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Zanu PF opens race for Mwenezi East

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Zanu PF opens race for Mwenezi East

Candidate: Master Makope 

 Upenyu Chaota

Zanu PF
has given the green light to potential candidates who would want to contest in
the party’s parliamentary primary elections to replace the late national
assembly member Joosbi Omar who died in October last year from a heart attack.

At
least seven candidates have expressed interests to stand in the primaries
though the party is yet to receive Curriculum Vitaes (CVs).

Zanu PF
Masvingo provincial political commissar Jevas Masosota told TellZim News that they
have given the green light for aspiring candidates to hit the campaign trail.

“With
the lockdown having been loosened, we do not know what will happen to the
electoral processes so we want to be ready.

“We do
not want a situation where we would be caught off guard hence the reason why we
have asked all the aspiring candidates to start campaigning and then handover
their CVs to their District Coordinating Committee (DCC) structures who will then
deliver them to the province,” said Masosota.

The
aspiring candidates are expected to start delivering their CVs starting on
Monday, March 15.

Masosota
said they have a provisional date for the primary elections but would seek
approval from the national leadership.

“We
have a provisional date for the primary elections but the national leadership
would have to approve. We hope to conduct the primary elections sometime in May
this year if the national leadership agrees,” said Masosota.

Former
Ward 5 councilor Master Makope, who is also the Mwenezi DCC political commissar
and head at Avhunga Secondary School, is among the contestants and possesses
enough political capital that may see him carrying the day.

Prominent
Rutenga based businessman Simbarashe Mpofu, Marvelous Chifumuro,
Takura Mudavose, Jabulani Mberesi, Cuthbert Muzara and former Omar’s campaign
manager Hussim are said to have expressed interests to stand in the primaries.

Revert back to 2017 salaries, Zinatu tells government

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Revert back to 2017 salaries, Zinatu tells government
Livingson Maunganidze 

 Veeslee Mhepo

The
Zimbabwe National Teachers’ Union (Zinatu) has called on the government to
prioritise the welfare of educators before rushing to open schools saying their
salaries should be reverted back to the 2017 structure.

In
2017 teachers earned between US$400 and US$540 and presently their salaries
range below an equivalent of US$200.

Government
announced a phased opening of schools beginning with examination classes on
March 15 and teachers have since threatened to declare incapacitation.

Zinatu
secretary general, Livingson Maunganidze said his organization was pushing for
a salary review which will see teachers earning an equivalent of US$540 as was
the case back in 2017.

“We
are pained to hear that the government intends to open schools without
reviewing teachers’ salaries upwards. The capacitation of teachers should be
done before schools are opened because teachers are grossly incapacitated.

“On
behalf of our members we demand the restoration of our October 2017 salaries
equivalent to US$540, we also take this chance to remind the government on the
need to increase salaries and  pay
degreed members what is rightfully due to them .” said Maunganidze.

Maunganidze
expressed dissatisfaction with the salary discrepancies among government workers
saying that in February some government workers were given groceries vouchers
whilst teachers went home empty handed.

“We
would want to express our utter disgust and shock at the prevailing salary
discrepancies among government workers, with teachers being at the receiving
end reduced to a laughing stock most had their salaries increased in February
some given grocery vouchers while teachers went home empty handed. We remain a
vital cog in the country,” said Maunganidze.

He
also called upon the government to consider shelving opening of schools until
the end of month when examiners marking the ZIMSEC Advanced Level 2020
examinations are expected to finish the marking process.

“We
also note with deep concern that the government has decided to open schools while
most secondary school teachers are still marking ‘A’ Level exams and this
implies that there will be skeleton staff in these schools as we know most schools
are already under staffed.

“We
are of the strong view that the re-opening of schools should be shelved until
the 28th of this month when the marking will be over,” said
Maunganidze.

Government
is reportedly planning a mass recruitment of up to 3 000 teachers in what seems
like a counter strategy if teachers go on strike.

Gweru to decommission dumpsite for residential stands

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Gweru to decommission dumpsite for residential stands
Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe with the Stakeholders

 

…over 30 000 on waiting list

                                  

Tinaani
Nyabereka

The City of Gweru has announced plans to decommission Woodlands
dumping site by 2023 to pave way for Mkoba 21 suburb.

The stands will be serviced by council through its partners
Casas, Wackdrive and Shesham Investment.

A total of 784 beneficiaries purchased residential stands in
Mkoba 21 in 2014 with the housing waiting list currently standing at 33 900.

Speaking during an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) exercise
last week, Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe said council’s commitment was meant to
pave way for the construction of Mkoba 21.

“As the mayor of Gweru and on behalf of the local
authority, we commit to decommission the dumpsite in the coming two years.

“Although we may not have adequate resources to work on the
project in one go, we are going to do everything we can to make sure that Mkoba
21 becomes a reality.

“Even if we don’t compelete the project, the next council
can just come in and take over from where we would have left,” said
Makombe.

Gweru acting Town Clerk, Vakai Chikwekwe said there was need
to come up with an action plan for the removal of the dumpsite.

“As a local authority we need to acquire resources, we
will also need an action plan because we cannot just wake up to say we are
moving the dumpsite without resources. This initiative need all stakeholders on
board,” said Chikwekwe.

Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) director, Selipiwe
Conilia told TellZim News that residents were happy to hear council’s
commitment toward the decommissioning of the dumpsite.

“As representatives of Gweru residents we are happy to see
the development of our city. One of the major development we have accepted is
the decommissioning of the dumpsite, were our local authority through the mayor
committed to decommission it to a safer place.

“With regards to Mkoba 21 project we need to understand
the project has been there for a long time and no progress was taking place so
now that they have committed to see the development happening we are equally
happy as residents.

“There are one or two things which the local authority
will look at that is the issue of emissions from industrial site. It’s good to
own your own house, develop your own stand while you can. We are happy to work
with our local authority on this development,” said Conilia.

Briefing the media after touring Mkoba 21 stands and
Woodlands dumpsite, Geoglobal Consultant, Leonard Berekwa said the involvement
of stakeholders on the EIA was crucial on giving feedback and gathering
contributions in mapping a way forward.

“The purpose of the meeting with our valued
stakeholders was to engage and consult stakeholders on the implementation of
the Environmental Assessment exercise of Mkoba 21.

“We wanted to identity the environmental impact to the
project and come up with mitigation measures for the project.

“We are going to finalise minutes which will be signed
by stakeholders and after that we will submit our Environment Impact Assessment
(EIA) report to the Environmental Management Agency for approval,” said
Berekwa.

Christian Care’s Mandipa piped water scheme inspires Mwenezi

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Christian Care’s Mandipa piped water scheme inspires Mwenezi
People fetching water at a tap installed by Christian Care

 Cephas Shava

The
Mandipa piped water scheme, a Christian Care funded project, which was recently
implemented in the semi-arid resettlement area of Mwenezi West’s Ward 16
has  been praised as one of the
district’s most successful projects which ought to be a yardstick for future
projects within the district.

Commenced
in July 2020 and completed in December, the Mandipa project has 753
beneficiaries who are drawn from four local villages.

The piped
water scheme has made it easier for clean water to be accessed by villagers who
for long have been struggling to get the precious liquid for domestic use and
for their livestock.

The
solar powered piped water scheme draws water from Bubi River right to the
“door steps” of four villages which include Mandipa, Nyamandi,
Masunguri and Singari.

Addressing
stakeholders during the end of project review workshop that was organised by
Christian Care in conjunction with the Mwenezi Rural District Council (RDC) last
week, District Development Coordinator (DDC) Rosemary Chingwe praised the
Mandipa piped water scheme saying it was a much needed intervention.

Chingwe
paid tribute to the community for taking part in the project and ensure its
success and called on other development partners to take a leaf from the
Mandipa piped water scheme.

“We
thank Christian Care for spearheading such a wonderful project in Ward 16 of
Mwenezi West constituency.

“The
team spirit displayed by villagers was humbling and their level of commitment
to the project was overwhelming. Locals provided labour with excessive zeal
through, among several other duties, digging trenches.

“We
always encourage development partners to come with such interventions which are
community rooted,” said Chingwe.

Ward 16
councilor Shongedzai Shoko Told TellZim News that the Mandipa piped water
scheme came as a reprieve to villagers who had been struggling to get safe
water for domestic use.

“Water
has been scarce for villagers and domestic animals for too long. Villagers have
been relying on a drilled borehole which is situated deep in the forest and it
hardly produced enough water for villagers before it went dry.

“The coming
of this piped water project has lessened the burden on women who usually toiled
to secure clean water for their families,” said Shoko.

A
beneficiary of the scheme, Elina Sibanda, who hails from Nyamandi Village, was
on cloud nine as she chronicled the success story of the Mandipa piped water
scheme.

“Water
has been a perennial problem here. Several efforts to drill boreholes in our
area constantly hit a brick wall due to the low water table.

“To
access water for domestic use I used to travel six kilometers but now with the
establishment of the Mandipa piped water scheme, taped water is right at my
door step.

“We are
now able to provide water to our domestic animals with easy unlike in the past
where we would travel longer distances in search for water,” said Sibanda.

In many
parts of Mwenezi district’s resettlement areas like Wards 13 and 15, access to
clean water remains problematic leaving many to rely on
unprotected water sources for drinking and other domestic use.

Minister Moyo approves Chiredzi TC, RDC budgets

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Minister Moyo approves Chiredzi TC, RDC budgets

 

Minister July Moyo

Beatific
Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI– The local authorities of Chiredzi
both the Town Council and the Rural District Council’s (RDC) 2021 budgets have
been approved by the Minister of Local Government, National Housing and Public
Works, July Moyo.

The town council had proposed a budget
of $456 million while the RDC had its budget pegged at $493 million.

Chiredzi RDC believes the close to half
a billion budget for 2021 will work towards rebuilding the economic anchors of
the district which are largely based on ranching, sugarcane farming and tourism.

These sectors have been crippled by the
Covid-19 pandemic coupled with an inflation eroded 2020 budget.

Chiredzi RDC Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), Ailes Baloyi said they were happy that their budget was approved early
which will enable them to plan ahead.

“Yes, our 2021 half a billion dollar
budget was approved. On devolution, we were allocated $234 059 013 and ZINARA allocation
standing at $88 998 964for 2021,” said Baloyi.

Half of Chiredzi RDC budget will be
drawn from revenue collection to the tune of $246 888 060 while the other half
will be government grants amounting $245 940 462.

Both Chiredzi RDC and Chiredzi Town Councils
have dualised their tariffs in local currency and the United States Dollar as
per the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 185 of 2020.

Chiredzi RDC revenue collection will
come from property taxes contributing $184 268 460, Developed stands (Estate
Sales) contributing $241 314 028, Fees contributing $46 184 040, Licenses and
Permits contributing $52 265 652 and property rentals contributing $47 035 200.

Chiredzi Town Council secretary Charles
Muchatukwa said the local authority’s $455 699 534 budget got the minister’s
nod paving way for implementation.

“Our $455 699 534 budget was among the
early budgets which were approved by the minister of Local Government which we
have currently put into effect,” said Muchatukwa.

Chiredzi Town Council proposed revenue
was standing at $449 085 585.41 while expenditure is expected to be standing at
$444 238 946 with a surplus/deficit of $4 846 638.61.

On Capital projects, the local
authority is expecting to use its ZINARA allocation fund of $22 000 000.00
towards construction of Magwaza road while devolution fund of $97 839 300.00
will go towards the purchase of a fire tender, tractor and dumper(x2),
construction of public toilets(x2), purchase of a new refuse compactor, skip
bins, land fill, computer server and the upgrade of the water works.

The local authority’s own capital will
go towards sewer reticulation upgrades, rehabilitation of water tanks, purchase
of service vehicles, computerisation of the Housing Department, recreational
facilities for children and upgrading Tshovani Stadium among other developments.

Women demand equal participation ahead of 2023 elections

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Women demand equal participation ahead of 2023 elections
Joyce Mhungu

 Clayton
Shereni

Women’s rights advocacy group, Women’s
Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) has partnered with Masvingo’s female politicians
from across the political divide in their quest for a level field ahead of the
2023 elections.

Over the years, women have been
fighting for a seat on the decision making table with the 2018 harmonised
elections proving difficult for women to break even and make it into the highly
toxic political environment.

WCoZ has moved in to partner female
councillors and legislators as they target to stand toe to toe with male
politicians who have for long enjoyed much of the space in politics both at
local and national levels.

Speaking during a virtual Strengthening
Women’s Advocacy for Inclusive Governance (SWAG) meeting held last week,
Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 7B councillor, Benengina
Mudambiranwa said women’s rights advocacy groups should offer support to female
politicians for them to match their male counterparts who usually spoil the
electorate during election periods.

“We should get to 2023 ready to take
our male counterparts head on. Organizations which work towards women’s rights
advocacy must give us support as female politicians as we go around
campaigning.

“When male politicians campaign they
have a lot of backing and financial muscles and as women we are disadvantaged
naturally, so every woman should support any aspiring female politicians in any
possible way,” said Mudambiranwa.

WCoZ Masvingo chapter chairperson,
Joyce Mhungu said the meeting was an eye opener which revealed an urgent need
of support for female politicians if they are to achieve a level political
ground.

“What we saw is an urgent need of
assistance for women, be it moral or financial support because this is what has
been missing on their part. Usually female politicians are financially
disadvantaged but what worries us is that women constitute more of the
electorate. As an organization we will lobby for women to get some financial
allocation from the government,” said Mhungu.

The meeting was also attended by councillors;
Virginia Hwena (Masvingo Central Ward 19), Susan Samatanga (Ward 34 Gutu),
Sungano Matakanure (Masvingo South Ward 30), Kumbirai Takunyayi (Masvingo RDC
Ward 10) and Members of Parliament (MPs); Yeukai Simbanegavi (Gutu North) and
Jacob Nyokanhete (Masvingo Urban).

Masvingo city has one female councillor,
Alderman Selina Maridza, against nine male councillors proving the gender
imbalance in the local authority.

Female parliamentarians occupy 35
percent of the total number of legislators in the country and out of the 270
seats, 60 are reserved for the women’s quota which some women have called for
its abolishment, demanding a 50/50 representation.

This has also been the case for
aspiring female presidential candidates who have fallen victim of the
patriarchal nature of politics in the country. 

It is an irrigation scheme not Lucerne project, govt amends Chilonga Statutory Instrument

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It is an irrigation scheme not Lucerne project, govt amends Chilonga Statutory Instrument

 Beatific
Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI– The under pressure government has
made amendments to the Statutory (SI) 50 of 2021 which effected the removal of
thousands of families in Chilonga paving way for a Lucerne grass project by the
Kwekwe based Dendairy company.

The amendments made yesterday came
through SI 63A of 2021 where some cosmetic changes were
made but the objective remained the same.

The amended SI 50 0f 2021 torched a
storm with the government receiving a lot of punches over the move.

SI 63A of 2021 only deleted some words
where previously the government had gazetted a Lucerne grass project and now
refer to it as just an irrigation scheme.

“It is hereby notified, for general
information, that the communal Land (Setting Aside of Land) (Chiredzi) Notice,
2021, contained errors-

“The statutory instrument is corrected-
(a) By the deletion of the words “Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural
Development” and the substitution of Minister of Local Government and Public
Works (b) In Section 2 by the deletion of the words “purpose of lucerne
production” and substitution of “establishment of an irrigation scheme,” reads
the correction.

On Friday last week, the Magistrates
Court gave a temporary relief to stop the evictions after the Zimbabwe
Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) filed an urgent chamber application
seeking to interdict the government from going ahead with its plan.

Chiredzi South and East Members of
Parliament (MPs) whose people are being affected have refused to comment on the
move.

Chiredzi South MP Denford Masiya told
TellZim News that the matter was way above him and could not comment.

“This is something which is above me as
an MP and I am sorry I cannot comment on that,” said Masiya.

Minister of State for Masvingo
Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said no one will be evicted
from their land but rather people will benefit from the project.

Chiredzi channels $228million devolution funds towards schools, clinics

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Chiredzi channels $228million devolution funds towards schools, clinics

 Blessed
Chauke

Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC)
has allocated a huge chunk of its 2021 devolution funds towards improving
education and health infrastructure in the district.

The RDC was allocated $228 million up
from $13million which they received in 2020.

Speaking to TellZim News, Chiredzi RDC
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ailes Baloyi said that the funds will be used
for social projects especially schools and clinics which had stalled in recent
years.

“Our funds will be mainly used to
construct schools, clinics and some will be channeled towards solving the water
crisis in the Lowveld.

“There are also some wards in Chiredzi
District such as Wards 16, 17, 20 and 24 which do not have proper social
amenities. We also have 32 schools and also 15 clinics which are under
construction,” said Baloyi.

Baloyi said the projects will be done
in conjunction with the community and the corporate world whom they have partnered
on various projects.

“We do all our projects with the help
of the community. The community provide what they have and we provide what we
have and that is how we work together to build up the community,’’ said Baloyi.

He said they were also focusing on
areas where they were having water challenges by drilling more boreholes and
installing solar systems.

“We purchased a borehole drilling rig
from China last year which we will use to drill boreholes in areas where there
is a dire water crisis in Chiredzi District.  

“We will make sure that we drill at
least two boreholes every year and we will try to equip the boreholes with
solar so that our people will not have challenges to access the water,” said
Baloyi.

The schools and clinics building programmes
will prioritize marginalized areas where social amenities remain hard to
access.

Father, son bashed to death for ‘stealing’ donkeys

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Father, son bashed to death for ‘stealing’ donkeys

 

Tinaani
Nyabereka

ZHOMBE– Instant justice turned fatal when two men
were fatally assaulted for allegedly stealing three donkeys sometime in
December last year.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel
Mahoko confirmed the death of Helken Ncube and his son Khulekani from Mudzingwa
Village under Chief Malisa who were allegedly assaulted to death by three
brothers from the Moyo family over donkey theft.

Inspector Mahoko said investigations were underway and
suspects were in police custody.

It is said that on February 28 at around 1700 hours, the now
deceased were at Bhaparara Business Centre where they were confronted by the
Moyo brothers Lee, Moffat and Mpilo.

The Moyo brothers allegedly accused the now deceased of
stealing their donkeys in December last year.

The deceased are said to have professed ignorance over the
allegations and the Moyo brothers allegedly started assaulting them using
knobkerries.

The savage attack ended
when the now deceased were lying unconscious on the ground. The Moyo brothers
are said to have fled from the scene.

The now deceased were
then taken Kwekwe Genaral Hospital where they were pronounced dead upon
arrival.

A police report was made leading to the arrest of the Moyo
brothers.

Neshuro District Hospital in deplorable state

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Neshuro District Hospital in deplorable state
Cattle patrolling at Neshuro Hospital 

…hospital laundry hand-washed after washing
machines break down

…meals fire cooked as kitchen shuts down

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI- The conditions at Neshuro
District Hospital continue to decline after it emerged that the district’s
referral centre has been operating without a functional laundry section and
kitchen.

The
hospital’s washing machines reportedly broke down several months ago and
hospital staff are reportedly hand-washing dirty linen exposing themselves to
numerous health risks.

Owing
to broken down electrical utensils, the hospital’s kitchen section is also in
shambles leaving cooks to rely entirely on firewood for preparing patients’
meals.

TellZim
News’ visit at the hospital last Thursday, February 25, revealed that there was
nothing being done to improve the situation at the hospital.

With
the hospital’s ramshackle perimeter fence, Neshuro District Hospital resembles
an overcrowded paddock as domestic animals freely roam within the health center’s
yard.

Main
roads leading to the hospital are full of potholes with the most critical one,
the TNP road, which links the hospital to the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway in
dire need of urgent attention.

In a
telephone interview, the District Development Coordinator (DDC), Rosemary
Chingwe acknowledged some of the problems haunting the district hospital.

She
told TellZim News that the government working with other development partners
was working to address the situation at the hospital.

“The
hospital’s perimeter fence is in bad shape but we have decided to start with
working on the water situation.

“So far
a borehole which was funded by Unicef with the support from government is at
the final stage of being set up and Africa Ahead is the one implementing the
process.

“Everything
is now ready, it’s only a few water tests which are yet to be finalised for the
borehole to be completely set up.

“After
working on the hospital’s water situation we will focus on addressing the
institution’s problems which include laundry section, kitchen and its perimeter
fence,” said Chingwe.

The
district hospital has for years been experiencing erratic water supply from Zinwa.

At one
point in time, owing to the water crisis, the pediatric section of the hospital
was temporarily closed with authorities also forced to cut-back on new
admissions.

 

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