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Auditors visit Masvingo Poly over ZIMDEF money abuse

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Auditors visit Masvingo Poly over ZIMDEF money abuse

Clayton Shereni
Government
Auditors are at Masvingo Polytechnic reportedly to investigate the
institution’s alleged gross abuse of funds including money paid under the Zimbabwe
Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) funds, TellZim News has learnt.
The
money, which is primarily meant for human capital development and to assist
underprivileged students, is said to have been channeled to unclear projects by
the schools’ top authorities including then principal Evans Musara who has
since been transferred to Kwekwe Polytechnic.
Last
year, hundreds of students at the institution staged a demonstration demanding
an explanation as to where their Zimdef money was as they had not been paid for
a long time.
Sources
told TellZim News that a massive exposé was expected as the institution cannot
account for much of the money in question.
“Some
students did not receive their exact allocated amounts, so it’s just a matter
of time before a lot of issues around the Zimdef money are unearthed,” said the
source.
When
contacted for comment, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education permanent
secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira said the ministry had approached the Auditor
General’s office to audit not only Masvingo Polytechnic but all colleges in the
country.
“We
have people from the Auditor General’s office whom we have asked to audit all
our tertiary institutions. We are trying to improve systems, we actually wrote
them a letter and asked them to audit our tertiary institutions,” said Tagwira.
When
further asked to respond to allegations of abuse of Zimdef money at Masvingo
Polytechnic, Mugwira said other external auditors had done the investigation
and the report will be revealed soon.
“There
was a special audit done by an external company at every institution which
received Zimdef money. There were suspicions that the money was not used in the
appropriate manner so the report is now there; it’s a huge three-volume report.
“When
we came in, we immediately started to restructure Zimdef and we now have a new
management. We are in the process of amending the Manpower Development Act so
that we have a Zimdef board. We are trying to implement the recommendations of
that report,” said Tagwira.
Masvingo
Polytechnic is not new to controversy. Last year, students were forced to re-write
a Hexco examination after suspicions of cheating.
The
students, who had threatened to resist the order accusing the institution of
punishing everybody for the sins of a few, rewrote the exams under the watchful
eye of button stick-wielding police officer, with a vicious police dog on leash.
Zimdef
is widely perceived to be an easy cash cow for corrupt top government officials
in the education sector, with college principals said to be feeding on the
crumbs that filter down when the chefs have had their share.

MSU introduces indigenous food processing

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MSU introduces indigenous food processing

Tinaani Nyabereka
GWERU – The
Midlands State University‘s (MSU) Department of Food Science and Nutrition (MSU)
has introduced a food innovation concept that involves the processing and
canning of indigenous foods.
The
initiative follows the introduction of education 5.0 by the Ministry of Higher
and Tertiary Education which is on a drive to enhance research, innovation and technological
transfer with a problem-solving approach.
Speaking
at MSU 19th graduation ceremony recently, MSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor
Muzvidziwa said the development of the concept was focused on the
culture-centric problem-solving.
“In
the spirit of innovation, our department of Food Science and Nutrition has developed
a culture of problem-solving through a concept we call ‘Foonovation’, meaning
food innovation.
“The
process puts into consideration the processing and caning of indigenous foods
that previously no one would have imagined possible. As we seek to excel in
research, this priority area has started to grow and has seen the University
getting 18 intellectual property disclosures.
“We
have registered one patent, filed four utility models with the African Regional
Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and three copyrights with the
Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Organisation (ZIPO). These innovations are ready
for incubation in line with the national thrust of industrialisation,” said Muzvidziwa.
He
added that MSU had secured competitive domestic and international research
grants with 15 being active international grant research projects.
“Our
researchers secured competitive research grants and we have a total of 15
active which include future leaders African Independent Research (FLAIR), Global
Challenges Research Fund UK, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GMES
and Africa Support, National Institute of Health, Open Society Initiative for
Southern Africa (OSISA), Practical Action, Care International and University Of
British Columbia (PRE-EMPT).
“The
awarding of these grants by international agencies to our academics is evidence
of their intellectual energy and courage which we celebrate
“One
of our academic staff Dr Gift Mehlana’s work on a grant-funded project has led
to his subsequent selection by the International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry and the International Younger Chemists Network .this is a strong
endorsement of the international impact of our research in applied science.
“The
name of Dr Mehlana will be etched on the periodic table of young chemists for
the next 100 years,” Muzvidziwa said.
Meanwhile,
6977 graduands comprising 3 348 females and 3 629 males graduated from the
university; marking the largest graduation gathering in the history of MSU.
A
total of 989 students graduated with master’s degrees while three were awarded
doctorates. International graduates from Namibia, Bostwana, Swaziland, Sudan
and Mozambique totalled 100.

Beyond our understanding: Myths and taboos to safeguard cultural heritage

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Beyond our understanding: Myths and taboos to safeguard cultural heritage

Elizabeth
Duve Dziva
Many a times, we have
heard or read about mysterious stories surrounding cultural heritage property
which usually send shivers down our spines or rather cause goose bumps.
Gustav Mahler once said
tradition is not the worship of ashes but the preservation of the fire.
Discussing such topics stir
up various feelings in many as the topic evokes different imaginations in
people. Most of the stories are usually dismissed as ‘superstitions’ but funny
as it may sound, such things really happen just like extraordinary Biblical
stories like that of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus and many others.
In our context, these
are called myths and taboos which are very vital in the conservation and preservation
of cultural property and they are a source of spiritual guidance.
A myth is folklore or
unusual narrative or story which usually involves some supernatural figures and
a taboo is an unspecified prohibition on something, usually against speech or behavior
based on a cultural intellect that is too sacred for ordinary people. Taboos
and myths are basically meant to protect humans and their environment.
In Zimbabwe, there is
cultural and natural heritage like forests, mountains, rivers, caves, tunnels,
trees are safeguarded by myths and taboos. The heritage also includes manmade
ruins and property left behind by our predecessors.
NDAMBAKURIMWA,
RAMBAKURIMWA AND RAMBAKUTEMWA
One such sacred natural
heritage is the Ndambakurimwa forest in Domboshava. As the name suggests, the
forest could not be cleared for agricultural purposes. The commonly accepted
myth is that if one tried to clear the land, they would wake up tomorrow to
find all the cleared trees back in their original place and if one went with an
axe intending to cut the trees, the axe would suddenly disappear.
Almost the same myth is
also about the Rambakurimwa forest in Mberengwa and the Rambakutemwa forest in
Chivi.  An unexplainable myth is told
about the zoomorphic pot (pfuko yaNevanji) whose replica is presently housed at
the Great Zimbabwe Museum in Masvingo.
It is generally
believed that it was a moving pot in which the king’s gold was kept. If other
people tried to put their hands into the pot, they would find their hand cut,
go insane or suddenly find their heads clear shaven.
NYANGA
There is also Mount Nyanga,
the highest mountain in Zimbabwe which is generally believed that careless talk
or environmental pollution like relieving oneself on the mountain would see the
offender vanishing without a trace. History has it that a number of people have
disappeared without trace in that mountain, the latest being a tourist in
Jnauary 2014.
According to the oral
history of locals in the area, two white girls (tourists) once vanished in the
mountains and a helicopter search party was engaged. They could see the girls
from the helicopter but upon getting down to the ground, all they could hear
was their playful laughter indicating that they were really enjoying themselves.
CHINHOYI
Almost a similar story
is told about the Chinhoyi cave where negative comments and environmental
pollution resulted in disappearance. It is generally believed that an attempt
to throw a stone past the sunlit pool will result in the stone being thrown
back to the sender.
NYAMINYAMI
There is also the
legend of the Nyaminyami river god at Kariba which, when angered by the
people’s misbehavior, would cause severe flooding in the basin. Others
attribute the flooding which happened in the 1950 and the loss of lives during
construction of the Kariba Dam to the river god who apparently had been angered
at being separated by the dam wall from ‘his wife’ who lived down stream. Disasters
attributed to the river god happened on February 15, 1950 and December 25, 1955,
January 1958.
NEMESO
There is also the
Nemeso myth which accounts for the origins of Harurwa in Masvingo. The myth has
it that abuse of the nutritious insects provoked the spirit of Nemeso resulting
in natural disasters. There are some forests in which misbehavior resulted in
loss of memory (chadzimira) whereby one immediately loses their sense of
direction and time resulting in endless walks around the area. When in that
condition, one does not get tired nor feel any physical pain to an extent that
an individual can walk for as many kilometers as can be imagined without realising
it.
CONCLUSION
Due to cultural
diversity and dynamics of time, tradition can be questioned and it is very
important to break the traditions that serve as restraints to the happiness,
freedom and development of the human race.
Over and above,
safeguarding our culture, heritage and traditions is priceless. Our heritage is
a link to our past and a bridge to the future. We are bound to them those who
went before us as our successors are bound to us, though we cannot look into
their eyes nor hear their voices; we should honour their history which is also
ours. We should cherish the tradition they left behind and pass it over, we
should tell their story as it was told through generations immemorial. Above
all we should remember them as we wish to be remembered and that is only
possible if we avoid carrying the everlasting blame and curse of bringing to
extinction what we never invented.
Elizabeth Duve Dziva is
an Archaeological and cultural heritage practitioner, the views in this article
are solely those of the author in her own capacity and do not necessarily
represent the views of any organization. Email: duveelizabeth@gmail.com

SDA hands over new classroom block to Rupemba Primary School

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SDA hands over new classroom block to Rupemba Primary School

Exsto Makunzva
ZVISHAVANE- Minister
of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavhima last week officially
opened a newly constructed block at Rupemba Primary School built by the Seventh
Day Adventist (SDA) church.
Rupemba
Primary School is a satellite school which is in the resettlement area situated
at the border of Zvishavane and Mberengwa districts with an enrolment of about
331 pupils.
The
school opened its doors in September 2012 and was built from wooden poles and
dagga with thatched roof.
Pupils
at Rupemba Primary School had to learn while seated on the ground as the school
had no furniture but the helping hand from SDA has given hope to the pupils and
breathed life to the school.
Mavhima
applauded the generous gesture by the SDA and challenged the community to
follow suit in ensuring that they provide conducive learning environment to the
pupils.
“We
need more people like the SDA. They have seen a need and moved to address it.
We are very grateful for the support you have offered to the school and we hope
more help will come so that this school can be upgraded and we give a future to
these pupils.
“It
is government’s policy to ensure that we provide basic education to our
children and we are very proud for the SDA for supporting our efforts,” said
Mavhima.
Mavhima
also thanked Zvishavane Community Share Ownership Trust for building the first
block, the Church of Christ for drilling a borehole, Adventist Development and
Relief Agents (ADRA) for providing a solar system to pump water.

Zinara employee takes blames for $45 000 fraud

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Zinara employee takes blames for $45 000 fraud

…exonerates
accomplices
Diana Gondongwe
MASVINGO
– Luke Manyamazi, a provincial licensing officer at Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) has decided to take
all the blame for the missing $45 000 and has exonerated his two alleged accomplices.
Manyamazi, Jefias Magarasadza and Enock Mapondo appeared
before Anti-Corruption Magistrate Patience Madondo applying for bail for the
second time after they were refused bail by Magistrate Langton Ndokera due to
the gravity of their case in their initial appearance.
Manyamazi pleaded guilty admitting that he only knows about
the $45 000 and not the initial $196 270 reported by Zinara.
He went on to say he committed the offence alone and without
the help of Mapondo and Magarasadza.
The court also heard that Mapondo and Magarasadza were not
Zinara officials hence they don’t have any connections with the Zinara accounts
department.
Magarasadza and Mapondo were given bail on condition that
they leave their travelling documents at the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court and
pay RTGS$500 bail.
The three were represented by Omen Mafa of Mudisi, Mutendi
and Shumba Legal Practitioners.
Mafa lamented that the trio was likely to ‘rot in remand prison’
with the slow pace he claimed the State was moving with the case. He said it
was bad that in a space of two months, the State had only managed to find three
witnesses out of the intended 800.
The trio will appear in court again on July 31, 2019.

Ignite Afrique trains Mwenezi girls on making reusable pads

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Ignite Afrique trains Mwenezi girls on making reusable pads

Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – As
part of efforts to improve the conditions of girls from disadvantaged
communities, charity organisation Ignite Afrique recently organised a sanitary
pads-making course for some Mwenezi school girls and their teachers.
The
training was held at Lundi Christian High School with many girls and teachers
from different schools across Mwenezi district acquiring knowledge on how to
tailor-make their own sanitary pads using affordable material.
Ignite
Afrique director Charles Maregere told TellZim News the training was made
possible through the support of partners and patrons.
He
said he hoped the knowledge gained will help improve the welfare of the girl
child in rural areas who can hardly afford adequate supplies of disposable pads.
“Given
the current high prices of disposable sanitary pads, we have realised that many
girls were at risk of contracting infections during their periods since they
use unhygienic alternatives such as cow dung and rags. 
“We
have realised that the training on making reusable sanitary pads is a sustainable
life skill that empowers girls. They will also use the skills gained to form
sanitary hygiene clubs in their respective schools. Making pads on their own
will help them make extra cash by selling the pads to others in their
communities,” said Maregere.
Speaking
at the same occasion, Ignite Afrique patron Edith Mugehu, a molecular biologist,
urged communities to de-stigmatise menstruation and sanitary hygiene by
encouraging open talk on the subject.
“The
subject must not be taboo and girls must have the freedom to speak about it
freely. We have seen that the stigma has led some girls to manage their periods
using unhygienic methods where they risk infections,” said Mugehu.
Participants
prised the programme and encouraged more outreaches of that nature, saying it
was high time girls are given knowledge on how to handle the natural
development of their bodies.
Girls
from such schools as Sacred Heart High, Masogwe, Machokoto, Hlezana, Budirirai,
Sagwari, Mwenezi Government High and Masogwe Primary School participated in the
event.      
     
   

Unfettered powers for ED as Zanu PF amends party constitution

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Unfettered powers for ED as Zanu PF amends party constitution

…Mnangagwa to enjoy Mugabe-like powers in
constitutional shake-up
… two-term limits for parliamentarians
Upenyu
Chaota
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will soon enjoy unbridled
powers similar to those exercised by former president Robert Mugabe as Zanu PF
has put in motion plans for sweeping constitutional changes that are likely to
make the incumbent leader a political demigod.
It has also been learnt that the new constitutional
changes will see term limits being imposed on the party’s Members of Parliament
(MPs) in order to avoid careerism and give more members a chance to serve in
that capacity.
Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana told
TellZim News in an interview that the party had already set up a committee to
come up with the roadmap for public consultations on the issue.
Mangwana refused to shed more light on why they want
the constitution amended and what is expected in the new amendment but said the
people will decide on the new provisions.
“We have set up committee to come up with the road map
on how we are going to do the consultation processes.
“We want to realign the old constitution with the new
dispensation and it is the people who will have an input on the changes not the
leadership. What the people want is what will be put in the constitution.
“I am not the people so I cannot tell you what changes
will be effected. We will simply give people the current constitution and tell
them to bring forward the changes they want to see for the better of the
party,” said Mangwana.
The issue first came out in the open a few weeks ago when
Mangwana addressed a Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC).
At the meeting, Mangwana hinted on the proposed
changes among them the two term limits to all parliamentarians and the
composition of an advisory council.
“We are coming to you soon for consultations on the
proposed amendment of the party’s constitution and we would like your input.
Should we have term limits on parliamentarians or should we retire some of our
old guards and put them into the advisory team?
“It is all up to you so make sure when the process
starts you will be ready,” said Mangwana then.
Other party sources said the proposed amendment to the
party’s constitution is aimed at giving President Mnangagwa too much power and
carte blanche to make some of the most important decisions on behalf of the
party.
“People are going to give power to President
Mnangagwa. The one centre of power is going to be the biggest change we are
going to see in the proposed amendment.
“President Mnangagwa wants to be in control total
control of the party and by giving him all the power, he will be able to deal
with anyone who wants to stand in his way,” said the source.
Asked if the new amended constitution will address the
succession issues within the ruling party, the source said Zanu PF does not
have a succession and if anyone raise that they will be seen as the enemy.
“Succession will be left open because no one will ever
raise the issue. It will be suicidal to suggest that,” said the source.

Zaka RDC, business community clash over illegal traders

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Zaka RDC, business community clash over illegal traders

Brighton Chiseva
ZAKA –
The continuous sprouting of illegal traders at Jerera Growth Point has irked
the business community prompting them to petition the local authority in a bid
to flush out all illegal traders whom they accuse of stealing the market.
In
the petition dated July 14, 2019, the Zaka Business Association (ZBA) cries foul
saying the Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) is sleeping on duty while illegal
traders who do not pay any licences run down the growth point.
The
petition also accuses the council officials of protecting the illegal traders
who give them bribe money and be left to trade on undesignated areas.
“We
have noted with serious concern the proliferation of illegal traders on council
pavements, our shop verandas and all open spaces.
“The
illegal traders are operating under the protection of the council who collect
money from them and we have lost most of our business to these people yet we
pay rates to the council.
“We
demand that the council remove all the illegal traders who have taken over our
shop pavements and other undesignated trading areas,” reads the petition.
 The business community has threatened the
council with a lawsuit and boycotting payment of rates if they do not act on
the petition.
Zaka
RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Majaura was not available for comment
as his mobile phone went unanswered for several times.
However,
when contacted for comment, Zaka RDC chairperson Cornelius Mapuranga said the
business community was at fault for they are the ones who harbour the illegal
traders in their verandas.
“Why
do they keep them in their verandas? They have to chase them away and as the
council we always fine them for operating illegally.
“The
shop owners should not cry foul because they are the ones who house them in
their verandas and are actually charging rentals from them,” said Mapuranga.

‘Green Fuel not helping the country’

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‘Green Fuel not helping the country’

…
Committee accuses national oil company of hiding ethanol interests

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – The government is not
benefiting from its ostensible partnership with Macdon Investments’ Chisumbanje
Ethanol Plant, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power
Development has charged.
The
thematic committee was recently in the Lowveld to find out why ethanol produced
locally is more expensive than that imported from Brazil.
The
committee is chaired by MDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Binga South, Joel
Gabuza.
Triangle
Limited and Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant are the sole producers of ethanol in
Zimbabwe.
During
the tour, Gabuza told TellZim News that the arrangement between government and
the investor was not benefitting the country but a few well-connected political
elites.
“I
don’t think we are getting anything from Green Fuel. I think it’s only one or
two people in government. And I have never seen any accounts which show how
much we are gaining as government from our partnership with Billy. It’s just a
deal to help each other to make money,” said Gabuza.
Billy
Rautenbach is the controversial proprietor of Macdon Investments which is in a
controversial joint venture with government in the Green Fuel project.
Gabuza
also said he doubted the National Oil Infrastructure Company (Noic)’s credibility
after Triangle Limited made what he said were startling revelations that the
company had a stake in the ethanol business.
He
claimed that Noic had never revealed its interests in the ethanol business.
 “We are going to sit down as a committee and
analyse what we got during our tour. We want to know what exactly is going on.
We have been with Noic and they never told us they are in partnership with
Triangle in ethanol production. If the partnership is lawful, there is no
problem but whether or not that partnership raises corporate governance issues
is another thing,” said Gabuza.
Information
in the public domain is that Green Fuel is a joint venture between government’s
Agricultural Development Authority (Arda) and Macdon Investments under the
Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.
Government
ostensibly holds 51 percent stake while a local community share ownership scheme
owns 10 percent, with the remainder 39 percent in shares being held by
Rautenbach’s company.
Ethanol
pricing is currently been regulated by government and pegged at $5.10/ per
litre.    

Chiredzi forex dealer in near death robbery experience

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Chiredzi forex dealer in near death robbery experience

Beatific
Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – A well-known foreign
currency dealer and his wife recently sustained gunshot wounds after three
armed robbers stormed into their home in the night and went away with a flat screen
TV set, two Gtel S7 cellphones and a Toyota Wish vehicle with registration
number AEY 4201.
Sources said George Laleni and wife Janet Mafusire might be victims
of a calculated robbery by an organised gang that had stalked them for many
days.
Laleni, a martial artist who does his business at Chiredzi’s old
rank, had parked his Toyota Wish some 20 metres away from his home in Chiredzi’s
Mangwenge Road on July 23 at around 19:30hrs when three robbers dressed
in hooded black jackets stormed into his home.
The robbers broke the tightly locked door before pointing a gun at
Laleni who was sleeping in his bedroom with wife Janet.
The robbers allegedly demanded cash which Laleni did not have.
This disappointed the gang which then forced the couple to hand over their car
keys before shooting Laleni on his left leg and his wife on her right leg.
Sources said police found a 9mm spent cartridge at the crime
scene.

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