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Cash out of rubbish: local recycling initiative bears fruit

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Cash out of rubbish: local recycling initiative bears fruit
By Moses Ziyambi

Recycling of waste material has become a success story in Masvingo after Clester, a company specialising in waste management, arrived on the scene with a vision to turn rubbish into wealthy as well as help clean up the environment.
Also known as “The Cleaners”, Clester is an agent of National Waste Collection and the sole provider of recycling services in the city, running a waste collection centre in the industrial area.
The place is a hive of activity with tones of baled plastic containers, aluminum cans, ordinary plastics as well as cardboard boxes forming huge piles.
“Our organisation deals in recyclable material; we accept most waste material that people would normally throw away as litter,” said Clester’s Operations Manager Adonia Rwatirera.
“We work closely work with big institutions as well as small community groups and health clubs who supply the material that we need,” he said, singling out Great Zimbabwe University and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department as among the biggest contributors.
In response to the opportunity to make money, most wards in the city have organised health clubs that gather waste into required minimum tonnage before selling it to Clester.

                         Women at work … women captured at rubbish recycling site
Waste Management Site, a grouping of dozens of women from health clubs in wards one to seven, has involved dozens of old women in its activities at its base in Mucheke.
“Our goal is to create income-generating opportunities for old women who do not have much yet they have to look after their orphaned grandchildren. In a way, we are also helping to clean our surroundings and maintaining a healthy environment,” said the group’s Apex Chairperson, Florence Chiwera.
Meanwhile, the efforts of the health clubs and Clester have gained the blessing of city council and Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

                               Women captured cleaning plastic papers
“The work that is being done is remarkable as it offers residents of our city the opportunity to make money from waste. Besides, it’s a venture that strikes a chord with our commitments to our environment,” said Masvingo city council chief Environmental Health Officer Zvapano Munganasa.health

Chimedza banned from holding rallies

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Chimedza banned from holding rallies
               ..projects stopped as factional grudges continue
By Moses Ziyambi

Gutu South is bearing the brunt of factional fights in the ruling ZANU PF with the area’s MP Dr Paul Chimedza effectively banned from organising public meetings in his constituency, thereby stalling projects he has initiated.
Dr Chimedza is one of the casualties of party purges against perceived members of the Mujuru faction, a factor that saw him losing his deputy ministerial post and being slapped with a five-year suspension.
Villagers who spoke to Tell Zimbabwe narrated how alleged party hooligans allegedly sent by some party bigwigs from Masvingo recently tried to disrupt a meeting addressed by the MP.
“They came and caused chaos, they made it clear they had been sent to disrupt the meeting because the MP is a Gamatox who is not allowed to address a public gathering,” said a man who asked that he be identified only as Madziva.
“We know that they don’t like our MP because he is the only one who has done something tangible for us since 1980. Now they want to disrupt all that he is doing for us,” said Madziva.

                     Dr Paul Chimedza

Since being elected MP in 2013, Dr Chimedza is credited with initiating developmental projects notably the electrification of all Ward 28, electrification of teachers’ houses at Munjanganja School in Ward 40 and building a block at Rupiri Secondary School.
A bigger project to build a state of the art, solar powered clinic in Ward 28 has reportedly hit a snag due to perceived sabotage by political rivals.
Dr Chimedza reluctantly confirmed that incessant political pressure was affecting his developmental plans.
“People are discouraged from attending my meetings and difficult conditions have been set for me to hold a public meeting and I have to apply with the provincial chairperson first.
The pressure is taking its toll on me and several projects are on halt. If it continues this way, I will be left with no choice but to give up on the projects and concentrate on my private medical business,” said Dr Chimedza.
Though it is widely believed that Dr Chimedza’s troubles stem from his perceived links to Mujuru, some people in Gutu South think his main mistake was to snatch the seat from the current Provincial Affairs Minister Shuvai Mahofa who is said to be still stung by that loss to Dr Chimedza.
Mahofa had held the seat since 1985 but lost to Eliphas Mukonoweshuro of MDC in 2008 after her candidature was allegedly imposed on the people who had preferred Dr Chimedza.
ZANU PF later reclaimed the seat in 2013 after Dr Chimedza won the right to represent the party in the harmonized elections held that year.
ZANU PF Masvingo provincial Chairperson, Paradzai Chakona said anybody suspended from the party must get permission to address people.
“He must first make arrangements with the leadership of the party. Whatever you want to do must first be sanctioned by the local leadership. With what authority would you simply want to engage the people if you are suspended?” said Chakona.
ZANU PF Bikita West MP Rtd Colonel Claudius Makova, who himself is also serving a suspension for alleged links to the Mujuru cabal, took a swipe at those setting rigid conditions.
“Such conditions are a clear indication that ZANU PF is in fear of the unknown. I really see no problem in leaving an individual engage in developmental work for the betterment of fellow Zimbabweans,” said Makova.politics
 

Residents attack ZBC over content

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Residents attack ZBC over content
Lloyd Shunje

Residents in Masvingo have expressed dissatisfaction with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation’s (ZBC) content saying they will never pay radio and television licences until the country’s sole broadcaster transforms itself into a true public broadcaster.

                          Jacqueline Chikakano (right) giving presentation

All residents who converged for Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) meeting in Masvingo’s high density suburb of Rujeko at Rujeko Hall today unanimously agreed to boycott payment of broadcasting licence before signing a petition demanding an immediate transformation at ZBC.
MISA legal officer Jacqueline Chikakano gave a presentation on how a true public broadcaster operates.

“The public broadcast should address, all languages, it should not be biased in reporting, it should also accommodate everyone including those who physically handicapped” said Chikakano.
“Our public broadcaster should come up with a code of conduct that will be made known to everyone in the country”, added Chikakano.


                    Misa Masvingo chairman Golden Maunganidze following proceedings 

                 
                          some of the residents who attended the meeting
Residents said they were now relying on DSTV to get information on current affairs in the country.
“ZBC is only concentrating in Harare. We are now opting for DSTV where l can have a variety of channels ranging from sport, entertainment and news,” said a woman who attended the dialogue.
Evermore Mugumbate said the public broadcaster should produce content that will meet the interests of people ranging from language, and the education of children.
“The content that we expect should accommodate all the official sixteen languages in the country, so that everyone is equally accommodated.
“It can also copy from South Africa, where children are actually benefiting from educational programmes that are broadcasted on television” said Mugumbate.local

Supreme Court judgement: Masvingo records massive job losses

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Supreme Court judgement: Masvingo records massive job losses
  By Moses Ziyambi

Employers in Masvingo have joined the sacking spree engulfing the country with at least 32 workers understood to have lost their jobs in the province since the Supreme Court judgement which authorized companies to wantonly dismiss their workers at three months’ notice.
The sacking bandwagon, kick-started by a landmark ruling in which two former Zuva Petroleum workers challenging the termination of their contracts lost their case, has had a ripple effect around the country.


The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) Masvingo region says they have so far received several reports of employees being summarily dismissed.
“There is a sudden surge in the number of people losing their jobs. We have just forwarded the names of 12 workers dismissed from Balmain Spar to our Harare head office,” said ZCTU Masvingo’s Elliot Mposhi.
Leisure group Regency, said Mposhi, has also dismissed 12 workers at its three companies in the city. The group owns Ritz Nightclub, Chevron Hotel and the flagship Flamboyant Hotel.
“They have dismissed a number of junior staff as well as senior managers. Again, reports coming from the Lowveld say Chiredzi Spar has dismissed 10 workers. We are very worried by this senseless loss of jobs,” said Mposhi.
Although no comment could be gotten from the employers in question, Beitbridge Spar has also dismissed 25 employees from their three branches in the border town.
It is understood Spar Beitbridge is owned by the same consortium that controls Balmain Spar in Masvingo and Chiredzi Spar.
Meanwhile, sources within Regency have revealed that management has started a wholesale dismissal exercise that will see virtually all employees getting their three months dismissal letters so that they could be rehired later as casuals.
“It’s not only a flagrant casualization of labour, but is an unjust exercise that will see other employees not returning after the three months,” said the source.
Social media has been abuzz with speculation that other big employers in Masvingo like N. Richards and Delta Beverages are also mooting massive job cuts.local

Masvingo set to join demographic health survey

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Masvingo set to join demographic health survey
By Moses Ziyambi

Masvingo is set to take part in the sixth Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) as the province grapples with a myriad of health challenges ranging from poorly equipped hospitals, poor nutrition and persistent sanitary challenges.
The survey will be conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency in Collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The ZDHS is a standard survey to gather data on key health indicators like maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition and sanitation.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care says the information is crucial for “monitoring and reporting on the progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and their successor, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
The survey, it says, will also meet the data needs of the Zimbabwe Agenda for sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET).

                    City of Masvingo
Deputy Provincial Health Director Amadeus Shamu said the survey is instrumental for future health planning.
“It will play an important part in satisfying the data requirements for better health service delivery. We encourage the people of Masvingo to cooperate fully with enumerators for more accurate findings,” said Shamu.
Masvingo fares badly on most health indicators, with up to 75 maternal deaths for every 1000 expectant mothers.
Tell Zimbabwe recently reported that Gutu Rural Hospital is operating without such necessities as X-Ray machine, BP machine and generator while curative health services are being hampered by drug shortages in City of Masvingo council clinics.
The recently released Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey also paints a gloomy picture on nutrition, with 25 percent of all deaths of children under the age of five being attributed to nutritional deficiencies.local

Masvingo retains NASH Copa Coca-Cola title for ten times

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Masvingo retains NASH Copa Coca-Cola title for ten times
Lloyd Shunje
Masvingo Province clinched its tenth title in the just ended National Association of School Heads (NASH) Copa Coca-Cola tournament, with Dewure High School’s Under 16 boys and Chidyamakono High School Under 17 girls emerging with gold at the finals held in the Bulawayo last weekend.
Chidyamakono defended its title for the third time, whilst Dewures High School’s Under 16 boys team scooped gold to snatch the trophy that was being defended by Chemhanza High School of Manicaland.

Chidyamakono proved to be the best side in girls’ soccer, when they dismissed St Francis by a goal to nil in the finals to record their third successive win in a row in the history of the tournament.
Dewure High which ended a five year trophy drought were crowned champions of the under 16 national Copa-Coca Cola NASH champions after recovering from a three one lead to become champions in penalty shootout against Rujeko of Mashonaland.
 Masvingo provincial NASH chairman Cuthbert Chuma congratulated both teams for their performance and also extending the tally and also making the province proud.
“I would like to express my happiness by congratulating our two teams for winning and extending our tally to ten times NASH champions, thereby making our province proud as a power house of soccer in the country”, said Chuma.
Previously Masvingo province’s Hippo Valley high won in 1990, 1991, 1996 and 1997. Mashoko high school was crowned champions in 1995. Pamashana high school were champions in 2007, Dewure high last won the trophy in 2010.
In girl’s category chidyamakono High School were crowned champions two times in a row in 2013 and 2014 respectively.Sport
   

Gutu hospital runs without B. P, X-ray machines

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Gutu hospital runs without B. P, X-ray machines
By Itai Muzondo

Gutu rural district hospital is currently running without critical equipment such as  sphygmomanometer popularly known as B. P machine, X-ray machine as well as a generator for power back-up, Tell Zimbabwe can reveal.

The development has greatly compromised on the quality of services at the district referral hospital leaving hundreds of patients without any option besides looking for more money to  go to the Reformed Church of Zimbabwe (RCZ) run Gutu Mission Hospital.

Residents and various stakeholders in Gutu said the district hospital is now a white elephant.

In a statement, Gutu United Residents Association (GURRA) Director, Lloyd Mupfumira noted that it is high time government acts on the dilapidating state of government hospitals and upgrade Gutu rural hospital.
“It is high time government address the rot in hospitals,” said Mupfumira.
One of the patients at Gutu hospital Langton Guruva said he regretted ever going to the hospital for treatment as he was further reffered to mission hospital – a move which consummed both his time and money.
“I really do regret my moment at Gutu Rural Hospital. With all the pain I felt when I visited the hospital, they referred me to Gutu Mission Hospital only because the former did not have adequate equipment to take care of me,” said Guruva.
In a telephone interview with Tell Zimbabwe, acting Provincial Medical Director, Dr Amadeus Shamhu said he was not aware of that development at Gutu rural hospital though he acknowledged that all rural hospitals and even clinics should have functional B. P machines and generators. He however, said X – rays are only reserved for provincial hospitals.
“I am not aware of such a situation at Gutu district hospital.  I will have to check with our district health office.
“All rural hospitals including clinics should have functional B. P machines and generators but  X – ray machines are reserved for Provincial hospitals,” said Dr Shamhu.health

Moyo wins Mwenezi East as ZANU PF goes uncontested

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Moyo wins Mwenezi East as ZANU PF goes uncontested
By Itai Muzondo

Zanu PF’s  Joshua Moyo was declared the new  Mwenezi East  Member of Parliament (MP) at the close of yesterday’s nomination court  in Masvingo.
Moyo won the seat as his candidature went uncontested.
 The seat fell vacant after the expulsion of former Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and  Mwenezi East legislator, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti on allegations of being aligned to the Mujuru cabal which was allegedly  plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.
Commenting to Tell Zimbabwe, ZANU PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Paradzai Chakona said the development simply reflected the domination of ZANU PF as party in Masvingo.
“The opposition obviously feared the support we have across the province. Having realised this, we are going to continue working hard so that the party does not lose its grip on the province through rewarding our long serving supporters,” said Chakona.

I can’t challenge Moyo we belong to the same basket – Kudakwashe Bhasikiti
Meanwhile, the ousted Bhasikiti said it had been his wish to contest as an independent in the by – election but was stopped by the fact that Moyo is his ally.
“The person who won the primary election was my councillor and was at one time blasted for being a Gamatox. I could not fight my ally as it would be the same as fighting myself,” said the expelled politician.politics

Zanu PF MP Chikwama attempts to disrupt MDC rally

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Zanu PF MP Chikwama attempts to disrupt MDC rally
By Itai Muzondo

Gutu East Member of Parliament (MP), Berita Chikwama tried to disrupt a rally held by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) at Chin’ai Business Centre in Gutu on Saturday, Tell Zimbabwe was informed.
MDC – T provincial chairperson, James Gumbi said it was shocking and pathetic to learn that  ZANU PF continuously take such unethical actions to frustrate his party supporters.
Gumbi said Chikwama together with youths known as Mathias Masasire, Ephraim Mudodo and Isaac Mutekwa used tree branches and stones to  block the road leading to Chin’ai business centre where MDC-T was having a meeting.
The Zanu PF youths had placards written “Gutu East is a no go area for MDC – T”.
“It is quite shocking how ZANU PF  does such unethical acts. The desperate M.P even spent the whole day carrying out surveillance at the venue of the rally instilling fear and intimidating villagers not to attend the rally,” Gumbi added.

MDC-T supporters removing tree branches put to block the road
An MDC activist, Lloyd Mufudze ,however said that Gutu residents have a right to participate in peaceful political activities called by political parties of their choice without fear.
“Such actions that seek to violate the citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms deserve condemnation from peace loving and progressive individuals and organisation,” said Mufudze.
He also applauded the residents who attended the rally for remaining calm and peaceful.
Part of MDC-T supporters who were brave enough to attend the rally despite threats from Zanu PF last Saturday

 “I do applaud the residents who attended the rally as they reminded calm and peaceful,” said Mufudze.
Efforts to get comment from Chikwama were fruitless as she was not answering her mobile phone on Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Section 67 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees that, “Every Zimbabwean citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections for any elective public office established in terms of this Constitution or any other law; and to make political choices freely.
“Subject to this Constitution, every Zimbabwean citizen has the right to form, to join and to participate in the activities of a political party or organisation of their choice; to campaign freely and peacefully for a political party or cause; to participate in peaceful political activity,” reads the Zimbabwean Constitution.politics

Masvingo finally evicts vendors from streets

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Masvingo finally evicts vendors from streets
Moses Ziyambi

People woke up to a serene central business district today as City of Masvingo seems to have succeeded in driving out illegal vendors to the designated site at Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle Market popularly known as Chitima.
Council used hailers on Sunday, warning vendors not to leave their wares in the streets for the night as that was to be their last day on the streets.
The vendor hotspots at the BW building and the opposite open space in Leopold Takawira Street were unusually quiet this morning with no vendor in sight.
In Hofmeyer Street, municipal workers could be seen sweeping the pavements and mopping up the litter left during yesterday’s business.
Town Clerk, Adolf Gusha said council had strongly resolved to rid the city of illegal trading so as to create sanity in the streets.
“We did warn vendors yesterday (Sunday) that they vacate the streets. Council has since reached a resolution to keep the city clean so we will definitely take action against any vendor who decides to re-appear in the streets of our beloved city,” Gusha said.
At the designated site, some vendors could be seen using bare hands to clear new ground so that they could resume the business of the day.

Most of them did not have a kind word for the authorities, claiming tables they left at their old sites were either missing or have been destroyed during the night.
“We came early in the morning to find our display tables either wrecked or missing. How could they make the announcement on a Sunday when they know most people will not be around?” one female vendor could be heard saying.
“This place is not big enough to take all of us. I am clearing new ground so that I can set up my own stall here,” said Edison Chinaka who sells clothes and electrical goods.


Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) Chairperson Prosper Tiringindi said council could have done more to better to ensure a more orderly relocation.
“We are receiving complaints that some goods are missing and people are fighting over trading space at the so-called designated site. We think it has been done in a chaotic manner,” said Tiringindi.local
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