By Decide Nhendo

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is alleged to have abandoned the repair and placement of pipes supplying water to some parts of Chivi Central, Ward 20 which has seen some residents in the ward going for about four years without piped water.
Chivi Central Ward 20 councilor Alec Nhundu said the pipes were damaged by Exodus and Company in 2020 when they were rehabilitating roads in the area and the company supplied new pipes to replace the damaged ones, but it seems ZINWA was dragging its feet in replacing the pipes.
“We have a water crisis in our area caused by damage of pipes which occurred when Exodus was rehabilitating roads in the area.
“The company made efforts to replace damaged pipes and bought new ones and ZINWA is now delaying to fix the pipes giving excuses, some other time they said they had no generator.
He said the pipes were the ward’s main source of safe water to the community with villagers resorting to boreholes and open sources for domestic uses and subjected to traveling long distances.
“We are experiencing a serious water crisis in the ward because the pipes to our main source of safe water are yet to be replaced. People are now using water from boreholes and open sources which put their lives at risk.
“Residents have to travel long distances to fetch water from rivers and boreholes where they crowd for the precious liquid,” said Nhundu.
The water was being taken from Tugwi Mukosi and Manyare dam. The piped scheme supplied water to Sese Business Centre, schools including Danhamombe High, St Simon, and Jaka.
It also served villages like Zhara, Mudziwedare, Mupepeti, Charumengwe, Mashamhanda, and Tavagadza.
No comment could be obtained from ZINWA information officer Obert Muchena whose phone went unanswered several times.

By Beverly Bizeki

Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Director (Potraz) Dr Gift Machengete recently said the network regulator was in the process of licensing satellite internet provider Starlink to start operating in Zimbabwe if it meets the requirements, after confirming receipt of the latter’s application.
If approved, the development will see Zimbabweans accessing faster internet connectivity, which is more desired.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation constructed by SpaceX, an aerospace company founded by American technology tycoon Elon Musk, and has been making headlines as some Zimbabweans have been using it despite authorities saying it was yet to be licensed in the country.
Dr Machengete was responding to Parliamentarians who had asked the regulator why the country was not yet using satellite services like Starlink during an induction workshop for the joint portfolio committees on Information Communication Technologies Postal and Courier Services and Media and Broadcasting Services held at Clevers Hotel in Masvingo on May 12.
“There is nothing difficult at all on licensing Starlink. What we should be clear about is that as Potraz our licensing framework is technology-neutral.
“We do not care what type of technology you are bringing, what we care about is the service and we would want you to offer that service at the lowest possible rate but our licensing technique is not technology specific but is neutral,” said Dr Machengete.
Dr Machengete went on to say during the time when a lot of Zimbabweans were accusing the regulator for banning Starlink, the internet provider had not yet applied, but confirmed that it has applied now.
“We have no problem with licensing Starlink but there was a lot of talk that Potraz was resisting licensing Starlink which was not correct. That was a lie because at that time when people were saying that Starlink had not even applied. It would not have made sense for us to beg Starlink to apply because people were making noise.
“Right now Starlink has applied and we are processing their application so if they meet their obligations then they will be licensed like any other service provider because it is not the technology that they are bringing that matters. After all we already have others operating on VISAT which is also a satellite so it is nothing new,” said Dr Machengete.
Potraz also promised a better service to Zimbabweans stating the increased flow of foreign currency which will enable operators to procure equipment for upgrading their services.
“We are expecting network operators to improve because it seems foreign currency is now available. The challenge was on foreign currency for investments which had reduced of late hence they could not bring in new machines to upgrade systems and maintenance was even difficult,” said Dr Machengete.
Speaking at the same event, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda implored the Ministry of ICT to thrive on new technologies to better the country’s economy, urging them to come up with proper legislation for using these technologies.
“This ministry has the power to drive the economy of Zimbabwe using Artificial Intelligence. There is need to come up with appropriate laws in line with new ICTs for national development, we need to come up with legislation that promotes the ease of doing business in the country,” said Adv. Mudenda.

By Decide Nhendo

Some residents in Chikombedzi are bearing the brunt of poor service delivery going for nearly 11 years without running water on their taps due to a problem which started in 2013.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is alleged to have abandoned pumping water from Chikombedzi River for this part of the country located in the southeastern part of Zimbabwe on the edge of Gonarezhou National Park in Masvingo Province after a pump started malfunctioning.
Chiredzi South Ward 11 councilor Urombo Makolo told this publication that Chikombedzi has not had running water from their taps since 2013 after a pump at the station stopped working.
People had to resort to other sources of water for domestic uses enduring long distances and long queues to access the precious liquid.
“ZINWA had been pumping water to the community in Chikombedzi and township but the service stopped in 2013 after the pump they were using stopped working. People have since resorted to getting water from boreholes and open wells for water to drink and use for domestic purposes.
“Many people travel for about two kilometers to fetch water and often have to wait in long queues at the boreholes,” said Makolo.
He said when they engaged ZINWA officials over the matter they were told that the authority had not yet found the pump to replace the failing one.
Makolo further said there were no decent road networks in Chikombedzi which was bad for cars and buses, saying there was need for rehabilitation.
“Our roads are in a bad state and most private cars and buses are no longer plying the route to Chikombedzi as they fear for their vehicles. There is need for grading and graveling of roads because most motorists struggle to use these roads going to and from Chikombedzi,” said Makolo.
He said state of the roads had resulted in motorists charging US$7 for distances that normally used to cost US$3 because of lack of competition as many avoid the roads.
“This state of the roads has caused motorists to charge around US$7 on 85kilometres journey that normally costs around US$3 because there are a few motorists plying the area ,” said Makolo.
He said most bridges were not standard and it was difficult to cross them during rainy season as they can be overflowing for a week or two.
“Chilonga is our main bridge, we have to cross it to Chiredzi, but during rainy seasons, it will be dangerous to cross the bridge as it sometimes overflows.
“This is the same with other bridges like the one in Mwenezi, since the bridge is low lying, it easily overflows leaving people with no option but to go through game reserves where they are asked to pay in order to pass,” said Makolo.
He further said that electricity was another challenge in ward 11 as nearly 16 poles fell down in 2022 and ZESA replaced the poles last month although the challenge still persists in the township area where an amour cable was stolen and is yet to be replaced.
“Electricity was another challenge in Chikombedzi, but ZESA has restored poles that fell down and the only place left without electricity is the township because an amour cable was stolen,” said Makolo.
Efforts to get a comment from ZINWA communications officer Obert Muchena were futile as he promised to call the reporter with response and failed to answer his cell several times.

By Heather Buzuzi

Since the introduction of the new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) earlier last month, bond notes were quickly rejected in flea markets and smaller shops but continued to be used in kombis before being rejected in many towns and communities a short while after.
In Mutare however, commuters are still accepting both the bond notes and the ZiG, with some even preferring bond notes to ZiG.
They are accepting the bond notes at a rate of ZWL$14 000 per USD $1 which means most trips that cost 50c now cost 7000 bond.
Speaking to TellZim News, Manicaland Drivers and Transporters Association (MDATA) official Eddie Mudzimiri said they were accepting bond notes because they are still legal tender as directed by the government.
He also said that bond notes were circulating in their system since the community is accepting them so they were also accepting them.
“We are still accepting bond notes as directed by the government. The government said bond notes are still legal tender and as such we still accept them and we instructed our members to accept them.
“The community is accepting the bond notes so they are just circulating like this,” said Mudzimiri.
Mudzimiri also said using bond notes and ZiG currency makes it easy for them to get change. He added that despite using the two local currencies, they were still failing to meet the demand for change and at times they use vouchers which they give to customers as change and can be used in all their vehicles.
“Though we accept bond notes and ZiG, we are still failing to get enough change and we also introduced the voucher system, so if we do not have bond notes or ZiG we give our customers vouchers as change,” he added.
One commuter conductor who preferred anonymity said they were charging 5Zig per trip or 7000 bond for a distance that costs US$0.50.
However, some operators who ply the Zimunya route are refusing bond notes and instead, are charging USD1 per trip because there is no change.