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Masvingo City ready for cholera

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Masvingo City ready for cholera

…identifies North West clinic as isolation center

Staff reporter

As the country grapples with yet another cholera outbreak that has seen Masvingo province recording one case so far, Masvingo City council has since identified one of its health centers as an isolation center in case of an outbreak in the city.
The local authority has resolved to make its newest health center, North West Clinic the isolation center owing to its closed sanitary disposal system.
This was revealed in the Health, Housing, and Environmental Health Services Committee meeting minutes held on March 20 2023.
“The Chief Environmental Health Officer reported that there was one confirmed case of cholera in Masvingo. It was noted that Northwest Medical Clinic was earmarked as the Cholera Isolation Centre due to its closed sanitary disposal system which helps reduce the spread of the diseases in the event of an outbreak,” read the minutes.
The minutes also added that The province’s referral hospital, Masvingo Provincial Hospital pledged support to the local authority in an event of an outbreak in its locality.
“It was reported that Masvingo Provincial Hospital also pledged to assist council with staff, supplies and other related services in the event of a cholera outbreak,” read part of the minutes.
As at March 15, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the province recorded one case in Chivi district with the patient having been admitted at Chivi District Hospital.
The first case in Zimbabwe was recorded on February 13 and the country has recorded 98 cases with a recovery percentage of 99 with only one death which is said to have happened before getting into the country.
A budget worth millions of United States dollars has been set aside by the government of Zimbabwe as part of cholera epidemic preparedness response plan with also support from various development partners like World Health Organization (WHO) pledging to support part of the budget.

Death penalty discriminatory-Masvingo residents

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Death penalty discriminatory-Masvingo residents

Beverly Bizeki

Masvingo residents who on March 28, 2023 at Mucheke Hall attended a public consultation meeting on the death penalty have said the death sentence law is discriminatory and advocated for stiffer penalties instead.
The meeting saw residents giving different views on the death penalty.
Leading one of the two teams, Charles Manhiri, Chief Law Officer in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (MoJLPA) in the department of Policy and Legal Research said they were carrying out the consultations in order to establish a position for Zimbabwe on the death penalty.
Manhiri said the feedback from the public was varying in that others supported the death penalty while others were against it, depending on their backgrounds.
“What we are getting is that others say this type of penalty is discriminatory because it excludes women because of what is happening right now that there are lots of murder cases which are heinous.
“Some are saying from a religious point of view that we are not the Lord and only God has the right to take life while some other people think we must look at what other countries are doing most of which are advocating for the removal of the death sentence,” said Manhiri.
David Vurayayi a local pastor in Masvingo said the law is unfair if it leaves out women although the sentence should be abolished.
“The law is not fair if women are not subjected to the death sentence since there is now equality between men and women. However, the sentence is not good in that a person who has committed murder when hanged would not have experienced the kind of pain he deserves to go through so it’s better to have them serve lengthy jail terms,” said Vurayayi.
Others however said the law should be abolished as there are some people who are imprisoned and yet innocent.
“The justice system in the country is supposed to be perceived, straightforward and transparent but ours is said to be lacking transparency and having corruption so innocent people might get implicated in such laws,” said Kudzai Chimhanda.
“Our justice system must be restorational and not retributive, there are chances that innocent people might get killed as well as violation of the right to life which means violation of the African Charter on the right to life overally,” said a human rights activist only identified as Madzinga.
Henry Chivhanga, a human rights defender with the Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT) said those without resources would be victims of this law as they have little to nor resources to help themselves.
“Some people have submitted that prison cells are filled with people but you might realize that those inside are at times innocent but are lacking financial resources to get their freedom so it’s not good to have people killed,” said Chivhanga.
Gambiwa Simeon said the proposed sentence in a way targeted the ‘have nots’ because the rich can always buy their freedom but he however said there needed to be stiffer penalties.
However some people were of the view that some murder cases deserve a death penalty citing that the punishment prisoners get was not enough but is having its toll on the tax payers’ money.
“Murder under aggravating circumstances is very bad and should be punishable by death rather than have such criminals being fed from the country’s resources while doing nothing in prison cells,” said another attendee.
Tavengwa Mazhambe said although the death penalty law is discriminatory, it can help curb heinous crimes.
Musoni also said the death penalty can serve as a deterrent and help reduce cases of murder in the country.
Zimbabwe has however not hanged anyone since 2005 although the moratorium is unofficial.
The MoJLPA is partnered by Centre for Applied Legal Research and funded by the Swiss Embassy in these consultations.

Government plans to table Child Justice Bill

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Government plans to table Child Justice Bill

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- In a move aimed at curbing rampant cases of child abuse, government has put in place plans to introduce the Child Justice Bill to protect children.
The bill seeks to incorporate protection laws including provisions forbidding vendors and beggars from taking minor children to vending sites and begging ventures.
According to findings obtained by ZimFact reported on March 19, 2023, under the current legislation, it is already illegal for adults to be accompanied by children to their vending or begging work, or to use or exhibit them during public entertainment shows in a manner ‘detrimental’ to their general welfare.
Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s Social welfare officer Susan Ngani in an interview last week highlighted that government was working on the new Child Justice Bill to strengthen the existing Children’s Act.
“As part the protection of minors, the ministry is working on establishing a day-care facility in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) where vendors and working parents could leave their children under the care of skilled social welfare workers.
“This initiative was long overdue as many other countries had such day-care centres for children,” said Ngani.
The Children’s Act, Chapter 5:06 stipulates that any parent or guardian of a child or young person who allows that child or young person, or any person who causes any child or young person to (a) beg; or (b) to accompany him or any other person while he begs; or (c) to induce or endeavour to induce the giving of alms; or (d) to perform or be exhibited in any for public entertainment in a manner likely to be detrimental to the child’s or young person’s health, morals, mind or body; shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or to imprisonment.
Findings from social welfare further reveals that, children who grow up on the streets get mentally damaged and need legal and social protection from an environment that exposes them to witnessing or suffering psychological, verbal, and physical and other forms of abuse.

Matutu ‘bites dust’ in Mwenezi North

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Matutu ‘bites dust’ in Mwenezi North

Cephas Shava

Mwenezi-Home is no best for former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) heavyweight Tongai Matutu who defected from opposition ranks to Zanu PF after he was trounced in the primary elections held on March 26 with the former Masvingo Urban legislator suffering a humiliating defeat in his bid to represent Mwenezi North constituency.
After unceremoniously breaking ties with the opposition movement, Matutu who has on record vowed to destroy his former paymasters found the going tough against current Mwenezi East MP Master Makope.
Matutu came last in the three-horse race with 799 votes after being walloped by former School head Master Makope who amassed 5 399 votes securing himself a clean ticket to represent Zanu PF in the newly gazetted Mwenezi North.
The humble Makope who has been credited by many locals for his servant leadership style became Mwenezi East legislator after being elected in last year’s by-election to replace the late legislator Joosbi Omar.
In second position in the Mwenezi North race was Peter Shotere who garnered 2 233 votes.
The Mwenezi East race which was probably one of the tightest without a predetermined winner, saw youthful Sheillah Chikomo securing 3 448 votes which makes her the Zanu PF candidate for Mwenezi East in the upcoming harmonized elections.
Trailing her in second position was Tavengana Muzenda who got 2 021 votes followed by Yunis Omar who garnered 1 526 votes. In fourth position was lawyer Jabulani Mberesi who secured 1 120 votes followed by Kenneth Sibanda who got 362 votes. One Wamambo and Matutu got 316 and 105 votes respectively.
In Mwenezi West Priscilla Zindari-Moyo, wife to Central Intelligence Director General Isaac Moyo, who is the incumbent went on to be re-elected to represent the party.
In second position was Tafadzwa Masvayamwando who is on record claiming that the elections were rigged in favour of Moyo after several cell registers reportedly went missing in his strongholds.
Other candidates who contested for the Mwenezi West are Obey Mbiza, Clearance Mhosva, one Mlilo and Renious Muchoko.
The primary elections which were marred by countless irregularities especially in Mwenezi East and West where several party members found their names missing in party cell registers had left contestants and several party members extremely disgruntled with some vowing for a ‘Bhora Musango’ to avenge for their frustration.
Those who were elected in Zanu Pf primary elections will square off with members from the opposition parties which are yet to name their representatives in the yet to be announced dates for the harmonised elections which are expected this coming August.

CCC councillors demand Northwest clinic official re-opening

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CCC councillors demand Northwest clinic official re-opening

Emmanuel Chitsika

Confusion hovering over the official opening of Masvingo City Council run Northwest Medical Clinic in Runyararo West suburb is not yet over as councillors from opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) recently called upon council to ensure the facility is ‘properly opened’ with all councillors present.
Speaking during a full council meeting held at Council chambers on March 27, ward 4 councillor Alec Tabe said it was proper for management to set yet another date for the official opening independent from the ‘political hijacking’ by a political party (Zanu PF) that took place last month which saw ruling party vice president Kembo Mohadi officiating during his visit to Masvingo.
“As councillors, we feel proper procedures were not followed with regards to the official opening of the clinic. We should have invited the relevant stakeholders and the community to the official opening of Northwest Clinic as a way of ensuring a sense of ownership to the facility on their part.
“Some of us (councillors) did not attend the official opening as it was turned into a political gathering by those who officiated (Kembo Mohadi and Zanu PF) and our position remains, there is need to officially open the clinic and the new Cambria Farm landfill site. Prior to the opening of the clinic, we had agreed that proper procedures were to be followed and that was not the case,” said Tabe.
However, Zanu PF ward 10 councillor Sengerayi Manyanga who chairs the Public Works Committee said there was no need to re-do the official opening as it is already done.
“On the issue of the clinic opening, I disagree with the re-do of an already done official opening. We cannot do two official openings (mhandara haibviswe umhandara kaviri). Bearing in mind that the clinic was built with part of Devolution funds, and then the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) can send whoever he wants to preside over the opening.
“Re-doing that official opening may be tantamount to fighting government of which we are in that same government and thus the matter is over. Let us not act as if we are fighting the president. Even council management could not have the powers to stop it (Zanu PF hijacking the event), so let us leave it like that,” said Manyanga.
Masvingo Mayor and ward 2 councillor Collen Maboke however argued that there is no way central government would continue interfering with affairs of local authorities since devolution funds once disbursed, they become council funds hence need for non-interference principle to be employed.
“Devolution is enshrined in the constitution, after all its ratepayers’ money so we cannot say if the funds are disbursed, central government remains in control of such funds in our coffers. Central government cannot interfere with operations of councils on the pretext that its devolution funding.
“These devolution funds are correctly defined in the constitution as council money and are entitled to it that is why I always ask the Finance Director about such funds, they are our entitlement. Thus government cannot wake up claiming responsibility over the facility, if ever they wanted to construct it, what was the logic behind involving council?
“Council used its human resources who are on council payroll and were not paid from devolution funds. We also used our own resources as council like water, river sand and even fuel for transportation of materials and workers. In fact, devolution funds were used to purchase building materials and nothing more,” said Maboke.
Ward 3 councillor Roki Kamuzonda also weighed in saying central government was not the only player in the construction of the health facility and hence there was no need to claim it and forcibly open it officially.
“Central government was not the only player in this whole construction process. If that is the case of saying government presides over everything involving devolution funds, so we should have seen the President everywhere and all over the country officially opening or handing over such items. As council, do we still have ownership over this health facility?” said Kamuzonda.
Northwest clinic debacle has been on-going for quite some time from the naming of the facility with Manyanga fiercely opposing the name arguing it should be named after the President or any other national hero, a move that hit a snag as CCC councillors objected saying that would be politicisation of the clinic.
Mohadi who is no longer in government officially opened the clinic in February when he came for the monthly Clean Up exercise in Masvingo but all seven CCC councillors boycotted the event leaving their three Zanu PF counterparts in attendance.

Zanu PF Primaries reflect victory, sorrow & disappointments

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Zanu PF Primaries reflect victory, sorrow & disappointments

…Musikavanhu, Tongofa, Gwanetsa, Masiya out

…Chakona, Chivange, Mawere lose again

…Zvobgo Junior finally in

…Marapira finds new political home in Zaka Central

…Chadzamira, Chiduwa, Togarepi maintain grip

…Only two women sail through 

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO–Results of the Zanu PF internal polls held last week were finally released after days of waiting anxiously, bringing joy and sorrow among contestants with some of those who lost claiming that the election was not free and fair.
For the first time, Zanu PF relaxed its conditions on the candidate selection allowing almost everyone who submitted a CV a chance to contest, a development which saw the likes of former MDC stalwart Tongai Matutu being allowed to contest in the recently gazetted Mwenezi North constituency.
The noble development however saw a number of the party’s heavy weights, old guard as well as most sitting MPs biting the dust and falling by the wayside with new faces emerging from the primary elections.
The development could either work for or against Zanu PF. It may work for the party in the sense that it has been a little bit free allowing everyone who wants to contest a chance unlike in previous cases where new comers and young candidates were vetted out to pave way for the old guard.
Some of the losing candidates are alleging rigging of the election and are contemplating to do a ‘Bhora Musango’ during the general election.
In Masvingo province, 10 sitting MPs lost to young and new entrants that pulled shockers to the surprise of the old guard who were relaxing, thinking that they had the electorate in their hands.

Tanatswa Mukomberi

Only 10 out of 25 sitting MPs still have a chance to go back to Parliament as constituency MPs with six having won in their respective constituencies and four contesting in newly created constituencies.
In Chivi South, Munyaradzi Zizhou’s world crumbled on him as he broke the record to become one of the shortest serving MPs in the province losing to Felix Maburutse.
Zizhou came in only last year in March 2022 after winning the by-election following the recall of then MP Killer Zivhu and his demise could be testimony that he failed to live up to his promises within the short stint he has been MP.
In Chivi Central, businessman Exavier Maoneke better known as Wezhas secured the ticket to represent the party after a tight contest of new comers as the incumbent Ephraim Gwanongodza decided not to contest for a third term having been MP since 2013.
In Chivi North, the sitting MP Mathias Tongofa lost his chance for re-election to Chivi Rural District Council chairperson Godfrey Mukungunugwa who is one of Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira’s closest allies.
In Masvingo district, Chadzamira retained his seat in Masvingo West and Bryan Mudhumi won in Masvingo North, whose sitting MP Davis Marapira traced back his roots to his home in Zaka where he contested and won in Zaka Central.
Former teacher Claudious Maronge’s dream for a second term were shattered after he lost to Tanatswa Mukomberi in Masvingo South.
In Masvingo Central, Edson Zvobgo Junior finally got in after two attempts, in the same constituency and another in Masvingo Urban.

Flexi Maburutse

He seeks to take over from Edmund Mhere who served for two terms in the same constituency and is seeking refuge in the district senatorial slot.
In Masvingo Urban, Masvingo City Deputy Mayor Welington Mahwende will represent the party after defeating James Pande while the shadow MP Benjamin Taguma Mazarire who lost to MDC-Alliance’s Jacob Nyokanhete tried his luck and lost in Masvingo Central.
Gutu district retained most of its sitting MPs with Minister of Mines Winston Chitando and Zanu PF national youth boss John Paradza sailing through uncontested in Gutu Central and West respectively.
Chitando had no competitor at all while Paradza’s rival Mutonho Mutonho was disqualified since he had some pending disciplinary issues.
In Gutu South, sitting MP and Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi won another chance to represent the party while George Vhengere won in Gutu East with the sitting MP Beritha Chikwama having stepped down.
Collapsed Gutu North’s Yeukai Simbanegavi went to the women’s quota where she won uncontested.
Bikita district saw all the three incumbents, Johnson Madhuku (Bikita East), Josiah Sithole (Bikita South) and Elias Musakwa (Bikita West) losing to Zevezai Koti, Energy Mutodi and Nhatiso Makusha respectively.
In Chiredzi South Callisto Gwanetsa lost to Jowell Sithole and Denford Masiya lost to Siyaki Hama in Chiredzi East. Chiredzi West’s former MP Darlington Chiwa bounced back with the incumbent Farai Musikavanhu who had moved to newly created Chiredzi Central losing to former Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson Francis Moyo. Roy Billa retained his Chiredzi North constituency.
In Mwenezi, Priscilla Zindari Moyo who is wife to CIO boss Isaac Moyo retained Mwenezi West and new comer Sheilla Chikomo will represent Zanu PF in Mwenezi East.
Mwenezi East’s sitting MP Master Makope, who was elected in last year’s by-elections following the death of Joosbi Omar in 2020, moved to Mwenezi delimitation’s new baby Mwenezi North where he defeated former Masvingo Urban MDC Alliance legislator Tongai Matutu who defected to Zanu PF.
In Zaka district, collapsed Zaka East MP Clemence Chiduwa who contested in the newly created Zaka South which comprises of mainly Zaka East and collapsed Zaka West wards will represent the party after garnering 8 678 votes, which is probably the highest number of votes across the whole Masvingo province.
In Zaka Central, Marapira won after defeating the sitting MP David Svuure who came third in the race with ward 13 councillor Manfred Mada who was eyeing a higher post settling for second position.
In Zaka North, Ophias Murambiwa will get a chance for a second term in Parliament after he was moved from Zaka West which was collapsed with the delimitation exercise and found himself in the North.
Murambiwa who is popularly known as Maga Maga pulled a shocker after defeating former Zaka Central MP Paradzai Chakona who had found solace in the North and had been campaigning for some time having been tipped to take over by the sitting MP Robson Mavhenyengwa who made a right decision of contesting in the Senate where he won instead of seeking a third term.

 

Musangano hauna vanhu kumasero uyu

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Musangano hauna vanhu kumasero uyu

Kumaseero uko, kumasero vana amai, women’s league teerera, musangano wakasimba kumasero, singingzvangu tiri pano paChitima kkkk. I am not a fan of these type of songs but iii, magic bullet yakashanda, for the past two weeks we were subjected to torture nemasongs iwaya as the battle for Masvingo urban’s two candidates Pande and Mahwende were canvassing for supporters. But anombopiwawo here pashoma, I mean this Chief Shumba guy. Does he get paid for his songs, they have become a household name in Zanu PF circles, I just hope he won’t suffer the same fate like Cde Chinx and Tambaoga just to mention a few. Those close to him should tell him kuti Zanu Chiororo kkk, let him ask Cde Pande. I heard Pande cried foul hanzi I have been rigged and I laughed my lungs out. I just don’t know whether his concerns were genuine or kuda zvake kutamba nevanhu, who doesn’t know that Zanu PF is good at rigging, they rig primaries in preparation for the final kkkk. They were just warming up and FAZ successfully completed its mandate, they will give a few notes to Chigumba and company kkkk. But can anyone from Zanu PF tell me what this thing called FAZ is? I don’t know what it stands for but from the conversations here at Chitima, ndochinonzi Chibaba chekuRigger kkk, if you think I am lying ask Pande. Anyway, we will talk about musangano wakasimba kumasero, so please allow me to digress a bit.
I heard team Chamisa Chete Chete (CCC) is conducting its own next week? I am not sure whether to call it primary elections or what, I failed to understand the citizens consensus issue and I know some would want to say hee there is no democracy, they should have done primary elections like Zanu did, imika, mutikwanire imi, didn’t you see the confusion yakaitika kuZanu, so you want them to copy that? With the structureless structures in place zvinokonzeresa. Yes the selection criteria will not be democratic I know, there will be a lot of imposition of candidates but people will still support the young man, he is the only option, he is the better option if I may say, so weather vaisa zvitanda as candidates people will still vote for him. Kana ozotorerwa maZap ake yava imwe nyaya kkk. I like the confidence, hanzi gore rino hapana goal keeper ndomwisa negotsi gore. Kkk but Neroka !!, you said the same statement in 2018 and we all know what happened, maV11 akazoshaikwa zvawo kkkkk.
How is the gold Mafia doing ladies and gentlemen, I haven’t found time to have a glimpse of the second episode and I am sure I will get someone achandionesawo zvake. Iyo council dai yachiisawo wifi kuno kuchitima, I wouldn’t be facing these challenges, vese vandiri kukumbira kuti vanddionesewo vanongoti Havana data, manje so. I am eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of the much-talked about country’s nudes kkk. I heard the first one is still the best in terms of being explosive.
Asi nhaimi, saka Hubert Mudzanire achaitwa sei, ko Rushwaya, kuti tsuro ingapona kaviri? Chete some animals are more equal than others in Zimbabwe, we all know kuti our judicial system is just like a spider web, it catches only flies ichisiya madzvinyu nezvimwe zvakadaro zvichidonha. Anyway, I am not a fan of these kuisa bora musango theories but apa tuso dzikapona futi, ngatiriise musango. I hear a lot of Zanu PF bigwigs have tasted their bitter medicine and they are crying over it, they are also promising bora musanngo so the ball is likely to deflect towards the jungle. Nyaya yebhorareminds me that we are still on Zifa ban and the mister is not moved by the ban kkkk.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not a journalist, I am a gentlemen chete coz handivanzi, and that’s why some despise me but I will continue kufira kureva. So I won’t be cowed down naJamwanda whom I heard is threatening journalist’s kuti vachatevera Wiwa kuChikurubi. Maybe haasiye but if it’s him someone should tell him to just shut up before we call Dr Stop it on him. Why stooping so low, a whole spokesperson of the President failing to clarify just rumours as most Varakashi would like me to call it. I used to hear people saying Jamwanda is the most intelligent person in his ministry, but I am now beginning to doubt especially now that he is failing to give simple answers to something that took place within his inner circle. Kkkkk why brag about the incarceration of Wiwa, let me warn you from my head office at Chitima that it’s a matter of time and bear in mind that power expires, hameno iwe ukazokufarirawo kuChikurubi kwaunodada nako kudaro. Anyway hapana chisingabudi pachena, madhiri eGoridhe ese raibiwa achabuda pachena kuti vanhu vese vaone. But zvimwe ndezvimwe without being jealousy Themba wekwaMliswa chine pamuromo haaaa chakatukirira Jamwanda hanzi wakadya mari yePSMAS, heya nhai ndosaka ichida kuvhara. Iyewo Themba is bitter that her sister lost pamaprimaries. Ko zvakunonzi zviuya hazvidondani pana Themba naSusan zvazvisina kunangana here. Ko iye akazomboendepiko, Susan, where are you, come and tell us how SB Moyo was involved in the gold Mafia.
On a serious note, vanhu vekuMuzarabani North makanyatsokwana chaiko? Are you really sane, we are struggling with Zesa and we are voting out incompetence MPs but you are busy voting for Soda Zhemu, what nonsense is that asi ikoko muri kumawana? What nonsense is that, I don’t care if he is facilitating development there, this is a matter of national interest, and we need patriotic people here who put the country’s needs first? Chete we still have a long way to go, anobatwa chete paFinal, these is just the semis.
Musangano hauna kumbosimbira kumasero guys and a repeat of 2008 is neither imminent nor inevitable judging by the high level of disgruntlement in this revolutionary party which was never if one is to look at the level the ‘liberators’ have turned the country into family businesses and enterprises for the elite. Believe you, me the irregularities that and dark cloud of confusion that marred last weekend’s primary elections point to a repeat of the 2008 scenario that led to Uncle Bob being walloped by the late MRT, May both their souls rest in peace. Chete Zanu infiltration ndiko kubasa kwayo that’s why mukomana ari kurambira nyaya yemastructures. Chamatama chakangopindwa nekurutivi rwaDellilah zvikatodhakwa nana Locadia. By the way where are all those wives of the former Prime minister? Apa Dhakota sei risina kundeya ndeya zvapanenge pakaita mutengesi? Chief Shumba na Kapfupi can you pliz come out in the open and explain kuti musangano unosimba kumaCERO sei kana iwo maCell register achiita disappear during election time. Hauna vanhu kumasero musangano uyu ladies and gentlemen musanyeperrwa. Bimha and Mutsvangwa Chris were just lying to us hanzi we have millions in Zanu PF if it’s true where were they during primary elections? They were just intimidating people chete nothing else, manje this time hakuma iyoyo. It has been proven paPrimary, remember it was done early to test the waters and zvabuda pachena kuti musanagano hauna vanhu uyu. I am apolitical zvangu but mukaramba muchidai ndinoti pamberi nemugwazo nemango strategy, itai pwee izvezvi kana mune nharo.
Anyway, I have a lot to talk about but time my time for lunch is now and I better say goodbye, but before I go, where is this other pastor called Evan Mawarire, mukati haasiye odiwa here timboita shut down Zimbabwe kkkk. Muface akashandisa vanhu uye. Can anyone tell me how Teurai Ropa is doing, I heard her world is still crumbling. Dai atoenda zvake kuna Mphoko anoita mukadzi wechipiri kana wetatu hameno kkk. Iye aripiko Mphoko wacho kkkk. Mboko Imboko

Chamisa content with ‘flawed’ delimitation

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Chamisa content with ‘flawed’ delimitation

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) president Nelson Chamisa said he is content with the gazetted delimitation boundaries, saying he was aware the process was however flawed, vowing that it will not stop his party from winning this year’s harmonized elections.
Chamisa met with the party’s provincial representative members at Masvingo Urban ward 5 Councilor Daniel Mberikunashe’s homestead in Pangolin last weekend.
He said he will win with all those anomalies especially the presidential election which only had one boundary.
He mocked MDC leader Douglas Mwonzora and President Emmerson Mnangagwa for complaining over the new boundaries saying they wanted to delay elections so that they stayed in power for a little longer since they knew their time was over.
“I saw my brother (Mnangagwa) is afraid of elections that’s why he asked his fellow (Mwonzora) to contest the gazetted delimitation report so that they delay elections and remain in power a bit longer. We are not afraid of the election that’s why we said delimitation was not done well but we are used to their tactics. For the first time, I heard my brother (Mnangagwa) complaining about ZEC and that’s a sign. The president has one boundary; even if he wants to include those from Mozambique I will still defeat him there.
“I have said our position, even if they move rural wards to urban or vice versa, we will still win because we are everywhere, even in resettlement areas we are there,” said Chamisa.
Chamisa told supporters to advise new recruits that they should not be afraid of being intimidated especially by traditional leaders because after elections Zanu PF will no longer be in power so they will not be able to victimize them.
“I have seen my brother is struggling a lot, he still has the 2018 defeat shock and he is only being strengthened by Chiwenga but he knows our strength. Zanu PF relies on traditional leaders mainly village heads, but I am also talking to them.
“However, be careful of them because they are the ones who lie that they will see who you vote for, don’t listen to that, after election the situation would have changed and we will arrest those who victimize others because Mnangagwa will not be in power,” added Chamisa.
He went on to say as a party, they were focusing on being an alternative government saying they will soon produce a blueprint with strategies on how they were going to improve infrastructure, ICTs, Agriculture and the economy in general.
He said they had already done all the homework and know where they will get the money to do what has to be done once they get into power.
Speaking at the same event, the party’s national organizing secretary Amos Chibaya urged party supporters to continue implementing the mango strategy and mugwazo saying it was bearing fruits in many areas.
He however said in Masvingo, the party still had challenges in penetrating some areas and said constituency representatives should work hard.
“Let’s continue using the mango strategy, we now work at village level, all champions should operate in their areas where they interact with their relatives. Go in their homes and sit down then talk to them. Tell them to attend Zanu PF gatherings and accept whatever they give you but just know where to put your X on the voting day.
“The strategy is working. I have been getting in some deep rural areas and people now know. However, in Masvingo we still have challenges in Mwenezi and Chivi, then some parts of Chiredzi and Zaka but we are getting there,” said Chibaya.
Of late, police seem to have relaxed their clamp on opposition a bit as they are seen gathering and addressing supporters.

‘Mediocrity, ignorance no match to modern criminal sophistry’

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‘Mediocrity, ignorance no match to modern criminal sophistry’

…need for police liaison officers to redefine skills

Colleen Chitsa

Masvingo- Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Acting Officer Commanding Masvingo Province, Assistant Commissioner Fredrick Mbengwa has challenged the Community Relations Liaison Officers (CRLOs) within the force to update their skills through learning new things as a way to meet the demands in modern policing.
Officiating at a refresher course on March 22, 2023 sponsored by Envision Zimbabwe Trust Women Network for CRLOs who were drawn from different operational districts in the province, Ass Com Mbengwa advised the CRLOs to seek knowledge and saturate themselves with wisdom in order to curb crime trends in society.
“The modern policy requires regular updating of skills to keep personnel abreast with ever changing policing landscape. Mediocrity and ignorance has no match to modern criminal sophistry” he said.
Quoting book author Ian Fleming, Ass Com Mbengwa said it is better to have few knowledgeable officers than to have battalions’ who are blind to the demands of their work.
“Learning is a process not an event, a second before death you learn something and when you die you learn something, which means you continue leaning from birth until death.
“Wisdom comes not from age but from education and learning, so we need to continuously learn so that we develop wisdom from the knowledge” he added.
He also reiterated the ZRP’s effort in ensuring gender equality within their rank and file (at the workshop with a total number of 26 CRLOs in which 14 were men and 12 were women).
“The enrolment of a balanced number of males and females signifies efforts by the ZRP to maintain gender equality by ensuring that both men and women have access to some opportunities and rights.
“It is of interest to note that the province is augmenting the implementation of the ZRP women networks full key result areas which are training, development, equal career opportunities, combating sexual gender based violence, noting nation building and social responsibility” added Ass Com Mbengwa.
He added that the organizational thrust’s training is critical because CRLOs are the ZRP brand ambassadors.
“Their strategies must be well taught out and displayed at the highest levels of professionalism hence this workshop is going to enrich them.
“CRLOs, you are our important assets in the organization as well as in the community because you bridge the gap between police officers and the community and I therefore charge you as public relations officers, as gatekeepers of organizational values in order to portray the organization in a favorable light,” he added.
He also said that ZRP is a community based organization that relies on the benevolence of the community and in order to accomplish the goal of reducing crime, the ZRP needs to work hand in hand with the community.
“Just like how the strength of the fish is in the water, our strength as the ZRP is in the community, we need the community to assist us and through its benevolence, we have cracked numerous cases,” added Ass Com Mbengwa.
Chief Superintendent, Press and Public Relations Staff Officer Blessing Chishaka from ZRP head office in Harare said the importance of the workshop was to reshape the skills of the CRLOs in order for them to work well with people in the community.
“The commissioner general of the ZRP approved that we refresh and re-skill our CRLOs in order to enhance their capacity and ability to engage members of the community,” said Chishaka.

Blended Inflation Statistics: ZimStat, RBZ lost the battle of numbers

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Blended Inflation Statistics: ZimStat, RBZ lost the battle of numbers

By Zvikomborero Sibanda

In February 2023, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) officially migrated from disseminating Zimbabwe dollar (ZWL) inflation statistics to blended inflation reporting. This was made through the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 27 of 2023 (SI 27-2023).
Through the 2023 Monetary Policy Statement (MPS), the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) argued that ZWL inflation was no longer reflecting the true market dynamics as the bulk of banking sector deposits (64.2%) and market transactions (76.56%) were now conducted in USDs in 2022.
The RBZ advocated for blended inflation statistics. Blended inflation is a weighted average increase in general prices based on ZWL and the United States dollar (USD). The increased use of stable USD in the economy gives the greenback more weight when calculating blended inflation figures.
Authorities have struggled to clamp currency volatility since 2019. As such, resorting to blended figures will help them portray macroeconomic stability, especially in the upcoming election season. The nation is constitutionally expected to hold harmonized elections between August and September 2023.
Economic literature supported by Zimbabwe’s own experiences shows that government often spends excessively during election seasons offering unproductive subsidies, generous tax incentives, and undertaking massive infrastructure projects to garner electoral votes. This excessive fiscal spending destabilizes the ZWL and is highly inflationary.
The majority of lower-income earners live in rural areas – the stronghold of the ruling political administration. Also, because of slow speed and expensive internet access coupled with limited years of schooling and the existence of political gatekeepers like headmen and chiefs, rural folks have a restricted ability to filter propaganda.
Due to the aforementioned limitations, rural dwellers are likely to take what they hear from national news broadcasters as is when compared to their urban counterparts. So, reporting ZWL metrics will affect the campaign messaging of the incumbent government as these numbers will show dismal economic performance.
ZWL metrics will also rightfully direct all the blame on government institutions, for instance, excessive money printing by the central bank. This explains why RBZ has abruptly stopped publishing weekly reserve money (M0) updates under the guise of shifting from money supply targeting to interest rate targeting.
Since the 12th of June 2020, RBZ has been publishing M0 weekly as a way to increase transparency, reduce speculation, and boost market confidence. Fast forward to 2023, the Bank had published weekly M0 statistics only once since the start of 2023 to date.
This was then followed by ZimStat which had stopped publicly disseminating ZWL inflation statistics in February. ZWL inflation statistics last released in January 2023 showed year-on-year (YoY) and month-on-month (MoM) inflation outturn at 229.8% and 1.1% respectively.
When the rebranded Zimbabwe dollar dubbed the RTGS dollar was introduced in February 2019, the country began to struggle with incessant price growth. Statistics show YoY and MoM inflation mounting unsustainably, averaging 304.09% and 11.33% per month between Feb 2019 and January 2023.
In other words, Zimbabwe was in a hyperinflationary mode during this period. With effect from 1 July 2019, the Public Accountants and Auditors Board (PAAB) directed all reporting entities to apply the requirements of International Accounting Standard 29 (IAS 29). IAS 29 gives guidelines for financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies.
However, the adoption of blended metrics now paints a better picture which is misleading. ZimStat’s blended YoY inflation rate for February 2023 as measured by the all-items Consumer Price Index (CPI) plummeted to 92.3% while the MoM inflation rate fell to -1.6%.
So, from an MoM perspective, Zimbabwe technically entered a deflation period in February 2023 as the inflation rate fell below 0% (a negative inflation rate). This clearly shows the dangers of blended metrics. The metrics are showing falling prices of basics which is out of sync with lived realities, especially for those leaving in urban areas where food prices have hit the roof.
Statistics are also showing that the government is still largely earning in ZWLs and largely paying its civil servants, contractors, and suppliers of goods and services in ZWLs. More so, statistics are showing that in year-to-date (YTD) terms, the ZWL has erased more than 25% of its value against the USD in both markets after losing about 84% of its value in 2022 alone.
To reduce exchange rate losses, businesses are indexing their ZWL prices at parallel market rates. Resultantly, ZWL prices are upscaling whenever the ZWL nosedives against the USD in the parallel market thereby significantly reducing the purchasing power of those largely earning in fragile ZWLs. This alone clearly shows that the government cannot solely rely on blended inflation figures without increasing the USD salary component of civil servants.
Somehow blended statistics can have an economic sense if both the government and private sector companies adjust the USD component of workers’ salaries in proportion to USD usage in the economy as measured by ZimStat’s classification of individual consumption according to purpose (COICOP).
For example, since the latest COICOP survey shows that 76.56% of formal transactions are being conducted in USDs, then at least 70% of a worker’s monthly salary must be in USDs. This should be done after pegging all salaries in USDs say at US$540 per month for a public teacher. The arrangement is however difficult to implement across all sectors buttressing the fact that government policy can’t be informed solely by blended statistics.
Furthermore, authorities should not only use USD metrics when it is in their favor. ZimStat provided a blended inflation rate taking advantage of the dominance of stable USD to mask the fragility of the ZWL but went on to provide poverty metrics entirely in ZWLs.
The poverty metrics showed that an individual required about ZWL22 386 in February 2023 to be considered food secure and about ZWL29 563 to be considered above total consumption poverty which includes both food and non-food expenditure requirements.
Using February 2023 ‘overvalued’ official interbank rate of ZWL/USD 889.13, the aforementioned poverty metrics translate to about US$25.18 and US$33.25 per person respectively. These USD figures are too conservative and highly contestable because they are misaligned with obtaining market prices.
It will be misleading to estimate that an average family of four (4) can survive on US$133 per month and be considered both food and non-food secure. But to mask this reality, ZimStat elected to report poverty statistics entirely in ZWLs (high nominal amounts) yet its inflation metrics were presented in a blended format.
In other cases, authorities are embracing the rapid re-dollarization of the economy despite the prior official position that Zimbabwe is pursuing de-dollarization. For instance, in a letter dated 26 February addressed to the Intensive Energy Users Group which includes miners, the finance minister directed companies to pay ZESA electricity tariffs 100% in hard currency.
Also, the Treasury has increased USD taxes, permitted various government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), and exempted other sectors such as fuel and petroleum products to charge exclusively in foreign currency. Yet, the poor majority are earning in fragile ZWLs. This clearly indicates a lack of government confidence in its own currency which is plummeting perpetually.
While I have nothing against the publication of blended statistics, using blended metrics for official policy guidance is uncalled for. Many countries have dollarized before but there is zero evidence of these using blended metrics.
To me, blended statistics will distort various facets of the economy such as financial reporting, asset valuation, business contracts, interest rate setting, tax policy, regulation, indexation, pay setting and wage negotiations, research and analysis, and estimation of production costs among many other effects.
All of the foregoing can obliterate market confidence by severely jeopardizing the credibility of the government and its policies, especially in the current risky election period. As such, authorities must publicly disseminate separate USD and ZWL inflation statistics otherwise the market will resort to speculation and sometimes exaggerated unofficial statistics.

Zvikomborero Sibanda is an economic analyst and an astute researcher. He writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted via email:

bravosibanda@gmail.com
Twitter: @bravon96

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