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AFZ hands over state-of-the-art Neromwe clinic

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AFZ hands over state-of-the-art Neromwe clinic

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) recently handed over state of the art Neromwe Health Centre in Chief Neromwe’s area, which was completed three years after his installation in 2019.
The hand-over event was attended by Chief Neromwe and neighbouring Chiefs Gudo and Chilonga as part of Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) week-long dedication to help communities prior to the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays set for August 8 and 9.
The AFZ pledged in 2019 to construct a Rural Health Centre in Chief Neromwe’s kingdom after their plight in accessing health services became public knowledge though it was derailed by the effects of Covid-19 as most of their partners were not able to help.
In his address, AFZ commander Air Marshal Elson Moyo said they did not take time to mobilize resources after they found out that the nearest clinic to the community was almost 80 kilometres and thus difficulty to access for pregnant mothers and those seriously ill.
“The Air Force of Zimbabwe was made aware of the plight of the Neromwe community here in accessing health services mainly because the nearest clinic was located more than 80 km from the community. Without waiting to ascertain the availability of resources, the Air Force of Zimbabwe made a commitment to construct a clinic for the community based on the spirit of ‘ubuntu’ as the organization is part of the community, hence we have a moral responsibility to assist the disadvantaged and underprivileged within our society,” said Moyo.
He said the handover came in a community assistance week which precedes the Zimbabwe Defence Forces day celebrations as it helped them strengthen ties with the communities they serve.
“This handover of the clinic to Neromwe community is being held during the week dedicated by the ZDF to assist communities across the country. The community assistance week precedes the ZDF day celebrations and it is an opportunity for us to renew our unbreakable ties with the communities where we all come from. The ZDF will forever remain a people’s force committed to serving the people of Zimbabwe,” he added.
The official handover was graced by the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira as well as two Chiredzi Chiefs Gudo and Chilonga.
During the installation of Chief Neromwe, all Chiredzi Chiefs boycotted the event as they stood in solidarity with the aggrieved Chief Tshovani over territorial disputes hence their boycott was believed to be a sign of bad blood among the traditional leaders in question.
The Air Force of Zimbabwe left its medical team to assist the community during this community assistance week while the Premier Services Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) left a donation of eight hospital beds including maternity beds and some other necessary furniture needed at the clinic.

2022 marks end of Prof Mthuli’s budget hoax

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2022 marks end of Prof Mthuli’s budget hoax

…As minister resorts to supplementary in mid-term budget and economic review

Emmanuel Chitsika

The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) says the supplementary budget presented last week by Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube marks an end to what they refer to as the ‘budget surplus hoax’ that has characterized his tenure as finance chief since appointment in 2018.
In a statement released on July 29, 2022, ZIMCODD said the mid-term budget and economic review is presented at a time the country is under siege from severe Zimbabwean dollar exchange rate depreciation against the United States Dollar.
“The year 2022 marks the end of Prof Ncube’s budget surplus hoax as he has tabled a Supplementary Budget for the first time since his appointment as Treasury chief in September 2018. The Treasury is requesting additional spending of ZW$ 929.9 trillion on top of the approved budget of ZW$ 969.3 billion putting spending projections for the January to December 2022 fiscal year at ZW$ 1.9 trillion.
“A supplementary budget was inevitable as ravaging ZW$ depreciation had significantly eroded the real value of the 2022 approved budget from US$ 8.4 billion (US$1: 115.42) in January to US$ 2.6 billion (US$1: 370.96) as of end of June. It is also worrisome to note that despite a tightening economy that has plunged 40 percent of the population into extreme poverty, a paltry 3.4 percent of ZW$ 929.3 billion additional spending is earmarked for social welfare,” read part of the ZIMCODD statement.
The statement went on to call for urgent address to the root causes of the problems while also expressing displeasure over the manner in which the gold coins issue has or is handled.
“It is our position that without addressing the root causes of current currency volatility, the announced supplementary budget is inadequate to keep citizens out of poverty.
“While the gold coins introduction is a noble idea, it only works efficiently in an economy where there is total respect for basic economic principles. However, by selling gold coins at an overvalued interbank rate (a gap of over 90 percent between official and parallel rates), government has introduced a huge arbitrage avenue that only enables the rich and few connected few to fatten their pockets at the expense of the poor majority.
“Zimbabwe, a net importer facing acute foreign currency shortages amid rising global inflation and ballooning cost of borrowing cannot afford to sell the precious yellow metal at a discount,” added the statement.
ZIMCODD presented a cast of measures which they feel the mid-term budget and economic review missed out and could have been incorporated.
“The mid-term budget and economic review failed to address the public’s expectations of some bold measures to cushion vulnerable groups, strengthen the ZW$ and subdue chronic price inflation.
“Closing leakages caused by corruption and illicit financial flows, reducing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe interference in foreign exchange rate markets by completely floating the ZW$ exchange rate will help subdue burgeoning parallel market exchange premia while also liberalizing or doing away with the foreign currency auction system that is promoting rent seeking behaviors like selling foreign currency below its true market value,” said the statement.
The review comes barely two months after Prof Ncube sought parliamentary pardon following an unsanctioned spending by the treasury while he was on record declaring surpluses for the preceding years.
With all the declared surpluses signaling economic growth, the nation was surprised as to how the minister would preside over an overspending under such a boom.

Gutu woman murders husband over traditional beer customers

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Gutu woman murders husband over traditional beer customers

Valentine Makufa

A traditional beer drinking binge ended fatal when a 50-year-old Gutu woman allegedly killed her 51 year-old husband for chasing away the former’s beer customers at their homestead in Mawire village under Chief Gutu.
The incident occurred on July 28 before Simbarashe Kufakunesu succumbed to the injuries sustained during the alleged assault by wife Mirika Joni on July 30 at Gutu Mission Hospital.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and urged members of the public to amicably resolve matters.
“People should not resolve issues under the influence of alcohol,” he said.
It is alleged that on July, 28, the couple was selling traditional beer at their homestead when Kufakunesu got drunk and started dancing with his drunken customers.
All of a sudden the deceased became violent, started pouring beer on customers and chasing them away.
Kufakunesu’s actions did not go well with Joni who tried to stop him resulting in a misunderstanding which resulted in Kufakunesu picking up an axe with the intention of hitting his wife but she took the axe and the two wrestled for the axe as the husband tried to re-possess it.
Joni picked a farm brick and threw it at her husband hitting him on the right ribs.
She went on to hit him several times on the forehead with the brick and Kufakunesu sustained a swollen forehead.
Some villagers intervened and stopped the fight.
Kufakunesu started vomiting and complaining about his right ribs on July 29 and was taken to Gutu Mission Hospital for treatment.
His condition deteriorated on July 30 around 0030 hours and he died.
A police report was made the same day.
The body was taken to Gutu Mission Hospital mortuary awaiting post mortem.

CCC Councillors join gravy train

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CCC Councillors join gravy train

…From slippers to D4D in 5 months

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – After the 26 March by-elections in which the then newly formed political party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) romped to victory in Masvingo Urban which had four vacant wards, the social media was awash with stories of how a CCC candidate who wore slippers defeated a ‘moneyed’ Zanu PF candidate who drove a Discovery among his fleet of posh vehicles.
The situation was a David and Goliath situation for the ward 3 seat where the unpopular CCC candidate Rocky Kamuzonda defeated Zanu PF’s Taurai Mudzviti who was known for his flamboyancy and splashing money on Election Day.
Besides being humble and coming from CCC, many people believed that Rocky was the best candidate who related well with their social needs unlike Mudzviti who was accused of looking down upon people.
An almost similar situation was in ward 4 where CCC’s Alec Tabe squared off with Richard Mudyavanhu who is also well resourced like Mudzviti.
However, barely five months after election, Kamuzonda and Tabe are already driving top class vehicles, a development that has shocked many and raised the electorate’s eyebrows, who are now alleging that the two could have been involved in some shoddy deals at council to get money within that short period.
Kamuzonda is driving an Isuzu twin cab while Tabe has a Toyota Hilux single cab.
Some people allege the new councilors were paid off to be part of the SIMBI Steel Makers deal which torched a storm recently with residents questioning the sincerity of council in giving the company such a huge piece of land while they were failing to develop the smaller one they already have.
However, one councilor dismissed the allegation saying they had already finalized the deal when they got in and they could not question anything about the deal.
“They couldn’t have been paid by SIMBI for the agreement because when they came in we had already sealed the deal so they were not better positioned to question it,” said the councilor.
The councilor however said the reason for the change of life style is that they were given residential stands in Rhodene and they sold them to improve themselves.
“You see when you become councilor, people expect you to help them in many ways, if there is a funeral people, expect the councilor to chip in with money, food among other things, so if you don’t have resources it will be hard.
“They bought cars so that when they arrive at functions they will look presentable and appealing. They vote for you knowing you are poor but once you get in they expect you to help them financially,” said the councilor.
The issue of stands however holds much water but others still suspect that there was corruption somehow saying the Urban Councils Act stipulates that a councilor should get two stands; one residential stand in his ward and a commercial stand which can be near or in the Central Business District (CBD).
The new councilors however allegedly got stands in Rhodene (ward 9) instead of wards 3 and 4.
Another contentious issue is that the Act also stipulates that that privilege should be given to councilors serving a full term, when they get into office during a general election not a by-election.
One resident union representative said they were shocked to see the two councilors driving such vehicles within the short period of time they have been in office, which shows there could be something fishy going on in council corridors.
Contacted for comment, Masvingo Mayor Councilor Collen Maboke said he was not furnished on any development pertaining to the awarding of stands to the new councilors and said he only heard it from the streets.
“I am not aware of the development, I wasn’t informed of the councilors being given stands and I am sure the housing director will furnish us,” said Maboke.
On the awarding of stands, Maboke said procedurally councilors should be given stands in their respective wards depending on availability and if there are no stands then they can get one from any other location but there is no clear regulation that regulates the value or size of stand they should get.
“They should get stands in their wards depending on the availability of stands. However, there is no clear regulation on the size and value of the stands they should get. However, what I know is that they pay 40 percent of the actual value of the stand,” said Maboke
He then referred questions on the issue of whether it’s permissible for councilors who get in office through by-elections and would not serve a full term, to the Town Clerk.
Masvingo Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said the matter is a policy issue and the mayor was better positioned to comment on the matter.
“That one is a policy issue and the right person to comment on that is the Mayor. All issues relating to policy and councilors themselves are the mayor’s responsibility or the ministry,” said Mukaratirwa.
When contacted for comment, Kamauzonda rubbished the allegations of having been bribed nor sold his residential stand.
He however confirmed having bought a stand in Rhodede at 40 percent and he has already paid for it.
He went on to say he bought the Isuzu twin cab from his close relative at a very cheap price and a convenient payment plan.
“I once owned two cars before and currently the one I am driving I bought it from a close relative who gave me a very conducive payment plan that is how I afforded the car. I got my residential stand in Rhodene which I paid 40 percent of the actual selling price.
“I used to do mining and get a lot of money at some point from there so I can afford to drive. I also have a kombi that is plying from Runyararo West to town and people don’t know and that is why they are surprised to see me driving this car,” said Kamuzonda
On his part, Tabe scoffed at the allegations and said nothing has changed in his lifestyle and since he has been driving a car since 2013.
He said he is a dealer and has been saving some money for some time saying he and that has allowed him to buy his latest car.
“Being a councilor is a part time job, I am a dealer and that is what I do most of my time. I started driving in 2013, had two cars which are currently down but have been saving for some time until I bought this car. I bought it at a cost that I cannot even compare to my daily earning.
“We could not have been bribed by Simbi or council over that deal, we found the deal already done and we questioned some of the things until we got to understand, the matter is yet to be finalised by council but everything is above board. I dont take bribes, I work on my own and the money I get from there is enough to buy me a car,” said Tabe

Donkey bites, swallows Bikita woman’s finger

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Donkey bites, swallows Bikita woman’s finger

Valentine Makufa

In a bizarre incident that has left the community tongue-tied, a Bikita woman recently lost her finger after it was bitten and chewed by a donkey in Munatsi village, ward 31 of Bikita.
It is reported that on July 25, Eunica Matambandini went to look for her sheep at around 1700 hours when she was unfortunately attacked by the donkey.
Tomupei Mukanyi who happens to be the victim’s husband confirmed the incident and pleaded for the intervention of the veterinary department as it has turned a blind eye towards the matter.
“It is true, that incident happened here. My wife went out to look for our sheep and passed by three donkeys.
“She heard heavy breathing behind her and turned to see a donkey charging towards her after which she tried in vain to scare it away before it attacked her, bit her right thumb prompting her to fall down. We assume the donkey swallowed the finger for we could not find the finger at the scene of the attack.
“The veterinary office promised to vaccinate donkeys and cattle before the incident but did not fulfill its promise. Currently the veterinary has done nothing about the incident so we are pleading for their intervention,” said Mukanyi.
Ward 31 councilor Thomas Mataga also confirmed the incident.
“The incident happened at around 1700 hours during sunset last Monday. She was looking for her animals when a donkey followed and suddenly bit the woman on her right hand which resulted into the amputation of the thumb,” said Mataga.
Matambandini is currently getting treatment at Silveira Mission Hospital.

Todiiko nevanhu veMasvingo

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Todiiko nevanhu veMasvingo

Ladies and gentlemen, let me first of all take this opportunity to humbly appreciate the role freedom fighters as well as the masses played during the liberation struggle that brought about this ‘so-called independence’. I understand the iron lady Oppah Muchinguri is in Masvingo to clean at our provincial shrine. But zvatoititirwa neZanu sure, a whole Minister and chairperson wemusangano uri kutonga kuuya kuzononga marara paheroes, kubva nemafuel gazzler muchitambisa fuel, nxaaa, marara acho akabvepi musango imomo. Idyai mari handiti ndimi makafira nyika yacho mega, infact makauraya vamwe muchida kudya mega mofunga hatizvizive. The movement has been hijacked by a few individuals who have since declared themselves true liberators at the expense of the whole nation. Looting has become the order of the day to say the least by these guys who claim to have died for this country. But iyo national shrine, iyi Heroes hectare is expanding, I mean the number of people buried there keeps on growing especially when the nation drift towards either Independence or Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, a hero will be buried before and what a coincidence, izvezvi umwe akaenda manje manje, is it a sacrifice or vakafa vanodeedzana zvavo kkkk.
But imi mazivanhu imi endai munobaiwa vaccine tibate heard immunity apa, we are tired of wearing face masks apa taakupinda muSummer, zvinopisa izvi and I am sure the government won’t lift the mandatory wearing of masks any time soon if we haven’t reached herd immunity. This lackadaisical approach to things ndoinoita kuti titambure, the same pace is seen kuvoter registration, vanhu havatodi wena. I thought maybe vaccine involves injection saka vanhu are afraid, what about registration, nxaaa endai munoregister kuvoter apa.
Todiiko nevanhu veMasvingo, vakadaro zvavo Mbuya vaGivas, kkkk Masvingo is something else. its proving itself as the breeding ground for political unrest and developments. General Sibusiso declared the situation has reached another level here in Masvingo. It breeds hot-headed people always, Look at Zvobgo senior, Mavhaire, Mbuya Mahofa, Nero, Sikhala ah, the list is endless. Last time paPCC elections paya the police had torrid time to control the raging factions and we thought zvakapera paya but alas, they decided to give us another show last weekend kkkk.nyaya yacho yakamira so, Israel Lunga, Delight Mandebvu vs Charles Munganasa, Mavhenyengwa vs Chadzamira, ED VS General iwe kkk pakaipa, that’s Masvingo for you.
The youths from the ‘revolutionary party’ vakaramba kupiwa order namaSascum kkkk zvakaoma. The factions are at each other’s throat and pakaipa kwete zvekunyepa. They were abandoned after haivhiyiwi inovhiyiwa tussle kkkk. Haa the volatile environment engulfing the provincial youth elections truly reached another level with rivals baying for each other’s blood. Ko kuno kuChitima ndaizvizivirepi kuti before elections, voters now go into camping as I used to hear of it with soccer teams prior to matches. Kkkk ko zvakazikanwa nani kuti vaiva kuMaponga lodge vaive vashoma kupinda vaiva kuFlamboyant uko. Mapfupa aNehanda aimbonzi achamuka, asi apo ndinoona aEddison senior anenge akupfuka zvawo and this time in favour of little-known Israel. But kana chapfuura 35 ngachibude, hatichada zvemadara muYouth kkkk. Guys it was just a tense atmosphere at the Polytechnic as voters turned up to cast their votes which never was going to be the case. Moving in files vachibva nekuExor uko vachiimba vaiva vakarongeka sevanhu vakararawo pahotera ka, they just erupted into songs as they marched towards the election venue Masvingo Poly. Little did they know that our learned Charle and Mandebvu were waiting with a joker. Haaya at times there is need to distinguish knowledge from wisdom as the former is an academic achievement while the later can be in-born and is not an easy attribute to have. The buoyant learned candidate who in news articles has dismissed factionalism as ‘something that exist in minds of mad people’ sensed danger and spared his character from humiliation after discovering that only a few cadres from Masvingo district were loyal to his cause. Now you need to believe Mapombi’s word in case she fore warns the public about some issues in the making though behind the scenes. These factional wars are real and the cancer has manifested itself heavily in the party especially in Masvingo. Hameno zvichapera sei becoz pamwe parikurema izambuko rekunopinda muCentral committee revakuru vaya and am sure the elections are around the corner. If ever the events of July 30 are anything to go by, then one man is fretting over his future or incorporation into the central committee, chete kungoti Zanu inochinja mavara seRwaivhi unoona munhu atopinda zvikashamisa ka.
What about our vocal prophet Talent, haaaya vanenge vanobatwa neshavi reHoto vachitevera direction ikuenda mhepo avo. After spending quite some time seemingly critical of Zanu PF where his kith Generari is vice and supporting Nero, all of a sudden he made an about turn much to the surprise of his following. Confusion seems to be reigning supreme in the mind of the man of cloth, I suspect vaakuda kuita pengaudzoke plus zvagara Daiton aiitungamirira haasisipo ka. Ko kusungwa yakazova passport yekuva good leader since when, shame. If you feel that being vocal is a clear sign of good leadership, then yourself should form a political party because you have been or seem to be vocal that much. What does being arrested has to do with leadership or are you sanitizing the capture of other arms of state by the current executive resulting in abuse of the judiciary and thus these arbitrary arrests. Were you a follower of the former MDC99 apostle, kkkk kurasika kunongouya vanhu vakarivara? But on Sikhala wairevesa zvako, the man is a man of action and action is what is needed now kwete kungorota vanhu vapinda.
Mavingo iri kunets all sides, I am glad the dust at Ndarama high has settled now with a new SDA in place to replace the 18 year-old one. These issues of power, a number of strange things do happen and relinquishing power is or has been one thing an incumbent is reluctant to embrace hey.
Before I go zvangu kunokanga maputi, I heard there is a councillor in Chiredzi who is eating green mangoes with salt that has to stop forth with. Stop it councillor and concentrate nekuvaka Nyika. I heard our ministers saying Zimbabwe will soon export water to South Africa, that’s what we want to hear from politicians’ kwete zvekutidyira vana vedu.
I am glad that Masimba is now on site paChimusana apa I am sure we will see progress soon. Let me just warn vane vakadzi vanouya pachitima apa, beware, vakomana vemaroads havamisi, vanomitisa kwete zvekunyepa. Just beware ladies and gentlemn, musazoti mapombi didn’t warn us. Todiiko nevanhu vaMasvingo, Mboko Imboko!!!

Zanu PF Masvingo youth chair election exposes Mavhenyengwa faction

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Zanu PF Masvingo youth chair election exposes Mavhenyengwa faction

. . . forcibly stops election as preferred candidate Lunga is disqualified

. . . faction leaves venue with tails tucked between legs

Own Correspondent

MASVINGO – There was chaos and pandemonium over the weekend in Masvingo when a Zanu PF faction allegedly led by provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa and backed by the famous Gutu brigade forcibly stopped provincial youth chair elections last Saturday (July 30) after the faction’s preferred candidate Israel Lunga was disqualified for being over aged.

The election was meant to replace former youth chair John Paradza who was elevated to the national youth league to become the deputy secretary for youth affairs at the youth congress held in Harare few months ago.

Three candidates; Charles Munganasa, Delight Mandebvu and Israel Lunga were tussling to replace Paradza. However, the provincial leadership and ZANU PF bigwigs led by Gutu brigade comprising of ZANU PF’s security ‘supremo’ Cde Lovemore   Matuke, deputy secretary for youth affairs Cde (Hon) John Paradza and Masvingo provincial political commisar Cde Brian Munyoro together with the newly elected national secretary for Gender and Culture and popular G40 member, Cde Naledi Maunganidze working in cahoots with Masvingo provincial chair Cde (Hon) Robson Mavhenyengwa allegedly influenced the national team that was supposed to help conduct the elections to stop forthwith soon after it emerged that Lunga was no longer eligible to contest for youth league positions according to the circular released by the Zanu PF party before the day of election.

Under normal democratic elections where the leadership or presiding officers have no clandestine agenda, if one candidate out of three is disqualified the remaining two would then contest, and if they are two and one is disqualified then the other one would be automatically declared the winner.

However, the leadership exposed itself and openly declared their unfettered interests in the disqualified candidate by influencing the stoppage of the elections despite having two other candidates having qualified. According to information obtained by this publication, the above mentioned crew led by Matuke had connived to impose the over aged Lunga with Maunganidze and Munyoro playing pivotal roles in making sure the mooted agenda came to fruition. Evidence brought forward to this publication clearly outlined the roles each played in this clandestine agenda of imposing the infamous Lunga who dismally lost the Chiredzi constituency basket provincial election to one Tendai Mahiya with Mavhenyengwa smuggling in Lunga ahead of the popular Mahiya.

WhatsApp chats and audios viewed by this reporter showed that the trio of Munyoro, Maunganidze and Mavhenyengwa were working hand and glove with Matuke and Paradza who were issuing instructions to be executed by the trio. Munyoro was found threatening and frog marching all district youth chairpersons from Gutu and forcing them to go and vote for Lunga or else risk being expelled from the party. Maunganidze seemed to be the ‘blesser’ of the team as she madly forked out thousands of United States dollars to force the electorate into camp two days before the crucial election. It is reported that Mavhenyengwa was tasked with travel logistics where he weighed in with hundreds of liters of fuel for the occasion.

Despite the fact that the deputy secretary Paradza is the one who developed the circular that clearly stipulated that all youths candidates should be below 35 years on the day of elections, Paradza and team seemed confused and were determined to defy their own circular by fielding the over aged Lunga leaving the electorate and observers with many unanswered questions with many questioning his leadership skills given the way he has successfully torn Masvingo youth league into shreds.

When contacted for comment about the uncouth behaviour and decision, Mavhenyengwa was at sixes and sevens as he struggled to give convincing response as to why the election had to be stopped when two other candidates were still eligible since the circular guiding the elections was very clear that only candidates below the age of 35 on election day will be eligible to contest.

For starters, the trio – Munganasa, Mandebvu and Lunga were initially in the same Mavhenyengwa faction and they all have positions in the youth provincial executive as secretary for administration, deputy chair and political commissar respectively. Having three candidates breaking away from the same faction is overwhelming evidence that the faction is indeed in shambles.

Munganasa has since crossed the floor and joined the other faction allegedly led by former provincial chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira leaving the other camp with two candidates. It is very unfortunate for Mandebvu who was dumped for Lunga on the basis that the faction suspects him to be a blue-eyed boy for Major General (Rtd) Engelbert Rugeje whom they feel is a threat to them.

Sources privy to the factional divisions in the province said Gutu district is the culprit for all this confusion because it wants to control the whole province willy-nilly. The Mavhenyengwa faction refers to Gutu district as their joker in any election and Matuke’s blue eyed guy, Munyoro is always available to unleash this ammunition at any given time. It is reported that Matuke wants Munyoro to take over the reigns of Masvingo province as the provincial chair in a movie like style.

With the level of polarisation and chaos witnessed in Masvingo province on Saturday, party members said, allowing the Gutu brigade to continue imposing candidates against the will of the electorate and violating party guidelines and  circulars guiding the elections is tantamount to destroying the party  ahead of 2023 elections. This happened during the provincial elections and went unchecked and history is about to repeat itself again.

“Party leadership should allow the youths to choose a leader of their choice. Meddling in youths politics and wanting to influence or rig in favour of an over aged candidate will have consequences in the future,” said a party member who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation.

FIU raises awareness on PVO bill

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FIU raises awareness on PVO bill

Yeukai Munetsi

Gweru -National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NANGO) recently engaged various Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which is mandated to coordinate Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) programmes in Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
The meeting was aimed at raising awareness on the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Bill and help NPOs to understand why there was need for such a bill.
Speaking at the event, FIU Officer Plaxedia Maketo reiterated that the bill had caused so much confusion amongst the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and hence there was need to clarify and raise awareness.
“The bill has caused so much mist in the NPOs and is being viewed as a way to shrink the civil society space.
“This shows so much lack of understanding by the NPO sector hence we want to demystify all these claims,” she said.
She further said the bill currently at the national House of Assembly stage is a requirement that came from the FATF not the FIU or the ministry of Labour complied with recommendation 8 of the FATF which requires countries to have appropriate laws to govern operations of NPOs.
“The PVO bill complies with recommendation 8 of the FATF. NPOs have access to resources and their work is intensive meaning that they are prone to diversion of funds by manipulating programmes to support terrorism,” she added.
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Registrar of Public Voluntary Organizations official Maxwell Chinenga said government was there to create a conducive environment and not shrink NPOs space hence the need for awareness raising meetings.
In addition Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association Director (GRRA), Cornelius Selipiwe said that such awareness programmes should be raised before consultations are made to avoid confusion.
“My question is why now when already the consultations have been done? If these awareness programmes had been done prior, then NPOs would have been equipped with sufficient and correct information to contribute to the bill,” said Selipiwe.
Meanwhile, NANGO Midlands regional coordinator Titus Mangoma also said that the PVO bill has been received with mixed feelings as it has some clauses that appear to be shrinking civic space.
He added that this awareness was very essential in covering the information gap that exists between the NPOs and government.

Makumire blasts WRR Masters over Inyathi Road

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Makumire blasts WRR Masters over Inyathi Road

…As it abandons road prematurely, motorists open unfinished road

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-Acting Town Council Chairperson Ropafadzo Makumire recently blasted Bulawayo based construction company WRR Master Specialist and Civil, which was contracted by government under the second phase of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2) to construct Inyathi Road, after it left it closed and unfinished for almost a month.
The closure resulted in cutting of link between the Central Business District (CBD) and Hippo Valley estates as well as the Agricultural Show Grounds.
Makumire lambasted the company over its lack of commitment to complete one of the town’s distributor roads, which they have taken ages to complete.
“I am not happy with what this contractor has done to our town. The road is a primary distributor road which link Chiredzi Central Business District (CBD) with Tongaat Hulett’s Hippo Valley Estates and industrial sites.
“The road is very busy, they were not supposed to rip it if they knew that they were not in a position to rehabilitate it in the minimum possible time,” said Makumire.
WRR Masters Specialists and Civil is struggling to mobilize equipment towards the construction of the road and Makumire questioned how the company was awarded the tender without proper equipment to execute the work.
“Í don’t know how the contractor WRR Masters was awarded the tender without equipment and resources to do this project. The contractor is not serious at all,” added Makumire.
WRR Master Specialists and Civil which are incorporated as Civil engineering and public works government contractors, is a company which specializes in civil engineering, road construction, road surfacing and resurfacing, highways, line markings, spots surfaces and driveways was contracted by government to construct Inyathi Road one of the key roads in Chiredzi.
WRR Masters was given the contract under the second phase of the ERRP together with companies including Country Cool, Fossil Contracting, Tensor Systems, who have already completed their works while WRR Masters is still at 40 percent on a single 300 stretch of Inyathi road.
It is alleged that the company might have links with the political big wigs that is why it has been taking long to complete its works without questions being raised from the project initiators.

Council positively reacts to Climate Change initiatives-ZCIEA

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Council positively reacts to Climate Change initiatives-ZCIEA

Valentine Makufa

Masvingo City Council has responded positively to Climate Change Research project conducted by the Zimbabwean Chamber of Informal Economies Association (ZCIEA).
Speaking at the intervention meeting held at Mucheke hall on July 28, 2022, ZCIEA Secretary General Wisborn Malaya acknowledged the role city council played in addressing issues to do with urban agriculture by allocating farmers portion of land in an open space near Masvingo Teachers College at cheaper prices.
“We have seen that the city council has improved urban agriculture as it has allocated land to its residents which enable the practice of agriculture that is a great move in trying to curb the effects of climate change,” said Malaya.
In addressing the effects of climate change, council is inventing a biogas plant which will use waste to generate biogas that will be used by the residents in a move meant to reduce the cutting down of trees for firewood and also reduce air pollution caused by burning tyres as a source of energy.
The Climate Change Research Project started in 2018 and finally ended on June 30, 2022, it aimed at assessing the interaction between the informal sector and environment.
The project was meant to identify the challenges faced by the informal sector and people with disabilities due to the climate change.
It was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in the United Kingdom with Alice Sverdlik as its partner funder from the International Institute for Environment and Development.
“I only facilitated the funding from the NIHR, actually our International Institute for Environment and Development did not fund the research,” said Sverdlik.
City council has managed to provide the residents with clean water unlike before when the taps ran dry and sometimes dirty water would run out of the taps.
Council has also provided boreholes in each ward to ensure the accessibility of water.
In line with the research project’s objectives, city council has again addressed the issue of poor refuse collection with the help of health clubs as it has improves the collection system through collecting refuse on time, allocating bins in schools, streets and even in the CBD.
The city council has also improved its conduct with street vendors since now vendors can now pay a fine and retrieve their goods unlike before where they could not retrieve anything.
ZCIEA recruited champions who carried out the research and got information from EMA, city council, churches and stakeholders.
The champion team had engaged the city council in carrying the research and they worked together in addressing the effects of climate change.

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