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Women groups lobby for GBV survivors’ social protection fund

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Women groups lobby for GBV survivors’ social protection fund

Tinaani Nyabereka

Women across the Midlands Province have called upon government to provide a social protection fund for victims of Gender Based Violence.
The call comes as most women, particularly mothers struggle to sustain their families when the perpetrators are arrested leaving them as sole breadwinners.
Speaking during the annual commemorations of 16 Days Against Gender Based Violence (GBV) on November in Mkoba, Director for Ebeneezar Women Social Entrepreneurship Trust (EWSET), Florence Guzha said it is sad to note how women are still going in silence on cases of abuse.
“It is good to be in a season where women stand up to advocate for their issues. If you see a bitter woman, it is usually because of men’s actions. If a woman report an act of violence to the police, she wants justice to prevail.
“The problem we still have is, most victims tend to withdraw charges fearing that the husband will be locked away considering that in most cases he is the breadwinner at the same time he is the perpetrator of violence.
“As women, we lobby the government to assist women with a social protection cover to ensure that they sustain their families in the event that the breadwinner has been arrested. As soon as the courts charge the GBV perpetrator, women should automatically be eligible for that fund.,” she added.
Musasa Project representative, Agnes Muuya said the issue of inequality was fuelling gender-based violence in communities.
She added that as Musasa, they were available to assist victims of GBV through various services.
“Inequalities between men and women is still the major cause of gender-based violence considering that there is no level play field for everyone. This is the reason why violence is still prevalent among women.
“Anyone can be a victim of abuse including men. We strongly advise cases of gender-based violence be reported in time. As Musasa, we offer quiet a number of services to victims of abuse. These include counselling, temporary shelters and health aid in case our victim has nowhere to go until the issue has been dealt with,” she added.
Legal expert, Mufaro Jonasi said it was important for women to be sensitised on how the law works as they are mostly caught unknowingly.
“It is important to talk about the law because some laws and acts which then go to affect you as women looking at GBV. Looking at the bill in a layman’s term, it now calls for civil partnerships where in section 5 it recognises the existence of civil partnerships.
“The bill also goes on to stipulate that both partners in the civil union are equal and have same rights and obligations even looking at the issue of sharing assets,” he added.
Youth Essence Programmes Officer, Tendai Ncube however said the bill requires further interrogation.
“Looking on issue to do with gender based violence and abuse, I feel there is need for us to interrogate the bill objectively as it has both positives and negatives towards the welfare of women.
“In as much we feel bill is serving the interest of those who crafted it or in other way maybe promoting acts of immorality, there are some sections which have come to address our issues as women.
There is need for us to go through, understand and then pick along issues that the bill is addressing. Issues to do with violence and divorce, I feel the bill is addressing quiet a number of issues. Women have suffered enough without the law on their side, we need to give our inputs when the bill comes for consultations,” she added.
The commemorations were held under the theme: ‘End Violence Against Women Now’.

MCC adopts press briefings after full council meetings

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MCC adopts press briefings after full council meetings

Thabiso Nxumalo

Masvingo City Council (MCC) held its first ever press briefing session after a full council meeting held at Civic Centre on December 1, 2021 and resolved to make it a routine.
Addressing the media and giving feedback on the full council deliberations Masvingo Mayor Cllr Collen Maboke said it was necessary for council to brief the media to avoid situations where the public will receive inaccurate information.
“I come to you with feedback on deliberations done by council today as we considered reports from various committees of Council. It has become necessary for me to give information to the press and thereby avoid speculation and circulation of inaccurate information on social media.
“We will therefore be holding these press conferences after every full Council meeting and I will therefore present the feedback as discussed in the committees and also on major service delivery matters,” said Maboke.
The mayor also advised media houses and freelance journalists to report accurately and responsibly as the media is a major influencer when it comes to luring investors in the city.
“We will continue to give the press accurate information so as to avoid situations where the public will receive information from speculative and unreliable sources.
“I also urge media houses and freelance journalists to report responsibly on issues affecting the city as this has an impact on investment promotion in our great city,” Maboke added.
This initiative by the city council comes barely a month after TellZim News engaged council at a workshop to create bi-lateral relations in information sharing and dissemination in order to better equip citizens with accurate and updated information on city issues.
The city council promised a media tour of the Mucheke Trunk Sewer project to see the progress.

Councilors demand for offices

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Councilors demand for offices

Princess Masiiwa

Masvingo urban councilors told the recent full council meeting that the local authority was supposed to build offices for the councilors in their respective wards.
Ward 10 councilor Sengerai Manyanga said it was noble for council to construct offices for councillors at ward centres where they would be able to meet residents who would need their services.
“Council has to build offices for us councillors so that we do not meet with people under trees or in the streets,” said Manayanga
Manyanga said such facilities would help residents to be able to access services from their councillor without having trouble in calling him/her or even ask about their whereabouts as the councillor would be found at the office.
“We as councilors, are there to hear of the problems faced by the public, therefore offices are needed so that when they want to speak to the councillor, they can go straight to office without asking about the councillor’s whereabouts so that they can speak to him/her,” he said.
He also said Masvingo council is the only council that has not built offices for councilors but also lied that they built a mobile clinic.
“Our own council is the only one that has not built offices for its councilors. You lied to the public that you build a mobile clinic that you did not,” he said
Manyanga also said there is need for the council to build a police base at Eastvale in Masvingo as there are many thieves flocking the area.
“Council has to partner the police and build a police base at Eastview because the number of cases of theft has escalated. Thieves broke into Alpha cottage and 29 rabbits were stolen,” said Manyanga

Tongogara Primary School head accused of funds misuse

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Tongogara Primary School head accused of funds misuse

Melinda Kusemachibi

Parents with children at Tongogara Primary School and other staff member are reportedly up in arms with the school head Aleck Mlambo whom they accuse of misusing school funds.
Parents and staff members allegedly wrote a petition letter to the Auditor General demanding explanation on how school funds were being handled by the authorities.
“We the grumbling staff members and refugee parents of children at Tongogara Primary Refugee School in Chipinge are kindly praying and requesting your reputable office to urgently come to the rescue of us teachers, parents and our learners, an audit that give us clarity on how public funds are handled ( school finance).
“We have witnessed children’s pass rate deteriorate as years pass by. Our children’s welfare and education have been grossly compromised to deplorable levels,” read the letter.
The letter further allege that they once wrote a petition to the school head but he did not respond.
“We sought audience from the head as we wrote a petition to him but were given a deaf ear. He just threatened to charge the 32 teachers. This has led us to assume that there is a gross mismanagement of funds at the institution since fees paid do not tally with services provided. Therefore we seek your intervention, “reads part of the letter.
They further allege that fees at the school is mainly paid in US$ but there is no meaningful development yet the school fees is paid by the NGOs.
“It is a donor funded school and the fees are paid every term by United National Higher Commissioner Refugee (UNHCR).
“It is believed that every term the school receives between US$35 000 to US$39 000 but on the ground, you cannot see what the money is being used for since infrastructural projects are usually done by (NGOs),” read the letter.
Teachers are alleged to be complaining about shortage of accommodation.
“It is self-evident, the school is failing to provide its staff with adequate accommodation, some members are living in cabins, harsh conditions and those cabins are from well-wishers (the donors).
When contacted for comment school head Aleck Mlambo said he does not know anything about that issue.
“I do not know about it, it is anonymous to me. Even the letter, l did not see it. The District Education Officers are still to give their recommendations about what they saw at the school,” said Mlambo.
Former Chipinge District Schools Inspector (DSI) Richard Gabaza said at some point teachers at the school once raised the same concerns and investigations were carried out.
“The teachers at Tongogara Primary School once wrote a petition when I was still DSI in Chipinge and investigations were carried out but nothing was found. However, youcan get in touch with the current DSI on the current situation,” said Gabaza.
Efforts to get a comment from DSI Abson Mapfumo were fruitless by the time of publication as his mobile number went unanswered.

ZESN engages Gweru youths on voter education

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ZESN engages Gweru youths on voter education

Tinaani Nyabereka

Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) last week engaged youths in Gweru on voter education as efforts to capacitate young people.
Addressing young people at the Africa Youth Month celebrations last week in Gweru, ZESN Midlands taskforce vice chairperson, Merjury Makunere said it was important for young people to be equipped on voter education as youths are a key sector in national building.
She added that ZEC was mandated to provide adequate civic and voter education campaigns to citizens.
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is the only organisation which is authorized to conduct voter education. Therefore, if Civic Society Organisation (CSOs) want to conduct voter education, they seek permission from ZEC.
“When an organisation is granted permission to host the exercise, ZEC then goes on to monitor if the educational process is adequate and not misleading. Voter education is done under stipulated laws as it is not conducted on partisan grounds,” she added.
Makunere further highlighted the electoral cycle structure saying it was a key feature that the electorate was supposed to embrace.
“There is need to be well conversant with the electoral cycle because it does not stop. We all know that the registration blitz was halted last week, but if you go to ZEC centres now with your identification particulars you can register to vote. The centres are opened 24/7 to offer such services.
“Voter registration is key as it helps eliminate those ineligible to vote from voting. We have some clusters not permitted by the law to vote. These include those in prisons, people below the age of 18 among others,” added Makunere.
Last week ZEC postponed the mobile voter registration which was scheduled to commence on the December 6, 2021 up to February 2022 as the Registrar’s office was not issuing national Identity Cards due to resource challenges.
Meanwhile, Young Man Christian Alliance (YMCA), Acting Coordinator, and Tafadzwa Makore urged youths to shape the Africa they want through participation in elections.
“As youths we have a great role to play in nation building considering the fact that young people constitute the majority of Africa’s population.
“There is no doubt that we are the heart of Africa’s development agenda. We can build Africa only if we are a united front which stands and tolerate one another’s perceptions,” Makore said.
The Africa Youth Month was born after the adoption of the African Youth Charter through an executive council decision of the Banjul Summit of 2006.
The development saw the 1st of November being declared ‘Africa Youth Day.’
As the day is celebrated annually, it is centred on increasing awareness, commitment and investment in youth through participation and partnerships across the divide.
The commemorations were held under the theme “Defining the future today: Youth-led solutions for building the Africa we want”.

MPs fume over US$50 cell phone levy

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MPs fume over US$50 cell phone levy

Thabiso Nxumalo

Members of Parliament have expressed discontent at the US$50 cell-phone levy charged on all imported cell phone gadgets included in the 2021 National Budget presented by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Speaking at a Harare hotel during the post budget seminar held on November 29, 2021, a follow up to the ZW$927 billion budget presented by Professor Ncube, various MPs expressed distaste on the US$50 cell-phone tax that would be paid by every cell-phone user before they can join any Zimbabwean network.
Movement for Democratic Change-T vice president Thokozani Khupe said Zimbabwe should learn from Rwanda’s zero rating on imported cell-phones as government stands to make more money when people start transacting with those phones.
“Development is not rocket science; it is about copying from other countries. Rwanda imposes zero ratings on cell phones because government collects more money as people start transacting.
“So, we must learn from Rwanda, remove the US$50 levy and allow people to buy phones without that levy,” said Khupe.
Chief’s Council president Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira said the Ministry of Finance should have highlighted the cell-phone levy three weeks back in Victoria Falls during the pre-budget meetings rather than ambushing them with a levy they do not agree with.
“We were in Victoria Falls three weeks ago to make inputs to critical issues on the nation but we are now ambushed with a levy that we did not make an input into.
“I have a problem with my conscience as to what we were doing in Victoria Falls? Yes, I am well aware that there are certain issues that are confidential that the Ministry of Finance can hide from us so that people do not take pre-emptive measures, but this one is not a confidential matter.
“Then the question is what were we doing in the pre-budget seminar?” said Charumbira.
Outspoken Norton legislator Temba Mliswa said in the next parliamentary meeting, the budget should be rejected especially the cell-phone levy issue.
“My advice is simple; we are going to reject this budget in Parliament! Firstly, we are denouncing the issue of the US$50 cell-phone levy,” said Mliswa.
The cell phone levy stipulates that if one imports a cell phone he or she has to pay US$50 and failure mean the phone not connect to any mobile network.

Teacher Unions deny working with British Agencies

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Teacher Unions deny working with British Agencies

Rutendo Chirume

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) have rejected government allegations that the two unions were working with Britain to oust the current regime
This came out after one state owned newspaper carried a publication accusing PTUZ and ARTUZ of conspiring with foreigners to remove the existing government which was headlined “Teachers Union’s plot exposed”
“Teachers’ unions and other civil society organizations have been roped in to push the Western-funded regime change agenda in the country with handsome perks being given to the unions’ leadership.
The illicit funding of teachers’ unions from countries like the United Kingdom and the United States has created a financial gulf between leaders and the people they purportedly represent.
Both teacher unions argue that they are no one’s agent but have their own reasons why and how the regime has to be changed,” read part of the story
However,PTUZ president Dr Takavafira Zhou said government had adopted a trajectory of falsehoods and any attempts to silence PTUZ leadership through cheap blackmailing would not work.
“Instead of restoring the purchasing power parity of teachers’ salaries and allowing Zimsec to sign contractual agreements for invigilation of public examinations, government is accusing PTUZ leadership of working with the British for regime change. Such ludicrous hallucination is not only baffling, but madness of the worst order.
There is an urgent need to restore teachers’ salaries to pre-October 2018. Attempts to silence PTUZ leadership through cheap blackmailing would not work, let alone find traction among teachers. The ball is now in teachers’ courts. Its high time teachers stop standing on the touchline to watch a game they should be playing, “said Zhou.
On his part ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure also said such labeling is not new as it is usually succeeded with abductions and torture among other forms of persecution.
“We are no one’s agent but we have a right to decide to change a corrupt and clueless regime. Our families are starving because of underpayment and our education is collapsing. Is this regime God ordained? No! .Regimes have to be changed when they do not serve people’s interests! Government should focus on both their electoral promises and constitutional obligations.
This attempt to label us in a bid to silence us will not work. Do they expect us to surrender our fundamental rights out of fear? No we are not moved! We demand pre-October 2018 salaries and invigilation allowanced now,” said Masaraure.
The public examinations have started and teachers continue to demand contracts with ZIMSEC and still insist they will not invigilate without the allowances.

ERRP program prioritizing good roads leaving damaged ones

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ERRP program prioritizing good roads leaving damaged ones

Priviledge Muchadenyika

Masvingo urban ward 8 councillor Against Chiteme said residents in his ward are worried by the prioritisation of main roads by the contractors working under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) at the expense of smaller roads.
Speaking during a full council meeting recently, Chiteme asked why Masvingo City Council is not chipping in to rehabilitate such smaller roads in poor state that the contractors are ‘neglecting’ in the leafy suburb of Rhodene.
“The roads that are still in good shape are the roads that are being rehabilitated, leaving the ones with pot holes that impassable. They are leaving out roads inside streets that are in bad shape, what are you Engineer ( apparently referring to Town Clerk) thinking about these roads?” said Cllr Chiteme.
Town clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa suggested that each councillor whose ward deserves attention should bring the issue to council so that attention is paid to such areas hence rehabilitation of such roads.
“Each councillor should bring the names of the roads to council especially those that they think need attention and to be prioritized. The pressure we are getting both internally and externally is that funds are not sufficient for us especially as the year is about to end, Councillors should approach the engineer with a list of roads that need to be rehabilitated and we put resources towards that,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
During a press conference after the full council meeting, Mukaratirwa told journalist that the roads that were being rehabilitated under ERRP were being monitored by the council while some were under the department of roads.
He went on to say most of the council monitored roads were complete while those that still have heaps of gravel are monitored by the department of roads.
“We have completed more than 90 percent of the roads we monitor and most of those you see with heaps are under the department of roads,” said Mukaratirwa
Residents and motorist complain that most roads still have gravel heat which affect movement while some complains that they can no longer get home with their vehicles since their streets are closed with sand

‘Nyasha Zhambe murder’, no arrests so far

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‘Nyasha Zhambe murder’, no arrests so far

Rutendo Chirume

Human Rights lawyer Martin Mureri who is representing the family of the deceased MDC-Alliance activist Nyasha Zhambe who was assaulted by suspected Zanu-PF youths during his leader Nelson Chamisa’s tour of Masvingo province in October said the police are dilly dallying with the matter.
Mureri said he wrote a letter to Officer-in Charge Gutu ZRP on November 30 with a seven day ultimatum demanding to know the stage at which the case was since the deceased had filed a police report on assault before he died.
He however said the police responded on December 2 saying the matter was referred to Masvingo Law and Order Division on October 16 for further investigations.
“I was at Masvingo Magistrate Court to file another letter requesting to know why since October 16 the case has not been investigated and why no arrests have been made yet,” said Mureri.
The deceased’s family members who were taken by the police are the deceased’s wife and two brothers.
When contacted for comment Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Kudzakwashe Dhewa reffered all questions to the National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who in turn wasn’t answering his cell.
Mureri wrote a letter to Gutu ZRP demanding police to bring to book the suspected Zanu PF youths accused of assaulting Nyasha Zhambe who later died as a result of the attack.
The letter dated November 30, 2021 was addressed to Gutu ZRP officer in charge Inspector Cames Muyambo stating that the late Zhambe’s family demands to know why there have not been any arrests when the deceased had laid charges against the perpetrators before he passed on.
“Our client informed us that their relative, the now deceased Nyasha Zhambe made a police report of assault at your station on October 14, 2021. He told Sgt Nyoni the assault was perpetrated on him on the same day at around 1400hours. He provided the names of perpetrators.
“Your Sgt Nyoni in the request for medication clearly pointed out that the now deceased was assaulted with fists and logs on the face and right knee several times. Unfortunately, Nyasha Zhambe passed on due to these injuries and to date no arrests had been effected. Our client instructed us to demand the outcome of the report made to you by Nyasha Zhambe or the stage of investigation. We demand is to know within seven days, failure of which we will take further steps without notifying you,” read the letter.
Mureri said the decision was made after the police arrested Zhambe family members on November 29 whom they took to the police station but later released them after five hours.
It is also reported that before the family members were taken to the police, they were approached by some people claiming that they were from ZBC TV ordering them to say Zhambe did not die due to the injuries he sustained during the assault.

Council under fire for selling bus at ZW$20 000

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Council under fire for selling bus at ZW$20 000

Courage Dutiro

Masvingo City Council management is in trouble from councillors and ratepayers after allegedly selling council bus at a giveaway price and without the councilor’s knowledge.
In a full council meeting held on December 2, 2021 councilors blew gaskets over the matter grilling council management over the actual price at which the bus was sold saying they heard different prices.
Ward 8 councilor Against Chiteme asked council management to shed more light on the actual price since they all had different figures
“We are hearing in the corridors that council bus was auctioned at ZW $20 000(less than US$200). Can you tell us the actual price at which the bus was sold and include other council assets that were disposed of with their prices clearly on the report. How could council management sell the bus without first consulting councillors,” said Chiteme.
Ward 1 Cllr Alderman Selina Maridza also said rumors in the commonage were saying the bus was auctioned at a giveaway price.
“The work was not done properly; I was shocked when I heard rumors that the person who took the bus paid in local currency instead of United States dollars that council had agreed. I heard the bus was taken for ZW $17 000. Council management is not sincere on this matter, we are blaming them,” said Maridza.
Mayor Cllr Collen Maboke said shoddy work was done and quick action was supposed to be taken to safeguard interests of residents.
“We had all agreed that we are going to dispose assets in US$ so who changed that? Shoddy work was done here and as councilors we do not want the public to think we connived with the auctioneer or whoever did that. Let’s us take action that safeguard residents’ interests,” said Maboke.
Masvingo Town clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said he and council management were also frustrated with how the work was done.
“As the Town Clerk and council management, we share the same frustration with the councillors. We are not happy with how the work was done that is why we brought the matter here. Our subordinates did not do the work as we had agreed,” said Mukaratirwa.
Masvingo United Residents and Rate Payers Alliance (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said city council should have consulted residents first before they engage in such transactions.
“It boggles our minds that such pertinent decisions are made by council officials or management without consulting residents. We are not happy with the move; this is just giving people a bus that was purchased through residents and rate payer’s money for free.
“This was an ill-conceived transaction; city council should have consulted residents first because some of the residents were still benefiting from the use of the bus. Twenty thousand is nothing, we cannot sell a bus for such an amount, it is unheard of even if the bus was old,” said Mtimba.
The bus has been used over the past years to assist at funerals for local residents.

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