Itai Muzondo

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development recently told residents during a public hearing held at Masvingo’s City Hall recently that two bills drafted by the mine ministry will enhance revenue collection in the mining sector.

The Mineral Exploration Marketing Corporation (MEMC) Bill and the Pan African Minerals University of Science and Technology (PAMUST) Bill come at the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the missing US$15 billion spirited out of Chiyadzwa diamond fields.

Speaking to TellZim News, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, Daniel Shumba said the two bills, if enacted, will assist Zimbabwe to account for revenue realised from the mining sector.

“The MEMC is actually coming to replace the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ). This will enhance our performance in collecting revenue from the mining sector. The new bills are a step forward in efforts to rationalise the operations of the mining sector.

“Local people will benefit more if the bills become law as the law would be supported by a university, the Pan African University of Science and Technology which will offer training in most processes in mineral development locally,” Shumba said.

Critics have however questioned whether the proposed laws will be able to plug the loopholes which have seen the US$15 billion disappearing without trace.

Participants also questioned the logic of constructing a new university proposing that government should instead expand existing infrastructure of local universities rather than shoulder a whole new expense.

“What I really want to know is whether these bills will bring back the missing 15 billion if enacted and more so, Zimbabwe school of mines is the sole learning institution for the mining field in much of SADC but it is underdeveloped and underutilised.

“Government should therefore stop wasting resources building a university dedicated solely to mining and must rather develop the available School of Mines so that it meets modern standards,” said Ward 4 councillor, Godfrey Kurauone.news

Itai Muzondo

Seven Bikita police officers are in trouble on allegations of involvement in a stock theft syndicate after they allegedly abetted the theft of over 100 heard of cattle on different occasions in an elaborate cattle clearing racket, TellZim News has learnt.

Although details were still sketchy by the time of going to print, the seven are understood to have already been marshaled to an internal hearing charged with unprofessional conduct concerning their alleged involvement in the cattle clearance ring.

The racket reportedly involved the officers giving cattle movement clearing certificates to livestock rustlers who would then use the clearances to traffic stolen cattle to abattoirs.

Masvingo Province acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa however, professed ignorance over the matter saying the Masvingo East district where the incident happened should first confirm the matter.

“I am not currently in a position to comment until I receive information from Bikita as I have tasked the responsible person there to give me details,” Dhewa said.

The development comes at a time Zimbabwe has realised a 32 percent decrease in stock theft cases as compared to cases that had been recorded over the same period last year.

Masvingo and Midlands Province have the largest number of stock thefts reported this year.news

Davison Marenga

Buhera Rural District Council (BRDC) has taken a radical move to create sanity and cleanliness in Murambinda growth point by pushing informal traders and commuter omnibuses from undesignated places.

People from such faraway places as Madzivire and Marenga have tried to escape the effects of the drought by joining the already swelling hordes of vendors in Murambinda, with glaring effects on environmental cleanliness.

The latest move means council will have to play cat and mouse games with the vendors for a long time. So far the vendors have proved stubborn in their resistance to relocation.

The informal traders had mushroomed along shop verandas and in front of Delta Stockist shops.

If caught off guard, the traders lose their wares to council which auctions them at lower than market prices but there are also claims of corrupt council officials sharing the confiscated goods amongst themselves. 

Kombis which used to pick up and drop of passengers at undesignated places have also been feeling the heat of late with council police cars consistently chasing them along the crowded and dusty roads of the sprawling growth point.news

Tellzim reporter

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxilia Mnangagwa, who is also legislator for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency, puzzled many people after she donated a goat to thousands of congregants who had gathered for the ordination of six Catholic priests in Driefontein.

People expressed various sentiments on Mnangagwa’s ‘gesture of generosity’ with some saying the VP’s wife should have given more considering her status.

“Sometimes you may be cursed by God for pretending. Those with a lot should give accordingly. Her constituency, for your own information, is dominated by Roman Catholics and they voted for her.

It therefore becomes a mockery to be given a mere goat by a person of her social standing. She has failed to distinguish herself from the ordinary villager. Maybe it shows how stingy and selfish those who aspire to be on the uppermost top are,” said a Zanu-PF official who requested anonymity, saying Mnangagwa should have taken a cue from Grace Mugabe’s fabulous charity work.

Others, however, were of the view that her minuscule gift should be taken for its symbolic meaning and not its material value.

“Remember what matters is the heart. Jesus applauded that woman who gave just one coin over others who boastfully splashed their wealth,” said one sympathiser. 

The consecration of the new priests was presided over by Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Archbishop Marek Zalewski who was representing Pope Francis.

Archbishop Zelewski thanked Bishop Xavier Munyongani for his hard work and commitment in running the Diocese of Gweru and praised church members for their commitment to work.

“The year is not good at all but you can hardly feel it. The people are committed to duty and worshipping. This is what makes me remain attached to this diocese as I feel at home away from home,” said Archbishop Zalewski.

The new priests are Leon Tawanda Mapfumo, Dominic Dhekeni, Tafara Musemwa, Admire Gavi, Isaac Chirwa and Shingai Kudakwashe Nduku.news

Increase Gumbo

Chiredzi district has been recorded as the district which suffered the highest incidences of wildfires  in 2015 after a survey by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA)  revealed that more than 50 000 hectares of land was destroyed by fire in the district.

Speaking at a provincial fire week launch held at Magumise Primary School in Ward 32, Provincial Environmental Manager Robson Mavondo said 50 437.61 hectares of land was reported to have been destroyed by fire.

“Magumise area was the most affected,” said Mavondo.

He said Masvingo province has so far lost much property this year to raging veld fires.

Masvingo district is second to Chiredzi with some 17 844.25 hectares of land having been destroyed with areas around Great Zimbabwe being affected while Hippo Creek Lodge lost some property in a raging blaze last year.

“Here in Chiredzi sugarcane farmers usually clear their land with open fire which most of the time is left unattended leading to veld fires,” said Mavondo.

The EMA survey shows that a total of 75 738.17 hectares of land were destroyed by fire with devastating consequences on vegetation, crops, livestock and wildlife.

Mavondo urged the public to be responsible and mindful in the way they interact with the environment.

He encouraged people to make fireguards on both sides of boundary fences and warned villagers not to use open fires outside their homes during the dry season.

 “Let every farmer ensure that their farm is protected by standard 9-metre fire guards on both sides of a boundary fence.

“Starting a fire in the open is a punishable offence which attracts a fine of $3000 or 3 years imprisonment,” said Mavondo.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate through the Forestry Commission, EMA, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and other stakeholders like the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are raising awareness and fighting veld fires while restoring the scorched areas.news

Staff reporter

Assistant District Administrator for Zaka Gift Machukele is alleged to have turned a social welfare food aid distribution event into a rally, campaigning for President Robert Mugabe at Vanyoro Community Hall in Ward 23.

Machukele, who had come to monitor the distribution following complaints by local MPs that social welfare officers were corruptly distributing the food, allegedly ended up chanting Pamberi naVaMugabe in front of the people.

Machukele had also come to announce the introduction of the food-for-work programme for able-bodied people who do not qualify for the social welfare food aid.

Machukele could not be reached for comment by the time of going to print.

Afterwards, members of the public told this publication they were offended by the politicisation of food aid.

They accused him of trying to use non-political platforms to campaign for Zanu-PF and giving first priority in the food distribution process to Zanu-PF sympathisers.

“The social welfare food aid is for everyone and there must be no slogans during distribution of food. As a civil servant, the DA is not supposed to dabble in politics,” said a villager from Vanyoro.

Villagers also said whenever given a platform to speak, Machukele begins with a ruling party slogan, Pamberi naVaMugabe, Pamberi nekubatana.

It was announced that the public works food-for-work programme will benefit those who were willing to work on public projects for 15 days for a bag of maize.

Local ward councillors were tasked to compile the names of eligible people who were benefiting neither from CARE cash vouchers nor the social welfare aid programme.news

Itai Muzondo

Masvingo Provincial Zanu-PF Political Commissar and Bikita South legislator Jeppy Jaboon lost his Toyota D4D Extended Cad truck to armed robbers at gun point in Bikita recently.

The loss which is linked to Zanu-PF extended factional fights which has seen intense fights between the First Lady, Grace Mugabe-aligned group (G40) and Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa-aligned cadres (Team Lacoste) within Masvingo Province.

Jaboon who said could not comment on what transpired in his absence referred TellZim News to one Thomas Chireshe who was amongst the people present when the car was hijacked.

“Yes my car is gone but I am still to come to terms with what happened. You can talk to one of my guys who was in the car when the incident took place,” said Jaboon in a sombre mood.

Confirming the robbery, one Thomas Chireshe who was in Jaboon’s vehicle at the time of the hijack with two others, Munyaradzi Mboho and Jeffery Murire said the robbers said they had been sent by Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke.

“We were robbed upon our arrival at Highway supermarket by two men and we managed to identify Obvious Madzivanyika who drove the car away and surprisingly he is a driver to a senior party member, Honourable Anna Runganai, proportional representation legislator for Bikita District.

“We however did not manage to identify Madzivanyika’s accomplice, the one who was holding the gun. We also lost some valuables in the car including important party documents and US$2 000. We reported the case at Nyika Police base immediately after the unfortunate incident,” Chireshe said.news

file pic

Davison Marenga

At least four people were injured, one of them seriously and goods worth hundreds of dollars destroyed when a row of flea market stalls collapsed in Mandava, Zvishavane on Fiday last week.

The police quickly reported at the accident scene but many people said they were surprised to see them in anti-riot gear as if anticipating a violent reaction from the vendors.

The injured were ferried to Zvishavane District Hospital in a Fire Brigade truck as the council ambulance took a very long time to arrive at the scene.

Three of the injured vendors were treated of minor bruises and scratches but one was admitted with serious head injuries.

Angry traders at the flea market who attributed the accident to structural faults of the market stalls said they had reported the structural problems to the council about three weeks back, but no action was taken, resulting in the collapse.

The vendors complained about poor service delivery by the council, which they accused of ignoring critical areas like public safety, clean water and the sewer system.

“Kanzuru iyi marara chaiwo, chavanoda kutora mari dzedu chete pasina kana chavanoita, iye zvino mvura inouya yakasviba, sewage pose pose and now flea market yawa asi rent vanotora every month” (This council is useless, they are just concerned with collecting rentals and not delivering),” said one stall owner.

“They are good for nothing, all they do is just sitting in their offices pretending as if they are working for the residents of Zvishavane yet they are doing nothing. They let everything go to the ground like this. They are just concerned about themselves not us,” said another trader.

Representatives of the vendors were locked in a closed door meeting with the council officials where they were reportedly promised that new and stronger stalls will be built for the affected people.

The town engineer, Lameck Gozho, was not seen on the accident scene in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, with some people saying it was characteristic of the council leaders to isolate themselves from what happens on the ground.

Efforts to get comment from council officials were fruitless by the time of going to print.news