By Virginia Njovo

Masvingo Province has been classified as higher risk of veld fires in the 2025 fire season, mainly due to an increase in biomass resulting from above-normal rainfall received in the rainy season.
Gutu and Masvingo Rural districts expected to be the most affected compared to others who have relatively lower chances.
This came out during the National Fire Week Launch in Gutu on May 28 wherr Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Environmental Officer for Planning and Monitoring, Wilfred Muchono said the rainy season’s lush growth has created ideal conditions for wildfires.
“The 2024–2025 farming season brought normal to above-normal rainfall, leading to an accumulation of biomass. This increases the risk of veld fires, so extra caution is necessary. Several strategies are being employed to mitigate the danger,” said Muchono.
Muchono urged landowners and land users to adopt fire prevention measures such as creating nine-meter-wide fireguards and repurposing dry vegetation.
“During this period, fire should only be seen in the kitchen, anywhere else becomes a punishable offense. Biomass can be baled for poultry bedding, thatching, or even sold as part of a new business venture,” said Muchono.
Masvingo Provincial Environmental Manager Milton Muusha emphasized that the National Fire Week Launch (NFWL) was not just ceremonial but a crucial moment to evaluate preparedness at all levels.
“The NFWL is the engagement of all stakeholders in veldfire Management to ensure availability of adequate capacity to manage fires, these include local communities, local governance structures including local authorities, traditional leaders and development partners.
“It also provides awareness at the outset, the launch is a platform to immediately and widely disseminate information about the dangers of veldfires, their causes and the importance of prevention hence it is time to take stock of villages, wards, districts and provincial preparedness to the upcoming fire season,” said Muusha.
Gutu District, which contains large resettlement areas with dense, unmanaged vegetation, is among the most vulnerable. To prepare for the season, Gutu Rural District Council Chairperson Charles Mannie said they had acquired a fire tender using Constituency Development Funds.
“As the most affected district, we have procured a fire tender using funds from CDF to prepare for the season. With this new fire tender and planned awareness campaigns, we are stepping up our readiness to fight veld fires in the upcoming season,” said Mannie.
Despite the current concerns, veld fire incidents in Masvingo have been declining over the past three years, suggesting that awareness campaigns were having a tangible impact with statistics showing that in 2022, 82,664.10 hectares burned, 2023: 37,460.75 hectares (a 54.7% decrease) and in 2024 (as of October 11): 15,332.45 hectares burned.

Staff Reporter

Residents of Zaka Ward 27 are facing significant challenges due to poor network coverage, which hinders their access to information and communication.
Speaking to TellZim News, local ward councilor Ernest Mandava appealed to the responsible authorities to erect a network tower on Fumure Mountain, which he said would provide coverage for the entire ward.
“I appeal to the responsible authorities to erect a booster in Fumure Mountain. That could cover the whole ward and other areas due to its location and height.
“If erected at its summit, it would have a very large coverage because of its height and relieve the challenge we face as a ward,” said Manadava.
He said people were relying on booster from Renco Mine which is in Masvingo District and Chivamba though in Zaka, it was shielded by some mountains in between making it hard to provide network for the whole ward.
“Currently, residents rely on boosters from Renco Mine and Chivamba, which are far away and unreliable. Two potential sites, including Fumure Mountain, were identified long ago, but no action has been taken so far,” said Mandava.
He said the poor network coverage had a significant impact on local schools and business centers, which require reliable internet connectivity to operate effectively.
The councilor noted that internet connectivity was a major challenge, forcing people to travel to higher ground to access the internet, leaving many behind in terms of access to information.
“We are lagging behind in terms of access to information and communication due to the poor network coverage. We urge the responsible authorities to prioritize the erection of a network tower on Fumure Mountain, which would greatly improve our connectivity and enable us to participate fully in the digital economy,” said Mandava.
The situation is not unique to the area and Zaka alone as several areas in rural areas face the same predicament.
In Masvingo South, people from Guwa area said they were also facing connectivity challenges saying bureaucracy and greedy by traditional leaders who wanted payment was costing the area.
“There were prospects that a tower was going to be erected at Guwa mountain back then around 2019 prior to COVID era. As part of the process apparently on the consultative stages, some elders had their reservations of traditional significance of the mountain, hence the project was abandoned,” said a source who refused to be named.
Masvingo South legislator Tanatsiwa Mukomberi said the traditional leader impasse but said it was later approved and Econet promised to erect one in 2024 but the promise was yet to see the light of the day.
“At first the traditional leaders blocked the move but it was later approved. Econet promised us that they were going to erect one booster in 2024 but they failed so I will follow up on it.
However, we also applied to NetOne and we are still processing the paperwork,” said Mukomberi

By Rangarirai Shanyurai

Civil servants and war veterans are set to benefit from discounts on land purchase under the government’s recently launched land distribution programme, aimed at promoting economic empowerment and recognizing the contributions of these key groups.”
The government of Zimbabwe launched the major land redistribution initiative, offering major discounts with flexible 20-year payment terms.
Speaking at the Leadership Success Series and Land Tenure Implementation Program held at Masvingo Polytechnic on May 23, business mogul and philanthropist Kudakwashe Tagwirei revealed that government had 10 million hectares of land for redistribution under the A1 and A2 farming schemes.
“The government of Zimbabwe has acquired 10 million hectares that will be redistributed to citizens. A1 farmers will receive six hectares, covering residential and farming land, while A2 farmers will receive up to 200 hectares,” said Tagwirei.
In Masvingo, land is priced at US$500 per hectare, putting the standard six-hectare A1 plot at US$3 000. However, Tagwirei said civil servants and other qualifying groups will receive layered discounts.
“If you’re a civil servant with over 10 years of service, you’ll get a discount of two and half percent to five percent. Because Masvingo is in Region 3, there’s an additional two percent discount. Those who pay in cash will receive a further 15% discount,” said Tagwirei.
As a result, civil servants will pay just US$2 340 for a six-hectare plot, while non-civil servants will pay US$2 490.
To ease affordability, citizens will be allowed to pay in annual installments over 20 years, with civil servants paying US$273 per year and others US$288 per year.
War veterans will enjoy even steeper subsidies with the first five hectares priced at just US$10 per hectare, while the sixth hectare costs the standard US$500. They also qualify for the additional 15 percent discount.
Tagwirei said the initiative was aimed at boosting productivity and ownership among ordinary Zimbabweans.
“The President understands that people are struggling financially and has made it possible to pay for land over two decades,” he said.

By TellZim Reporter

A desperate Masvingo woman is appealing for urgent financial assistance to the tune of US$25 000 to send her 13-year-old daughter to India for life-saving treatment after local doctors said they could no longer offer any medical solutions for her rare intestinal condition.
Chantelle Adams said her daughter, Laurah Kayla Adams, had been battling serious gastrointestinal complications for four years, including two rare diseases, intestinal neuronal dysplasia and leiomyopathy, disorders affecting the nerves and muscles of the intestines.
Laurah began suffering from chronic constipation after she had her appendix removed in 2021. Despite multiple medications, tests, and hospital stays, doctors were initially unable to determine the exact cause of her condition.
It was not until August 2024, after a barium enema and a biopsy conducted at St. Anne’s Hospital in Harare, that the family received a diagnosis. But by then, doctors said the diseases had caused irreversible damage to Laurah’s intestines and there was no surgical treatment available in Zimbabwe.
“The doctors told me they can only manage her symptoms. They said all the surgical procedures they had considered earlier were no longer possible because her intestines, colon, and rectum are no longer functional,” said Chantelle.
The family’s last consultation on May 14 with pediatric surgeon confirmed the severity of the situation.
“The doctor said her abdomen was severely distended and she was pale due to blood loss. He confirmed again that no surgery can be done locally, and her condition continues to deteriorate,” said Chantelle.
Chantelle said there was now a 95 percent risk that Laurah’s intestines may rupture. A theatre review by a local doctor in April showed that bowel washouts were no longer effective due to new blockages.
Facing no further options locally, Adams is seeking financial support to take Laurah to India for treatment. She has secured a quotation from an Indian medical facility and has compiled related travel and accommodation expenses.
“I just want to try and give my daughter a fighting chance. She wants to be a surgeon when she grows up. Here, the doctors have given up. But I can’t give up on her too.”
The family is appealing to well-wishers, corporates, and donors to assist in raising the required funds. Supporting documents, including medical reports and cost breakdowns, are available upon request.
She said her finances were drained in the past four year battle with the life threatening illness and said she had been trying to reach out to many for help but nothing materialized.
Adams said she tried to reach the President of Zimbabwe, some business people like Chivhayo and Tagwirei but she couldn’t reach them and her hope was that someone hears her distress call despite others discouraging her to go public with the plea.
She said she will remain undeterred and was willing to do whatever it takes nomatter how uncomfortable it makes her as long as there was little hope.

Anyone willing to help can contact her directly at +263 773 965 277.
Those willing to contribute can send cash via EcoCash on the same number with the name Chantelle Ebrahim or send to her bank Chantelle Ebrahim First Capital Bank, M 50903602526