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Nothing to show for Zimplats, Unki community share ownership schemes

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Nothing to show for Zimplats, Unki community share ownership schemes

…. corruption,
mismanagement doom noble initiatives

Shingirai
Vambe

The Parliamentary
Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment recently went on a fact-finding
mission on community share ownership schemes being funded by platinum miners
Zimplats in Mhondoro-Ngezi and Unki in Shurugwi where it was realised that
nothing much was being done with the money meant for community development.
Committee members
attacked the Mhondoro-Ngezi and Shurungwi Community Share Ownership Trust
(CSOT) board of trustees of mismanaging millions of dollars released by the two
giant miners for community projects.
Zimplats management
proved that indeed, money was released to the trust and that the companies
continued to work with their local communities for development.
It was revealed that
Zimplats employed over 6000 local university graduates as well as other people
from the Mhondoro-Ngezi community.
It was, however,
noticed that there was no transparency and accountability in the way funds
released to the trust were being managed especially with regards to the US$10
million released by Zimplats.
“The amount of
money we are talking about here doesn’t equate with what is happening on the
ground. The buildings we see are substandard meaning the funds are being
abused,” said committee member Maybe Mbowa.
The following day, the
team proceeded to Shurugwi Unki management gave a splendid presentation on what
they were doing for their communities including the release of US$10 million to
the CSOT.
The committee members
were then led to Msasa Primary, some 20km away from Unki, where part of the money
was used to build the school.
The school is
well-built and it has all the facilities which can cater for the disabled in
both classrooms and toilets.
“There are many
projects that we are doing in the 24 wards that we have and Msasa Primary
School is just but once of the evidence. We have been trying to drill boreholes
but Zinwa asks us to pay $30 for each borehole. Where do we get that money from
and is there any justification for that?” said Chief Banga who is one of the
trustees.
Members of the CSOT claimed
that they bought a borehole drilling vehicle, a grader and a 10-tonne truck to
help in the community.
However, people said
they have never seen any grader which was being claimed by the trustees but
acknowledged that they had seen a borehole rig. They also complained that they
were being made to pay $3 for every 50kg of grain carried by the community
truck.
A female community
member also said people had expected part of the money to be used to construct
a hospital as the nearest medical facility was Shurugwi General Hospital some
15km away.
 Another one complained that if the community
indeed had a grader, then the local roads especially those in Chief Banga’s
area would not be that bad.
The parliamentary
committee is expected to visit the Marange community in the coming days to
assess the CSOT of the diamond-producing area.
The Community Share
Ownership Schemes were introduced back in 2010 by then Youth and Indigenisation
minister Saviour Kasukuwere to compel foreign companies to share their profits
with their communities.
The initiative has
however been plagued by corruption, mismanagement and politicisation, with
local Zanu PF Members of Parliament (MPs) being involved in the administration
of trust funds.

Chikombedzi Mission Hospital crumbles

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Chikombedzi Mission Hospital crumbles


….as Zesa sues hospital for
$120k debt

….mortuary is broken down

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIKOMBEDZI
– The
Free Methodist-run Chikombedzi Mission Hospital is in a dilapidated state with
all facilities and services being in deplorable shape due to lack of funding.
The hospital is choking in debt
and is also operating without key equipment and drugs, with the country’s power
utility company ZESA recently launching a lawsuit to recover $120 000 owed by
the struggling medical facility.
The hospital is experiencing severe
water crisis, there is a shortage of bed linen and theatre equipment while staff
houses are dilapidated.
Chiredzi South Member of
Parliament (MP) Kalisto Gwanetsa, Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) Chief
Executive Officer Isaac Matsilele and Acting Chiredzi District Medical Officer
David Tarumbwa last week toured Chikombedzi Mission Hospital to appreciate the
sad state of affairs there.
Gwanetsa said he invited the
other officials so that they could all find ways of rescuing the hospital.
“After noticing the challenges
being faced at the hospital, I invited the district medical head to assess the
situation so that we can help each other find solutions.
“This hospital was built a long
time ago with late national vice presidents Joshua Nkomo, Joseph Msika and John
Nkomo once being treated here while staying at Gonakudzingwa Restriction Camp
during the liberation struggle,” said Gwanetsa.
Chikombedzi Hospital matron, Ruth
Hlongwane said most nurses and doctors who come to work at the hospital end up
seeking transfers as they cannot stand the conditions at the facility.
She said the Zesa lawsuit was
worsening the hospital’s capacity to deliver services, adding that conditions
in the wards were also bad as patients were not getting good food.
“We only have hard water from the
borehole but it not suitable for use during laboratory operations and cannot be
used in our laundry machines. Our mortuary has since broken down forcing people
to collect corpses immediately after the death of their loved ones.
“We have been dragged to court by
Zesa over the $120 000 electricity bill which the government had promised to
pay for us but failed to do so.
“Patients are being fed cabbages daily
and they are not getting proper medicines. Our ambulances are down and the BP
machines are broken. We have only one doctor yet we need at least four,” said
Hlongwane.

Apostle Chiwenga transferred to Harare

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Apostle Chiwenga transferred to Harare

TellZim
Reporter

Street preacher and fearless government critic, Talent
Chiwenga is still battling for his life after being involved in a horrific car
crash that claimed the life of his 28-years-old wife Rejoice Jerina Chiwenga
and two other passengers who were in the car that he was driving on June 12.
Chiwenga was initially admitted at Masvingo Provincial
Hospital but was later transferred to Harare.
Chiwenga was driving a Mitsubishi Shogun when he lost
control of the car before hitting a metallic pole and overturning twice throwing
two female passengers out of the car.
The names of the two dead passengers are Rosemary
Vhurumuku (51) and Eugene Tafadzwa Kanyuchi (34) who died upon admission at Masvingo
Provincial Hospital.
The accident happened about 53 kilometres from
Masvingo towards Harare just after Chatsworth turnoff.
Chiwenga lost control of his car and veered into the
oncoming traffic lane before going off road where he wrestled to gain control
of the car for about 70 metres.
He is said to have oversteered the car to try and
bring it back onto the road but it hit a metallic pole before overturning twice
and landing on its roof.
Conspiracy theories where already doing rounds on
social media alleging an invisible hand in the accident since the preacher, who
is related to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, has raffled some feathers
within the corridors of political power using the gospel to fight the status quo.
At one moment, Vice President Chiwenga warned the
street preacher that he should not delve into politics hiding behind the word
of God.
Just a few weeks ago, a video of Chiwenga daring
President Emmerson Mnangagwa to kill him did the rounds of social media.
He complained that he was being shadowed by operatives
form the Military Intelligence Department (MID).

Anti-Corruption Court for Midlands

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Anti-Corruption Court for Midlands

Tinaani
Nyabereka
GWERU –
The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi last
week commissioned an Anti-Corruption Court in the city as part of wider efforts
to improve efficiency in the trial of corruption-related offences in the
country.
The
initiative  is meant to separate the
investigation, prosecution and trial of corruption cases from the mainstream
court processes.
Speaking
at the event, Ziyambi said the launch of the court proved government’s
commitment to fighting corruption.
“Midlands
is the fifth province to benefit from the specialised Anti-Corruption Courts
initiative being spearheaded by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) after
Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Masvingo.
“Fighting
corruption is truly gaining fame and acceptance as the gateway to rebuilding
the country’s economy. The fallacious perception that corruption only exists in
public institutions must be exorcized,” said Ziyambi.
Ziyambi
said corruption deprived the country’s revenue base thereby militating against
economic development.
“Corruption
takes many forms which include bribery, extortion, embezzlement and criminal
abuse of power. In its very nature, it deprives the government of revenue which
is critical for the development of the country. It further takes away the
credibility of institutions at all levels,” he said.
The Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs,
Larry Mavhima welcomed the launch saying the country’s leadership was opposed
to corruption.
 “The opening of
the court shows that the government is walking the talk and delivering on what
it promised with regards to dealing with corruption around the country,” said
Mavhima.

Gokomere High in tight water rationing as power blackouts bite

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Gokomere High in tight water rationing as power blackouts bite

…
four litres of water per pupil per day
Diana
Gondongwe
Gokomere High School is having problems pumping adequate
water to staff members and pupils due to the electricity blackouts being experienced
across the country, TellZim News can report.
TellZim News learnt that five students are now being
given a 20 litres bucket of water for drinking, washing and bathing, meaning
that a pupil should manage with only four litres of water per day.
Parents who went to Gokomere on June 02 for the
launch of the Diocese of Masvingo Extraordinary Mission Month were distressed
by the reports they got from their children.
One parent said besides lack of enough food,
children at the school were now faced with a new problem of acute shortages of
water.
“There are real problems at the school but none of
them has to do with administrative inefficiencies. It’s all about the wide economic
problems in the country. The school leadership is doing their level best.
“My daughter told me that they are being served tea
without bread in the morning and were told that there were no more buns that
they used to receive,” said the parent who preferred not to be named.
Gokomere High School head, Aquanos Mazhunga confirmed
that they were facing a dire situation as their water pumps are not pumping
enough water for the institution due to power cuts.
“The school is in a difficult situation because we do
not have enough water to cater for all our staff and pupils. Our generators cannot
pump enough water for the whole institution.
“Besides that, fuel shortages are also affecting us
as an institution because even if were to try pumping the water using the
generator, to get enough diesel is a headache because it is not readily
available and it is expensive. We are calling upon authorities to review their
load shedding schedule so that we can have more hours with power even if it is
during the night,” said Mazhunga.

Apostle Chiwenga in horror crash

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Apostle Chiwenga in horror crash

TellZim
Reporter
Controversial street preacher Apostle Talent Chiwenga
was this afternoon, June 12, involved in a serious accident which claimed three
of his passengers leaving him in critical condition battling for his life.
Chiwenga is admitted at Makurira Memorial Clinic in
Masvingo.
Chiwenga is said to have been driving a Mitsubishi
Shogun when he lost control of the car before hitting a metallic pole and
overturning twice throwing two female passengers out of the car.

The names of the three dead passengers are Rosemary
Vhurumuku (51) Rejoice, Jerina Chiwenga (28) and Eugene Tafadzwa Kanyuchi (34).

Kanyuchi is said to have died upon admission at Masvingo
Provincial General Hospital.
The accident happened about 53 kilometres from
Masvingo towards Harare just after Chatsworth turnoff.
Sources say Chiwenga lost control of his car and
encroached the oncoming traffic lane before going off road where he wrestled to
gain control of the car for about 70 metres.
Chiwenga is said to have oversteered the car to try
and bring it back on the road but it hit a metallic pole before overturning
twice and landing on its roof.
Conspiracy theories where already doing rounds on
social media alleging an invisible hand in the accident since the preacher, who
is related to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, has raffled some feathers
within the corridors of political power using the gospel to fight the status
quo.
At one moment, Vice President Chiwenga warned the
street preacher that he should not delve into politics hiding behind the word
of God.
Just a few weeks ago, a video of Chiwenga daring
President Emmerson Mnangagwa to kill him did the rounds on social media.

Over 1000 Mwenezi pupils learning in the open

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Over 1000 Mwenezi pupils learning in the open

                                  A classroom block at the school
…no
immediate plan to improve desperate conditions

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Some
1082 children attending a makeshift primary school in Ward 13 are taking
classes virtually in the open, while their teachers are living in makeshift
pole and mud houses where they are at the mercy of the weather.
This
publication witnessed this sad state of affairs at Tokwe Mukosi Primary School while
covering a tent donation by global children’s welfare organisation Unicef
recently.
The
makeshift school, which is under Chief Chitanga’s area, accommodates children
from families that were displaced by flooding of the Tugwi Mukosi Dam basin
during construction work back in February 2014.
After
noticing the desolate conditions at the school, Unicef went and donated 13 tents
to be used as classrooms and teachers’ shelter.
Seven
of the larger tents will be used as classrooms while five smaller ones will be
used by teachers as houses.
There
are at least four satellite schools in similar circumstances in the Chingwizi
area, all of them conducting classes under the most deplorable conditions
imaginable.
The
schools sprouted almost haphazardly after the floods, with desperate parents
having no alternative place to send their children to school.
They
mainly operate as satellite schools; meaning each of them is under the ambit of
planned and better-resourced schools.
No
final examinations can be taken at satellite school as they are not registered
with the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) as examination centres.
“This
means when it is time for grade seven exams, pupils have to be registered with
other schools that have Zimsec centre numbers. Proper schools are few here and
travelling is difficult especially for children who have to sit for their
examinations.
“For
the schools to gain full examination centre accreditation, Mwenezi Rural
District Council or government will have to first upgrade them to a set of
minimum standards. We don’t see that happening anytime soon though the
situation is really desperate. Many people in this area are here not out of
their choice. Our stay was not planned but was a result of an accident and that
is why we are suffering,” said one parent.
Tokwe
Mukosi Primary School only has a 1×2 classroom block which is used by grade
seven classes with the rest of the grades learning under tattered shades.
Teachers
at the school said the classroom block was built with the help of a donor who
has since moved on.
Another
parent who spoke to this publication over the phone said satellite schools in
the area have only managed to attract teachers because of the oversupply of
teachers on the job market as well as government’s freezing new recruitments
over the past few years.
“No
qualified teacher would work under these conditions. We have the oversupply of
teachers and the recruitment freeze to thank, though that alone is unfortunate.
Many teachers are desperate for employment and that is why they end up
accepting to take posts wherever they emerge. They have no choice and we feel
for them.
“Getting
clean water to drink is no easy task and you work under stressful conditions
teaching children who are in no better situation,” said the parent.
Accepting
the tent donation, Tokwe Mukosi Primary School head Laimon Matavire said the
intervention meant a lot for the school which he said required any help it
could get.
“We
are thankful for this generous gesture which will help give us some dignity as
a school. Classes are often disrupted by severe weather so we are glad that we
got some assistance,” said Matavire.
Local
ward councillor, Takura Mudavose also thanked the organisation and said more
still needed to be done for the school to reach acceptable standards.
“Like
any others in here in Chingwizi, this school is in a sorry state. There
conditions here are terrible and pupils and teachers are always at the mercy of
the weather.
“On
behalf of the community, I thank Unicef for noticing the problems we face here
and for doing something about it. Let us work together to do more for the
school,” said Mudavose. 
Currently
Tokwe Mukosi Primary has a total enrolment of 1082 pupils under the guidance of
21 teachers.
Local
satellite schools suffering the same terrible conditions include Nyuni Primary
which also has many children learning under makeshift shelter.
Meanwhile,
there is no immediate plan to improve the schools by building decent
accommodation for teachers and classrooms for pupils as council lacks capacity.
 
    
     

Mavetera, Bhasikiti lose MDC national executive bid

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Mavetera, Bhasikiti lose MDC national executive bid

                                         Kudakwashe Bhasikiti
.…noise-making substitutes secret ballot at chaos-marred poll

Moses Ziyambi
MDC Masvingo Senator Tichinani
Mavetera and former Zanu PF Mwenezi East Member of Parliament (MP) Kudakwashe
Bhasikiti were today humiliated after they received the least endorsement
during the party’s chaotic provincial process to elect people who will be
deployed to the national executive.
The two had hoped to use their
somewhat rising profile in the party to get places but that was not to be as
participants favoured their rivals. Former provincial spokesperson Dusty Zivave was also one of the high-profile losers.
Those who won are former MP
Edmore Marima (Bikita East), former senator Misheck Marava (Masvingo), senior
members Bernard Chiondengwa, Takanayi Mureyi and Margaret Chakabuda.
In the women’s wing, Mai Mangava,
Mai Gwamadondo, Mai Matenga and Mai Chibhebhe prevailed.
Nothing happened in the youth
wing because elections to choose the new provincial youth leadership are yet to
be held. Attempts by one of the factions to push through Masvingo Ward 4
councillor and new national youth organiser Godfrey Kurauone failed after they
were vehemently resisted.
Voting was done not by secret
ballot but through noise-making, with candidates that received the loudest
cheers from the gathering when their names were called being declared winners.
This was after the accreditation
of voters was aborted following serious fighting between rival camps to control the
process.
After the violence and
disagreements worsened, it was announced that the event had been cancelled and
many members left, but vice president Lynette Karenyi-Kore, in consultation
with the provincial executive, later allowed proceedings to continue.
The divisive accreditation
exercise was, however, aborted and all those that had not gone back home were
allowed to participate.
“This was not a legitimate process.
Many people did not vote because they had gone back home after it was announced
that the elections had been cancelled due to violence. After all, how can noise-making replace secret ballot in a democratic process?” said one party member who
spoke to TellZim News after people began to disperse.

MDC Masvingo elections aborted amid violence

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MDC Masvingo elections aborted amid violence
….Terrified Kore distances self from chaotic poll

Moses Ziyambi
Apparently terrified by the rowdy
behavior of party members who quarreled over how the party should run the selection
of five people who will represent Masvingo in the party’s national executive,
MDC vice president, Lynette Karenyi-Kore has distanced herself from the
elections she was supposed to be presiding over.
Kore and her delegation arrived
at MDC Masvingo provincial headquarters at 32 Mukwa St, Rhodene, a while ago
amid hostilities from rival camps fighting to control the accreditation
exercise.
The short interregnum of courtesy
that the fighting camps gave Kore upon her arrival did not last long as the
hostilities flared yet again, forcing her to retreat into party offices where
she remained locked up with senior members of the provincial executive.
It was again not long before catapults
were pulled, punches were exchanged and bricks were thrown as disgruntled party
members accused provincial chairperson James Gumbi of trying to rig the poll in
favour of his acolytes.
When contacted for comment on her
phone, Kore, who was still holed up in the offices, said she was not
responsible for running the show even though she came from Harare specifically
for that task.
“No, I am not going to be
responsible for the accreditation exercise. Please talk to our provincial spokesperson
for more details,” said Kore.
Provincial spokesperson, Derrick
Charamba gave a curt response when contacted for comment, trying to feign
normalcy.
“The presiding officer is our VP
Kore and she is here. What disagreements are you talking about?” said Charamba.
Moments later, however, it was
announced that the proceedings had been cancelled.
A party youth who spoke to TellZim News said Kore was terrified of the violence and had chosen not to take sides with the factions.
“She read the mood and decided not to take over the accreditation exercise which was already being run by one of the camps as a way of maintaining a measure of neutrality. This was a new low for us as a party. How could we fight in front of our VP and disrespect her like that?” said the female party member.
[Read earlier story here https://tellzim.com/2019/06/violence-at-mdc-masvingo-provincial.html ]

Violence at MDC Masvingo provincial council elections

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Violence at MDC Masvingo provincial council elections

                  A mini-riot at the MDC Masvingo provincial headquarters

Moses Ziyambi

MDC Masvingo provincial chairperson, James Gumbi and other senior members of his executive have this afternoon locked themselves in the party’s offices in fear of being attacked by rowdy youths that are violently protesting alleged attempts to rig the selection of five members who will be deployed to the party’s national executive.

Many youths and other agitated party members are besieging the party’s provincial headquarters at 32 Mukwa Street, Rhodene, singing songs that denounce the provincial leadership.

Serious violence broke out after the Masvingo Urban youth wing began to conduct an accreditation exercise that others declared illegal.

Rivals said only the party’s vice president Lynette Karenyi-Kore, who by the time of writing had not yet arrived to preside over the elections, had the right to run the accreditation exercise.

The contested accreditation exercise disenfranchised some districts including Chivi North and Chiredzi West, in what many claimed was an attempt by Gumbi to victimise district structures perceived to be loyal to his rival Tongai Matutu.

One youth had his foot stuck under the heavy gate as people stampeded in the violence, and he pitifully wailed in pain.

Other people engaged in fist fights and scaled the security wall to force their way into the accreditation venue.

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