Faith Duri

Zaka district pensioners are pleading with responsible authorities for them to open a People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB) office in their district because they are moving from Zaka to Chiredzi or Masvingo to collect their money which is costly to them considering the amount of their pay outs.
Speaking to TellZim News, chairperson for Zaka pensioners Joseph Dakwa said one of their major issues as pensioners is travelling to Chiredzi or Masvingo POSB to collect their money.
“Government gave pensioners US $50 cushion money but our major complain now is that the only place we are able to collect that money is in Chiredzi or Masvingo. Bus fare is US$ 10 to and from, so we are pleading with responsible authorities to allow us to get our money at the local POSB.
“This doesn’t only affect pensioners in Zaka, but all pensioners who are travelling to get their money as the move is costly,” said Dakwa.
He also added they once talked to responsible authorities about this matter but they promised to look into the matter until now.
“I have spoken to the local post master Furanai Mateta and he said they once opened the facility but all of a sudden the authorities withdrew it and l also spoke to Public Service Commission (PSC)’s Vitalis Makuza who said he spoke to the provincial POSB manager about this matter but he promised to look into it,” said Dakwa.
One source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Post office branch that was in Zaka did not close but rather moved to Jerera Growth Point.
“The post office moved from Zaka to Jerera growth point and also pensioners are moving to collect their money in Chiredzi or Masvingo POSB because services there are still limited, not all services are offered at Jerera growth point post office,” said the source.
Efforts to get a comment from the POSB regional manager in Masvingo were in vain as the phone went unanswered.

Melinda Kusemachibi

Masvingo City Council is moving to consider incorporating Victoria Ranch Housing Scheme in rates collection in its bid to generate revenue that will enable the completion of projects that will benefit the suburb’s residents.
This was revealed in a Public Works and Planning Committee meeting held on May 9 2022 with council expressing concern over the sprawling suburb’s potential revenue.
“Concern was raised that council should put in place mechanisms of collecting revenue from the beneficiaries of Victoria Ranch Housing Scheme. It was noted that the beneficiaries of the housing Scheme would require services from City of Masvingo, hence they should contribute towards infrastructural development projects in the city, since the scheme would be incorporated into the municipal area in the future,” read part of the meeting’s minutes.
The minutes also revealed that Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa ordered the issue to be included in a special meeting to explore it.
“The Town Clerk advised that the issue to do with Victoria Ranch Housing Scheme required a special meeting to explore it. The matter was referred to the special meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee for consideration,” added part of the minutes.
Council as well recommended that the Acting Finance Director be instructed to refer the possibility of collecting revenue from the beneficiaries of Victoria Ranch Housing Scheme.
“That the Acting Finance Director be instructed to refer the feasibility of collecting revenue from the beneficiaries of Victoria Ranch Housing Scheme, to the Finance and General Purposes Committee for consideration,” the minutes read.
The suburb is set to benefit from the legacy Mucheke Trunk Sewer project once it is completed as their sewer reticulation system would be connected to it.
Victoria Ranch is in Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) ward 7 but Masvingo city council monitored the construction of infrastructure in the area.
For the past years Victoria Ranch residents rely on a few boreholes dotted around the area and residents are blaming Masvingo City Council for water shortages, lack of refuse collection, lack of sewer, and poor road infrastructure.
There are no health centers in Victoria Ranch, thus forcing residents to walk long distances to get medical attention.
The city has always maintained that land barons, most of whom have very close connections to the ruling Zanu PF party, grabbed huge chunks of land on the peripheries of the city and sold residential stands should be held accountable and made to provide optimum services.
The area had about 16 land baron companies that refer to themselves as ‘land developers’ but have barely developed the area besides allowing people to build their houses even directly below high voltage power lines and very close to the city’s dump site.
Some of the land barons were in the previous years subjected to serious questioning during the Justice Tendai Uchena-led Commission of Inquiry into the Sale of Land in and Around Urban Areas since 2005.

Thabiso Nxumalo

Masvingo City Council is currently experiencing shortages of functional ambulances as its fleet is succumbing to break-downs as a result of misuse with 95 percent of mileage being attributed to errands not related to patients transfer.
The shocking revelation was made by the Public Works and Planning Committee during the full council meeting on May 30, 2022 at the Civic Centre.
The committee revealed that council ambulances were always on break down as a result of misuse, claiming that 95 percent of the mileage was due to employees’ personal errands.
“Concern was also raised that Municipal Ambulances were always on breakdown partly due to misuse by sections involved since 95 percent of the mileage recorded was not related to patients transfer, but other staff errands.
“It was highlighted that ambulances should be parked at the fire station and used only for its purpose of carrying patients,” read part of the minutes.
This statement highlighted the level of negligence of council vehicles as the committee also submitted that 2019 traffic violations were recorded for April 2022 through the vehicle tracking system.
“The report on vehicle tracking during the month of April 2022 was considered, it was indicated that a total of 2019 violations have been committed by several drivers during the month.
“The violations covered over speeding, harsh braking, harsh turning and idling,” the minutes indicated.
As a panacea, council resolved that Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa should approach potential donors in the province with the hope of getting more ambulances.
This revelation comes barely three months after Ward 10 councilor Sengerai Manyanga submitted during a full council meeting that vehicles were spotted at inappropriate places such as entertainment venues and at a CCC rally that was held in Rujeko in March 2022.

Tendai Charumbira

Masvingo City Council will soon descend on unlicensed vendors following the proliferation of illegal trading centers in most residential areas around the city.
According to minutes of proceedings of the Health, Housing and Environmental Services committee meeting held at Civic Center, the committee raised an issue on illegal trading activities within residential areas before it was also agreed that council organize a joint blitz with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to combat the activities.
“On trading licenses, the committee raised concern on illegal trading activities within residential premises in the commonage, It was agreed that council should organize a joint blitz with the Republic Police to combat illegal businesses in the residential areas,” read the minutes.
The minutes further reads that a similar consideration was given to the report of the Director of housing and social services on illegal vendors operating outside Garikai market after illegal structures erected outside the market were noticed.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Director of housing and social services on illegal vendors operating outside Garikai market, it was also reported that illegal structures had been erected outside Garikai market,” read the minutes.
The committee also granted council approval to remove all legal structures operating outside the market areas.
“The committee sought council approval to demolish all illegal structures operating outside the market areas. It was highlighted that a joint operation of ZRP and council would conduct operation,” added the minutes.
Quite a number of trading points outside the market became more popular after more traders flocked the area to sell basic commodities after the rise of prices of basic commodities due to inflation.

…local authority prioritizing less important initiatives at service delivery’s expense

Emmanuel Chitsika

Masvingo City Council has been struggling on a number of fronts in terms of effectively fulfilling its mandate of service delivery failing on both liquid and solid waste management, as well as erratic water supplies but the same local authority is on a drive to fund some activities which do not directly benefit residents and ratepayers.
The City Fathers have once again been caught ‘hand-in-jar’ as they divert the few resources they claim to have in their coffers towards events and functions that do not serve the interests of the rate payers.
Minutes availed in the recent full council meeting held on May 30, 2022 revealed a number of programs that the local authority has prioritized though they are operating with a depleted fleet of vehicles with only two functional refuse compactors, broken down fleet of ambulances and the ever broken down Rujeko pump station which has gone for six months without functioning leading to water pollution in Shagashe River a tributary of the city’s sole supplier of water Lake Mutirikwi.
Some of the initiatives seem to propagate political mileage in form of funding other ministries’ activities despite the fact that most government departments owe council huge sums of money in debts.

Donation of ZW$ 305 600 lunch for interactive meeting

Council recently donated the equivalent of US$ 992 at interbank rate towards lunch during an interactive meeting hosted by Masvingo Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira on May 13 at Flamboyant hotel.
“The report of the Acting Town Clerk on the ratification of a donation made to the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for hosting an interactive meeting on May 13 at regency hotel Flamboyant at a cost of ZW$ 305 600. The payment was ratified.
“A suggestion was made to make provision for workshops from the devolution budget up front to avoid using funds from another vote. That the payment of ZW $ 305 600 to hotel regency Flamboyant for an interactive workshop hosted by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution on 13 May 2022 be ratified,” read the council minutes.
With the principle of devolution calling for the involvement of ordinary citizens in determining priorities towards which devolution funds are channeled, one would wonder if such meetings had the blessings of the rate payers.
Quite a number of projects that require funding among them poor, pot hole ridden roads, water works and reticulation system repairs lying idle while the local authority splash such amount for lunch.

Donating towards Masvingo Investment Opportunities documentary (ZW$ 65 000)

Again council is caught off-guard after resolving to offer $65 000 to the same ministry as above for financing the production of a documentary on investment opportunities in Masvingo. The full council minutes revealed that in a meeting held on May 16, council resolved to fund the project.
“Consideration was given to the report of the acting Finance Director on the request by the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution for donations towards the production of Masvingo Investment Opportunities documentary. The acting Finance Director recommended that council makes a donation of ZW $65 000 to Masvingo Province State Occasions Committee drawn from the 2022 Sundry Donations vote towards the production of the documentary which also promote investment in Masvingo City and the province at large,” read the minutes.

Subscription for Chambuta children’s home DSTV decoder

Another US$ 200 was directed towards paying a DSTV subscription fee for First Lady’s Chambuta Children’s home. The issue was reflected in the council minutes. They had initially opted for an Openview decoder which doesn’t require subscription but later on said the beneficiaries need exposure to national broadcaster ZBC TV as the channel is missing on Openview.
“The committee however noted the need for council to consider coming up with an income generation project for the children’s home such that they may afford paying their own television subscriptions. Council had initially approved the procurement of an Openview decoder but it was realized that the ZBC TV channel was not hosted on Openview.
“It was reported that council then procured a DSTV decoder such that the children may have access to ZBC television channel. The purchase was ratified,” read the minutes.

Medical Aid cover for former Town Clerks and spouses

MCC also resolved to review the medical aid schemes for former Town Clerks as their conditions were not commensurate with those of the incumbent.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Town Clerk on the request to include spouses of two former Town Clerks on council’s full medical aid cover. It was reported that the current conditions for the Town Clerk provided for 100 percent medical aid cover for the TC and spouse when in service and on retirement. The previous conditions of service only provided for 100 percent cover for Town Clerk only excluding the spouse,” read part of the minutes.
Service delivery is in dire situation with the two functional refuse compactors failing to meet the demand of the city and in most cases those two vehicles are down due to overloading as said by the council’s engineering department.
In response to the issue of a depleted fleet for refuse collection, Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukratirwa said council do not have funds to purchase compactors and were in a position to approach well-wishers in form of corporates like Bikita Minerals, Tongaat Hulett and Renco Mine though such efforts doubtfully would bear fruit.
“We had intentions to purchase even more than three refuse compactors but our cash flows are constrained. We had initially budgeted for two vehicles with the first meant for the first quarter of the year and the second during the second quarter as well but the determinant factor is finance. Otherwise, if we had enough funds, we would purchase them.
“Communications were done with Mimosa, Tongaat Hulett and Bikita Minerals through their public relations sections though they are yet to have responses. As for Bikita Minerals, the last time we communicated with them they were talking about changes in management and thus there could be no breakthrough. We will have to approach Tongaat Hulett when I go for my assignment there in Chiredzi,” said Mukraatirwa.

…As council does not have fire engine

Melinda Kusemachibi

Residents in Nyika Duma location were left shell-shocked after a fire burnt to ashes a house with property worth thousands of dollars.
The incident is reportedly attributed to an electrical fault according to sources in the neighborhood.
“We suspect that the cause of fire is an electrical fault. The fire is said to have started in one of the rooms and spread to others. Residents tried to pull property out but only managed to save a few items,” said source.
Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) is said to have failed to render assistance rather only watch as the house was destroyed as they do not have a fire engine to extinguish fires.
Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) acting secretary Mark Mutengani confirmed the incident and said council has no fire equipment.
“Yes l can confirm that a house in Bikita Duma location was reduced to ashes. As we highlighted in our vehicle scandal petition that council has no fire brigade, the house was burnt to ashes with no help from our council. Council employees came with no form of help other than watching the house destoryed by the fire,” Mutengani said.
Bikita RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Chibhi declined to comment on the issue.
“I cannot comment on that issue,” said Chibhi.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said a police report was not made hence he cannot comment on the issue.
Despite not having a fire brigade, the local authority was recently accused of misplacing priorities after purchasing and privatizing seven top-of-the range GD6 Toyota Hilux vehicles with council funds.
Just last week another house was destroyed by fire in Mucheke A, Masvingo high density and property worth US $ 4 000 was lost.