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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

Cultural barriers hamper circumcision drive : NAC

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Cultural barriers hamper circumcision drive : NAC
Moses Ziyambi

Zimbabwe’s fledgling voluntary male circumcision programme is being held back by misconceptions and rigid cultural traditions in pre-dominantly non-circumcising communities, the National AIDS Council (NAC) has said.
The voluntary male circumcision programme was launched in 2009 as part of efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The programme was boosted early this year when government injected US$100 million in the accelerated operational plan 2014-2018 to get 80 percent of all males circumcised by 2018.
However, the ambitious target may prove unattainable due to misplace notions among many people.

                 Just before circumcision in Chikombedzi

“The targets that have been set are quite reasonable but challenges are being encountered in the country’s traditionally non-circumcising communities that, unfortunately, form the majority of the country,” said NAC Masvingo Provincial Coordinator, Evos Makoni.
“We encounter people who resist circumcision on the basis that it is a Shangani custom rite which has no place in their own communities. Others reject it for fear of pain but we have always made it clear that the process is relatively pain-free,” said Makoni.
In communities that practice circumcision as a tradition, said Makoni, it is easier to convince people to embrace the government  initiated programme.
“We dont have problems in such places and we work closely with traditional chiefs. In most cases, we send teams to do the surgical process then we leave them to do the rest of the rite process,” he added.
Communities that practice cultural circumcision in Zimbabwe include the Shangani in the Lowveld and the Remba in some parts of Gutu and Mberengwa.health

Tsvangirai on 2018 voter registration campaign

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Tsvangirai on 2018 voter registration campaign
Tell Reporter

The Tsvangirai led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) has started its a campaign aimed at mobilising the people especially the youths to go and register as voters for the upcoming 2018 harmonised elections.
Speaking at the workshop organised for the Masvingo provincial party leadership last week at the party’s provincial office, Tsvangirai said that people should start registering as voters as soon as possible and avoid commotion towards polls.
“Let’s go and mobilise our people so that they can register as voters especially the youths. We need to launch a massive voter education so that we can remove ZANU PF from power”, said Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai added that the party’s leadership should make sure that the people in their areas are well versed with all the electoral processes.

       Most MDC-T supporters who attended rallies in 2013 were not registered voters
“We do not want a situation where people are turned away because their names don’t appear at certain polling stations. This is a trick used by ZANU PF to try and discourage people from voting.
“ZANU PF has a tendency of putting more polling stations in their strongholds and in our strongholds they put few and dispersed polling stations”, said Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai bemoaned the shocking number of assisted voters in a country which is at 96% literacy rate.
“What is shocking is the number of assisted voters who are said not to be able to write in a country with higher levels of literacy. We should not be intimidated because your vote is your secret. I plead with you to encourage all our youths to get registered and vote -that way Zanu PF will find it difficult to steal our vote”, added Tsvangirai.politics

Bere High through to Pinda Musmart NASH provincials

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Bere High through to Pinda Musmart NASH provincials
Lloyd Shunje
Bere High School won Pinda Musmart Under 20 National Association of School Heads (NASH) district competitions after dismissing Masvingo Christian College by a goal to nil in the finals held at Mushandike High School over the weekend.
Bere High School which will represent Masvingo district in the provincials to be hosted by Dewure High School next month silenced Daitai by three goals to nil to meet with Masvingo Christian College in the final which had won three goals to two in penalties against Madzvivanyika High School.

The duo of Mugoniwa brothers Tatenda and Sheunesu displayed brilliant skills  to ensure that Bere secured a ticket to the provincials. Sheunesu was the top goal scorer with four goals whilst Tatenda popularly known as Dovi had three goals
 Speaking after the game, the winning coach Abiot Musundire said they had prepared well as it was the school’s dream to represent the district in the provincial competitions.
“The boys have fulfilled their dream as they have been working hard for this day. I believe they will continue with the winning spirit as they will continue training for the coming assignment”, said
Masvingo Christian College coach Benjamin Makanyire was not impressed with the vetting process as he said Beres team had big boys than his side.
“My boys tried their best but it was unfortunate that the vetting process was not done properly”, said Makanyire.
In  girls Beach Volleyball Zimuto High School lost in the final to Chirichoga High School.
Both teams will nonetheless represent the District in the provincials as Chirichoga will go as defending champions.
In boys Beach Volleyball Gokomere High School won the game after crushing Masvingo Christian College in the final, to secure their ticket for the provincial competitions that will be played in Dewure River.sport

TIFAZ kicks off, grows bigger and better

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TIFAZ kicks off, grows bigger and better
Itai Muzondo
Running under the theme, Innovation and Creativity for Socio – Economic Transformation, one of the country’s biggest cultural symposium, Tertiary Institutions Festival of Arts in Zimbabwe (TIFAZ)  was officially opened at Masvingo Polytechnic during the weekend.
TIFAZ management team highlighted that the number of both participating colleges and students continues to rise  every year.
This year has seen 2 300 students from 21 tertiary institutions registering to compete at this prestigious festival.
Speaking at the official opening of TIFAZ, Masvingo Poly Acting Principle Evans Musara said he was glad that the event has come to Masvingo for the first time.
“I welcome you all and am highly honored that TIFAZ has come to Masvingo for the first time which makes us the forth province to host this high profile cultural event,” said Musara.
Excited about the improvements in this year’s edition, TIFAZ chairperson Atanas Ruzive said participants were battling it out in music, fashion design, cutlery arts, visual arts and performing arts categories.

” As the chairperson I am actually excited about this year’s event which has fulfilled one of our goals that is twinning with the community at large. Most people thought that TIFAZ is a closed door event where only tertiary institutions are invited but it is meant to entertain and enhance cultural activities in Zimbabwean communities at large,” said Ruzive.
Ruzive thanked various stakeholders for supporting TIFAZ.
 “I want to thank the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dairyboard and ZIMDEF for supporting us,” said Ruzive.
TIFAZ National Executive Member Learnmore Nyoni the festival was giving students enough space to exhibit their skills through displaying things that they are able to produce at colleges.
He said the platform was also a golden opportunity for institutions to share knowledge.
“We decided to say Innovation and Creativity for Socio – Economic Transformation as people in the arts. This is simply because we are accounting to the public by providing socio – economic transformation which is possible by exhibiting marketable products that are by our students,” said Nyoni.
TIFAZ started  as Tertiary Institutions Festival of the Arts Manicaland (TIFAM) before transforming itself to become a national event in 2009.local

Masvingo residents urge MPs to behave well in Parliament

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Masvingo residents urge MPs to behave well in Parliament
By Upenyu Silent Chaota

Masvingo residents yesterday voiced their concerns over the behaviour which some legislators showcase while in parliament describing the actions as premature and shameful.
Speaking at a consultative meeting held at Charles Austin Theatre on Criminal Procedure and Evidence bill and the General Laws Amendment bill, stakeholders said many legislators spend precious time in parliament arguing on petty issues.
“When we send our legislators to the parliament we will be expecting them to represent us since we all cannot be there. What is shocking is that you find some of them embarking on senseless arguments.
“We want them to discuss bread and butter issues, things that affect us as the electorate who voted them into power”, said one resident at the meeting.


                                    Jessie Majome
A resident who identified himself as Comrade said that he was shocked when he saw women’s underwear being paraded in parliament.
“Really, how can someone bring a bag full of underwear to the parliament? It is shameful. We expect people to act more maturely and focus on issues that affect the people.
“Right now people are hungry, people are losing jobs and when you try vending, the municipal police will be after you, these are the things our legislators should discuss so that we come up with the way forward”, said Comrade.
Residents also urged the parliamentarians to discuss laws which needs alignment so that the country can move forward.
“You find that legislators have a tendency of booing each other. We want our legislators to behave more maturely for the benefit of the nation”, added another resident.
The consultative meeting was conducted by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs chaired by Jessie Majome.
The consultative process is ongoing, and after Masvingo they will be in Mutare, after which they will be in Harare.
Bulawayo and Gweru have since been covered, and after the consultative meetings, the committee will write a report of findings to the parliament, towards the amendment of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act and the General Laws Amendment Act.local

German city donates I.T equipment to council schools

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German city donates I.T equipment to council schools
Lloyd Shunje

Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze on Tuesday handed over a donation from Kenern, Masvingo’s twin city, comprising of Information Technology (I.T) equipment given to council schools and clothes to Bondolfi Mission Secondary School.
The donations that were officially handed over by Fidze to Masvingo city council’s six primary schools comprised of three sets of computers and a printer for each school and clothing stuff for Bondolfi.
 Speaking at the handover ceremony Fidze said they were honoured to have friends like Kenern and hoped to return the good thing done to the city when the Germans come to Masvingo on a date yet to be announced.
“We are delighted to have friends like these… we were caught unaware with a surprise gift and we are very grateful”, said Fidze
“As council we hope to do the same to our friends whom we are expecting on a date yet to be announced”, added Fidze.


              Mayor Fidze (left) handing over the donation
Shakashe Primary School Development Committee chairperson Alderman Naison Tsere said the school is very grateful and the equipment will help the pupils with I.T skills from primary level.
“The donation came at the right time. It will be put to good use, through helping our pupils to be equipped with such necessary computer skills”, said Tsere.
Representing Bondolfi Mission Sister Katarina said, the clothes will be distributed to poor students at the school.
“Our friends from Germany have helped us a lot and the donation will help orphaned and vulnerable pupils at the school,” said Sister Katarina.local

Shock as civil servants fail to receive July salaries

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Shock as civil servants fail to receive July salaries
By Itai Muzondo

MASVINGO – As the nation is currently engulfed in deplorable labour judgements, shock recently struck civil servants in Masvingo, when most of them woke up to a hell Monday as they failed to get their salaries as any other teacher in the province did on the given day.
Amongst the civil servants, all teachers from Chikwanda School, a satellite school for Rukovo Secondary School in Masvingo district did not receive the salaries in question.
An inside source who disclosed the saddening situation on conditions of anonymity revealed that the affected government employees lost their payments because they were not available for government employee audit which was carried in May. However, what complicates the whole issue is that some of the workers who were not audited received their salary.
“A lot of civil servants have been affected and have since met their Human Resources Department to file their complaints. The civil servants suffered because they were not available for the government worker audit engaged in May this year with some audits reportedly lost.
“The situation will be rectified though it will take some time as government procedures are usually slow,” disclosed the source.

              Masvingo PED Zedias Chitiga
Public Service Human Resources Manager in Masvingo Mr Makuze who allegedly addressed disgruntled civil servants on Tuesday rejected to comment saying he was not allowed to talk to the press.
In a telephone interview with Tell Zimbabwe, Provincial Education Director, Zedias Chitiga said he was not aware of the sad situation at Chikwanda Secondary but strongly believed that an operation by the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare would have resulted in the mishap.
“I am not yet informed of this. I believe that if you get in touch with the public service they would be in a better position to disclose what happened to the teachers in question,” said Chitiga.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Regional Coodinator, Elliot Muposhi expressed disappointment saying his organisation was going to take action if the situation is not swiftly addressed.
 “As ZCTU we have discovered that the only language government understands is confrontation so we are definitely going to take action if the situation is not swiftly addressed,” warned Muposhi.local

Zaka hookers demonstrate for porridge

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Zaka hookers demonstrate for porridge
By Itai Muzondo

ZAKA – As the economic situation continue to worsen juxtaposed with the striking hunger, Zaka hookers recently demonstrated at CARE International offices in the district for porridge and cooking oil given by the organisation under the Enhancing Nutrition, Stepping Up Resilience Enterprise (ENSURE) program to children under the age of five and pregnant women, Tell Zimbabwe can reveal.
Sources said the sex workers who are commonly known as ZviTokwe Mkosi referring to their place of origin – Tokwe Mkosi –  have become a problem at the Growth Point. The young ladies left Tokwe -Mkosi in search of a living after government failed to resuscitate them after floods which were declared national disaster two years ago.
 CARE International provincial head, Abel Hwande said he was not aware of the development since he was in Buluwayo. He however explained that his organisation only distributes food aid as they would have agreed with government in memorandums they sign.
“I am not yet informed of the situation since I am not in town. The fact however, is that we work under memorandums that we sign with the government.
 “The commercial sex workers in question would be welcome for aid if they are directed to us through the social welfare or relevant government institutions. The fact that they are coming  from the Tokwe – Mkosi further makes their situation difficult because prospective beneficiaries from Zaka would have quickly visited our information desk to be signed up for aid quickly,” said Hwande.

            File picture
It has also been reported that chiefs and councillors complained on how CARE distribute food aid saying most communities were neglected though they suffered intense hunger just like the receiving wards. Zaka has 34 wards and only eight (8) districts are getting food aid from CARE.
Zaka Rural District Council Chairperson Charles Musundire confirmed the incident though he said the District Administrator was in a better position to comment on the current development of the case since all was handed over to him.
“Councillors really felt that CARE should decentralise food aid but I cannot comment now since we handed over our petition to the DA and have no feedback to disclose much pertaining the issue,” said Musundire.
Meanwhile, six more flesh peddlers have since been dragged to court for stripping naked in front of Zaka police officers in protest of being arrested after being caught fighting.
Among them were two only identified as Privy and Melody and are said to be part of the many unidentified ZviTokwe – Mkosi. They appeared before Zaka magistrate wrapped in linen cloth fetched from the police as their clothes were left at the crime scene.
Most of the sex workers are suspected to be below the age of 18.local
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