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Chiredzi town residents urged to clear debts

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Chiredzi town residents urged to clear debts

Rutendo Chirume

Chiredzi Town Council has encouraged residents and rate payers to clear their outstanding debts which stood at ZWL103 000 000 as at October 31, 2021.
Council chairperson Cllr Gibson Hwende announced the debt earlier last year (2021) when he urged residents to settle their dues so that council can be in a better position to work towards growth and development of the town.
“The councils’ debt stands at ZWL103 000 000 as of October 2021. While council is engaged in coming up with the strategies that can be employed to recover the amounts due to the local authority, we urge the residents and rate payers to be forth coming in settling their dues. The growth, development and performance of council are hinged on its ability to collect revenue and apply it to service delivery that the community requires. Let us work together to extinguish this outstanding debt and see the vision of our town,” said Hwende.
He also confirmed the carrying out of the systems audit on October 11 and 12 by the parent ministry of local government which he said went on smoothly.
“We received officials from Ministry on the 11th and 12th of October for system audit. This is an exercise done by our parent Ministry to ascertain whether our processes and operations are in sync with expectations from the Ministry,” said Hwende.

Chiredzi Town Council yet to acquire land donated by Hippo Valley

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Chiredzi Town Council yet to acquire land donated by Hippo Valley

Melinda Kusemachibi

Chiredzi Town Council is yet to acquire the land donated to them by then Hippo Valley Estates some years back as they failed to legalise the take-over by acquiring title deeds before the coming in of Tongaat Hulett at the estate.
Town council planner Consider Kubiku said that 925ha of land was donated long back but the local authority was just reluctant to legalise the take-over.
“The initiative made by the department of physical planning together with Chiredzi Town Council after some serious negotiations. Hippo Valley donated 925ha of land to Chiredzi council,” said Kubiku.
He went on to say that the biggest problem they are currently facing is transferring that property from Hippo Valley to council.
“Now the issue is transferring that property from Hippo Valley taking out from the parent deed of Hippo Valley to Chiredzi Town Council. We made initiative since the land was donated but there was dragging of feet because they (Tongaat Hulett) were saying that we need a board resolution from Hippo Valley and their Head Office is in Durban,” said Kubiku.
However, he said that change of management have caused the slowness of property transferring.
“Then it will happen that there was change of management at Hippo Valley as it is now Tongaat Huletts and there are new guys who said they did not even know how it happened.
“We provided them with the donation papers, but now there is need for a meeting between the executive of Tongaat Hulett, Chiredzi Town Council and the lawyers who we engaged to be involved in the transferring of 925ha from Hippo Valley to Chiredzi council,” said Kubiku.
He also said that they made efforts to push for a meeting but nothing materialized.
“We have made efforts since last year to have that meeting but it has not materialized yet. We are still pushing so that we can shed the light to the new guys who are in the executive, the range of things which happened leading to the donation of land,” he said.
Kubiku said they will give the title deeds to beneficiaries; that is if they manage to acquire the tittle deeds from Tongaat Hulett.
“If the new management understand it, then we are going to engage lawyers to transfer that 925 ha to CTC through a deed of donation. If we get a deed of donation from Hippo Valley, it means all those pockets of land we developed the low density area, phase 1 and 2, West hood, Joina City Mukondo high density area, CTC will be in an apposition to give beneficiaries their title deeds,” said Kubiku.
The town planner also said Chiredzi town was being planned and subdivided by a company called Chiredzi Township (Pvt) Ltd then a subsidiary of Hippo Valley.
“Chiredzi Town Council is said to have been responsible for all the initial sub divisions which was done in the early years of creation of Chiredzi town council; so by time Chiredzi was declared a town, it was given a boundary.
“The issue now is all the undeveloped land which was within town and outside the town belonged to Hippo Valley through the subsidiary called Chiredzi Township (Pvt) Ltd except an area which was declared a local government called Tshovani Township.
Contacted for comment, Tongaat Hulett Public Relations Officer Emily Sibanda told this publication to send questions via email and the email was yet to be responded to by the time of publication.
Chiredzi was declared a town in 2009 and it was created by Hippo Valley Estates which is now known as Tongaat Hulett.
It was created as a dormitory town for workers working in Hippo Valley for the sake of providing accommodation and basically administration services like commercial institutions, schools and supermarkets and government services departments.

Former Gweru Mayor Makombe bids farewell

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Former Gweru Mayor Makombe bids farewell

…as council moves in to elect new mayor  

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru-Former mayor and Ward 2 Councillor Josiah Makombe has bid farewell to the Gweru community in a press statement released on January 10, putting to rest speculations about his recall on December 10 2021 by the Douglas Mwonzora led MDC-T.

In the statement, Makombe outlined how he managed to work hand in hand with residents of Gweru in driving development during his tenure.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my removal from the office of the mayor of the city of Gweru as well as the president of Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) through a recall by MDCT led by Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank all residents of ward 2, which comprises the following suburbs: Athlone, Riverside, and Josiah Tungamirai Air base, Harben Park, Greenville, Windsorpark, Coolmooreen and Lingfield.

“Thank you so much for your support. You trusted and gave me the opportunity to serve you as councillor as well as the Mayor of our city. I would also want to thank all the residents and stakeholders of Gweru for giving me the opportunity and support during my tenure as your Mayor,” read the statement.

Makombe added that his vision towards building the city managed to bear fruits.

“I promised zero tolerance to corruption at Gweru City Council and I did my best to deal with that. I also promised to deal with the water crisis in our city, measures and mechanisms were put in place by enhancing our pumping capacity at Gwenhoro and Whitewaters. We still have water challenges but the necessary equipment to deal with the problem was secured.

“We also dealt with our roads challenges and during my tenure we managed to buy some equipment which we did not have. Some of the equipment was delivered and some are yet to be delivered. We bought a backhoe loader which was delivered and a tractor, tipper truck that are yet to be delivered. On health matters we managed to procure an ambulance and a lot of equipment to assist in the cleaning of our city. The city is once again clean though a lot still needs to be done.

“As a local authority we were struggling with resources, we had to restructure some of our operations so that they can become viable. I spearheaded the creation of Gweru city parking company which has brought order in our CBD as well as more revenue generation. Within its first six months of operation, we managed to procure the backhoe loader using our share of that revenue,” he wrote.

Highlighting part of his philanthropic work, Makombe said through the Mayor’s fund managed to change the welfare of the vulnerable members of the community.

“Through the mayor’s fund, we managed to use the proceeds to benefit orphans and less privileged children to go to school. More than 100 children from all levels benefited and they will continue to further their education.

“Our elderly and those leaving with disabilities, yearly will get Christmas hampers. I want to thank the business community and all those who donated to this noble cause. Nationally, my philanthropic work was recognized by the International Institute of Philanthropy in partnership with the Women’s university by giving me a Doctorate,” he added.

Last week through his lawyers Nqobani Sithole, Makombe opened a perjury case against Mwonzora in which he said the party leader together with party secretary-general, Paurina Mpariwa jointly lied under oath in a case before the Bulawayo High Court where the MDC-T leaders claimed they had not recalled him from office.

Gweru City Council has set the elective date for a new mayor to January 11, 2022, with the mayor expected to take over and lead the city until the upcoming 2023 general.

Some of the candidates expected to be running for the position are ward 18 councillor, John Manyundwa, Ward 1 Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi and Ward 9 councillor Edson Kurebgasekwa.

Zaka disabled man appeals for toilet building material

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Zaka disabled man appeals for toilet building material

Kimberly Kusauka

A disabled man from Mugabe village under Chief Bota in Zaka is appealing to well-wishers to assist him with materials to build his toilet which collapsed following heavy rains on December 31.
Masikati Mudzingwa said his toilet had been built under a programme initiated by Enhancing Nutrition, Stepping Up Resilience and Enterprise (ENSURE) Zimbabwe sometime around 2015 in such a way that he could relieve himself without the assistance of another person.
“I am appealing to well-wishers who can assist with cement, mesh wire, ventilation pipe and roofing sheets. I am finding it very difficult to access the bush toilet especially during this rain season where it is difficult to make it in the mud with a wheelchair.
“My collapsed toilet was user friendly such that I did not require another person’s help for me to relieve myself since it was especially made to suit my needs,” said Mudzingwa.
Zaka ward 24 Cllr Stella Shambira said Mudzingwa is really in need for assistance to build his toilet which is one of the most essential services a human being requires. His wife takes care of him and they have six children of which three are disabled as well.
“Mudzingwa is greatly in need of a toilet since he now needs another person’s supervision whenever he tries to visit the toilet. He lives with his wife and six children, of which three are disabled.
“He needs a special toilet which can accommodate his condition and any form of assistance is appreciated,” said Shambira.
End of last year TellZim News published a story about Masvingo’s famous poet Abel Mauchi seeking financial assistance to pay for his medical bills.

Gutu North joins Climate change mitigation initiative

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Gutu North joins Climate change mitigation initiative

Princess Masiiwa

Fauna and Flora Zimbabwe has taken up the initiative to ensure Gutu community joins the climate change and mitigation bandwagon by carrying out awareness campaigns and educating the community on the importance of conserving animals and trees.
Commemorating the belated National Tree Planting Day on January 4, 2022 at Jerenje village in ward 3 of Gutu North constituency, FaFlo Zim director Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa said their organisation has embarked on the noble initiative to conscentise the community on importance of Flora and Fauna.
“We taught people about climate change, importance of trees on the environment, the importance of wildlife and we also educated them on specially protected animal species,” he said.
He also said to tackle the issue of climate change this year; they are going to have awareness campaigns, education and training programmes on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“We are going to do massive public awareness campaigns, education and training programmes on climate change mitigation and adaptation in order to resolve climate change this year,” he added.
Nyamukondiwa said they are going to partner key stakeholders on climate change management.
“We are also going to partner key stakeholders on climate change management,” he said.
He said they donated seeds of cabbage, rape, cucumber, onion butternut, carrot and tomatoes to a garden in Jerenje village in ward 3.
“We donated Cabbage, Rape, Cucumber, Onion, Butternut, Carrot and Tomato seeds to a garden that is in Jerenje Village in Ward 3 as well close to the tree planting site,” said Nyamukondiwa.
Deputy Minister of Housing and Social Amenities and Member of Parliament for Gutu North Constituency, Yeukai Simbanegavi said it is important to plant trees because people get money out selling fruits from trees they would have planted.
“It is very important to plant trees because if people sell fruits that they get from these trees, they get money to help them in their day to day lives,” said Simbanegavi.
She also said in order to tackle climate change and its effects; they encouraged members of the public not to cut trees as deforestation will lead to climate change and flooding.
“We encourage members of the public not to cut down trees as it can lead to flooding and climate change,” she added.
The national tree planting day set for the first Saturday of December annually on the national calendar is meant to reclaim forests lost due to various human activities like land clearance for farming and demand for wood as fuel among others.

Chimanimani girl dies in ‘honour killing’ on Christmas Eve

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Chimanimani girl dies in ‘honour killing’ on Christmas Eve

Courage Dutiro

Approaching Christmas everyone had expectations of joy and jubilation, but for a family in Manicaland, gender based violence (GBV) reared its ugly head and claimed the life of a teenage girl allegedly at the hands of some male relatives.
A family in Matiashe village in Chimanimani West spent half of the Christmas holidays in a sombre mood following the death of a 16-year-old form 4 girl, Lessego Mukudo who died minutes after she had been beaten by her two male relatives over allegations of trying to join the world’s oldest profession, commercial sex work.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Manicaland provincial spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said the incident happened on December 22, 2021.
“The matter happened on December 22, 2021 around 21:00 hours at Nyanhanda homestead in Matiashe village. The accused persons are Comfort Chibvuma (23) who is related to the deceased Lesego Mukudo (16) and Munashe Njaravani (30) who is related to Grace Nemaramba, who is the late Mukudo’s aunt,” said Chinyoka.
It is said Mukudo was staying with her mother’s younger sister while attending school at St Patrick’s High School.
In Chimanimani like in any other patriarchal societies, the activities of girls and women are closely monitored and the maintenance of a girl’s “sexual purity” is regarded as the responsibility of male family members and other male relatives.
Speaking to TellZim News Headman Ephraim Matiashe confirmed the matter saying the girl was beaten to point of death over allegations of being promiscuous.
“The sorrowful event happened in my area. She lost her life after being beaten by her uncle, and another male relative over allegations of being naughty,” said Matiashe.
The traditional leader has however urged people to solve issues amicably without spilling blood.
Sources privy to the incident said on December 16, 2021 on 1600 hours Mukudo left home to an unknown destination and was later found by Chibvuma on December 22, 2021 at Hot Springs Business Centre and convinced her to return home.
When they arrived home, it is said around 20:00 hours Chibvuma started beating Mukudo with a stick before Njaravani later joined until the deceased became unconscious.
Another source who identified himself as Hardlife Doriro said when the two allegedly noticed that the deceased was lifeless, they told some family members that they were going to Nyanyadzi police station to report the matter and they then vanished into thin air and never made it to the police station.
The incident comes hard on the heels of the annual 16 days of activism against gender based violence, exposing the glaring need for GBV education to be taken to areas where harmful cultural practices like honour killings are rampant.
United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) states that Gender-based violence (GBV) includes physical, sexual, mental or economic harm inflicted on a person because of socially ascribed power imbalances between males and females.
It also includes the threat of violence, coercion and deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that about 5,000 women are killed worldwide annually for reasons of honour.

Redcliff woman killed, left intestines protruding

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Redcliff woman killed, left intestines protruding

Tinaani Nyabereka

Kwekwe-Police have launched a manhunt for two suspects, one female and male suspected of being involved in the gruesome murder of a 22-year-old woman who was stabbed three times at Mutegude Shopping Centre in Rutendo, Redcliff.
Midlands Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko appealed to members of the public who have any information on the whereabouts of the assailants.
“We are appealing to members of the public with information that can help identify and locate the two, a lady and a man involved in the incident.
“Murder is a serious crime and may the public develop keen interest in assisting police in the investigation of serious crimes. Public places should be safe for all,” Mahoko said.
The incident took place on December 31, 2021 at about 2030 hours.
The now deceased has been identified as Yeukai Muzadzi.
It is alleged, the now deceased was having an altercation with another female adult when an unidentified man appeared and stabbed her three times with a knife.
It was discovered that Muzadzi sustained three stab wounds and her intestines were protruding when the police attended the scene.
The now deceased was rushed to Kwekwe hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Mother connives with daughter to ‘circumcise’ boyfriend over beer

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Mother connives with daughter to ‘circumcise’ boyfriend over beer

Russell Mapuvire

ZVISHAVANE- A mother and daughter from Vengai village in Mazvihwa communal lands appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga on January 6, 2022 facing attempted murder charges after they attempted ‘circumcise’ the mother’s boyfriend over a spilt bottle of ‘double punch’.
Laida Mwedzi (45) and her daughter Gladys Shava (26) are accused of attempting to kill Onias Hove (46) on December 25, 2021.
The state case as presented by prosecutor Isheanesu Mashayanye was that the two accused nearly severed Hove’s manhood off while he was unconscious.
It is reported that at around 1800hrs on Christmas Day, Mwedzi and Hove had an argument at the former’s homestead over accidental spilt alcohol (Double Punch) and at the height of the argument, Mwedzi picked up an empty bottle, hit Hove once on the head before he fell down.
Shava joined the fighting party by jumping and sitting on Hove’s stomach before chocking him.
While Hove was still unconscious, the two accused then cut his foreskin but the complainant only realized that he has been injured when he saw the two trying to dress him properly by pulling his trousers up.
Hove did not even know the object that was used to perform the ‘operation’.
Sensing danger and possible arrest the two threatened Hove not to seek medical attention or try to report the matter to police assuring him that they would use traditional methods to heal the wound.
The two were later arrested after the matter was reported to police.
They were then remanded in custody to January 17 and advised to apply for bail from the High Court while Hove’s wounds are being treated.

Skin bleachers at high medical risk, expert

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Skin bleachers at high medical risk, expert

Branton Matondo

Following a recent rush for presumably no-side-effect skin lightening creams, a medical expert based in Gweru has warned people using these skin bleaching chemicals to stop the practice forthwith as there are resultant permanent biological repercussions.
Majority of Zimbabweans have of late joined the ‘yellowbone’ bandwagon through the use of multiple skin lightening substances that have grossly infiltrated the nation from neighbouring Zambia, South Africa, Malawi and Mozambique.
Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union (ZPNU) President Robert Chiduku has called everyone using skin lightening substances to stop as they will encounter high medical risks and permanent body damage.
“People who are doing skin bleaching should stop. It is highly dangerous not only to your skin but to the rest of the body,” said Chiduku.
He added that skin lightening lotions and substances come with a lot of dangerous effects chief among them being inflammation and redness, which then result in long lasting damages.
“Skin bleaching causes skin blistering, redness of the skin which results from inflammation and there is a 90 percent chance of skin ulcers because your blood vessels are protruding due to the affected skin cells,” added Chiduku.
Most skin lightening substances have dominated the black market for the past decade as they contain restricted ingredients.
Chiduku said that most bleaching lotions and injections do contain large contents of mercury and mercury is naturally hazardous to skin formation and pigmentation.
“There is mercury poisoning because most of these formulations use mercury during manufacturing. The level of mercury toxicity is alarming. Mercury poisoning is shown by skin redness, inflammation, blisters, skin acne, swelling, dry scaly skin. Probability of the skin scaling off is actually high because the skin is always under high levels of mercury,” he said.
Though females tend to be high users of skin lightening materials male counterparts have also seen a surge in the numbers of consumers.
He added that people should be worrisome of exogenous ocronosis which is the abnormal skin disorder causing blue black pigmentation.
Though majority of effects seem to be centred on skin structure, Chiduku added that people using these brands will be weak in fighting diseases and pathogens.
“At the same we should also recognize that use of bleaching agents reduces your capacity to fight infections which means one’s susceptibility and vulnerability to infections is too high. When an infection kicks in, they cannot fight it let alone see it. Surgical procedures are difficult to carry out because your skin will be extra thin,” he added.

Only 371 register to vote in Masvingo province

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Only 371 register to vote in Masvingo province

Melinda Kusemachibi

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Masvingo has said a total of 371 people registered to vote in the whole of Masvingo province for the entire 2021 despite the fact that the offices were open for registration since the end of the 2018 harmonized elections except during the hard lockdown period.
Deputy Provincial Election Officer Maxwell Ncube confirmed that a total of 371 registered to vote for the year 2021 with 257 being males and 114 females.
“371 people registered to vote in Masvingo province. More surprisingly men who registered to vote during the year 2021 shows the other way that it actually doubled that of women who registered, which is very unusual and we do not know the reasons behind or it could the change by males wanting to register as voters we do not know,” said Ncube.
He also said they encourage people to come and register to vote in 2022.
“We continue to urge more potential voters to come and register to vote in 2022 in preparation for harmonized elections that are likely to be held in 2023,” he said.
Ncube also said that they managed to engage stakeholders after some restrictions were relaxed.
“The year 2021 was characterized by a shadow restriction due to Covid-19, at times total shutdown of our offices. However, over the last part of the year, restrictions were relaxed and we also engaged stakeholders such as political parties and Civil Society Organizations in anticipating that they will mobilize more voters to come and register.
“Only those who did not register to the run up to 2018 elections and those who turned 18 after 2018 need to register,” said Ncube.
Last year (2021) ZEC shelved the mobile voter registration blitz, that was supposed to start in December 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 the electoral body resume the exercise.
ZEC Commissioner Joyce Kazembe was quoted in some sections of the media saying 5 647000 had registered to vote country wide for next year’s elections with 22 000 dead removed from the voters roll.
“By the end of November 2021, we had recorded 5 647000 registers voters from 2023 elections including the new ones and those that had registered in the previous elections.
“The figure provided by the commission was of voter registration in 2021 and is not the cumulative figure in the country’s voter’s roll. Please note that the figure is added to already registered voters in the votes roll,” said Kazembe.

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