…Councillors call for implementation of ‘clamp and tow away’

Courage Dutiro

Masvingo City Council management has acknowledged that the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) is giving them a headache over the issue of returning long-distance buses to Mucheke bus terminus as the public-owned transporter continues to use undesignated pick and drop points in the Central Business District (CBD).

Speaking during a full council meeting held on June 27, 2022, Masvingo City Town Clerk engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said they have approached ZUPCO Masvingo Depot manager who seems reluctant to follow their orders.

“We approached Zupco local depot, the manager seems to have some sort of attitudes so I think we should get in touch with his head office,” said Mukaratirwa.

Mayor councillor Collen Maboke said as a council they should just enforce the by-laws and should not be given a headache by a single bus operator.

“The issue of taking busses back to Mucheke bus terminus was raised some time ago but up to now, there is nothing that has materialized. We are just pilling up resolutions. I think there is no need to consult the transporters, let’s just enforce the by-laws since no one is above the law. We have a by-law that doesn’t allow long-distance busses to load in the Central Business District (CBD).

“Let’s move the buses to Mucheke bus terminus. As councilors, we cannot be overpowered by a single person, the ZUPCO depot manager,” said Cllr Maboke.

Ward 10 councilor Sengerayi Manyanga also weighed in and said the councilors are the city fathers and they should not be troubled by such transporters.

“We are the only council that doesn’t have a rank in the country. Let’s learn from Gweru. We are the city fathers here in Masvingo, we should not be troubled by a mere depot manager,” said Manyanga.

Ward 1 councilor Alderman Selina Maridza also said Masvingo City is not serious about enforcing its by-laws.

Newly elected ward 3 councilor Roki Kamuzonda chipped in and encouraged council management to put more effort in taking buses to Mucheke bus terminus to sustain the lives of people in ward1.

Ward 5 councilor Daniel Mberikunashe said it is disgusting to note how the proliferation of such ‘bus termini’ are posing a health hazard to establishments like Chevron Hotel as the absence of ablution facilities has seen the emergence of open toilets as travellers and those manning the ranks seek to relieve themselves.

“Just take a closer look at the case of Chevron hotel. The hotel deserves peace and privacy for its clients but just look how the bus operators have turned the place in to a disorderly scene.

“Some of the rank marshals are now even going to the extent of using toilet facilities at Chevron much to the detriment of the hotel owners and clientele. Just clamping the errant buses and tow them is the only way to go,” said Mberikunashe.

Councilor Richard (ward 7) also weighed in saying the move to allow disorder in CBD is also costing its much needed revenue as they cannot account for the rank fees in the CBD while a the same time he proposed stiffer penalties for those found wanting.

“It is high time council enforce the by-law seriously. I suggest the matter be referred back to the finance committee so that we come up with a resolution with a stiffer penalty for those found picking or dropping in the CBD,” said Musekiwa.

Council has on a number of occasions debated on best to force bus operators off the CBD, but the move seemed to be hitting a brick wall as other transporters who intend to abide would take a leaf from ZUPCO, shun Mucheke rank and use the CBD as well.

Masvingo City is characterized by long-distance buses loading on undesignated areas in the CBD.

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-The wait is finally over for Melbourne Park beneficiaries after town council gave them green light to start construction in the partially serviced medium density suburb.
The development comes after three years of waiting for allocation as the local authority was trying to service the stands before officially handing them over to owners in order to avoid the Makondo saga, where residents were allowed to construct houses on un-serviced stands.
Melbourne Park medium density residential project, which came as a partial relief to the ever growing housing waiting list in the slowly growing sugarcane town were allocated to beneficiaries in 2019 at the cost of $25.00 per square meter and took almost three years to complete servicing as the companies that were tendered to develop roads, drainage lines, sewer and water reticulation system took ages to complete as the funds were hit by inflation.
Currently, CTC is selling some remaining stands at Melbourne Park in order to complete servicing some parts of the project, with sewer system being the major challenge left.
The local authority has given green light to the beneficiaries to start submitting their house plans for approval in order to begin construction, which will be subdivided into three sections, with section A, which is at 90percent in terms of servicing, being the first to construct while the local authority completes servicing sections B and C.
In an interview, CTC acting council chairperson Ropafadzo Makumire said beneficiaries have been given green light to start submitting their plans for approval at the local authority with section A being cleared to begin construction while the local authority completes works in sections B and C.
“Beneficiaries have been given the green light to begin construction with section A being cleared to start construction while sections B and C will commence once servicing has been completed. We had set a deadline 31 July but seems people will be moving to their sites earlier as works are almost complete for A, then to B and C,” said Makumire.
Gerry Chigavakava chairperson of Melbourne Park construction committee said the latest development is the best thing to embrace following three years of stalemate with the local authority.
“In the interest of progress, given that we are coming from the background where we had a three year stalemate with CTC, this latest development is the best thing that we should embrace at this time. Going forward it helps us to break even, we know now that people should start presenting their developmental plans for approval.
“This gives us hope as Section A is starting doing works on the 20th of July. It’s a factor that gives hope. We know that there is now development from the bonafide beneficiaries,” said Chigavakava.

Faith Duri

Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (ZINATU) has criticised the decision by government to offer 100 percent salary increment to civil servants saying it serves no purpose to the already suffering workers.
In a petition letter dated June 20 undersigned by ZINATU Secretary General Livison Maunganidze directed to the Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima, ZINATU described the 100 percent increment as a big mockery to workers.
“The ZINATU acknowledges the ongoing dialogue at the national joint negotiating council, however we have noted with gravy and debilitating concern that the idea of using percentage in arriving at new levels of remuneration is misfiring by government as it can no longer work in today’s hyper inflation environment.
“If salaries are increased by 100 percent, it would appear that salaries have been increased by a huge margin yet 100 percent of nothing is nothing. The figures being arrived at after a 100 percent increment on salaries remain a big mockery to workers,” read part of the petition.
Maunganidze also criticised decision by government to stick to local currency at the expense of foreign currency.
“The economy whether we like it or not, had fully dollarized and anything to the contrary is rejecting the naked truth. Dismissing or ongoing this fact only serves to exacerbate the suffering of employees, the Zimbabwean dollar salaries have totally been eroded by the ever galloping inflation.
“Employees can not catch up with the parallel market rate which is fleecing employees of their hard earned cash yet the same employees have no other alternative than to resort to using parallel market rate to transact,” added the petition.
The petition also stated that ZINATU proposed government should make a paradigm shift by moving from increasing salaries in ZW$ percent to using real US$ increment method.
“Government should move or adjust the current US$ component of US$ 175 to US$ 540 for the lowest paid with immediate effect and should also allow employees to have the option to withdraw all their remaining ZW$ balances in US$ over the counter at bank rate,” read the letter.
However, the union urged government to consider workers grievances when engaging in dialogues with them.
“Government should expedite the process of dialogue to avoid short changing employees.
“The process of negotiations should not take too long and should avoid taking time with consultations within itself and that the consultation is limited to an agreed number,” added the petition.
The stalemate between government and civil servants has been on going and currently nurses and doctors at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals are protesting against poor wages and working conditions while at the same time demanding salaries in foreign currency.

TellZim reporter

Around 32 Nemamwa Secondary School teachers are enduring the burden of travelling to and from work as the school is failing to provide for the educators’ housing needs.
The revelation was made by Chief Nemamwa born Fungai Manjiva on June 18 during the belated commemoration of World Press Freedom Day held at Sikato primary school in Nemamwa.
Manjiva said the situation is so disturbing considering that the area is home to Great Zimbabwe a tourist attraction that realizes foreign currency from tourists almost on a daily basis.
“Our major focus on development is on schools and clinics. Right now we have more than 32 teachers at Nemamwa Secondary who do not have accommodation at the school and have to commute to and from work on a daily basis.
“If we consider that we have a tourist attraction in Nemamwa in form of Great Zimbabwe, an ideal situation would be channelling the proceeds towards addressing such anomalies within our communities. Even if we would look for investors to look into the issue of addressing accommodation challenges on part of those teachers, it is our wish that funds realized from such facilities be used towards construction of houses at the school,” said Chief Nemamwa.
He also suggested that the land which has fallen prey to invaders be protected by government for the purpose of housing stands development for the struggling civil servants.
“We wish government could intervene and stop illegal activities on and acquisition of land so that we use it to help our civil servants. We need to protect our land from invaders and their illegal activities for these government workers to stay on since they help towards community development.
“We wish to have more residential stands and most of the civil servants should invest towards the initiative. That will help develop the status of our communities if we come to a situation that we have a doctor staying there and or even teachers and nurses,” added the Chief.
Illegal mining activities are taking place in the Manyama area where environmental degradation is also taking place.

…As parents plead for ICT equipment

Tinaani Nyabereka

Shurugwi- Former Gamwa Secondary School learners this week donated building material to the learning institution as part of efforts to revamp the school and giving back to the community.
The donations handed over to the school by the Alumni Chairperson Osherd Mutunami and Treasurer Conerlia Selipiwe included eight doors, eight keys and security locks.
Speaking after the donation, Gamwa kraal head Aaron Natare said as a community they were happy to receive the donation at the school adding the material was to go a long way in revamping the school’s infrastructure.
“We are very happy with what has happened here at Gamwa Secondary School, as you can see we have received building material for our school and this has been done by our children who were also groomed here at Gamwa. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses and scientists were born and bred here at Gamwa. All these children are now stationed in various countries working across the region.
“I want to appreciate the work that has been done here. We urge the community to embrace such development especially when it comes from our own children whom we struggled to raise. This shows how appreciative our children are to their parents. Well done Gamwa Alumni.
“We want to thank you for this wonderful gesture, for remembering that you have brothers and sisters who are still in need of the same school who are also learning like you did .Today you have also taught them how good it is to give back to the community which made you who you are. Recently we were in a meeting at the school with parents and school staff; we were worried about our doors as most of our classrooms were affected by heavy storms. Some of the blocks had roofs taken away by the wind as you have seen, we were concerned how our children were going to cope this winter,” said Natare.
He however appealed to the well-wishers to continue lending their helping hand as they seek to renovate damaged infrastructure.
“We are also appealing to you our children to help the school to renovate the affected blocks, as well as our toilets as they are in a bad state. We need help at the teachers’ staff quarters in terms of repainting them and tubing the houses so they can have proper electricity connections,” he added.
A parent Edith Maramba said as a community they were requesting for Information Communication Technology (ICT) equipment such as laptops, projectors and internet connnections to enable children to adapt to the fast changing digital world.
“Gamwa has history, we are what we are because of this school, these elderly boys and girls who are now coming back to donate.
“We want computers for the school. Please we want computers for your young brothers and sisters. We also need government to chop in on ICT infrastructure, the rural child is lagging behind,” she said.
Another parent from Dendere village Erick Ngwerume said they were looking forward to see young talent rising from the community.
“I am a parent too and have children who are learning at the school now. We are very grateful, now that the Alumni committee have thought of remembering their roots, we also plead for sport facilities and activities to be done constantly. We want sports to help our children to stay away from ill behaviours and to keep them entertained. We are grateful that last time our son Osherd came and donated football kits. We want balls as well,” he said.
Gamwa Student Alumni (GSA) treasurer Conerlia Selipiwe said as a committee they were going to go with feedback to their peers as efforts to help improve areas which are lagging behind.
“This donation has come as a stepping stone, as a committee we have more projects and donations which will come along the way. Our donation is non-partisan and is focused towards developing our home area.
“One of the former students in our stream passed by the school on his way home someday. He saw that most of the classrooms didn’t have doors as they were reportedly damaged during rainy season while some blocks were affected by the wind. So upon receiving the complaint, we then came together as former students and decided to buy doors and keys to have the classroom fixed.
“Today we have also noted that, there is quite a number of areas which need urgent attention, the widow pens need to be replaced, our teachers’ quarters also need to be tubed properly because the electricity connections are not safe. Some houses don’t even have electricity. Going forward we want to work with the School Development Committee (SDC) and teachers so that we address areas of concern.
“More so where teachers access water, we felt it’s a bit far and not conducive at night. So maybe if boreholes are increased it might help them. All the donations which will follow counting this one are part of the Alumni’s Social Corporate Responsibility. We know the economy is not good but we want to push for the rural child to get better education as part of building his/her tomorrow,” Selipiwe added.
Gamwa school authorities expressed gratitude over the donation saying it was going to go a long way in changing lives.

… It’s unconstitutional

…We have other priorities

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO –Local authorities in the province have rejected the directive from central government where each council has been ordered to pay for a fire tender to a certain supplier using devolution funds at a very inflated price.
Masvingo City Mayor who is also a lawyer, councilor Collen Maboke said the directive by the central government is unconstitutional since the funds are from the devolution funds where they have to consult residents on what they should be used.
“The directive is unconstitutional, devolution funds are public funds and we have to consult residents before we do anything, so they cannot just tell us what to buy before we consult the residents,” said Maboke.
He went on to say a fire tender was not a priority for Masvingo City since they recently got one saying priority should be towards refuse compactors.
“Apart from it being unconstitutional, a fire tender is not our priority as a city council. We have refuse collection challenges and a refuse compactor is a better purchase option. We recently got a fire fighter, so we cannot buy another one. Our residents are worried about refuse collection and they would understand us even if we bought a compactor without talking to them,” added Maboke.
He however said they were yet to sit and deliberate on the matter as council and was sure his colleagues shared his views.
Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) chairperson Cornelius Mapuranga said Zaka District had more pressing issues than a fire tender.
“We cannot purchase a fire tender as it stands because we may never use it or it may take time to use it here in Zaka. What we need here is road construction equipment like graders, our roads are damaged and we are failing to maintain them because we don’t have the equipment,” said Mapuranga.
He went on to say as a district they suffered heavy losses in cattle and could be affected in the next faming season therefore there was need to capacitate the District Development Fund (DDF) so that it helps the local people.
“We lost a number of cattle in the district which poses a challenge in the next farming season. So the central government should at least equip DDF so that they can help the communities,” he added.
Chiredzi Town Council Acting Town Secretary Engineer Wesley Kauma said the local authority recently purchased a fire tender which is awaiting shipment and would want to use the funds for other needs.
“We are currently waiting for RBZ to release funds for shipment of our fire tender which we have already purchased outside and we would request to use the funds for other things like graders since we have a shortage in road equipment,” said Eng Kauma.
Mwenezi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Chivanga said he cannot question a directive from above but if allowed to choose they would not choose a fire tender but would go for other urgent needs.
“I cannot comment on a decision made by my principals. However, if we are allowed to choose, I wouldn’t go for a fire tender but something more urgent like road equipment which we are in dire need of,” said Chivanga.
Masvingo Residents and Rate Payers Alliance spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba echoed Maboke’s sentiments saying the directive defeats the idea of devolution and that their organization will not let council buy the fire tender as it was not a priority for now.
“That directive is centralization instead of devolution, it’s unconstitutional and in the meantime Masvingo City has fire equipment and cannot buy another one while there are other areas that need attention,” said Mtimba.
However, Gutu and Chivi RDC CEOs Alexander Mutembwa and Tariro Matavire said since it was a constitutional requirement they would buy the equipment.
Chiredzi RDC CEO Ailes Baloyi said the idea is a noble one though if given a choice to choose, they would prefer finishing other projects to fire tenders.
“It’s a noble cause to have a fire tender as we encounter some fire incidences. However, given a chance to choose, we would like to finish some projects we have already started,” said Baloyi.
The fire tender issue torched a storm after the Ministry of local government wrote a letter to city, town and rural district councils where the ministry indicated that it was procuring fire tenders from Belarus on behalf of all local authorities with the money being deducted from their devolution fund allocations over a period of 12 months.
“The funds to procure the equipment will be deducted from the 2022 Devolution allocations and will be done over a period of 12 months starting March 2022. The cost of each fire tender is US$ 464 296.
“It is therefore advisable for local authorities to reprioritize the Devolution funds to accommodate the cost of the fire tenders.” read part of the letter from the ministry.
The principle of devolution stipulates that funds be released from central to lower tiers of government with beneficiaries deciding on areas of key priority to use the funds on but that has turned to be a nightmare and the opposite as central government and council management have taken the onus on them to determine where to use the disbursed funds on.
The other challenge has been the late disbursement of the funds derailing progress on projects undertaken.

…Deserted Masvingo devolution-funded boreholes: case of policy inconsistency?

During the run-up to the March 26, 2022, local government and parliamentary by-elections great stride were made on part of aspiring candidates embarking on a number of borehole drilling schemes or projects in areas of contest in a move some have thought is part of the rhetoric electioneering campaign projects which soon cease to be carried on once elections are over.
In Masvingo province the two House of Assembly Zanu PF aspirants and eventual winners Munyaradzi Zizhou (Chivi South) and Master Makope (Mwenezi East) openly admitted to ‘partly’ using devolution funds towards borehole drilling schemes while at the same time claiming to channelling own resources towards the initiative.
In Masvingo Urban constituency where four wards (3, 4, 5 and 7) were at stake to replace councillors recalled by MDC Alliance’s Douglas Mwonzora, devolution funds were reportedly used towards drilling of boreholes while the District Development Fund (DDF) water rig was used to drill some of the boreholes.
What has made Masvingo case a more peculiar is the manner in which the projects were undertaken that is in terms of seeking council approval towards the projects while at the same time the funding remains a mystery as the person in charge of the provincial development initiatives Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Jefta Sakupwanya has on record given contrasting answers concerning the projects.
During one of the campaign rallies in ward 5 where Zanu PF candidate Hakinstone Chimwai was contesting, politburo member Lovemore Matuke openly declared that the project was being undertaken after approval by Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.
“Your councillor here asked for solar-powered boreholes and minister of state has approved. We have also approved that and soon you will have them. I heard council has increased rates by 400 percent, so if they continue to rise, you just close the tap and go to the borehole,” claimed Matuke in March.
However Dr Sakupwanya vehemently denied that devolution funds were being used towards propagating party projects.
“Devolution funds cannot be used for campaigns. What happens is that there are annual programmes of drilling three boreholes per ward to be undertaken under the supervision of Dr Masuka (Minister of Lands) where government buys water rigs so that the programmes can be implemented for purposes of ensuring water security.
“There is no way devolution funds could be diverted towards campaigns unless it is meant to meet the needs of the community as would have been identified by council,” he said.
Quizzed on the fact that council through Mayor Collen Maboke has said the boreholes were sunk wantonly without their blessing, Dr Sakupwanya promised to investigate the case as he said council should be aware of the projects since devolution funds are channeled into their coffers.
“So who is behind the drilling of those boreholes if council declines such? Council is supposed to be in charge of devolution programmes and if they say they are not aware of it, then who assumes responsibility? Devolution fund is given to council, so it is impossible to say there are programmes that are done under the facility with council not knowing about it.
“Devolution is meant to meet the needs of the community. As the provincial secretary, I do not have any funds because the money is at councils. I am just there to monitor the expenditure and see to it that the funds are rightfully used for the intended purpose. I would despatch a team to monitor all those allegations. Even the president (Emmerson Mnangagwa) does not condone disorder. We strongly disown such indiscipline as we promote order,” said Dr Sakupwanya.
However three months down the line the boreholes are lying idle with residents continuing facing acute water shortages in and around the city. Rujeko suburb which falls under ward 7 faces recurrent water pipe bursts, residents going for many hours with dry taps despite looking at the solar and water storage tanks stands and the borehole at Jazire shopping centre proving helpless.
This publication later on (two months after the elections in which Zanu PF fared dismally in Masvingo urban to CCC) asked Dr Sakupwanya why the boreholes are not being utilized to ease the burden of water shortages off residents and he said the president is the one who has got the saying on the boreholes and thus they would function after his blessing to do so.
“Presidential borehole drilling scheme is the president’s programme which is going to benefit people in and around Masvingo especially those in the rural areas.
“Why do you want to focus much on the urban instead of the rural set up? There is too much wide coverage in urban than rural set up,” he added.
Asked then in March on the arrangement in which the DDF was drilling boreholes aspiring election candidates were using as part of their campaign trail, Masvingo DDF provincial coordinator Marasa Hamudi Gutukunuhwa said the authority was just carrying out its mandate to serve the community.
“As DDF, we are just carrying out our programmes as we are mandated to. I don’t know if there are individuals who might want to take advantage of such to campaign for political posts,” said Gutukunuhwa.
The principle of devolution of equipping lower tiers of government with resources and ensuring semi-autonomy remains a mystery especially in the wake of central government interfering in local authority operations with the responsible minister dictating pace on and how the projects are conducted while the ordinary citizenry have no saying on the projects of importance in their respective areas.
In some cases council management would determine on behalf on intended beneficiaries areas of priority to be undertaken using the funding.
Recently there was a public outcry nationwide after local government minister July Moyo’s ministry ordered all local authorities to submit to his directive to purchase fire tenders from President Mnangwagwa’s Belarusian counterpart and friend at the cost of US$ 462 000 each using devolution funds despite some local authorities have budgeted the funding towards other projects.