TellZim Reporter

Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) has embarked on a business unusual approach to stakeholder involvement programmes as they target to educate ordinary people regarding key processes that lead to the provision of quality service delivery.

Masvingo RDC is probably the only council in the country that is working closely with traditional leaders to disseminate information on budgetary processes and how non-payment of taxes by ordinary villagers may lead to poor service delivery.

Speaking at Chief Mugabe traditional court where village heads gathered to interact with the council leadership recently, Masvingo RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Martin Mubviro said the council was committed to the provision of quality service delivery.

Mubviro pleaded with village heads to pass on the message that council performs better if the ordinary people play their part in as far as payment of taxes is concerned.

“We are pleased to be addressing a unique constituency which is that of traditional leaders. Our engagement with you must not end today because we value your contributions towards the development of this district. We are therefore, giving you feedback towards council operations so that you pass on the message to ordinary villagers in your various jurisdictions. At the end, no one must be left behind,” said Mubviro.

Village heads who gathered for the event appreciated the candid discussions as acknowledged that they learnt a lot regarding council operations.

Council Chairman for the district Councillor         Mangena took the opportunity to explain to the village heads the projects that are being implemented by the government in the district under devolution.

Mangena further encouraged villagers to work closely with their elected leaders in identifying areas that need immediate intervention by the council.

“Don’t leave your councillors when planning or coming up with projects that you want council to implement. Involve elected leaders so that they bring your wish list to our chambers for deliberations,” said Mangena.

Chief Mugabe thanked council officials for being ‘brave’ enough to come down to the people and give feedback.

“This was a beautiful meeting…first of its own kind. I will continue to invite you here and have these kinds of candid discussions. The meeting has become an eye opener to everyone and the village heads are going back home empowered with information.

“I also want to urge council officials to take note of all the things highlighted by village heads and address all the things that need your attention. This is how we can develop our area,” said Chief Mugabe.

The meeting was supported with TellZim in partnership with Zimcodd.

…As world celebrates World Contraception Day

Beverly Bizeki

As the world is set to commemorate World Contraception Day on September 26, Masvingo will join the rest of the globe with a unique celebration following a realization of preliminary decrease in teenage pregnancies in three of its seven districts namely Zaka, Bikita and Chiredzi.
The results released by Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) office in Masvingo shows that there is a notable decrease in cases of teenage pregnancies with Bikita that recorded 2085 cases in 2019 reducing to 1200 in 2021, Chiredzi had 1980 in 2019 and 1300 in 2021 and Zaka has seen a decrease from 1329 in 2019 to 1200 in 2021 all pointing to a downward trend for the province.
ZNFPC Provincial marketing and Communications Officer Herbert Chikosi said efforts from ZNFPC and partners like Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, SolidaMed and Ministry of Health and Child Care had helped realize positive results.
He added that this year’s commemorations will be held in Mount Darwin under the theme ‘Contraception: it’s your life, it’s your responsibility’.
“The theme for this year is Contraception: it’s your life it’s your responsibility. We are still placing emphasis on the idea of ‘Kids by Choice not by chance’ and that every pregnancy should count.
“It is our commitment as Zimbabwe to ensure that we stay within the vision that every pregnancy is wanted. It’s our commitment to improve awareness of contraception with more emphasis on enabling young people to make informed decisions on sexual reproductive health,” said Chikosi.
He said the thrust for Masvingo province in terms of the world contraception day is amplifying issues around child marriages and teenage pregnancies.
“As a province, our effort has been to fight child marriages and teenage pregnancies. There is a significant improvement in terms of access to contraceptives amongst young people.
“We were targeting four districts namely Zaka, Bikita and Chiredzi as well as Masvingo from 2021-2022 and based on statistics, there was an improvement in terms of access of Long Act Reversible Contraceptives- (LARCs) with the support from SolidaMed. We have also pushed for the girl child to be in school,” said Chikosi.
Culture however remains a challenge in the fight against teenage pregnancies as unmarried girls have a challenge in accessing contraceptives following myths and misconceptions that girls cannot use contraceptives.

TellZim reporter

Chivi Rural District Council (RDC) is set to commission the recently completed Bwanya Clinic in ward 3 with the community saying they can no longer wait to access services from the health centre as there was no other clinic in the area.
This was revealed at a breakfast meeting organized by TellZim News in partnership with Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) between local leadership and the local authority.
Chivi RDC chairperson Godfrey Mukungunugwa said they want to put more pressure to the authorities so that the clinic is opened as soon as possible to avoid vandalism and theft of infrastructure.
“We were urged by President Mnangagwa to do 80 percent development and 20 or less politics. So we need to apply pressure to the authorities so that the clinic is opened next month because if we fail, termites will eat away the doors and thieves can also vandalise and steal solar panels and or vandalise other materials,” said Mukungunugwa.
He promised to do his best saying the local authority was equally worried by the delays in the opening of the clinic which is set to benefit the entire ward with 22 villages.
Chivi RDC Human Resource and Administration officer Archbald Ncube said all the necessary applications were done and were just waiting for the green light from the responsible authorities to open the facility.
“The clinic has to be opened as a matter of urgency, all registration procedures were done, the issue of manpower was applied for to the responsible ministry and it is our hope that we get feedback soon that is why we are having this meeting here to see how we can prepare for the day,” said Ncube.
He went on to urge the community to continue playing a role to make sure they continue working together until the clinic is officially opened.
“All the necessary work has been done but the yard has shrubs and stones which need to be cleared. And it is your (community) duty. Our engineers will be here grading roads, so we need your cooperation,” added Ncube.
Muzvidziwa village head Charles Muzvidziwa said the community cannot wait anymore for the commissioning saying a number of pregnant women were delivering in scotch-carts on their way to Madamombe clinic which is more than 15km away from the area.
“Work is being done in homes and we want our women to deliver here than going to Madamombe with some delivering on the road,” said Muzvidziwa.
The clinic has been completed and there is running water as well as solar powered energy while staff houses and toilets as well as the incinerator are in place hence only awaits commissioning.
Ward three councillor Lazarus Mauto appreciated the contribution of the community towards the completion of the clinic and said he hopes the unity remains there for sake of future projects.
The clinic was constructed by Chivi RDC using devolution funds with the community providing labour.

TellZim reporter

In what could be a bitter pill to swallow for the Charumbiras, Chief Nemamwa their nemesis is set to be installed in October after the latter’s resuscitation and recognition by government.
After waiting for about five years since 2017, the Nemamwa clan will on October 01 2022 witness the installation of Chief Nemamwa born Tranos Manjiva following the resuscitation of the chieftaincy by government.
In a letter dated September 7, 2022 signed by Masvingo District Development Coordinator (DDC) Roy Hove addressed to the new Chief and copied to the Secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Jefta Sakupwanya, the President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Manjiva as substantive chief with effect from August 30, 2022.
“Please be advised that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe has in terms of Section 283 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20) Act, 2013 as read with Section (3) (1) of the Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29:17) appointed you, Tranos Manjiva as Substantive Chief Nemamwa in Masvingo district with effect from August 30, 2022,” read part of the letter.
The letter also urged the new Chief to up preparations for subsequent installation to be held in October.
“Kindly be advised accordingly and immediately start necessary preparations for the installation ceremony. Please also note that this ceremony should be held as soon as possible,” added the letter.
Hove latter confirmed the development in an interview and said preparations were underway for the big day.
“It is true, the chief was appointed and will be installed in October. Preparations are currently underway,” said Hove
The recognition and appointment of Chief Nemamwa is likely to put to an end the power struggles that have marred the district as rival Charumbira clan has been involved in a number of skirmishes with the former as the latter did not recognize the chieftainship saying it was illegitimate and were challenging it at court.
Past encounters between the two rival factions have been characterized by violent clashes often resulting in fist fight as Charumbira clansmen tried to suppress the resuscitation of the Nemamwa chieftaincy.
Public gatherings notably funerals in the contested area have become the two factions’ battle ground with Charumbira clan refusing to recognize the Nemamwa.
Chiefs Council President Fortune Charumbira once called the resuscitation of Nemamwa chieftainship ‘fraud with no legal basis’, irregular and thus illegal at law and vowed to contest it to the highest level.
He however sarcastically said it was normal for a village head or headman to dream about being a chief and the Nemamwas were also dreaming.
The resuscitation of Chiefs Bere and Nemamwa has seen a reduction in the territory belonging to the Charumbira likely to reduce him to a mere headman and probably left with one ward under his area of jurisdiction.
Some commentators have attributed the demise of the Charumbiras to the turn in national politics with Chief Charumbira being aligned to deposed nonagenarian, the late Robert Mugabe while the Nemamwa are allegiant to the new set up whose front man in Masvingo is current Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.
Chief Bere of Shumba totem was installed in April 2019 years after the White settler regime abolished it.

Cephas Shava

Mwenezi- Situated just a stone throw away from Masvingo-Beitbridge highway, at the heartland of Mwenezi district’s famous Rutenga growth point, the newly erected Styles Complex has doubtlessly dominated the setting with its splendid looks and indeed set the pace for what a model complex ought to be like.
With its glamorous outlook, Styles Complex which is powered by The Source family owned by Mudzimiri Brothers, boasts of neatly furnished sparkling interior with a total of 35 diverse shops housed inside a cutting-edge perimeter wall.
“Construction works started in April this year and as you can see for yourself, we are making our final touches and we are certain that come October 1, we are definitely going to officially open the complex.
“We have got a total of 35 shops inside and these include boutiques, law firm offices, hair salons, butchery and pharmacies among others. We are really grateful that even before the completion of the complex, locals and many from beyond had already secured their places and fully paid rentals,” said project manager Wellington Mudzimiri.
Mudzimiri, a transporter-cum-politician with a philanthropic feat in Chiredzi also revealed that there are other shops within the complex which are still available for those who are interested.
“We still have some vacant shops and for those who desire a serene environment within our complex they are free to contact us.
“Security of our clients is a guarantee as we have got CCTV and have roped a venerable armed security company that will monitor the complex 24/7,” said Mudzimiri.
With conclusive sprucing being done on Styles Complex, the ever-smiling Mudzimiri said they are still working on finalizing the guest of honour who will grace the grand official opening of the complex.

TellZim Reporter

The people of ward 3 in Chivi district have been urged to pay their annual levies if they want their area to develop.
This was said during an engagement meeting organised by TellZim News in partnership with Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) where the local authority Chivi Rural District Council (RDC) met village heads to discuss developmental issues affecting the area.
Chivi RDC chairperson Godfrey Mukungunugwa said people should know that the levy is used to develop local communities contrary to what many think that the money is abused by leaders.
“Levy is our money which is used develops our area. Don’t think the money is abused by us because we have big bellies. We were born like this and it’s not your money. So please pay up the levies so that we sink boreholes and construct roads in this area,” said Mukungunugwa.
Local councillor Lazarus Mauto urged people to pay their levies in numbers saying that determines how development fund disbursements are done by the local authority.
He said the levy registers are also used by various departments who bring aid in the villages when they determine the number of households in each village.
“What determines ward population is the levy registers. The social welfare department and other Non-Governmental Organizations come to council when they want to deal with communities and council simply use the registers to determine the number of households in each area. So if you don’t pay, they will allocate few resources to you.
“If you pay, it becomes easier for us and the council chairperson who is here present to lobby for developmental projects in our areas because you will be paying,” said Mauto.
Chivi RDC Human Resources and Administration Officer Archibald Ncube echoed the same sentiments saying development levy was just a tax used to develop own areas.

“Development levy is simply a tax we pay for using the land we are in but government doesn’t take the money for any other use, it sends back the money to develop the area where it came from that is why we have a grader in ward 3. So I want to urge you village heads to encourage your people to pay this levy because it will come back to develop ward 3. Look, we constructed this clinic, the grader is here and we bought fuel using that levy,” said Ncube.
He went on to urge the local community to clear areas where the road is being constructed saying that makes it easier for the grading and shorten the time it takes to complete the road.