….Parents clash with Shakashe admin, SDC over bus levy

By Beverly Bizeki

Some parents whose children learn at council-run Shakashe Primary School in Masvingo are up in arms with the school administration, School Development Council (SDC) and responsible authority over the school’s intention to purchase a school bus accusing the latter of misplaced priorities.
The parents are accusing the admin and the SDC of imposing a bus levy on them despite their refusal saying purchasing a bus could not be a top priority as other areas needed attention.
In a leaked and unsigned petition seen by this publication, about 52 parents allegedly wrote a petition against the procurement of a bus which they have said was done without the approval of parents, asking for cancellation of the tender as well as an investigation of the school.
“As disgruntled parents once again we are kindly asking for cancellation of that tender and wish the ministry to send its investigation team to Shakashe Primary School, Masvingo and dig deeper into this matter as soon as possible. We want an investigation team from another province, not our Masvingo team to come and assess the status of our school and submit true findings,” reads part of the petition.
Allegations are that sometime last year, the SDC and administration called for a meeting with parents with the agenda being bus procurement which did not sit well with some parents who argued that the school had other projects to work on including the construction of more classroom blocks.
“Issues of concern are; the school does not have enough classrooms forcing pupils to do hot sitting and learning under trees. Some are even missing classes as the hot sitting starts from grades 1 to 6. Some grades 1 to 3 sometimes forget what time they should be at school because they wake up and spend half of the day at home playing and miss class.
“When they come back from school they will be very dirty because they will be sitting on the ground where there is dust and when it is winter time they will be exposed to cold weather sitting on verandas which is high risk for children to contract pneumonia. During the rainy season they are at risk of being struck by lightning not to mention being soaked in rainwater along with their belongings,” reads part of the petition.
The parents are said to have tasked the SDC and administration to enquire with the bank and gather information on acquiring a loan for the purchase of a bus but did not bring feedback to the parents who then assumed the issue had been dropped.
“However on July 4, 2023 SDC and administration sent us some letters stating the responsible ministry and authority had approved the bus levy in three phases which starts from the second term of 2023 and the first term of 2024. All this was done without any feedback to parents. We called for an urgent meeting which was blocked by the school authorities who called the police to turn away parents on that day. At this juncture we presumed the bus issue was a closed chapter,” reads part of the letter.
The parents also indicated that they were not happy with the total amount of money that will be paid for the bus which is US$210 000.
Contacted for a comment, Masvingo City Mayor Councilor Alec Tabe, representing the responsible authority, said the petition was not signed as is supposed to be and said the authority usually does due process before giving a nod on the school’s projects.
“The SDC must be in agreement with parents before embarking on a project. However due processes were done and a consensus was reached. Relevant stakeholders were consulted. As long as due processes were done we can only work with what was agreed with both parties at their meetings. Our schools however must prioritise development,” said Tabe.
Masvingo District Schools Inspector Ishmael Chigaba said he could not comment on the matter as he was yet to receive the petition as he was only hearing about it for the first time from the reporter.
Masvingo Provincial Education Director (PED) Shylatte Mhike said she received the alleged petition but it was not directed to her office as she was simply copied on the fourth position after the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), Resident Minister, and MoPSE permanent secretary.
“I received it but it was not addressed to my office, so we waited for the office that it was addressed to. I was simply copied meaning I was just being notified of what was going on. So the relevant office will action it and advise us so that we take our responsible action,” said Mhike.
SDC chairperson Last Magwati dismissed the issue and said the petition was not a proper one and lacked parents’ signatures.
“What you have is not a petition; there are no signatures, and the person who wrote that just sat on his computer and produced that telling himself he is representing parents. Ask him what that document is,” said Magwati.
The petition was also copied to Ministry of Local Government, the Director of Housing Masvingo City Council, the Mayor, the Masvingo Town Clerk and the Zimbabwe Ant-Corruption Commission in that order.

By Perpetua Murungweni

Residents from, Rhodene a low-density suburb in Masvingo City are complaining over the persistent noise pollution from Caravan Park, a popular leisure joint located in the town’s outskirts along Masvingo Mutare road.
Residents said they barely sleep at least twice a week from the noise that comes Caravan Park and pleaded with responsible authorities to do something about the noise.
“The noise from Caravan Park is unbearable and it continues up to 3 or 4am; we barely sleep. Usually its two nights a week, that is Friday and Saturday when we don’t sleep peacefully, hence we are deprived of our much needed rest. We appeal to the responsible authorities to help us with measures that reduce the noise.
“Something needs to be done, two nights of noise is not a joke; the Caravan Park should be considerate of the community. At least they should have time to lower their volume say maybe from 12midnight,” said Tendai Kahari, a resident.
Another resident Jane Havatyi said the noise is unbearable to residents, especially those around Cary Street, which is closer to the night joint.
“The noise is unbearable especially to us who stay in Cary Street near TelOne offices. It feels like its right in our houses, so we cannot sleep, together with our kids. Should we then abandon our houses every Fridays and Saturdays? We agree, business should be run but not at the expense of our much needed rest,” said Havatyi.
Another resident Munyaradzi Nzira said they were not only affected by noise from the Caravan Park activities but from thieves as well saying most house breaks around the area happen during the nights when there is a show or any activity at the joint.
“We are not only affected by the noise, but thieves as well. Before we established effective night patrols, on a day when there was a gig, we would wake up to more than two housebreaks.
“We understand that its business and as the community we propose that they put a closed hall for loud shows. We are not fighting with the business but we are saying let’s see what works for everyone,” said Nzira.
Masvingo United and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) board chairperson Thomas Mbetu called on Masvingo City Council to address the noise concerns at Caravan Park.
“As MURRA, we call upon the City Council to step in and resolve the noise issues at the Caravan Park. There is need to have a balanced approach that allows businesses to thrive while also safeguarding the rights and quality of life for the surrounding residents.
“While our organization supports business initiatives that drive economic growth, we also believe the rights of nearby residents must also be protected,” said Mbetu.
Mbetu said MURRA was not against business but rather they are in support of all business initiatives that bring prosperity in the community but these businesses should not in any way affect the well-being of residents.
“We are not against business. In fact, we fully support any business initiatives that bring prosperity to our community. However, when those same businesses disregard the well-being of residents, it becomes a challenge that cannot be ignored.
“Residents living in the vicinity of the Caravan Park have lodged numerous complaints about the excessive noise levels, especially during late night and early morning hours. MURRA has taken up these concerns on behalf of the affected citizens,” Mbetu said.
Mbetu said MURRA will remain committed to finding sustainable resolutions that support the local economy while prioritizing the needs of the community.
“We are going to remain committed to finding resolutions that support the local economy while prioritizing the needs of the community and we urge city council to engage with all stakeholders to find a mutually agreeable compromise.
“Potential solutions could include stricter enforcement of noise regulations, working with Caravan Park management to implement sound mitigation measures, or exploring zoning changes to designate specific areas for noisier business activities,” said Mbetu.
Ward 9 Councillor Benard Muchokwa apologized to residents for the noise and urged the business management to embrace new technologies that help reduce noise.
“As the ward councilor I would like to apologize to residents for the noise that is coming from Caravan Park, at the same time appealing to owners and management of Caravan Park to adhere to their operational licenses. We are no here to fight business but the business should be sensitive to the surrounding communities. I’m appealing to the residents to be a little patient as we try to engage Caravan Park.
“I urge the Caravan Park management to try embracing the new technologies of using sound proof so that the noise does not affect the community. If they fail to take measures that reduce noise, I think as council we will have to give them land away from the communities,” said Muchokwa.
Muchokwa further said the noise affects the elderly people, school pupils and residents that reside along Cary Street.
“The noise is affecting the elderly people at Pioneer Cottages and our kids at Victoria Junior School boarding hostels, as well as the majority of people who reside in Cary Street. This also affects children from resting at night with such noise,” said Muchokwa.
On his part, Caravan Park operator Garikai Garande called for co-existence between Caravan Park management and the communities, calling for an all stakeholders meeting to discuss possible solutions that work out for both residents and the entertainment industry.
“On the matter of noise, I call upon residents to co-exist with our industry and look at the bigger picture, together with the impact of the Caravan Park rather than only focusing on one disadvantage which is noise. Residents should also try and engage us directly; a collective engagement will allow us to organize an all stakeholders meeting where we discuss this matter and come up with possible solutions that work for both the community and the entertainment industry,” said Garande.
Garande also pleaded with the communities to be patient with them as they were looking for solutions that will not affect communities in the long run, saying one possible solution was for council to give them land to construct an event center.
“We plead with residents to be patient with us as we look for possible solutions to this problem. The other possible solution is that Council allocates us land where we can build an event center but this solution is long term and takes time to implement.
“Making noise is not our business but to uplift the entertainment industry, improving the economy of Masvingo hence we are going to try reducing our volumes on weekends, while also trying to have at least one show per month,” said Garande.
In March this year the matter was debated in council, which led to a clash between councilors over the continuous application for conversion of residential stands to business hubs which they said were contributing to noise pollution in the commonage.
Some councilors expressed mixed feelings over Caravan Park which was described as the major culprit in noise pollution. Despite the clash, council went on to resolve the matter by granting Caravan Park a license to operate.
Noise pollution is also an issue in high density suburbs especially on Sundays when church services held at homes use loud speakers affecting neighbors.
Another issue in low high density areas is that of home industries where some small businesses who do welding use noisy grinders to cut steel especially when they work at night to make use of electricity that may not be available during the day due to loadshedding.
Masvingo Mayor Alec Tabe said the local authority had an ongoing operation to put law and order in the city, and will catch up with those making noise, urging residents to report such incidents to any of their administrative offices.
“We have an operation to put law and order in the city and we will address that. Residents can also report such cases to the nearest council administrative office,” said Tabe.

By Decide Nhendo

The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFP) has revealed that the uptake of condoms in Masvingo was on the rise, a development that shows people were no longer shied away from using the contraceptive method.
Speaking to TellZim News, ZNFPC Masvingo Provincial Marketing and Communications Officer Herbert Chikosi said there was a notable uptake of condoms in Masvingo and people were no longer shy to get sexual reproductive health information.
“Use of condoms by people in Masvingo is on the rise, as we often get calls for supply in areas where we distribute like beer halls, schools and other institutions.
“We have observed that of late, when we do campaigns and distribution of the condoms people are no longer shy and they come forward to get sexual and reproductive health knowledge,” said Chikosi.
Chikosi said they were working with other organizations so that all corners of the province were covered, and said the move was bearing fruits.
“We work with various stakeholders including National Aids Council, Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/Aids Research (CeSHHAR) so that we reach all corners of the province including marginalized communities and it has been fruitful,” said Chikosi.
He said they have community workers in all seven districts of the province who help dispatch condoms as well as sexual and reproductive health information to local people.
“We have community workers who distribute condoms and educate people on sexual and reproductive health information, they operate in their respective wards within a radius of 20 kilometers,” said Chikosi.
He said they are also called to offer their services at some of the events done by various organizations to offer their services.

By Decide Nhendo

Masvingo tourism players have been urged to grab business opportunities in the form of vast local resources available in the province to meet the Vision 2030 target.
Speaking at a Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Tourism Amendment Bill Consultation Workshop held at Chevron Hotel in Masvingo, Tourism Deputy Minister Tongai Mnangagwa said Masvingo tourism players should take advantage of many tourist destinations in the province to develop the industry towards Vision 2030.
“In Masvingo we have many tourist destinations including Great Zimbabwe, so those in the industry must be ready to take advantage of this chance and work hard towards Vision 2030.
“In order to meet 2030 Upper middle-income economy target, tourism has to play its part, this can be achieved if necessary capabilities are developed in key sectors of the economy including tourism and hospitality,” said Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa said there was need for amendment of the Tourism Act to make sure it was in line with national development imperatives and said participation of all stakeholders was important for development of the sector and the country’s economy.

By Beverly Bizeki

In an attempt to reduce the teacher-pupil ratio in council schools, Masvingo City is proposing to establish another primary school near Ndarama High School in the city.
This was revealed in the Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee meeting minutes dated May 16, 2024 whereby it was noted that council was going to assess the feasibility of a piece of land near Ndarama with the teacher-pupil ratio at Vurombo Primary said to be above council targets.
“It was reported that the recommended Teacher-Pupil ratio was 1:40. The committee noted that council schools were within the recommended target except Vurombo Primary School. The committee queried the feasibility of creating a primary school stand near Ndarama High School along Charumbira Street.
“It was reported that the proposed site may not meet the minimum land requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The Acting Director of Engineering Services was instructed to assess the feasibility of the piece of land near Ndarama High School for a primary school site and refer to the Public Works and Planning Committee for consideration,” read part of the minutes.
Vurombo Primary is said to have an enrolment of 1 792 learners against 33 teachers giving a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:54 while the other five primary schools across the city have their ratios within the stipulated range.
Masvingo City Mayor Councilor Alec Tabe said council had a mandate to improve infrastructure development among their schools.
“We are yet to come up with a proper site but we want to be able to decongest the movement of learners, most are going to Vurombo Primary but the teacher-pupil ratio is now too high. There is also need for having another school across the bridge to cover suburbs like Rhodene, Rujeko and Eastvale,” said Tabe.
The local authority recently established Rujeko Secondary School to bridge the infrastructure gap caused by the absence of a secondary school in Rujeko. The school opened its doors in February 2022 and has an envisaged capacity of 600 pupils although it currently has three intakes.