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Chivi women find livelihoods in wild nuts, seeds

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Chivi women find livelihoods in wild nuts, seeds

Peter Chawapiwa


CHIVI – Some folks in drought-stricken Chivi district are making a living by selling wild fruit seeds and nuts to a Harare-based buyer as prospects of a good harvest have completely vanished due to the prolonged dry spell which has laid waste many cultivated fields.
The villagers, who live under Headman Matsveru, said they move around in the bush looking for nhengeni, a wild sour plum-like fruit of the munhengeni tree whose dried seed they then pack and sell.
They also spend hours in the shade extracting marula nuts from the marula fruit and sell the products to the Harare-based buyer.
“The buyer comes here once a month to collect what we would have gathered. The money is not much but there is no choice for us,” said Adeline Chimhaka.
She said the work was being done mostly by women since men considered it time-consuming and of minimal rewards.
“As women, we ensure that there is enough to feed the family on a daily basis and that is why you find mostly women doing the work. Nhengeni are bought for $3 per kg but to collect enough and prepare them for sale takes a long time.
“Marula nuts sell for about $6 per kg depending on quality but extracting a kilogram from the marula fruit is also lengthy and strenuous,” Chimhaka said.
Other villagers told TellZim News the nhengeni fruit seed is processed into hair products that include hair oils and creams while marula nuts are processed into a form of butter.
The women said the prevailing drought forced them into the work although they realise that the returns are low.
“The hardships we face, coupled with the drought will force you into doing anything. We have received no rains and our cattle are roaming freely because there is nothing in the fields. We make less than $20 per month on average through the sale of nhengeni and marula nuts,” said Moline Mahembe.

The newsroom as a citadel of democracy, free speech

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The newsroom as a citadel of democracy, free speech

with Gift Gwindingwe

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) categorically upholds the totality of human freedoms the world over.
Continents, regions and sub-regions milk from the Universal Declaration to endorse the same in their geopolitical environs. In Africa, the African Union (AU), formerly the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), draws from the UDHR to uphold and endorse democratic principles as they are universally acknowledged.
In the Southern part of Africa, the Southern African Development Committee (Sadc) also convened in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1991 to ratify, endorse and uphold the same international democratic principles on human and people’s rights. This became the Windhoek Declaration.
Journalism, before it got tainted by social media, has been the fulcrum upon which democratic principles (including freedom of expression) are benchmarked. Professional journalism is institutionalised. Media organisations are institutions mandated with upholding journalistic ethics which in turn see to the perpetuation of democracy even in democratically less permeable autocracies.
Media houses are staffed with professional journalists who are guided by the ethics of the profession. The ethics are kept in check by various stakeholders: in Zimbabwe, we have the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) which is mandated with keeping the profession in check by mediating between the reporters and the reported. Keeping the journalistic profession in check only requires the professionals in conjunction with the laws of the government. Every profession is manned by the professionals who are equipped with the necessary skills in the profession.
At his resignation, academic icon and the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Professor Walter Kamba cited the ‘unprofessional fingers pointing into his business’ as the main reason for his quitting the job. The former minister of Industry and Trade, Nkosana Moyo also left soon after being appointed to the ministry arguing that there was too much interference from outsiders (in particular War Veterans). These incidents are clear pointers to the substance in the popular Shona adage that ‘zvoto zvine mazera’ (fire places are occupied by age mates or like-minds). In the same manner, stakeholders in every ministry or organisation can only be guided by organisational statutes that derive from organisational mission and values as well as government laws in their expectations.
Journalists are ‘ordained’ by the institutions that train them and then kept guided by the journalistic ethics. I call them ‘ordained’ news/information movers or disseminators. They are trained to facilitate information dissemination through agreed and expected conduct. In media or communication studies, journalists are regarded as crucial players in expanding the public sphere, an arena upon which democracy, freedom of expression and other associated freedoms are enhanced.
In this regard, the workplace for journalists, the news room, is a citadel of democracy and freedom of expression. Journalism is a profession, a call to persons involved. Journalists smell, eat, wine and dine news/information dissemination. They are out to sincerely entertain, inform and educate the society. These are the normative roles of the media. It is therefore an act of misconduct to hinder or prohibit the performance of journalistic duties by anyone regardless of class, gender or race.
Famous and popular individuals are newsmakers. They are news worthy. All celebrities are news worthy. Fame needs to be managed. Prominent athletes and artists who do not engage managers risk failing to handle their fame and the upshot is making headlines/news for wrong reasons. Politicians are equally famous people. They thus need to manage their lives or conduct well. If a celebrity/famous individual does good, that becomes positive news for the particular individual. News gatherers tell it as it is and bad behaviour is represented in the media without fear or favour. Journalists are holders of the mirror that reflects what transpires in the society. They are photographers who capture events as they happen. This is what they are ‘ordained’ to do.
If news dissemination is a journalist’s food and drink, let them enjoy! If news reporting is a journalist’s play, then, ‘let the children play’! It is quite a sonorous misdeed for an individual to impede journalists from merely carrying out their professional duties just because one cannot conduct oneself properly. There are uncodified laws that conventionally guide us in our daily conduct and so these should be observed for individuals to carry good tags on their backs. Journalists read these tags and make news on them. So watch out!
Status or social class can never and will never exonerate wayward individuals from being reported on if they go wayward. Political affiliation or holding a political position in any political party can never and will never exempt individuals from being reported on. Journalists tell it as it is: good behaviour shall always be reported on, and so is bad conduct. It is everyone’s freedom to express themselves if they feel aggrieved by journalists but this is as long as the reportage is untruthful. Therefore charging into newsrooms and threatening journalists shall never be condoned. Let it sink into the minds of all and sundry that journalism as a profession and as a practice knows no status, class or political affiliation. The society needs to be informed about these ‘important’ or popular people so that they know who to emulate and who not to. After all, not all these celebrities or famous individuals are role models! It is character that carries the day for an individual to be a role model. So in as much as there are rights to express ourselves, let us be cautious and bear in mind the paradox of freedom: you can play your radio to the fullest blast but that is as long as you are not infringing into the rights of your neighbour!
A news room is a citadel of democracy. Let us not turn it into a boxing ring or into an our nowadays abused parliament where the business of the day is to verbally and physically threaten or attack one another just because of different political standings. A news room houses journalists who entertain, inform and educate the masses. Threatening journalists is undemocratic and archaic. Attacking journalists because the behaviour of your political party is exposed is a sign of drought of wisdom. Hindering journalist from performing their duties tells a story of fear and cowardice!
If a house leaks, attend to the roof top before you have the ceiling repaired. Please let the children play! Let the journalists do their part! We shall never surrender our purpose to empty threats. Ordained news reporters shall capture newsmakers as they stroll up and down the corridors of Zimbabwe and tell Zimbabwe.

The writer is a secondary school head, a lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and a PhD candidate with Fort Hare University, researching on media.

Boisterous Biti offside!

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Boisterous Biti offside!

Well, we have a clueless government but Mapombi believes we also have an equally power-hungry opposition in the country. It’s an open secret that Zanu PF has failed to solve the country’s problematic economic matrix since independence, and chances are very slim that they will manage to take the country off this mud.
Mapombi once told you that there is really a big difference between a lizard and a crocodile – yes ngwena nemupurwa zvinhu zvakatosiyana! Of course we can draw some similarities between the two reptiles but they are never the same. It’s very unfortunate that we mistake a lizard for a crocodile as a nation and thus we are in this situation today.
Kkkkkk but can someone tell kuda ini hangu handinyatsoziva kuti a person like president of the second republic obvunzwa kuti what’s your biggest challenge so far obva ati my biggest challenge so far is being humble kkkkk hahahaha asi baba vaya vanoda kubatsirwa chokwadi. Mapombi doe not think being humble is the biggest challenge in anyone’s life – being humble cannot be a bigger challenge than the current economic crisis in the country. Maybe it’s all about our priorities as a nation but inini zvangu Mapombi, haaa kutaura pafeya kuzvidukupisa it’s not a challenge at all because my grandmother told me kuti gudo guru peta muswe kuti vaduku vakutye. Probably it’s because I don’t have a military background kkkkkkk.

By the way, how is our best VP Chiwenga doing? Mapombi is not worried because I heard he went to India suffering from a very minor abdominal ailment – I think vakangoenda zvavo kundorapwa manyoka kuIndia because our government told us that it is really a minor abdominal pain. Ko kuita kwemari kunoita fanika kudadaka! Unozongozvinzwisisawo chete kana wava nayo mari yacho. But for the majority of Zimbabweans; especially Zanu PF supporters, kuita mari kuchanetsa kkkkk. I am sorry if I am offending anyone from Zanu PF but I am being honest zvangu because to imagine someone anotengwa ne10kg yembeu and a bag of fertilizer atozoitawo mari ummmm zviroto zviroto! Manyanga chaiye kutozonziwo aita mari? I doubt very much.
Anyway, Mapombi wishes Kedha a quick recovery; I know people falsely accuse him of being arrogant and less intelligent. Haaa vanhu vanotaura zvavanoda Kedha zvimwe ndezvekungosiyanawo nazvo. Mapombi, however, wishes ED and Mutuvi the best of luck. The austerity measures are indeed bearing results, that is, fuel price is going up almost every day from the price imposed by ED. And there is also a creeping acute shortage of goods. This is the kind of austerity measures we want – tongai vanhu Shumba Murambwi! Kana vasina kuti eke musavarega.
Mapombi really understand ED because he envied uncle Bob ruling this country with an iron fist and it’s a feat he has always wanted to emulate. Zimbabweans are prepared for the worst as long as you don’t kill them.  Of course Josaya Hungwe told us a long time ago that ED will shoot to kill but we took him for granted. They kill these guys – hazvishamise kuti ndogona kutovingirwa kwangu kuChitima market uku ndikaswera ndasiya nyemba. But as for me I don’t care kusiri kufa ndekupi – I wear rags and I survive on rotten bananas and maputi every day hungavawo upenyu here vasikana?
I never thought Zanu PF can be cruel to this extent. But the challenge that we have we have an opposition which has no strategy at all.  Chamisa is surrounding himself with bootlickers same same naED. Mapombi has a problem with Biti pakungowawata zvisina maturo apa. Biti said government was introducing a local currency this week saka ari kupi nhai vaBiti maZim dollar acho? Don’t tell us the government changed decision because you said it – Zanu yandoziva haichinjiswe decision because of a mere person like Biti.
We cannot have leaders who wantonly choose to lie to the whole nation and international community simply because they want Zanu PF inzi yakaipa. I know Zanu PF is not likeable but kuzonyepawo hamuone kuti zvonyadzisa nhai vaBiti? A leader must have integrity not kungowawata zvisina maturo.
Of course, opposition extremists celebrate anything including senseless talk but some of us tobva tangoona kuti hapana musiyano neZanu PF apa. Maybe because kwedu kuChitima market shoko rinonoka kusvika pamwe kuda ratozara haro Zim dollar in town so may those in CBD please tell us kuti local currency yakataurwa naBiti yavako zveshuwa here?
Anyway, it’s almost lunch time now let me go ndindokanga zvangu maputi angu for lunch waiting for another bout of austerity measures. But before I go, ko uyu Themba zvekuzoudza Dexter kuti ndokurova zvabva nekupiko nhai? Of course Dexter confessed that he killed quite a lot including vamwe vaasingatozive but kuzomunyadzisirawo kuti ndibate uone kuti unondowira kugallery uko haaa kkkkk. But Mapombi thinks Dexter may know where is Itai Dzamara and can lead us to his body because vakomana ukaona wava kungouraya nevausingazive unenge wauraya zvechokwadi. Anyway, let me save this for another day but hatichiswe nekuuraiwa neZanu isu.
 Kana takatadza kufa muna2008 munofunga kuti Mutuvi naED angatigona netuma austerity measures twavo itwotwu kkkkkkkkk they underrate Zimbos I am sure. Even the soldiers may kill and rape people but havasvike pane kurohwa kwatakaitiwa 2008. They can try all forms of violence but it will never help because people are tired of Zanu PF’s bad leadership and they simply want change. It’s not that Chamisa anodiwa sitereki but it’s simply because people want change. Even if Mapombi was to lead the opposition today, ndaingovhoterwa. Remember former VP Muzenda back then said chero mukaisa dhongi seCandidate yenyu as long as riri kuZanu PF dhongi iroro rinongovhoterwa. Fast forward to today, chero mukaisa dhongi kuva candidate yeMDC Alliance I can safely tell you kuti dhongi iroro rinongovhoterwa because maCdes haachadiwa aya.
Even Mphoko can tell you that Zanu PF lost its taste years ago changosara iyezvino is forcing people to vote for its leadership. Mphoko was more organised than the current VPs – one mudhara airova suit chero parally yaBob chaiyo. It was very rare to see Mphoko wearing party regalia hanzi handipfeke hembe ine mufanakidzo weumwe murume ini kkkkkkkk.
Mboko imboko!

Twenty years on: Salutations to Tazvida

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Twenty years on: Salutations to Tazvida

System Tazvida and wife Babra


Stephen Ephraem

On 04 February 20 years ago, a dark cloud fell on the Zimbabwe’s musical fraternity as one of its refined musicians; System (Fanuel Nyasha Mazhetese) Tazvida breathed his last after a long time of illness.
Born on 2 May 1968 in Zaka, Masvingo, System Tazvida earned himself nicknames like ‘Rombe and Wezhira’ after releasing singles and albums that made him a household name in the sungura genre. System was credited for inventing his own beat which he christened Smoko music.
Although he started music in the mid-1980s when he released songs like ‘Mabhawuwa’ while still with Khiama Boys in 1985, He later left the band with Cephas Karushanga to form a short-lived ensemble called Mabhauwa Express. After his stint with Mabhawuwa Express, Wezhira joined Ephraim (Zhuwawo) Joe’s Sungura Boys where he recorded hits like ‘Iwawo wangu’ and ‘Dhiya Ungwarire.’
In 1993, Tazvida formed his own group Chazezesa Challengers and produced his first solo single ‘Vaforomani’ that was followed by various other singles as well as six studio albums namely, Rudo, tsika nemagariro, Mutunhu unemago, Wadenha mago, Watosvorwa, Huni nyoro mumoto and Rimi remoto.
Commemorating Tazvida 20 years after his death, fire brand South Africa-based musician, Peter Mathonsi who is the chairman of Smoko Task Force said Tazvida will remain a brand forever.
“Tazvida will always be remembered as a labour commentator taking into consideration songs like Vaforomani and Mushandi ndimambo. He sang about practical issues,” said Mathonsi.
In a telephone interview with TellZim News, Tazvida’s widow Barbra Mabuyaye Tazvida spoke passionately about her late husband.
“System united people with his socially-themed songs. After listening to his songs, people would sooth their bitterness,” Barbra said.
She revealed that System never criticised his copycats.
“There was a band that imitated his beat and System said that they should continue imitating him. To him, the copycats where actually promoting Smoko music not competing against him. To this day, I abide to that principle, I don’t hate his imitators,” the lady continued.
“I urge all Smoko fans to buy System Tazvida’s songs online and avoid pirated music. That way they will be supporting my family. Fans can find me on my Facebook account Nyababs M Tazv,” she concluded.

Zanu PF bigwigs’ invasion of Tongaat Hulett houses stopped

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Zanu PF bigwigs’ invasion of Tongaat Hulett houses stopped


Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Perence Shiri 


Beatific Gumbwanda


CHIREDZI – The Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Retired Chief Air Marshal Perence Shiri has written to Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe cancelling housing leases for 29 new farmers.
Many Zanu PF bigwigs including Zaka North MP Robson Mavhenyengwa had allocated the houses to themselves and were evicting the sugar company’s employees.
They had with them leases purportedly from the ministry, authorising them to occupy the houses.
Mavhenyengwa was elected chairperson of Chiredzi Production Sugarcane Association last year after an acrimonious tribally-motivated split in the Lowveld Sugarcane Association.
He went on to spearhead the evictions before the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Workers Union (ZSMIWU) intervened to defend the hapless workers.
“What I am doing is above board and legal, because I have a five year lease from the government. In fact, when we were allocated land here – arrangements were made that we will be given houses, so there is nothing amiss with what we are doing,” said Mavhunyengwa was recently quoted in a local daily as saying.
ZSMIWU secretary general, Rtd Major Faster Gono thanked government for intervening and cancelling the leases.
“The government made a good decision to cancel those leases that were designed to favour the selfish interests of a few. We thank Minister Shiri for his decision and the workers are relieved. He is a real leader and has shown that by cancelling leases that had been written by his own office,” said Gono.
The 29 new farmers, made up entirely by known Zanu PF members, sympathisers and other politically-connected people, are part of a bigger group that seized 4 000ha of sugarcane land from Tongaat Hulett.
They have also positioned themselves to benefit from a new empowerment project called Kilimamajaro which is being undertaken by the sugar giant.
The project involves Tongaat Hulett clearing vast tracts of land to create new sugarcane plots meant for indigenous small-scale farmers.

New Masvingo residents’ organisation seeks to counter ‘partisan’ representation

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New Masvingo residents’ organisation seeks to counter ‘partisan’ representation

Moses Ziyambi

Masvingo has a new residents’ organisation; the Masvingo Service Delivery Residents and Ratepayers Association (MSDRRA) formed apparently to fill the gap being left by the ‘partisan’ conduct of the two organisations that have been present for some time.
The new organisation boldly announced its arrival on the scene on Tueday, January 12, with a radical press release against poor service delivery.
“This association is formed to fill the gaps left by some partisan associations who (sic) have neglected their mandate of sufficient and adequate representation of residents regardless of political affiliation. MASDRRA is being formed because of the need to ensure adequate checks and balances are executed for our city council and that we strengthen the needs and demands of rate payers.
“The mandate of MASDRRA will be to reach out to all neglected ratepayers and ensure that their rights are equally represented in line with our Urban Councils Act,” the welcome because it puts the interests of ratepayers first.
“We do not want spendthrifts at the city council. Why would they demand such expensive smartphones from the council coffers?
“They get salaries that are hefty enough for them to buy the smartphones at their own expense. If they are sincere, they could have chosen cheaper phones.
“The word these days is austerity for prosperity so why would a public office holder want to waste money like that?” said Mtimba.
He said council should rather buy a new water pump and new refuse trucks.
“The city council is unable to give water to its residents especially those on higher ground. The water problem can only go away if a new pump is purchased because the current ones are always breaking down. Council also has only two refuse trucks servicing the whole city and that has to change,” said Mtimba.
 An Apple iPhone 7 has 256 gigabytes (GB) of internal memory and costs a whopping US$3 088 while a Samsung Galaxy S9 which has 64 gigabytes (GB) of internal memory costs US$2 708.

No Apple Iphones, Samsung Galaxy S9 for city bosses

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No Apple Iphones, Samsung Galaxy S9 for city bosses


Adolf Gusha

Upenyu Chaota

City of Masvingo has shelved a resolution to purchase condition of service Apple iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphones for heads of departments and their deputies respectively.
There was a public outcry after it emerged that the city council was willing to spend over $30 000 of rate payers’ money on the expensive smartphone range at a time when service delivery is poor.
Town Clerk Adolf Gusha said the decision to purchase the smartphones was made at committee level but was then presented before a full council meeting where it was shot down.
“The decision to buy smartphones for the heads of departments and their deputies was made by the finance committee and presented before full council meeting where it was shot down.
“In the full council meeting, it was agreed that the council does not have money to spend buying phones when the money could be channelled towards service delivery,” said Gusha.
The council bosses’ demands were viewed by many as frivolous and self-centred.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (Murra) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said the shooting down of the proposal to purchase smartphones was most

Chiredzi villagers graze cattle in Gonarezhou

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Chiredzi villagers graze cattle in Gonarezhou

…plead for Govt permission

Beatific Gumbwanda


CHIREDZI – The long dry spell being experienced in most parts of the country have led to the rapid disappearance of pastures, with desperate villagers now encroaching into Gonarezhou National Park to graze their cattle.
The park’s fence, funded by the European Union to the tune of US$5 million to lessen human-wildlife conflict, is also under threat from villagers who are desperate to get into the park to access grazing.
TellZim News understands the fence, which stretches from Chipinda to Gonakudzingwa, has more than 106 porous gaps created by communities to access grazing land.
Chiredzi district, since the beginning of the rainy season last year, has hardly received rainfall and cattle are starving.
The fencing, which should help prevent wildlife from destroying crops and livestock as well as from endangering humans in nearby communities, is being cut off by desperate villagers.
Chiredzi South Member of Parliament, Kalisto Gwanetsa told TellZim News communities were pleading to be allowed to have an access point into the park where there is better grazing.
“Communities have been damaging the fence in order to illegally access grazing in Gonarezhou National Park. That attracts a fine of $2 per each beast and $30 for a human who is caught.
“The communities are pleading with government for their cattle to be allowed into the park through one access point so as to avoid many illicit entrances that damage the fence. There is also Tunde River in the park, which does not does not dry up easily, so people want that water for their cattle.
Gwanetsa’s Chiredzi East counterpart, Denford Masiya said some villagers were having trouble maintaining their herds in light of the drought.
“This is the result of climate change. Communities used to have enough pastures all year round but it’s all gone now. There are some pastures in the park’s buffer zone which people are now breaching,” said Masiya.

Abusive Zanu PF Mwenezi Cllr sets wife alight

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Abusive Zanu PF Mwenezi Cllr sets wife alight
Cllr Gondo

Cephas Shava


MWENEZI – Zanu PF Ward 9 councillor, Gilbert Gondo recently assaulted his wife using a burning log following a domestic dispute, resulting in the woman’s clothes catching fire.
This was heard at the Mwenezi Civil Court last Tuesday where Gondo had been dragged by his wife Upenyu Regayi.
She was claiming maintenance for the upkeep of their children as well as seeking a protection order from her husband’s abuses.
For the upkeep of the couple’s two children, magistrate Honest Musiiwa ordered Gondo to pay a monthly maintenance of $100 to his wife.
Regayi accused his husband of being abusive.
“He does not give me any money to look after the children but I would always see messages in his phone showing that he was receiving some money from his work place. I am struggling to put food on the table for the children.
“He always assaults me whenever I try to question him about how he uses money. He recently beat me up with a burning log and I sustained some burns. I can even produce my clothes which were burnt during the assault, I have them in my bag right now,” Regayi told the court.
Gondo, however, said he was not getting any salary as a councillor and claimed that it was Regayi who was abusing him.
“Your Worship, as a councillor I am earning nothing, we do not have any salary. As for the abuse, she is lying. In actual fact, she is the one who abuses me. Right now I am sleeping in the kitchen hut because she chased me away from our bedroom. As I speak, all my clothes are in the kitchen hut,” said Gondo.
Magistrate Musiiwa granted Regayi the protection order and took time to counsel the couple, advising them to always observe peace.

Devolution cliffhanger

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Devolution cliffhanger

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira


… US$310 million in development money stuck in banks
… as provincial councils fail to sit

Upenyu Chaota

Over US$300 million dollars allocated by the government for devolution remains stuck in banks as provincial councils that are supposed to superintend over the funds have never sat since the July 30 harmonised elections, with government making half-hearted moves towards coming up with an enabling act as required by the Constitution.
During the presentation of the 2019 National Budget in November last year, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube allocated US$310 million to provincial councils to be shared equally by the coun-try’s 10 provinces.
The devolution clause was included in the 2013 Constitution after strong lobbying by opposition parties but government has not balanced rhetoric with action. It was only recently that the Princi-ples of the Provincial Councils and Administration Amendment Bill has been drafted and is awaiting parliamentary approval.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira, confirmed that the money was there but could not be used without the provincial council sitting and approving a budget.
“We got our share of the money but we await for the provincial council to sit and deliberate on key areas which need attention. As you may be aware, the provincial councils are yet to sit across the country because the government is working on the legal framework to operationalise provin-cial councils.
“The cabinet has already done its part and it is now up to Parliament to deliberate on the enabling act and if it passes, the provincial councils will meet and get to work.
“I cannot tell the time frame but I hope it will be soon because we want to see our province bene-fiting from the initiative,” said Chadzamira.
Under the proposed devolution, provincial governments will get five percent of government rev-enue for the development of local authorities.
The proposed devolution concept will be modelled along the Chinese model which has economic centres that compute their own gross domestic product data for competitiveness purposes.
Masvingo province hopes to achieve a US$5 billion economy by 2030 exploiting its vast potential in agriculture and mining.
“We have the brains and the human resources but we remain underdeveloped because we have of late been focusing too much on politics at the expense of the economy.We now need to take a lead in development and we have great potential. We are targeting a US$5 billion economy by 2030.
“The giant Tugwi-Mukosi Dam’s potential to irrigate 25 000ha of land will be exploited to the maximum. We have plenty of minerals and Masvingo province will be leader in terms of the GDP,” said Chadzamira
If wholeheartedly implemented, devolution will result in wholesale changes to the national gov-ernance design as it will decentralise and devolve power and authority including fiscal, invest-ment and economic responsibilities to each of the country’s ten provinces.

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