Part of the gathering that attended the dialogue meeting at Mucheke Hall
Clayton Shereni
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) in conjunction with the Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) on Wednesday, June 27, took their series of political dialogue to Ward 1 and 2 in the suburb of Mucheke.
Aimed at giving a platform to residents to engage in constructive dialogue with their aspiring councillors, the dialogue was attended by over 300 residents of the populous residential area.
Candidates who attended the meeting, which was held at Mucheke Hall, were Collen Maboke and Selina Maridza from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, Ruramai Muzenda and Kamurai Mutindi of Peoples Rainbow Coalition (PRC), Trust Mhaka; an independent candidate and Chipo Chirunga of MDC-T (Khupe faction).
Garcia Mundondo and Matthew Kubiku of Zanu PF did not show up at the event, raising speculation they might have boycotted for reasons best known to them.
Though there were some divergent opinions among the panelists, there was a general consensus that rates were too high and that council must never engage debt collectors against residents with arrears.
Maridza, who once served in council between 2008 and 2009 as deputy mayor, said it was unacceptable that council was particularly aggressive with ordinary residents who fail to pay their rates but was coy when dealing with government institutions that owe millions.
“The city council has deployed debt collectors in our suburbs but considering the economic environment, it is totally unacceptable because we know that government institutions owe large amounts of money and nothing has been done to them,” said Maridza.
Government institutions like the provincial education department, police and army owe City of Masvingo in excess of US$30 million in unpaid rates.
Many participants at the dialogue meeting complained about favouritism in the allocation of serviced residential stands.
Council last year availed 70 high density residential stands that were then sold to some residents on the waiting list.
Council seldom services new land nowadays as the job has been taken over by cooperatives and private individuals that have been accused in some quarters as land barons.politics
Shinsoman entertains the crowd during the ‘Go Out and Vote’ campaign
Assistant Commissioner Coneli Dube
…police warn against political violence
Moses Ziyambi
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has promised to deal decisively with anybody who engages in political violence at any time before, during and after the harmonised elections scheduled for July 30.
Officer Commanding Police Masvingo Province, Assistant Commissioner Coneli Dube on Monday told TellZim News in an interview that the law would be applied strictly against those who provoke violence regardless of their political affiliations.
“We will not accept political violence from whatever quarter. The police are there to enforce the law and ensure that there is peace, in line with the new dispensation’s commitment to a free, fair and credible election. Nobody will be allowed to breach the peace we have now.
“If you commit acts of violence or anything that disturbs public law and order for political reasons, we will arrest you. We would not even ask you the name of your political party, we would simply spell out the charges to you,” said Ass Com Dube.
He said the police were working hard to maintain the current peaceful environment as the country draws even closer to the elections.
“We are happy with the peace and order that we are enjoying, and we are even grateful for it. Ours is a duty to work with all stakeholders including members of the public to create a safe environment where people go about their business without hindrance. Elections come and go, but the people will always remain so you don’t want to be caught on the wrong side of the law for things that come and pass,” he warned.
Ass Com Dube also encouraged those who want to address large gatherings to notify the police in accordance with the requirements of the Public Order and Security Act (Posa).
“It’s not like we want people to tell us of their planned activities so that we can ban them, no. The idea behind notifying the police is to make sure there is security. Remember there are provocateurs who may deliberately try to interfere with your activities by organising their own event at the same venue, on the same date and at the same time,” As Com Dube said.top news
Fans jostle to greet Macheso during his previous show at Club Lagoon Garden
Bothwell Chabarika
Sungura maestro, Alick Macheso is set to launch his latest album ‘Dzinosvitsa kure’ in Masvingo, marking his second visit to the city in 2018.
Macheso was in town back in March and will be here again on July 14 at Club Lagoon Garden where the Macheso fever is already high.
He will share the stage with the controversial Jacob Moyana of the Munotidako fame.
Dzinosvitsakure happens to be Macheso’s 11th album and it was officially launched last month in Harare.
Kudzai Hazangwi, the marketing, e-commerce & PR director for Skymail Investments T/A Lagoon Bar & Clubs, promised their customers and Macheso’s fans a huge treat with standard meals served during the show.
We at Lagoon Restaurant, Bar and Clubs are excited to host such an event and fans will not only be pleased by the music but will also get to enjoy our full bar with ice cold beers and catering. Watch out for our famous succulent pork and chakalala sausage for braai as well as our gango special,” said Hazangwi.entertainment
Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Greatman Macheke (19), who resides at Quagapan Village Two under Chief Maranda and is currently doing form three at Mufakose High School in Triangle, was last week arraigned before the Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court facing charges of stock theft.
Macheke, who is out of custody on bail, pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before magistrate Honest Musiiwa.
Macheke said he was merely phoned by one Peacemaker Macheke to come with a scotch cart to ferry some game meat and did not suspect it was actually beef.
The complainant, Jonathan Hungwe, however, rubbished Macheke’s defence insisting the young man was part of a syndicate which has stolen many heifers at his farm.
Argued by prosecutor Angelinah Makonya, the State’s case was that on May 2 at around 03:00 hrs, Macheke went to hunt at subdivision 3 Alko Ranch in the company of Peacemaker Macheke, who was already convicted of the offence and Tasiyana Chifaso who is still at large.
After failing to catch anything, the accused came across a heifer belonging to Hungwe and they allegedly killed it using an axe. The three were seen by a passer-by as they skinned the heifer. The eye witnesses then alerted Hungwe who immediately notified the police, leading to the arrest of the accused.
The stolen heifer was valued at US$400 and the meat that was recovered from the nearby field is worth US$150.
The matter was postponed to a later date for continuation of trial.
If one is convicted of stock theft, he/she faces a mandatory sentence of nine years imprisonment for each beast stolen.crime
Samson Chidzurira
Brighton Chiseva
Former Zaka teacher and school head, Samson Chidzurira has been transferred from Mutoko where he was the District Schools Inspector (DSI) to be the new and substantive DSI for Zaka district starting at the beginning of this month (July).
Provincial Education Director (PED) Zedius Chitiga confirmed the development and said he was happy to have him back as he is not new to the province and the district.
“Yes, we have a new DSI in Zaka. The person is not new to the province and we are happy as we want to work with people in substantive positions,” said Chitiga.
Chidzurira takes over from Beaula Shambambeva who has been holding the post on an acting basis since 2016 following the transfer of James Mahofa to Gutu district when the inspectorate was shuffled.
Chidzurira taught in Zaka, heading Zaka Primary and Musarava High schools before he got transferred to Chivi where he was the District Education Officer (DEO) in 2015 before being transferred to Mutoko.
Chidzurira was a long-time member of the Masvingo youth games, (MAYOGA) where he held the post of administrator.education
Zebias Zingoni
Exsto Makunzva
ZVISHAVANE – After serving for 48 solid years in the education sector starting as a teacher until he became a headmaster, educationist Zebias Zingoni has finally called it a day.
Zingoni began his teaching career in 1972 where he taught at Gaths Mine School up until 1981. He then joined Shabanie Mine Primary School in 1982 as the deputy head before assuming the role of acting head at Kandodo Primary School in Zvishavane from 1989-1990.
Upon leaving Kandodo, Zingoni became the deputy head at Shabanie Primary School for the eight years that followed. In 1999, Zingoni took over Mapazuli Primary as school head for two years before rejoining Shabanie Mine Primary School in 2001 till 2018.
Zingoni reached the legal age of retirement in public service while serving as school head at Shabanie Mine Primary School.
The school staff bade him farewell with an impressive party where teachers, parents and students had all but wonderful words to describe Zingoni.
Chairperson of the School Development Committee (SDC) at Shabanie Mine School, Mapfumo Muroyiwa said that Zingoni was a great leader who spearheaded a number of successful projects at the school.
“As the SDC we worked very well with Mr Zingoni. I joined the SDC in 2013 and became the chairperson in 2015. It was then that we sat down with Mr Zingoni and began projects for the school that will forever be his legacy.
“In 2016, we managed to purchase the school bus, build an Early Childhood Development (ECD) block with four classes, refurbished and constructed toilets at the school as well as mount Jojo tanks to supply water around the school.
“We expect to continue working well with the incoming school head as we were doing with Mr Zingoni. We were always transparently updated as parents on how school funds were being utilized and we are glad that Mr Zingoni is retiring with no bad record or accusation of corruption,” said Muroyiwa.education
Aspiring Gweru Urban MP, Nkosi Ndlovu has unveiled an empowerment programme which is aimed at capacitating women through a series of skills transfer workshops.
A total of 50 women from Gweru Urban Ward 2 were part of the two-day workshop on homemade manufacturing of dishwashing liquid soaps and pine gel last weekend.
The women also underwent some training of the trainers so that they are be able to pass on the skills to other women.
Ndlovu says this was about capacity development in communities to ensure sustainable livelihoods for women.
“This workshop is basically about remodelling systems in Gweru Urban to ensure that diverse skills are given to our mothers and sisters. With such skills, the community develops systems of providing a ready market for quality homemade products. This is actual transformation through systemic community networks,” Ndlovu said.
It costs US$17 to produce 20 litres of dish washing liquid soap which is then sold for US$45, generating US$28 as profit.
Nkosi said other programmes in different fields will also be launched in the constituency.politics
Precila Takabvirakare
MPANDAWANA – The love for beer has landed a Gutu man in trouble with the law as he was brought before magistrate Victor Muhamadi facing charges of stealing three cattle.
Obert Chibika (20), from Bhanditi village under Chief Gutu, was charged for contravening Section 114 (2) (a) of The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
Chibika was sentenced 9 years in prison after being found guilty of the offence.
The State’s case, as presented by Samuel Magobeya, was that on an unknown date but in the month of February this year, Chibika teamed up with his friends Tawanda Magaji and Nelson Dukuti and stole Tsvakai Mutizwa’s three cattle from the grazing area in Mbirikiro village.
Chibika drove the cattle to Mpandawana Business Centre intending to sell them to a buyer found by Magaji.
The State further alleged that Chibika was selling the stock at $80 each. The buyer, however, questioned the cattle were being sold so cheaply, and he tipped the police, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Asked by magistrate Mahamadi why he committed the offence, Chibika said he did not know what had come over him to be influenced by his friends to that extent.
“I do not know what had come over me. I was influenced by my friends that we should sell those cattle so that we can get money for beer,” said Chibika.crime
