CHIREDZI – Members of the Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CSFAZ) have come out guns blazing against their leaders whom they accuse of mismanaging the organisation and taking wrong investment decision leading to massive losses.
The discontent became apparent in the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) held at Polo Cross in Hippo Valley last week.
The members accused management of detouring from the association’s core business of ensuring the viability of farming ventures while investing funds in lossmaking enterprises.
One of the members, Tungamirai Rukatya, who is former Medical Superintendent at Chiredzi General Hospital, said he was not happy with the executive’s poor management of assets.

“The objective of the association is to make sure that the farmer is viable and that he is being properly represented. The Association should not engage in business where it ends up competing with its members, a situation which leads to all the problems that we have. Our trucks are making huge losses and we can’t afford that,” said Rukatya.
Another member, Veronica Makonese criticised management for allegedly stifling free speech and called for the respect of the principle of accountability.
“We don’t have freedom of speech here and that is very bad. Everyone should be free to express his/her views and our questions should be properly answered,” Makonese said.

… as association guns for Musikavanhu

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Aspiring Chiredzi West Zanu PF Member of Parliament Farai Musikavanhu, who is former agriculture director at Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe and a member of the Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CSFAZ), was blamed for the problems facing the association.
During the AGM, CSFAZ chairperson Tawanda Mafurutu and incumbent Chiredzi West MP Darlington Chiwa charged that Musikavanhu, who is now also a member of the association, had used his time at Tongaat Hullet to create the dispute between Tongaat Hullet and sugarcane farmers over Division of Proceeds (DOP).
DOP is the monetary ratio which Tongaat Hullet, as the miller of all sugarcane in Chiredzi, charges farmers for processing every tone of sugarcane into raw sugar.
In 2014, the Industry and trade ministry set the provisional DOP at 18 percent for the miller, meaning the farmer walked away with 82 percent.
However, an independent consultant called Ernst & Young was later consulted leading to recommendations that the actual rate should be 23 percent for the miller and 77 percent for the farmer.
This meant that the farmer had been unduly profiting at the expense of the miller, forcing Tongaat Hullet to institute measures to recover that money, much to the chagrin of the farmers.
At the AGM Mafurutu said he had asked Musikavanhu to help resolve the issue by giving a detailed presentation of what really transpired when he was still with the sugar giant to enable the association to seek intervention from Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“…. I told Musikavanhu that you are the architect of these problems we are facing and you need to resolve them before seeking public office. So we invited him to write a detailed report which we presented to the Vice President so he could intervene,” said Mafurutu.
Chiwa, who was also given the podium by public demand, took the opportunity to attack Musikavanhu, urging farmers not to trust him as he was the cause of all their problems.
“My operations are quite different with what aspiring candidates do. I am the centre for information and you should consult me on issues to do with policy making….Musikavanhu calculated these issues when he was still at Tongaat Hullet and the farmer is now being milked dry,” Chiwa alleged.

CSFAZ chairperson Tawanda Mafurutu, however, defended the leadership of the association and challenged members to report issues in the proper way without going public.
 “Rukatya you are my nephew and you also have a big farm and you are still borrowing inputs and you are even failing to pay your debts because of the economic challenges we have. You should have approached me and told me how we were supposed to handle the issues, rather than letting them spill out like this,” said Mafurutu.
The chairperson’s annual report indicated that the association’s two trucks failed to generate a single cent in profit last year.
“We have two trucks under our fleet and truck ABQ 6455 had one major breakdown in October 2016 and was repaired in November 2016. A total of 95 loads were ferried in the period under review giving us a total of $63641 and total expenditure of $64 540,” said Mafurutu.local

Exsto Makunzva

ZVISHAVANE – A leading school uniform company, Shear Fashion International (SFI) has boldly entered the Zvishavane business scene after establishing a new shop.
After just a few week operating in the mining town, the school wear business has already proven its mettle, with customers finding its products being of high quality.
SFI director Lovemore Njera said the future looked bright owing to the value for money that customers are guaranteed when they buy from the shop.
“We thank all our customers who have found it worthwhile to buy school wear from us with special credit going to Shabani Primary School. Our main factory is based in Kwekwe where quality school uniforms are made to the specifications of our clients.
It is through the support of our clients in Zvishavane that we have decided to bring our products closer to our local stakeholders,” said Njera.
Njera, who is an auditor by profession, used to work for Zisco Steel but got into the textile industry through his wife Sheila, a school teacher who specialised in fashion and fabrics.
“We started as a home industry in Redcliff and later opened a shop in town. Now, we have-state-of-the-art machinery and we are now competitive on the market with dozens of employees,” said Njera.local

Elliot Jinjika

CHIVHU – A businessman who owns Mukopa Enterprises operating at Vics Tarven complex was left devastated last week after thieves broke into his fully-packed shop in the dead of the night and stole goods with an estimated worth of over US$3 000.
The shop sells different types of goods from electrical appliances, furniture, clothing, jewellery and groceries.
Bags of clothing, electrical gadgets and groceries that had recently been ordered from South Africa were stolen, adding to the worries of growing crime in the small town.
“A number of goods including jewellery, electrical appliances and others with a total value of over $3000 were stolen. I cannot mention all the goods because as you can see, this shop was a jerk of all trades as I sell different goods under one roof,” said Mukopa.
Mukopa criticised the lax security in the town due to what he indicated to be misplaced priorities on the part of the police.
“The police are doing nothing. Countless similar incidences have been reported before but it is still happening every second day. They are doing nothing and nothing at all. The way they dealt with our matter was so pathetic.
“How can a professional policeman write a statement concerning a burglary case at the police camp without even bothering to go to the scene and then spend the nights at night clubs instead of patrolling areas with businesses and properties that bring money to this town,” said a furious Mukopa.
The police were not immediately available to respond to concerns that they are concentrating their energies in non-critical areas.local

ZAKA – The government is set to establish a new irrigation scheme in headman Mushaya’s area under Chief Bota, with the idea of improving agricultural production among the local people.
Last week Zaka West legislator Vincent Mawere and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Davies Marapira toured the site of the proposed irrigation scheme.
The project, which is known as the Mushaya Irrigation Scheme, would be the second biggest in the district if developed and will draw its water from Bangala Dam.
Mawere said he was happy that government had heeded calls for such a project in the area which is blessed with large water bodies that supply the Lowveld sugarcane plantations.
“Zaka is blessed with water; we have Bangala, Manjirenji and Siya dams and other smaller ones but we have not been benefiting from that water. I’m happy now that the government through the Ministry of Agriculture have noticed that,” said Mawere.
On the same note, Marapira praised Mawere for working hard to bring development to the people he represents.
“I want to assure you that the government will do its best to make this project a success. It has been on cards since 1990 before being raised again in 1997.
It is now time for implementation and the government will do whatever it takes to make it work. People are going to benefit from the Presidential Input Scheme and Command Agriculture once the project kicks off,” Marapira said.
Zaka District Administrator (DA) Victor Zinanga urged people to unite and embrace the project by providing labour when the time comes.
“Avoid gossiping, and simple politics that hinder development. Unite and make this project a success. I urge you to cooperate and provide labour for you will be the beneficiaries of this project,” said Zinanga
The irrigation measures about 100 hectares and lies along Mutirikwi River just a stone throw from the Bangala Dam wall.local

Godhat Dunira

Clever Taperamoyo

CHIVI – Kenias Kwangwari (36) of Tarisai Village under Chief Nyajena in Chivi last Thursday appeared before magistrate Purity Gumbo and Prosecutor Edmond Mapope who sent him to remand for allegedly murdering his wife.
The court heard that in July this year, Kwangwari went to a two roomed house where his wife Naume Maziofa (now deceased) was doing her domestic chores.
While in the bedroom, a misunderstanding arose between the deceased and Kwangwari and the suspect allegedly took a traditional ram and struck his wife on her head several times.
The court also heard that Kwangwari went outside the bedroom and took an axe which was in the fowl run some meters away and went back to the room where his was lying on the floor.
He allegedly further struck the now deceased with the axe while holding her head and her back until she was dead.
He tried to hide evidence by hiding the stained wooden traditional ram and the axe back in the fowl run.
Kwangwari was seen by Yolanda and Sandra Hove who are his neighbours to and they later on reported the case to the police leading to the arrest of the suspected murderer.
Stained wooden traditional ram and the axe were recovered at his homestead, the court heard that Kwangwari was found in possession of the axe handle.
He was sent to remand and, by the time of writing, was yet to appear in court again for further trial.local

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – A 36-year-old road user who was angered by the endless roadblocks and labelled police officers thieves before disappearing with a pair of handcuffs was last week convicted on the disorderly conduct charge but was found not guilty of escaping lawful custody.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa sentenced Farirepi Nhongoviro of Mutoredzanwa village under Chief Nemauzhe in Chivi, to 15 days in prison or alternatively to pay a US$50 fine.
Nhongoviro had however pleaded not guilty to both charges during trial.
In acquitting Nhongoviro on the charge of escaping from lawful custody, Musiiwa pointed out that since Nhongoviro was found a few metres on his way to Mwenezi police station, he had not intended to escape but to hand himself in.
This was after the police had arrested, handcuffed and kept him there as a way of punishing him for his outspokenness.
The incident happened on May 13 at the 166 km peg along Masvingo – Beitbridge highway when Nhongoviro asked many questions to police officers who had stopped the car in which he was travelling.
On the charge of disorderly conduct, the magistrate said there was overwhelming evidence that Nhongoviro committed the offence.
Giving evidence in court earlier on, Brian Siyabonga, one of the police officer who was at the roadblock on the day in question, said Nhongoviro had scolded him and called the police officers perpetual thieves.
He alleged that Nhongoviro had wanted to cause a scene by threatening to throw himself in front of moving vehicles.
It was heard that Nhovoringo engaged in riotous conduct, running around the roadblock shouting at police officers and disturbing the free movement of vehicles.
After being arrested, the handcuffed Nhongoviro ran away and disappeared into the darkness but was later found on his way to Mwenezi police station where he was arrested again.
Willard Chasi prosecuted.local

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – The matter involving two teachers from Musiso High School who stand accused of dating a pupil has taken a new twist with latest information at hand indicating that one of the teachers was framed.
The investigation team found that one of teachers at the centre of the controversy was framed by pupils who wanted to fix him.
A report compiled by the disciplinary committee looked into the case and heard that the pupil (name supplied) who was being investigated for the alleged affair with the two teachers (names also supplied) connived with her six friends to cook up a case against one of the teachers while exonerating the alleged real offender.
TellZim News is also in possession of letters written by the six friends to school head Emmaculate Tinago confessing that they had conspired to nail the second teacher.
“On Sunday when I entered the (name withheld)’s room, I heard (name withheld) and (name withheld) planning that (the pupil at the centre of the controversy) was supposed to lie and say that Mr (name withheld) had asked her out. They were laughing as if they were joking until I heard that (name withheld) had accused Mr (name withheld) of asking her out,” reads part of the letter by one of the girls.
The girl at the centre of the alleged affair also wrote to the head admitting that she had connived with her friends to fix the teacher, moments after being caught out of bounds.
“…. (name withheld) akabva ati tinofanira kutsvaka munhu watinotsikirira paunoenda kudisciplinary committee, … (name withheld) akabava auya nepfungwa yekuti ngatisungirirei Va (name withheld) nekuti vane manyawi ende hapana anovafarira pano. Vatishungurudza chero nababa vangu havaonani kuma hostel vanosvika vachida kutonga tonga. Vanhu vakabva vati iyoyo inoita ndiko kuti vadzikame vane dzungu,” reads part of the girl’s confession.
The disciplinary committee, which submitted its findings to the investigating committee which comprised Tinago, senior lady Evelyne Gaviro and two teachers Flora Madzvamuse and Pelagia Chikati, was made up of four senior teachers, senior master, senior lady and the school’s acting deputy head.
The girls’ letters of confession, accompanied by the disciplinary committee’s own findings, have been sent to the provincial education offices for further investigations.
The investigating team recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the first teacher after concluding that the second teacher had no case to answer.
When contacted for comment on the new developments, Masvingo Provincial Education Director (PED) Zedias Chitiga said the matter was still under investigation.
“The investigations are still on and once a final verdict is given, proper procedures will be followed and you will definitely see the results,” said Chitiga.
The controversy began when the pupil was spent many hours in the teacher’s office during study time and was found walking to the hostels long after other pupils had settled in their places of residence.
She later stunned the disciplinary committee after claiming that the second teacher, and not the first one as was widely suspected, had proposed love to her and asked her to disrobe.local

Lawrence Mandava

BIKITA – Ward 12 Zanu PF political commissar Wellington Mutisi recently donated 10 bags of cement and 300 A5 exercise books to Makotore Primary School in Bikita.
This was a fulfillment of the pledge he made on Independence Day after a pupil in the school’s gymnastics team impressed him with a thrilling performance.
Mutisi then made representations to school head Porina Mhembere that he will see to it that the school receives some help.
“I have been committed to other business but I have finally managed to come to fulfill my pledge which I did after your pupil performed well on Independence Day,” said Mutisi.
Speaking at the event, Mhembere said the school was humbled by the gesture which she said was going to cover gaps in the school’s development needs.
“We thank Mr. Mutisi and his family for the love he has shown to us as a school and for remembering these pupils with exercise books. It’s a gap covered for us as a school and it is our desire that God continues to enlarge his territory.
Mutisi’s family members, Zanu PF Masvingo youth chairperson Nobert Ndaarombe and some ward councillors from Bikita Rural District Council were present during the donation.local