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Tearful send-off for Masvingo Teachers’ College dean of students

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Tearful send-off for Masvingo Teachers’ College dean of students



Clayton Shereni
Hundreds of people last Tuesday braved the scorching sun to pay their last respects to Masvingo
Teachers’ College dean of students, Regedzai Magumbo who died last week and was
buried at Mangwandi Cemetery.
Magumbo suffered
heart failure around midnight while in bed at her house at Masvingo Teachers’
College on November 17 and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Makurira
Memorial Clinic.
She was 56.
Before burial, students,
workmates and church-mates gathered for a service at the college where Magumbo
was described as a listening and selfless woman who cared for colleagues and
students alike.
Masvingo
Teachers’ College principal Benson Mutambudzi chronicled the life of Magumbo whom
she described as a lawyer for students, heroine and distinct leader.
“Some of
the students here could have been expelled a long time ago but she showed us
their good side, stood firm and advocated for them. She indeed is our heroine and
a distinct leader,” said Mutambudzi.
Family
representative, Simon Magumbo said the family had lost a pillar and a caring
mother who always brought the family together.
“This woman
was instrumental not only in my life but in the lives of everyone in our
family. She always advised us to love God and to pray. Truly, we have lost a
pillar because she always brought us together,” he said.
The Family
Covenant Church choir and college students consoled mourners through songs.
Magumbo also
held positions of warden, chief warden, music lecturer, senior lecturer and at
the time of her death she was dean of students responsible for the welfare of
students at the college.
The service was
also attended by permanent secretary in the office of Vice President Kembo
Mohadi; Reverend Paul Bayethe Damasane, Zimbabwe National Family Planning
Council (ZNFPC) provincial manager Peter Vhoko and Masvingo Urban Ward 10
Councillor Sengerayi Manyanga.
Magumbo is
survived by her husband Obert, three children Miracles, Nyasha and Sharon.

Fired Zanu PF councillors knock on ED’s door

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Fired Zanu PF councillors knock on ED’s door

Cllr Nzombe
                                        

…as party chefs shield bribe-seeking councillor

Beatific
Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI
– The decision by the Zanu PF provincial
disciplinary committee to recall two councillors accused of voting for an MDC
Alliance council chairperson candidate could backfire after the councillors
threatened to take up their case to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The
councillors deny the charges and argue that the decision to expel them was
meant to protect corrupt provincial executive members who understood that
having the two councillors in the housing committee would be a threat to their
corrupt land deals.
Zanu
PF failed to win the Chiredzi chairmanship after they fielded two candidates against
MDC Alliance’s Gibson Hwende who went on to win the race. Zanu PF’s two
candidates collectively got three votes despite having four councillors in the
chambers, meaning at least one ruling party councillor voted for Hwende. The
deputy chairmanship went to an independent councillor and the result showed
that at least one Zanu PF councillor had again voted for the opposition.
A
subsequent witch-hunt produced nothing but a provincial disciplinary committee
which consisted of party provincial administrator Ailes Baloyi and provincial
commissar Jevas Masosota found Ward 2 councillor Obert Ngwenya and his Ward 8
counterpart Josphat Nzombe guilty.
Baloyi
presented findings of the disciplinary committee before a Provincial
Coordinating Committee (PCC), recommending the recall of the two councillors.

                                                                         Cllr Ngwenya 
The
decision, however, awaits ratification by the national disciplinary committee
which would serve the councillors with recall letters should it agree with the
findings.
A
letter of notification purportedly written by provincial chairperson Ezra
Chadzamira has already been sent to Chiredzi Town Secretary, Charles Muchatukwa
notifying him of the developments.
The
disciplinary committee is, however, accused of ignoring overwhelming evidence
showing that Blessings Mazinyani of Ward 5 had solicited and received bribes
from almost every councillor for him to step-out of chairmanship race.
After
pocketing over $500 in bribes, Mazinyani still entered the race and caused
serious confusion which ultimately doomed the party’s chances in the race.
Despite these revelations, Mazinyani was spared and the axe, instead, fell on
Ngwenya who did not even contest for the post because the party had ordered him
not to do so.
When
contacted for comment, Chadzamira said the councillors had not yet been served
with their letters of recall because the decision awaits ratification by the
national disciplinary committee.
“The
councillors were found guilty at provincial level so the decision has to be
ratified at national level. If the national concurs, then the councillors would
be served with their letters of recall,” said Chadzamira.
But
Ngwenya warned that attempts to fire them from the party was not going to be as
easy as other people thought.
“I
was prepared to stand for the post of chairmanship but the province stopped me
from contesting for that post and I respected the order. I was later asked to
stand as chairperson for the housing committee and again I obliged. So now I am
being punished because I received seven votes out of a possible eight, meaning
some opposition councillors voted for me. Is it a crime to be a man of the
people? I asked Chadzamira informally and he actually gave me the Masvingo
Urban scenario (where a Zanu PF candidate got four votes from MDC-A) saying
being voted for by the opposition was a good sign of mobilisation strategy on
our part.
“I
have strong financial independence and I hate corruption so upon hearing that I
was going to chair the housing committee, the top leadership in Chiredzi
panicked as they knew I was going to expose them hence the move to fire me. I
will not go easily,” said Ngwenya.
Ngwenya’s
ward is the only one in the urban area where Mnangagwa got more votes than the
MDC Alliance’s Nelson Chamisa in the July 30 national harmonised elections.
On
his part, Nzombe told TellZim News he was surprised to see Mazinyani contesting
after he had paid him money not to contest.
“Mazinyani
asked for a bribe to buy him out of the race and I paid everything which he
demanded but I was shocked to see him standing on election day. Mazinyani got
bribes from both Zanu PF and MDC councillors. I suspect he is the one who voted
with the MDC because he took their money. I remember first giving him $50 and
later $70 and he said he was satisfied.
“What
shocks us is that despite all the evidence about Mazinyani’s double standards,
he remains the party leadership’s darling. Those who sat on the disciplinary
committee are from Chiredzi and they have vested interests in what happens here
so we asked them to recuse themselves as they were conflicted but they refused
as they wanted us out of council at all cost,” said Nzombe.
When
TellZim News contacted him for comment, Mazinyani admitted he received money
from other councillors but he denied that the money was meant to bribe him out
of the contest.
He
said he was actually surprised that everyone had suddenly started to ‘donate’
money for his drinks.
However,
his colleagues said they had started demanding back their money since Mazinyani
did nothis side of the bargain.

Masvingo war vets reject Chinoneka

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Masvingo war vets reject Chinoneka



Clayton Shereni

The stage
is set for a bruising fight within the local chapter of the Zimbabwe
National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA), with the current chairperson, Tendeukai Chinooneka being
accused for gross incompetence, TellZim News has learnt.
The
developments have paved the way for early elections anytime from now after war
vets said they were no longer satisfied with Chinooneka’s capability to serve.
At a meeting
held at Roger Howman Training Centre last Saturday, the former freedom fighters
made it clear they were fed up by the current chair.
Speaking to this publication after the meeting which was closed from the media, ZNLWVA national
political commissar, Francis Nhando confirmed the development saying members had overwhelmingly called for an extra-ordinary elective congress.
The current
executive’s term of office only expires next year.
“We were
supposed to hold elections in 2019 but our members have demanded an early
election. They demanded the right to elect a leader of their choice and we are
going to take their issue to the national executive,” said Nhando.
When contacted
for comment after the meeting, Chinooneka, who is a lecturer at Great Zimbabwe
University (GZU), told TellZim News he acknowledged the developments but said
he could not give an exact date when the polls will be held.
“It was
just a short meeting and we were deliberating on the issue of the upcoming
provincial elections for the war veterans’ leadership but we are not yet
certain on the date,” said Chinooneka.
TellZim News is reliably
informed that the game is, however, not yet over as Chinooneka is ready to
fight for his post.
However, some war
veterans have since started mobilising each other to rally behind Chiredzi-based
war veteran and former soldier, Sapper Faster Gono who is on record for his
outspokenness against corruption in both Zanu PF and government.
Gono recently threatened
to report corrupt Zanu PF bigwigs to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, claiming he
had names of party bigwigs who corruptly awarded sugarcane to themselves, their
family members and friends.
Gono also claims he has
compiled a dossier against corrupt officials who are ‘masquerading as nationalists’ in order to strategically grab positions that would
allow them to loot State resources.
Although Gono refused to
confirm his interests in Chinooneka’s job, he said his history of assisting war veterans
was well documented.
“I am
not sure if it is the right time to talk about elections but I can tell you
that I qualify to run for any posts. I am the current officer responsible for lands
and I have used this post to document people who are corrupt…I do not hesitate to give you a good example of our MP
(Farai) Musikavanhu who together with his close relatives got countless sugarcane
farms.
“Musikavanhu
has 120 hectares, his mother has 60 hectares, his wife’s sister has 60 hectares and his son got 400 hectares
of sugarcane farms. There are however many families that do not have even one
person with a sugarcane farm. Why is it that one family is so lucky to have all
those farms while others do not have even one?
“I hate
corruption and will continue to advocate for a fair distribution of wealth in
Masvingo province. War veterans must be respected and they must help government
to come up with sound policies. I can promise you that I will name all corrupt
Zanu PF officials one by one,” said Gono.

School head breaks pupil’s arm for stepping on flowers

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School head breaks pupil’s arm for stepping on flowers


Staff
Reporter
BIKITA – Jaravaza Primary School
head, Sithole allegedly beat and seriously injured a nine-year-old girl whom he
accused of stepping on a flower bed.
The school head reportedly used a thick
bamboo stick to mete out the savage corporal punishment on Miriam Chinhovo,
leaving the girl nursing a broken arm after being admitted at Silveira Mission
Hospital.
Bikita District School Inspector (DSI)
James Mahofa said he heard about the incident but was yet to get a formal
report from Sithole.
“I am yet to get a full report and
investigate the issue. The case is somehow complex because I had to call the
school head after getting informal reports. I am still waiting for the head to
submit his report and I will then visit the school to make my own
investigations,” said Mahofa.
Provincial Education Director (PED)
Zedius Chiriga condemned the incident saying it was not permissible to beat
school children.
“We heard about the issue and we
are worried by the conduct of the school head. It must be noted that corporal
punishment is illegal. We are making investigations and appropriate measures
will be taken,” said Chitiga.
The pupil’s guardian Darikai
Mashoko, who is also the child’ guardian, confirmed the incident saying his
granddaughter was in serious pain.
“She told us that they were
cleaning the toilets but when the bell rang, they rushed to the classes and
made a shortcut through the flower beds. The headmaster then flogged and
injured her badly,” said Mashoko.
He said Sithole initially agreed to
settle the medical expenses for the treatment of the child but he later refused
to pay.
“We had agreed that it was an
accident and the head would pay for the medical expenses but when the child got
admitted at Silveira, he changed his mind and refused to pay. We reported the
matter to the police who said we must go and settle the matter out of court.
“They asked us to dialogue and the headmaster
again agreed to pay but nothing has been paid to date. I used my own money to
have her treated. Miriam is now fearful of school and has refused to go back,”
said Mashoko.
In early 2017, High Court Judge
Justice David Mangota declared corporal punishment illegal in school and at
home, saying it violated the rights of children. It seems, however, that many
teacher, parents and guardians are still wantonly violating the law.

Mass stay away protests hit AFM

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Mass stay away protests hit AFM

                                                                         Rev Ndoni

… Masvingo pastors set to
be removed

Moses
Ziyambi
The intriguing factional
fights in the Apostolic Faith Mission threaten to decimate the church in
Masvingo, with many congregants now staying away from services to protest what they
consider to be disgraceful squabbles driven by greed.
At least two pastors from
local assemblies are likely to be pushed out of their positions at the behest
of powerful elders who reportedly want to create room for their own pliable
pastors.
The two pastors that are
facing increasing pressure from their elders are Pastor Morgen Ngwaru of Faith
Centre assembly in Rujeko and Reverend Salatiel Madziva of City Centre assembly.
Recently, there was also
a serious tiff between Pastor Charumbira of Greater Grace assembly in Rujeko
and a group of elders but the quarrel seems to have subsided a bit after the
two sides noticed the assembly was collapsing.
Many disappointed congregants
had by then since stopped going to church as a way of expressing their disgust.
The pastors are believed
to be aligned to Rev Cosam Chiyangwa who leads a faction which is fighting
tooth and nail against the Rev Aspher Madziire and Rev Amon Madawu’s attempts
to amend the AFM constitution.
The contested amendments
seek to give greater power to church elders while stripping pastors of the
privilege to receive money directly from their congregants through gifts known
as ‘appreciation’. The divide has consequently seen most pastors siding with
the Chiyangwa camp while elders have largely taken sides with the
Madziire-Madawu faction.
Sources told TellZim News
a caucus of elders from Faith Centre, City Centre, Greater Grace and Mucheke
assemblies were plotting to push out at least one of the pastors and make room
for Nemanwa-based overseer, Rev Enock Matambanadzo who is said to be devotedly
anti-Chiyangwa.
Ngwaru and Madziva are
also among other pastors who were reportedly pressurised by their elders not to
attend a recent three-day provincial conference held at Mucheke Provincial
Stand, on the basis that it was organised by the Chiyangwa faction.
The conference, which
began many hours late on November 09 after the Madziire-Madawu loyalists led by
one Sadzauchi refused to release the PA system, was also boycotted by many
pastors and church members from the opposing faction.
When contacted for
comment, Ngwaru acknowledged there was tension between him and his elders
emanating from attempts to twist facts. This came after he angrily chided his
elders in front of congregants for allegedly lying to the church that he had
finally agreed to back the Madziire-Mudawu faction.
“I have never agreed with
anybody that we will take this or that side. I remain removed from any conflict.
I was therefore surprised that people wanted to put me into a certain corner
without my agreement. It was done in my absence and when I came back, I
rejected it and made it clear we must take only God’s side. So, it’s a pastors
vs elders thing,” said Ngwaru.
When asked if he was not
worried by reports of plots being hatched to smear and ultimately push him away,
and whether or not his relationship with his elders was perfect, Ngwaru said he
was not worried by what goes around behind his back.
“I have an excellent
relationship with the congregation but it’s obvious a rift has been created
between me and the elders. I am here because of God’s calling and I will
continue to do my work regardless,” said Ngwaru.
He however, skirted
questions on whether he had been forced not to attend the provincial
conference, saying he had been away on a more pressing programme.
Mhangarai Magumise, one
of the elders alleged to be at the centre of the plot, said the feud which saw
Ngwaru calling them out in front of congregants had since been resolved.
“On that one, we later had
a meeting with him. We were together with people from the province when we
talked about it. You can ask them about the issue,” said Magumise.
He said reports that
local church elders were working to push out either Ngwaru or Madziva to create
space for Matambambanadzo were not true.
A leaked WhatsApp
conversation purportedly among other elders only identified as Shava,
Sanangurai and Nemaramba, however, lands credence to the plot.


“Ngwaru takapedza naye,
chasara kupa simba rose kuna Matamba (We are done with Ngwaru, we are just yet
to give his position to Matambanadzo),” part of the chat reads.
Another source said the
reform caucus was also planning to use Madziva’s relatively advanced age
against him by arguing that he must retire and give way to fresh blood.
When contacted for
comment, Madziva said he was not feeling well and was seeking treatment in
Harare, promising to give a comment later. Numerous subsequent attempts to get
in touch with him yielded nothing as he did not pick up his phone.
Masvingo overseer, Rev Donard
Ndoni, who is alleged to be a strong member of the Chiyangwa faction in the
province, acknowledged there were worries in the church but said reports of
serious infighting were an exaggeration.
“We are working. Yes,
there are worries like everywhere else, but we are not bothered. There are
people who are exaggerating this because as far as I know, we are working well
with elders and pastors,” said Ndoni.
He acknowledged, however,
that they had to break the door after some people had withheld keys to the PA
system on the first day of the provincial conference.
On his part, Matambanadzo
said he harboured no ambition to move to Masvingo, saying he knew of no such
plots to remove some pastors. When asked why then he did not attend the
provincial conference, Matambanadzo said he stayed away because the event was
unprocedural.
“Things are done
according to channels….yes it was out of channel,” said Matambanadzo before
cutting the call and later handing the phone over to a female who claimed to be his ‘legal
practitioner’.

A new dispensation that was never was

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A new dispensation that was never was

We were surprised last week to
learn that Zimbabwe had sent a delegation of over 30 people to attend the
Kimberly Process plenary in Belgium at a time when government is talking about
austerity and the need for citizens to ‘take the pain necessary to revitalise
the economy’. To make matters worse, one of the delegates from the country was
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) boss, Tafadzwa Musarara whose job
has got nothing to do with the diamond mining, polishing or trading unless
there is something we do not know. We also heard how countries with far much
higher diamond output or those with a bigger stake in the polishing and trade
of the precious stones had sent just two delegates or three to that meeting. So
here is broke Zimbabwe again, ruled by a profligate elite with an insatiable appetite
for patronage, perks and expensive foreign travel sending dozens of delegates
to do nothing in Brussels. All that not at the elite’s cost, but at the painful
cost to the poorest of the poor in this wretched country. We wonder then if
President Emmerson Mangagwa’s call for belt-tightening only applies to ordinary
citizens because it seems members of the elite are still travelling wherever
they want, eating whatever they want and leaving the country whenever they want
or, at least, when the slightest opportunity presents itself. Zimbabwe earns
around US$300 million in diamond revenue per annum but it sent all those people
to Brussels, with the likes of Israel, India and UAE – countries that earn
billions from diamond business per year – reportedly sending less than four
delegates each. This is the parasitic culture created by the great destroyer
Robert Mugabe and his henchmen for 37 years whose remnants are still festering
sore a year after his disgraceful departure despite claims of a new
dispensation by his successor. What new dispensation really if the police get a
fleet of quality cars when hospitals have no ambulances and drugs? What new
dispensation when the State-controlled media never reports such issues in an
objective manner that satisfies the public interest? Old habits have proved yet
again that they do die, but hardly. Mnangagwa is indebted to too many interests
that supported his fervent bid for power and it will therefore be very
difficult if not impossible for him to inculcate a new incorruptible culture of
responsibility and service without compromising his interests.

Light aircraft accident kills three in Renco

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Light aircraft accident kills three in Renco

                                                              Part of the wrecked aircraft 

TellZim Reporter
At least three people died at around 07:00 hrs this morning
when an aircraft they were traveling in crushed in the Chamanjerenje Hills
Village 5 in Tokwane Ngundu.
It was not yet clear by the time of writing the direction
that the aircraft was traveling towards or from, but eyewitnesses said at
least three white males died on the spot.
Though Masvingo provincial police were not immediately
available to comment, sources said police, civil aviation, and army officials
in Renco attended the scene.
No registration details of the plane could be deciphered on
the wreck, but unconfirmed reports say it belongs to the Chiredzi-based Hippo
Valley sugar estates.
By the time of writing, graphic pictures of broken bodies
mingled with the wreckage were doing the rounds on social media.

More to follow….

Rutenga vendor’s leg crushed as kombi runs over market

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Rutenga vendor’s leg crushed as kombi runs over market


Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A grisly scene
was witnessed last week Tuesday night after a stationary kombi was hit by a
cross border bus trailer, forcing it into a group of vendors selling their
wares on the roadside.
A
total of eight people sustained varying degrees of injuries, some of them
horrible to see.
The
accident, which happened at around 22:00hrs, left a vendor critically injured
on her leg which was completely crushed.
The
trailer of the MB Transport Bus, registration number ABQ 5575, hit the kombi
which was parked on the side of the road leading to the mishap.
The
kombi driver, Gerald June who was coming from Beitbridge, said he was hit from
behind while parked to drop some passengers.

“I
was carrying a total of nine passengers and six of them were injured and
ferried to hospital together with the two vendors.
“I
had not engaged the handbrake so I managed to have some control over the vehicle
for the around 40 metres that we got moved by the impact of the crash. If I had
parked the car with a handbrake, I am sure we could have been squashed inside,”
said June.
The
bus driver, Mutanga Hamandishe, said he swerved off the road to avoid a
possible head-on collision with an oncoming truck.
“There
was an oncoming truck which was being disturbed by a cow in the middle of the
road. To avoid a head-on collision, I slightly went off the road and as I tried
to move back onto the road, the trailer did not fully comply due to the load,
resulting in the accident,” said Hamandishe.
All
the injured people were ferried to Neshuro District Hospital while two others were
very critical were further referred to Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
Towards the end of last year, a vehicle
ran over vendors at the same spot.  

MP Tekeshe in Rusape Hospital visit

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MP Tekeshe in Rusape Hospital visit



Shingirai Vambe

RUSAPE – Member of Parliament
(MP) for Makoni Central, David Tekeshe has paid a visit to some of the
survivors of the recent Rusape bus accident horror who are being hospitalised
at Rusape General Hospital.
The
accident claimed 50 lives and maimed many more after a Smart Express bus
side-swapped a Bolt Cutter bus while trying to overtake a truck along the
Harare-Mutare highway.
Tekeshe
said he was in Bulawayo for a pre-budget seminar when the accident happened,
saying the news distressed him beyond measure.
He
said by the time he made it to Rusape General Hospital for the first time after
the accident, most survivors of the accident had already been transferred to
other hospitals in Harare, Marondera and Mutare.
“I
send my condolence massages to all the bereaved families around the country for
the loss of their family members, friends and relatives. I also wish those who
got injured a speedy recovery,” said Tekeshe.
The
MP also visited an old homeless man who used to stay at Vengere bus terminus
and has been waiting to undergo surgery at Mutare Provincial Hospital. The man was still admitted at Rusape General Hospital where he is being fed pending an
operation on his private parts at Mutare Provincial Hospital.
Tekeshe
rescued the gravely ill man from the bus terminus and took him to hospital but
attempts to get the Social Welfare Department help him with funds for treatment
have not succeeded.
As
a member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and
Social Welfare, Tekeshe is pushing for government to pay social grants for such
highly vulnerable members of society as the blind, the deaf and people with
other forms of disabilities.

News farmers are lazy, says Zanu PF

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News farmers are lazy, says Zanu PF


Beatific
Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Zanu PF Masvingo
provincial vice chairperson, Ailes Baloyi has savaged resettled farmers in the
district for just sitting idle on the land without producing anything of value.
Speaking during the Zanu PF inter-district
meeting at Tshovani Stadium recently, Baloyi said the resettled farmers were a
waste of time as they could not even feed themselves at a time they are
expected to feed the nation.
He singled out indigenous sugarcane
farmers resettled on part of formerly Tongaat Hulett estates in Mkwasine, Hippo
Valley and Triangle.
He described the farmers as lazy
and a big let-down, saying by now, they should be producing enough to make a
meaningful contribution to the economy.
 “In Mkwasine, Triangle and Hippo Valley’s new
and old farmers are failing to produce even a single crop. Where did you get
that piece of land? Did you buy it? You just had a privilege to get that land
which someone else could have been given.
“We need to work hard in our
fields, we are preaching the gospel of production in Masvingo province which
everyone must heed. We are no longer entertaining laziness! Every inch of your
farm should be productive so that we will identify where the problem is,” said
Baloyi.
He said the district had vast
deposits of coal and other resources which could be exploited by other
investors as not everybody could be a farmer.
 “There are vast of coal deposits in Chiredzi
especially in Mutapurwa, Hippo Valley and Gonarezhou. Coal can be turned into
fertilizer and even diesel. We know it’s expensive but that’s the business
opportunity we have,” Baloyi said.
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