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USAID, MDTC donate project to Chiredzi communities

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USAID, MDTC donate project to Chiredzi communities

By Tatiana Mhararira

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with Mwenezi Development Training Centre (MDTC) to support vulnerable households in Chiredzi through the El Nino-induced Drought Response and Adaptation for Rural Communities Project worth more than US$960 000.
The project will benefit 8 600 individuals and around 33 700 livestock living in wards 10, 13, 14 and 15 of Chiredzi district.
The project seeks to enhance access to water, sanitation and hygiene services for members of the community. The project will also improve livestock productivity, accessing markets and increasing incomes to mitigate the challenges faces by these El Nino induced drought.
Chiredzi district is located in Lowveld which lies in natural region 5 was negatively affected by El Nino induced drought which reduced crop yields and this drought caused the villagers in the drought stricken area to suffer from hunger.
The MDTC project’s main agenda includes rehabilitating 15 boreholes with nine of them being converted to solar powered allowing women and girls to get access to clean water and travel short distances to fetch water.
In a press release released by MDTC it said there will be a training session for community members on water point management and promotion of good hygiene.
“To support long term sustainability, the project will provide training for water point user committees (WPUCs) and community members who manage the use of the pump, on the operation and maintenance of water points.
“The project will promote good sanitation and hygiene among 750 individuals, establish 15 community health clubs and promote latrine construction at household levels to reduce open defecation.
Mwenezi Development Training Centre Executive Director, Promise Makoni said MDTC is proud to be first partners to receive donations from USAID.
“MDTC is proud to be the first local non-governmental organisation to receive successive awards from USAID.MDTC is grateful for the continued support and partnership with USAID, which has enabled it to improve the livelihoods of thousands of vulnerable families in Chiredzi, ”said Makoni.
The Lowveld is popularly known for producing small grains such as sorghum and millet and the area receives rainfall below 650mm annually, and 2024 harvesting season has led the region to get low yields with the drought being the catalysts of hunger.

Chivi man found dead in suspected hit-and-run

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Chivi man found dead in suspected hit-and-run

By Meditation Mposi

A Chivi man’s dead body was found lying in the middle of the road with lower limbs broken along the Ngundu-Tanganda road in what is suspected to be a hit-and-run incident.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the death of Kefias Emmanuel (36) on October 8 and encouraged drivers to help victims whenever they are involved in an accident.
“I confirm the death of Kefias Emmanuel of Madzivire Village, Chivi along the Ngundu-Tanganda Road and I urge drivers to help victims whenever they are involved in an accident to save lives rather than running away,” said Dhewa.
Circumstances are that on October 7 at around 1800hours Emmanuel left home to Ngundu Business Centre for a beer drink and never returned. The following day at around 0400hours, Alicious Zondo (52) a bus driver from Tshovani Township Chiredzi was driving along the Ngundu-Tanganda Road when he saw Emmanuel’s body lying on the road and reported to the police.
The police established that Emmanuel’s body had been dragged for about 20metres and his lower limbs had been broken.
The body was taken to Neshuro District Hospital for postmortem while the next of kin was advised.
The Ngundu-Tanganda road has become a hotspot in Masvingo Province as many accidents are recorded on the road time and again.
On September 7, 2024 at around 2200hours at 100km peg along the Ngundu-Tanganda Road, Emmanuel Munyanyi (44) of Chiredzi was driving a truck with a trailer carrying sugarcane when the truck encroached to the right lane of the road hitting the behind wheel of Richard Mukwazvure(34) ‘s car which was driving due East with five passengers on board.
Mukwazvure’s car went off-road, overturned and landed on its roof and the driver died on the spot while three passengers sustained minor injuries.
On June 28, another accident occurred at 101 km peg along the same road when a pirate taxi driver, Simbarashe Muparuri(25), lost control of the vehicle and it overturned twice. Muparuri sustained head injuries and died on his way to Chiredzi General Hospital. Four other passengers were injured in the accident while two of them sustained serious injuries.
On July 22, another fatal road traffic accident occurred at the 70kilometre peg along Ngundu Tanganda road in which eight people died while two others were injured when a Toyota Probox vehicle with nine passengers on board veered off the road and overturned several times throwing all passengers out before landing on it’s right side.

Council tightens screws on unregistered schools

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Council tightens screws on unregistered schools

By Perpetua Murungweni

Masvingo City Council has passed a resolution to conduct inspection on the operations of all informal schools around the city in a move to control the sprouting of unregistered schools.
This was revealed in the Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee minutes dated September 16, 2024 where council proposed to monitor and inspect all informal schools by conducting a joint operation with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
The committee members were divided over the issue with some proposing for the regularization of the unregistered schools while others said they should be closed down.
“There is need to monitor and inspect all informal schools by conducting a joint operation between Council, MoPSE and, ZRP throughout the city to close down informal schools illegally operating in the City.
“Other members felt that all illegal informal schools should not be operating whilst other members felt that the illegal schools should be regularized and a proposal was made for more research on the permits and conditions that Council may allow to enable informal schools to operate,” read part of the minutes.
In August this year, Council turned down three request proposals for change-of-use of residential stands to private colleges on the basis that they did not meet the minimum required sizes for institutional stands.
Ward 10 councilor Sengerayi Manyanga, suggested that there was need to enforce the closing down of informal schools to make sure that those interested could get proper stands.
Ward 9 councilor Benard Muchokwa then suggested that council could crack down on illegal operators as there were unregistered schools already operating while council was doing nothing about it.
While unregistered private schools are sprouting in the city, with some lacking basic amenities like toilets, the city has been grappling with a growing population but shortage of both primary and secondary schools.
These private schools absorb some of the learners who are not in the formal learning system, with some operating only at night for fear of being closed down.

Mutirikwi hydro power station misses another deadline

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Mutirikwi hydro power station misses another deadline

By Virginia Njovo

For the third time, Lake Mutirikwi mini hydropower station, initially slated for completion in September, missed yet another deadline, with officials now reporting a 98percent completion and giving end of October as the new deadline.
A pattern of delays continue to plague the power station, with the project missing its third deadline, initially set for end-of-July completion, then August, and it’s not clear if they will manage to meet the October deadline.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa told TellZim News that the power plant was at 98 percent complete and final touches were being done for it to be commissioned, after construction started in March 2022.
“The 5 MW power plant is now at 98 percent completion, final touches are being done at the site so that it can be commissioned and start to benefit the nation and Masvingo Province at large,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
Project coordinator Hubert Chifumbu concurred with Dr Pazvakavambwa and said they were expecting to finish the project by the end of October 2024 as there were some technical issues which are being rectified at the site.
“We are currently doing final touches, we are now doing dry commissioning, wet commissioning and after the process the station will now join the national grid and we expect to be done by the end of October 2024,” said Chifumbu.
In August 2024 Chifumbu indicated that the progress was delayed due to the downstream requirements which were supposed to be met and they expected to commission the plant in September.
The 5MW Lake Mutirikwi Hydro power station is expected to generate power to be fed in the national grid as a way to reduce the on-going power cuts.
Regardless of the fact that Masvingo Province has over 10 000 dams which translates to 60 percent of inland water bodies in the country, the province is among the affected areas by the on-going power cuts which are said to be caused by the decreasing of Kariba Dam Water levels.

FOC launches borehole drilling fundraising campaign

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FOC launches borehole drilling fundraising campaign

By Precila Takabvirakare

For Our Children (FOC) Organization recently launched a fundraising campaign aimed at raising money to drill a borehole at Domborembavha High School in Ward 22, Gutu.
The launch was done on October 4 in Gororo village under Chief Nesongano.
FOC founder and director Sissy Chinhamo said they came up with the fundraising idea after receiving a request from Domborembavha school head who said they did not have water at the school.
“We came up with this program after receiving a request from the school head who said they were walking more than three kilometres to the nearest water point.
“We sat down as an organization and decided to engage former Domborembavha high learners to contribute towards the drilling of the borehole. Our target is to raise US$4000 in three months and each person is expected to contribute US$40.
“So far we got hold of a few people and we managed to raise about US$342 and if all goes well by the end of the year we would have reached the target,” said Chinhamo.
The school head Edward Mashiri said they were looking forward to the project being successful as teachers were now resorting to bathing in the nearby river.
“We approached FOC with our problem and they said they could make use of former learners to help raise the money and our eyes are on the success of this programme. Lack of water is greatly affecting the school as teachers and learners are transferring. This year alone we had three teachers and 17 learners transferring from the school.
“The water situation is also affecting us to do other projects like agriculture and that was affecting the practical side of other learning areas,” said Mashiri.
Ward 22 councilor Elizabeth Simbanegavi appreciated FOC’s efforts in helping the school.
“I am very happy with the programme and I pray it goes well for our teachers and learners to get clean water. Some were leaving the school because of water problems so I believe if the programme succeeds we will see minimum transfers,” said Simbanegavi.
The organization also donated exercise books and sanitary pads to 30 learners who are its beneficiaries.

Renco Mine workers demand Full dues before getting back to work

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Renco Mine workers demand Full dues before getting back to work

By Staff Reporter

Renco Mine workers have remained resolute, insisting they will only return to work once all outstanding dues are settled as their stay-away protest has entered the third day despite the mine’s promise to pay half of July’s salary.
The mine workers downed tools on Wednesday October 09 and held out for full payment of their three months’ outstanding wages before they could resume work.
Sources said Mine Manager Irvine Taurayi Nyamukondiwa was now playing the middle man role after the worker’s committee was dissolved last week through a vote of no confidence.
“We will remain resolute and this time we are not going to bend until we get our salaries, if the mine is not producing enough to cover salaries then why should they continue operating, let them close or sell to another investor.
“The current strike is different from the previous ones where we used to have the worker’s committee leading the negotiation. Now the manager negotiates with the head office and speak to the general workers,” one of the workers said anonymously.
Another source said on Thursday two mine captains were chased away after they tried to access their offices as the workers called for a total shutdown except for essential services.
“We have closed down all offices, this is a total shut down and the message is very clear; if they do not pay our dues we are not going back to work. Today two senior employees were chased away after trying to get into their offices. We only allow the essential services to work like the clinic staff, sanitation and water treatment,” said the source.
The industrial action comes barely a month after another one that took place in September and was prompted by a local spirit medium who had said if the operations continue without workers getting salaries people will die in the mine.
The medium gave some time frame and within the days, one worker died in an accident at work forcing workers to down tools fearing for their lives.
They only returned to work after negotiations with the local traditional leaders including headman Muchibwa.

National budget consultations reveal healthcare gaps in rural areas

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National budget consultations reveal healthcare gaps in rural areas

By Virginia Njovo

The ongoing national budget consultations have laid bare the dire state of healthcare in rural Zimbabwe, with citizens revealing gaps in access to medical facilities.
Rural communities are struggling to access basic healthcare services, including maternity care, due to crippling shortages of facilities, staff, and supplies and participants at the national budget consultations called for government to prioritise improvement of basic healthcare especially in rural areas.
Speaking during 2025 National budget consultation which was held on October 9 2024, at Mucheke Hall in Masvingo a participant Julie Chekeche revealed that Mushandike Clinic has for years operated without expecting mother’s shelter forcing pregnant women to travel long distances whilst in labour.
She pleaded with the government to include the maternity home issue in the national budget.
“I wish you include and remember Mushandike clinic in the 2025 budget since women are walking more than ten kilometres to the clinic while in labour and some deliver on road sides thereby promoting home births,” said Chekeche.
She said due to poor road networks in the area, it was still a challenge for expecting mothers to connect to the clinic even during emergencies.
“Even if they want to hire vehicles during emergencies, the roads which connects to the clinic are in sorry state and some areas do not have link roads,” said Chekeche.
Mushandike clinic is in Ward 10 of Masvingo Rural District which is located in a resettlement area serving ward 9, ward 3 and ward 10 which are over 10 kilometres apart.
Participants from Makasi and Gwengavi areas echoed the same sentiments saying they were being served with a clinic that is 10km away.
“We walk kilometres from Makasi ward 19 to Nemamwa or Mapanzure clinics which are far away from our area. At times we walk close to 10 kilometres only to get a prescription and no medication. Because of the situation some people no longer go to clinics and many are dying at home, so we want more clinics.
“In Gwengavi we go to Nemamwa clinic which is over 20 kilometres from our area or to Rujeko here in town clinic which is very hard for us since we have to fork out money for transport to go to the clinic,” said one participant.
The same situation prevails in Chivi North where Takavarasha clinic serves at least five wards and the only alternative is the district referral hospital which is Chivi District Hospital.
Bikita South legislator Energy Mutodi who was coordinating the Masvingo consultation meeting commended the turnout saying it was the highest so far and said the proposals were almost the same as other areas.
“Masvingo turnout is best compared to other places we visited, and the level of participation shows that people know what they want in their communities. We were in Bikita where citizens raised similar issues as; improvement in health services, education as well as inclusion of people with disabilities,” said Mutodi.

Y-Secure empowers Mutare women through knitting dialogue

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Y-Secure empowers Mutare women through knitting dialogue

By Heather Buzuzi

Youth Sustainable Economic Contribution through Up-skilling, Retraining, and Engagement (Y-SECURE project) conducted a groundbreaking knitting dialogue initiative aimed at transforming the lives of women in Mutasa, Ndorikanda Ward 16, providing economic empowerment and social connection through engagement.
The Knitting Dialogue Initiative empowers young women through a safe space for community engagement, enhancing awareness on civic participation, decision making and stakeholder support, and articulating their demands
Y-Secure field officer Nadine Fortunate Black said the Knitting Dialogue Initiative was a project aimed at empowering young women with its primary objective being providing a safe space for engagement with local leaders, enhancing awareness on civic participation and decision-making, securing stakeholder support, and drafting a list of women’s demands in Mutasa District.
“Knitting plays a pivotal role in facilitating dialogue and community building among participants. By engaging in this shared activity, participants relax, build rapport, and foster camaraderie.
“The non-confrontational atmosphere encourages open discussions on sensitive topics, while the tactile nature of knitting promotes active listening and focus. Additionally, learning a new skill empowers participants, boosts confidence, and strengthens social bonds through shared storytelling. The therapeutic benefits of knitting also create a conducive environment for meaningful dialogue, reducing stress and promoting constructive engagement,” Black said.
He said the dialogue created a unique space for young women to discuss freely challenges, share experiences and proffer solutions.
“Through this innovative approach, the Knitting Dialogue Initiative creates a unique space for young women to share experiences, address challenges, and drive positive change in their communities. By leveraging knitting as a facilitation tool, participants also become active agents of transformation, fostering a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and collective Growth,” said Black.
One of the participants, Nelita Chipfuwamiti said the programme was informative as they learnt several ways to generate money.
“The knitting dialogue group has been a game-changer for me. I’ve learned valuable skills, and now we expect to generate a steady income as soon as we start our project,” said Chipfuwamiti.
Another participant and entrepreneur Scharlene Sighudu said after attending the dialogue, she is now confident to start her own business to become financially independent.
“This initiative has given me the confidence to start my own business. I’m proud to be financially independent and contributing to my family’s well-being,” said Sighudu.

Missing Harare teacher’s remains found in Gutu

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Missing Harare teacher’s remains found in Gutu

By Meditation Mposi

Police in Gutu recently discovered the skeletal remains of Stella Chidzenga(46) of Ushewekunze, Harare who had been missing since September 7 2024.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the discovery of the body and said investigations were underway.
“I can confirm that the police in Gutu discovered the dead body of Stella Chidzenga who had been missing since September 7 and investigations of what transpired since her disappearance are underway,” said Dhewa.
Circumstances are that Chidzenga, who stayed in Ushewekunze, Harare left her home on September 7 going to the hospital for medical attention since she had a headache and never returned home.
She was reported missing since that day at Zimbabwe Republic Police Southlea Park, Harare.
On October 5 children who were heading goats saw a human skull in a field in Hwicho Village, Gutu and reported the matter to their father.
The matter was reported at Gutu Police Station at around 1830hours that there was a human skull in the field. Police attended the scene and searched until they found some human bones about 200 metres away from the skull.
They also found a handbag with a samsung cellphone, US$9, ZIG9 and an empty pesticide container. There was also a black paper bag with clothes and sandals. The body had already decomposed and the remains were taken to Gutu Mission Hospital awaiting postmortem.
Police managed to extract the contacts of the now deceased’s uncle Joseph Chaka Ndiriza(72) of Bluffhill, Harare from the cellphone and notified him. He told the Police that they had been looking for the now deceased since September 7.
Some sources said that Chidzenga was a grade 2 teacher at Shingai Government Primary School in St Mary’s Chitungwiza. She was a graduate of Morgan Zintec College in Harare and according to messages on her Facebook page shows that she was a member of the Anglican Church.

Zanu PF leader in fuel tender scam

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Zanu PF leader in fuel tender scam

…Zaka RDC operations grounded as thousands of litres of fuel were never delivered

By Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – A Zanu PF Zaka District Coordinating Committee (DCC) member is at the centre of a storm after failing to deliver 9000 litres of fuel already paid for to Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) in a three year period.
Sources within the local authority said Confidence Mukau who is Zaka Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) Secretary for Women Affairs unscrupulously got a tender to supply fuel to the local authority in 2021 whilst she was renting a local service station but later on closed down but had not delivered over 9 000litres of fuel already paid for by the local authority.
It is alleged Mukau and some of her business associates were running fuel station in Jerera and were paid to supply 20000 litres of fuel to Zaka RDC but delivered only 11 000 before closing down without delivering the remaining 9000 litres.
Efforts to get a comment from Mukau were futile as her cellphone went unanswered several times and repeated efforts yielded nothing as the number kept on indicating that it was either engaged or even blocked.
Concerted efforts to use another cellphone number also failed to yield results as she answered the first call and remained silent, later on failing to answer several calls made to her.
On his part, Zaka RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Majaura, as has been the norm could neither confirm nor deny saying he was not sure and needed to verify first.
“Not sure of figures. I need to verify the issue. Be patient,” said Majaura.
A source in council said Mukau was running a fuel company called MITMIC and were about 9600L and they wrote several letters and held meetings where promises were made to no avail.
“We wrote letters and had several verbal communication from the Procurement and Administration departments. We also held meetings, and promises were made, but were not fully implemented,” said the source
Other sources however alleged that at its inception, the current crop of councilors led by Fungai Maregedze accused council of failing to run operations of which management told them they were being affected by poor revenue inflow.
Management then compiled a list on which Mukau was at the top, and allegations of her being in the same Zanu PF faction with Maregedze’s husband Clemence Chiduwa who is the DDC Chairperson, the council chair did not act.
“Last year the new council accused us of failing to run council and they were told that the local authority had no revenue and was owed large amounts of money by individuals and other debtors,” the source said.
Contacted for comment, Maregedze who is out on bail after being arrested by ZACC recently on abuse of office charges, refuted the allegations saying it was not the duty of councilors or the council chair to follow up on debts.
“I am not aware of any list, it’s not the council chairs duty to do follow up on debts so there is no way I would have blocked the follow up,” said Maregedze.
Asked if she was aware of the 9 000 fuel scandal Maregedze said she only saw it in the press and said the matter was supposed to be taken to the courts which she said are not biased.
“I saw the issue in the press but it was all lies, it’s just character assassination and they should simply take the matter to court, at least there are magistrates who try people not trying people in newspapers,” said Maregedze.
Sources said Mukau and Maregedze are so close to the extent that the former tried to mobilise Zanu PF youth in the district and other faction members to demonstrate against the latter’s arrest accusing management of causing her arrest.
Zaka district is one of the least developed, with ruling party factional wars hindering development at the expense of the local authority as Zanu PF bigwigs fight for control of the district.
The district factions within the ruling party are said to be divided between Zaka Central legislator Davies Marapira who is also Deputy Minister of Agriculture and his Zaka South counterpart Chiduwa who chairs the DDC.

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