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Zicosu demands transparency in Zimdef funds allocation

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Zicosu demands transparency in Zimdef funds allocation

Clayton
Shereni
The Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union
(Zicosu) has demanded fairness and transparency in the use and disbursement of Zimdef
funds which are aimed at human capital development and assisting
underprivileged students at tertiary institutions.
Speaking during a Zicosu provincial students’
convention held at Masvingo Polytechnic, Zicosu national president Pijiwest
Nhamburo said the funds must be properly channeled to benefit the students in
all tertiary institutions.
“Zimdef funds were previously used by the
likes of Jonathan Moyo to buy bicycles in Tsholotsho but this money is for
students. If those funds are there let them be used for the benefit of students
because we want to promote innovations and inventiveness among students.
“Students must create inventions that benefit
our industry and if we fail to support these inventions through the funds, who
are we promoting? The money should be used by the students,” said Nhamburo.
He accused higher and tertiary institutions
authorities of abusing the money and proposed the inclusion of universities and
vocational training centres into the programme.
“We have been in constant dialogue with the minister
and he has been referring and telling us that Zimdef funds are there. We beg
you to consider students at vocational training centres, universities and agricultural
colleges because they are also students,” said Nhamburo.
Responding to the concerns, guest of honour
at the event and Deputy Minister of Defense, Victor Matemadanda said the funds
were going to be disbursed accordingly and promised to engage the ministry to
map the way forward.
“Concerning Zimdef funds, it’s now a good
thing that these days there are no thieves. Existing security nets around
Zimdef funds do not allow the minister to misuse the funds in the manner that
Jonathan Moyo did. If it is stolen, then there will be a group of people who
would have agreed to steal the money.
“I will go and talk to the relevant minister.
Your superiors must keep in touch with me but we are going to push so that you
get the money,” said Matemadanda.
Unfair allocation of the funds has seen
school authorities clash with students who feel shortchanged.
Former Minister of Higher and Tertiary
Education Jonathan Moyo stands accused of channeling some of the money towards
his campaign trail in Tsholotsho.

Shanganis fear Shona dominance of local community radio

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Shanganis fear Shona dominance of local community radio

Beatific
Gumbwanda
CHIKOMBEDZI
– Community activists in Chikombedzi have said they fear that the infiltration
of Shona dominance in the local economy will extend to the envisaged community
radio station, much to the disadvantage of the minority group, TellZim News can
report.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services; Ndavaningi Mangwana was in
the area for a sensitization workshop ahead of the launch of the radio station.
Government has revealed that it will
soon licence 10 language-based community radio stations with a bias to
previously marginalised communities especially those of minority groups.
One community leader, Levy Chauke said
Shangani language-proficient Shona people were wont to hijack programming and
turn the radio station into their own.
“Is this radio for Shangani people
in particular or anyone who is proficient in Shangani? We once had a situation
whereby non-Shanganis tried to take advantage of us by lobbying for a Shangani
community radio station. As you can see, we are at the heart of Shangani-speaking
community, but when you look around this room, there no any single Shangani
word.
“Shona-speaking people are
dominating Shangani developmental projects with the assistance of the
government itself,” charged Chauke.
Centre for Cultural Development
Initiatives – Gaza Trust director Hebert Phikela also expressed concern over
language imbalances at Radio Zimbabwe and National FM where Shona and Ndebele
languages are considered the generic mother tongues for all Zimbabweans.
“As government, what are you doing
to correct the language imbalance on national radio stations like Radio
Zimbabwe and National FM where Shona and Ndebele dominate? I will have to wake
up at 06:00hrs to listen to a Shangani news bulletin, and if I miss that, it’s
over,” said Phikela.
Mangwana said the initiative to licence
community radio stations was to correct the wrongs of the country’s former
colonial masters who bundled minority languages into generic languages like
Shona, Ndebele and Manyika.
He said Shangani people will have their
own radio station to promote their cultural values and it will be owned by the
community itself.
“We have 16 official languages but
during the colonial era, the Smith regime bundled minority languages under
three common languages depending on their geographical positions.
“The radio station belongs to the
Shangani community so you will determine the leadership structure of that
community radio station, not government. We are only involved in policy
issues,” said Mangwana.
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe
(BAZ) legal adviser, Joice Kupukai and chairperson Charles Sibanda also graced
the occasion.

‘Madembare condom re-branding on the cards

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‘Madembare condom re-branding on the cards

Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO –
The Minstry of Health and Child Care has heeded calls to rebrand the publicly-available
Panther condom which is distributed by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning
Council (ZNFPC).
The
condom, which is popularly known as ‘MaDembare’ because of its blue and white
package synonymous to Dynamos Football Club, has been criticized by many people
who used it saying it was too plain and unappealing.
Others
claim that the condoms do not have the comfort accorded by other condom brands
which are sold in retail stores.
ZNFPC
Masvingo provincial manager Abyssinia Vhoko said the issue of rebranding was
highlighted by the youths and other stakeholders including Sex Worker Advocacy
Group (SWAG) who said men despised the freely distributed condom.
Vhoko
said the Panther condom was going to be replaced by a blue and gold strip,
adding that the replacement will be a gradual process to ensure a smooth
transition and giving the consumers a choice.
“Programming
is all about interfacing with consumer needs so moving forward we anticipate
our consumers to continue practicing safer sex and condom use.
“Our
main objective is to increase the provincial per capita condom rate from the
current 7.5 percent to 12 and the mosaic nature of our province makes it
important to ensure that quality and free condoms are available and accessible
because of the high volumes of students and young people,” said Vhoko.
Per
capita condom rate is the number of condoms at the disposal to an individual
who is sexually active to use per year.
Condoms
offer dual protection against the risk of unintended pregnancy and the
transmission of HIV and other STIs between partners.
SWAG
had earlier urged authorities to rebrand the condom brand and add more
lubrication to improve its appeal and strength.
Statistics
show that Zimbabwe is one of the countries with high condom use in Africa and
the world but many people look down upon freely-distributed condoms which they
regard as of poor quality.

Legal Perspectives: Child Maintenance Law

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Legal Perspectives: Child Maintenance Law





With Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa


Child
Maintenance Law in Zimbabwe
Maintenance
is the financial support given to a dependent for the provision of food,
clothing and other basic needs. Under
common law, both parents have the responsibility to financially support their
minor children. The
Maintenance Act (Chapter 5:09) is the principle legislation in so far as child
maintenance is concerned. It was mainly enacted to ensure that those entitled
to maintenance benefit from it.
This editorial is an abstract of child maintenance law in Zimbabwe.
Who can apply for maintenance?
If a parent or any
responsible person neglects or fails to maintain a child, the child is entitled
to apply for maintenance. Any person with child
custody or a probation officer can apply for maintenance on behalf of the child.
If for example, a grandmother is living with her grandchildren, she can apply
for maintenance if the responsible person neglects to financially support the
children.
 If a mother neglects to financially support
her child, the father can approach the court for an order compelling the mother
to financially support the child. Marriage is neither a requirement nor a bar
to apply for maintenance. Put differently, an unmarried person can claim for
maintenance on behalf of his or her minor children. Similarly, a married spouse
can apply for a maintenance order against his or her partner even where they
will be living under the same roof.
Ordinarily, maintenance
should be paid until a child attains the age of eighteen years.  A magistrate   can
extend the payment of maintenance for a ‘child’ who has attained 18 years where
it is necessary.
How to
apply  
No money is
needed to apply for maintenance. It’s just a matter of approaching a Magistrates
court and make a complaint under oath. The responsible person is thereafter
summoned to appear in court. If he/she willfully absents self, a maintenance
order can be made in absentia. A birth certificate is important but its absence
does not bar a person from applying. It would be sufficient for a person to say
under oath that John Doe is the father. If John disputes paternity, it would be
his duty and financial responsibility to prove that he is not the father. A
provisional order for the payment of maintenance must be made by the court pending
DNA  paternity test results.
Failure to
comply with a maintenance order.
A person
who fails to make payments in compliance with a court order must be arrested
for committing an offence. Unwillingness to work or the incurring of
unreasonable debts or obligations cannot act as defences.  If convicted, a
person can be imprisoned for up to 12 months. Serving jail time does not
extinguish maintenance arrears. Neither does it suspend a maintenance order. An
imprisoned convict can
make a written application for his/her release stating that
arrears have now been paid. The High Court has however emphasized in the cases
of S v Chikwata HH 455/15, S v Chagomoka HH 484/15 and also S v Chiraya HB 220/17 that a prison term
should be reserved for serious defaulters.
Conclusion
The best
interests of the child are overriding in all matters concerning the child. The
principle object and primary purpose of the Maintenance Act is to ensure that
those entitled to maintenance are well taken care of by the responsible
persons. Courts are always open to ensure children are afforded the financial
and parental support they deserve.
Fiat
Justitia Ruat Caelum!
Fidelicy
Nyamukondiwa writes in his personal capacity. Contactable on 0785827154 nhanyams@yahoo.com  | @FidelNyams

I am not an American project—Sikhala

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I am not an American project—Sikhala

MDC national deputy chairperson Job Sikhala with vice president Tendai Biti

…says he will never
take power from Chamisa

Upenyu Chaota

MDC
national deputy chairperson Job Sikhala has cleared the air on rumours
purporting that he wants to take over power from his party’s president Nelson
Chamisa under the backing of the Americans saying he will stand firmly behind
him and will not let divisionary elements get their way.
Chamisa’s
MDC has recently suffered a media onslaught with some sections claiming that
the house was on fire with leaders engaged in vicious power struggles.
Sikhala
accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba of leading the
media campaign to peddle lies against the MDC but said they will be left with
the egg in the face.
“The
enemy is now shaking and quaking. They are coming on us full throttle. I have
noticed with anger and anguish the desperate attempts by the department of
counter intelligence of the CIO, the military intelligence and the office of
Emmerson Mnangagwa calling itself the Office of the President and Cabinet
(OPC), pushing hard a narrative to destroy and sow seeds of division in the
people’s party by running with a nauseating narrative to shuffle the MDC
leadership as constituted by the Gweru congress.
“Let
it be clear to George Charamba and their released dogs that, the MDC leadership
as constituted at the Gweru congress with the people’s president Advocate
Nelson Chamisa as our head, Hon Tendai Biti, Professor Welshman Ncube and Hon
Lynette Karenyi-Kore as the Vice Presidents and Hon Thabitha Khumalo as the
chair and deputised by myself will never be changed as constituted under
whatever circumstances.
“The
narrative by George Charamba as confirmed by his post on his Twitter handle
@Jamwanda that I am a project of the Americans to seize power in the MDC and
lead a violent takeover of government is a mere regime attempt to cause maximum
divisions in the people’s party, assertions that have got no takers,” said
Sikhala.
He
said he had no presidential ambitions whatsoever and warned those within his
party against being used to cause chaos.
“Leadership
in our democratic movement is installed at a congress. Besides that I have got
no ambitions to be the president of the movement at all. Not today, tomorrow or
in the future. I have got full faith in the leadership of my president Advocate
Nelson Chamisa, who unbeknown to many is my young brother.
“I
will support, complement his drive for a free democratic society to the hilt. I
will stand with Advocate Nelson Chamisa until donkeys grow horns. So continue
wasting your time on puerile suppositions.
“Let
this also be a warning to those planted among ourselves who are advancing the
propaganda of the evil regime that, “Sikhala anoda kutiza nechinhu”,
that soon you will find yourself in the gallows of history.
“Becoming
a conveyancer of the toxic regime propaganda and shenanigans driven by few
coins of silver is intolerable. Gossipers whose survival in politics depends on
advancing divisions in the party should be warned that your time is nearing.
You will never rise again in this people’s party through rumor mongering. Our
general membership is aware of your disposition and behavior,” said Sikhala.

Shot in the arm for Masvingo junior football

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Shot in the arm for Masvingo junior football
The interim committee

…as
Zifa sets up Jnr League committee

Clayton Shereni

Following
loud calls for a junior football league, it seems the pleas are beginning to be
heard after local football mother body Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) set
up an interim committee to run the affairs of junior football development in
the province.
Masvingo
has over the years lagged behind in terms of junior football developmental
projects, with no junior league of its own despite the existence of such
notable teams as Triangle FC and Masvingo Utd FC who all need to fed by new
talent from junior leagues.
The
province is home to Chidyamakono, Pamushana, Gutu and Hippo Valley high schools
who are forces to reckon with at such national competitions as Copa Coca-Cola
annual Under 15 tourney.
Talking
of young players who made headlines, Masvingo boasts of Ovidy Karuru, Takudzwa
Mahori and Gabriel Nyoni who turned professional at a tender age during their
days at Gokomere and Pamushana respectively.
An
interim committee was selected over the weekend and it faces an uphill task of
doing the ground work and making sure the much-awaited league starts by
mid-March this year.
Experienced
football coaches and administrators were given the task to lead the initiative
with the vision of setting up a world-class junior league which will produce
players who can make it into Premier Soccer League (PSL) and national teams.
Seasoned
football administrator, Austin Hakunavanhu will lead as the interim chairperson
while Pikisai Mhizha, Margaret Chipetiwa, Tinos Chivasa, Zambuko Rice, Ernest
Chinosengwa, Charles Mhike make up the list of the committee.
Speaking
to TellZim News, Hakunavanhu said the initiative was a welcome development
which he hoped will change the face of Masvingo football.
“We
are waiting for the first meeting so that I can assess the situation. The
initiative is welcome and we all hope something positive comes out of it,” said
Hakunavanhu.
Zifa
Eastern Region chairperson Davison Muchena expressed confidence in the
capability of the new committee and also said the province was supposed to go
back to its glory days of producing young talented players.
“We
believe after putting up an interim committee of such qualified personnel.
Surely, we are going through the heights that we require in junior football. As
a region, we want to thank the Zifa president Felton Kamambo for awarding the
kids a chance and as we all know Masvingo has been a force to reckon in terms
of producing talented players.
“Masvingo
has been winning with Pamushana, Chibi, Hippo Valley and Gutu. Youth teams from
Masvingo have won so many trophies on a national scale so we believe if we give
them a chance they will excel more,” said Muchena.
For
this inaugural season, the league will include school teams, community teams
and football academies from the province’s seven districts.
Zifa
is on a nationwide junior football developmental project where they are setting
up junior leagues across the country’s ten provinces with Masvingo and
Manicaland already completed.

Prosperous Chiredzi cane farmer abandons family, workers

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Prosperous Chiredzi cane farmer abandons family, workers

…family
says war vet father spends all money on girls
Beatific
Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI –
The family of Chiredzi war veteran who is a successful sugarcane farmer has
complained that he has abdicated his family responsibilities and is spending
much of his earnings on girlfriends.
Members
of the family claimed that they no longer have enough food to eat as Borniface
Mutemachani had moved out of their Hippo Valley home for a new place in
Tshovani.
A
family member who refused to be named told TellZim News that Matemachani
recently earned a whopping $1.9 million from his cane harvest but has not
bothered to take care of the needs of his family.
The
family member also said the war veteran became so overexcited by his latest
pay-out that he forgot even to pay his workers.
“He
has now built a music studio where he hopes to record pro-Zanu PF songs and
jingles. Some of the money goes to the studio while the rest we suspect he
spends on his girls. He is not being fair to us as his family,” said the family
member.
Another
one said his lawful wife recently followed him to one of his love nests in
Tshovani where she found him, leading to a brawl.
“His
wife has now filed for divorce because she is entitled to a fair share of the
wealth they built together,” said another family member.
When
contacted for comment, Mutemachani said nobody had the right to dictate to him
on how to use his own money or how to live his life.
He
also admitted that he was now renting an apartment in town where he rests
before going to work on the studio.
 “Mai Mutemachani suspected that I was not
being faithful to her and she stormed into my apartment in Tshovani where I
usually rest before proceeding to my studio for recording. That $1.9 million that
is causing all these problems is my money and I can’t be told how to use it,”
said Mutemachani.

ED is our Biblical Joshua, says Chadzamira

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ED is our Biblical Joshua, says Chadzamira


Emmaculate
Mukokoromba
ZAKA –
The Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs has equated President
Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Biblical Joshua who will lead Zimbabwe through the
final stretch to the ‘Promised Land’.
Speaking
at the integrated schools and communities environment programme held at Chemvuu
Dam site where First Lady Auxillia Mnagagwa was guest of honour, Chadzamira related
Mnangagwa’s leadership qualities to those of Joshua.
He
said Mnangagwa’s predecessor, Robert Mugabe had started the work but could not
complete it thus the need to follow the current President just as the children
of Israel followed Joshua after the death of Moses.
“President
Mnangagwa is a visionary leader. In Zimbabwe, we haven’t had a President with
leadership qualities like his as many economic development programmes are being
done.
“We
have Zupco buses, the Smart Agriculture programme, Silo shops and other
initiatives. All these developments are coming through him with the help of the
First Lady in line with Vision 2030,” said Chadzamira.
He
praised the first lady’s work saying she was making a positive difference on
the lives of people in needy communities.
“We
have been praying for a mother of nation who has people at heart. The first lady
is inspiring as she is not selective and does not consider political parties
when it comes to development. She helped Bopoma Children’s Home in Zaka among
others around Masvingo province.
“As
Masvingo province, let’s remain united and fight the enemy from the left, right
and centre to support our President,” he said.
Speaking
to the same event, Zaka Central Member of Parliament Davison Svuure described
the first lady as a humble woman of substance.
“We
have never had this kind of a mother before. She has time for everyone and she
is not selective of who she mixes with,” said Svuure.
Through
the integrated schools and community environment, the first lady commissioned
Chemvuu Dam and an orchard where 1500 trees were planted in partnership with
Environment Management Agency (Ema), Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa),
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) and the Forestry
Commission.

Masvingo Council in rates hike climb-down

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Masvingo Council in rates hike climb-down

Ruvarashe
Chichera

MASVINGO
– The
business community has breathed a sigh of relief after the local authority
announced that there will be a revision of the proposed 2020 licence fee
increases which had caused immense pain on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Masvingo City Council
has already advised the business community to approach licensing offices at the
Civic Centre to get new figures.
Towards the end of last
year, council announced new business licence fees with an average of 4 000
percent increase across the sectors but it has now been reversed.
“The City of Masvingo
hereby advises its valued stakeholders that it has revised downwards previously
advertised 2020 licence fees after considering concerns raised from various
stakeholder groups. All those affected are advised to approach our Licensing Offices
at the Civic Centre for rectification…” reads part of the noticed published
recently in the media.
Last year, TellZim gathered
and published the reaction of many small business people in town who expressed
hopelessness saying they will never afford to pay the new fees and will have to
operate illegally.
People were also made
aware of the window period offered by council to write letters of objection to the
rate hikes so that the required number of letters needed to force a revision
could be reached.
Masvingo City Council
chamber secretary, Vitalis Shonhai confirmed then that people were submitting their
letters of objection through the formal channels.
“I can confirm some
people have already sent their letters. The budget is only a proposal and it
will only work if people agree to it. I urge people to take the right channel
and communicate through formal processes,” said Shonhai.
Owing to the high
default rate in the payment of licence fees among small business people at the
beginning of the year, the police had started taking advantage of the situation
to arrest the defaulters and release them upon payment of bribes.

‘Mutare Hostel haunted by ghosts’

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‘Mutare Hostel haunted by ghosts’
A look of the notorious Matida Hostels

Monalisa Matongo
MUTARE – Some Matida Hostel residents say they suspect their place is
haunted by ghosts which they claim to be seeing in bathrooms and main passages
during the night.
The residents claim that deceased individuals who lived in the
hostels decades ago are coming back as apparitions.
 “Some people were
brutally murdered in these hostels some time ago and their embittered spirits
are coming back to haunt this place. We heard that the people who committed the
murders used to stay at these hostels as well,” said Mallon Ngaru.
Cllr Elizarbeth Tsoro of Sakubva Ward 2 said the paranormal
developments had seen some hostel-dwellers avoiding using the bathrooms in the
after-hours.
The council-owned, heavily congested hostels, which have largely
fallen into a state of disrepair, can be equated to the notorious Matapi flats
in Mbare, Harare.
Their sanitary facilities are broken and the passages are unlit,
with many families using bathrooms and toilets communally.
“The ghosts are said to be visible not only to adults but also
to young children and they are mostly seen in the bathrooms. I am working to
persuade council to prioritise resuscitating the lighting systems of the
hostels,” said Tsoro.
The hostels are also prone to burglars that take advantage of the
dark passages and rundown security systems.

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