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Climate change, Covid-19 double tragedy for rural women

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Climate change, Covid-19 double tragedy for rural women

Courage Dutiro 

The outbreak of Covid-19 has doubled the plight of rural folk, where the impact of climate change on the socio-economic state of women continues to take its toll.

Rural women who have been hard hit by climate change before the outbreak of the pandemic are being dealt another major blow as Covid-19 worsened their day to day living standards. 

The latest World Economic Forum’s Global Risks report, before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic ranked climaterelated risks at the helm of 10 global threats. 

Speaking to TellZim News, Shamiso Mupara an Environmentalist and founder of Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe (EBZ) said rural women who have been grossly affected by climate change are enduring a rough patch at the hands of Covid-19.

 “Most Zimbabwean cultural norms burden women with the responsibility to provide food (relish), fuel and water. Mostly, they depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. Therefore, rural women are affected by climate change because it affects the natural resources, for example, water scarcity is caused by extremely hot temperatures and droughts. In this covid-19 era women in rural areas are forced to travel long distances many times to fetch clean water,” she said. 

Tatenda Mutasa an official from the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry said rural women depend on agriculture for food security and if agriculture is affected by climate change rural women now need to diversify their livelihoods by venturing into other activities so as to sustain their incomes, which are however affected by Covid-19 regulations.

“If agriculture is affected by climate change, women need to diversify their livelihoods and venture into other forms of livelihood activities like clay pot making but others do not have the skills. Those who have the skills do not have the capital to do such projects. Those who can do such activities especially in this Covid-19 era are not able to travel to urban and other areas to sell their products due to Covid19-induced travel restrictions,” he said. 

Mutasa added that women are the pillars of most households, but if they are impacted on negatively it means everything is distracted. 

“Rural women need to make sure that there is enough food, clean water at the house and also make sure that children are safe and protected from the Covid-19 virus. The burden of water and firewood fetching owing to climate change that ruined the natural resources base force rural women to walk for long distances which in most cases can expose them to the risk of infection. At some water sources they would be crowded and this puts them at the risk of contracting Covid-19,” he added. 

In recent weeks, rural setups across the country including Chivi, Zaka and Chiredzi have been recording an increase in the number of Covid-19 positive cases. 

In some rural areas, people travel long distances to get water, one can travel 1,5 to 2 km to the nearest water source during dry spells. 

Villagers of Mabhiza area in ward 23 of Chivi South travel for more than 2km to Mutumbwi garden where they fetch water at a nearby borehole. 

As a result, villagers in the area are not able to provide enough safe water at hand washing points popularly known as chigubhu-giya.

These points were introduced as a way of trying to curb the spread of the novel virus but scarcity of water has forced villagers to ignore this safety precaution and it has also forced them to abandon their gardening activities hence affecting food security. 

Introduction of community gardens which are powered by solar boreholes can help to address the gendered impact of climate change  in rural communities.

Covid-19 is intensifying the problems created by climate change on rural women whose food security systems and livelihood options are running out.

Zaka man axes friend for dating his daughter

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Zaka man axes friend for dating his daughter

Blessed Mandaza

CHIREDZI-A Zaka man will spend the next five years in jail for attempted murder after he attacked his friend with an axe for having an affair with his daughter.

Maxon Mungozi (31) from Manyemba Village under Chief Nhema in Zaka had initially been slapped with six years imprisonment by Chiredzi Magistrate Judith Zuyu, but one year was suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.

The state case as presented by Prosecutor Rutendo Ndibwe was that on April 2 this year, Mungozi and his friend Peter Mutorogodi (40) were summoned by Chief Nhema to bring axes and matchetes for the clearance of Zunde Ramambo.

On their way back home after completing the task they were assigned to do at the Chief’s court, the two began arguing, with Mungozi accusing Mutorogodi of having an affair with his daughter. 

A misunderstanding ensued and the two exchanged harsh words until Mungozi   seized the Mutorogodi’s axe and struck him on his left arm, which made him fall in a pit where he continued striking him with the axe’s cutting edge.

Mutorogodi was later rescued by passersby after they saw him being attacked by Mungozi around 8pm, before he was taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital where he was transferred to Harare for treatment.

In his defense, Mungozi argued that he was trying to get hold of the axe to stop Mutorogodi from injuring himself, which led to Mutorogodi accidentally getting injured when the axe fell on the ground.

Zim Internet Service providers widening digital divide

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Zim Internet Service providers widening digital divide

Leslie Karumbidza

The cost of internet bandwidth in Zimbabwe during Covid-19 has created an inequality that will only be improved through policy formulation and enhancement, a MISA Zimbabwe Multi-stakeholder engagement meeting on internet and accessibility in Zimbabwe recently noted.

The meeting, which was held virtually on July 2 2021 was attended by members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICTs), together with content creators and internet service providers.

Speaking during the meeting, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on ICTs deputy chairperson and Hurungwe North legislator Ability Gandawa said with the Covid-19 pandemic having increased reliance on the internet, Zimbabwe was facing digital inequality and there is consensus that internet affordability is a challenge in Zimbabwe.

“The covid-19 pandemic has left most citizens without adequate information both in rural and urban areas. Cost of data is high and internet accessibility is a challenge in Zimbabwe, and internet service providers have indicated that the rise in data is due to operation cost which then determines the overall cost.

“The development of a stable internet which will enable all citizens to access it is being held out by government regulations which acknowledges that there is need for improvement on those policies. 

“These policies will create demand among citizens and competition from internet service providers,” said Gandawa.

Gandawa said the government through POTRAZ was in the process of constructing base stations in marginalized areas using its own resources so that the service providers will be able to improve network connectivity in rural areas.

Speaking in the same meeting, Community Podium TV Executive Director Nkosikhona Dibiti highlighted the impact internet accessibility and affordability has on content creators and the media, which affects the free flow of news and information.

“Internet access is severely limited in Zimbabwe, exacerbated by a growing economic crisis. Internet penetration, quality and accessibility of connections remain limited in practice, therefore the cost of accessing news becomes a challenge.

“People in the rural areas use WhatsApp as the primary source of news, and sometimes bandwidth is out of reach, affecting them on accessing their sole source of information,” Dibiti said. 

Dibiti also said internet accessibility also affects content creators as much as it affects consumers of content because they have to research and fact check before publishing information.

“Limited access of social media information verification tools and language of news makes it difficult for people who then have to make life and death decisions based on information they are inherently skeptical about,” said Dibiti.

The Girls Table Programs Officer Sandra Nokuthula Gama also said women in rural areas find it difficult to access information as there is lack of homegrown solutions to digital inequality.

“Language is a barrier as most digital platforms, websites and programs are in English. There is need for homegrown solution as to accommodate the rural population.

“Society thinks social media platforms are for people with loose morals and some youth are not even allowed to have social media platforms which is a stumbling block in bridging the digital divide,” said Gama.

Following the Covid-19 induced lockdowns that require social distancing, dependence on the internet has grown since the start of the pandemic.

Lions club extends helping hand to PWDs

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Lions club extends helping hand to PWDs


Blessed Mandaza

CHIREDZI-Having spent the last 38 years struggling to move around conveniently, a 42 year old Chiredzi woman has finally found reprieve after Lions Club Chiredzi Chapter recently handed her a donation.

 Haruperi Katini of Vhurumuku area in Chiredzi was a fortnight ago surprised with a wheelchair, a food hamper among other goodies by the Melvin Jones Lions Club Chiredzi Chapter at a ceremony held at Camp David in the Lowveld. 

Katini suffered a stroke at the age of four and this unfortunate incident has brought a lot of problems for her, as she is often segregated society. 

Katini had a torrid time in accessing public transport and sometimes the operators would demand money to accommodate her whenever she wanted to seek medical attention. 

Speaking after receiving the donation, Katini expressed gratitude to the Lions Club saying she was now capacitated to roam around mixing with others. 

“Words alone cannot express how grateful I am for this donation. I never saw this coming and it came as a surprise for me, surely I can now go to the shops and also visit friends and family in the vicinity,” said Katini. 

Former Lions District Charter Governor David Saunyama said it was the organization’s mission to put smiles on the less privileged and marginalized members of the society. 

“As Lions, our everyday goal and mission is to put smiles on the less privileged members of the societies we live in. They also deserve the best and today we remembered them,” said Saunyama. 

The Chapter, in partnership with Botswana’s Phalakhane Lions Club also handed over clutches, sanitary pads and groceries to Primrose Hlaisi at the same ceremony. 

Lions Club is an international organization and also has a district charter which constitutes of Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique. 

Chiredzi West Member of Parliament, Farai Musikavanhu and Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson and Lions Club member, Gibson Hwende were also in attendance. 

Masvingo man jailed for defrauding job seekers

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Masvingo man jailed for defrauding job seekers

Nancy Bayereka

A Masvingo man was recently sentenced to 21 months behind bars after being convicted of defrauding people who he promised to assist to get jobs and driver’s licenses after paying him a certain amount of money.

Polite Mushore (45) was initially slapped with 24 months imprisonment by Masvingo Magistrate Grace Tupiri who later suspended three months on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.  

On June 13 2021 Mushore (45) met Christabel Charity Guchu (27) and told her that he worked for the Vehicle Examination Department (VED), Masvingo depot and convinced Guchu to pay some money and get a driver’s license. 

Mushore further claimed that there were job vacancies at VED and for Guchu to get a job there, she was supposed to pay him US$120 after which she paid.

After receiving the money, Mushore disappeared into thin air while the desperate Guchu kept looking for him to get an update.

Two days later, Mushore then approached Bongani Ngwenya and told her the same story, after which he was paid an undisclosed amount of money and once again disappeared.

Ngwenya was later told that Mushore was an employee at Econet Wireless not VED and on realizing that he was tricked, Ngwenya reported the matter to the police. 

Mushore then started going around Masvingo pretending to be an Econet Wireless employee and met Yolanda Matambudze who he told to pay some money so that she will be given interview questions for her to be employed at Econet Masvingo branch. 

He also approached Martha Taruvanda falsely claiming that if she pays him a certain amount of money he would assist her with getting training to get employment at Econet Chiredzi branch.

Mushore’s luck ran out when police caught up with him after Taruvanda and Ngwenya made reports at Masvingo Central Police Station leading to his arrest.

Prosecutor Nyaradzo Maorera represented the state.

Old infrastructure to blame for Gweru perennial water woes

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Old infrastructure to blame for Gweru perennial water woes

George Chimwayange 

Infrastructure which was last upgraded over 50 years ago has been blamed for Gweru City Council’s failure to supply clean water to its residents despite its two main water sources, Gwenhoro and Amaponongwe dams being 90 percent full in capacity, a recent report revealed.

The Public Resource Management and Situational Report of May 2021 by Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) revealed that the local authority continues to tighten water rationing in areas around the city where some areas have gone for long with dry taps.

“Although water is a basic human right and a key to achieving gender equality and household food security, water shortages continue to manifest themselves in Gweru and other cities,” reads the report.

Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe attributed the water shortages to challenges in maintaining a dilapidated infrastructure, some of which was last upgraded 54 years ago.

“The water situation in Gweru is mainly because of an obsolete infrastructure the city has.

“The treatment plant was put in place in 1967 and has never been upgraded nor changed in spite of the growth in the city’s population from 170 000 then to approximately 350 000 people,” said Makombe

The city of Gweru was once hit by a typhoid outbreak which claimed many lives in 2008 and this current situation poses another looming health disaster.

Hwange town was also mentioned in the report as it faces a similar challenge of failure to access clean water despite being next to Zambezi River. 

Chivhu bus rank, market run without water

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Chivhu bus rank, market run without water
File picture

Tracy Fuzha

CHIVHU- The situation at one of the country’s busiest in-transit public transport ranks is becoming a ticking health bomb as it has gone for some time without running water, putting both travelers and local commuters at risk of contracting diseases.

 In an interview with TellZim News, Chivhu Residents and Ratepayers Association (CRRA) chairperson Collen Zvarevashe said the problem at the bus rank required urgent attention from the responsible authorities as it may culminate into a health disaster caused by waterborne diseases and especially, Covid-19.

“The situation at the busiest rank in the small town is a serious compromise to the nation’s fighting efforts against the Covid-19 scourge.

“We are calling upon responsible authorities to provide a healthy and safe service delivery system as the bus rank is running without water for both market customers and travelers to wash their hands,” Zvarevashe said.

Zvarevashe said customers risk contracting various diseases after buying fruits or visiting the toilets while in transit because there is no running water to either wash the fruits or their hands.

“We advise Chikomba Rural District Council to use the commissioned pay toilet as a public toilet at the mean time whilst constructing proper ablution facility at the bus rank with running water.

“We raised this problem long back but the responsible authorities are doing nothing. We advise the rural district council to at least drill a borehole near the rank to mitigate the water challenge,” he said.

Efforts to get an official comment from the Chikomba Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer Bulen Chiwara were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered for several days.

Citizens not consulted on public resource management: ZIMCODD

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Citizens not consulted on public resource management: ZIMCODD

Believe Mpofu 

A recent survey has revealed that citizen engagement on the use of public resources is still a major challenge in the country, with citizens from predominantly rural areas receiving the least information about public funds management.

The Public Resource Management Situational Report of May 2021 by Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) stated that citizens across Zimbabwe have very limited information on the exploitation, management and use of public resources in their communities, which in turn limits their participation in economic governance. 

The report also notes how lack of consultation, information and secrecy around public funds management create fertile ground for corruption, mismanagement and abuse of public office.

According to the survey, in 30 districts only 56% respondents said they are sometimes consulted on public resources use, while 46% said they have never been consulted.

“Respondents are largely not informed about the exploitation, management and use of public resources in their communities, which hinders citizens’ participation and meaningful engagement in economic governance.

“Failure of local authorities to share information on public funds results in the citizens to find difficulties in challenging or influencing economic decisions in their districts like what happened in Bulawayo where residents were silenced for asking about ward retention funds,” reads part of the report.

The report also revealed that Bulawayo City Council among other local authorities did not properly consult residents when it hiked rates by 400 percent in January 2021, and after an outcry by residents they later did a reportedly cosmetic consultation.

It further stated that 52% of respondents reported that local authorities never share information on public resources with citizens while 48% said they sometimes share, resulting in citizens finding difficulties in influencing economic development.

6000 residents live in the dark for 2 years

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6000 residents live in the dark for 2 years
File picture of Maonde in Sakubva suburb of Mutare

George Chimwayange  

Over six thousand residents in Sakubva suburb of Mutare have been living in the dark after ZESA allegedly disconnected them due to a ZW$2 million legacy debt owed to the power utility by Mutare City Council.

The details were documented in a Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) report compiled in May 2021, which exposed glaring mismanagement by public offices at the detriment of the community.

The report revealed that residents of Maonde area in Sakubva paid their bills to Mutare City Council, inclusive of water and electricity, and in October 2019 ZESA disconnected them after the local authority’s debt had accumulated to ZW$2 million.

Residents are reportedly appealing to the local authority to hand them over to ZESA so that they can pay their electricity bills directly, as they say their debt was only ZW$50 000, and they have previously demonstrated against Mutare City Council as they are now resorting to looking for firewood and risking being arrested.

“The cutting off of electricity has resulted in negative socio-economic consequences in including loss of livelihoods and rise in criminal activities. Women, girls and young boys have to bear the brunt as they have to spend long hours looking for firewood in the Nyakamete area, Fern Valley and Lower Vumba, which is almost ten kilometres away.

“They are exposed to the danger of wild animals, and more specifically they face arrest from the Forestry Commission and EMA Acts for fetching firewood without a license,” reads the report.

It also notes that when caught by forestry rangers while fetching firewood, residents are often subjected to pay bribes, with rangers allegedly demanding sex from women and girls to let them pass with the firewood.

The report notes that ZESA had initially disconnected Mutare Civic Center offices and other council facilities but when the authority was approached they shifted the blame to residents and said they were the ones who owed the local authority, therefore they supposed to pay up or remain in darkness.

A community committee, which included a Community Resource Monitoring Agent (CORA) was once put in place to engage Mutare City Council and the local authority is reported to have engaged ZESA in turn, which demanded that council must redo electrical fittings and provide bulk electricity meters so that ZESA could switch them on again.

Residents are demanding that the Council must restore electricity unconditionally and surrender them to ZESA so that they pay direct to them as to avoid future services being cut off by the services provider. 

Police, VED catalyse loss of lives on our roads

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Police, VED catalyse loss of lives on our roads

 …as 20 perish in head on collision 

Clayton Shereni

MASVINGO- On July 5, 2021, the nation was engulfed with a dark cloud when 20 lives were lost in a tragic road carnage on the 61km peg along the Masvingo-Zvishavane highway in an unpremeditated crash. 
What was supposed to be a safe journey for over 20 passengers who were loaded in two pirate vehicles turned out to be a horror journey, when a Toyota Wish and Toyota Granvia were involved in a head on collision after the Granvia had a burst tyre. 
However, it is the circumstance, number of passengers and timing of the accident which leaves a lot of unanswered questions on the part of law enforcers who have the prerogative of ensuring passenger safety. 
Research claims that it is human error that constitutes 90 percent of road carnage causes, overloaded vehicles have also contributed immensely to loss of life, life injuries and loss of property on Zimbabwe’s roads. 
The Zimbabwean government has banned intercity travel and authorities claim to be ‘enforcing’ the set travel restrictions, with the police having erected more road blocks on highways. 
However, it all seems like business as usual since illegal pirate vehicles continue to ply long distance routes, transporting desperate commuters. 
Overloaded illegal pirate vehicles popularly known as mshika-shika are passing by roadblocks and check points, some being mounted by the police and others by Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID), however, why they are being allowed entry continues to raise more questions. 
The two vehicles which have a standard combined carrying capacity of 15 people including drivers had at-least 23 people, 8 people above their capacity and this clearly proves that one or both vehicles were pirating. 
The Granvia was reportedly carrying 13 people, of which 11 were members of the Shara family who were travelling from Gutu to Gwanda to attend a funeral. Although they had a burial order as proof that they were indeed going to a funeral, the Granvia was overloaded considering it has a standard carrying capacity of eight people. 
From Gutu to Masvingo there are at-least four roadblocks and checkpoints thus near the 4.2 army barracks turn-off, Roy turn-off and 10 km peg to Masvingo but the overloaded Granvia managed to maneuver its way past these points.  
Firstly, the two vehicles were operating outside the confines of the Covid-19 protocols which restricts intercity travelling. 
Police officers have for long been accused of corruption and accepting bribes to allow passage to overloaded vehicles, unlicensed drivers and unroadworthy vehicles.
This tragic accident is one of the many instances where eyebrows have been raised over the failure to enforce the law by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Traffic officers who would be mounting roadblocks. 
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said an investigation is ongoing to establish what transpired and how the overloaded vehicles got past those check points. 
“It’s a case which is under investigation to ascertain what happened. If they got past a certain roadblock or checkpoint, we are going to take stern measures against the officers who were on duty,” said Nyathi. 
From Masvingo to Zvishavane there are usually at-least three road blocks, one at Crest Ibeka farm, Mashava and another near Mhandamabwe area. 
The number of casualties and survivors in the crash clearly shows that the two were way beyond their capacity and that road safety had been ignored by law enforcers and road users. 
Road Safety champion for African region, Tatenda Chinoda weighed in saying the tragic loss of life could have been dodged and called upon members of the public to refuse being overloaded in mshika-shika vehicles. 
“It’s so painful to see lives get lost in an accident which could have been avoided. Life has no second chance. Every car has a capacity and these two vehicles were above their capacity. The vehicles in question are not public service vehicles and were operating outside the confines of the Covid-19 protocols. A burst tyre means the vehicle was probably speeding, the vehicle was overloaded and the tyre should have been replaced before the journey. 
“People should avoid mshika-shika vehicles and the drivers themselves must be cautious on the roads. People are dying everyday on the roads and it seems like a norm now but loss of life shouldn’t be normalized because broken things cannot be resurrected,” said Chinoda. 
Government last year gave a monopoly to Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (Zupco) allowing it to be the sole public transport provider in the country in an effort to contain a rise in transport fares. 
However, this has had its impact on the safety of the public since some police officers are allegedly taking bribes from illegal pirate taxis and kombis. 
Various pressure groups and some Members of Parliament (MPs) have for long called for an open transport system and this has prompted the rise of mshika-shika. 
However, the same groups are also against the overloading of passengers by mshika-shika which they accuse of causing unnecessary loss of life. 
Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) president, Tafadzwa Goliati said commuters have no choice but to use illegal pirating vehicles, however, he called upon the public to take heed of the Covid-19 travel restrictions. 
“People have no choice that’s why they end up boarding mshika-shika due to shortage of transport. We also urge members of the public to avoid unnecessary travelling and limit their movements. The commuting public should take heed of the set travel restrictions. This accident could have been avoided,” said Goliati. 
In a same style of events, another overloaded Granvia also had an accident at the 70km peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road, two days after the Masvingo-Zvishavane mishap. 
Three people died on the spot while 15 others were left with injuries, when the Granvia which was carrying 18 people had a burst tyre and overturned resulting in an accident. 
Last month, another overloaded pirate taxi was involved in a fatal head on collision with a haulage truck in Banket at the 94km peg along Harare-Chirundu highway. 
Three people died on the spot while six were seriously injured and these were occupants of the pirate Honda Fit vehicle which had encroached in the opposite lane. 
Various calls have been made by road safety advocacy groups for the public to use registered public service vehicles, but majority of commuters continue to turn a deaf ear to these calls. 
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