Melinda Kusemachibi

The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society recently donated an assortment of goods to vulnerable groups in Bikita ward 18 and 31 under Chief Budzi in Masvingo province as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of those affected by heavy rains last month.
The consignment of 404 tents, 115 blankets, 202 water jerry cans, and 202 mosquito nets were delivered to families who were affected by heavy rains that swept through the district in November this year and other vulnerable families.
Isaac Chiramba whose family benefited from the donation said they are really happy about this donation which was given to them by the Red Cross Society.
“Red Cross helped us as we received a tent, two 20 litre-jerry cans, one blanket, two mosquito nets. As a community we really want to thank Red Cross Society for the help they gave us during this difficult time we were in,” said Chiramba.
The families which were left homeless were given three tents per family.
Bikita District Development Coordinator Bernard Hadzirabwi said that as a district they are grateful Red Cross Society intervened when the district was in a dire situation.
“We are very grateful because of the Red Cross Society intervention towards storm damaged homes in Bikita wards 31 and 18. The tents, water jerry cans and blankets donated by Red Cross Zimbabwe will go a long way in bringing life back to normal,” said Hadzirabwi.
He confirmed that the heavy rains destroyed 88 houses in Bikita district following a hailstorm leaving affected families in a dire situation in need of urgent assistance.
In 2020 Bikita was again one of the districts which were affected by heavy rains which destroyed many schools, while Cyclone Idai the previous year also had some devastating effects in the district.

Fredrick Moyo

Masvingo residents have cried foul over increases on the current water bills that the city council have pegged for the month of December.
Council is alleged to have increased their water charges with around 290 percent, a charge residents claim could have been drawn from the 2022 proposed budget that is yet to be approved.
Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said the move by council is ‘evil and diabolic’ and residents are angry and concerned with the move by council.
“As residents’ representative board, we are actually angry, furious and very much concerned with the way council is handling its affairs.
“A lot of reports have been made at our offices from residents saying they have received huge water bills on their current bills, some ranging between ZW$ 10 00 and 11 000 while some would even rise up to ZW$ 15 000, where they have been paying below ZW$3 000.
“After a bit of analysis we have realised that this might not be a mistake by the council but a deliberate increment in line with their percentage in the 2022 proposed budget, because in the 2022 budget council is proposing to increase service charges by almost 290 percent and so if a resident today receive a ZW$11 000 bill up from ZW$3 000, it means they have effected that proposed percentage without the knowledge of residents and also without even waiting for the government to approve that budget.
“What we know to be normal and procedural is that when they do their budget, they have to send it to the minister and wait for approval in January next year. We are not yet in January, still in 2021 but the rates have skyrocketed and ballooned beyond the reach of many residents,” said Mtimba.
He also said that residents are struggling, facing serious economic challenges in the country hence MURRA is giving council an ultimatum to rectify the current bills so that they come back to the normal rates residents have been paying.
“Remember residents are struggling make ends meet. They are struggling to fend for their families because of the serious economic challenges that our country is facing and we feel that is evil and diabolic for city council to make such a decision without even following the procedure.
“We want to give council an ultimatum to rectify if it is a mistake or a deliberate move they have to rectify and they have to reverse all those bills so that they come back to our normal rates that we have been paying over the past three months.
“This is a serious issue that we are closely following and engaging council from deep down our hearts. It is very serious and we are following this,” said Mtimba.
Contacted for comment Masvingo Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said that he has no comment on the issue.
Masvingo Town Mayor Cllr Collen Maboke denied the allegation that they increased the bills in-line with the 2022 proposed budget, but however said the current charges are in-line with how residents used their water.
“I received those complaints but it is not correct that we made the increment in-line with the 2022 proposed budget. The budget should be approved by the minister first, that is what we are waiting for. The issue of these charges depends on how the people use their water, if they use more obviously the charges will be high.
“If residents think that they have been overcharged they should go to the offices and get assistance. Their problems or queries will be solved there and if there have been mistakes that can be rectified,” said Maboke.
Stakeholders have raised concerns asking for clarity over council’s proposed ZW$160 million furniture and equipment in the 2022 budget after it was allocated the third highest amount on the budget.

Kimberly Kusauka

Multimedia Public Relations and assistant media executive Elizabeth Mukabeta recently shined in the Institute of Public Relations and Communication Zimbabwe awards (IPRCZ) where the organisation scooped two awards.
Multimedia scooped an award in Best Public Relations and Communications Events and Mukabeta won an award in the category of Young PR and Communication Practitioner of the Year (40 and below) and was also first runner up in the Category of Corporate Communications Personality of the year.
Mukabeta said she was thrilled about winning the award, which she said, was a lifetime opportunity after she had been in the media industry for more than 10 years.
“I am very excited and happy with the award, it is my valued achievement because this is my first award since I have been in the industry for more than 10 years,” said Mukabeta.
She said winning her first award made her realise that she has the potential to do better if she continues working hard.
“I now believe in myself and I will keep on working hard to achieve and get more recognition hence achieve more,” said Mukabeta.
Women have been shying the media industry especially in the newsrooms because of issues related to sexual harassment from male counterparts and in organisations where they seek comments and clarity on stories.
However, there are female journalists who managed to stay in the media fraternity regardless of all the hindrances who include Sunday Mail Editor Victoria Ruzvidzo, Zimbabwe Independent Editor Faith Zaba, ZiFM senior reporter Martha Mamombe and veteran photojournalist Anne Mpalume.

Kimberly Kusauka

Masvingo City Council (MCC) unpacked its 2021 projects, success stories and their failures as they begin to prepare for year 2022 where they promised residents and ratepayers that they would improve on service delivery.
As the year began the city was struggling with major service delivery in terms of water, roads and refuse collection.
Masvingo Town Clerk (TC) Engineer (Eng) Edward Mukaratirwa said the major highlights of 2021 were successes but had challenges also.
He said the priorities for year 2021 were water and sanitation as we as road maintenance.
“The major highlights in terms of service delivery like we indicated at the beginning of year, our number priorities were water and sanitation.
“In terms of sanitation we managed to collect most of the refuse within scheduled time, we will commission a new landfill at Cambria farm,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
He said council managed to construct Rujeko secondary school and Runyararo west clinic, rehabilitating roads with funding from Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) 2.
“We managed to construct Rujeko Secondary School, two classroom blocks and one toilet block are almost complete and intend to open when schools open in 2022.
“We also finished the construction of Runyararo West Clinic which is now waiting for equipment and staff to start operating. The clinic, will serve residents from Victoria Range, Runyararo West and parts of Mucheke,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
He said the new land fill’s first cell is now at 60-70 percent and they will decommission the old dumpsite soon.
“The first cell is between 60 and 70 percent complete. We wanted to start using it by end of this year but we failed because of low cash flows caused by Covid 19 induced lockdown and we hope in the first quarter of 2022 we will be using It.,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
However, Masvingo Residents associations said there were no success stories in the year 2021 from council as they failed on a number of issues.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said 2021 was characterised by water woes, poor health services, poor refuse collection and increased rates.
“Service delivery was generally poor, we had water crisis in the first three quarters of the year and residents have been using the few boreholes in their locations,” said Mtimba.
He said council should improve on water provision, health services, affordable rates and finishing ongoing projects in 2022.
Masvingo Residents Forum (MRF) Coordinator Samuel Parwaringira said they rate council at 50 percent saying they managed to improve on water supply and refuse collection.
“Council has improved in terms of refuse collection where they only skip one or two days, and managed to construct drainage systems and road maintenance.
“There was a slight improvement in water supply from 2019 so moving into 2022 as MRF we want council to improve on the time they take to respond after reports on sewer and water pipe bursts. They should also spray at all homes after sewer flow not only spraying at houses of people they know,” said Parwaringira.
He urged council to improve on the issue of information dissemination which was lacking during the year 2021 so as to improve on service delivery.
“There is poor information dissemination to residents concerning matters to do with service delivery,” said Parwaringira.
Ward 6 Zanu PF Secretary for information Trust Muzozviona said council managed to fight Covid-19 through council clinics but there was poor refuse collection and erratic water provision.
“Council has over the years had its own share of problems ups and downs and 2021 is no exception. We commend the health facilities which stood brave and fought a fierce battle against the Covid-19 pandemic through our council clinics,” said Muzozviona.
He urged council to prioritise refuse collection, water provision, repairing street lighting and refurbishing Mucheke Rank.
“Council should work on street lighting and refurbish Mucheke bus terminus to meet modern standards,” said Muzozviona.