Samukelisiwe Ngwenyama

ZVISHAVANE – Mental health advocacy group Afr-I-CAN in Me has embarked on a project called The Mental Illness Rainbow Awareness Project as part of its wider efforts to bring awareness on mental health challenges.
Afr-I-CAN in Me director Ropa Mzari said although the project started in July, interest among stakeholders was rapidly growing as people were now keener than before to explore the subject which for long had been shrouded in superstitions.
“For each month, there is a selected theme and colour to help spread awareness. Awareness ribbons, hats, beanies, T-shirts and ties can all be used in this awareness project. We are currently running with the theme, ‘Self-Injury Awareness’ which is regarded as another form of a mental illness,” Mzari told TellZim News.
She said self-injury referred to self-inflicted harm that people may do on their own bodies but without any suicidal intentions.
“Some people injure themselves by severe scratching, burning themselves, hair-pulling, self-poisoning and bruising. Most of these are done on areas of the body that can be easily hidden, but some people do it on parts that are visible to everyone.
“It is important to be on the look-out for people who get involved in this behavior as they could do more damage to their bodies. Treatment can be sought from psychologists.
“Alongside the theme for each month, we continue with the “Stigma Must Fall” theme because there is still a lot that society needs to learn and know concerning mental illnesses although of late there has been more open talk about mental illnesses,” Mzari said.
She encouraged churches, schools, non-profit organisations and the general public to help people living with mental health challenges and support the awareness campaign.local

Nyasha Marumbi

MASVINGO – City of Masvingo has partnered Masvingo Polytechnic to launch a property survey as a means to clear the way for improved service delivery for residents
Objectives of the survey centre on enumerating all property in town, to document all properties and to make recommendations on improving service delivery.
In his speech at the launch of the survey on Thursday last week, City of Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze said the partnership between the city council and the polytechnic will help to improve service delivery.
“My council has decided to carry out a property survey for the whole city. In a bid to improve service delivery, urban local authorities are carrying out peer reviews to assess each other on the quality of services being consumed by residents. These services vary from provision of water, liquid waste management, refuse collection, housing delivery, e.t.c.
“For my council to offer efficient service delivery, it requires accurate data but available data on the ground is either incomplete or outdated and this has justified the carrying out of this survey,” said Fidze.
In order to achieve the objective of improved service delivery, Fidze said, council should tap into the expertise that exists at Masvingo Polytechnic.
Masvingo Polytechnic principal Evans Musara said the college was in full support of the partnership and will work to ensure it success.
“I also want to assure you that the team has all the requisite competencies and experience to see to it that this project is done to the satisfaction of our partner and all other stakeholders in this project,” said Musara.
He also urged all residents of Masvingo to co-operate with the enumerators who will be visiting their properties by providing all the information requested.local

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader Morgan Tsvangirai announced that his party will not go for primary elections ahead of 2018 general elections and even bragged that he would personally hand-pick the senatorial seats candidates. We must say what a shame!
The party is widely accepted as a pro-democracy party and one would wonder why Tsvangirai and his top allies want to exhibit such dictatorial tendencies now. Tsvangirai has been on record accusing President Robert Mugabe of being a dictator but, as it appears, the MDC-T leader is the actual dictator because Mugabe has never barred Zanu PF from going for elections.
To say primary elections would divide MDC-T is lazy thinking. MDC-T members have the right to elect candidates of their choice at primaries, candidates that will represent them at the 2018 general elections but Tsvangirai wants to take that right away while hiding behind a finger. People can only be divided if they do not have a strong leader and Tsvangirai is to blame for the mess in the party; primary elections are not to blame.
His thinking confirms that he is indeed weak, both physically and intellectually, and banning primary elections will not help his situation. He should rather allow MDC-T members to exercise their right by voting for candidates of their choice. Imposing candidates, like what Tsvangirai said would do on senatorial seats, is even more disastrous as it may lead to a protest vote.
Tsvangirai therefore, must stop imposing candidates and be a true democrat. Zanu PF would go to party with his silly miscalculations and that might cost MDC-T heavily next year.  It is high time Tsvangirai finds real problems that are dividing the party instead of banning primaries.
Many former MDC-T supporters accuse Tsvangirai of being a dictator and this recent announcement seems to vindicate them. It is a fact that contenders seldom find common ground easily and if that is then taken as a problem, then Tsvangirai will simply impose his own favourites and get away with it. We call upon Tsvangirai to lead by example and be a true democrat.local

Vendors during Dhalas funeral procession

Zvishavane Tailors Cooperative members

ZVISHAVANE – Members of the Zvishavane Tailors Cooperative are beaming with confidence in the future after successfully holding their first Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Zvishavane recently.
The cooperative, which was formed on July 26, 2016, comprises 17 members but many more tailors are showing interest of joining the cooperative.
Speaking at the meeting, Zvishavane district business and cooperative development officer in the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives Development, Toverengwa Chitanda applauded the dedication and commitment shown by members.
“I am humbled by your commitment and dedication, you have started something that is unique in the whole of the Midlands province. You need to be faithful and honour your subscriptions.  I have noted a lot of positives in your cooperative from the short period you have started,” said Chitanda.
He further said that the group was one of the fastest growing cooperatives in the province and encouraged members to keep the momentum, highlighting on how a cooperative should operate.
Speaking to TellZim News, Zvishavane Taylors Cooperative chairperson Timothy Mudoti Mukomberanwa said the cooperative had since asked the Zvishavane Town Council to provide land for the setting up of a factory.local

ZVISHAVANE – The Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Patrick Zhuwao last week presided over the graduation of 218 youths from the Dadaya National Youth Service centre and said plans were in place to rename the centre after deceased national hero George Rutanhire.
Rutanhire, who is said to be the ‘godfather’ of the National Youth Service, died on August 19 and was buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
Zhuwao also said there were plans to establish youth centres in every constituency in order to promote youth empowerment.
 “There are plans to open up youth centres in every constituency under the name Youth Economic Empowerment Centre and these centres would feed vocational training centres with graduates.
 “We are planning to rename Dadaya School after the late godfather of the National Youth Service, George Rutanhire,” said Zhuwao.
Commander of the Dadaya training centre Commandant Mavhiki explained the aims of the training and the programmes the trainees were doing as well as the challenges encountered during the course.
“We have 218 trainees who are graduating; 182 males and 76 females and amongst these trainees, we have two degree holders, five diploma holders and several holders of national certificates.
“The training emphasised entrepreneurship programmes that are aimed at creating economic champions out of trainees. The centre grooms youths into patriotism,” said Mavhiki.local