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Climate change: The story of people with albinism

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Climate change: The story of people with albinism

Courage Dutiro

People with albinism have been travelling a rocky path as they continue to struggle with the effects of climate change which has brought about weather patterns which are not favorable to their sensitive skin.
Extreme temperatures that often characterize the sudden changes of weather make life unbearable for people with albinism.
Albinism is a genetic condition that leads to a lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes, causing vulnerability to the sun and bright light.
Health expert and medical doctor, Dr Brighton Chizhande said people with albinism are disproportionately affected by the ultraviolet rays produced by the sun and they are major victims of skin cancer.
“Those with the condition are more vulnerable to ultraviolet rays produced by the sun. Their skin is too sensitive to sun exposure. Due to harsh temperatures caused by climate change they develop chronic irritation. These temperatures expose them to high risks of developing skin cancer more than those without the condition,” said Chizhande.
Climate change is regarded as a threat multiplier to most vulnerable communities mostly in developing countries that are still lagging behind in terms of adaptation and mitigation techniques.
Hamilton Muto (27) of ward 8 in Zaka district who has albinism and is battling skin cancer said he struggles to bear the brunt during summertime and ends up compromising his outdoor economic activities.
“High temperatures in summer time affect us very much especially those who do not have money to buy enough creams and other stuff that we use as people with albinism.
“I used to engage in informal trading but now am stuck at home because I developed a facial skin cancer that is eating up my cheek,” said Muto.
For Muto aforestation, reforestation and other activities are the only way to go when it comes to mitigation of global warming.
“People should normalize planting trees; they play a great part in mitigating climate change. The government should also set aside a team of doctors that will look after those who are facing challenges from diseases that emanate from climate change-related issues,” said Muto.
Environment Africa Monitoring and Evaluation officer, Laura Mlambo also weighed in saying climate change has presented extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves where high heat incidents and droughts are experienced.
“Climate change through intense heat and light events affect people with albinism. Through heat waves and drought conditions, people with albinism are sometimes deterred from those jobs that require them to work in the sun for long or even short periods, this affects work opportunities for them,” said Mlambo.
Mlambo added that rigorous climate change action must be taken immediately and issues to do with people with albinism must be mainstreamed in Climate Change Policy without fail.
“Responsible authorities should mainstream issues to do with people with albinism in the Climate Change Policy and programming. Social protection programs that cater for this group of vulnerable people and more rigorous climate change action itself should be increased starting now. Also, affirmative action in providing equal employment for people with albinism is a necessity,” said Mlambo.
High levels of coordination between government ministries and stakeholders at all heights can help to deal with climate change and its effects.
In the energy sector, use of renewable energy such as green energy and energy efficiency technologies has been lobbied to be one of the most efficient and sustainable way of mitigating global warming.
Climate-smart agriculture practice by farmers is also another way of adapting to climate change that can raise livelihoods as well as sustaining environmental honor.
Sustainable Development Goal number 13 (SDG 13) which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts is among the ten focus goals that the government of Zimbabwe is prioritizing in implementing the seventeen SDGs.

GZU student to represent Masvingo urban at Miss Masvingo

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GZU student to represent Masvingo urban at Miss Masvingo

Melinda Kusemachibi

25-year-old Angeline Zhou, a third year student at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) on October 30, 2021 brushed away stiff competition from 11 other contestants to win the ticket to represent Masvingo urban at the Miss Masvingo beauty pageant at a contest to be held on December 4, 2021.
Zhou who won Miss Heroes 2016 said she did not expect to win this one as competition was too stiff.
“This was unexpected, although I worked very hard, the competition was tough hence I was willing to accept whatever outcome because the experience on its own is a win for me,” said Zhou.
She also said that modelling was always her passion from a tender age, saying she remembers being fascinated by it as a little girl.
“Modelling has always been my passion and will forever be, being on stage makes me happy and I intend to pursue modeling as a career,” said Zhou
Eritha Chivhizhe (22) was crowned first princess while 22-year-old Judith Chimombe was crowned second princess.
Director and founder of Miss Masvingo Donovan Takaendesa expressed joy over the pageant’s success having run the show for the past eight years.
“This was Miss Masvingo urban grand running under the theme “Fighting against the spread of Covid-19” and the grand finale will be on December 4, 2021 at a venue yet to be advised.
“I am happy that the show was a success and we realised that there is a lot of talent out there. We have tried to be very professional in our adjudication so that the pageant remains credible,” said Takaendesa.
Last year Miss Masvingo 2020 was won by Catherine Mashavira popularly known as Melanin Black Queen.

Zimre residents appeal for Zupco buses

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Zimre residents appeal for Zupco buses

Princess Masiiwa

Zimre Park residents in Masvingo are calling on authorities to bring in Zupco buses as they are facing transport difficulties travelling to and from town as the area is reported to have only four pirate taxis that ply the route.
Residents from the area are forced to walk the distance of around five kilometers to get to the low-density suburb from town.
Virginia Pedzisai a resident from Zimre Park said they walk all the way to and from work because of transport challenges and the few taxes operating in their area are taking advantage to charge exorbitant fares.
“Sometimes we are forced to walk all the way to work because there is shortage of transport. We walk because we cannot afford to spend a lot on transport every day,” said Pedzisai.
Precious Rugare a Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) law student said lack of Zupco buses is causing them to arrive late at school.
“Most of the time we arrive late at school because there will be not enough transport,” said Rugare.
Tanyaradzwa Chigura said the pirate taxis are very few to an extent that they end up walking to Rhodene to find transport.
“We walk all the way to Rhodene to find transport because even taxis are very few to cater for everyone staying in the area,” said Chigura.
Tendai Mavende appealed to responsible authorities to consider their plight by bringing Zupco franchised kombis, a solution that will go a long in ending these transport woes that has forced people to board expensive taxis which sometimes charge US$ 1 one way.
“I urge the authorities to bring in a few Zupco kombis because that could be the only solution to solve transport problems that have forced residents to board expensive taxis that charge US$ 1 to go to town,” said Mavende.
Zupco Masvingo area manager Rashy Mazarire said there are Zupco kombis that go to Rhodene and they will make sure that some of them will also pass through to Zimre Park.
“We have people’s request and we will make sure that some Zupco kombis that go to Rhodene will also pass through to Zimre Park,” said Mazarire.
Since the Covid-19 travel restrictions that resulted in the parastatal enjoying monopoly in the transport sector, more questions than answers have been raised over the capacity of Zupco to serve the nation as the sole public transport provider.

Chivi boy goes missing, family appeals for help

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Chivi boy goes missing, family appeals for help

Rutendo Chirume

A Form 2 pupil at Masunda North Secondary School in Chivi is has gone missing since Wednesday November 03 2021, a few days after having an altercation with his teacher.

Jonathan Gomba’s father Daniel Matanga Gomba confirmed the development and appealed to members of the public to help if they have any leads on the whereabouts of his son.

He said Jonathan left home on November 3 to go to school but he never got there.

The father had not been home for a few days after he went to attend a funeral and the boy disappeared on the day he returned.

“On Monday I went to a funeral in Mazvihwa and left him at home. When I came back home on Wednesday around 3pm he wasn’t there and I just thought he was still at school. However, it got late and past the time he usually comes back and that is when we started getting worried.

We tried to locate him but failed and this prompted me to go to his school where I was told that he had not been going to school for some days despite him leaving home every day saying he was headed for school. I then reported the matter to Chivi police after 48 hours,” said Daniel.

He went on to say at school he was told that Jonathan had had an altercation with his teacher and was beaten by the school head and he suspects that could have been the major cause of him not going to school.

“We were told that Jonathan had an issue at school and one day he came home with a bruise on his arm and when we asked him he just said I was beaten by the teacher. I think that is the reason why he was no longer going to school. I however talked to the school authorities and they indicated that the matter had been settled so I don’t know what could have happened,” said Daniel.

Daniel said he suspected that he was afraid of coming back home in fear of being flogged saying he was so mischievous that he always had issues with his mother.

“I think he is now afraid to come back home, he always had challenges with his mother and I also think they could have had an issue when I was not around though her mother says there was no issue between them,” said Daniel.

If anyone sees him he or she can notify his father on 0775126126 or report to the nearest police.

Masvingo Deportivo netball team qualifies for PNL

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Masvingo Deportivo netball team qualifies for PNL

Kimberly Kusauka

Masvingo Pirates (Deportivo) Netball club qualified to play in the Premier Netball League (PNL) which was launched in Bulawayo last month.
The PNL first bubble was launched on October 23, 2021, at Gates Mine in Mashava where 10 teams including Masvingo City Stars, Masvingo Pirates, Green Fuel, ZDF and Gold Free Border Strikers among others competed.
Deportivo team manager Mercy Kanyemba said the team was at number five and proceeded to play for the second bubble on October 30 and 31 in Gweru.
“We played in the first bubble and we were at number five. We went on to play our second bubble in Gweru where we won four games and lost three,” said Kanyemba.
The second bubble consisted of Ngezi Platinum, Gold Reef, Blue Angels, Beitbridge and Masvingo Pirates.
Kanyemba said the season has four bubbles and after completing the bubbles, the team prepares for the next season that will be in 2022 and they are still getting funds from Garikai vendors.
“The season has four bubbles and after we complete the bubbles, we then start preparing for the next season which will be played in 2022 and we are still getting sponsorship from Garikai fruit and vegetable vendors,” said Kanyemba.
Masvingo Deportivo is still training and are eyeing the championship this season.

Gweru council urges residents to report vandalism on water infrastructure

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Gweru council urges residents to report vandalism on water infrastructure

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- City council has called upon residents to play the social accountability role by reporting vandalism on water infrastructure as adequate supply of water is often disturbed by acts of vandalism.
Cases of vandalism have been on the rise in some parts of the Gweru as hooligans are reportedly vandalising main water pipes and tanks to irrigate their farms and plantations.
Speaking during a Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA)’s social accountability and service delivery engagement with residents on November 2, in Gweru, deputy mayor Cllr Cleopas Shiri said acts of vandalism on water property needs to be reported.
“I want you to know that water is a scarce resource even around the world. No country has enough water to cater for its people, hence there is need for people to preserve the precious liquid.
“So we call upon residents to report any case of vandalism on water infrastructure because sometimes we fail to pump adequate water as most property would have been destroyed,” said Shiri.

He further said council was spearheading the installation of kiosk boreholes to eradicate water challenges in the city.
“We are also spearheading the project of kiosk boreholes in our communities as water problems have greatly affected the wellbeing of residents. The project is set to start anytime soon and we want all communities to be well furnished with these facilities for easy accessibility to water.
“These boreholes are going to be manned by the residents themselves and we need them to be responsible in taking care of the facilities. The boreholes are going to serve people always and even generations to come,” added Shiri.
Buttressing on the aspect of active citizen participation in governance GRRA Programmes officer, Fadzai Kanyai urged young people to actively participate in service delivery issues saying citizen involvement was always a key pillar in development.
“We urge youths to actively participate in service delivery issues as active citizen involvement was good in idea sharing. We know youths are reluctant when it comes to governance issues as they feel excluded.
“As youths we feel we do not own anything because we do not have property, housing stands so we feel we do not have any responsibility hence we remain ignorant when it comes to issues of service provision. Whether we have something or not we need to have a sense of ownership because development comes for us. If we are not involved, no one will speak for us. We are the council, the ones who elect ward leaders to represent us, so they are our servants,” she said.
Gweru has in the recent past suffered acute water shortages owing to the old infrastructure resulting in persistent water pipe bursts.

Sexual abuse in tertiary institutions reaches alarming levels

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Sexual abuse in tertiary institutions reaches alarming levels

…GZU VC sternly warns lecturers who sexually harass students

Fredrick Moyo/ Kimberly Kusauka

Sexual abuse in university students has reached worrying levels, prompting the Parliament of Zimbabwe to do consultations in tertiary institutions to ascertain the major causes.
Joint Parliamentary portfolio committees on Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development and Women Affairs, Community and Small Medium Enterprises Development recently visited Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) at Herbert Chitepo Law School on November 3 for consultations.
GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo said he would not tolerate a lecturer who asks out a student or sexually abuse them.
“I would not forgive a lecturer or member of staff who goes after a student and I take that offence as deserving capital punishment and I advise female students to record the conversations they would have with the perpetrators as part of evidence.
“Lecturers should stay away from our female students even when they are dressed in the way they please because if you go at Ritz night club you would find ladies who are willing to give you company. For the benefit and credibility of our institution, I would like to warn any staff member who was sexually harassing students to desist from such behavior that tarnishes our image,” said Prof Zvobgo.
GZU Dean of Students Sarafina Mudavanhu said female students are often sexually abused by politicians especially during Student Representative Committee (SRC) elections and are threatened when they vie for different posts.
“Female students are often sexually abused by politicians during SRC elections especially when they campaign for posts.
“Our students are offered money for campaigns and sometimes provided with cars so that they can move around. They are sometimes beaten when they lose elections. Female students are mostly victims of sexual harassment because of the harsh economic conditions prevailing in the country.
“They are abused by insiders and outsiders as well and getting paid in cash, with most of them ending up being abused so that they could survive on campus,” said Mudavanhu.
A male lecturer from the university said female students are sexually harassed because of money since there are many expenses incurred at institutions of higher learning and suggested that government puts in place grants for students.
“Students especially females are being sexually harassed because of the poor standards of living they find themselves in and cannot pay for all expenses they incur during their learning process.
“It would be better if government consider bringing back the system of grants so that both parents and students are relieved of expenses they incur along the way,” said the lecturer.
GZU Registrar Sinikiwe Gwatidzo said they receive reports of students being sexually abused but the main challenge is lack of enough evidence to get to the perpetrator.
“We get cases of students being sexually harassed; however the main challenge becomes lack of evidence since most of the students are afraid to open up.
“We have come up with a policy to deal with sexual harassment and it is called Gender Based Violence Policy (GBVP) which include issues to do with dress code so as to deal with the persistent challenges at our institution,” said Gwatidzo.
A student however said she disagreed with Gwatidzo’s remarks saying that a few students know about the policies and that the people that they are supposed to report to also harass them in the proses of reporting.
“We have policies and facilities where one can report if he or she is sexually harassed but a few know it and the other issue is that no action is taken after reporting.
“Even if you report that a lecturer asked me for a thigh for a mark there is no response and those who we are supposed to report to are the ones that harass us again,” said the student.
A lecturer said the students are too relaxed and playful such that they do not concentrate on their studies and end up paying lecturers in form of sex to get marks and pass their modules.
“Our students are sometimes too lazy, they are always looking for an easy way out and they go to lecturers and ask them for marks while they pay in kind.
“Some of our female students go around half naked and they are so cunning to and extent of going to lecturers and offer them sex in return for better results,” said the lecturer.

Stakeholders walk away from budget consultative meeting

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Stakeholders walk away from budget consultative meeting

Rutendo Chirume

Masvingo residents associations and businesspeople who had attended the budget consultation meeting on November 2 2021 at Masvingo Civic center abandoned the venue after council officials turned up an hour late from scheduled time.
The meeting was scheduled to start at 1400hrs but council officials including Masvingo Mayor Cllr Collen Maboke turned up for the meeting at 1500hrs.
The stakeholders who waited for an hour left the venue infuriated by the officials’ lack of communication and incompetence, saying they were not taking them seriously.
The meeting ended up being postponed due to low turnout as most of the stakeholders had walked out.
Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba condemned the attitude exhibited by city council officials saying it’s not the first time council officials have done something like that.
“There is no excuse for the attitude exhibited by council officials to arrive an hour late because they will be sitting in their big air conditioned offices drinking tea with a lot of milk doing nothing while we wait for them to attend a meeting which theywould have invited us to. The authorities do not take these meetings seriously, for them it’s a mere formality which they need to fast track because they have their own budget which they need to cover up for because they know we will shoot-down the proposal.
“We respect the council and they should not take us as fools otherwise they are pushing us to do something which we would not want to do,” said Mutimba.
Masvingo Service Delivery Residents and Rate Payers Association (MASDRA) secretary general Moses Mavhusa said the meeting was a flop and the city officials deliberately decided to come late without giving any update.
“Most of the people left and after waiting for a whole hour I do not blame them, those guys should have at least communicated if there were any delays rather they do not take us seriously,” said Mavhusa.
A local business person, Oscar Chayipa who attended the meeting said he arrived late at the meeting and noticed there were very few people.
“I arrived very late at the venue and the meeting was postponed because there were very few people.
In wards 1, 2 and 3 residents have been long complaining about the city council official’s way of doing things.
Most of the meetings have been reported to flop because the city council officials fail to include stakeholders in planning rather they would present their proposals and pretend to be in a hurry.

…as residents boycott consultations

Priviledge Muchadenyika

Masvingo City Council 2022 budget consultations have been characterized by low turnout on the part of residents as was evident during the meeting held at the Building Brigade in Majange location on October 31, 2021.
Council failure to bring projected income expenditure has been attributed as the reason why few residents turned up as they were not informed of the meeting in time hence their decision to boycott.
Speaking to TellZim News Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) director Anoziva Muguti said residents did not attend the meeting because their input have not been included into the final draft over the previous years.
“This might be the reason why residents feel that their input have not been included into the final draft over the previous years,” said Muguti.
Another resident James Moyo said residents were likely to refuse to attend council meetings in protest because council did not bring the projected income expenditure draft that was required.
“Masvingo City Council produced a null and void budget proposal without details like the projected income and expenditure that include wage bill, creditors, debtors list and expected revenue to be collected and that means the rates increases were not justified and ward five rejects that piece of paper with all that it contained in its entirety,” said Moyo.
Patience Muza said what council did was illegal and should reconsider their decision.
“Everything that the council did cannot have a standing legal wise because it is a nullity. Council should prepare a proper budget proposal for 2022 and start consultations based on that other than the short notice for consultations given to wards five and six.
“We requested they use a hailer to inform the residents 14 days before budget consultations. Council should operate within the prescribed laws in the process and reschedule the proceedings failure to do will force residents to either approach the courts for judicial review or write to the Minister of State or Ministry of Local government about such irregularities,” said Muza.

Wheelbarrow bound Zaka pupil to get wheelchair

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Wheelbarrow bound Zaka pupil to get wheelchair

Kimberly Kusauka

A handicapped pupil from Chimedza Primary School in Zaka, Mufaro Mushonga (11) has been offered a wheelchair by a United Kingdom (UK) based nurse Barbara Nyagomo after her grade six teacher Gloria Bundo sought assistance through the media that the learner was using a wheelbarrow to school.
Bundo said Mushonga was having problems since she was still a baby and she could not sit properly then it was discovered that she could not walk when she reached the walking stage.
“Mushonga’s grandmother who took care of her since she was still a baby said the girl could not sit properly and they later on discovered that she could not walk when she reached the walking stage.
“Both her legs and hands are crippled and she also finds it difficult to talk,” said Bundo.
Bundo said Mushonga is receiving better care at school but the standards do not match her special needs and is in need of toiletries.
“The girl is trained and communicates whenever she wants to visit the toilet but does not visit the toilet regularly while at school and she needs toiletries hence I call upon well-wishers who can assist her.
“The wheel chair is going to help her move around easily whilst relieving her elderly grandmother who accompanies her to school in a wheelbarrow,” said Bundo.
Nyagomo who donated the wheelchair that is yet to be delivered to Mushonga said she is a philanthropist and does a lot of charity.
“I am a philanthropist and I do a lot of charity works hence when I saw a publication about this girl who was in need of a wheel chair I was moved and decided to help her and I have helped a lot of people you can check on Google,” said Nyagomo.
Mushonga’s old wheel chair wheels were torn and left with rims only and her grandmother had to push her in a wheelbarrow to school.
The pupil’s parents separated and the mother remarried.

Close to 40 Gokomere pupils detained

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Close to 40 Gokomere pupils detained

Princess Masiiwa

At least 40 pupils from Gokomere High School are currently (November 08, 2021) detained at Masvingo Central Police Station for allegedly attacking two police officers who had gone to question them for an alleged theft of food items in the school Dining Hall.

Sources privy to the incident said some food stuffs went missing in the Dining Hall and authorities at the school believed the suspects to be school pupils.

Two police officers were called to investigate but they were attacked by the pupils.

It is further alleged that more police officers were called in to quell the riot.

They are further alleged to have stoned the DH window panes as well as the school head Acquanos Mazhunga’s vehicle.

The school head and other top members of the responsible authority of the Mission Schools including the Priest in Charge James Magadzire are currently on bail pending trial over massive gross mismanagement of school resources. Parents have been up in arms with the school authority over the mismanagement resulting in auditors being called and they found a number of anomalies.

The school reportedly ran without School Development Committee (SDC) for three years since 2018 subsequently leading to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) dragging the school leadership to court and they have since been granted bail while awaiting judgment.

…. More to follow

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