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Shameless: Council uses devolution funds for worker’ salaries

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Shameless: Council uses devolution funds for worker’ salaries
Chipinge Rural District Council Offices

Leslie Karumbidza

Chipinge Rural District Council (RDC) has been accused of diverting devolution funds to workers’ salaries while service delivery continues to plunge into a devastating state, a recent report by Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) revealed.  

The rot was exposed by the Public Resource Management Situational Report which was conducted by ZIMCODD, with the aid of Community Resource Monitoring Agents (CORAs) following a survey which was carried in 54 districts for the period May 2021.

 A number of residents who were part of the survey expressed their disgruntlement on the use of devolution funds, which they said have nothing to show for it while council workers are getting paid.

“These devolution funds are being diverted as payrolls to council workers yet roads are full of potholes.

“Sewer pipes are bursting on a daily basis and there is nothing to show for devolution funds received,” reads part of the report.

The report also revealed that since Cyclone Idai hit the town in 2019, roads are in a bad state despite the fact that a fifth of the devolution funds went to the department of roads.

“Since Cyclone Idai the roads have not been repaired or maintained, yet 20 percent of devolution funds goes to the Ministry of Roads and Transport. Projects initiated in 2020 are still incomplete such as the solar project and the water project.

“This resulted in some of the projects equipment’s such as solar panels and water pipes to be stolen as they were lying idle,” reads the report.

The report also mentions the case of mismanagement of social grants that were supposed to be disbursed to residents as a Covid-19 cushion, with an attaché at the social welfare department in Chipinge diverting ZW$91 000 to personal use. 

When contacted for comment, Chipinge RDC Chief Executive Officer Blessing Mamvosha said there is no such thing like the diversion of devolution funds to workers’ salaries, and he promised to call TellZim News back with the full detail.

CORAs have been capacitated to monitor, document and report the abuse of public resources at district level on a monthly basis.

The goal is to enhance citizen agency in public resources monitoring and to promote citizen participation in economic governance.

Covid-19 positive cases shoot up in rural Chiredzi

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Covid-19 positive cases shoot up in rural Chiredzi

Blessed Chauke

Covid-19 positive cases are shooting up in rural Chiredzi after Chikombedzi recently recorded nine more active cases from only one recorded last month bringing the total to 10. 

There are also reports that there are two more positive cases in Boli Muhlanguleni, a predominantly rural area in Chiredzi South.

A source who requested anonymity said that of the two positive cases from Boli Muhlanguleni, one is a nurse while the other one is a teacher who recently travelled.

“Of the two positive cases, one is a teacher and the other one is a nurse. The teacher was in Harare some few days ago, so maybe that is where he got the virus.

“These people who tested Covid-19 positive are not even quarantined or isolated but they are still at home with their families,” said the source.

Masvingo Covid-19 Provincial taskforce spokesperson Rodgers Irimayi said he has not yet received the information about the positive cases in Chikombedzi.

“I have not received that information yet. Let me get the statistics of that area first,” said Irimayi.

Chiredzi district has been on the hotspot map for almost a month and half, with the infection rate rising with each day. 

Covid-19 cases have been generally low in rural areas since the start of the pandemic, but the numbers have been increasing lately.

OK Masvingo donates to Mucheke Old People’s Home

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OK Masvingo donates to Mucheke Old People’s Home

Kimberly Kusauka

OK Zimbabwe Masvingo branch recently donated groceries worth $ZW 85 000 to Mucheke Old People’s Home, TellZim News can report.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, OK Masvingo branch Manager Shingirai Change said that it is OK’s culture to carry out a donation soon after the annual OK grand challenge promotion.

He said they chose the Mucheke Old People’s Home because they saw that they were in need especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As OK Zimbabwe we carry out OK grand challenge annually and soon after the grand challenge we carry out a donation.

“We chose Mucheke Old people’s home because we saw that they were in need especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when the economy is struggling,” said Change.

Mucheke Old People’s Home Chairperson Pastor Kidson Maponga said he was overwhelmed by the donation since it is his duty as a committee member to provide food for the old people at the home, saying it is exciting when a local business gives back to the community.

“We are happy with the donation since it is our duty as Committee members to run around, making sure that the old people have enough food on their table.

“It is exciting that OK is giving back to the community by donating to the old people and this is the second time after they donated in 2019,” said Maponga.

Mucheke Old People’s Home Superintendent Reverend Matokos Chaka said the donation is going to help them for four to five months since they usually struggle to get enough food for the old people.

“The food might cover us for four to five months and we are more than grateful since we usually struggle to get enough food to feed the old people at Mucheke Old People’s Home,” said Chaka.

Currently there are 15 people at Mucheke Old People’s Home comprising of 10 women and five men.

They were all tested for Covid-19 on July 4 and they were negative.

Three elderly women collapse, die few hours apart in Masvingo

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Three elderly women collapse, die few hours apart in Masvingo

Terrence Ndowora

Masvingo residents were on Wednesday morning left dumbstruck after three elderly women collapsed and died in unclear circumstances only a few hour apart in Masvingo.

The three women, who were all over 60 years of age were all pronounced dead by health officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, who went to collect their bodies under very strict safety conditions.

Eye witnesses said one of the women, who collapsed and died inside a toilet at Landmark Bar in the Central Business District (CBD) had come from Summerton Resettlement Area and had asked for a toilet at Landmark Bar, only to be found dead minutes later.

Another elderly woman from Mucheke D high density suburb also collapsed and died, a few minutes after the first incident and health officials had to rush there to collect the body soon after collecting the first one.

In Runyararo West suburb, another woman was also found dead the same morning, bringing the number of these sudden deaths to three.  

Masvingo Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incidents and said that post-mortem for the three bodies was underway at the time of writing.

There has been growing fears of a deadly Covid-19 variant which is suspected to have come from outside the country’s borders, with victims of the variant collapsing and dying within minutes.

There are reports however that all the three bodies tested negative to Covid-19 when tests were done.

Command vaccination is here Cdes

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Command vaccination is here Cdes

Kkk seka zvako Mapombi, sure kuseka nhamo serugare, I once told you kuti Mthuli is crazy but most of you thought ini ndini ndinopenga. Combination yake naPanonetsa Mangudya is a recipe for disaster. Kungotiwo muti unowira kwawakarerekera otherwise these two are the most crazy people on mother earth. I have never seen this kind of madness since I started staying kuno kuChitima. How can these two connive to introduce the $50 note? Sure kuisa the highest denomination isingakwani kutenga kana dozen rema banana kkkkkkkkk. Asi nhai mwari takambonyanyotadzei senyika kupiwa vanhu vakadai? Pana President takati haisi mhosva yemunhu takanyengereka tikagadza mambo muna Mbudzi ende hatichazviiti futi, zvino nekumari yenyika kunongova nevagwere venjere.hanzi NaMthuli, the currency is freely floating, Zvinhu zvakarongeka, kkkk. This guy is crazy chete. I have discovered that even mushika shika 5 bond haichadiwa, is that Kurongeka nhaiwe Mtuvi.

But vanhu so, I’m hearing rumours that our most treasured and loved spirit medium Nehanda has found herself as the face of the country’s highest denomination. I overheard some people walking past Chimusana Bridge asking each other whether it is proper to give the new $50 note as offering in church kkkkkkkkkk. Of cause she is a fellow woman just like me but hamusi mamunyarira here gentrumeni? First it was a statue in the CBD now she makes it on the money chasara kukwana kwana pa Vaccination card kkkkkkk ko chinoramba chiiiiii Pamberi naMbuya Nehanda. Manje hanzi Chamakadya chamuka, I heard the spirit of Nehanda is demanding US50M nemombe thousand kkk ipai mwana basa kkk.

If anyone passes through Chitima please ndivigireiwo ndimboiona 50 yacho kkkk, I heard mbuya vanga vakarohwa English cut ipapo kkkk. Iwe Panonetsa na Mtuvi, for the second time, please quit whatever you are smoking and come to your senses, you want us to return to the 2008 situation?. Fix the economy so that the currency becomes stable, pasina izvozvo corruption and inflation will not stop not these nonsensical rants by Mthuli about surplus deficit. 

Speaking of corruption I think all the guys in the chain of command kuTraffic paMasvingo Central should be in for a high jump. We cannot continue losing our loved ones because of corruption. How can they allow a loaded pirate vehicle to pass through more than five roadblocks.Yes lives were lost and MTSRIP. I know some of you will begin to say koivo vaimbokwirirei vakawanda kudaro but let Mapombi School you, vanhu havatevedzeri mutemo and that is the reason why we have the police in the first place. The police should be do their work kwete kuita basa rekupiwa madhora nema drink pa road apo. Hanzi bring evidence of corruption heyoka evidence iyo, what more do you want? I saw the Herald saying the president was shocked but it just ended there, he was just shocked and no action was taken, seriously? Kana matadza basa racho please ipai vamwe or kupa ini hangu I will command ndiri kuno kuChitima Madam Chipfakacha please pindirai kuroad kwamakabva tarisai zvoita vana vamakasiya kkkkkkkkk we miss you mother Masvingo. I think with the kind of vindictiveness and Zero tolerance to corruption which that woman had is now lacking and she is surely missed. 

Before you accuse me of yep yepping, allow me to digress a bit dear readers. I want to thank all those who stretched a helping hand to the needy members of our society ndichiti komborerwai naMwari. Hanzi na President vedu who is leading a government which is far much better than those in heaven zvakanaka kuitawo mabasa akanaka chero usinganamati Mwari vanogona kukukomborera ukauyawo kudenga kwatinenge tiri kkkkkkkk. I salute all those who donated to us the underprivileged chero chando chaakunopera. I will be warm because Mucheke inosimudza chando. So let me warn you my fellow comrades, you think comrades are only those who went to the 1st and 2nd Chimurenga? No you are wrong, you and I are comrades because the battles we have fought are much more tense and dangerous, if you know you know kkkkkkkk. Those with a chance to get vaccinated please go and get your jabs before it gets too late. Command vaccination is here and its inevitable guys. Time shall come when you won’t be allowed to board ZUPCO without a vaccination card. Of cause people should have a choice and proper understanding of what they are receiving but it seems like the government is doing less in that area and some are hesitant to get jabbed. Command vaccination is slowly filtering in and the law of supply and demand will soon be in play. Corruption musaikanganwa as it has become a feature ye Zanu-PF led government. 

I heard Mangwiro telling GMB to receive maize only from vaccinated farmers kkk, YES on TV. This corresponds with what was said by the overzealous Zaka North MP Mavhenyegwa recently hanzi vaccinations slips will soon be passport at for Zanu PF gatherings kkkk ndikati yes kubaya tange hama. I heard again another rumor circulating hanzi the police have been asking for vaccination cards at road blocks but they were quick to dismiss it as usual. I once told you that it starts as a rumor, they dismiss the rumor then boom, the rumor becomes reality. So musazoti I didn’t warn you. 

I saw hordes of people passing by flocking to the Provincial Hospital to get their jabs on foot, kkkkkk ko vangaite sei iro Zupco rakati zete pa $80. People seem to be slowly wanting to get vaccinated so the government must make sure that the vaccines are readily available. Chete people have lost trust in the government that is why vachiramba. How can a normal person trust Zanu PF sure? Izvezvi they don’t want to tell us how many of the covid deaths and new cases were vaccinated. Is contact tracing still being done? Is lockdown the only card the government has in play when it comes to containing the pandemic? In Europe they are now planning to do away with masks isu kuno tirikuti tsvakai tsamba dzekufambisa kkkkkkk. This only fuels corruption at  roadblocks.

It’s almost lunch time ladies and gentlemen, ndoda zvangu kumbonokanga maputi angu for lunch but before I go I just want to wish our boys who are doing ‘Anticipation of the Future’ paKG6 in preparation to take on the problematic insurgency pa Moza apa. All the best our forces, we have faith in you that you will put an end to this madness. Personally I wish them well because there are our boys from 4 Brigade. I also hear ma Worry Us as our national soccer team is affectionately known are not perfoming well kuCosafa uko. Kune vane ma fon please tell the captain Ovidy to pull their socks, kana zvanetsa use Zanu PF magic. What we just want is the trophy. I will not forget to wish good luck to the team which is going to represent us at the Olympics. But how can we send a delegation of 18 people with five athletes and 13 officials. Mapombi had the privilege to see the list and was shocked to see Kirsty’s PA on the list kkkkkkkk. Why is the PA on the list when her boss is not even going? Ko ndiye adii hake gore riya Kamambo and his club of Zifa councillors went to Egypt kunokwira paNgamera with their girlfriends and families. Hapana asiri corrupt mune ino nyika save for Mapombi kkkkkkk. 

I saw mkuru vachikanda ma left hook when Manyuchi went to show him his titles kkkkkkk haaaaaa handina hangu zvakawanda zvekutaura ndozonzi ndinowanza. Mphoko aripi ambopinda mu ring nemurume uyu tione kuti ndian anodonhedzwa kkkkkkkk. Till we meet again next time, Mboko imboko! 

72 000 people arrested over Covid-19 regulations

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72 000 people arrested over Covid-19 regulations
Masvingo Provincial Taskforce spokesperson Rodgers Irimayi

George Chimwayange 

More than 72 000 people have been arrested for flouting Covid-19 regulations in Masvingo Province by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) since the start of the pandemic.

The statistics, which were released by Masvingo Provincial Taskforce spokesperson Rodgers Irimayi stated that 72 990 and 19 342 vehicles have so far been impounded after the drivers were caught driving after Covid-19 imposed curfews and some transporting people without required documents. 

From January 5 to July 5 this year, a total of 36 224 people  were arrested, while 8 896 cars were impounded for Covid-19 offences between the same dates.

Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa urged people to follow the Covid-19 regulations so as to curb the spread of the disease.

“People should have the mindset to minimize the spread of Covid-19, not to wear masks for fear of the police but for their own safety, and should also comply with the Covid-19 regulations.

“The police is working with other stakeholders like Ministry of Health and Child Care, Masvingo City Council and the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting in spreading awareness to the public about Covid-19. For those who fail to follow Covid-19 regulations, they are arrested and they will pay a fine of ZW$500”said Dhewa.

The police also works with other organizations like Christian Care which have trained 50 Community Health Club Volunteers to take a leading role in the dissemination of Covid-19 health and accountability information.

Christian Care also supports Masvingo City Council Environmental Health department staff to carry out Covid-19 messaging in the residential areas.  

Covid-19 taskforce spokesperson Rogers Irimayi said that backyard shebeens are contributing to the increase of active cases as many people are gathering at these shebeens without following Covid-19 protocol.

“We are working with the police in finding ways on how to deal with these people as it is illegal to operate shebeens when the government has announced that all beer halls should close, so the police is arresting all those people,” said Irimayi.

Johane Marange sect gathers thousands in lockdown defiance

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Johane Marange sect gathers thousands in lockdown defiance

 

Johanne Marange Apostolic sect congregants

Leslie Karumbidza 

MUTARE–Members of the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect congregants are gathering in thousands in Mafararikwa area under Chief Marange for a two week Passover ceremony despite church gatherings being banned during the level four Covid-19 lockdown, TellZim News has learnt.

The gathering, which commenced on July 3 is scheduled to run up to July 17, with thousands of congregants reportedly coming from across the country and some reported to have crossed borders to attend the ceremony.   

When contacted for comment, Manicaland Police Spokesperson Inspector Luxson Chananda said he could not comment as he was not on the ground. 

Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana recently tweeted on microblogging site Twitter that the apostolic sect are not allowed to gather, and when asked why they are not being arrested he said police did not see them.

“They are not allowed to gather. They are just behaving the same way as drunkards,” Mangwana tweeted

Some villagers from the Marange area expressed concern on why government is letting the gathering go through, saying it could turn into Covid-19 super spreader.

A Zimbabwe Diamonds Allied Minerals Workers (ZIDAWU) representative Cosmas Sunguro expressed disgruntlement about the gathering, saying that the gathering exposed the community to the deadly virus, but it seems as if the apostolic sect is above the law.   

 “We are not happy as it seems like the church is exempted by the law. Some congregants are even jumping boarders coming from hotspot countries, some of which have deadly variants of the virus, putting the lives of community members and those who work in Chiadzwa at risk. 

“Marange is under threat and we are doomed as we foresee disaster unfolding after the Passover. If only one congregant amongst them is Covi-19 positive, there is high probability that the deadly virus will spread like veld fire,” Sunguro said.

He also said community members are sharing boreholes with the congregants, which further exposes the whole community to the virus.  

Other villagers claimed that being vocal about the issue could possibly expose them to persecution, as the congregants allegedly contribute to ruling party votes during elections, more reason why government is casting a blind eye to the gathering.

The government has been criticized for its reluctance when it comes to cases inclined to the Johanne Marange sects failing to bring them to account on stories regarding early child marriages and abuse.

Some church members who spoke to TellZim News on condition of anonymity confirmed that they indeed are gathered in Marange for the big Passover event in their thousands.

Greenfuel armed security guards destroy Chipinge villagers’ crops

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Greenfuel armed security guards destroy Chipinge villagers’ crops

Leslie Karumbidza 

CHIPINGE –Armed security guards from Greenfuel Company moved in to destroy crops belonging to over 1000 families from Chinyamukwakwa village in Chipinge on Thursday to pave way for the expansion of the ethanol producing company.

Greenfuel, which is co-owned by businessman Billy Rautenbach and Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) dispatched security guards armed with guns and dogs and has since started destroying crops.

Villagers who spoke to TellZim News said their unharvested crops have been destroyed, leaving them stranded as they were their only source of livelihood. 

“The company dispatched security guards armed with dogs and guns. They destroyed unharvested crops and some villagers’ houses.

“The destruction is meant to pave way for the controversial ethanol producing company as it prepares land for its expansion and encroaching surrounding fields owned by local villagers,” said one villager.

Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) in its weekly review called for the government to stop and reverse its decision to displace the villagers from their ancestral land and centers of livelihood sustenance.

“The displacement of the villagers from their ancestral land is disturbing, unconstitutional and regrettable in a country that fought against land dispossession through a protracted liberation struggle.

“Government must respect the Constitution of Zimbabwe that implores on important national processes like land allocation policy. Local communities should participate in the formulation of policies and development programmmes in their areas so as to influence desired outcomes,” read part of the report.

The weekly review also expressed concern on government turning a blind eye on the villagers saying it is siding with multinational corporations against indigenous black land owners which is seen as a betrayal of the liberation struggle and land reform programmes which are centered on restoring land ownership to the black majority in Zimbabwe.    

It also noted that ZIMCODD is also cognizant of the fact that capitalist multinationals are on a spree throughout Zimbabwe displacing and dispossessing black people from their land.

“The cases of Dinde, Musikavanhu and Chilonga pin point how capitalist greed are given first preference by the State in the name of facilitating investment at the same time undermining the human rights and socio-economic rights of black Zimbabweans who culturally own the land,” the report noted.

‘Stop media freedom violations’- MISA petitions King Mswati

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‘Stop media freedom violations’- MISA petitions King Mswati
MISA Regional Governing Council chairperson Golden Maunganidze 

Emmanuel
Chitsika

The Media Institute of Southern Africa has
petitioned embattled Eswatini leader King Mswati III to address and put to halt
violations against media freedom in the country after the shooting of two
journalists at work in the kingdom.

In a letter dated July 6, 2021 written by MISA
Regional Governing Council chairperson Golden Maunganidze and supported by 18
signatories from media freedom organisations on the continent, the King has
been urged to ensure the safety of media practitioners in his empire.

“We, the undersigned press freedom and freedom of
expression organisations, hereby write this letter to you to express our
profound concerns with the increasing cases of media freedom violations in
Eswatini.

“We are deeply worried by the turn of events in
Eswatini and call upon the authorities to do everything possible to ensure that
media workers are protected and are not subject to wanton attacks by security
forces,” reads part of the petition.

The petition was written a week after two news
reporters were shot by the police in the kingdom while exercising their duties
with one sustaining serious injuries.

“This
is grossly unacceptable and goes against the values that the kingdom claims to
uphold,” further read the letter.

Maunganidze also took the opportunity to remind the
emperor to respect his country’s constitution and the African Commission on
Human and People’s rights (ACHPR) Declaration of Principles of Freedom of
Expression and Access to Information to which his government is a signatory.

“We urge the Eswatini authorities to demonstrate
their commitment and adherence to constitutionally guaranteed rights by
allowing the media to operate freely without any harassments, assaults, threats
or reprisals for doing their work.

“We are gravely concerned with the excessively
inhumane and largely unreasonable responses by Eswatini security forces in
dealing with media workers. The safety and security of journalists is of
paramount importance to Eswatini, and it is imperative for your government to
ensure that media workers are protected at all times,” read the letter.

The government of Eswatini pressed the panic button
in the wake of protests by the citizens against the rule of Mswati which led to
the government responding by cracking down on the protest by shutting down the
internet.

 MISA and
other regional media freedom organisations made a number of demands to King
Mswati III that included ensuring safety and security of journalists, desisting
from the ban of internet services, filtering of internet messages, compliance
with the constitution as well as adherence to the African Commission on Human
and People’s Rights (ACHPR) Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Access to
Information.

15 years for raping mentally challenged niece

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15 years for raping mentally challenged niece

Blessed Mandaza

A 39-year-old man from Zaka will spend the next 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of raping his mentally challenged teenage niece. 

The accused, whose name cannot be published to protect the victim, was initially slapped with a 17 year jail term by Chiredzi Magistrate Judith Zuyu but two years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. 

In passing judgement Magistrate Zuyu said that the accused crafted a defense to deceive the court into believing that he was not aware of the complainant’s mental status when he actually knew the complainant since she was a child because he would constantly visit as they were related.

In his defense the accused had told the court that he was unaware of the victim’s mental status because they were in love for more than a year and he was even promising to marry her.

The state case as presented by Prosecutor Rutendo Ndimbu was that on November 13 2020 the accused approached the victim who was playing with his four-year-old daughter.

 The accused then lured the victim promising to give her some mangoes at his homestead which she agreed to.

Upon arrival, the accused asked the complainant to escort him with some empty sacks to the bush and she followed him. 

The accused then ordered the girl to lie on the empty sack, undressed her and raped her once.

After raping her, the accused searched filled the sack with firewood, gave the victim some mangoes and ordered her to go home.

About a week later, the victim then told her aunt about the ordeal, who reported the matter to the police leading to the accused’s arrest.

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