CHIVI – Chivi Rural District Council chairperson and Zanu PF Prvincial Treasurer, Killer Zivhu   (pictured) last Saturday announced his intention to take Zanu PF’s top post as provincial chairperson.
He was speaking at a ceremony to hand over goods he and First Lady Grace Mugabe donated to schools in the district.
The Zanu PF chairmanship post is currently held by Amasa Nenjana on an acting basis.
Zivhu pleaded with psychomotor minister; Josaya Hungwe to advise him accordingly if he is now ripe for the top post.
“Chef, I have heard that there is a post that has arisen in the party and I would like you to advise me accordingly if I am fit for the post. It’s you who got me to be a mature politician and I think your decision matters. I feel am ready to be Zanu PF provincial chairperson.
“I think that post needs real man so that the province moves forward. I feel that I am ready but I repeat, it is you my elder who will decide whether am ripe or not,” Zivhu said.
A cautious Hungwe, however, could not directly respond to Zivhu’s appeal but showered him with praises, an act that many are likely to see as a veiled endorsement.
“After seeing Zivhu’s great commitment, I took him to the First Lady, Grace Mugabe who was also impressed by his works. Many question why I protect him most of the times but he is one character who believes in achieving given goals. That is one of the qualities that lack in most of us. He has even made the ZimAsset more practical,” Hungwe said.
Before Nenjana, Zanu PF has had two chairpersons in a short time; Paradzai Chakona and Ezra Chadzamira who were both unceremoniously removed on allegations of belonging to a faction among a litany of other allegations.news

…party promised 2.2 million jobs, created none

Upenyu Chaota

MASVINGO – The continuous influx of street vendors in all towns and cities in the country was caused by Zanu PF’s failure to deliver on their promised 2.2 million jobs leading to the desperation characterised by desperate struggles to survive, City of Masvingo Mayor, Hubert Fidze has said.
Council last week launched a full scale assault on illegal vendors in the city centre to bring some order, with illegal vendors being ordered to go to designated sites.
Fidze said council was in a dilemma about the need to enforce the rules while maintaining a humane face in light of the struggles of the ordinary resident.
“The writing is there on the wall for everyone to see. Things are bad and most people do not have formal means of earning a living.
“While we understand that the people are faced with biting economic hardships, we have to maintain some order in the city. We cannot fold our hands and watch the city becoming a big flea market,” said Fidze.
He pleaded with vendor representatives to come and negotiate terms with the city council so that the evictions can be done peacefully.
“We are doing our level best to engage the vendors through their leadership but the challenge is that not all the vendors are happy with this. There is a lot of resistance and it is very tough.
“Tampers and emotions are very high because people are desperate. A hungry man is an angry man. The economy is bad and nobody wants to be moved from the only place that gives them an income,” said Fidze.
Overzealous municipal cops last Sunday escaped injury by a whisker after vendors and touts descended on them with stones after confiscating vendors’ wares at old Croco Motors.
The municipal cops took to their feet with stones flying behind them and they sought refuge in their vehicle before speeding away.
One of the municipal officers was hit on the leg with an iron bar thrown by a visibly angry woman whose hoard was confiscated.
However, ‘Chitima’ market fruit and veggies section chairperson, Tarisai Katini breathed fire at the illegal vendors in the city centre saying she does not want to associate with them.
“I do not lead people who defy me. I only shepherd the flock here at the Garikai market and those in town should face the music because they chose to be there. It is the council’s duty to make sure that these vendors are send to appropriate areas,” said Katini.news

MASVINGO – Masvingo Urban legislator Daniel Shumba last week criticised ‘greedy’ politicians who like to cease productive land from companies and individuals, saying people should work for themselves rather than try to thrive on stolen property.
Shumba was speaking at a feedback meeting with Zanu PF members and supporters at Chiefs Hall in Mucheke.
His sentiments come at the backdrop of increased fears that party bigwigs, including provincial affairs minister, Shuvai Mahofa, want to cease more land from sugar giant, Tongaat Hullet.
“We want to see people working their own land to make it productive rather than seeking to grab land that has been made productive by others. If you are a genuine farmer, you must be able to grow your own crops and not cease others’ productive land,” Shumba said.
He cast himself as a model politician who never loot resources or thrive on ceased property, saying he never snatched land from anybody.
“I worked for all that I have and my profile does not include anything to do with land ceased from others.
 “The government has been infiltrated by corruption but it’s not only Zanu PF members who are involved in corruption. I urge all of you to shun every form of corruption and work hard for yourselves,” he said.
On the critical water situation in the country, Shumba said he had acquired boreholes that will be installed in all wards of Masvingo to help alleviate the shortages.news

Tatenda Shunyai

MASVINGO – Is Zanu PF plotting to wage political violence in the Bikita West by-election? The recent utterances by Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chair Amasa Nhenjana (pictured) that he was given orders from above, which he could not specify, boggles the mind especially considering that Bikita experienced worst form of political violence with gory murders during 2002 by-election and in the run-up to the 2008 presidential run-off elections. 
Addressing party members at Chiefs Hall in Mucheke over the weekend, Nhenjana said they will leave nothing to chance in Bikita West especially after they were humiliated in Norton by-election recently where the ruling party lost heavily to an independent candidate, Themba Mliswa.
“We were told straight from high office that the Bikita West seat must be retained and we have to retain it. We have to use any means possible because we cannot afford to lose the seat. We have to mobilise as many people so as to achieve that and we don’t want a repeat of what happened in Norton.
“I am also giving an order today that I want to see all of you in Bikita. When the time comes, will organise transport that will take you from Masvingo to Bikita so that you play your part in the by-election,” said Nhenjana without elaborating.
Though the election date has not yet been set, many people expect a hard fought battle with indications that former Zanu PF youth boss Kudakwashe Gopo who is now with the Zimbabwe People First might be one of the candidates to contest against Zanu PF’s Beauty Chabaya.
The party, despite mounting a spirited and sometimes violent campaign, was recently stunned in Norton when its candidate, Ronald Chindedza, was defeated by Mliswa.
The party now faces an uphill task retaining Bikita West with some Zanu PF members unhappy with the party’s  Chabaya, whom they say was very weak.
Chabaya controversially won the right to represent Zanu PF in the by-election ahead of her closest rival Elias Musakwa through a primary election that many dismissed as rigged.
Nhenjana said the Bikita West by-election will be polling station-based; enumeration will be done at the station and the outcomes of each polling station announced from there.
He urged party supporters to be united and work together till election day saying factionalism had to be defeated so that the party can win.
“We urge all the people to work together till election day so that we win the election. We can only win this constituency if we are united,” Nhenjana said.
One of the Zanu PF supporters openly told Nhenjana that there were high chances of losing in Bikita since there were a lot of things frustrating party supporters in Bikita West.
The Bikita West seat fell vacant after Munyaradzi Kereke was slapped with a 10-year jail term after being convicted of raping his niece at gunpoint.
The Chiefs Hall gathering was attended by Masvingo Urban legislator Daniel Shumba and other provincial committee members of the party.news