Home Blog Page 2

Masvingo residents raise concern over venues for amendment bill consultations

TellZim News
-
0
Masvingo residents raise concern over venues for amendment bill consultations

By Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – Residents across Masvingo province have raised concerns over the
choice of venues for public consultations on the proposed Constitutional Amendment
Bill Number 3, with many alleging that the locations were deliberately selected to
discourage participation and silence dissenting voices.
In Zaka, the consultations are scheduled to be held at Rudhanda High School in Zaka
South.
Speaking to TellZim News, Zaka Ward 19 Councillor Albert Mazvanya voiced his
concern, arguing that Rudhanda was not centrally located as it sits close to the border
between Zaka and Chiredzi districts, thereby disadvantaging the rest of the district. He
also claimed that the choice of venue favours Zanu PF, considering that it is just a few
metres from the home of Zaka District Coordinating Committee Chairperson Clemence
Chiduwa, who is also the Zaka South MP.
“Rudhanda is not central at all. This is a deliberate move by the ruling party to make
sure they do not capture what people really want, hence moving the venue to a strategic
place thereby disadvantaging the rest,” said Mazvanya.
He went on to express fears that the venue being close to Chiduwa’s home was not a
good sign, and chances of violence were high if there are any opposing voices during
the consultations.
“I think there is going to be violence if anyone tries to speak differently or oppose the
bill. The reason they chose that venue is to have people who are loyal and whom they
can hold to account after the consultation,” said Mazvanya.
A Zaka resident who spoke on condition of anonymity echoed similar fears, pointing to
the area’s political character.
“That area is known to have Zanu PF fanatics who can cause harm to anyone who tries
to oppose the bill. People are already afraid to speak out because they know what
happens to those who disagree in that locality,” said one resident.
Another Zaka resident Peter Imbayarwo, told TellZim News that the choice of venue
was deliberate to deprive locals a chance to speak their minds. He said that all along,
previous consultations were held in Jerera, not only because it is central but also
convenient, unlike Rudhanda where other locals need to use two to three vehicles to get
to the venue.
“There is no advantage if we want Zaka representation. The only people who are closer
are part of Ward 25, Ward 28, and Ward 29; the rest are disadvantaged. Look at
someone from Ward 1 or 2, they have to go via Roy then Jerera, then Rudhanda.

Those from Bvukururu will get transport to Gumbo, take another one to Jerera, and
then get another one to Rudhanda. Those from Benzi area have to come to Jerera first
or go via Chiredzi, so the venue disadvantages a number of people, and I think it’s a
deliberate ploy to make sure that ordinary people do not attend,” said Imbayarwo.
He went on to say all consultations used to be held at BSPZ in Jerera, and people were
now afraid to go, meaning only those who will be bused can attend.
“All the other consultations used to be done here in Jerera. What is so important about
this one that it has been taken to Rudhanda? Most people who finance themselves to
get there will not, and most of them are afraid. So basing on that, whatever result that
comes out will not be a true reflection of Zaka,” said Imbayarwo.
In Bikita, a similar complaint has been raised by residents. Brilliant Mukaro told TellZim
News that consultations in Bikita were slated for Matsvange area in Bikita South, which
is about 30 kilometres of dust road from Nyika growth point.
“The venue was deliberately chosen to move away from people at the growth point who
are perceived to be against the government and were suspected to reject the Bill.
Ordinary people from Nyika and surrounding areas will now struggle to travel that
distance on a dusty road, yet the consultations could easily have been held at a more
accessible location,” said Mukaro.
For the Masvingo district consultation, the venue is Chidzikwe in Masvingo South. A
Masvingo resident who also requested anonymity said the choice of Chidzikwe was
problematic.
“Chidzikwe is in Summerton area, known as a no-go area for the opposition. It is a Zanu
PF stronghold where opposing voices are not tolerated. Holding consultations there is
deliberate because no one will dare to oppose the bill in that environment,” said the
resident.
Masvingo Urban MP Martin Mureri, who also sits on the Parliamentary Portfolio
Committee on Justice which is responsible for organizing the consultations, said he
raised a concern during committee meetings and they promised to look into the matter.
He said Chidzikwe, the venue for Masvingo District, was not central at all and would
disadvantage many people who would want to attend the meeting.
“I raised concern over this just yesterday. I indicated that Chidzikwe was not central and
they should look for another venue. I told them that they should consult MPs to help
them find central places, not just decide on their own. The committee chairperson
however promised to take the matter up to those who are organizing the venues,” said
Mureri.
People from areas like Majiri in Masvingo Central, Renco Mine, and Nyikavanhu in
Masvingo South will have to travel using more than two vehicles to get to the venue as
well, making it difficult to get there in time and travel back home the same day using
public transport.

Chiredzi Central MP, Ropafadzo Makumire, voiced similar concerns, saying most
venues were not strategic if the aim is to capture people’s views. He said the bill was so
important that it needed intensive and wide consultations, arguing that district level
consultations were not enough.
“This bill is important, so the consultations were supposed to be done at polling station
level. However, because of resource constraints, they could do constituency based
consultations because district ones cannot be enough,” said Makumire.
Contacted for comment, Masvingo Central legislator Edison Zvobgo Junior who chairs
the responsible parliamentary portfolio committee said they were open to people’s
concerns and were ready to address those that can be addressed.
“We organized to have one consultative meeting per administrative district, but there
were concerns about Bulawayo so we added another venue. This shows we welcome
people’s input and where possible we can address,” said Zvobgo.
He went on to agree with Makumire that if resources permitted they could have done
more, but said people have to appreciate that this was one of the most widely consulted
bills, since most are done at provincial level.
“If resources permitted we could have organized more, but people have to know that
when we did the Death Penalty bill and many others, we simply did one per province.
But this time we tried to go down to districts. If we had resources we could have gone
maybe to constituencies. So this is the most widely consulted bill in the history of the
country. We will however look at the concerns and see how best we can address,” said
Zvobgo.
Speaking during a Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting recently, Zanu PF
Masvingo Chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa promised the party principals who were
present that the party was ready for the consultations at the centers established for that
purpose. Many however believe that Zanu PF will bus supporters to the venue
considering that the party has resources. Chidzikwe is one of the Zanu PF strongholds
in the province, a resettlement area dominated by ruling party sympathisers.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026, proposes the extension of
presidential and parliamentary terms of office from five to seven years, with transitional
clauses allowing the current President and Parliament to remain in office until 2030
instead of 2028. The bill also seeks to change how the President is elected, replacing
the current system of direct popular vote with a parliamentary process where Members
of Parliament and Senators sitting jointly would elect the President.
Other proposed changes include giving the President power to appoint ten Senators
chosen for their professional skills and other competencies, increasing the Senate from
80 to 90 members. The bill proposes transferring voter registration functions from the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar-General’s Office, and
establishing a separate Zimbabwe Electoral Delimitation Commission to handle the
delimitation of electoral boundaries.

It also seeks to abolish the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and transfer its functions to
the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, as well as remove the requirement for public
interviews in judicial appointments, giving the President greater discretion in appointing judges.

Masvingo roads severely damaged by heavy rains

TellZim News
-
0
Masvingo roads severely damaged by heavy rains

By Karen Sibanda
MASVINGO,The state of roads in Masvingo has deteriorated following weeks of heavy rains, leaving
many routes damaged and, in some cases, completely impassable.
The worsening conditions have raised serious concern among residents, transport operators, and local
authorities, as key access roads linking residential areas, business centres, and rural communities
continue to crumble under the impact of persistent downpours.
Potholes have widened into deep craters, some roads have been washed away, and drainage systems
have failed to cope with the volume of water, accelerating the damage. Commuters now face longer
travel times, increased transport costs, and heightened risks of accidents.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) Board Chairperson, Thomas Mbetu,
described the situation as critical, warning that the scale of destruction requires urgent and coordinated
intervention.
“The situation is critical. Our roads are severely damaged, with many now impassable, cutting off
communities and threatening lives. This destruction has risen to the level of a provincial disaster. We
urgently call on the City Council and the Ministry of Transport to intervene immediately and declare a
state of emergency to facilitate urgent repairs,” said Mbetu.
He added that beyond the visible damage, the road crisis was affecting livelihoods, particularly for
informal traders and rural farmers who rely on accessible roads to transport goods to markets. Mbetu
stressed that without swift action, the situation could worsen, especially in low-lying areas prone to
flooding, where further rainfall could completely isolate vulnerable communities.
Masvingo City Council’s Public Works Committee Chairperson, Richard Musekiwa, acknowledged the
poor state of the roads but indicated that the local authority was preparing to respond as the rainy
season comes to an end.
“The state of the roads is bad but as the rainy season is drawing to an end, our road maintenance teams
will be moving on the ground to attend to the roads. Council is mobilizing equipment and human capital
to execute the maintenance works. We hope that the central government is going to assist us,” said
Musekiwa.
Musekiwa noted that while council had limited resources, efforts were being made to prioritise the most
affected areas, particularly major access roads and routes servicing densely populated suburbs. He
emphasized that collaboration with central government and other stakeholders will be crucial in
ensuring that the rehabilitation programme is effective and sustainable.

Residents continue to face daily transport challenges, with commuter omnibuses avoiding certain routes
due to the poor conditions, forcing passengers to walk long distances or pay higher fares. Some
motorists have also reported frequent vehicle breakdowns caused by the deteriorating roads, further
increasing the cost of living.
There are growing calls for both immediate temporary interventions such as patching and grading and
long-term infrastructure rehabilitation to prevent recurring damage during future rainy seasons.

Mudenda to officiate at 2026 Buy Local Conference

TellZim News
-
0
Mudenda to officiate at 2026 Buy Local Conference

By Staff Reporter
HARARE – Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda is set to grace the
2026 Buy Local Conference as guest of honour, an event aimed at promoting locally
manufactured goods and reducing the country’s import bill.
The conference, organized by Buy Zimbabwe, will be held on March 27, 2026, at Manna Resorts
in Glen Lorne, Harare, under the theme “Lowering Zimbabwe’s Import Bill – Driving Local
Industrial Growth”.
In a statement, Buy Zimbabwe said preparations for the annual event were at an advanced stage,
with several partners already on board.
The conference seeks to foster a culture of buying Zimbabwean-made products and services,
thereby supporting employment creation and the growth of local industry.
Buy Zimbabwe Marketing and Sales Executive Mr Alois Burutsa highlighted the strategic value
of having the Speaker at the event.
“We are honoured to have Advocate Mudenda as our keynote speaker at the upcoming Buy
Local Conference. As the leader of the legislative arm of government, we are certain Advocate
Mudenda’s presence will make a positive contribution to our efforts to promote local industry.
“His presence at the conference highlights the critical role that government plays in supporting
local industries. We believe that by working together, we can create a sustainable economic
environment that benefits all Zimbabweans,” he added.
The conference will feature panel discussions and networking opportunities aimed at addressing
challenges impeding local economic growth. Delegates will also have the chance to engage with
exhibitors showcasing a range of Zimbabwean goods.
A number of large corporates and small to medium enterprises have already confirmed
participation, with more expected to join as the event draws closer.

Fuel price surge threatens health sector, CWGH warns

TellZim News
-
0
Fuel price surge threatens health sector, CWGH warns

By Staff Reporter
MASVINGO – The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has warned that the
continued rise in fuel prices is placing immense strain on an already struggling public health
sector, with hospitals and clinics facing increased operational costs, disrupted supply chains, and
reduced access to essential services.
CWGH executive director, in a statement released on March 20, 2026, said Zimbabwe imported
nearly all its fuel from distant countries, and the cascading costs are being felt across the health
system.
“The Public Health Sector is already struggling with a plethora of issues, and not least among
those is inadequate funding, challenges in accessing budgeted funds, and the general high cost of
care. Increased fuel costs will obviously exacerbate these challenges,” said Rusike.
The CWGH highlighted that hospitals and clinics rely heavily on fuel to run generators during
power outages, to operate ambulances, and to transport medicines and medical supplies. With
fuel prices rising, budgets that were already stretched must now be reallocated to cover transport
and energy costs.
“The impact on hospital and clinic budgets is almost immediate. They have to re-jig their
budgets and allocate more towards transport costs and other operational activities that require
fuel such as referrals, running generators, logistics, and outreaches. This means reduced activities
or other areas have to be sacrificed,” said Rusike.
The organization further warned that supply chains would be disrupted, leading to shortages of
essential commodities and further cost escalations.
For health workers, rising transport costs eat into their incomes and deepen demoralization. For
patients, the burden is even heavier and some will be forced to default.

“Patients face increased transport costs, food costs, and cost of care. Out-of-pocket expenditure
on health is already high by World Health Organization standards. This will affect their health-
seeking behavior, leading to defaulting on treatment and possibly resulting in adverse health
outcomes,” he said.
He said even if fuel prices stabilize in the future, the damage may already be done.
“Prices are generally sticky downwards. Even in the event that the oil market stabilizes, the
disruption is causing uncertainty in the market and critical infrastructure is being affected.
Contracts may have to be renegotiated, so people are not likely to see any benefits in the short
term,” he said.
The CWGH also pointed to broader negative effects, including increased inflation and pressure
on health budgets, which would require government to allocate more funds to cover operational
costs.
“Service accessibility will be affected, and the delivery of essential health services is also
affected. Those in low-income population categories are the worst affected,”said Rusike.
The Community Working Group on Health is a national network of civil society and community-
based organizations that work to enhance community participation in health in Zimbabwe.

​Procurement delays Tshovani Stadium refurbishment

TellZim News
-
0
​Procurement delays Tshovani Stadium refurbishment

​By Beatific Gumbwanda
​CHIREDZI – Plans to refurbish Tshovani Stadium remain in motion despite significant
delays in the tendering process, with budgeted funds for the project reportedly still
intact.
​Chiredzi Town Council (CTC) had initially expected work to commence in late December

  1. However, administrative hurdles have stalled progress.
    ​Addressing residents during a recent ward development feedback meeting organized by
    TellZim News, CTC Vice Chairperson and Ward 1 Councilor Liberty Macharaga
    confirmed that the local authority is still committed to the project.
    ​“Refurbishment of Tshovani Stadium is still on the cards. As a local authority, we have
    set aside the beer levy from 2025 and 2026 toward the stadium. I can assure you that
    work will begin as soon as the tendering process is finalized ” said Macharaga.
    ​Macharaga explained that the initial timeline was derailed by procedural errors and a
    lack of competitive bids.
    ​“Tendering began in late November, and we hoped work would start by late December.
    However, we were informed of errors in the initial process, which forced us to re-tender.
    This required a mandatory 21-day waiting period,” he added.
    ​He further noted that the second attempt yielded only one bidder.
    ​“While we were advised that we could proceed with a sole tenderer, the history of
    Chiredzi demands high levels of transparency. We felt it was best to re-tender again to
    ensure a fair process. Interestingly, the first round had over ten interested parties who
    did not resubmit in the second round. We have urged them to resubmit their documents,
    and we hope for a successful outcome this time,” he added.
    ​Tshovani Stadium currently serves as the sole major sporting facility in Chiredzi. Beyond
    the main stadium, Macharaga urged local youths to identify smaller spaces for
    recreational development to help combat drug and substance abuse.
    ​“I encourage the youth to come up with ideas. For instance, one group identified a
    space outside Tshovani Stadium where a multipurpose court for basketball, netball,
    tennis, and volleyball could be built. I have already pledged 10 bags of cement toward
    that initiative and promised to engage the business community for further funding,”
    Macharaga said

Masvingo Provincial performance analysis of development projects by district

TellZim News
-
0
Masvingo Provincial performance analysis of development projects by district

By TellZim News

MASVINGO – Masvingo Province’s seven District Development Coordinators recently gathered at a stakeholder meeting at Masvingo Poly on March 3 to present performance reports on development projects in their respective areas, giving a rare glimpse into progress across the province’s districts.

The presentations covered infrastructure development, water and sanitation, health facilities, education, irrigation schemes, and land administration among other indicators. TellZim News analysed the reports to rank districts based on project implementation, tangible outcomes, and evidence of development momentum.

1. Gutu District – Leading with Completed Projects 

From the presentations which may be different from what is obtaining on the ground, Gutu District represented by the Disctrict Development Coodinator (DDC) Chiedza Tafirei, emerged as the best performing district, demonstrating a strong track record of completing projects rather than merely initiating them.

The district celebrated the completion and commissioning of the Sotisosi solar project, a significant milestone in rural electrification. At Lowland Irrigation Scheme, ploughing has been completed with 10 plots already under cultivation, showing tangible progress in food security initiatives.

In health delivery, Gutu successfully upgraded a rural facility to a clinic, with the application for upgrading submitted and medication now being provided. The community is already benefiting from improved health services, with the facility now admitting patients.

Gutu also showed forward thinking by providing a building for a proposed rehabilitation center, although the DDC said funds were still required to complete the project. On road infrastructure, routine maintenance covering 40 kilometres has been completed on key routes including Gutu-Buhera, Zimuto-Chatsworths, and Gutu-Kurai roads, despite funding challenges stalling further progress.

Gutu’s strength lies in completing what it starts, with the Sotisosi solar project and clinic upgrade standing as tangible evidence of effective project management.

2. Chiredzi District 

From Chiredzi’s presentation done by DDC Lovemore Chisema, the district demonstrated a wide range of development initiatives, showing engagement across multiple sectors from education to irrigation and disaster response.

The district responded swiftly to an emergency when Chikombedzi Hospital’s outpatients ward roof was blown away by a storm. With assistance from Gonarezhou, the roof has been fixed, although ceiling and paint work remains.

Chiredzi district said it was addressing water needs across several wards. Ward 5’s request for safe drinking water through boreholes had been submitted, but drilling had not commenced due to the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) rig that was reportedly broken down, requiring alternative partnerships.

In infrastructure, the Chilonga Bridge Causeway rehabilitation in Ward 7, it was reported that a contractor was identified, with work awaiting water levels to subside. Ward 27 had made significant progress on business sites, with a layout plan adopted, stands pegged, and construction already in progress by beneficiaries.

However, the district faces challenges in education and health facility establishment. Requests for a secondary school in Ward 12, a secondary school in Ward 1, and a clinic in Ward 1 remain at motion stage, awaiting council resolutions to proceed. The Masapase Irrigation Scheme also was reported to be at planning stage.

Chiredzi’s comprehensive approach across multiple sectors places it second, though the gap between planning and implementation needs addressing.

Masvingo District

Masvingo District led by DDC Joyce Chikugu, showed impressive progress in infrastructure development, particularly under the presidential borehole scheme where 56 boreholes had been drilled. Five have been equipped and were expected to be solarized, while China Aid donated 15 bush pumps. Five more boreholes are planned, with Chatikobo and Murinye Clinic now operating with boreholes.

The district made significant strides in road maintenance, with 571 kilometres graded in total where 258 kilometres were done by Masvingo RDC and 313 kilometres by RIDA. Low-lying bridges have received attention, with Matizi Bridge completed in 2025 and Nyaukaka bridge at 54 percent completion. Mutirikwi bridge designs were reported to have been completed by the Ministry of Transport.

On environmental issues, the district addressed land degradation from mining activities through backfilling and rehabilitation. In the Chomugwaku area, where gravel mining occurred, 300 trees were planted as part of land preservation efforts.

Interventions on illegal settlers have been carried out in Wards 9, 5, and 7. The Zvinyaningwe Irrigation Scheme, covering 46 hectares, was completed.

4. Bikita District 

In his report, Bikita DDC Bernad Hadzirabwi, indicated that the district is making strategic investments in water infrastructure, with upgrading of the Rozva water plant through resending of filters set to increase volumes from 60 cubic metres to 100 cubic metres per hour. Although major activities are on hold due to resource unavailability, water coverage in residential areas was improved from 60 percent to 85 percent. Resuscitation of two boreholes as backup is in progress.

The district is addressing a major health gap, as Bikita is the only district in the province without a government district hospital. Council was paying for a topographical survey which should be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

Electrification and solarisation of boosters is in progress in Pamushana Ward 11 and Chirombe Ward 20, with plans to establish another booster in Mukore Ward 8. Proposals for outstanding areas are ongoing.

Road rehabilitation on the Makuvaza-Chiredzi road was budgeted for this year, with tendering in progress. The Negwari Irrigation scheme remains at proposed site stage with no progress, awaiting funds. 

In a significant policy intervention, Bikita Minerals was reported to be following a Ministry of Mines policy of 80 percent local employment and 20 percent outsiders, with employment ongoing. Title deeds for small-scale farmers in Wards 29 and 11 are being addressed by council and Lands.

Human-wildlife conflict in the Save Valley Conservancy was being attended to promptly, with ongoing community awareness campaigns.

Bikita’s strategic focus on water and local employment policies shows thoughtful development planning.

5. Mwenezi District 

According to the DDC Isaac Mutambara’s presentation, Mwenezi is focused on establishing foundational infrastructure in resettlement areas. Clinics have been pegged at Tshobelele, Mujuneri, and Mayezi, now awaiting construction to begin. This addresses a critical gap, as resettlement areas currently have no clinics.

The district has identified 18 war veterans for decent burial, awaiting funding from central government. All seven chiefs in the district have been allocated stands at the growth point, strengthening traditional leadership presence.

Petronella Clinic has reached 98 percent completion, a significant milestone for health service delivery in the area.

Mwenezi’s progress is steady but foundational, with many projects still awaiting construction or funding.

6. Chivi District 

In his presentation, Chivi DDC Innocent Matingwina said Chivi residents are already benefiting from Muzhwi and Tugwi Mukosi dams, with Bwanya Irrigation Scheme serving 300 beneficiaries, Gororo Irrigation Scheme with 72 beneficiaries, and Nyahombe Irrigation Scheme with 78 beneficiaries. Fishing cooperatives are set to operate soon, and electric power generation from the dam is planned.

However, the district struggles with poor road networks. Road construction is ongoing with only 2 kilometres of regravelling completed, and maintenance will only resume after the rain season.

On land issues for war veterans and widows, only 28 percent of the layout plan has been written to the provincial head for war veterans, indicating slow progress.

Chivi shows potential through dam-based development but implementation on the ground remains limited.

7. Zaka District

Zaka ranks lowest due to internal governance issues that threaten development momentum. Instead of talking about talking about developmental progress, the DDC Nyaradzo Tongofa centred his presentation on how she addressed leadership divisions and fights in the district. Discord within the local authority has necessitated tripartite meetings between the CEO, council chair, and District Development Coordinator every two weeks to solve problems.

Positively, capacity building programmes for councillors have been conducted, with all councillors trained to understand their positions and the executive trained on their roles. A team-building exercise is planned for the second quarter.

On environmental issues, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is conducting trainings to help communities set up standard fire guards to address veld fire problems.

While Zaka is taking steps to address internal conflicts and build capacity, governance challenges suggest development implementation may be hindered until these issues are fully resolved.

Masvingo passport office ‘too small’ for e-passport operations

TellZim News
-
0
Masvingo passport office ‘too small’ for e-passport operations

By TellZim Reporter
Reopening of the Masvingo passport offices will be delayed for some time with the
government saying the existing offices are ‘too small’ to run an e-passport operations with a
new building to be constructed.
Responding to a question in Parliament by Masvingo Urban MP advocate Martin Mureri on
the reopening of the offices, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amon
Murwira, said the current offices at the Masvingo Provincial Registry were too small to
accommodate the infrastructure required for the e-passport project.
“The Ministry through the Civil Registry Department plans to roll out the e-passport system to
the remaining two provinces (Bindura and Masvingo). However, installation of the e-passport
infrastructure requires adequate and suitable office space. The current offices at Masvingo
Provincial Registry are too small and cannot accommodate the e-passport,” said Prof
Murwira.
Prof Murwira said the Ministry had engaged its private partner, Garsu Pasaulis, to assist with
the construction of the required, new state-of-the-art building. .
“To address this, The Ministry has engaged its private partner Garsu Parsaulis to support the
construction of a new state of the art building similar to the provincial registry office recently
commissioned in Mutare. The roll out of the e-passport system to Masvingo Provincial Office
will therefore commence once the new building has been constructed. Engagements
regarding the construction of the provincial office are ongoing,” he said.
The e-passport was rolled out in January 2022 and has since been rolled out to various
provinces and Masvingo Province has only one in Mwenezi District in Masvingo which is not
convenient for the rest of the province.
The people in Masvingo have however been forced to travel to other provinces such as
Midlands and Harare to apply for passports after the closure of the passport offices in
Masvingo District.
The situation has resulted in increased costs for applicants who must travel long distances to
access the much desired service.
To date, the government has issued close to 1.8 million electronic passports since the
programme began in January 2022.

Zaka plane crash, new details emerge

TellZim News
-
0
Zaka plane crash, new details emerge

By Simon Masore
MASVINGO – New details have emerged regarding the tragic plane crash that claimed the life
of a pilot and seriously injured his wife in a mountainous area between Zaka and Bikita districts
on Sunday morning, with witnesses now revealing that the woman attempted to escape using a
parachute moments before impact.
Police have confirmed the incident, which occurred at around 11 AM in Nyoka Village,
approximately 85 kilometres southeast of Masvingo. Investigators from the Civil Aviation
Authority of Zimbabwe have since been dispatched to the scene to establish the cause of the
crash.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms an aircraft crash which occurred on 15th March 2026
at around 1100 hours at Nyoka Village, Zaka, Masvingo Province.
One person was killed while another person was injured when an aircraft carrying two occupants
crashed before being engulfed by fire. The aircraft, which was travelling from Komani
Aerodrome in Mt Hampden, Harare to Chipinda Pools, had reportedly developed a mechanical
fault and began emitting an unusual sound,” reads the police statement.
According to eyewitnesses who spoke to TellZim News, the aircraft was mid-air when
something burst, causing it to start swerving and descending rapidly. The pilot desperately tried
to navigate the plane before it ultimately nose-dived and crashed among trees and tall grass and
later caught fire.
Sources identified the two occupants as husband and wife and said moments before the crash, the
woman reportedly attempted to escape the aircraft using a parachute.
However, the parachute became caught in the plane’s wings before tearing apart, causing her to
fall separately from the aircraft which was lowering to the ground.
She crashed to the ground a few metres away from where the plane eventually nose-dived,
breaking both legs in the process.
Villagers who rushed to the scene said they arrived while the wreckage was still burning. They
could see the pilot trapped inside the burning aircraft but were unable to open the doors to rescue
him.
The aircraft later burst into flames again, creating an opening that allowed villagers to finally
access the wreckage.
Using a tree log, the community members managed to pull the pilot’s body from the burning
plane.

Tragically, the pilot was already dead and had been burnt from the waist downwards. Witnesses
described seeing his right leg still trapped inside the aircraft after being badly burnt, while bones
from his left leg were exposed due to the severity of the fire.
Two villagers, Jairos Nyoka and Jeffrey Nyoka, were among those who bravely helped retrieve
the pilot’s body from the burning wreckage.
The injured woman was found screaming in pain, repeatedly asking if her husband, who was
trapped in the plane, was still alive.
Villagers who attended the scene said they tried to ask her what had happened and what the
couple had been doing before the crash.
The injured woman was rushed to hospital, and her current condition remains unknown. Some
locals claimed the couple are believed to be Australians, although authorities had not confirmed
their identities at the time of writing.
Ward 2 Councilor Sarah Mamvura who also visited the crash site corroborated the sources
accounts to TellZim News saying she had face to face interviews with the immediate responders.

Masvingo Province shines in 2026 performance evaluation ceremony

TellZim News
-
0
Masvingo Province shines in 2026 performance evaluation ceremony

By TellZim Reporter
Masvingo Province emerged as one of the top performers at the 2026 Performance
Evaluation Ceremony held in Harare, scooping five awards across different categories and
reaffirming its growing reputation for strong public sector performance.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Province, Ezra
Chadzamira, was named Best Performing Minister of State for the second consecutive year,
highlighting the province’s continued progress in implementing government programmes.
Masvingo also celebrated another repeat achievement after Provincial Affairs and Devolution
Permanent Secretary, Addmore Pazvakavambwa, was once again recognized as the Best
Performing Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
At local government level, Masvingo City and Ward 4 councillor Alec Tabe, received the
First Runner-Up award in the Mayor/Council Chairperson category for urban local
authorities.
In the rural local authority category, Chivi Rural District Council earned recognition after its
Chief Executive Officer was named runner up in the Best Performing Rural District Council
CEO category.
Meanwhile, Chiredzi Town Council was ranked the third best-performing urban council.
In other categories announced during the ceremony, Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Minister Barbara Rwodzi was named Best Performing Cabinet Minister, while Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development,
Prof Dr Obert Jiri won the Best Performing Permanent Secretary award.
Manicaland Province Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Misheck
Mugadza, was named the second-best performing Minister of State.

GZU Law School empowers Bikita community on Environmental Laws

TellZim News
-
0
GZU Law School empowers Bikita community on Environmental Laws

BIKITA – Students from the Environmental and Mining Law Unit recently visited Chief Marozva in Bikita for a two-day community engagement and legal awareness programme aimed at educating residents about environmental protection and mining laws.

The programme, held from March 11-12, was organised by the Environmental and Mining Law Unit in partnership with the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Organisation (ZELO). 

The initiative aimed to empower local communities with legal information that can help them understand and respond to environmental challenges linked to mining activities.

The delegation included ten law students, led by Executive Dean Mr Maphosa, together with law school librarian Mr Mafuta and environmental law lecturers Miss Masiya and Mrs Ndlovu. 

The team met with Chief Marozva and his headmen to discuss environmental concerns affecting the community, including water pollution and land degradation caused by mining.

During the engagement, the students and lecturers held legal awareness sessions to help residents understand their rights and responsibilities under environmental and mining laws. 

Community members were encouraged to report environmental damage and to make use of legal support structures available to them.

The Environmental and Mining Law Unit also explained its role in providing legal education and assisting communities to better understand environmental justice.

On the second day, the delegation attended a guest lecture hosted by the law school legal aid clinics at Great Zimbabwe University. 

The lecture brought together legal and environmental experts to discuss environmental law, mining regulation, human rights and access to free legal aid.

The session featured Mr Mtisi, Deputy Director of ZELO, as well as representatives from the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. 

Speakers highlighted the importance of protecting natural resources while ensuring that communities benefit from legal knowledge and support.

Organisers said programmes like this help strengthen the relationship between universities and communities while promoting environmental justice in mining areas. 

They recommended more awareness campaigns and continued collaboration to support sustainable development.

123...956Page 2 of 956