…seething party executive members storm TellZim News

…Matutu, Fidze will never represent our party

Upenyu Chaota

Irked by a story published in TellZim News last week exposing a clandestine plot to oust all the sitting MDC-T Masvingo urban councillors through imposition of new candidates, the district chairperson Murangamwa Chanyau and provincial administrator Peter Chigaba stormed the newspaper’s offices and threw a fit of rage, accusing the paper of peddling a Zanu PF agenda.

Chigaba and Chanyau took turns to fire expletives while demanding to see who had written the story headlined ‘MDC-T Masvingo plots coup on sitting councillors’.

The duo drove an Isuzu truck which was emblazoned with party colours and logo into TellZim News’ premises, with a visibly drunk Chanyau, without bothering to provide the slightest sliver of proof, claiming that the newspaper is being bribed by Zanu PF to fight MDC-T.

The two went into overdrive accusing the paper of doing the bidding for former MDC-T legislator for Masvingo Urban, Tongai Matutu while disparaging his rival Takanayi Mureyi. Much of their theatrics at the offices was captured on video.

“Munoda change here imi? Change yacho inouya sei kana muchinyora muchidai. Muri kutengwa neZanu (PF) imi. (Do you want change in this country? How can change be possible when you write stories like this? You are being bribed by Zanu to write this trash) We expect Herald kuti idaro kwete imi (We expect Herald to write such negative stories, and not you),” charged Chigaba.

In his tirade, Chanyau, who was the most vocal, accused all in the newsroom of receiving bribes from Matutu whom he claimed was buying beer for them.

“Manje Matutu wenyu haatongi even (Hubert) Fidze wacho. Matutu is not MDC (Matutu and Fidze will never represent the party),” charged Chanyau.

Fidze is the current City of Masvingo mayor and councillor for Ward 6, but his position, as well as those held by four other sitting MDC-T councillors, has been earmarked for somebody else who is favoured by a faction of new comers.

“Munotadza kunyora about Zanu PF; hamuna kudzidza mose imi. Manje MDC ichangotonga chero mukainyora zvakashata (You are writing bad about us instead of Zanu PF. You are not educated at all – we are going to rule this country),” said Chanyau seething with anger.

TellZim News editor Passmore Kuzipa managed to douse the fire by telling the duo that the paper did not pander to the whims of any political party; whether MDC or Zanu PF, but was guided by the journalism principles of non-partisanship, balance, fairness among many others.

Kuzipa, who is also the Masvingo provincial chairman for the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) said the media must not have sacred cows.

“We have people who want to be politicians and journalists at the same time; such people must go to journalism school first before they cause chaos in newsrooms. We do not have sacred cows but we are guided by journalism ethics of non-partisan reporting, balance, fair and accurate among many others. We pardon these overzealous politicians but we encourage them to go to school so that they may have an appreciation of how the media operate,” said Kuzipa.

Anesushe Mamhute

CHIREDZI – Vendors in the town feel they are being used as political fodder by prospective candidates with interests in the Chiredzi West parliamentary seat, TellZim News has learnt.

At the root of their disgruntlement is the power struggle between current council chairperson Francis Moyo and his rival Farai Musikavanhu.

Vendors say the rivalry has seen them being used as political pawns.

At a meeting convened by the informal traders along Msasa Road last week, vendors said the tussle between Moyo and Musikavanhu was now affecting them.

Moyo is accused of ‘misleading’ vendors that the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo had reversed Operation Restore Order and had authorised that they be allowed to go back to their undesignated selling points.

Musikavanhu, on the other hand, is blamed for apparently failing to complete the market structures that he volunteered to build for vendors opposite N. Richards Hardware.

“Moyo misled us by claiming that July Moyo had authorised that we go back to our old selling points where we had been removed through Operation Restore Order. He did that just for political expediency just like Musikavanhu did when he gave us false hope that we will have proper market stalls in no time,” said one trader.

Solomon Ndarowa, who chairs an association of the vendors, revealed that Moyo had come to him with a folder purportedly containing a letter from the minister authorising vendors to continue selling their wares wherever they wanted.

“Moyo came to me with a folder which had papers but he declined to show them to me though he claimed there was a letter from the minister.

“I then approached the office of the District Administrator to get clarification and I was told no letter of that nature had been received,” said Ndarowa.

A vendor who preferred anonymity said politicians should not be allowed to play around with vendors’ vulnerabilities for political gain.

“All those politicians who seek to be voted into office should come out clear but not exploit our fears for their own selfish interests,” said the trader.

Chiredzi West has emerged as a flashpoint for serious, and sometimes dishonest political contestation among ruling Zanu PF party politicians, with incumbent Member of Parliament Darlington Chiwa fighting to defend his seat.

CHIPINGE – The revived United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ) school choir competitions recently held at Chikore High Schools have been described as critical in the promotion of worship music culture among school children.

Participants in the competitions included such schools as Mount Selinda, Chikore, Emerald, Middlerands, Chinaa and Watershed as well as others under the UCCZ banner.

Danster Mundeta of Chikore Mission praised the competitions, saying they amounted to the revival the old worship choir culture long lost back in the 1980s or perhaps in the 1960s.

“We are pleased that people have come to realise the importance of bringing this culture back, all in the name of advancing the word of the Lord among our children,” said Mundeta.

The event was sponsored by prominent businessman Philemon Mlambo, a former Chikore High School pupil and devout UCCZ member.

The event was graced by UCCZ president Freeman Ngadziore and other senior UCCZ members, pastors, school heads and their deputies, teachers, former pupils and members of the UCCZ education council among many others.

Mount Selinda emerged as the best choir, followed by Chikore while Emerald Secondary School finished at number three.

Chikore High choir master, Taurai Mukutyu said he was content with the second prize as it came at a price of hard work against strong competitors.

“We worked very hard. Our competitors were very good so we are pleased with our current achievement although the ultimate objective is to keep on improving,” said Mukutyu.

Chikore High School head, Stella Mudiwa said she was pleased by the performance of her team in particular and the organisation of the competitions in general.

“It is humbling that we were hosts of such a grand event and everything went well. We congratulate the winners and encourage all others to keep on working hard,” said Mudiwa.

She thanked Mlambo for committing his time and resources to sponsor the competitions that she said played a part in promoting the culture of Ndau people as the hymns were sung in their language.