Wilson Chivhanga

Tiyani Hahlani

MASVINGO – Dream Zimbabwe (DZ) executive director Wilson Chivhanga has challenged the youths in Zimbabwe to participate in the upcoming harmonised elections as they cannot really expect to be leaders of a tomorrow they did not map.

DZ is a youth-led organisation founded in 2017 to enhance youth participation in democratic processes through promoting democratic governance, human rights and citizen participation.

Chivhanga said young people should participate by voting as well as by standing as candidates in the general elections if they are to claim their rightful stake in the affairs of the country.

“Youths cannot be the leaders of a tomorrow which they did not help shape. They can lead today by making sure that they participate in events which will shape the future,” said Chivhanga.

He also said youths tend to overlook the importance of voting and do not know that their voice is important.

He said democracy could not work without the active participation of the majority of citizens, with history having shown that a collective youth vote could actually sway an election.

Chivhanga also said he would like to partner TellZim News to have interviews and guest columns and offer public debates on youth participation in elections.

He also highlighted reasons why youths do not participate in elections, saying young people have largely been neglected in decision-making processes hence they do not see the need to participate.

He said there was a cultural phenomenon that elders should lead, adding up to discriminatory primary election entry requirements by parties and financial constraints as some of the reasons why young people are not dominant in political offices.

“Because of the financial constraints, the youth do not have a fair chance in politics as they will be doing something else to survive. Young people, as a result, find themselves playing second fiddle to dominant political players who are often older, more resourced persons,” said Chivhanga.

In Masvingo, the trend shows that many Members of Parliament (MPs) are older men, mostly in their late 40s going upwards but their campaign managers are mostly much younger men who, if better resourced, would be MPs themselves.

Tobias Zunguzira speaks during the meeting

Itai Muzondo Midlands Bureau

GWERU – The Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) recently made a bizarre claim to the effect that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had the right to kill and to forgive anyone who poses a threat to Zanu PF’s political interests.

Speaking during a national executive induction meeting held at Midlands Hotel recently, ACCZ vice president Tobias Zunguzira said the President Mnangagwa must be allowed free reign just as the Biblical King David.

“As churches, we should know that David had the power to kill and power to forgive. As churches, we mustn’t then take that privilege from our leaders saying it jeopardises free and fair elections. Let the President do all it takes to safeguard his legacy,” Zunguzira said.

Also in attendance was Johannes Ndanga who said churches must champion unity behind political leaders of the day in line with Biblical traditions.

“We took an opportunity to make our committee aware that we will be supporting Mnangagwa in the forthcoming election. We think all the journeying he is doing to market Zimbabwe is a good job and should be supported and applauded.

“Romans Chapter 13 says be under your leadership as they were put there by God. It goes on to say ‘those who are on the throne’ and that tells us no one else can come. Some say we do hero-worshiping but it’s not that as we simply do what is directly quoted from the Bible. In Shona, the closure reads, ‘varipo ivavo’ and not ‘vasipo ivavo’,” Ndaga said.

Known for his fawning attitude towards Zanu PF leaders, Ndanga late last year declared that former president Robert Mugabe would never be removed from power and would rule till death.

Masendeke Chipato in his field during the Agriseeds fiedl day

Nyasha Marumbi

Farmers in Masvingo have been encouraged to use Agriseeds’ new Zap 61 hybrid maize seed which has been seen to be suitable for much of the province’s soils and climatic conditions.

Farmers were introduced to the new seed during a field day held in the Bhani area, with many farmers expressing eagerness to try the new variety.

Agriseeds Masvingo branch salesman Onai Sibanda said Zap 61 was an early medium seed which matures after 125 – 135 days depending on the area it is planted.

Over 50 farmers were invited to witness a bumper harvest by one of the farmers in Bhani, Masendeke Chipato who produced quite a lot on his relatively small piece of land.

"Despite the hot temperatures we experienced last month, Chipato produced a bumper harvest after he planted Zap 61. We recommend this new seed as it has proven to be better than others in terms of endurance and speed of growth," Sibanda said.

Rejoice Chipato, who is wife to Masendeke, said farming was a process of continuous learning with new methods emerging all the time.

"We should move away from some of our habits of sticking to the same seed varieties that we have been growing since time immemorial and embrace new ways of farming," Chipato said.

Agriseeds sales and marketing country director, Ivan Craig also encouraged farmers to use the new seed which he said could guarantee them better yields even when the rains are not so good.

He also encouraged farmers to open their own markets and sell their produce as they are rather than to allow middleman to bring in cheap stuff in exchange for maize.

"There are a lot of benefits that can be realised from maize production so we should open our own markets and not to wait for middleman to come and buy our grain. Some of these middlemen bring cheap stuff like rice, soap and second hand clothes that are not as valuable as our own produce,” said Craig.

Precila Takabvirakare

MPANDAWANA – A 44-year old woman from Muzvimwe village under Chief Chiwara recently appeared before magistrate Edwin Marecha facing charges of chocking and throwing her six-months-old baby into Matezva Dam.

Juliet Kuzu was charged for contravening Section 48 (1) (a) of The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

Kuzu pleaded guilty to the charge and by the time of writing, the case was set to continue in the same court.

It was the State’s case, as presented by prosecutor Samuel Magobeya, that on March 05 at around 09:00 hrs, Kuzu strangled her baby and threw her into Matezva Dam.

The body of the baby was then found floating on the water by one Alfonse Mauta who reported the matter to the police, leading to Kuzu’s arrest.

The body was taken to Gutu Mission Hospital for a post-mortem and it was found that the baby died due to drowning.