Home Blog Page 418

13-year-old rape victim reduced to tears during cross examination

TellZimNews
-
0
13-year-old rape victim reduced to tears during cross examination

 Moses
Ziyambi

A 13-year-old rape
victim from Zvishavane was recently reduced to tears after rigourous
cross-examination by defence lawyers reportedly in front of some members of the
public at Zvishavane Magistrate Court where the case of her alleged rapist was
being heard, TellZim News has learnt.

Sources said the matter
was being heard before Magistrate Charity Tonongera on Tuesday, May 18, where
defence lawyers from Chafa and Associates cross examined the unaccompanied
minor for several minutes.

In cases of this
nature, victims are normally made to testify in camera so as to protect their
dignity from the public glare and the often intimidatory cross-examination
tactics of the defence counsel.

The term ‘in camera’ is
a legal term which means ‘in private’ where the complainant appears in court
before the magistrate, prosecutor, the accused and defence counsel; without
media and/or public presence.

In other countries,
minor rape victims are made to testify through CCTV and in a separate room from
the main courtroom, and with the support of an intermediary.

The Zvishavane case
involved one 40-year-old Michael David, a Mimosa mining company employee, who
stands accused of raping the minor, on several occasions and sending her nude
pictures.

Some sources said the
case should have been heard at the regional court in Gweru as magistrates’
court do not normally try rape cases.

When contacted for
comment, Gweru Regional Magistrate Phathekile Msipa refused to comment about
the claims, insisting that she was not mandated to talk to the media.

However, members of the
victim’s family were only allowed into the courtroom after the cross examination
was complete, with the victim reduced to tears.

They say they also
found that the victim’s phone, which contained some evidence, had not been
brought to court as promised by the Zvishavane police who took it.

Some legal minds that
spoke to TellZim said it would be procedurally irregular to cross examine a
victim under such circumstances and a review of the trial could be applied by
the victim’s lawyer.

“Proceedings could be
set aside as the case would warranty trial denovo, meaning retrial as the
matter would have been done under irregular procedures,” said one expert.

The accused, who is
distantly related to the victim, allegedly raped her on three occasions
promising her many niceties, and to send her to Dadaya boarding school once she
completed her grade 7.

The case was postponed
to May 27 for continuation of trial.

The wait is over, welcome back Zim football

TellZimNews
-
0
The wait is over, welcome back Zim football

 Clayton Shereni

After
over a year of no domestic action, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) is back and
will commence with the prestigious Chibuku Super Cup which will run from
Saturday, May 22, up to July 31.

A
total of 40 matches will be played in four groups, at four different venues in
four different cities.

Although
fans are not allowed in the stadia, they will have to cheer their beloved teams
from the comfort of their homes on Zimbabwe Television Network (ZTN) and
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) TV.

Here
is a look at the four groups and an analysis of the team’s and this weekend’s
fixtures.

Only
two top teams from each group will make it to the quarter finals.

Group 1: Caps United, Herentials FC,
Yadah FC, Dynamos, ZPC Kariba and Harare City FC

This
group will be situated in Harare and will use the giant National Sports Stadium
for all its matches.

The
six teams will lock horns in what seems to be the group of death for the Chibuku
contest.

Zimbabwe’s
most successful football club in terms number of trophies, Dynamos, who face
Herentials on Matchday One, seem to be the favourites to come out tops if their
form against Highlanders in the Uhuru Cup is anything to go by.

Dembare,
as Dynamos is affectionately known, will bank on the experience of Captain
Patson Jaure who came back from Manica Diamonds, as well as versatile player
Godknows Murwira.

Caps
United will also be in full force and have a relatively strong side, with the
likes of Blessing Sarupinda, Ronald Chitiyo and Leeroy Mavhunga who can cause
all sorts of problems.

Innocent
Benza, the oldest player in PSL, who is the owner and vice-captain of
Herentials, has reportedly demanded a win over Dynamos as a birthday present
after he recently turned 49.

However,
anything is possible in football, Harare City the cup’s 2015 winners, Yadah and
ZPC Kariba, may not be a walk over in this big group.

Caps
will play Yadah on Saturday while Harare City and ZPC Kariba lock horns the
following day.

Group 2: Teams: Highlanders,
Chicken Inn, Bulawayo Chiefs, Bulawayo City

This
group will witness what proves to be an all-Bulawayo team set-up, as the clubs,
that are all based in Bulawayo, battle for the top two sports at Barbourfields
stadium.

Bulawayo
giants and the Cup’s defending champions Highlanders will ride on their name
and use home turf advantage since they have used the venue more than any other
club in the group.

The
Joey Antipas coached side Chicken Inn will be without their priceless gem Clemence
Matawu in the middle of the park after he hanged his boots, but was returned to
take up an administrative role at the club.

Quartet
of Liberty Chakoroma, Malvin Gaki, Bret Amidu and Jackson Moses are expected to
power Chicken Inn past the group stages considering their experience with
domestic cups.

Stubborn
Bulawayo Chiefs, who recently launched their ‘Amakhosi Wear’ kit to become the
first local club to produce a kit brand, will definitely seek to upset the big
guns.

Bulawayo
City is an average side which may turn things upside down if the giants get too
much comfortable.

This
groups first fixtures will see Bulawayo City play the Game Cocks on Saturday while
Highlanders and Bulawayo Chiefs tussle on Sunday.

Group 3: Manica Diamonds FC, Tenax
CS FC, Black Rhinos FC, Cranbourne Bullets FC

Recently
upgraded Sakubva Stadium will be a hive of thrillers as army side Black Rhinos
and Prisons side and debutants Tenax fight to collect maximum points on
Saturday.

Tenax,
which has not made any headlines on the market, will be raring to have a good
start but Rhinos, aka Chauya Chipembere, who are famed for upsetting many big
teams, might be a huge task for Shadreck Mugurasave who will be seating on the
bench.

Johannes
Nhumwa, who will be starting a new season with Manica Diamonds, will have a
dance in the cup against Midlands-based and army side Cranbourne Bullets who
are also this year’s PSL debutants.

Nhumwa
took over from Luke ‘Vahombe’ Masomere who had trusted him to be his lieutenant
but many conspiracy theories surrounded Nhumwa’s rise and the fall of Masomere
at the Mutare-based side which he guided to an impressive fifth position finish
in 2019.

Although
they have not been parading diamonds like what they did in 2019, the Gem Boys
have tied down a few players including speedy forward Michael Tapera who joined
from Masvingo United after an impressive season.

Tapera,
who was on fire at the Mucheke-based side, impressed Nhumwa in the Manica Diamonds
Cup which they eventually won against Tenax in the final and was named the
Young player of the tournament.

If
experience is anything to go by, Rhinos might be the favorites to proceed to
the next round while Manica Diamonds have the best market value and
highly-rated players; more than any other team in the group.

Meanwhile,
Manica Diamonds players to look out for include Marshal Mudehwe, Peace Makaha,
Pascal Manhanga, Tichaona Mabvura and Timire Mamvura.

Group 4: FC Platinum, Ngezi
Platinum FC, Triangle United, Whawha FC

The
2019 league Champions FC Platinum will have home advantage as they host Ngezi
Platinum, Lowveld side Triangle United and Prisons side Whawha at their Mandava
base in Zvishavane.

Pure
Platinum Play, as FC Platinum are affectionately known, will be the team to
watch as they have been Zimbabwe’s champions for the past three years and might
want to extent their dominance in the Chibuku Super Cup.

FC
Platinum last won the cup in 2014 and will be itching to progress to the next
round but they have to deal with Whawha first on Saturday.

However,
the Norman Mapeza side will have to do without Donald Ngoma, Donald Chinya and
Blessing Muwoyo who are out injured.

Another
force to reckon in this group will be Ngezi Platinum aka Madamburo who have a
much stronger side.

Madamburo’s
tried and tested midfielder Devon Chafa will want to win his seventh career
title while rejuvenated striker Denver Mukamba will be out to prove critics
wrong.

Triangle
are not new to this tournament and have won it in 2018 when they beat Harare
City 2-0 in the final.

They
will be seeking the tourney’s glory once again and head coach Taurai Mangwiro
will surely go out in full force to try and progress to the next round.

Quarter Finals

This
stage will see Group 1 winners play Group 3 runners up while the Group 3 winner
face Group 1 second placed side.

The
other quarter final matches will pit Group 4 winner and the second placed team
in Group 2 while Group 4 runner up play the team which finishes first in Group
2.

A
semifinal draw will be done after the quarter final matches are played to
determine who faces who ahead of the grand finale which will be played on July
31.

The
ultimate winner will pocket US$75000 which will be paid using the day’s
official interbank prevailing rate.

Sugarcane farmers to fund Zanu PF

TellZimNews
-
0
Sugarcane farmers to fund Zanu PF
Addmore Hwarare

 …as Hwarare attempts political
resurrection

Beatific
Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI
– The
Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CSFAZ) chairperson Addmore
Hwarare has suggested a stop order facility for members of his organisation who
mill their cane with Tongaat Hulett in order to create new funding for Zanu PF.

Hwarare, who is politically dead,
is probably attempting a resurrection by forcing sugarcane farmers to fund Zanu
PF activities during the run-up to the 2023 elections.

Speaking at a recent Zanu PF
inter-district meeting at Chitsanga Hall, Hwarare pledged to influence members
of his association to directly fund Zanu PF District Coordinating Committees
(DCCs) using their earnings.

“I have money and you can all
testify. So we agreed to design a stop order, where money will be directly
deducted from each farmer’s account with Tongaat straight into Zanu PF’s
account. I have a gift to convince all those I lead as I am a leader who is
guided by the Holy Spirit,” said Hwarare.

The former Zanu PF provincial
political commissar, whose political star sharply fell over a couple of years
back, said the new funding would be vital for the construction of new party
offices when Chiredzi Town Council availed the land which was applied for.

“I can introduce myself as
‘Mureri wenherera nevafumi veZanu PF mafarmers’. I appreciate Zanu PF made us
to be who we are as farmers. You asked for a stand to construct Zanu PF
offices; they cannot be built with stores or leaves, they are built with money.

“We made solidarity last week
with DCC chairmen. We agreed, with your permission to design a system on a way
to sponsor Zanu PF because we benefitted from it.

Hwarare also said the immense wealth
in sugarcane farming business was the reason why land was now being sold ‘on
the black market’ was that there is money in sugarcane, which should be
benefitting the locals.

“We benefitted from the Land Reform
Programme so there is no way we can run away from working with you as a party.
There is money in sugarcane farming, that’s why you see many people trying to
corruptly acquire land. It proves the reason why you see many youths crying
that they need to be considered in the allocation of land which is currently
benefitting those from Harare only,” claimed Hwarare.

Speaking on condition of
anonymity, some members of CSFAZ vowed to resist Hwarare’s plan for a Zanu
PF-linked stop order facility, saying it would be like forcing people into
associating with political interests they do not like.

“We fear it would be a matter of
covert coercion because no member of the association would want to opt out and
risk being given unfriendly labels. You won’t be able to freely disassociate
yourself from it because they will accuse you of being an opposition
sympathiser,” said the source.

Hwarare, whose mandate expired in
November 2020, filed a High Court application to stop CSFAZ from conducting its
Annual General Meeting (AGM) to choose his successor, saying the country was
still taking measures to contain Covid-19 and gatherings would therefore not be
good.

Chiwenga condemns Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital status

TellZimNews
-
0
Chiwenga condemns Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital status

Constantino Chiwenga

 Kimberly
Kusauka

The Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantino
Chiwenga, who recently toured medical facilities in Manicaland condemned the
prevailing conditions at some of the facilities saying their status and what is
on the ground were in contrast.

Chiwenga, who also doubles as the country’s Vice President, recently
toured Nyanga District Hospital and Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.

In his speech, Chiwenga said the Chitepo medical facility
was below par and that it did not match the provincial referral hospital
status.

“The hospital lacks some facilities that would make it a
(proper) provincial hospital hence it’s a provincial hospital in name only,”
said Chiwenga.

He also emphasized the need to equip these health facilities
with modern equipment in order to deliver high quality health services.

Chiwenga also noted that the hospital served close to two
million people and that additional infrastructure was needed as a matter of
urgency.

“Manicaland province has a total population of 1.7 million
people and they get their health care from the provincial hospital hence there
is need to improve the standards of the health facilities at the hospital,”
said Chiwenga.

He however complemented the hospital authorities for answering
on the government’s call to create Covid-19 isolation centres in all the 10 provinces.

“The hospital managed to turn 14 intensive care units with
14 beds into Covid-19 isolation centre as part of the government’s wholesome
fight against Covid-19 pandemic,” said Chiwenga.

‘Churches should play greater role in community development’

TellZimNews
-
0
‘Churches should play greater role in community development’

 George chimwayange

MASVINGO –
The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) last week held a dialogue
session at Assemblies of God in Hillside to discuss how
to improve and strengthen a good relationship with organizations for the sake
of development.

The
meber organisations that organised the event are Catholic Commission for Justice
and Peace (CCJP), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Evangelical Fellowship of
Zimbabwe (EFZ), Union for Development of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in
Zimbabwe (UDACIZA) and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Speaking
at the event, Masvingo Assistant District Development Coordinator (DDC) Kenneth
Madziva appreciated the good work that churches were doing to partner
government for development.

He
credited the organisation for doing great works in communities including the
construction of a water pipe at Morgenster Hospital which has improved the
daily life of the community.

“We
can’t work alone without the support of churches as our duty is to promote
development through citizen participation,” said Madziva.

Representing
the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development was John
Masvinhu who said women needed to take advantage of opportunities created by
these stakeholders to develop themselves.

“Women
should promote development through initiating their own projects that they want
to work on and the ministry will provide some training and funding,” said
Masvinhu.

Yemurai
Dzvairo, who represented Masvingo Rural District Council, said the community
was the main key for development to happen.

She
said local authorities derived their mandate from the need to serve communities
and all facilities built should benefit their communities.

“We
are trying our best to develop and improve service delivery by building
schools. We recently built Chirichoga Primary School and some of our clinics
have solar-powered boreholes while refuse management has been improved at many
business centres,” said Dzvairo.

Many
participants also said churches ought to promote community sports so as to
encourage people to stay physically fit and ultimately reduce the health bill
of community members.

Spike in Covid-19 cases worries Masvingo

TellZimNews
-
0
Spike in Covid-19 cases worries Masvingo

 Perpetua Mrungweni

Masvingo residents are fearful of a potential hard lockdown after the province experienced a sharp increase in Cvid-19 cases, all of them being students at Bondolfi Teachers’ College.

Before May 25, the province had only two active Covd-19 cases, but the cases suddenly became 96 after 94 students at Bondolfi Teachers’ College tested positive.

Speaking at a Covid-19 response discussion held at the Civic Centre on May 27, Masvingo Provincial Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson, Rogers Irimayi said frontline workers were now hard at work trying to deal with the alarming cases at the college which is situated a few kilometres south of Masvingo city.

“There has been a rapid increase in the positive Covid-19 cases in Masvingo. We recorded 94 new cases and all these cases are from one institution. The Rapid Response Taskforce, which is made up of frontline health workers, is hard at work and we are pleased with their efforts,” said Irimayi. 

He confirmed that all the 96 active cases at Bondolf Teachers’ College were asymptomatic save for the index case which had since been admitted into Rujeko Isolation Centre in the city.

“The majority the Covid-19 patients are asymptomatic meaning to say they show no signs and symptoms of coronavirus. We are sure that we have managed to contain the spread because all the cases are concentrated at one place,” said Irimayi.

Some residents that spoke to TellZim afterwards said they were worried of a possible spike of case elsewhere in the city and province after reports that some Bondolfi Teachers’ College students had spent some time at Oasis Night Club a day before.

“Some students are said to have spent their time at the club where they mixed and mingled with different other people. And many of those students are said to be among those that have tested positive,” said Yeukai Mamhute of Mucheke.

Mamhute urged the police to do something about the bars that operate illegally without much regard for regulations such as the curfew.

Nyasha Mutengiwa a student at Masvingo Polytechnic, said it would be good if all face to face lectures are suspended at all institutions of tertiary education as a cautionary measure.

 “We all want to get back to serious face-to-face learning formats but if the risk is too high, then it’s not worth it. It would be good if authorities do away with that and permit only online learning,” said Mutengiwa.

Masvingo municipal police seek status upgrade

TellZimNews
-
0
Masvingo municipal police seek status upgrade

Moses
Ziyambi

City of Masvingo’s wage
bill is likely to rise after the municipality’s police reportedly applied to be
transformed into a department with its own annual budget, TellZim can report.

The city currently
sustains a roughly $10 million wage bill for its 600 employees, and currently,
the municipal police operate as a unit housed in the office of the chamber
secretary.

Sources said some
council managers as well as councillors were friendly to the suggestions, and a
resolution to that effect was likely to be made should there be consensus.

The sources said there
had been simmering grievances in the police service that officers were poorly-remunerated
due to what they feel is an unfair grading system.

The local authority’s
workforce is graded from 1 to 17; with grade 1 – which comprises such workers
as lawn mower drivers and litter pickers – being the lowest grade, and 17 –
which is the town clerk’s grade, being the highest.

Currently, ordinary
municipal police officers are ranked grade 5, with an average salary of $25
000, far below such barely-skilled employees as drivers who are ranked grade 8
with a reported average salary of $50 000.

“It’s a gross injustice
to rank municipal police officers who are trained, who cannot be easily
substituted and whose work is critical, below mere drivers with class 4
driver’s licenses. The police’s worth has been underestimated for far too long
and it’s about time that is corrected,” said a source with knowledge of the
goings-on.

The sources said should
the proposal be granted, the lowest-ranked municipal police officer will be
moved to grade 8.

The local authority
recently recruited an additional 20 municipal police, with 10 more likely to be
added to the list to give the unit a staff complement of 80 officers.

However, Acting Town
Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa said the proposal was rather for municipal police to
be moved to the office of the Town Clerk.

“They can’t be a
fully-fledged department as such. The proposal is that the unit be transferred
from the office of the chamber secretary to the office of the town clerk and
management is currently seized with the issue,” said Mukaratirwa.

He acknowledged that the
move would mean an increase in salaries for the municipal police officers.

“It would also cut
bureaucracy as all their issues will be directed straight to the town clerk,”
said Mukaratirwa.

Zx2 is right; the judiciary is captured but…

TellZimNews
-
0
Zx2 is right; the judiciary is captured but…


Chava chemutengure
vhiri rengoro hoo hiye hoo hiyee, mukadzi wemutyairi haashaye dovi, hoo hiyee
hoo hiyee. Anotora girisi okungira hoo hiyee hoo hiyee. Anoti kukambura rimwe
ozora, hoo hiye hoo hiyee, chemutenguree! I am back ladies and gentlemen. These
days I am madly in love with Mukanya’s music and I hope the music is in love
with me too. Music is my only love. Who, after all, would love a homeless woman
with ragged clothes, stinky armpits, unkempt hair and cracked heels? Nobody! So
music is the love of my life and these days it’s Mukanya alone who is playing
in my mind. Aka kambo kanonzi Chemutengure ndinokanzwa kachiimbwa kana nguva
yeStudio 7 yava kutanga ndakagara zvangu muma plastic kuno kuChitima uku.
Somebody has a small radio in a shack next to mine and it’s always on high
volume kuitira kuti isuwo tisina radio tihwevo zvinotaurwa. Iwo maradio station
akadai kuuya awa. Tozipigwa zvedu. Kwahi kwava nema community radio? Ichokwadi
here? Kana iwo ma TV station matsva atakahwa kuti ari kuuya? Why has none of
them started broadcasting several months after the licences were awarded? Kkk zviri
kuremera vatenzi. Broadcasting isn’t a joke ladies and gentlemen. It’s a
capital and skills intensive business. It seems very few of the licences
winners will be able to get on air. That is why even isusu vana Mapombi vasina
zvavanoziva tiri kudanidzira kuti we want genuine media reforms to allow our
people resident in the diaspora to invest in broadcasting. We could also allow some
limited foreign direct investment in the media industry. Ko isu hatina zve mari
yacho nezvikwanisiro zvacho. Zvikaramba zvakadai chinenge chichingori
chamutengure vhiri rengoro nekusingaperi amen. Even if those new TV stations
are to start broadcasting today, they would be boring as hell. More boring than
ZBC kkkk. Ko content yacho inonakidza vanoiwanepi? Zvoda mari ka izvi. Mari
chaiyo seya Passion Java kkkk. Kana kuti munenge motopa henyu vana Queen Bee
vema cartels, yes those ones have the money to fund content-creation. Otherwise
you would be watching nothing there but old Rambo films that are free of any
copyright protection.  Vedu vapfana vana
Taivavashe nana Banda nanaMunganasa nana Baba Rah paCharles Austin Theatre apa
are very talented and can make good films but their efforts will be exploited
for no payment. Zvakaoma! By the way what happened to the fight for control of
Charles Austin Theatre? But I think council have some point there, kwahi yava
kuitwa brothel kkk. Doug Hill should be turning in his grave. Ahh handisina
ndadaro, ende handidi kutaura mazita evanhu. Pandaimba Chemutengure ndanga
ndisingatauri zvepa Charles Austin Theatre ini. I meant the drama in the
country’s judiciary system kkkk. Haa drama chairo. Zvichingobvawo naThief
Justice vasingadi kubva pachigaro kkk. Akaoma Marava ohh I mean Malava. Haa
Mugabe nhaka yawakatiparira yekurambira pazvigaro iyi ka! I won’t pity you even
if they dig up your dry bones for rituals or whatever. I salute Chidyausiku for
leaving without any drama. Wise people say a good dancer knows when to leave
the stage. But it’s not Malava who is to blame here; it’s that overzealous yet
incompetent Zx2. How I used to envy that name Ziyambi before Zx2 messed it up.
I used to know of very good lawyers and other prominent people who went by that
name; such people as Justice Vernanda Ziyambi and Florence Ziyambi. More honorable
and intelligent people those ones. Now the name is derided because of a
not-so-sharp minister who pushes illegal amendments to impress ED but without
doing enough groundwork to make sure the foundation is solid. Now it’s all imploding
right in his face and it’s embarrassing his boss big time kkk. Changova
chemutengure vhiri rengoro! Kwahi nevamwe vandakahwa vachishora… kwahi Zx2
munhu wezve regime change and is working with G40 remnants to spoil ED’s
electoral chances in 2023 kkkk. President vakati 2030 vanenge vachipo asi Zx2
is working flat out to throw spanners in the works and sabotage the campaign
using his G40-Gamatox captured judiciary. I think I believe that theory because
Zx2, after his defeat at the High Court, went even as far as plagiarizing
Jonathan Moyo’s legendary words to criticize the judgment: ‘A night court, by
night judges and night lawyers’. Yes the judiciary is captured, but not by the
people alleged by Zx2. The Thief Justice debacle is purely a result of
incompetence on the part of Zx2 & Co and it is time they are shown the exit
door. He failed to do his job and all those outbursts were just an expression
of a man who is embarrassed at his own failure of judgement; a shameful act of
blame shifting. A failed man sees ghosts and conspiracies everywhere kkk kana
nemumvuri wake chaiwo zvenge zvangova zvidhoma zvoga-zvoga. Ko iyo tsvimbo
yandiri kuhwa kuti Mugabe akavigwa nayo naimi vanhu? Kwahi naZivhu yakapiwa
Kasukuwere kkkk. Asi Zivhu so kaa, haa murume ane freedom of speech uya. Zuro
ndizuro kwhai sarai imi makapisa Beiz yangu muchidya sadza nepolony ini
ndomboenda kuEurope kuno vhakacha. Sadza nepolony imagine. Kutuka isu vana
Mapombi vanomwa tii nemaputi ka uku? Bhasopu Zivhu. And he could not even spell
‘Benz’ correctly, hanzi ‘Beiz’. Reminds me of one Donald Trump who once wrote
Covfefe that nobody, including himself, knew what it meant. Is it even true
that the Beiz was burnt or it’s just his usual attention-seeking gimmicks to
tell the world that he has good cars? 
Zivhu and Java same WhatsApp group! Ko former Registrar General Mudede
hanzi vari kupinda mudare nenyaya yeumbavha kkkk. Haaa team yaMugabe so ka,
haina kana integrity. A whole former registrar aitinyima mapassport paMakombe
apo. Kwatonhora uku, regai ndinokanga hangu mauti angu ndizvidhlire. Mabanana
haasi kuora nenyaya yechando chakwidza hamba mumuti ichi. Ndotofunga zvangu dai
former VP Mboko vachiri pachigaro pamwe vaindipawo zvavo incubator dzavaipa
vanhu ndikadziya. Kkkk asi zvimwe zvinhu sooka, a giant VP kupa vanhu mishina
yekuchochonyesa zvitiyo sure. Kkkk  sure,
haa Mboko imboko!

Chipinge Cllrs lament residents’ apathy to consultative processes

TellZimNews
-
0
Chipinge Cllrs lament residents’ apathy to consultative processes
Councillor Haruchemwi Nhengu 

 Livingstone
Mtetwa

CHIPINGE
– Chipinge Town Ward 5 Councillor Haruchemwi Nhengu and her Ward 6 counterpart
Lovemore Mutimwiyi have expressed concern over poor participation by residents
in consultative processes meant to democratise decision-making.

This
came out at a feedback meeting organized by TellZim on Saturday May 15, 2021, when
residents found an opportunity to interact with councillors to discuss issues
to do with service delivery and development.

Some
participants complained that council had raised water rates without engaging
them, saying they only came to learn about the new charges on their bills.

“We
are never consulted or even notified when they want to raise charges for water
services. We often just wake up to see changes in the tariff structure,”
claimed one resident.

Nhengu
however disputed the allegation saying council always engaged residents in all
matters of interest, and claimed that residents themselves were apathetic.

“Council
called for a meeting with the residents on the need to raise water charges. Very
few people attended the meetings and their views were considered in the final
resolution that was made. During the budget consultation meetings, we had
representatives from different sectors. When it was completed, it was brought
to every ward but the attendance was very poor,” said Nhengu.

She
said council was doing a great job in terms of service delivery, with water being
supplied to residents for five days a week.

Residents
also complained about corruption which they claimed was rampant in council as
witnessed by the recent dismissal of the town secretary and engineer over
criminal abuse of office.

The
participants also raised concerns over the council’s housing waiting list which
they said was getting longer and longer, with some now using corrupt methods to
jump the queue and to get multiple pieces of residential land.

In
his remarks, Mutimwiyi assured the residents that the council will do whatever
it takes to fight all acts of corruption.

“As
representatives of the town council, we do not condone any acts of corruption.
Councillors and council staff are supposed to help people, and that is why there
have been some dismissals of council employees over issues of corruption. Some
of those cases are now before the courts,” said Mutimwiyi.

On
the issue of the long housing waiting list, Mutimwiyi said council had plans to
service new stands to shorten the queue.

He said
the local authority was worried by the state of roads in its commonage.

“It’s
no secret that our roads are in a sorry state and that it is in our operational
mandate to create roads that befit the status accorded to Chipinge town. This
is why we have already started repairing roads in Ward 5 and Ward 6 and the
residents are happy,” said Mutimwiyi.

Zaka villages sharing one water source with domestic animals

TellZimNews
-
0
Zaka villages sharing one water source with domestic animals
File Picture

Terrence Ndowora

ZAKA –
A total of eight villages with over 200 households in Zaka West constituency
are reportedly sharing a water source with domestic animals from a seasonal
Mupiri river, which only flows during the rainy season, TellZim News can
report.

Ward
24 Councilor, Stella Shambira said the area is depending on seasonal river
water, since the borehole which had been installed soon after independence had collapsed.

“There’s
a Vidco here in my ward with around 1000 people which depend on water from
seasonal Mupiri River. The community shares water from that same river with
domestic animals which causes it to collapse,” said Shambira.

Shambira
told TellZim News that people from the area walk a minimum of 7 km to
neighbouring wards in search of clean water.

“During
dry season, most residents walk a distance of 8 km just to fetch water from the
nearest boreholes which is in ward 27 and 28.

She
called upon the government to help the community by installing the borehole
which Minister Ezra Chadzamira drilled soon after 2018 elections.

“The
only borehole we had in the community was drilled in 1980 and it has since
collapsed. Minister Ezra Chadzamira drilled a borehole for us in 2019 after elections
but it is not yet functional.

“We
call upon the government to intervene and assist the affected villagers in any
way they can,” said Cllr Shambira.

In
2014, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which went
on to collapse due to incessant rains usually experienced in the area.

ChinaAid
reportedly tried to drill a borehole in the community last year but the project
stalled midway after it collapsed.  

Many
villages across Zimbabwe are facing challenges accessing clean and safe water
due to broken down infrastructure, leaving them with no option but to resort to
unprotected water bodies.

1...417418419...964Page 418 of 964