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Water situation improves in Masvingo

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Water situation improves in Masvingo
File picture

Clayton
Shereni

Masvingo’s water supply
situation has significantly improved in recent weeks after the city managed to
solve persistent power problems at the Bushmead Water Works pump station.

The situation which had
gone from bad to worse in the past months where residents would queue for water
at boreholes all day long has positively changed.

High density areas
which were the most affected areas are now receiving the precious liquid almost
daily.

Contacted for comment,
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) Director, Anoziva
Muguti applauded the city fathers for improving water supply and said he hoped
the situation keeps getting better.

“There is much
improvement in both the availability and quality of water. We just hope and
pray that the situation keeps on improving. Gone are the days when we would
wake up at 3 am to go and fetch water at boreholes,” said Muguti.

Masvingo Residents
Forum (MRF) chairperson, Brighton Ramusi said the supply has significantly
improved but called upon the local authority to consider reducing their rates
which he said are beyond residents’ reach.

“We are seeing a change
and the supply has greatly improved. Our concern is on the hiked rates which
they are charging. We once wrote to the Town clerk and the Mayor asking them to
consult residents on the issue of rates and they promised to do so but it’s
over three months now. They should talk to residents and get to hear what they
afford because the rates are too high,” said Ramusi.

Masvingo Mayor Collen
Maboke said they are working flat out to continue providing adequate water to
residents daily.

“As city of Masvingo we
are doing our best to try and provide water to residents. Right now we are
pumping close to 30 mega litres daily and we hope to continue improving our
supply,” said Maboke.

The water crisis which
had engulfed the city attracted public anger and some residents had to stage a
demo at the town house demanding consistent supply of adequate and quality
water, with MURRA petitioning Parliament in May about the water woes.

Masvingo is also in the
process of trying to implement its Water Augmentation Phase 2 project, a
development which will see its pumping capacity double to 60 mega litres.

Council dumpsite headache far from over

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Council dumpsite headache far from over
File Picture of a Dumping site in Masvingo

Terrence Ndowora

City of Masvingo suffers dumpsite headache for too long and it seems far from over as residents in Runyararo and Victoria Ranch have to endure seven more months before a new dumpsite in Cambria Farm is opened. 

Addressing journalists on Monday, May 31, soon after full council meeting Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke said the dumpsite has become a menace and needed to be dealt with urgently. 

“The need to expedite the development of the new landfill in Cambria Farm was reemphasized by the Health, Housing and Environmental Services committee as the dumpsite is now a nuisance,” said Maboke. 

Runyararo West and Victoria Ranch residents have for long complained about the stench, flies and smoke which come from the solid waste dumped at the old dumpsite which is less than 200m from houses. 

Masvingo City Council however promised that this will be a thing of the past as they will be decommissioning the dumpsite this year. 

“We secured land to setup a new dumping site and we will be done by end of 2021. I was briefed that we are waiting for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which is done by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), then we will be good to go,” said Maboke. 

Masvingo Urban Residents and Rate Payers (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mutimba said council has been singing the same song for a long time leaving the residents exposed to various diseases. 

“The council has been saying the same thing for the past few years, what surprise us is that they are not moving to the new dumpsite. What is stopping them from going there? We want to see action so that we end this health scare coming from flies and smoke which is being faced by residents,” said Mutimba.

A Runyararo West resident said they welcome the development but hoped the city fathers will deliver their promise this time around.

“The plan of a new dumpsite is acceptable and as residents this is what we have been calling for all along. We have been exposed to dangerous gases when we inhale the smoke which comes from the dumpsite. We just hope the council will do as they promised this time around,” said the resident.

The dumpsite has of late become a hive of activity as people scavenge for scrap metal and recyclable waste. 

Some have set their bases at the site where they will be setting fires during the night to keep themselves warm.

Comic pastor, Bamunini Nijo date Masvingo

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Comic pastor, Bamunini Nijo date Masvingo
Comic Pastor and  Bamunini Nijo

Terrence Ndowora

Prosper “Comic Pastor” Ngomashi and Nigel “Bamunini Nijo” Maritinyu will this month date Masvingo for a one night comedy performance at Charles Austin Theatre.

Speaking to TellZim News, Ngomashi said the duo is on a tour where they intend to perform in all the country’s big cities, and on June 26 they will descend on Masvingo.

“We are coming to Masvingo this month. It has been our desire to do a comedy tour around different cities in Zimbabwe and we started in Harare followed by Bulawayo and now we are coming to Masvingo then Mutare. We might conclude the tour in Harare,” said Ngomashi.

Ngomashi told TellZim News that they are planning to invite a comedian based in Masvingo to perform alongside them on the day.

“Plans are underway to invite an artist based in the city to perform alongside us on the day,” said Ngomashi.

Tickets for the event will be selling at US$10 per person.

Ngomashi, who calls himself Comic Pastor and does his online skits with a group he calls Comic Pastor and Associates shot to fame after one of his video clips titled ‘Shamhu’ went viral on social media platforms in 2015. 

Just like Ngomashi, Maritinyu is a popular Zimbabwean actor, comedian, motivational speaker, and professional event Master of Ceremonies (MC) who started his career in 2016 doing motivational videos that went viral online.

Lands Commission report to guide investigation into council official stands scandal

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Lands Commission report to guide investigation into council official stands scandal
Tawanda Gozo

…as disciplinary hearing for Gozo gets postponed  

TellZim Reporter

MASVINGO- A report by the Lands Audit Commission will set the tone on whether the local authority should investigate the city’s Deputy Director of Housing, Simbarashe Mandishona on land allocation irregularities. 

The Ministry of Local Government late last year dispatched a group of commissioners to look into how the city fathers have been parceling out land.

Mandishona however was allegedly fingered in an irregular activity involving a residential stand which council had repossessed in 2012 which is allegedly next to his house in Eastvale, without following due process. 

Council minutes dated April 26, 2021, state that the Acting Town Clerk, Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa was instructed to investigate Mandishona on issues to do with improper parceling out of land.

“On minute 175 (A) it was corrected that the Deputy Director of Housing and Social Services should be investigated on allegations of improper allocation of stands.

“Whereupon the original motion was put as the substantive motion and it was resolved that the minutes of the Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee held on 8 April 2021 be adopted subject to the Acting Town Clerk being instructed to investigate the Deputy Director of Housing and Social Services on allegations of improper allocation of stands,” reads the minutes. 

Contacted for comment, Eng Mukaratirwa said they were waiting for a report from the lands audit for them to determine whether they should open an investigation or not. 

“So far we are not doing any investigation, if council is going to take any action, we will take into consideration the report of the lands commission. We haven’t received the report,” said Mukaratirwa. 

Meanwhile, disciplinary hearing for suspended Director of Engineering Services, Tawanda Gozo were postponed to a later date. 

Sources told TellZim News that Gozo’s legal representative had asked for postponement of the hearing since he was busy at the time. 

“Last week his lawyer asked for postponement of the hearings. He said he was very busy so it was pushed further,” said the source. 

Gozo is facing charges of incompetence and deterioration of water quality and quantity in the city during December 2020 up until February 5, 2021. 

He also stands accused of not supervising the cleaning exercise of tanks at the Target Kopje reservoirs and main lines, which led to the pumping of sludge. 

During his reign, Gozo is alleged to have failed to delegate duties, make follow ups and failed to deal with service delivery issues urgently.

Discuss sexual and reproductive health matters openly, Midlands youths told

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Discuss sexual and reproductive health matters openly, Midlands youths told


Tinaani Nyabereka

GWERU-Youths and Stakeholders in the Midlands have been urged to openly engage and deliberate on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) education as most youths were being exposed to sexual transmitted infections treatment (STIs) due to fear.

Addressing youths and stakeholders who attended the Midlands Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) Youth Summit hosted by the Zimbabwe Professional Nurse Union (ZPNU) last Saturday, Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) Executive Director Selipiwe Conerlia said it was important to open up and engage with youths on sexual reproductive health matters

“Let’s acknowledge it, youths are indulging in sex and quite a number have been affected by sexual related infections silently due to unprotected sexual activities. Let’s talk to our children as guardians because they are venturing into these things unknowingly. Some do not even know the implications ahead.

“As a residents representatives we believe that a healthy resident helps in building a health community and as youths you are part of the community and without healthy youths our tomorrow is doomed,” added Conerlia.

Youth Essence (YE) Director, Nobuhle Mahlahla urged youths to not engage in drug abuse, which also affects their health.

“Youths encounter lots of challenges socially and economically but despite these challenges, let me tell you that drugs are not the solution. Rather they lead to absolute poverty, poor judgment and lost opportunities,” Mahlahla said.

Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) lecturer and health practitioner Tsitsi Panganai said sensitization workshops on STIs, HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health must be conducted vigorously across the nation.

“As stakeholders, leaders and guardians let’s map out effective strategies to help young people and educate them. To the youths, let’s use the internet for developmental purposes because its wrong use has led to challenges which most youths are facing today,” Panganai said.

Women organizations advocate for disability friendly sexual harassment laws

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Women organizations advocate for disability friendly sexual harassment laws

 

Kumbirai Kahiya Chikowero
Veeslee Mhepo 
Women’s organizations have said people with disabilities should be consulted on sexual harassment concerns to make the laws friendly to their needs.
Sexual harassment has been defined in civic spaces as an unwelcome sexual attention that can take place in both public and private spaces.
Joint Parliamentary Portifolio Committees on Public Service Labor and Social Welfare together with Women Affairs, Gender Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development recently held public consultations on the proposed Sexual Harassment Bill around the country.
 A sexual harassment opinion paper by Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe said the proposed Sexual Harassment Bill should have contributions by people with disabilities (PWDs) as their concerns are often ignored.
“It is important that this law is contributed to by women and girls with disabilities to ensure that the law is inclusive, gender sensitive and reflects the needs of all people, particularly women and girls.
“Criminalizing sexual harassment will protect those who will not be covered under the realm of labor law. This will not mean removing such cases from the realm of labor law but would present an option for women to decide which forum they feel will best address their problem,” read the opinion paper.
IcodZim Marketing Officer Elinera Manyonga said she wished the bill could include  tough penalties to perpetrators who sexually harass disabled people and there should be  department  at the police station that specifically deal with sexual harassment  issues.
“We are for the proposed Sexual Harassment   Bill and hope to see it as an Act soon. Sexual harassment issues happen every day and punishment for perpetrators who abuse women especially disabled women should be tough, like at least five to ten years imprisonment because we want a disability friendly sexual harassment laws.
“The bill should also include specific departments in the police that deal with sexual harassment and these department should be disability friendly to cater for disabled people who come to report,” said Manyonga.
Musasa Project advocacy officer Rotina  Mafume said that the bill should clearly define sexual harassment and should include everyone in all sectors of life especially PWDs and  there should some form of censure to make sure sexual harassment offences are taken seriously.
“The bill should be all inclusive, disability friendly and there should be clear definition of sexual harassment. There should be prevention strategies that provide censure if an institution is not serious about sexual harassment for example if a company , political party or transport companies do not put measures to prevent sexual harassment issues,” said Mafume.
 Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) officer Batanayi Gwangwawa suggested that the bill should define sexual harassment as wide as possible and perpetrators should be punished accordingly.
“The bill should define sexual harassment and give perpetrators appropriate sentences  because sexual harassment costs everyone even the government as they put in place structures in the  Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) and social services to assist survivors,” said Gwangwawa.
Girls and Women Empowerment Network Trust (GWEN) director Kumbirai Kahiya Chikowero said the bill should be clear, criminalize sexual harassment, cater for everyone, protect survivors and should set out punishment for every offense.
“Sexual Harassment Bill should include criminalization of sexual harassment and clearly set out punishment for offences, it should protect survivors in ways that do not affect their income or work space independence.
“There should be protection of whistle blowers, clear and broad definition of sexual harassment especially at the workplace and for PWDs.
“The bill should cover all institutions civil society, government, universities, informal sector and set up of district level committees to hear cases of sexual harassment and should clearly state that every employer should have in place sexual harassment policy and pass it to every employer especially new workers,” said Chikowero.

Chipinge town council stops water metre replacement, installations billing

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Chipinge town council stops water metre replacement, installations billing
Councillor Haruchemwi Nhengu 

Livingstone Mtetwa

CHIPINGE– Chipinge Town Council has made a resolution to stop charging residents for water metre replacements and installations after residents complained that they are not responsible for metre damages, TellZim News has heard.

This came out at a community engagement meeting organized by TellZim News on Wednesday June 2, 2021 with Chipinge Urban Ward 5 and 6 councillors Haruchemwi Nhengu and Lovemore Mutimwiyi respectively.

The councilors assured residents that council was no longer charging for metre replacement as it had taken into consideration the complaints that residents raised.

“This has been one of the troubling issues with council and its residents and the council has acknowledged that water meters in most cases were not damaged by the owners. They depreciate and sometimes it is caused by the fact that they will been lying desolate for a long time without water. It also depends on the manufacturer,” said Mutimwiyi.

Ward five Block Six residents complained on how the water was being unfairly distributed saying Block Six was being sidelined.

“We had a similar experience in our block and other blocks as well but we investigated and the problem was fixed. We will look into the matter and address it. The water is indeed opened by blocks so we won’t really know what is happening until such issues are brought up,” said Nhengu 

The residents however said if the local authority manages to address water and water meter issues they would have no issues.

The two councilors told residents that water issues have been on top of their priorities, through which they now manage to supply water to residents at least four times per week.

Police ‘unleash’ dog on security guard coming from duty

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Police ‘unleash’ dog on security guard coming from duty
Forward Sibanda  showing the wounds

Clayton Shereni 

MASHAVA–  Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who were on patrol in Mashava allegedly set a dog on a security guard who was coming from work in the wee hours of  May 27 2021. 

Forward Sibanda who is employed as a mine security guard was reportedly on his way from Temeraire at around 5.40am after finishing his night shift.

Sibanda told TellZim News that the police were using an unmarked vehicle and when they stopped in front of him, he began to run since robbery cases are on the rise in the area. 

“I was coming from work in the early hours of Thursday and when I saw a pick-up truck stopping in front of me, I began to run because people are being robbed by machete gangs. When they saw me running they set a dog on me and it caught my right leg, biting me several times. 

“They bundled me in the truck and when we reached the Mashava police station they released me without charge and apologized,” said Sibanda. 

A police report seen by TellZim News claims that Sibanda tried to escape from a crime scene, a dog was set on him and when he was taken to the station, he was released without charge. 

“The complainant was found at crime scene of copper cables and in trying to escape, he was chased after by a dog and was bitten. The same was verified and cleared at ZRP Mashava,” reads the report. 

Sibanda went to Bere Clinic where he received an injection but was referred to Masvingo for further treatment. 

Contacted for comment, provincial police spokesperson Kudakwashe Dhewa said the case had not been reported to their Mashava police post. 

“I have checked with our Mashava station and they told me that they haven’t recorded such a case,” said Dhewa. 

High crime rates have been reported in Mashava recently due to increased illegal mining activities which have prompted the rise of machete gangs. 

In February, a mine worker identified as Colet Moyo was reportedly assaulted and left for dead on his way to work. 

Moyo who tried to seek medical attention in Bulawayo where he was supposed to have an operation, later succumbed to the injuries sustained during the unfortunate incident.

Rujeko Sewer Pump Station work in progress

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Rujeko Sewer Pump Station work in progress
Edward Mukaratirwa

Kimberly Kusauka

Masvingo City Council’s Rujeko sewer pump station which has been experiencing perennial breakdowns in recent years is expected to be fully functional by next week. 

Delays in the procurement process of parts needed to fix the problem have been blamed for the continued leakage of raw sewer into Mucheke River.

Speaking during a recent press conference at the town house, Acting Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa confirmed that work is underway at the station.

“The sewer pump issue is cause for concern and some of the issues were beyond our control. We had breakdowns, but now we have secured the correct spares. The initial ones were wrong.

“As a result we had to return them to suppliers to give us new ones, but we have been assured that by weekend the pump station will be back up and running,” said Mukaratirwa. 

Masvingo was fined $8 000 in 2014 for discharging raw sewer into Mucheke river, one of the water bodies which flow into the city’s main source of water, Lake Mutirikwi. 

Mucheke River is currently in a bad state due to untamed discharge of raw sewer into the water body.

Media, CSOs critical in Covid-19 vaccination confidence building

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Media, CSOs critical in Covid-19 vaccination confidence building

Tinaani Nyabereka

GWERU-Media and Civil Society are a crucial part in building confidence towards government Covid-19 response, an engagement meeting on Covid-19 was told.

Addressing stakeholders at a Vendors Initiative for Social Economic Transformation (VISET) Covid-19 vaccination engagement meeting in collaboration with Gweru City Council recently, health expert Robert Chiduku said it was crucial for information to be availed in a transparent manner to help build vaccination confidence in citizens.

“The challenge we have regarding Covid-19 vaccination is lack of proper information on the vaccination exercise and the vaccine itself as people have been affected by misconceptions and misinformation on social media. This needs to be countered with proper ways of information dissemination and this information must be available for access to every citizen.

“Group polarization is one of the dangers of misinformation, where people now share and pressure each other with negative perceptions concerning the vaccine, with a lot of conspiracy theories arising,” Chiduku said.

Chiduku said it is crucial for media and civil society to be  granted access to information with transparency  and clarity on the vaccination program to allow for confidence building on vaccination.

National Association for Non-Governmental Organizations (NANGO), Midlands Regional Coordinator, Titus Mangoma said it was also important for civic spaces to be incorporated into the Covid 19 task forces.

“As civic spaces we also need transparency on vaccine information as this is the only thing that will help to build confidence in various constituencies. At the beginning of the pandemic, CSOs were part of the Covid19 taskforces but were later removed.

“The move affected many people as civic spaces have different thematic sectors which work hand in hand with people at the grassroots. We talk of People with Disabilities (PWDs), women and girls, the elderly among others. Through these sectors it’s much easier to educate citizens as they are constantly engaged,” said Mangoma.

Gweru Mayor Cllr Josiah Makombe said as a local authority they were also doing their part in engaging communities on the vaccination program.

“We still need to take this exercise to the people’s doorsteps so that we also complement government’s efforts of reaching the needed 60% herd immunity.

“We need stakeholders like VISET and Oxfam on board for us to effectively spearhead this initiative. There also need to put in place more mechanisms to raise awareness on the importance of getting the vaccine,” Makombe said.

Currently the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), under the guidelines of World Health Organization is administering three Covid 19 vaccines  namely  Sinopharm and Sinovac both from China and the Covaxin from India. 

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