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Agric ministry staff demand Covid-19 risk allowance

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Agric ministry staff demand Covid-19 risk allowance

 

….‘we are drivers of Pfumvudza’

Upenyu Chaota

The Zimbabwe Agricultural
Professional and Technical Association (ZAPTA), who represent members from the
Ministry of Agriculture, is knocking on the Minister of Finance Professor
Mthuli Ncube’s door demanding a share of the Covid-19 risk allowance cake.

ZAPTA said member of staff in the
Ministry of Agriculture were the backbone of the economy; working with
communities non-stop, driving the government’s Pfumvudza programme.

They argue that despite their
enormous contribution to the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic,
government has failed to provide them with risk allowances.

In a letter to Ncube, dated
November 11, ZAPTA secretary general Zivaishe Zhou says while other civil servants
were receiving risk allowances, Agriculture staff are ignored.

“This has seen the nation
progressing in its initiatives in combating hunger and starvation. This attracts
the need to offer COVID-19 risk allowances to agricultural staff as well. Your
good ministry is known of striving towards uplifting its stakeholders which
also include agricultural employees.

“So many times agricultural
employees have been left out yet they are the ones feeding the nation. As
ZAPTA, we propose for at least 50% of risk allowance because we have been
interacting with farmers since the pandemic of COVID-19 started.

“The salary increment announced
by the government is far less than our expectations. It is just a drop in an
ocean. The increase is procedurally defective and grossly insufficient in
quantum,” reads the letter.

ZAPTA says that its commitment,
despite the existence of the Covid-19 pandemic, had seen the nation making
positive strides towards ensuring food security.

“ZAPTA would like to express its
concerns over 10 percent risk allowances that your Ministry has committed to
offer to all government teachers.

“It’s a noble idea and
appreciated. ZAPTA represent members in the Ministry of Agriculture in which
you join hands with in order to meet economic objectives through improvement of
agricultural production and enhancement of food security.

“Members in the ministry have
been working since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our members are the
drivers of the Pfumvudza programme since its inception and this gives us
confidence in this request,” reads the letter.

Glenview girl Talliah Kachuta finally undergoes colostomy surgery

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Glenview girl Talliah Kachuta finally undergoes colostomy surgery

 

Talliah Kachuta’s colostomy has now been closed 

Colleen Chitsa

Three-year-old Talliah Kachuta, who
was born without an anal passage and has been using a hole drilled on the side
of her stomach to pass excrement, has finally undergone a colostomy closure operation;
allowing her to use her anal passage for the first time.

The minor, whose family stays in
Glenview, Harare, where her father is a policeman, first underwent an operation
to open up her anal passage at birth but doctors also performed a colostomy so
that the anal passage could be given time to heal.

A colostomy is a surgical
procedure to bring out one end of the large intestine (colon) through the
stomach so that faeces could be passed through there rather than through the
anal passage.

However, the child continued to
use the stomach hole for longer than was necessary because her parents could
not afford another operation to close the colostomy and re-divert the bottom end
of the colon to the anal passage.

TellZim published the family’s
story on October 23 and a few days later, well-wishers began to contribute money
towards the required surgical procedure which was finally performed by Dr
Chitsaka at Harare Hospital on October 29.

“After the story began
circulating, we received around $5 600 in donations through EcoCash, $5000 from
the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church in Glenview and it was enough for the
surgical operation. When we came back from the hospital, the church again gave
us US$100. Another US$100 was put together through contributions by different police
stations in Harare and we are still receiving donations from other people,”
said the girls’ mother Patricia Timire.

Timire said help from SDA was
facilitated largely by church elder Alois Nyamazana who had been greatly moved
by the family’s plight.

“I thank everybody who made this
happen including TellZim, Elder Nyamazana and his church as well as everybody
who contributed in cash, kind and prayers. Words are not enough to express our
gratitude and relief. Talliah is now using the normal excretion organ and is
now playing with other children without being stigmatized,” said Timire.

To read the first story on the
issue use the below link:

https://tellzim.com/2020/10/child-born-without-anus-pleads-for-us7.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anxiety as new Mwonzora recalls beckon

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Anxiety as new Mwonzora recalls beckon

 

Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi

…as Mwonzora ‘backtracks’ on new purge

Moses
Ziyambi

A letter purportedly signed
by disputed MDC-T secretary general Douglass Mwonzora notifying the Minister of
Local government, Public Works and National Housing of the recall of 87 MDC
Alliance councillors from across the country has triggered new jitters in the
party.

Among those purportedly being recalled
are City of Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi and seven other councillors from the
city namely Kudakwashe Chisango of Ward 18, Edson Kalulu of Ward 4, Simon  Mapuvire of Ward 5, John Nyamhoka of Ward 17,
Monica Mukwada of Ward 13 and Sophia Gwasira of Ward 8.

In Masvingo, the names of Cllrs
Tarusenga Vhembo (Ward 3) Godfrey Kurauone (Ward 4), Daniel Mberikunashe (Ward
5) and Tafadzwa Musekiwa (Ward 7) are part of the list.

Other local authorities affected include
Chipinge Urban (four councilors), City of Gweru (four councillors), Seke Rural
(two councillors), Chegutu Municipality (three councillors), and Zvishavane
Urban (three councillors).

When contacted to authenticate the
letter, Mwonzora at first sounded hesitant to give a definitive answer, saying
he was not sure if the letter was genuine or not even though he had been told
that the document bore his signature.

He asked that the letter be sent to him
so that he could verify, after which he dismissed the letter as not authentic.

 “You seek to verify the authenticity of
a letter which does not have a logo? No, it’s not authentic. That’s what I can
tell you,” said Mwonzora, even though TellZim saw a copy of the letter which
bears the MDC-T logo and which many sources confirmed as authentic.

One source said the letter was indeed
authentic but the Mwonzora camp was deliberately creating convenient ambiguities
around it as a way of testing the waters.

“The letter was indeed signed by
Mwonzora but he left many gaps including using an old date (30 September) for
his own convenience. He is sending a signal that our time is up unless we bow
down and worship him. It will not happen,” said one affected councillor who
requested anonymity.

Mutare Mayor Tandi said he had not seen
the letter and no official communication on the issue had reached him.

Cllrs Kurauone and Musekiwa said they
saw the letter on social media but no official communication regarding their
anticipated recall had reached them.

Use this link to access related story:

https://tellzim.com/2020/09/mwonzora-axe-hangs-over-masvingo.html 





 

Masvingo taxi driver killer sent 21 years

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Masvingo taxi driver killer sent 21 years

 

Guilty of murder….Chakanetsa Kambarami

Mark
Chavunduka

A 36-year-old who shocked
many people by killing a taxi driver at Backpackers Rest lodge in Masvingo back
in June 2019 was this week found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison
by High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze.

Chakanetsa Kambarami was given an 18-year sentence
for murder and four years for stealing the deceased Josiah Rimai’s Toyota Fun
Cargo. One year was suspended on condition of good behavior.

It was the State’s case
that on June 02, 2019 at around 09:00hrs, Kambarami and his wife went to
Masvingo Polytechnic College bus stop where they boarded the now deceased’s
pirate taxi ostensibly to go to Great Zimbabwe Monuments near Nemanwa growth
point.

The now deceased Rimai was
working with his assistant one Lucky Willard Dube. On their way to Nemanwa
growth point, the accused decided to hire the now deceased’s pirate taxi for
the day and to pay the now deceased whatever fees he would make plying the
Masvingo-Nemanwa- Mashate route.

Rimai agreed and off-loaded
other passengers at Mashate after which he remained with his assistant, the
accused, and accused’s wife.

The accused then
offered to buy the now deceased and his assistant beer and they then spent much
of the day drinking and roasting meat at Nemanwa growth point. Later that day,
they went to Backpackers Lodge where Kambarami had booked a room.

All this while,
Kambarami presented himself as a Good Samaritan, giving Rimai a pair of track
suits, a pair of tekkies and sunglasses.

They then drove to
Dunira Mall in Victoria Ranch where they had more fun drinking and braiing.

After some time, Dube
was left behind while the three drove back to Backpackers Lodge where Kambarami
later accused Rimai of proposing love to his wife before beginning to assault
him.

They then left the room
and drove away, with Kambarami continuing to assault Rimai before dumping him
along a dusty stretch of road to Sundowners Lodge outside Rujeko.

The following morning,
Rimai was found unconscious and he was pronounced dead upon admission at
Masvingo Provincial Hospital.

 

 

 

Kurauone leaves country for medical treatment

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Kurauone leaves country for medical treatment

 

Godfrey Kurauone

….fears colon cancer
poisoning

…as warrant of arrest
hangs overhead


TellZim Reporter

MDC Alliance national
youth organising secretary Godfrey Kurauone has left the country for an unknown
destination where he is receiving medical treatment following his lengthy
incarceration at Masvingo Remand Prison.

Kurauone spent 42 days
in remand prison on allegations of participating in the abortive July 31
demonstrations by blocking a road in Mashava, with many attempts to secure bail
failing.

TellZim News managed to
get in touch with Kurauone, who is also the councillor for Masvingo Urban Ward
4, but he refused to provide his exact location ‘for safety reasons’.

“I am out of the
country to seek specialist medical attention following my protracted detention
in the remand prison. I was advised that the kind of attention I need could be
easier obtained outside the country. As you know, I had abdominal pain problems
even before I went to prison and I am taking all the precautions in case
somebody took advantage of that situation and pulled a Patson on me,” said
Kurauone.

He was referring to
fellow MDC Alliance activist Patson Dzamara who died of colon cancer in August,
with many in the party, including party president Nelson Chamisa alleging that
he was poisoned the same way that former party leader Morgan Tsvangirai was allegedly
poisoned by state actors.

Chamisa also suggested
that the party’s Glenview North Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Dinar, who
died on November 05, was the latest victim of poisoning by state actors.

Kurauone said he will
be back in the country to face his legal troubles including a warrant of arrest
issued against him when he failed to appear in court on October 26 to answer to
charges of undermining the authority of the President.

“I could not attend the
court session due to health problems but I will be ready to come back and face
it all. I am by no mean a fugitive from justice because I will be coming back
home soon. I have already undergone a lot of medical tests and I am currently
waiting for results,” Kurauone said.

Kurauone, who maintains
that he is innocent, claiming he is being targeted for his vocal opposition political
activism, said he underwent blood tests, lever examination, heart and kidney
tests as well as a full-body scan.

He said he will
continue to fight for the rights of citizens with the limitations provided for by
the law.

Kurauone was arrested
on July 31 and was released from remand prison on September 10 after being
acquitted on charges of blocking the free movement of traffic along the road to
Zvamahande in Mashava.

Before his acquittal, the
State had dropped a charge of criminal nuisance which Kurauone also faced.

July 31 was the day
that Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) Jacob Ngarivhume called for nationwide shutdown
protests against the deteriorating economic, political and human rights
situation in the country.

The protests did not
succeed as government implemented a severe lockdown of all cities and towns,
with Ngarivhume himself being arrested in the days before July 31.

 

 

 

Daring robbers raze down security wall, rob fuel mogul

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Daring robbers raze down security wall, rob fuel mogul

 

Tafadzwa Masunda

Six armed robbers yesterday,
November 12, attacked the eastern side of fuel mogul Phillip Mapfumo’s Rhodene house
before forcibly gaining entry to rob him of US$5300 and 500 South African
rands, TellZim News has learnt.

According to Masvingo police, the
incident happened at around 20:00hrs along Cary Street where Mapfumo,
popularly known as Fidza, was relaxing with his family.

“We have since launched a manhunt
for the robbers and we appeal to anybody with information that may lead to the
arrest of suspects to come forward. We urge people to bank their money to avoid
attracting the interest of robbers,” said Masvingo provincial police
spokesperson, Chief Inspector Charity Mazula.

Details are that some of the
robbers got into the house through the front door which was not locked while
others stood guard in the yard.

The robbers, three of whom were armed
with a rifle, a pistol and a spear; seized Mapfumo’s 16-year-old daughter and
forced her to lead them to her father’s bedroom.

They shot down the bedroom door
and demanded money from Mapfumo, owner of DocZine fuel stations, who then handed them the cash after which they
escaped through the eastern side.

The victim then phoned the police
who arrived when the robber had already made good of their escape.

 

 

Row over Mushaya headmanship

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Row over Mushaya headmanship

Farai Munerei

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – The replacement of
headman Mushaya has sparked serious infighting within the Munereyi family as
father and son are fighting for legitimacy.

 There are three families entitled to the
Mushaya headmanship namely Munerei, Tavengwa and Chavurura and the outgoing
headman Jona Mugarajira from the Tavengwa family has been acting for over two years
as stipulated by the local government after the death of his father.

On rotational
basis, the headmanship is now going to the Munereyi family where father and son
are said to be at each other’s throat over who should take over.

On a meeting
held in June this year, the family had selected Farai Munerei as the candidate
after a poll which saw him garnering 34 votes out of 38 votes.

However, another
family member Wilson Nhongo who is an uncle to Farai is said to have connived
with the Machoga/Tavengwa house to denounce Munereyi’s selection arguing that
he was the eldest possible member to lead in the family.

Nhongo is alleged
to have gone to the acting chief Bota, Kamurai Zezai, and bribed him with a
herd of cattle so that he will rule in his favour.

Chief Bota
confirmed that there was an issue regarding the selection of headman Mushaya
but denied involvement and receiving anything saying those claiming that he was
bribed were only trying to soil his name.

“There are
squabbles in the selection of headman Mushaya. 
I have since told the family involved that they should deliberate
peacefully and select a candidate whom they will present to me as their chief
then I will present the candidate to the District Development Coordinator (DDC)
formerly known as District Administrator (DA).

“Those saying I
was bribed are lying. I am yet to hear from,” said Zezai

Other sources
told TellZim News that Chief Bota was given an undisclosed number of cattle and
the cattle had been sending to him through Mudzara area to deceive the locals.

 “On the first meeting held in June, the Mushaya
King Maker (Zigadzi) approved Munerei’s candidature after the poll but rumour
says they went and bribed Chief Bota with cattle and now they are starting over
again,” said the source.

Another meeting
has since been held at Mushaya School without the Munereyi family which sought
to reverse the June meeting.

When contacted
for comment Nhongo said he was the father and the throne was rightfully his
saying his elder brother’s sons cannot rule while he is still there or without
his blessing.

“I am the father
and no son can take the throne while I am still there. I even have my elder
brother who was supposed to take it but he has some previous issues so the
button then comes to me. If I want to give it to my sons then it’s up to me to
decide,” said Nhongo.

In many areas
chiefs are no longer selected in terms of age but mainly on political alignments
as well as the level of education as chiefs are now involved in many
development projects within their jurisdictions.

 

 

 

 

Vharazipi dismisses social media death hoax

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Vharazipi dismisses social media death hoax

 

Esther Tom

 Masvingo-based comedian David Mubaiwa,
popularly known as Sabhuku Vharazipi, has dismissed rumours to the effect that
he had died in a road traffic accident, TellZim News can report.

The social media
hoax, which began circulating on WhatsApp today, November 12, claimed that
Mubaiwa had died ‘on the road to Bulawayo when a Honda CRV he was travelling in
collided with a truck’.

“These are all falsehoods
being spread by people with malicious intent. I don’t even know what the people
circulating those insensitive rumours want to achieve. This is not the first
time this has happened as I also suffered similar falsehoods a few years ago,”
Mubaiwa told TellZim News by phone.

He said he was
alive and well at his home in the Zvamahande communal lands in Mashava.

Mubaiwa also said
he will continue to do the work he loves to do and ignore all the malicious
talk.

Border closures direful on nutrition, says Zcsosuna

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Border closures direful on nutrition, says Zcsosuna

 

Gweru-based journalist Locardia Mavhudzi


Tinaani
Nyabereka

GWERU – The
Zimbabwe Civic Society Organisations Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA) says
the coronavirus-induced lockdown movement restrictions which included the
closure of borders have had a severe negative impact on food security and
nutrition.

Addressing
members of the media at a meeting in Gweru, ZCSOSUNA national coordinator Kudakwashe  Zombe said the closure of borders had a serious
impact on food security since many citizens buy much of their groceries from
neighbouring countries.

“The
restrictions that were put in place by government on 30 March 2020 greatly
affected our food supply chain. This is because as a country, we greatly rely
on imports particularly on food and grain.

“Access
to food markets was a major challenge due to movement restrictions. This resulted
in the decline of the quality of nutrition especially among children since much
of the food consumed at home was not fortified,” said Zombe.

He
called upon the media and citizens to take issues of nutrition more seriously
as they have an effect of the health of communities.

“We
need to reverse the lack of information on nutrition. It is a serious issue
that many people are not giving as much thought as is necessary. Let us all
take up the food and nutrition advocacy to help government alleviate hunger and
malnutrition,” he said.

ZCSOSUNA
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) officer Joel Chipfuwamuti said a recent
United Nations (UN) report reveals that over a third of the population of
children in African suffered from hunger and malnutrition.

He
said a position paper had been written to government on how Covid-19 impacted
food security while offering mechanisms of scaling up the national food
security system.

“As
an organisation, we did a position paper regarding the state and impact of Covid-19
and we hope to assist government efforts in addressing nutrition issues,” said Chipfuwamuti.

Gweru-based
senior journalist Locadia Mavhudzi said it was of paramount importance for the
media to be capacitated on the dissemination of food and nutrition information.

 

Terms of Reference for Ethics and Code of Conduct Manual

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Terms of Reference for Ethics and Code of Conduct Manual


Assignment
Title: Consultancy
to Develop Ethics and Code of Conduct Manuals

Consultant’s Name:

Location of
Assignment: Masvingo

Duration of
Assignment: 10 days

Dates:  30 Nov – 03
Dec 2020

Reports to: Director

1.      Background:

Tell Zimbabwe Trust is implementing social
accountability programs in Masvingo and Manicaland Provinces under the
following key objectives:

 

Tell Zimbabwe fully appreciates that for these objectives to be
actualized there ought to be an adhered to Ethics and a Code of Conduct that
guide the organization. It is against this background that Tell Zimbabwe Trust
seeks to hire a consult to help the organization to develop Ethics and Code of
Conduct manuals.

 

2.    
Purpose:

The
purpose of this assignment is the development of a comprehensive  Ethics manual and a Code of Conduct with a
view to enhancing adherence and professional conduct by Tell Zimbabwe Trust
Board and staff.

 

3.     Objectives:

The objectives
of this assignment are to:                                                                                       

·        
 Provide training to Tell Zimbabwe Board and
staff on Ethics and Code of Conduct

·        
To
guide Tell Zimbabwe Board and staff on how to best adhere to the Ethics and
organizational Code of Conduct

4.    
Roles and Responsibilities of Consultant:

In undertaking the above assignment,
the Consultant will be required to do the following:

4.1 Meet with management or appropriate staff for documents review

4.2. Develop training materials

4.3. Conduct training of the
Tell Zimbabwe Board and Staff

 

5.    
Deliverables:

a)
Training on Ethics and organizational Code of Conduct

 

b)
Ethics and Code of Conduct Manual

 

c)
Workshop Report

 

6. Scheduling: The assignment should be conducted within
November 2020.

Activity/Task

Time (days or hours)

Inception
meeting with Tell Zimbabwe staff.

1 day

Organisational
research on policies and procedures.

1 days

Engagement
with Tell Zimbabwe Trust board and staff for Ethics and Code of Conduct
training.

5 days

Drafting report

2 day

Incorporating Tell Zimbabwe comments and finalizing

1

Total
LOE: 10 days

7 Payment: Payment is only made after successful completion
of the task and submission of an approved Manual.

8 Role of Tell
Zimbabwe: Provide the
consultant with all the necessary documents and support.

9 Reporting:
The consultant will perform all the tasks under the general supervision of the
Tell Zimbabwe       director
 

Qualifications and Experience

 

10.1 All qualified
individuals with relevant experience in developing Ethics and Code of Code
Manuals are encouraged to apply.

10.2 Five
years experience in developing Ethics and Code of Code Manual.

10.3
Very strong interpersonal and communication skills

11. Application Process

Please submit an expression of interest and CV to the
director on the following e-mails: editor@tell.co.zw  Cc goldenmaunganidze37@gmail.com and kuzipap@gmail.com by 11/11/20.

 

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