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Tongaat Hulett, Chiredzi RDC partner for US$185k Gudo Clinic

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Tongaat Hulett, Chiredzi RDC partner for US$185k Gudo Clinic

Hungwe cuts a ribbon to officially open Gudo Clinic

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) has adopted a Public Private Community Partnerships (PPCPs) in its quest to attain sustainable goals of reducing poverty, hunger and improving water and sanitation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The motto was ‘No one should be left behind’ as the partnership with Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe celebrated the commissioning of the Gudo Community Clinic last week.
The project is one of a number of initiatives that has brought together communities, the local authority and the private sector.
Tongaat Hulett handed over the Gudo Community Clinic to the council after the company took over construction when it had reached window level.
The sugar producer took over at a time when the local authority expected donor funding which had, however, failed to materialise since 2004.
Chiredzi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Isaac Matsilele who was represented by Mikia Majatame said the plans for the project were done over 10 years ago.
“Indeed, the construction of Gudo Clinic has come far. The plan was made back in 2004, with promise of donor funding.
“This did not materialise until Tongaat Hulett came and took over construction. Chiredzi RDC constructed staff houses, with help from the Community Share Ownership Trust,” he said.
The sugar company contributed US$43 250.88, Chiredzi RDC contributed US$29 786 while some US$564 came from the Community Share Ownership Trust.
Tongaat Hulett managing director, Sydney Mutsambiwa said the company was committed to the development of the southern region of the country.
“Tongaat Hulett’s operations; Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates, have been on a drive to facilitate the development of the south eastern region. Our key areas of focus for socio-economic development are health (water and sanitation), education and infrastructure,” said Mutsambiwa.
“The contribution to the Gudo community through the completion of the clinic comes at the back of a donation made to capacitate Chiredzi Hospital in 2013. Some 158 beds were donated by the company, some wards were painted and a donation of 10 thousand litre water tanks valued at US$60 000 was made,” he added.health

Red Cross praised for impartial service

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Red Cross praised for impartial service

Zimbabwe Red Cross personnel were in Dulibadzimu Stadium before, during and after the rally

Shingirai Vambe

BEITBRIDGE – The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has been praised for its apolitical commitment to the welfare of citizens as demonstrated by the presence of its personnel and equipment at the MDC Alliance rally in Beitbridge last week.
In a country where State resources are deployed only at government and Zanu PF functions, it was refreshing that the civil society was stepping forward to fill the gap, MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa said.
He was reacting to the presence of the Red Cross at the stadium before and during the rally which was attended by thousands of cheering supporters.
“Many have described this as political maturity within ourselves as Zimbabweans. Let not politics divide us, it is only our perception and thinking that may differ but we are one.
“We are moving towards change, where medical practitioners value their duties regardless of the nature of event; be it Zanu PF or MDC programmes. Medical practitioners should be everywhere even at tollgates” Chamisa said.
Speaking at the same occasion MDC-T woman chairperson Lynnette Karenyi said if all organisations in Zimbabwe could learn from Red Cross, the country would be a better place.
One Beitbridge resident who spoke to TellZim News said emergency health and ambulance services were critical at big public events.
“All these people you see have different medical needs; some have high blood pressure and some are diabetic and may need urgent attention at any time. Such services as first aid are of paramount importance at events like this,” said the resident.

Chiredzi RDC completes fives critical projects

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Chiredzi RDC completes fives critical projects

Isaac Matsilele

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – The Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) has completed five projects that it recently undertook to rapidly implement as a quick-fix solution to some of the nagging challenges faced by the people.
The council tarred the 4.1 km Chiredzi – Hippo Valley Road, implemented the Rupangwana and Chibwedziva piped water schemes, Gweseche Clinic, which is not yet complete, and the Gudo Clinic which was commissioned last week.
Chiredzi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Isaac Matsilele told the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Josaya Hungwe in a briefing at council offices that the projects were an important part of the local authority’s developmental plans.
“From January this year, under the patronage of the new dispensation, we identified five projects that were supposed to be completed in 100 days. Some of the projects were completed and others will be completed in the next 100 days.
“We constructed two clinics, Gudo, which is complete and Gwaseche, which are still under construction. We also completed construction of a 4.1 kilometre tarred road from Chiredzi to Hippo Valley. Some 3.3 km were constructed last year to make it 7.4 kilometres.
“We are also re-gravelling a 28 km stretch of the Makambe – Madzingira Road which is now at 60 percent complete. We recently finished construction of two piped water schemes in Rupangwana and Chibwedziva,” said Matsilele.
Hungwe said he was humbled by the council’s efforts to improve conditions in the areas under its jurisdiction.
 “This is the longest wide road I have so far commissioned in Masvingo province and I think the longest across the country as well,” said Hungwe.local

Musikavanhu takes Tongaat Hulett head on over workers’ welfare

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Farai Musikavanhu

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Zanu PF Chiredzi West parliamentary candidate, Farai Musikavanhu, has taken the fight to sugarcane giant Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe (THZ) management over what he describes as ill treatment and abuse of workers saying the company is making huge profits while workers live in squalor.
Musikavanhu, who is former THZ agriculture manager, said there is just nor room for ill treatment of workers in the new dispensation and will fight until the lives have been uplifted.
THZ is listed in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and, according to Musikavanhu, is recording large sums of profits for its operations in Zimbabwe.
In a media tour organized by Musikavanhu, he said the company is failing to upgrade the welfare of its employees who are living in houses without electricity while the company generates 39 megawatts of electricity from its Hippo Valley power station which is supplied into the national grid.
“I have no personal vendetta with my former company but I am just trying to make it right for the employees.
“This company is listed on the JSE and declares profits in Zimbabwe and their production level is at 75% installed capacity. We can’t say THZ suffers economic setbacks like what other companies did.
“This is called corporate corruption. The company generates electricity to the national grid but workers are living in dilapidated houses with no electricity. Electricity is only supplied to a bottle store and is a bottle store more important than the houses of employees?” said Musikavanhu.
Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe recorded 17.4 million profit in 2016 and 25 million in 2017.
Zimbabwe Sugarcane Milling Workers Union (ZSMIWU) Secretary General Faster Gono also expressed the same sentiments saying it is high time THZ looks into the welfare of its workers.
THZ has flighted an advert in newspapers saying it has launched a housing scheme for its workers where it is upgrading the old dilapidated houses for its workers.politics

Ema, police unite against deforestation

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Anesushe Mamhute

CHIREDZI – There has been an unprecedented rise in the rate of cutting down trees in the periphery of Chiredzi town and the Environmental Management Agency (Ema) has roped in the police to carry out joint operations to fight the scourge of deforestation.
Speaking during a Civil Protection Committee meeting last week, Ema manager for Chiredzi, Peter Mugodhi, said the rate of deforestation has reached alarming levels hence the need to put collective efforts to end the practise.
“We cannot have people cutting down trees randomly. We are actually encouraging people to plant more trees not cut them down. As Ema we are engaging the police to embark on joint patrols so that perpetrators will be brought to book,” said Mugodhi.
There has been a rise in the number of firewood dealers which has precipitated the cutting down of trees as the business is booming owing to the rise in backyard kitchens.
“We give licenses to sell firewood but that comes with terms and conditions. If one has a firewood business they also need to have proper paper work which allows them to pry in that trade.
“We are very serious about this issue and we are going to enforce it to the dot. We need tress and we should be planting more instead of cutting them down,” said Mugodhi
Ema was forced into action after concerns were raised by Chiredzi Residence and Ratepayers Association (Chirra) chairperson Jonathan Muusha over the environmental body’ failure to deal with rampant deforestation in the edges of Chiredzi town.
Chiredzi has a vast population of Mopane trees which provides a nutritious diet to livestock in the area but the number is shrinking due to deforestation as the same tree is favoured by firewood dealers because it provides a good fire especially for kitchens.
Chiredzi District Administrator (DA), Lovemore Chisema, pleaded with Ema to quickly mobilise all that it takes to protect the environment.local

Gutu Zanu PF supporters arrested for beating Chikwama’s driver

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Gutu Zanu PF supporters arrested for beating Chikwama’s driver

Precila Takabvirakare

MPANDAWANA – Two Zanu PF supporters; Edmore Marwizi (34) and Tinashe Marwizi (29) of Matombo village under Chief Munyikwa appeared before Gutu magistrate Victor Mahamadi facing charges of assaulting Gutu East MP, Berita Chikwama’s driver.
They were charged for contravening with section 89 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 09:23 for allegedly assaulting Zvaoma Muusha.
They were remanded in custody pending ruling on the bail application that had been made by their lawyer; Owen Mafa of Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners.
The State’s facts, as presented by Millicent Azangwe, are that on May 17 at around 21:00 hrs, Muusha was in his shop at Chin’ai business centre, when Edmore and Tinashe approached and asked to see him.
Edmore allegedly stabbed Muusha once with an okapi knife on the middle and fore fingers saying he did not want to see anyone who supported Berita Chikwama.
Further allegations are that Tinashe then joined and struck Muusha once on his right thigh with a metal bar. Muusha then managed to escape from the assault and locked himself in one of the rooms at the back of the shop.
The matter was then reported to the police leading to the arrest of Edmore and Tinashe.
Muusha was medically examined.politics

Outcry as prison officer faces ‘discipline for undermining President’

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Outcry as prison officer faces ‘discipline for undermining President’

Clever Taperamoyo

A Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officer at Chiredzi Prison, John Mahlabera, is set to appear before a disciplinary hearing on June 12 charged with undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa by allegedly posting a Twitter message which supposedly referred to opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa as ‘my president’.
He will be charged with contravening Section 3(1) of the Prison (Staff) (Discipline) Regulations of 1984.
According to ZPCS, Mahlabera allegedly posted a message on micro blogging site Twitter account, which reads; ‘Come to Chiredzi my president’ in response to Chamisa’s rally in Zaka.
ZPCS says Mahlabera’s statement showed disrespect for Mnangagwa, saying the prison officer had no right to act in the manner he did.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has expressed outrage, saying the move marked ‘a fresh clampdown on dissent’. The legal rights group has also instructed its members; Collen Maboke and Blessing Nyamaropa to represent Mahlabera.
Maboke and Nyamaropa said they believe Mahlabera’s was within his rights to express himself freely as guaranteed in Section 261 of the country’s constitution.
They also argue that the statement itself is ambiguous as Mahlabera did not explain whom he was referring to by ‘president’. They further argue that there is no verification that the account really belongs to Mahlabera and he is the one who made the post.
Other concerned citizens have also taken to Twitter castigating Mnangagwa’s government for adopting the same tactics used by former president Robert Mugabe.
ZLHR’s records compiled since 2010 has shown that the organisation has attended close to 200 cases where people have been arrested and charged for allegedly ‘insulting or undermining the authority of the President’.politics

Govt needs to do more in HIV and Aids fight, says Mugurungi

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Govt needs to do more in HIV and Aids fight, says Mugurungi

Clever Taperamoyo

MASVINGO – Director of Aids and TB programmes in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Owen Mugurungi recently revealed that the country had a current shortfall of US$18 million to sustain its effort in fighting against HIV and Aids.
Addressing stakeholders at a HIV and Aids partnership conference organised by Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) at Great Zimbabwe Hotel, Dr Mugurungi said the government should chip in and complement efforts by the Global Fund and other international donors.
“We are relying much on the Global Fund and other international donors in the fight against HIV and Aids but we also call on the government to chip in and complement such efforts. The money we receive is not enough to cater for 2018-2020 programmes.
“The deficit we have is equivalent to 27 000 people therefore, it might be the whole of Masvingo being affected by this shortfall,” said Dr Mugurungi.
New cases of adult infection by HIV are recorded at approximately 32 000 cases per year.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care introduced a variety of measures to control the rise of new infections among them self-testing and voluntary male circumcision.
ZPCS Deputy Commissioner General, Dr Alford Mashango Dube concurred on the need to supplement funds for the fight against HIV and Aids particularly in prisons.
“It is my belief that this partnership conference will help us in meeting our objectives and among them is to lobby and mobilise resources towards HIV and Aids response in prison setting,” Dube said.health

Five bust with 150 smuggled bales of 2nd hand clothes in Chiredzi

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Five bust with 150 smuggled bales of 2nd hand clothes in Chiredzi


Anesushe Mamhute

CHIREDZI – A suspected cartel of five people was brought before Chiredzi magistrate Geraldine Mutsotso last week charged with smuggling 150 bales of second-hand clothes from Mozambique into Chiredzi.
Representing the State, Rony Chibatamaoko told the court that on May 22, the suspected syndicate, made up of Leo Bhila (31), Tapiwa Mapfumo (32), John Madondo (32), Runyararo Zanga (30) and George Musvosvi (29) used an illegal route into Zimbabwe to evade payment of duty at the legitimate port of entry.
The following day, the minerals and border control unit got a tip-off that the five accused persons’ UD truck was parked suspiciously in the bush near Chilonga Bridge in Chiredzi.
They went to investigate upon receiving the information, leading to the arrest of the five after they failed to produce declaration documents that are given at the border upon clearance with the customs department.
The accused, who are being represented by Charles Vhudzi of Zimbodza and Associates, denied the charges and were remanded in custody pending their bail hearing on Friday, June 01.
Mutsotso told the court that the accused had no right to do what they were being accused of doing and justice had to be served.
Police seized and took to Zimra Chiredzi office 150 bales of second-hand clothes worthy US$76 405.crime

Mwenezi Gvt High pupil jailed for theft

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Mwenezi Gvt High pupil jailed for theft


Cephas Shava


MWENEZI – An 18-year old form three pupil at Mwenezi Government High School was last week arraigned before the Mwenezi Magistrate Court where he was convicted of two counts of unlawful entry.
Knowledge Moyo of Chirimigwa village under Chief Neshuro pleaded guilty to the two counts of unlawful entry and was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment from which 2 months were conditionally suspended.
The remaining 8 months were set aside on condition that he performs 280 hours of community service at Chikadzi Primary School.
Since Moyo is still going to school, he was ordered to perform the community service during weekends.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa strongly condemned Moyo’s actions and warned that he was saved by the fact that he is still in school otherwise the punishment would have been harsher.
State facts as presented by prosecutor Angelinah Makonya were that sometime in December 2016 during the evening, Moyo proceeded to Tongofa Store, owned by one Wisdom Siziba at Neshuro Growth Point.
While the complainant was fast asleep, Moyo took cash amounts of R6 000, US$300, Econet airtime worth US$200 and went away unnoticed. In total, the value stolen amounted to US$1100 and nothing was recovered.
The convict used the money from the offence to acquire a driver’s licence, Samsung tablet and a laptop.
Moyo’s nefarious acts came to light of May 19, this year when he tried his luck again in the same shop in the early hours while Sibiza was asleep.
His luck ran out when he stepped on a crippled base bed which made some noise alerting Sibiza who woke up immediately and caught Moyo at the cash box.
A police report was made leading to Moyo’s arrest.crime

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