ZAKA – Local councillors last week demanded that Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) buy motorbikes for them because other rural district councils had already done so for their councillors.
The matter was heard recently during a full council meeting at council offices at Jerera growth point.
The issue arose after finance committee chairperson Cllr Chrispen Watadza gave a report on the look and learn tour he recently had in Marondera and Mhondoro Ngezi RDCs, highlighting that the two local authorities had bought motorcycles and cellphones for their councillors.
The Human Resources Management committee, however, said Zaka RDC could afford to buy only cellphones for councillors.
District Administrator (DA) Victor Zinanga concurred, warning that the highly indebted local authority could not afford to buy bikes for cash or credit.
Council chairperson Sebastian Musundire was also of the view that council would be better advised to buy only phones for the councillors as a cost cutting measure since the country was approaching election time at which other councillors might not return.
Most councillors, however, vehemently opposed the idea, arguing that those who will fail to win back their wards in the 2018 elections would still be required to settle the outstanding bill.
“Who told you that we are living office? Even if we leave, we will pay up all the money. I want a bike not a phone which I can get anywhere outside,” said Cllr Chikomo.
Cllr Angeline Chipote criticised council for what she said was a failure to respect and take good care of its councillors.
“Hamungati nguva yapera. Imwe council yakapa macouncillors ayo mamotor bikes last month and imi muri kuti nguva yapera, maimbovepi,” said Chipote to the applause of other councillors.
After heated deliberations, councillors grudgingly accepted the resolution that council purchase only cellphones for them.local

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – The Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development; Dr Joseph Made has warned sugarcane farmers on the potential danger posed by the fall army worm to their crops, saying though recent efforts to control the destructive pest had largely borne fruit, there was no room for complacency.
Fall army wormy is native to tropical regions of the western hemisphere from the United States to Argentina but has found its way to Africa due to changing climatic conditions and heavy winds.
The pest, which gave maize and cotton farmers a hard time this year, is also said to have been imported through maize which was distributed to communities affected by the El Nino-induced drought last year.
“I want to indicate that the fall army worm is still there. As we approach the winter season, it’s on hibernation. It is in the maize, maize stalks, maize cobs and in sorghum. It is even in the grass, underneath the soil,” said Dr Made.
He also highlighted that the worm was a new phenomenon to most local farmers meaning there was still little knowledge on it.
“Many people don’t know about it, even the extension workers. So there is need for physical inspection of the grass and if green materials come out, it will quickly emerge,” he said.
Dr Made indicated that the fall army worm needs soft spots and sugarcane farmers should consult experts to find out whether it was hibernating in their crops or not.local

Samukelisiwe  Ngwenyama

21 April 2017, SHURUGWI – Villagers in Jobolinko have expressed satisfaction with the development prospects of their area, saying their ward Councillor Tamiswa Njovana was doing a wonderful job to improve access to basic services.
People who spoke to TellZim News said being newly resettled, they would conventionally be expected to have the least access to public services like roads, schools and clinics.
Njovana has, however, sought to influence transformation of the area and has overseen the establishment of Jobolinko Clinic which boats a maternity ward.
“We used to travel to as far as Tongogara for health care so it used be hard for us in cases of sudden illnesses and emergencies especially during the night. We are glad that our councillor is representing us well in council and we are seeing development,” said one villager.
Others said they would want to see more leaders of the calibre of Njovana after the 2018 general elections.
“When people elect leaders, they want them to represent communal interests and not just to use those positions to enrich themselves. I am delighted that we have Cllr Njovana working hard to uplift our community,” said another villager.
Njovana told TellZim News that although there are resource challenges, he was working on more projects that include building a community centre, rehabilitating roads and food for work.
”We are faced with limitations in our resource mobilisation capacity and in getting volunteers to provide labour if there are no incentives but we are determined to succeed,” said Njovana.
He also said there was a two-year development plan which seeks to raise funds for the renovation of dilapidated schools, equip farmers and attract investors to explore the area’s rich cattle ranching potential.local

Brighton Chiseva

21 April 2017, Masvingo – The new Helen McGhie Primary School head Sheilla Deve and her family spent two cold nights sleeping in the open after outgoing head Horuno Zengeya failed to vacate the school house on time, TellZim News has learnt.
It is understood that Deve arrived from Mashava with her belongings on Saturday night, April 8, but had to camp outside with her family and goods because Zengeya and his family had still not moved as per expectation.
When contacted for comment, Deve refused to comment, referring all questions to the District school Inspector or the Provincial Education Director (PED) Zedius Chitiga who told TellZim News he was in the dark about the development.
“I am not aware of that issue but I will make inquiries and give you the information,” Chitiga said.
A source privy to the developments, however, said Zengeya was reluctant to leave the school.
“He feels he is being pushed out although he has been on retirement for five years now. He has been working on short-term contracts since his retirement but this time, the government has decided not to give him any more contract. He feels he has worked very hard to transform the school such that he can’t just leave empty-handed,” the source said.
No comment could be obtained from Zengeya by the time of going to print.local