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.

Melinda Kusemachibi

Ndarama High School in Masvingo is set to go for School Development Association (SDA) elections re-run after the April 09, 2022 elections were nullified by a court ruling.
School head Oddy Matongo wrote a letter dated June 17, 2022 to parents informing them of the new development prompted by the quashing and nullification of April 09 2022 elections and the date for the new elections in July 30, 2022.
“In line with court order of May 27, 2022, elections of April 9 were nullified hence fresh elections according to SI 379/98 to be conducted,” read part of the letter.
The letter also highlighted that the elections will be held in line with the section 11(1)-3 of the stated instrument.
“The elections of the Executive Committee shall be conducted with only parents whose children are enrolled at the school being eligible for elections as members of the executive committee. Members referred to in subsection (1) shall be elected by parents at the meeting of 30 July 2022,” added part of the letter.
The letter however added that at the elections, members of the executive committee shall fill a form which is available at the school.
“Nomination shall be in writing (form available at school) and shall be received at the school not less than seventy-two hours before 30 July 2022 that is by Wednesday July 27 on or before 0900 hours. If there are no more candidates nominated than there are vacancies to be filled, the candidates shall be declared duly elected. If a poll becomes necessary, voting shall be by secret ballot but if the parents present at the meeting unanimously agree, voting shall be on a show of hands.
“If two or more candidates receive an equal number of votes and it is necessary to determine which of them should be declared elected, the determination shall be made by the drawing of lots and accreditation of parents and guardians shall start at 0700 hours on 30 July 2022,” added part of the letter.
Ndarama High held an Annual General Meeting after three years on April 9, 2022 leading to the dissolving of 18 years serving-chairperson Raymond Muzenda who is alleged to have refused to step down from the post leading to him writing a letter to the Provincial Education Director (PED) highlighting issues that concern school finances.
On elections held on April 09, the elected new chairperson was Enes Chekakani, vice chairperson being Peter Chibaga, secretary was Anna Mweneziko with committee members being Robson Pahuwa and Wellington Muchemwa.
Parents at the school accused Muzenda of looting money after applying for a loan of around ZW$ 929 357 in 2019’s third team at BancABC but the money do not appear on expenditure after which they called for an external audit.
Some disgruntled parents have accused Masvingo District School Inspector (DSI) Ishmael Chigaba of intentionally blocking the said audit raising concerns of his likely involvement in the alleged dealings.
Ndarama High School bursar Henry Chivhanga subsequently filed a resignation letter on May 3 after parents called for his stepping down.

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI- A fortnight ago , all hell broke loose for Oil business person, Trinity Mutsetse who runs Inotrade Service Stations in the Lowveld town, Jerera and Mashava after he was busted by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) for allegedly smuggling two fuel tankers from South Africa.
The vehicles in question were found parked at his truck stop in Chiredzi’s Light industry.
Mutsetse, who rose in the business circles through running the inherited Tsimeguru Service Station near Chiredzi’s Old rank has been building his empire from smuggled oil while expanding his businesses to as far as Mashava, where he bought a fuelling station reportedly belonging to Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Ezra Chadzamira.
Recently, Mutsetse commissioned one of his state of Art fuelling stations in the Central Business District of Chiredzi, where the smuggled 25 000 liter tankers were set to deliver the fuel soon after leaving their truck stop.
Contacted for comment, Mutsetse professed ignorance and referred all questions to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) who are currently in possession of his two tanker trucks, Registration Numbers ABJ 9372 and a Foreign plate HLV5823.
“If it is about that issue please deal with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. What they will tell you will be what happened, I have nothing to comment,” he said.
Mutsetse is allegedly brushing the blame to the drivers whom he is alleging might have forgotten to declare the fuel at the border as they overhead ZIMRA officers directing them to leave.
ZIMRA’s Head for Corporate Communications Tapiwa Chimanda confirmed the issue but refused to give further details giving the secrecy provisions in the Statutes (Section 34A of the Revenue Authority Act and Section 210 of the Customs and Excise Act) which prohibits him to divulge client specific information.
“The enquiry is noted. However given the secrecy provisions in the statutes (Section 34A of the Revenue Authority and Section 210 of the Customs and Excise Act), the Authority is not at liberty to divulge client specific information to the public. Suffice to say the matter is still subjudice until ZIMRA concludes its enquiries and if the matter is prosecuted after which the information will automatically enter the public domain through the courts.
“Even then, the Authority’s response will remain governed by the statues,” said Chimanda.
Mutsetse had been smuggling fuel from South Africa allegedly with the aid of ZIMRA Officers at the Beitbridge border post before he was nabbed by Chiredzi ZIMRA officers at his truck stop soon after the arrival of the fuel tankers.
Mutsetse was also once involved in the land scam after reportedly facilitating the sale of land in Chiredzi at his homestead after he had also acquired his US$10 000 plot which is yet to be cleared.