Home Blog Page 661

Manicaland fire season launched in Chipinge

TellZimNews
-
0
Manicaland fire season launched in Chipinge

A fire drill by Wattle Company fire-fighting team during the Manicaland Provincial Fire Season launch

Stephen Ephraem

CHIPINGE – The district on June 15 launched the 2018 Manicaland Provincial Fire Season at Mubvangazi Centre in Chipinge rural Ward 6.
The event ran under the theme ‘Veld Fires Destroy the Environment, Life and Property – Prevent It.’
The launch was supported by government arms like Forestry Commission, Environment Management Agency (Ema) and Chipinge Rural District Council (RDC) as well as by private entities like Econet Wireless and The Wattle Company.
Chipinge RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Blessing Mamvosha, in a speech read on his behalf by a representative, said he was pleased by the programme as it will contribute to the declining veld fire incident rate.
“Veld fires have declined in Chipinge. Total hectares destroyed by fire dropped from 20 756 in 2009 to 1 251 in 2017,” he said.
The Wattle Company managing director, Victoria Jakazi urged commercial plantation owners to keep fireguards.
The Wattle Company provided firefighting equipment and teams that performed fire drills at the launch.
Guest of honour was Econet Manicaland provincial general manager, Parshon Muranganwa who revealed that in 2017, the province recorded a total of 158 fire incidences that resulted in approximately 21 188.73 hectares of land being burnt.
“This was a significant reduction in hectares destroyed by fire. Fires declined by 31 percent from 2016 when 30 850.52 ha were consumed by fire.
“Manicaland is the highest producer of timber in Zimbabwe. The industry contributes significantly to our economy so veld fires mean a loss of timber worthy thousands of dollars,” said Muranganwa.local

Son steals from father to pay sex workers

TellZimNews
-
0
Son steals from father to pay sex workers


Brilliant Mukaro

BIKITA – A father and son relationship soured up recently after the former dragged the latter to court on allegations of stealing cellphones amounting to US$278.
The accused, Luckson Chikasha (19), was in a business of selling cellphones that belonged to his father, Affinos.
It is the State’s case that on June 1 at around 08:00 hrs at Nyika growth point, the complainant left eight cellphones listed on the annexure in the shop.
The complainant came back on June 8, 2018 to take stock of the cellphones and he realised that eight cellphones valued at US$278 were missing.
It was further alleged that the accused sold all the eight cellphones and converted the money to his personal use.
A police report was made leading to Chikasha’s arrest.
Asked why he committed the crime, Chikasha said he wanted money to drink beer and lure sex workers. 
Japhet Mapakame prosecuted.crime

Gutu soldier in court for unlawful entry

TellZimNews
-
0
Gutu soldier in court for unlawful entry

Precila Takabvirakare


Gutu – A soldier Blessing Nyamaropa (25) who resides at house number 13306 Unit N. Chitungwiza appeared before Gutu magistrate Victor Muhamad last week facing unlawful entry charges into property belonging to Cuthbert Dope and Winston Penculo  and stole clothes valued at US$1 051.
He was charged for contravening Section 131(1) as read with Section 131(2) of The Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
He however pleaded not guilty and denied all the allegations and was remanded to June18.
The state facts as presented by Samuel Magobeya are that on May 24 this year at around 1000 hours, Dope and Penculo left their home and proceeded to Kariba bakery where they had a night shift.
When they came back the following morning they discovered that someone had used a duplicate key to open their door and stole bags with clothes that amounted to US$1 051.
On June 3 at around 1500hours Nyamaropa was found by Dope in possession of a two compact disc bag in Hwiru location selling some discs and he made a report to the police.
Further investigations were made and Nyamaropa was found in possesion of one of the stolen bags locked in his room at Infantry Battalion leading to his arrest.

Only $60 was recovered.crime

Commotion in Musikavanhu’s campain team

TellZimNews
-
0
Commotion in Musikavanhu’s campain team

Addmore Hwarare

… as Gono quits in protest against Hwarare involvement

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Farai Musikavanhu’s Chiredzi West campaign has hit turbulent waters after Rtd Maj Faster Gono left in protest against the involvement of Addmore Hwarare whom he accuses of corruption
Gono, who is secretary general of the powerful Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers Union (ZSMIWU), withdrew from the campaign team saying he could not work with a person who almost ruined the workers’ union during his time at the helm.
He was annoyed after Hwarare, who joined Musikavanhu’s campaign team last week, addressed a rally that was attended by the Zanu PF provincial leadership and war veterans in Ward 27, Mutirikwi, in Triangle.
Afterwards, Gono told TellZim News that involving Hwarare in the campaign was political suicide because thousands of sugarcane plantation workers, who form the bulk of Chiredzi West voters, do not want anything to do with him.
“I totally disassociated myself and the union from the campaign the very day our provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira invited Cde Hwarare to present his ill-gotten donations to the party during the rally.
“Remember, workers are still footing the costs of Hwarare’s $300 000 Fidelity debacle. Here is a man who burnt the ZSMIWU offices to destroy evidence. It’s a shame that such a person is allowed to join us. I cannot allow myself to be associated with such corruption,” said Gono.
When contacted for comment, Hwarare justified his presence on Musikavanhu’s campaign trail, saying the party leadership had asked him to do so.
“I was asked by the province to campaign for Musikavanhu because he is facing hard times in Hippo Valley and Triangle. I am a sniper of war and I was a successful commissar for more than 10 years. I know how to execute that duty,” said Hwarare.
On his part, Musikavanhu referred all questions back to Gono, saying he did not want to be involved in a personal dispute between two people.
“It’s better to ask Captain Gono because I think there are some misunderstanding between him and some party leaders. I personally am on good terms with Captain Gono,” said Musikavanhu
Other members of Musikavanhu’s campaign team include Jevas Masosota and Ronald Ndava.politics

Aspiring MDC-T Mutare MP fails to find name on voters’ roll

TellZimNews
-
0
Aspiring MDC-T Mutare MP fails to find name on voters’ roll

Lynnette Mudewe

Shingirai Vambe

MUTARE – MDC-T (Khupe) aspiring Dangamvura – Chikanga parliamentary candidate, Lynnette Mudewe told journalists last Friday that her name could not be found on the voters’ roll on the day of the nomination court at the Mutare Magistrate’s Court.
“My name did not appear on the voter’s role and only after providing my registration slip, the official contacted the command centre for confirmation and then I filed my papers,” said Mudewe.
She was speaking at a panel discussion organised by MISA Zimbabwe in Mutare on June 15, one day after the nomination court.
Mudehwe also revealed that after she registered to vote, she received an sms from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) with her correct details.
She accused the electoral management body of doing a shoddy job, saying her experience pointed to a situation where many people who registered to vote could be missing from the voters’ roll.
“Why did Zec waste millions of dollars to acquire a system they can’t operate?” quipped Mudehwe, suggesting that many people could be turned away on voting day.
“As much as we appreciate the digital era we are in, Zec seems not able to efficiently use the BVR system and these elections could be the worst after Tobaiwa Mudede,” charged Mudewe.
There have been conflicting reports on the release of the voters’ roll, with opposition political parties piling pressure upon Zec to reveal the electronic version of the roll.
The electoral administration body itself, however, has been sending mixed signals saying the voters’ roll will be released at an appropriate moment. It later said only the printed copies will be available to stakeholders once the printing work is done.
The MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has threatened to stop the elections if Zec does not play ball, accusing the body of working in cahoots with Zanu PF to rig the elections through the voters’ roll.politics

CIO harass EU observers

TellZimNews
-
0
CIO harass EU observers

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – In an act of unprofessionalism and overzealousness, a member of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) allegedly harassed accredited European Union (EU) election observers who are in Chiredzi district, Masvingo province for a pre-election ground scanning.
This week, a CIO operative identified as Innocent Ncube is alleged to have harassed two EU observers; Christophe Menou from France and Fridarike Santner from Austria who are in Chiredzi district on an observer mission ahead of elections slated for July 30.
It is alleged that Ncube interrogated Menou and Santner, forced them to surrender their passports and EU badges that he then photocopied before handing them back.
Though the matter was not reported to the police, Santner confirmed the development to TellZim News and said she had since communicated with the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Philippe Van Damme over the matter.
“Yes, we got harassed and we have since lodged our complaint with our office. You can get in touch with the ambassador he will furnish you with more details,” said Santner.
Efforts to get comment from Van Damme were, however, fruitless by the time of going to print.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on record encouraging international election observers to come and observe the upcoming elections, saying the new government had nothing to hide.
Although Ncube himself could not be reached for comment but the District Intelligence Officer for Chiredzi, Joseph Urimbo tried to water down the allegations saying that was not the way the organisation operated and hastened to say he was yet to receive that complaint.
“What I know is that our officer was invited to a Joint Operations Command (JOC) meeting and the meeting went on smoothly.  If that incident happened after the meeting, I wouldn’t know because we have not received any complaint at our offices. However, I still need to confirm but that is not the way we operate,” said Urimbo.
Opposition political parties have in the past castigated the often arrogant and sometimes wayward behaviour of some CIO operatives, saying their record of intimidation was a bane for free, fair and credible elections.top news

People With Disabilities Speak Out on the Informal Sector at ZCIEA Townhall

TellZimNews
-
0
People With Disabilities Speak Out on the Informal Sector at ZCIEA Townhall

ZCIEA President,Lorraine Sibanda, addresses vendors on the importance of engaging the political candidates(seated behind her) on informal sector development

Shingirai Hwande
The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association (ZCIEA) in partnership with the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) hosted a town hall meeting on 13 June 2018 where informal traders ,who included are large community of people with disabilities (PWD), interacted with aspiring candidates for the 2018 harmonised elections at Mucheke Hall in Masvingo.
The town hall meeting was attended by local vendors, cross border traders, aspiring candidates and other interested parties. The informal workers had the opportunity to ask questions after each aspiring candidate presented his/her manifesto, a blue print which outlines the party’s policy and procedure in tackling certain issues.
During the Masvingo townhall one of the vendors asked People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) aspiring councillor for Ward 2, Kamurai Mutendi:
“Why do elected councillors implement policies without the consulting residents and vendors?”
In response, Mutendi assured the audience that his party will involve vendors in implementing policies that affect their (vendors) livelihoods.  Although Mutendi promised to give free education and free medical services to people with disabilities once elected, they still expressed their concerns and complaints in relation to the way they (PWDs) were being treated in the informal sector.
“Disabled people in the informal sector are always abused and stigmatised, hence their contribution to the economy is undermined,’ stated one of the PWD participants.
The people with disabilities thanked ZCIEA for organising such a forum which gave them a voice to speak against stigmatisation and for their concerns to be heard by the aspiring councillors and parliamentarians as people contributing to the economy through informal trading.
ZCIEA and CIPE are centred on promoting better and sustainable livelihoods for less privileged people who economically strive to make a living. ZCIEA was established in 2002 and it seeks to lobby and advocate for issues affecting informal traders.  CIPE is based in Washington DC, United States of America and it also works with partners to find locally driven solutions to problems that affect the lives of millions of people.ZCIEA hopes to hold these political candidates accountable to the promises they made during the townhall. Speaking during the event, ZCIEA President Lorraine Sibanda said,
“it is important that we meet with the candidates and know what they are willing to do for us. We need to know what measures they will put in place when they are in power and we, as an organization will be there to see that they fulfill the promises that they made today.”
The Masvingo townhall was the first of the five townhalls to be held by ZCIEA across Zimbabwe this June.local

Chirima High pupils victimised over TellZim story

TellZimNews
-
0
Chirima High pupils victimised over TellZim story

…as more allegations against school head emerge
Brighton Chiseva
BIKITA – Following the recent publication of a story by TellZim News titled ‘Chirima High pupils up in arms against school head’, some ‘A’ level children have been forced to write reports as they are suspected of leaking the story.
The story, which revealed allegations of mismanagement and abuse of school funds by Chirima High School head, Henry Mugwira, has opened floodgates of more complaints against him.
It has now been learnt that there is now a big witch hunt targeting teachers and pupils who are suspected to have leaked details to TellZim News.
Sources said dozens of form six pupils have been asked to write reports on the matter and there are teachers too who have also drawn Mugwira’s ire.
 “Acting on the headmaster’s instructions, the deputy headmaster and the senior master asked most ‘A’ level pupils to write reports and name those who leaked the information to the media.
“There is widespread fear among pupils because they could be expelled from school for an offence they did not commit,” said the source.
Meanwhile, another parent has since came forward claiming that he was forced to transfer US$60 to Mugwira’s EcoCash wallet after his child lost an ‘A’ level accounts book in 2015.
“We contributed towards the purchase of the book which was quoted at King Jays bookshop at Nyika growth point but the book was never bought. For several times, I called the bookshop to find out if the book was indeed bought but was told it was never bought. I have always doubted that the book could cost that much,” said the parent.
When contacted for comment, Mugwira played hard to get at first, but finally admitted the school had launched an investigation after bare facts were laid before him.
“People are trying to tarnish my name by falsehoods. There is a teacher I suspect is spreading these falsehoods so that he can take over the job perhaps.  Investigations are underway to get to the bottom of the matter,” said Mugwira.
Masvingo Provincial Education Director (PED) Zedius Chitiga was not available to comment as he was said to be out of town.education

Chirima High pupils up in arms against school head

TellZimNews
-
0
Chirima High pupils up in arms against school head
Chirima High School head, Henry Mugwira

…’school head uses personal EcoCash number to receive school fees’

Brighton Chiseva
BIKITA – Chirima High ‘A’ level pupils are up in arms against their school head, Henry Mugwira, whom they accuse of misusing school funds.
The pupils have since resolved not to attend morning assemblies as part of their protest against the alleged abuse.
Sources told TellZim News pupils are complaining that the school head uses his personal EcoCash number to receive school fees and there is no meaningful development taking place.
“Pupils complain that the school head does not immediately give receipts when one has paid his/her fees. There are suspicions that he takes the money for his own personal use first and then replaces it when it is convenient for him,” said the source.
Others said Mugwira does not buy original textbooks, but employs his people to do photocopies that are then given to pupils.
“The photocopied textbooks are hardly readable. We pay money so that the school can buy original books but the head always takes the cheaper route and pockets the balance,” said one parent.
Others complained that for a long time, the school has made no progress on completing its sciences laboratory project.
When contacted for comment, Mugwira denied knowledge of the allegations and said everything was going on smoothly at the school.
“There is nothing like that here and everything is fine. Those telling you that want to tarnish our good reputation. We were recently audited and we are in the process of electrifying our school.
“Of course, pupils do complain about other issues here and there but we talk and iron out their concerns and move on,” said Mugwira.
Bikita acting District Schools Inspector (DSI), Chioneso Maradza said she was yet to get the report and will do investigations to establish what was going on.
“I have not received any report from Chirima. I was there today (Tuesday) monitoring examinations, but I will do investigations soon,” said Maradza.local

2018 elections: People with disabilities who registered as candidates

TellZimNews
-
0
2018 elections: People with disabilities who registered as candidates
Vengai Kurunzirwa

Moses Ziyambi 

MASVINGO – Three people with disabilities last week successfully filed their papers with the nomination court to contest in the upcoming elections, raising hopes that the disability community will have a greater voice in issues of governance.
Henry Chivhanga will contest for the Chivi Central parliamentary seat on the MDC Alliance ticket. He will have to beat five other competitors; Ephraim Gwanongodza of Zanu PF, Esau Menganai of NCA, Joseph Chijaka of MDC-T (Khupe), Brighton Sharara (PRC) and Cleopas Mbangure of ZIPP for him to make it to parliament.
Chivhanga has worked with the disability community for a long time and his commitment to a friendlier public space for people with disabilities can be seen in the work he has done as leader of the Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (Dact).
There is Mucharairwa Mugidho who is the alliance’s women’s quota proportional representation candidate for Masvingo.
Rasphine Gudo is representing the coalition as a senatorial candidate for Manicaland province while Dennis Mudzingwa is a candidate in the Midlands.
In Masvingo Urban Ward 5, Vengai Kurunzirwa will contest against such candidates as Daniel Mberikunashe of MDC Alliance, Wanzai of Zanu PF and Admire Mufamba of People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC).
Kurunzirwa has a remarkable record working to improve the conditions of people with disabilities, and has made a mark himself as an articulate speaker during the course of the Young Voices community project.
The community project was meant to improve awareness and understanding of disability issues especially among traditional leaders and other influential community leaders.
In Ward 7, sight-impaired Jori is contesting as an independent candidate against Richard Musekiwa of the MDC Alliance, Talent Majoni of Zanu PF and others.
Asked what he wanted to achieve by running for political office, Kurunzirwa said it was time for change, pledging to champion disability, youth and women’s issues in council.
“People with disabilities need a fairer representation in council so that their issues can be articulated better. We need public places and buildings that are friendlier to us and that can only be achieved if we give it attention right from the planning phase. Corrective measures have to be made on all existing public buildings and other infrastructure so that their use is not discriminatory.
“I however do not intend to be a councillor for one particular group alone, but would work for the good of all the residents. The vendor policy needs to be revised so that we don’t chase around our parents who are trying to make a living on the streets without providing a suitable alternative market place for them,” said Kurunzirwa.
When asked about his own personal thoughts on the increased interest to seek political office by people with disabilities, Chivhanga said the new trend was encouraging.
“For the first time, there is a clear demonstration and evidence of the willingness to mainstream persons with disability into politics in the MDC Alliance. It was difficult to reach where we are so we congratulate our coalition for this feat and, as the disability fraternity, we are really encouraged by that gesture.
“I urge the people of Zimbabwe to support people with disabilities in the elections. They have the merit, skills and capacity to deliver,” said Chivhanga.
Disability activist, Nasper Manyau said she hoped all candidates with disabilities will win so that they will be in a better position to drive change.
“We have a long way to go. The government must domesticate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities if we are to have the kind of fair opportunity and representation that is desired. There is need to urgently meet the President so that we engage each other on the importance of these issues,” said Manyau.top news

1...660661662...971Page 661 of 971