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44 percent of Zimbabwean population food insecure

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44 percent of Zimbabwean population food insecure

…Chingwizi put under special vulnerability status

Brighton Chiseva

MWENEZI – 44 percent of Zimbabwean population are food insecure owing to the poor harvest caused by poor rains in the last farming season, a government minister has said.
Speaking at the launch of Social welfare food aid programme at Chinyuni School in Mwenezi, Deputy Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare Senator Lovemore Matuke said about 44 percent of the country’s population was food insecure while 66 percent of Mwenezi District was in the same bracket.
The development has led to his ministry resolving to make Mwenezi District a special vulnerability case where the district will have a special food support from government.
“44 percent of the Zimbabwean population is food insecure, however, no one will die of hunger as has been promised by the president. We have also established that 66percent of Mwenezi population is food insecure and government will give you food support up to March next year where we will assess the situation basing on the harvest and if there is need, we will continue supporting you.
“Chingwizi is now a special case, when we allocate for Masvingo, we will have a special delivery for Chingwizi which is not mixed with other areas. We will continue supporting you until you have irrigation here because as it stands, even if we have good rains, you have small land, one hectare is not enough to produce food that can sustain a family for a year,” said Matuke
Matuke went on to say everyone was supposed to benefit regardless of political or religious affiliation.
“Everyone should benefit from the food support regardless of political affiliation or religion,” said Matuke
He said they launched the programme in Chingwizi because of its vulnerability and they would want to hear other challenges the area was facing and take them to the president.
Matuke said his ministry had designed a special working relationship with other partners to avoid double dipping where some areas benefit from two or more organisations.
“We have our developing partners mainly Non Governmental Organisations (NGO)s and we crafted a policy which enables us not to compete but complement each other. So, we will make sure that each and every organisation is targeting a specific area so that other areas won’t benefit twice,” said Matuke.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira echoed the same sentiments on the beneficiaries saying everyone should benefit and urged them to report to his office if the food distribution was abused.
“Everyone should benefit and if there is anyone who deprive others report them to us so that we chase them to go and work for those who tell them to deprive others,” said Chadzamira
Chief Chitanga born Feleni Chitanga said they welcome the development but said they the responsible authorities should make sure the aid is delivered at the dorrstep to avoid people from forking out money for transport.
“We welcome this development but as you know, our people are poor, and they don’t have money, so please address the transport challenge issues so that they won’t be asked to pay transport fees,” said Chitanga
He went on to call for government to address the land issue saying one hectare was too little for a family and they have no grazing land.
“You heard them complaining, they do not have land to plough and I don’t even know where they plant the inputs you give them. They do not have grazing lands so please address that,” said Chitanga
Chingwizi area consist of mainly people who were displaced following the construction of Tugwi Mukosi dam.
Many families were displaced after floods hit the area and were resettled in Chingwizi where they were each family was given a hectare.

Prominent business person goes berserk, torches relatives’ houses

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Prominent business person goes berserk, torches relatives’ houses

…Accuses relatives of bewitching his kids through an avenging spirit

TellZim reporter

Prominent Masvingo business person who hails from Chivi’s Sese area allegedly went berserk on Friday night (August 12) and torched his relatives’ houses over allegations that they are bewitching his family.

Thomas Chapeta who owns a water drilling company in Masvingo (Chapeta drilling), believed to have taken over ownership of popular Masvingo spot Stopover as well as a security company in neighbouring South Africa is reported to have torched the houses.

Chapeta is Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi’s son-in-law after marrying the latter’s daughter as his second wife.

In an audio leaked to this publication, a relative is heard pondering her future saying it is ruined and she has nowhere to stay after the homestead was torched and food storage granary reduced to ashes.

“Thomas airova vanhu achiti makamutsa Stephen kuti andipfukire vana vangu vaapenge vachiti ndiye akamuuraya ndozvaaifamba achitaura. Nhai kune munhu angamutsiwa afa here, kune mushonga ungabata pasina ronda? Munhu akamutsiwa afa nezvake hapana zvaanoita asi kana ane zvaakabata anopfukirwa ka. Aitonzi aibvunza vanhu kuti vaitaura kuti chii parufu rwaStephen. (Thomas was enraged, he started beating up people accusing them of tampering for the purpose of brining back the spirit of Stephen as an avenging spirit that would sicken his kids (mental sickness). He went on to ask people (relatives) why and what they said during the funeral wake of the late Stephen),” said the lady believed to be a relative of the accused.

The other relative (a man) is heard informing a relative in South Africa of his state of strandedness after his home was destroyed and left with nothing to look up to.

“Shamwari pakaipa kumusha hakugariki uko ndototsvaka kwekutamira nekuti zvaitwa mumusha zvakaoma nhasi hakuna kumira zvakanaka. Ini ndotova nherera kana sadza pamba handina kudya ndotori nenzara izvozvi. Mikova yese yekwana mukoma babaEsy yadonhedzwa, dura remabagwe rapiswa rose neshade ine ngoro mbiri dzatsviramo, mawindow pane awira pasi, maDoor eimba yaIsh, ekwamukoma baba Happy apaziwa. Mukoma baba Nyemu kuita sepanga pachirohwa dhongi zvokwadi musana wakazvimba, vana baba Govhi magadziko kuoma kuita dindindi. (All is not well at my place and am pondering looking for a new place of residence because what has been done is bad. Right now I am an orphan even last night’s supper I didn’t take it due to the disturbances. Houses were destroyed, several people severely beaten up and it’s so terrible),” said the victim.

Efforts to get a comment from the police were fruitless as Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said he was away though he had not heard of any such a report.

…Chapeta skips border

Remains of the properties allegedly burnt by Chapeta

TellZim reporter

Business person Thomas Chapeta who allegedly torched houses belonging to his relatives last week on Friday over allegations of bewitching his family is believed to have skipped the country’s border into neighboring South Africa where he usually stays.
Though no official comment could be obtained from Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, a source close to the on-goings confirmed that Chapeta is already in South Africa barely two days after the horrific incident.
“Thomas (Chapeta) is now back here in South Africa. He has called some of his relatives here using his local South African phone numbers. There is no way he can even be arrested in Zimbabwe because he is already here in South Africa,” said the source.
Chapeta a well-known business person with interests in borehole drilling, believed to be new owner of popular Masvingo spot Stop Over and Zimbabwe Christian Church (ZCC) Bishop Mutendi’s son-in-law went berserk on August, 12 torching houses belonging to his kinsmen in Mari village, ward 20 in Sese, Chivi.
The enraged business person reportedly brought hoards of ‘thugs’ to beat up his relatives before reducing thatched houses to ashes accusing them of bringing back the spirit of one dead family member to torment his family.
It is reported that after the ordeal, his convoy left in a hurry but he promised to go and look for fuel that would enable him to burn houses with iron and asbestos roofs before he disappeared.

Devolution: Its ZW$ 50m out of ZW$ 253m for Masvingo city so far

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Devolution: Its ZW$ 50m out of ZW$ 253m for Masvingo city so far

TellZim reporter

Masvingo City Council is yet to receive the bigger chunk of its 2022 financial year devolution funds with the local authority having received a paltry ZW$ 50 million from the approved ZW$ 253 million.
The revelation came during a full council meeting held at the Civic centre on August 4 where Acting Finance Director Danister Jori confirmed having received the little amount since January this year.
“The total allocation for 2022 is ZW$ 253m but so far we have received ZW$ 50. We have had meetings with officials from the Ministry of Local government and the Treasury on how best we can access our funds so that we continue with the projects.
“From the meetings, we were given assurance by ministry of local government that we would receive the bigger chunk of the funding that is ZW$ 120m,” said Jori.
However, Mayor Collen Maboke expressed concern over the delays in the disbursement of the funding saying by the time the money is made available it would have been eroded by inflation.
“We would like to know how much council had been allocated in total devolution funds for 2022. Unfortunately due to late disbursements, the allocation would be valueless the time it reaches council coffers because of inflation,” said Maboke.
He also quizzed the logic behind the ministry promising the release of ZW$ 120m when council owes Mucheke Trunk Sewer contractor ZW$ 123m.
“During this meeting, I heard the contractor on MTC is owed ZW$ 123 and what is the logic behind releasing a lower amount and that literally mean that all the money would be for the contractor at the expense of other projects,” he argued.
Continued delays in releasing of devolution funds have also seen progress on major projects like the Cambria Farm land fill come to a halt.
Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa confirmed that.
“Unfortunately we have not yet received our devolution funds but we have been trying to continue operations using the few resources available. We have made efforts to work with the Ministry of Finance on how best we can be able to access the funds.
“Right now one can see that work has/is being done on the ground,” he said.
Most local authorities around Zimbabwe have been experiencing challenges to access devolution funds as the Treasury takes ages to release the money to such an extent that when the funds are made available, they would have lost value.
In some cases, some projects have been negatively affected by weather patterns especially projects like roads constructions and even sewerage drains laying.

Notorious gang stabs Gokwe man for refusing to buy them beer

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Notorious gang stabs Gokwe man for refusing to buy them beer

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gokwe-Police in Midlands are investigating a case of attempted murder in which a 21 year-old man was left for dead by a gang of four men when he refused to continue buying them beer.
The incident occurred at Kamwabwe Business Centre, Gokwe North on August 4, 2022 around 1900 hours.
Circumstances given revealed that Edgar Sanangura had arrived that evening from Harare and was drinking beer with the four suspects when his young brother Modrish Sanangura arrived at the business centre to take him home.
This angered the suspects and they barred Modrish from talking to his brother Edgar since he was the one buying them beer.
Modrish left the business centre resulting in his brother following him. This did not go down well with the suspects and a misunderstanding arose between them and the complainant.
The four suspects identified as Ronald Gweshe, Tanaka Chimunhu, Ernest Chimunhu and Mabhunu allegedly started assaulting Edgar, taking turns to hit him with clenched fists on the head and back.
One of them produced a knife and stabbed Edgar on the side of the stomach and he collapsed. The assailants fled from the scene.
Other patrons informed ZRP Nembudziya and investigations are underway.
Edgar is currently admitted at Gweru Provincial Hospital in a serious condition and the suspects have not been arrested.
Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko is appealing to members of the public with information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects.
“We are appealing to members of the public who might have information on whereabouts of the suspects to report at any police station or make use of our suggestion boxes nearer to them.
“Once again the police are appealing to members of the public to solve their disputes or differences amicably by engaging third parties.
“Use of violence constitutes an offence and leads to unnecessary loss of lives. They should also respect sanctity of life; these incidents can be avoided,” he said.

Chaos rocks CRSL as Sheasham’s Chikore registration hogs limelight

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Chaos rocks CRSL as Sheasham’s Chikore registration hogs limelight

Branton Matondo

With only one match day left before this year’s edition of Central Region Soccer League (CRSL) ends, the state of affairs in the highly contested league has reached another level following an official appeal by telecommunications side TelOne over irregularities emanating from registration procedures of former Caps United player Tawana Chikore by Sheasham FC.
Following investigations carried out by the Gweru based outfit on the legitimacy and true whereabouts of Chikore’s registration details, TelOne FC secretary Artwell Manyudza highlighted that the player traded teams, playing for Sheasham before the opening of second registration period.
The second window period was slated for July 1, 2022 and the law in line with arguments raised by TelOne confirms that a player is not supposed to play for two clubs during the same window.
“Tawana Chikore was irregularly registered to play for two clubs during the same window period.
“Declaration was that Tawana Alexander Chikore was ineligible to play for Sheasham before the opening of the second registration period on July 1, 2022 and deduction of points from matches 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 in which the player participated in as per order 36.1.4 which states that ‘use of an unregistered/ ineligible player in league match, three points will be deducted and thrown away and a fine as set by the league from time to time,” read the argument.
TelOne club president Lloyd Mutetwa confirmed that the telecom-based side made an official appeal on the case but barred further comment.
”We can confirm that we appealed to the authorities but cannot comment any further on the matter,” he said.
However, Tawana Chikore’s case traces its roots back to Harare giants Caps United where he had signed a two year contract under his agent Kudakwashe Garufu’s guard ship.
“It was a two year contract and as per our agreement, the club was supposed to pay up the signing on fee but failed. They even failed to pay up his February salary and the winning bonus for the matches he played,” said Garufu.
An inquiry employed on the true whereabouts of the player’s registration indicates that he was registered with Caps United in February 2022 after signing a two year deal. The registration was done during the initial registration period which closed on March 31, 2022. TelOne have argued that Chikore was a registered player for Caps United who went on to take part in competitive matches contrary to the letter by the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Evidence proving that Chikore was officially registered to Caps United was presented by TelOne in their official report.
“Alexander Chikore was a registered Caps United FC player when he played with Whawha on March 6, 2022 (National Sports Stadium); Manica Diamonds (Sakubva Stadium) (27/02/2022) as well as Black Rhinos (13/02/2022) copies attached (Annexures 3, 4 and 5),” read part of the report.
TelOne have since laid their contend on statutes provided for by ZIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players which details that a player may not be registered more than once during the window period (4.6).
Efforts to get a comment from Central region administrator Gift Nyapomwe were fruitless until time of publishing.

We will soon export raw water to S.A: Ministers

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We will soon export raw water to S.A: Ministers

…Dams yet to benefit locals, nation

…Tende-Runde Dam construction takes decades to kick off

Brighton Chiseva

After years of waiting for Tugwi Mukosi and Tende Runde water projects to start benefitting locals and the nation at large, two government ministers recently shocked villagers by telling them government already have plans to export excess raw water to South Africa’s Limpopo province.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Davis Marapira made the claims at Nyuni Primary School in Chingwizi, Mwenezi East during a food aid scheme launch by the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare.
Chadzamira said government had plans of constructing the Tende-Runde dam which is bigger than Tugwi Mukosi and its water would be used for irrigation purposes that will benefit the people of Mwenezi mainly with the excess water will be exported to South Africa’s Limpopo province.
“With the NDS1, the government is constructing another dam which is bigger than Tugwi Mukosi which will be used for irrigation and we will see some of the water (exported) to South Africa where we will get money because it will be excessive and you will benefit from that. Each household will have its irrigation plots and currently there are people doing feasibility studies in the area,”said Chadzamira.
Marapira echoed the same sentiments and said Masvingo had most of the country’s water and the ministry’s real work was in Masvingo.
“Masvingo has the country’s water bodies and my ministry’s work is here. Starting next week I will be here looking and establishing areas suitable for irrigation. We no longer do what we used to do when we construct dams like Tugwi Mukosi where we spend more than five years without setting up an irrigation scheme.
“Runde Tende as you heard by the minister, will irrigate 50 thousand hectares and before we finish construction, all systems and plans will be in place. We will be selling all the excess water to Limpopo in South Africa
“So in the next two years Chingwizi will be self-sufficient and will no longer beg, you will be supplying others with food and money,” said Marapira.
The claims come years after promises of a Tugwi Mukosi masterplan completion which will enable locals to benefit from the vast water source but is yet to come into fruition.
Tugwi Mukosi dam, which is the country’s largest inland dam was completed in 2014, but to date the master plan which was confirmed to have been completed is yet to be implemented.
Tende-Runde dam which was also planned way before Tugwi Mukosi is yet to be constructed, raising questions on how it will eventually have the capacity to export water to South Africa if it has remained a white elephant for so long.

General Chiwenga, we are watching you

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General Chiwenga, we are watching you

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you enjoyed the long weekend with the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays and it’s now back to normal. Before I delve much into the nitty-gritties of the piece let me hasten to congratulate the country’s home to the biggest number of water bodies and that is non-other than the boiling pot of revolutions Masvingo for outlining plans to export the precious liquid. Zviriko here izvi kuti after the construction of the much-talked about Tende-Runde or Runde-Tende dam in Chivi South, the country would export water to South Africa’s Limpopo province haayas zvakaoma. Dummies have and will continue to be sold to the people of Chingwizi who ululate upon receiving ‘good news’ that the dam would have capacity to supply the arid region of South Africa’s Northern Province. Haaa kubva zvavakanyeperwa vachinounganidzwa kuChingwizi after the Tugwi-Mukosi dam, vagari ava vangova chitanda chowada wagogodza coz every time they are at the receiving end of any propaganda rhetoric shame. Their role has been reduced to mere spectatorship as they always wallow in abject poverty but as usual remain loyal. How can such a powerful delegation with three ministers go to Chingwizi with such a cheap bargain? Since when did we start to sell water as a nation? Zimbabwe soo ka Mwari rangarirai nyika yekwedu nekuti zvese nekuzara kwayo zviri mumaoko enyu. Ini kuno kuChitima am contemplating creating a bio-digester from waste material so that I can export energy ndini ndadii ndingatosaririra ka vamwe vachiita twavo. Anyway any kind of a lie whether blue of red, it will come to pass and truth shall manifest itself.
With the factional fights within the liberation movement and the author of our current problems, growing day by day, I can tell from the discussions I hear tiri kweu kuchitima kuti many people are in favor of the general. Yes I can tell kuti people really don’t care about how he fails to pronounce Labor or Trabablas kkkk. People are fed up and just need to replace Scarfmore even before 2023 general elections, I mean elections. You know talking about the Generari makes me pronounce words like him. I know people have hope in the young man in 2023 but are not patient enough to crawl there slowly with the flat tyre we have and the Generari is the only hope, he is the only candidate who can coup out Scarfmore. I used also to believe that he can be a better option but I now think otherwise. You remember we said Smith was bad and we removed him and replaced him with Uncle Bob, barely a decade people started crying saying Smith was better. We couped Bob in 2017 but within 100 days were saying Bob was better. Aren’t we going to do the same next time toti Scarfmore was better? Imbopafungai iapapo, I know many of you haven’t had that line of thinking.
As a women I condemn what the Genarari is doing to Marry. My heart bleeds when I think of the way she is being treated. What did she do to deserve this kind of treatment? Guys, a sinful heart is just like a crooked fence, all the paint in the world won’t straighten it, so goes the saying. Ummm nemoyo wekubereka umwe denga haaripindi munhu. I am beginning to wonder if this mukwenyani of Matabeleland will ever repent from his evil ways of conducting his business. I just heard from passers-by at Chitima that Beatrice Mtetwa wept in court over the inhumane treatment Marry has, is and continue to receive at the hands of the Genarari. Yaa the level of judicial system manipulation has reached another level, ndakambokuudzai mukaramba. How can a bed-ridden patient be dragged before the courts of law worse still issued with a warrant of arrest for failing to appear in court? Nhai Genarari hamunyare makaita seiko murume mukuru. Haa Nyarawo iwe Kedha ah. Can’t you be soft as wool zvinoita vamwe. Haaa moyo wakaoma kudaro ndewekuzvarwa nawo or wakatorwa kuhondo hameno. The state of Marry’s health does not deserve the inhumane treatment she continues to receive on Earth. How can a living being suffer the brut of hell on Earth? Ko rinotaura wani shoko kuti ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’ then why are you after inflicting revenge on Marry. I really don’t know much about her crime but I heard it involves trying to kill the Genarari, I think the way she is ailing is enough punishment for her sins. She has suffered enough plz. Ndopaunoona uyu Okusiriya achigwadamira zvimadara nezvimbuya kumusha uko pretending to be well mannered without feeling for a fellow women, waakatorera Angel of hope futi. Can’t you be the Angel of hope for Marry only once nhaiwe Akusiriya. Ko ivo vekuti vari soft as wool vari kupi, cant he intervene and stop his lieutenant from this gross inhumane. Chete he is busy these days akatorera Mphoko absa and is now donating chicks to people kkkk. Ini ndri kutwudawo don’t leave me out paMasvingo batch please. Wonzwa vamwe vachiti Genarari vari nani, pakadai? Imi kwanai imi, kana mashaya a better candidate danai Tyson
Speaking of Tyson, I heard he is in an unholy alliance with the Genarari. The plan is to coup Scarfmore, then call Saviour to serve the people of Zimbabwe kkkk. We are watching you Chiwenga, we are not fools. There is no better devil so we won’t be fooled again, never. The Generl is chemeing ladies and gentlemen let me tell you. That’s why you see he is clean even from Susan Mutami. She touched on a number of big wigs in Zanu PF and the army but never ever talked about Chiwenga, isn’t that fishy Cdes. We are watching zvedu lets see time will tell.I know mukutofunga kuti ndonyepa, that’s why ndisingakuudzei nyaya. Ipapa ndikakuudzai kuti Zanu PF is planning to take part of Chiredzi North and incorporate it into Zaka District to save one of its constituency’s iri kuda kumedzwa neDelimitation because people didn’t register to vote you think am lying.
Before I go zvangu kunokanga maputi angu for Lunch, can you guys who are close to Chamisa tell him to pop by my place at Chitima, on his way to Mucheke stadium on Sunday please. I have a dream, ndine hope dzandakamurotera. I want to tell her the secret to State House. Kana aramba just tell her kuti asunge dzisimbe, it’s not easy but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I hope he is coming with a bullet proof car iya yakaitirwa fundraising paya, You all know what happened on his last visit nevanhu vekwaCharumbira. How is Susan by the way, heard she is on a social media sabbatical, interesting isn’t it? What about Mai Titi marriage? Was it a drama to dilute Susan’s? maGold coins how far? Kuchitima haasati asvika aya, heard they are introducing smaller denominations to cater for anaMapombi soon. Ibai henyu we are watching. Howfar the Muzarabani Oil project, yava papi zviya. Dai yachipera then we will export oil than Mvura sezviri kutaurwa nevakomana ava. Then America will come here ichidawo Oil then we slap it with sanctions, mopaonawo sei apa maCdes kkkk. I think even if Mphoko was here he will agree with me kkk. Mboko Imboko!!!!

Chamisa comes to Masvingo

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Chamisa comes to Masvingo

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – All roads will lead to Mucheke stadium in Masvingo on Sunday August 14 where Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa is expected to deliver a special massage to his supporters.

The party’s deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba confirmed the development saying preparations were at an advanced stage.

Siziba said they are expecting a bumper crowd at Mucheke stadium since Masvingo is Chamisa’s stronghold.

“The president will be in Masvingo at Mucheke stadium on Sunday. All is in place and we are putting final touches as we programme. We are expecting a bumper crowd to fill the stadium to the brim,” said Siziba

He went on to call all ‘Citizens’ in Masvingo to come and meet their leader saying he had a key massage that he wants to deliver to the people.

“We are calling for every citizen in Masvingo to come to Mucheke Stadium, president Chamisa has a key message that he wants to share with them so they have to come and hear it for themselves,” he said.

Apart from delivering the key massage, Siziba also said Chamisa wanted to thank Masvingo people for supporting and voting for CCC in the March by-elections which saw the party winning all the four wards that were contested for in Masvingo Urban.

“The president will also take the opportunity to thank Masvingo for voting CCC in the previous elections where we won resoundingly,” said Siziba

CCC Provincial Administrator Mandivenga Matutu said police clearance has already been sought for and everything was in order for the rally and said several preparatory meetings were held locally and everything is in place.

“We have police clearance and now everything is in order,” said Matutu

Other sources said mobilization was underway and currently they were doing road shows roadshows as well as door to door engagements.

The opposition used to have challenges in getting clearances to hold rallies around the country with the police giving excuses such as shortage of manpower or claiming that the venue was already booked for another event.

Zaka hyena attack survivor narrates ordeal

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Zaka hyena attack survivor narrates ordeal

…‘If only I could get my hands back…’

Emmanuel Chitsika

After the horrific hyena attack that left her with both palms amputated in Zaka district of Masvingo, Muchanyara Munodya has spoken of her wish that, if by any chance of fate she could get back her hands she could work for her young family as usual without bothering anyone.
Her words are not only heartbreaking, but reflect how much the bizarre attack has altered her life and that of her family-an incident that speaks so much about how grave human-wildlife conflict has become.
Speaking from her hospital bed at Masvingo Provincial Hospital on August 3 where she got a US$ 2 000 donation from government, an emotional Munodya narrated how the attack has changed her life negatively as she had no other alternative source of livelihood than working using her hands.
“Kutaura kudai ndinonzwa kunyara kupakiswa chikafu nemumwe munhu sezvo ndanga ndajairira kuzviitira zvinhu namaoko angu. Pamwe pacho ndinotoona sekuti ndava mwana mucheche asingagone kuzviitira zvinhu zvake anotoda kubatsirwa (Right now as I speak from this hospital bed, I am being spoon-fed each time I get a meal. At times I feel like am reduced to a kid who needs assistance from elderly to do some activities. The situation is a bit embarrassing for me as I am not used to that kind of a life. I feel like it is shameful for someone of my age to be spoon-fed.)
“I am yet to accept my situation and believe it is normal. I am someone who is used to using my hands for my livelihood and that is why one of my wishes as I recover from this attack that if ever I am going to have my hands so that I work for my young family,” she said.
She went on to explain how she used to go about her household chores as well as gardening as a source of livelihood which now might turn to be a thing of the past after the dreadful incident in which the marauding hyena attacked her.
“My main worry right now as I lay in this hospital bed is how I am going to go about my life after losing my hands which I have always depended on to earn a living. My heart is painful that someone like myself who has been using hands to work on my own, how I would go about my farming activities.
“I am forever grateful to all those who have chosen to stand and offered me and family the much needed help. I appreciate the helping hand shown by government by donating cash, Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution (Ezra Chadzamira) for pledging to pay hospital bills as well as Clemence Chiduwa (deputy minister of Finance and Zaka MP) for his timely intervention soon after the attack. He (Chiduwa) also made sure my youngest child (who was less than three weeks during the time of attack) got something to eat and milk for her upkeep.
“Even if you check my records, I have never suffered from a high Blood Pressure after this attack because of the help me and my family are getting from people from all walks of life. I feel loved by the nation and am grateful. The church stood with me during this time of need. I am positive, I would make it after this horrific event but only if I could get an alternative pair to use as hands,” she added.
It was during the night when Munodya heard his husband Robert Murove screaming after going out to investigate what was taking place at their kraal and got attacked by the spotted hyena. In a bid to save her loved one, she was attacked by the hyena which also went on to attack her father-in-law.
Murove said her brave ten year-old son rescued her parents by throwing a metal iron sheet which scared the animal and it sped off.

Gender Commission, Maboleni community unmask sexual exploitation issues

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Gender Commission, Maboleni community unmask sexual exploitation issues

… As child marriages continue to escalate

Tinaani Nyabereka

Maboleni – The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) last week engaged Maboleni community in Lower Gwelo, where it conducted a stakeholders’ inquiry on sexual exploitation issues affecting the area.
The engagement also focused on abuse of young girls including those in marriages.
For many years, cases of sexual exploitation have been experienced and gone unreported in the country due to fear and lack of strong legal frameworks both at workplaces and the community, a move which has led to some perpetrators going unpunished and victims suffering in silence.
Speaking at the event, ZGC vice chairperson Obert Matshalaga said purpose of the inquiry was informed by the death of a 15 year- old Anna Machaya in July last year whilst giving birth at an Apostolic church shrine in Marange and was buried secretly at the shrine without the consent of her parents and proper burial procedures.
“The national inquiry is coming against a background of high prevalence of child marriages, sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls in the country, particularly within the Apostolic sect which is a cause for great concern for the commission.
“This inquiry is a milestone step towards pooling efforts that will immensely contribute to the eradication of child marriages and sexual exploitation of young girls. Through this process, we will be hearing submissions from members of the public on the extent of the problem in their communities,” he said.
Matshalaga further said the inquiry which started in Harare early this year will be shared across various media channels with the outcome to be presented to Parliament.
“The outcome of this public inquiry will be a report directed to Parliament and other duty bearers for implementation in terms of Section 7 of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31) where the report will give recommendations on both public, legal interventions and other practical measures to curb child marriages,” he said.
Zimbabwe Statistic Agency (Zimstat) however confirmed that the levels of child marriages remain unacceptably high in Zimbabwe as shown by the 2019 multiple indicator cluster survey results.
According to the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICs), 32.6 percent of girls were married before the age of 18 with Midlands province statistics standing at 30.4 percent out of the national average of 32.6 percent.
Further analysis however revealed a rural-urban divide in child marriages where rural girls are twice more likely to be married before the age of 18 than their urban counterparts.
Matsalaga further highlighted that poverty, poor economic situation, social media, peer pressure and child-headed families are some of the major causes of child marriages.
“Poverty, economic challenges and peer pressure are the leading factors of child marriages. The Covid-19 pandemic is also among other humanitarian situations which worsened the situation as during the lockdown period cases of child marriages escalated.
“This inquiry is supported financially and technically by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nation Women and under the spotlight initiative which is a global partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls being funded by the European Union (EU),” he added.
A Maboleni villager Ronald Moyo said cases of child marriages were being fuelled by illegal mining activities in the area as young girls were being lured by money and goodies.
“The girl child is in trouble. Illegal gold miners are using money and goodies to capture young girls.
Due to poverty and hunger, young girls can’t resist.
“Early child pregnancies are the order of the day in our community, we tried to engage the police as a community but it’s not working,” Moyo said.
Meanwhile government last week pledged to ensure safe working spaces for workers and to mitigate sexual harassment at work.
Public Service and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima launched the Public Service Sexual Harassment Policy 2022 in Harare as the country was experiencing a spike in sexual harassment cases at workplaces.
The development however resulted in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) calling on corporates to eliminate sexual harassment and gender-based violence at work.
“For many years, sexual harassment in the workplace has been experienced but there was no specific policy or guidelines to prevent this vice. Some perpetrators went unpunished and victims suffered in silence,” Mavima said.

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