By Brighton Chiseva

A sinister phenomenon unfolded in Chief Bota area of Zaka and Nyajena area in Masvingo district where self-proclaimed traditional healers, known as Tsikamutandas together with traditional leaders are allegedly forcing people to undergo cleansing rituals, often in exchange for cattle and other valuables.
These Tsikamutandas are said to be working in cahoots with mainly village heads who give them a place and receive payments for allowing them to operate in their areas.
According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, and belief. Section 60 of the Constitution states that “every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, and belief,” including the freedom to practice, profess, and propagate their religion or belief. Furthermore, Section 282(2) of the Constitution requires traditional leaders to “respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons,” including the right to freedom of conscience, religion, and belief.
However, in Zaka and Nyajena, it appears that some traditional leaders are not respecting these rights and freedoms thereby forcing people against their will.
Ironically, Chief Bota, Nyajena are clansmen with Muchibwa being the King Maker (Zigadzi) in the two chiefdoms despite them being in different districts.
In Zaka, the Tsikamutandas have been spotted in headmen Dzoro and Mushaya areas and Ward 27, which falls in Mushaya area. Councilor Ernest Mandava confirmed their presence.
He however, said he was aware of some complaints but said it was normal that some people might not agree with the Tsikamutandas’ practices.
“I have never been to where they are operating from so I do not know how they are doing it. They came in consultation with traditional leaders so they are not within my jurisdiction. However, its normal in a situation like this that some would complain and I think relevant authorities would intervene,” said Mandava.
Chief Bota born Tafirenyika Bwazvo also confirmed the presence of the witch hunters and said he had taken a firmer stance, summoning headmen and village heads who were allegedly working with the Tsikamutandas to explain themselves.
“As a chief, it’s my duty to ensure that my people are protected from exploitation, so I was told that they were operating in Headman Dzoro area. So I have wasted fuel as I went there to find them but I couldn’t. However, I have learnt that they operate with blessings from some ceremonial traditional leaders.
“I was informed by the MP about their operations so I have summoned them to my court to explain to me how they would grant them authority without my knowledge,” said Bota.
He went on to say he was going to visit Mushaya area the following week after dealing with headman Dzoro and his village heads.
Bota denied any involvement and said he had not gotten even a goat from the Tsikamutandas despite claims that he was often seen in Mushaya area visiting the traditional healer perhaps to collect his dues.
In Chief Nyajena, headman Muchibwa area, local Councillor Tarusenga Mapamba said traditional leaders in Chiponda village were allowing Tsikamutandas to operate, despite village heads not being aware of the constitutional provisions that prohibit forcing people to consult traditional healers.
“It’s unfortunate that some traditional leaders are not aware of the laws that govern our communities. They should not force people to consult traditional healers. The law is very clear and I think they lack knowledge on that regard.
“I heard that they were forcing people which is against the law and I think responsible authorities should look into the matter as it is causing a lot of divisions in the communities,” said Mapamba.
Acting Headman Muchibwa born Paul Manyise told TellZim News that he had taken action, summoning the village head who forced villagers to go to the Tsikamutanda, resulting in some being barred from a community garden and threatened with exclusion from funerals.
“There was an incident in Chiponda Village where some villagers were being forced to go to the Tsikamutanda against their will. So I called the village head and his people and we solved the impasse amicably.
“I simply read what the constitution says about such cases. They think they can create new laws at village level and put them above the law. It’s unfortunate that we do seminars with the village heads and we last had one in February where we discuss these issues,” said Muchibwa.
He went on to say they do not allow the Tsikamutandas to operate but they were brought in by village heads.
“There is no way we allow them to operate but they are called by the village heads not us, so that’s where the challenge is,” said Muchibwa.
Similarly, in Chief Nhema’s area, cases of Tsikamutandas recently emerged. The chief revealed that village heads and headmen often call these self-proclaimed healers, but he did not tolerate them in his area, citing the disunity they cause among his people.
The Tsikamutandas’ actions have left several families broken, with accusations of evil doings flying between neighbors. Many villagers have lost cattle and other valuables to these self-proclaimed healers.
The situation demands urgent attention from authorities to protect the rights and livelihoods of these communities. The government needs to take decisive action to stop the Tsikamutandas’ exploitative practices and ensure that traditional leaders are aware of the laws that govern their communities.

By Brighton Chiseva

In a significant development, 30 out of 44 councilors at Zaka Rural District Council signed a motion to pass a vote of no confidence and removal of Chairperson Fungai Maregedze from her post.
The motion, written by Aleta Makomeke on May 5, highlights growing dissatisfaction among councilors with Maregedze’s leadership.
“I hereby move that the council of Zaka Rural District Council expresses a vote of no confidence against the council chair Councilor Fungai Maregedze due to her repeated violation of statutes and conduct unbecoming of a council chairperson as outlined in the constitution of Zimbabwe and the Rural District Council Act,” reads part of the motion.
Despite being penned over two weeks ago, the motion had not yet been acted upon, with sources revealing that it had been making its way through various channels.
The CEO allegedly took it to the District Development Coordinator (DDC) Gift Machukele, who then forwarded it to Local Government Director Roy Hove, and subsequently to Permanent Secretary in the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr. Addmore Pazvakavambwa.
Contacted for comment by TellZim News, Makomeke said she could not comment on behalf of council, Machukele’s cell went unanswered several times.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa’s cell rang and as usual he dropped and sent a text message saying he was in a meeting. Dr Pazvakavambwa’s cell also rang and he dropped before sending a text message that he would call back later.
Notably, the motion is not along party lines, with four opposition councilors also appending their signatures in support of Maregedze’s ouster. Councillors accuse her of undermining the President by allegedly supporting councilor Zivanai Zvada, who is standing accused of undermining the President after forwarding a message in a ward group purporting a call to remove the President.
The motion argued that Maregedze’s presence in the WhatsApp group where the message was sent and her failure to condemn it suggests she supported those who forwarded the message.
“The council chair remains a member of the ward 24 WhatsApp group where Zivanai Zvada of ward 24 incited the public to engage in the 31st March 2025 protests and also called for the resignation of the President. It is quiet disturbing that the council chair continues to remain a member of the group. She is not moved,” reads part of the motion

They accuse her of dominating committee and full council meetings, overriding everyone, including management, in the process and that resulted in two senior managers leaving Zaka RDC.
“The council chair continues to dominate committee meetings hence stifling contributions from committee members creating an ‘I know it all syndrome’,” read the motion.
The feud between Maregedze and her deputy, as well as CEO David Majaura, has been simmering for some time. Councilors claim that Maregedze was overstepping her authority, interfering with the CEO’s duties, and undermining his decisions.
This has led to a breakdown in communication and cooperation between the council leadership and management, ultimately affecting the council’s operations and service delivery. The motion also notes that Maregedze tried to influence the ouster of the CEO but failed.
“The council chair was instrumental in influencing the suspension of the CEO without following proper procedure
The working relationship between Maregedze and the CEO deteriorated to the point where they cannot travel in the same vehicle, even when attending the same meeting. This has resulted in increased costs for the council, as they are forced to fuel two vehicles for the same meeting.
“Generally there is unjustifiable conflict between the CEO nad Council Chair. Relations are so bad that the two cannot travel in the same vehicle even for the same meeting,” reas part of the motion
Councilors also question Maregedze’s suitability for the role, accusing her of being elected council chairperson through her husband’s influence, who is an MP and Zaka DCC chairperson, despite having no experience in local authority operations. Maregedze is also accused of bullying other councilors in the councilors’ WhatsApp group.
Councilors were further angered by Maregedze’s statement that she could not work with her vice and the CEO, leading them to question who she could work with. When Maregedze sought to have the two removed, councilors saw it prudent to remove her instead, citing that she was impeding development in council.
The motion to oust Maregedze is seen as a culmination of these tensions, with councilors seeking to restore stability and effective governance at the council. The outcome of this motion will likely have significant implications for Zaka RDC’s operations and governance structure.
The motion which was leaked to TellZim News came out after Mavhenyengwa was tasked to convene a meeting with the council chair and her vice Svinurai Dawn Chivore to try and solve an impasse between them and preach unity among councilors. Mavhenyengwa’s meeting was after Chivore and had written a letter of complaint to the chief whip Livison Makwanye who also wrote a letter recommending Maregedze’s expulsion to Mavhenyengwa.
However, councilors argued that Mavhenyengwa was misled into believing that the feud between Maregedze and her deputy was causing all the drama, whereas it was Maregedze’s character that has resulted in the majority of councilors wanting to show her the exit door.

By Brighton Chiseva

A class of 24 students who were doing Survey and Geometric course, from Harare Polytechnic who were supposed to graduate this year are facing an uncertain future after the college forgot to submit their exam scripts to the examination board in time.
The college is allegedly forcing students not only to retake the project management module exam but also to postpone their graduation to next year.
The oversight was discovered during an exam board meeting, and despite efforts to negotiate, with the examination board, the Higher Education Examination Council (HEXCO) refused to accept the scripts, citing it was too late.
Contacted for comment by TellZim News, Harare Poly Public Relations Officer Admire Masuku referred questions to Hexco saying exam related issues fell under their jurisdiction.
“I suggest you engage Hexco on matters concerning examinations. That matter falls under their purview,” said Masuku.
However, one of the affected students and ZINASU Harare Provincial Legal Secretary Tom Kwashira confirmed the matter to TellZim News and said the college’s negligence had put their graduation at risk.
The students had already completed their coursework and were expecting to graduate in August. However, with the need to rewrite the exam, their graduation plans were now uncertain.
“We heard the college failed to submit our scripts to Hexco in time and they are now asking us to rewrite the same exam without considering that we come from different areas and some may be out of the country now waiting to return for graduation,” said Kwashira.
He said they would not accept to simply write without favorable conditions including reimbursement of all expenses to be incurred and that they will graduate in August.
“We will not accept to simply rewrite the exam without conditions. We demand answers and justice for those who were affected by the college’s failure to submit our transcripts on time.
“We also want the college to cover all expenses for travel, accommodation, and food for students who had already gone home waiting for graduation. They think they can sway us by telling us that we will not repay the exam fees as if it’s the only expense,” said Kwashira.
The students also demanded assurance that they would be allowed to graduate this year, considering the difficulties they would face in meeting the normal graduation requirements.
“It’s already challenging to graduate under normal circumstances, and now we’re being forced to rewrite an exam due to the college’s mistake. We need guarantees that we’ll be able to graduate this year if we agree to rewrite the exam,” said Kwashira.
Kwashira emphasized that Harare Poly and Hexco should take responsibility for their mistake and should not involve the students who did their part already.
“They should sort out their mess and consider the impact on our plans and time. If we don’t graduate, many will be inconvenienced,” said Kwashira.
The college’s failure to submit the transcripts has sparked outrage among students, who feel that they were being unfairly penalized for the institution’s mistake.
Sources said the college claims that the scripts were underneath another pile of projects and thought all were projects not knowing that there were exam scripts at the bottom.
It was only discovered after a board meeting and Hexco refused to accept the scripts. The college allegedly tried to negotiate to resubmit them together with the upcoming examinations but they also refused.

By Virginia Njovo

School heads in Masvingo province, particularly in Chiredzi, Masvingo, and Mwenezi Districts have reported significant improvement in school attendance due to a school feeding programme backed by Seeds For Future (SEFF).
Speaking to TellZim News during SEFF closure meeting at Urban Lifestyles Hotel in Masvingo, Musvovi Primary School head Rodiya Imbayago told TellZim News that the introduction of feeding programmes led to a notable increase in learners’ attendance.
“Since implementing the feeding programme at our school, I have seen a tangible improvement in learners attending classes compared to previous years. The food provided motivates them to come to school,” said Imbayago.
Beyond attendance, Imbayago said the project had also contributed to infrastructure development at the school.
“We have benefitted from infrastructure improvements. Even though the project is coming to an end, we were left with something tangible,” said Imbayago.
SEFF project manager, Joseph Matiza, said the initiative aimed to ensure food security in schools and communities among the six schools selected in the three districts.
“The SEFF project selected six primary schools in the three districts, Ndali, Mpinga, Musvovi, Fusira, Rata, and Matande, to pilot actions supporting the home-grown school feeding programmes to ensure children learn with full stomachs from a nutritious diet,” said Matiza.
Each school received support for solar-powered irrigation gardens, poultry projects, and fish farming to provide vegetables, eggs, and fish, enriching students’ diets with essential nutrients. Local communities contributed traditional grains for the cereal component of school meals, enhancing food security.
Matiza said the project also focused on community seed banks and agro ecological transition, enabling local communities to produce sufficient grains for both local and school needs.