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Maternity services at Chiredzi Hospital deteriorate

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Maternity services at Chiredzi Hospital deteriorate

Beatific Gumbwanda


CHIREDZI – The Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira has begged private individuals to come forward and help revamp the health sector, saying government on its own could not do the job as it is broke.
Chadzamira recently toured Chiredzi General Hospital and came face-to-face with poor service delivery, shortage of equipment and overcrowding. In the male ward, doctors were using gloves improvised from plastics.
An average of 20 expectant mothers at the hospital sleep on the floor on a daily basis.
 “The maternity ward is overcrowded but the drug situation is stable. I think as a matter of urgency, we need to engage local stakeholders so that they can assist in the construction of other buildings,” said Chadzamira.
“The government is making maximum efforts to sure drugs are available. Currently we are being served with only two doctors, while five are on strike. We were supposed to have seven doctors,” he said.
On the day of the tour, 53 women were in the maternity ward while the hospital has only 35 beds. A total of 18 expecting mothers were sleeping on floor.
Ambulances at Chiredzi General Hospital are all down, and a teenage girl who was struck by lightning in Lyonnais last year died as she could not be transported to the hospital, a distance of only three kilometres.

Chibi High School does it again

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Chibi High School does it again

…enters 10th year of 100% pass rate at ‘A’ level 

Chibi High School, which is one of the top performing schools in the country both in academic and non-academic disciplines, has this year recorded its tenth year achieving a hundred percent pass rate in Zimsec Advanced Level exams.
The school, which has over 80 pupils getting 10 points and above in the 2018 Zimsec exams has, according to the head, Bonface Machingauta, continued to soar in terms of quality results.
“For the past 10 years, we have been getting a hundred percent pass rate each year, but this year I am very happy that we have managed to achieve our best in terms of the quality of the results,” Machingauta said.
“Most of our students performed exceptionally well despite all the hardships of late 2018 which affected all of us in one way or the other,” said Machingauta.
Machingauta said he was confident Chibi High School will continue shining and raising its flag high as the beacon of quality education.
A total of 15 students scored between 15 and 24 points, while a total f 69 students managed to attain between 10 to 24 points.

Pamushana makes history

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Pamushana makes history
Johnson Madhuku

…as 71 candidates score 15 points … Madhuku legacy lives on

Tiyani Hahlani 


MASVINGO – The 2018 Zimsec ‘A’ level examinations results have marked yet another milestone after 71 candidates attained 15 points.
Data released by the national examination body confirm this massive feat for this Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ)-run school which has always been known for its academic and sporting prowess.
Speaking TellZim News, Pamushana High head Raymond Ndega said he was very happy with the results, which he attributed to the team work at the school.
“I am celebrating this achievement which is largely a result of the systems that I found in place. I am still new at the school but I must say that I found a great team that is hard working. They supported me throughout these few months and I am grateful. The remarkable ‘A’ level results will spur us to do even better,” said Ndega.
He praised his predecessor, Johnson Madhuku for leaving behind an efficient system that produces tangible results.
In his remarks, Madhuku said he was also pleased that Pamushana High School was forging ahead as a school of repute.
“I am excited that the school is doing well. What we worked for all these years is really paying off. I am glad that the school is becoming better and the team in charge is fully capable. We are here to work together for the good of our school in our respective capacities,” Madhuku said.
Sciences teacher Hlamalani Chauke’s had 29 children attaining some of the best marks in the exams.
The children got an As in Pure Maths, Chemistry, Statistics, Geography, Computer Science and a B in Physics.

School heads attack Zimsec for bungling cover ups

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School heads attack Zimsec for bungling cover ups



TellZim Reporter


MASVINGO – Some school heads in the province have attacked Zimsec for belatedly sending questionnaires to schools, saying it was a self-serving exercise meant to cover up for a job badly done.
School heads who spoke to TellZim News recently said Zimsec was trying to cover up the mistakes it made during the November 2018 exams.
One head said in the questionnaire sent to schools before the beginning of the current school term, Zimsec asked if schools had science laboratories and also enquired about their preparedness for exams written in November 2018.
“How can they ask about our preparedness for exams that have already been written? They were supposed to ask us those questions before the exams. It doesn’t make sense now,” said one head.
Another school head accused Zimsec of doing a shoddy job and trying to cover up its mistakes when it is already too late.
“They asked if we had science teachers at our schools when they know very well that the ministry released science teachers after the exams. At my school, we had no science teacher and we only got one after the exams,” said another head.
Another school head said he was offended that Zimsec asked about the cost of apparatus and if the schools managed to buy all the requirements needed for exams.
“I think this exercise was supposed to be done towards exams and Zimsec would have been able to assess our level of preparedness. Some schools did not have enough equipment but they are supposed to compete with well-resourced schools,” said the head.
TellZim News recently reported on many anomalies that marred the recent exams including questions that required the used of dangerously concentrated chemicals.

Tips on cucumber farming

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Tips on cucumber farming

by Vengai Defu

This article talks about the Avanos hybrid cucumber called Moanalisa which is very much viable in the Zimbabwean horticultural markets.
Though commonly thought to be a vegetable, cucumber is actually a fruit.
Moanalisa is a short green hybrid cucumber with excellent plant vigour, early fruit set and high fruit yields. It provides more fruits than other types and makes it a more profitable variety to farmers. It weighs between 250grams to 300grams per fruit.
Moanalisa has a good and high level of resistance to most of the cucurbit diseases and viruses including downy mildew, powdery mildew, angular leaf spot and cucumber mosaic viruses.
It reacts very well to organic fertilizers such as cattle and chicken manure or well decomposed compost. The farmer may use 1-10 tonnes organic manure per hectare in combination with granular fertilizers.
Compound C fertiliser can be applied at 600-800 kg per hectare before planting and ammonium nitrate at 400kg per hectare at seven days interval starting at day 15 day after planting until early fruiting stage.
All these granular fertilizers are available in all Farm and City Centre branches nation-wide and other farming hardwares at affordable prices.
For a farmer to get maximum yields, the plant should be kept free from pests and blights. During early stages, chemicals such as copper oxychloride, dithane M45 and mancozeb should be applied to avoid fungal and blights infection.
 At flowering stage, lybaycide, kontakill or malathion 50ec should be applied to do away with disease caused by fruit flies. During this period trellicing is very essential to avoid the fruits getting in contact with the ground.
Moreover, the field should be kept free of weeds as they consume nutrients that should be consumed by the plants.
Most importantly, adequate supply of water is a pre-requisite for good yields and quality fruit which the super markets need. In irrigated areas, farmers are advised to use drip irrigation than overhead.

For more information on farming, contact Mr Vengai Defu at 039-2264246 or 0772 137 202 or visit him at Masvingo Farm and City Centre in.
Vengai Defu is Masvingo Farm and City Centre branch manager

Chiredzi is 2018 best cotton-producer

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Chiredzi is 2018 best cotton-producer


Muzivirwa won a tractor for being the best cotton farmer in the whole country

Beatific Gumbwanda


CHIREDZI – The Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) has congratulated Chiredzi district for being the top producer of cotton in the 2018 cropping season.
The district produced 35 000 tonnes of cotton, with Ranganai Muzivirwa – who was named best farmer – winning a tractor, a farm trailer and a three-disc plough worth more than $100 000.
Muzivirwa, who has won many merit awards from Cottco over the past years, last season delivered a record 13.3 tons to Cottco from his 3.5 hectare dry plot; the best single production by one farmer among all the country’s 400 000 cotton farmers.
At the prize-giving ceremony in Ward 27, Chiredzi District Administrator (DA), Lovemore Chisema said government was serious about revamping the agricultural sector.
“Cottco has four business units in the whole country which are Sanyati, Honde Valley, Gokwe and Chiredzi. In the last season, more than 400 000 farmers participated in the presidential cotton input scheme in which Mr Muzivirwa was confirmed to be the best farmer of the year,” said Chisema.
 Chisema said the decision to award the price was reached after considering many issues.
 “Cottco considered so many things before giving Mr Muzivirwa this prize. They considered the size of the yield, cotton grade and tonnage per hectare. On the 3.5ha he planted, he produced 60 bales with an average weight of 250kg. This translated to 13 200kg and this happened in the Lowveld which is in natural farming region 5.
“This is a clear testimony that government through Cottco is committed to the upliftment of the lives of our farmers. Good farmers must be supported; Mr Muzivirwa has set an example that even if we are in region 5, it is possible to produce the best cotton yields in the whole country,” Chisema said.
Cottco Chiredzi business manager, Munyaradzi Chikasha urged local cotton farmers to emulate the good work as done by Muzivirwa.
“This is a clear testimony that if you follow what your extension workers teach you, it becomes possible to produce more tonnage per hectare. As we enter into the new season, let us press on and double our production capacity,” said Chikasha.

Machete gang kills miner over hammer

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Machete gang kills miner over hammer

Tinaani Nyabereka


Shurugwi – Police in Shurugwi are looking for a machete gang of four men who are suspected of murdering Time Terrence Mhere (address and age not given).
Midlands provincial police community relations officer, Inspector Joel Goko appealed to members of the public who might have information leading to the whereabouts of the suspects to report to the nearest police station
According to circumstances given, the incident occurred on the night of August 23, 2018 at a mine claim in Shurugwi.
It is alleged that the four suspects Darlington Mangoma of Hlamba village, Lloyd Jinja of Dondo village, Prosper Zindori of Madongorere village and Breadwinner Mudzingwa of Mudongorere village all under Chief Masunda, assaulted the now deceased with machetes and axes before stabbing him with a knife.
It is believed a misunderstanding arose between the trio and the now deceased on an issue concerning a hammer.
The deceased’s body was found the following day lying in a pool of blood by one artisanal miner (name withheld) who later reported the matter to the local police.

Rusape police accused of lying in court

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Rusape police accused of lying in court

…as two are arrested for violent shutdown

Shingirai Vambe


RUSAPE – Two Rusape adult males were arrested on January 15 on allegations of participating in violent demonstrations during the national shutdown.
No property was destroyed in Rusape but incidences of road blockades were reported in few areas of the town
On Monday Archford Chari (26) of Number 197 NE Vengere and Leonard Rebanewako (26) of Number 323B Vengere appeared before magistrate Shane Kubonera facing charges of obstructing the free movement of persons and traffic.
The duo, represented by Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Partners, pleaded not guilty claiming they did not participate in any illegal activity but were just caught in the crossfire while on their way to Vengere.
The State alleges that on January 15 at around 10:30hrs, the two and their other four accomplices who were still at large, connived and went to the 173km peg along Harare Mutare highway where they placed some burning tyres on the road.
Police constables Tichaona Mereki and Luke Ngaru stood as witnesses after attending the scene with six soldiers.
The defence argued that the police officers were lying in court as their testimonies were out of sync, and claimed that the arrests were in fact done by soldiers who brutally assaulted the two before handing them over to the police.
The trial was due to continue the following day, with the defence set to apply for an in loco site visit and doing cross examinations.
In a related matter, Learnmore Chawatama (46) of MH4 Vengere Hostels, Rusape was arrested for insulting and undermining the authority of the president.
He was arrested on January 15 at Vengere business centre for allegedly insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
It is alleged that Chawatama said “Dambudzo idambudzo zveshuwa zvino aripi president wenyu? atiza kuenda kuRussia apa asiya akwidza mutengo wezvinhu. Zvamakavhotera Dambudzo makapiwei? Maifunga kuti muchawanei vana vadiki? Zvanga zvirinani dai makavhotera Zipp party yangu (Dambudzo is a problem for sure, where is your president? He ran away to Russia after hiking prices. Did you receive anything after voting for him? You would have better voted for my party Zipp).”
Represented by Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Partners, Chawatama was granted $80 bail with conditions that he reports to Rusape Police Station every Monday and Friday, does not interfere with State witnesses and continues to stay at his given address until he appears back in court on February 04.

Two judges not enough for Masvingo: Justice Garwe

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Two judges not enough for Masvingo: Justice Garwe




Brighton Chiseva

Supreme Court judge Justice Paddington Garwe has said the High Court in Masvingo was a busy court that needs more judges to be able to efficiently do its work.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2019 legal year at Masvingo High Court building recently, Garwe, who also sits on the Constitutional Court bench, said the high clearance rate at the local High Court meant there was a lot of work being done.
“The clearance rate at Masvingo High Court for 2018 is 89 and 92 for civil and criminal cases respectively. Clearly this is a busy court and in time there will be need for the current complement of judges to be increased. I say well done to the two judges stationed here. We hope that during this year you will work even harder and reduce the backlog even further,” said Garwe.
Only two judges, Garaunesu Mawadze and Joseph Mafusire, currently sit on the Masvingo High Court bench.
The 2018 legal year opened with Masvingo High Court’s civil division having 69 pending cases and 422 new cases were received making them 491. As at 30 November only 55 cases were uncompleted.
The criminal court had 91 pending cases and 947 new cases were recorded making them 1038 cases combined. Of those, 951 cases were completed and 87 were not yet completed by the same date.
“I am advised that the shortage of office space continues to hamper the smooth operations of the court. I am happy to advice that the matter is receiving attention and plans are underway to construct a police guardroom and an office for the sheriff within the same complex. This should alleviate the current shortage of office accommodation,” he said.
Garwe urged judicial officers and various stakeholders involved in the administration of justice to work even harder so that justice is not delayed.
The 2019 legal year is running under the theme ‘Consolidating and upholding the rule of law’ a theme which Garwe said was deliberate and predicated on the Strategic Plan of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on access to justice.

Rusape vendors beg MP Tekeshe to help stop harassment

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Rusape vendors beg MP Tekeshe to help stop harassment


David Tekeshe

Shingirai Vambe


RUSAPE – Vendors in Rusape have bemoaned the continuous harassment and confiscation of their wares by Rusape municipal police and other members of the security services cluster, saying the war on vendors was destroying livelihoods.
Last week Monday, vendors at Vengere Bus Terminus and in the Rusape CBD sought audience with opposition Member of Parliament (MP) David Tekeshe whom they implored to intervene on their behalf.
Dozens of desperate vendors circled the MP and aired their sorrows and everyday battles to survive, and the he took five of their representative for an engagement meeting with council. Junior council officials, however, refused to entertain Tekeshe, saying he should consult with the town chairperson who was, however, not available.
This is the second time Tekeshe felt he had not been treated fairly by Rusape Town Council officials.
“First it was their boss Solomon Gabaza and now his subordinates. I first approached the town secretary as a resident and he showed me arrogance, now I have approached the council as an MP, still they don’t recognise my role in this constituency,” said Tekeshe .
He said the harassment of vendors was not the solution as people were struggling to take their children to school and put food on the table.
“I request that council should build proper vending sites for these people rather than to grab their products and rob them of a chance to earn an honest living,” said Tekeshe.
The Rusape local authority often requests manpower from the Joint Operations Command (JOC) to clamp vehicles as well as to chase and harass vendors.

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