MASVINGO – School heads have expressed concern with the new curriculum which they say exposes the girl child to abuse in the name of carrying out tasks.
Presenting their grievances to the minister of education Professor Paul Mavima at a symposium held at Civic Centre, school heads represented by Masvingo Christian College head Edison Muresherwa said the new curriculum was alright but there were some grey areas which needed serious review.
“We understand the concept of tasks was borrowed from universities. At university level, you find that students do about 36 modules and they only do one research.
“The same should apply to our pupils whom we feel need to do one task to avoid the situation whereby they loiter around town during learning hours,” said Muresherwa.
He said the safety of the children particularly the girl child is not guaranteed when they visit various offices exposing them to various forms of abuses.
“At my school, I have erected a security wall to keep all my pupils inside and safe but because we have to send them out on a regular basis to do various tasks, they are now vulnerable.
“We have heard of situations where our girls are told to return after working hours so that they can be assisted. Innocently our girls would go but what if something bad happens? Who will shoulder the blame?
“We need this area to be reviewed because the tasks are taking most time for our pupils,” said Muresherwa.
Prof Mavima however said the education system of Zimbabwe was of late more on the theoretical side hence producing people who were not compatible with the practical world.
“You are not the first to raise the issue of tasks. Our education system was too theoretical. We want to create people who are innovative and can fit into the practical world. This can only be possible if we start at an early age.
“We cannot abandon tasks. We can always find a way to deal with the security of our children. No policy is perfect hence we need to continue to make adjustments until everyone is happy,” said Prof Mavima.top news

…asks for fair hearing

Upenyu Chaota

The once powerful Zanu PF Masvingo provincial women’s league boss Veronica Makonese, who fell from grace with the decimation of the G40 faction at the hands of the military-led Operation Restore Legacy, last Sunday successfully refused to be ejected from a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting, arguing it was her right, as a party member, to attend.
A passionate Zanu PF follower, Makonese – who has however already been kicked from her post – shocked even her most determined detractors when she showed up at the meeting and resolutely refused to leave.
She bulldozed her way into an earlier meeting of the provincial executive committee (PEC) but was expelled.
The elderly Makonese then sat at the doorstep waiting for the PCC meeting, all the while taunting her tormentors and challenging them to give her a fair trial instead of banishing her, much to the embarrassment of senior party officials present.
 “Ndiri munhuwo. Hamufaniri kundiita zvamuri kundiita izvi. Zanu PF musangano wedu tose. Musavenga munhu vengai mhosva. Kana ndine mhosva nditongei asi mu Zanu PF handidzingwi. (I am human so you should treat me with respect. Zanu PF is our party and if I have committed an offense I accept discipline but not to be dragged out of the party),” protested Makonese.
After the PEC, Makonese found her way into the PCC where provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira asked her to leave after the customary request for all non-PCC members to leave. Makonese however ignored all the calls to leave as well as attempts by the wider floor to sing and shout her out.
She remained seated and a security team was send to kick here out. The security team had a torrid time as Makonese stood her ground and refused to leave.
She went and bowed in front of Josaya Hungwe who did nothing to save her and advised her to comply.
Realising that the window was closing, Makonese sat on the floor and the security team tried to drag her but later gave up and allowed to stay.
She danced avidly to Kutonga Kwaro whenever it was played, and energetically joined in slogans praising President Emmerson Mnangagwa whose faction she bitterly fought before the military intervention.
In his speech later on, national political commissar Rtd Lt Gen Engelbert Rugeje said he was out to mend broken fences and forgive but will not forget.
“We will forgive but we will not forget. My job is to recruit more people into Zanu PF and not to expel. The people from Masvingo said ‘kumagumo kune nyaya’ and now that we have reached the end, some people have been caught on the wrong side and they cry foul.
“No one is bigger than the party and if the party says do this, you should listen because putting up a challenge will not help,” Rugeje.topnews

1. ◆ Summary of the PR ◆

Title: South African Youth and Religious Leaders of
6 Religions Hosted a Peace Camp for Peacebuilding
Date: November 26th, 27th, 2017 
Venue: Brahma Kumaris Meditation Centre, Durban, South Africa
Purpose: To discuss the topic of the role of the religions in achieving peace
Attachment: Immediate Press Release / Photos

6 religious leaders representing Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, African Hebrew, Rastafari, and Brahma Kumaris gathered to discuss the topic of “The role of the religions in achieving peace” in attendance with 50 youth from 26th to 27th of November in Durban, South Africa.

This camp was organized by an international NGO, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), registered in UN ECOSOC and UN DPI and carried out by 6 religious leaders who have participated in the interfaith dialogue meetings called World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Office.

The Religious Youth Peace Camp is a platform to find the cause and solution of the wars and conflicts that occur due to differences in religion and ideology. It is also a place for discussion on the role of the religions in the achievement of peace.

This peace camp in Durban was the first Religious Youth Peace Camp held in the South African region. The participants experienced various religious programs such as presentations on the culture of each religion and group discussions between religious leaders and youth.

Nishaat Siddiqi, Shaykh of Ansari Tariqa, shared the opinion about the possibility of collaboration with peacebuilding with different religions and thoughts saying “People from all walks of life and faith believed in wonders of God and formed one community. It worked before so I believe it(the harmony of all the religions) can work now.”

A volunteer of HWPL said “South Africa has a multi-religion, multi-ethnic society and as such people respect each other, but there needs to be actual peace work. This camp will have served as a reminder of the importance of the role of religious leaders and youth for peace.”

The Religious Youth Peace Camp, a part of HWPL’s peace initiatives, aims to provide a chance to experience interreligious culture based on mutual respect and open dialogue to the youth around the world. Starting with Cambodia this April, it has been held in several countries including India, Lithuania, Myanmar, and the Netherlands.