Tendai Charumbira

A gang of six armed robbers pounced on Shokoni business center in Chivi before proceeding to Petro Trade at Chibi growth point on June 13, 2022 and got away with several items including cash and motor vehicle among others.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and said the gang is still at large.

“We have received information concerning the robbery and investigations are in going but so far no arrests have been made,” said Dhewa.

The incident occurred at around 1300hrs.

Circumstances are that Jerifanosi Tsikira (69) was in his house with his family when three accused persons entered while the other three remained outside.

They demanded money from him and he gave them US$30 but they demanded for more to which Tsikira declined.

Tsikira was shot once in the right thigh and his wife was shot once on the right angle.

The wife then gave the robbers ZAR 3 000 and US$ 370 USD$ before they took her husband’s phone and demanded for car keys.

The accused persons drove off in Tsikira’s Honda Fit.

Tsikira reported the matter at Chibi police.

One source at Shokoni business centre said the robbers left behind a Fun Cargo vehicle believed to have been hijacked at Ngundu before grabbing Tsikira’s Honda Fit.

On the same day at around 1400hrs, the robbers approached Petro Trade at Chibi growth point driving the Honda Fit they intended to refuel.

Petrol attendant identified as Reason Chigamba (50) attended to them. One of the accused persons pointed a gun at Chigamba demanding money and dragged the latter to an office. Chigamba gave them US$1 520, before they took US$60 and ZAR 100 from one of the workers and they drove away.

PETRO Trade is operating at a service station that belongs to Chivi Central legislator Ephraim Gwanongodza.

Last year armed robbers attacked Shongamiti business person Tafara Gudoshava demanding money before shooting him to death for failing to give in to their demands.

…as NCDs contributes to 71% global deaths annually

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru-Health experts have urged government to ensure easy access to health services in the fight against non-communicable diseases.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are diseases that are not transmitted from one person to another.
These diseases are also known as chronic diseases as they are long lasting and progressive due to complex interaction of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors.
Speaking to this publication during an interview on June5, Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union (ZPNU) president and health expert Robert Chiduku said it was unfortunate that the country’s health sector was struggling to contain NCDs due to economic hardships.
“Diseases such hypertension, asthma, kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus among others are posing a threat to the health of ordinary Zimbabweans, who cannot afford to fund their medical bills.
Public health institutions have no drugs and diagnostic equipment, forcing citizens to go for private sector players who charge exorbitant prices to ordinary citizens.
“Government should ensure public health financing and allocate enough money on health budget which should meet or exceed the 15percent Abuja declaration. Strong health policies remain one of the key drivers to prevent and control non communicable diseases,” Chiduku said.
When African Union member states met in Abuja, Nigeria, in April 2001, they committed to allocate 15percent of their government budgets to health because more resources were required to address pressing health challenges including HIV and AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
Founder and director of Beat Non Communicable Diseases Zimbabwe (BeatNCDs Zim) a network of people Living with NCDs Jacob Ngwenya however said five major types of diseases which the health institution was battling were mainly cardiovascular diseases such as heart failures and strokes, diabetes, cancer as well as chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma alongside mental health.
Ngwenya further said there was need to increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, sugar sweetened beverages as efforts to create an enabling environment to quit smoking and drinking alcohol alongside other illicit drugs.
“NCDs are not limited to these five conditions but there are more like chronic kidney disease, skeletal diseases such as arthritis, oral health disorders, obesity and auto immune disorders among many. These diseases are large contributors to disability and death.
“They contribute to at least 71% of all deaths globally per annum. This translate to the fact that NCDs contribute seven out of the world’s top ten killer diseases. NCDs also contribute about four out of five lived years with disability. NCDs are impacting negatively on our families, communities and countries health wise as well as economically such that we can’t afford to ignore them. Despite the diversity of these diseases, they all have the same risk factors both modifiable and non-modifiable.
“Not much can be done on non-modifiable risk factors such as age, ethnicity, sex and make-up but we can deal with modifiable risk factors so that we can delay the onset of the NCDs. The modifiable risk factors for NCDs are poor nutrition inclusive of poor dietary habits, physical inactivity, use of tobacco, improper use of alcohol and unhealthy environment,” Ngwenya said.
However findings obtained by the Beat Non Communicable Diseases Zimbabwe Network reveal that, non-communicable diseases have of late been fuelled by population aging and changes in lifestyle among other issues.
He said one thing people should understand about NCDs was that they had become an epidemic of their age culminating into a pandemic in slow motion, adding that NCDs could largely be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle which requires more than just personal determination.
“For example when wholesome food is more expensive and unavailable than junk food, when physical activity is a challenge, when parks and recreational facilities are not safe or properly equipped in some cases destroyed as the looming takeover of Gweru Sports Club and dilapidated state of Gweru City Council owned youth centers it becomes a challenge.
“The government should ensure access to health services to its population including access to early detection of disease, diagnosis, treatment provided without discrimination and without undue financial hardship.
“People must be provided with information and support that empowers them to manage their conditions which give them greater control over their health and to the health of their families. This way we can all prevent this epidemic from getting worse and enjoy longer and productive lives,” he added.

Faith Duri

Delayed approval of a corporate license from the Ministry of Health and Child Care is stalling the official opening of Runyararo West Clinic which was supposed to function during the first week of June 2022.
In an interview with TellZim on June 06, 2022 Masvingo Mayor Clr Collen Maboke said all is set for the clinic to open doors but delays by the Ministry of Health and Child Care is pushing them back.
“All is set for the clinic to open but we are now waiting for the approval of the corporate license from the Ministry of Health,” said Maboke.
Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa also added that all is set for the clinic to open except for these delays.
“We have since finished the recruitment of workers only the delays of the approval of the license is delaying us to officially open the clinic.
“The earlier they approve the earlier we are going to open,” added Eng Mukaratirwa.
The health center was supposed to open during the first week of June as was stated by Engineer Mukaratirwa on May 17, 2022.
“The relevant authority has already approved the opening of the clinic but right now we are in the process of recruiting workers .We are almost done so except the clinic to be functional first week of June,” he said.
The much-awaited opening will offer relief to residents from the city’s western suburbs like Runyararo West and Victoria Range among others who endure the pain of travelling long distances at access health care services.
Corporate license means access to the licensed technology with one licensee’s brand running on a dedicated and highly secured server for the term of the agreement.
The corporate license is valid for all company sites of the users employed by the company, including all associated companies.

Fredrick Moyo

Parents with children enrolled at Masvingo City Council run Shakashe Primary School have raised concerns after the school reportedly demanded they pay an extra US$ 10 levy towards construction of an additional block.
The parents claim Shakashe had effected an additional US$ 10 for every child without considering payments in local currency and the additional charge does not appear on the school’s quotation sheets.
“The school is charging an extra-levy of US$ 10 for constructing an additional block without an option of ZW$ payment. We actually think we are being robbed as we only pay the US $10 considering that many parents are getting paid in local currency.
“This levy is being paid at the school while the school fees are being paid at the bank and this raises questions why this levy is being paid at the school considering how risky it is to keep funds at school in the wake of these rampant armed robberies,” said the source.
Parents questioned whether the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is aware of what the school is doing and most of the hardware shops in the city also sell their products in ZW$.
“Is the ministry even aware of what the school is doing and do they have auditors to look into this issue? Most if not all shops in the city accept payments in local currency, why did they peg the levy in US$ only,” said one parent.
Contacted for comment Shakashe School head Alexander Mashenjere refuted the claims that the school is only charging the extra-levy in US$ saying those who want to pay in ZW$ may come forward and do so.
“We held a meeting and more than 2 000 parents agreed to pay the levy in US$ and also agreed that those who want to pay using ZW$ must also come forward and make their payments. The ministry also approved that the levy can be paid in both US$ and ZW$ and construction works are underway as we speak right now,” Mashenjere said.
Acting Provincial Education Director (PED) Shylet Mhike confirmed that the school sent a letter requesting for the payment of the levy in US$.
“The school sent a letter requesting for the payment of the levy in US$ and it was approved but this does not mean that those who want to pay in ZW$ cannot do so,” said Mhike.
Most workers in Zimbabwe including civil servants are paid their salaries in local currency and find it tough to pay for either goods or services in foreign currency.

Tendai Charumbira

Disgruntled students at Masvingo Teachers’ College have called upon responsible authorities to intervene and save the situation at the tertiary institution alleging some of the lecturers are milking them through unfair practices.
The students allege lecturers in the Professional Studies Syllabus (PSA) and Art Professional Syllabus B, are holding them ‘hostage’ by demanding payments in form of foreign currency (US$ 10) if they are to pass given assignments in the two departments.
Speaking to TellZim News, one of the students said their lecturers are not directly demanding the money but they will give assignments and if they fail to meet their demands they then make them fail deliberately so that they pay them money for better marks.
“Our lectures are giving us lower marks even if you meet the demands of the assignments. Because we want to pass, we are forced to pay for better marks,” said the anonymous student.
Another student who refused to be named as well said they are appealing for action from the responsible authorities as they are left with no option than to pay lecturers.
“We are calling for the responsible authorities to take action against this type of corruption as we have no option than to pay lecturers in order to pass.
Contacted for comment, one of the lectures in question said he cannot comment as he is not allowed to speak to the media.
Another lecturer at the college who refused to be named said they are not aware that such things are happening as it is illegal to do so unless it is the external assessors’ materials for practical assignments.
“I don’t know that is happening at our institution because we are not allowed to do that unless it is a practical assignment or external assessor’s materials,” said the lecturer.
The college’s principal Benson Mutambudzi said he cannot comment as the matter is under investigation.
“The matter is under investigation, so I cannot comment on it at the moment,” said Mutambudzi.
Due to the harsh economic conditions prevailing in the country, some of those lecturers have resorted to off-loading the burden of economic woes on the struggling students.
In some cases in the Art department, students are given assignments which need to be done using the Heat press machine and they are left with no option other than giving in to such pressures and thus pay for the assistance of the lecturers.