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Masvingo Darts Association raring to go

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Masvingo Darts Association raring to go
MPDA Secretary General Vincent Muzenda

Courage Dutiro

Following the Covid-19 induced hibernation of sporting activities for over a year, Masvingo Province Darts Association (MPDA) said they are now ready to roll following the Covid-19 protocols which were set by the National Darts Association of Zimbabwe (NDAZ) and the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).

Speaking to TellZim News, MPDA Secretary General Vincent Muzenda said the province is now ready to resume games when they get the greenlight to use their proposed venues. 

 “As Masvingo we are now ready for the resumption of our league following the stipulated Covid-19 rules and regulations. We expect to start the games as soon as inspection of our venues is done,” said Muzenda.

Currently, the province has seven registered clubs with six suitable venues which are Rujeko dart room, Railton Club, ZRP Zimuto Camp, 4 Brigade Hall, Mutimurefu dart room and Bikita Minerals Hall. 

Muzenda added that clubs who might  not have suitable venues for their home games, will have to choose among the six venues for their home games.

Ndaz president Meynard Moyo said as the mother body, everything which is required from them by the SRC is in place. 

“We have been given the green light to start our trainings. As the national body, we went down to our affiliates so that they give us proof of their compliance and readiness so that we let them start. 

“We want them to write their COVID 19 response strategies and we would prove them after inspecting their venues and if their strategies are in sync with the Government and WHO COVID 19 protocols we will let the begin their respective leagues.

“Each province has to give us their preparedness before we give them the go-ahead to start. As we speak Masvingo is one of the few provinces that have given us their road map and we will be inspecting their venues soon,” said Moyo.

In a memo written by MPDA to Ndaz, the association promised to follow all regulations and that they were ready for venue inspections. 

“Each club must ensure that players adhere to covid-19 playing regulations i.e. ensuring that players properly put on their face masks, sanitize themselves at the entry point, do not hug or shake hands during playing. A maximum of 12 players per club will be allowed at any given time and a record book indicating for name and contact details of every person/player who will be at the venue must be produced. 

“It has also been agreed that venues must be sanitized before every game with club covid-19 focal point person taking a lead in ensuring that this happens. Players will not be allowed to drink in the playing halls as this might allow them to remove their face masks and might not even remember to put them on.

“By way of this memo, we kindly request your high office to come and inspect our venues and our preparedness to resume the game that we love so much,” reads the memo.

Water crisis hit Nemanwa

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Water crisis hit Nemanwa

George Chimwayange 

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has been battling with pump breakdowns and electrical faults that has left the people of Nemanwa Growth Point going for nearly three weeks without running water.

Residents have been calling upon Masvingo Rural District Council to drill a borehole for them to ease the water crisis, which is exposing them to waterborne diseases since they are now resorting to fetching water from a local stream.

When contacted for comment, Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) Chief Executive Officer Martin Mubviro said council was equally concerned about the water crisis and in their engagement with ZINWA, the later had said they electric challenges were affecting their pumping capacity.

“We are also concerned about the situation but we have engaged ZINWA and they said their pumps were not broken but electrical faults were a major challenge, ” Mubviro said. 

ZINWA spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga said they are working on recovering a new electric motor which was damaged and the water that they had stored is no longer enough for all residents. 

“We are trying our best to get a new electric motor as to provide water to the Nemanwa residents. By end of this week residents will be able to get water,” said Munyonga.

A residents group, Nemanwa Residents and Ratepayers Association (NERRA) has submitted a letter of complaints to Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) citing the unavailability of water which has put residents at risk of waterborne diseases.

The organization wants Masvingo RDC to drill boreholes for residents so that they avoid going to Munzviru stream to fetch water for domestic use.

Masvingo receives Fire Tender donation from UK firefighters

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Masvingo receives Fire Tender donation from UK firefighters
File  Picture

…council to pay over 10 000 British Pounds 

Veeslee Mhepo 

A United Kingdom (UK) based charity group, Operation Florian has donated a Fire Tender to City of Masvingo, a move which will see the local authority increase its fleet to three. 

The city fathers who had an option to choose between a DAF and Volvo fire tender opted for the DAF Fire Tender. 

A report by Acting Director of Engineering Services, Kudzaishe Mbetu revealed that Council will meet a total of 10 500 British Pounds in shipping and transportation costs from the UK up until the Fire Tender reaches Masvingo.

“The council is required to pay shipment costs that amount to 10 500 Pound Sterling from UK to Walvis Bay in Namibia. Fire truck from United Kingdom costs 6 500 Pound Sterling, request donation of truck cost 2 500 Pound Sterling and fuel costs or Insurance of 1 500 British Sterling,” reads the report. 

Masvingo’s two Fire Tenders are currently grounded and are being repaired in Harare and Masvingo respectively according to a report from the responsible department.

“The current fire trucks in Masvingo are malfunctioning, the Volvo AAE 8001 is not operational and was undergoing transmission repairs at Auto World in Harare. The Hino AAE 5723 was reported not operational after a wrong clutch master was supplied,” further reads the report. 

The donation is expected to help improve efficiency and effectiveness of the city’s fire section. 

Council has been blamed on numerous occasions for not being efficient in their response to emergency situations which need the Fire Section. 

Operation Florian is a charity set up by British firefighters to save lives overseas by donating reconditioned fire engines and emergency equipment to help improve emergence services.

Council fails to move buses to Mucheke

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Council fails to move buses to Mucheke

Long distance buses loading at Old Croco motors

Kimberly Kusauka 

Nearly two weeks after Masvingo City Council resolved to revive Mucheke Rank and immediately move all buses operating from undesignated points, nothing has materialized so far.

Masvingo City Full Council resolved that all buses should use Mucheke Bus Terminus starting from June 1 but there has not been any enforcement yet, with buses still loading in the CBD. 

Speaking to TellZim News, Masvingo Mayor Cllr Collen Maboke said there were issues to be resolved between municipal police and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) so they can work together to enforce the resolution.

“We did not fail to implement the resolution to move buses from the CBD to Mucheke rank but there are issues to be resolved between municipal police and ZRP and l assure you that it will be done by end of this week,” said Maboke.

Masvingo Service Delivery Residents and Ratepayers Association (Masdrra) secretary general Moses Mavhusa said he thought that the resolution to move buses to Mucheke rank, if enforced, would benefit residents through revenue income because there will be accountability but it was now taking too long.

“We welcomed the resolution that all buses move to Mucheke rank seeing that it would benefit us through revenue collection since there is accountability at the terminus, but right now we wonder if there are people benefiting from the disorder since the resolution is not being implemented. 

“If resolutions are agreed upon they should be followed but we are yet to get any information from the council. Council is taking too long to implement that resolution because there is no change,” said Mavhusa.

Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said revenue collected at Mucheke rank could be used towards service delivery projects like addressing the perennial water woes Masvingo has been experiencing.

“The resolution to move buses to Mucheke rank was a noble idea since council was going to generate income which they could use in other service delivery projects like water augmentation, but they seem to have abandoned such income generating projects.

“They only rely on rates paid by residents and this is why they were hiking rates lately, but they are not implementing resolutions that can actually help them. It’s only on paper, yet we want them to walk and talk by enforcing their resolutions,” said Mtimba.

Masvingo Residents Forum (MRF) Chairperson Brighton Ramusi said the resolution was a failure and shows that councilors in Masvingo are no longer representing the interests of the electorate who voted for them since they did not consult the residents.

“The resolution was a failure from the onset since council did not involve the residents. It is going to be difficult for people travelling from Gutu and Zaka who will have to look for another mode of transport from Mucheke to the CBD.

“Council should rather forget and stop their plans to construct a terminus at Exor as they indicated, but should establish termini in the outskirts of the CBD. They can upgrade and modernize these temporary terminuses so that residents are not affected,” said Ramusi.

There is money in waste: Minister Chadzamira

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There is money in waste: Minister Chadzamira
Ezra Chadzamira

Believe Mpofu

The
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra
Chadzamira has encouraged people to make money out of waste through recycling
projects.

Chadzamira
was speaking at Roy business center where he had gone for the national cleanup
campaign on June 4 and told residents of the area that they could earn a living
through selling empty beer and soft-drink cans, plastic bottles and plastic
paper that can be recycled to make bricks and other things.

“I
encourage you to maintain a clean environment and I also want to make you
understand that there is money in waste. There are people who are earning a
living through selling waste.

“Maintaining
a clean environment will open a way for investors to come and develop this area,
since it is an important place where main roads meet,” said Chadzamira.

Speaking
at the same event Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Masvingo Provincial
Manager Milton Muusha said he was pleased with the cleanness at Roy business
centre saying educating the rural folk about the need to keep their areas clean
was yielding results.

“I
am happy that people at Roy are aware of the need to keep a clean environment as
shown by how clean this area is. We urge you to keep on doing this as we are
targeting to transform not only urban areas but also rural areas for the
betterment of our health and wellbeing,” said Muusha.

Masvingo
Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) Jefta Sakupwanya said he was happy
that people were following the President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s National Clean Up
initiative that is conducted first Friday of every month.

TellZim appoints Theresa Takafuma news editor

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TellZim appoints Theresa Takafuma news editor
Theresa Takafuma

TellZim Reporter

MASVINGO – TellZim News, the fastest growing regional newspaper for the southern region of Zimbabwe and multimedia organisation has appointed Theresa Takafuma as news editor with effect from June 1, 2021.

Takafuma, who is an award winning journalist and multimedia expert, will replace Moses Ziyambi who left the organisation to pursue other interests.

TellZim editor Passmore Kuzipa said the well deserving appointment was made after serious consideration and the organisation is very confident that Takafuma has what it takes to be in-charge of the newsroom. 

“I would like to congratulate Takafuma for the new appointment. She has defied the odds and proved that women can do it. I am confident that her experience as a multimedia journalist will continue to add value to TellZim News,” Kuzipa said.

Takafuma was with TellZim News for the past five years. Before joining TellZim News she was a correspondent at New Ziana’s provincial paper Masvingo Star.

She has occupied a number of positions within the organisation in marketing and editorial departments, and has been involved in various multimedia projects.

On her part Takafuma said she was confident that she will deliver to the best of her knowledge and take the organisation to the next level.

“I will do my best and I am confident that with the team I am working with, we will take the organisation to greater heights,” said Takafuma. 

 

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.

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