Emmanuel Chitsika

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Masvingo Urban councilors have implored Masvingo City Council management to first consult policy makers before approval of donations concerning city coffers.
Speaking during a full council meeting, newly-elected ward 4 councilor Alec Tabe quizzed management on the ‘so-called donations’ by the local authority towards various government and Zanu PF-linked occasions.
Tabe even asked if there was also another term to be used on the funds that have found way out of council purse funding such programmes which he said need to be deliberated on before as most of them are being brought before councilors after the money is already gone.
“Can management furnish us with details on this issue of donations towards that has become so common in our council minutes? Can’t there be another term to explain that. There is need for management to consult councilors before approving some of those donation requests.
“Some of the so-called donations have provoked residents in our wards as residents seek explanation on the initiatives of which as councilors, we won’t have any,” said Tabe.
Ward 7 re-elected councilor Richard Musekiwa suggested that since some of the donation requests are sought by politicians, it would rather be wiser for council management to refer the matters to councilors who are also politicians to deliberate on them before approval unlike a scenario where the matter is tabled before councilors for ratification long after the funds are disbursed.
“Since those people who come applying for donations are politicians, it would rather be better for you management to consult councilors who are also politicians to deliberate on the matter unlike a situation in which the requests are brought before councilors after the funds are disbursed,” said Musekiwa.
However, responding to the requests by councilors, Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said they would try to forward any requests for donations to councilors in the future.
“As management, maybe what we can do in the future is that we would inform the people applying for such donations to first forward their requests to councilors before approval of such.
Masvingo City Council has on a number of occasions donated towards state functions with the latest council minutes of June 20, 2022 revealing that council had received donation requests towards the official ground breaking ceremony at Bikita Minerals Spodumene Mining Project though it was over ridden by events and the donation did not set off.
Also a similar request was made by Masvingo District Development Coordinator Roy Hove for groceries to be used at Nemamwa during Zanu PF second secretary’s party business meeting with traditional leaders though it also did not materialize because it was long overdue.
Council also donated for the hosting of a lunch by Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.

…Residents to pay US$90 per water metre

Brighton Chiseva

Masvingo City Council will pocket a total of US$ 18 000 from Rujeko residents who are willing to replace their non-functional water metres as the local authority moves in to ensure accurate water readings are obtained in the suburb.
According to the Finance and General Purpose Committee meeting minutes dated June 20 2022, council identified Rujeko as their first target and resolved that residents will pay US$ 90 per water metre.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Finance Director on the price of 15 mm water metres. It was reported that council in its endeavour to produce accurate bills and reduce non-revenue water, procured 200 water metres to replace non-functional ones in the city. Management has identified Rujeko suburb as first District Meeting Area to be targeted in this project,” read part of the minutes.
The minutes further read that water metres cost US$ 84 payable at the prevailing interbank rate but the committee resolved to charge US$ 90.
“It was reported that the cost of the water metres is US$ 84.00 payable at the prevailing interbank rate.
“It was advised that the price of water metres be pegged at US$ 90 payable in three instalments at the prevailing interbank rate at the time of connection,” read the minutes.
It was also resolved that the Acting Finance Director organize an awareness campaign in Rujeko high density suburb on compulsory replacement of non-functional water metres.
Council minutes of the previous months revealed that Masvingo city was losing lots of water in transmission due to an old and malfunctioning system, with 18 000 cubic meters (m3) of water being lost in Rujeko as at May 4, 2022.
The Public Works and Planning Committee meeting dated May 09, 2022 under the section (vii) and (viii) named water fitting and DMA1 (Rujeko) revealed that the total of water supplied and the total water billed was different and it leaves a total of 18 401 cubic meters of water unaccounted for.
“It was reported that three bulk water meters were installed in Rujeko area and the readings were taken on May 4, 2022 with the following readings: the total water supplied is 78 587 m3, total water billed was 60 186 m3 while total water lost was 18 401 m3 and non- revenue water is 23.41 percent,” read the minutes.

Tinaani Nyabereka / Yeukai Munetsi

Gweru- Stakeholders and residents of Gweru have expressed their commitment to assist and work hand in hand with Gweru City Council (GCC) in addressing water woes bedeviling the city.
The commitment was made during a water indaba held by Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) under efforts to identify various factors which have been affecting water supply in the communities for years now.
Speaking at the meeting in the Midlands capital, Gweru Council Director for Engineering Services Praymore Mhlanga said council has already started working on various mechanisms and alternatives to supply water to the community despite the various challenges which were affecting effective pumping of water to residents.
“We have engaged various investors who are willing to assist in solar energy in line with investing in green energy.
“As the engineering department, we are under-staffed and as a result, we are then striving to cope with the pressure considering that demand for the precious liquid is now high.
We believe an integrated approach with all stakeholders will assist in reducing the burden of meeting service delivery demands,” said Mhlanga
A resident Florence Guzha said it was crucial for the local authority to work hand in hand with corporates in the province in averting some of the challenges.
“I want to say as residents and council, let us approach our corporates for the support we may need as well because our city is also made up of employees who work in big mining companies, industries to mention a few. We need to join forces together as various stakeholders and private players to see how best we can have other areas of concern addressed.
“We can approach one company and have pipes supplied, we can approach another and have pumps going on, but my main plea is that let’s then have a genuine heart when we engage the business community so that when they come to our aid, they can also see the situation as it is.
“Gweru’s image can only be resuscitated if Gweru council engages both private and public stakeholders and become one voice to mitigate the challenges being faced by the city,” she said.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association Director, Cornelia Selipiwe said there was need for the community to find lasting solutions to water related challenges.
“Today we have come together to find lasting solutions, we need to work together to curb water scarcity and probably draw solutions which then can take the city to another level.
“We have all agreed that the main challenge to water scarcity is surfacing from the aging infrastructure and the rise in demand for clean water as the city continues to expand hence the most practical solution was an integrated approach,” he added.
Meanwhile Gweru Urban Member of Parliament, Brian Dube urged Gweru council to craft Statutory Instruments to help stir most decision making processes.
Residents also formed a seven-member committee to help council in spearheading service delivery engagement.
The committee is comprised of Civic Society Organization (CSOs), media, land developers, women organizations, councilors and resident associations.

…As 38000 people succumb to drugs abuse related complications annually

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- Journalists and Civic Society Organisations have been urged to unite in the fight against drugs and substance abuse as cases of uptake of illicit substances are now reportedly beyond the control of many.
This was revealed during a Media cafe on drugs and substance abuse hosted by Rooted in Trust (RiT) last week in the Midlands capital.
Speaking during a presentation on the effects of drugs, Addiction Counsellor and Researcher Philip Ndaba said drug and substance abuse was now rampant, hence the need for strong therapy mechanisms to assist affected victims.
He added that a number of factors were contributing to the use and uptake of drugs in most communities.
“We are concerned about cases of drugs and substance abuses that are on the rise in the country. Most factors are pushing young people to have solace in these substances.
“What is worrying are the recipes being brewed in the streets, a combination of harmful substances and liquids have produced disastrous results. Some drugs are also passing through the country on their way to other countries in the region such as South Africa. Local Zimbabweans are often used to transport these drugs and rather than being paid in cash, they are usually paid in drugs which then enter the local market. The saddest reality is then that most drug trials and tests are finally done on street children and homeless people on our streets,” he said.
Ndaba added that some of the risk behaviours encountered in communities are drug related.
“Domestic violence, acts of hooliganism, bad talk, crimes and traffic accidents by youth are at most related to the disastrous effects of substance abuse. At the end, there are youngsters who seek comfort and relaxation of the mind in these drugs.
“Most drugs being used are Bronclear, Musombodia, Mangemba, marijuana and Mutoriro to mention a few. Drugs are not only rampant in our society, but some households are centres of supply. Of late some of the content being disseminated on social media has left trails of bad habits on substance uptake, with higher institutions of learning having been marred by peer pressure as young people congregate to experiment on their health,” Ndaba added.
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) member Lewis Kuchineyi however said it was disturbing to note how some stakeholders were quiet on this issue.
“We understand this issue has become a public outcry and a cause for concern. It requires all citizens and stakeholders’ efforts.
“It remains worrisome to see how some players have chosen silence on the matter,” he said.
Gweru based journalist Vincent Mhene highlighted the need for a robust policy implementation against drug lords and cartels.
“Robust policy implementation is key in destabilizing drug syndicates. Everyone who is caught wanting in these syndicates must be prosecuted .I am sure our borders are being closely monitored but we are perplexed to how drugs continue to flood the country. Is our law compliance strict?” he asked.
RIT Media Officer Thandolwenkosi Nkomo said all hands were needed on desk to combat causes of substance abuse.
“We need all hands on the deck for us to deal with this challenge. However, from what we have learnt, it seems information dissemination remains a key component in combating drugs abuse,” he added.
Despite the surge in substance abuse, most social ills among youth have been linked to lack of adequate recreational centres and life changing initiatives.
Zimbabwe remains one of the countries witnessing an increase in problematic drug use among its domestic population along with the related public health issues that accompany certain types of drug use. The substances that are most commonly used in Zimbabwe include alcohol, cannabis, heroin, glue and cough mixtures such as histalix and broncleer.
Cannabis (mbanje) remains the most popular illicit drug with recent findings however pointing out how “Crystal Methamphetamime” popularly known as ‘Mutoriro’ has topped the list of late.
Amongst school pupils (largely those aged between 13 and 15) nationwide, it was found out that overall 9.1percent of pupils were using drugs with statistics ranging at 13.4percent for males and 4.9percent for females.
The Southern African Region has currently been affected by illicit drug trafficking and drug use as well as the problems associated therewith.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s World Drug Report estimates that there are close to 30 million drug users in Africa.
According to the report, cannabis is the most commonly used drug on the continent with a prevalence rate of 7.6% which is nearly twice the global average, whilst the use of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS), cocaine and opiates are comparable with the global averages 0.9percent, 0.4percent, 0.3percent respectively.
Further findings obtained by this publication reveal that approximately 38,000 people in Africa die annually from diseases associated with the consumption of drugs with Africa’s rising illegal drug consumption which is attributed to political instability, poverty and porous borders.