Ladies and gentlemen, Masvingo seems to have already jumped into winter earlier than other provinces, haa parikufuridza especially at night paChitima apo. As you know, Mapombi has a big heart, so she certainly feels for others who live in the streets like her. Ehe, nesuwo mavagabond we have good hearts because we know the importance of having one. Life chaiyo can be changed by just one act of kindness, rombe rakaita seni rikatosimudzwawo muguruva rikaswera rakudya patafura naMambo kana kutodraivha Aqua sevamwe. Ahh, ko zvandanga ndotoparidzazve nhai, dai pangoita angoti go deeper dai ndatodzika dzika nayo ndima. Handizorina hangu power to come up with vana Aguma but ndinombozamazama. The Easter holidays are making me think about prayer a lot, and like many others who are going to find their ways to church conferences, neniwo ndinawovo munamato kuna Nyadenga. Mapombi haana secret, so even when she prays, zvese zvinenge zvingori pajekerere, ko handiite sehurumende yenyuka iyi yekuti dai makomborero ainzi anoallocatwa negovernment like many other things kutanga kwegore rega rega, taisaluma kana tai. Taizongomaona azara mublack market apa asingasvikiriki like magold coins or iyo bitcoin yatinongonzwa nemaNigerian.
Before I start running my mouth zvandajaira, let us close our eyes and pray—eeeh apo, nemiwo vatadzi vanobira varombo tsinzinyai uko tinamate. I know some of you won’t close your eyes but anyway, Mwari ndewemunhu wese, chero nematax collector anobira vanhu anongovadawo vanaMthuli nanaMangundya, ahh sorry gara haasisiko. Angava hake asisiko but we feel him in spirit, kkkkk, or should I say mumaMbuya Nehanda iwo mazibond notes adai kupera sehondo yemuseve. Veduwe nditisureiwo, ndamboti let’s close our eyes tinamate pava nechinguva. Ndisati ndavarairwa futi, God, I want to thank you for the wisdom that you gave me to discern what is right from wrong, and for seeing foolishness from afar, like how all our artists are begging for cars from Wicknell Chivayo in a country where despite having talent, most are poor. Bhutisi has graduated from Seh Calaz’s school of grovelling for freebies, and is now writing paragraphs and pages on Facebook begging for a car, after many years of making us see how broken the system is through satire. We know that what you cannot do does not exist God, so I ask that all these artists who have been gripped by greed one day wake up to realize that the system they are praising to get free cars from has so much blood on its hands. I also pray that one day they wake up to realize that the cars they begged for have serious consequences, but I pray that they realize that before they have sold their souls to the evil one. I pray God that they also realize that they are taking advantage of a man arikutonyisiwawo zvake nemujolo, who might be buying all these cars to comfort himself nekusiiwa nemukadzi. Nedziyavo dzakaita mbiri nekutevedzera Bhobho dzakutodawo mota yepiri for his imaginary motorcade, haa uya mutapudzirei kupenga kuite kushoma Mwari, before his head becomes too big and he ends up in trouble nevakabvisa Mugabe wacho. Tinotoziva Mwari kuti pamwe izvezvi Wicknell anorara achichema, uku omuka kuseni to find Bhutisi naDhuterere have written him long love letters, yet it is not the kind of love he wants. Zviri pano panyika Mwari huye bodo, tinomboonerera. Vaparidzi verenyu shoko vakati munhu haazopuhwi zvose, because nemari yose iya chokwadi Sonya akati zvepano ndaguta, sarai nerugare. Ungazoiti ndiyo Zanu iya inotambudza vanhu kana yokorobhewa nerurimi nemaartists kudero, haa as a country we deserve that party. Dzimwe ihasha dzinondibata, musazozvitora henyu serious Tenzi.
While I do not want to dwell on trivialities like Chivayo and his vain disciples, I want to pray for the tired and heavy-laden. Makati imi kuna Mateo huyai kwandiri makaneta makaremerwa, ndivava vana venyu mateacher ehurumende vari kungofamba vachitura befu nekutaura vega mumigwagwa umu. Easter is a time of joy and celebration that Christ died for our sins, but Mwari ndafunga mucivil servant akatarisana nerent, schools closing, neholiday iyoyi anodazve kutravella to be with family kumusha. Ndinongoti vapeiwo hope vakwanise kurara usiku vasawanza macalculations because they will end up thinking pane imwe mari iri kutorwa nezvikwambo. Hongu, zviriko zvikwambo mumaaccount avo ekubank zvinosanganisira tax plus zvimbadzo asi itai kuti vasanyanyofunga nezvazvo. I also want to pray for headmasters kuti vasapindwa nemweya wekuba mari dzechikoro because the parents who pay those fees vanototamburawo.
God, this Easter, I want to pray for zvivindi zvinenge zvaTshabangu zvekutoshaya nyadzi zvachose. Herozve rimwe rombe ramakadai kusimudza muguruva nhasi he is shaking hands with the president. We are not sure hedu sevanhu venyama if you are the one who put him where he is, but Jacob mushoko renyu takangoverenga zvechimbavha mbavha chake akazopedzisira aita baba vendudzi. Achingozhinya nekupupira muromo sedofo takatoona hoyo ava Senator. Maybe these things do not have a clear formula. But then again we hear and see Nero always referring to your word, and we keep the hope that one day his prayers will be answered. Pamwe imi, the all-knowing God munoziva kuti he may be using your name in vain, ko munombozvida here zvevanhu vanonyengedzera.
Again, Mwari Baba, may you give this country’s young people bravery to do the right things, kuSenegal uko zvakatofamba wani. Give these old madalas a conscience also to see the value in young people, not kungongwarira kuwawata, praising vekure kure kuSenegal uko while not seeing their own shortcomings. God, we are tired of a youth that just knows how to beg mbinga, gyrate at rallies, and getting drunk with illicit brews. These young people are growing into useless electorate Jehovah. Give these young men and women enough wisdom to say the right things not kuendera kujeri kuti hanzi nhingi iscud. Nanamai vedu Mwari, itai kuti vazivewo pekugumira Easter ino, kumakereke uko vaise mutsauko wezvavanoita kumarally eZanu nekukereke dzvene, although we know hedu kuti you are omnipresent munenge muchivaona henyu vachitambisa zviuno kuti vapihwe mota and they go on to wear church uniforms kuti vadye Paseka. Give Mai Phiri the preacher energy to dance kuEaster conference, the same energy she had when she was dancing Mai Welly kurally kuya kuya.
God, protect those who will travel on our potholed roads. Also protect those gathering mumisangano from cholera and other diseases asingadi kuona pakaunganiwa, zvikagoti zvipatara hakuna, ringaita basa Jehovah. Bvisai kukara mavari and give them discipline varege kungoshamira zvese zvese pachikafu apa, vangapera nemidumbu.
Komboreraiwo John munyowani watava naye kuRBZ uko mubvise nhema from his vocabulary like the old John Panonetsa who even swore that bond notes were going to work, but chero nechana chavendor kuno kuChitima ukarasha dutu rawo hachinongi, chinotoziva kuti haitengi. Vapei integrity VaMushayavanhu avo, vasafanana nemapredecessor avo whose legacies spell nothing but failure. Neimwe nhambo I actually think being made RBZ governor is being set up for failure, but what do I know, ndiri wenyama.
Here in Masvingo God, during this holiday help our councillors to drink responsibly, if they should drink at all, kunyanya our female councillors who we see vakadzvinya mabhotoro ehutsvuku. Even the male councillors Lord, vatsiurei vagone kuremekedza mhuri dzavo. Protect our city fathers, macouncilor iwaya from getting injured while they dance on TiTok hameno kuti vanenge vachifarirei, maybe mabenefits ari kunyanyonaka, asi chingovaprotectai henyu She.
Concluding this prayer, God give our leaders a conscience, integrity and remind them that they are not gods. Itaiwo kuti Zesa ive nemoyo wetsitsi holiday ino. Murange madhara arikuroodza nekuroora vana vadiki. Give me good bananas nechibage chisina kupfukutwa chekukanga for lunch ndiwane simba rekutsiura mbavha dzeZanu. Aah before I go Mwari, komboreraiwo naVaMphoko kwavari ikoko, tichingoti dai vaitwawo zvakaitwa Killer wedu wekwaZivhu naiye Chombo chakadai kumboparadza nyika, asi mugumire pana Mphoko henyu Mwari ana musorobhangu and crew ngavagareko. Ndongoti dai matipa moyo sewaKudzai Chipanga wekugona kuzvininipisa tichipfidza matadzo edu zvaakaita gore riya neapolojersey. Ndichingoti kana ndamareva mukutenda, Amen!!
Mapombi’s 2024 Easter’s Prayer
Police warns errant drivers during Easter
By Bright Zhou
Officer Commanding Masvingo Province Commissioner Chrispen Charumbira has warned errant drivers who do not obey traffic rules and regulations which are meant to safeguard lives saying Traffic Police will be at work full time to prevent road accidents during Easter holidays.
“We urge drivers to value safety precautions, especially during Easter holidays and Road Traffic Police officers will be working tightly to make sure that road regulations are being followed in a bid to fight against road traffic accidents,” said Charumbira.
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe Regional Manager Ester Kashangura warned drivers to be on the lookout for animals crossing roads, especially donkeys.
“We urge drivers to be aware of animals that randomly cross roads from both sides, especially donkeys. The responsible ministry is constructing new roads so that motorists will travel safely to reduce road traffic accidents.
“We are working hand in glove with ZRP to arrest people who drink alcohol and drive, because most drivers who get involved in accidents during this period will be drinking alcohol, losing control of their vehicles,” said Kashangura.
During the same period in 2022, 73 people died while 202 were injured in 264 road traffic accidents recorded.
Last year (2023) 30 people died while 153 others were injured in 288 road traffic accidents that were recorded during the Easter period and out of 288 road accidents 16 were fatal.
The number of deaths decreased last year, but there was an increase in road accidents compared to 2022.
Masvingo motorists told ZRP however that potholes were one of the major causes of road accidents.
Dickson Madhende who is a kombi driver said roads were pothole infested and they resorted to swerving to road edges and by so doing, tires burst. Sometimes they fail to negotiate the road and fail to control the vehicles leading to accidents.
“Most accidents are being caused by potholes; drivers will try to avoid them and they end up being stranded on road edges which damage tyres; sometimes they fail to navigate the potholes and lose control,” said Madhende.
This was supported by a bus driver who refused to be named and said he was lucky to be alive after he hit a pothole the bus’ suspension was heavily damaged, with three tires bursting in the process.
Bishop Mawewe declared liberation hero
By Brighton Chiseva
The late Judea Zion Christian Church Bishop Dr Ofiro Mawewe, who died two weeks ago, has been declared a provincial liberation war hero.
Dr Mawewe passed on at Noraz Clinic due to diabetes related ailment, and his family declared two weeks of morning. The burial is set for Saturday March 30, 2024.
In a statement seen by TellZim News, addressed to the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, and signed by Zanu PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu, the government will make burial arrangements and pay benefits to his family.
“His Excellency the President and First Secretary of Zanu PF Cde Dr.E.D Mnangagwa has conferred a Liberation Hero status to the late Cde Ofiro Mawewe who died on 16 March and will be buried at Matekwe Village, Chief Ndanga, Zaka. The family can be contacted through our Masvingo Provincial office.
“I shall be most grateful if you would make the usual arrangements for his burial and payment of benefits to his family,” reads the statement.
His son Oriah Mawewe confirmed the latest development and thanked President Mnangagwa for the recognition and declaration of a liberation war hero status to his father saying he was indeed a hero, who apart from being a faith leader, rolled out many programmes towards the development of the communities he served.
“We were called from the Minister of State’s office and were told that President Mnangagwa had declared Dr Mawewe a liberation war hero. We were elated by the news as a family and church because we know he deserved the recognition,” said Oriah.
He went on to say they were not worried about material benefits associated with the recognition but the mere fact that the President honored the late Bishop was enough for them as a family.
“Our happiness is not from the material things that may be associated with the recognition, but the mere fact that the President recognized the work that our late father did before and after Independence, until his time of death is enough for us. “We feel proud to be his sons and we promise the President that as his family, we will continue with his work just like he did following our grandfather’s death,” he said.
The conferment of hero status for the late Bishop could be attributed to his work because apart from being just a religious leader, he was a philanthropist, educationist, and Pan-Africanist who contributed to the development of education, promotion of indigenous churches as well as supporting the liberation struggle.
His contributions to the liberation struggle included leading the church and the family during his father’s various detentions and incarceration by the Rhodesian government where he assisted his mother in taking care of the liberation fighters in the absence of his father as the family had become a target of the Smith regime for supporting the war.
Bishop Ofiro would pray for the liberation fighters and the release of his father and other indigenous church leaders. Upon the release of his father, Dr Ofiro continued assisting the liberation war fighters by providing them with food and clothing, as well as conveying prophetic messages from his father to the liberation war fighters
He was also credited for influencing his father’s followers to support the liberation struggle that bore the Independence of Zimbabwe.
A writer who authored books on the history of indigenous churches, Bishop Mawewe was also a supporter and beneficiary of the land reform programme where he was allocated with number 17 Dawlish Farm in Manjirenji where he established two mission schools; a primary and a secondary.
At the time of his death, Dr Ofiro was said to be working on plans to establish a hospital and a vocational training center at the farm.
Bishop Ofiro was born on 17 June 1952 in Ndanga where he grew up. As a boy, he grew up during the liberation struggle and served as a war collaborator of distinct nature.
As the only son to his father Late Rev Saul Maguta Mawewe and founder of the church, Bishop Mawewe took the reins of the church in 1979 following his father’s death.
The church was founded in 1938 and as such the family became a target of the colonial regime as Dr Ofiro helped his father to support the revolution.
Mawewe is credited for growing the Judea ZCC congregation from half a million to 1, 5 million followers during the 44 years he was leading the church and established branches all around Zimbabwe and abroad in countries like Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, the UK, Australia, Poland among others.
Golfers bemoan lack of competitive tournaments
By Beatific Gumbwanda
TRIANGLE-Zimbabwe Golfers Association (ZGA) has lamented the lack of competitive tournaments and called upon corporates to continue supporting the golfing fraternity by sponsoring more tournaments to enable golfers to have more experience and sharpen their skills ahead of international competitions.
Zimbabwe’s sole sugarcane producer Tongaat Huletts Zimbabwe (THZ) recently held the Lowveld Pro-Am tournament at its state-of-the-art golf courses in Hippo Valley and Triangle respectively, one of the biggest events held outside the capital, where professional and amateur golfers exhibited their talent, sharpening their skills ahead of the Zimbabwe Open Tournament to be held in two months.
Speaking during the event in Triangle, Zimbabwe Golfers Association (ZGA) President, Martin Chikwana thanked the former ZGA president and outgoing THZ Managing Director, Aiden Mhere for reviving the Lowveld Pro-Am and urged corporates to continue supporting the golfing fraternity by sponsoring more competitions.
“I would like to thank the former ZGA President, Aiden Mhere who played a huge role in this second biggest event outside the capital.
“This event also affords our professionals a chance to sharpen their skills in preparation for the Zimbabwe Open Tournament coming in two months. This has been the battle cry for our professionals that they need more competitions of high intensity. We pray that more like-minded corporates continue supporting this important part of the golfing fraternity, “said Chikwana.
Zimbabwe’s Professional golfer, David Amm who walked away with a US$ 10,000 price for being the overall winner said the golfing fraternity was still lagging behind due to a lack of more competitive tournaments.
“To us professional golfers, this is our profession, it’s our job and these events allow us to go out and showcase our talents. The more tournaments we have, the better.
“If you just look at other big tours, they have almost 40 tournaments a year and I think we only have 4 or maybe 5 tournaments annually and it’s challenging. Every time we get an opportunity like this, it means a lot to everyone,” said Amm.
Head of Corporate Affairs at THZ, Dr Dahlia Garwe said it was a precious moment for the corporation to revive the Lowveld Pro-Am tournament as a way to give space for the amateur as well as fundraise towards the underprivileged, especially on the medical side.
“This is an exciting moment for us as we are reviving the Lowveld Pro-Am tournament to raise funds, especially for the underprivileged in our society, in particularly the medical side of things.
“We want to upgrade clinics in our area and this is, in my opinion, a very good start. We also want the young golfers to become involved not just making golf an elite thing, “said Dr Garwe.
Corporates like ZB Bank, Ecocash, Econet, ETG, Nyaradzo Funeral Services, Natpak, First Mutual, Old Mutual and Delta sponsored the tournament.
My Age, DAWA join hands towards HIV prevention
By Veeslee Mhepo
My Age Zimbabwe in collaboration with Development Agenda for Girls and Women in Africa Network (DAWA) through the support from ViiV Healthcare have joined hands to implement a project known as ‘Connecting Adolescent Girls and Women for HIV Prevention’.
The two organisations have kick-started the training of Adolescent Girls and Women for HIV Prevention in Mwenezi and Masvingo jointly.
Through the ViiV project, the two organizations are focusing on reducing the number of new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women in Masvingo Urban and Mwenezi districts, as well as promoting health-seeking behavior among girls and young women.
Mwenezi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Innocent Mutambara welcomed the initiative in Mwenezi and said it was very important considering the number of HIV infections among young people and said HIV prevention will help protect the future.
“HIV prevention is the way to go as this is a good platform to protect the future. We welcome this initiative in the district as it will help reduce HIV infections in our communities and we will be supportive throughout the project to have a good outcome,” said Mutambara.
Mwenezi District Medical Officer (DMO) Doctor Matibhiri said the project was vital in Mwenezi, has full support and is looking forward to great outcomes with increased HIV and Aids knowledge among adolescent girls and young women.
Mwenezi District Ministry of Women’s Affairs representative Abdiel Mboweni said the project will enhance advocacy on gender equality as gender inequalities contribute to the spread of HIV.
“As the Ministry of Women’s Affairs we welcome this project as we continue to advocate for gender equality since gender inequalities contribute to the spread of HIV,” Mboweni said.
With a primary objective of scaling up into districts with high HIV incidence among AGYW in Zimbabwe, the project will then proceed to engage with community-based, youth-led, and women-led organizations to foster collaborations and pool resources.
Farmers urged to destock in face of drought
By Bright Zhou
Chief livestock officer in the Department of Livestock Production and Development Wisdom Gunzvenzve has tipped farmers with measures to manage livestock during El Nino induced drought.
Gunzvenzve said there were measures farmers could take to overcome the situation they are faced with regarding the impending drought. He also said the El Nino caused water shortages to livestock, especially cattle, was the reason why livestock farmers ought to reduce the distance livestock have to endure searching for water.
“El Nino is likely to cause water shortages for our livestock, especially cattle and as farmers we are urged to reduce the distance livestock move searching for water.
“The other thing is that livestock ends up being trapped in mud trying to seek for water,” Gunzvenzve said.
He added that farmers should build troughs at community boreholes to avail water to livestock.
He said farmers should know the difference between productive and non-productive livestock, saying farmers should sell non-productive animals to save productive animals.
“Also the other action that farmers need to take is the element of destocking. As farmers we have non-productive and productive animals and would try to sell non-productive animals so that we save on productive animals.
“Productive animals are the breeding animals; the heifers and the cows, animals involved in draft power and farmers should save those animals as they destock non-productive animals.
“Money gotten from selling those animals can be used to buy feed for the remaining animals or even constructing boreholes. Livestock farmers sometimes fail to realize how rich they are in terms of conversion of their livestock into monetary terms,” said Gunzvenzve.
Farmers need to identify relief grazing sites in their areas and they should work with veterinary services to prevent the spreading of diseases from one area to another.
“Farmers also need to identify relief grazing sites near their areas, doing this in conjunction with veterinary officers so that diseases do not spread from one area to another,” said Gunzvenzve.
He also spoke on the impact of veld fires on grazing land, which is a perennial cause for concern, urging farmers to work with relevant departments to avert this scourge.
Puma opens new branch in Masvingo town
By Decide Nhendo
Puma Energy Zimbabwe has officially opened its Masvingo industrial retail branch at a colorful ceremony that was officiated by Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira on March 20.
The fuel station, which is located along Access Road, Masvingo Industrial Area attached to the new fast food outlet KFC becomes the third Puma service station in town with its first located next to Total service station along Robert Mugabe Road and another one located at Wimpy along Masvingo – BeitBridge road.
In his speech, at the event, Chadzamira described the move as a great catalyst to development towards the attainment of vision 2030 saying it was going to help accelerate development in all sectors of production and development as most business activities depend on fuel energy.
“I applaud the establishment of another Masvingo Puma Energy retail in Masvingo as it is going to foster progress and production since most of our businesses including mining, tourism and agriculture need fuel as energy so all sectors are going to benefit from this retail,” Chadzamira said.
Chadzamira also said the development done by Puma Energy Zimbabwe in Masvingo was in line with the country’s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy (NDS1) mantra which targets to ensure development in all sectors and all places in the country to ensure that by 2030 Zimbabwe will be an upper middle income economy.
Speaking at the commissioning event, Puma Energy Zimbabwe General Manager Donatien Kodog said Masvingo industrial Puma Energy retail was established in order to keep bringing energy to communities as the company’s mandate.
He said the company’s main vision was to procure clean and safe fuel to all communities in the country including communities which are not easily accessible and said they had almost all motor lubricants at their retails.
“Masvingo Puma Energy retail was established so as to provide fuel to the Masvingo community as it is our mandate to procure clean and safe fuel to all our customers and I am sure the business community is going to benefit a lot from this,” said Kodog.
In Zimbabwe the energy firm now has 52 service stations countrywide, servicing four airports, operating one terminal and has four storage depots and mainly sell fuel, lubricants, refreshments and convenience shopping needs.
Kodog expressed the company’s commitment to solarize their retail network in the company, of which part of the broader plan is to install 300 solar systems across their network to help fight escalating climate change effects that are hazardous to environment.
The business community in Masvingo welcomed the move and described it as an added advantage that was going to fuel development as they now access fuel from one of major fuel giants in the country.
“Puma Energy Zimbabwe is one of the major fuel service providers in the country and globally, I am sure this development is going to help us with safe and clean fuel especially in my line of business as a taxi operator who plies Masvingo-Mashava route,” said Simbarashe Muchato.
One of small scale farmers from Mushandike John Machabi said the pump is a blessing as he is going to access clean fuel on his way in or out of town as he supplies his goods to Chitima market.
There is a proliferation of fuel service stations in Masvingo Town with another new station being Express Service station located in Hofmeyer Street near Makurira Memoral Clinic.
Chivi’s Banga Irrigation Scheme awarded national best
By Bright Zhou
Banga Irrigation Scheme in Chivi District of Masvingo Province was on Saturday (March 16) crowned the best irrigation scheme in Zimbabwe, receiving a US$ 10,000 cash prize and an award.
The irrigation scheme was handed over the US$10,000 cash prize by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka at a function held at the irrigation site near Ngundu Business Centre.
Speaking at the event, Masuka said he was impressed by Banga’s performance, saying it continuously plays a vital role in its contribution to the country’s food security.
He went on to encourage Banga farmers to keep the standards high and continue working hard to win the competition again next time while promising that the government is committed to providing the scheme with fertilizer and seeds.
“Banga plays a major role by leading the country to become food secure with major staples like maize and wheat. Farmers here should increase their pace, they should work hard to win again next time. The government is going to give Banga Irrigation Scheme fertilizer and seeds so that they continue the good work,” said Masuka.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said Banga farmers had put their effort into the development of the country and should now focus on small grain crops that are tolerant to drought as the country received low rainfall this season.
“It is important to note that Banga farmers put their effort to raise the development of the country; however, when there is little rainfall the government is not going to give irrigation schemes maize seed but to offer them drought-tolerant crops like wheat, millet or rapoko.
“This year there is drought in Masvingo province because of climate change but people should not worry much as the government is going to make sure that no one dies of hunger,” said Chadzamira.
Banga Irrigation Scheme representative Engineer Justice Musadaidzwa said their primary source of water, Banga Dam did not have enough water, which forced them to reduce the size of land under production, but regardless, they managed to beat other schemes to scoop the first prize.
He went on to say there were plans to siphon water from Tugwi Mukosi dam that was upstream to supplement water for the scheme
Lukosi irrigation scheme from Matabeleland North came second and walked away with US$7.500 followed by Maunganidze from Manicaland which walked away with US$5000.
Is there a place for everyone in the skyline?
… as new buildings create new barriers for PWDs
By Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo City has been on a drive for economic development as the city is growing with new buildings sprouting every now and then. On the other hand, talk about disability inclusion is also on a high note but the development has brought new challenges for inclusion as almost all these new buildings are hardly accessible to people with disabilities.
The city has gained multiple high rise buildings over the past few years but it is business as usual in terms of facilities in the buildings; staircase after staircase. This becomes worrying as PWDs find themselves unable to easily access these facilities.
Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT) Director Henry Chivhanga said the development in the city is welcome but said it was saddening as the buildings are not accessible to PWDs, despite council ensuring the disability community during previous engagements that plans for buildings without proper facilities would not be approved.
“When we see new buildings going up in town it is a sign of economic development. The sad thing however is that those buildings when completed won’t be accessible to PWDs because of lack of ramps and elevators.
“We engaged the city fathers and we were told that if a plan is brought to them with no provision for elevators or ramps as the case may be, such plans are not approved. We further engaged them on existing buildings and they indicated that they will communicate with the owners of the buildings. If the PWDs Bill becomes law, Adjustment Orders as envisioned in the bill would resolve most of these challenges,” said Chivhanga.
Masvingo Provincial National Council of Disabled Persons Chairperson Moses Chitombo lamented the issue and said development was now becoming a deterrent for PWDs.
“It is saddening to witness the construction of new buildings within the city in such a way that creates inaccessibility to others especially PWDs as they barred from entering those buildings. The buildings however house various facilities addressing any other person so this affects the lives of PWDs as they cannot go to places where other people can get a source of livelihood.
“We are worried because we have always had meetings to address these issues between office bearers and PWDs to check whether their services are satisfying everyone, council included.
“Different organizations in Masvingo have spoken on the inaccessibility to buildings but they are continually being erected in Masvingo in council’s presence and ministries. I do not know why they are not taking this matter seriously, buildings are erected without having facilities to address PWDs. There is a need for improving these buildings to have facilities that enable PWDs to get access,” said Chitombo.
Chitombo said there was need for people constructing the buildings to obey the law and involve PWDs when they do their work so that they can be able to offer contributions to address this challenge.
“People must obey the law and take serious steps towards this issue. These people should work together with disability leaders in the community so that when they do their plans they can even ask for information from these leaders. City council must also involve PWDs in various meetings so that these issues can be aired out because we will continue to witness such blunders even though they have the Disability policy at hand. Even if the Bill is passed into law but there are no PWDs at the core of decision-making boards no change is likely to be effected anywhere. PWDs must be involved whenever there is planning for cities or other local authorities so that all buildings are constructed with disability consciousness,” said Chitombo.
Chitombo also said they have been doing awareness campaigns and holding various meetings with stakeholders to no avail as there has been little progress concerning the matter.
“We have been doing awareness campaigns with various organizations, service providers, and meetings whereby we have tasked them to improve accessibility at their organizations but it has not yielded much fruit. For some government offices, they have said the policy does not allow them to change the original buildings so it is a great challenge for us. Maybe the challenge will receive the attention it deserves when the bill is passed into law, maybe by then we will have our weapon to enable us to take legal action against them,” said Chitombo.
Drug taskforce takes awareness to schools
By Decide Nhendo
Masvingo Provincial Drug Taskforce which comprises of the Provincial Information Office, Ministry of Health and Childcare, Zimbabwe Republic Police among other stakeholders has taken drug abuse awareness to schools with the determination to nip the menace in the bud.
Determined to educate students in Masvingo schools on the escalating drug misuse in schools and the country as a whole, the task force is speaking to learners, encouraging them to shun substance and drug abuse.
On March 18, the taskforce visited three schools namely Gokomere High, Mushagashe Training Centre and St Stanislaus Secondary School where learners interacted with members of the taskforce and got firsthand information on the dangers of drug abuse.
Commenting on the sidelines of the school visits, Masvingo District Schools Inspector (DSI) Ishmael Chigaba applauded the move saying it was a great solution in bringing awareness to the dangers of drugs and substance abuse which has taken schools by storm, mainly in urban centers.
“I applaud this move which is being run by the government organs on drugs and substance abuse chaired by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira as it is going to help learners know the dangers of drugs to their mental and physical health.
“This program should be done at all schools in Masvingo province and I think schools that need this awareness most are those in urban areas because that’s where drug abuse is more prevalent compared to those in rural areas,” said Chigaba.
Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Rogers Irimayi said the program was targeting secondary schools, institutions like universities and colleges, church gatherings, social meetings as well as any another meeting points in the province.
“Our task force targets any social gatherings including schools, colleges, universities church gatherings, and any areas where people gather to make them aware of the harm being disposed to our communities by drugs.
“We are targeting all the people elderly, youths as well as opinion leaders so that they educate children in their communities to shun drugs as they are destroying lives. We want people to know that overcoming addiction and substance abuse is a tough choice that requires great determination and sacrifice,” said Irimayi.
Echoing the same sentiments, Masvingo District Mental Health Coordinator Elliot Chidakwa said drugs were affecting youth leading to child marriages, dropping out of schools, and wild behaviors.
“If we look into our communities, it is clear that there are a lot of problems being brought by drug and substance abuse including suicides, child marriages, as well as mental disorders, a clear testimony that learners should walk away from dangerous drugs,” said Chidakwa.
Students from Mushagashe Training Center applauded the drug awareness campaign saying it gives them a clear picture of how drugs affect their lives and said the programme must be done in all schools within Masvingo.
“This programme is important to us, it is an eye opener that we should not keep on putting effort and energy into wrong things. We have a great task to shape our future through opportunities granted to us by our parents,” said Naison Maranda.
He said they were ready to take action and react to all the information they got on the dangers posed by drugs to help in community development.
Denzel Mabvundwe also thanked the programme and said it helps youth to select life paths that are good for health and mental well-being. He said the visit by President Emmerson Mnangangwa at the school where he also talked about the dangers of drug abuse challenged them to heed the calls.
“I thank the government for doing a programme like this, raising awareness on dangers brought by drugs to youths. From the negative effects that can be caused by drugs, it is clear that they are an enemy to progress as they are harmful to mental health, so it is left to us to select life paths that bear fruits for us,
“The fact that when President Mnangangwa came for Youths Day commemorations at Mushagashe raised issues concerning drugs shows that drug and substance abuse is becoming a pandemic, especially to the youth, the future,” said Mabvundwe.