Valentine Makufa

Masvingo City Council has turned down government proposed fire tender deal to purchase equipment from Belarus arguing they have got other key priorities than fire details.
The revelation came out of the Finance and General Purposes Committee Meeting minutes of July 19 with the local authority saying fire tenders are not a priority.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Finance Director on the letter from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public works advising that government will procure fire tenders on behalf of local authorities utilizing the 2022 Devolution fund allocations. The city of Masvingo would get two fire tenders at a cost of SD464 396 each.
“The 2022 Devolution allocation was ZWL$253 107 300 and council was being advised to reprioritize the Devolution Funds to accommodate the cost of the fire tenders. The committee has raised concern that the fire tenders were not a priority to the city of Masvingo. The city of Masvingo is in need of refuse trucks tipper trucks, grader and ambulances.
“The committee counter proposed that government should consider procuring two refuse trucks, a tipper truck, grader and an ambulance for the city of Masvingo using the devolution funds in place of the fire tenders,” read part of the minutes.
The minutes also indicated that council resolved to turn down the proposal by government to purchase the fire tenders to pave way for other key equipment.
“The committee has resolved that the position of government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, to procure two fire tenders for the city of Masvingo at a cost of USD$464 396 each to be turned down on the basis that fire tenders were not a priority for the city.
“The Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa instruct the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to rather procure two refuse trucks, tipper truck, grader and an ambulance in place of two fire tenders for the city of Masvingo, under the 2022 Devolution fund allocation,” added the minutes.
The fire tender issue torched a storm after the Ministry of Local Government wrote a letter to city, town and rural district councils indicating that it was procuring fire tenders from Belarus on behalf of all local authorities with the money being deducted from their devolution fund allocations over a period of 12 months.
Local authorities in Masvingo province rejected the directive saying it is unconstitutional.
Masvingo City Mayor councilor Collen Maboke who is also a lawyer, said the directive by central government is unconstitutional since the funds are from devolution funds where they have to consult residents on how to use the money.
He went on to say a fire tender was not a priority for Masvingo City since they recently got one saying priority should be towards refuse compactors.
Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) chairperson Cornelius Mapuranga said Zaka District had more pressing issues than a fire tender.
Chiredzi Town Council Acting Town Secretary Engineer Wesley Kauma said the local authority recently purchased a fire tender which is awaiting shipment and would want to use the funds towards other needs.
Mwenezi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Chivanga said he cannot question a directive from above but if allowed to choose they would not choose a fire tender but would go for other urgent needs.
Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba echoed Maboke’s sentiments saying the directive defeats the idea of devolution and that their organization will not let council buy the fire tender as it was not a priority for now.

Staff Reporter

CHIREDZI –Rural District Council’s ward 27 people are walking close to 60km to the nearest health facility that is Chiredzi General Hospital.
This was revealed by the ward’s councilor Martin Marufu during the commissioning of two classroom blocks at Monyoroka Primary School.
Marufu said they welcomed the assistance they got for school development and now their major worry as a community is the issue of health facilities.
“We are happy that we now have a school, our main priority now is on health facilities. We don’t have a clinic or government health care center in our ward. The nearest government health center we have is Chiredzi General Hospital which is plus or minus 60km from the ward. We lose a lot of lives because people have no money to travel when they get sick.
“We have Cholera and Malaria outbreaks here and lose a lot of lives because of that so our major challenge is of health care and we are appealing to government for help. The community is ready to provide manpower but we don’t have the resources,” said Marufu.
He went on to say they also had water challenges as they used to rely on small dams in the area which have now succumbed to siltation.
“We also have water challenges and we are calling for the responsible authorities to intervene. We need boreholes here. The area used to have small dams since it was Tongaat’s cattle ranch. So the dams were fed with canals from Tongaat but they have since closed them down. Now the dams are full of silt,” he said.
He said the school was necessitated by the situation they were facing since they could not enroll pupils at Mutirikwi Primary School because the school is overwhelmed by mainly Tongaat employees’ children.
“We could not enroll our pupils at Mutirikwi especially Early Childhood Development (ECD) and grade one because the school was overwhelmed. Now we have our own and we are expecting more than 400 pupils from infant to grade four when we open,” he added.
The school blocks were constructed using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and devolution funds with the community providing labor.

Valentine Makufa

Masimba Construction Company is to construct additional bridges on Mucheke River in Masvingo which is aimed at reducing congestion along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP 2).
Speaking during a media tour organized by Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira a few weeks ago, road works Consultant Engineer Finale Mapurisa said one bridge is to be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge on the highway while the other one at Chimusana would be split into two and the other one leading into Mucheke Township.
“We are constructing a new bridge at Chevron Hotel adjacent to the existing Mucheke Bridge. Another one is to be separated into two, one on the North bound and the other one on the South bound over the Chimusana Bridge. We are also going to construct another one over the road to Mucheke Township,” said Mapurisa.
He said preparations for the adjacent bridge are almost complete and construction is expected to start early or mid-August.
“The design for the bridge adjacent to the existing Mucheke Bridge is almost complete and works are set to commence on the second or third week of August,” added Mapurisa.
Masvingo is set to expand its Central Business District (CBD) to the new site along Charumbira road where plans to do so are already underway.
Traffic congestion has been a prominent feature on the highway during peak hours of the day sometimes affecting traffic flow in the CBD or passage into town and the bridges would help alleviate the perennial challenge.

Staff Reporter

CHIREDZI–Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira assured the people of Chuhugume who have been living in fear of displacement following a project that is earmarked for the area that they won’t be displaced.
Chadzamira was speaking during the commissioning of two classroom blocks that were constructed by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and the community using Constituency Development Funds (CDF) and Devolution funds.
He said government was aware of their plight and told them to be rest assured that no one will displace them from their land but government will regularize their stay.
“I heard there are some people who are telling you that you are going to be displaced from here. Tell those people who are peddling those falsehoods that they are dreaming. If they want to displace you, they have to call us and all the generals who are here and displace you in our presence.
“No government can develop an area for its people only to displace them. Government will give you permits for you to stay well. No government can ignore the people who put it into power, no one will bring dozers to destroy your houses,” said Chadzamira.
He went on to praise the local MP Farai Musikavanhu and his predecessor Darlington Chiwa for working together to develop the area saying others would always fight and hinder development.
“I want to commend on the working relations between the former and the current MP. These two are working together unlike others who always fight. The other one is taking up developmental projects left by the other and completing them, this is what we want,” added Chadzamira.
Ward 27 councilor Martin Marufu said they were living in fear of being displaced hence responsible authorities should tell them the correct position so that they know how to tread in the area.
“We hear about re-planning and we are not sure if that will displace us or take part of our land or if other people from this ward will be displaced, so we urge the responsible authorities to come and explain to us what the re-planning mean,” said Marufu.

Phillipa Chanetsa

Zimbabwe Zhongxin chrome smelting company which is currently under construction in Mashava, Masvingo province is expected to create employment for around 200 people when it start operations.
Speaking during the tour of the company on August 12, 2022 Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando said the company will start operating in October this year using the first furnace.
“The first furnace will fire up in October this year producing 25000 per annum of high carbon ferrochrome and thereafter the second one will start early next year. As you can see from the structures, there is a provision for another two furnaces, so the total provision for the whole facility is 100 000 tons which is very significant and could fetch roughly around US$ 100 million per annum.
“In terms of jobs, the initial stage will see 200 people being employed directly but there is downstream in terms of the supply of ores because they are not mining but will be buying ores from small scale miners. So it’s a huge impact in terms of small scale mining, youth, women and war veteran who will be given concession to supply ores to this facility,” said Chitando.
He also said the development would spur development for the province of Masvingo and the local community.
“The development is not only significant for Zimbabwe at large but for the province of Masvingo as well and the people of Mashava. It’s part of the national vision 2030 to achieve an upper middle class economy as we build Zimbabwe brick by brick, day by day,” added Chitando.
The company director Zhang Meng said they are not facing any challenges as for now but if they do, will let the minister know.
“The coming of the minister has given us hope that he is going to help us and there are no challenges faced so far .The company will create employment opportunities for the surrounding community,” said Meng.
Mashava is home to some disused mines like Gaths and King mines which suffered operational challenges with some emanating from the current economic challenges obtaining in the country leaving thousands of workers and beneficiaries stranded.

Valentine Makufa

Masvingo United FC and Alfred Walter Hostel have been given a lifeline by Masvingo City Council following exemptions from paying Mucheke stadium booking fees and water bills respectively.
The exemptions were outlined in the minutes of a Finance and General Purpose Committee meeting of July 19 with the football club being given privilege to use the facility for free during home games up to the end of the current 2022 soccer season.
The resolution came after an appeal by the club to council for financial assistance as it is failing to meet its operational costs.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Director of Housing and Social Services on the request by Masvingo United Football Club, for financial assistance to cater for their operational costs. “In a view of financial challenges facing Council, it was suggested and agreed that the team be exempted from paying Mucheke Stadium bookings for their home games only up to the end of the 2022 season,” read part of the minutes.
Alfred Walter Hostel was also exempted from paying water bills after the manager Sister Maria Murwira requested for the privilege as the organization is a non-profit one and caters for the mentally challenged children.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Finance Director on the request by Sister Maria Murwira, Manager of Alfred Walter Hostel for exemption from paying water bills. It was reported that Alfred Walter Hostel s a faith-based and a non-profitable organization taking care of 150 children with mental challenges while attending school at Ratidzo Zimcare School.
“The request by Alfred Walter Hostel for exemption from paying water bills for account no. 43-010533-01-0 be granted,” added the minutes.
Masvingo United have struggled to make ends meet as the community owned team suffers from financial challenges since they do not have a sponsor.

Staff Reporter

CHIREDZI–4 Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Ephias Mahachi has urged the people of Chiredzi to avail more personnel during army recruitment programmes saying the district was failing to meet its target every year.
Mahachi was speaking at the commissioning of two classroom blocks that were constructed by Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) personnel with the local community providing labour at Monyoroka Primary School in ward 27 of Chiredzi.
He said ZNA recruit in a manner that reflects that it is a people’s army hence it should be representative of people from all parts of the country.
“To show that we are an army of the people, we need to recruit from the people. When we recruit, we look at the number of soldiers we want. We divide that number by 10 provinces we have in the country. We take the provincial number and divide it with the number of districts. That way, the army becomes a reflection of the whole country’s population.
“Here in Chiredzi, we used to have a challenge where we fail to get the required number from the district. You were not sending enough people. However, this year it was better but still you failed to meet the target. We wanted only 40 recruits from Chiredzi but you failed to meet that smaller number and we only got 27.
“So next time, I urge you to avail more people so that we fulfil our mandate. We don’t want our army to be one sided,” said Mahachi.
He said it was the army’s duty to assist communities during peace times like constructing schools, clinics and bridges which is a duty enshrined in the constitution.
“We are expected to do this as a way of thanking your sacrifices during the liberation struggle. We are different from yester year armies, we are an army of the people which comes from the people, so we come back to you when you need assistance,” he added.
He said on the Monyoroka project, they were called by the local MP Farai Musikavanhu and they will always come to do more if they are called for further development.
Recently ZNA commissioned Neromwe clinic in Chiredzi and have been doing more outreach programmes around the province during the Defence Forces commemorations week.