM of Zimbabwe be admitted as a member in a meeting held in Gaborone, Botswana.
“I came to Mufaro on the invitation of the President of AFM of Zimbabwe, Baba naMai Chiangwa. The purpose was also for me to familiarize myself with the developments at the conference centre.
“This happens after the decision by the AFM International Council which was convened in Gaborone, Botswana where a decision was taken to give them membership. So the AFM of Zimbabwe is now a member church of the AFM International. This was also an opportunity for me to welcome them officially on behalf of AFM International,” said Reverend Mahlobo.
He also added that they are going to work tirelessly to mediate dialogue between the two churches as there can’t be two AFM churches in one country.
“We should continue to pursue mediation with a view that eventually there would be reconciliation. It is my prayer and hope that eventually we will be able to close this regrettable chapter where we ended up with two AFM churches in one country,” added Reverend Mahlobo.
In an interview, Reverend Chiangwa said their sole duty is to preach the word of God not deciding who should go where as they all are worshipping the same God.
“No one is hindering anyone from going wherever they want to go. We are preaching the word of Jesus not the church, so we are not barring anyone from going to the congregation of their choice.
“We are just worshipping the same God, not placing boundaries. If one goes to a place where there is no AFM of Zimbabwe or AFM in Zimbabwe, he/she can go to ZAOGA or Methodist because we are just worshipping the same God,” said Chiangwa.
He also said though they were not the court’s favourite for their stance towards abiding to the old constitution, God intervened and led them into being admitted as a member church by the AFM International Council.
“We were seen as traitors for upholding our old constitution as they ran to the courts, where they won but the AFM International Council, which is in 29 countries across five continents came to our rescue as they admitted us as a member church and even attended our conference,” added Chiangwa.
AFM which is one of the oldest Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe was ripped apart in 2018 with the formation of two different factions led by the former General Secretary Reverend Madawo and another one by the church’s former Vice President Chiangwa.
The tussle was mainly centred on the former President Dr Aspher Madziyire’s firm hold of office for 16 years while the rival group led by Reverend Chiangwa had been pushing for fresh elections to choose the new leadership which led the two factions spearheading divisions within the church as congregants took sides with their preferred leaders.
The tiff was settled by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe which ruled out that Reverend Chiangwa’s faction should return the properties they had seized from Madawo’s camp.
“The application or a declaratory order be and is hereby granted. The Applicants and are hereby declared to be the duly and properly elected officials of the fifth applicant.
“The respondents are hereby barred from using the name of the fifth applicant in the conduct of their activities without the authorization of the applicants,” read part of the judgment.
The bitter wrangle to take charge of the church dragged on before the courts before the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Madawo-led faction.

ZIMSTAT enumerators payment next week

… As Agency promises to clear arrears by next week

Brighton Chiseva

There could be little joy for around 40 000 people who were employed by the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) but are yet to be paid for their service during the household and population census exercise held earlier this year as the statistics body promised to clear arrears before September 15.
Speaking to TellZim News, ZIMSTAT spokesperson Mercy Chidemo said they are busy processing the money for enumerators and will have the outstanding dues cleared by end of next week.
“We are currently processing the payments and by September 15, we would have cleared all the balances,” said Chidemo.
The enumerators who were drawn mainly from the civil service with teachers constituting a bigger number were only paid allowances for training workshops they did before the actual exercise of counting people got underway.
The enumerators are also complaining about the rate at which inflation had affected their allowances saying the money is now useless.
“We waited for the money for a longer period than we anticipated and paying it now brings less joy as it has already been affected by inflation. In April the rate was around ZW$ 150: US$ 1 but now it’s more than ZW$ 500: US$. If we had been paid in April, I could have used the money for something touchable but now the money is useless unless they pay us an amount that is equivalent to the US$ rate that was there in April,” said one enumerator.
Another one complained about the payment being done in batches saying they hope when their employer pays them, they would release the funds at once.
“What is more worrying is that they pay in batches, the batches are too little and is not systematic, others get paid while others are left out on the disbursement of the batches but we did the same work. This time around, they should pay the balances at once,” said another enumerator.
Some allege someone in the agency’s hierarchy is playing with them saying when the programmes are rolled out, the budgets would be there only to be told that there are no funds after the exercise.
“Our money was used for something else and they now want to give us when it no longer has any meaningful value. When the programme is rolled out, the budgets would have been approved meaning there will be money to pay the enumerators but the money suddenly disappear after the programme.
“They could have diverted the money towards other uses and they now want to pay us when it has been eroded by inflation,” said the source.
The enumerators are currently threatening legal action against ZIMSTAT which they accuse of violating labour laws.
This is not the first time enumerators have accused the agency of neglect after some civil servants could not access their dues after being deposited in to wrong accounts due to mix-up that took centre stage soon after the training which they were paid for.
Quite a number of people who participated in the trainings failed to get allowances timeously prompting some to visit the agency’s offices to sort out the mess.
The civil servants are also being owed money by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) who hired them to conduct voter education in June before the yet to be started process of delimitation.