Saviour Kasukuwere

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Chiredzi Rural District Council chairperson Alderman Matsilele has pleaded with ratepayers to pay up their dues, saying the local authority was in a financial fix caused by little revenue inflows.
Presenting his second quarter report in a recent full council meeting, Matsilele said it was now exceptionally difficult to fund recurrent expenditure because people were not paying.
“This year the challenges have begun quite early; in June, which spells a lot of trouble ahead. This was due to late payment by our major stakeholders who normally pay at the beginning of the year.
“Council is supposed to collect about $271 000 every month, but during the month under review, only $77 900 was collected, which is far short of our monthly requirement,” he said.
Matsilele also highlighted that in the month of June, labour costs outweighed what was budgeted for due to staff retrenchments.
“During the period under review, employment costs exceeded what was budgeted for due to the statutory obligations for the retrenched staff,” said Matsilele.
He indicated that this year’s annual performance (January to June) was far much lower than that of previous years.
“As of 30 June 2017, council had collected $994 911 21, which is an annual performance of 30.59 percent. However, the performance for the period from January to June is 61.7 percent from an anticipated budget income of $1 626 349 for the period,” said Matsilele.local

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – The Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (TUZ) has promised Zanu PF its full support ahead of the much-anticipated general election next year, urging its members to do whatever it takes to ensure the ruling party retains power.
This was heard last week at Chiredzi Primary School during the conclusion of an ICT training workshop organised by the union for some 88 of its members in Chiredzi West.
The training was the 13th of a series of workshops being held nationwide ostensibly to help TUZ members understand the Biometric Voter Registration System (BVR) and prepare them for the elections.
TUZ president Timon Tandi said teachers were opinion leaders in their communities and therefore had a duty to campaign for Zanu PF.
He said teachers should spread the message to kids who will then influence their parents to back Zanu PF in 2018.
“We are for Zanu PF and it is your role as teachers to back Zanu PF wherever you are as it is the party which brought education to your doorstep. Pamberi nekuvhotera Zanu, pasi nekutengesa nyika!
“We are doing these courses in all constituencies in order to bring together teachers and their local MPs because a teacher who teaches a class of 40 pupils in class can influence many parents….we will lose votes in 2018 if we fail to do so,” said Tandi.
Chiredzi West MP Darlington Chiwa, who was the guest speaker at the graduation, made it clear that teachers were being used to help sway the new voter registration system to the favour of Zanu PF.
 “We are training you such that you will have the knowledge to win elections for the ruling party in 2018 using the new system of voting,” said Chiwa, warning the teachers not to ‘sell out’ as they did in 2008.local

File pic

MWENEZI – A well-known Zion Christian Church (ZCC) pastor is in the middle of an adultery scandal after he allegedly impregnated a married woman.
The family of the aggrieved man is said to be demanding an unspecified amount of money and cattle in damages and has taken their case up with the traditional court.
When contacted for comment, Chief Mawarire confirmed the development saying he was due to preside over the case.
“A case of adultery has been presented to my court. John Mabheja of Pikinini village, who leads the Manyuchi Zion Christian Church (ZCC), is said to have impregnated Taruvinga’s wife who resides in the same village.
“I was supposed to preside over the matter this week but unfortunately the accused did not show up for hearing. I believe next week he will cooperate and we will look into the issue,” said Chief Mawarire.
Sources said Taruvinga, who worked in South Africa, had returned home and dumped his wife at the pastor’s homestead when he was tipped that she was pregnant through the illicit affair.
The woman then left the pastor’s homestead for her parents’ place in Chivi where she gave birth but is now back with a baby she wants Mabheja to maintain.
Earlier on, the pastor is said to have admitted paternity when he was subjected to an inter-family court.
The sources said after the family hearing, Mabheja has not been seen in public but is understood to be staying at a relative’s homestead in Mariot resettlement area, out of the public glare.local

Brighton Chiseva

GUTU – Joseph Mushayi (64), who was head at Chiguhune Primary School in Mvumvi village in Chief Gutu area last week committed suicide by hanging himself.
Masvingo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident saying on July 08, Mushayi woke up from where he was sleeping with his girlfriend Sheila Zvarevashe and went out but did not come back.
Ass Insp Dhewa said around 04:30 hrs, Zvarevashe is said to have gone out to look for her husband who had not yet returned to the bedroom.
She then sought the help of Alice Mushayi (sister to the deceased) and they later found him hanging on a piece of wire on a tree about 100 metres from his homestead.
Sources who spoke to TellZim News said the deceased’s first wife had died and he was always in conflict with Zvarevashe; his girlfriend.
“There were some conflicts between Mushayi and his girlfriend and we suspect that it could have been part of the cause,” said a source who decline to be named but said the deceased was once head at Mutero Primary School before moving to Chiguhune.
In a separate incident, a 19-year-old man from Nduna village in Headman Madzivire in Chivi hanged himself after he was accused of rape.
Ass Ins Dhewa also confirmed the incident saying Brian Mudzingwa was heard talking to a neighbour sometime in June saying he was being accused of rape and that was the time he was seen alive.
On July 08, his body was seen hanging on a tree by a boy who was heading goats. The boy reported the matter to one Esther Nduna who later reported it to the police.
Ass Insp Dhewa said people should seek counseling when faced with difficult situations rather than commit suicide.
“People should seek counseling from the family, traditional or religious leaders when faced with difficult situations. We as the police also offer counseling through the Community Relations Liaison Office (CRLO),” said Ass Insp Dhewa.local

Omar dances with supporters at his Neshuro rally

MWENEZI – Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Mwenezi East, Joosbi Omar last week dismissed as unfounded rumours that have been circulating on social media alleging that he was critically ill after suffering a stroke.
Addressing Zanu PF supporters at his by-election victory celebrations at Neshuro High School last Saturday, a jovial Omar said speculations about his health were misplaced.
“I am still alive and strong, that’s why I dance for you. The rumour that I stroked are absolute lies that were crafted by my detractors.
“Despite the current financial constraints, developmental projects will continue. I am aware that there are several problems troubling the constituency like pupils who attend lessons sitting on the ground. I will do my best to resolve such problems,” said Omar.
Zanu PF provincial secretary for transport and welfare, who is also the district party chairperson, Rennias Muchoko also said he had received several phone calls from people seeking clarifications with regards to Omar’s stroke reports.
Part of one of the WhatsApp messages that had been circulating read, “Omar hospitalised in ICU after stuck (sic) by stroke hardly less than a year after Mazebra died under similar circumstances.  Mwenezi MP sit (sic) makata tangatati kuda uyu ane mutupo usingazivikanwi ndiye achazvigona bva zvaramba.”
Omar became MP this year after winning a by-election to replace Joshua ‘Mazebra’ Moyo who died in December last year after a long time of fighting what was said to be a mysterious illness.
Omar is on a one week tour at six points in the district, with a beast being slaughtered at each gathering to celebrate his election victory while reassuring supporters that he will keep his promise to develop the constituency.local