Home Blog Page 3

Bikita author publishes third novel

TellZim News
-
0
Bikita author publishes third novel

By Tadiwa Shunje
MASVINGO- A 52-year-old Bikita-born author has published his third novel, Ndambirira, a
Shona-language fiction book that explores witchcraft allegations, generational differences and
the conflict between traditional beliefs and modern society.
Speaking to TellZim News, the author, Simon Makumbe, said the novel challenges readers to
reflect on social practices that continue to shape communities.
“Ndambirira is a fiction on the evil practices which society, both traditional and international,
has failed to rid itself of. It examines how different generations understand these issues and the
tension between tradition and modernity,” he said.
The novel follows the lives of Maposa and village head Haka whose friendship deteriorates after
accusations of witchcraft emerge following the mysterious death of Maposa’s first wife. Through
discussions involving village elders, pensioners and young people, the story explores contrasting
views on witchcraft, morality and technological advancement.
There are also chapters where the youth and guzzling elders like Mr Manjere gather at the local
township, casually debating the ills of society, including whether witchcraft exists and in what
forms. The debates take a thought-provoking turn when some argue that even if traditional
witchcraft exists, it cannot be compared to the “witchcraft of technology” or the “witchcraft of
the white man.
Makumbe said Ndambirira was his third published book, but the journey to becoming an author
started decades ago. He said getting his first book into print was not easy after several
manuscripts went unpublished because of financial constraints and limited knowledge of the
publishing industry.
With help from a long-time friend and former classmate, Eresina Hwede, who assisted with
editing and advice, Makumbe’s first book, Trials of the Mind, was finally published by
Progressive Publishers in 2021.
Ttrials of the mind reflects on Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and post-independence challenges
through the experiences of a generation looking back on missed opportunities.
He followed it with Bleeding Wounds in 2023, a novel focusing on relationships, marriage and
the consequences of decisions made by young people. Parts of the storyline were drawn from
ideas contained in his first unpublished manuscript.
Makumbe’s writing journey began decades ago when he was still in Form Three. His first
attempt was Unhealed Wounds, a 96-page A4 manuscript centred on youthful love affairs.
However, frustrated with the vulgarity in some sections when he reread it later, he burnt the
entire manuscript instead of editing it.

“I regretted that decision because some of the ideas were worth preserving. I later captured part
of that content in future attempts,” said Makumbe.
In early 1990, as he waited for his O-level results, he attempted another fiction
entitled Characters of a New Generation. Due to his poor background and lack of exposure, he
had no idea how to get it edited and published. He mailed it to Zimbabwe Publishing House, but
it was returned with the publisher’s comments and the costs involved were prohibitive, especially
since the whole script was handwritten.
In 1993, while a second-year student at the University of Zimbabwe, he tried again with It
Happens (Memories of Yesterdays). He approached the then writer-in-residence, Chenjerai Hove,
for feedback.
“Mr Hove advised me to take the manuscript to him for meaningful feedback, but that was never
done,” said Makumbe.
Breakthrough finally came after guidance from established writer Memory Chirere, who
suggested self-publishing.
“Chirere told me: ‘For a start, try self-publishing instead of agreements with publishers. Look for
an editor you can pay. When your script is ready, then look for someone to do typesetting and
printing,'” said Makumbe.
“The breakthrough came after I received advice to try self-publishing and have my work
professionally edited. That guidance gave me confidence to keep going until Trials of the Mind
was finally published,” he said.
Born in Nhamo Village under Chief Mukanganwi in Bikita District, Makumbe attended
Chitsanga Primary School before studying at Uchere, where he was among the pioneers, Chirima
Secondary School, and later Gutu High School.
He graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in
Politics and Administration before working for the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Rural
Housing, and later joining the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in 2008.

Meet RCZ’s new finance boss, Chitsika

TellZim News
-
0
Meet RCZ’s new finance boss, Chitsika

By Virginia Njovo

The Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) recently appointed seasoned finance professional George Chitsika as its new Chief Finance Officer (CFO), a move expected to strengthen the church’s financial management, reporting systems, and accountability.

Chitsika (58) assumed office in April 2026, succeeding Pikisai Mhizha, who resigned from the position. 

Chitsika brings more than three decades of banking and finance experience, having held senior finance and executive positions in Zimbabwe and across the region.

A committed member of the RCZ, Chitsika has been actively involved in various church leagues, including the Men’s League (Sungano Yevarume), Varwi VaKristu, and Couples.

He was among the pioneers of the National Youth Conference (Chiyedza Chenyika), where he served as Vice Chairperson. Before taking up his new role, he worshipped at Inner City Congregation Ranganohuru Harare under Reverend E. Tsanangura.

His professional career began in 1993 when he joined Barclays Bank Zimbabwe as a Graduate Trainee. During his nine-year tenure, he rose through the ranks, serving as Head Office Accountant, Management Accountant, and later Financial Accountant.

In 2003, Chitsika joined Standard Chartered Bank, where he spent more than two decades in senior roles. He served as Senior Business Analyst before becoming Head of Business Finance. 

He later oversaw regulatory reporting for the bank’s Southern Africa operations, working across countries including Zambia and Mozambique. Before returning to Zimbabwe, he served as Chief Finance Officer and Executive Director based in Angola.

Speaking on his appointment, Chitsika said he intends to use his extensive experience to strengthen the church’s financial systems and promote sound stewardship.

“In my role as Chief Finance Officer, I will oversee critical financial functions that support the work of the Church by ensuring effective budgeting processes, strengthening internal controls, and improving the quality and timeliness of financial reporting.

“I will also provide guidance to departments and institutions under the RCZ, ensuring that church funds are managed with care, transparency, and accountability. My focus is on strengthening financial leadership, promoting discipline, and improving planning across church operations,” he said.

Chitsika also acknowledged individuals who played a significant role in shaping his professional career, paying tribute to former Barclays Bank colleagues Maxwell Garadhi and Witness Muchingami for their mentorship.

“As I progressed in my career, Garadhi and Muchingami mentored and guided me, helping shape the professional I am today. I also appreciate my colleagues at Standard Chartered, particularly Chris Mwerenga and the entire Southern Region finance team, whose cooperation and dedication contributed greatly to my success,” he said.

He emphasized that collaboration remains essential in the accounting profession.

“Accounting thrives on strong controls, and effective controls require collaboration. Success is built through teamwork, and by working together, we can achieve better results while improving transparency and accountability within the organization,” he said.

Zimbabweans prioritize funeral cover over health insurance as donor funding dries up,health experts warn

TellZim News
-
0
Zimbabweans prioritize funeral cover over health insurance as donor funding dries up,health experts warn

By Staff Reporter
HARARE – As Zimbabwe grapples with declining donor funding for health, experts have raised
the alarm over a deeply ingrained cultural paradox. While millions of Zimbabweans invest in
funeral policies and burial societies, the majority remain unwilling or unable to pay for their own
healthcare, leaving the burden of a collapsing system to fall on the poorest households.
The warning came during a webinar organised by the Community Working Group on Health
(CWGH) and the African Health Federation (AHF), titled “Financing Zimbabwe’s Health
Future: Domestic Resource Mobilisation in an Era of Declining Donor Support on July 7.
Speakers from across the health, labour, youth, and parliamentary sectors painted a grim picture
of a health system at breaking point, and pointed to a fundamental mismatch in national
priorities.
Presenting on behalf of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), Taremedzwa Moyo, said the
decline in donor funding has had a significant impact on consumers, patients, and households,
with the burden falling squarely on ordinary citizens through higher out-of-pocket costs.
“As donor-funded medicines, diagnostics and services become less available, patients have had
to pay for issues such as consultations, lab tests, medicines, medical supplies and hospital fees.
“When donor support declines without a full replacement by our own local resources, it means
that the service chain breaks and it’s really a struggle for our consumers,” said Moyo.
She highlighted the devastating ripple effects, including shortages of medicines and medical
supplies, reduced access to rural health services, longer waiting times, overcrowded facilities,
and greater financial vulnerability for households.
“You find consumers sometimes opting to borrow money or to reduce spending on food and
education, falling into debt, so that they can be able to pay for their healthcare. This deepens
poverty and inequality issues that then come into play,” she said.
Despite the Government allocating ZiG30.4 billion to health in the 2026 National Budget,
representing 15 percent of total expenditure in line with the Abuja Declaration target, the CWGH
has previously warned that the allocation remains “not comprehensively adequate” to address
urgent primary healthcare needs.
Out-of-pocket spending continues to rise, and approximately 90 percent of Zimbabwe’s
population, some 16 million people, lack health insurance and must pay medical costs out of
pocket.
A recurring theme throughout the webinar was the stark contrast between Zimbabweans’
willingness to pay for death versus their reluctance to invest in life.

According to a 2022 FinMark Trust report, 72 percent of insured Zimbabweans hold funeral
insurance policies, while only 30 percent have health insurance.
Funerals typically cost between US$800 and US$3,000, depending on the city, the number of
attendees, and the type of service. Health insurance, by contrast, can cost around US$200 per
month, a prohibitive sum for most families.
Executive Director of Women Action Group Tambudzai Loveness Rukuni, who presented on a
topic titled“Leaving no one behind: women’s perspective on equitable health financing,” said
women and girls bear the heaviest burden when health systems fail, often sacrificing their own
care to prioritize children and elderly relatives.
Natasha N. Dube, representing the International Youth Network, echoed these concerns, noting
that young people were disproportionately affected by unemployment and cannot afford rising
healthcare costs.
“We are young, we are unemployed, and we cannot pay for healthcare that should be free. The
Government must prioritize young people in health financing decisions.”
Luckmore Pamhidzai, from the Young People’s Network on Health and Well-being, added that
the decline in donor funding had hit youth-focused HIV and sexual and reproductive health
programmes hardest.
“We are seeing programmes that were keeping young people alive shutting down. If we do not
act now, we will lose a whole generation.”
Head of the Organising Department for Occupational Safety and Health at the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Michael Kandutu, called for the urgent establishment of a
National Health Fund to pool resources and reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
“Workers are paying for healthcare twice, through taxes and again at the point of service. We
need a National Health Fund that guarantees free access to essential health services for all
Zimbabweans,” said Kandutu.
Professor Davison Munodawafa of Midlands State University warned that the current trajectory
was unsustainable.
“We cannot continue to rely on donors who are walking away. Domestic resource mobilization is
not an option, it is a necessity.”
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development member,
Edwin Mushoriwa, said Parliament was seized with the matter and was exploring policy options
to increase domestic health financing.
“We are looking at ring-fencing health-related taxes, including sugar taxes and the AIDS Levy,
to create a predictable and sustainable funding stream for health. But we need public buy-in.
Zimbabweans must be willing to invest in their own health,” said Mushoriwa.

Acting Deputy Director of Policy Planning and Health Economics at the Ministry of Health and
Child Care Gwati Gwati, assured participants that the Government was committed to
strengthening domestic resource mobilisation and had already established mechanisms, including
the AIDS Levy and earmarked health-related taxes.
“We are fast-tracking the National Health Insurance Scheme, which will guarantee free access to
essential health services from consultations to surgery, with contributions raised through targeted
taxes,” Gwati said.

Chiredzi Bishop halts construction project, diverts funds to rescue stranded returnees

TellZim News
-
0
Chiredzi Bishop halts construction project, diverts funds to rescue stranded returnees

By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – A popular Chiredzi clergyman, Bishop Ranger Moyo, has launched the Bishop’s
Ark, a humanitarian initiative supporting Zimbabwean nationals returning home after being
displaced by xenophobic violence in South Africa, with the bishop personally diverting funds
from his own construction project to assist stranded returnees.
Thousands of Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals have been caught up in the latest wave
of anti-migrant hostility in South Africa, forced to abandon jobs, savings and homes as violence
and threats escalated. Many are being repatriated through their respective consulates back to their
home districts, only to find themselves stranded with no money to complete the final leg of their
journey.
The Bishop’s Ark is Moyo’s response to that gap, providing rapid, dignified assistance to
returning nationals and migrants affected by the displacement, focusing on transport, temporary
shelter, food security and holistic care that includes spiritual guidance and psychological support.
In an interview with TellZim News, Bishop Moyo said he was moved to act after encountering
desperate, stranded returnees whom he helped personally with food and transport money, before
formalising the effort under the Bishop’s Ark name.
“We do not have funding as of yet; we are pumping funds from our own pockets. We have a
construction project which we have halted, and we have diverted the budgeted funds into helping
our returning nationals,” said Bishop Moyo.
He said the initiative had since linked up with the District Development Coordinator’s office and
the Department of Social Welfare, where data was being captured on those assisted.
“We are currently assisting them with food, temporary shelter and transport money to reach their
final destinations. If funds permitted, we would also like to arrange grocery hampers, as some
have nowhere to begin life from. We have helped people travelling as far as Nyanyadzi,” he said.
Bishop Moyo shared a heartbreaking case of a husband who had fled Durban, leaving behind his
wife and children in a life-and-death situation.
“We have since made contact and learnt that she is no longer in Durban. She had fractured ribs
after being heavily assaulted by South Africans in their home. We are now organising her bus
fare so she can travel safely and receive proper medical attention,” he said.
Bishop Moyo has since called on fellow spiritual leaders to come on board and support citizens
affected by the xenophobic displacement in South Africa.
The bishop’s initiative comes against the backdrop of a rapidly escalating repatriation exercise.
The Zimbabwean government says the current wave of returns began on May 28, 2026, after
anti-immigrant pressure groups in South Africa issued an unofficial June 30 ultimatum
demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country.

As of the government’s most recent figures, roughly 78,000 Zimbabweans have returned home
since the exercise began, about 21,000 through government-assisted arrangements and the rest
through self-repatriation.
Government efforts have centred on the Beitbridge Reception Centre, where an inter-ministerial
committee coordinates registration, health screening, psychosocial support and onward transport,
with ZUPCO buses moving returnees to their home provinces. Officials have acknowledged that
private sector players, church organisations, NGOs and development partners are needed to
complement state efforts, precisely the kind of gap Bishop’s Ark is stepping into at community
level in Chiredzi.
National humanitarian groups such as Gift of the Givers have also flagged that thousands of
returnees remain stranded despite official interventions, suggesting that grassroots, locally
funded efforts like Bishop’s Ark are filling a real

Opinion: Deported Learners Deserve More Than Sympathy—They Need an Education Policy Response

TellZim News
-
0
Opinion: Deported Learners Deserve More Than Sympathy—They Need an Education Policy Response

By Aleta Makomeke
Recent deportations and voluntary returns of Zimbabwean families from South Africa have dominated
public discourse, largely from legal, humanitarian and economic perspectives. However, one critical
dimension has received far less attention—the impact on the education of children.
Every family that returns home brings with it school-going children whose education has suddenly been
disrupted. Many arrive in Zimbabwe during the middle of the academic year, when schools are already
well advanced with syllabus coverage, continuous assessment activities and examination preparations.
For these learners, returning home is not simply a change of residence; it is an abrupt transition into a
different education system with different academic expectations.
This issue calls for urgent attention from policymakers in government, education planners, school
authorities and development partners. Zimbabwe has made remarkable progress in reforming its
education system through the introduction of the Heritage-Based Curriculum (HBC). The curriculum
seeks to produce learners who are innovative, productive, culturally grounded and equipped with
competencies relevant to national development. It is an education model that rightly places emphasis
on knowledge, skills, values and practical competencies rather than relying solely on final examinations.
This national effort aligns with global and regional commitments such as the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong
learning opportunities for all. It also resonates with Zimbabwe’s own development frameworks,
including National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), the forthcoming National Development Strategy 2
(NDS2), and the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2026–2030, all of which prioritise equitable
access, quality learning outcomes and inclusive education systems.
However, one unintended challenge now confronting the system is the reintegration of learners who
have spent years studying under different curricula outside Zimbabwe.South Africa provides the most
immediate example because of the large Zimbabwean population that has traditionally lived and worked
there. Learners returning from South African schools may have followed different curriculum structures,
assessment procedures and school calendars. Their educational experiences, while valuable, may not
correspond neatly with the requirements of Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum.
The same concern extends beyond South Africa. Zimbabwean children returning from other countries
may equally encounter differences in curriculum content, assessment systems, language of instruction
and competency expectations. Although the degree of difference varies from one country to another,
the challenge of educational transition remains real. The greatest concern relates to continuous
assessment. Unlike previous examination-centred approaches, Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum
requires learners to build assessment evidence progressively through school based projects, practical
activities and continuous classroom participation. These assessments contribute meaningfully to a
learner’s overall academic profile. The school based project process is done over a period of 24 months.

A learner who enters the Zimbabwean system halfway through the academic year inevitably misses
much of this assessment. Schools are then confronted with difficult questions. How should such learners
be enrolled in Zimbabwean schools to be assessed fairly and -for which form or grade should a grade
7/form 4 /form 6 learner who comes to Zimbabwe today should be enrolled in light of the Secretary’s
Policy Circular No 9/2024 on School Based Project Learning for the Heritage Based Curriculum
Framework for Primary and Secondary Education 2024-2030,related policy guidelines and syllabus
requirements for specific learning areas (subjects) .Which competencies should be recognised from
previous schooling? What bridging mechanisms should be put in place without compromising academic
standards? How best can the scholars be assisted before it is too late because we risk losing some of
them to early marriages, drugs and substance abuse and other ills of the world. These are critical
questions which need to be urgently addressed.
If schools are left to make these decisions independently, it will result in inconsistent practices across
the country. The financial realities facing returning families further complicate the situation. Many
deported or returning households arrive home after losing employment, businesses or stable sources of
income. Paying school fees, purchasing uniforms, textbooks and stationery becomes an immediate
challenge. Some parents simply postpone school enrolment while searching for livelihoods. The reality is
that most returning parents are likely to start sending children to school in term 3-September 2026
because of financial constrains Unfortunately, education cannot wait. Every week that a child remains
outside school widens learning gaps and increases the likelihood of permanent dropout.
This reality raises an important constitutional question. Section 75 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution
guarantees every citizen and permanent resident the right to basic state-funded education, while
Section 81 places the best interests of the child at the centre of all decisions affecting children. These
constitutional provisions demand that educational access should not depend entirely on a family’s
financial circumstances or migration history. The current situation therefore presents an opportunity for
government to demonstrate its commitment to inclusive education, in line with SDG 4 targets and
national priorities under NDS2 and the ESSP 2026–2030, which emphasise leaving no learner behind.
One practical intervention would be the establishment of a national Returning Learners Reintegration
Framework under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Such a framework could provide
standardised procedures for learner placement, curriculum mapping, recognition of prior learning,
bridging programmes and continuous assessment support. Schools would then have clear national
guidelines and not rely on individual interpretation.
Secondly, Government should consider creating a special education support package for returning
learners from vulnerable households. This could be achieved by temporarily expanding the Basic
Education Assistance Module (BEAM) or establishing an emergency education support facility dedicated
to children whose education has been disrupted by deportation or forced return.Such support would
not represent charity.It would be an investment in protecting Zimbabwe’s human capital and advancing
national commitments to equitable education access as outlined in both SDG 4 and Zimbabwe’s
development strategies.

Thirdly, schools should receive practical guidance and professional development on managing learner
transitions from different education systems. Diagnostic assessments, bridging programmes and
targeted remedial support would help ensure that learners integrate successfully without lowering
curriculum standards.
There is also need for stronger collaboration between Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries on learner
records and academic documentation. Efficient transfer of school records would reduce delays in
placement and minimise unnecessary repetition of grades. Migration is likely to remain a feature of
Southern Africa’s socio-economic landscape for many years. Consequently, learner mobility should no
longer be treated as an exceptional occurrence requiring temporary solutions. It should become an
integral consideration in education policy planning, consistent with regional and global education
commitments.
Zimbabwe has consistently demonstrated leadership in expanding access to education since
Independence. The country’s challenge now is to ensure that this proud tradition extends to children
whose education has been interrupted by migration, economic hardship or deportation. The Heritage-
Based Curriculum seeks to produce productive, competent and patriotic citizens. That vision can only be
realised if every Zimbabwean child is given a fair opportunity to participate, regardless of where they
previously attended school.
As policymakers deliberate on immigration, border management and economic recovery, they should
remember that behind every deportation statistic is a child whose greatest hope is not merely to return
home, but to return to school. That child deserves more than sympathy. That child deserves a
deliberate, coordinated and compassionate education policy response.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author, Aleta Makomeke, a senior
educationist and governance practitioner, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position
of any institution or organisation with which she may be affiliated.

Masvingo’s own ‘Trabablas’ interchange to open by end of year

TellZim News
-
0
Masvingo’s own ‘Trabablas’ interchange to open by end of year

By Staff ReporterMASVINGO – Masvingo’s long awaited Trumpet Interchange near Masvingo Polytechnic is set to open to traffic by the end of December 2026, bringing to the city its own version of the famous Trabablas Interchange in Harare, provincial officials have confirmed.

The development was revealed during a media tour organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, which was attended by Information Minister Soda Zhemu, Permanent Secretary Nicky Mangwana, and other ministry officials.

The tour also took delegates to other key infrastructure projects in the province, including the Mutirikwi Hydro Power Station, Bikita Minerals, and the newly completed Great Zimbabwe Monuments Visitors Entrance.

Speaking at the interchange site, Masvingo Provincial Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, said the main bridges were already completed, and work was progressing on the Chimusana bridges.

“The projection is that by 31 December 2026, this will be done. The contractors have promised us that this will be completed. Already the Mucheke Bridge, which was a major bottleneck, has been completed, easing congestion in the area,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.

Director of Infrastructure, Planning and Environmental Management in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Douglas Chimhande, revealed that the interchange will be a threelegged structure feeding into a new roundabout.

“There are two bridges that were constructed at Mucheke River, and two more are being constructed upstream. An interchange here will become a game changer as traffic will be diverted, one flow using the top lanes and the other using the bottom lanes, feeding into the new roundabout,” said Chimhande.

He added that the current temporary roundabout at the main bridge will be removed once the interchange is complete.

“There will be a dual carriageway passing through the bridge, and roadworks are happening there. That will pass through this interchange. Once the interchange is completed, the temporary roundabout will be removed,” said Chimhande.

The Trumpet Interchange is part of a broader infrastructure upgrade aimed at modernising Masvingo’s road network and improving traffic flow, particularly for heavy vehicles travelling along the busy BeitbridgeMasvingoHarare corridor.

The new interchange is expected to significantly reduce travel times and enhance road safety by eliminating the dangerous intersections that have long been a source of accidents in the area.

Motorists and residents have welcomed the development, expressing hope that the project will ease the congestion that has plagued the city for years, particularly during peak hours and holiday periods.

The delegation also toured the Mutirikwi Hydro Power Station, where Dr Pazvakavambwa revealed plans to construct two more power plants downstream of the river.

The expansion is part of the government’s efforts to increase the country’s renewable energy capacity and reduce reliance on the national grid.At Bikita Minerals, the delegation observed the mining operations and discussed the company’s role in the province’s economic development.

The tour also included a visit to the Great Zimbabwe Monuments Visitors Entrance, which was completed within just ten months, with works having started in July 2025.

Garwe stops Zaka RDC from buying chairperson’s vehicle, exposes council’s financial irregularities

TellZim News
-
0
Garwe stops Zaka RDC from buying chairperson’s vehicle, exposes council’s financial irregularities

By Staff ReporterZAKA – Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has ordered Zaka Rural District Council to immediately halt the procurement of a vehicle for its Council Chairperson, exposing a scheme that allegedly sought to bypass council procedures and push through the purchase against a backdrop of financial constraints.In a letter dated June 18, 2026, seen by TellZim News, the Ministry directed the cash-strapped local authority to place the procurement process in abeyance with immediate effect.”The Ministry refers to the proposed procurement of a vehicle for the Council Chairperson by Zaka Rural District Council. You are hereby directed to place the procurement process in abeyance with immediate effect until further notice from the Ministry. Accordingly, Council is advised not to proceed with any further processes, commitments, payments, contractual arrangements or related transactions of the acquisition of the said vehicle pending further communication from the Ministry,” reads the letter.Contacted for comment, Zaka RDC Chairperson Fungai Maregedze said she was not yet in the picture but acknowledged that several programmes were stopped if the council is in a red or amber category.”I am not yet in the picture. However, several issues were stopped if the council is in a red or amber zone, and this includes all workshops and international trips, and this applies to all local authorities,” said Maregedze.Had the process succeeded, Maregedze would have been the first chairperson to get a vehicle at Zaka RDC.Sources privy to the goings-on in council said the intention to buy the council chair’s vehicle was never resolved in a full council meeting. Instead, the council had resolved to buy the Chief Executive Officer’s car and those of other heads of department.Sources allege that Maregedze and the then acting CEO, Thomas Machemedze, expedited the process while the substantive CEO, David Majaura, was on leave.”The matter was never resolved in the full council meeting. We had resolved to buy the CEO’s car and the HODs’ vehicles. However, the council chair, in connivance with the acting CEO, smuggled the purchase of the council chair’s car into the programme,” said a source.Sources further alleged that Maregedze, Machemedze, and the finance committee chairperson, Councillor Livison Paradza, travelled to Harare and obtained a quotation from a car dealer who is also a Member of Parliament. The dealer allegedly warned them that the chairperson cannot buy a vehicle more expensive than the CEO’s, as the CEO is the organization’s face.The heads of department are alleged to have declined vehicles worth US$70,000, preferring cars below US$35,000. The council chair is said to have accused the HODs of “stooping so low,” but they stood their ground, reportedly citing the Bikita RDC situation as a cautionary tale.However, Maregedze vehemently denied the allegations that she wanted a vehicle more expensive than the CEO’s and said she never went to do any quotation of the said vehicles.However, the garage owner (name supplied) confirmed to TellZim News that Zaka RDC had visited his garage in Harare and said the vehicles they wanted were already in stock.The motor sale operator confirmed having warned the team that it was improper for the council chair to get a vehicle with more value than the CEO’s.“I remember Zaka RDC came to enquire about vehicles and we gave them a quotation. I remember the chairperson is a lady and with the experience I have with local authorities, I advised them against purchasing a vehicle more valued for the council chair than the CEO’s,” said the operator.It is also alleged that the council chair influenced the finance committee to seek borrowing powers from a local bank, but the application was unsuccessful. The total bill for the intended vehicle purchases, including other service vehicles, was allegedly going to exceed US$1 million.Meanwhile, deep-seated divisions within the council have continued to hamper service delivery, with sources indicating that internal strife has taken precedence over the needs of residents. The infighting between the CEO and the Council Chair has reportedly stalled key development projects and created an environment where personal interests overshadow the collective good.Sources say the divide has created a “us versus them” culture, where councilors and management are often at loggerheads, leading to delayed decision-making and poor oversight of council operations.

Council declares war on Village Heads over open defecation

TellZim News
-
0
Council declares war on Village Heads over open defecation

By Beatific GumbwandaCHIREDZI – Chiredzi Rural District Council has resolved to come down hard on Village Heads without proper toilets, moving to fine traditional leaders first as a way of pressuring them to enforce sanitation among villagers in their areas.The local authority says the strategy, which came out during a recent full council meeting, was meant to fast-track its drive toward zero open defecation and ensure rural households across the district have adequate ablution and solid waste disposal facilities.Presenting the council’s Second Quarter Report during the 17th full council meeting held recently, CRDC Chief Executive Officer Ailes Baloyi said kraal heads without proper ablution facilities would be the first to face penalties, on the understanding that they would then “cascade the gospel” of proper sanitation to the villagers under their jurisdiction.”In this quarter, we are targeting 71,885 homesteads to have proper solid waste disposal facilities, as we are currently standing at 35,943. What it means is that we are going to be giving fines to those who do not have, and we will begin with village heads so that they will cascade the gospel to the villagers,” said Baloyi.According to the report, the district is currently at just over 50 percent coverage on solid waste disposal pits, against a 2026 target of full coverage across all 71,885 homesteads.Coverage of homesteads with proper ablution facilities showed the actual opendefecationfree measure stood at 37.53 percent, translating to 26,979 of the 71,885 target homesteads by the end of the second quarter. Council’s overall target for the year is 100 percent coverage.Open defecation was explicitly flagged by council as one of two major challenges facing the district in the quarter under review, alongside the proliferation of illegal schools, underlining why the local authority is turning to punitive measures against village heads rather than relying solely on voluntary compliance.Baloyi said council was equally focused on improving sanitation at public spaces such as business centres and markets, where ablution facilities remain scarce.”The local authority is targeting 100 ablution facilities at all public places where people are holding their businesses and markets,” said Baloyi.Progress on that front has been slower with the report showing only 10 of the targeted 100 public ablution facilities had been constructed by the end of the second quarter, against council’s target of full coverage by year-end.The villagehead fines strategy is not happening in isolation. Council’s second quarter highlights show it has also been holding stakeholder engagement meetings with traditional and community leaders, a process it says has improved feedback channels and helped roll out its Settlement Permit programme.Four villagemapping awareness campaigns were carried out during the quarter under the leadership of Chief Gudo, Chief Tshovani, Chief Masivamele and Chief Chilonga, evidence of the growing role traditional leadership is playing in council’s development and compliance drives.The sanitation push sits within a broader national framework under the Minimum Service Delivery Standards for Local Authorities introduced through Statutory Instrument 170 of 2025. Council’s second quarter report also disclosed that an external audit for the 2025 financial year began on 24 June, and that the local authority is targeting 500 kilometres of road maintenance, 5 kilometres of new road construction and 10 new culverts for the year, alongside its water, sanitation and environmental programmes.Zimbabwe has made significant progress in ending open defecation, with the national coverage of improved sanitation increasing from 37 percent in 2013 to 55 percent in 2023. The country was declared open defecation free (ODF) in 2021, a milestone acknowledged by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). However, maintaining this status remains a major challenge, with the Ministry of Health and Child Care now requiring all institutions, including local authorities, to have functioning sanitation facilities as part of keeping the ODF status.The ministry reported that several districts have been reclassified as having open defecation again and are now in a red zone, a situation attributed to the El Niñoinduced drought which saw villagers diverting their efforts to food production at the expense of sanitation activities. Chiredzi, which was declared ODF, is among the districts now considered at risk of losing its ODF status due to sanitation backsliding. Between 2022 and 2023, there was a slight increase of 2.5 percent in open defecation nationally. However, from 2023 to 2024, the country recorded a huge reduction in ODF coverage due to the drought, leaving villages with ODF status struggling to maintain the gains. The World Bank, UNICEF and other development partners have indicated that maintaining ODF status is harder to achieve than the original certification.

AGENDA 2063 PRACTICE: ADDRESSING XENOPHOBIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

TellZim News
-
0
AGENDA 2063 PRACTICE: ADDRESSING XENOPHOBIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The African Union (AU) set an agenda for itself in 2013 with a central goal on peace, security, unity and development on the continent. This overarching goal seems to be lost to the designers of the Agenda 2063 given the xenophobic attacks taking place in South Africa currently. A scholar on leadership by the name John Maxwell intimates that everything falls and rises on leadership, hence African leaders through AU and SADC should quash what is happening in South Africa. It is the intent of this opinion piece to argue that while Agenda 2063 is potentially the elixir to Africa’s social, political and economic challenges, it will remain a pie in the sky for the everyday Africans whose livelihoods have been caught up in structural challenges leading to migration within and outside of Africa in anticipation of better lives because of xenophobic tendencies that are evidential in some African countries like South Africa. Why does xenophobia in South Africa specifically undermine Agenda 2063’s unity pillar?South Africa does not exist in a social vacuum. There is no such thing as absolute independence; it is a mirage. Independence is a function and a byproduct of coloniality that seeks out to create fissures between and among Africans. Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia are neighbours of South Africa by history and geography. They all belong to SADC and AU, and what happens in these countries economically, politically and socially should be defined in terms of interdependence. These countries already have bilateral and multilateral relations based on comparative advantages. All these countries share a common history of colonialism and that history is a history that created opportunities for the colonisers to amass ancient wealth that created the Bretton Woods like the IMF and World bank that have facilitated the capture of Africa through debt colonialism and liberalism. Debt colonialism and liberalism have been the wheels in the colonial machine and have been used to set up Africans against one another. The 1884 Berlin Conference formalised the partition of Africa imposing artificial boundaries that compartmentalised the continent according to the expansionist interests of colonial powers. South Africa is itself a product of this partitioning. Therefore, when South Africans direct xenophobic violence towards other Africans, they are reproducing colonial logics of division rather advancing the pan-African unity envisioned in Agenda 2063. Between 2024 and 2026, Xenowatch recorded 59 documented xenophobic incidents in 2024 displacing 2,946 people, and 151 incidents alone in 2025. By May 2026, at least Ethiopian nationals and other African migrants were reported killed in a fresh wave of attacks. When South Africans attack and pooh-pooh foreigners who are victims of structural challenges of coloniality, they miss the point. Liberalism is at the heart of the conduct of South Africans, because it is liberalism that persuades them to think that they stand out as an independent and self-sufficient country. Liberalism is not African but European. It is a philosophy that has decimated the African philosphy of ubuntu. Ubuntu, romantices and essentialises the communal self. Africa from the yore has had an indelible characteristic feauture of collectivism. The values that have made Africa to be unique have been those values of majoritarianism. The moral economy of Africa is what liberalism has come to attack with concepts of individualism. Individualism is the thinking that individual liberties are more important than the values of groups. Africa’s fingerprint of the care economy came under attack with the advent of colonialism and this writer can safely argue that with what is happening in South Africa, colonialism is not over, but is all over now like a spirit. The logic of liberalism here treats South Africa as an isolated country whose liberty must be decoupled from the struggles of fellow African states. This attitude of independence which is born of colonial legacy is fuelling acts of xenophobia in the country. Fellow Africans are targetted even as Europeans, Asians and Americans who may lack the requisite documents are not treated the same way. This double standard shows how the colonial mindset still holds South Africans in its grip. It is important that the school system in South Africa should infuse into its curriculum a cross -cutting subject on understanding diversity and inclusivity with the success goal of moulding men and women of competence, compassion, commitment and conscience. This world will not be a safe place if, as humanity, we fail to appreciate and embrace the fact that no one owns any title deeds to it and that we should approach it with a stewardship mentality. The AU and SADC should be seen making the necessary decisive diplomatic steps to end the ill-treatment of fellow Africans in South Africa. Over 4 million foreign nationals live in South Africa, with Zimbabweans and Malawians making up a significant share of the SADC migrant workforce, hence the need for these continental supranational bodies to act accordingly to sustain their livelihoods. These acts of xenophobia in South Africa are happening during a harsh cold season. Human dignity is not determined by time, geography or borders and human rights are not reserved for South Africans alone- they are universal. Amongst those being deported in these winter conditions are children, who require protection from adults and governments. South Africa is a signatory state to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, yet we are witnessing children being exposed to the cold in the midst of this growing hostility. Agenda 2063 should not remain a slogan. It must be made real through actions that lift Africans out of poverty and protect their dignity. As supranational bodies, AU and SADC have a responsibility to intervene in what is happening in South Africa. Where there are flagrant human rights violations, appeals to sovereignty cease to be sustainable. Ultimately, political, social and economic circumstances are never static. A country that is stable today can face crises tomorrow, just as one that is struggling now may recover later. For instance, South Africa’s unemployement rate in 2025 sat at 32.7% while Malawi’s GDP growth was projected at 3.2% for 2025, outpacing SA’s 1.8. Malawi’s current challenges and South Africa’s potential future decline show how quickly circumstances reverse. Recognising this shared vulnerability should push African nations beyond rivalry or indifference toward solidarity. In the end, the idea of being one another’s keeper is not just moral, it is practical : collective support today builds resilience every African country may need when fortunes change. By Dr. Aribino N- Country Director of ZIMCARE TRUST and former Vice Chair of Chikurubi Special Prisons Board. Writing in own personal capacity.

Chief Ndanga Escalates Land Verification as ‘Sabhuku Deals’ Plague Zaka District

TellZim News
-
0
Chief Ndanga Escalates Land Verification as ‘Sabhuku Deals’ Plague Zaka District

By Staff ReporterZAKA – Chief Ndanga of Zaka District, born Wilson Makono, has escalated physical verification of land ownership in his area in a bid to curb illegal land sales, particularly around Jerera Growth Point, where villagers and village heads have been selling communal land for years.The illegal sales, commonly referred to as “Sabhuku Deals”, have been rampant in Chief Ndanga’s area since around 2015. The problem persists despite repeated efforts by both the council and local chiefs to combat the menace.Chief Ndanga has previously imposed fines on village heads, which reduced the practice but failed to stop it entirely.Now, the chief says his men were on the ground conducting physical verifications of every homestead.”To find the real culprits, we have to go there ourselves. We used to rely on annual reports from each village head, but those lists are often filled with names of people connected to the village head. If we use those lists, no one will ever be found as an illegal settler,” said Chief Ndanga.He said his team was questioning all new homeowners about how they acquired the land they are occupying. He said, while village heads have traditionally been the main culprits, ordinary villagers have also become land barons.”Besides the village heads, the residents themselves are the major culprits. They are the ones selling pieces of their own land to newcomers. However, village heads will also be sucked in because no one can start constructing a home without the village head’s knowledge and consent,” said the Chief.The scramble for land around Jerera began when the local authority conducted a study and mapping exercise for the Jerera expansion project. However, the plan would resulted in the loss of farmland for many, prompting some to sell their land to benefit before the process.Villages such as Musiso, Mateko, Gwanya, Manyimo and Chipezeze among others have been identified as hotspots for illegal land sales.Chief Ndanga said after the physical verification is complete, the findings will be submitted to the council, which will deliberate on corrective measures against those found to have violated the law.Ndanga said the people with power to settle people in a village is the village assembly.“A village cannot wake up and allow someone to occupy land. The village assembly should deliberate and agree then recommend to the village head who will in turn inform the headman. The headman informs the chief who in turn would notify council. So if that procedure is not followed then it means it’s illegal,” said Ndanga.The crackdown comes against the backdrop of a recent Government directive on illegal land sales. In June 2026, the Government spoke out against the illegal sale of state land by traditional leaders warning that only the Ministry of Lands can issue offer letters. Matebeleland North Minister of State Richard Moyo recently warned that some headmen have been arrested for selling land, and he urged home seekers to approach government offices for land, not traditional leaders.Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Zaka Central legislator Davis Marapira at some point confirmed the illegal sales around Jerera warning people against the practice”It is true that land around Jerera Growth Point and along the road to Zaka Township has been sold without following proper procedures. Land belongs to the State. It is only the President through the Local Government Ministry who can authorize the selling of land for commercial or domestic use after following proper procedures,” said Marapira.

1234...969Page 3 of 969