The Affirmative Action Group (AAG), a broad-based economic empowerment lobby group, is set to officially launch its Masvingo Chapter on the 7^th of February at the Civic Centre.

In a letter circulated to stakeholders, the AAG Masvingo provincial secretary, Dr Fredrick Kasese notes Masvingo as lagging behind on all economic fronts, hence the need to strengthen the pressure group in the province.

Fredrick Kasese

“Masvingo Province has been lagging behind in all economic activities. It is against this background that we are inviting you to the official launch of the AAG Masvingo Chapter.…,” reads part of the letter.

The official launch will be held in the Charles Austin Theatre from 10:00am to 13:00hrs in the afternoon.

Cofounded by Matson Hlalo and flamboyant business man Dr Phillip Chiyangwa, AAG promotes the broad-based economic empowerment of indigenous Zimbabweans in areas of business, education and employment.local

 Moses Ziyambi

Four rural schools in Ward 28, Gutu South constituency, are set to be connected to the national electricity grid following the operationalization of the long-delayed Chimedza Rural Electrification Programme.

Speaking to Tell Zimbabwe recently, Ward 28 Councillor Johnson Nhema said what had remained a pipe dream for a very long time had eventually came to fruition.

“We are happy because our schools are going to join a long list of rural schools that are connected to the electricity grid in Gutu district. We had waited for a very long time for this to happen,” said Nhema.

“We expect the project to be complete by early May this year,” he said.

The schools; Makonde Primary, Chimedza Primary and Secondary, and Mutendeure Primary will be electrified under the Rural Electrification Programme.

“The idea to electrify this ward was first mooted in February 2003 when we engaged REA (Rural Electrification Agency) to make a quotation.

“Each household then made a contribution towards the fund but REA could not implement the project as inflation kept on driving up the costs.

“We are happy now because REA has come to service their long-standing debt to us and everybody is happy,” continued Nhema, who also said business centres as well as individual households will benefit.

When Tell Zimbabwe visited the area, ground was being cleared to make way for the power lines.local

Barely two weeks after War Veterans and some Tongaat Hullets Zimbabwe employees staged demonstrations against Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers Union executive, the union’s offices was burnt to ashes on Friday morning in a suspected arson attack.

The building and property worth US$142 000 was reduced to ashes in the inferno whose intensity is suspected to have been triggered by a powerful explosive.

ZISMIWU Secretary General Admore Hwarare whose continued stay in office hangs in the balance from mounting pressure from workers and war veterans said he was fearing for his life after unknown assailants pounced on his unions office.

 

Hwarare inspects the gutted offices

Hwarare was fingered in the plot to ouster Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe through a coup plot and this has exposed him to immense pressure from Zanu PF hardliners who are linked to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“I only received calls early this morning (Friday)  that our unions offices have been burnt to ashes. Its very unfortunate that more than US$ 142 000 worth of property and building has been damaged,” said Hwarare.

Hwarare said they will pave way for police to investigate the matter.

“We are giving room for police to investigate the matter. Its Just that our union has been facing a lot of pressure from war veterans who have a habit of coming on board on workers union,” said Hwarare.

Efforts to get a comment from Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Ass Inspector Charity Mazula were fruitless as she was yet to get full details of the matter.local

By Tell Reporter

Bikita – Tempers are running high in Zunde village under headman Masasire of Bikita after the headman demanded US$ 20 from each villager who received fertilizer under the Presidential input scheme in December 2014.

Speaking to Tell Zimbabwe, villagers said were supposed to be tried at  the headman’s court on 16 January 2015. According to sources in Bikita, their major crime was that they received the fertilizer without the headman’s consent.

However, some of the victims who boycotted the trial at the headman’s court said Masasire was irked by the fact that he was not directly involved in the selection of the beneficiaries of the input scheme.

” I was summoned to Masasire’s court but I boycotted. I dont attend such nonsense… everything was done above board. He is angry because he wanted his close relatives and friends to benefit but professionals from Agritex as well as village heads selected the rightful people. I am sure no one is going to turn up for the hearing,” said one of the villagers.

 President Robert Mugabe

However, headman Masasire said he was shocked by the allegations.

“Who told you that ? Give me the names of those complaining ….did anyone told you that he was convicted? They are liars who are set to tarnish my name …I am going to have a meeting with Village heads on February 3 and we are not going to talk about that fertilizer,” said the headman.

Ward 19 councillor Nesibert Chivasa could neither deny nor accept the allegations saying he was going to investigate the issue.

He however, said Zunde was a problematic village which is often in controversy.

“I heard that there were some problems in that village but I do not stay there…my ward is big but I promise to look into that issue. I will also talk to the headman and find out the exact truth but you might need to know that there is a lot of politics at play,” said Councillor Chivasa.local

 By Moses Ziyambi

Health centres in the City of Masvingo have joined the national bilharzia vaccination programme launched by the Ministry Health and Childcare on Monday.

Officially known as the Mass Drug Administration (MDA), the campaign seeks to prevent the spread of bilharzia and intestinal worms in children between the ages of four and 15 years.

At Rujeko Clinic, the campaign has seen hundreds of school children turning up for the vaccine; medium sized tablets known as praziquantel and albendazole.

Sister in charge at the clinic, Florence Tambaoga urged parents to make sure that their children come and take the vaccine in the interest of their health.

“We encourage everybody within the stipulated age group to come and take the vaccine in the best interest of their health,” said Tambaoga.

She however, admitted to facing challenges from some children who take the tablets only to throw them away. This had led nurses to ask children to swallow the tablets at once before being allowed to go.

“We have challenges of children who are not willing to swallow the tablets as required. They take the tablets and throw them away elsewhere. We ask everybody to be responsible,” she said.

Some school children from Ndarama High told Tell Zimbabwe that the tablets were too bitter for their liking.

“Some have failed to swallow the tablets because they have a strange sour taste that becomes too uncomfortable as you swallow,” said one student.

The campaign runs until the 23^rd of January.local

By Lloyd Shunje

The Mutirikwi Dam water level has doubled as compared to the same period last year thus forecasting a bright winter cropping season for irrigation farmers in and around Masvingo Province.

Figures released by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) show that the water level in Mutirikwi Lake stands at 41.24%, while at the same time last year the level was 8.34%, a move that promises a great future to irrigation farmers.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) Provincial Manager, Jeremiah Chimwanda, told Tell Zimbabwe that irrigation farmers who use Lake Mutirikwi will benefit from the improved water level, especially sugarcane growers from Triangle and Hippo Valley.

“Enough water  supplies to our farmers will ensure that they produce quality products at the end of the season,” said Chimwanda.

“Mostly sugarcane growers like Hippo Valley and Triangle Estates are the main beneficiaries of Mutirikwi irrigation scheme and they stand a chance to produce quality products since they won’t have water shortages,” he said.

A man was captured harvesting sugarcane in Chiredzi

Owing to the heavy rains that the country has been receiving for the past three months water levels in most dams have increased. The average national dam level stands at 53.7%, with Lake Kariba recording 63.9%.local