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Mwonzora at it again

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Mwonzora at it again

…as Gweru city council declares mayoral seat vacant

Kimberly Kusauka

MDC-T President Douglas Mwonzora is under fire following a criminal case of perjury being opened against him by Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe who, together with former party president Dr Thokozani Khupe are fighting their dismissal from public office.
On January 5, Mwonzora’s MDC-T released a statement dismissing Makombe’s allegations as well as dispelling his dismissal, which created confusion as the latter’s position was on December 29 declared vacant.
It is alleged that Mwonzora wrote a letter of recall on December 10, 2021 to Minister July Moyo saying Makombe had been dismissed from his party, therefore could no longer hold office in the name of the party.
Makombe and Dr Khupe then interdicted the recall which was read on December 17, and in response, MDC-T denied having made the decision to recall Makombe, but minutes attributed to Gweru City Council confirmed Makombe’s recall.
They reportedly opened a criminal case at Bulawayo Central police station, with the two also making a fresh urgent court application at Bulawayo High Court to seek an order to stop their recall.
Contacted for comment Mayor Makombe said he could not say much as the issue is still before the courts.
“The issue is still at the courts, that is all I can tell you,” said Makombe.
MDC-T Secretary for Information and Publicity Witness Dube dismissed the issue as “mere rumours, gossip and speculation” when contacted for clarification on the matter and said that if any recall is made, the information will be published and the party will not be involved in rumours circulating in the media.
“Once any recall is effected; it becomes public knowledge that is beyond any speculation. The party will therefore not be drawn into gossiping about itself and its representatives. What you are asking about is just speculation and gossip for you to insinuate that the only reason why Makombe is not officiating could be linked to a recall you have no official knowledge of.
“A recall is effected through the relevant arm of government, and as a party, it is our policy never to discuss our recalls until such a time when they are effected, and this is a position informed by professional and humane considerations. I hope this information makes you realise that you are free to speculate about anything at all as long as you leave the MDC-T out of it,” said Dube.
He further said that the publication’s reporter risks being involved in stories in which they would miss dignified exists.
“You risk being personally involved in your stories, if you miss the many dignified exists you are offered by your respondents. Surely, your level of pressing questions risk going beyond just being interrogative to being outright personal about the Makombe issue.
“Once I have given you a clear party position, you seem not to be comfortable making news out of, I am then left with no choice but ask you to disengage me from your conversation, in the manner I had to do,” fumed Dube.
This was contradictory to what he said to TellZim News last year after rumours emerged that Makombe had been recalled when he said any recall will be published in a party statement.
“Should our party be left with recalling as the only corrective measure on any councillor, such councillors will be communicated to, and their names published in a party statement,” said Dube.
Councilor Cleopas Shiri has been standing in as Acting Mayor in recent Gweru City Council events, and when contacted for comment, Gweru Acting Town Clerk Vakayi Douglas Chikwekwe referred questions to council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee, who also referred the reporter to Chikwekwe.

SRC gives AFCON update on Warriors

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SRC gives AFCON update on Warriors

…as ZIFA Secretariat acknowledges call for an extra ordinary congress

Fredrick Moyo

The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has given an update on the Zimbabwe men’s football team that is in Cameroon to take part in the upcoming 2022 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals set to begin on Sunday, January 9.
In a Press statement dated January 5, released by the Board of Commissioners which included the SRC Chairman Gerald Mlotshwa advised all members of the public that the Warriors are in Cameroon for the 2022 continental showdown as they continue to engage global Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) updating them on the administration of football in Zimbabwe.
“The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) would like to advise members of the public that the Zimbabwe men’s football team – the Warriors are now in Yaounde, Cameroon to participate at the 2022 AFCON Cup finals.
“The SRC has a US$1 million budget for the Warriors campaign made up of US$800 000 and ZWL$21 000 000 to finance their participation at AFCON, inclusive of appearance and match fees.
“The Warriors started camp on the 23rd of December 2021 in Harare where they were in a bio-secure bubble at a local hotel. Therefore, players who made it to the final Warriors squad together with the technical team and support staff left for Yaounde, Cameroon to begin their second leg of camping which was from the 29th of December 2021 and ended yesterday 4th of January 2022.
“This evening (January 05) the Warriors fly to the official ‘Game Village’ in Baffousam where CAF has made arrangements for their accommodation and related logistics.
“The Warriors were training in Yaounde at the Presidential Guard stadium. The team was availed additional medical personnel who are Covid-19 specialists in the view of the current operating environment by CAF,” read the statement.
The secretariat also said morale is high in the camp.
“The ZIFA Secretariat advises that the camp is in high spirits. The SRC commends the ZIFA Secretariat for their dedication and commitment with the regard to the Warriors participation at AFCON.
“The SRC continues to engage FIFA positively in updating them on developments regarding football administration in Zimbabwe,” read the statement.
The Warriors will lock horns with the Lions of Teranga (Senegal) on January 10, before taking on the Flames (Malawi) on January 14, and wrap up their group campaign with Guinea’s National Elephants on January 18.
This is the fifth time the Warriors have qualified for a big tournament in Africa but have never gone past the group stages in the competition.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has notified the Secretariat of the intention to hold an extra ordinary congress in which all suspended members of the board will answer all the accusations levelled against them.
This was communicated through a press statement dated January 5, 2022, signed by ZIFA Head of Communications, Xolisani Gwesela stating that the Secretariat have acknowledged the receipt of correspondence from some ZIFA members who called for the extra ordinary congress.
“The ZIFA Secretariat acknowledges receipt of correspondence for some ZIFA members dated January, 3 2022 and their call for an extra ordinary congress in line with Article 28 of the ZIFA constitution.
“The Secretariat has verified the credentials and authenticity of members who called for the meeting. The members who appended their signatures in a letter to ZIFA Secretariat are bona fide ZIFA Members.
“It is noted that ZIFA Executive Committee as well as General Secretary are suspended by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), and are therefore not able to meet as a board to convene an extraordinary general congress, please note the provision contained in Article 28(2) of the registered Constitution of 2013 which now applies and we quote: ‘If an Extraordinary Congress is not convened, the Members who requested it may convene the Congress themselves’,” added the statement.
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) suspended the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) board with immediate effect accusing the board of several transgressions which including abuse of public funds and gross incompetence.

Welcome to 2022 in 2021

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Welcome to 2022 in 2021

Welcome to 2022 maCdes, I hope you enjoyed the Christmas and New year celebrations, lets thank God ladies and gentlemen, inyasha kudai tiri vapenyu. Let’s remember these young fellas who perished on New Year’s Day, May their souls rest in peace Mwari vachinyaradza mhuri dzakasiiwa. So kuva vapenyu kwedu means God is there.
Ko our presidents have joined the gospel of prosperity just like our pastors kkkkk. Hanzi 2022 is the year of growth. Really Mr President, ini hangu I am not docile so i won’t say I receive. Let me tell you the truth, 2022 will never be a better year, if there is any change we could witness it is a negative one kkk, we have been in a worse situation and can only go from worse to towel. Those who have been hustling continue to do so coz hapana zviripo makumbo enyoka. I am not a prophet of doom saAmos but mark my words. It’s not only ED KKK, Chamisa as usual is also promising good things in 2022 kkkk. Hanzi 2022 is a year for citizen action and community leadership for change. You have been promising people this since you took over youngman, we need real action not empty promises, and people are still waiting for the signal you promised. Vazhinji vari kupera kufa neCovid vasati vaona change. NDOPANDOZODIRA Sikhala ipapa, he needs action kwete kungotaura. WHO has also joined in the prosperity gospel, hanzi we are defeating Covid-19 in 2022. Encouraging isn’t it?, there is a catch though, the governments must make sure that people adhere to protocols kkkk, nemiwo Jungwai kuti zviite. It is Mapombi’s prayer that all the promises YaED, Chamisa and WHO dzinobudirira because zvakatinakira. However, I know hangu kuti paOne and two apo makata kkkkkl.
By-election dates have been proclaimed, hanzi 26 March chinenege chaka Pfuta, yes let’s go neuwandu hwedu tinovhota kkkk, I won’t tell you pekuvhotera because zvazara izvi, you all know where to put the X, ko kutyei, chero pane madofo ingoisai ipapao zvipere kkkk.I say madofo because these guys from the other side usually put madofo asina kana chaanoziva, kunoti muParliament zii, muCouncil chamber kudai ziiii. If you think I am lying please attend any one full council meeting pedu paCivic Centre apa muone kuti ndiri gentrumeni handivanzi, ana Beta nana Mai Maridza ah, kusiya zvavo Manyanga achiita zvaanoda kunge Kanzuru ndeyekumba kwake. Izvezvi hatisati tamboziva kana 1 canditate yeMDC-Alliance in all the nine wards dziri kuda maBy-election. Please isaiwo maCandidates ari nani vakomana. After all has been said and done, Let’s register to vote ladies and gentlemen,, there is no any other miracle that can happen to for the MDC to win Elections, maybe Chamisa hake since he is a pastor has a bag of miracles ready to be used in 2023 which is around the corner, ko paseri apo. I was worried to hear that only five women registered to vote in the whole of Mashonaland province, what a shock is that. Though I doubt kuti iSure, come on my fellow women, we are the majority and we can do better. If this complacency in registering to vote continues then forget zveNHM, It will be just wishful thinking. Hanzi naED this is a year of growth but I say this is the year to register to vote, let’s go and knock at those few centres dotted around and register.
I heard some youths are registering simply because some election related organisations are giving them money when they produce proof of registration. I didn’t know we could stoop so low. The youths need serious education on why they vote because this has proven that they really don’t know. How can we advocate for youths in leadership when they don’t know their rights. I think chero youth quota in Parliament is uselss kana zvakadai. I appeal to those responsible for voter education and political parties to make sure they educate vana on the need to register to vote and then vote. Zviya zvainzi we need an anti-corruption subject in schools is useless, apa ndopanoda subject manje, from grade 1 chaiko mwana ngaadzidziswe the need to participate in elections.
Iwo maErections aya nhaka tichahwa kwazvo. Takatanga DCC, tevere macell and ward chaipersons, ndokuuya PCC manje taakuda kuenda for By-elections as we wait for the final one in 2023 kkkk. Iwo maprovincial elections anga akaoma, manonokere akaita kubuda maresults apa mmmm, tichaonerera hedu pana 26 March. I know these guys they may return us to the 2008 time where they took ages to announce results. Chete apa they adopted them sezvaari because I thought they were cooking them. Vanhu vari kufara paMasvingo, even kuno kuchitima people are happy, they have hopes that Mavhenyengwa would do something kkkk, they hope so havazivi kuti he is just as useless as anyone in Zanu PF kkkk, ritoriwo dofo zvaro kkkk. You think I am lying, haadiwe chero kumba kwake uko. Go ahead and ask anyone from Mukwirimba munzwe kkkk. Hameno, lets watch and see but I think njuga dzichamuremera apa. I heard Chadzamira has conceded defeat, ndokukura Chitova ikoko, rarai henyu nebhutsu musiirewo Mavheneyngwa tione. Iye Chadzamira anga anyanyawo kuva powerful mmm ndosaka anga okonzeresa. Those who were rigged tough luck kkkk . Taste the bitterness of your own medicine, zvakarigana ikoko kkkk, zvavari kunzwa ndozvinonzwawo vamwe paya kana mabira sarudzo kkkk. Biranai henyu we don’t care.
Ko Bulawayo ndoyakazotirongera kudzosa JB, that guy is an orator but very ruthless, beware of another 2008 ladies and gentlemen. Is gamatox crawling back into Zanu PF? Let’s see kwazvinosvika. Zivhu naThemba have formed an alliance, Mukati kwakanaka iyemi?. I don’t support Zanu PF hangu but let me applaud Mash Best for trusting a woman pachigaro. It’s encouraging if my fellow women are taking such positions. If ZANU guys approaches me and promise me a position surely I will join, for the sake of getting more women in leadership positions not kuti ndoida, I hate it to the core. KuMDC Alliance hatitaure, zvagara zviriko, ana Mahere, Kore Johana haa wozodei.
Ko kwenyu team SA yaivakowo here kkkk, I am sure mange makagadzirira mari dzekutenga ,maphone vaakudzokera. I hear vana vari kutambura paborder apa. Those without permits are being deported. All because our motherland has been captured by individuals who run it like their private company. Gadzirisai nyika vana vadzoke kumusha. Hamunyare makaita seiko. Many boarder jumpers are losing lives in Limpopo trying to run away from Zim. But naivo vachinyanyawo, dai vazoenda after maBy-elections better. Come back and register to vote tibvise Zanu iyi. Basa kungopopota muri ikoko.
Before I go zvangu kunokanga maputi angu for lunch, pane akazombonzwawo about our very own Chief, yes I mean Murinye kkk, who else deserve that title other than him. Is he safe, takapinda navo here mugore idzva iri kkkk. Kana muri mupenyu huyai ndimbokuonai pachitima apa. But next time please don’t play around with the truth like that munofira mahara. Ko nyaya yeZifa neSRS yava papi, itai serious imi vanhu muchitanga nyaya dzamunopedza. I hope maWorry Us will not do zviri kuitwa neMan U izvi. Hatidi stress isu, we can’t have nhamo gumi nguva imwe. Zanu nedivi, SA yodzinga vana vari kucrosser, Omicron, maWarriors ahhh.
Pane akazombonzwa nezvaMboko? I miss that guy a lot, dai aripo maybe takadyawo nyama paChristmas neNew year. I doubt aitishairawo tutiyo or maIncubators totsotsonya tega kkk. Mboko Imboko.

It’s Chamisa time!

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It’s Chamisa time!

…by-elections to put Mwonzora in his right place

Brighton Chiseva

The long awaited by-elections which were recently proclaimed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa are going to put to test Zimbabwe’s main opposition parties, with the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance having an upper hand in most if not all the recalled vacant seats.
With barely two and half months to go until the national assembly by-elections on March 26, MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has revealed that he is more interested in having dialogue with the ruling Zanu PF, evidenced by his State House visit to meet President Mnangagwa on January 6, hours after the by-elections proclamation was made.
Chamisa on the other hand is expected to reveal part, if not most of his election strategy with the by-elections necessitated by the recall of his stronghold in the national assembly by the MDC-T after it won a legitimacy battle in 2020, with political experts saying that playing his cards close to his chest is no longer an option.
The recalling of legislators by Mwonzora’s MDC-T came as what many called a killer blow to MDC Alliance and for some time the party lied low, raising speculation that it was as good as done, after which Chamisa went on a tour towards the end of 2021 that was marred with violence from alleged Zanu PF supporters, dragging Chamisa out of a long hiatus from political relevance.
The tour came hot on the heels of MDC-T Deputy Chairperson Giles Mutsekwa telling supporters in Masvingo that the MDC Alliance name issue was as good as done as his party had already won the case in court, therefore stripping Chamisa’s party of the name.
“The party name wrangle we have with MDC Alliance is as good as done as we have already won the battle. We are coming from the high offices where the matter should end, and I can assure you that the matter is done. Chamisa and crew are just making noise but they are illegitimate,” Mutsekwa said in October 2021.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Masvingo a week later, Chamisa scoffed at the party name issue saying fighting for names was petty because the electorate was conscious of who they were going to vote for come election time.
“Fighting over names is petty because the people are conscious of the people they need to occupy office. We are not worried about names because you can call a donkey something else but people know that it is a donkey, so whatever they call us we will remain MDC-Alliance because people know their leadership,” Chamisa said.
MDC-T Presidential Spokesperson Lloyd Damba recently said his party was past the name issue as there was a standing court ruling they have won.
“We are past the issue of the name, there is a standing court ruling that we won and certain parts of the media for political expediency somehow hijacked the name and credited it to Nelson Chamisa in contempt of court. We stand where we stood (sic) because we know who we are and where we came from and are going. The alliance agreement defines who is the MDC Alliance and who is the principal of that pact,” said Damba.
He went on to say they were confident that they will win the elections saying the party was formed to take power through peaceful and constitutional means.
“As a party, we were formed to take state power through electoral peaceful democratic and constitutional means. One thing that you know is that you go to war not to die but to kill,” said Damba
When asked for comment on the state of preparedness and party name issue however, MDC-Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzai Mahere said they will reveal the party’s position at the right time.
“At the appropriate time, we will set our position to the people,” said Mahere.
Political analyst Doctor Alexander Rusero said the issue of the name was not critical when it comes to elections saying the Chamisa camp could not be foolish not to know what needs to be done.
“I am sure something is brewing in the Chamisa camp, they cannot be foolish and they will soon produce something that will put the name issue to rest. Even if Mwonzora uses the name MDC Chamisa people will always know what they want,” said Dr Rusero.
Dr Rusero also said Mwonzora had nothing to prove as he has nothing much to offer, with the real battle being left between Chamisa’s party and Zanu PF’s newly elected provincial leaders to prove their strength in mobilizing for the 2023 harmonised elections.
“Mwonzora is just an accident of politics and a spent force, he has nothing to offer, so the election is a real test for Zanu PF’s newly elected provincial leaders’ ability to mobilize for 2023. The new dispensation does not know the culture of elections and still has the 2018 election hangover so this by-election is more about them as the incumbent,” said Dr Rusero.
He went on to say elections were not just there to test the preparedness of the parties but a constitutional matter as well as a yardstick to indicate who the electorate chooses to represent them.
Another political commentator Doctor Wellington Gadzikwa said the by-election will prove who is who between Chamisa and Mwonzora saying the election will set pace for the 2023 elections, with the name issue having the potential to confuse the electorate if both parties decide to go by the same name.
“This is a litmus test for the MDC parties, this is where we are going to see who is who between the two. However, the name issue could bring confusion to the electorate because Mwonzora and team are threatening to use the MDC-Alliance name and there could be minor differences,” said Dr Gadzikwa
A total of 28 seats are vacant in parliament and 105 in local authorities, with most of them being recalls by Mwonzora’s MDC-T which saw all elected officials loyal to Chamisa’s MDC-Alliance being purged from public office.
There seems to be a strong inclination to Chamisa using the Citizens Convergence for Change (CCC) as some of his support base has hinted that in both mainstream and social media.

Disabled woman murdered over food

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Disabled woman murdered over food

Princess Masiiwa

A suspected mentally ill man from Chiitani village under Chief Mupapa in Chiredzi allegedly murdered his disabled sister for refusing to give him a third serving of food.

The incident took place on January 2, 2022 at around 0130 hours when Jonathan Chiitani (27) came home drunk and woke up his sister Esnat Chiitani (35) who was sleeping in the same house with their mother Maria Chekani (50) to serve him food.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said they encourage people living with mentally-challenged relatives to always make sure they do not default on their medications.

“We encourage members of the public that if they have relatives who are suffering from mental challenges not to stop taking their medications,” said Dhewa.

Circumstances are that Esnat complied with Jonathan’s order to be served food, but Jonathan kept on demanding for more after which she served her for the second time.

Jonathan demanded a third serving to which Esnat refused to serve him irking the former who then started shouting before their mother woke up, intervening by taking him to his room.

After their mother left, Jonathan followed Esnat demanding more food and he took a Mopani stick from the granary threatening to beat his sister.

Sensing danger, Maria then instructed Esnat to crawl away from Jonathan.

The accused started beating his sister on the face several times with the stick. Maria then ran to their uncle Jephat Chiitani (50) but when she came back with Jephat and nine other neighbors, she found Esnat bleeding profusely, lying unconsciously on the floor with multiple cuts on the head and they reported the matter to Chikombedzi police station.

Reports were also that sometime in 2013 Jonathan Chiitani reportedly went to South Africa to look for a job but later in 2014 came back home mentally sick.

Maria sought treatment for him from traditional healers and his condition had improved when the unfortunate incident occurred.

Masvingo province starts administering Covid-19 booster shots

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Masvingo province starts administering Covid-19 booster shots

…first and second dose vaccination still in process

Kimberly Kusauka

Masvingo province has started administering Covid-19 booster shots to fully vaccinated individuals following a scare from the new variant Omicron which hit hard the country in the last days of 2021.

Masvingo Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Amadeus Shamhu said they received guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to give a Covid-19 booster shot to those who are fully vaccinated.

“We received guidelines a week ago to start giving Covid-19 booster shots to fully vaccinated members, so we are starting to receive the doses now and they are available at all vaccination centres,” said Dr Shamhu.

He said they are not yet aware of the number of people coming for the Covid-19 booster shot as they continue focusing on giving first and second doses.

“We are not sure about the turnout because we are still concentrating on first and second doses,” added Dr Shamhu.

Masvingo Covid-19 taskforce spokesperson Rogers Irimayi said they are allowing anyone to get a booster shot at nearer vaccination points and frontline workers are encouraged to get a shot since they are the ones directly involved.

“The situation in the province at the moment is that those who are interested in getting the booster shot can visit their nearest vaccination centres and we are not using any criteria hence, it is open to everyone.

“Many people are receiving their booster shots and we are of course encouraging frontline workers to get their booster shots because they are the people who are at risk,” said Irimayi.

He added that they are still carrying out campaigns but they do not have actual statistics on the people who have received booster shots.

“Campaigns are on, we have not stopped and in terms of turnout, I cannot actually give updated statistics at the moment,” added Irimayi.

As at January 3, 2022 a total number of 4 136 295 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

Women more vulnerable to violence, torture during protests

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Women more vulnerable to violence, torture during protests

Kimberly Kusauka

Organised violence and torture in Zimbabwe affect women during protests more than any other civilian, hence they end up not participating in peaceful protests.
This came out during a Zoom meeting organised by the Research Advocacy and Unit (RAU) on the launch of a report on organised violence and torture in dealing with protests in Zimbabwe.
Senior Researcher at RAU Tony Reeler said women are the most affected gender when it comes to protests in Zimbabwe, where they are physically tortured, unlawfully detained and abducted together with their family members.
“From a report on OVT against women, they are abused through unlawful detention, abductions of self or family and they are physically tortured,” said Reeler.
He said that organised violence and torture (OVT) against women is allegedly perpetrated by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who include Riot Squad, uniformed branch as well as Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
“The perpetrators who take the lead in the harassment of women during protests are police, the Army and politicians.
“It is sad to note that the police and the army are the ones on the forefront of torturing women when they are supposed to be protecting citizens by allowing them freedom to exercise their constitutional rights to protest and demonstrate.
“We focused on women because they join men in protests and their participation is a symbol that the protests or demonstrations will be peaceful since women are not violent in nature,” said Reeler.
He went on to say that the number of people who are willing to protest is decreasing with each year as a demonstration is a sign of hostility in Zimbabwe.
“The right to demonstrate is viewed as being hostile to a certain extent, to be an activist is to be a victim of violence and torture and you take risks of being unlawfully harmed,” said Reeler.
The report recommended that the right to demonstrate and protest must be honoured as well as the right to assembly and association. It also recommended that ZRP should provide protection for citizens during and after protests.

Red Cross donates to heavy rains victims, vulnerable people

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Red Cross donates to heavy rains victims, vulnerable people

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.

National Tree Planting Day: An overlooked essentiality

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National Tree Planting Day: An overlooked essentiality

…Chiredzi’s Mopani tree under threat of extinction

Beatific Gumbwanda

With about 62 percent of energy used in Zimbabwe being drawn from wood-based sources, the South-Eastern Lowveld, which is rich in drought-tolerant Mopani trees supplies almost a third of the percentage as tones of firewood and charcoal are being transported to Harare to address the energy challenges currently experienced in the country.
As a result there are calls for geo-engineering and agroforestry which the National Tree Planting Day is trying to address through encouraging citizens to plant more trees.
Government of Zimbabwe introduced the National Tree Planting Day (NTPD) annual commemorations that are done on the first Saturday of every December seeking to encourage every citizen to plant more trees, though the concept is overlooked by most people.
Even the organizers, are not making follow-ups on the growth and maintenance of trees planted on this particular day.
The NTPD is a day that seeks to raise awareness on the importance of trees and forests for socio-economic development, human livelihoods and health, well-being of the environment and its living components.
Addressing stakeholders during the district’s NTPD commemorations at Chiredzi’s Zimbabwe Republic Police Headquarters recently, Forestry Commission Board Member Professor Munashe Shoko highlighted that trees and forests serve as carbon sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide.
“Trees and forests serve as carbon sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide which is a component of greenhouse gases causing the depletion of the ozone layer. The high concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causes global warming and exacerbates climate change.
“The effects of climate change are the observable extreme weather events such as cyclones, droughts and floods that we are witnessing in Zimbabwe and the world over,” said Professor Shoko.
He also said there is need for action in as far as agroforestry and reforestation is concerned in order to serve the earth’s surface from the wrath of climate change.
“We also know that trees and forests are a significant sink for the carbon based pollutants, which they can absorb through the process of photosynthesis, hence ridding the atmosphere of the pollution, release oxygen which our bodies require for respiration, and bring about stability in the atmosphere.
“It follows therefore that by increasing forest cover through tree planting and forest conservation, we are capacitating the earth with the ability to reverse the negative climatic forces and bring normalcy, we experience predictable seasons where we can plan our agricultural production with certainty and improve food security,” added professor Shoko.
In the just ended COP26 summit held in Glasgow, more than 100 countries signed a pledge to end deforestation by 2030 as well as overarching goal to keep ‘1.5’ degrees Celsius alive which refers to the global warming limit that the Paris Agreement aspires to.
Scientists are projecting that average surface temperatures have increased by 0.9 degrees Celsius since 1900 with the greatest warming occurring since the 1980’s.
The southern and south eastern parts of the country have the greatest decline of up to 10% for best and worst case scenarios.
Trees are very vital for carbon sequestration, which is the process by which trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen and store carbon, which together with methane constitute some of the greenhouse gases that trap the heat in the atmosphere leading to climate change.
Climate change includes major changes in the temperatures, precipitation or wind patterns, among others, that occur over several decades or longer-leading to global warming.
Southern Zimbabwe will experience greater frequency of severe droughts. Longer and more frequent heat waves are projected to occur in the country, with the South Eastern lowveld experiencing higher temperatures between 40-45 degrees Celsius.
Therefore, there is need to be serious in as far as reforestation and afforestation is concerned in Chiredzi, where huge chunks of trees are being destroyed in order to meet the energy demand in Zimbabwe.

GZU film scoops top award

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GZU film scoops top award

Melinda Kusemachibi

Just a week after winning the 2021 International Red Cross Humanitarian National Moot Competition, Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) hogged the limelight once again after one of its films titled Umshado Wethu was voted the best film at the inaugural edition of the Varsity Film Expo which ran from 6-11 Dec launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Bulawayo.
The event was done in partnership with the Film and Television Resources led by Kwanele Hlabangana and Kudzai Chikomo in conjunction with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.
Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo described GZU’s latest achievement as overwhelming and a testimony to the transformative work and leadership role that GZU is taking in higher education in Zimbabwe.
“I am simply overwhelmed and speechless. These awards are a testimony to the transformative work and leadership role that GZU is taking in Higher education in Zimbabwe. I can congratulate staff, students and leaders of this amazing institution for always leading with never ending humility,” said Prof Zvobgo.
The film written and directed by award winning film and television practitioner, Charles Munganasa and produced by Julia Yule and Shadreck Dzingayi is about the marriage of Robert and Nakai that comes under siege as both cannot cope up with each other’s aspirations.
The three teamed up with students who made up the entire cast and crew.
This is the second film to be produced by GZU after another successful production titled ‘Solo na Mutsai’ in 2016.
More than 10 colleges showcased their productions with Great Zimbabwe University, National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and Midlands State University( MSU) occupying the top three posts respectively.
Speaking at the event President Emmerson Mnangagwa was quoted urging film practitioners to be patriotic and use their talents to tell the true Zimbabwean story, after which he castigated those who are using their skills to diminish the country’s image.

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