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TSCZ engages journalists in fight against road carnage

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…drivers urged to take full responsibility

Clever Taperamoyo

HARARE – The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) last week organised a road safety workshop for journalists from diverse media houses as part of efforts to promote safer driving habits.
The workshop was held at Rainbow Towers where it was agreed that media are critical stakeholders in raising awareness on road carnage as well as in advocacy work against the problem.
In his speech, TSCZ information and communication manager Tatenda Chinoda said it was sad that people were quick to blame everything and everyone else except human error when an accident occurs.
“When a road traffic crash occurs or is reported in the news, people tend to point fingers at the police, the roads, Zinara, municipal traffic police, tyres, stray animals, evils spirits – black spot mentality, the other driver, pedestrians or anything else in between. It is time for drivers to take full responsibility for their actions on the road if we are to stop the road carnage,” said Chinoda
He also said some of the main causes of road carnages included drinking and driving, speeding, tyre bursts, and errors made on overtaking.
“What is missing in the majority of our road users is road safety culture which ensures that we are always conscious about risks inherent in using the road,” he said.
Chinoda also challenged the media to report factually and objectively about road crashes so that the public can have a better understanding of how to better make use to the country’s roads.
According to the ZRP Traffic National Branch statistics, 96 percent of the 2016 festive season road traffic crashes were attributed to human error while the remaining four percent was caused by vehicle defects.
It is also said in the 692 fatal crashes that were recorded in between January and July this year, 930 people were killed while 4222 were injured.local

Tongaat Hullet exports 18 000 tons of sugar to America

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Tongaat Hullet executives Chinhuru and Mhere (in company T-shirt) hand over a prize to Mr Gwatirera(holding an envelope) who was named the best farmer in Chipiwa
…targets 600 000 tons by 2019

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe (THZ) has encouraged sugarcane farmers to improve yields, saying the export market was expanding as the company was now set to export 18 00 tons of processed sugar to the United States.
Many small scale sugarcane farmers in the Lowveld are contracted to the sugar giant which is the sole miller and buyer of all cane.
Addressing farmers at a field day organised by the Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station (ZSAES) in Chipiwa plot 276 K Block in Mkwasine, THZ executive responsible for operations, Aiden Mhere said the sugar industry accounted for 5 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said the company expected to produce a record 600 000 tons of sugar in the 2018-2019 season from the current 350-400 000 so that American demand can be consistently met.
“Our international markets are increasing. We supply half of the sugar consumed in Botswana and Namibia. We received a quota to supply America with 18 000 tons of sugar as from this year. We also export our sugar to Europe,” said Mhere.
He said production in Chipiwa had dropped from 114 tons per hectare in 1994 to current average yields of 37 tons per hectare.
“You should convert farming into a business regardless of land size. An efficiently organised farmer with only 10 hectares can produce more than the one with 20 hectares but disorganised.
“In China, someone with a one hectare plot is a rich farmer. Others have one acre plots and 0.5 hectare plots but they use their land intensively for better output,” said Mhere.
Chipiwa was first developed by THZ and government soon after Independence and was housing 191 sugarcane farmers who were using overhead irrigation.
About 1 910 hectares of land was developed with each farmer getting 10 hectares and they were performing better than those with bigger portions of land.
Recently, Canelands Trust injected about US$12 million to rehabilitate Chipiwa as irrigation pipes were being stolen.
Farmers there are currently using flood irrigation and their output, which had gone down to a measly 37 tons per hectare in 2010, rose to 76 tons per hectare in 2014.local

Homeless children qualify for national Starbrite

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Homeless children playing mbira

Itai Muzondo

MASVINGO – Mentored from the streets of Masvingo by passionate music lecturers Phenias Magwati and Danmore Jamanda, some homeless children living on the streets of Masvingo are aiming higher than what their lives can ordinarily offer.
A few months ago, the children decided to take up music lessons offered by the African Musical Art Charitable Centre (AMACC) as a life skill and they recently exceeded even their own expectations by qualifying for the Starbrite national competitions.
Magwati told TellZim News the homeless children had made enormous progress in their new-found career, a clear demonstration that no tragic social background can forever keep people down if they have some determination.
“The guys sailed through at the Starbrite provincial auditions and that is proof that they have immense potential. This also shows that with hard work, people can do great things for the rehabilitation of such less fortunate members of our society as homeless children,” said Magwati.
He said he was looking forward to members of the public coming on board to support the children in any way so that their stay at the competitions will be comfortable.
“We haven’t secured the resources needed to transport the children and house them at the competitions but we are very confident that well-wishers will come and help just as they donated the musical instruments we are using,” said Magwati.entertainment

Roads levy yields results for Masvingo

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Machako cuts the ribbon while Mayor Fidze and other people look on during the commissioning of the road equipment

Clever Taperamoyo

MASVINGO – Director in the office of the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Kudakwashe Machako on Monday commissioned earthmoving equipment procured by City of Masvingo using funds raised through the roads levy.
The levy was introduced in 2015 amid strong criticism and objections from residents who felt hard pressed by the city council. The levy ran for six months at a cost of US$3 per household.
Addressing city of Masvingo councillors, management, employees and residents who gathered at the Civic Centre to witness the event, Machako praised residents for their cooperation which made it possible for the equipment to be bought.
“Infrastructure development and maintenance is critical for development and we support the close working relationship between council and residents as it made it possible for these vehicles to be bought,” Machako said.
He said it was out of that realisation that council was trying to improve the condition of roads which are taking a battering as a result of poor funding from the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (Zinara) and poor council revenue inflows.
City of Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze also thanked residents for paying towards the levy despite the difficult economic conditions they face.
“We understand the difficulties that our residents face. As council, we would like to thank them for their support which allowed council to buy this equipment,” Fidze said.
Council says more than US$489 000 was raised through the levy and the equipment bought are a motorised grader, front end loader, tipper and a refuse compactor at a total value of US$425 123.
A recent study of the city’s roads under National Road Condition Survey revealed that the city had a road network of 257 km, only four kilometres of which is in good condition,.
A total of 153 km of the road network is considered to be in fair condition while the rest is in poor condition.local

Zanu PF youths warn war veterans against de-campaigning Mugabe

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From left is Mike Taderera, Persie Mukwata, Talent Chivange, Biggie Kwangwa and Willie Mwarakuza
…we will come down hard on Mutsvangwa

Moses Ziyambi

MASVINGO – A group of Zanu PF youths today, September 15, held a press conference at Chevron Hotel where they denounced Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) chairperson Chris Mutsvangwa, warning that they would soon deal with him decisively should he continue undermining the first family.
Some of the youths present at the press conference were Talent Chivange of the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC), Zanu PF youth league member Persie Mukwata, National Youth Service Graduates Association (NYSGA) deputy provincial commander Willie Mwarakuza, Chamber of SMEs secretary general Biggie Kwangwa and student leader Mike Taderera.
The group, believed to be strongly linked to the G40 faction in Zanu PF’s vicious succession wars, said Mutsvangwa, ZNLWA secretary general Victor Matemadanda, spokesperson Douglas Mahiya and political commissar Francis Nhando were masquerading to make it appear like they had broad support from war veterans when, in actual fact, they had no support at all.
The youths read out a prepared statement which, among many other things, accused Mutsvangwa of harbouring ‘imperialist tendencies.’
 “We as the revolutionary youth of Zimbabwe, condemn in the strongest possible terms utterances by one Mr Mutsvangwa to the effect that he and his so-called A Team will be out to de-campaign our iconic president and revolutionary President Mugabe and Zanu PF in the forthcoming watershed election. Before we go any further, we would like to categorically state that Mutsvangwa’s imperialist tendencies will be resisted heavily by the young people,” Chivange said.
Mutsvangwa was earlier this week quoted as saying the war veterans, whom he termed the ‘A Team’, would campaign for anyone else other than Zanu PF if Mugabe did not immediately call an extra-ordinary congress to elect his successor.
This, Mutsvangwa said, would deal a blow to the G40 faction which he claimed had hijacked the party and wanted to smuggle in Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi through the back door to succeed Mugabe at the expense of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“We know that Mutsvangwa is part of an organised syndicate which is bent on destabilising the peace that our mothers and fathers fought for and our peace as a country. As young progressive youths, we will not sit back and watch. I think we are 67 percent of the total population and it is such a disgrace for Mutsvangwa and company to think that young people of this country are that feeble to leave him and his four colleagues to continue saying their rubbish,” said Chivange.
Responding to questions from the floor on how exactly they were going to ‘deal’ with Mutsvangwa, the youths said they will not engage violence but may ask that he and his group be arrested.
“We thank the President and amai vedu venyika Dr Grace Mugabe and all her efforts to empower the women of this beautiful nation. May it be known that it is our duty as young people to safeguard President Mugabe and the first family’s legacy and we cannot afford to let condescending wafflers like Mutsvangwa and company to destroy such a towering legacy.”news

Mugabe offside on Zvobgo

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Umm the fights in Zanu PF have since become so dangerous that President Mugabe should declare it a national disaster now. Yes, Mugabe should declare it a national disaster chaiyo because Mapombi has a feeling that we will visit the national heroes’ acre more often if what we are seeing now is not addressed urgently.
Many people think Mapombi is crazy but those who cared listening to me some years back vakabatsirikana except few Cdes who think they know politics more than I do. Or maybe they are full of themselves that they thought they will never take advice from a mad woman.
The likes of Emmerson Dambudzo (ED) and other Lacoste supporters chose to give a deaf ear but nhasi vari mugehena chaimo. They are even crying and pleading with the poor Mapombi to assist them even with just a drop of water because the heat has since become unbearable.
Kkkkkkk isu zvedu pakadai ndopatinotoita ngano dzatsuro nagudo tototi tsviraimo sekuru; tsviraimo lacoste; tsviramo Dambudzo. But iwo mamwe mazita enyu aya munozviunzirawo matambudziko shuwa. . . Dambudzo kkkkkk.
But Grace is now in cruising mode; I’m sure some lacoste comrades will be shown the exit door. Very soon. I am sure vana Chadzamira nana Mangwana hope hadzisi kuuya these days kkkk. But politics is indeed fun; not so long ago, these Cdes were so powerful and were literally running the show in Masvingo province but hey it seems ice cream yakavaparira.
Many people would say Grace was just being emotional for nothing in Bindura but Mapombi can safely remind you that they don’t call her Dr Gire for nothing. Of course she might be lacking wisdom like many of you think, that I am not going to dispute anywhere. But kana achitaura batai manzwi. She said vese vanoda factionalism pack your bags and go kuMasvingo or Midlands.
She said Mnangagwa also engaged in nepotism kkkkk hanzi akasiira mukadzi wake constituency makambonzwa tichitaura here isu kkkkkk politics dziye dzonakidza. So Grace confirms that Zanu PF and government are ridden with nepotism.
But Mapombi akambozvitaura kuti izvo zvoitiwa naMnangagwa zvekupa mukadzi wake constituency will backfire one day vanhu vakanditi unopenga nyarara manje mava kuzviona ka.
But I must say I was baffled by Mugabe’s speech in Bindura. Mapombi thinks Mugabe was offside by accusing the late national hero Eddison Zvobgo of being tribalist. Mapombi and many other people in Masvingo do not agree that Zvobgo was tribalist. Mapombi is convinced that those posthumous accusations against Zvobgo are informed by nothing but mere hatred and a sinister political agenda.
In fact, Zvobgo fought the injustices that were created by Mugabe himself. Firstly, why Mashonaland was divided into four provinces leaving Masvingo which is almost of the same size ichingori one province? Wasn’t that meant to channel out more resources to the Zezurus who are in Mashonaland? So who is more tribal here? Musada kutinzwa vanhu imi.
Masvingo province yaisvika kuBuhera uko but yakagurwa gurwa nevakachenjera simply because someone wanted more resources to go to Mashonaland; now each province is getting 10 percent of the national cake so Mashonaland is getting a total 40 percent in total while Masvingo yakangoti vavava ne10 percent.
Mugabe therefore, should stop accusing the likes of Zvobgo of tribalism because we know who is even more into that. After all, why giving someone a national hero status when one knows that the person was tribalist? Why attacking national heroes in public in the first place?
We know the whole idea is to portray Mnangagwa as another tribalist . . . itiranai nana Mnangagwa vapenyu not going to an extent of attacking the dead. We respect Zvobgo; maybe if he was still alive things would have been better.
We are Karanga and I must say we are very proud of that. But in the same vein, we equally respect other tribes like the Ndebele, Venda and Zezuru just to mention a few. We believe that the national cake should be distributed equally and all tribes must benefit kwete izvi zvatinoona zvekuita senge ndimi mega makairwira nyika ino.
Can someone go to Mashonaland and see the quality of agricultural infrastructure iriko and then come kuno kuMasvingo and compare. We know all these things but we never said a thing but then kana mava kuda kutiita senge mapenzi ndopatinozoti hatichada, hatichatya.
Mapombi has noticed that Gushungo 40 (G40) faction always defends its cadres. In fact, Dr Gire said there is only one faction called Lacoste in this country and there is nothing like G40. She also said Kasukuwere is not going anywhere and that Prof Moyo never abused funds from Zimdef.
This is the kind of defense and support I expect Mnangagwa to give to the Lacoste faction kwete zvekusweronyepa kuti handiizivi this and that. Mugabe told us that even at Tsholotsho, you were part of the plan but segweta wakangwara ukarega kuendako and they failed to get evidence to nail you. So the old man knows everything so why not kutongobudawo pachena defending your faction like what Dr Amai did in Bindura.
Now vana Energy Mutodi were fired; more are going to be fired especially from Masvingo in the next few weeks. Wake up Cde Croc!
Anyway, it’s almost lunch time guys let me go ndindokanga zvangu maputi angu ndidye ndizvimwire mvura zvangu. At least it’s hot these days so bananas are starting to rot kwedu kuChitima uku so tava kumbowanawo chekudya. Any news from Mphoko? Vagarisa vasina kumboshuta mafirimu this time. Hanzi namai imi maMinister kana moita misangano yenyu mudeedzewo VaMphoko kwete zvekungodeedza ED chete asi vose vari maVP kkkk. Mboko imboko!

Donovan Takaendesa shines at National One Act Play Festival

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Donovan Takaendesa

TellZim Reporter

MASVINGO – The 29th edition of the National One Act Play Festival held at Charles Austin Theatre on September 2 left local theatre artists with a lot to be proud of after Donovan Takaendesa, one of the most outstanding of all budding artists, scooped two awards.
The National One Act Play Festival is held annually in various theatre venues across the country, and it is regarded as one of the biggest event of the national theatre arts calendar.
At Charles Austin Theatre, Takaendesa, who is best known by his stage name Don Claude, bagged the Best Comio as well as the Best Supporting Actor awards for his role in Paradox.
Produced by Masvingo Arts and Theatre Club, Paradox also captivated its audiences and won two awards namely Best Production and Best Technical Play. Its director Samantha Gurira also won the Best Director award in recognition of the remarkable show of talent apparent in the play.
The awards meant that the play came ahead of many works by other theatre clubs like the Midlands State University (MSU) which came out second and Harare’s Place Reps Theatre which came out third.
Speaking to TellZim News, Takaendesa said he was humbled by the recognition which he said came as a result of the collective effort and hard work of Masvingo Arts and Theatre Club.
“That was a highlight of in my young theatre arts career and I was really happy and humbled by those awards. I however, owe all gratitude to the amazing team that I work with at the club. They really worked hard to make sure we get this recognition and my hope is that we continue along that path,” said Takaendesa.entertainment

Mapatya releases first album

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Nyasha Marumbi

Masvingo – Afro Pop singers Mandeth and Kudakwashe Maunganidze, who go by their stage name Mapatya, last week Tuesday released their first eight-track album titled Mutinhimira.
The album consists of such tracks as the hit song Kokoko, Ndiriyo, Anondipa, Mutserendende.
The album has already been launched at Star Fm, Hevoi Fm, Power Fm, ZiFM and other radio stations.
The duo used to sing in church since they were young boys, allowing congregants to nominate songs that they wanted them to perform.
Speaking to TellZim News, the youthful artists said they were inspired by local Hip hop sensation Desmond Chideme (Stunner).
The two released their first single ‘Zimba hustler’ in 2012 but the track was not as successful as had been expected. This, however, did not dissuade the brothers who continued with their work, releasing many Hip hop and Afro Pop singles before their latest offer.
Kudakwashe said he looked forward to a collaboration with Amara Brown, Andy Muridzo, ExQ before yearend.
The duo also thanked the Military Touch Movement, Mount Zion and Cash Libs records for assisting them record and release their first album.
 “We would like to thank our producers Dj Tamuka, Oskid and JP studios. We thank our parents for all the support they gave us to make this album possible. Special thanks also go to Masvingo as a community for the love and support they have for our music,” said Kudakwashe.entertainment

SulfarWilmar donates furniture to Chikomba RDC

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Minister Bimha cuts the ribbon while other dignitaries look on
Elliot Jinjika

CHIVHU – Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce and Member of Parliament for Chikomba West, Dr Mike Bimha last week commissioned two hundred benches that were donated by SurfaceWilmar to Chikomba Rural District Council.
SurfaceWilmar is a company based in Harare and Chitungwiza and it specialises in the manufacture of cooking oil.
The company was represented at the ceremony by its Human Resources manager Olice Chuma.
Dr Bimha said he sourced the benches, which are going to be used in at Jubilee Hall and Chivhu Community Hall, in response to the dilapidation at council halls.
“I was surprised pandakabvunza kuti ko furniture yakamboendepi zvikanzi tisu takaiba isu vagari veChivhu. Aiwa ngatikoshesei zvinhu zvatinazvo kuti nzvimbo yedu ibudirire nekuti muno maive monyadzisa kuita misangano takagara pasi shuwa here. Ndosaka ndakaenda kuSulfarWilmar kunotsvaga rubatsiro,” said Bimha.
Mafika Investments, a local company that was given the job to manufacture the furniture, praised Bimha for his efforts to support local manufacturers.
“We thank the minister for giving us the opportunity and supporting us. Dai aive mumwe munhu vaingobva nawo Harare ikoko akatopera asi vakaona zvakakodzera kuti malocals tiite basa racho zvinova zvatoti marketer mubasa redu,” said Mafika Investments director Ronald Mafika
Chikomba RDC chairperson Pardon Mudzimu thanked Dr Bimha for what he said was his undying support for the development of Chikomba district.business

Zvishavane man brutalises wife for reporting domestic violence


Senator Timveos visits the assault victim at Zvishavane General Hospital

Samukelisiwe Ngwenyama

ZVISHAVANE – Midlands Senator Lilian Timveos and Councillor Fatima Phiri recently rushed Theresa Siziba of Mandava Ward 3 to hospital for treatment of severe body injuries she sustained after her husband, Tatenda Chitsika allegedly bashed her as revenge for reporting an earlier physical abuse case.
Chitsika is due to appear in court this week in connection with the alleged offense.
When he allegedly committed the offence, Chitsika had reportedly just been released from prison after serving one month for beating his wife Siziba.
Sources said he was angry that Siziba had caused his imprisonment by reporting the earlier abuse case to the police. On September 3, it is said, he savagely attacked her again but this time to the point of near death.
Siziba is said to have bled through the nose and ears, with her face swollen beyond recognition and her eyes so engorged that she could not see.
During the onslaught, a neighbour who heard her helpless cries went and forced the door open and rescued her, with Chitsika fleeing the scene and spending the whole night in a nearby cemetery.
The neighbour then called Timveos and Phiri who came and fetched Siziba to hospital before reporting the matter to the police.top news