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Liebenberg High School aims higher

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Liebenberg High School aims higher




Elliot Jinjika


CHIVHU – Despite facing a number of
challenges as an institution, Liebenberg High School is aiming to grow its
reputation as a centre of academic and sporting excellence.
With
an enrollment of 1 400 pupils and being the only high school in Chivhu town,
Liebenberg is under pressure to accommodate even more pupils without
compromising the quality of examination results.
Liebenberg
High School head, Rodgers Ngara said he was working with all stakeholders to transform
the school through developmental projects.
“Liebenberg
High is a very big school and our enrolment is testimony to that. We are the
only high school in the town so we want to transform ourselves into the best-run
school in Mashonaland East province. We want to produce pupils who will make it
in life and come back to help not only the school but the whole town that we
love so much,” said Ngara.
Having
been at the helm of the school since 2003, Ngara has overseen such improvements
as the purchase of a school bus, refurbishment of a form four classroom block
that had been gutted by fire, installation of a weather station and the
development of school agriculture through the introduction of drip irrigation.
“We
have done quite a lot but the best is yet to come. We are in the process of
constructing a perimeter wall around the school as part of our efforts to
improve security. We also plan to refurbish and/or paint all our teaching and
learning centres,” Ngara said.
The
school has also made headway in fulfilling the requirements of the new
curriculum by introducing new subjects.
 “We are just a step away from constructing a
science laboratory for our ‘A’ level pupils who are studying physics, biology,
chemistry and related subjects. We require proper facilities that can help
school children improve the passion they have for their studies,” said Ngara.
He
praised what he said was an excellent working relationship between the school
administration and the School Development Committee (SDC).
Ngara
also called upon parents to continue working together with the school, saying
there were many opportunities to grow the reputation of the school if all
people worked together.

Chivhu residents hail improved service delivery

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Chivhu residents hail improved service delivery

Elliot
Jinjika

CHIVHU –
Service delivery is increasingly becoming a tall order in a number of councils
nationwide but this is not the case as far as Chikomba Rural District Council (RDC)
is concerned as residents in the small town have expressed satisfaction in
efforts being taken by the city fathers in providing quality service.
Residents
who spoke to TellZim News have expressed hope that the new administration will continue
making sure that service delivery is improved especially on three major
problematic issues which are refuse collection, resurfacing of roads that are
in a very poor state and improved water supply.
“It
is my hope and trust that the Chiwara led administration will improve service
delivery in Chivhu. We have seen that the council has already acquired a
standard refuse collection vehicle which is a major development that will improve
refuse collection in the town,” said one resident.
“The
council has made strides in refuse collection and we applaud them for that and
most notably roads are being resurfaced in most suburbs in the town which have
been in very bad state.
The
previous administration did its part and we have opened a new chapter and we
expect to see a better and more improved town as we are witnessing signs of
development,” said another.
Chivhu
Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHRRA) Secretary David Marufu has also
praised the council for making efforts in improving the state of affairs in the
town citing developments that have been undertaken so far.
“We
applaud the efforts by the new administration at council. Roads are being
resurfaced and opening new ones in some suburbs.
Refuse
collection has improved with the recently acquired vehicle making work easier.
Pay toilets are being built at Victoria Square and progress is being made on
the construction of council offices that had long been forgotten,” said Marufu.
Due
to the ongoing load shedding that is being experienced nationwide, some
residents feel it is time that council consider installing a sophisticated solar
system that will be used to pump water as the small town is experiencing
erratic water supplies.
“It
is high time that our council use solar system to pump water for residents.
Some areas like Northwood and others on high ground can go for days without
water, I hope council will act to avert erratic water supplies something that
the previous administration failed to do,” said a resident.
Things
seems to be getting better at Chikomba RDC since former HR manager Bullen
Tatenda Chiwara took over as CEO after the death of Luckson Mutara who had
served the local authority for 20 years.

Gweru, Vungu headache over substandard Woodlands sewer

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Gweru, Vungu headache over substandard Woodlands sewer



Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru
City Council and Vungu Rural District Council (RDC) last week signed a Memorandum
of Agreement (MoA) as part of efforts by the two local authorities to help each
other improve services delivery in the Woodlands area.
Addressing
residents at a constituency indaba in Gweru last week, Ward 11 Councillor
Albert Chirau said the problem in Woodlands was caused by a political based development
which saw a land developer constructing houses in the dumpsite zone.
“The
woodlands issue is a result of a political based development and it was during
the first republic’s led by former president Robert Mugabe in which a mention
of his name would give many people free reign to do as they pleased.
“When
Woodlands was built, much of its sewer system was installed in a substandard
manner. On the other side, corrupt deals were at hand as council officials who
were in office by then went on and approved the plans of the housing schemes.
The sewer system was   approved because someone was benefitting from
behind,” said Chirau.
Chirau
said the signing of the memorandum was meant to map out lasting solutions on
the welfare of residents.
“Two
weeks ago the two councils met and signed a MoA as a way to address the
woodlands situation. As you know Vungu was saying Woodlands belongs to GCC as
rates were being paid for at Gweru council on the other hand GCC ruled that woodlands
was under Vungu.
Our
main focus is on refuse collection and provision of water. Those two issues
must be solved without taking sides because people are in dire need of these services,”
said Chirau.
Gweru
Deputy Mayor, Cleopas Shiri said it was the council‘s mandate to provide water
and refuse service to its residents.
“If
people are being charged for a service they must get it and water must be made
available at all costs. The issue of a dumpsite in Woodlands is another topical
issue which made use to engage the Ministry of Local Government and the
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavhima to help us a
find land to relocate the site. It’s our prayer by next year we got it,” said
Shiri.
Vungu
Ward 16 Councillor, Parirenyatwa Nyika said the local authority was
incapacitated and could therefore not provide water and refuse services to Woodlands
residents.

Masvingo cop shoots colleague in Rujeko C

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Masvingo cop shoots colleague in Rujeko C


Star
Matsongoni

A police officer
mistakenly shot and injured his colleague who had accompanied him on a raid on
a licensed firearm owner in Rujeko C on Tuesday, October 08.
Police in Masvingo
referred all questions to Ass Com Paul Nyathi who confirmed the case but said
he had not yet received full details of the case.
“I heard about it but
have not yet received the full details. You may want to check with me later,”
said Nyathi.
The incident happened
along Ingwe Drive when the officers had collected the gun from its civilian
owner.
Sources said off-duty
police officers at Rujeko A shopping centre noticed that one Chengetai Musiyarira
was carrying a firearm in his pocket. They trailed him as he walked towards
Jazire shopping centre in Rujecko C.
They caught up with him
in Ingwe Drive where they then asked to search him, to which Chengetai complied
and handed over the gun to one Detective Constable Masendu.
Sources, however, said
the pistol had a valid licence number (442956) which was due for expiry in
2022.
As Masendu began to
unload the firearm, he accidentally discharged it and the bullet hit one
Constable Nyambuwa just below the abdomen and the bullet went through his
intestines.
The victim was rushed
to Makurira Memorial Clinic from where he was referred to Masvingo Provincial
Hospital where underwent a successful operation to remove the bullet.
Nyambuwa is currently
admitted in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Monitoring System for Great Zimbabwe

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Monitoring System for Great Zimbabwe




Star Matsongoni
The installation of monitoring
systems at Great Zimbabwe monuments meant to give feedback on the movement of
walls started recently and is in progress at the world heritage site.
Lovemore Mandima who is the director
of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) Southern Region said they
had been using a manual system to monitor the movement of the walls so as to
detect the movements which could lead to the collapse of the walls.
He said this was the
implementation stage after a long consultation program since the funds were
released towards the project.
“We have been doing consultations
and the first stage was to identify experts for the various components of the
project. In March and April we had a team of two conversation specialists
coming in to have a feasibility study on that aspect of the project
In May we had monitoring
specialist who came in to have another feasibility study and now this is the
implementation study using the reports produced by the studies,” said Mandima.
He went on to say they were not
going to abandon the manual system but will use both as they each have its
strengths.
“We were using the manual system
of measuring where we would measure if there is any movement from the previous
day on weekly basis. We also used the general eye to detect the movement on the
walls so as to take action” said Mandima.
Mandima said he was happy to have
finally kick started the project as it is going to make it easier to do the
monitoring since the new system does not require a person to be physically be
on the ground.
“This one is going to be very
handy though we are not leaving the manual one. The manual one could be
affected by weather for instance our guys would be affected by rains and could
not do the readings at the required time and intervals but the electronic
system will do the work for it cannot be affected by weather,” said Mandima
Cristiano Russo structure
engineer from Italy said the system will automatically sent the necessary information
after every four hours every day and it works in all types if weather
conditions.
“We have managed to install 16
monitoring systems around the wall, the systems are able to detect 0,005
millimeters of movement and they are flexible when it comes to weather
conditions” Said Russo
A laser scanner was also put in
place, to provide a three dimensional (3D) view, which help to have the exact
view of the building and in case of collapse they can rebuild it the exact way
and it also enables the staff to see around the wall while in their offices.
The funds of this project was
granted to the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) by the United
States Government through World Monument Fund (WMF) the fund amounted to US$
475,000 it was handed over by the US ambassador Brian Nichols to the provincial
minister Ezra Chadzamira on November 28, 2018.
Part of the funds is meant for the
control of the lantana camara which is threatening the walls and Mandima said
after finishing the monitoring project they will then start doing the
feasibility study on the lantana Camara issue.

Health ticking time bomb as raw sewer spills into Mucheke River

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Health ticking time bomb as raw sewer spills into Mucheke River

                                    The heavily-polluted Mucheke River

Theresa Takafuma

Masvingo City is sitting on health ticking time bomb with raw
sewer spilling into Mucheke River on a daily basis from the sewage works
adjacent to Rujeko suburb whenever there is electrical load shedding.
Mucheke River feeds into Lake Mutirikwi, which is the main
water source for Masvingo Urban, and the quality of raw water determines the
amount of water treatment chemicals required.
In a recent full council meeting, Ward 7 Councillor Richard
Musekiwa told council that they should come up with a plan to alleviate the
sewer problem before it turns into a health disaster for the city.
“We are polluting Mucheke River with raw sewer because
every time there is electrical load shedding, raw sewer spills outside the
treatment plant and flows into the river.
“Some residents from Rujeko approached me and appealed
to council to do something about the thick stench of the sewer that flows in
the open and eventually ends up in Mucheke River, adjacent to their
homes,” Musekiwa said.
A few years ago Masvingo City Council was once penalized by
the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) for contaminating Shakashe River,
another tribute to Lake Mutirikwi with raw sewer and they paid over US$8000 to
the regulatory body.
The river, which is visibly choking from an invasive
weed—water hyacinth has also suffered extensively from siltation, and EMA once
attributed raw sewer as the direct cause of water hyacinth growth in the river.
There is also growing concern about the number of vandalism
cases on the manholes along the sewer line, with a number of them being blocked
with rocks and bags of sand by streambank cultivators to water their plots.
In an interview, Acting Town Clerk Edward said thieves steal
the lids to the drain waste vent system, exposing the manholes to further
vandalism.
“We have a problem of people who steal iron lids to the manholes,
smelt them and mold them into tools they can resell. A lot of them now no
longer have lids and it is a real challenge,” Mukaratirwa said.
Most of the raw sewer ends up in either Mucheke or Shakashe
rivers, further deteriorating the quality of raw water that goes into Lake
Mutirikwi.
Ward 10 Councilor Sengerayi Manyanga in the same full council
meeting said the city risks finding itself in Harare’s situation of failing to
treat water if no action is taken because of the increase in cost of water
treatment chemicals.
“I foresee a situation where we will wake up one day
without any water treatment chemicals because the unavailability of foreign
currency worsens our situation,” Manyanga said.

SHDF transforms lives in Buhera Central

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SHDF transforms lives in Buhera Central

Some of the women who attended the SHD’s review and planning meeting at Maneta Primary School

Brighton
Munyikwa

BUHERA
–
The Self-Help Development Foundation (SHDF) is transforming the lives of local
people through its various activities that are mainly targeted at youths and
women.
The community-based
organization (CBO) mobilizes community members for such activities as savings
clubs, capacity-building in business and enterprise development.
SHDF also campaigns for
financial, digital and constitutional literacy and initiates the establishment
of commodity groups/associations and SACCOs.
The CBO helps ordinary
community members to establish financial linkages, and it also promotes
community and stakeholder engagement, environmental management and resilience especially
among young people.
The organization, which
works in wards 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 32, had its review and planning meeting
at Maneta Primary School in Ward 32 on September 27. Respectable people who
participated included representatives of the Ministry of Women Affairs,
Environmental Management Agency (Ema), Chief Nyashanu’s council, District
Development Coordinator (DDC)’s office, Buhera RDC as well as Behera Central
Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Matthew Nyashanu.
One female participant
who does baking in Ward 32 said her group had managed to buy a stand from
Buhera RDC and had expanded to Chimbudzi business centre where they were now constructing
their own structures.
A participant from Ward
21 who is into arts and crafts like baskets and bowls said before meeting SDHF,
her group faced challenges in securing reliable markets for their finished
products.
She thanked the
organisation for linking them to members of the Makonde Arts and Crafts and National
Handcraft Center in July this year.
A participant from Ward
19 said the training he received from SHDF on beehive-making and bee-keeping had
given him a livelihood.
Some cattle ranchers
said they were grateful for being linked to Montana Carswell Meats, a company with
which they have now entered into contract farming.
“Montana Carswell Meats
buys our cattle at reasonable prices and about two weeks ago, they provided us
with stock feeds and vaccines,” said one beef farmer.

Anger in Mwenezi as lab-lab buyer fails to pay farmers

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Anger in Mwenezi as lab-lab buyer fails to pay farmers

Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Scores
of aggrieved lab-lab farmers from various corners of the district last week
threatened to demonstrate against Leguminosea (LG) over unpaid dues.
Lab-lab
is a crop which is processed to make stock feeds and LG is the sole buyer of
the crop in the district.
Aggrieved
farmers threatened to picket at LG offices but later held back following some
highly-charged negotiations.
“Three
months have gone by and they haven’t paid us anything and some of us are yet to
be paid last year’s balances,” complained one farmer.
The
farmers went on to give the company one week to pay them off or risk strong
confrontation.
Some
of them accused LG employees of demanding bribes in exchange for expeditious
processing of their payments.
The
LG employees had a torrid time calming the agitated farmers and they promised
to meet the one week deadline to pay the farmers what is due to them.
The
farmers said they were selling their produce for $6 per kg, meaning one can
pocket $6000 for a tonne.
  

School heads lament expensive science exam materials

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School heads lament expensive science exam materials


Star Matsongoni

MASVINGO – As the November 2019 Zimbabwe School Examination Council’s
(Zimsec) final examinations for ‘O’ and ‘A’ level approach, school heads in and
around Masvingo are worried by the costs of running science exams.
The costs of a Zimsec final
science exam are proving to be higher than what most schools can afford owing
to the little exam fees being charged.
School heads complain that the
prices of such exam requirements as laboratory chemicals, instruments, gases
and protective clothing like gloves were beyond their reach.
One school head who spoke to
TellZim News said his school was likely to fail to meet the requirements unless
a levy for the purchase of materials was introduced.
“We have no choice here but to
charge a levy so that we can afford to buy science materials as they are expensive.
This is a disadvantage to the parents as they are not spared with this economic
situation and are already struggling to pay school and exam fees,” the school
head said.
Another head said if they failed
to charge an extra levy, then they would have to reuse the material from previous
years as new material was unaffordable.
“We will use old material, but
that will give our pupils a disadvantage since they will not be able to meet
the standards set by Zimsec,” said the head.  
Another head criticised the
requirements of the updated curriculum saying they were not responsive to the
prevailing situation in the country.
“The new curriculum should be
repealed. The old curriculum did not require us to buy these expensive and
harmful chemicals as we are now required to do. As smaller schools, we are at a
disadvantage because we do not have the state-of-the-art laboratories suitable
for the exams and this is affecting pupils and our staff,” said the school
head.
Last year, some
‘O’ level chemistry candidates and lab technicians suffered seizures and
convulsions caused by the highly-concentrated Ammonia they were required to
use.
 Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz)
attempted to sue the ministry but failed as they could not provide witnesses.
Many teachers
refused to testify as they feared victimisation by their parent ministry.

Mnangagwa a genuine reformer, says Mutsvangwa

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Mnangagwa a genuine reformer, says Mutsvangwa

Felix Matasva

MUTARE – Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister,
Monica Mutsvangwa has said President Emmerson Mnangagwa wants Zimbabweans enjoy
freedoms provided for by the 2013 constitution.
She said this at the official
opening of national consultative workshop on Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC)
Bill, Freedom of Information Bill and the Draft National Media and Film
Industry Policy.
The workshop, which was held at
Holiday Inn Mutare on September 26, saw stakeholders in the media and film
industry convene in order to deliberate on the bills.
Mutsvangwa said stakeholders must
feel safe, claiming President Mnangagwa was a truly devoted reformist.
“I want to give assurances
from the very outset that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a genuine and
committed reformer. This came from the briefing he gave me as assigned me to my
new ministerial task. He wants Zimbabweans to fully enjoy the freedoms they
entrenched in the 2013 constitution of which he was one of the legal brains at
the forefront, “said Mutsvangwa.
She said Mnangagwa was eager to
nurture a culture of democratic conversation as evidenced by his opening of the
debate on the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s.
“Our task is thus made much
easier because my principal, the President aspires to nurture a culture of
democratic discourse and governance that removes any hindrances to the full
realisation of the Zimbabweans at work, at play and at worship.
 “You can see this in practice. He has
opened debate on every subject and dispensed with any political taboos all the
way to the Gukurahundi affair. He is dispensing with all elements of fear in
the national body politic.
“I look forward to this
workshop’s recommendations which should assist the ministry and parliament to
appropriately position various clauses in the bills in a manner that unites the
views of media stakeholders with those of citizens and government,” said
Mutsvangwa.

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