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16-year-old girl commits suicide over nails

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16-year-old girl commits suicide over nails

Tendai Charumbira

A 16-year-old girl from Hillside Extension Masvingo who was doing form four at a local high school took her life by consuming a cotton pesticide after an altercation with her mother over artificial nails on Monday (March 14).
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and urged people to not resort to taking lives when they have misunderstandings.
“We urge people to handle misunderstandings in amicable ways than taking own lives,” said Dhewa.
Sources close to the family said on the fateful day, the deceased Talent Kudzai Chisvinga had a misunderstanding with her mother at around 1000 hours over artificial nails she had and her mother Mailet Chisvinga (40) told her to remove them.
“She had a misunderstanding with her mother over some household chores and some artificial nails which she was putting on. Her mother went out and told her to remove them before she came back,” said the source.
She left her with her stepfather Joseph Chikandiwa (39) who later asked her to prepare tea for him and instead she went and took the poison.
“She was then asked to prepare tea by her stepfather but instead she went to her mother’s bedroom where she took the cotton pesticide and her stepfather later heard her screaming and he rushed to the bedroom. She was rushed to Runyararo Clinic and later referred to Masvingo Provincial Hospital where she later died,” said the source.
Another source who attended the funeral said her school friends said she had been suicidal and the day before her death she had reportedly told her to say goodbye to their other friend.
“Her friend narrated how she told her to say good bye to their other friend and when quizzed on where she wanted to go, she just brushed away the issue. Another one said on the day she was supposed to go to school in the afternoon she said she wasn’t going after one of her other friends went to pick her,” said the source.
Others claim that she left a note where she wrote that she missed her own father’s love.
Suicide cases have been on a rise in the country of late. Recently A 55-year-old Mashava man, Emmanuel Simango set to appear in court on February 27 2022 to answer to charges of raping a relative recently committed suicide.

Zanu PF youths attend CCC Rutenga Rally

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Zanu PF youths attend CCC Rutenga Rally

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – A group of local Zanu PF youths who had initially reportedly plotted to disrupt the Citizen Coalition for Change ( CCC)’s March 16 Rutenga rally later became part of people who watched the proceedings a few meters from the venue.
Clad in their Zanu PF party regalia, the youths who spent a better part of the day roaming closer to the CCC rally venue and would at some point convene singing their party songs later on ‘grudgingly’ followed the CCC proceedings from a distance.
The youths reportedly warned by local security establishments that the CCC meeting was sanctioned, watched the rally outside Gumbo complex shops, joining other curious onlookers who opted to watch the rally from shop verandas.
CCC vice president Lynnette Karenyi-Kore who was the guest speaker addressed party supporters who gathered at Rutenga growth point’s open space, facing directly to where the Zanu PF youths had assembled.
“I can assure you that the next President of this country is Advocate Nelson Chamisa and we are going to achieve that through the ballot box,” said Kore.
Following her brief address, Kore, who insisted the CCC was the only party fronting the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy later on moved around Rutenga Growth Point interacting with vendors.
The CCC vice president was in the district drumming up support for their candidate Tendekai Mandizvidza who is set to square off with Zanu PF’s Master Makope and FreeZim’s Turner Mhango on the March 26 by-election to replace the late legislator Joosbi Omar.

Zanu PF, CCC, MDC Alliance clash over rally venues

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Zanu PF, CCC, MDC Alliance clash over rally venues

…Police ban CCC rally citing lack of manpower

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – As the nation drift towards the March 26 by-elections, political parties are preparing for the contest which many people believe could be the yardstick to measure how each party is going to fare in the 2023 general elections.
Campaigns have already reached boiling point in many areas and a lot has happened including violent clashes as witnessed in Kwekwe.
In Beitbridge CCC and Zanu PF clashed recently over the venue after Zanu PF youths organised a meeting at the same venue which CCC had booked and was granted permission by the police.
Masvingo has once again released another version of drama where the big three political parties; Zanu PF, CCC and MDC-Alliance are all preparing to have a rally at Rujeko grounds in Masvingo Urban.
Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) Chairperson Tawanda Dube said their rally had been sanctioned and they will visit all the wards with by-elections in Masvingo urban.
“Our rally is on Sunday and we will be visiting all wards with by-elections in Masvingo town starting with Rujeko,” said Dube.
Zanu PF provincial spokesperson Ophias Murambiwa concurred with Dube and said they applied for their rally in Masvingo and accused CCC of lying that Zanu PF wanted to disrupt their rally.
“We applied for our rally in time but CCC members do not want to follow procedures and what I know is that they were told to find another date since we had already applied for ours. They are just cry babies who think they can tarnish our party name by lying,” said Murambiwa.
On the other hand Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has been struggling to secure approval from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to have a rally in Rujeko that will be addressed by party president Nelson Chamisa.
Masvingo District CCC Secretary General Faustino Murambasvina said their party rally has been sanctioned but they have been advised to change the venue to Rujeko grounds so that they maintain distance from the Zanu PF rally.
CCC Masvingo district chairperson Advocate Martin Mureri earlier said they were yet to be given a response to their application to have a rally on Sunday in Rujeko.
“We are yet to have a response from the police, we applied for Sunday and we still have a few days to go so we will wait for their response,” said Mureri.
However, TellZim News established that the officer commanding Masvingo District Simangaliso Dube has since written to CCC prohibiting the rally.
Dube said Zanu PF had two rallies in Masvingo on the same day and a sizable number of police officers will be providing security at the two venues and could not separate more staff for a third rally.
“Masvingo Central Police District is hosting two Zanu PF rallies which are booked on the same municipality area at two different venues at Mucheke and Mamutse stadia on the same date as yours, on the 20th of March 2020. Hosting on a third rally on the same date would not be able to cope due to resource constraints.
“The police district has already drawn manpower from the surrounding police stations to provide enough safety and security in respect of those two rallies to an extend of leaving skeleton staff manning our police establishments,” reads part of the letter.
The letter also claimed that they had also considered the fact that Zanu PF had applied and got approval first and claimed they had received reliable information that there could be tensions which could lead to injuries to people.
“Further, I have received credible information on oath to the effect that tension and discontentment is brewing among the electorate as we draw nearer to election dates. There might be public disorder or disruption and there is a threat that the public meeting will result in injury and destruction of property due to convergence of the public meeting,” read the other part of the letter.
Efforts to get clarification from Mureri were futile as his mobile number went unanswered for several times.
On the same note, Ward 7 (Rujeko) MDC Alliance candidate Gladys Chuma said they have also applied for a rally in Rujeko on Saturday but were still waiting for police clearance.
“We have applied to have our rally on Saturday but the police is yet to clear it and we are still waiting for their response.
“President (Douglas) Mwonzora is supposed to address party supporters in my ward but at this point we are not sure about anything. Maybe we will get approval, maybe not, but we applied to have our rally three weeks ago,” said Chuma.
Masvingo urban Ward 7 has always been contentious as it has for long been considered a CCC stronghold, with some powerful Zanu PF officials having been quoted saying they want to reclaim the ward.
Posters about the CCC Rujeko rally are already circulating on social media as party supporters claim the rally will go on as scheduled.

Murder suspect disappears at Masvingo High court

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Murder suspect disappears at Masvingo High court

Tendai Charumbira

A 30-year-old man from B19 Mathendele, Plumtree Chrispen Maphosa also believed to be a member of Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) accused of killing two people on December 26 2019, at Shayamabvudzi Business Centre in Mwenezi mysteriously disappeared at Masvingo High Court on March 17.
Maphosa who is facing two charges of murder is said to have attended the first session of the trial in the morning and was waiting for the second one which was set to resume at 1400 hours after which he was nowhere to be found.
Dereck Charamba a lawyer from Hwacha and Ndhlovu law firm who was representing Maphosa confirmed that his client did not show up for the second segment of his trial.
“Maphosa came to court and attended the first segment of his second trial and the court was set to continue at 1400 hours but when the second segment was about to start, he was nowhere to be found,” said Charamba.
Maphosa and the other two soldiers Tapiwanashe Basopo (37) and Collen Ncube(29) all from HQ1 brigade in Bulawayo were deployed at Majingwe Ranch in Mwenezi during the festive period. On December 26, 2019, Olman Nyunyana complained about a case of assault which occurred on Christmas day in which his young brother Ernest Nyunyana was the victim.
The accused volunteered to track the deceased persons. Maphosa and the other accused were armed with AK47 rifles. Three accused were dressed partially in army regalia. They reportedly hired a pick-up truck from Josiah Bulawa and arrived at Shayamabvudzi Business Center at approximately 2100 hours.
He the confronted Sifelani Matarise concerning the assault but Matarise bolted out and ran away to alert his brothers. The three brothers armed themselves with machetes, an iron bar, a knife and a screwdriver then confronted the accused persons who were also armed with AK47 rifles. The three accused persons then opened fire and shot Sifelani Matarise on the chest and he died on the spot, also shot Hosiah Matarise on the head and again he died on the spot.
Ngonidzaishe Matarise the younger brother took flight and reported the matter. The police teamed up with military police and arrested the accused after which they recovered four live rounds, three spend cartridges, magazines and two AK rifles .The deceased bodies were taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital for postmortem.

Masvingo football will never be the same!

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Masvingo football will never be the same!

…As football fraternity mourns the late Cuthbert ‘Adhazhi’ Kwangwari

Fredrick Moyo/ Emmanuel Chitsika

Masvingo soccer legends have expressed dismay over the devastating loss and void in the football fraternity created by the passing on of legendary coach and KC Academy director Cuthbert ‘Adhazhi’ Kwangwari who was laid to rest at Mangwandi cemetery in Masvingo on March 15.
Speaking at the burial of the late Kwangwari, Chidaushe Mudadi goalkeeper for Legends Team (to which Kwangwari was part of) said life was never going to be the same and football in Masvingo had suffered a great loss’ that will be difficult to close.
“Soccer in Masvingo will never be the same without Cuthbert Kwangwari. He is the person behind nurturing a lot of soccer talent in Masvingo. He is someone who was full of passion for the sport, was into soccer for soccer without considering any financial benefit out of it. He was now in the process of nurturing youthful soccer players from tender age of 12 up to 17.
“Such an initiative was critical in occupying the youth whose minds would lie idle. Occupying them through sport would ensure they are kept away from drugs and any other risky behaviors. His roles in society is/was thus critical and his passing on has left a scar in the minds of the community he was serving. The position you gave me as a goalkeeper, I will keep it until we meet again,” said Mudadi.
Long serving ZIFA Eastern Region soccer Administrator Tedious Machawira said the whole country and soccer fraternity lost a good man who was an advisor to most people and had passion for the sport.
“The whole soccer fraternity in the country has lost a good man. Cuthbert was an icon and no one could take that from him. The gap that he left is huge and I do not think we would find a person who would do what he was doing.
“It will take some time to maybe fill the gap that he left because of what he did in the province in terms of pushing and growing the young ones. Junior football have been severely affected by the death of Cuthbert. What also shows that Cuthbert had passion for soccer is the manner and place where he died. He died doing what he liked and loved the most,” said Machawira.
ZIFA Eastern Region chairperson Davison Muchena said he lost a brother and very close person whom they worked with together and attended coaching courses together and the death of Adhazhi has greatly affected the soccer fraternity in the province.
“For me it’s like I have lost a brother. We worked together as coaches while we were both coaching in the same division and attended coaching courses together starting from level one up to three. Adhazhi had passion for the sport. As time went on he came up with an Academy where he trained juniors and nurture talent and that is what he was doing at the time of his death.
“The death of Adhazhi has greatly affected the soccer fraternity, the loss is just too much for the province. Most of these young coaches used to get advice from this man, the likes of Ezekiel Mutoda and even his younger brother Kwangwari got most of the skills from him,” said Muchena.
He added that Adhazhi nurtured many talented players during his coaching period and his death has affected football in general as no one can take over from what he was doing.
“Adhazhi groomed many players during his coaching days and now he was doing it from the juniors. His death means that all those Academies and the skills he had have all gone with him, all the advice we used to get from the old man we cannot get it any more.
“Now there is need for someone to rise and fill the shoes and take over from the projects that he had but time will tell if there is anyone who is that clever and who have the passion like Adhazhi,” added Muchena.
Former Masvingo United player Isaac Chapura also said he was devastated by the passing on of the legend who became a nomadic coach during his hey days.
“I first got to know about Kwangwari around 1996 when he used to coach and play at Kismet FC and by then we joined the junior team. The way he would coach and sometimes come off the bench to join the team on field of play just inspired as we emulated how he would go about his business. He did his coaching courses after which he coached teams like ZRP, Nyika United and Masvingo United.
“He was a fatherly figure who earned the respect of every soccer player or follower even during his last days we played together in the legends team. He is someone who was generous and prepared to share with others. He had already started his academy and hopefully God will render a helping hand so that people left at the academy follow his footsteps for the sake of continuity,” said Chapura.
Adhazhi was never selfish and segregative to all those who embraced the beautiful game of soccer in Masvingo according to another former Una Una player Elisha ‘Lacto’ Masvaya as his aim was to nurture and develop soccer players.
“Kwangwari was a good character who would not discriminate players but his will was to nurture and develop players, like you witnessed that by the time he passed on, he was grooming young soccer players. We just wish the city gets a replacement in the mould of Kwangwari for the development of the sport.
“He is our hero in the game. His death came as a stab on the soft spot for football players and fanatics. Soccer has been greatly robbed. He gave us a stepping stone through soccer and now some of us are able to earn a living from playing the game and credit goes to Kwangwari,” said Masvaya.
Adhazhi died on March 13, 2022, collapsed and died while coaching his youthful side KC Academy at Mucheke stadium’s B Arena and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son as well as four grandchildren.

Arresting CCC will not break the will of the people

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Arresting CCC will not break the will of the people

Ladies and gentlemen, I am a bit happy that this week we have received some rains here in the ancient city though it is not enough for farmers and could further destroy what had been left by the sun. I hope it’s also raining in Pumura as well, the area was interceded from by the Genarari. As you know most of us who are homeless never applaud kunaya kwemvura but apa mmm yanga yodiwa. Though my makeshift home of cardboard boxes is now wet and can fall anytime, as a woman, a mother, I feel for others, ndongoti dai yanaya vakarima vakohwe.
As a woman again, I am happy the CCC team has broken the bias and send VP Mai Kore to address some rallies. Yes that’s what we call breaking the bias, we can’t have men all the time, who will inspire women to engage in politics kana muchingoita marally acho mega. Send VP Kore kwakawanda ikoko so that she doesn’t feel like she is just a place holder. However, I am still bitter about how another ward 4 candidate Thoko is still being victimised in Masvingo. Regai akadaro people will decide. Kana asina vanhu good for Tabe so leave her tione. But I still don’t get it, who signed her papers in the first place and what is being done to punish that person. I hear its none other than our esteemed VP Kore again kkkk. I guess being asked to go for a rally in Mwenezi is some form of punishment kkkk. Sure kutuma mukadzi kuMwenezi, a well-known Zanu territory. Does this mean vakomana ava makwara, I think they are cowards, they need to play at homegrounds, kana kwava kuAway they send women kkkk. We should not be happy at addressing bumper crowds in own territories, we want him there in Zaka, kwaManyiri uko, Mwenezi and and Chiredzi North. Yes that’s where you need to go sending Kore ikoko is an act of cowardice, pinda umene pahasha ipapo chikomana biggie. People in some areas want to feel the yellow touch yadai kuremera nyika.
But naivowo vanhu veMwenezi, kuri kutya or it’s just that as I have been saying there is no leadership there. Yellow yanga ichitimhara all over guys and at some point I wanted to go there but ndakazongoti haa let me leave it to politics, after all makudo ndemamwe. However, let me warn the people of Mwenezi, kana nyika yadigwa sugar iyi I hope imi hamuzodyi kkkk.
Ladies and gentlemen, Zanu PF is triggering its reserve force kkkk, maWarvets are local, they are in hotels all around Masvingo, tumaLodge twese vakazara, and they are here for vetting kkkk. I hear they are more than 200 and they are here for some days. At whose expense asi? Vaakukandirwaka tumakoko so that they will unleash the reign of terror as they did in 2008. This time around it’s not loking good for Zanu PF in the ballot so they will use whatever means necessary. Since 1980 people are still being vetted whether they are war vets, ana Chimbwido kana Mujibha kkkk. Haa this game yekunyengedzera fish nemasese every time when we approach elections should be a thing of the past. This is Zanu PF that is still doing its gimmicks as usual. Don’t be fooled imi we all died for this country, now because its election time they book you in hotels to do useless exercises simply because they want you to participate in a bloody election next year. They don’t want to mobilise their kids for that but kushandisa imi kana vapinda they eat alone.
In Masvingo CCC people are now surviving at the mercy of the police, the harassment yacho is so irritating. Why arresting people for doing campaigns. They are not gathering people but walking door to door talking to people, why should they be arrested for that, why not also arrest people from End Time Message church who do door to door preaching. Ah nhai hanti vamwe vari kuda kuisa vanhu kuna Mwari vamwe kuna Chamisa, they are the same kkkk. Speaking of the arrests, let me warn the police and Zanu PF, arresting people will not deter the people’s will, instead of being afraid, they become more defiant. Except vekuRutenga obvious, those are cowards or it’s just that they are Zanu PF to the core hameno. People will never be cowed down by useless threats. Kana kuchifiwa ngakufiwe, kusiri kufa ndekupi nhai ladies and gentlemen. Ko moti dai kufa kwaiuraya vana baba vedu vaidai vakaenda here kuhondo.
I hear the first lady’s brother was recently installed as chief; apa the guy is the Director State Res pedu paState house apa and vanhu havadi kana kumuona. Hanzi he is very abusive kana usiri hama yaAuxillia. Chete pakazarawo hama dzake. I think ndakambokuudzai kuti this one is very serious, she is even worse than Dr Gire. Nepotism pamusha, the whole state house is filled nehama dzake. Since 2017 kwaingova kupinza hama chete chete. Vakomana tosvikepi with that kind of a first lady. At least Gire aisapinza hama but other allies, aiva asina ukama nana Jonso kana Kasukuwere and the likes but at least they agreed in principle and interest. Manje izvi zvekutora hama dzega dzega izvi mmm. Apawo Dambudzo aakutodawo kuita Chigaramundege kkkk. Kubva kuDubai kwakutosvika nekuenda kuZambia, ko kutumawo Chiwenga kkkk. Kungongwarira kumutuma kuKwekwe rally zvega.
Oh oh, before I go hangu kunokanga maputi angu for lunch, ladies and gentlemen I think everyone can now see that these guys at the top have failed, the new dispensation has failed to live up to its name kkkk. It has failed and should let others, especially the youngsters who are familiar with Yebo-Yellow kkk. At least they should just let youngsters take over the reins chete and I don’t care if the youngsters are from CCC or Alliance aka Zapu, they just have to be youths then totangira ipapo.
But honestly, I think ZEC and other responsible organisations should do more on voter education. People in the streets do not even know that we have even a by-election. Kana muchiti ndiri kunyepa go kunana Pangolin uko and talk to young people, they don’t even know about it, then go pamusika pane tuchembere tweZANU, they will sing everything about voting for you. Please ZEC do more to educate people on elections.
Ko where is Mboko nhai, ko hazviiti here since he has experience to come and be acting president panombobuda Dambudzo, I think that will be a good idea considering the fact that Genarari zvakavawandira especially these days. God Bress Pumura, God Bress Zimbabwe kkk Mboko imboko!!!!!

Government, NACZ urge artists to refrain from drug substances

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Government, NACZ urge artists to refrain from drug substances

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru– Artists in the Midlands province have been challenged to refrain from drug and substance abuse as it poses serious threats to the industry.
Addressing artists and various stakeholders at the official launch of the 2022 Midlands Arts Expo hosted by newly established art networking movement Ikwelo Arts Association last week in Gweru, Provincial Arts and Culture Officer Reward Shockson said drugs are becoming a menace among the youth as some have become totally dependent on substances for survival.
Shockson said events like the arts expo are designed in such a way that they recognize the socio-economic aspects of Zimbabwean youth and thus promote talent in creative arts.
“As artists and young people, I say you must stay away from drugs as they are not good for your lives and careers, they destroy your vision. Pursue your vision with focus and do not indulge in social ills which affects the development of your work. Artists have a significant role to play in building the nation through arts and performances.
“Drugs and substance abuse has posed serious threats to the arts industry, hence we cannot sit down and watch while the sector drowns. As artists, it is our duty to unite and advocate against substance abuse helping fellow brothers and sisters out there who have fallen victims. As we are gathered here, let us remember this day which will serve to recognize socio-economic aspects of the youth through cultural, creative arts, events and social expressions such as music and performances.
“Promoting Zimbabwe as a nation of opportunity involves tackling issues of gender equity and equality as well as looking at young people’s needs towards a more meaningful involvement in economic growth as focused by the youth policy, national arts culture and heritage policy,” said Shockson.
He also called upon youths to ensure the use of arts interventions in rural and urban centers for inclusivity.
“I call upon all youth in arts to propose the use of arts intervention in rural and urban centers in the country to enable the larger group of them staying in such areas to engage in dialogue and issues which arise in the communities.
“This will help foster inclusion and skill development through higher quality arts programming,” he added.
National Arts Council (NAC) provincial manager Farai Kupfavira commended Ikwelo for placing Midlands province on the map.
“We are proud of what Ikwelo has done by officially launching the first ever association that seeks to uplift all artists in the province. In the province we are at the core hence it is our advantage if we get such platforms which then strive to promote us. Ikwelo is going to work with all sectors registered or licensed with NAC. Unity and determination are key pillars for the arts industry.
“Women empowerment is one of the key drivers which the association seeks to promote, access to facilities such as community halls, theatres, music training centers like Midlands Academy of Music. One can also get mentorship and or capacitation among other artistic related things. The association is driven by you as artists,” said Kupfavira.
Meanwhile, Gweru Itel Mobile Phone Dealer branch manager Bertha Mangunda said the company is willing to work with artists across the province as the company recently endorsed one of Midlands’ best artist Xiddo Chikandamina as its brand ambassador.
The expo held under the theme ‘Restoring the pride of Midlands province through culture and creative industry participation’ was attended by various stakeholders including the business community.
Lately Zimbabwe has seen a surge in the number of well-known artists battling severe effects of drugs with most of them (in youthful ages) struggling with the side effects of such drugs like methamphetamine, dagga (mbanje), glue and broncleer, that top the list of the abused substances.
Government has since launched a National Drug Abuse Fund as part of efforts to combat drugs uptake. The fund, which is provided for in this year’s budget will help establish rehabilitation centers for drug addicts as well as combating drug and substance abuse across provinces.
Despite a surge in substance abuse, most social ills among youths are a result of lack of adequate recreational facilities in communities that houses hands-on activities for young people among other initiatives.
Recent findings however revealed that girls and young women have joined the wagon of consuming methamphetamime (mutoriro) more than boys and men in Gweru, with the 2021 Drugs and Narcotics annual report highlighting that the increase in the abuse of drugs among young people is being fuelled by the harsh economic atmosphere.

Order and sanity should prevail in the city

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Order and sanity should prevail in the city

Recent events in town where aspiring candidates from the ruling Zanu PF government went on a borehole drilling exercise around Masvingo city in the urban constituency’s four vacant wards as a way believed to be aimed at drumming up support for the forthcoming by-elections set for March 26 has shown how much disorder is taking toll in the country.
There have been allegations that the boreholes were drilled without the blessing of the local authority Masvingo City Council in terms of the citing of the proper area to place the boreholes so as to safeguard the town’s sewerage system as lain pipes become vulnerable to damage by the water rigs.
The powers that usurp the local authority tantamount to abuse of office from whoever disrespected the channel of consulting council and the engineer responsible for such works in the authority and will only result in disorder. Quite a number of individuals have the capacity to drill boreholes at respective places of residence, but they always respect the by-laws by seeking approval of council before embarking on such kinds of projects. Being in the ruling party should not be abused as a tool of disrespect of set structures and thus the relevant channels need to be strictly followed whenever such developments take place.
In as much as easing the burden of erratic water supplies on residents is appreciated, the respect for existence of other equally important infrastructure should be considered before any drilling is undertaken so that safety of such facilities like sewer pipes is guaranteed altogether.
Setting precedence for lawlessness has never been good for a nation especially deliberately by-passing an authority because of relegating to lower levels of superiority along political affiliation hence no need for respect.
Apart from that, there is need for clarification on the funds being used to undertake such programmes after information doing rounds pointed to the ‘abuse’ of devolution funds to garner support for ruling party candidates. There is need for strong accountability mechanisms and checks as well as balances to be put in place to safeguard the siphoning of public funds towards political party projects and thus protection from abuse of state establishments like the District Development Fund (DDF) to gain political mileage.
Transparency should prevail if ever the aim of devolution is to be realized that is decentralizing power from central government to lower tiers of governance and avoid a scenario in which the theoretical model talks about devolution while in practice central government calls the shots from determining which projects should be undertaken at the expense of the community as abeneficiary.
If the projects of boreholes are meant for the benefit of residents or even communities, why would government prioritize areas where there are by-elections like Masvingo Urban wards 3, 4, 5 and 7, then Chivi South and Mwenezi East where two parliamentary seats lie vacant.

ZIMCODD launches HowFar 2.0 After4 Campaign

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ZIMCODD launches HowFar 2.0 After4 Campaign

TellZim Reporter

Following a viral campaign, HowFar that saw powerful government officials responding to citizens’ pertinent questions regarding public funds management as well as accountability on 2018 election promises, the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) has launched HowFar 2.0 After4.

The HowFar 2.0 After4 campaign, launched on March 17 2022, like its first phase will take the engagement of public office holders to another level as citizens continue to ask questions, four years after 2018 elections were made.

Giving a key note address during the launch in Harare today (March 17), ZIMCODD Executive Director Janet Zhou said government has a mandate to be accountable to citizens on how public resources must be managed.

“The launch of the HowFar 2.0 After4 is not just for nostalgic purposes where we reminisce on the problems of Zimbabwe, talk about initial HowFar campaign launched on 3 September 2021 and then we go home.

“We want to reflect, contribute and pass on more building blocks of rebuilding this beautiful country. We have heard before, ‘nyika inovakwa nevene vayo. Ilizwe liyakwa ngabantu bayo’. This should give everyone a sense of duty, belonging, ownership and responsibility to make Zimbabwe a great, prosperous and a resilient nation positioned to tackle the disruptions caused by modernity, by pandemics, by climate change and the different policy disruptions that may come,” Zhou said.

Various Civil Society actors who participated in the first phase of the HowFar campaign also spoke at the launch highlighting the importance of having platforms of engagement between public office bearers and citizens to track progress and action on people’s rights.

ZimRights Director Dzikamai Bere buttressed that going into the HowFar 2.0 After4, they are not only demanding answers but also actions towards remedying issues that bedevil the country.

“The promises that have been made, coupled with the constitutional obligations for public leadership demand not only answers but also action. We used to demand more than action, for we have seen a tendency for non-progressive action. We must demand for progressive action,” Bere said.

Since its launch in September last year, the HowFar campaign has seen powerful actors in civil society demanding for public funds accountability, which saw Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana being drawn into answering some of the questions raised during the campaign on 2018 election promises.

Government also responded by launching its own campaigns, the ‘#SoFar’, ‘#Nyikainovakwanevenevayo’ and ‘#TrustED’ campaigns among others.

Some HowFar billboards that had been erected in various cities across the country were also defaced, with the one in Masvingo being uprooted completely.

The HowFar 2.0 After4 campaign will likely bring momentum in the continuous demand for information by citizens from public officials, information that is normally withheld despite citizens’ entitlement to it.

24 hour ultimatum for ZRP to release CCC members’ Cars

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24 hour ultimatum for ZRP to release CCC members’ Cars

Fredrick Moyo

Citizens Coalitions for Change (CCC) in Masvingo have given Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers a 24-hour grace period to release impounded vehicles belonging to party members.

The ultimatum followed the impounding of three vehicles belonging to CCC party members and that of former Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze during a political campaign trail in ward 3 on March 12, 2022.

CCC district chairperson and human rights lawyer Advocate Martin Mureri of Matutu and Mureri legal practitioners said they are giving police officers 24 hours to release the vehicles since the owners have already been fined and released.

“We are giving them a 24-hour ultimatum to release the vehicles tomorrow (March 17) because when they made those arrests, they arrested people not cars and that is the reason why we paid ZW $ 2 000 fine for each person. So the moment people were released, vehicles should also have been released.

“If they do no release those cars, we will write a 24-hour ultimatum letter to release those cars and if the period lapses, we will approach the court and sue individuals in the force who are refusing to release the cars because this is now political persecution,” said Mureri.

He also said the crackdown on his party’s members is just victimisation by some ‘overzealous’ members of the force and what they are doing is unconstitutional.

“The moment the President proclaimed a by-elections date that meant candidates or political parties can have or hold their campaigns. Even the charge they are using to arrest is biased, they ended up charging us with criminal nuisance but can we say we have a way that we should follow when campaigning.

“At the same time of the arrests, ZANU PF activists were also doing the same thing but they were not even arrested because they are aligned to the ruling party. To us, it is just victimisation and it is an issue of making us lose hope because the previous week they had arrested some of our members and we paid ZW $ 36 000 last week and ZW $ 26 000 this week,” said Mureri.

CCC members have been arrested and frequented the courts facing different allegations and the opposition party has accused law enforcement agents of being partisan in executing their duties and applying the law selectively.

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