By Tatiana Mhararira

Church of Christ run Living Proof Academy from Gutu won the Zimbabwe Spelling Bee Masvingo Zone 1 competitions held at the school on March 18, 2025.
The school Vice Principal and Spelling Bee Club Patron, Tinashe Marecha shared the school’s remarkable journey to becoming champions of the Masvingo Zone 1 Spelling Bee Competition and said determination had earned them the success.
“In 2024, we were at the Zimbabwe Spelling Bee Competition with a small team of four learners. Although we didn’t secure top-ten positions, the experience sparked our determination to improve. This year, our Spelling Bee Club worked diligently, often until 2100 hours and during weekends, to refine their skills.
“To ensure our participants were well-prepared, we conducted several rehearsals in front of our learners and staff members. We also utilized online resources, such as watching last year’s finals from Wise Owl High School on YouTube, to provide our learners with a realistic understanding of the competition. Each learner was provided with the official word list from the Spelling Bee organizers,” said Marecha.
Marecha said he was the proud of the achievements as a smaller school and thanked the stakeholders who contributed to the school’s success in the competitions.
“As a new school, with less than 300 learners and only three years of operation, we were not expected to pose a significant challenge to more established schools. However, our victory has sent a clear message that we are a force to be reckoned with.
“Our sincerest gratitude goes to our School Principal, Ushe Paradza for his unwavering support, as well as to our teachers, the entire Living Proof High family, and parents for their unrelenting encouragement. We eagerly anticipate representing Masvingo Zone 1 at the national level and making our mark on the Zimbabwe Spelling Bee Competition,” said Marecha.
Speaking to TellZim News, Zimbabwe Spelling Bee, National Coordinator, Enny Chomsora said the competition was highly competitive as learners and coaches prepared well for the tournament.
“The learners did an outstanding job, demonstrating exceptional preparation and dedication to the event. They thoroughly studied the wordlist, and it paid off, with most of them acing every word in each round.
“I extend my sincerest gratitude to the coaches for their tireless efforts in guiding the students to success and the top 10 junior and top 10 senior learners will represent the Masvingo region in the national finals this September. We wish them all the best,” said Chomsora.
Chomsora said they had challenges however with people who had disputes with the judgement.
“The problems we got during the competitions were those of people who had disputes with the judges’ judgment so there is a dispute desk for those with disputes. The decision from there will be final,” she said.
From Juniors’ side, Matidaishe Kurauone and Delight Mbizanah from Tshovani Primary scooped the first and second position respectively and Chiredzi primary had five of its learners in the top ten.
National Zimbabwe Spelling Bee will have hundreds of learners participating and the winners will proceed to Africa Spelling Bee competitions with different countries with winners going to USA for the SCRIPPS USA spelling bee competitions.
Out of 17 participants from the host school, 7 leaners qualified for the national tournament namely Makomborero Chiredzi, Beverly Banda, Kudakwashe Muzofo, Tawananyasha Chizodza and Daisy Rugwinya with Dorcas Chitingwiza and Faith Makonese winning gold and silver medals respectively.
The tournament had 14 schools with a total of 192 participants and the following schools were in attendance primary schools being Chivhu Junior, Gutu United, Tshovani, Sandon Academy Junior, Chiredzi, Melbourne and St Antony Junior.
High schools included the host, Assisi, Rufaro, Hippo Valley Estate, Sandon Academy Senior, and St Antony Senior.
Zimbabwe Spelling Bee is an educational program where learners compete in spelling competitions.

By Tavonga Munyanyi

Khayelihle Rural Library in Dorset , Ward 21 in Shurugwi South, is appealing for financial assistance from well-wishers to achieve its goal of providing a supportive learning environment for learners in the community.
The library, a registered initiative under Hodzeko Arts and Culture, Rural Library, and Knowledge Development Center, was established in 2024 in response to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on rural education but is struggling to remain functional due to lack of resources and structures for its operations.
Speaking to TellZim News, Khayelihle Rural Library Director Siphosami Ndlovu said there was need for urgent intervention to support the group in bridging gaps in education for rural learners.
“We invite all community members, both local and international, to join this progressive initiative. Together, we can bridge the educational gap in rural communities, foster a love for reading, and create opportunities for growth and development,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said sponsorship would enable the library to construct a permanent facility, as it currently operates from a rented space, an arrangement that is becoming unsustainable due to financial constraints.
“Many community members are struggling financially, and rental costs are a burden. Our plan is to build a state-of-the-art facility, which will include a library with physical and digital resources, an exhibition room, and a storage facility,” said Ndlovu.
The library’s collection consists mostly of novels, with about 500 books in stock. However, Ndlovu stressed the urgent need for more textbooks and other educational resources, particularly for struggling students.
“Sponsorship will allow us to expand our reading materials by acquiring up-to-date textbooks and other essential resources that cater to the needs of local learners and the broader community.
“By working together, we can make a meaningful impact and provide access to quality educational materials for those who need them most,” Ndlovu said.
The library is Ndlovu’s brain child with support, supported by a network of dedicated individuals, including Dumisani Ndlovu, Vimbai Moyo, Desmond Chaza, Shepherd Mhene, Nkosana Dube, Nkosilathi Mthunzi, Sifiso Sibanda, and Obert Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said plans were underway to establish a Trust Fund that will provide free access to library resources.

For assistance, interested individuals can contact call 0782456772,
email:
khayelihlerurallibrary@gmail.com,
or visit Hodzeko.com.

…local authority turns to illegal traders to raise funds

By Beverly Bizeki

Broke Mwenezi Rural District Council (RDC) has turned to illegal traders in the most remote parts of the district for penalties in order to assist the cash-strapped local authority to raise funds to pay workers who have gone for three months without salaries.

Mwenezi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Chivanga did not deny the allegations of the local authority failing to pay its workers saying the situation was not unique to the local authority.

He said there was no need for workers to take their grievances to the media for they were aware of the ongoing situation at the council.

“There is really no need to be going to the media because the workers are aware of the situation at the council. There is no money and they know what should be done, they should work. The situation is not unique to Mwenezi RDC, this is just the state of the economy in the country,” said Chivanga.

The local authority was also accused of seizing people’s goods and working during the night targeting people in rural areas.

Chivanga confirmed the council’s efforts in the remote areas but said they were simply following council regulations.

“Those are just normal council procedures. Illegal traders are supposed to pay penalties and this even in government this is allowed. The allegations that council is seizing people’s properties are not true but why are these people running away from council and not doing the right thing? Tax evasion is a crime and businesses must do the legal thing.

“About people accusing council workers working during odd hours, this is a matter of distance so our workers end up not being able to return with vehicles on the same day,” said Chivanga.

Sources said council descended upon some of the most deserted places in Mufuli Ranch in Mwenezi East Constituency where most of the operators not even licensed.

“Council came to these areas to tax the business operators here, trying to raise funds for its operations. They would even go to the extent of taking things like solar panels that had been abandoned outside as people closed shops running away from the local authority.

“The situation is bad such that workers are spending nights working in order to raid these areas taking fines from unregistered businesses which are said to be having illegal structures,” said the source.

By Brighton Chiseva

A serious shortage of contraceptive tablets have hit Zaka clinics sparking suspicions that they were being smuggled to South Africa.

The revelation was made by the Zaka Rural District Council audit committee Chairperson Stella Shambira during a full council meeting held at the local authority council chambers on Tuesday April 1.

Presenting the audit report, Shambira said the audit committee noted the drug stock balances had some excesses and shortfalls and had resolved to task the internal auditor to investigate.

“The audit committee noted the drug stock balances had some excesses and shortfall beyond generally acceptable tolerance of 10 percent.

“Clinic drug stock issuing should be done by a particular member of staff for proper accountability,” said Shambira.

She went on to say they noted that the family planning pills were making highest shortfalls than other drugs at most clinics and suspect that the nurses and other members of staff were selling them because they are sought after in South Africa.

“We suspect that the nurses and other members of staff could be selling the tablets which are later being smuggled to South Africa where they are sought after,” she said.

The committee also noted challenges in fuel coupons which were recorded with serial numbers not in sequence as well and that fuel with different characteristics was being recorded on the same page.

It also noted an issue of large arrears by those leasing council properties and recommended that departments make monthly written follow ups on tenants in council leased properties.

However, a health practitioner who chose to remain anonymous said the issue of smuggling could not be the cause of shortages but rather it was an issue of supply chain.

The practitioner said smuggling had been there since time immemorial but it had not affected the supply.

“There could be an element of smuggling but it has always been there and has never affected the supply. So the issue has to with the cutting of funding by USAID which affected several organizations which were supplying the products,” said the practitioner.