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Masvingo city losing volumes of water in transmission

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Masvingo city losing volumes of water in transmission

Faith Duri

Masvingo City Council is losing lots of water in transmission due to an old and malfunctioning system, with 1800 cubic meters (m3) of water lost in Rujeko as at May 4, 2022.
This was revealed in the council minutes of proceedings of the Public Works and Planning Committee meeting dated May 09, 2022 under the section (vii) and (viii) named water fitting and DMA1 (Rujeko).
The minutes state that the total of water supplied and the total water billed is different and it leaves a total of 18 401 cubic meters water unaccounted for.
“It was reported that three bulk water meters were installed in Rujeko area and the readings were taken on May 4 2022 with the following readings: the total water supplied is 78 587m3, total water billed was 60 186 m3 while total water lost was 18 401 m3 and non- revenue water is 23.41 percent,” read the minutes.
There were also reported cases of water pipe bursts in Rujeko area.
“It was reported that the section recorded and attended to 85 pipe bursts, 5 water meter connections, 63 meter replacements and 3 sewer connections during the month of April 2022,” read the minutes.
Masvingo council has been often accused of failing to fulfill their mandate in terms of adequate clean water provision to its residents despite several litres lost during transmission.
Due to the breakages of water pipes 23.41% of the water that is supposed to go to residents’ households is lost as stated in the minutes.
Masvingo city has been experiencing perennial water challenges in recent years due to ballooning population which is way above its pumping capacity.
The population in Masvingo is reported around 150 000 yet the water supply system is designed to supply 80 000 people and the system is able to supply 38 mega liters per day of a daily demand estimated at 45 mega liters.
At one point in 2021, council was reported to be pumping half-treated water to residents while barely a month ago residents went for more than two weeks with dry taps.

Comic Pastor to grace Masvingo

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Comic Pastor to grace Masvingo

Faith Duri

Stand-up comedy fans in Masvingo will be in for a treat today (June 10, 2022) as Prosper Ngomashi commonly known as Comic Pastor and Nigel Maritinyu also known as The Slick Pastor are set to stage a stand-up comedy show at Charles Austin Theatre at the Civic Centre.
Speaking to TellZim News on June 8 Ngomashi said he is promising fireworks to all his fans.
“We are coming to Masvingo with my colleague Nigel and from Masvingo there is a guy called Mambo Guramatunhu and another musician who we are going to share the stage with. We are promising them value for their money. We started this show called THE TWO GUYS VEMU T.V TOUR last year but because of Covid-19 we couldn’t come to Masvingo.
“Fans are going to get the best because all these days we have been compiling a lot of jokes for the people of Masvingo so we want to give them something tangible and meaningful. Hopefully we will entertain them to the fullest.
“Get ready the team is coming unfortunately some of our sponsors couldn’t make it. We wanted to bring the whole team, we are only bringing the crew behind the scenes. Masvingo get ready we are coming to make you laugh your lungs out this coming Friday,” said Ngomashi.
Charles Austin theatre has not been functional of late after a long lay-off after closure by the owners of the facility Masvingo City Council following reports of abuse of the theatre facility by the people who were running it then.
The visit may signal the dawn of a new beginning to the artists, theatre practitioners and entrepreneurs in Masvingo.

Councilors grill management over refuse collection

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Councilors grill management over refuse collection

Melinda Kusemachibi

Masvingo City councilors recently grilled management over its lackadaisical approach on refuse collection, urging the later to explore other means of combating the ever worsening solid waste management situation.
Speaking at a full council meeting held on May 31, 2022 at Civic Center, Masvingo ward 3 councilor Roki Kamuzonda raised the need for council to procure more vehicles to assist the current two.
“As council we need to buy more refuse compactors in order to improve on refuse collection unlike a situation in which the whole city is served by two refuse compactors which are sometimes down due to effects of overloading. If council can buy something like three compactors, then the current fleet would be relieved of the challenges,” said Kamuzonda.
Ward 10 councilor Sengerai Manyanga echoed Kamuzonda’s sentiments suggested that council should approach big companies or corporates in the province to source for resources towards improving the dire situation.
“Council should engage companies such as Renco Mine, Bikita Minerals or even Mimosa mine in Zvishavane. That is what we should do as council so that we will be able to get help. We have few compactors and refuse collection will only be improved if we have more functioning refuse compactors,” said Manyanga.
Environmental Health chairperson ward 8 councilor Against Chiteme said overloading is a sign of lack of enough compactors.
“Over loading is a sign that there are few compactors. If council does not have money to buy new refuse compactors, at least buy new engines so that the compactors will be functional,” said Chiteme.
In response to the issue, Masvingo Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said they had made efforts to communicate with those companies but nothing fruitful has been realized.
“Communications were done to Mimosa and Tongaat Hullets through their Public Relations sections though were are yet to have responses. As for Bikita Minerals, the last time we communicated result with them, they were talking of changes in management and as a result there could be no breakthrough then. We will have to make follow ups and l will have to approach Tongaat Hulett when I go for my assignment there in Chiredzi.
“We had intentions to purchase even more than three compactors but our cash flows are constrained. We had initially budgeted for two vehicles, with the first meant for first quarter of the year and the second one set for the second quarter but the concerning factor is finance, otherwise if we had enough finances we would purchase them,” said Engineer Mukaratirwa.
In the minutes of proceedings of the health housing and environmental services committees meeting held on May 5 2022 council highlighted that they have since resorted to hiring trucks to aid the two compactors.
“On the state of refuse collection trucks, the Chief Environmental Health Officer reported that two trucks were operational and council had since stopped hiring the truck from the Central Mechanical Engineering Department (CMED). Debate ensued on how best council could efficiently manage the refuse collection trucks.
“The committee raised concern on rampant illegal dumping in the commonage by the residents. It was agreed that ward councilors should educate residents during ward feedback meetings, to desist from illegal dumping,” read part of the minutes.
Masvingo has seen an increase in umber of illegal dumpsites due to council’s failure to collect refuse according to the schedule they set while also works at Cambria farm waste plant are behind time in completion.

Chiredzi SMES in smart city concept drive

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Chiredzi SMES in smart city concept drive

…As they move to phase out roadside vending

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have made strides to adopt the smart city concept here which will see informal traders formalizing their businesses by moving from undesignated vending cites into proper and well serviced market places.
The markets are to be operated on a build, operate and transfer basis.
Masvingo provincial chairperson for SMEs Venancio Kurauone recently lobbied Chiredzi Town Council (CTC) during the 26th ordinary full council meeting held at council boardroom to help their association towards their vision of the Smart City concept.
The initiative will see its members moving away from the undesignated vending sites into more formal business sites.
Addressing councilors, Kurauone said the SMEs are moving to adopt the smart city concept on a Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) concept.
“As SMEs, we have also adopted the smart city concept on a Built Operate and Transfer basis. So the land that belongs to council will be leased to us on a BOT basis. So we are currently targeting two places that is opposite N Richards and the existing flea-market that shares land with the civic center.
“We are going to upgrade those places and traders currently operating there will be the first beneficiaries of the concept and we will incorporate more. This will persuade people to vacate their roadside vending stalls which are undesignated,” said Kurauone.
Chiredzi Town Council vice chairperson Ropafadzo Makumire who was chairing the meeting said council will look into the deal and respond in the earliest possible time.
“We have heard your presentation and we are going to deliberate the matter as council and get back to you in the earliest possible time,” said Makumire.
Chiredzi was slowly becoming shanty with street side vending promoting environmental pollution.

Dismissed Engineer holds on to council vehicle, bargains for lower price

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Dismissed Engineer holds on to council vehicle, bargains for lower price

Thabiso Nxumalo

Councilors and management at Masvingo City Council (MCC) are at loggerheads over the value of a Mazda double-cab service vehicle currently possessed by dismissed former Director of Engineering Services Engineer Tawanda Gozo’s since the termination of his contract allegedly over incompetence.
Council minutes of a Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held on May 16, 2022, shows that Engineer Gozo claims that the US$ 12 800 price offered by council is too high and requested a downward review to US$ 3 840.
“In terms of council policy vehicles are depreciated on a straight-line basis and hence have a book value of zero at the end of the five-year span. Mr. T Gozo had argued that the price was too steep and would defeat the idea behind incentivizing a user of a condition of service vehicle.
“It was reported that in his acceptance letter, Mr. T Gozo had requested council to review the price to 30 percent of the revalued amount being US$ 3 840,” read the minutes.
The Committee had clarified conditions on which vehicles should be sold to officials but a debate ensued after some members fingered Town Clerk Eng. Mukaratirwa over a similar issue when he was sold a Toyota Hilux by the same council sometime last year.
“It was clarified that on retirement, a council employee would get the conditions of service free after five years of usage. Regarding the method used to dispose the Toyota Hilux vehicle to the Town Clerk, it was clarified that the car had been sold to him using the revalued price from the valuation done by the Ministry of Local Government.
“Some councilors were of the view that the policy should be reviewed such that an employee who has used the car for a period of five years enjoys the same benefits as an employee who is leaving council employment on retirement after using the condition of services vehicle for five years, other members argued that reviewing a policy to address this situation individually would set a bad precedence in policy making.” part of the minutes added.
Engineer Gozo also applied to use the vehicle in question for a personal trip to South Africa and was granted permission by council.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Chamber Secretary on the letter from Mr. T Gozo for permission to use vehicle ADY 1628 for a trip to South Africa.
“It was reported that council had since offered the vehicle to him and process of transferring the vehicle into his name is still in progress,” the minutes read.
However, the issue of Gozo is treated as if he is an employee getting terminal benefits despite the fact that his was not retirement but dismissal and entitlement to such benefits becomes questionable.
Engineer Gozo was in 2021 relieved of his duties from council on grounds of gross incompetence.

Soldier, friend in court for shoplifting

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Soldier, friend in court for shoplifting

Tendai Charumbira

A 30 year-old soldier stationed at 4.1 Infantry Brigade and his friend were dragged to Masvingo Magistrate court on June 7, 2022 facing charges of alleged shop lifting.

The soldier Milton Mutumbi who resides at 4.1 barracks and Wilson Kambeva residing at 4228 Dambiro Street in Mucheke A were remanded out of custody to June 22 by magistrate Ritaiswe Silaigwana for continuation of trial.

The duo reportedly broke the window of the complainant’s shop and stole some groceries items including biscuits, corn flakes and cerevita.

It is the state case as presented by prosecutor Nick Chamisa, on February 10, 2022 at around 0005 hours at Mandava shop in Mucheke rank, the accused persons approached the premises belonging to McDonald Tava.

Kambera allegedly broke the window and together with Mutumbi started taking some groceries placing them at a secluded place.

The stolen groceries included 20×500g boxes of cerevita, 2×50g loose biscuits, 10×200g biscuits and one box of cornflakes.

All the drama was witnessed by Tanaka Mufamba who was at his work place on night duty.

The accused persons gave some of the groceries to Mufamba so that he could not reveal the offence and he agreed to the deal.

Police officers received a tip off and acting upon it, managed to arrest Mufamba who led them to the two accused.

They managed to recover 4 x boxes of cerevita, 2×500 loose biscuits and one box of cornflakes from one Shylock Mushayi.

The stolen groceries added to ZW$ 10 092 and were all recovered.

Young women seek space in Gweru city governance processes

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Young women seek space in Gweru city governance processes

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru– Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ)’s Young Women Forum (Midlands chapter) recently engaged with office bearers in Gweru in efforts to promote involvement of young women in governance issues.
The engagement was meant to seek developmental initiatives to uplift women in communities.
Speaking on the side lines of the engagement, WCoZ Gweru chapter chairperson Nozipho Rutsate said young women were worried about their participation in governance issues.
“As the young women cluster under WCoZ, today we have thought of engaging our councillors and seek clarity on service provision and available opportunities for young women to participate in governance issues.
“As a chapter, our biggest worry remains that of young women’s involvement in decision making processes. We want young women to be involved in developmental projects and all programmes which concern their welfare. So we seek to understand what council has done to enable the involvement of young women in governance issues,” she said.
She added that as young women they once wrote to council to acquire stands but failed to get feedback from the local authority.
“We once wrote to council seeking for stands as young women. Women don’t have resources but we saw it fit that if we are incorporated onto the waiting list, at least if something comes up we can then do something or save monies from our hustles in order to purchase the stands.
“Upon writing, we then waited for feedback but it didn’t come, quiet a number of young women applied to get the stands but no reply came. This was done before the Covid-19 era. So we may also want to understand where we are now with this issue,” she added.
Gweru city council finance committee chairperson and ward 4 councillor Martin Chivhoko said there was need for young women through their WCoZ local leadership to do follow ups on some of the issues.
“Let me urge you as young people (women) to do a follow up on the issue of stands since you said you wrote to the local authority. This will help you to check if any progress was done in line with your stands plea.
“The challenge we have with young women is still the same, young women are not participating in most developmental initiatives. During ward meetings, young women are not forth coming. Ward meetings are open to all residents including the youths and these meetings are non-partisan because they are developmental. We want you to assume positions in ward committees. At the moment we don’t have any provisions which enable us to leave seats for young people, rather those who are selected are usually the ones who would have attended the meeting when the committee is selected.
“So as young women you can as well lobby council to set aside two seats which can be reserved for you. Once you do so, council can then sit and look into your plea, if it succeeds then it is passed as a resolution,” he said.
Chivhoko further said it was important for young women to engage council and outline their plea on recreational facilities.
“The issue of recreational facilities is the same as with that of youth participation. If you don’t speak out, we won’t know the facilities you want, we rather think all is well. We have facilities such as Gafa grounds but am sure they accommodate more outdoor sporting activities for men than women,” he added.
A member of the Young Women Forum in Gweru, Sharon Chipadza said young women do not have enough recreational facilities which suit their needs.
“As young people we don’t have adequate facilities to keep us active and busy. We believe council invested more in facilities for men than women, that is the same with community halls, we can’t use these facilities as council have commercialised them. We cannot organise or venture into clubs as young women as such infrastructure is being used for business purposes,” she said.
Responding to young women’s involvement in governance and politics ward 13 councillor Catherine Mhondiwa said most young women are failing to claim political leadership spaces due to fear.
“I can safely say women’s involvement is of paramount importance in the socio- developmental aspect of every community. I want to take this opportunity to encourage young women to fight for leadership spaces, don’t be intimidated or look down upon yourself, you can do it.
“We don’t want a situation where we only have one female councillor always, come on board and claim spaces. The challenge which I then discovered is most young women give a lot of excuses as to why they cannot be part of most local engagements. Then on the issue of thematic committee, yes we once engaged young women and some were appointed into the committees, so we were then affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.
“We could not continue meeting physically. As a result some of the meetings were put on hold and now that things are back to normal, I think that issue can be moved forward and through the Mayor a way forward can be availed,” she said.
Gweru Urban Member of Parliament Brain Dube however promised to move motions in parliament that support women participation in governance so as to leave no one behind.

SNV projects empowering women in marginalized communities

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SNV projects empowering women in marginalized communities

Faith Duri

Zambuko Livelihoods Initiative, a programme coordinated by Southern Netherlands Volunteers (SNV) is helping marginalized communities strengthen and diversify livelihoods among villagers at the same time acting as a solution to Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Speaking during a workshop held by SNV or Netherlands Development Organization in collaboration with other World Food Programme (WFP) cooperating partners under the USAID on May 27 2022 at the Chevron hotel, Development Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Fortune Sinamayi applauded the programme saying women are now able to stand for themselves and GBV is reduced through these projects.
“Women are able to stand for themselves. They are eager to learn and take risks they are no longer depending on their male counter parts hence reducing gender based violence. We would like to thank SNV for bringing in such a wonderful programme which keeps women’ minds busy.
“Zambuko livelihood projects are reducing hunger on us women. We are no longer waiting for our husbands to give us money, women are now able to do things they were afraid to do hence increasing women empowerment,” said Sinamayi.
Zambuko livelihood initiative has strengthened social cohesion nutrition and empowerment of youth and women, who constitute 57 percent beneficiaries hence they are able to take decisions at household level thereby reducing cases of GBV.
Ward 16 Agro-preneur Regina Mutende recited her poem about SNV as an appreciation to their gesture that has taught women how to be independent.
“You have taught us how to be independent on ourselves, you did not just give us fish but you taught us how to also catch fish. We want to thank you SNV for giving us such a wonderful Zambuko livelihoods projects,” said Mutende.
Another agro-preneur Patience Gonde of Ward 17 Masvingo rural also added that Zambuko livelihood projects have helped her a lot she is now a respected somebody in her community.
“I would like to thank Zambuko project for helping me financially, It has helped me escape my poor background and I am now a respected somebody in my society , for the past two years I have been able to pay my children’s school fees and even taking care of myself and my parents,” said Gonde.
Giving her testimony one of the vegetable farmer Alfonsina Mukomanzi of Chebvute village in Mwenezi said her life has changed as they proceeds from 3, 5 hectare piece of land supported by solar-powered irrigation water system are enough for her survival.
“Since 2017 when this project started, life has never been the same.
“All integrated livelihood support concept has done wonders for me and my fellow villagers.
“All the beneficiaries are a living testimony on how life can be easy due to availability of nutritious food as well as accessibility of money,” said Mukomanzi.
The programme Zambuko livelihoods projects started in January 2017 and it targets 5 000 households in Masvingo and Mwenezi districts.
The main objective of the projects is to strengthen and diversify livelihoods among Zimbabweans living in poverty and vulnerable current crises.
It also promotes an integrated approach to resilience buildings and seeks to improve smallholder farmer’s production, their governance of community resources and access to finance markets.
The programme is being implemented by partners like Aquaculture Zimbabwe (AQZ), International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement Goal, the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) and Old Mutual which is funded by SDC, USAid and France
Under the initiative, various farmers engage in various agricultural activities like poultry, horticulture and ‘mechanised Pfumvudza’ in which they use ploughs instead of labour-intensive use of hoes in the common Pfumvudza programme.
Women in the communities also pull their resources together in form of cash which they would use to fund their projects and even purchasing inputs for he projects.

Chiredzi West MP fined for by-passing electricity

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Chiredzi West MP fined for by-passing electricity

Beatific Gumbwanda

Chiredzi West ZANU PF Member of Parliament, Farai Musikavanhu was recently caught with hands in the cookie jar by Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for allegedly by-passing electricity at his 100 ha farm in Mkwasine.
Musikavanhu, former Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe (THZ) Agriculture Director however denies the allegations as he entirely blames his electrician.
ZETDC Loss Control department’s blitz to investigate those who have been prejudicing the power company in the lowveld through by-passing electricity, recently bumped into the Zanu PF legislator’s farm in Mkwasine where he has been escaping higher electricity bills through by-passing electricity for irrigation purposes.
In an interview with TellZim News Musikavanhu entirely blamed his electrician for the nemesis and said he had settled the matter with the power company.
“I was not aware that the electrician who maintains my system had made an error willingly so I paid the fine and ZESA has since reconnected the power,” said Musikavanhu.
Although the electrician had no benefits for by-passing electricity at his employer’s farm, Musikavanhu had failed to note the inconveniences on payment of ZESA bills.
ZETDC Communication and Marketing Officer Prosper Mutswiri refused to comment for a specific customer which he claimed would be private and confidential but explained that a police report is made once it is discovered that there is a meter by-pass.
“On discovery of a meter by-pass, the case is reported to the police as per Electricity Act Chapter 13:19 section 60A (1). In addition, as per the company’s policies and procedures, the point of supply is disconnected , equipment recovered and an assessment of prejudice and administration costs is done and customer account levied with the charges.
“The point of power supply is reconnected when the customer has settled the administration costs and the prejudice,” said Mutswiri.
According to the act, anyone who uses any electric current, knowing it to have been unlawfully abstracted or diverted, shall be guilty of an offense and liable to a fine not exceeding level fourteen or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both such fine and such imprisonment.
A few years ago, Musikavanhu was once accused of sabotaging Chiredzi Poly Clinic and the community at large after he allegedly ordered state of the art electric beds which had been donated by a UK-based businessman, John Manganye out of the maternity ward and were left in open at the mercy of rains.
After his forced retirement from THZ, Musikavanhu was forced to change ownership of some of his cars after the company threatened to attach some of his property as compensation to the company resources he used at his farm when he was still part of its executive.

Mohadi embarrassed in Masvingo

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Mohadi embarrassed in Masvingo

…Charumbira, Nemamwa kinsmen trade blows in his presence

Thabiso Nxumalo

Former vice president and Zanu PF second secretary Kembo Mohadi was humiliated on the initial day of his party’s traditional leadership mobilization programme as members from Charumbira and Nemamwa chieftainships traded blows on June 6 at Nemamwa Growth Point in his presence.

All hell broke loose towards the end of the meeting after Mohadi opened the floor for a plenary session and gave the floor to Chief Nemamwa representative which provoked the Charumbiras who do not recognize the chieftaincy.

One member of the Nemamwa clan identified as kraal head Gibson Machaka asked Mohadi why the installation of their chieftainship has taken ages since it was recognized some four to five years back.

Members from the Charumbira chieftaincy involved in the skirmishes were Zondi and Bylaw Charumbira, Adamson Zvitambo and Ramios Magura.

Though members of the media were excused from the meeting, people had to scuffle for free boxing as the Charumbiras attacked Machaka and security personnel had to be called into action though the damage on the latter seemed to have been done already.

One eye witness said the Charumbiras could be heard accusing Mohadi of coming to install Chief Nemamwa which is against their wish as they believe the chieftainship is illegitimate and does not exist.

“The guys from Charumbira chieftainship were shouting in protest asking if Mohadi had come to install Nemamwa. They argued Nemamwa has no legal basis to be called a Chief and accused Mohadi of taking the platform to install him,” said the eye witness.

Zanu PF Masvingo District Coordinating Committee (DCC) and Masvingo West ward 33 councillor Tawanda Dube poured cold water on the matter saying it was never something that serious but a minor misunderstanding.

“What just happened is that members from Charumbira chieftainship failed to find a common ground with those from Nemamwa clan who also claim to be Chiefs in their own right though they are yet to be installed. The Nemamwa representative did not even talk of their delayed installation to VP Mohadi but their rivals could just not approve of them being given a platform to air their views.

“What could have provoked the Charumbiras was when one kraal head representing Nemamwa was given the floor to speak as the former felt they should not be recognized and that ignited the clash. The party leader was even surprised as to how leaders can fight over such a petty issue and asked them why they engaged in the fight. He said nothing much over the matter,” said Cllr Dube.

He went on to say the purpose of the gathering was to bring together traditional leaders and DCCs towards attaining five million votes for President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“There was nothing really important that took place as the programme was just meant to unite DCCs and kraal heads to work together in mobilizing the five million votes required for the president,” he added.

The scuffle lasted for something like 20 minutes as security details some believed to be members of the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) and police tried to restore order while some village heads were walking away in protest.

Closer spectators were Masvingo Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira, party chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa, Zanu PF national secretary for security Lovemore Matuke and former national political commissar Retired major general Engelbert Rugeje and Dube, who chaired the proceedings.

In his concluding remarks, Mohadi made it clear that Zanu PF was going to use traditional leaders as part of their campaign machine for the upcoming 2023 harmonized elections.

Charumbira chieftaincy members have been involved in a number of scuffles when it comes to territorial boundaries after last year they were caught off guard as they attacked members of the resuscitated Bere chieftainship over boundary despites at a funeral.

Chief Charumbira is alleged to have taken advantage of political links with disposed former president the late Robert Mugabe and influential position in the Chiefs Council to extend his territory in Stephen area near Bhuka which historically is said to be belonging to Chief Bere.

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