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Four weeks of erratic service delivery in Masvingo

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Four weeks of erratic service delivery in Masvingo

 

…as council introduces refuse collection schedule

Agnes Madechiwe

Masvingo residents are enduring a four week supply of unreliable water supply as the local authority struggles to maintain infrastructure at its Bushmead Water Works, TellZim has learnt. 

The city fathers who have faced stern challenges when it comes to service delivery are trying to address the water challenges currently being experienced across the city due to power problems at the water works. 

The authorities have warned that residents should brace for a four week long dry spell as engineers work on repairing the damaged transformer. 

However, council introduced a water rationing schedule which they have struggled to manage due to the extensive demand for the precious liquid especially in high density suburbs. 

Residents have resorted to boreholes while some are using water from rooftops and gutters since the city is receiving quite significant rains. 

One of the most affected areas in the city is Runyararo West high density suburb which is classified under the high lying areas has for weeks received little water supply as council fails to meet its water shedding schedule. 

Beatrice Hamadziripi, a Ward 3 resident, bemoaned council’s actions when it comes to water supply and said they have no option but to resort to boreholes and queue for water. 

“In Runyararo West we have a very sorry situation and we are not happy with what council is doing when it comes to water supply. Council gives us water once a week and here we don’t get the water as scheduled. 

“Boreholes are overcrowded especially this side because some come from Victoria Ranch and you may wake up early but sometimes we find the boreholes locked and the person in charge of that borehole will come later. On some instances they might say pressure and lock again so we might end up failing water so we plead with council to help us during these hard times,” said Hamadziripi. 

Speaking to TellZim News, Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke confirmed that the problem needed four weeks to be solved and urged residents not to queue at boreholes to avoid the spread of COVID-19. 

“We are pumping at 50 percent since our transformer got damaged and our engineers said they require four weeks to fix it but now we are in week two so hopefully soon they will be done. As council we are now embarking on water rationing and we urge residents to use water sparingly and avoid long queues and contact at boreholes because corona virus is real and we will perish if we don’t take preventive measures,” said Maboke. 

Residents’ representative group, Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (Murra) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said council should act fast in dealing with the situation which is a ticking bomb for the city due to the fact that Covid-19 requires maximum hygiene practices. 

“It is appalling that council needs four weeks to fix a transformer that broke down at Bushmead Water works. This comes at a time when the country is under a Covid-19 induced lockdown and the situation needs consistent water supply. If we don’t have water in our homes how do we practice hygiene? 

“We want to say to council, what they are saying does not make sense. They must act fast to deal with this situation and as a residents we are not happy,” said Mtimba. 

Meanwhile, the local authority has introduced a refuse collection schedule and is using a tipper truck since the refuse compactors are grounded due to major breakdowns. 

Some residential areas had gone for months without refuse collection and some undesignated dumping sites were beginning to surface as residents were left with no option but to dump litter at anyplace.

Residents demand accountability in Gutu RDC operations

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Residents demand accountability in Gutu RDC operations

 

Gutu RDC CEO Alexander Mutembwa

…as council buys old grader painted as new

Clayton Shereni

GUTU – Residents here have pressed for answers from Gutu Rural District Council (RDC) over the local authority’s expenditure and operations in the previous year amidst allegations of gross misconduct. 

The local authority has reportedly paid for a front end loader, grader among other vehicles which residents allege are yet to be delivered although their expected time of delivery has lapsed.

Gutu United Residents and Ratepayers Association (GURRA) secretary general, Tafunga Mangombe, said the council expenditure in 2020 remained shrouded in mystery and demanded accountability.

“We are not happy with the local authority especially on the issues of council equipment which was paid for but were never delivered. 

“Council is blaming suppliers but we have situations where a pre-owned yet repainted motorized grader was delivered to council and had to return it to the supplier after stakeholders rejected it,” said Mangombe. 

It is also alleged that the engineering department is yet to receive a vehicle which was reportedly paid for more than a year ago. 

Gutu RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexander Mutembwa said everything was done in a transparent manner and they have an open door policy where stakeholders are free to come and access information.

“We have nothing to hide. People can approach their council and make enquiries regarding how their money was used.

“The grader which we returned is expected to be delivered this month but we are not sure now under the current lockdown,” said Mutembwa.

COVID-19 vaccines

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COVID-19 vaccines

 

 

 

TellZim Reporter

Is there a vaccine for COVID-19?

Yes. There are three COVID-19 vaccines
for which certain national regulatory authorities have authorized the use. None
have yet received WHO EUL/PQ authorization but we expect an assessment on the
Pfizer vaccine by the end of December and for some other candidates soon
thereafter. 

Large studies of 5 vaccine candidates
efficacy and safety results, including these three (and for Moderna and
AstraZeneca), have been publicly reported through press releases but only one
(AstraZeneca) has published results in the peer reviewed literature.  , We
expect more such reports in the near future.  It is likely that additional
candidates will be submitted to regulatory authorities for approval. There
are many potential
COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in development.

Once
vaccines are demonstrated to be safe and efficacious, they must be approved by
national regulators, manufactured to exacting standards, and distributed. WHO
is working with partners around the world to help coordinate key steps in this
process, including to facilitate equitable access to safe and effective
COVID-19 vaccines for the billions of people who will need them.

When will COVID-19 vaccines be ready for distribution?

The first COVID-19 vaccines are
beginning to be introduced in countries. Before COVID-19 vaccines can be
delivered:

  • The vaccines must be proven safe and effective in large
    (phase III) clinical trials.  Some large clinical trials of COVID-19
    vaccine candidates have reported encouraging preliminary results, and     many other
    potential vaccines are being developed    .
  • A series of independent reviews of the efficacy and
    safety evidence is required, including regulatory review and approval in
    the country where the vaccine is manufactured, before WHO considers a
    vaccine product for     prequalification.
    Part of this process also involves the     Global Advisory
    Committee on Vaccine Safety    .
  • In addition to review of the data for regulatory
    purposes, the evidence must also be reviewed for the purpose of policy
    recommendations on how the vaccines should be used.
  • An external
    panel of experts     convened by WHO, called the
    Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), analyzes the
    results from clinical trials, along with evidence on the disease, age
    groups affected, risk factors for disease, and other information. The
    panel then recommends whether and how the vaccines should be used.
  • Officials in individual countries decide whether to
    approve the vaccines for national use and develop policies for how to use
    the vaccines in their country based on the WHO recommendations.
  • The vaccines must be manufactured in large quantities,
    which is a major and unprecedented challenge – all the while continuing to
    produce all the other important life-saving vaccines already in use.
  • As a final step, all approved vaccines will require
    distribution through a complex logistical process, with rigorous stock
    management and temperature control.

WHO is working with partners around the
world to accelerate every step of this process, while also ensuring the highest
safety standards are met.

Will COVID-19 vaccines provide long-term protection?

It’s too early to know if COVID-19
vaccines will provide long-term protection. Additional research is needed to
answer this question. However, it’s encouraging that available data suggest
that most people who recover from COVID-19 develop an immune response that
provides at least some period of protection against reinfection – although
we’re still learning how strong this protection is, and how long it lasts.

Most
COVID-19 vaccines being tested or reviewed now are using two dose regimens.

 

How likely is it that safe, effective vaccines for
COVID-19 will be developed?

WHO
is cautiously optimistic that safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 will be
successfully developed. There is a robust
pipeline of potential vaccines in development, and some have already advanced to large (phase III)
clinical trials based on promising early data.

But
for now, we can’t be certain if or when a COVID-19 vaccine will be available.
That is why we must not rely on a future vaccine to fight this pandemic – we
must use all the tools we already have at our disposal, such as testing,
contact tracing, physical distancing, and the use of masks.

How quickly could COVID-19 vaccines stop the pandemic?

The impact of COVID-19 vaccines on the
pandemic will depend on several factors.  These include factors such as
the effectiveness of the vaccines; how quickly they are approved, manufactured,
and delivered; and how many people get vaccinated.

Most scientists anticipate that, like
most other vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines will not be 100% effective. WHO is
working to help ensure that any approved vaccines are as effective as possible,
so they can have the greatest impact on the pandemic.

What types of COVID-19 vaccines are being developed? How
would they work?

Scientists
around the world are developing many potential vaccines for COVID-19. These vaccines are all designed to teach the
body’s immune system to safely recognize and block the virus that causes
COVID-19.

Several
different types of potential vaccines for COVID-19 are in development,
including:

  • Inactivated or weakened virus vaccines,
    which use a form of the virus that has been inactivated or weakened so it
    doesn’t cause disease, but still generates an immune response.
  • Protein-based vaccines, which use harmless
    fragments of proteins or protein shells that mimic the COVID-19 virus to
    safely generate an immune response.
  • Viral vector vaccines, which use a virus that
    has been genetically engineered so that it can’t cause disease, but
    produces coronavirus proteins to safely generate an immune response.
  • RNA and DNA vaccines, a cutting-edge approach
    that uses genetically engineered RNA or DNA to generate a protein that
    itself safely prompts an immune response.

Will other vaccines help protect me from COVID-19?

Currently, there is no evidence that
any existing vaccines will protect against COVID-19.

However, scientists are studying whether
some existing vaccines – such as the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine,
which is used to prevent tuberculosis – are also effective for COVID-19. 
WHO will evaluate evidence from these studies when available. Source WHO

 

COVID-19 myth busters

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COVID-19 myth busters

 

TellZim Reporter

 

Vitamin and
mineral supplements cannot cure COVID-19 

Micronutrients, such as vitamins D
and C and zinc, are critical for a well-functioning immune system and play a
vital role in promoting health and nutritional well-being.  There is
currently no guidance on the use of micronutrient supplements as
a treatment of COVID-19.

WHO is coordinating efforts to develop
and evaluate medicines to treat COVID-19.

Studies show hydroxychloroquine
does not have clinical benefits in treating COVID-19

Hydroxychloroquine
or chloroquine, a treatment for malaria, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid
arthritis, has been under study as a possible treatment for COVID-19. Current
data shows that this drug does not reduce deaths among hospitalised COVID-19
patients, nor help people with moderate disease. The use of hydoxychloroquine and
chloroquine is accepted as generally safe for patients with malaria and
autoimmune diseases, but its use where not indicated and without medical
supervision can cause serious side effects and should be avoided.

More
decisive research is needed to assess its value in patients with mild disease
or as pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis in patients exposed to COVID-19.

People should NOT wear masks
while exercising 

People
should NOT wear masks when exercising, as masks may reduce the
ability to breathe comfortably.

Sweat
can make the mask become wet more quickly which makes it difficult to breathe
and promotes the growth of microorganisms. The important preventive
measure during exercise is to maintain physical distance of at least one meter
from others.

 

The likelihood of shoes
spreading COVID-19 is very low

The
likelihood of COVID-19 being spread on shoes and infecting individuals is very
low. As a precautionary measure, particularly in homes where infants and small
children crawl or play on floors, consider leaving your shoes at the entrance
of your home. This will help prevent contact with dirt or any waste that could
be carried on the soles of shoes.

The coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) is caused by a virus, NOT by bacteria

The
virus that causes COVID-19 is in a family of viruses called Coronaviridae.
Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Some
people who become ill with COVID-19 can also develop a bacterial infection as a
complication. In this case, antibiotics may be recommended by a health care
provider.

There
is currently no licensed medication to cure COVID-19. If you have symptoms,
call your health care provider or COVID-19 hotline for assistance.

The prolonged use of medical
masks* when properly worn, DOES NOT cause CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency

The
prolonged use of medical masks can be uncomfortable. However, it does not lead
to CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency. While wearing a medical mask, make
sure it fits properly and that it is tight enough to allow you to breathe
normally. Do not re-use a disposable mask and always change it as soon as it
gets damp.

*
Medical masks (also known as surgical masks) are flat or pleated; they are
affixed to the head with straps or have ear loops.

Most people who get COVID-19
recover from it

Most
people who get COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms and can recover thanks
to supportive care. If you have a cough, fever and difficulty breathing seek
medical care early – call your health facility by telephone first. If you have
fever and live in an area with malaria or dengue seek medical care immediately.

Drinking alcohol does not
protect you against COVID-19 and can be dangerous

The
harmful use of alcohol increases your risk of health problems.

Thermal scanners CANNOT detect
COVID-19

Thermal
scanners are effective in detecting people who have a fever (i.e. have a higher
than normal body temperature). They cannot detect people who are infected with
COVID-19. There are many causes of fever. Call your healthcare provider if you
need assistance or seek immediate medical care if you have fever and live in an
area with malaria or dengue.

Adding pepper to your soup or
other meals DOES NOT prevent or cure COVID-19

Hot
peppers in your food, though very tasty, cannot prevent or cure COVID-19. The
best way to protect yourself against the new coronavirus is to keep at least 1
metre away from others and to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. It is
also beneficial for your general health to maintain a balanced diet, stay well
hydrated, exercise regularly and sleep well.

COVID-19 is NOT transmitted
through houseflies

To
date, there is no evidence or information to suggest that the COVID-19 virus
transmitted through houseflies. The virus that cause COVID-19 spreads primarily
through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks.
You can also become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then
touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands. To protect
yourself, keep at least 1-metre distance from others and disinfect frequently-touched
surfaces. Clean your hands thoroughly and often and avoid touching your eyes,
mouth and nose.

 

Spraying and introducing bleach
or another disinfectant into your body WILL NOT protect you against
COVID-19 and can be dangerous

Do
not under any circumstance spray or introduce bleach or any other disinfectant
into your body. These substances can be poisonous if ingested and cause
irritation and damage to your skin and eyes.

Bleach
and disinfectant should be used carefully to disinfect surfaces only. Remember
to keep chlorine (bleach) and other disinfectants out of reach of children.

Drinking methanol, ethanol or
bleach DOES NOT prevent or cure COVID-19 and can be extremely dangerous

Methanol,
ethanol, and bleach are poisons. Drinking them can lead to disability and
death. Methanol, ethanol, and bleach are sometimes used in cleaning products to
kill the virus on surfaces – however you should never drink them. They will not
kill the virus in your body and they will harm your internal organs.

To
protect yourself against COVID-19, disinfect objects and surfaces, especially
the ones you touch regularly. You can use diluted bleach or alcohol for that.
Make sure you clean your hands frequently and thoroughly and avoid touching
your eyes, mouth and nose.

5G mobile networks DO NOT
spread COVID-19

Viruses
cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in
many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks.

COVID-19
is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes
or speaks. People can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface and
then their eyes, mouth or nose. 

 

 

Exposing yourself to the sun or
temperatures higher than 25°C DOES NOT protect you from COVID-19

You
can catch COVID-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is. Countries with
hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19. To protect yourself, make sure you
clean your hands frequently and thoroughly and avoid touching your eyes, mouth,
and nose.  

 

Catching COVID-19 DOES NOT mean
you will have it for life

Most
of the people who catch COVID-19 can recover and eliminate the virus from their
bodies. If you catch the disease, make sure you treat your symptoms. If you
have cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early – but call
your health facility by telephone first. Most patients recover thanks to
supportive care.

Being able to hold your breath
for 10 seconds or more without coughing or feeling discomfort DOES NOT mean you
are free from COVID-19

The
most common symptoms of COVID-19 are dry cough, tiredness and fever. Some
people may develop more severe forms of the disease, such as pneumonia. The
best way to confirm if you have the virus producing COVID-19 disease is with a
laboratory test.  You cannot confirm it with this breathing exercise,
which can even be dangerous.

The COVID-19 virus can spread
in hot and humid climates

The
best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by maintaining physical
distance of at least 1 metre from others and frequently cleaning your hands. By
doing this you eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection
that could occur by then touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.

Cold weather and snow CANNOT
kill the COVID-19 virus

There
is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the new coronavirus or other
diseases. The normal human body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C,
regardless of the external temperature or weather. The most effective way to
protect yourself against the new coronavirus is by frequently cleaning your
hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water.

Taking a hot bath does not
prevent COVID-19

Taking
a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19. Your normal body temperature
remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or
shower. Actually, taking a hot bath with extremely hot water can be harmful, as
it can burn you. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by
frequently cleaning your hands. By doing this you eliminate viruses that may be
on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by then touching your eyes,
mouth, and nose.

The COVID-19 virus CANNOT be
spread through mosquito bites

To
date there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new
coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes. The new coronavirus is a
respiratory virus which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an
infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge
from the nose. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently with an
alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Also, avoid close
contact with anyone who is coughing and sneezing.

Hand dryers are NOT effective
in killing the COVID-19 virus

Hand
dryers are not effective in killing the COVID-19 virus. To protect yourself,
frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with
soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by
using paper towels or a warm air dryer.

Ultra-violet (UV) lamps should
NOT be used to disinfect hands or other areas of your skin

UV
radiation can cause skin irritation and damage your eyes.

Cleaning
your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing your hands with soap and
water are the most effective ways to remove the virus.

Vaccines against pneumonia DO
NOT protect against the COVID-19 virus

Vaccines
against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type
B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.

The
virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are
trying to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, and WHO is supporting their
efforts.

Although
these vaccines are not effective against COVID-19, vaccination against
respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health.

Rinsing your nose with saline
does NOT prevent COVID-19

There
is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people
from infection with the new coronavirus. 

There
is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline can help
people recover more quickly from the common cold. However, regularly rinsing
the nose has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections.

Eating garlic does NOT prevent
COVID-19

Garlic
is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there
is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected
people from the new coronavirus.

People of all ages can be
infected by the COVID-19 virus

Older
people and younger people can be infected by the COVID-19 virus. Older people,
and people with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and
heart disease appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the
virus. 

WHO
advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from the virus,
for example by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene.

Antibiotics CANNOT prevent or
treat COVID-19

Antibiotics
work only against bacteria, not viruses.

COVID-19
is caused by a virus, and therefore antibiotics should not be used for
prevention or treatment.

However,
if you are hospitalized for COVID-19, you may receive antibiotics because
bacterial co-infection is possible. 

Source https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

 

 

 

Mimosa mourns Finance head

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Mimosa mourns Finance head

 

The late Tinashe Mutanda


TellZim Reporter

ZVISHAVANE – Mimosa
Mining Company has been thrown into mourning after the death of the one of
their heads in the finance department.

Tinashe
Mutanda, who was the head of Systems Development and Compliance in the finance
department died on January 6 at Marter Dei Hospital in Bulawayo after an
undisclosed illness.

He was
40.

The
mining company’s general manager Stephen Ndiyamba told TellZim News that the
mine was going to issue a statement with full details over his death.

“We are
deeply saddened by the death of one of our staff members but we are yet to get
a report as to what was the cause.

“We
will issue a statement once we get the details,” said Ndiyamba.

He
described Mutanda as a hard worker saying the mine had been robbed of a great
and promising young leader.

Mutanda
is said to have joined Mimosa in 2005 and held a number of positions and in
2020 he was appointed to the position he held until his time of death.

Devolution: Bikita happy with progress made in 2020

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Devolution: Bikita happy with progress made in 2020

 

New tarred road linking the main business centre at Nyika with Duma residential area


Colleen Chitsa

BIKITA – Bikita Rural District
Council (RDC) has expressed satisfaction with the progress they made in the
implementation of the projects funded under devolution in 2020 with the
majority of projects undertaken having been completed.

The few
remaining projects which have been carried over into 2021 are over 90 percent
complete.

There
is now greater potable water provision in various wards of the district as 33
boreholes were equipped with B-Type Bush Pumps, three boreholes equipped with
solar powered systems and 40 boreholes were repaired.

Bikita
RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Chibhi said they were happy with the
progress they made regardless of the Covid-19 national lockdown.

“We
have made remarkable strides in ensuring that the projects we undertook have
been completed or neared completion.

“Were
it not for the lockdowns which disturbed smooth flow of implementation of the
projects, we would have completed all of them as we had targeted to do all the
work in 2020 and start the new on a new page,” said Chibhi.

In
2020, Bikita RDC received $11.5 million in devolution funds.

The
Shumbaimwe Clinic project in Ward 11 which was constructed by the local
authority in partnership with Bikita Minerals and Odzi Clinic are the major
projects that have already been completed.

These
clinics target around 6 000 beneficiaries and will lessen the distance
travelled by locals to the nearest health centers as well as providing easy
access to medical supplies.

The 2.3km
of the Nyika Growth Point to Duma Residential area road was successfully
surfaced making it safe for around 10 000 targeted road users.

In the
education sector, the local authority commissioned a double block at Zindove
Primary School in Ward 2 under Chief Mabika and another at Mupakwa Primary in
Ward 13 in Mukanganwi area.

Ongoing
projects include the main buildings of Chibvure, Budzi and Mupamaonde clinics.

In
2019, the local authority won a number of accolades and awards with Chibhi
himself being named CEO of the Year for the second year running during the
Megafest Local Governance Awards held in Harare.

 

Bhasikiti quits MDC Alliance, says Chamisa must form own party

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Bhasikiti quits MDC Alliance, says Chamisa must form own party

Kudakwashe Bhasikiti


Upenyu Chaota

Kudakwashe
Bhasikiti, a man whom history remembers for often being in the wrong political basket,
has this time around jumped from the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance, saying he
could no longer belong to a ‘non-existent’ party.

Bhasikiti,
who was a member of the MDC Alliance’s National Executive Council (NEC), told
TellZim News that he is no longer a member of the MDC Alliance which he says
now belongs to MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora.

He said
he has been at pains to explain to Chamisa that they should rebrand because the
MDC Alliance they keep clinging to belongs to Mwonzora and his plea fell on
stubborn heads.

“The
Supreme Court ruling changed everything and reverted MDC-T back to its 2014
structures. That meant Thokozani Khupe was now the acting president pending and
extra ordinary congress.

“The
congress was held and this meant that the MDC Alliance now belonged to Mwonzora
and not Chamisa. We formed MDC Alliance coming from Zimbabwe People First
(ZimPF) and we recognized our leader as Chamisa but the tables have turned now
since the party now belongs to Mwonzora.

“I have
been clashing with other members that we should rebrand but they were too
stubborn to listen. Even vice president Welshman Ncube shared the same view but
nobody cared to listen which is why I am distancing myself from the MDC
Alliance,” said Bhasikiti.

He said
Chamisa cannot continue believing in a fantasy of him being the president of a
party which belongs to another leader.

“I do
not support Mwonzora and I cannot again support Chamisa who does not want to
leave Mwonzora’s party. If Chamisa were to form another political party then I would
support him. He will always have my support if he decides to rebrand.

“As it
stands right now, Chamisa is just but a faction within Mwonzora’s party,” said
Bhasikiti.

The former
Zanu PF legislator for Mwenezi East and Masvingo provincial affairs minister
was kicked out of the ruling party in 2014 along with former Vice President
Joyce Mujuru when their Gamatox faction was defeated by the Weevils.

Bhasikiti
and the Gamatox faction formed the opposition outfit Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF)
led by Mujuru before he jumped ship to join the Nelson Chamisa led MDC-T.

The
move by Bhasikiti proved a bitter pill to swallow for the MDC Alliance in
Masvingo who took a dig at him saying he was just an attention seeker.

 

UMC hands over houses to Bikita Cyclone Idai victims

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UMC hands over houses to Bikita Cyclone Idai victims

 

The new Watira family house

TellZim Reporter

BIKITA –
The United Methodist Church (UMC) recently intervened in a dire humanitarian
situation by building proper houses for four Bikita families that had been
living under deplorable conditions since March 2019 when Cyclone Idai hit their
area.

The
handover of the houses was done on December 19, 2020 in the presence of senior UMC
leaders including Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa and Masvingo district superintendent Rev
Jairous Mafondokoto as well as members of the church’s Bikita Circuit.

The
five roomed houses, which were handed over to families in the Musukutwa and
Chirorwe areas of Bikita Rural District Council wards 20 and 21, were built
under the UMC Cyclone Idai Rehabilitation Program.

The
beneficiaries were the Muziro, Watira and Machingura families all of Ward 20,
as well as Ratidzo Zvenyika of Ward 21.

In
her remarks, Ratidzai Zvenyika said she was glad that year 2020, with all its
difficulties, had ended on a good note for her as she now had good
accommodation.

“I
have experienced the love of God firsthand. This is one gesture I had not
expected and I am glad that as family, we now have a proper roof over our head,”
she said.

A
controlled number of villagers turned out for the handover ceremony in keeping
with social distancing rules in light of the coronavirus pandemic.


The new Chigweshe family house

Rehabilitation
of the families was made possible courtesy of the partnership between the UMC Zimbabwe
West Annual Conference and the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference of the
United States of America.

The
church donated all building materials and paid eight builders and eight
assistant builders in full for the construction.

The
predicament of the families was brought to the attention of the church through
the Circuit lay leader Jimmy Muzondi, Bikita circuit pastor-in-charge Rev Jacob
Mushukuto and Rev Mafondokoto.

The
Zimbabwe West Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church seconded UMC On
Relief (UMCOR) to spearhead the rehabilitation programme, with Dr Morgen
Jeranyama being tasked to assess the homesteads as consultant.

Construction
was done with professional supervision from UMC Masvingo member Cassian
Mutsambiwa, an architect, while the beneficiary families were tasked with
moulding their own bricks, gathering sand and other requirements in keeping
with the church’s Chabata concept.

Other
community members were also mobilized to assist in the project as volunteers in
order to give the project a collective dimension.



“All
the collective efforts led to a milestone pillar of tangible Christian works.
We thus were proud to witness a sure demonstration of love as God handed over
the completed houses each with three bedrooms, a sitting room and a lounge with
a sizeable verandah to the beneficiaries,” said Rev Mafondokoto.

He
thanked Bishop Nhiwatiwa, the Baltimore Washington Conference, Rev Mushukuto and
all stakeholders who worked hard to make the project a reality.

UMC
is a mission-driven Church whose existence in Zimbabwe dates back to 1897 and
is driven by the mission, ‘Making
Disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the World’.

 

Women bear brunt of Chiefs Bere, Zimuto’s fight for Summerton

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Women bear brunt of Chiefs Bere, Zimuto’s fight for Summerton

 

Phenius Tafirei was installed as the inaugural leader of the revived Bere chieftainship in April 2019

Tendai Mafuka

There
is a bitter tiff between traditional leaders Chief Bere and Chief Zimuto for control
of the resettlement areas in Summerton and this has put villagers, particularly
women, in a very difficult situation as they have to make very difficult
choices, TellZim News can report.

The
chisi traditional day of rest, for instance, falls on different days in the two
chieftaincies and this has seen some women being given a hard time for working the
fields on the wrong days.

The
Zimuto chieftaincy’s chisi is observed on Wednesdays while the Beres observe it
on Thursdays, a reality which means that villagers lose three working days per
week when one considers that Saturdays or Sundays are days of worship for Christians.

Some
women in the area say the tussle for control of Summerton by the two chiefs is
particularly bad for them because they more often need to be on the fields to
look for natural vegetables that help sustain many rural village families in
the rainy season as this.

Summerton,
which is in Masvingo North Ward 6, has traditionally been under Chief Zimuto
until the Bere chieftainship was revived early 2019.

As a
result of the tussle, members of the Summerton community are now divided with
regards to traditional authority allegiances, and they are caught between the whims
of the two chiefs.

The
revival of the Bere chieftainship created animosity with Chief Zimuto as the
Summerton area was reapportioned to the former but it was never made official.

Lucia
Tinarwo, a resident, said there was confusion and division in the area which
has seen some people falling afoul of contradictory customs of the two chieftaincies.

She
said the more daring were now ignoring the chisi custom altogether, while many
others who are more fearful were losing more days of work per week.

“On
a particular Wednesday, I was approached by Chief Zimuto’s people as I worked in
the fields. I had to beg for forgiveness because they wanted to seize the
wheelbarrow that I was using and take me to the traditional court. It was a
terrifying experience,” she said.

Another
woman who preferred to remain anonymous said it was now difficult to even get onto
the fields and gather such naturally-growing vegetables like nyevhe, mowa,
mushamba and muchacha on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“The
two chiefs’ people are now victimising people who get to the fields even for
the simple purposes of getting vegetables. Each of the two sides is too eager
to enforce its own interests to the point of violating people’s rights and
making our lives more difficult,” said the woman.

When
contacted for comment, Masvingo District Development Coordinator (DDC) Ray Hove
said the resettlement area was officially under neither of the two chiefs
because a process called ‘emplacement’ was not yet done.

“Officially,
the area is not under any one of them because the emplacement process to
demarcate the boundaries between the two chiefs is not yet done. We have told
them not to exert their authority over the people and we will engage them to
reiterate that.

The
emplacement programme is on the cards and I am sure that it will be done soon
to stop the confusion that is happening there,” said Hove.

He
said people should continue operating in the way they were doing before until
the emplacement process gets done.

The
Bere chieftainship was revived after being dormant for several decades
following its suppression by colonial authorities in the early years of
European settlement in the country.

 

 

 

Chiredzi council executives acquitted of corruption charges

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Chiredzi council executives acquitted of corruption charges

 

Wesley Kauma

 

Tendai
Mbede/Blessed Mandaza

CHIREDZI – Chiredzi Regional Magistrate Judith
Zuyu has acquitted two Chiredzi Town Council executives, Consider Kubiku (Town
Planner) and Wesley Kauma (Engineer), who were dragged to court by the Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of abuse of office, TellZim
News can reveal.

Kubiku and Kauma were arrested in June last
year and were released on $10 000 bail each.

The duo were facing four counts of
criminal abuse of office dating back to 2015 when Kubiku, who was the Acting
Housing Director, facilitated their acquisition of stands number 3609 and 3610
at low price of $500 which they did not pay.

Kubiku later sold his stand to Kauma,
with an agreement of sale being shown to the investigating officer, but never
paid anything again to the council as was required.

Kauma proceeded to construct buildings
without following proper council procedures.

During their defense case, Kauma who
was being represented by Charles Ndlovu of Ndlovu and Hwacha Law Chambers and
Kubiku who was being represented by Wellington Muzenda of Muzenda and Chitsama
Attorneys argued that they acquired the stands during a collective bargain
process where their debt was paid using stands.

Kauma even argued that his boss,
Charles Muchatukwa, acquired a luxurious Toyota Fortuner and a house during the
same collective bargain but was never arrested.

Giving her ruling, magistrate Zuyu said
the local authority did not fulfil what it had promised the two and still owes
the duo thousands of dollars.

Linda Sabeka, who was ZACC’s
investigating officer, alleged that the accounting system indicated that all
stands in question were never paid for while one of them, was only paid US$200
leaving a balance of US$800.

Sabeka said Kubiku had the duty to
ensure developmental control of stands in Chiredzi, to ensure that no illegal
developments were mushrooming and that building inspection fees were paid for
but he ignored because Kauma was his friend.

Prosecutor Noel Muranda represented the
state.

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