… resolution to be implemented with immediate effect

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- City Council on April 25, 2022 resolved to effect a five percent interest penalty on all debtors with immediate effect.
The resolution was passed following the accumulation in debt from both residents and the business community.
Recently with regards to debt accumulation, council revealed that domestic customers owed council approximately over ZW$ 600 million and while the business community owed council over ZW$ 1billion.
Speaking during the 693 ordinary council meeting held in Gweru, a member of the Finance committee and ward 10 councilor Charles Chikozho said as a committee they were working on mechanisms to recover all debts as a local authority.
“We are coming with mechanisms which we think will help us in our revenue flows. We are trying to recover what we are owed by residents and business community. This five percent interest is coming as a credit and debt collection mechanism which will help us recover our money.
“The five percent interest we are proposing is not meant to ‘fix’ residents because we have genuine residents who are paying their bills, but we have some who have since shunned their bills for good. Those not paying are the ones who are likely to be affected by this penalty. To those who are paying their bills, we greatly appreciate and consider their efforts towards improved service delivery,” he added.
Ward 17 councilor Farai Muza said council is in need of money to run its operations.
“Let’s not take the issue of debts lightly. As council, we need money to run all operations like what councilor Chikozho has said. So a robust mechanism is needed to address the issue of debt at hand,” said Muza.
Ward 15 councilor Trust Chineni the Environment, Works and Town planning chairperson said most operations and projects proposed by the committee require resources.
“As a committee, we are really pushing the finance committee to look for money because for us to be able to implement most of the projects on the environment we need money. The five percent interest proposal comes in to push the finance team so that they come up with more ways to raise revenue.
“If sewer blocks, we need rods, cars and fuel to attend on the ground. Right now we are failing to purchase fuel because garages need forex and as a local authority we are only allowed to charge our services in local currency. As long as we are not looking for other mechanisms we will not be able to offer services to our residents on time,” he added.
Gweru Mayor and ward 1 councilor Hamutendi Kombayi said as a local authority there was need to craft a policy which enables the collection of foreign currency for improved service delivery.
Ward 12 councilor Jefta Zvidzai however said as the interest rate was being effected, there was need to reconsider that most of the ratepayers in the community are the elderly and vendors who are struggling due to economic hardships.
“As we effect this five percent per annum, let’s also consider that we have people who religiously pay their bills. We need to take note of such ratepayers as their efforts have kept council afloat.
“We also have vendors and the elderly who are struggling to honor their bills due to financial constraints, some are being charged forex on their market bays and shops yet they sell their products in local currency and at the end of the day they struggle to look after their families.
“Let’s effect such measures knowing that we are dealing with people who are facing challenges as well,” Zvidzai said.
Gweru council deputy mayor Cleopas Shiri highlighted the need to notify residents of the resolution.
“As council we need to demarcate when implementation can start, remember as we come here we are representing people and we need to go back and tell the people on such developments in our various wards.
“We also need the applicability of the five percent whether it is introspective or retrospective” he said.

… As residents bemoan lack of consultation on critical resolutions

Gweru residents have expressed concern over the non-payment of rates penalty saying engagement was always key in having such resolutions.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) director Conerlia Selipiwe said engagement was the way to go for residents to know what is happening.
“Council should always consider the input of residents by engaging and consulting them before making some resolutions that affect them,” said Selipiwe.
Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association (GUPRARDA) in a statement issued by its director Pastor David Chikore cautioned residents on the need to avoid debt accumulation.
“This statement serves as a plea to all of us as Gweru residents and ratepayers to honor our monthly bills so that we do not accumulate debt, which might prove crippling in future. For those with outstanding balances accumulated over previous months, we are pleading with you our fellow residents to either clear those debts, if you can, but where finances are constrained, we urge you to pay a decent portion of your accumulated debt.
“It is common knowledge that most of us have grievances with council and service delivery and/or billing system, but let’s operate from a position of strength by vigorously fighting for our rights,” he said.

Melinda Kusemachibi

Masvingo City councilors recently clashed over the best course of action against government institutions namely the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service (ZPCS) over their ballooning debts to the local authority.
In a full council meeting held on April 20 at the Civic Centre, councilors squabbled over the issue with Masvingo mayor Cllr Collen Maboke proposing to name and shame the debtors while ward 10 councilor Sengerai Manyanga whose ward covers 4 Infantry Brigade said the decision will put him under fire from ZNA.
Maboke said they should name and shame the debtors as the public deserve to know those who are responsible for poor service delivery.
“These institutions owe council a lot of money but the people out there do not know how much. I think is it best if we name and shame or even publish their dues in a newspapers,” suggested Maboke.
“We want to publish in newspapers those institutions that owe council since it affects service delivery and residents blame council. These institutions owe us a lot of money and if they were paying, we could probably have 10 refuse compactors, as you can see we do not have enough compactors,” said Maboke.
Manyanga refused to name and shame the debtors as it is reported that they are in good relations with the Army.
“No we should not name and shame then munenge mandiuraisa (you would have placed me in a difficult position), the Army sometimes calls me at their camp saying councilor how is everything doing so do not name and shame them, I will be in hot soup,” said Manyanga.
He also said that the Army is paying up their rates.
“Army is paying up their rates this month they paid ZW$15 million. Other institutions are not paying, but the army is paying,” Manyanga said.
However Deputy Mayor Wellington Mahwende said that they are going to engage with the office of Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.
“We want to engage the office of Minister Chadzamira on how best we can resolve the matter. It is a suggestion we make together as councilors. We once did it and it was effective. It is not only big institutions that are owing council, even individuals are owing the local authority,” said Mahwende.
In previous years council threatened to unleash debt collectors on institutions.
Several schools, ZRP, ZNA among other debtors owe council a total of ZW$202 975 443, 66 while residents, various organizations and institutions have debt arrears of about ZW$707 900 215, 77.

Rutendo Chirume

The 2019-2020 Auditor General Mildred Chiri’s report revealed that 44 percent of Mutare City’s water is being lost through non-functional and unmetered properties which has resulted in huge financial losses due to undercharging of residents.
The AG stated in the report that council had 29 542 water meters of which 9 413 were non-functional, in addition 4 523 properties were unmetered which leads to water and revenue losses by undercharging or estimates but however enquiries with management revealed that financial challenges faced by council were affecting the replacement of non-functional water meters.
Mutare Town Clerk Blessing Chafesuka said council has been trying by all means to install water meters and they have managed to secure a tender but it will take time to install them all.
“This is a project which will take us several years to complete and will greatly depend on budget performance but so far we have managed to secure 5 000 water meters which we will install in groups as we are incapacitated to do them all at once.
“For those without meters or with broken meters, we are doing estimated consumption though we might be losing out on lots of money due to this. We will start with broken meters and unmetered properties then work on the rest. Water crisis has been topical of late in the city and we will try within our capacity to resolve that,” said Chafesuka.
Commenting on the AG’s finding, Mutare Council management said they acknowledged that the water meters must be replaced every 10 years (at most).
“Council did not replace water meters over a long time and since 2019 the local authority has resorted to replacing water meters in phases for the top 300 customers and said will increase the number to 600 the next year depending on the funds available,” it read in the report.

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-Town Council (CTC) chairperson Gibson Hwende has invited well-wishers and business community to extend their hand towards the construction of a high density house to a local man with visual impairment.
The intended beneficiary Vengani Framinga Musendekwa (55) was allocated a stand by CTC in 2011 but has been struggling to mobilize resources towards construction of a property on the stand.
Hwende who once made headlines in late 2018 after he was elected the chairperson of the local authority by declining council offer to buy him a vehicle, after his predecessor Zanu PF’s Francis Moyo walked out with a Toyota D4D Twin Cab as his package, has once again directed the local authority to directly deposit his monthly ZW $60 000 allowance into Musendekwa’s account to cater for the construction of a house in Makondo extension.
Speaking during his visit to Musendekwa’s house, Hwende said he discovered the need to help with resource mobilization towards the construction of a house after his visit to check on their upkeep as he is the administering councilor.
“These are my close relatives whom I have been in touch with since 2013. I was here sometime when they gave me a list of the basic commodities they were highly in need of. So during that time, I learned that Musendekwa has been struggling to construct on her stand in Makondo Extension which she got from the local authority in 2011.
“So I have decided to mobilize resources towards the construction of the house as I have engaged friends from the Diaspora, well-wishers and the business community to give a helping hand.
“I have since directed the local authority to deposit all of my monthly allowances into Musendekwa’s account to help her towards the construction of the house. We have also formulated a coordination committee for transparency and accountability purposes including Pastor Taibu and PWD provincial chairperson Taona Chenjerai,” said Hwende.
Pastor Taibu also praised Hwende for keeping his word towards this noble cause.
“This was supposed to be the work of the church, but you decided to take it upon your shoulders. The word Baba goes beyond wearing of a trousers. In fact it was derived from a Greek word ‘ABA’ which means a man of responsibility. We want you to keep your word and deliver. My joy lies in delivering than just promising,” said Taibu.
Chenjerai also said the helping hand is highly recommendable.
“When I heard of this initiative by chairperson, I was happy to be part of it, but however, PLWD should be prioritized not lip praised. During allocation of stands, they should be given a grace period to pay because much of their earning comes from begging, imagine raising money to pay for a stand through begging, it’s very difficult,” said Chenjerai
Musendekwa also welcomed the aid and insisted that council differentiate herself from most people who come with a helping aid and ended up being empty promises.
“I had nothing else to think off, all that came into my mind is that I had failed to construct that house. I was just praying to God, as God always intervene whenever we had gone out of ideas. Let it not be just empty promises, which many people used to do,” said Musendekwa.
The house is poised to be finished by the end of July as most of the resources required for the construction of the foundation and concrete footing have been put in place.
Hwende left groceries to the three families who are currently housed at one of Nesbit Arms properties in Chiredzi.

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- City Council on Monday (April 25) revealed that the dates for the traffic arbitration court has been set for May 4, 2022.
The communique (from the Magistrate court who is the arbitrator) was read yesterday during a full council meeting held at Gweru municipal offices.
The issue of Gweru traffic lights has been hanging for the past seven years as a contractor Emobuild, which was given the tender to install street lights was accused of doing a half baked job as the lights became dysfunctional soon after installation in 2013.
The total cost of the project was US$500 000, while council is said to be owing the contractor US $46 000 TellZim News has established.
Speaking on the development, Gweru Council acting director of Engineering Services Praymore Mhlanga said he received a communique stating that the arbitration date has been set for May4-6, 2022.
“I have just received a statement which is informing us as council that the arbitration case regarding our traffic lights has been set for May 4-6 2022,” he said.
Gweru council deputy mayor Cleopas Shiri who is also ward 5 councilor welcomed the development saying the issue was supposed to be dealt with for good.
“We welcome the court update regarding the issue of traffic lights which has been long overdue. We hope this time the case is going to be heard once and for all. The resolution to engage the minister on the matter will for now stand as a guard,” he said.
Ward 18 councillor Edson Kurebgaseka said a number of accidents have since been recorded in the Central Business District (CBD) due to the absence of functional traffic lights.
“A number of accidents have been recorded in the CBD. We have received a number of reports being attributed to the absence of lights in town. The issue of dates being postponed has greatly affected us to come out with a resolution towards the reinstallation of traffic lights.
“As a committee, we need work to be done once and for all and if possible we want to fix the lights ourselves. We cannot go on looking for contractors who cannot do their jobs well,” said Kurebgaseka.
Meanwhile Gweru City Council is planning to engage the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister on the issue of traffic lights.
However ward 13 councilor Catherine Mhondiwa said before engaging the minister on the matter of traffic lights as proposed by council, there was need to give the courts their time to determine the issue at hand.
“Before council write the letter to the responsible minister, there is need to allow court proceedings to be finalized and thus give the courts their time to solve the issue at hand,” said Mhondiwa.
Ward 7 councillor Gideon Mugariri echoed the same sentiments saying the issue of engaging the minister was supposed to be documented first.
“We need to have this resolution documented for us to engage the minister on a round table,” he said.

…Labour not fighting against the government

Fredrick Moyo

First Deputy Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and General Secretary for Food Federation and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe (FFAWUZ) Runesu Dzimiri said they are not aligned to any political party as they are only demanding and fighting for their rights as workers.

Speaking at ZCTU Southern Masvingo District Workers’ Day commemorations held on May 1, 2022 at Mucheke Hall in Masvingo, Dzimiri said they are apolitical as their mandate is to rescue workers from the oppression they are currently under.

“Firstly, I would like to let people know that as ZCTU we are not aligned political party as this is the resolution we were given by the general council, the reason why they came up with it is that we are governed by our own constitution which is very clear about issues of independency and this means that we are not aligned to any political party in Zimbabwe.

“If we take a closer look at the history of ZCTU, in 1981 it was formed by a party called ZANU, then later on in 1999 ZCTU with other unions with formed a labour-backed party called Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), but this does not mean that we are now dealing with political issues no, our mandate is to first fight for the rights of workers and we are there to see workers living a better life,” said Dzimiri.

He also added that they are not fighting the government of Zimbabwe as they are only demanding for their socio-economic rights, improved standards of living and working conditions.

“I want to make it very clear that we are not fighting the government of Zimbabwe, we are actually demanding for our rights. As a labour movement, we observed that there is mistrust between the labour movement and the government itself, the issues we are raising as workers are the same issues opposition political parties are also raising and government is now thinking that we are only fighting for regime change yet we are only demanding our socio-economic rights.

“What we expect is that employees’ salary should be above Poverty Datum Line (PDL) as we speak right now according to Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) statistics, the PDL right is ZW$ 92 000.We are also demanding safe working conditions as different workers are facing different challenges as some are not even given enough protective equipment,” he added.

Dzimiri also said that they are tired of empty promises as they want action and a government that can solve their grievances.

“We are also appealing to the International Labour Organization (ILO) to chip in and come up with programmes that orient Tripartite partners so that we have a common understanding and trust which is one of the factors that our country needs going forward. We do not have permanent enemies, neither do we have permanent friends the issues we have are that we just want the ruling party to solve the problems we are facing as workers and definitely we will give the 100 percent support and failure to meet our demands or address the socio-economic issues that are worrying us, we are going to support those who will.

“We are sick and tired of empty promises we want food on the table as workers. We want action and people who can solve our problems. It does not make any sense to give someone our vote while they cannot meet our demands that is not fair and we cannot take it anymore. Workers have been victimized and detained for calling for better working conditions and better salary in the country,” said Dzimiri.

Recently workers in Zimbabwe were left with an egg on their faces as the rate of exchange between the US$ and ZW$ civil servants earn short upwards due to inflation while some retailers and wholesalers abandoned the local currency on basic commodities.

This year’s theme for Workers’ Day was based on restoration of workers’ dignity.

Fredrick Moyo

A company by the name Podilla Ventures Private Limited has vanished with US$ 137 713 after being awarded a tender by Masvingo City Council (MCC) to supply 545 drums of bitumen.
In 2016 council purchased 545 drums of bitumen from said contractor and since then the consignment is yet to be delivered while no recoveries have been made on part of the local authority.
In Auditor General (AG) Mildred Chiri’s 2020 Report, the AG found that by the time of her audit August 2021 council was yet to recover anything from the supplier.
“The Council purchased five hundred and forty-five (545) drums of bitumen from Podilla Ventures (Private) Limited in 2016 valued at US$137 713. However, the bitumen had not been delivered and the money paid had not been recovered by the time of my audit in August 2021.
“My enquiries with management revealed that a High Court judgement was given in favor of the Council but the Master of the High Court was facing challenges to serve the supplier with a warrant of execution,” read the AG’s report.
Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said a High Court judgement was given in favour of council and a messenger of court was sent to the company with the papers of litigation only to find empty offices.
“The issue was taken to court and the case was finalised, with the judgement given in our favour. A messenger of court then went with lawsuit papers to the company but the company was no longer at the given address.
“So we have now gone to the company registrar’s offices to try and locate them and if they are registered under a new name we can be able to find them and get our compensation as they have all the records there,” said Mukaratirwa.
A Google search of the company indicates that Podilla Ventures is a Mining and Construction equipment company that specializes on pothole patching and machines, earthmoving machines, survey and geo testing equipment, bituminous products, thermoplastic and cold plastic road marking paint, line marking machines located on 33 Dan Jadson Harare, Zimbabwe.
This is not the first time Masvingo City Council has inadvertently awarded a tender to questionable contractors after Mutual Construction company which benefitted from a confirmed US$4 million from council coffers failed to deliver on the prolonged Mucheke Trunk Sewer project which is yet to be completed, way behind schedule but continuously recurs on annual budgets.
The construction company later on withdrew their services and left the site in 2014 after barely a quarter of the job was done.

Emmanuel Chitsika

A traditional leader in Wendedzo area of Masvingo North constituency has called upon government to ensure that proper mechanisms are put in place to ensure that local people benefit from resources within their locality.
Speaking to media practitioners during a tour of the degraded area as a result of the gold rush of 2021, village head Sayina Chinomwe said local people should be strategically positioned so that they benefit from local resources unlike a scenario in which ‘invaders’ get a huge chunk from such proceeds.
“The local people benefit nothing as the invaders who seem to be mightier and powerful with more resources stand to benefit more than them. We as local traditional leadership once came here during the peak of the gold rush with the intention of benefiting from the mineral, but we got nothing as the invaders frustrated us by giving us soil with no mineral which we ended up throwing away.
“The community was bitter with us especially the younger generation who blamed us for being powerless and leaving them vulnerable at the mercy of the violent invaders and fortune seekers who benefited from their land,” said Chinomwe.
He also bemoaned the damages on the environment as a result of the artisanal miners panning for gold which threatens the wellbeing of the community long after the rush and local people expressing reluctance on reclaiming degraded land.
“The pits left by these miners pose a threat to the local people especially livestock. We have tried in vain to mobilize people to make efforts towards reclaiming the damaged land as they argue that they benefited nothing during the gold rush. People would only experience the negative effects of the panning when a problem comes to their door step for instance if a cow falls into the pits. Government should mobilize resources if possible to motivate local people to offer labour for repairing the damaged land.
“Even if the pits are filled up, the other challenge is that these artisanal miners continue to visit the area and the problem keeps on recurring,” he added.
Chinomwe however expressed dissatisfaction on the conduct of law enforcement agents who went to protect the area during the gold rush as he allege that they ended up engaging in illegal mining especially on the parts of the land they would have noticed presence of the mineral.
“The challenge we had during the first gold rush was that the law enforcement agents deployed to the area ended up creating own panning syndicates on areas with more gold while at the same time terrorizing villagers who would stray into their areas of interest,” Chinomwe said.
The area is also under the threat of an imminent repeat of the 2021 scenario after a local self-proclaimed prophet and spirit medium told the community that she was spiritually shown another belt of gold in the area which the village head says threatens the local dam and road network.

…ARTUZ warns of an impending general strike

Emmanuel Chitsika

Workers’ unions in Zimbabwe have called upon government to urgently act towards the restoration of the status and dignity of workers paying particular attention to the civil service whose members are wallowing in abject poverty.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Dr Takavafira Zhou said government has deliberately neglects civil servants by unilaterally culling their salaries and paying a deaf ear to their calls for improvement of working conditions.
“There is therefore an urgent need to restore the status of workers and dignity in Zimbabwe in particular. Civil servants are mourning the cold, callous and calculated salary and conditions of work vandalism that saw government unilaterally culling their salaries with teachers’ salaries declining from US$ 540 to the current equivalent of US$ 50. There is need to restore the purchasing power parity of workers’ salaries and conditions of service that have fallen from grace to grass with monotonous regularity,” said Dr Zhou.
He also accused government of adopting neo-liberal policies, led to closure of industries, perpetuating corruption and failure to create employment opportunities.
“The point is that neo-liberal policies pursued by government have seen conditions of workers deteriorating in Zimbabwe. Many industries have closed and unemployment is more than 94 percent. Despite assurances to create employment, the country has become a nation of vendors and informal trade.
“High profile corruption has become routine rather than episodic and poverty of leadership more apparent. Workers call for a responsible leadership that can ensure that national resources are tapped and harnessed for the benefit of the citizenry. The conditions of have continued to decline while the workload is excessive with bloated and composite classes,” he added.
Dr Zhou’s sentiments were echoed by Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure who said this year’s May Day commemorations should inspire the working class to unite and boldly fight against slave wages.
“This year’s commemorations should inspire the broader working class unite and boldly fight back against slave wages. The restoration of workers’ dignity in linked with the fight against neo-liberalism and corruption. The day should serve as a launch for a sustained fight back against exploitation.
“ARTUZ is taking heed of the call to compliment the traditional red color with a black color symbolizing a state of mourning the poverty levels in our country. Post May Day ARTUZ will initiate and join all actions aimed at putting an end to save wages. On May day, we will announce a day for a general strike, a day we expect the working the working class to fight back against stagnant paltry salaries in the face of an inflationary environment,” declared Masaraure.
Zimbabwe Revenue Alliance Trade Union (ZIMRATU) president Dominic Manyangadze said restoration of the workers’ dignity covers quite a number of issues among them rewarding a decent wage.
“The issue of restoration of workers’ dignity covers a broader spectrum of issues which engulfs the whole nation. The main reason being that if a worker is given a wage that cannot sustain his/her family through purchasing power, it directly mean that one would have lost dignity. As a union, we resonate well with the theme of restoration dignity as we recognize the value of jobs that we have in our sector.
“If only government can restore salaries to January 2019 period, only then would dignity have been restored. As a sector, we are saying we need recognition as key drivers of the Zimbabwean economy as revenue collectors for the state. What would be the feeling if what we collect is used to pay other government departments, when our offers in form of local currency are not commensurate with the salary matrix. ZIMRATU union members also need recognition in terms of non-monetary benefits like tax rebates that government offered civil servants and Members of Parliament. That would go a long way in reducing threats of strikes, job actions and incapacitation that always prop-up,” said Manyangadze.
The salary impasse between government and majority of the civil service has been ongoing for quite some time with teachers boycotting classes late last year prompting government to introduce US$ allowances on top of the paltry local currency salary.
Government has also been accused of acting in bad faith for rewarding members of the Zimbabwe National Army increased salary pecks while neglecting other civil servants like teachers, nurses and doctors.

Rutendo Chirume

The director of Stationery World Glen Tavarwisa proved that age is nothing but a number in achieving big things as he was recognised the Young Executive of the Year Gold award winner at the prestigious MegaFest awards recently.

Tavarwisa was recognised for his contribution in the growth of education sector in Masvingo Province despite prevailing economic conditions in the country.

Apart from supplying books and related stationery, the young entrepreneur who holds an Honours degree in Marketing and a Masters in Strategic Management also supplies laptops and computers to schools in the province.

Speaking to TellZim News Tavarwisa who owns the leading stationery store which has three branches in Masvingo, Chiredzi and Zaka said one has to be a risk taker to make it in life and aims at creating employment for the youth and help in their growth as much as they can.

“I have made it for myself but still hopes for more as I am motivated. I hope to achieve businessman of the year in the coming future. The main aim now is to create employment for the youth. I am also sponsoring youths through volleyball and music. My message to the youths is that that nothing is impossible; one needs to be a risk taker put their minds to something, work hard and hands on,” said Tavarwisa

He said he started his company in 2015 only as a mobile phone store after he thought he had found a business opportunity through a friend whom he later found out he was scammer but later moved on to stationery because he wanted to help the community as it sometimes struggles to secure stationery and pay fees at the same time.

“When I started selling mobile cellphones, I was only 23 years then and I was trying to make a living just like any young man out there. I met someone who said he owned a shop in the CBD and told me that he will give me space if I have cellphones or related gadgets. I sourced for money and bought those cellphones. When I went there I was told the person was only an employee. To think I already had the phones but without anywhere to sell them, I had to do all it takes because I wanted to return the money. Thankfully it paid off and was able to return people’s money.

Tavarwisa said he then started selling stationery on discount and cheaper negotiable prices so that parents could afford to take their children with all required stationery to schools.