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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.

Gokwe Minor (15) succumbs to groin injuries while playing

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Tinaani Nyabereka

Gokwe– A 15-year-old juvenile died after he was assaulted on private parts while playing with other boys in the grazing lands.
The incident occurred at Gandiwa village in Chief Nemangwe’s area in Gokwe on January 20 2022.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident and urged members of the public to watch over children whenever they play.
“We appeal to members of the public to always supervise their children when they play,” Mahoko said in a statement.
Circumstances are that the now deceased (name withheld) was herding cattle with other boys.
They divided themselves into two teams and started playing what they termed ‘kick boxing’. Another boy aged 15 kicked the now deceased on his private parts and he fell down.
The teams stopped playing and the now deceased proceeded home having difficulties in walking. He narrated the matter to his 42-year-old Aunt who rendered first aid to him.
During the night his condition deteriorated and he succumbed to the injury.
The matter was reported to the police and the body of the deceased was taken to Gokwe Hospital mortuary for post mortem.

Ngomahuru inmates escape, one eaten by crocodile

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Ngomahuru inmates escape, one eaten by crocodile

Kimberly Kusauka

Two inmates from Ngomahuru Psychiatric hospital in Masvingo recently escaped from the mental health institution under unclear circumstances resulting in the death of one of the patients as he tried to cross Crocodile-infested Tugwi River.

It is reported that Kudakwashe Gomwe (22) from an unnamed location in Harare and Courage Mutsaru (27) from Makonde village under Chief Nemauzhe escaped before Mutsaru was allegedly seen by a villager being attacked by a crocodile in Tugwi River.

Masvingo Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa acknowledged receiving a report of the incident.

“I can confirm that we have a report of that incident,” said Dhewa.

On January 22, Mutsaru and Gomwe were reported to have escaped from the hospital.

A nurse at the hospital reportedly received a call from a villager who said they saw someone wearing hospital attire trying to cross Tugwi River but they had witnessed him being attacked by a crocodile.

A search party was released and they could not locate the two.

A source who disclosed the information on condition of anonymity said the inmates escaped through the window after removing a burglar bar and went into the forest.

“These two men escaped on Saturday through the window and ran into the forest where they found their way.

“Mutsaru tried to cross Tugwi River and was spotted by villagers who were across. When they tried to rescue him, he was already caught by a crocodile which is believed to have eaten him alive,” said the source.

A source also said that these men have been at the hospital for a long time which was viewed as negligence by their family members over failure to visit them.

“These two men have been in the hospital for a long time and they maybe began to feel like their families no longer wanted them, so they escaped so that they could regain their freedom,” said a source.

There have been reports that inmates are allegedly complaining about food shortages, blocked toilets, staff shortages as well as lack of medication which triggers these kind of tragedies.

In 2021 Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital was slapped with a law suit by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) after there had been a water crisis which saw inmates having to bath at nearby Magwagwaza River.

Yellow fever hitting Zim hard but …

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Yellow fever hitting Zim hard but …

Ladies and gentlemen, I can’t stop wondering how we ended up having two cyclones hitting our country at the same time, what coincidence it is, having cyclone Chamisa and the Yellow fever at the same time we are having cyclone Ana. I used to hear sekuru vangu kwachiri Mudombo vachiti paifamba Masvikiro kana varidzi venyika vaiperekedzwa netumvura. Could this be what is happening? Honestly if you look at the calmness of Ana mmm, you will be tempted to believe it. I know it is a bit harsh in some areas, but I know hakusi kuzama kutyisa vanhu but kungotiwo zvityise kkkk. But mukati mufana haana kuromba iyeyu, I hear Mazoe, maBanana and other yellow things are disappearing in shop shelves only two days after the announcement of the new party name and colours. KKK we have crazy people in Zimbabwe. Apawo maZanu are busy throwing away anything that is yellow. Yes yellow is the colour in town. I am also looking for a yellow something even a yellow paperbag rekuisa some rotten bananas, iwo ari kuora sei nemvura iyi.
Thumbs up to the young man, launching a new party is the only meaningful thing you have done for some time now, other than moving around the country exposing Zanu PF’s violent character when it comes to the opposition kkk. Not ana Khupe or Mwonzora, I mean the real opposition. You exposed them paya though they don’t learn, Zanu PF haina matyira when dealing with something that threatens their stay in power. The only way to deal with Zanu so far is voting zvine mutsindo so that rigging will be hard for them. Tikasadaro sure sadza reYellow munoridyira mahara kkkk. Yes people have gone back to the 2006-08 era where the whole country was surviving on yellow mealie meal from CARE. Business tip, vanobika sadza itai reYellow mufe nemari. Munhu wese akudya yellow except Mapombi, ini hangu handiudi hunondirangaridza chegore riya kkk.
Provebs 23:13-14 says, ‘Do not withhold discipline from a Child; if you punish him with a rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death. So today I am not sparing the rod on the new baby CCC. I like the new baby, who else doesn’t like mwana mutsva, chero varoyi vanongotiwo makorokoto wani. I like the way people are embracing the new party name, slogan, symbol and colours though it is a bit late, nhasi zvangu nemachinja, I know they say touch not the anointed kkk. Imi its true this has been long overdue, ah aidai akangozviita kudhara izvi hapana hapana apa. Ah ko moti zvaienda nepi, the party name and slogan should have time to percolate into the people’s minds. Don’t underestimate the name MDC, range rapinda muvanhu chero imi you know it that is why maiita ana MDC-T, MDC-N, MDC-199, MDC-Renewal and lastly MDC-Alliance kkkk. It was done to try not to do away with the MDC name kkk. Others are still saying pamberi naMugabe wani. I hope we won’t have that confusion pamarally vamwe voti hezvoko bwaa. Zvekuti hee chigunwe ndeche ISIS haa inziyo tichishanda dziya hapana hapana, be rest assured, this will not change anything muBallot, people will be very cautious of that pakunovhota. Vanhu vanoziva zvavanoda, imi Zimbabweans are educated, I mean literate enough that they cannot be confused zvekutadza kuona panaChamisa.
The name sounds good to me though some are saying its personalising the name to Chamisa Chete Chete, my worry is on the CHANGE aspect, ko kana mapinda would you still need change here ladies and gentlemen. I know you will accuse me of yep yeping too much so I will not touch the anointed.
But machinja should stop majoring on the minor and concentrate on big issues, Mwonzora and Khupe are not the enemy here, the real enemy is Zanu PF and it is very powerful and well-oiled. Don’t celebrate. Kushaya macandidates kwana naDhagi means they are politically a spent force, Khupe announced the official split from MDC–T and she is only a threat to Mwonzora. If you want to know the real enemy, just look at the results of the nomination court, its Zanu PF and CCC with candidates in all the respective areas, this should tell you the real enemy.
I used to think Mwonzora and Komichi were responsible for but double allocation of candidates in 2018 but I was wrong. Another culprit is in CCC because the system is still repeating in the party. How can CCC field double candidates in three wards? Three ese ayo really, what’s wrong with this party ladies and gentlemen. I thought it was a thing of the past but I can see zviri muropa. I thought as a new party, we will see new ways of doing things but alas vaakutoita semaWarrios. Tsvangirai once said it paMucheke hall apa, hanzi the then MDC party he was leading was just like Zanu PF. Doing it the ZANU PF way kkk. We are yet to see real democracy in the party. Kuramba maprimary elections and resorted to public consultations kunge budget. Kuenda paSisk pamashop voti uyu momuda here vanhu voti eeeeeeh kkkk, who is still doing that mukore uno, vanhu ngavapinde mugango adyiwa adyiwa that’s democracy, kukundwa neZanu sure. Someone is sabotaging the party kuHarare uko, who signed for the two candidates in the wards, heee? I thought factionalism is Zanu PF thing, I was wrong again.
Before I go for lunch, let me remind CCC leadership that we want primary elections. As a woman, Mapombi is behind Mai Muchuchuti kuWard 4 uko kwaMucheke. She is popular and proved it in 2018 pavakadashura Godfrey Kurauone and you went on to deny her the chance hiding behind the youth banter, isu semamai hatisi kuzodzokera sure, we are calling for our VP Mai Kore to push women agenda in the presidium that’s why she was elected there. Plz madam Kore, knock some sense in these male chauvinists who want to supress our voices.
Mapombi just heard that the clown Joseph Chinotimba from Buhera kumusha kwaSAVE rwizi rukuru, landed a top post in the war veterans association recently kkkk. Hanzi ndivo vava Commissar. He will work to lure investors in the country apa he recently won the Human Rights People’s Choice award kkk. He is the same guy who led the human rights violations in 2002 which saw a number of white farmers fleeing Zimbabwe. Now you expect that same guy to lure investors? Zvimwe itai muchiti tinotamba, anyway, nhamo yagara ine nharo kkk. Mboko imboko!!!!

CCC: New party with very old habits

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CCC: New party with very old habits

. . . imposes, fields double candidates
. . . Women at the mercy of male chauvinists

Faith Duri

MASVINGO – It’s only a new name! The rest is not so different from the disbanded Movement for Democratic Change – Alliance (MDC –A) from dictatorship, imposition of candidates, fielding double candidates to shoving of women candidates as was witnessed when the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members filed their applications for both national assembly and local government by-elections slated for March 26 this year.
CCC adopted the same leadership of the MDC Alliance; the presidium led by Nelson Chamisa, his three deputies Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube and Lynette Karenyi-Kore and the provincial structures – the same leadership that imposed candidates, blocked female candidates as well as fielding double candidates in the 2018 general elections. It seemed this leadership has continued with the old habits following reports of double candidates and blocking of women at the just ended nomination process ahead of the by-elections on March 26.
In Masvingo Urban Ward four (4) a female candidate who was chosen through consensus by party members in the ward suffered a huge blow after powerful men in the national executive shoved her aside and replaced her with Aleck Tabe on the eleventh hour at the nomination court. Fortunately for Muchuchuti, she had already submitted her application resulting in the ward having two CCC candidates. Muchuchuti is now at the mercy of male chauvinists who are forcing her to withdraw her candidature to pave way for Tabe.
Her papers were signed by party acting chair Job Sikhala and secretary general Charlton Hwende, the same leadership which allegedly appended their signatures again on Tabe’s papers on the day the nomination court sat. The same happened in Bulawayo where two wards had double candidates and, according to party sources, there is no clear justification why Muchuchuti and the other Bulawayo candidates were being replaced except that the districts were under immense pressure from the national leadership to do so.
Contacted for comment Job Sikhala said he was not the one who signed the papers, referring all questions to Fadzai Mahere.
“Take from the press conference done by Fadzai Mahere,” said Sikhala.
Mahere could not say anything when TellZim contacted her for comment. Instead she sent a link of a press conference which did not say anything with regards to the question she had been asked. There is only one female councillor at Masvingo City Council and CCC seems to care less about women empowerment and democracy.
What is more worrying is the party’s stance to block female candidates – it happened again in 2018 when Muchuchuti walloped Godfrey Kurauone at party primaries but the national leadership pushed her out and replaced her with the latter. It is now believed that Kurauone, who fairly lost to Muchuchiti then, is still bitter about that embarrassing loss he experienced hence is doing anything to block her from replacing him after he fled the country and sought refuge in the United States of America. Kurauone is believed to be using his powerful position as youth national organizer to settle his selfish cheap political battles.
When contacted for comment Kurauone distanced himself saying he is outside the country and there is no way he can influence issues happening back home. Perhaps Kurauone forgets that the internet makes the world a global village where one can interact with anyone, anywhere across the world.
“I am not in Zimbabwe, so how am I involved? The party leadership is dealing with the issue. Eventually we will have one candidate in Ward 4,” said Kurauone.
And true to Kurauone’s word, the two candidates have since been summoned to Harare today (January 28) by the leadership and reliable sources in the party said Muchuchuti will be forced to withdraw her candidature. If Kurauone was not involved as he claimed saying he was out of the country how then did he know to the dot that the leadership will deal with the matter where one candidate will eventually remain to contest for Ward 4.
Muchuchuti declined to comment on the matter but insisted that she has been working with the people in Ward 4 since the time Kurauone fled the country.
“I do not want to comment on this matter. What I can tell you is that I have been working with the people since the ward had no councillor,” said Muchuchuti.
Ordinary party members expressed displeasure over the national leadership imposing candidates, saying fielding double candidates was destroying the party.
“We could have won many parliamentary seats in 2018, but we lost because of fielding double candidates as well as imposing candidates who were unpopular. “Mai Muchuchuti won primaries against Kurauone in 2018 but the leadership imposed him to contest general elections. The same has happened again now and we no longer understand this; is the party against Muchuchuti or it is against women from ascending to powerful positions in general?” questioned a CCC member.
Another party member from Ward 4 did not mince his words and clearly stated that he will never vote for someone who is not known by the structures.
“I don’t have anything against Tabe the person, but we cannot be so blind to allow simple infiltration. We cannot allow people who are not party cadres and elbow out those who have been with the party and the people. We all know Tabe’s history and we cannot suddenly allow him to stand on party ticket. This widow (Muchuchuti) was rigged by Kurauone in 2018 and we cannot allow the same thing to happen again,” said a concerned Ward 4 voter.
Tabe who is the leadership’s preferred candidate once left the party to join MDC Renewal then People Democratic Party (PDP). Tabe even won a court order at some point and auctioned MDC-T property in order to retrieve his outstanding salaries the party owed him when he was the provincial administrator. He is the guy who was ‘anointed’ by Kurauone to take over Ward 4 against the will of the ordinary people in the ward.

Efforts to address the impasse resulted in some of Masvingo interested parties travelling to Harare in a move likely believed to try and resolve the matter.
CCC Masvingo provincial spokesperson Derick Charamba said he did not travel to Harare but the party’s provincial chairperson Advocate Martin Mureri and Aleck Tabe are the ones who went while Thokozile Muchuchuti also did not travel because she has not yet recovered.
“I did not travel to Harare. Mureri and Tabe are the ones who travelled and I think they are on their way back now. The other candidate (Muchuchuti) did not travel with them. She had not yet recovered from the injuries that she sustained,” said Charamba.
It is alleged that Muchuchuti suffered injuries when she was attacked on the nomination day by other aggrieved party candidates’ supporters and the matter is pending after it was reported at Masvingo Central police station.
Efforts to get a comment from Mureri where fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered at the time of publishing.

Man fatally assaults wife over infidelity

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Man fatally assaults wife over infidelity

Tinaani Nyabereka

Kwekwe– A 42-year-old man from Haven Estate, Kwekwe allegedly assaulted his wife to death over an infidelity issue on January 21 2022.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko appealed to members of the public to resolve matters amicably.
“We appeal to members of the public to seek assistance from church leaders, village elders/leaders than use of violence whenever they engage in a dispute.
“Violence results in loss of lives as what happened in this case,” he said. Manhembe allegedly had a misunderstanding with his wife Talent Ncube (23) over suspected infidelity.
The two started fighting in their room until John reportedly picked a log and hit the now deceased all over the body until she became unconscious.
After committing the offence, Manhembe fled home leaving Ncube.
The matter was reported to police leading to the arrest of Manhembe.
The deceased sustained fractures and bruises all over the body. The body was taken to Kwekwe mortuary.
In another incident, a four year-old baby girl died on the spot after she was hit by a vehicle along Gweru-Zvishavane road.
The incident occurred on January 20, 2022 at 1800 hours.
The driver, Pinduke Lovemore (39) of Riverside, Gweru was driving a Nissan truck along Gweru –Zvishavane road towards Gweru.
Upon approaching the 82-kilometre peg, Pinduke hit four year-old Tinevimbo Machili who was crossing the road. Machili sustained injuries all over the body and died on the spot.
The matter was reported to police who attended the scene and the body was taken to Zvishavane District Hospital mortuary.
His vehicle was towed to Zvishavane Vehicle Inspection Department for inspection.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko appealed to drivers to exercise maximum caution on roads.
“We appeal to drivers to exercise caution and adhere to road traffic regulations when driving. We also urge parents to ensure that children are always accompanied by elders when crossing roads,” Mahoko said.

Tugwi-Mukosi: Where is the 25000ha?

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Tugwi-Mukosi: Where is the 25000ha?

…as climate change threatens food production

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI– The government is still to identify the 25000ha of land to be irrigated with water from Tugwi-Mukosi Dam at a time the world is currently in an overdrive to address climate change issues that are threatening food sustainability as rain patterns are exponentially changing.
The utilization of Tugwi-Mukosi water is likely to take decades just like the construction of the dam itself as it has spilled twice within a period of two years, threatening lives of those living downstream, especially along Runde River where it has disconnected Chiredzi South with the Central Business District where the inhabitants access social services like the registry.
The US$200 million dollar 1,8 billion m3 reservoir, which is the largest inland dam was designed to provide irrigation water to the Lowveld Sugar Estates and surrounding communal farmers with a capacity to irrigate 25000 hectares of land.
It was also designed with the capacity for hydro-electric power generation and can generate six megawatts but none has materialized except the water irrigating the sugar plantations, with more water being lost through spilling.
Agriculture specialist and former Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Director, Farai Musikavanhu said the dam was designed for irrigation purposes covering vast areas in Mwenezi, Chivi, Chiredzi and some parts of Masvingo district.
“The said Tugwi-Mukosi was designed and built primarily for irrigation purposes targeting mainly Chiredzi, Chivi and Mwenezi districts as well as parts of Masvingo. Government has come up with a master plan to utilize the Tugwi-Mukosi waters for both communal and commercial purposes,” said Musikavanhu.
He also said this has been delayed by the challenge of the transition from dry land to irrigated culture in order to create a win-win situation with all affected individuals.
“The challenge at hand now is to ensure that the transition from dryland to irrigated agriculture in the affected wards is done in a win-win manner that ensures all affected stakeholders can attain the aspirations of vision 2030 as enunciated by President Mnangagwa,” added Musikavanhu.
Tugwi-Mukosi, which was officially opened in May 2017 is now four years old and is slowly becoming a white elephant though Musikavanhu said the dam has the potential to be a game changer for Masvingo province as well as Zimbabwe at large.
“Tugwi-Mukosi is a major game changer for Masvingo as we seek to increase our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current US$1.8 billion to US$8 billion by 2030. Government agriculture master plan has ample provision for food security not just for Masvingo province but for the whole nation more so, as we cannot continue to rely on rain fed agriculture due to climate change,” said Musikavanhu.
The country is just eight years ahead of 2030, where Vision 2030 is expected to be achieved, and with efforts being shown towards the utilization of Tugwi-Mukosi waters to revert to irrigation and venture into smart agriculture to counteract climate change are not doing any good.
The President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangwagwa when he was still the Vice President of Zimbabwe, once said he had a vision of transforming the Lowveld into a greenbelt and ultimately transforming Masvingo province to be the bread basket for the country but now seems to be retarding towards the vision.
Tugwi-Mukosi which has a capacity to irrigate more than 25000 hectares of land could now be utilized by farmers in Chiredzi South towards the growth of Lucerne, if the government had procedurally engaged the villagers towards the vision, a development likely to be met with resistance from villagers who are afraid of losing their ancestral land to Dendairy as the case has been in the courts.

Four months or fine for 130kg gold ore theft

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Four months or fine for 130kg gold ore theft

Russell Mapuvire

ZVISHAVANE– A quartet appeared before magistrate Archie Wochiunga on January 14 facing allegations of stealing 130 kilograms of gold ore from Sabi Gold Mine.
The four, Tineyi Ngwenya (32), Tichaona Chitsvoroma (27), Tapiwa Ngwenya (18) and Tawanda Ngwenya (18) were arrested for allegedly stealing the gold ore on January 12.
The Ngwenyas are brothers.
The total value of the stolen ore is US$419.
The four were then asked to pay fine of ZWL$10 000 each or go to prison for four months for failure to pay the fine before the deadline for the payment on or before February 28 2022.
It is the state case as presented by prosecutor Hilda Sibanda that Chitsvoroma who resides in Majoni village under Chief Mazvihwa and the three Ngwenyas who reside in Madhoro village in Mberengwa under Chief Mazivofa stole the ore at Sabi Mine.
They allegedly went to Sabi Mine armed with a pick and shovels before stealing 130 kilograms of gold ore.
The mine was represented by Ishmael Moyo (41), the complainant who was entitled to own, possess or control the gold ore
The complainant was reportedly doing perimeter checks when he saw the accused stealing and managed to arrest them with the help of his friends.
The complainant was able to recover all the three sacks containing gold ore before apprehending the accused to the police together with the ore as exhibit.
The recovered gold ore was kept at Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Minerals Flora and Fauna, Zvishavane as an exhibit to be used in court.
In another case, An Ingezi resident Liston Kubvoroma (24) appeared before the same magistrate facing charges of robbing a female Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (ZUPCO) conductor Tracy Time (27) using violence or threats of violence before he took her valuables on January 15 2022, along the Butchwa -Zvishavane road.
Kubvoroma appeared in court on January 17, 2022 facing charges of robbery.
It is the state case as presented by prosecutor Hilda Sibanda that the accused who resides in Ingezi, Zvishavane unlawfully and intentionally used violence against Time before taking a sling bag which had ZW$8 000 and US$60-00 from the complainant.
On January 2022 at around 1600hrs, the complainant was on duty along Butchwa-Zvishavane road with a commuter omnibus collecting bus fare.
She picked up Kubvoroma who was in the company of his accomplice Gift Ndabambi (still at large) at Ingezi Business Center claiming to be going to DRC, Zueedaburg area, Zvishavane.
The complainant asked for the bus fare and Kubvoroma and his accomplice claimed to have US$20.The complainant told the accused persons to disembark since she had no change.
Ndabambi told Time that one of them was going to drop at DRC, Zueedaburg while the other will drop in town to look for change.
When they approached Zeruva area, Ndabambi gave the conductor US$20 and he asked the driver to stop demanding for change.
Kubvoroma threatened to beat up the conductor and the vehicle was stopped. The duo then stood by the door and slapped Time who was seated near the door after which she fell down and he snatched the complainant’s sling bag containing ZWL$8 000-00 and US$60-00 before disappearing into the bush and nothing was recovered.
The case was postponed to February 8 2022 as Kubvoroma who pleaded not guilty was granted ZWL$3 000 bail.

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