Cephas Shava

Mwenezi– Serious satanism suspicions have rocked Mwenezi West’s Nikita Secondary School in ward 10 after 17 school girls allegedly developed some hysteria which some are linking to an initiation allegedly practised by some named individuals at the school.
The weird incident which occurred at the school premises on July 13 has left locals with more questions than answers with parents of the affected girls proposing to embark on a witch-hunt to identify the culprits.
Although no immediate comment could be obtained from the school head, as his cell phone repeatedly went unreachable till the time of writing, the area’s traditional leader, Chief Mazetese born Finger Tapera confirmed the incident.
“On Wednesday July 13, a total of 17 Nikita Secondary School girls developed some hysteria during lessons. For some considerable time, they collapsed with some wriggling as snakes do with their bellies on the ground uttering names of certain known individuals,” said Chief Mazetese.
The traditional leader who did not rule out the possibility of Satanism said having visited the school following the report, he is now engaging all stakeholders on the possible way forward to avert the recurrence of such incidents which he said is the second of its kind at the same school as it also took place last year.
“We are currently engaging all stakeholders and currently as it stands, parents of the affected girls have proposed to embark on a witch-hunt and had already requested to gather some money so that working together we will explore all avenues to unearth the real source of such problems,” he added.
A worried parent who hails from Mvundlana village in ward 10 under Chief Mazetese, whose child was part of the affected girls, told TellZim News that the incident is still haunting her child who is yet to return to school following the debacle.
“My child is doing form four and due to the pain inflicted during the hysteria, she sustained some scars on her ankles and elbows. She is still fearful to return to school as the incident still lingers in her mind.
“I am contemplating transferring her but the problem is that she is supposed to write her final examinations this year. I am really worried about this incident and there is need for school authorities to give the issue a well-deserved priority for the good of our children,” he said.
In a related case, an almost similar case was a few weeks ago witnessed at Masaswe Secondary School located in Mwenezi East’s ward 13. The school head Noel Njaravani earlier on confirmed the incident through saying the situation was now under control.
“I am not really sure what really ignited the scenario but we had a case whereby nine girls and a boy developed some hysteria while at school.
“They would wail with some falling complaining of some headache but as I speak, the situation is under control and the parents of concerned pupils were advised and came to accompany their children to their respective homes. Right now we are yet to encounter any other case of that nature,” said Njaravani.

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – It was all smiles at St Anthony’s Msiso Mission Hospital as the health institution received a special diagnostic machine from the Japanese Embassy to Zimbabwe through its partnership with Solidamed.
The Embassy deputy head of mission delivered the Chemistry Analyser Machine which is worth more than US$ 25 000.
Zaka District Medical Doctor Dr Mutero Mupereki said they are happy for such a donation which he said was facilitated by Solidamed, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which works in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoCC).
He thanked the Japanese Embassy and Solidamed saying the machine would go a long way in improving access to health in the district where some patients who require the services of the machine have had to part ways with a lot of money as they were always referred to Masvingo and would get the services at private hospitals.
“I want to thank the Embassy and Solidamed for making life easier for us and our patients. We can now monitor the local patients because for the past six years we had no such a machine and we would always refer our patients to private laboratories in Masvingo.
“So imagine travelling from some of the areas down there to Masvingo where they will be charged again for the service since they could not access it at public hospitals,” said Dr Mupereki.
He described the machine as a ‘life saver’ saying it takes a very short time to run the diagnosis a development which means they can serve many people a day.
“This machine will enable us to serve our larger clientele as we want to monitor our patients routinely and timely at a very low cost. We are expecting to have an influx of patients from neighbouring districts who would want to use the machine,” he added.
Most public health facilities have been facing a host of challenges from drugs, equipment and even human resource as at some points in time health personnel would boycott work over poor conditions at work places coupled with poor salaries.

…stakeholders urge ministry to auction vehicles in question

Emmanuel Chitsika 

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has finally reacted to the petition letters written by stakeholders in Bikita over alleged malpractices and corruption-related actions by council management.

After stakeholders who include Bikita Business Association (BBA), Bikita Residents Association (BIRA) and Duma Residents and Ratepayers Association (DURRA), petitioned the parent ministry to intervene, the wait is over as a four member delegation form the ministry’s head office held meetings with them on July 20, 2022.

The delegation reportedly led by one Simbiso Dauramanzi had a meeting that lasted for at least four hours though council officials were not part of the proceedings.

BIRA spokesperson Mark Mutengani confirmed the meeting and some of the resolutions the stakeholders presented to the delegation.

“We were invited to a meeting by an investigating team from the ministry’s head office that was on a fact finding/investigation mission. The team has been here since Monday (July 18). They wanted to gather information on the vehicle purchase issue as well as borehole drilling saga,” said Mutengani.

He also outlined some of the resolution proposals they presented to the delegation.

“On the vehicle purchase scandal, we resolved the vehicles be auctioned for the purpose of channelling the proceeds towards buying essentials like fire tender, ambulances or even the sewer reticulation system in Duma suburb. On the issue of borehole drilling scheme, we called for a thorough investigation into the matter for the sake of establishing the actual cost of the boreholes as well as the tenders involved. The officials however promised to make site visits to the boreholes.

“We also proposed an immediate stop on parceling out of stands on wetlands and drill boreholes for the affected communities to avoid likely disease outbreaks. Since residents pay development levies, we encouraged council to ensure the revenue goes straight to the intended purposes.

“As concerned residents, we also urged the officials to consider a lifestyle audit on council employees since we feel their lives are highly questionable,” he added.

DURRA secretary William Mutseneki also echoed Mutengani’s sentiments though he said they also presented on the need for council to value stakeholders’ input on priorities.

“Even if we submit on five year plans, our input is left out and we wonder why council always ignore us despite being key stakeholders.

“We presented our wish for council to be considerate of all stakeholders’ views and work together towards development,” said Mutseneki.

However, contacted to comment on the meeting, one of the officials declined to comment and said the ministry or District Development Coordinator (DDC) is the rightful authority to do so.

“I am not allowed to comment on such issues. Either you call the DDC or the ministry head office,” said the official.

Bikita RDC has been embroiled in a number of disputes with resident associations and business community after the former purchased six top of the range Toyota Hilux GD6 for Head of Departments before privatising the registration plates.

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI- Rural District Council (CRDC) has managed to utilize its share from the $19, 5 billion devolution fund this year disbursed by the Central Bank towards life changing projects that permeate all facets of life in the health sector, road networking, education and environmental issues.
The amount allocated was however walloped by the increasing inflation and they managed to undertake projects through smart partnerships with local companies.
CRDC has managed to evenly distribute the strained devolution funds across the district covering critical areas with the help of various companies and safari operators.
Chiredzi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Lovemore Chisema who was part of the entourage of the devolution projects tour applauded the local authority’s smart partnership initiative towards life changing projects.
“We have been touring the district for the purpose of appreciating works that are being done by the local authority which is Chiredzi RDC to be specific and generally I can say I am happy with what I have seen which is evidence that the devolution funds are being utilized and it’s also an appreciation for the president for making sure that these funds are going to local authorities.
“This has made government to come closer to the people through its third tier which is the local authority that comes in to provide services which are necessary for the people.
“Of late, local authorities have been struggling financially so this is their bail out. We are also going to make sure that those areas lagging behind are developed especially the newly resettled areas,” said Chisema.

CHISAMBIJI ROAD

CRDC made a smart partnership with a local company, COAL Zimbabwe to gravel a 15 kilometre road stretch in ward 25 which is going to benefit the community as well as the company to transport its products.
Chisema said it was a smart partnership between council and Coal Zimbabwe that enabled the road to be trafficable.
“This is a smart partnership between council and the private company that enabled resurfacing of the road. This brought a trafficable road to our community as devolution has now brought the government closer to the community using the third tier of government which is the CRDC,” said Chisema.

RUSUNUNGUKO CLINIC

Rusununguko Clinic is another product of smart partnership between the local authority and Malilangwe Trust, where a portion of the Devolution funds was channelled towards the completion of the clinic.
Chiredzi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ailes Baloyi said Malilangwe Conservation Trust runs the local authority’s wildlife area called the Mhangula Triangle where the community benefits directly from the proceeds.
“Malilangwe Trust operates the local authority’s Mhangula Triangle where the community here directly benefit from the proceeds. Devolution chipped in towards the completion of the clinic which is only due for commissioning. The clinic is set to service more than 24 000 people who were accessing basic health care services at Chiredzi General Hospital,” said Baloyi.

BUFFALO RANGE WATER WORKS

CRDC is currently servicing state of the art 1000 low density stands in Buffalo Range where they have partnered with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to upgrade the water works facility as well as purchase of a new pump to cater for the Buffalo Range stands.
They have also purchased a bigger transformer for the water works.

TURKEY HUT CLINIC

CRDC is in the process of refurbishing Turkey Hut Clinic in ward 28, where they are now renovating two houses which were donated by farmers using devolution funds.
“We are in the process of renovating these houses which were donated by farmers. So we are currently connecting water to the houses as well as fencing the quarters. We hope it will be up and running soon,” said Baloyi.

PAHLELA SECONDARY SCHOOL

Pahlela Secondary School will bridge the gap between Alpha Mpapa High School in Chikombedzi which is 25 kilometres away and Malipati High School which is also 25 kilometres away.
CRDC in partnership with the community have channelled devolution funds towards the construction of a single block and the other one is expected soon.
The school is coming as a smart partnership between CAMPFIRE project and devolution where they are also expecting to construct toilets and teachers’ houses in order for the school to start running.

MASUKWE CLINIC

Ward 13 has been short of health facilities as they would walk about 11 kilometres to Pahlela Rural Health Care centre or 15 kilometers to Chikombedzi Mission Hospital to seek medical services.
Though the clinic was mainly constructed by CAMPFIRE funds from the Malipati Communal Area, CRDC also chipped in with devolution funds to help in the completion of the clinic which is now almost complete.
CRDC Executive Officer for Environment, Agriculture and Tourism, Chenjerai Zanamwe said though devolution funds are little, they are helping in the transformation of communities to better standards and council through devolution will chip in with the incinerator and the clinic is expected to be complete next year.
“Devolution is a concept which began a long time ago when it comes to my area of natural resources management especially the campfire project where we were given power by the Wildlife Act for people to benefit from their natural resources through campfire projects. Communities get 55% from the hunts which they use for social development and we have 32 beneficiary wards as we surround the Gonarezhou National Park,” said Zanamwe.

Mhlanguleni Primary School

Early Childhood Development (ECD Aand B) were conducting lessons under trees before the school opted to utilize little resources it had to construct a two classroom block but their resources ran out before completion. CRDC, through devolution stepped in supplying asbestos for the roof and now toddlers are happily learning.

Gwaseche Clinic ward 7

It was the community initiative that began in 2013 with villagers moulding bricks. CRDC intervened with devolution funds through the purchase of cement, roofing material,window frames and panes. The project is almost complete with well painted nurses’ houses. It is awaiting commissioning.