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Mahofa approves 68 000 hectares bio – diesel project

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Mahofa approves 68 000 hectares bio – diesel project
Itai Muzondo

Masvingo – In a recent development that has been portrayed as a ray of light to implementation of the Zim – Asset blueprint, the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Shuva Mahofa recently approved a 68 000 hectare project for bio – diesel project in the province, Tell Zimbabwe can reveal.
In a telephone interview, Mahofa confirmed that they have since had a solid deal with an investor after a series of interviews conducted from her Benjamin Burombo offices and are currently awaiting implementation of the multi-million dollar project.
                                          Shuvai Mahofa
“Among many projects we are doing in Masvingo, we recently approved a 68 000 hectares bio – diesel project to be set downstream Tokwe – Mkosi Dam and Chingwizi area. As we speak, we are just awaiting implementation from the selected investor as I assure you that we did thorough interviews with possible investors for the project until we came up with the most suitable one,” confirmed Mahofa.
“These projects are geared towards regurgitating the nation’s economy,” Mahofa added.business

Bikita Minerals honours its employees

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Bikita Minerals honours its employees
Itai Muzondo
Bikita – August 20, 2015 – As many companies are owing thousands, if not millions of dollars to its workers, the sole lithium mining company in Zimbabwe, Bikita Minerals honoured its long serving members with awards recently at a colourful ceremony held at the mine’s hall recently.
Speaking during the event, Bikita Minerals Workers Committee Chairperson Richard Chihoti hailed their management saying the little they have given as appreciation will keep them going.
“What our management did is very welcome considering that a lot of employees do not get such opportunities in this hard economic situation. I however stand to thank my fellow workers above anyone here for the hard work they do which has ultimately pleased management to see it viable that they resume long service awards,” said Chihoti.
After being awarded for a 40 year service to the mine, Gift Garande (64) could not hide his joy and said he was quite happy of how the company honoured him and urged fellow workers to be honest at work.
“I am happy of what Bikita Minerals did for me today. This is quite an honour anyone would expect after joining the company as early as 3 December 1973 at the age of 21.

                                  David Saunders
“Working on good conditions kept me going for this long and everyone should always be hardworking, honest and never steal to serve their jobs,” said Garande.
One of the directors, David Saunders said they saw it viable to acknowledge their hard working team as there had been much postponements to the event.
“We had postponed this event for long and we felt today we should do it as a way to honour our long serving members. This event has been actually a success under such hard financial challenges because we simply work with the right size, we merely strain our budget,” said Saunders.local

Old nursing staff compromising service at council clinics

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Old nursing staff compromising service at council clinics
Moses Ziyambi

Service delivery at local council clinics is highly compromised by the old nursing staff manning the health centers who are no longer active thereby short-changing patients, it has been learnt.
Due to old age problems, the nursing staff -mainly above 50 years old is reportedly failing to cope with the ever increasing number of patients’ attendance level.
Recent council minutes indicate that there is urgent need for the council to address the problem associated with the aging nursing staff which has hit all the clinics.
According to the  council minutes in possession of Tell Zimbabwe,  the council has not been proactive in filling the vacant positions created by retiring nurses.
“The Chief Environmental Health Officer reported that most of the nursing staff were above the age of 50 and highlighted the need for the council to be proactive in the filling of vacant positions arising from retiring nurses,” reads part of the council minutes.
It was also noted that the income raised from the council clinics have lowered since the number of served patients is declining by the day.
Masvingo city council runs three clinics, Rujeko, Runyararo and Mazorodze clinics, which are in urgent need of more young and energetic nursing staff so as to serve more patients.

New contraceptive coming to Masvingo

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC)’s newly unveiled birth control pill Marvelon 28 is expected to come to Masvingo province soon.

The Marvelon 28 pill which is still circulating in Harare and Bulawayo is a highly effective modern contraceptive, Masvingo ZNFPC provincial manager Peter Vhoko has revealed.
“The pill was introduced early this year and it’s coming to complement other existing birth control pills however it is still in circulating in Harare and Bulawayo and we are expecting it in Masvingo soon”, said Vhoko.
“Marvelon 28 is a modern contraceptive which is extremely effective and reliable if taken correctly”, added Vhoko.
Vhoko however urged members of the public to desist from buying pills in the streets since vendors lack expert advice and the pills are exposed to poor storage.
“We urge all users to visit health advisers for medical advice and desists from buying pills from street vendors because they lack the needed expert advice and there is poor storage of contraceptives”, said Vhoko.
The new contraceptive which has 28 tablets will be available in ZNFPC clinics at an affordable cost.health

Financial crisis rocks YOGA preparations

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Financial crisis rocks YOGA preparations
Lloyd Shunje
Chaos has rocked preparations for the upcoming Youth Games (YOGA) to be held in Manicaland as the  Masvingo provincial Sports Recreational Commission (SRC) has completely failed to organise a camping for the teams.
SRC Provincial Sports Coordinator Edgar Katapa said the province has lost seven days of collective training to fully prepare for the games that will be held from the 15th to the 23rd of August in Mutare.

“We were supposed to be in camp since 6 August for team selection, however, we failed to do that due to resource constraints”, said Katapa.
“We have lost seven days already but we hope to have a day in camp tomorrow (Friday 14 August) with all the teams at Victoria High School,” said Katapa
Katapa added that the preparations were underway as satellite camps had been set across the province to cut preparation costs
“Preparations are under way we have satellite camps set, our handball team are camping at Danhamombe High School, Pamushana High School is hosting the netball and in Chiredzi our boxing team is accommodated at Tongaat Hullets”, added Katapa.
Despite poor preparations Katapa said Masvingo hopes to bring the fortunes back home. Masvingo province came second with 16 gold medals in 2014 with Harare province leading with 17 gold medals.local

Mayor says firing of workers compromises service delivery

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Mayor says firing of workers compromises service delivery

Upenyu Silent Chaota

Masvingo mayor Hubert Fidze bemoaned the on-going massive termination of jobs by both government and local authorities saying low morale among workers in the country is affecting the quality of services delivered to an ordinary citizen by the municipality.
Fidze made the stunning revelation at a public debate on the current wave of job losses facilitated by Community Tolerance and Development Trust (COTRAD) and Tell Zimbabwe Trust  at Charles Austin Theatre recently.
 “I want to set the record straight… we are against the firing of workers because that is affecting our service delivery. Once workers are demoralized through working in an environment where they are not sure on whether they are still needed at work, they (workers) are likely going to perform their duties half-heartedly thereby compromising on the quality of services they render to an ordinary citizen,” said Fidze.
Ironically, the Masvingo City Council fired three of its workers last week. The trio  was very vocal and actively involved in fighting for workers’ rights.
The three are  Bonface Mazarire, Manasseh Wunganai and another one only identified as Ruzangwe.
But Fidze refused to be drawn into the issue during the debate as he mantained that his council was even under staffed.
“I maintain that as council, we need to employ than to expel workers,” said Fidze.
However, in a separate interview, Masvingo City Town Clerk Adolf Gusha said the council only fired three workers not the entire committee as previously alleged.
“All I can say is that we fired three employees… I cannot give you further information about the fired people because it is confidential information,” said Gusha in a statement.

Prosper Tiringindi of MRT asking Fidze during the debate

‘Blame not Chamisa’
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) representative at last weekend’s debate Simon Mupindu said it was unfortunate that some politicians blamed Nelson Chamisa – a senior MDC-T member for representing employers -Zuva Petroleum in a Supreme Court case which set the bases for the massive job cuts.
Mupindu who is a lawyer by profession said Chamisa is still under tutorship and he was only learning on how cases are handled.
“I have a copy of the judgment here and Chamisa’s name is not there… you can go on the internet and search for the judgment and Chamisa’s name is not among the lawyers who represented Zuva. I am sure some people just wanted to tarnish Chamisa’s name…he is a junior lawyer under tutorship and he cannot be blamed for going there to learn,” said Mupindu.
Meanwhile, all political parties that included Zanu PF and MDC-Renewal agreed that the government should urgently move in to stop massive job cuts.local

ZCTU demo flops

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ZCTU demo flops

Upenyu Chaota/Lloyd Shunje

Saturday 08 August 2015 – Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) demonstration over massive job losses by the workers currently witnessed in the country flopped on Saturday after people failed to turn up  in Masvingo.
The demonstration was supposed to start at ZCTU office in the morning and end at Benjamin Burombo building – where the demonstrators were supposed to handover their petition to Minister for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa.
 ZCTU provincial coordinator Elliot Muposhi said that the problem with people in Zimbabwe is that they are scared of the current government.
“We had scheduled demonstrations throughout the country to send a message to the government and the employer that we are not happy with the way workers are being victimised. We were hoping for a huge turn up but it seems people cannot stand for their rights,” said Muposhi.

He added that the arrest of the movement’s leadership in Harare Saturday morning also contributed to the flopping of the demo since social media platforms were awash with the message.
“The ZCTU leadership was arrested today in Harare and the message circulated on social media cultivating fear among the people,” added Muposhi.
However, ZCTU managed to send their petition to the Minister of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare and the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) with their demands.local

Masvingo vendors coming back to the streets

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Masvingo vendors coming back to the streets
Upenyu Silent Chaota
The defiant vendors in Masvingo who two weeks ago were flashed out from illegal vending sites have resorted to a hide and seek game with the municipal police in a bid to stay close to  their clients at the heart of the city.
Vendors who spoke to Tell Zimbabwe said they are coming back from the designated sites because there was no proper planning on the council’s part to come up with these markets.
“Things are tough and everyone knows that. The designated markets which the council came up with are not conducive for business.
“You display your wares but no one will come to buy or even to ask for the price. That’s why we decided to come back”, said one vendor who identified himself as Chikara.
Vendors now display a few of their wares while the rest will be hidden in secret corners and when the customer comes they only provide what is required.
Vendors will be arrested – Hubert Fidze
This strategy, as they say, enables them to run when the municipal police will be on patrol and be back again when they pass.
City mayor cllr Hubert Fidze said that he is unaware of the current situation.
 “I am not aware of what you are talking about… all the vendors have been moved to designated sites. The municipal police will be patrolling and all illegal vendors will be arrested”, said Fidze.local

Going gets tough for sugarcane farmers

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Going gets tough for sugarcane farmers
 Moses Ziyambi

Small holder sugarcane farmers who benefitted from the Land Reform Programme are in for great tribulation with falling cane prices and an increasingly uncertain environment straining the viability of the industry.
Government recently announced a major policy shift that will see most A2 farmers, the category under which cane farmers fall, having their plots reduced to A1 sizes to bring in more players and increase capacity utilization.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) Masvingo Provincial Manager Jeremiah Chimwanda said farmers were finding it hard to access credit lines as lenders were now more cautious.
“It is not easy to get credit anymore because the industry is struggling. The quality of cane has declined of late and that has significantly impacted the revenue of our farmers,” he said
He also indicated that much of the cane needs re-establishment, an exercise that requires significant capital investment.
“Depending on its type, cane has to be re-established after a period of around nine to twelve years, something that’s proving to be quite a challenge under the prevailing conditions,” he said.


                                            Sugarcane farmer

Sugarcane farmer, Talent Majoni blamed falling market prices and the tax regime levied on farmers for constraining the viability of the industry.
“Prices have fallen from $700 to around $517 per tonne within a short period of time yet input prices remain high. That has affected our financial standing to carry out our operations efficiently. On the other hand, ZIMRA is not helping matters; they are imposing high taxes on us the primary producers and they have obtained garnishee orders against many farmers who are struggling to pay,” said Majoni.
CBZ and Banc ABC are understood to have tightened the screws of lending owing to high defaulting rates and the uncertainty around the farmers security of tenure following government moves to downsize A2 plots.
“Things are not as smooth-flowing as we would want but we are optimistic. If all farmers could just get their priorities right we would be fine. Instead, you see some of us spending our incomes on luxury cars instead of reinvesting it. If you maintain a clean credit record, it would be easy to get more funding” said Admore Hwarare, a prominent cane farmer and former Chairperson of the Sugarcane Farmers Association. local

Government fails to compensate Tokwe-Mkosi flood victims

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Government fails to compensate Tokwe-Mkosi flood victims
By Upenyu Chaota/ItaiMuzondo

It is now over one and half years since the saddening Tokwe-Mukosi flood disaster where over 3000 embattled flood victims were affected but the government has not yet managed to raise US$ 8 million needed to compensate the families.
 In a statement directed to the minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development, Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs recently, Shuvai Mahofa, noted that the tortoise pace towards resuscitating the flood victims by government has also crippled her plans to relocate the victims who are ‘stranded’ in Chingwizi.

Lets compensate flood victims now —-Shuvai Mahofa
“Government still owes the affected families about $8 million in compensation and we continue to urge government to reduce this debt regularly to give hope to these people.
“The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs wrote to the Minister of Lands in April 2015 seeking authority to relocate the Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims at Chingwizi to other preferred farms north of Runde River. To date no response has been received,” reads part of Mahofa’s statement.
Mahofa further said that most of the families are anxious to move out of Chingwizi camp before the commencement of this year’s farming season.
“Majority of the families have not constructed permanent structures and tents provided during their evacuation are now in a sorry state and may not survive the next rainy season. Government is struggling to feed the families and they would have preferred to be relocated and produce their own food in the alternative farms identified for their relocation,” said Mahofa.
Poor conditions in Chingwizi has seen most of the flood victims especially women engaging in prostitution in neighbouring districts to make a living.local

Poisoned garbage kills livestock in Zaka

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Poisoned garbage kills livestock in Zaka
…suspected blackleg disease strikes the district
By Itai Muzondo
Zaka – In a suspected case of felony, Zaka villagers were left astonished after livestock including cows, goats and birds died after eating garbage disposed from Roman Catholic run St Anthony Mission recently.
Commenting on the shocking incident where unspecified number of cattle, six goats and several birds died, St Anthony  School Development Committee Chairperson, Addison Makovere said he was aware of the sad development but was still looking for detailed information on the actual cause of the deaths.
“Several goats, cattle and even birds died. I am not yet informed of major developments which led to the deaths of the livestock in question currently,” said Makovere.
Zaka Central Member of Parliament (MP) Paradzai Chakona disclosed that cyanide is suspected to have caused the deaths of the domestic animals.
“According to initial investigations, cyanide is suspected to have caused the deaths. The matter has however been reported to the police and we are awaiting for their response,” said Chakona.
Masvingo Acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna was neither available on line nor at his Masvingo Central Police Station Offices for comment by time of publication.

                 Dead cattle at St Antony Mission
An inside source at the St Antony  who preferred to remain anonymous, however, disclosed that the poisoning was conducted by the  staff  from the institution’s kitchen department in a bid to get rid of dogs and cats that roam around their work place  disturbing them.
“Workers from St Anthony high school poisoned the garbage in a bid to kill dogs and cats they said disturbed them when conducting their duties,” said the source.
Musiso village, Dzenga village, Gono village and Chigudu village are notably the most affected villages since they have been bringing in more reports of affected livestock.
Meanwhile, Masvingo  provincial veterinary  officer Dr Dzimwasha said suspected cases of blackleg have been reported in Mushavanhu Village, Bare Village and other surrounding villages near Jerera Growth Point in Zaka.
“Suspected cases of blackleg have been reported in several villages around Jerera Growth Point and we are definitely going to work swiftly towards rectifying the problem,” said Dzimwasha.local
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