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Covid-19: Double tragedy for disabled informal traders

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Covid-19: Double tragedy for disabled informal traders

Fredrick Moyo

National Council for Persons with Disabilities Zimbabwe (NCPDZ) Chairperson Tavengwa Mazhambe said Covid-19 induced lockdowns came as a double tragedy for people living with disabilities most of whom earn a living through informal trading as their businesses succumbed to the effects of the restrictions
Speaking at the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) commemorations held at the Civic Centre in Masvingo on December 10, Mazhambe said the lockdowns severely affected them and many are still struggling to make ends meet.
“During this pandemic, disabled persons who earn a living from informal trading found it difficult to make ends meet. Many are in the informal sector and have been forced to stay at home.
“We have no other source of income and this makes life hard for us as school fees, rental and basic needs are needed,” said Mazhambe.
Speaking at the same event, a representative from Zimbabwe Parents for Handicapped Children (ZPHC), Cecilia Takudzwa Mapfumo thanked the recognition people with disabilities in society are having through such commemorations.
“As the parents of people who live with disabilities, we would like to thank this programme as it recognises our children. We are appealing for the increment for schools which cater for them so that they are able to learn well.
“Our children face many challenges especially when they reach 18 years. They fail to continue with their studies, so we are asking for universities that can accommodate persons with disabilities,” said Mapfumo.
Zimbabwe Albino Association Chairperson Kudakwashe Masvinyangwa said the International Day for Persons with Disabilities is an important event to them where they can air out their grievances.
“This is an important day to persons with disabilities. It is a day in which we make reflections on what people did to us, what should be done while saying out our grievances to our leaders.
“The disability bill should be enacted into an Act as it assists us. We want to have a chance to mingle with other people, pave way for us in time.
“We should also be given land so that we have something productive to assist us, especially in the Lowveld from that land we can have positive self-esteem in the Albino society. This will also help us in generating funds to boost the association from that land,” said Masvinyangwa.
Economic Development Director for Masvingo Province Clever Chingwara who stood in for the Minister of State said the commemorations were very important in creating awareness in various sections of society as well as understanding disability issues.
“The celebration of this day is an important thing to the promotion of rights especially for people with disabilities in all spheres of the society, this increases awareness, understanding disability issues,” said Chingwara
The commemorations ran under the theme: Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and post Covid-19 world’.

Multimedia’s PR manager shines at IPRC awards

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Multimedia’s PR manager shines at IPRC awards

Kimberly Kusauka

Multimedia Public Relations and assistant media executive Elizabeth Mukabeta recently shined in the Institute of Public Relations and Communication Zimbabwe awards (IPRCZ) where the organisation scooped two awards.
Multimedia scooped an award in Best Public Relations and Communications Events and Mukabeta won an award in the category of Young PR and Communication Practitioner of the Year (40 and below) and was also first runner up in the Category of Corporate Communications Personality of the year.
Mukabeta said she was thrilled about winning the award, which she said, was a lifetime opportunity after she had been in the media industry for more than 10 years.
“I am very excited and happy with the award, it is my valued achievement because this is my first award since I have been in the industry for more than 10 years,” said Mukabeta.
She said winning her first award made her realise that she has the potential to do better if she continues working hard.
“I now believe in myself and I will keep on working hard to achieve and get more recognition hence achieve more,” said Mukabeta.
Women have been shying the media industry especially in the newsrooms because of issues related to sexual harassment from male counterparts and in organisations where they seek comments and clarity on stories.
However, there are female journalists who managed to stay in the media fraternity regardless of all the hindrances who include Sunday Mail Editor Victoria Ruzvidzo, Zimbabwe Independent Editor Faith Zaba, ZiFM senior reporter Martha Mamombe and veteran photojournalist Anne Mpalume.

Masvingo City happy with 2021 progress

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Masvingo City happy with 2021 progress

Kimberly Kusauka

Masvingo City Council (MCC) unpacked its 2021 projects, success stories and their failures as they begin to prepare for year 2022 where they promised residents and ratepayers that they would improve on service delivery.
As the year began the city was struggling with major service delivery in terms of water, roads and refuse collection.
Masvingo Town Clerk (TC) Engineer (Eng) Edward Mukaratirwa said the major highlights of 2021 were successes but had challenges also.
He said the priorities for year 2021 were water and sanitation as we as road maintenance.
“The major highlights in terms of service delivery like we indicated at the beginning of year, our number priorities were water and sanitation.
“In terms of sanitation we managed to collect most of the refuse within scheduled time, we will commission a new landfill at Cambria farm,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
He said council managed to construct Rujeko secondary school and Runyararo west clinic, rehabilitating roads with funding from Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) 2.
“We managed to construct Rujeko Secondary School, two classroom blocks and one toilet block are almost complete and intend to open when schools open in 2022.
“We also finished the construction of Runyararo West Clinic which is now waiting for equipment and staff to start operating. The clinic, will serve residents from Victoria Range, Runyararo West and parts of Mucheke,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
He said the new land fill’s first cell is now at 60-70 percent and they will decommission the old dumpsite soon.
“The first cell is between 60 and 70 percent complete. We wanted to start using it by end of this year but we failed because of low cash flows caused by Covid 19 induced lockdown and we hope in the first quarter of 2022 we will be using It.,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
However, Masvingo Residents associations said there were no success stories in the year 2021 from council as they failed on a number of issues.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said 2021 was characterised by water woes, poor health services, poor refuse collection and increased rates.
“Service delivery was generally poor, we had water crisis in the first three quarters of the year and residents have been using the few boreholes in their locations,” said Mtimba.
He said council should improve on water provision, health services, affordable rates and finishing ongoing projects in 2022.
Masvingo Residents Forum (MRF) Coordinator Samuel Parwaringira said they rate council at 50 percent saying they managed to improve on water supply and refuse collection.
“Council has improved in terms of refuse collection where they only skip one or two days, and managed to construct drainage systems and road maintenance.
“There was a slight improvement in water supply from 2019 so moving into 2022 as MRF we want council to improve on the time they take to respond after reports on sewer and water pipe bursts. They should also spray at all homes after sewer flow not only spraying at houses of people they know,” said Parwaringira.
He urged council to improve on the issue of information dissemination which was lacking during the year 2021 so as to improve on service delivery.
“There is poor information dissemination to residents concerning matters to do with service delivery,” said Parwaringira.
Ward 6 Zanu PF Secretary for information Trust Muzozviona said council managed to fight Covid-19 through council clinics but there was poor refuse collection and erratic water provision.
“Council has over the years had its own share of problems ups and downs and 2021 is no exception. We commend the health facilities which stood brave and fought a fierce battle against the Covid-19 pandemic through our council clinics,” said Muzozviona.
He urged council to prioritise refuse collection, water provision, repairing street lighting and refurbishing Mucheke Rank.
“Council should work on street lighting and refurbish Mucheke bus terminus to meet modern standards,” said Muzozviona.

Safety should always be a priority

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Safety should always be a priority

The subject of safety has been one of the most overlooked and underestimated area of concern for most people whether deliberate or as a result of complacency altogether.
The festive season should be reminding everyone to take heed to calls to adhere to the practice of safety measures be it on the roads or the home as well as the public arena where people from all walks of life mix and mingle
Precious lives have been lost through road carnage during the festive seasons in the past as a result of human error in most cases and the onus is upon each and every human being to stop such a loss of precious lives by assuming responsibility to that effect.
Celebrating the holiday with no tears on the cheeks would only be a result of practicing safety and precautionary measures on the roads to some extent.
With cases of armed robbery on the increase in different as a result of some ‘morons’ invading this peaceful society, travelling parties should ensure that they at all cost use public transport other than these private vehicles ,some of which have become a safe haven for criminals ready to pounce for cash and other valuables.
Then there is the issue of this fourth wave of the deadly Covid-19 disease in form of Omicron which the general citizenry needs to safeguard themselves against.
The fact that most people travel to different destinations raises the need for people to adhere to World Health Organisation (WHO) and government safety protocols and thus the need to conform to sanitizing, social distancing as well as masking up so that the risk of spreading the disease is kept under check.
The youthful generation also needs to jealously guard against poor practices on the social arena that may risk their health and physical wellbeing during the schools holidays.
Such results like unwanted pregnancies and other effects of drug abuses could only cease to be a thing of the past only if responsible youths take charge and ensure safety prevails.

Alouis Bunjira ready for ZIFA presidency

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Alouis Bunjira ready for ZIFA presidency

Russel Mapuvire

Former warriors and CAPS united legend, now soccer coach at Parliament Sports Club Alouis Bunjira says he is willing to lead ZIFA and if given the chance would bring positive improvements to the troubled soccer governing body.
In an interview with TellZim News, Bunjira said soccer and other sports are not being taken seriously because the ones who lead sport entities are not passionate.
“These leaders are failing to support the young people with talents with training facilities, talent identification and grooming. For these talented youths to prosper they need leaders who have been in sport, who have passion and see the importance of sports like football,” said Bunjira.
He said the talent identification methods that were used in yester years have been abandoned and this is greatly affecting sport especially football.
“Our football is dying because there is lack of development like what was there before. When we were growing up, national team for under 15, 17 and 20 used to be selected, there were stages which school teams would follow then the best players will be selected. Now those in leadership just ask provinces to provide pupils whom they think are good and many talented players are left unnoticed,” said Bunjira.
He said Zifa was failing to scout for talent in schools not just to manage the national team.
“ZIFA’s main duty is to organise and to develop football in Zimbabwe from schools to professional football not to just to manage the national team.
“They fail to support under 15, 17, 20 and 23. They just lift their heads on the selection of the senior nation team, says Bunjira.
On the issue of ZIFA suspension by the Sports and Recreation Commission, he said it was not supposed to go to that extent but the complaints were now many so the SRC had to do their work.
Bunjira continued saying that he already harboured ambitions to stand for 2022 Zifa elections before the SRC and Zifa conflicts and he really wants to help the football prosper. He is also happy to compete because some of the big names in country are in support of him such as Themba Mliswa and also the chairman of SRC Jerald Mlotshwa. He promised to help the system to be what it was before or to be better.
Zimbabwean football has gone through a lot of shambles as the nation dismally performed in the 2022 world cup qualifiers leaving fans heart-broken as the team got two points from six outings thereby sinking down the ladder on Federation of International Football Federations (Fifa) rankings.

Chivi women arrested for stashing dried kapenta in armpits

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Chivi women arrested for stashing dried kapenta in armpits

Russell Mapuvire

Two women from Chivi were fined ZW$5000 each for stealing 2kgs of dried kapenta, known as matemba from Zvishavane OK Supermarket.
The two, Elizabeth Madenya (38) from Mutikizizi and Tendai Murinye (42) Madunhu village in Chivi appeared before Zvishavane Magistrate Archie Wochiunga on December 14 who sentenced them to two months in prison each or alternatively pay a fine.
It was the state case that on October 11, 2021 the duo were caught at the door by Yvone Shava, a Safeguard Security while trying to get out with four 500g of Matemba stashed in each of their armpits.
Shava told the court that she was on duty on that day in the afternoon when the two came to the exit door looking suspicious. She searched them and found 1.5kg of Meso dried Kapenta and one 500g of Jumbo dried fish valued at ZW$7179, 96.
They both confessed in the court that they were widows with kids and had no relish to feed them.

Witchcraft in the Agricultural Sector

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Witchcraft in the Agricultural Sector

Receive Nyamutamba

Zimbabwe boasts of itself being an agro-based economy. The 2020-21 agricultural season’s bountiful harvests has been the main talk on national television with Command Agriculture and Pfumvudza/Intwasa initiatives being the main protagonists in the story. Resultantly, the Grain Marketing Board has been at the telescreen bragging about high tonnage of grain having been received and millions of dollars having been paid out to farmers. That however remains a mystery as most farmers claim not having received their payments for grain deliveries of April up to now (story for another day).

In light of the supposed ‘success’, one would expect that, the main labor force in the agricultural sector, that is, farm workers will be living the life of their dreams. However, on the contrary, farm workers irrespective of their indispensable contribution to the economy, have remained at the rock bottom of financial deprivation. In November 2021, ZimStats revealed that the Total Consumption Poverty Line for an individual in Mashonaland Central Province (this report is based on findings in Mashonaland central province) is ZW $8,486.26. According to a research done, the least paid worker on some farms in Mazowe District (names of farms withheld) is receiving ZW$7000. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the average household size in Zimbabwe is 4.2. which implies that, if one member is working in that household, the above salary becomes inadequate to meet the basic needs. Therefore, one can conclude that, most farm workers are living in abject poverty. The irony is just astonishing and embarrassing: main producers of food are themselves food-poor.

Far worse off situations have been reported in some areas of Mazowe District where some plot holders are exploiting their workers by forcing them to work only for accommodation. Due to fear of eviction, the workers are compelled to oblige. One person who refused to be named, revealed that, there is no clear schedule for when and the hours that one should be working. Therefore, one can be called anytime of the day to go to the field. In a household, both the husband and wife are compelled to work which leaves one wondering where and how these poor farmers earn disposable income for essentials such as food, clothes or school fees for their children. According to one respondent, it is hard for them to have other livelihoods due to the opportunity cost resulting from compelled labor. However, whenever they find a small window, they seek for casual on-farm work and illegal gold panning opportunities.

According to NEC (National Employment Council for the Agricultural Industry in Zimbabwe), the minimum wage for farm workers is ZW $6,469. It is astonishing and shameful to see a whole conglomeration of organizations and unions nodding their heads in consenting to slavery and oppression of the ordinary citizen.

In view of this, it is no doubt we have a new form of slavery on the block where the slave masters are no longer the Western nations but fellow black people with guns in their hands, a symbol of political and military power. In such times of peril, one can hear the lamenting voices of farm workers echoing from afar, calling out for labor unions to fight for them. One may say why cannot they stand for themselves? But there is need to understand that, in certain spaces, freedom of speech does not imply freedom after speech. Therefore, this serves as a call to labor unions and activists out there to lend a hand for our heroes, the farm workers to be accorded decent wages and working conditions. In Shona there is a proverb that says, ‘kusatenda huroyi’ (ingratitude is a sign of witchcraft). Hence this is a call to farm owners to repent and stop this degree of witchcraft against their fellow men.

Socio-economic Justice Advocate
ActivistaZW Member
Cell: +263 776 551 594
Email: rnyamutamba75@gmail.com

Marima answers call to educate the nation

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Marima answers call to educate the nation

Brighton Chiseva

The director of the new privately owned state of the art secondary constructed in Masvingo’s leafy suburb of Rhodene, Noah Marima has said the school is opening its doors at the beginning of the 2022 national school calendar.
Marima said the idea of establishing a school came as an answer to calls for expansion of quality educational facilities for both local and abroad thresholds, saying parents are struggling every term to secure places for their children.
“We established Junior High School to answer calls by many people whom I see struggling to secure places for their pupils every year. Parents are tossed around from school to school while trying to enroll their pupils for forms 1 and 5.
“I therefore saw the need to help in that regard even though I cannot absorb the whole pressure. I am sure a number of people will be served by the establishment of the school which we aim to make the best in the country and region,” said Marima
The school, which joins the prominent Junior Enterprises portfolio including a Driving school, Security services company and a microfinance institution, is located at 30588 Lundi Drive, Rhodene on a five hectare piece of land along the Harare-Masvingo road close to the bald and scenic Mangwandi Hill.
Marima said the school will be the best in the province and abroad owing to the caliber of teachers they have, who have been producing excellent results during their lengthy experiences in the education field.
“We are confident of the results we are going to produce because we have the best team any school can ever have. All our teachers are well experienced and have been among the best in their careers with many of them having won numerous awards.
“We are also confident that we will be the best because of the teacher pupil ratio, so we will produce the best results,” said Marima
He went on to say they had spacious classrooms, state of the art restrooms and reliable security from Junior Security Services
“Our classes are spacious to allow for social distancing as we have constructed them during the pandemic. We have good security system to protect our pupils and staff.
“We are also a non-selecting school, we will not enroll with the grade seven results as we want to give everyone a chance and we believe that given all resources, every pupil has a potential.
“All our pupils will get driving lessons from Junior Driving School and all who have reached the required age will leave the school with drivers licenses,” said Marima
He said he was aiming at making the school a hub of science and technology as well as sport, saying they are putting modern facilities in place.
“We have an advantage over other schools who are trying to move from the traditional ways of teaching to adopt information technology because we are starting there; we have interactive boards, projectors, computers, Wi-Fi and many other modern ICT systems.
In terms of sports, we will introduce elite games like cricket, tennis, bowling, among others and all traditional games like soccer, netball and volleyball,” said Marima
The school will have an interdenominational approach in terms of religion where they will invite pastors from different denominations to offer biblical services and spiritual counseling.
Marima said the school will offer places to a limited number of boarders during the first term but will accommodate more as the year progresses with infrastructural developments.

School ready for 2022 schools opening

….enrolment in progress

The newly established Junior High School is already enrolling forms 1, 2, 3 and 5 preparing to start classes early 2022.
School Head Shirley Makausi said they will be offering Cambridge syllabus and will accommodate pupils from within Zimbabwe and abroad.
“We are ready for the 2022 school calendar. Enrolment is currently in progress for day scholars and a limited number of boarders,” said Makausi
Makausi said the school has a mission to prepare students for the world by giving them a well-rounded education that connects them to their future.
“We aim to become a center for excellence so that all members of the school community value the importance of learning. It also aims to develop well-rounded individuals by equipping them with requisite skills and mindset critical for a life of fulfillment, purpose and success,” said Makausi.
She said as a school they were guided by a number of principles, core values and is anchored on a biblical verse from Isaiah 40 verse 31.
“Our guiding core values are excellence, integrity, respect, tolerance, determination and passion and the school is anchored on Isaiah 40v31 which says ‘They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow weary’,” said Makausi.
She went on to say they had a promise to pupils, parents and other stakeholders of providing relevant curriculum and opportunities for the community and parents to participate in the learning decision making partnership.


“We promise to give a relevant curriculum that connects students to the future with a welcoming, happy, safe, supportive and nurturing environment for our pupils. We have dedicated teachers who are focused on improving pupils’ outcomes through their commitment to ongoing professional developments, quality teachings coaching and mentoring,” said Makausi.

Una Una edges past FC Wangu Mazodze

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Una Una edges past FC Wangu Mazodze

Fredrick Moyo

Masvingo united FC got off to a flying start in the Zimbabwe Football Associations (Zifa) Eastern region Division 1 soccer, collecting full set of points after edging past newcomers FC Wangu Mazodze two nil at Mucheke stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Una Una found the back of the net through Admire Banda in the 16th minute before Benedict Courage Bere ensured safety just after the hour mark.
Una Una Coach and former player Faustino ‘Heydays’ Mugeji who took over the reins barely two weeks before the start of the season following the sacking of Ezekiel Mutoda (now in charge of Mazodze), was happy to bag three points in the opening fixture.
He said the win was because of the dedication by the team and support from the fans who have been rallying behind them.
“I am happy we collected three points and managed to keep a clean sheet. I urge the boys to continue working hard so that we achieve our goals as a team. Also like to thank our supporters for rallying behind the team.
“The win boosted our confidence and again I want to thank the boys for the unity they have shown and we managed to convert our chances to win the game. I would also like to thank the Almighty for the life and talent he gives us and also with this important win as he is in control of everything.
“Not forgetting the executive members and also the Masvingo community for giving me a chance to be the Head coach of the team and also my work mates with the efforts they are putting behind the team,” said Mugeji.
This marked the return of division one league games after a two year suspension. The games were suspended in June 2019 following an increase in Covid-19 cases.
In other matches Mutare City Rovers narrowly won 3-2 against Zaka Academy FC, Renco Mine lost 0-1 at home to JM Busha, Lowveld edged past 1-0 over Ruwa Progroup.
Green Fuel got the better of Manica Diamonds Juniors 3-1 while Grayham and Buffaloes shared the spoils in a 1-all stalemate.
Other fixtures pitting Pro Melfort FC vs Chiredzi Stars and Surrey FC vs Nzuma Bars were postponed as the clubs are reportedly not yet prepared to play games but they are likely to be ready when the league resumes in February after the African Cup of Nations finals to be played in Cameroon early next year.

Buffalo kills two in Chiredzi

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Buffalo kills two in Chiredzi

Fredrick Moyo

Two men from Chiredzi were recently attacked and killed by a buffalo.
One was a fish poacher while the other was a game scout.
Acting Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Loraine Ndlovu confirmed the incident.
“Yes, I can confirm that we received a case, where two people were attacked by a buffalo, said Ndlovu.
On December 11 2021, at around 05:50 am, Mashava Ian Tuli (33) from Chiredzi, Mugadza road went for fish poaching at Muteri dam in Hippo Valley with some colleagues.
While on their way they were intercepted by scouts who were on patrol and they ran in different directions heading into the nearby bush.
Tuli then met a buffalo in the thicket and he was attacked and he screamed. His wailing attracted the attention of the scouts whom he was running away from. The game scouts ran to the scene and found the buffalo gone with Tuli lying on the ground helpless.
He suffered serious injuries and was bleeding on both legs.
One of the game scouts Steven Kandawasvika (53) called an ambulance from Hippo Valley Medical Centre and Tuli was rushed to Chiredzi General Hospital where he died upon admission.
On the same day around 13:20 hours, Steven Njanji (62) a game scout and the leader of the team went to look for the buffalo with three other scouts.
They proceeded to the scene, tracking its spoor and found it sleeping in the bush.
Patson Tekedesa (39) a member of the game scouts who had a gun shot the buffalo on the nose and the beast became more aggressive. Other game scouts panicked and ran in different directions.
Njanji ran in his direction and met the buffalo.
He tried to climb before in a tree but he failed and the animal attacked him, killing him on the spot.
The matter was reported to the police and the body was taken to Chiredzi General Hospital mortuary.
Of late, human-wildlife conflicts have been on the rise in the country as many people died from animal attacks. A man from Victoria Falls was recently attacked by an elephant in the early hours while coming from work.

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