The mobile phone’s technical field is completely male dominated with women mainly visible as sales personnel, receptionists and admin assistants, etc.
There is a high demand for expertise in the electronics sector yet not enough women in Zimbabwe have the requisite skills. The lack of such skills in the female population directly impacts on the economy and the advancement of the country.
Sarudzai Kapfumvuti, who is a product of National University of Science and Technology (Nust), is not pleased by the market trend of hiring mainly male technicians.
Kapfumvuti works for GTel in Harare and is one of the few women who have defied the odds and made her mark.

“Generally, organisations tend to hire males as there is a misconception that they are able to repair things better than females but his is not true,” says Kapfumvuti.
Lots of service personnel available are largely male; thanks to rigid cultural norms that puts more faith in male children than females. These deep-rooted cultural convictions make many women reluctant to pick up the screwdriver.
Masvingo province has a population of approximately1.3 million in its seven districts but not even a single woman could be found in the mobile phone repair business.
“You cannot be what you don’t see” probably best explains the absence of women in the field but Kapfumvuti is evidence that women can fix things too.
She encourages more women to take up the trade as there are great opportunities for technicians in the mobile phone industry and other electronics-related sectors.
“High school isn’t an easy place to be but if you get through it, so many wonderful things await beyond that,” says Kapfumvuti.local

Paida Mukono

CHIREDZI –The stinky Banana flea market in ward six has raised the ire of residents who accuse council of not doing anything to bring order, clean up the place and provide reliable refuse removal services.
Takunda Macheka, a resident who lives close to the market, said he is disturbed by the levels of filth at the fruit and vegetable market.
“Council should do something because it’s getting worse. Rotten fruits are dumped anywhere and the place has become one big stink. It’s a breeding ground for mosquitoes and all sorts of things,” said Macheka.
Chiredzi Residents Rate Payers Association (Chirra) secretary Munyaradzi Chindowe said council has to put more bins and provide all the necessary services to make sure sanity prevails at the market.
“Council should be pro-active rather than always trying to react to problems on the ground. They should have seen it coming but they didn’t. Now it seems out of hand,” said Chindowe.
The overcrowded market has seen vendors leaving designated areas of trade to get closer to customers and the place has been described by many residents as a potential health disaster area where cholera can break out anytime.
Fruits and vegetables are now haphazardly sold from any point that traders think is more strategic.
No comment could immediately be obtained from council officials.local

EU Ambasador Philippe Van Damme

THE European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe has launched a cartoon and comic competition titled ‘Same, same but different – ZimEUrelations’.
The competition which was launched this week by the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe is open to any Zimbabwean who is below the age of 35 years.
Participants will share their inspiring ideas and answers of what Zim-EU relations mean to them.
“If you are a cartoonist, comic artist or just someone who has got a nick with the pen, let us hear from you: What are your thoughts  on the topic, on the relations, on the future?” reads part of a statement issued by the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe on Thursday.
The European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe said participants can either drop off entries at the front desk of the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe in Harare located at EU House, No. 1 Norfolk Road, Mt Pleasant in Harare or send entries by email to: DELEGATION-ZIMBABWE-COMPETITION@eeas.europa.eu
The European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe said the deadline for the submission of entries for the competition is 28 April 2017.
The winner of the comic and cartoon competition, who will be chosen by a local and international jury, will get a professional tablet and have his work exhibited during celebrations to mark Europe Day in May. There will also be prizes for the first and second runner up.
More details about the comic or cartoon competition can be accessed on the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe’s webpage: <https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/zimbabwe/23288/same-same-different-eu-launches-comic-cartoon-competition-zim-eu-relations_en>.
Those with questions about the competition can also send an email to: DELEGATION-ZIMBABWE-COMPETITION@eeas.europa.eu.local

Elliot Jinjika

CHIVHU – After several weeks of inaction, The Chikomba Rural District Council (RDC) has finally plugged the giant pothole at the intersection of the main road from Harare to Masvingo and Murambinda road.
Motorists who spoke to TellZim News criticised council for taking too long to fix the pothole that had become a grave danger to motorists.
“We feel relieved that we can now drive freely as the menace is gone but we are equally disappointed that a whole council would ignore something dangerous for that long. We also doubt that the job was done properly because in the past, we have seen newly resurfaced roads being washed away in no time,” said one kombi driver.
The pothole, and many others, developed during the incessant rains that pounded Chivhu and most other parts of the country in February.
Council has however been criticised for turning a blind eye to the deplorable state of roads in the town.local

TellZim Reporter

Masvingo businessman Taguma Benjamin Mazarire’s first daughter, Jothina, on Monday tied the knot with her long time darling Kennedy Marimbe at a colourful wedding ceremony held at St Don Bosco Catholic church in Mucheke.
The ceremony was officiated by Roman Catholic Masvingo Diocese Arch-Bishop Michael Bhasera.
Members of the business community, headmasters and other high profile people including Vicar General Walter Nyatsanza and other members of the Roman Catholic fraternity also graced the wedding.
Jothina and Kennedy’s wedding brought together some of the high profile people in Masvingo and many other people from various walks of life.
After the church service, the convoy strolled through the streets of Masvingo town and stole the limelight of passers-by who could not help it but glare at the elegant Ford limousine majestically emblazoned with Jothina and Kennedy’s pictures.
On its way to the wedding’s reception at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel, the limousine, which was flanked by a Hammer H2 and a fleet of Toyota Fortuners, dominated the route with other drivers parking their cars to admire.
Police officers manning a roadblock near Stop Over temporarily stopped bothering motorists as they got mesmerised by the rare elegance on the road.
Mazarire said there was no better joy in the world than for a parent to see his daughter walk down the aisle into holy matrimony.
“We thank God for leading us to this day. It is the best feeling to have your daughter wed in this complex world where weddings have become scarce,” said the visibly jovial and emotional Mazarire.local