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Cane Farmers owe Chiredzi RDC ZW$25 million in rates arrears

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Cane Farmers owe Chiredzi RDC ZW$25 million in rates arrears

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI- More than 1200 A2 sugarcane farmers here in Chiredzi have been reprimanded by Chiredzi Rural District Council (CRDC) over their failure to pay rates amounting to more than ZW$25 million collectively.
The local authority recently issued an ultimatum to sugarcane farmers to pay their rates amounting to more than ZW$25 million before April 2022 on they engage debt collectors.
Speaking during the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Development Association (Royal Farmers Trust) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Duma City recently, Takudzwa Chimanya, who was representing council said farmers were unbecoming as far as rate payments are concerned as they are currently owing CRDC more than ZW$25 million.
“Farmers are buying luxurious cars, which they later use on bad roads just because they are not paying their rates to the local authority. Only a fraction of five percent of farmers are paying their dues, but are being let down by those who are not paying. So in order to do justice to those who are paying, council will engage debt collectors to recover their dues from farmers who would have failed to settle their bills by April 2022.
“More than ZW$25 million is being owed to council by farmers. We had pegged that farmers should pay US$20 per hectare, but farmers complained and suggested to drop to US$15 but still no one paid. We then reverted back to the initial $20/ha,” added Chimanya.
Sugarcane farmers in Chiredzi have however pledged to fund Zanu PF in Chiredzi district as a token of appreciation for the land reform programme despite the ballooning debt they have with council.

Political parties should unite for development-ZHOCD

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Political parties should unite for development-ZHOCD

TellZim Reporter

A consortium of Churches under the banner Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) has challenged political parties to set aside differences in order to achieve development with such programmes like devolution.
The consortium, which is on a national tour of familiarising villagers with issues of devolution; is also urging the local community to actively air their voices on decision making when devolution projects are implemented.
Speaking in Makuvaza, Bikita (ward 4) recently, Bishop of Zion Apostolic Church Peter Makamba said only unity of purpose can make the country achieve its blue prints.
Bishop Makamba said many projects failed because there is no harmony between political parties in the country.
“For long, churches were excluded when government implemented their programmes. However, government has recognized that we should also play the ball as they seek to achieve long term visions like 2030, as we cannot really separate the church from affairs of the state.
“However, for us to achieve this, our political leaders should also sing the same hymn. As churches we are going to tell all the political parties to work together for the betterment of our country.
“We are a group of different churches but we are working together. If churches from different backgrounds work together, why not political parties? We will engage government time and again so that unity is realized. We need to live above all the differences. Everyone is a Zimbabwean and we should stop fighting. We need to see this country moving forward peacefully,” said Bishop Makamba.
Union For Development of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA) coordinator for Bikita district Bright Maduyu said their organization will work with the local community, urging them to unite so that such demands are met.
“The devolution programme has come and it is the chance of the local community to benefit from the national cake.
“For long, decisions were made from the central government, but now it is their chance to speak with one voice and say what they need from the tax payers’ money. All this can be achieved when the community is united.
“We are urging them to stand with one voice since it is the grassroots which benefit not politicians,” said Mr Maduyu.
ZHOCD said it is working in Chimanimani, Bikita and Chipinge districts spreading awareness on devolution issues to the grassroots.
The organization said it received the grant from the European Union to implement the project.

Tropical Storm Ana destruction relatively mild in Chimanimani, Chipinge

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Tropical Storm Ana destruction relatively mild in Chimanimani, Chipinge

Melinda Kusemachibi

As Chipinge and Chimanimani districts have already experienced strong winds together with heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Ana, the destruction is relatively mild compared to previous catastrophes, officials in the districts have said.
In an interview, Chimanimani DDC Joseph Manyurapasi said the whole district has received heavy rains but reports of devastating destruction have been generally few.
“The whole district has been affected and we cannot specify which area since we have not yet marked. A few households in Chimanimani Urban ward 15, ward 14 in Machongwe area and ward 13 in Nyawa area have been affected and their houses were destroyed especially the rooftops,” said Manyurapasi.
He said they have established 86 evacuation centers in case of emergency.
“We have established 86 evacuation centers. In every ward there are one or more evacuation centers.
So far no people have been evacuated.
“We were doing projects for places affected by cyclone Idai that will be affected again by tropical storm Ana, but as soon as the weather allows us, we will resume our projects,” he added.
Chipinge DDC William Mashava said the district suffered only the after effects of the storm though no casualties were recorded.
“We only suffered the cyclone after effects and there were no fatal casualties but we have reports of one house which got destroyed. We also have 39 evacuation centres which are already set up throughout the district,” said Mashava.
In March 2019 the districts were extensively hit by Cyclone Idai which destroyed lives and left many people homeless, with some still not accounted for to date.
Cyclones, floods, heat waves and droughts have been attributed to the manifestation of climate change.
In a notice this week, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) warned that heavy rains might affect Manicaland and Masvingo provinces for four days, and urged people to secure loose items, including roofs, and to stay on high ground.
As at January 25, the storm had killed three people and injured 49 in Mozambique while the United Nations forecasted that around 500 000 people in that country may be affected by the tropical storm.
In Madagascar, the tropical storm, characterized by heavy rains, flooding and mudslides, has already killed about 34 people on the island.
Zimbabwe is already on high alert as parts of Manicaland province have already experienced the strong tropical winds that could be effects of tropical depression from Tropical Storm Ana.

Lady Cheetahs geared up for pre-World Cup tournament

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Lady Cheetahs geared up for pre-World Cup tournament

Fredrick Moyo

The Zimbabwean women’s rugby team is geared up for the upcoming Africa Sevens World Cup pre-qualifiers to be held in Maseru, Lesotho.
The tournament, which will kick off on January 29 up to 30, 2022 will see six teams taking part in the competition and only one team will qualify to meet other teams that have already qualified for the Rugby Africa World Cup finals in Tunisia.
Lady Cheetahs coach Derick Chiwara said they are well prepared for the tournament and confident with the team that he picked.
“I would like to say I am confident with the team that we have picked. It is a powerful and strong squad of top ladies that are ready to represent the nation in Maseru.
“We are ready to deliver and in terms of the mind set the girls are prepared and geared for the tournament and they know what is at stake. The theme that we have set for this journey is one goal, one dream and I would like to say support the ladies and we thank you for that,” said Chiwara.
Lady Cheetah’s co-captain Lindiwe Munerenyu said they are happy to be part of the teams that are going to Lesotho and are looking forward to win the tournament and qualify for the World Cup.
“We are so excited that we are going to Lesotho for the pre-World Cup qualifiers and are looking forward to doing well as we want to win the tournament.
“The team is looking great because we got people from way back. So we got the new, old blood and with the fusion, we are truly expecting to do wonders. We have a good team and the coach made good choices in selection.
Recently the Lady Cheetahs got a major boost ahead of the tournament after Harare-based food outlet RocoMamas chipped in to sponsor them by providing kits on January 19 2022.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, RocoMamas operations manager, Lawrence Muziya said they are happy to be associated with Lady Cheetahs and wished them the best in the upcoming tournament.
“RocoMamas is glad to be part of such a successful and dynamic sporting brand as the Lady Cheetahs and we take pride in associating our RocoMamas with these Rock Star ladies-the Lady Cheetahs. We look forward to the Lady Cheetahs ‘rocking’ in this beautiful jersey we are presenting this morning as they play in the Sevens tournament in Maseru, Lesotho.
“RocoMamas celebrates people and food that goes beyond the norm. We celebrate you ladies for qualifying into this tournament and we wish you only the best,” said Muziya.
Lady Cheetahs captain, Margaret Magwaro applauded the great gesture from RocoMamas and thanked them for coming on board as they expect that they will grow together.
“We would like to thank you very much, we are really excited with you coming on board, supporting the women’s sevens who are known as ‘The Cheetahs’, we hope we will continue to grow with you as we become better, we become better with you and with time you will give us more.
“Thank you very much we are really excited about the new kit and we hope that we continue to grow together thank you,” said Magwaro.
Lady Cheetahs has in the past managed to reach the last stage of the African qualifiers but have never made it to the World Cup.

Mvuma man carjacked, loses US$360 to robbers

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Mvuma man carjacked, loses US$360 to robbers

Tinaani Nyabereka

Mvuma- Police are investigating a case of robbery where a 26-year-old man was robbed of cash and his car along Harare-Masvingo road.
The incident occurred on January 19, 2022 at about 2200 hours.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko appealed to members of the public who might have information on the whereabouts of the suspects.
“We are appealing to members of the public with information that can help to identify the suspects who are three males, two females and subsequently recover the vehicle, to approach the nearest police station.
“The vehicle is a white Toyota Runnex registration number ADQ 3872. Once again, we urge drivers to desist from the habit of offering lifts to strangers since some of them will be moving criminals,” added Mahoko.
Circumstances given are that, Cosmas Kangirai of Fairfields, Mvuma was hired by five people from Chaka Business Centre to Chivhu.
Upon arrival at the 170 kilometre-peg, the suspects ordered him to stop the car purporting to have reached their destination before one of the suspects grabbed Kangirai by the neck demanding cash from him whilst others searched him.
They further tied his hands and legs and took cash amounting to US $360 from him before driving to Matende Compound, Fairfields where they dumped him.
The complainant however managed to free himself and reported the matter at Mvuma Police Station and police attended the scene.
The suspects are still at large.

‘Lack of access to IDs violation of human rights’

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‘Lack of access to IDs violation of human rights’

Melinda Kusemachibi

A coalition of 26 residents associations working under the banner ‘Residents Association Coalition for Electoral Reforms’ has bemoaned lack of access to national registration documents and structural discrimination which they say have become obstacles in electoral processes.
Addressing a press briefing in Masvingo on January 26 on behalf of various residents associations, Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) director Anoziva Muguti said delays in accessing national documents ahead of elections equals violating human rights as everyone has the right to national registration documents.
“Lack of access to national registration documents and structural discrimination has become obstacles for residents to participate in electoral processes in particular the upcoming by-elections and watershed 2023 general elections.
“We call upon the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to urgently engage the Registrar General and investigate the causes into the delay of issuance of national registration documents as this is violating human rights and in this case the right to vote,” said Muguti.
He also said that there should be creation of an ideal environment where national registration documents are accessible to everyone.
“For the right to vote and be elected to be exercised meaningfully, it is important that there is an environment where national registration documents are accessible to residents in all parts of the country,” he said.
However, he went on to say as an organization, they also noted with concern the discriminatory practices.
“As the Nomination Court sits on the January 26, 2022 for local government and national assembly by-elections, we note with concern the discriminatory practices at the Nomination Court processes of demanding marriage certificates on female candidates and divorce papers for previously married women, while the same documentation is not required for men,” said Muguti.
This also come against a background where women comprise just 14percent of the total councilors’ population in Zimbabwe and this figure has declined by two percentage points in each election since 2013, when women comprised 18percent of the elected representatives in local government.
Muguti also indicated that as residents associations, they have engaged legal experts who are seized with the matter.
“To this end we have engaged legal and electoral experts who are seized with the matter. We therefore, make recommendations that the Residents Association for Electoral Reforms will petition Parliament on the challenges associated with voter registration including access to documentation and approach the Constitutional Court on discriminatory practices in the nomination court processes,” said Muguti.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) shelved the mobile voter registration blitz, that was supposed to start in December 2021 saying a number of new registrants had no national Identity Documents (IDs) and were giving them until February to get them, and only then would electoral body resume the exercise.
However, citizens seeking national identity cards and birth certificates are facing challenges in acquiring the crucial documents as they are asked to book first then apply later owing to a number of challenges.

Chilonga Villagers cross flooded Runde despite Tugwi-Mukosi spilling

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Chilonga Villagers cross flooded Runde despite Tugwi-Mukosi spilling

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-Villagers in Chiredzi South have refused to be cut off from the Central Business District (CBD) by the flooded Runde River, despite Tugwi-Mukosi dam spilling into the same river as they continuously cross using their home-made canoes.
Tugwi-Mukosi, the country’s biggest inland lake is spilling into the already flooded Runde River, where people from Chiredzi South and parts of Chiredzi East cross the river through the low lying Chilonga Causeway, which is currently covered by water.
Villagers then resort to cross the river using homemade canoes, which is risky to their lives as during the current rainy season, the river has since claimed two lives including that of a soldier who fell from a moving truck which was crossing through the causeway.
The situation has since been worsened by spilling Tugwi-Mukosi dam as the volume of water in Runde River has increased.
In an interview, Chiredzi District Development Coordinator and Civil Protection Unit (CPU) chairperson, Lovemore Chisema said it has become the villagers’ culture to cross the river using canoes during the rainy season despite the dangers it poses to them as using alternative routes to get to Chiredzi is expensive.
“This has slowly become a culture for those living across the river to cross using their home-made canoes during every rainy season despite the dangers it has to them as it claims more than five lives every year. Using alternative routes, like going via Rutenga is very expensive to them than to just pay US$ 2 to cross the river,” said Chisema.
Chisema also said they have incorporated opinion leaders at Chilonga to help in the campaign to encourage people not to cross the river when it is flooded.
“We are doing campaigns to educate villagers to desist from crossing the river when it is flooded and have also incorporated village elders and other opinion leaders at Chilonga Business Centre to help in the campaigns,” added Chisema.
The government of Zimbabwe is delaying the construction of Chilonga Bridge which requires more than US$20 million and has been budgeted for for more than three years without the actual work taking off.

CSO’s disgruntled by voter registration blitz time frame

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CSO’s disgruntled by voter registration blitz time frame

Fredrick Moyo

Civil Society Organisations have expressed dissatisfaction over the timeframe within which Zimbabwe electoral Commission (ZEC) has proposed to conduct the biometric voter registration saying the dates present a limited duration that is likely to result in more people missing out on the exercise.
ZEC released the mobile registration exercise dates that will be conducted in two phases; the first phase being from February 1-18 while the second runs from April 11-30, 2022.
Election Resource Centre (ERC) Legal and Advocacy Officer Takunda Tsunga said the framework given by ZEC is restrictive, prohibitive to marginalized communities and long term solutions should be put in place to aid voter registration.
“As ERC, we continually state that the current framework for the blitz is extremely prohibitive. It is restrictive to marginalized communities who have limited access to voter registration centres due to financial constraints or due to long distances. However, we continuously advocate for longer term solutions needed to be put in place to bridge the gap between voter registration centres and citizens.
“We should use these dates to test the administrative capacity of the electoral commission to be able to undertake this exercise. We should also test the willingness of citizens to participate in electoral processes such as voter registration. I think once we engage citizens on this issue, we will be able to gauge the empathy or willingness of citizens to participate in electoral processes. In order for us to be able to reach a large audience, it takes coordinated efforts between ZEC, CSO’s, political parties and citizens themselves to mobilize each other to go and register to vote,” said Tsunga.
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) Programmes Officer Ishmael Kupfuwa said they applaud ZEC’s efforts in embarking on a blitz but the time is limited to reach every willing participant.
“As CSOs we appreciate efforts by ZEC in trying to reach many people through the blitz. However, the timeframe is too limited for both ZEC and CSOs to reach every corner with voter education and most importantly for potential voters to register to vote.
“Therefore the blitz should be given more time and ZEC should decentralize some voter registration even at constituency level so that people who cannot afford to travel to ZEC district and or provincial offices can go register their names in their constituencies,” said Kupfuwa.
ZEC Masvingo deputy Provincial Election Officer (PEO), Maxwell Ncube said they are looking forward for the blitz to reach every willing citizen who want to partake in the registration process and will not comment on the blitz time frame as it is only meant for those who did have time to reach registration offices.
“The mobile registration exercise is expected to cover every ward in the province and the citing of the registration centres in wards was informed by the vastness of the ward and the centrality of those centres in relationship to the ward. I will not comment on the view of the CSO’s on the time factor, but time will never be enough though we hope to register all willing citizens.
“This is just a mop-up exercise to cater for those who did not have time to visit our offices. It does not necessarily mean that we are closing offices after mobile registration. The issue of restrictive and prohibitive nature of our programmes is something else that I cannot comment on, but the whole idea is that we tried as much as we can within the provided space to make sure everybody and every ward is catered for and we are hoping that everyone who is willing would come and register,” said Ncube.
ZEC had shelved the mobile voter registration blitz that was supposed to begin in December 2021 saying a number of new registrants had no national identity documents.

Model and auto-electrician all in one: Miss Independence Zimbabwe

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Model and auto-electrician all in one: Miss Independence Zimbabwe

Fredrick Moyo

Masvingo model and winner of Miss Independence Zimbabwe 2021, Rejoice Kazingizi has decided to go beyond the modeling profession as she pursues her other career as an auto electrician.
The 24-year-old Kazingizi studied automotive electronics, a system used in vehicles, including engine management, ignition, radio, carputers, telematics, in-car entertainment systems at Masvingo Polytechnic College from 2017-19.
Kazingizi who is doing part-time jobs and working from home says she finds it hard to sail through the male dominated industry because of being discriminated along gender lines.
“I do part-time jobs, phone calls and work from home as it is difficult to be in a male dominated industry as we are looked down upon as females.
“I have always learnt to keep my head high and focus on the goal, just like I do when I am competing in modeling,” said Kazingizi.
She added that in her mechanics voyage, she faced many challenges as some tried pulling her down and demotivating her in doing what she likes most.
“In my journey of becoming an electrician, I came across pessimistic people trying to pull me down but to no avail. I love what I do. I cherish this trade because of its versatility.
“I really felt like it is a trade that introduces you to various industries, but lately I have been appreciating how it knowledgeably allows me to advocate for the rights and protection of women,” added Kazingizi.
The Miss Independence 2021 winner also said that soon she will have her own garage and also be an employer, employing women, saying what man are capable of doing, women can also do.
“I see my self as a garage owner employing some young women in this trade. People associate beauty with weakness and l am a proof of defying that. What men can do woman can do too. We are just tough as man,” said Kazingizi.
She added women are stereotyped and that she was inspired by a friend to be in the mechanic field, and will continue chasing her dream.
“I got inspired by the lady Makanika Memo in Chitungwiza. Women are breaking stereotypes. People got surprised, confused with me that l am an electrician and a model, how do the two trades link?
“As of now I am Miss Independence Zimbabwe 2021 .For me and to any other young lady reading, this means you can be whoever you want to be. In a nutshell it is allowed to chase many dreams, the sky is the limit,” Kazingizi said.

MISA calls for fair, balanced coverage during elections

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MISA calls for fair, balanced coverage during elections

Melinda Kusemachibi

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has called upon state broadcaster the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to present an implementation plan for fair and balanced coverage of political parties during elections.
The letter written to ZBC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adelaide Chikunguru on January 21, 2022 requested the broadcaster to furnish them with the plan of action ahead on the by-elections scheduled for March 26 this year.
“As the by-elections proclaimed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for March 26, 2022 beckon, immense responsibility is thus thrust on the media to comply with the Constitution in terms of its coverage of different political parties and interests. The Zimbabwe Electoral Act also states how the media should conduct itself during elections,” read part of the letter.
MISA also stated that the High Court of Zimbabwe and several election observers should come up with recommendations on how public media should cover elections.
“It is in that regard that the High Court of Zimbabwe and several election observer missions came up with several recommendations on how the public media, ZBC and Zimpapers, should cover the country’s elections following the conclusion of Zimbabwe’s 2018 harmonized elections,” it reads.
The letter indicated that Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) report showed that state owned media outlets were in favour of one political party.
“The SADC report noted that the public broadcaster and state-owned newspapers were in favour of one political party, contrary to the relevant provisions of the Constitution, Electoral Act, and revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, which requires State-owned media to be impartial,” read part of the letter.
MISA also indicated that in 2016, Chief Justice Luke Malaba who was then Deputy Chief Justice extensively quoted the Electoral Act in Majome vs ZBC case during which he said Electoral Act requires a public broadcaster to cover all political parties contesting during elections.
Accreditation of journalists is cumbersome and costly as media personnel have to be accredited with Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) before Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) also accredit them for covering of elections.
MISA Zimbabwe appealed to ZEC that media practitioners applying to be accredited by the commission, only submit details based on ZMC-issued accreditation cards without having to pay an additional accreditation fee.

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