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Rugeje bounces back

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Rugeje bounces back

… as Zanu Pf chair Mavhenyengwa addresses him as Sir

… as Chiwenga faction takes control of Masvingo

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – Retired army boss Lt. Gen Engelbert Rugeje, who sank into political oblivion following his dismissal from the position of national political commissar soon after the 2018 general elections has regained clout following the taking over of Masvingo province by a faction allegedly aligned to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga recently.
Rugeje has been passive and hardly given chance to address members of the party during Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meetings in Masvingo.
However, the recently held PCC at Victoria Junior School saw a rejuvenated Rugeje speaking authoritatively and stamping authority on various issues that were raised during the meeting.
The new provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa also publicly showed unwavering allegiance to Rugeje addressing him as ‘Sir’ all the time.
Even Lovemore Matuke, the most senior politburo member in the province was overshadowed by Rugeje during the meeting.
“The politburo said they have endorsed Masvingo results. This means the new leadership is the one recognised now. I hear, see, receive phone calls and messages from other people suggesting there will be changes but that will never happen.
“Let us not waste time thinking the chairperson and his team will be removed and get another one. There is nothing like that,” said Rugeje, authoritatively.
The former army boss however, gave a hint that Mavhenyengwa should consider not seeking re-election after his term as he might also want to be the next chair.
“Chairman, I have congratulated you. You will lead us for the next four years. I am a very honest person so let me tell you: yours are only four years. If you want to continue then that’s another issue because I may also want to contest for the position,” Rugeje said.
“A person is given his time, have to work within the stipulated time and give others a chance. Let me reiterate that, no one is given a position for a lifetime like a Chief,” he emphasised.
Sources within Zanu PF said Rugeje had been a spent force politically but bounced back and is now powerful owing to his ties with Chiwenga.
“Rugeje is now powerful. He has been silent since he was dismissed but now has bounced back. The way Mavhenyengwa continuously addressed him as ‘Sir’ shows that he is now a power to reckon with,” said the source.
Chiwenga has lately been a regular visitor to Masvingo province. Last year he came for the national clean-up, a week before the provincial elections that were held on December 28, 2021 and on February 2, 2022 for the World Wetlands Day commemorations, a development which has been interpreted by many as a way of strengthening his grip on the province which has remained the ‘boiling pot’ of Zimbabwean politics.
Rugeje went on to warn former Provincial Political Commissar Jeppy Jaboon whom the PCC recommended for his welcome in the party against contesting for any post before the stipulated time (five years) lapsed.
“There are others who have been welcomed back into the party, we would want to follow the regulations and they cannot hold any post ahead of those who have been loyal to the party,” said Rugeje.
“The Chiwenga faction wants to consolidate its grip on the province through incorporating militant characters like Jaboon who would make the task easier. They also want to use him to fight Energy Mutodi who is eyeing Bikita South seat, threatening the incumbent Josiah Sithole,” said a party source.

Criminals now surrounding Chamisa

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Criminals now surrounding Chamisa

Ladies and gentlemen, let me start by reminding you that the mobile voter registration blitz is now underway. Tese dzvamu takananga kunoregister kuvhota. I implore all political parties especially CCC to preach the gospel of voter registration and leave zvemaFactions izvi. I mean all parties apa imbobatanai and do the same thing. Zvekuzovhota nekuti ndiani achahwina tozozviona but for now register to vote. #REGISTER TO VOTE. Imi veCCC put more effort in that regard not victimising women. I have since noticed kuti some people from ZEC will benefit a lot from allowances on this exercise but vachiswera vakagara zvavo, ko voitei, no one is going, the centres are open zvawo the whole day. A small survey I made zvangu ndiri pano paChitima shows kuti people don’t even know about it. They are not registering to vote, they are busy kungwavha ngwavha. How can you blame them when everyone has been reduced to be a vendor. Unoshayaka reason to vote and who to vote for. Kuti uti Zanu haiite ndoyakatipa nhamo yese yatinayo iyi and is not reforming at all, we all want change. Kunoti CCC wowana they still have old habits dzakavadyisa kubva kare, double allocation of candidates, imposition of unpopular candidates manje who else ladies and gentlemen, Khupe?, Mwonzora?, Busha, Madhuku haaa wega unobva waona kuti tiri pama1 chaipo kkkkk.
Ladies and gentlemen, as a woman if another woman is victimised, I will not keep quiet. Ndakanyarara paya when Joyce, Gire and of late Marry were being victimised, but now I won’t. We have come a long way trying to advocate for women emancipation in Zimbabwe and abroad, handina kutanga nhasi ini kurwira kodzero dzevakadzi, it’s just that these days I am not involved much because people won’t allow me in their meetings, who would want munhu ane tsvina like me, of cause they wouldn’t want my company but even kuBeijing paya ndakasarira paAirport number yanzi yakwana. I used to hear men saying women don’t want to participate but now ndazoona. You want to continue giving us propotional representatives when we can get into the race on our own, hee what kind of nonsense is that. What is this happening at Masvingo Urban’s Ward 4?
This week I wanted to talk about Rugeje and Jaboon but I can’t ignore this one. Can someone tell me one thing, is Chamisa weak or has lost sense of reason or he is surrounded by criminals just like was the situation in 2017. Those criminals are the ones vaita tisvike pano nhasi. If it was not because of them pamwe dai izvezvi tichitotongwa zvedu neG40 kkk. I am sure there are now criminals around Chamisa chete. Does he have advisors or he is cruising on autopilot. Sure how on earth can his cronies sign nomination papers for two people in the same ward. How can he let the situation escalate kusvika pazvava apa. The ward 4 issue was supposed to have been nipped in the bud but he ignored only to try to act now. Hee haa zvinosembura sure. I didn’t know the charismatic Chamisa could act like this. As if that was not enough, now he is victimising the only female candidate who stood a better chance of winning in the province since all the others will be walloped by Zanu PF. I thought as a young man she is closer to ana Amai but alas it’s vice versa. A whole president of a whole popular party even beyond Zimbabwe is seen siding with other males to supress women voice. Kubatsira kumbunyikidza kodzero dzeChirikadzi iri kushandira zvayo musangano kkkk. Kunyengerwa nemakwara ana Kura who deserted the struggle zvaakupisa and took refuge in America.
I am sure even mai Mahofa is turning in her grave when fellow women are being victimised like this. She is the only woman who stood against Bob paya and refused to donate mombe kuAU. Yah Thoko is of the same calibre, kuburutsa a whole president from the terrace. But I think someone is giving Chamisa wrong advice ini. Ana Fadzai Mahere where are you, Ana Cecilia nana Johanna ndozvamairumirwa neInda kuChikurubi here. But mmmm thumps up to Thoko, wambovafemesa hako keep that up, chero vakakuita sei chero ukawithdrawer at least watombovafemesa wena.
After all it was not Dhagi aiitisa maDouble candidates paya, kwake it has happened but he has managed to resolve the matter amicably. They went for primary elections chero nomination court yakatositter kudara kkkk. The guy lost to a woman and now the woman is standing kuWard 7. But dai ndaivhotera kuward 7 ini, haa ndaivhotera mukadzi ini. Zvaana Msekiwa ndaimbomira ndoona pakati peiyeye wekuAlliance kana weLead kkkk. I was shocked kunzwa kuti Linda neLead yake is fielding in Masvingo kkkk. The candidate is not just an ordinary card carrying member mufunge, she is the presidential spokesperson kkkk. Haaya zvandoona ini hangu ini. I don’t care hangu whether she will win and even if Linda will win in her constituency, I’m just happy that they are participating as women. Dai ini isiri nhamo I would stand paChitima ward. Yes there has to be a ward here, ko handiti delimitation is coming, there should be a ward kuno and I command a huge following. All the vendors I see every day are my votes. Ko ndopatowandaka vanhu than kuLocation since everyone is now a vendor.
Uku ndokunonzi kutengesa ward kuZanu makatarisa uku, hanzi naGeneral this time no one is going to be beaten, hanzi no violence hanzi toda kuona kuti this time munopomera chii, I know he was lying hake because the culture of violence is in their DNA and can only be cleansed kana Jesu atodzoka. However, this kind of nonsense we are seeing in this yellow party is so disheartening. Mukadyiwa who will you blame. Let me tell you, soon and very very soon you will hear them saying Thoko is being sponsored neZanu. But do you think ingakonawo kupinda pakadai, kana yapiwa zvayo mukana why not utilising the chance.
Before I go kunokanga maputi for hangu for lunch, let me say Masvingo Masvingo Masvingo. Masvingo is the home of all politics and drama. Remember the likes of Jaboon kwedu kuZanu uku. I heard the guy is back and hameno, kungori kupidigurana kurwa kwekamba, Jeppy was silent all along only to resurface after the fall of Chadzamira. But that guy is militant zvake and can work kkk, he is just like Sikhala, honestly the struggle at hand is not for the feint hearted ladies and gentlemen. Panotoda vakashinga apa zvekuti come 2023, watch the space someone is going to be buried.
Ko Dr Gire varipi these days, she is so quiet vakomana, all ladies out there lets come out and support fellow women paBy-election apa then tozomirira 2023. Asingadi imboko, Mboko Imboko !!!!!

23 Gokomere pupils summoned to court

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23 Gokomere pupils summoned to court

Rutendo Chirume

A total of 23 Gokomere Secondary School learners are set to appear at Masvingo Magistrate Court on February 7 for allegedly inciting public violence at the school last year.
The learners are charged of acting unlawfully by engaging in public violence at the school premises and vandalizing property worth USD$1500 which is yet to be replaced.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) advocate Martin Mureri confirmed that he was approached by one or two parents to represent their kids.
The charge sheet states that on November 7, 2021 at Gokomere Mission School, the accused acted forcibly and to a serious extend disturbed the peace and order of the public by being rowdy and violent.
They reportedly started throwing stones at the dining hall thereby breaking its window panes as well as windscreen and side windows of a motor vehicle which belonged to the school.
The accused persons were identified by school authorities including the headmaster which led to their arrest.
The learners majority of whom were doing Ordinary levels (form 3) were once detained at Masvingo Central Police station, with the arresting police details reportedly accused of exposing them to brutal treatment leading to their parents and guardians approaching Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights seeking redress.

We are not an opposition movement, but incoming government- ZSD

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We are not an opposition movement, but incoming government- ZSD

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru– As the political tension grips the nation ahead of the watershed 2023 harmonised elections, with different political actors jostling for positions in the upcoming March 26 by-elections, the Zimbabwe Socio-Economic Democrats (ZSD) party said it is taking its time to engage and listen to the needs of the people.
Recently party president, Nkosikhona ‘Mdalawethu’ Ndlovu said his party was not going to field candidates in the coming by-elections citing how the electoral field had been poorly structured by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Addressing party supporters in Gweru on the side lines of the party’s manifesto launch on January 29, Ndlovu said his party was geared to serve its citizens.
He added that, there was need to reshuffle the system for a better Zimbabwe.
“As ZSD we say ‘Arise, Phakama, Simuka’ as we stand to advocate for a better Zimbabwe. We are saying we need to change the system because we want it to be driven by the people and not the leaders. We want the electorate to take a leading role in governance issues.
“We are not an opposition party, but an incoming people driven government which is going to lead. Our ideology is centred on democratic socialism as we have a broad spectrum of sharing resources with everyone,” said Ndlovu.
He said his party was focused at reviving the economy through self-sustaining empowerment initiatives.
“We have already established a support empowerment plan for the country, our civil, servants, children and the elderly. The salaries which our civil servants are earning are not enough, thus we want more for them.
“Better service delivery is going to be implemented in our cities and provinces because we want to establish a government which subsidies services for its people. We do not want to strain the citizen’s pockets. On the aspect of education, we want to make sure that every child particularly those in rural areas get free education. It is their basic right which we cannot deprive them of due to exorbitant fees.
“We also stand in solidarity with those acknowledging the rule of law as we want the Executive to work separately from the judiciary,” added Ndlovu.
ZSD vice president Felistus Chipandare in a solidarity message said the future of Zimbabwe lies in the youths.
“We want to give the youths opportunities to participate in economic development. The future of this country lies in empowering the youths. We believe youths are key stakeholders in the economic agenda.
“ZSD will pursue socio-economic principles that will have the youths at the centre of national development. Gone are the days when the youths were abused by being sponsored and forced to beat up their parents and fellow youths. We want our children to have value for their efforts in education.
“What is currently happening now where youths from schools, colleges and universities are heading straight to the streets will be a thing of the past under the ZSD rule. We will formulate policies that will make investors both local and foreign increase and open new industries,” said Chipandare.
She also highlighted the potential the country possesses in terms of economic activities.
“Zimbabwe has the capacity to be Africa’s largest industrial hub with the right planning and political will. Already we are regarded as the most educated people on the continent and the most hardworking. What is simply lacking is the industry to demonstrate our intellectual skills and hard work.
“ZSD will prioritize the manufacturing sector and will deliberately increase funding allocated to the sector. One of our core objectives is to create jobs for everyone especially the youths,” she added.
After addressing supporters at the launch, Ndlovu was later arrested by police on charges of allegedly flouting Covid-19 regulations.
It is alleged Ndlovu surpassed the number of the required 100 delegates as stipulated under the current given Covid-19 regulations.
Party spokesperson, Melusi Ntando confirmed the arrest and said it was disheartening to note how uneven the political field was.
“We were not furnished with the actual details of his arrest, but we will seek clarity on the matter as we engage law enforcement agents.
“As a party we cleared to host the rally, and the event went on well as we did not engage in any violent activity. We are a very peaceful party .Our concern remains the same as we call for a level playing ground, fair for all political players .We see others conducting their party business without any hindrances and we want the same,” said Ntando.
Ndlovu was reportedly released on January 30 2022 after paying a ZW$3000 fine.
However, efforts to get a police comment on the matter were fruitless.

30 years for killing patron over spilt soft drink.

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30 years for killing patron over spilt soft drink.

Tinaani Nyabereka

Mberengwa – A 32-year-old man was this week sentenced to 30 years in prison by Gweru High Court for killing his drinking patron over a grudge that emanated from a spilt soft drink.
The drink was allegedly spilt while in the hands of the now deceased’s sister after the accused bumped into her coincidentally.
Gweru High Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa slapped Morgan Nsingo (32) with an effective 30 year jail sentence.
In a case which was presented by the State counsel Mirirai Shumba, it was heard that Nsingo of Nkani village in Chief Bvute’s area Mberengwa and now deceased Bloodwell Musiiwa (28) of Mukukwami village (under same Chief) were drinking beer separately with friends at Bvute Business Centre.
It is understood that a misunderstanding arose after Nsingo spilled the soft drink which was being held by one of Musiiwa’s sisters who was also drinking at the same place.
Upon realizing what had happened Musiiwa confronted Nsingo over the incident but the now convict allegedly became violent and picked up a fight with one of the patrons who was drinking with Musiiwa.
After the intervention of other patrons, Nsingo left the business center and went home.
It was further stated that the following morning Nsingo went to Musiiwa’s homestead armed with a knife to settle the previous night’s grudge.
He woke Musiiwa up accusing him of attacking him the previous night. As he charged towards Musiiwa, he drew out an Okapi knife which he used to stab Musiiwa once on the chest leaving him lying on the ground screaming for help.
The now deceased’s uncle heard him screaming and took him to hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
A police report was made leading to Nsingo’s arrest.
Musiiwa’s body was taken to hospital for post mortem where post mortem results indicated that he died due to perforated heart and hemorrhage shock.

WALPE condemns abuse of female candidates ahead of by-elections

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WALPE condemns abuse of female candidates ahead of by-elections

. . . as CCC forces Masvingo Urban Ward 4 candidate Muchuchuti to withdraw

TellZim Reporter

MASVINGO – Women Academy for Leadership (WALPE) has condemned with strongest possible terms the abuse of women by political parties ahead of the by-elections slated for March 26, 2022.

The condemnation comes at a time when the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) national executive is forcing Masvingo Urban Ward 4 female candidate Thokozile Muchuchuti to withdraw her candidature to pave way for Aleck Tabe.

Muchuchuti successfully filed her papers when the nomination court sat on January 26, but the national executive later approved Tabe to also file his papers for the same ward resulting in CCC fielding double candidates.

Now in attempting to solve the impasse, CCC national executive has seen the female candidate as the weaker point and they were allegedly threatening Muchuchuti that the party will take stern measures against her if she does not withdraw her candidature.

WALPE condemned such behaviour and urged political parties to respect women and promote gender equality.

“We note with concern the heavy handedness of some political party officials on women candidates that want to participate in the coming by-elections. There are disturbing reports of women being harassed verbally and emotionally blackmailed within their political parties to threaten and discourage them from fully participating in leadership process. This must stop,” said WALPE in a statement.

“We call on all political parties to respect the tenets of Sections 17, 56 and 80 of the constitution of Zimbabwe and uphold provisions for gender equality. Political parties must name and shame those culprits and bring them to book,” the statement continues.

CCC national leadership led by secretary general Charlton Hwende came to Masvingo over the weekend and tried to force Muchuchuti to withdraw her candidature so that a male candidate Tabe can contest.

Hwende was accompanied by party secretary for local government Jacob Mafume, secretary for rural mobilisation and strategy Happymore ‘Bvondo’ Chidziva, local leadership including provincial chairperson Misheck Marava and provincial secretary for elections Godfrey Madzikanda among others.

The national leadership however failed to convince her to withdraw after Muchuchuti insisted that she wanted to consult party members in the ward first before she signs withdrawal papers.

This is not the first time Muchuchuti was victimised by the opposition party as she was shoved off after defeating Godfrey Kurauone during party primaries in 2018. Kurauone later connived with the national executive which later declared that the ward was a preserve for the youths, which was how Kurauone ended up contesting and winning Ward 4 in 2018 general elections.

ZEC should exonerate the media from ‘double accreditation’

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ZEC should exonerate the media from ‘double accreditation’

The March 26,2022 House of Assembly and local authority elections to fill in the vacant seats left due to either recalls by MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora or deaths, present another opportunity for electoral management body Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to rethink its decision to demand accreditation for local journalists in covering elections.
Local media personnel are registered with the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) for the duration of a working annual calendar to legalise their operations. The question that arises now is: Why would ZEC demand accreditation specifically for the covering of elections?
The fact that these people are already registered to operate and work as well as execute their duties with the same document, then ZEC should have taken cognisance of such legalization and avoid what seems to be double accreditation.
Allowing registered journalists to cover elections without further requirements or other documentation would have been the only way to go. With the current economic challenges obtaining in the country, continuing to milk the ‘fourth estate’ by requiring more funds for registration, will not do any good than harm to the fraternity.
As a result the demand for accreditation ends up being an obstruction to journalists who would intend to cover elections as some may feel it is not necessary to fork out more money when the press card provided for by ZMC could work under such a scenario.
As a result, ZEC as a responsible authority should rethink or even reconsider their decision as regards to registering or demanding journalists to ensure accreditation with them.
Also the media should be allowed freedom to carry out their duties without undue influence, fear or favour and all the responsible authorities should patiently bear with media professionals as the ZMC is yet to give green light for journalists to apply for annual accreditation.

Teachers want school fees exemption for their children

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Teachers want school fees exemption for their children

…..threaten to boycott lessons when schools open

Rutendo Chirume

Teachers have come up with new demands, adding exemption of their children from paying school fees to the list of teacher remuneration citing low salaries.
They also threatened to not show up at respective stations on February 7 when schools open.
Teachers received their salaries on January 18 but have complained that they are already bankrupt because the ZW $ 30 000 salary barely cover their expenses with a food basket of an average family of six costing ZWL$ 36 000 per month.
Pride Muchiruka, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher at a local school bemoaned the level at which teachers have been reduced saying that at least government should pay fees for all teachers’ children since they are being under paid.
“My father was a teacher and I never ran out of anything. Other pupils used to envy us, but now I cannot say the same for my kids. If government caters for our children’s school fees, it will be much better since they cannot give us enough money. I have two children both in primary school, but I am not able to pay for their school fees with the salary hence I am forced to do part time jobs to supplement my salary,” said Muchiruka.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou gave Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE) 10 days to consider teachers’ plight and declared that their members will not turn up for the opening of schools as they cannot afford to teach other people’s kids while theirs will be at home due to incapacitation.
“We are not telling our members any message but rather they are telling us as leaders. They want to be exempted from paying school fees for their children at all government owned-schools. None of us are able to pay for school or college fees for our dependents. It does not make sense that government expects our members to teach other people’s children while ours are at home. Teachers are not ready. Government must address their salaries and conditions of service before opening schools. The restoration of the purchasing power parity of teachers’ salaries to US$540 is long overdue and so is the implementation of an array of education sector-specific allowances agreed to over the past five years,” said Zhou.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure said the exemption of teachers from paying school fees is long overdue and should be implemented immediately if government wants to see teachers returning to classrooms.
“The exemption of teachers’ children at all government owned schools is long overdue and that alone will not be able to take our teachers back to classrooms, but would at least lessen the burden since salaries are too low. The schools’ calendar was released but teachers will not be there to deliver lessons, even most pupils will not be there because many parents may not be able to pay school fees and other required learning instruments due to the financial and economic hardships in the country. Therefore, all teachers under the ARTUZ banner and rest of teachers around the country resolved not to attend any lessons if government refuses to address our grievances,” said Masaraure.
Contacted for comment MoPSE director of communications Taungana Ndoro said the call for strike by teachers is not new to the ministry as they are now used to such kind of messages.
“I do not have any comment on the exemption of teachers’ children from paying fees, but as for the issue of strike, we always hear that towards opening of schools. Teachers always say they will strike,’’ said Ndoro.
Primary and secondary schools are set to open on February 7, 2022.

Schools ready for opening-Heads

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Schools ready for opening-Heads

Melinda Kusemachibi

After the announcement of school opening dates by Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Professor Dr Aaron Murwira, school heads in and around Masvingo province have said they are ready for opening.
Ndarama High School Head Oddy Matongo said they are more than prepared to open schools.
“Students have been to school since January 2, 2022 up to date writing other part of examinations and we are only a week before the new term begins. So in terms of preparations we are and have prepared to open schools. It was only the date announcement that we were waiting for,”said Matongo.
He however said that the challenge currently obtaining at the school is a human resource one as most of their teachers are going to ZIMSEC for marking.
“However, now we have a challenge as most of the teachers who have been preparing to open schools are going for marking which runs up until February 26 for both Advanced and Ordinary level examinations. But on curbing Covid-19, we are prepared since we have sanitizers in place and are receiving more anytime soon. The school will also be fumigated,” said Matongo.
Copota School for the Blind Head Alfred Madamombe said that both teachers and students are ready for school opening.
“We are ready to open. We have received disinfectants, sanitizers, liquid soap and other materials for use by learners. What is left is the school to be opened,” said Madamombe.
Zimuto High School Head Harris Mashava said their school is prepared come opening day.
“We are looking forward for pupils to start coming on Sunday. We are yet to receive Protective Personal Equipment (PPEs) such as sanitizers from the Ministry but we already bought our own sanitizers,” said Mashava.
Pamushana High School Head Agrippa Moyo concurred with Mashava on their preparedness for schools opening.
“Having been given ample time to prepare for the opening of schools since January 10 which was the first date, we can safely say that we have everything in order and we will open our doors for pupils this coming Sunday since it is a boarding school,” said Moyo.
Gutu High School Head Mirirai Mutanda said they invited the District Schools Inspector (DSI) and confirmed that everything is set.
“Our DSI and his team inspected the school on January 31, 2022. As a school we are ready for schools opening,” said Mutanda.
Chikuku School Head Reuben Rukuni, however said they are not yet prepared since they do not have enough money to adequately prepare for opening.
“We are going to conduct a meeting since the school has got no money, and after that we will have a way forward,” said Rukuni.
Masvingo District Schools Inspector Ishmael Chigaba said schools are more than ready to be opened as children had spent more time at home.
“We are ready for school opening. We had received enough sanitizers and schools will be fumigated,’ said Chigaba.
Meanwhile in Zvishavane, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) has started issuing out various materials meant to curb the spread of Covid-19 in preparation for the opening of schools set for February 7.
In an interview with TellZim news, Zvishavane District Schools Inspector (DSI) Eusebia Zvinowanda said the ministry was issuing out disinfectants and hand washing liquid to all the schools in the district.
“We are trying to ensure that we reduce the number of Covid-19 cases in schools,” Zvinowanda said.
She also said that school teachers are advised to sanitize and disinfect their classrooms and toilets regularly.
She also highlighted that they are distributing these items basing the number of staff and students at school.
Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Professor Dr Aaron Murwira said schools can open after one week of finalizing all preparations by both school administrators and parents.
“The general school calendar starts on February 07, 2022 following one week of finalizing all reopening preparations by both schools’ administrators and parents,” he said in a press statement.
Schools had been closed since December 17 2021 and were supposed to open on January 10 this year for the first term of 2022.

Gweru council to ring fence water account for ZESA’s $247 million debt

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Gweru council to ring fence water account for ZESA’s $247 million debt

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- Following the recent power cuts at Gweru council’s main water treatment plants by Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) over the past weeks, the local authority has since agreed to settle the outstanding debt by ring fencing the water account.
Speaking during an engagement meeting with Zesa team and the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Larry Mavima in Gweru last week, Gweru Acting Town Clerk, Vakai Chikwekwe said an acceptable payment plan had since been made to the power utility.
He added that, as a local authority they have asked the resident minister to petition the line ministry over the re-introduction of set-offs.
“As city of Gweru we have engaged with Zesa on a number of agreements and have always done that before. We have agreed to have set-offs revived because the line ministries used to help us with those and we have agreed with the Minister of State to petition the line ministry , that is the Ministry of Finance over this setoff so that they help us clear our debt.
“We are also going to ring fence the water account so that we use it to clear the debts. This account has been used before to pay for other essentials such as chemicals and uniforms for our workers in that department and we have resorted to use it to clear the arrears at hand,” Chikwekwe said.
He added that water disconnections for residents with outstanding bills required a constitutional approach.
“On debt collection, yes it is one mechanism we have tried before but totally disconnecting residents is the last resort of all as that requires a constitutional approach. As a local authority we are continuously engaging our residents and the business community to pay their bills,” he added.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Larry Mavima however instructed the power utility not to switch off the city’s water systems.
“I call upon Gweru city council to come up with an acceptable payment plan to clear its ZESA debt while calling on residents to pay their water bills and rates timeously,
“And for Zesa, I urge you to explore other measures of enforcing payment for services by local authorities as opposed to resorting to disconnection of power at critical service facilities such as water plants. The local authority will not disconnect residents’ water and instead should look at other alternative ways to recover the debt such as attachment of property.
“As for the residents of Gweru, they must fully play their part by consistently paying their water bills and rates to enable the local authority to meet its service delivery obligations,” he added.
Meanwhile Zesa Acting General Manager, Gibson Kasipo said the power utility was closely working with the local authority in averting some of the challenges on the ground.
“We always work closely with our local authority especially when we have challenges on the ground. During the rainy season, we usually encounter a lot of faults due to bad weather.
“So we usually seek assistance in form of tractors because some of the areas are not accessible. More so when our supplies are low or when shedding, we always notify them. So our interventions take long during this period,” he said.
Highlighting the aspect of introducing alternative power sources, Gweru council said it has no resources to establish such plants at the moment.
“While the local authority would love to have an alternative backup power source like a solar plant to ensure uninterrupted water supply, we do not have the financial muscle to undertake installation of solar power at our water works.” said GCC’s director of Engineering services Praymore Mhlanga.
Residents in areas such as Mkoba 19 and 20 as well as some some parts of Ascot have since resorted to harvesting rain water as council water remains a scarce commodity due to water rationing among other challenges.
Last year Zesa switched off Town House as the debt accumulated to ZW$143 million.

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