Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-Gonarezhou National Park has moved towards addressing human-wildlife conflict through introduction of the lion collar system.
The move will enable them to intensively and continuously monitor the location of the collared animals.
Gonarezhou Natonal Park recently introduced the pilot lion satellite collar system on two lions (female and male), which will enable its lion research team to identify and understand lion populations and dynamics as well as their location which will then allow a quicker response towards mitigating any potential wildlife human conflict.
In an interview, Gonarezhou National Parks Marketing and Communications Clerk Malvern Mrewa said the collar system will allow the park authority and lion research team to continuously check the location of these animals as well as collect data of how they utilize the park’s space.
“Wildlife collar are used to collect animal location data. This then allows us to continuously and intensively monitor the collared animals, helping us to learn about their space use, activity patterns and threats they face, in order for us to devise solutions and recommendations to help protect them and those around them,” said Mrewa.
Lions are a critical part of the African ecosystem as it keeps the number of herbivores under control. If the herbivore population is not regulated, the increase of competition among them could cause some to go extinct, thereby reducing biodiversity.
With the ever increasing human populations, lions are in trouble with the increasing human population threatening lion habitats which is continuously pushing the predators into close contact with humans, increasing the risk of human-wildlife conflict with the killing of lions as well as livestock.
Collaring is an effective way to track lion movement and mitigate human-wildlife conflict where lions exist closer to human settlements. They send real time location updates to park authorities who can later warn communities about the presence of lions in the vicinity and deploy wildlife officers to respond immediately.
The satellite collaring project is still at its infant stages and will continue for a while as it will enable the lion research team to identify and understand lion populations and dynamics in the park.
Every year, there are reports of lions that could have escaped the boundaries of conservancies, either Gonarezhou or Malilangwe, while some end up being shot by professional hunters and others escorted back into their territories.
With the introduction of the lion collar system, it will be easy for Gonarezhou to closely monitor the movement of these predators and act accordingly in order to prevent the human-wildlife conflict threat.

…As Midlands community condemn sexual exploitation perpetrator

Yeukai Munetsi

Gweru -Women in Gweru have raised concern over the circulation of a video on social media last week of a toddler playing with her mother’s boyfriend’s private parts.
Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe Midlands Chapter Gweru chairperson Nozipho Rutsate reiterated that as WCoZ they condemned such actions of abuse and encouraged mothers to protect the girl child by all means.
She added that, the video went against this year’s theme of Day of the African Child which was celebrated on June 16.
“We recently celebrated Day of The African Child under the theme ‘protecting the girl child from harmful practices’ and this video goes against this initiative,” said Rutsate.
She reiterated that acts of abuse in the video are a reflection of what is actually taking place in various families and communities and as such both mother and boyfriend should face the law accordingly.
Enitha Nyathi a WCoZ member also applauded socialite Felistus ‘Mai TT’ Murata who went to the toddler’s mother to demand justice for the minor.
“I applaud what Mai TT did and I encourage all mothers to have the same spirit of putting their children first in such situations of abuse,” she said.
Youth Essence Director Nobuhle Mahlahla also encouraged the community to bring such perpetrators of abuse to justice.
“Community should unite and protect these children not only in relation to sexual abuse but other types of abuses also,” said Mahlahla.
She added that her wish was to see justice prevail for the toddler.
“Very unfair and heartless individuals like this man should be brought to book,” added Mahlahla.
Gweru ward 4 councillor Martin Chivhoko condemned the act saying such perpetrators of abuse were supposed to be hanged.
“These people are bad apples in our society. They must be hanged.
How can one do that to a child?” Chivhoko said.
A Gweru resident (who refused to be named) added that this was a disgrace to all men and the perpetrator deserved life imprisonment.
“I am infuriated to the last about this video and very much embarrassed as a man that we have such paedophiles in the world.
“This child has been damaged for life. Such men should be arrested and given life in prison,” he said.

…rearing 300 Kalahari goats towards kids livelihoods

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-In true ‘back to school’ style, about 600 pupils from wards 16, 17 and 21 who had dropped out of school had their hopes of getting an education rejuvenated following resource injection towards their welfare by Coalition Against Child Labour (CACLAZ).
The organization bailed out the learners through providing them with stationery, food and school fees which are derived from the livelihood projects where they have 300 Kalahari goats in a move to promote their anti-child labour drive.
During the Senate’s Thematic Committee on Human Rights indicated that they are in total rejection of children being used as labour, which might be happening in the sugarcane estates.
CACLAZ, founded in 2007 with a main thrust in responding to the growing problems of child labour in the country, is currently raising awareness to fight the practice in Chiredzi communities and mobilize them for greater action against the scourge through bringing back school dropouts to school and providing for their welfare through livelihood projects of Kalahari goats, which will cater for their school fees.
The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has also managed to cater for their health and nutrition through the provision of porridge and Maheu.
They have delivered 6 tons of both porridge and traditional drink maheu to three primary schools namely Uswaushava, Chipiwa and Kushinga where they have also delivered 7 200 exercise books, 2 400 pens, 3 024 pencils, 1 200 brown covers and 1 200 plastic covers.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s Learner Welfare Officer Simon Chaminama welcomed the initiative and encouraged the project coordinators to prioritize the welfare of children first before anything.
“On whatever we are going to be doing, chairpersons and project coordinators, let’s prioritize children first, this is not for us to benefit from but the children, so let’s honour that in all our processes,” said Chaminama.
One of the school returnees, 13 year-old Brian Dhliwayo who is doing grade 6 at Chipiwa Primary School in Mkwasine thanked CACLAZ for bringing him back to school, which he had left due to incapacitation.
“I would like to thank you CACLAZ for bringing me back to school after a long time of being a drop-out. I had dropped out from school because of lack of resources, but with you providing them for me, I will continue with my studies happily,” said Dhliwayo.
A good number of learners drop out of school due to failure to afford the needed stationery and school fees due to economic challenges.

Faith Duri

Chief Nemamwa born Fungai Manjiva said the local communities are not realizing the full benefit of natural resources abundant in their local area and challenged the responsible authorities to ensure communities are developed.
Speaking during a belated World Press Freedom Day commemorations hosted on June 18 by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe at Sikato Primary School, Manjiva said Nemamwa boasts of a number of resources among them the Great Zimbabwe Monuments (a world heritage site), Lake Mutirikwi and minerals around the Manyama area, whose proceeds are not used towards improving livelihoods of locals.
“Tourists come and pay certain amounts of money but it is not benefiting us as a community. Of course, I cannot say the amount of money they get per week or per month, all I am saying is we have such tourist attraction in form of Great Zimbabwe Monuments here in Nemamwa, let it contribute in helping the community,” said Chief Nemamwa.
He also raised the issue of environmental degradation by artisanal miners in the Manyama area and he said the minerals mainly gold mined there are not even helping develop the area.
“The issue of artisanal miners is our major problem in this community; they just come and dig wherever they want as long as they suspect there is gold hence causing environmental degradation not even considering the fact that we have sacred places where we do our rituals.
“They do not follow our customary laws that compel them to first inform the Chief in whatever activity you want to do when you are in someone’s area of jurisdiction, so we are pleading with the government or investors to give our youth proper mining documentation and equipment and thus creating employment to our local people,” he added.
He further challenged authorities to upgrade the status of Nemamwa to at least a satellite town.
“We call upon government to upgrade the status of Nemamwa for it to be a satellite town of Masvingo where we can see N.Richards, OK supermarket and banks so that our community will be digitalized, we have so many young generations who do not even know how to take money at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM),” added the Chief .
Manjiva also raised the issue of fish poachers in Mutirikwi suggesting that government should have put in place measures that would allow for the locals to be given fishing licenses and thus ensure they would benefit something from the lake.
“Fishery is a great project that can raise Nemamwa’s status but unlawful fishers came without our consent fishing in the lake.
“National Parks should also give us fishing boats at least three of them that will help our community in fishing projects hence increasing employment creation and helping the local community,” added Manjiva.
He however, said the community has seen some glimpses of hope towards the development front after construction of two maternity wards at clinics relieving pregnant women from the burdens of accessing proper maternal health care.
“We have new developments that we really appreciate as a community for example the construction of 10 megawatts power generation project from the dam wall though we desire for more mega warts and also construction of two maternity clinics. Women would travel long distances while some will even gave birth in scotch-carts on their way to clinics,” he added.

…Councillors call for implementation of ‘clamp and tow away’

Courage Dutiro

Masvingo City Council management has acknowledged that the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) is giving them a headache over the issue of returning long-distance buses to Mucheke bus terminus as the public-owned transporter continues to use undesignated pick and drop points in the Central Business District (CBD).

Speaking during a full council meeting held on June 27, 2022, Masvingo City Town Clerk engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said they have approached ZUPCO Masvingo Depot manager who seems reluctant to follow their orders.

“We approached Zupco local depot, the manager seems to have some sort of attitudes so I think we should get in touch with his head office,” said Mukaratirwa.

Mayor councillor Collen Maboke said as a council they should just enforce the by-laws and should not be given a headache by a single bus operator.

“The issue of taking busses back to Mucheke bus terminus was raised some time ago but up to now, there is nothing that has materialized. We are just pilling up resolutions. I think there is no need to consult the transporters, let’s just enforce the by-laws since no one is above the law. We have a by-law that doesn’t allow long-distance busses to load in the Central Business District (CBD).

“Let’s move the buses to Mucheke bus terminus. As councilors, we cannot be overpowered by a single person, the ZUPCO depot manager,” said Cllr Maboke.

Ward 10 councilor Sengerayi Manyanga also weighed in and said the councilors are the city fathers and they should not be troubled by such transporters.

“We are the only council that doesn’t have a rank in the country. Let’s learn from Gweru. We are the city fathers here in Masvingo, we should not be troubled by a mere depot manager,” said Manyanga.

Ward 1 councilor Alderman Selina Maridza also said Masvingo City is not serious about enforcing its by-laws.

Newly elected ward 3 councilor Roki Kamuzonda chipped in and encouraged council management to put more effort in taking buses to Mucheke bus terminus to sustain the lives of people in ward1.

Ward 5 councilor Daniel Mberikunashe said it is disgusting to note how the proliferation of such ‘bus termini’ are posing a health hazard to establishments like Chevron Hotel as the absence of ablution facilities has seen the emergence of open toilets as travellers and those manning the ranks seek to relieve themselves.

“Just take a closer look at the case of Chevron hotel. The hotel deserves peace and privacy for its clients but just look how the bus operators have turned the place in to a disorderly scene.

“Some of the rank marshals are now even going to the extent of using toilet facilities at Chevron much to the detriment of the hotel owners and clientele. Just clamping the errant buses and tow them is the only way to go,” said Mberikunashe.

Councilor Richard (ward 7) also weighed in saying the move to allow disorder in CBD is also costing its much needed revenue as they cannot account for the rank fees in the CBD while a the same time he proposed stiffer penalties for those found wanting.

“It is high time council enforce the by-law seriously. I suggest the matter be referred back to the finance committee so that we come up with a resolution with a stiffer penalty for those found picking or dropping in the CBD,” said Musekiwa.

Council has on a number of occasions debated on best to force bus operators off the CBD, but the move seemed to be hitting a brick wall as other transporters who intend to abide would take a leaf from ZUPCO, shun Mucheke rank and use the CBD as well.

Masvingo City is characterized by long-distance buses loading on undesignated areas in the CBD.

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-The wait is finally over for Melbourne Park beneficiaries after town council gave them green light to start construction in the partially serviced medium density suburb.
The development comes after three years of waiting for allocation as the local authority was trying to service the stands before officially handing them over to owners in order to avoid the Makondo saga, where residents were allowed to construct houses on un-serviced stands.
Melbourne Park medium density residential project, which came as a partial relief to the ever growing housing waiting list in the slowly growing sugarcane town were allocated to beneficiaries in 2019 at the cost of $25.00 per square meter and took almost three years to complete servicing as the companies that were tendered to develop roads, drainage lines, sewer and water reticulation system took ages to complete as the funds were hit by inflation.
Currently, CTC is selling some remaining stands at Melbourne Park in order to complete servicing some parts of the project, with sewer system being the major challenge left.
The local authority has given green light to the beneficiaries to start submitting their house plans for approval in order to begin construction, which will be subdivided into three sections, with section A, which is at 90percent in terms of servicing, being the first to construct while the local authority completes servicing sections B and C.
In an interview, CTC acting council chairperson Ropafadzo Makumire said beneficiaries have been given green light to start submitting their plans for approval at the local authority with section A being cleared to begin construction while the local authority completes works in sections B and C.
“Beneficiaries have been given the green light to begin construction with section A being cleared to start construction while sections B and C will commence once servicing has been completed. We had set a deadline 31 July but seems people will be moving to their sites earlier as works are almost complete for A, then to B and C,” said Makumire.
Gerry Chigavakava chairperson of Melbourne Park construction committee said the latest development is the best thing to embrace following three years of stalemate with the local authority.
“In the interest of progress, given that we are coming from the background where we had a three year stalemate with CTC, this latest development is the best thing that we should embrace at this time. Going forward it helps us to break even, we know now that people should start presenting their developmental plans for approval.
“This gives us hope as Section A is starting doing works on the 20th of July. It’s a factor that gives hope. We know that there is now development from the bonafide beneficiaries,” said Chigavakava.

Faith Duri

Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (ZINATU) has criticised the decision by government to offer 100 percent salary increment to civil servants saying it serves no purpose to the already suffering workers.
In a petition letter dated June 20 undersigned by ZINATU Secretary General Livison Maunganidze directed to the Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima, ZINATU described the 100 percent increment as a big mockery to workers.
“The ZINATU acknowledges the ongoing dialogue at the national joint negotiating council, however we have noted with gravy and debilitating concern that the idea of using percentage in arriving at new levels of remuneration is misfiring by government as it can no longer work in today’s hyper inflation environment.
“If salaries are increased by 100 percent, it would appear that salaries have been increased by a huge margin yet 100 percent of nothing is nothing. The figures being arrived at after a 100 percent increment on salaries remain a big mockery to workers,” read part of the petition.
Maunganidze also criticised decision by government to stick to local currency at the expense of foreign currency.
“The economy whether we like it or not, had fully dollarized and anything to the contrary is rejecting the naked truth. Dismissing or ongoing this fact only serves to exacerbate the suffering of employees, the Zimbabwean dollar salaries have totally been eroded by the ever galloping inflation.
“Employees can not catch up with the parallel market rate which is fleecing employees of their hard earned cash yet the same employees have no other alternative than to resort to using parallel market rate to transact,” added the petition.
The petition also stated that ZINATU proposed government should make a paradigm shift by moving from increasing salaries in ZW$ percent to using real US$ increment method.
“Government should move or adjust the current US$ component of US$ 175 to US$ 540 for the lowest paid with immediate effect and should also allow employees to have the option to withdraw all their remaining ZW$ balances in US$ over the counter at bank rate,” read the letter.
However, the union urged government to consider workers grievances when engaging in dialogues with them.
“Government should expedite the process of dialogue to avoid short changing employees.
“The process of negotiations should not take too long and should avoid taking time with consultations within itself and that the consultation is limited to an agreed number,” added the petition.
The stalemate between government and civil servants has been on going and currently nurses and doctors at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals are protesting against poor wages and working conditions while at the same time demanding salaries in foreign currency.