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Masvingo dams underutilised

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Masvingo dams underutilised

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO–The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira has said only 10 percent of water from Manyuchi Dam in Mwenezi is being utilised at the irrigation scheme meaning the rest of the water is going to waste.
Chadzamira was speaking at the official opening National Biotechnology Authority’s Mwenezi Amarula processing and value addition plant on Monday (October 25) which was officiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Chadzamira said there were plans to further develop and expand the Mwenezana Estates to make sure that water from Manyuchi dam is fully utilised.
“Plans are underway to expand the existing Mwenezana Estate to cover the resettled areas as only 10 per cent of water from Manyuchi dam is being utilised,” said Chadzamira.
He went on to say they were going to develop 35000ha for irrigation in Mwenezi that will get water from Manyuchi dam and said a total of 70 000ha was going to be put under irrigation downstream Masvingo’s major dam.
“Development of 70 000ha of irrigation schemes downstream of our major dams is underway. Work has started on the Muzhwi Irrigation, upper Mutirikwi and downstream of Tugwi-Mukosi Dam covering Masangula, Chingwizi, Mutirikwi and Lundi Section,” said Chadzamira
Chadzamira dispelled what he said misinformation of people being displaced by irrigation development downstream.
“Misinformation alleging people to be displaced by irrigation development particularly downstream of Tugwi Mukosi was addressed with communities in ward 16 of Chiredzi expressing gratitude towards beneficiation from the proposed irrigation infrastructure,” he said.
Chadzamira went on to say 25 000ha irrigation development downstream Tugwi Mukosi dam, 2000ha in Buffalo Range, Muzhwi Mushandike Canal for 3000 households from Chivi and Masvingo sides of the canal.
On upper Mtirikwi dam he said the irrigation will be covering an area between Mutimurefu Prisons and Bikita Minerals.
In Chiredzi he said 823ha will be put under Chilonga Irrigation Extension 1 project, 2000ha on extention 2, 6000ha on extention3 while 6900ha will be put to community irrigation and grazing and 8000ha Bangala Irrigation for communal schemes.
Dams like Muzhwi, Mutirikwi, Bangala, and Manjirenji are not benefiting the community in terms of irrigation as no irrigation is drawing water from them.
The Bangala irrigation schme in Mushaya area of Zaka has been on cards for more than four years now but nothing has materialised even after a visit by then Deputy Minister of Agriculture Davies Marapira in 2016.
Chadzamira has been on record saying Masvingo will be the bread basket of the country if all irrigation plans that are underway become a reality.

‘Sexual violence major driver of teenage pregnancies, maternal deaths’

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‘Sexual violence major driver of teenage pregnancies, maternal deaths’

Kimberly Kusauka

Sexual violence is one of the major reasons teenage girls get into childbearing, which is responsible for most maternal deaths recorded among the youthful generation during the Covid-19 era.
The observation was made by pressure groups representing women interests during a steering meeting recently hosted by Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals (ZACH) at Chevron Hotel in Masvingo.
ZACH Programme Officer Vincent Chaeruka said they have embarked on the Start Awareness Support Action (SASA) to address issues to do with Gender Based Violence (GBV), early child marriages and social injustice against girls and women.
“We have embarked on the SASA programme which we borrowed from Uganda to address GBV, early child marriages and social injustice against women and girls since they are the most vulnerable society which is patriarchal,” said Chaeruka.
He said they are holding steering meetings where they engage other stakeholders also fighting against GBV, discussing ways to assist young girls and women.
“We do not work alone but we have stakeholders who also advocate for girls and young women seeing to it that they get help whenever they are victimized and ensure they are protected,” said Chaeruka.
He said they have also engaged police’s Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) and lawyers to help the victims and also work with community members like religious leaders, adolescent girls and boys and men so that they are taught on the importance of girls and women.
“We have police’s VFU, lawyers and we also engage the community leaders such as religious leaders, adolescent boys and girls, young women and men so that everyone in society is aware of the importance of the girl child,” said Chaeruka.
ZACH Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Precious Kahungwa said during lockdown when cases of GBV increased, their organization carried out door-to-door sessions in communities carrying out dialogues with everyone in areas where there would be such cases.
“During lockdown we noticed a rise in GBV cases and our teams were on the ground moving from door to door engaging everyone in the fight against girls and women violation and managed to help 11 595 people from January up to date,” said Kahungwa. She said they are offering counseling, family planning services and legal services to survivors through the engagements with the SASA champions who are readily available in communities.
“We are offering counseling, family planning services and legal services to survivors through our champions who are on the ground in the communities. Our champions also include the media and anyone who advocates for women’s rights,” said Kahungwa.
Adult Rape Clinic nurse Locadia Marinyame said they are sheltering girls who have been through SGBV from 12-15 years where they are offered post rape services like pregnancy testing, psychological counseling and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) screening and emergency contraception.
“We are sheltering victims of such cases at our one stop center at Nemamwa where we help the young girls would have been victimized with post rape services and make sure that they are treated of STIs and we started operating end of June this year,” said Marinyame.
She said they offer transport fares to victims who visit the center depending on where they travel from and they work with the media in holding road show campaigns as a way of communicating with society they help.
“We are working with media organizations as a way of sending a message to the community that we are there to help,” said Marinyame.
Girls and Women Empowerment Network (GWEN) Trust Director, Kumbirayi Kahiya said they hold awareness campaigns against sexual violence on girls and engaging them in sporting activities especially during lockdown as a way of occupying them so that they do not end up indulging in sexual activities.
“We do awareness campaigns and sports for girls and we recently incorporated boys so that they get a safe platform for learning and sharing their life experiences and we give counselling to those facing challenges at their homes,” said Kahiya.
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) Marketing Officer Herbert Chikosi said they provide contraceptives and sexual education to young adolescents who fall pregnant.
“We provide contraceptives and comprehensive sexuality education to pregnant adolescence girls and create an enabling environment for them to access contraceptives in youth friendly clinics,” said Chikosi.
He said they offer Antenatal Care (ANC) services which enable early identification of pregnancy related risks and complications; and ensure access of services including health education, vaccines, diagnostic tests and treatments to pregnant adolescence girls.
“We offer ANC services to pregnant adolescence girls as a way of preventing maternal deaths since there is a stigma around contraception ultimately resulting in maternal deaths because adolescence girls will not be mature enough and are biologically challenged to give birth without any hindrance,” said Chikosi.
Shamwari Yemwanasikana Advocacy and Influence Officer Rudo Gwanyata said marternal cases in adolescence girls has increased but they are teaching girls on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) so that they reduce chances of getting pregnant at an earlier age.
“Adolescence girls are dying while giving birth however girls come through and we teach them on SRH that is how to use condoms so that they avoid getting pregnant at an earlier age.
“We also give them condom, sanitary wear and counselling as part of awareness campaign,” said Gwanyata.
Specialists have concluded that making contraceptives available, increasing awareness on safe sex and abstinence is the available solution to the dilemma of teenage pregnancies. There is a need to make sure that these teenagers have access to information on sexual and reproductive health at their disposal so they can make informed decisions.

City council calls for collective responsibility on waste management

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City council calls for collective responsibility on waste management

Thabiso Nxumalo

Masvingo City Council has called for a collective approach between council, residents and other stakeholders on the city’s dire waste management situation which has been flagged by various stakeholders to be an unfolding crisis.
Speaking during a WhatsApp group discussion organised by TellZim News, Masvingo City Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer Ngonidzashe Mapamula said it was every resident’s duty to keep the planet clean and desist from polluting it anyhow.
“What is really worrying is that as human beings, we pollute the environment and not take responsibility for cleaning up.
“Residents need to have a sense of ownership, they should police themselves. A waste management crisis exists in the whole world and the challenge is what capacity as Zimbabwe, as Masvingo do we have to manage this global crisis,” said Mapamula.
He said the policing mechanisms are not enough to change the mind-set and behaviour of people.
“The residents should police themselves so that they act responsibly. Yes, EMA and ZRP may come in with fines but that is not enough to change the people’s mind-sets. Let us preserve this environment for the future generations.
“We now have an environmental management-policing unit fully supported by EMA. They need you to whistle-blow so that we shame the polluters. Our refuse removal is based on a weekly schedule (and) if we fail to collect we always follow up during the weekend, so no to dumping please,” said Mapamula.
Masvingo Service Delivery Residents and Ratepayers Association (MASDRRA) and Masvingo Residents Forum (MRF) pilled the blame on Masvingo City Council for failing to properly manage waste.
The resident associations accused the city council of failing to educate residents on proper waste disposal as well as collecting refuse at convenient times.
MRF chairperson Brighton Ramusi said there was a waste management crisis in Masvingo City and waste collection timetable was not convenient and this resulted in residents dumping waste at undesignated points.
“The City fathers are to blame as we go for a long period of time without having our refuse being collected and hence residents resort to dumping refuse at undesignated places thereby causing environmental problems.
“Residents deserve services that they are paying for, the refuse trucks usually come around three or four in the morning when the residents are still sleeping.
“They are also failing to educate residents on how to safely dispose waste in their homes, they must raise awareness and provide waste separating facilities at homes,” said Ramusi
MASDRRA secretary general Moses Mavhusa echoed the same sentiments saying the city council and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) are to blame for failing to educate residents and on collection timetable.
“We do not know if the council has a timetable. If they have they are definitely not following it and they are not teaching the residents on disposal enough.
“The most critical issue in this is the failure to complete the dumpsite, they just promise residents that it will be completed but it never suffices,” said Mavhusa.

Chief Charumbira spits venom

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Chief Charumbira spits venom

. . . defies constitution as he struggles to resurrect ailing political career

…engages overdrive gear to please ‘baffled ED’

Emmanuel Chitsika

Embattled president of the Chief’s Council Chief Fortune Charumbira, who fell out of favour during the run up to 2017 November military assisted takeover due to allegedly selling out to the then First Lady Grace Mugabe, spitted venom defying the national constitution by publicly declaring his unwavering support for Zanu PF during the party’s 19th ordinary conference held in Bindura recently.

Charumbira whose declining political career has been under spotlight since the inception of the new dispensation made the utterances after being given the opportunity to speak in which he said chiefs are the owners of the revolutionary party while others like war veterans are just ‘stakeholders’.

“We as chiefs should not be required to express solidarity messages at gatherings like these. What should have been the ideal scenario was to let the owners of the party (chiefs) speak because we are different from the rest of the delegates here.

“Why should you place us in the same bracket or generalize our presence? The reason for the existence of Zanu PF is all about traditional leadership, injustice for the people of the kingdom for they are the ones who suffered. We are the owners of this party,” claimed Charumbira.

This was a direct violation of the constitution which demands traditional leaders to be apolitical. In 2018, Charumbira was dragged to court by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) for violating the constitution again after he allegedly showed overwhelming allegiance to Zanu PF.

Charumbira went on to brag about his frequent appearances in courts to answer to several charges emanating from lawsuits.

“I have been dragged to the courts several times for standing on platforms like this one but I am not deterred. I will always stand there and no reverse on that issue.

“Spare a thought for us as chiefs. Next time properly invite us as owners of the party. As from today, war veterans bear in your minds that you are shareholders while we are the owners of the party. We are a bit different from the rest, treat us in a peculiar manner, and afford us our position. Others are just are members and shareholders,” he added.

Contacted for elaboration on the matter, Charumbira told the reporter to provide their full name first via text message before he could address questions directed to him but declined the calls afterwards.

“Can you please identify yourself by giving me your name and surname in form of a text then I can talk to you,” he said.

After being sent the details of the reporter he then started declining the calls. Concerted efforts to get comment were fruitless as his mobile eventually went unreachable.

Political commentator Davidson Mugodzwa said the utterances by Charumbira clearly show a complete departure from the rule of law and constitutionalism on the part of the new dispensation.

“What the chief is saying simply is that there has been a complete departure from the rule of law and constitutionalism on part of the new leadership. It is just an expression of anarchy that we are seeing. The reality on the ground is that there is no rule of law.

“Everybody is under the constitution and nobody is above the supreme law of the land.  The constitution says traditional leaders should be apolitical so why does he want to operate above the constitution?” said Mugodzwa.

The position of Charumbira has been subject to debate since the demise President Robert Mugabe in 2017 as elements in Zanu PF allegedly linked to G40 have been often persecuted in internal political fights with those belonging to the Lacoste faction stamping authority and indirectly settling former scores.

Several clansmen have claimed he bulldozed his way to the top which has seen his position being contested as fellow kinsmen try to wrestle the chieftaincy.

Recently, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s convoy was attacked in Chief Charumbira’s area of jurisdiction by purported Zanu PF supporters who allegedly accused the MDC Alliance leader of calling for economic sanctions.

Masvingo born artist rides high on YouTube

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Masvingo born artist rides high on YouTube

TellZim reporter

Masvingo born artist Owen Zvevhu ‘Owizz’ is basking in glory on his  YouTube music channel following the  release of a single hit song called ‘Ishe Muneni’ which is a tribute to his mother.

Speaking to TellZim News Owizz said the song Ishe Muneni released on October 23, 2021 that literally translates to ‘God is with me’ is a tribute to his mother.

“Ishe Muneni is a tribute to my mother, Stella Zvevhu. It is meant to acknowledge her irreplaceable impact on my life and sympathize with the struggle she went through as a single mother particularly in a low income setting,” said Zvevhu.

He said his intention is to honour the struggles most African women go through and thus the struggle her mother endured in raising him.

“In my song I appreciated my mother’s love and the sacrifices that she made for me as he become older especially on the part of nurturing him to do the will of God.

“My mother never intended to abort me which is biblically wrong to do an abortion and my gratitude goes to the Most High God for protecting me while in my mother’s womb,” added Zvevhu.

The 28 year-old hip-hop singer-writer who is also a qualified primary school teacher says his music coincide with the demands of the profession as its messages teach the youths.

“For the youths and most of my followers, I want them to believe in themselves and that they are more talented than they think and possess capabilities beyond their imaginations. What they only need to do is keep the fighting spirit and persistence until they realise their goals,” Zvevhu said.

Zvevhu was born in Masvingo but eventually moved to Harare. He started music doing rap battles at high school, writing his own short verses and going speed rap covers. He personally wrote his first ever recorded song titled “Only One”.

Now with 100+ original songs, Owizz has given countless impressive performances during his stint in Masvingo before leaving for Harare where he is now staying.

Owizz said he want to provide his audiences with music that is relatable.

“My ambition is to provide my audiences with music that is relatable, no matter what trials and tribulations they may be facing,” he noted.

Hip-hop award winning producer Quazor produced Ishe Muneni video.

Top-notch cricket back in Masvingo

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Top-notch cricket back in Masvingo

Fredrick Moyo

After eight years of absence, First Class and List A cricket have now returned to Masvingo with the Southern Rocks bouncing back to restore their lost legacy and glory days at their Masvingo Sports Club base.
Southern Rocks will host the four-day Logan Cup tourney twice in November followed by a series of one-day matches that will be played between November and December.
The first Logan Cup game is scheduled for November 4 at Masvingo Sports Club where Southern Rocks take on tricky Mutare based Mountaineers.
On their next assignment, they will face Rhinos in their next home fixture that will be played from November 10 to 13.
Southern Rocks coach Shepherd Makunura said he was elated by the long-awaited return of professional cricket in the province and expressed optimism that the corporate world will be interested to be part of the game.
“It is obviously something big for us; we are very excited about the return and playing at home. Hopefully this will generate a lot of interest within the community and corporate world,” said Makunura.
Team captain Richmond Mutumbani also said the team was in high spirits and that the players were ready to make their fans proud especially when they are playing on home turf.
“It has been a long wait for cricket to come back home. As a team, we are very excited to be playing at home once again. I am sure it is a great thing for the people of Masvingo to have cricket back in the province and for them to also get a chance to meet their heroes,” said Mutumbani.
Southern Rocks have a strong squad this season with big names like Zimbabwe national team players; Blessing Muzarabani, Sikander Raza, and Tawanda Mururami being in their books.
Sidney Murombo and Roy Kaia are also part of this year’s squad and are expected to add the much-needed expertise to the side.
Rocks are defending champions of the Logan Cup and are looking forward to turning their fortunes for the best after a dismal start in their campaign two weeks ago.

GZU collaborate local medical practitioners to commemorate IOA week

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GZU collaborate local medical practitioners to commemorate IOA week

Melinda Kusemachibi

MASVINGO- Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) on October 28, 2021 hosted an electronic resources training workshop for 40 health practitioners from Masvingo Province, as part of the annual International Open Access Week commemorations at its Herbert Chitepo Law School.
The workshop was held with an aim to capacitate participants’ access electronic information resources, so that they will be able to harness a wide range of information from open access e-book and e-journals platforms.
In his opening remarks, GZU Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Innovation and Research Professor Moses Chimbari said the publishing landscape had undergone significant changes driven principally by the globalization of research.
“Today’s event aims to share and train you, our valued medical practitioners, in a plethora of medical literature that is freely available to you. In addition, GZU is proud to share with you today some of our key medical and health sciences databases, which we will give you six months free access to, from November 2021 to April 2022,” said Chimbari.
The workshop came at a time when the country is trying to contain Covid-19 and the healthcare system being in shambles.
Lawrence Chikwanha, a GZU librarian indicated that the weeklong event was targeting to change things for the good in terms of access to information in the healthcare system.
“We did this event as part of GZU weekly programme which is called a Week for Open Access running for six days from October 25 to 31. This event will help medical practitioners all around Masvingo Province to have access to information,” said Chikwanha.
The theme for this year’s International Open Access Week, is “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity”.
GZU joined the Open Access (OA) movement in 2016 when it became a signatory of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access.

Bikita mobile registration ends on high note

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Bikita mobile registration ends on high note

Fredrick Moyo

A mobile registration exercise for national identification documents that was being implemented in Bikita District came to an end on a high note after a month of since its inception and has now been shifted to other districts in other provinces.
The registration was meant to clear backlog in national identification documents that accumulated due to the restraining environment that was necessitated by Covid-19 lockdowns.
It also sought to bring closer to home registration exercises to marginalized communities where people were struggling to access these documents.
A total number of 4 397 national identification cards and 3 460 birth certificates were issued in Bikita during the month long registration exercise.
Speaking to TellZim News, Bikita District Information Officer (DIO) James Makuvaro said the registration exercise bore the intended fruits as many people took advantage of the chance to acquire their documents.
“The exercise covered all the wards in the district and it was a success as a number of people received their registration documents.
“It greatly helped us since the traveling distance was reduced as schools in some wards were used as registration centres,” added Makuvaro.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa recently advised that mobile registration exercise will continue targeting disadvantaged and vulnerable communities that cannot access offices.
“The mobile registration exercise that was taking place in Bikita, Tsholotsho and Bulilima districts came to an end on the 13th of October 2021, with a total of 10 685 national identification cards and 8 250 birth certificates having been issued.
“Focus will now shift to other disadvantaged communities, including Binga and other vulnerable communities along the borders of the country,” said Mutsvangwa.

Row over Masvingo Urban CDF rages on

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Row over Masvingo Urban CDF rages on

…Councilors demand building material be returned to MP

Kimberly Kusauka

Masvingo councilors yesterday demanded that council management return Rujeko Secondary School building material bought by Masvingo Urban Member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Nyokanhete using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) until due process is followed.

Councilors Sengerayi Manyanga and Against Chiteme in a full council meeting held on November 1 at Town House grilled council management over the building material, accusing Nyokanhete of seeking political mileage.

They ordered that council management return the building material to Nyokanhete since it was received without consulting them.

“The material should be returned to the MP because due process was not followed. I am the chairperson of the public works committee and was supposed to know about these things.

“These things are now being used to gain political mileage because now we hear that an MDC MP has donated this or that, which is not the truth of the matter,” Manyanga said.

Supporting Manyanga, Ward 8 councilor Against Chiteme said councilors were supposed to be in the know since they are the ones who lead at council.

“We are the councilors, therefore we were supposed to be informed. The building material should be returned to the MP,” Chiteme said.

Masvingo Mayor, Cllr Collen Maboke professed ignorance on the issue and said he was not aware of any building material received by council from Nyokanhete, adding that if it was for council he would have officiated on the event like he always does.

“I was called when the city received an ambulance as a donation from Kernen therefore I can freely acknowledge that we received an ambulance but for the building material, I was never informed and I do not know anything about it,” said Maboke.

Contacted for comment, Nyokanhete scoffed at the allegations that due process was not followed and said part of the building had already been used at the school.

“What due process are they saying was not followed when I was given the bill of quantities by council back in April? 30 000 bricks were delivered early October at the site by N.Richards on my behalf and they have already been used to construct the blocks that are there now.

“If they want to return the material, what then will happen when they have already used the bricks at the site? I got the bill of quantities from Engineer Kudzai Mbetu on behalf of council and it is the one I used to purchase the material, not what they are saying,” Nyokanhete said.

A financial statement released to this publication by Nyokanhete indicated that 668 bags of cement, 11 window frames and 12 door frames were delivered at City Of Masvingo Central Stores, while 30 000 common bricks were delivered at the construction site-Rujeko Secondary School.

“I wonder if they come to these meetings drunk because what they are saying is not what is on the ground and if they want to return the material, where would they return it to, since N.Richards delivered it?” Nyokanhete said.

 

Masvingo Town Clerk, Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said he was not in the full council meeting and was waiting for the Chamber Secretary to avail him with minutes of what was discussed so he catches up with the issues.

“I was not present at the council full meeting yesterday, I was represented by the Chamber Secretary and unfortunately he is not in the office, so I cannot give a comment,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.

Currently, two classroom blocks are nearing completion and are at roofing stage.

Zanu PF afraid of by-elections more than Covid-19

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Zanu PF afraid of by-elections more than Covid-19

…Gathers thousands of supporters in Mwenezi

Clayton Shereni

MASVINGO- While Covid-19 regulations stipulate that the maximum number of gatherings is 100 people, there are growing concerns that the ruling party Zanu PF is defying everything and getting away with it countless times as it continues to hold political rallies.

Zimbabwe is due for by-elections in wards and constituencies where there were recalls by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T), among other reasons, but the Minister of Health and Child Care, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) seem to be conniving to breach the country’s Constitution.

Chiwenga last year issued Statutory Instrument (SI) 225A of 2020 putting a blanket ban on all electoral activities as long as government classifies Covid-19 as an epidemic disease.
However, the Constitution of Zimbabwe stipulates that a by-election should be held within 90 days after the death or recall of an elected official.

Responding to recent utterances by ZEC chairperson that they were waiting for clearance from Chiwenga, Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) deputy minister, Dr John Mangwiro denied that the ministry was responsible for the delay in holding of by-elections despite his superior being the one who banned all electoral activities.

“Elections have got nothing to do with the ministry. We don’t supervise elections,” said Dr Mangwiro.

Covid-19 has been used as a scapegoat to avoid by-elections thereby dragging time to the 2023 harmonized elections while the ruling party campaigns and drums up support.

Election Resource Centre (ERC) Legal and Advocacy Officer, Takunda Tsunga said the blanket banning of by-elections was illegal and cited that Vice President Chiwenga has no prerogative to suspend electoral activities.

“We have long questioned the legality of suspension of by-elections in Zimbabwe. This was illegal as ZEC had no power beyond going to court to seek the suspension of electoral activities.

“Firstly, the Minister of Health does not have the mandate to suspend by-elections. The actions by the Minister of Health is an infringment on the independence of the electoral board.” said Tsunga.

Commenting on the implications of continous ban of by-elections, Tsunga said many groups are now going unrepresented while the ban breaches the constitution.

“Large sections of society are now going unrepresented. It remains a concern therefore to ERC over failure to ensure that representative democracy prevails in Zimbabwe,” added Tsunga.

However, Zanu PF has held various meetings including District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections across the country.

Political analyst, Dr Takavafira Zhou accused the ruling party of sabotaging rival political parties and hiding behind a finger whilst breaching the constitution.

“It is clear that Zanu PF would not call for by-elections that they or their proxies would lose. The ruling party is using Covid-19 alibi to restrict other political parties to campaign while it is campaigning on a daily basis.

“That strategy may not even produce the desired results as it has now become so naked that Covid-19 restrictions are selectively applied,” said Dr Zhou.

It is not a secret that the pandemic has ravaged and is lethal, but it seems the ruling party is immune to Covid-19.

Covid-19 has now been turned from a health hazard into a tool to shrink the political and civic society space.

However, Zanu PF acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa was not reachable for comment as he did not pick up his mobile up until the time of going to print.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers have on numerous occasions arrested groups of opposition party supporters and other political activists.

Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) president Takudzwa Ngadziore, Nancy Njenge and Lennox Machoko were on October 9, 2021 arrested at Lees Inn hotel in Masvingo, where they were holding an Annual General Meeting (AGM) with student leaders from various universities.

Zanu PF rallies that attract thousands of party supporters are done under the watchful eye of the police who in turn should be the law enforcers are now becoming accessories to scofflaws.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi declined to comment directing all questions to the provincial spokesperson.
“I think you can talk to the provincial spokesperson, that was a local arrangement,” said Nyathi.

However, Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa professed ignorance over the National Biotech Marula Processing plant in Rutenga where thousands of Zanu PF supporters congregated in defiance of Covid-19 protocols.

“Where did that happen? I am not aware of that issue, I was out of office so I am not privy to information of that gathering,” said Dhewa.

Police officers have been aiding and maintaining order at these political gatherings although they will be in full knowledge that the gatherings are in contravention of the law.

On September 30 this year, the police arrested four MDC Alliance activists and 10 journalists who reportedly wanted to cover a protest at ZEC offices in Harare over electoral reforms.

The law has been selectively applied and some animals are proving to be more equal than others when it comes to public gatherings.

The electorate has been crying foul and has on numerous occasions pointed fingers at the incumbent, together with the Douglas Mwonzora led MDC-T outfit, which has been responsible for recalling elected officials thereby being accused of sabotaging service delivery especially at local authorities where most councilors fell prey to factionalism in the opposition camp.

Meanwhile, over 50 council seats are vacant while 28 seats are unoccupied in Parliament and Senate.

Zanu PF recently held its annual national conference where hundreds of party officials gathered in numbers provinces defiance of Covid-19 restrictions.

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