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‘Pfumvudza inputs being politicized in Zaka’

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‘Pfumvudza inputs being politicized in Zaka’

 

Some villagers in Zaka have complained that pfumvudza is being politicized


Clayton Shereni

ZAKA – Some
villagers have claimed that they are being denied access to free agricultural
inputs under the pfumvudza programme on the basis that they are opposition MDC
supporters, TellZim News can report.

Under
the pfumvudza programme, farmers are required to prepare their fields for the
farming season by digging holes and filling them with manure before the onset
of the rains.

Government
has pledged free maize seed and fertilizers for everybody who meets that
condition, but some villagers say only those associated with the ruling Zanu PF
party are benefitting.

During
the Heal Zimbabwe Trust coordinated International Day of Rural Women
celebrations held in Zaka last week, villagers said the programme was being run
in a partisan manner.

Mercy
Muziri, a villager from Zaka Central said some people were being denied the
inputs on the basis of their association with the opposition MDC party.

“We
were told there was maize seed and fertilizer for everyone but when went to
register for the inputs, some individuals told us that we didn’t qualify. This
is despite the fact that we had done everything that should be done for one to
receive the free inputs.

“Agritex
officers taught us about Pfumvudza but when it came to the distribution of
inputs, the Agritex officers got sidelined and the process was taken over by
political players,” said Muziri.

Zaka
Central Ward 19 Councillor Peter Imbayarwo, who is a member of the MDC Alliance,
blamed Zanu-PF party youths were for hijacking the processes.

“This
is a government programme which we supported but the problem is that we have
some people who came and disturbed the distribution process for political
motives. Some 200 bags of fertilizer were delivered here but distribution was
not done fairly,” said Imbayarwo.

When
contacted for comment, Zaka Central’s Zanu PF Member of Parliament (MP) Davison
Svuure said he received complaints to that effect, saying he was disappointed by
reports of politicization of the programme.

 “I haven’t received any formal report but
yesterday (October18) I just heard something related to that issue from Zanu PF
members when I visited Jerera Growth Point. They said they were not happy with
the way the inputs were being distributed.

“I
told Cllr Imbayarwo to tell his people especially those who think they are
being victimized on the basis of political affiliation to come forward. They must
be free to talk to me. I am a Zanu PF MP but if they feel they are prejudiced
one way or the other, they must be free to talk to me,” said Svuure.

Svuure
said he was also looking into complaints that some of Zanu PF members had
looted inputs and gave them to their children.

 

 

Sakubva Urban renewal sparks homelessness fear

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Sakubva Urban renewal sparks homelessness fear

 

NHB Section, Sakubva.

Felix Matasva

MUTARE –
Redevelopment plans for substandard houses in Sakubva have sparked fears that
several dozen families will be left without a place to call home, TellZim News
can report.

One
such family is the Muradzikwa family which has been notified by council to vacate
its old two-roomed house in the NHB Section of Sakubva.

The
Muradzikwas, are just but one of 71 more families who face displacement so that
new blocks of flats could be built to replace the colonial era housing units.

In
September, council sent eviction notices to tenants; meaning that Tapiwa Muradzikwa,
his wife Gracia Musanyera and their four children have to find alternative
accommodation or risk being out on the streets.

After
the notices, council established a perimeter fence around 71 NHB Section
households.

“We
were almost evicted like dogs by the Mutare Housing Department but the Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) came and fought for us. My late parents were allocated
this house through a lease agreement several decades ago.

“I
was shocked when the town clerk said they will give us money to secure other
houses to rent but he had never consulted,” said Muradzikwa.

His
wife Musanyera said the family could not afford alternative accommodation since
other houses available demanded more in monthly rentals.

“Our
earnings are not enough to cater for our current family needs, let alone pay
for alternative accommodation in better places. Even when they put up new
structures, I doubt we will afford to live there,” said Musanyera.

Doubt
Hambira (32) who inherited an NHB house from his uncle, urged council and
government to uphold human rights when evicting them.

“The
redevelopment plans must not be a burden to us and authorities must not
infringe on our basic human rights. Development must not be a disadvantage to residents.
I feel an alternative piece of land should have been found for the new project,
rather than evict,” said Hambira.

Mutare
City Council spokesperson Spren Mutiwi said the lease agreements signed between
tenants and council were still valid and will enable tenants to get
accommodation in the new flats.

“They
must look for temporary accommodation while construction is done. The bank which
is financing this project will foot the bill for temporary accommodation for
all tenants. The project seeks to dignify our people’s living conditions,”
said Mutiwi.

United
Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) official, Edson Dube said housing
was a human right and council ought to commit to providing alternative accommodation
to tenants.

“The
relationship between council and residents is informed by suspicion, mistrust
and negative perceptions so authorities must reverse this by putting it in
black and white that they will pay for tenants’ temporary housing,” said Dube.

President
Mnangagwa toured Sakubva in December last year and lamented the squalid housing
units he saw, pledging support for the renewal project.

 

 

 

 

Illegal mining threatens to destroy Mutare River, AU

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Illegal mining threatens to destroy Mutare River, AU

 

Illegal mining along Mutare River

Felix Matasva

MUTARE – Africa
University (AU) has been challenged to conduct action research to mitigate the
negative impact of illegal small scale mining in Penhalonga, Odzi and Old
Mutare; TellZim News can report.

Chaotic
artisanal gold mining operations are threatening the environment and resettled
farmers are now at great peril due to pollution of Mutare River.

The
river is a source of water for irrigation purposes in Mutasa South constituency
but with high levels of unemployment in the area, all roads seem to lead to
Odzi, Old Mutare and Penhalonga where illegal mining activities are rampant.

As
a result, the presence of gold in this part of the country has become a curse
to many farmers who produce food and cash crops like maize, tobacco, wheat and
potatoes for supply to markets in Mutare city and beyond.

Speaking
at a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ)-facilitated community reporting press
club discussion in Penhalonga recently, Mutasa South MP Regai Tsunga said universities
were significant institutions that must devise solutions to problems
encountered by the country.

“Institutions
of higher learning must not just identify problems in society but they must
also engage in action research that will provide solutions. AU has already
identified environmental degradation, prostitution, transactional sex among youths
and drug abuse as some of the effects of gold mining in areas surrounding its
campus.

“The
university must then develop alternative solutions and pick out the best that
are progressive in moving our country forward. As much as gold miners are
accruing profits from extraction of natural resources, we must ensure that
there is environmental sustainability.

“An
all stakeholders meeting must therefore be convened in order to find a
sustainable solution to effects of mining for the benefit of AU and Mutasa
South constituency,” said Tsunga.

AU
Dean of Students, George Miti later told TellZim News that the university faced
an existential threat due to reckless mining activities.

“We
believe in engagement as an institution and we engaged artisanal miners
operating close to our campus. We shared knowledge with artisanal miners about
chemicals they use, dangers associated with unprotected pits and reproductive
health issues. While they are trying to eke out an honest living, they are also
endangering the same livelihoods,” said Miti.

He
said AU’s farming operations were now in jeopardy due to pollution of Mutare River
by gold miners in Penhalonga and Old Mutare along Mutare River.

“The
water is no longer safe for crop irrigation as it is too muddy thereby
affecting our pumping system on a daily basis. The farm provides employment to
community members and it produces a lot of major food crops to Manicaland and
the country at large. We fear for the health of our customers as we suspect
that miners are disposing mercury in Mutare River,” said Miti.

Penhalonga
Residents and Ratepayers Trust (PRRT) chairperson Westone Makoni said there was
need for an inter-ministerial taskforce that will intervene in order to rectify
problems induced by mining.

“Redwing
Mine has got a new contractor who has moved a lot of earth at Liverpool. As
residents of Penhalonga, we fear that when the rains come, all that soil will
be deposited into Mutare River. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) must
intervene before the river gets destroyed,” said Makoni.

 

 

 

 

What is wrong with Chamisa Cdes?

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What is wrong with Chamisa Cdes?

 

VP
Chiwenga where are you? Huya pano blazo iwe. Who do you think you are? What is
wrong with leaders in this country? They all do things which are illegal and
think they can get away with it. Mapombi is here to tell you that nadha pachiputukezi.
VP Chiwenga kana manzi mava health minister hazvina kunzi makuita yamada
nhaika. This country has a constitution and should be followed by everyone.
Where did you get the power to suspend all by-elections? Isu vana Mapombi tanga
tatoti maybe the learned Dr Chiwenga had consulted and his proclamation was
legally binding little did we know that zvaingova zvemusoro waVP Chiwenga.
Hanzi hazviiti General Chiwenga. Zvamakataura zviya hazvina maturo. We want
by-elections and zvenyu zvekuda kuhwanda behind Covid-19 ngazvipere nhaika.
By-elections should be done as per the constitution. Cde Mangwana Pauro why
don’t you tell these guys that the constitution must be followed. Mwonzora said
that constitutions are legal chains we make in our moments of sobriety to bind
us in our moments of madness. VP Chiwenga that was your moment of madness and I
am happy makabatwa musati maenda kure. Chetewo muZim hapana anotevedzera mutemo
even in opposition. Tsvangirai chaiye appointed three vice presidents against
his own party constitution saka Zanu PF inotadza neiwo kuita madiro ajojina.

One
thing I want you to understand dear readers is that Zanu PF does not just make
blunders. Everything is perfectly calculated to fit a certain agenda and
unfortunately very few people can see the bigger picture. Chamisa and other
Cdes in the opposition were given a bone to chew on while Zanu PF strategises.
Zanu PF has done its primary elections in many constituencies and is prepping
up for DCC elections but vana Chamisa were busy crying why Chiwenga banned
by-elections indefinitely. Instead of Chamisa and his Cdes focusing on primary
elections they were busy channeling their energy on the banned by-elections. Ko
munoenda seiko kuby-election musina kusvika nekumaprimary. Do primary first and
then cry for by-elections later. Now that Chiwenga anzi haana power rekumisa
by-elections makutanga kuda kufunga about primary elections when Zanu PF is now
focused on by-elections. Baba vebenzi havana mufaro kkkkk. We all know that
Zanu PF will use whatever situation to their advantage and most of you do not
see that Covid-19 is Zanu PF’s trump card. They will use Covid-19 to their
advantage but a lot of people do not see this bigger picture. I want to ask you
dear readers kuti which lockdown level are we on at the moment. Hapana anoziva
and we are living our lives as if everything is normal. The government has to
come clean on which lockdown level we are at so that tigare taziva. Zvinhu
ngazvingova pachena seyokera yamukanya. We last heard that there is a curfew
but no one enforces it anymore. Zanu PF will remind us that there is a lockdown
when it best suits them. Musazoti Mapombi haana kukuudzai.

Mapombi
was happy to see that our beloved leader Cde Dambudzo was here on official
government business. Remember he is the chancellor of all state universities
and this time he came to Masvingo for GZU graduation. How will ED know the
problems faced by Mapombi and a million other Zimbabweans if he is not given
the chance to come face to face with our poverty? The road leading to the GZU
graduation venue was properly patched and widened just to give ED a false
picture kuti aone searikugona kutonga. Hapana zvamuri kugona Cde. You are
destroying the country let Mapombi tell you the truth. These so called people
are lying to you and things are not well in the country. Mapombi was so
infuriated by this cop hanzi anonzi Chipfakacha. Kamukadzi kaya kanoshaya
anoroya zvife. That woman is so disrespectful and corrupt I tell you. She makes
it into the hall of fame for corrupt people in Masvingo. Mapombi saw this
Chipfakacha woman achizvinzwa kuti ndiye ED chaiko. Kushungurudza vabereki vedu
hanzi hamuna face masks. Wakavapa mask dzacho here iwe Chipfakacha. Why do you
find pleasure in tormenting Mapombi’s people? I heard you support Chamisa futi
that is why you are always angry kkkkk. Manje Chamisa haatongi nyika ino bvunza
Job Sikhala. Unongotamburawo sevamwe iwe Chipfakacha saka dzikamisa hana yako.
Leave vabereki vedu alone. What do you benefit by throwing an old man in the
back of a police car yakanzi Gutu and force him to part with $500. Inobvepi
mari yacho. Iwe hautorinawo kana cent in your pocket nxaaah unobhowa iwe
Chipfaks. Our people are hungry and they will faint vakaswera vakaputira
miromo. And to make matters worse the puppies you were with asked for a cut
from some lady so that she could be let free. I am watching you iwe Chipfakacha
Stop It. No to corruption. I once told you and I thought you had repented but
ndiri kuona kuti old habits die hard. Vana Chihuri vakazodzingwa sembwa ramba
uchiita hako mhepo dzako idzodzo. Ndonzi Mapombi ini ndofira kureva. Vanoti
pasi naChipfakacha simudzai maoko kkkkk ndiri kutamba hangu. But hatidi vanhu
vanoita corruption please.

Vanhu
veMDC nhasi ndinemi. What is this talk about participating kuCongress yaKhupe?
Chii chiri kuitika kuna Chamisa can someone balance me here quickly. Chamisa
said he wants nothing to do with Khupe and team but now Mapombi akunzwa kuti
Chamisa is rallying his people to go to the congress. What is going on? Am I
the only one lost here? Munoda kuenda kucongress kupi imi makati mava neparty
yenyu inonzi MDC Alliance. This congress is only for those who believe in Khupe
and Mwonzora. Vanu vaChamisa please stay away from the Khupe congress. You said
you are not part of their team saka please don’t show us your hypocrisy by
vacillating and wavering. We know you do not have any strategy and all you are
good at is complain and complain. ED has failed and we need to look up to
Chamisa as part of the solution not the problem. My brother Nero you need to
look at the people surrounding you and do a serious introspection on whether
they want you to lead this country or not. I like Job Sikhala because he is a sharp
shooter and he is right. Popularity does not take you the state house shamwari.
I do not remember the last time Zanu PF was popular but they are ruling us.
Kutonga kwaro kkkkk. This politics of populism does not bring about the
intended results trust me Nero. Listen to Sikhala. Do not say I did not warn
you because right now Zanu PF has managed to keep you busy and forget that
there is an election coming in 2023. You are busy fighting with Mwonzora and
Khupe and Zanu PF is busy consolidating its power kumamisha uko. Pamberi
nepfumvudza kkkkkk. Hanzi inonzi dhiga udye but Mapombi would like to call it
dhiga ufe. Munofira mahara muchichera makomba enyu ayo hapeno henyu. Mapombi
anozivei hake munongomuti mupengo but this pfumvudza thing has been practiced a
long back but Zanu PF makes it sound like they have launched something out of
this planet.

 Zanu PF does not have any bright ideas.
Angabvepi mazano pana Chinamasa paya kkkk. That man is next to useless. Hapana
chinoziikanwa other than kungohakira zvaasingazivi. I have said enough regai
zvangu ndinokanga maputi angu for lunch but before I go I want to tell VP
Mohadi kuti musadaro Cde muri munhu wekuziva. I saw you on TV muchipa imwe
chembere iri confined to a wheelchair stand kuNemanwa uko munoti inovakwa nei.
That old lady does not even have a single cent to her name and you give her a
stand. Munoda adii nayo? Zavakangofanana with these useless MPs vanopa vanhu
day old chicks voti itai projects but do not supply the feed. The feed is more
expensive than the chicks. Maticha muriko here uko, rambai makadzvanya kkkkk.
Regai ndinokanga hangu maputi angu for lunch. Mboko imboko.

Refugees expect US$36k from fish farming

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Refugees expect US$36k from fish farming

 

A fish pond at Tongogara Refugee Camp


Stephen
Ephraem

CHIPINGE – Refugees and asylum seekers
at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge are expected to make US$36 000 from a
fish farming project which was initiated by World Vision.

The fish farming project is under World Vision’s livelihood
intervention programme.

Speaking to delegates during a tour of Tongogara
Refugee Camp recently, World Vision staff Joel Bizure said he expected the
project to help improve the lives of beneficiaries.

“The fishery project was initiated to support 50 fish
farmers who will continuously receive training through World Vision in
partnership with Agriculture and Extension Services (Agritex) and Veterinary Services.

“Fish farmers are expected to produce 12 000 fish per
cycle. Mature fish shall be sold at six months according to weight between 1kg
and 2kg while fingerlings below 70 will be kept as breeding stock used for fish
production.

“Fish will be weighed and sold according to the
weights and standards that meet the market requirements and they will be sold
at a price of between US$3 and US$4 per kg. With a stock of 12 000 fish, US$36
000 is guaranteed,” said Bezure.

According to World Vision, about US$15 000 was spent
on the fish project.

“The initial investment was US$15 00 which include
US$6 700 used in construction and renovations of two fish ponds measuring 50m
by 20m each. US$8 300 was used to purchase 12 000 fingerlings as well as
purchasing 310 bags of fish feed.

“The investment was seed money for the fish feed and
pond renovation.  Farmers are expected to
plough the money from sales back into the fish business so that the project
keeps on going. That is why we are capacitating the farmer through training,”
he said.

The World Vision livelihood intervention program shall
help refugees acquire high productive assets, high literacy level which promotes
good investment decisions such as farming as a business and improved access to
capital through savings.

 

 

Lower Gweru man to spend 3 years in jail for killing prophet

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Lower Gweru man to spend 3 years in jail for killing prophet

 

Tinaani Nyabereka

GWERU – A 62-year-old man from Mantinya village under Chief
Buninana, Lower Gwelo, was recently convicted for culpable homicide and
sentenced to three years imprisonment after he killed a self-styled prophet who
had allegedly slept with his wife during a healing session.

The judgement and sentence was
delivered by High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa during a High Court circuit
sitting in the city of Gweru.

The accused, Kingston Mpofu, pleaded
guilty to killing ‘prophet’ Michael Moyo of Nkani Village in the same area.

The court heard that, on the
evening of February 09, 2010, the ‘prophet’ was at his sister’s homestead in
Nkani Village attending to some patients.

The deceased person had earlier
on allegedly slept with the accused person’s wife during a cleansing ceremony after
he had sprayed everybody else with a substance that made them fall asleep.

When Mpofu arrived, he found Moyo
and his sister seated with some clients in the kitchen hut. He then asked that
everybody else leave the room except Moyo, his sister and one Rasha Nyoni as
there was a case of adultery he wanted to discuss.

A misunderstanding began and
Mpofu then hit Moyo with a heavy iron object on the head and left knee.

The victim was then taken to a
local clinic from where he was transferred to Gweru General Hospital where he
died two weeks later, leading to Moyo’s arrest.

Ndamukanei Chikuni stood for the
State.

Bikita man to spend 14 years in jail for killing sex worker

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Bikita man to spend 14 years in jail for killing sex worker

 

Ratidzo
Munembi

MASVINGO
–
A vendor from Nyika Growth Point in Bikita was recently sentenced to 14 years imprisonment
for stabbing the colleague of a sex worker that he had hired.

Peter Gwari (24) pleaded
guilty of murder charges before Masvingo High Court Judge, Justice Garainesu
Mawadze.

It was the State’s case
that on February 01, 2019, Gwari had an argument with Charity Matuke, a sex
worker who he intended to bed before the now deceased Moreblessing Mudakuchekwa
came and intervened, leading to her death.

Circumstances were that
on the day in question, Matuke and Madakuchekwa were drinking at a nightclub when
Gwari joined them.

Gwari later asked for
Matuke’s services and the two went to a house where the sex workers shared a
single living room, leaving Madekuchekwa behind.

In the room, they found
Mudakuchekwa’s three-months-old baby crying unattended.

Matuke told her client
that she had to attend to the baby first before they could have sex but Gwari
insisted that they have sex nonetheless.

He reportedly ordered
Matuke to leave the baby behind and accompany him to his own place instead,
leading to a heated argument which saw Gwari assaulting Matuke with open hands.

Mudakuchekwa, the mother
of the child, later arrived and out of anger locked the door from inside and
started crying for help from neighbors.

Gwari reportedly broke
the window and tried to escape but Mudakuchekwa held him and dragged him back
into the room.

According to the prosecutors,
Gwari then produced a knife and stabbed Mudakuchekwa twice on the rights cheek
and at the back of her right shoulder before escaping.

Matuke later made a police
report and Mudakuchekwa’s body was taken to Silveira Mission Hospital for a postmortem.

Gwari was arrested the
following morning while trying to board buses heading to Mutare.

 

Gutu police shoot ‘innocent’ man in the groin

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Gutu police shoot ‘innocent’ man in the groin

 

Sheunesu Chiwara


…victim’s genitals injured, spends several hours without medical care

Moses Ziyambi

A 22-year-old man
is admitted at Gutu Mission Hospital awaiting surgery after being shot in the
groin allegedly by a police officer who was part of a team which had followed him home to
arrest him in connection with an assault case, TellZim can report.

Sheunesu Chiwara
of Farm 351 Dewure East was shot at point blank range on Sunday, October 18, allegedly
by one Constable Mudziro of Bhasera Police station while at home with his
mother and two brothers.

His mother
Stella Mahachi told TellZim News the incident was an act of abuse of power by
the police officers one of whom she claimed shot her son even though he had
neither resisted arrest nor attempted to escape.

“He might not
survive his injuries because he lost a lot of blood and he hasn’t been attended
to by a doctor over 24 hours after being shot. It was abuse of power. I
complained that what they were doing was unlawful as they handcuffed and
assaulted him while ignoring the bleeding,” said Mahachi.

When contacted
for comment, Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity
Mazula said she had not received the report and was out of office doing other
duties.

However, Mahachi
said four police officers came to her homestead in the morning looking for
Shunesu and his brother Misheck in connection with an alleged assault case
committed the previous night at Chomungai business centre.

“Shenunesu and
Misheck were not at home but were close by and in no time, they showed up. As
the officers approached Sheunesu where he had sat, Mudziro drew his gun and
fired at him in the groin and the shot also scratched his genitals.

“When I heard
the gunshot sound, I initially thought it was a warning shot as the officer
could have thought Sheunesu might escape but I was wrong. Despite my protests,
they handcuffed him and assaulted him as he lay on the ground bleeding. They
then handcuffed Misheck and tried to march us to the police station. We did not
go far as Sheunesu got exhausted and that’s when they agreed to examine him and
make arrangements for a car to fetch him to Chimombe Hospital,” said Mahachi.

The victim was
then referred to Gutu Mission Hospital where he got admitted but had not been
attended to by a doctor by the time of writing.

 

Resilient Copota withstands adversity

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Resilient Copota withstands adversity

 

Moses Ziyambi

The Margaretha
Hugo Schools and Workshops are soldiering on against immense adversity to
continuously improve the conditions of people with disabilities and deliver
some tangible results, TellZim News can report.

Popularly known
as Copota, the school has made a success of many blind children who otherwise would
probably have had no chance of attaining formal education.

The institution
was registered as a school in 1927 by the then Dutch Reformed Church evangelists Rev Hugo and his wife Margaretha when the country was still known by its
colonial name Southern Rhodesia.

Now controlled
by the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ), the institution hosts primary and
secondary schools as well as workshops where some remarkable crafts and
carpentry work is done.

“Our enrollment
currently stands at 300 pupils; 160 of them in primary and 140 in secondary. At
the moment, however, only 65 Grade 7 and Form 4 pupils preparing for their
final exams are here while the rest are at home in keeping with the Covid-19
induced phased reopening of school,” said secondary school head Alfred Madamombe
during a recent tour of the school organised by Hevoi FM.

He said he was
pleased by the achievements that the institution continued to register in spite
of the seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Copota also
makes effort to give after-school assistance and support for children who
demonstrate potential in business and agriculture.

“We strive to
give post-school support and capacitation so that our pupils do not become
desperate school leavers without any chance of success. In Mashava and Chivi,
we have helped some of our former pupils with albinism to set-up tuckshops
while others have been helped to set-up small drip irrigation facilities and
they are all doing fairly well.

“The idea is to
make sure that people with disabilities can have some dignity of being able to
provide for themselves and others,” said primary school head Clever Madzokere.

During the early
phases of the lockdown, he said, they drove far and wide delivering food
parcels to some of their pupils in areas as far away as Chisumbanje and Kwekwe.

The institution
also has a Braille workshop with such equipment as an imposer, Perkins printers
and an out-of-service guillotine.

The workshop produces
books and caters for other reading materials for pupils.

By transcribing
large volumes of cited text into Braille, the workshop also handles the reading
material requirements of the Reformed Church University (RCU), which is a
sister institution, and other institutions offering special needs education.

Challenges
include lack of funding which has resulted in some equipment including the
guillotine breaking down without repair. In spite of that, there is an
impressive improvisation which has seen optimum services being maintained using
the same outdated equipment and methods.

“We have many
challenges but we are grateful for what we have. The economic challenges in the
country affect everybody but we are pleased that we are moving forward to do
what we love to do; providing education to children with vision impairment,”
said workshop manager Ernest Dube.

Dube, who
himself got educated at Copota and began working in the workshop in 1980, said
there was a limited supply of Braillon paper and the ordinary Braille writing
paper, that are all imported mostly from Europe and Asia.

The Helene Hugo Hall is named after Margaretha’s daughter 

CGCDZ obtains Chief Charumbira buy-in on community projects

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CGCDZ obtains Chief Charumbira buy-in on community projects

 

  

Chef Charumbira converses with CGCDZ staff during the launch of a community development project


Nyashadzashe Mambure

National
Council of Chiefs president Chief Charumbira has praised the Centre for Gender
and Community Development Zimbabwe (CGCDZ) for initiating projects that are
meaningful to his rural subjects, saying all people needed to work together for
development.

CGCDZ
visited Chief Charumbira’s homestead on October 13, 2020 to launch a project in
the presence of many other villagers.

The
organisation will in the near future drill boreholes for the Charumbira
community, introduce fish farming projects and establish a gardening project on
a one-hectare piece of land.

Charumbira
said he was pleased that non-governmental development partners were now more
sensitive to local traditions and were now more tactical in their engagement.

“What
I like about CGCDZ is how they have involved us right from the beginning; they
did not simply come and make recommendations. Different people have different
needs and I am glad that the development assistance that will be rendered to us
is a result of consultations.

“I
therefore challenge them to carry-out the projects to their conclusion because
we as a community have given them our blessing. Many other people came before
them and proposed other things but they failed because the ideas were not born
out of sufficient consultations,” remarked Charumbira, who has vast knowledge
of developmental support models, having in the past worked with the World Bank.

He
said he looked forward to another gathering with CGCDZ in the future, but that
time celebrating the successes of the envisaged projects.

CGCDZ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elliot Vengesa said his organization fully understood that communities have to be consulted if development is to succeed.

“We are aware of the significance of broad consultations in successful development interventions. We are grateful to Chief Charumbira and the community he leads for realising that sustainable development needs a collective approach whereby all stakeholders work hand-in-glove. We are very confident that this project will make a big difference in the lives of the local people,” sad Vengesa.

CGCDZ
operations manager Chida Mudadi said the project was focused on development and
fighting poverty.

“This
is one of our ways to help this community adapt to climate change and fight
poverty by improving livelihoods. Whatever piece of infrastructure installed
here will belong to the community. We therefore expect people to respect that
property and care for it, knowing fully well that it belongs to them and them alone,”
said Mudadi.

In Mashava Ward 33, CGCDZ is implementing similar projects which will directly benefit a total of 65 people from different families.

 

 

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