Patience Muzhingi
ZVISHAVANE – The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cooperation (SMEDCO) is ready to release a million dollars to small businesses in the Midlands province to boost their growth prospects and contribution to the economy, it has been learnt.
Under the scheme, a small business can apply for a $5 000 loan at minimum, going up to $200 000 payable in 24 months at an eight percent interest.
The loan facility is mandated to accept all qualifying businesses regardless of the political affiliation of their owners.
Midlands Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) secretary general, Bigboy Murenga said the money was already there and will be distributed starting in April.
“The money comes from the presumptive tax so we requested government to provide it to us as a revolving fund. The money is there and will be allocated to deserving businesses. In two weeks’ time, $1 million will be distributed to qualifying applicants,” said Murenga.
SMEDCO is cooperation of small businesses formed to alleviate poverty and support sustainable economic development through affordable loans for small and medium enterprises. It also provides capacity-building services that promote the establishment and growth of SMEs.
Murenga said the cooperative was ready to work with businesses from different sectors like mining, manufacturing, construction, agro-business, tourism and hospitality as well as financial services.
SMEDCO sets aside $1 million for Midlands
Midlands gets $43 million for devolution
July Moyo
Tinaani Nyabereka
GWERU – The Midlands province was recently allocated $43 million as its share of the funds set aside in the 2019 budget stamen to support the devolution of state power.
Addressing stakeholders and local authorities in Gweru recently, the Minister of Local Governance Public Works and National Housing, July Moyo said government was committed to the successful implementation of devolution.
“Government has disbursed $320 million to provincial councils towards the implementation of devolution. Rural and urban councils in the Midlands province were allocated $41.6 million which should be used for economic growth at provincial level. The allocation of funds was done in line with the needs of specific local authorities for example the issue of water in Redcliff and the issue of sewer rehabilitation which needs to be addressed in Zvishavane. So that is the reason why you are getting different allocations,” said Moyo.
He said the devolution concept was divided into two clusters relating to chapter 2 of the constitution, which deals with political arrangements, and chapter 14, which deals with provincial and local government.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Mangaliso Ndlovu said transfer of resources from central government to local councils will improve issue management at local level.
“My ministry plans to establish offices at all provincial centres and districts to ensure decentralisation leading to implementation of constitutional provisions relating to devolution. Decentralisation will allow and ensure inclusive and balanced national development,” Ndlovu said.
Meanwhile, the money remains immovable as provincial councils wait for parliament to pass the Provincial Councils and Administration Amendment Bill which will enable provincial councils to sit and plan how to use the money.
Mwenezi white farmer fights eviction at High Court
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – Magistrate Geraldine Mutsotso last week found commercial farmer Shane Warth of Lot 12 of lot 15 of NRA Mpapa in Mwenezi of failing to move away from land gazetted by government before slapping him with a $250 and giving him 90 days to leave.
Represented by Emmanuel Chibudu of Kwirira and Magwaliba Legal Practitioners, the sugarcane farmer and cattle rancher has since made a High Court application in a desperate attempt to overturn the judgment.
Warth was initially ordered to wind off his farming activities by December 2017 as his farm was gazetted the same year for compulsory acquisition by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement.
The land was allocated to Solicitor Mutendi and the other half to Wilbert Muzara, according to a letter signed by Mwenezi District Lands Officer, Boaz Vurayayi which is dated October 16, 2017.
Muzara once took Warth to Masvingo Civil Court case number EV10/18 but it was dismissed, forcing him to file a criminal complaint at the Chiredzi Magistrates’ Court.
Chibudu argues that Warth had purchased the Land from Mutirikwi Sugar Company in 1989 after he was offered the opportunity to purchase the piece of land by Triangle Limited.
The ground breaking ceremony, he said, was attended by former president Robert Mugabe and the late vice president Joshua Nkomo.
Chibudu further argued that the accused had engaged the Lands Commission and was assured of an investigation, whose findings are still yet to be announced.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Perence Shiri had directed that he be allowed to stay at the farm pending finalisation of his case.
GZU partners EU for law clinic
Zvobgo and Fransisca Midzi at Mucheke Clinic
Clayton Shereni
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), with the aid of international development partners has launched a legal aid clinic in an effort to enhance access to justice and knowledge of the law for residents of Masvingo.
The law clinic was funded by the International Community of Jurists (ICJ) and European Union (EU) and will be stationed at GZU Mucheke Campus.
In a speech read on his behalf by EU Delegation to Zimbabwe programmes manager Fransisca Midzi, EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkonnen said they were happy to partner GZU to establish the project.
“The EU is delighted and feels privileged to be associated with the university’s people-focused initiative, we are indeed privileged. This is a pioneering project of other legal clinics to come. The clinic will not only provide a service to the community but to the law students who will get practical training,” said Olkonnen.
Delivering his remarks during the launch, GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo said the law clinic is there to serve the locals and remove the burden of traveling to town for legal services.
“I am pleased that the law school has chosen to locate the law clinic in Mucheke which is the most densely populated area thus taking away the need for many clients to travel and spend money on transport. The clients will have to walk to the clinic even from other suburbs like Rujeko,” said Zvobgo.
The launch was graced by the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira, lawyers, GZU members of staff and law students.
Visitors took time to tour the premises of the law clinic and acquaint themselves with various things of law.
The clinic also received computers, furniture and stationery that will be used by law students to provide legal assistance to the community.
GZU’s Hebert Chitepo Law School has won many local and international prizes including the 2016 International Law School Mediation Tournament which was held in America.
Rutenga couple hires gang to kidnap police officer
Charles Masawi
Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Jerifanos Muganyi (48) and his wife Mercy Muganyi (41) of House Number 216 Rutenga, were on Wednesday, March 20 arraigned before Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court facing a charge of hiring a Beitbridge-based gang to kidnap a police officer and another man whom they accused of stealing their cattle.
The kidnapped officer, Charles Masawi is based at Mwenezi police station but is currently a prosecutor attaché at the court.
The couple and the gang of four men; Munashe Chisvino (23), Tichaona Chimoto (22), Treason Chimoto (28) and Prosper Chitavati (28) were not formally charged when they made their initial appearance.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa remanded all of them in custody and their case was referred to Masvingo Magistrates’ Court where it will be heard on April 4.
It is the State case that on March 18, 2019 the couple hired the four and went to the South African town of Louis Trichardt where they abducted Talent Moyo who had fled there last year after allegedly stealing the cattle.
The accused smuggled Moyo through the Beitbridge border after severely assaulting him.
Upon reaching Rutenga the following day at around 05:00hrs, the six left Moyo at Muganyi’s homestead and went to Masawi’s place of residence where they requested him to come out.
They accused Masawi of facilitating Moyo’s escape from lawful custody sometime in 2018 before bundling him into their vehicle after tying his hands and legs with a rope and taking him to Muganyi’s homestead.
Masawi’s landlord, Nhamo Nyamana alerted the police about the incident after he became suspicious with the way the complainant was taken.
A team of detectives found the tied-up Masawi still inside the vehicle at Muganyi’s vehicle, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Nancy Makuvise is representing the State.
Police issue weapons ban
Diana Gondongwe
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Masvingo province has prohibited the possession of weapons in public places; warning that the carrying of catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives, spear or daggers and any traditional weapons in public whether openly or by concealment can lead to arrest.
The ban, which was published using a public notice, took effect on March 11 and will last until June 08.
“For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that in terms of section 14(4) of the Public Order and Security Act (Chapter 11:17) any person failing to comply with such a prohibition made under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or imprisonment for six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” reads part of the notice.
It was signed by Chief Superintendent Zacharia Mutize of Masvingo East District, Chief Superintendent Godwin Chikuma of Masvingo Central District, Chief Superintendent Charles Ngirishi of Chiredzi District and Chief Superintendent Lawrence Zhou of Masvingo West District.
“Anyone failing to comply with such prohibition made under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or imprisonment for six months or both such fine and such imprisonment,” the notice further reads.
Businessman attempts to kill neighbour in Chipinge
Perseverance Muhoma
CHIPINGE – A businessman and his two brothers recently appeared before Chipinge magistrate Bill Chineka on charges of attempted murder of a neighbour at one of his businesses at Gunura Township.
Sidney (34), Moses (30) and Charles Majaheni (30) pleaded not guilty to the charge, claiming they, in fact, were the victims of Hardlife Mupinda’s alleged violent behavior as he was drunk on the day.
Represented their lawyer Leopold Mudisi, the trio argued that the complainant went to a shop owned by Charles and caused violence to protest the expulsion of his friend Obrien Dhliwayo from a party.
“Obrien was very drunk and uncontrollable such that the accused persons had to chase him away. He then hired Mupinda and others who came and assaulted Moses and injured him on his upper lip.
“The crowd then joined in support of the accused persons and attacked Mupinda who sustained serious injuries. Charles was not on the scene but he was only implicated because he is merely a brother to the two accused,” said Mudisi.
Magistrate Chineka adjourned the case to 04 April for continuation of trial.
It is State’s case that in Gunura village under Chief Chamutsa, people were gathered at one of Charles’ shops enjoying Christmas leftovers.
Mupinda arrived and dropped off someone who had accompanied him from Birchenough Bridge and parked his vehicle for a chat with his friend Caleb Mwaranzika who happens to be an in-law to the accused.
The accused then arrived and attacked Mupinda, accusing him of dropping off people to attack them on behalf of Dhliwayo.
Sidney started assaulting Mupinda with clenched fists and Moses hit Mupinda on his head with a stone.
Charles later showed up at the scene with a hammer that he used to hit Mupinda both on his head and on shoulders and he fell unconscious only to wake up later in Mwarazika’s vehicle on his way to the police station.
He later sought treatment at Birchenough Bridge Hospital.
Machete gang leaves Mwenezi cops left for dead
(1) Costable Mutambara nearly lost four fingers in the savage attack. (2) Constable Brian Siyabonga is nursing a deep cut on his neck
Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Two Mwenezi police officers were last Thursday left nursing severe injuries after they were attacked by unidentified hooligans who were evading arrest at Maranda Business Centre in Mwenezi West, TellZim News has learnt.
Constable Elvis Mutambara’s left hand fingers were nearly chopped off while Constable Brian Siyabonga was left with a deep scar on the back of his neck following the attack which occurred on March 14.
When contacted for comment on Wednesday, provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not yet received the case.
Sources, however, said the incident happened when the officers tried to arrest the thugs.
“A lot of people were at the centre when three officers; Ndlovu, Siyabonga and Mutambara some suspicious characters. One of the gang members immediately attacked Mutambara but he used his hand to block the blow which was aimed at his head. Four of his fingers were nearly sliced off.
“While trying to save Mutambara, Siyabonga was also hit by a machete on the back of his neck,” said an eyewitness.
Ndlovu fled the scene unscathed followed by his bloodied colleagues.
The officers were taken to Maranda Clinic and further referred to Neshuro District Hospital where they were stitched and later on discharged.
Two of the officers are said to have sought further treatment from private medical practitioners.
The thugs were still at large by the time of going to print.
Cyclone Idai kills five in Masvingo province
…17 injured, 511 people left homeless
Courage Dutiro
Although Cyclone Idai’s effects were felt mainly in the Manicaland districts of Chimanimani and Chipinge, some 5 257 families in Masvingo province are also in distress after losing family members, houses and other belongings in the violent storm.
Data released by the provincial information office on Thursday, March 21, shows that five people, three male adults and two male children, were killed by the cyclone in Bikita district.
A total of 17 people were injured in Chiredzi, Gutu and Zaka districts while 511 houses were destroyed; 125 of them in Gutu, 45 in Masvingo Rural and 50 in Zaka.
A total of 5 257 households were affected by the excessive rainfall one way or the other, the majority of them in Bikita (3 134), followed by Gutu (948), Zaka (753), Masvingo Rural (345) and Chiredzi (77).
“The affected households need assistance in form of food, blankets, clothes, building materials, medical assistance for the injured, non-food items, funeral assistance and stationery for children affected,” reads the report which was compiled by the Masvingo Civil Protection Unit (CPU).
“To date, 13 schools were affected in Gutu and the district CPU is assessing the extent of the damage. Four cells and a kitchen at Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo district were blown away,” the report reads.
It further says a total of 71 squat hole Blair toilets were destroyed in various schools, while a 1×2 classroom block was severely damaged at Mutsambiwa High School in Zaka.
Other materials that are listed as needed for the immediate relief of victims are tarpaulins, potable water, containers, aqua tablets and soap.
The report says measures taken in response to the crisis include the distribution of Social Welfare grain to all affected families throughout the province and the distribution of non-food items by the District Development Fund (DDF).
However, victims in Chief Chitsa’s area in Gutu told TellZim News they had not received any help despite their houses having been destroyed.
“Some seven families had their houses destroyed by the cyclone in this village alone but we have not yet received any form of help. It is a desperate situation here,” said Sherlieter Makadzange of Gijima village, whose kitchen hut was razed to the ground.
Machete gang leaves cops for dead
Mwenezi police officers were last Thursday left nursing severe injuries after
they were attacked by unidentified hooligans who were evading arrest at Maranda
Business Centre in Mwenezi West, TellZim News has learnt.
Elvis Mutambara’s left hand fingers were nearly chopped off while Constable
Brian Siyabonga was left with a deep scar on the back of his neck following the
attack which occurred on March 14.
police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not yet received the report.
lot of people were at the centre when three officers;Brian Ndlovu, Siyabonga and
Mutambara some suspicious characters. One of the gang members immediately
attacked Mutambara but he used his hand to block the blow which was aimed at
his head. Four of his fingers were nearly sliced off.
trying to save Mutambara, Siyabonga was also hit by a machete on the back of
his neck,” said an eyewitness.
fled the scene unscathed followed by his bloodied colleagues.
officers were taken to Maranda Clinic and further referred to Neshuro District
Hospital where they were stitched and later on discharged.
of the officers are said to have sought further treatment from private medical
practitioners.
thugs were still at large by the time of going to print.
