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Business abusing CARE cash recipients

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Business abusing CARE cash recipients

Peter Chawapiwa

GUTU – The business community in some parts of Gutu district is abusing recipients of the CARE EcoCash transfer programme by forcing them to buy groceries instead of giving them cash to acquire maize grain, TellZim News has learnt.
The CARE EcoCash transfer programme was introduced to assist the rural folk to buy maize grain in view of the persistent food shortages that are being experienced in some parts of Gutu district. The programme replaced the old system which saw the organization ferrying maize grain into the various wards for distribution to the people. The old system was costly and involved a number of logistical problems that were done away with by the new system.
Some recipients of the CARE EcoCash transfer programme who spoke to TellZim News said they were encountering problems when they wanted to access their money through the Ecocash agents.
“When the programme started we were told to open Ecocash accounts so that the money could be transferred directly into our cellphones.
“This is what we did and while CARE International has honoured its side of the bargain we are finding it difficult to access the money.
“Business people who are EcoCash agents however force us to buy groceries before they can give us anything from our cash-out proceeds. At the end of the day we cannot acquire the maize grain to feed our families,” the recipients said.
Some business people who spoke to this reporter said the current cash crisis in the country was forcing them to ask recipients to spent part of their proceeds before they could cash out their money.
“You see, we cannot fork out cash without receiving anything in return. What will happen at the end of the day is that we will not have any cash to order more provisions. By asking them to spend a portion of their money we ensure that we continue giving them that service,” they said.
Ward 19 councillor, Cleophas Muzindi, said they were aware of what is happening.
“We are trying to engage the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) so that recipients can transfer their money to the organization and receive maize grain in return. That way they will bypass the EcoCash agents and use the money for its intended purpose,” Muzindi said.news

Court finally clears MDC-T Zaka rally

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Court finally clears MDC-T Zaka rally

Itai Muzondo

Masvingo – Masvingo Provincial court has finally granted Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) the go ahead to hold its proposed star rally to be held in Zaka.
The rally was initially scheduled for October 8, 2016 but the police delayed granting clearance.
In their founding affidavit where officer commanding Masvingo East was respondent, complainants, Simon Ziki and Peter Chigaba argued that they were being tossed around from one office to the other by police in an effort to have their Zaka rally cleared but in vain.
“On October 2, 2016, we went to the respondent’s office with intention to deliver our application to hold a rally at Gumbo Business Centre in Zaka….The respondent refused again and referred us back to Masvingo again,” reads part of the affidavit.
“The respondent did not give us anything, written or verbally which demonstrates that the regulating authority fears that there is threat that our proposed rally will result in a serious injury to participants on the rally or other person or extensive damage to property or other public disorder.
“He is the regulating authority of the area but chose not to do his duty to the detriment of the rights of the citizens and against the law. That is clear that from his actions he does not want this rally to take place and do that without any reasonable cause,” further reads the affidavit.
The rally has however been moved to October 15, 2016.
“MDC – T vice presidents, Nelson Chamisa, Elias MUdzuri and Thokozani Khupe will address the gathering,” said Chigaba.
Meanwhile, pressure groups have of late complained over police delays to grant them clearance letters for their meetings.news

Chipinge employer rapes maid

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Chipinge employer rapes maid

Elizabeth Demo

CHIPINGE – A Chipinge man, who could not wait for his wife to return from a trip, is alleged to have raped his maid on different occasions recently.
Tawanda Dheka (27) of house number 375 Gaza Township in Chipinge has since appeared before Chipinge magistrate Vusomuzi Gapara facing rape charges and was remanded in custody to October 21, 2016.
Magistrate gapara encouraged Dheka to apply for bail at the High Court within 10 days.
It is the State’s case that on March 15, 2016 at 0200hours, Dheka arrived from Gweru where he had gone with his wife and found the complainant sleeping on sofa in the dining room.
The court heard that the two started to chat and the accused narrated how he travelled all the way from Gweru whilst the complainant was sitting opposite to him.
The State alleges that Dheka then started to demand to sleep in the same blanket with the complainant but the request was shot down. He is alleged to have forced himself on top of the girl and forcibly had sex with her once.
The complainant screamed for help but to no avail. Dheka allegedly threatened to kill the complainant if she ever revealed the matter to anyone.
It was further alleged that July 12, 2016 around 1200hours when the accused’s wife had gone to work, Dheka was eating sadza and soon after he demanded to have sex with the complainant. He is said to have immediately pushed her onto the floor and raped her once.
The complainant later revealed the matter to a friend and a report was made to the police in July 2016. Complainant was referred to hospital for medical examination where the doctor confirmed that penetration was effected.  Edith Phiri prosecuted.news

Chivi small grain farmers yet to receive 2014 payment

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Chivi small grain farmers yet to receive 2014 payment

Upenyu Chaota

CHIVI – Farmers in Chivi district, who have been encouraged to grow small grains in order to counter the little rainfall they receive annually, are regretting the move after the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has failed to pay for the sorghum they sold in 2014.
Presenting their grievances to Chivi Central legislator Ephraim Gwanongodza, farmers fronted by Tawanda Mapurisa who is also Zanu PF ward 17 vice chairperson, said the GMB has completely neglected them and they had since lost hope of getting paid for their 2014 produce.
“We sold maize and sorghum to GMB in 2014 and they gave us money for maize only. Since then we have been demanding money for our sorghum but to no avail. Things are tough and if we could get the payment it would help us a lot. Schools have opened and we need to pay our children’s fees,” said Mapurisa.
“It would have been better if someone talked to us about our money than to be ignored completely like nothing happened. Right now there is ravaging hunger and we would be happy if GMB give us maize equivalent to our money,” he added.
GMB Chivi manager Kudakwashe Masiyambiri said they are working hard to clear all the money they owe Chivi farmers.
“We may be moving at a tortoise pace but we will eventually pay off all the farmers. The list was big but now we have less than 10 people. The farmers have given us an option to either give them maize equivalent to the money we owe them or pay them in full but the former was shot down by the head office saying it has never been done before. The head office is running around sourcing funds and once the money is available we will clear the debt,” said Masiyambiri.
Gwanongodza promised to push on behalf of the farmers so that they receive their money.news

Hungry villagers stranded as Zaka RDC hires debt collector

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Hungry villagers stranded as Zaka RDC hires debt collector

Brighton Chiseva

Zaka – The cash-strapped Zaka Rural District Council (RDC), which is struggling to pay its workers, has hired Paul Mangwana of Mangwana and Partners Legal Practitioners as their debt collector in a desperate effort to force hungry villagers to pay their taxes.
Zaka RDC gets much of its revenue from villagers in the district but they have not been paying their taxes in time due to the ravaging hunger. 
In his report to the Full Council Meeting recently, Zaka RDC’s chief executive officer David Majaura said hiring debt collector will improve revenue collection.
“We have limited tax inflow and this is affecting council’s operations. There have been delays in paying the management and we hope the debt collector will improve revenue collection,” said Majaura.
Mangwana, who was invited to the Full Council Meeting to explain to the councilors how he will operate before they could hire him, warned the local authority to improve its service delivery so that the ratepayers won’t complain.
He however assured council that he will work hard to ensure that villagers pay their debts, just like what he is doing with the other 30 RDCs which engaged him throughout the country.
Councillors were told that hiring Mangwana to do debt collection will increase the cash inflow hence the finance committee in its 2017 budget reduced business taxes by 3%, market rates by 5% and business outside Jerera Central Business District (CBD) by 10%.
The social services committee also reduced Market fees from $5 -$3 but introduced pay toilets costing $0.50 and $0.25 respectively.
Zaka District Administrator (DA) Tapson Chivanga advised council to make sure that reducing the rates will not lead the local authority into another cash crisis
However, the move by Zaka RDC was challenged by the business community who were saying the council was supposed to have consulted or notified them before calling debt collectors.
Zaka business community chairperson Cleophas Ziki, who was equally astonished as some councilors who seemed not to understand who called Mangwana and yet they are the policy makers, said the council was supposed to give civic education to them first before they call debt collectors.
“Council should not take us by surprise; it is important that you inform stakeholders of the developments you intend to do than hiring a debt collector without notifying us,” said Ziki.news

#Zimbabwe Yadzoka fights against voter apathy

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#Zimbabwe Yadzoka fights against voter apathy

Upenyu Chaota

A newly formed pressure group #Zimbabwe Yadzoka/Mayibuye iZimbabwe has taken to the grassroots particularly the rural communities across the country to encourage people to register and vote despite the frustrations over alleged vote rigging by Zanu PF in previous elections.
#Zimbabwe Yadzoka/ Mayibuye iZimbabwe, a youth driven movement, says Zanu PF has frustrated the electorate so much that no one believes in the ballot system for change anymore, hence there is need to encourage people to register and vote in the 2018 elections.
#Zimbabwe Yadzoka/ iZimbabwe Mayibuye national chairperson Victor Chimhutu, said they are targeting people in rural areas who have fallen prey to Zabu PF’s political violence and intimidation to go and register for voting so that they can exercise their voting right.
“#Zimbabwe Yadzoka is a social movement which represents the down down-trodden, the poor, the marginalized and the peasants among many marginalised communities in the country.
“We focus mainly on rural, marginalised communities which have not been part of the national political discourse for a long time probably during the Second Chimurenga. We are non-political and non-partisan, our membership are people who love Zimbabwe.
“Our demands are simple. We demand President Robert Mugabe to step down immediately. We demand opposition parties start coalition talks in case Mugabe does not heed the call to step down. We educate the people of Zimbabwe to know that after voting it’s their right to protect their vote,” said Chimhutu.
He added that they are teaching a new political culture which is to say the people are the ones with power and not vice versa.
“What we concentrate more on is meeting the people and we believe if people demand a grand coalition why will politicians ignore those demands, who are they serving? From our gatherings and outreach programmes, people are overwhelmingly demanding a coalition and politicians have to listen otherwise they risk a backlash,” Chimhutu said.
Quizzed whether a grand coalition is possible especially when opposition forces are still dragging their feet ambiguously saying they are willing to work together but without a hind on coalition talks, Chimhutu said a grand coalition will guarantee Mugabe’s defeat and opposition has no choice but to give in to the demands of the people.
“That problem is not coming from the people, it’s a problem among politicians. If you look at their policy and positions, there are no ideological differences between and among these leaders of progressive forces. So like you rightly noted their problems are of personal nature and nothing to do with the suffering masses. They have to make a choice on whether to fight from the corner of the people or continue to massage their big egos.
“If they do not heed the coalition call from the people, we will condemn them into the abyss of history. More than ever we are presented with a perfect opportunity to reclaim our country and people will not allow that opportunity to pass,” said Chimhutu.news

Chivi gold panners up for murder

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Chivi gold panners up for murder

Tatenda Shunyai

CHIVI –   Two gold panners from Chivi are facing murder charges after they were linked to the murder of Henry Takorekana at Mhandamabwe Business Centre last week.
Tavonga Marufu (34) of Gudhe village, headman Madyangove in Chivi and Tunhidzai Mukwasha of 3679/17 Mbizo, Kwekwe, have since initially appeared before Chivi resident magistrate facing murder as defined in Section 47(1)(a) of the Criminal Law, Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
It is alleged that on the fateful day, Marufu and Mukwasha accompanied the late Takorekana from his place of residence to number 72-73 Mhandamabwe Business Centre and the trio had a misunderstanding on their way back resulting in the duo allegedly beating up the deceased with copper wire.
Takorekana is said to have staggered till he got home where he then, upon arrival, fell unconscious and was rushed to Chivi district hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The deceased’s young brother Isaac Masarakufa helped the police locate the accused leading to their arrest.
Marufu and Mukwasha were remanded to October 17, 2016 and their case has since been transferred to Masvingo Magistrates Court.news

Gutu man caged for illegal electricity connection

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Gutu man caged for illegal electricity connection

Memory Rasa

GUTU – A Gutu man will rue the day he evaded the meter reading and connected electricity directly to his house after he was slapped with a 16 months jail-term recently.
Tiki Muranda (30) from Chatsworth was convicted and sentenced for contravening Section 60 A (1) (a) of the Electricity Act Chapter 13:19 (Abstract or divert any electric current or causing any electric current to be abstracted or diverted.)
The court heard that Muranda unlawfully connected electricity at 16 Makaure Location, Chatsworth, between May 18, 2016 and October 04, 2016, when a Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Auithourity (ZESA) loss control officer, Joseph Nekati discovered the connection whilst carrying spot checks leading to his arrest.
Nekati asked Muranda’s wife, Nomatter Mabhande to check the meter in the house. When he entered the house, the bulb was lit which was an indication that there was electricity in the house. He further checked the customer information unity (C.I.U) and it showed 0000 meaning there were no units purchased.
A printout was obtained which indicated that the accused had last purchased 28,3 units on May 18 for $5, the total value prejudiced is US$636
Muranda pleaded guilty before Gutu Resident Magistrate Edwin Marecha and begged for mercy saying that he had lost his job and was finding it difficult to find any money to pay electricity bill.
“I am sorry your worship, if you may forgive me and give me time to find a job and pay the bill. I am not employed and I just heard people discussing how a cable can be used to evade the meter recording electricity consumption. I did it out of desperation and it worked. I have 4 children and a wife, I am also taking care of my sick mother,” pleaded Muranda.
Marecha sentenced Muranda to 16 months of which four months were suspended on condition that he pays $300 fine. The other six months were suspended on condition that he pays restitution totaling $636 before November 2016, while the remaining six months were again suspended on condition that Muranda does not commit a similar offense for the next one year.  Millicent Azangwe prosecuted.news

Cattle farmer Mukumba loses herd as Vet shoots 20 cattle

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Cattle farmer Mukumba loses herd as Vet shoots 20 cattle

Upenyu Chaota

MASVINGO – Cattle farmer Onismo Mukumba lost 20 cattle after the Veterinary Services shot dead the livestock at his farm following an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease recently.
The move has since been condemned by Masvingo Beef Producers’ Association (MPBA) which said the vet department was not supposed to kill all the cattle since some had not been affected by the disease.
MPBA chairperson Robert Makado said the Vet department showed gross incompetence because they should have put various check points along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway so that they could stop movement of cattle from the Foot and Mouth infested district of Mwenezi.
 “While we are aware that there are shenanigans who move cattle illegally from quarantined zones, we have to be rational in our approach. Mukumba brought the cattle at his farm from Mwenezi in July and there is an outbreak three months later. Now the veterinary services officers jump from their comfort zones and killed the cattle and one would wonder where were they all along?” said Makado.
“The cattle should have been treated while at the farm or returned to Mwenezi rather than inflicting such a huge loss on a farmer,” he added.
 “If they do not do that, they will end up shooting all the cattle in the province and make farmers poor,” said Makado.
When contacted for comment, Mukumba however maintains that he followed all the relevant procedures to clear the cattle through the Vet department before he transported the herd to his farm in Masvingo district.
“Everything was above board; the cattle were cleared by Vet before I transported them to my farm. I  even secured a High Court order to stop them from shooting my cattle but when I arrived at the farm they had already shot 20,” said Mukumba.
He later refused to comment further on the issue saying he was no longer interested to talk to the media.
Masvingo Veterinary Provincial Officer Ernest Dzimwasha was not reachable for comment by the time of going to print.news

Mutero High rewards outstanding students

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Mutero High rewards outstanding students

…Teachers receive tokens of appreciation
Peter Chawapiwa

GUTU – The Roman Catholic Church run Mutero High School of Gutu last week rewarded its outstanding students and teaching staff at a speech and prize giving day that was held at the school.
The prize giving ceremony was attended by headmasters from other catholic institutions as well as sister schools in the district. Roman Catholic nuns and priests including Mutero Mission Father Superior, Father Vincent Hungwe also attended the function. Also in attendance and standing in for Masvingo Diocese head, Right Reverend Michael Dickson Bhasera was Diosesan Vicar General, Father Walter Nyatsanza.
Father Nyatsanza urged students to take what they learn in the classroom into the community saying the conservation of natural resources should take an integral part in the learning process.
“Not only should we conserve our natural resources for future generations but we should also ensure that the environment is clean.
“Harare used to be called the Sunshine City but look at what is happening today. You should take what you learn in the classroom into the community and educate others on the importance of keeping our environment clean,” Father Nyatsanza said.
School headmaster, Severino Shiri, urged students who did not receive prizes to emulate their fellow students and make sure that they could be prize recipients in future.
“You have the ability to perform better and win the accolades in future. Do not despair but make sure that you strive to do better,” he said.
Prizes were awarded to the best two students per class per each subject that is offered in the school’s curriculum. The overall best student per class received an additional prize.
Vimbai Mutangiri was the best Form One student while Libertty Chingwetu dominated in Form Two. Donald Mboyi and Terence Gonyora outclassed other students in Forms Three and Four. Tanaka Tengawarima and Lewis Mukurumbira stole the honours in the Lower and Upper Sixth Forms respectively.
Teachers were also rewarded for producing quality results that met the expected target of over 70% pass rate in each subject at both Ordinary and Advanced Level.news

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