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Zanu PF forces teachers, nurses to buy party cards

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Zanu PF forces teachers, nurses to buy party cards

…teachers from 2 schools, hospital staff put into party cells

Brighton Chiseva

2 Zanu PF took it’s intimidation tactics to a higher level following reports that the ruling party is forcing teachers and nurses to buy party cards in Masvingo province.
Zaka district women boss Confidence Mukau is on the forefront and has been to Musiso Mission hospital where she allegedly forced all the nurses and teachers at the mission to buy party cards or face undisclosed consequences.
Zaka District in Masvingo has become the new battle ground for Zanu PF factional fights and recently the party was in a restructuring and cell verification exercise with two warring factions fighting to control the exercise.
A faction aligned to Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira led by district women’s league chairperson Confidence Mukau is alleged to have forced people at Musiso Mission into cells and to buy party cards.
The Mission is in ward 19, a well – known opposition territory which has an opposition councilor since 2008 and Musiso is home to a number of teachers and nurses as well as other Catholic members who are perceived to belong to opposition parties.
Sources at the mission said Mukau led a team which was forcing teachers, nurses and other ancillary staff at the mission into party cell registers and to buy cards at a cost of US$ 3.
“We are appealing to the press to expose Zanu PF here in Zaka, they are forcing us to buy party cards whereas we are not even part of them. We are no longer at peace here as we are being forced to belong to the party through buying the membership cards,” said the source.
Another source said a few weeks ago another team went to the mission for cell registration and they forced people to register into the cells and a number of people just submitted their names out of fear of victimization.
The source said some known party members were even left out of the exercise in a move suspected to target new members into the cells register for primary elections as the faction tries to shrug off competition form the Provincial Chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa’s camp.
“A few weeks ago they were here at the mission doing cell verification and registration. All teachers, nurses and student nurses were forced into cells and the list of names was used to get presidential inputs from GMB but only teachers from both the mission schools got the inputs and the nurses failed and they are bitter.
Mukau is alleged to have reserved the remainder of the inputs for use at her sugarcane plot in the Lowveld and the hospital side is generally disgruntled since they did not benefit and she is accused of using inputs to woo supporters to the detriment of other beneficiaries.
“Jerera and the ward 19 community is generally disgruntled with the unfair distribution of presidential inputs and Mukau has been abusing the privilege ever since she assumed her women affairs post. Since the ward has an opposition councilor, she collects the allocation on behalf of the party on the pretext that the inputs will be distributed to ward 19 residents which she together with Ward 19 A Zanu PF party district chairperson who is also a mortuary attendant at St Anthony’s Musiso Mission hospital Farai Pondo, mainly distributes to St Anthony’s schools which she believes is her stronghold as she prepares for the women quota 2023 elections race,” said the source.
Mukau stays at the St Anthony’s High School cottage by virtue of being wife to one Mukau a building studies teacher and is also closely related to former Catholic Bishop Michael Bhasera-a privilege she uses to threaten all mission staff.
She is also accused of using her influence to get tenders of supplying mainly detergents at the school.
Efforts to get a comment from Mukau were futile as her cell was not reachable several times.
When contacted for comment, Zanu PF Provincial Chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa said he was not aware that people are being forced to buy party cards and warned party members who were doing that to desist from such practices saying Zanu PF membership cannot be forced.
He said he will contact relevant authorities within the district to get an understanding of what is happening within the party rank and file.
“I haven’t received any complaint about people being forced to buy party cards. However, it’s unlikely for us to force people because cards are sold to members only and they come willingly so we cannot force non-members. At Musiso Mission, we have a number of party members some who are even in the district executive so those are the ones whom we target when we go there and those who are not part of us should be left out I will talk to the district chairperson to about the issue so that it will be addressed,” said Mavhenyengwa.
On cell registration exercise Mavhenyengwa said he was not aware again but he understands that could possibly happen as others could be trying to influence those in cell registers so that it works to their advantage at primary elections.
“I understand what you are saying, we had a cell registration exercise in all areas Musiso included but we target our own people there. However, others could be trying to create their own cell registers for their advantage and we will look into the matter,” said Mavhenyengwa.
Zaka District is well known for political violence since 2002 and a number of opposition supporters were killed and some injured and the scars of the 2002 and 2008 violence are still fresh in opposition parties.

MP Musikavanhu launches silly season

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MP Musikavanhu launches silly season

Whoever coined the term ‘silly season’ referring to elections season knew what he or she was talking about. Zvokwadi nhaka tinoonerera worse with the advent of social media where these digitally impaired politicians will be sharing their content manipulating the masses, huye bodo.
Anyway, let me digress a bit; they say half a loaf is better than nothing ladies and gentlemen. I am a bit happy that Minister Mhona heeded to my advice though he went only halfway with it. Suspending Rimbi Tours and Zebra Kiss operating licenses was ill advised but allowing Manjenjenje Zebra Kiss back on the road is a step towards the right direction Minister, chingopedzisai vadzoke vese paroad. Just think of the families suffering because of that. I won’t be tempted to talk more about this Hon Minister, I don’t have enough time and I think what I said last week was enough for you.
MaZimbo futi—I think we have suffered so much to an extent where we cringe when serious issues are topical; we would rather spend time discussing Mai Denzy naBaba Denzy than zvenyika zvirikudai kutidana kuti tindonyoresa kuvhota tigovhota zvakare. Ndakamboti paya Chamisa udza vanhu vako kuti sunga one sunga dozen, munhu nemhuri yake kumashure, like Dougie said kuti uchidhiraivha bango rako kkkkk, zvatinombooneswa mupolitics so, seka hako Mapombi. Hanzi chihure was sweet until us women joined the game and now it’s uncontrollable like veld fire. Fellow women, ndinzwei nekunzwisisa, let’s not put shame on our gender samai Denzel the lady of the moment kkk.
Back to the issue at hand, I used to admire Farai Musikavanhu, this son to the late Joseph Msika who Mugabe changed his surname so that he appears to be from Matebelaland so that he could breach the unity accord kkk. Yes he was Joseph Msikavanhu and was Shona not Ndebele. Yes his son Farai was doing well all along but is now behaving like the biblical Galatians who started from the spirit and ended in flesh instead of vice versa. He was good and he did a lot for his constituency but zvekuzopawo vana mapen and then in a bid to salvage the embarrassing donation goes on to write paragraphs about youth empowerment kudii ikoko? As if the idea of such a donation was not enough he went on to pose for pictures handing over pens, really? Nhai honourable, what’s honourable about donating ball point pens dzoga kutozoisa exact number?Hee?
I heard CCC urging party members to recruit new voters from schools but I don’t think they will get them especially in Chiredzi.Who in this era and age poses for a picture to get ball point pens iwo angova ma$1 for 5 or for 6 aya, nxaa Musikavanhu tikwanire iwe, stop abusing our kids and teachers for votes, we need meaningful development not that nonsense. Chete that’s where we allowed ourselves to be as a nation. To be reduced to beggars who clap and ululate for a pen. Isu tichakura taipiwa nemateacher isu. Vaitoatenga nemari yavo vachitipa. Just pay teachers and you will see them buying our kids some pens not using CDF to buy pens while roads have potholes anenge madish. Chete an area gets a leader it deserves kkkk, kuseka nhamo serugare.
Imiwo vanhu veChiredzi hindaa makapusa, last time you even failed to field one candidate kuChiredzi North to stand against Bhila and with his level of stupidity hakuna kwatoenda.
Ko is vakuru back from summit? Ndakaona kuairport vakaumbirira kuzogamuchira zvakabve Senegal where I’m told he bragged that the country is food secure. Hanzi he said rimwe gorosi tichatopa shiri kwedu Zimbabwe, that time when NGOs who work in that area said pajekerere that a lot of people in the country are food insecure. Kuno kuchitima ndoswerera mabanana akaora nemaputi while my leader is gallivanting telling all and sundry that ndakaguta, Mwari ave nemi. Truly we are in silly season. Vamwe vakazomboti we are going to export raw water to South Africa, and people ululated: Two whole ministers, vanotogara mucabinet chaimo. Ndosaka muchipatisiwa, chinouchirisa chii ipapo? But I am sure Kedha enjoyed the reigns kubva last month when mukuru was kuleave, I thought Kedha will do what he did in November wegore riya. He just has to redo zviya so that we celebrate tichiziva unlike what we did in 2017. If Kedha is failing then PV can do it, he knows how it’s done and he was there pazvakaitwa. It’s wishful thinking zvayo because I’m told they are related kuhwanamai hwavo hameno ikoko.
Let me tell you ladies and gentlemen, election season kudai we will see a lot. Ipapa that’s when you see kuti tirikutambudzika mvura yekupomba magetsi in Kariba iyo yakazara mumisoro yevanhu vari kuParliament uko. Some of these MPs haa kutambisa vote indeed. I saw another one forcing a woman to thank him on camera because he had donated some covers emabook. Hanzi Honorable Chinosengwa, chinosengwa chichiindepi with all that density in his mind? Ama2k call it being dense or being thick, if not obtuse. No wonder we are having these serious power cuts, strategy zero kumusoro uko. Hanzi open for business, murima imomo? What business when you have reduced cities to growth points? Seka hako Mapombi. Opposition on the other hand always busy pointing out zvirikukonekwa neZanu. Imi, imi, imi, tikwanirei mazvinzwa. Who doesn’t know that ZANU has failed? What’s new about Zanu’s incompetence? Give us solutions and what your alternative policies are so that we compare and see what will work for us not kungoti takarasima neZanu. Zvamakangofundawo wani, and some of you even have experience being in government. We want solutions isu, not zvekuswerotukirira Zanu,saka masiyanei? But then again haa ndozvimwe gudo nemunhu. You’re being manipulated pamaelectoral boundaries chaipo and muchikaviswa risina mweya. Kutambiswa front neZanu and you’re beaten on technicalities. Zanu chiororo kkkkk that time when you’re at the forefront frothing on the mouth denouncing delimitation report that may actually help you. Ini zvangu ini. And Priscilla haasi kutomboda zvese izvozvo, she clearly said handiti you know henyu that the buck stops with ZEC when it comes to delimitation? Zvirimo muconstitution imi bwaibwai.
Anyway let me go ndindokanga maputi angu for lunch. Mazuvano madrama haaperi maelections akuuya aya. Manje neniwo I registered to vote, kana mocampaigner mundipewo matshirts nemacap. But you should know that in my life I have made some very bad decisions asi one thing I will never do in this lifetime is to vote for this other party, izvozvo handiiti nyangwe zvodii kkkk. Continue being silly zvenyu takamirira final delimitation report mozoti mopinda muground, tichaonerera. Togarepi akaita chair Ad Hoc Committee akagadzirisa zvekwakwe kuGutu South vamwe makangoti vavava. One last thing, musiyane nepolitical violence zvamurimi, tokuzivai. Respect the sanctity of life, ndatenda hangu.

Nyakunhuwa clansmen to contest imposition of new chief

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Nyakunhuwa clansmen to contest imposition of new chief

… Accuse DDC of using inputs to force them into submission

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA- Nyakunhuwa clansmen have vowed to resist the appointment of Oswell Maguta as the new substantive chief saying he not from the five houses that have a stake in the Nyakunhuwa chieftaincy.
His appointment came as a result of the late expiry of term of office of the former acting Chief Courage Mashavave who took over reins in 2016 following the death of his father Jerera Wafawanaka Mashavave in 2015.
Constitutionally when a Chief dies, the acting chief is appointed mainly from his surviving biological children and should reign on acting basis for only two years.
However, in many instances acting chiefs manipulate the selection processes to remain in power which they mainly do using political muscle usurped from supporting the ruling party.
Mashavave, a staunch Zanu PF supporter who publicly declared his support for the party told his lieutenants (headmen and village heads) to support the party going against the constitution which forbids traditional leaders from being partisan.
Since the formation of the chieftaincy, five houses namely Mutsvangwa, Mutonhori, Mututuvare, Murembwa and Machingambi have been taking turns to rule and now regard as the imposition of the Baramanza family into their chieftaincy as irregular.
The houses claim to solely have the legitimate right to choose and agree on who sits on the Nyakunhuwa throne.
One of the Nyakunhuwa headmen Junias Magadzire who is headman Mutsvangwa said they will not submit to the new chief who is not from one of the five houses saying the chief is being imposed on them violating their tradition.
He went on to accuse the District Development Coordinator (DDC) Memory Dhliwayo of being bribed by the Baramhanza family to sneak them into the chieftaincy.
“Our tradition is being violated, we have been rotating the chieftaincy amongst the five houses and it’s only now when the Baramanza family is showing up. We will not submit to him and we will fight for what is rightfully ours,” said Magadzire.
He went on to accuse the DDC of using presidential input distribution programmes to parade and impose the new chief saying those who do not submit to him will not benefit from the scheme.
“We refused to attend meetings called for by the DDC to introduce the new chief and the DDC is now targeting food aid and input distribution schemes to parade the new chief to the people and threatening to deregister those who resist his ascendency to the throne from the beneficiary lists. However, we are here for that and we will continue to fight for what is legitimately ours,” added Magadzire.
He said they will soon go to Harare to seek audience with the responsible ministry to look into the matter.
Efforts to get comments from Dhliwayo and her boss, Dr Jefta Sakupwanya who is the Permanent Secretary in the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution’s office were futile as both their cellphones went unanswered several times.
In 2020, the five houses petitioned the Permanent Secretary in the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, then Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC), Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution as well as the Provincial Chief’s Council, claiming that the Baramanza house’s claim to the throne was illegitimate.
They said the founding chief, who is their forefather, had five sons whose descendants are the legitimate ruling families and they do not include the Baramanza family whom they claim descended from the one of the founding chief’s brothers.
In their petition letter, they said their chieftaincy’s peace was being threatened by the Baramanza clan through fraudulent means thereby depriving them their legitimate birthright.
Nyakunhuwa chieftaincy derives its name from the heroics of a highly-decorated strategist and military genius named Chamagwenjere who defied his health ailments when his back oozed worms but soldiered on, with the wounds producing an unbearable smell hence the moniker Nyakunhuwa, legend says.
They said Chamagwenjere fought and established his own territory so it will be very unfair to share the spoils with his brothers and cousins who did not partake in his struggles.
They claim that Chamagwenjere was son to Donoro whose brother Muyengwa is the forefather of the Baramanza clan.
Donoro himself was son to Svazvi and the contemporary Baramanza clan as well as several others such as Chakanyuka and Chipato who are descendants of Muyengwa and therefore, have no legitimate right to a ruling class established by Chamangwenjere.
In the entire history of this chieftainship, only the above mentioned sons have reportedly enjoyed turns to the the throne and Baramanza ascendency would be the first time the chieftainship goes out of the five houses.
From the papers which they claimed were obtained from the National Archives, the throne went to Mukazi who was from the Murembwa family after the death of Chamangwenjere. It later on moved to Matorevhu of the Machingambi family, who held it until 1920.
The chieftainship remained in Machingambi family under Mafuratidze who reigned until 1941 and was replaced by Mashawi who acted until he died in 1944.
Chiwoniwoni from Mutsvangwa family took over until 1971 and his son Hakurimwe was acting chief until he was replaced by Zimunga who was also from the Machingambi family.
From 1975, the chieftaincy went to Dzviti of the Mututuvare family, who reigned until 2004 only to be replaced by Mashavave from Machingambi family who reigned until his death in 2015.
The disgruntled family’s claim that the archival material show that the Mutonhori family had never held the chieftainship and is a better option than the Baramanzas.
The Nyakunhuwa chieftainship kingmaker (Zigadzi) Godfree Muzvimwe once claimed that the Baramanza family bribed their way into the royalty and they do not deserve to the there.
“We think the DCC and the chief’s council representatives were bribed. The matter started way back before the beginning of the tenure of the current DCC. The preceding DCC was bribed by the Baramanza family,” said Muzvimwe.
They equated themselves to the Biblical 12 tribes of Israel, whom they said were now being unfairly robbed of their heritage by the descendants of Esau.

Zanu PF MP, councillor clash over inputs

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Zanu PF MP, councillor clash over inputs

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – As the 2023 harmonized elections beckon, Zanu PF factional clashes are escalating in Zaka where infighting has become the order of the day.
The district is torn between Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Zaka North Member of Parliament (MP) Robson Mavhenyengwa and Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.
Zaka Central MP Davison Svuure who is also Zaka District Coordinating Committee (DCC) vice chairperson and a Chadzamira fanatic has been roped into the fights, once again clashing with his Ward 8 Councilor Tererai Tererai over input distribution.
The two have been at loggerheads for some time with Tererai being accused of backing other ‘dark horses’ who intend to throw their hats in the ring come 2023 primary elections including Agriculture Deputy Minister and Masvingo North sitting MP Davis Marapira who is vying for the seat.
The recent clash is alleged to have taken place at Gwangwava Shopping Centre in ward 8 where inputs for the ward were supposed to be distributed and Svuure is alleged to have said unprintable words to insult Tererai.
It is alleged that Svuure came and asked the councilor to take inputs to other centres for distribution which did not go down well with the councilor and his close allies who then accused Svuure of taking inputs to his strong holds.
Contacted for comment, Tererai said there was a small misunderstanding which was later resolved and refused to comment further.
“We had a misunderstanding with the MP on the day of distribution but we later found common ground and went ahead. I cannot comment further on the issue,” said Tererai
On his part Svuure dismissed the accusations as mere political smearing saying his Christian values and Ubuntu could not allow him to go that far.
“I am not directly involved in distribution of inputs; that’s the councilor, Agritex officials’. However, my oversight role involves me depending on the situation. On the day in question I was called by community members who were saying the councilor wants to distribute all the inputs at one place contrary to what we had agreed.
“We have three distribution centres in the ward to reduce travelling distance to cater for our elderly and disabled community members. So I went there and insisted that we honor that agreement and we did that. However, there are some political opponents who are fighting me and they are the ones taking advantage of that incident to further their interests by lying to the people.
“I am a Christian and a pastor myself so that cannot allow me to insult someone with a disability. That message was just drama meant to taint my name,” said Svuure.
Svuure is also accused of taking cement from Mbuyamaswa Clinic project in ward 9 and divert it to other uses and sources allege that Marapira is influencing police to arrest Svuure over the cement issue.
On the cement issue Svuure said he took the cement for other developmental projects in the ward and the constituency and it was above board since he sought permission from the health ministry officials’ after which they agreed.
“The cement was drying and could not be used for the clinic but other light work and I will return the cement when it’s needed,” he said.
On his part Marapira said he had no power to get people arrested saying he was not even aware of the cement in question.
“How can I get Svuure arrested? It’s the duty of the police and I am not involved. I don’t even know about the cement and if the cement was taken I am sure the locals are aware and if it was taken without their consent then there is a case. I cannot support what is wrong,” said Marapira.

JSC ups preparations for IECMS phase 2 roll out

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JSC ups preparations for IECMS phase 2 roll out

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- Preparations for the rolling out of the newly introduced Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) phase two in the judicial system in Gweru are now at an advanced stage according to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Addressing legal practitioners and members of the press on the development at the official launch, JSC Secretary Walter Chikwanha said digitalization of the courts was the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and the launch of phase 3 was going to have an effect on virtual systems.
“We are moving into phase 2 and we have targeted the Labour Court and then we will move into phase 3 targeting the general division of the High Court and the office of the Sheriff.
“So we are advising legal practitioners that with effect from February 1, 2023, they will not be able to litigate in those three courts manually as they are required to familiarize themselves with the IECEMS system.
“The digitization of the courts is a new thing that we are introducing in Zimbabwe. It is the enhancement of access to justice and it will ensure that people are able to access a court from wherever they are,” said Chikwanha.
He further highlighted that the system was going to assist in curbing any anomalies.
“With IECMS, you can never miss a document or a file because they are in soft copy. If you make attempts to delete something, we have back -up systems of the file that are readily available. We have been told of bogus lawyers, now a bogus lawyer cannot file or litigate if they are not in the system,” he added.
The system, which allows people to access courts virtually is set to promote convenience and real time access to justice from any party of the country as well as addressing challenges associated with manual operation of the justice system.
Plans in pipeline are for, IECMS to integrate with other key stakeholder organizations such as Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ), Attorney General’s Office (AG), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Legal Aid Directorate (LAD) and Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Court (ZACC).
Also speaking at the launch at the labour court in Gweru, legal practitioner Esau Mandipa of Mutatu and Mandipa Legal Practitioners welcomed the development saying it is cost and time effective allowing for a wider reach.
“The introduction of the virtual courts is a good development especially for the courts.
“It is cost effective and not time consuming. One no longer needs to travel from place to place to have their hearings,” he said.

Gweru outlines 2023 developmental projects

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Gweru outlines 2023 developmental projects

…Residents call for improved water supply

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- City Council has outlined its projects for the year 2023 saying they are now waiting for the disbursement of the devolution funds for fiscal year to undertake them.
Presenting a budget summary report on the 2023 ZW$ 1.3 billion devolution appropriation set to be released from Central government, council Finance Committee Chairperson and ward 13 councillor Cathrine Mhondiwa said the whole devolution allocation had been channelled towards the city’s valuation programme.
“Your Worship and fellow councillors, from the extensive devolution consultations held with the residents, it was a mammoth task for my committee to come up with equitable and representative allocations of the ZW$ 1 305 741 300 allocated to the city.
“The whole operational grant of ZW$ 130 574 100 was channelled towards the on-going General Valuation of the City and the rest being the capital grant of the allocation was tabulated as guided by the provisions of Section 301 of the Constitution,” said Mhondiwa.
Gweru City Council Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee said council was ready to receive this year’s funds and start work on the projects earmarked.
“We have a number of projects in pipeline for the year 2023. We plan to rehabilitate water and sewer treatment plants, relocate our dumpsite and to procure standby Gwenhoro water pumps.
“We also have plans to procure one refuse truck; build two classroom blocks at Mupemelelo Primary School as well ensuring we proceed with the general evaluation role,” she said.
Some of the proposed devolution allocations were presented as follows: the rehabilitation of sewer treatment works, water and sanitation.

Rehabilitation of sewer treatment facilities

This area was allocated 12 percent of the total grant which amounts to ZW$ 156 688 956. Areas such as Senga have been experiencing poor liquid waste management owing to bad sewer networks and this has been attributed to dilapidated sewer pipes which are constantly breaking down. Also areas such as Mkoba 11 in village 4 and Mtapa section 6 have been host to raw sewer flowing due to burst pipes a move has left households experiencing serious health hazards.
More so areas such as Mkoba 19, Ascot infill and Woodlands have been struggling to access tap water for some time. This has been initiated by low pumping capacity experienced to reach out to some of these areas.

Water treatment

Standby pumps for Gwenhoro were allocated 11% accounting for the sum of ZW$ 143 631 543.
The standby pumps for Gwenhoro are meant to enable the pumping of water. The objective is to improve the availability and sustainable supply of portable water and sanitation for all. It incorporates the key drivers of service delivery through provision of adequate portable water.
The City of Progress as Gweru is popularly known, experienced acute water shortage over the past years as the dilapidated infrastructure regularly broke down resulting in parts of the city receiving no water at all. Infrastructure at Gwenhoro dam which is the city’s other main water supplier was last upgraded over 50 years ago and the breakdowns has led to perennial water shortages where rationing has sometimes been adopted to lessen the burden. The treatment according to former Mayor’s Josiah Makombe’s remark in 2021 was put in place way back in 1967 catering for a population of about 170 000 but has since ballooned to approximately 350 000 people. Water borne diseases like Typhoid were once reported around the year 2008 while the continued erratic water supplies have continued to pose a ticking health bomb. Dumpsite relocation got 16 percent of the total amount and that is ZW$ 208 918 608.

Roads and traffic lighting

The situation in which roads in Gweru found themselves has not been that pleasant as 60 percent of the roads were reportedly gravelled exposing them to the risks of soil erosion during the rainy season.
In the 2023 devolution funds, roads were allocated a total sum of ZW$ 117 517 717 constituting 9 percent of the total amount of devolution funds.
Roads were allocated 9% which amounts to 117,517,717
Gweru’s traffic lights and roads are in a poor state that is all roads in the Central Business District (CBD), Shurugwi road via Senga, Mkoba road via Mambo are in bad state and full of potholes. More traffic lights in the CBD are now close to eight years while non-functional, since there was a disagreement between Emobuild (the contractor) and Gweru City Council over fully paying for a job half done. The matter of traffic lights is currently before the arbitrator and the whole city has one working traffic light at section Mutapa along Mutapa-Ascot road.
The Midlands province capital has in the past faced challenges in maintaining the road network as equipment like graders used in the maintenance of such roads were broken down making it difficult for the local authority to make the roads trafficable much to the inconvenience of motorists.
As a result of lack of resources and having broken down equipment, Gweru council had to revert to routine maintenance of roads. Potholes also have become common features on most of the city roads.
Public lighting and safety was also given priority after tower and street lights got 7 percent from the cake and that is ZW$ 91 401 891.
Areas such as Mambo and Senga have been affected by poor lighting and the areas have seen residents suffering at the hands of robbers. As such, council under its devolution funding seeks to address these challenges. In town, street lights were vandalized by haulage truck drivers, so plans are in place to replace them.

Dumpsite relocation

The relocation project got 16% which amounts to ZW$ 208 918 608. Gweru’s new dumpsite is to be located along Gweru-Matobo road near Cambridgeshire sewer system.
The dumpsite is expected to be relocated to a much safe location along Gweru-Matobo road.
Currently it is located in Woodlands where it has posed serious health hazards as it is within the vicinity of residents. Many complaints have been raised over the issue but council has been crying over shortage of resources to relocate the site while council also awaits central government intervention to move the site
Local authorities around the country were last year allocated about ZW$ 195.5 billion towards devolution.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) director Conelia Selipiwe on January 16, 2023 said water supply has always been a challenge in the city hence the need to invest towards the area.
“We need much investment on water supply. As a local authority, we want to see prioritization of infrastructure as well,” he said.
Another resident Raviro Matevere said the year 2023 was supposed to see ‘a miracle’ of bringing to an end dry taps in Mkoba 19.
“We have never tasted water in Mkoba 19 for years. This year should be our year as we want to pay for the water we are using. We want to bath using tap water.
“Residents have been deprived of water by council for more than eight years now. We expect to see a change in our ward this year and thus the need for council to prioritize our welfare as residents,” said Matevere.
However, these devolution funds’ disbursement from the central government has been delayed making it difficult for council management to complete their projects as some would be obstructed by adverse weather conditions at times.

Gweru council to relocate dumpsite

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Gweru council to relocate dumpsite

…new ZW$ 208 m landfill awaits government approval

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- City Council has revealed that plans are now underway to relocate the Woodlands dumpsite to a new site along Gweru-Matobo road near Cambridgeshire this year (2023).
Speaking to TellZim News on January 18, Gweru Council Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee said modalities are now in place to relocate to the new site.
She added that an estimated ZW$ 208 million is needed for the completion of the new dumpsite and much of the ground work had already been done.
“As council, we are optimistic that relocation of the Woodlands dumpsite is expected to take place this year. The site is moving to along Gweru-Matobo next to our Cambridgeshire Sewer Treatment plant.
“Everything is now ready though we now wait for a few administrative works which are being handled by the Ministry of Lands. It is our prayer that the relocation will be done on time,” she said.
She added that, as a result of the Urban Expansion programme, it was no longer safe to continuously dump waste near residential areas.
“As a local authority we have seen that over the past years, urban expansion has affected the wellbeing of people those in Woodlands and surrounding areas.
“It’s no longer safe for people to continue living near a dumpsite as it poses serious health problems to the community,” she added.
Over the past years, the Woodlands site has posed a lot of health hazards with residents and those in surrounding areas complaining over the disposal and burning of toxic, acidic and harmful chemicals.
Woodlands Phase 2 residential area however came into existence some 7 years ago, while other reports point to the fact that the residential area was constructed when the dumpsite was already functioning.
As a result, the residential area was believed to be illegally established according to council standards despite Gweru city council and Vungu Rural Council later on signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to formalize the area as well as providing services such as water and refuse collection.
However, Gweru Council has maintained that according to its developmental master plan, residential areas are no longer going to be built closer to dumping sites or sewer plants.
Efforts to get a comment from Midlands Provincial Agricultural and Rural Development director Melinda Mangwenzi on this development were fruitless as the director couldn’t be reached on his mobile by time of writing.
City of Gweru in 2021 announced plans to decommission the Woodlands dumping site by 2023 to pave way for Mkoba 21 housing project.
A total of 784 beneficiaries bought residential stands in Mkoba 21 in 2014 and the housing waiting list now stands at more than 40 000 people.
Former Gweru Mayor ward 2 councillor Josiah Makombe pledged that despite inadequate resources, the illegal dumpsite was going to be moved.
Woodlands phase 2 resident Pupurai Makore said patience has grown thin over the issue of the dumpsite.
“If waste is burnt at this place, you won’t like the place trust me. The smell which comes from the site is very toxic. We inhale all sorts of toxics and it takes days to turn the fire off if rubbish is burnt.
“Our greatest fear remains that of children, they don’t choose were to play as they go about picking dangerous objects, tins and needles. It’s just scary,” he said.

Girl gives birth at school

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Girl gives birth at school

TellZim Reporter

Gweru –In an incident that has set tongues wagging in Silobela area, a 15 year-old Loreto High School form 3 learner recently gave birth in class.
Teachers and other learners at the school had to assume the duties of midwives as they reportedly assisted the girl on delivery.
Lerato High School head Philip Mapiravana confirmed the incident.
“Yes, the learner is one of ours and is enrolled in Form 3. That is all I can tell you at this time; she has since been taken home by her parents in Gweru,” he said.
Sometime around 2020, the same school reportedly suspended 20 learners (both male and female) for engaging in sexual activities at school during the June examinations period much to the disapproval of concerned parents who doubted the logic behind the disciplinary procedure and its timing.
Zimbabwe continues to battle issues of early child marriages and teenage pregnancies due to the worsening economic challenges with advocacy groups calling for stiffer penalties on the perpetrators of early child marriages and sexual abuse of the girl child.

Mutare City’s ZW$ 45 billion budget approved

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Mutare City’s ZW$ 45 billion budget approved

TellZim Reporter

Mutare City Council’s 2023 budget was approved by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works paving way for the local authority to start implementing its projects for the financial year ahead.
Confirming the development to TellZim News, Acting Finance Director Reuben Guni said the earlier approval ZW$ 45 billion (US$ 61 934 015) of the budget would go a long way in enhancing effective and timeous service delivery to the residents.
“The approval would aid us on service delivery since we would collect using the new tariff. This January, we are going to bill using the approved tariffs which would help us to kick start intended projects,” said Guni.
The local authority also highlighted some of the key issues in their budget whose allocations are pegged in US$.

City Wide Street Lighting (US$ 21 200 000)
This project is one of the major beneficiaries from the budget cake. As said by Guni, the project is meant for the whole of Mutare including the Central Business District (CBD) as well as residential areas. The project would follow up solar street lights installed in the previous years.

Roads
A total of US$ 2 499 037 has been budgeted towards roads upgrade and maintenance according to breakdown provided by the Acting Finance Director. Another US$ 250 000 has been set for the roads excavation.

Water
US$ 2 502 981 was budgeted for works on non-revenue water. Also an additional US$ 300 000 is set to be directed towards city water augmentation by council. Mutare has in the past experienced acute water shortages on the part of residents due to dilapidated infrastructure as well as alleged vandalism. Some high density suburbs like Sakubva suffered the brunt prompting residents to seek explanation from the city fathers.

Sewer Infrastructure maintenance
Mutare also budgeted a total of US$ 1 538 318 for the maintenance of sewer infrastructure. The city was at one point accused of polluting river water through emission of raw sewage as well as industrial and institutional waste in to the natural water bodies.

Stands servicing
Turning to provision of accommodation to home seekers, Mutare has set aside a total of US$ 1.2 million for the purpose of servicing stands in the Manicaland capital.

Education
Provision of quality education is another area Mutare has prioritized in their 2023 financial plans. The city budgeted US$ 505 340 for the construction of Gimboki school.

Health
In terms of health services provision, Mutare City Council plans to divert US$ 194 361 towards the construction of Hobhouse clinic.

Fire fighting
Mutare also is set to use a total of US$ 650 000 to upgrade its fire station with the purchase of a fire tender on the cards as one of the major projects.

Solid waste management
A total of US$ 403 040 has been budgeted for the procurement of a land fill dozer to be used in improving solid waste management matters. Failure by council to ensure effective solid waste management by collecting refuse timeously also led to proliferation of undesignated dumpsites.

Social amenities
The city’s other recreational facility Sakubva stadium that has been reportedly in dire state and being overwhelmed by sporting activities is set to account for US$ 200 000 of the budget. Towards the end of 2022, the stadium was banned from hosting Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches by the authorities as it was in bad state mainly due to being over used.

Zimbabwe Economic Outlook: Here are the likely ups and downs of 2023

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Zimbabwe Economic Outlook: Here are the likely ups and downs of 2023

By Zvikomborero Sibanda

Zimbabwe’s Treasury department presented a ZWL4.5 trillion national budget for 2023 on the 24th of November themed: Accelerating Economic Transformation. This budget projects a positive national output growth rate of 3.8% on condition that the nation receives good rainfall patterns, stable electricity supply, favorable global mineral commodity prices, and a tight monetary policy stance among many other assumptions. But given the pending risks to the outlook, it remains to be seen if the Treasury will attain these projections given a track record of huge misses.
The year 2022 presented a bag of mixed economic fortunes as the local currency greatly lost steam in the first half (1HY22) before reversing course, though slightly, for most of the second half (2HY22). The official statistics from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) show that the Zimbabwean dollar (ZWL) lost a staggering 68.9% of its value against the US dollar in 1HY22 as it slid from ZWL/USD 115.42 in January to ZWL/USD 370.96 at the close of June. This was fuelled largely by Treasury’s fiscal indiscipline, limited fiscal space leading to massive quasi-fiscal operations by RBZ, huge forex allocation backlog on the auction market, and command exchange rate policies (deliberate overvaluation of the official rate) as well as the ensuing principle of rationality -speculation and arbitrage activities. Consequently, general prices mounted by a punitive monthly average of 14.3% in the first half relative to 3.2% achieved for the same period in 2021.
Apart from exchange rate pass through to inflation, price growth pressures emanated from food shortages in the formal markets as the nation had experienced a poor 2021/22 summer cropping season. The food category constitutes the biggest weight (about 30.1%) of the all-items consumer basket which ZimStat tracks for purposes of gauging general price level. Yet, statistics show that in 2022 Zimbabwe produced about 1.5 million metric tonnes (MT) of staple maize for both human and livestock consumption against a national requirement of about 2.2 million MT. The foregoing vividly clarifies the statement made by the chairman of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe in May 2022: “I am pleased to inform the nation that GMAZ will secure 400 000 MT of white maize from Malawi and Zambia. We expect to start receiving the maize from the end of June”. Market food shortages also forced the Treasury to suspend import duty on basics like rice and flour for 6 months through Statutory Instrument 98 of 2022.
Furthermore, the prolonged electricity load-shedding hours implemented by ZESA have increased the cost of doing business which in turn exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis for ordinary citizens. The official ZimStat data shows a continued entrenchment of the majority of the population into poverty as evidenced by a 264.8% jump in the total consumption poverty line (TCPL) per person between December 2021 (ZWL8 009) and December 2022 (ZWL29 219). This is in sync with a July 2022 World Bank report that established that about 40% of Zimbabweans were living in extreme poverty -less than US$1.90 per day.
The deterioration of the ZWL also contributed to increased income inequality as shown by a worsening Gini coefficient which mounted from 42 in 2011 to 50.3 in 2019. This shows that the prevailing economic system requires a relook as it is living so many people behind and many places marginalized. More so, the geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West as a result of the former’s invasion of Ukraine enormously increased imported price inflation for perennial net-importers like Zimbabwe largely through the Triple Fs: Fertilizers, Fuels, and Food prices. For instance, fuel which is Zimbabwe’s top merchandise import category saw domestic pump prices reaching their new highs in line with global crude oil prices which burgeoned reacting to artificial shortages created by the war’s sanctions and countersanctions which disrupted global energy supply chains.
Nevertheless, for the 2HY22, ZWL depreciation moderated relative to 1HY22 registering a 45.79% decline to close the year at ZWL/USD 684.33. This came after a plethora of measures implemented by authorities to boost confidence and restore macroeconomic stability since May 2022. Some of these measures include the entrenchment of the multicurrency regime into law, suspension of import duty on basics, increase in the liberalization of the willing-buyer willing-seller (WBWS) system, the opening of the public transport sector to private players, the introduction of gold coins, lower quarterly reserve money growth targets, clearance of RBZ auction forex backlog and high statutory reserve requirements. Partly due to these measures, the country witnessed a moderation of average monthly price inflation to 8.2% which is about 6.1 percentage points lower than 1HY22 average monthly outturn of 14.3%.
Despite the ZWL deterioration and price inflation cooling down in the 2HY22, numerous endogenous and exogenous economic headwinds faced throughout 2022 as expounded in preceding paragraphs greatly constrained business activity and reduced aggregate consumer demand. As a result, the Treasury was forced to cut its 2022 national output (GDP) projections twice from the initial 5.5% to 4.6% before a further downward revision to 4%. For 2023, the Treasury is expecting positive GDP growth although it will be a further slowdown from the estimated 2022 outturn of 4% to 3.8%. According to the 2023 budget statement, this growth will be supported by a sustainable fiscal deficit of about 1.5% of GDP, favorable rainfall patterns, high global commodity prices, a stable ZWL, and low monthly inflation averaging 1-3%, among others.
However, a granular analysis of the likely risks to the 2023 economic outlook shows that the government will likely miss its growth and price projections. The major risk to the government’s projections is posed by the upcoming harmonized elections. Zimbabwe’s elections are usually characterized by political violence, police brutality, and violations of human and property rights. This increases the country’s investment risk premium thus constraining business investment, employment creation, output growth, and wealth creation. The election year has also forced Treasury to table an unsustainable expansionary fiscal policy as evidenced by an approved budget with a staggering deficit of about ZWL575 billion which will be financed by borrowing and money printing. Hence, the injection of excessive ZWL liquidity through election-linked government spending will likely destabilize the exchange rate, particularly in the parallel market. Also, the continued piling of highly regressive taxes by the Treasury in a bid to improve the gravely limited fiscal space will also increase transaction costs thus choking economic agents.
In addition, the nation is already under the grip of a crippling debt crisis yet the globe continues to experience increased financial tightening (rising interest rates) as major central banks intensify the fight against out-of-control inflation. This ongoing global financial tightening will increase the cost of accessing new borrowing lines as well as the cost of servicing existing debts. Thus, it increases the risk of social unrest as social service delivery is crowded out amid unbearable inflation and inequality levels. If uncontrolled through a robust reform program and capacitation of oversight institutions, the prevailing structural rigidities posed by public corruption, impunity, and illicit transactions will continue to exert massive pricing distortions.
Also, power challenges will likely persist at least through the first half of 2023 (1HY23) despite the expected coming on board of two (2) new Hwange thermal units with a combined installed capacity of 600MW. I am of the view that 1HY23 electricity generation challenges will emanate from low live water storage at Kariba dam, fluctuating output from existing old thermal units, and domestic forex shortages as well as constrained regional production that will limit imports to supplement dwindling domestic production. More so, the lack of adequate national reserves exposes the ZWL to speculative attacks and the nation to unforeseen adverse events like climate change-induced droughts, floods, and disease outbreaks. The indeterministic path of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war will continue subduing international trade, cooperation, and conflict resolution.
Nevertheless, I am expecting a slight upside in the agriculture sector as most parts across the nation received normal rainfall patterns between October and December 2022, and the same is expected for Jan-March 2023 period. Although mineral prices are expected to be subdued in 2023 due to a likely waning global demand, the mining sector is expected to anchor economic activity. This sector is crucial as it contributes about 70%, on average, to annual export earnings and at least 15% to national GDP. Apart from the projected moderation of global mineral prices, prevailing unsustainable fiscal mining regimes will continue bedevilling the sector as they facilitate revenue leakages at the expense of national growth and development. Again, the government ban on the exportation of unprocessed lithium and other base metals without deep consultations with all stakeholders will likely generate mixed policy interpretations from potential investors. This has the potential to subdue the subsector’s output thus aiding GDP slowdown in 2023.

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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