BIKITA – Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) has completed wide consultations for its proposed US$3.7 million budget for the year 2017 which has been well-received by stakeholders.
Due to the current economic problems, the budget is less than 50 percent of the previous one which stood at US$8.2 million.
Last year, Bikita RDC managed to collect only US$1.6 million out of the budgeted US$8.2 million, a situation which forced the council to propose the lower but more realistic budget this year.
Bikita RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Chibi said they learnt a lesson from the 2016 budget that they have to budget realistically.
“We recorded huge short falls in the revenue we had expected to generate because most of our income generating projects failed to take off. Our revenue generating areas, particularly the estates, where we sell stands have failed to provide the much needed money and sales have dropped,” Chibi said.
“The government is not forthcoming with grants and that makes it unreasonable to draft a big budget that will not materialise. It is better to work on a smaller budget while prioritising the most basic services,” he said.
Chibi said council had adopted austerity measures; cutting on expenditure while giving priority to critical basic areas like health and infrastructure development.

Bikita RDC Chairperson Cllr Clara Makura (in robes) and Council CEO Peter Chibi (right) at the motorbike handover ceremony

…hands 32 motor bikes to councillors

 Upenyu Chaota

BIKITA – The Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) last week handed over 32 motor bikes to its councillors so as to ease their movement in wards for the sake of service delivery.
Bikita RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Chibi said the move is a result of planning that began in 2010.
“The wards are so big and it is difficult for councillors to move around. That is why we worked hard to get these motor bikes. It’s meant to improve service delivery,” said Chibi.
He said each motor bike is valued at US$1 389 and the council will pay 43 percent while the councillors will settle the remaining 57 percent.
“We want this to be an on-going initiative with those coming in 2018 being given a chance to own motorbikes too. We want councillors to come and debate issues that come from the people because they will have contacts with the grassroots,” said Chibi.
Bikita RDC chairperson, Clara Makura thanked the council on behalf of councillors saying the motor bikes must be put to good use so as to develop communities.
“These bikes will make our jobs easier and we hope the councillors will use them for the benefit of the people.
“I plead with councillors to exercise caution because these bikes will send them to the afterlife if they drive them recklessly. We want everyone to be safe so that we can finish the jobs we were given by the people,” said Makura.news

Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

GUTU – Villagers of ward 21 under Chief Munyaradzi have complained that their councillor, Jervas Mutizwa is using national identification cards belonging to vulnerable people to give food aid to people affiliated to Zanu PF, TellZim News has learnt.
A person who claimed to be a victim of the scam complained that Mutizwa fraudulently used his ID number to corruptly put his supporters on the list of social welfare food aid recipients.
“I am one of the people who discovered that my ID number was being used by the councillor to give food to members of his political party and those that go to his rallies.  I’m disabled so I am not able to attend their rallies but it seems I am being punished for that.
“I am the only one who got the courage to speak because others are fearful. I hope to see justice being done in the distribution of food aid,” said the victim.
Mutizwa, however, denied the allegations saying they were lies fabricated to harm his persona.
“What I can tell you is that there was an error which took place at one of our food aid distribution exercise when an ID belonging to a person called Lawrence Murawu was mistakenly used to give food to another person. That is probably what people are using against me,” Mutizwa said.news

MPANDAWANA – A Zimbabwe Republic Police officer who was guarding the Zimbabwe School Examinations (ZIMSEC) November exam question papers at Mpandawana High School sustained severe injuries after he was stoned, stabbed and beaten by six men who took his gun in the early hours of Sunday morning.
No comment could immediately be obtained from the police but Mpandawana High School head Kundai Kufa confirmed the incident.
“The lock on the administration block was broken but nothing is missing. I do not know what they really wanted because they did not take anything,” said Kufa.
Constable Norest Kuvarega (31) was reportedly attacked in a Form 4 classroom after one of the robbers sneaked behind him and stoned him on his head.
Kuvarega reportedly fell on the ground and was surrounded by six men who took his gun.
The robbers were reportedly carrying a knife, a sledge hammer and knobkerries.
One of the robbers reportedly stabbed him three times on the head and twice above his eyelids and once on the forehead.
They allegedly pulled him from the corridor to a classroom where they punched and kicked him several times before living him unconscious and went on to break the administration door.
The robbers, however, ran in different direction and fled in an unidentified vehicle which was parked behind teachers’ quarters when a security guard who heard the commotion appeared.
 The missing gun was later found lying in the school grounds by the police officer’s colleagues.
Kuvarega was immediately taken to Gutu Rural Clinic where he was immediately taken to Gutu Mission Hospital where he is receiving treatment.news

Masvingo urban councillors last week toured the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) facilities to familiarise themselves with the services that are offered.
Councillors present included Godfrey Kurauone of ward 4, Lovemore Mufamba of ward 10, ward 3’s James Chiwara, Against Chiteme of ward 5, Tarsisio Mandava of ward 2 and Mayor Hubert Fidze who is also the ward 6 councillor.
ZNFPC provincial manager Peter Vhoko told the councillors the tour will help them promote professional family planning advice in their wards
“We are aware that you have a lot of questions to answer when you are in your wards. This will surely help you to answer health and family planning-related questions,” Vhoko said.
He encouraged citizens to visit ZNFPC for counselling, family planning advice and other related services saying his organisation has capable people who are eager to help.
“Our staff is highly trained. They know how to handle situations and people should come in numbers,” he said.
ZNFPC Masvingo also serves other provinces like Midlands, Matebeleland South.
Speaking during the event, Fidze said ZNFPC Masvingo was a source of pride as it was diligently serving other provinces as well.
 “We were not aware that the health backbone of other three provinces is in our city. Council will do all that it can to publicise and promote the services of ZNFPC for the good of our community,” Fidze said.news

Prophet Makomichi

RCZ church members during the march

Tatenda Shunyai

MASVINGO – Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) in Masvingo on Saturday marched from its church along Robert Mugabe way to 4:1 Barracks in a sponsored march to help raise funds for their church building in Rhodene.
The Rhodene congregation is still a new flock so they look forward to building their own place of worship at their stand situated in Rhodene extension.
The congregation held placards and a banner written “Ngatisimuke tese tivake kereke” as they appealed to well-wishers to help them carry on with their project.
Former Masvingo Provincial Education Director (PED), who is also the chairperson of the project, Fadzai Jirivengwa applauded the congregants who took part in the march.
“I want to thank all the congregants for the support and the unity they presented in this march and also not forgetting the church council and project committee for their commitment in making this march successful.
“We also appeal to all the well-wishers to come on board and help us see this project come to completion since it is still in its preliminary stages,” said Jirivengwa.
A total number of 73 people took part in the march, 3 of them were over 80 and 23 were over 65 but they braved the scorching sun to march for their church.
Upon arrival at their destination, the congregation were welcomed by 4:1 barracks Chaplin Pastor Prisca Karima who gave a word of prayer and a word of encouragement.
The march was graced by high profile people among them RCZ treasurer Pikisai Mhizha, former RCZ education secretary Cabinson Magaya, former Masvingo District Education Officer (DEO) Rungamai Maunganidze and retired heads and business people.
Phoebe Mandizvidza former head of Hellen Mcghie who is over 80 took part in the march, expressed gratitude to the almighty God for the strength.
“I want to thank the Lord almighty for the strength to walk for such a distance and I am happy that I did it for my church,” Mandizvidza said.
Jirivengwa also thanked Nyaningwe supermarkets, HR Suplies, Printweb printers and the business community who helped sponsor the event.news

Police officers attend  to an accident along Harare-Masvingo Road where two people died on the spot

. . .cash seems more important than human life

Ntombiyolwandle Ndlovu

Is our police now agents of the ever increasing accidents in our roads and should they be held accountable for the countless innocent lives lost as a result of road carnage?
It boggles the mind that public service vehicles like kombis are fined for having worn-out tyres, no handbrake, one headlamp, no driver’s license and for speeding before being allowed to proceed, and then they get involved in an accident soon after.
Wouldn’t it proper for the police to fine the kombis and then accompany them to the Vehicle Inspection Depot (VID) for fitness test and see to it that all public service vehicles have fitness certificates?
Of late, our police prioritise meeting the set cash target, which, according to police sources, is normally between US$1 000 to US$2 000 per roadblock per day.
They don’t mind fining the same vehicle for the same offense even for the whole year as long as they get the money to meet their target.
Why would traffic police officers given daily cash targets in the first place if this is not fundraising? The traffic police is no longer concerned about the gravity of the offense committed as long as one pays the fine. Imagine a person driving without a driver’s license is fined and allowed to go while driving a public service vehicle?
In Masvingo, roadblocks are now a permanent feature in any of the roads that connect to the Central Business District (CBD), including informal ones known as ‘Bhinya roads’.  The funny thing is that not any of these vehicles have been taken to VID for fitness test by the police because the law enforcers seem to enjoy fining these kombis and taxis on daily basis over the same offenses so that they can knock off with the required amounts.
Masvingo Taxis Association chairperson David Masomere has condemned police for not decisively dealing with unregistered taxis (Zvipipipi) that have become an eyesore in the CBD. Masomere also says the cat and mouse battles between the police and unregistered taxis have caused many accidents and deaths.
“There are a lot of unregistered taxis that are operating at Pick n Pay there and many of them park dangerously but the police do nothing about it. These cars pay $10 fine every day and that ticket would allow them to ply any route for the whole day. Just last week, one of our taxis was hit by an unregistered taxi which was being chased by the police and innocent passengers were injured,” said Masomere.
“Imagine we pay around $700 to get properly registered but someone just pay $160 to have the yellow plates and start ferry passengers. The police do not care much about this as long as those vehicles pay fine. However, a lot of accidents have been caused as a result of these unroadworthy and unregistered taxis.  We however, respect and value life so we are going to engage the police so that all public service vehicles have fitness certificates from VID especially this festive season,” he said.
Chifamba, who survived an accident which killed others, said police should know that paying fines does not make an unroadworthy vehicle roadworthy, but it has to be repaired and then go to VID for inspection.
“Our police are forgetting one thing; there tickets are not a remedy to vehicle defects that should go to the VID for inspection before given a fitness certificate. If properly implemented, the process would ensure that our vehicles are roadworthy. The police no longer enforce other laws as long as the motorist pays a fine or a bribe. The fines are not even deterrent enough; in fact our police are fundraising through these roadblocks,” said Chifamba.
When contacted for comment on why police allow vehicles with faults to operate every day, Masvingo provincial police  Press team, as expected, professed ignorance over the matter.
While accidents are also caused by poor roads and human error, the police are also contributing significantly through their ‘fundraising’ roadblocks.
Three months ago, the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) demonstrated against the police demanding a reduction in the number of roadblocks in our roads.
MURRA director Anoziva Mugutu said then, “We want the number of police roadblocks to be reduced with immediate effect because they are not serving any purposes except for fundraising.”
Minister of Home Affairs Ignatius Chombo, however, has been very defensive of the police saying there not delving in any corrupt activities insisting that members of the public should come forward with evidence.
Though Chombo tried to be smart about police corruption; there are a number of officers who have been either fired or dragged to hearing over corruption here in Masvingo.  The police has bought new fleet of Ford Rangers and Ford vehicles from the money they realise from roadblocks.
It is however, high time the police start to value human life and stop prioritizing money at the expense of people on our roads.news