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Council approves $100 000 ward development fund

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Council approves $100 000 ward development fund


Acting Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa
Mukai
Musimwa
MASVINGO— The city council has approved the proposed allocation
of $100 000 towards each of the 10 wards in Masvingo Urban under the ward
development fund in the 2020 city budget.

If approved by the ministry of local government, all
the ten councillors will each receive a chunk of money which will be directed
towards developmental projects.
Presenting his 2020 budget proposal, Ward 9 councillor
and Finance Committee chairperson Babylon Beta said that they have incorporated
the $100 000 ward development fund which was pushed for by the councillors but
the allocation of the money will be given in relationship to the payment of
rates per ward.
“Under this budget, we have an allocation of $100 000
ward development fund which will be channelled towards facilitating ward based
development. We give the money in relation to the payment of rates in a
particular ward.
“The councillors will use the money to upgrade their
wards and we hope that this move will go a long way in ensuring that all our
people embark in various developmental and income generating projects,” said
Beta.
If it sails through, the ward development fund will
draw $1 million from the council’s 2020 budget which is pegged at about $221
million.
Ward 10 councillor Sengerayi Manyanga, who has been
most vocal in pushing for the ward development fund, said the councillors have
a lot of projects which they want to do for the people in their wards but are
limited by resources.
“Our Members of Parliament receive their Constituency
Development Funds to push for development in their constituencies so we
proposed that the council budget for the ward development fund as well. This
fund will make sure that we deliver to our people.
“Our people look to us to improve their lives and
surroundings but we do not have the money. If this fund is approved, we will be
able to deliver. The council has already adopted the budget so we now await the
minister to approve,” said Manyanga.

The rise of Zim’s ‘Boyka’

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The rise of Zim’s ‘Boyka’

Brendon ‘Boyka’ Denes

 

Clayton Shereni

Nicknamed
after the great Yuri Boyka, a
professional Russian prison fighter who appears as a hostile prisoner in the
film Undisputed, Brendon Denes popularly known as Boyka has lived to be a gem
in the boxing world as he has conquered Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole.
Inspired by former boxing superstars Victor
Masunga and Wilson Mukungunugwa, Boyka started his boxing career at the age of
17. At this tender age, Boyka could not get any support from his family who
kept on telling him to pursue academics seeing no future in sports.
But who can blame the family as no one has ever
really made a living through boxing as the sport is not fully supported in the
country. The country has a bias towards soccer which has struggled and keeps
struggling to get international or regional recognition.
Zimbabwe now needs to invest in more sporting
disciplines and support young talent like that of the rising superstar Boyka.
In recent memory, the only boxer who has
managed to make a name for himself during the most difficult of circumstances
is Charles Manyuchi who happens to have roots in Masvingo.
Zimbabwe should be ashamed when boxing
heavyweights like Derick Chisora, who originally is from Zimbabwe but now has
an American citizenship, leave the country to seek better opportunities and end
up raising other flags up high instead of ours.
In an exclusive interview with TellZim News,
Boyka said he had to fight against all odds to realise his dream as no one in
his family approved of his talent saying the sport is normally associated with
rowdy behavior.
“When I started boxing I was staying with my
late grandmother and she didn’t want me to box because there were some
notorious boxers in our community by that time. This made people view boxing as
an evil sport.
“I used to sneak out even at school to pursue
my talent but everyone kept telling me to focus only on academics but I felt it
in me that one day I will be on top of the world through this sport. Boxing is
just like any other sport but people view it with a lot of stigma,” said Denes.
Denes paid tribute to Manyuchi whom he said
helped him learn the ropes and kept on encouraging him to pursue his dream no
matter how hard it may get.
“Charles Manyuchi assisted me and made me a
national amateur boxing icon after several wins in the Southern region and
National youth games” said Denes.
Currently signed with the Charles Manyuchi
Boxing Academy under the mentorship of coach Ali Otto Phiri, Denes has
registered eight straight wins as a professional boxer and also clinched the
World Boxing Federation lightweight championship recently in Harare where he
defeated a Malawian.
Denes said his career is a success because of
his handlers and also thanked Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) for their
unwavering support to his passion and dream.
“I wouldn’t be here without the help of Charles
Manyuchi boxing academy which has supported me since day one of my career.
“GZU has allowed me to start a boxing club where
I will help other upcoming boxers. Dean Sarafina Mudavanhu has always been
there to advise me and she has been instrumental in my career,” said Denes.
Denes recently met with the Minister of State
for provincial affairs Ezra Chadzamira who affirmed his unwavering support to
the young boxer.
In his amateur record Boyka has a superb record
of 52 wins out of 54 matches losing only two and also has 17 gold medals from
national and regional youth games.
Denes grew up in the ghost town of Mashava
where he did is primary education at King Mine and later moved to Kwekwe for
his secondary education at Rutendo High School.
He later transferred to Temeraire High School
in Mashava his home town before moving to Chibi High School where he finished
his A level studies.
Denes recently graduated at GZU with a Bachelor
of Science Honours Degree in Politics and Public Administration and was awarded
the best graduating athlete at the institution.
He will be facing South African based Tawanda
Chigwida in a non-title match at Harare Showgrounds on the December 21 this
year.

Gweru mayor launches half a million dollar Christmas Cheer Fund

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Gweru mayor launches half a million dollar Christmas Cheer Fund

Tinaani Nyabereka
GWERU—
City mayor Josiah Makombe last week launched the mayor‘s Christmas cheer fund with
a target of raising about $500 000 which will be directed towards the welfare
of the underprivileged in society during the festive season.
Speaking
at the launch, mayor Makombe called on the business community and various
stakeholders to contribute towards the fund which will benefit the needy groups
in the community.
“As
you know, the purpose of the fund is mainly to reach out to those vulnerable
groups in our society so that they get a decent Christmas gift.
“Last
year we managed to raise a sum of $50 000 which was channelled towards
groceries hampers, sanitary wear and school fees for vulnerable children. We
managed to give $300 to children’s homes as part of the social community
responsibility.
“This
year we are aiming higher as we want to raise $500 000 so that at least we put a
smile on someone’s face and expand the charity to more groups,” said Makombe.
He
said they are organising a Christmas cheer fund dinner to raise the $500 000
they require.
“We
will host a Christmas cheer fund fundraising dinner in a few weeks and we hope
to surpass our expectations. Inflation has risen to unprecedented levels
eroding the buying power of our money so we need our loving people to dig
deeper into their pockets for the poor.
“It
is our responsibility as the community to take care of our less privileged. We
know things are hard on almost everyone but we have to sacrifice for our
underprivileged so that they can have something to eat or wear,” said Makombe.
Gweru
city council pledged to donate a sum of $900 towards the fund, while deputy mayor
Cleopas Shiri, in his individual capacity, pledged a sum of $300.
Pinnacle
Grace church led by Pastor Bruce Chitsungo pledged $1 000.
Gweru
city council acting Town Clerk, Vakai Chikwekwe pledged $500 while FBC bank,
Old Mutual Holdings and Midlands State University (MSU) promised to bring
forward contributions at the fundraising dinner.
Redcliff
and Zvishavane Municipality pledged $5 000 each.

Parents attack Bikita RDC for land corruption

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Parents attack Bikita RDC for land corruption

….
parents keep children from school to protest sale of school land
Anymore Magawa
BIKITA – There
was commotion at Nehanda Primary in Bikita East Ward 24 when parents told their
children not to go to school in protest against council’s decision to carve
away large pieces of school land for sale to home-seekers and businesses.
Parents
also gathered at the school on Monday, November 04, waving placards that
denounced what they called rampant corruption at the local authority.
The
parents chanted that they will prepared to face off with council officials and
defend their school from greed and corruption.
A
source that spoke to TellZim News said parents raised issues of corruption in
2012 but nothing changed up until this year.
“Parents
raised these issues seven years ago before shops were built within the school
premises but all complains were in vain. Corruption in the allocation of land
is increasing and all the school’s land is being sold to businesses and people
who want to build houses. A bottle store was recently built in the school yard,”
said the source.
Nehanda
Primary was set up at the height of the Land Reform Programme, with the
Ministry of Lands allocating 40 hectares to the school.
Parents,
however, claim that council has consistently failed to respect the school’s
boundaries and has been pegging off residential and commercial stands from that
same 40ha.
“We
are going to fight for the rights of our children until we find enough land for
our children because even 12 hectares recommended by the Ministry of Education
Policy is no longer available.
“Bikita
RDC is intransigent, corrupt and badly managed. The school has been shrunk to a
mere 7.5ha from the initial 40ha reserved for it during the Land Reform Programme,”
another angry parent told TellZim News by phone.
When
contacted for comment, Bikita RDC CEO Peter Chibi said he had not yet hear
about the issue and promised to get back to TellZim News but had not done so by
the time of going to print.
Bikita
East Member of Parliament (MP) Johnson Madhuku said he had received reports
about problems between parents and the school and had attended a meeting to try
and resolve the dispute.
“Parents
are really angry for what they suspect to be happening in council. It’s sad
that children lost one day of school because of this. We are trying to work
together to address the grievances of our parents and we have just had a
meeting with the ward councilor and other stakeholders,” said Madhuku.

Safety first as Mimosa holds 15th awards ceremony

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Safety first as Mimosa holds 15th awards ceremony

Christabel
Shumba
ZVISHAVANE – Mimosa Mining Company recently held this year’s Long
Service and Superior Performance Awards as part of the company’s continuous
efforts to reward loyalty.
The colourful event marked the company’s 15th
awards ceremony which is held annually in recognition of employees who have
served the company for varying periods of time.
Mimosa has been emphasising safety after its face
preparation supervisor died in an accident which happened in June this year.
The organisation also experienced a major breakdown in
the ballot mill which lasted a period of 28 days.
Simon Chauraya, who is 49 years of age, was honoured
for his 15 years of committed service to the company, having joined Mimosa in
2004 as an operator of loading, hauling and dump trucks.
Chauraya is now a driver with an accident-free record.
Each month, Mimosa mine produces between
230 000 tonnes and 270 000 tonnes of platinum concentrate.
Company director Fungai Makoni
said mining
was a capital-intensive and the company was required US$40 million and US$45
million every year as stay-in business
capital for equipment maintenance and replacement.
“Our plant maintenance costs range
between US$15 million and US$20 million depending on what we want to maintain
from year to year. And when we talk of expansion, we are looking at removing
some of the inefficiencies that are within our processes,” said Makoni.
He
said the company recently bought a US$10 million processing plant from South Africa
and the machinery was expected to address production inefficiencies.
“We
want to make sure that we optimise the current production platform and get as
much as we can out of what we are doing hence the decision to buy this plant,”
said Makoni.

Severe storm devastates Chivhu

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Severe storm devastates Chivhu

                                           ZPCS Chivhu complex after the storm

….prisons complex shuttered

Elliot Jinjika
CHIVHU – Several homesteads and institutions
were devastated by heavy rains and strong winds that ravaged Chivhu town late
yesterday (November 15), TellZim News can report.
Liebenberg
High School was left in tatters after six block rooms were destroyed and
asbestos roofs were wiped away.
The
old National Foods depot was destroyed and much of the roof was shattered while
the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) offices
suffered the same fate.
Many
houses in Charuma residential area and surrounding places were also damaged.
Ten
families at the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) cottages were destituted
and had to seek shelter at the police station after their houses were
destroyed.
 ZPCS officers who spoke to TellZim News were
in grief but they were pleased that no life was lost.
 “We have so far send distress calls to
Marondera and we expect them to come urgently together with the Civil Protection
Unit (CPU). Things are not well as you can see and we need urgent assistance,”
said one ZPCS officer.
“Some
of us had to spend the night here at the police station but had to hire a guard
against thieves that usually take advantage of this kind of a situation. We
need urgent help because we have no shelter. We thank God that no one was
killed or injured,” said another officer.

Unity is our strength— VISET marks International Vendors Day

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Unity is our strength— VISET marks International Vendors Day

VISET director Samuel Wadzai

TellZim Reporter
The
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) today
(November 14,2019) commemorates the International Vendors Day celebrating the
significant contribution street vendors make towards their local economies.
The
day was first celebrated on the November 12, 2012 under the banner of Street
Net International.
In a statement, VISET said that this year’s
commemorations are taking place against the backdrop of
the declaration of war
on vendors’ livelihoods by the authorities.
“This year, the day is being commemorated under the
theme: ‘Unity Is Our Strength’. Street trading
is thriving and growing in harsh
economic times, so we can no longer overlook that street vendors are
an
integral part of urban economies around the world, offering easy access to a
wide range of goods
and services in public spaces.
“It should be acknowledged that street trading is an
ancient and important occupation found in
virtually every country and major
city around the world.

“Street
vending has been seen as a nuisance by many local municipalities and their
right to earn decent livelihoods is always under threat by unfavorable by-laws
and municipal regulations. Urban policies and local economic development
strategies rarely prioritize livelihood security (social protection) for informal
workers. 
“Urban renewal projects and infrastructure upgrades routinely displace
street vendors from natural markets, leaving the most vulnerable without a
suitable workplace,” reads the statement.

VISET
called on the government to accept that vendors are not the enemy but should
work on policies that accommodate the trade.
“Good
practice documentation shows vendors can help with urban management challenges
like crime and cleaning. Also, basic infrastructure, shelter, toilets,
electricity and water can improve work environments and make public spaces
safer, more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. 
“Some
cities are working with street vendors’ organizations to formulate innovative
policies, programmes and practices that enable vendors to have a voice in making
their cities more inclusive.
“The
year 2019 has not been an easy year for street vendors. It was a year when the
government declared war on the vending enterprise through directives by
Municipalities that all vendors be removed from the Central Business Districts
of major towns and cities.
“We
saw Municipal and Zimbabwe Republic Police using force and arresting thousands
of vendors as a response to the directive. More than 4 500 of our members
reported various forms of human rights abuses. Arrests, imprisonment, and
prosecution of hundreds of street vendors also characterized the year. 
“Our
goods were confiscated and some of us were assaulted. Municipal police officers
solicited bribes from us, which ranged from cash to kind.  Some of our female colleagues reported sexual
harassment and abuse wherein they had to provide sexual favours in return for
their confiscated goods or for places in designated vending sites,” said VISET
in a statement.
VISET
believes that while the government has a responsibility to decongest the cities
and confine vending to designated sites, this has to be done in a manner that
does not infringe on street vendors right to livelihoods.

UNHCR hails Zimbabwe for joining global fight against Statelessness

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UNHCR hails Zimbabwe for joining global fight against Statelessness

Leonard Zulu

TellZim Reporter
VUMBA— The United Nations High Commission
for Refugees (UNHCR) has hailed Zimbabwe for taking a bold stance to join a
global fight against Statelessness.
Article
1 (1) of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons
defines a stateless person as ‘a person who is not considered as a national by
any State under the operation of its law’.
Addressing
parliamentarians last Friday (November 8) on National and Statelessness
dialogue, UNHCR Deputy Director Regional Bureau for Southern Africa Leonard
Zulu said Zimbabwe’s commitment in fight against Statelessness was commendable.
“Zimbabwe
has already repeatedly demonstrated its capacity and courage by embracing
essential reforms. I have no doubt that, as on many other issues, Zimbabwe will
demonstrate the leadership and vision necessary to make decisive progress of
ensuring that no one is at risk of Statelessness,” said Zulu.
In
2014, the United Nations (UN) with the approval of the General Assembly and the
UN Secretary
General
launched a campaign to end Statelessness by 2024.
According
to UN statistics, there are between 10-12 million people who are Stateless
around the world whilst a child is born Stateless every 10 minutes.
Zulu
reiterated the UNHCR’s commitment to ensure that Zimbabwe succeeds in the
project adding that although it’s ambitious, it’s achievable.
“I
can assure you that UNHCR will do its utmost to support you in this
indispensable effort. I am counting on the strong support of Zimbabwe and other
SADC member states in helping us to reach that goal of ending statelessness by
2024. There is strong momentum that makes this ambitious goal possible,” said
Zulu.
He
said Zimbabwe has the opportunity to develop a comprehensive action plan to
prevent Statelessness in the country.
“Such
a plan is necessary to realize Zimbabwe`s pledge made in October 2019 in Geneva
to contribute to ending Statelessness globally.
“Ultimately,
the concept of ‘belonging’ goes beyond legal texts and identity documents. It requires
the political will to promote tolerance and acceptance of one another and
create a social and human space where all members of the society can be
recognized,” said Zulu.
He
said Statelessness is an essential issue for human and state security,
particularly in a region that is legitimately concerned about protection of its
citizens in face of rising security threats.
“Perhaps
even more serious, depriving persons of a nationality constitutes for the
country a missed opportunity for development and prosperity.
“Ensuring
that everyone can enjoy their right to a State, also allows a State to rely on
the potential and talents of hundreds of thousands of people who would
otherwise be marginalized and excluded,” said Zulu.
Zulu
said UNHCR`s plan of action to end Statelessness is a central element of the ‘I
Belong Campaign’.
“The
first country in the world to have adopted a national action plan on
Statelessness was Benin. Across Africa, there is an increase awareness of the
importance of the right to nationality, with a growing number of adoption of
actions plans to end statelessness, nationality reforms, and increase of birth
registration rate.
“I
trust that soon, similar efforts will be effectively undertaken in Zimbabwe.
For my part, I assure you that UNHCR will do its utmost to support you in the
implementation of national action plan,” said Zulu.

There will be blodshed, warns Sikhala

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There will be blodshed, warns Sikhala

…says party is coming for ED
Upenyu
Chaota
MDC national vice chairperson Job Sikhala, who is
battling subversion charges and last week had his case moved from the Bikita
Magistrates’ Court to Masvingo High Court, has said he will not be cowed into
silence by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
The fiery opposition leader said his party will take
the offensive to Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s doorstep.
Sikhala, who addressed an impromptu rally outside the
Bikita Magistrates’ Court after his court appearance last week, said he knew the
law very well and was convinced he did not commit any crime.
He claimed that what he is alleged to have said about
removing Mnangagwa from power was within his rights.
“I am not just the accused person but I am one of the
best and most brilliant lawyers in this country. I am not bothered at all about
this process. In authoritarian and tyrannical systems that are founded on abuse
of the rule of law and constitutionalism, this is very common.
“There is nothing to be surprised about because our
regime, like its sister regimes of the past, try to survive on the use of
various institutions of the State to thwart any form of perceived or real
threat to their grip on power,” said Sikhala.
Sikhala declared that Zanu PF could silence any other
person but not him, saying he was prepared to die fighting for the freedom of
the people of Zimbabwe.
“You can silence other people but not Job Sikhala. A
person like me will never be silenced, there will be blood. We are prepared to
die for the freedom of the people of Zimbabwe.
“Just like the great military commander Josiah
Tongogara, who died fighting for the freedom of our people, Job Sikhala is
prepared to die. This generation of today has its own liberation fighters in
the form of Advocate Nelson Chamisa and Job Sikhala.
“If they think they will cow us into submission, they
are mistaken because this is the beginning and we are now coming for them.
Hokoyo Mnangagwa! We will never be afraid. We shall keep demanding the freedom
of our people. As long as our people are suffering we will never be silenced,”
said Sikhala.
He said Mnangagwa did not care about the suffering
masses as he lives an extravagant lifestyle hiring private jets from Dubai to
fly him even on local trips to the tune of millions of dollars.
“We have relatives who are teachers whose salaries
cannot even buy underwear but we have a President who spends millions hiring
private jets. People have no jobs and we will not be silent about it.
“The use of the judiciary for purposes of settling
political scores has never been a sustainable strategy in several jurisdictions
including our own during the period of Ian Smith. Command justice is only
applied by people who lack confidence on how to manage the state of affairs.
“Since the coup in November 2017, we noticed excessive
use of military and police power to abuse citizens of our country. We will keep
fighting for our people. Even Smith never thought one day he would be removed
from power but it happened,” said Sikhala.
Sikhala rallied people to throng the Masvingo High
Court on January 27 to send a message to President Mnangagwa that he will not
subvert the will of the people.
“We need to flood the High Court on January 27. We
need thousands of our supporters to come and make a statement that we stand
with our leaders when they are demanding our freedom and our liberation. Musi
wa27 hakudyiwi kuMasvingo,” said Sikhala.
Sikhala found himself in trouble with the law in July
while campaigning for the Bikita East Ward 30 local authority by-election when
he allegedly said that he would remove President Mnangagwa from power.
MDC national youth secretary for information and
publicity Steven ‘Sakorzy’ Chuma said the Zanu PF government needed to be
removed from power ‘because it has caused immense suffering in the country’. 

17 years of 0% pass rate for Mwenezi school

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17 years of 0% pass rate for Mwenezi school

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Pupils
at Turf Primary School in Ward 15 has over the past 17 years ran without even a
single classroom block and has recorded a zero percent pass rate in grade seven
examinations ever since.
During
lessons, many pupils sit on the ground under makeshift structures built of
wooden poles and dagga with thatched roof.
Turf
Primary School Teacher-in-Charge (TIC) Bernard Mahutse said the school was
facing some of the worst conditions a school could ever face in the country.
“Grade
seven classes use these facilities during their final examinations. We have a
total enrolment of 368 pupils and we have few pieces of furniture such that
some of our pupils learn seated on the ground,” said Mahutse.
Teachers
do not stay longer at the school as there are no houses for them, and none of
them is motivated to stay at the school for a long time.
“There
are five teachers here and that shows you how understaffed we are. Different
grades are combined into one single class to make it easier for teachers to
cope. Teachers do not stay for long and pupils are taught by new faces all the
time,” said Mahutse.
Local
parents also lamented the conditions at the school which they described as good
as a play centre for their children to pass their time.
“Nothing
is learnt at Turf as our children just go there to grow up and socialise with
their age-mates. During the rainy season, many parents would rather have their
children herding cattle and goats than to going to school where they benefit
nothing except to come back home with dirt uniforms,” said female parent.
Ward
15 Cllr Edson Chauke said the school faced a serious predicament as the
Ministry of Lands was yet to officially authorise the school’s location.
“Conditions
there are really bad and that is tragic to the future of our children there.
The Ministry of Land is backtracking on pegging the school to make its siting
permanent.
“We
briefed our MP (Priscilla Moyo) about the state of affairs at the school and she
promised to assist in that regard. We will keep pushing to ensure that a way
out is found and conditions there are improved,” said Chauke.
Mwenezi
Rural District Council (RDC), which is the responsible authority, through the
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Chivanga acknowledged the state of affairs
at the school.
Chivanga
told TellZim News in a telephone interview that schools which were unpegged and
are on private properties are difficult to develop until certain issues got clarified.
The
entire Mwenezi district has a total of 172 schools, 102 of which are satellites,
having been born out of the often chaotic Land Reform Programme.
Most
satellite schools in the district are in a sorry state, with Turf Primary being
just but an epitome of worse things going on.

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