Beverly Bizeki

In a love affair that went sour, a 37 year-old Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) librarian Tanaka Tinovimbanashe Chirenje has been dragged before a Masvingo magistrate facing allegations of theft of two motor vehicles worth US$ 7 000 belonging to his 32 year-old alleged ex-lover.

Chirenje who lives in Norton appeared before Magistrate Patience Madondo on August 29.

It is alleged that Chirenje stole two Toyota Fun Cargo vehicles worth US$ 7 000 from his ex-girlfriend Esnath Mushonga who is employed by a bank in Masvingo, to which he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It is the state case as presented by prosecutor Ruvimbo Makoni that in April 2018, Mushonga handed over her Toyota Fun Cargo to Chirenje for registration and use as a taxi in Harare and a second one in May during the same year for use as a taxi again.

Chirenje who was supposed to surrender proceeds from the taxi services into Mushonga’s bank account (which he did not) denied the allegations saying that it was a love affair that went sour and that the complainant only reported the case in July 2020 two years after they broke up in 2018.

It is also reported that Chirenje intentionally converted the other vehicle to own use.

The complainant at one point tried to call the accused with the intention of engaging him over failure to remit the proceeds from taxi business, but the latter would decline the calls. In November 2018, they finally discussed the matter but to her surprise, Makoni was told that all the vehicles were no longer in possession of Chirenje and after noticing the accused’s arrogant behavior, she later reported the matter to police leading to the ex-boyfriend’s arrest.

Chirenje’s lawyer however applied for discharge and the ruling for the application was moved to September 5, 2022.

Yeukai Munetsi

The Gweru boogie clock tower was on August 25 (Thursday) afternoon briefly in flames following an alleged electrical fault before fire fighters came to its rescue.
Eye witness Tendai Makamure said the fire broke out for a few minutes before fire brigade came to the rescue.
“We saw a thick black smoke coming from the top part of the clock and in a few minutes the fire brigade came. I believe not much damage was inflicted,” said Makamure.
Gweru City Council Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee confirmed the incident.
“There was a fire at the boogie clock yesterday. Fortunately, our fire brigade team managed to contain the situation. We are happy that it was not destroyed.
“We would like to advise our valued residents, clients and stakeholders to safeguard anything that belongs to the city of Gweru. It does not belong to council management and workers alone, but to us all,” she said.
Residents were encouraged to immediately report to the police anyone who causes damage to Gweru property.

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – The Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) last weekend elected new leadership known as the Moderamen that will run affairs of the church for the next two years at a conference held at Chibi Mission High School.

The church leaders gathered for a four day Synod Assembly which started on August 24-28, 2022 running under the theme Church on the Move: Preaching the Gospel in Season and out of Season (2 Timothy 4:2).

The executive is termed the Moderamen when it consists of only men and is referred to as the Moderature when it has both men and women.

Reverend Isaac Pandasvika retained his post as the moderator and is deputised by Reverend Silas Magwati.

The General Secretary (GS) is Reverend Tafadzwa Masimba and his vice is Reverend Lovemore Mashamba while Reverend Charles Juro was elected Actuary.

The Synod secretary is Dr Joyful Tatenda Rugare and his vice is Advocate Knowledge Mabvuure while Pikisai Mhizha retained his treasurer post and is deputised by Torerai Hungwe.

The Synod assembly had people drawn from RCZ’s 127 congregations with two representatives per congregation with voting powers.

Speaking to the media, new General Secretary Rev Masimba said the conference was meant to deliberate on a number of issues that deal with the church and said they would want to implement a number of new resolutions to suit the current situation.

He said they failed to hold the conference in 2020 due to Covid-19 so they want to invest in digital connectivity so that they can do meetings virtually.

“We have a number of issues we are discussing at this conference and those that we resolve become policy. We failed to hold the conference due to Covid-19 restrictions and that has taught us a lesson. We are now thinking of doing our meetings and other conferences virtually as that saves a lot of time and resources,” said Rev Masimba.

He said they wanted to implement best practises that include incorporating gender and current labour laws as well as looking at new ways of revenue generation saying they are considering going into real estate business.

“We want to implement best practices like aligning our policies with the current gender and labour laws as well as contributing to the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

“We are also looking at other ways of revenue generation and we are currently considering going into real estate business,” said Masimba.

Valentine Makufa

More than ninety women from Masvingo and Zaka districts graduated at Maina Mandava’s farm located near Great Zimbabwe University Main campus on August 25 after undergoing a two week training course on baking and confectionaries facilitated by a Private Voluntary Organization called Grassroots Advocacy.
The organization’s Communications Director Byron Dzinoreva said the programme is aimed at empowering women by equipping them with the skills as they received certificates at the end of the training.
“We are going around training people especially women, life skills and entrepreneurs to be involved in bakery and confectionery business. So people will receive certificates after successfully completing the courses,” said Dzinoreva.
Grassroots Advocacy is funded by Patricia Chimombe, a United Kingdom-based philanthropist who hails from Zaka Central constituency.
Masvingo Zanu PF provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa appreciated Patricia Chimombe’s work during the graduation ceremony saying it has contributed greatly towards the Vision 2030 and encouraged more diasporans to do the same in their communities.
“Patricia Chimombe has shown the highest level of patriotism, to give back to the community that she comes from. We implore other diasporans to invest in skills development for women and contribute towards the Vision 2030 as espoused by our President ED Mnangagwa,” said Mavhenyengwa.
The organization was formed with the sole aim of trying to alleviate poverty and hunger thus ensuring food security in Masvingo communities.
It is premised on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 (eradication of poverty) and 2 (eradication of hunger).
It mainly targeted Zaka women but however spread to other districts.
The organization is currently focusing on women empowerment programmes and is looking forward to diversify in the future.

Valentine Makufa

The construction of a new bridge adjacent to the old Mucheke Bridge has commenced with questions among residents of Masvingo on whether the new bridge will affect the new Kernen Park being constructed between Chevron Hotel and the old bridge or not.
In addressing the public’s concern, Masvingo City Council Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa assured residents that the construction team has designed the bridge in a way that will not affect the park though there will be some adjustments.
“Construction of the bridge will not affect the park. When they did the designs, they consulted us and we were assured that it will not affect the park. However, there will be a slight adjustment on the perimeter wall. Our guys who are constructing the wall at the park made a slight mistake and that is going to be adjusted so that’s the only adjustment we will see there,” said Mukaratirwa.
The new bridge is set to be adjacent to the old Mucheke Bridge which seems to pass through the new park.
The project is being undertaken under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Second Phase 2 (ERRP2) by government of Zimbabwe.
Masvingo is going to witness addition of two more bridges that would help lessen or address traffic congestion issues that usually affect the flow of traffic into and from the Central Business District (CBD) during peak hours.

Cephas Shava

Mwenezi-A well-known and vocal Zanu PF youth Jasper Mhaka has reportedly filed an array of allegations ranging from wanton mismanagement to corruption against Mwenezi Rural District Council (MRDC) with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) calling for the anti-graft body to investigate the local authority.
The outspoken Mhaka, who has on record been claiming to be on a mission to square off with corrupt officials within the district, is accusing the local authority of several misconduct cases among them corruption, nepotism, funds embezzlement and massive citizen neglect.
In an interview with TellZim, Mhaka confirmed that he had indeed reported MRDC to ZACC for investigations.
Mhaka, said although he is yet to be given the case number under which his case was filed, he had approached the country’s corruption watchdog to inquire into the local authority’s activities which he claims have gone unabated.
“I can confirm that a report has been made to ZACC against the RDC. The local authority’s budget which they presented to residents is our first dossier. When council presented its budget last year, they presented a faulty and corrupt budget which was arithmetically wrong and had several omissions,” said Mhaka.
He further accused MRDC of neglect and recklessness in handling sanitation services also claiming that the local authority had on several occasions violated the Public Finance Management Act.
“Despite the fact that residents pay exorbitant rates, there is very poor service delivery around Rutenga growth point. Council is on record of making clandestine resolutions. If we are to look at devolution expenditures, most of them were done without going to tender as per protocol,” claimed Mhaka.
MRDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Chivanga however rubbished Mhaka’s claims arguing that the local authority was more than ready to be investigated by ZACC and had nothing to hide.
Contrary to Mhaka’s assertions (who claimed it had been years since the MRDC got audited), Chivanga pointed out that they were last audited for the year 2018 to 2019 by the Auditor General.
“Those allegations are mere fabrications and they cannot deter us as council from executing our mandate as stipulated by laws. We do not fear ZACC investigators because we have no case to answer. So as the local authority, we are more than ready for any investigations.
“Despite having our own internal auditors, we were audited by the Auditor General for year 2018 to 2019. As it stands, our year 2020 to 2021 books are ready for any audit,” said Chivanga.
Some Zanu PF members were recently at loggerheads with the local authority officials as they sought to be given first preference on market stall stands allocation.