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Residents fret over Council, SIMBI 125ha land deal

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Residents fret over Council, SIMBI 125ha land deal

. . . Company wants to pay US$ 0.40 per square meter instead of US$ 4 offered by council

…Council likely to lose US$5m

TellZim Reporter

MASVINGO – Residents in Masvingo are upset with the recent resolution made by council to offer SIMBI Steel Makers Company about 125 hectares (ha) of land on top of the 65 ha the company already has along the Mashava-Bulawayo highway.
The residents are not only fretting about the big size of the piece of land in question, but also the fact that prices involved are way below the commercial rates other companies or individuals are being charged by council.
Council offered the land at a cost of US$ 4 per square meter before the company wrote to the city fathers requesting to pay US$ 0.40 per square meter. If SIMBI successfully bargains, then council is likely to lose around US$ 5 million which it is supposed to get if the land is sold at US$ 4 per square meter. The deal will also see SIMBI acquiring a total of 190 ha, making it probably the only company with such a huge industrial area in Masvingo.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) director Anoziva Muguti said as residents they welcome development but there should be fairness and reasonability when council parcels out land.
“As residents we are not happy by the way council want to handle this 125 ha land deal with SIMBI Steel Makers at such a low price. We welcome investment but cannot accept that land be given to potential investors for a song.
“Council should use commercial rates it uses for other companies or individuals otherwise we would be left thinking that someone within council is benefiting from such a deal,” said Muguti.
Council initially rejected an application by SIMBI on the basis that the land demanded was too big and also the company had not fully developed the 65 ha it already has – to at least 70 percent which would then make it legible to apply for land extension.
Sources at Masvingo city council revealed to TellZim News that councillors have been consistently declining to offer the land but along the way, four councillors then suddenly changed and started pushing for the approval of the deal.
“The application was initially rejected; all councillors were against the deal but along the way four councillors suddenly changed and were for it. Now the issue is the company wants the price reduced from US$ 4 to US$ 0.40 and some councillors are saying we cannot give such a big piece of land at a giveaway price,” said the source.
SIMBI Group Company Secretary Louis Karongoma confirmed the deal but declined to shed more light on the price saying they are still negotiating with council.
“I can confirm the offer but I cannot comment on the cost because we are still negotiating with council,” said Karongoma. Four councillors, Sengerayi Manyanga (Ward 10), Selina Maridza (Ward 1), Wellington Mahwende (Ward 6) and Against Chiteme Ward 8)aresaid to have pushed for the approval of the land deal. It has remained a closed secret how the four councillors suddenly changed their initial position and wanted SIMBI to be offered 125ha on top of the over 60ha it already has. Manyanga confirmed that they pushed the deal before the new CCC councillors were in office.
“This is our deal; we concluded it before the CCC councillors were elected,” said Manyanga.
None of the other councillors were however at liberty to explain why they then changed their initial decision.
Masvingo City Mayor Collen Maboke confirmed the development saying council will not be swayed into charging less than the US$ 4 per square meter it offered to SIMBI.
“We offered them 125 ha at a cost of US$ 4 per square meter, so if they are interested to acquire the piece of land they have to make payments. They negotiated for discount and they want to pay US$ 0.40 but that was declined so our resolution still stands,” said Maboke.
Masvingo City Council Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said residents should not worry much since it is not a done deal yet. Mukaratirwa said they are in the process of engaging two more evaluators; one from the Ministry of Local Government and an independent so that they compare the cost with the one they used that was done by a local real estate company.
“I want to assure residents that council will not give that land for a song. We are engaging two more evaluators because we feel the one who gave us the US$ 4 per square meter might have undervalued the land in question. SIMBI has written to us requesting to pay US$ 0.40 and that was rejected by the councillors,” said Engineer Mukaratirwa.
However, Karongoma strongly believe that the massive projects they want to undertake, if the land deal is concluded, will change the face of Masvingo as well as creating employment.
“We want to set up an integrated plant that will convert raw materials into real steel products. There will also be a cement plant, oxygen plant, water treatment plant and a 43 megawatt power plant and this is the major reason we want big piece of land,” said Karongoma.
Asked further why they did not develop the 65 ha to the expected level before they ask for land extension, he said they were affected by various issues then but now the environment is so enabling and they have since acquired all the equipment that is needed for the projects they want to implement.
“We were affected by the micro-economic environment then but now the environment is very enabling and all the equipment for this project were delivered last year but is lying idle because there is no land. The project will be implemented in phases, but some of the phases are interwoven hence the need for more land.
“When complete, the project will employ over 2000 people, produce finished products such as wire for fencing, nails and other steel products which the country is currently importing. The project will also produce at least 300 000 tons of steel per annum; so these are some of the benefits this project will bring to the city of Masvingo as well as well as generating foreign currency for the country,” Karongoma added.
The issue of SIMBI land deal has divided the city fathers as there are some who allegedly want the company to be given the piece of land even for a song, and some councillors are alleged to be dragging the name of the Minister of Local Government July Moyo in the deal in an attempt to silence those who are against the idea.
Some reliable sources revealed to TellZim News that at one point Maboke recused himself in one of the meetings after a heated argument with fellow councillors who were for the deal.
What has left residents with more questions than answers is the sudden turn by some councillors who were initially against the parcelling of this piece of land to SIMBI as they initially passed a resolution to that effect, raising suspicions of underhanded deals between them and the company.

Women delivering on floor at Chiredzi Hospital

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Women delivering on floor at Chiredzi Hospital

…hospital in dire state

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-With the sugarcane farming town being popularized as the economic hub of Masvingo province, Chiredzi General Hospital is in a dire state, with shortages of basic equipment which has seen some women delivering on the ground due to shortage of delivery beds in the maternity wing.
The health institution is a referral centre for more than 30 clinics as well as Chikombedzi Mission Hospital and between 300 and 500 women reportedly deliver their babies there every month.
Human resources is also reported to be low as hospital personnel has been having an exodus to the United Kingdom for greener pastures.
This emerged at a recent service delivery meeting hosted by United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (UCHRRA) at Turf Gardens with various stakeholders in the health sector.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care, which was one of the key stakeholders gave feedback on the cumulative Covid-19 cases, the vaccination status as well as major developmental health issues and challenges being faced by the district.
One of the panelists from the Ministry of Health, a Matron Teukai Badza indicated that though Chiredzi General Hospital is a referral hospital to 31 clinics as well as Chikombedzi Mission Hospital, they only have 35 beds for its maternity wing with five sections including deliveries, which has two beds, neo-natal ward with four beds, post-natal, anti-natal and post-surgical wards.
“It is true that we have limited resources such that women are delivering on the ground because we only have two delivery beds though we have an approximate of 300-500 deliveries per month.
“We also have shortages of human resources. From January this year up to now, we have lost a number of nurses as some are going to the United Kingdom, others to Non-Governmental Organizations. So as residents, let’s put our heads together to make our hospital a hospital of choice,” said Matron Badza.
District Medical Officer (DMO) Doctor Brian Dhlandhlara challenged local corporates and sugarcane farmers to complement government efforts towards the refurbishment of the referral hospital as other towns like Zvishavane and Kadoma where there is an abundance of certain natural resources.
“Kadoma General Hospital is one of the remarkable government hospitals together with the one in Zvishavane due to the involvement of the community in the maintenance process. This is because the towns are rich in gold like ours, which is proclaimed to be the economic hub of the province due to the production of sugarcane. Our hospital is in a sorry state and it is the face of our town which visitors first see before anything else when they visit Chiredzi,” he said.
District Development Coordinator (DDC) Lovemore Chisema indicated that there is need for people to be organized in order to develop the hospital.
“We have various companies idling to help, but they can’t just come and render their help where it might not be necessarily needed, they need to be approached in order to yield intended results. As public officials, we should also be endowed with a spirit to serve our community first before anything else.
“UCHIRRA is only there to remind us of our roles in the community, they are not a nuisance,” said Chisema.

Some animals becoming more equal than others

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Some animals becoming more equal than others

NYIKA YENYU YAMAICHEMERA, ZVINO YAITA MAMVEMVE, YAITA MATSOTSI singing zvangu kkkk, rakaimba zvaro Gandanga rekwaMapfumo, I think that guy anosvikirwa somewhere somehow, what he sang back then zvinhu zvichakanaka is happening right now. In fact it continues to worsen with each day passing by. NDS1, VISION 2030, open for business, engagement, re-engagement, austerity measures, SDGs 1&2 you name it, and nothing has bore any fruit. Kunze kwekungochinja shape yeScud, introducing Sable larger and Banana flavoured Super Chibuku hapana chimwe chine musoro chati chaitwa neNew Dispensation iyi. Kumadoro kwacho people are complaining kuti Sable yacho nebanana kuno kuMasvingo hakuna uku kkk. I heard Scarfmore saying they want to use some of the money donated by the French Embassy to develop the Great Zimbabwe monuments kugadzira pekubikira ndari nemahewu kkkkk. Haa that guy needs mental check-up chete, something is wrong in his mind. Wonzwa umwe naming a law school after him, nonsense. As we crawl towards 2023, I can see the mood right now, politicians across the political divide are now answering calls, fonera politician izvezvi uone, even ukaita missed call they will call back, especially those in Zanu PF, masamba akuchinja mbichana mbichana. I hope this time around people won’t be fooled, politicians are the same, they just want your votes kkk.
MaZimba chatakatadzira Mwari handichizivi ini, sure our country should be cleansed timbobviswa munyama. Hanzi naMapfumo John bereka mwana tiende kkk. Kuenda kupi nhai Rasta. I hear things are not well across the Limpopo, SA is tightening screws on work permits and of late has intensified border control, zvino totizirepi isu. Operation Dudula nedivi, mmm ma1 ladies and gentlemen. I WONDER kuti tichabereka mwana takanangepi. But to some extent I think it’s a wakeup call for the diasporans that they need to come and register to vote and then come to vote next year. Speaking of voter registration, it is still slow, I mean how we can have less than 6 million registered voters in a country where close to 9 million are eligible. This should be a wake up call again to the opposition, please urge your supporters to register to vote whilst there is still time.
Varombo kuvarombo, vapfumi kuvapfumi ndomugariro wayoka Zimbabwe, haa nhasi Mapfumo ndamufunga kkk, hanzi dai ndine mari hama dzangu dzaigarika. He is a music prophet; the situation is escalating with some animals becoming more and more equal than others with each passing day. I hear Zanu PF Chief Whip Togarasei’s son who is accused of killing an alleged thief was granted bail by the High court, shocking isn’t it? A murder suspect is released on bail while Sikhala who the police are still struggling to find his charge languishes in remand. The police have since added another charge hanzi he misled the police on who killed Ali. As that is not enough, Ali’s murderer is being treated as a Hero while the innocent Job is being pricked every time and then. But there is a God in heaven, one day, tables will turn. But in Masvingo they are already turning. Things are not good for the general’s camp in Masvingo, I hear Brian Munyoro has since jumped ship from team Zvazara to team Bholato kkkk. I used to wonder what Zvazara meant only to lean manje manje, hanzi it’s Zvazara kuti Chadzamira imbavha kkkk. Charle Munganasa has since jumped the ship again. Haa unoona kuti ma1 chaiwo. Icho Munganasa chirikuchema hanzi the Opposition is already rigging elections and bussing people from rural areas to vote in town kkk. Isn’t that a Zanu system? Go and ask Chiteme anonotora mapositori ake anomupinza every election. I like it when Zanu cries foul after a taste of own medicine. We need that until 2023 kkk. Chete vanotemba neArmy. Can someone tell Zanu PF that they don’t own the Zimbabwe National Army please, that army is for the people of Zimbabwe not a private property? Imi masoja aya ihama dzedu ava, they are our brothers and sisters, our uncles, our aunties. But naivo vanozvinyanyawo.
But do the people in Zanu PF know kuti 2030 padhuze, the way they talk about Zimbabwe becoming an upper middle economy by 2030 mmmm, I think vanofunga kuti haasvike. If we were to achieve it, we were supposed to be seeing progress as of now but alas, we are in recession izvezvi kkk. Apa kune dzimwe type dzaunoona dzichiitaura pamarallies unotoona kuti they don’t even know what it means. If you think I am lying go and ask the likes of Gwanongodza kkkk, haa I don’t think he knows kuti zvorevei.
I am happy Tugwi-Mukosi akuita achitinzwira tsitsi, chando chaisimuka apo mmm, kana usingapengi mushe you would surely pack your belongings and go home. Chete vamwe vanako kwekuenda, ini handipengi but I cannot go home, handina kana cent and have nowhere to pick it from. Imi do you know people no longer drop money muroad? Kudhara taitofamba tichinhonga mari munzira but these days ndochinonzi chisionekwi. I am surviving on rotten bananas which are now hard to come by. I last wore a pant long time ago, kungogara ndisina, kutoriwana for me it’s a luxury. Things are hard for me these days.
I am not against celebrating heroes, both departed and living but I think whoever came up with the idea of constructing ED law school anenge aakuzvinyanya, who does he or she want to please? Don’t you think the roads named after him are enough, vamwe havazokwani ladies and gentlemen, totodawo maroads ane mazita edu vakomana. Imi apa jenarari havasati vava kana nebhawa zvaro rine zita ravo imi moda kuramba muchingoturikidza panhu 1 aaah, imika tinyareiwo please. Iko I don’t know what’s in it for naming buildings and roads after people, especially after people who are not liked nevanhu kkkk. In Masvingo they refused to name only one road, I mean a single road after Morgan Tsvangirai, whom even the new dispensation recognised as a Hero.
Ladies and gentlemen please ndibatei before I say pasi neNhingi kkk, hanty you all know what it means, yes, saying pasi nemunhu nowadays mean you want him/her dead. Kana mune nharo izvezvi itii pewee nditi pasi naye izvezvi. Nxaa those are the guys who should be locked up for inciting violence of even amending the constitution to find a charge against him. That language is ot tolerated in a morden society. Ndonzwa zvangu kuti ndedze kuMidlands kumaruzevha kuMberengwa apa dzitori Sabhuku. His badge should be taken and shelved. We don’t tolerate that.
Before I go zvangu kunokanga ,maputi angu for lunch, I hear kuti Chief Nhema promised more than five million votes to ED in 2023, unobva washaya kuti a whole chief and senator on top of that could talk of something far-fetched like that sure. Does he know how many people have registered in Zimbabwe so far? Can someone please educate the FAT Chief, rakakurira mahara hapana zvozikanwa and I wonder what will be his contributions in the senate. Mukamuona tell him kuti hanzi naMapombi dzikamai Chief, dzungu hakusi kungwara, kana achiti ndonyepa ngaabvunze Mphoko, iro riripikowo kkkk. He is still into hibernation kkk. Chete he is a coward, pasi nemhanduuuu, Mboko imboko!!!!

MURRA mulls dragging Masvingo City to court over USD tariff basement

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MURRA mulls dragging Masvingo City to court over USD tariff basement

TellZim reporter

Residents representative group Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) has written a letter to Masvingo City Council demanding justification over decision by the latter to rebase tariffs in foreign currency failure to which the former will take the legal route for redress.

In a letter dated July 12, 2022 undersigned by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights through Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners, MURRA instructed council to provide proof on the rebasing which they said is illegal.

“In the circumstances, we are instructed to demand as we hereby do, that you furnish us with proof of any legal basis for rebasing the 2022 tariffs for City of Masvingo, failure of which we have been instructed to institute legal action without further notice to you.

“There is no provision for rebasing of a budget under the said laws. Furthermore, our client instructs that the approved 2022 budget does not contain any provision allowing for rebasing and to that extent, the rebasing of 2022 tariffs has no basis,” read part of the letter.

The letter further highlighted the flaws on part of council in the event they demand payment of rates in foreign currency which they feel is against the law.

“We are further instructed that City of Masvingo has been demanding payment from some of its services strictly in foreign currency despite the clear provisions of the law penalizing refusal to accept Zimbabwean dollar tendered as payment for services.

“We wish to advise that the rebasing of the 2022 tariffs in United States dollars is contrary to the clear provisions of Section 288 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:03) as read with Section 47 of the Public Finance Management Act,” added part of the letter.

Contacted for comment on the matter on July 14, Masvingo Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa declined receiving the letter despite this publication having in possession a copy with a council stamp dated July 14 acknowledging receipt of the letter.

“I have not seen the letter yet,” said Eng. Mukaratirwa.

Masvingo City Council with immediate effect in June took the decision to rebase tariffs in United States dollars as a way of cushioning revenue from effects of inflation, using January 2022 forex exchange rates, when the council 2022 budget was approved.

The local authority cited expenses on necessities like fuel, water treatment chemicals and equipment spares as the main reason behind the move.

1398 register to vote in Masvingo in June-ZEC

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1398 register to vote in Masvingo in June-ZEC

TellZim Reporter

A total of 1 398 people registered to vote during the month ending June 2022 according to statistics released by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) provincial office.
ZEC Masvingo Deputy Elections Officer Maxwell Ncube confirmed the development and said the numbers keep on rising which is a positive as the country march towards 2023 harmonized elections.
“During the month of June, we saw the number of people registering to vote increasing and that is positive. Initially, when the announcement was made that the voters roll was going to close, a good number of people panicked and were in a rush to visit our registration centres though the closure was meant for delimitation and not registration.
“After the pronouncement of closing date for delimitation, we saw more people trickling ZEC registration centres for them to register,” said Ncube.
He went on to express satisfaction on the role played by stakeholders including Civic Society Organizations (CSOs) and political parties in mobilizing their following to embrace the exercise.
“Such a huge turnout in voter registration shows how well our various stakeholders are working tirelessly to ensure that more people register to vote as we approach 2023 polls.
“In some cases, we have incidents in which political parties or even CSOs would even provide transport to those willing to visit registration centres,’ he said.
Among the registered are 779 males and 619 females. A total of 723 transfers were recorded with 365 men and 358 women.
During the month of May, a total of 6 538 people registered with 3 464 being female while 3 074 are men.
2 280 transfers were recorded with 1 313 females and 967 males.

Matapura-Muzenda wins prestigious PR award

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Matapura-Muzenda wins prestigious PR award

TellZim Reporter

Veteran public relations practitioner Farisai Matapura Muzenda recently walked tall after winning a prestigious award at the Meikles Hotel in Harare.
Matapura-Muzenda, who has a public relations career spanning 13 years, having worked for notable organizations and institutions like Intermarket, Musasa Project, Econet and Great Zimbabwe University was recognized among other big names in the public relations field.
The event was dubbed ‘Women in PR and Communication Conference Awards’ and was organized by the Women in PR and Communications Zimbabwe (WPRCZ) on June 24 2022, with Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Kindness Paradza being the guest of honour.
Speaking after receiving the award, Matapura-Muzenda who is now the communications manager for Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) said she was elated for having been recognized under such a prestigious banner, adding that being recognized among the 39 who were conferred with awards out of over 100 other practitioners made her feel proud of how far she has come.
“For myself looking into the future, I look forward to making an impact. There is an article that I wrote where I am looking at image, reputation, visibility and how our external viewers see us.
“When I look at public relations I don’t look at it from an organization point of view. I look at it from an individual point of view, like how do you interact with people, what are you saying about yourself? What are you saying about the organization you are serving? How are you representing your organization?” Matapura-Muzenda said.
She said what makes any organization stand is its publics as they should be properly taken care of without treating them in a bad way.
Apart from PR work, Matapura-Muzenda is also an entrepreneur who owns two home interior decoration shops in Masvingo and Gweru.
She attributes the success of her entrepreneurial work to her PR and communication skills, saying she is planning to grow her business in leaps and bounces.

Major boost for Masvingo City environment

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Major boost for Masvingo City environment

…as business world chip in with donations

Emmanuel Chitsika

Masvingo City Council’s efforts to ensure a clean environment received a major boost as the corporate world chipped in with various donations set to complement efforts of the Environmental and Health section on July 7.
Various organizations donated assortment of equipment set to improve solid waste management which has been a challenge to the local authority.
Receiving the equipment during a belated World Environment Day commemoration held at Town House, Masvingo deputy Mayor Councillor Wellington Mahwende expressed gratitude to the corporate world and challenged other organizations in the city to join the band wagon.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to you organizations for coming in handy towards our efforts to ensure the city is kept clean and smart. I would also like to express council’s wish for more players to join the initiative such that next time when we gather for a similar commemoration, more gifts will be donated.
“I would also like to congratulate those who managed to scoop some awards that are schools and some of our health clubs for spearheading a clean environment as a way of ensuring cleanliness reigns supreme in Masvingo. I heard all of you did well, but at the end we need to have the best out of the good and those are the ones who have won,” said Mahwende.
His sentiments were echoed by council chairperson of the Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee chairperson councillor Against Chiteme who challenged residents to work hand in glove with council in their efforts to keep the city clean.
“As the chairperson, I also urge you residents to play your role towards ensuring a clean environment by ridding our city of litter and make use of proper waste disposal facilities as a way of supporting our efforts towards that initiative,” said Chiteme.
Among those organizations that donated metal bins, bin liners and brooms are mobile operator Econet, Regency group of hotels’ Chevron, Family Pharmacy, Safe N Loyal pharmacy, Delta Corporation, ByWord Motors, Forestry Commission, Great Zimbabwe Realtors, Junior group of companies while New Start donated an assortment of medication.
Ward 1’s Smart club got a trophy after coming out tops in the health club categories while two schools Helen Macghie (previous winners) came second in schools category while Masvingo Christian College came in first position and got a floating trophy for their efforts.

Chasiyatende Primary volleyball team eyes provincial finals

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Chasiyatende Primary volleyball team eyes provincial finals

TellZim reporter

Basking on a glorious run and fairy-tale exploit, Chivi South ward 23’s Chasiyatende Primary School girls volleyball team aims higher by looking beyond the inter-district competitions set for Mudadisi Primary School in Chivi North on July 19.

The school’s sports organizer Pardon Chitsika expressed optimism that the team is poised to scale to greater heights after going thus far following resumption of sporting activities after a two-year Covid-19 lay-off.

“The team is motivated by such a historical and milestone achievement having been recorded by the current crop of learners. Prior to this, the school has never achieved to reach the stage we have so far managed to.

“What is driving the team is the level of commitment and determination shown by the girls who seem to be improving with each game. Right now we are looking forward to dance with the province’s big guys at provincial finals because we are convinced that on Friday (July 15), we will prevail,” said Chitsika.

He also said a lot of talent is abundant in the marginalized communities as is shown by the girls’ performances in a sport discipline most of them would shun preferring net and soccer when it comes to ball games.

“The girls are showing off so many skills in this discipline. When we started, we never expected to reach this far but we only noticed how much talent the school possessed after they prevailed at zone competitions. From there onwards, we became convinced that the talent at the school’s disposal would take us further in the ball game competitions,” he added.

The team is coached by Jaison Tsikirai and Melody Siziba.

Sporting activities resumed in schools after cabinet gave green light for resumption of sporting activities as cases of Covid-19 lowered in the country though games are to be played under strict conditions.

YETT in youth constitutional literacy empowerment drive

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YETT in youth constitutional literacy empowerment drive

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru-Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) last week engaged young people in the Midlands capital on a constitution and electoral processes literacy workshop in an effort to fight misinformation and disinformation among the youth.
The engagement meeting was attended by various stakeholders including officials from Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Speaking during the engagement, YETT Democracy and Governance Officer Takaedza Tafirei said the reason for the engagement is to help youths appreciate the legal provisions with regards to elections in Zimbabwe.
“The process we were having today is the constitutional literacy and electoral process training for young people in Gweru. The reason behind this interaction is meant for young people to appreciate the legal provisions with regards to elections.
“The engagement is also meant to ensure meaningful understanding on how elections are managed or run in the country. Such trainings are meant to be an eye opener and help them to know the relevant authorities who can assist them in as far as electoral matters are concerned. Remember we have the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which is responsible for conducting elections and of late it was conducting registration blitz across the country.
“Some youth might have not gotten the opportunity to learn or know about the ZEC blitz, so it is on platforms like these that we have invited ZEC to assist young people and help them know the requirements needed for them to register to vote,” he said.
Tafirei further said it was important for young people to take a leading role and participate in governance processes.
“Young people are afraid to be involved in issues of national development; some don’t have resources to contest for positions. It’s also good for young people to contest for leadership positions. We want youth to be councillors or Members of Parliament.
“Only as youth, if we get to understand the importance of participating in these processes, we will get to appreciate how crucial our input is in nation building. So we touched on a number of issues which include the types of elections we have in Zimbabwe that is, the hybrid type of election and proportional representation in which we elect our senators when we go to the polls. The senators are voted for indirectly when we choose our MPs and councillors.
“Of much concern are also the contentious issues which are affecting young people who are in prisons, hospitals and the diaspora who cannot cast their vote because of the various conditions which are provided for by our constitution.
As you know we were given a youth quota, whereby ten seats are reserved for young people to contest for parliamentary posts. So as youth, we were saying we have a way in which we want the election process conducted. Young people are worried and want to know how the process will go?” he added.
Women Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) Gweru Chapter Chairperson Nozipho Rutsate said young people are not aware of their importance in nation building processes.
“As young people we are backward, we don’t take issues seriously sometimes. The reason why we don’t take active roles in governance issues is we don’t know the importance of our involvement, or the key reason why we should actively exercise our rights in electoral processes,” said Rutsate.
A youth, Titus Mangoma said it is important for young people to cascade information they got to the grassroots.
“I want to encourage youths to share information with their peers. If you have been taught, don’t keep information to yourself, go and teach those at home. That way it helps us to build one another as knowledge is power.
“We have youth in rural areas, let’s try to reach to them as well as they need such vital information,” he said.

Youth carefree attitude towards electoral participation a tragedy for democracy

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Youth carefree attitude towards electoral participation a tragedy for democracy

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI– In his prophetic warnings to the nation of Israel prophet Hosea sums up: ‘my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge’ in Hosea 4:6.
Distinct as it is, the prophetic message insinuates that devoid of knowledge, inhabitants are destined for doom.
The prophetic message seems to be squarely apt for most of the country’s youth with regards to their reluctance to participate in the country’s politics, could it be as voters or political office holders.
A 24-year old lady from village 4, Mwenezi ward 13 and is also yet to register as a voter with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) told TellZim News that politics does not matter to her.
“I have never voted in my lifetime and to be honest I don’t think I will in anyway take my time to participate in elections. Honestly to me politics do not matter that much. It is something that is completely off my plans,” she said.
Her scenario is a microcosm of most reluctant youth especially in rural communities like Mwenezi where most youth have become political bystanders.
They seldom participate in elections either as voters or candidates. Many are increasing devoid of the fact that every facet of human life is determined by politics; failure to participate is a disservice which is a double-edged sword to generations.
Zanu PF provincial youth secretary for transport and warfare Maggie Sibanda acknowledged that youth in rural communities like Mwenezi have since time immemorial been political back sitters and more still needs to be done to correct the anomalies.
“As Zanu PF youth, we are happy that during our recent youth conference, President Emmerson Mnangangwa gave emphasis to the youth quota system and we are confident that come next year’s elections more youth are going to contest in various posts.
“It is regrettable that for the past years youth in communities like Mwenezi have developed a culture of preserving politically elected posts could it be in the local authority or the legislator to the older generation,” said Sibanda.
Platform for Youth and Community Development Zimbabwe Director (PYCDZ) Claris Madhuku whose organization is making commendable strides in mobilizing the public to consider young people as the most informed and versatile politicians with craft said although together with several other stakeholders they have managed to record remarkable successes in their work, more still needs to be done such that come next year’s elections more youth will participate in the electoral processes as voters as well as candidates.
“The interest of the young people to vote and contest has been very minimal due to a number of factors. Some of the reasons being cultural and behavioural patterns of voters who consider young people in a rural set up as having not matured enough to handle the rigours of politics which are interpreted as sustained by money and chicanery.
“Most young people in the rural areas have not yet overcome their basic needs within the hierarchy of needs as propounded by scholar Maslow. This has been a hindrance because most voters expect the candidates and their political leadership to improve their economic standing,” said Madhuku.
On his part, the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) interim provincial deputy youth chairperson Lovemore Mapuranga who squarely blamed youth themselves on their reluctance to participate in politics, pointed out that CCC has so far made a giant leap towards prioritising youth’s voices as evidenced by the number of youth who contested in the recent by-elections.
“As a clear reflection that our party priorities youth voices, two youthful candidates were fielded in Masvingo Urban council by-elections and they managed to triumph. What has now remained is for such initiatives to be brought to rural communities like Mwenezi and I am confident come next year’s general elections more youth from rural communities are going to contest for the local authority and legislative posts,” said Mapuranga.
He also bemoaned that for the past years most poorly resourced youth have preferred to prop up the older generation as political office bearers as in most rural areas where the resourcefulness of a candidate inevitably determines his or her political destiny.
“It is unfortunate that most youth have developed a carefree attitude towards elections and some have developed a habit of completely shunning election participation. Since youth constitute the majority, they need to mobilise and register to vote such that whenever they race against the older generation, they will prevail as they will obviously vote for one another,” he added.
Some analysts argue the gospel of youth participation in electoral processes to effectively penetrate and to fully bear tangible fruits it ought not to be spearheaded by political parties.
They insist that it is an initiative which should be seriously nurtured at every family level and then vigorously cascaded to institutions like schools, churches and other critical institutions where youth are inevitably exposed to the messages.
As the count down to 2023 general elections gather momentum, with political parties claiming to be at the forefront of championing the youth’s cause in the political field, stakeholders’ commitment towards the genuine implementation of the youth quota system will have its litmus test.

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