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Chipinge Cllrs lament residents’ apathy to consultative processes

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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

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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.

Zanu PF Mash East remembers Shiri

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Zanu PF Mash East remembers Shiri

The late Perence Shiri

 Tracy Fuzha

CHIVHU –
The ruling Zanu PF party will this weekend held a memorial service for the late
Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement Perence
Shiri at Mutekedza Village in between Msasa and Sadza.

The
occasion, which was confirmed by the Zanu PF Mash East Provincial chairman Michael
Madanha, will be held on Saturday, May 22 at Mutekedza village in Chikomba
Central.

“Minister
Perrence Shiri’s memorial service is going to be held on Saturday at his home
in Mutekedza Village in Chikomba district. We will all gather there to remember
our here,” he said.

The
former Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) air chief marshal died of Covid-19 in 2020
and was declared a national hero.

His sudden death
was met with suspicions that he could have been poisoned by rivals in the
faction-riddled ruling party.

Gokwe to host National Culture Commemoration

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Gokwe to host National Culture Commemoration

 Wayne
Ncube

The
National Culture Commemoration this year is set to be held at Chief Njelele
homestead in Gokwe South officiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on May 21.

The day will be part of
ongoing Culture Week celebrations, which was timed to coincide with the World
Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development which is celebrated on
May 21 every year.

The events are
organized by National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ).

A statement presented
by NACZ states that the event will be held under strict observance of Covid-19
protocols and only invited guests will be allowed entry into the venue.

“The event will be held
under strict observance of Covid-19 protocols and as such only invited guests
will be allowed entry into the venue,” reads the statement.

It also states that
there will be a number of performances and exhibitions comprising artists from the
Midlands to showcase the country’s cultural diversity.

Proceedings will be
broadcasted live on NACZ Facebook pages and other social media platforms.

“A limited number of performances
and exhibitions comprising various artists from the Midlands and other
provinces will be held to showcase the country’s cultural diversity. The proceedings
will be broadcasted live on the NACZ Facebook pages and other social media
platforms,” reads NACZ statement.

Celebrated under the
theme ‘Resilience in safeguarding creativity and cultural diversity’, this
year’s Culture Week, aims to recognize the resilience of the cultural and
creative sector in the face of the devastating impact of Covid-19.

All provinces are
expected to host live cultural commemoration that will be officiated by their ministers
of state for provincial affairs.

Gweru job evaluation exercise sparks retrenchment fears

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Gweru job evaluation exercise sparks retrenchment fears
Josiah Makombe

…as council wage bill balloons to $20 million per month 

Tinaani
Nyabereka

GWERU
–
Residents’ groups have expressed fear that the job evaluation exercise proposed
by City of Gweru will see the local authority retrenching a big chunk of its workforce.

This
follows an announcement by Mayor Josiah Makombe that the initial 2015 job
evaluation report, which was never implemented upon its completion in 2017,
will finally see the light of the day.

In
a statement, Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development
Association (Guprada) director David Chikore said the exercise was meant to
enable council to reduce its workforce from 1 400 to 790.

“The
mayor says no employee will be immediately dismissed but he gives no long-term
job security guarantee, and this leaves some chances that some people will be
affected. The mayor also chooses not to share with us the timeline for this
restructuring exercise, and that seems to be a clever way of avoiding accountability,”
said Chikore.

He
said the fact that council has made it clear that some departments could be
closed with employees being redeployed elsewhere heralded frightening chances
of mass layoffs.

“The
mayor is just making one of his grandstanding and insincere speeches. He is not
bold enough to bite the bullet and tell people the harsh truth that council
wants to retrench. Sometime in 2019, the mayor and the then town clerk Elizabeth
Gwatipedza stated that Town House could not implement the recommendations of
the 2015 GIZ-funded job evaluation exercise as they didn’t have money to
finance retrenchment packages.

“Where
has council suddenly got the funds for retrenchment? One way or the other, they
can’t achieve the 790 figure without retrenching. Could this be a ploy by Town House
to arm twist the restive workforce into abandoning their demands for a wage
increase or it’s a mere coincidence?” said Chikore.

Gweru
Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) executive director Selipiwe Cornelia
said the exercise lacked transparency.

“In
any organisation, job evaluation is important but at the end, there is need to
weigh and see if the results were viable or not. I hope those who came up with
report have seen the environment in which the local authority is operating. As a
resident association, we are yet to be furnished with the report so that we
also understand council’s position.

“Six
hundred people is a big number of workers for council to retrench considering
that some council services are poorly manned due to an insufficient staff complement,”
said Conerlia.

In
his communication, Makombe said council had since realised the importance of
the 2015 report in line with the city’s current financial status.

“In
2015, council embarked on a job evaluation exercise which was funded by GIZ
(German International Corporation) to relook at the organogram of the city to
make it more effective in terms of service delivery and in tandem with our
revenue collection.

“The
report was shelved but we have realised it was a good project and felt we need
to relook at it and resuscitate it. There are 1 400 employees and with the job
evaluation, we will have about 790. With that number, we will save money as
every employee of council will be efficient in discharging their duties in terms
of service delivery.

“The
city’s current average monthly salary bill is about $20 million in the first
three months of the year 2021; almost half the council’s average monthly
revenue of $47 million during the same period,” Makombe.

He
further said no employees were to be immediately dismissed as it will be a
process.

Regency Group staff now fully vaccinated

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Regency Group staff now fully vaccinated

Terrence Ndowora

All
people employed by the Regency Hotels and Leisure Group in Masvingo and Gweru
received their second doses of the of the Sinovac vaccine
for Covid-19 at Flamboyant Hotel on May 07.

The
group operates Flamboyant Hotel, Chevron Hotel and Panyanda Lodge in Masvingo
as well as Fairmile Hotel in Gweru.

Regency
Hotels and Leisure Group managing director, Edison Zvobgo said the vaccination
of all staff members was a critical step in rebuilding confidence in the
business at a time when many potential customers remain wary of using hotel
facilities.

“This
vaccination programme boosts confidence in our customers who should now know
that they will be safe to come here because we abide by government’s directives
towards the containment of the spread of coronavirus as recommend by WHO
guidelines,” said Zvobgo.

He
further said the vaccination of his staff members had made the group’s business
premises safer for all guests.

“The
President has been encouraging people to get vaccinated and we have to support
him and in the process make our own premises safer for doing business. What we
do today serves to encourage others out there to get vaccinated,” said Zvobgo.

Tinos
Mudashu, who works at Flamboyant Hotel, said he was happy that he got an
opportunity to get vaccinated early as his job entails meeting many people
coming from different people.

“I
am excited that I have just received my second jab of the Sinovac vaccine. I am
confident that we are all now safer at work and the clients with whom we
interact are safer too. Taking part in the vaccination programme is good
because it reduces the spread of Covid-19. We mix and mingle with clients from
different areas so being vaccinated is one of the most effective ways of protecting
ourselves and our clients,” said Mudashu. 

Avuxeni community radio struggles to start operations

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Avuxeni community radio struggles to start operations

Blessed Chauke

Communities
in Chiredzi South that were awarded a community radio license say they are
still learning the art of the ropes and will not be able to start broadcasting
any time soon.

The
communities came together and applied for a community radio licence which was
granted last year but they have so far not been able to set up operations.

Avuxeni
community radio initiative chairperson, Hebert Phikela said they were still
mobilising resources and learning how other community-based radios that are
already up and running have done it.

“For
now we are still learning how it is done; the requirements, the challenges and
what needs to be put in place so that we start broadcasting. Recently, our team
toured radio stations in Masvingo which are Hevoi FM and GZU Campus Radio.

“We
have been awarded a license to broadcast but we had not paid the licence until
recently when we raised the fees. Now we are official Avuxeni FM,” said
Phikela.

He
said since it was their first time implementing such a project, there was a lot
of work to be done.

“Locally,
there are a lot of preparations to be done since it is our first time and we
also have to engage many stakeholders on the work.

“We
are busy working on the requirements that are needed to run the radio station
so that we can be able to determine the budget,” he said.

During
the recent World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) commemorations hosted by Misa Zimbabwe
Masvingo Provincial Chapter at Nemanwa growth point, Chiredzi East Member of
Parliament (MP) Denford Masiya, who was a panellist, said community radios had
a huge role to play in the country.

“Community-owned
radio stations mean that the communities need to contribute a lot for the establishment
of the radio station. Government will not seek to control
any of these stations and they will enjoy their freedom, with authorities only
playing a monitoring role,” said Masiya.

OK Zimbabwe arrives in Chivhu

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OK Zimbabwe arrives in Chivhu

 

TRACY FUZHA

CHIVHU –
Listed retail giant OK Zimbabwe has acquired land from Chikomba Rural District
Council (RDC) to construct a supermarket in Chivhu.

Construction
work is at an advanced stage near Dirozvi shopping complex along the Harare
-Masvingo Highway.

Chikomba
Rural District Council Chairman Israel Dhikinya confirmed the deal to TellZim News
saying the development will give impetus to the growth of the small town.

“Chikomba
Rural District Council has sold land to OK Zimbabwe to construct a state of the
art supermarket near Dirozvi shopping complex along the Harare-Beitbridge
Highway just 140km from the capital.

“I
am not sure about the exact cost of the land sold but what I know is the rural
district council has sold more than one hectare of land to the retailer and
construction is now at an advanced stage,” Dhikinya said.

Dhikinya
said there was high demand for retail outlets in the small town due to its
fast-developing population.

“The
establishment of a supermarket by OK Zimbabwe in Chivhu dovetails with our
vision and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’
mantra and like-wise, we are open for business too,” he said.

No
comment could immediately be obtained from OK Zimbabwe management.

Chivhu
residents who spoke to TellZim News said they were happy with the confidence
that big business were expressing in their town.

“Chivhu
is now awake from a deep slumber. This development is a great achievement for
our town which is registering some development because of the contributions of
ratepayers and council leadership,” said Sarah Jeke who spoke on behalf of
an association of vendors.

Man faces rape charge for failing to pay lobola

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Man faces rape charge for failing to pay lobola

 Tendai Mbede

CHIREDZI-
Bismack Zhou (25)  from Monyoroka
village, Triangle appeared before Chiredzi Regional Magistrate Judith Zuyu
facing rape allegations after his girlfriend reported him for having sexual
intercourse with her before paying lobola to her parents,
TellZim News can report.

According
to State papers, on September 11, 2020 the accused invited the complainant to
his house for formal introductions to his siblings.

The
State argued that after dinner, the accused locked the complainant in his room
and declared that they had been officially married as husband and wife without
the accused’s consent.

The
accused went on to have sexual intercourse with the complainant without her
consent while his brothers were on guard.

The
accused’s sister would accompany the complainant to the toilet whenever she
felt like relieving herself so as to prevent her from escaping.

They
stayed together having sexual intercourse several times from September 11 until
the accused managed to run away on September 26, 2020.

The
accused had given the complainant’s aunt a goat as a token of appreciation for
giving him a wife.

In
his defence, the accused said on September 05, 2020, he went to his
girlfriend’s place (complainant) and told her that he wanted to marry her and
she agreed. He said they proceeded to his homestead and stayed together until
September 26, 2020 when she ran away from his house.

He
also told the court that there was some misunderstanding between ‘his wife’ and
his mother.

When
the accused phoned the complainant asking about her whereabouts, she told the
accused that he must pay lobola first to her parents so that they could stay together
formally.

The
accused said he had no money during that time and that is why the complainant
made a police report and filed a rape case.

The
accused later went to the complainant’s parents to discuss about the
compensation and he produced only an identity card saying he had no money.

Prosecutor
Noel Muranda represented the State and the case was moved further for trial continuation.

Shock as grave is opened a week after burial

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Shock as grave is opened a week after burial
File Picture

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA –A
man who lost his daughter who stayed in South Africa suffered double tragedy
after he got stabbed by his younger brother after a misunderstanding over a
hole which was found on the late daughter’s grave.

Anthony
Chengetanai of Rudhanda village under Chief Bota area woke up one morning to
find a deep hole on the grave of his daughter who had been buried for almost
one week.

As
the family tried to come to terms with the incident, Chengetanai and other
family members disagreed on the next step resulting in him being stabbed by his
younger brother.

Masvingo
Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said they had not
received any report of both the assault and the grave incident.

“We
have not received any report of both incidents, we however urge members of the
public to report cases of similar nature to the police,” said Dhewa.

Chengetanai’s
daughter, Evidence died on March 05, 2021, after a short illness in South
Africa where she was working and was repatriated back to Zimbabwe where she was
buried in Zaka on March 13.

Chengetanai
told TellZim News that the mystery surrounding the gaping hole on his
daughter’s grave led to friction among family members as people suspected each
other of performing dark rituals on the grave.

 “My child died in South Africa after short
illness. We buried her at our family grave site and as per custom, we went
there the following day and all was well.

“After
a week we visited the grave site with the intention of putting up material for
the unveiling of the tombstone. We were shocked to find a deep hole close to the headstone but there was no footprints,” said
Chengetanai.

Chengetanai
said that they consulted some prophets who told them that there were some
people who had tempered around with the deceased.

“We
went to consult some prophets who told us that there are some family members
who tempered with my daughter’s spirit and could be using it to do something
bad,” said Chengetanai.

He
went on to claim that other family members were against the idea of backfilling
the hole, a disagreement which got him stabbed with a knife.

 Chengetanai said he suspected the sibling who
stabbed him had something to do with what happened at the grave as he was
opposed to the hole getting plugged.

“I
was stabbed by Lovemore who seemed to know something about what is happening
and is trying to silence me before I expose those involved. I was rushed to Musiso
Hospital where I was stitched on the wound and was discharged.

“We
need help because we now hear some strange noises at home during the night;
ysterious footsteps of people running and mysterious voices,” said Chengetanai.

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