A top party official of the Douglas Mwonzora-led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) recently announced that they will be hopping on to the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) bandwagon anytime soon.
Giles Mutsekwa the party’s deputy chairperson said they have consulted and decided to answer to the call by government to join POLAD which was initiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Speaking at the provincial meeting held last Saturday at the party office in Rhodene, Masvingo, Mutsekwa said dialogue and unity was the solution to all problems being encountered in the country.
“Our statement is clear, we have sat down and discussed as the leadership and we now see POLAD as a positive move. Let it be known that we are not friends with Zanu PF but they are an important element in our struggle, we need them as much as they need us,” said Mutsekwa.
Mutsekwa also said as a party they were not ruling out the possibility of a Government of National Unity (GNU).
“This time around if the possibility of an inclusive government becomes a reality, we will make sure we do not get fully engrossed with the government duties and leave our party structures bare, we want to remain ready for anything as a party.
“We will also make sure that in issues to do with governance we are represented on all levels, down to councilors, If Zanu PF wins that particular ward, we want to instill a special councilor and vice versa,” Mutsekwa said.
Meanwhile, the Nelson Chamisa led MDC-Alliance has remained adamant that they will not join POLAD which they say is a group of those who lost elections but want to impose themselves on the electorate.
MASVINGO- Residents have implored the local authority to give number one priority to service delivery as the city is mulling 2022 budgets consultations which are expected to be rolled out soon.
The city has been facing a plethora of problems including water woes, poor refuse collection and sewage bursts which have been haunting the city for a long period.
Masvingo Mayor Councilor Collen Maboke said budget consultations were delayed by Covid-19 regulations but promised that the local authority will release the schedule soon.
“We could have started 2022 budget consultations by now but due to tight lockdown restrictions we had to shelve them. Consultations will start soon and we will announce dates once we are done as council,” said Maboke.
Masvingo Residents Forum (MRF) chairperson, Brighton Ramusi however implored council not to notify residents on the 11th hour ahead of consultations.
“Firstly, we would want council to inform us on the dates for the budget consultations a week before the intended date so that residents come in their numbers. We also want council to give us the budget after it’s done so that we can also scrutinize it,” said Ramusi.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) spokesperson, Godfrey Mtimba said council has to consult residents when carrying out budget consultations and follow dictates of the law.
“As residents we feel that council should do effective budgets consultations by moving in each ward and asking residents on what they want to be included in the budget.
“Council should consider the Abuja Declaration that requires every country or institution to set aside 15 percent of its total budget to health because our health system, our local clinics are deteriorating and we do not have adequate medication,” said Mtimba.
Another residents’ pressure group, Masvingo Service Delivery Residents and Ratepayers Association (MASDRA) secretary general, Moses Mavhusa said the budget must account for hard currency transactions.
“The budget must include revenue being received in forex. As residents we must know how these funds are being accounted for. The revenue being generated from market stands should be transparently accounted for leaving no room for corruption,” said Mavhusa.
In 2020, the local authority hiked rates by over 500 percent for the year 2021, a move which did not go well with residents.
Various youth organizations have raised concern over the recent political violence cases that allegedly took place in Masvingo saying the violence violates the country’s constitution that allows the existence of multi-party political systems.
Youth Decide Zimbabwe director, Learnmore Munhangu described the events that happened in Masvingo as a primitive model of politics which is uncalled for.
“We denounce and condemn the unjust and primitive model of politics characterized by perpetuated and sponsored violence which happened in Masvingo. As young people, we are so worried because it seems as if the dark cloud of the past is still above us.
“As we fast approach the much-awaited 2023 general elections, we plead with government, all state agencies and political players to be tolerant and respect the constitution. We are a multi-party state. Elections must not divide us, but rather make us better and stronger as a nation,” said Munhangu.
He also urged youths to stay away from the barbaric type of politics that were founded by old ‘blood-thirsty’ political leaders.
“It is high time for us as young people to courageously reject and refrain from the old system characterized by politics of violence, politics of hate, politics of blaming each other and sloganeering and strategically locate ourselves as agents of national development and transformation.
“Our message to colleagues who are being used as instruments of violence is very clear. Do not allow the inventors of violence to make you useless. Attacking your fellow poor citizens for a loaf of bread is a clear sign showing lack of good sense and wisdom,” added Munhangu.
Social Democrats Association (SODA) executive director Tauya Chiname said all political parties in Zimbabwe should be accorded freedom to execute their political activities without fear of victimization.
“As social democrats, we do acknowledge that our country is a multi-party democracy, therefore all political parties should be allowed to execute their activities without being attacked. It is so sad that a ruling party is implicated in acts of violence. The so-called new dispensation has lost the trust of the general populace due to their nature of indicating right then turn left.
“We exhort the police service to investigate the violent acts that happened in Masvingo and bring the perpetrators to book. Zimbabwe belongs to us all and the police service is a construction of taxpayers’ money,” said Chiname.
David Mutambirwa a political analyst said Zimbabwe has a plethora of unresolved conflicts emanating from as far back as the Gukurahundi era and undisputed elections of previous years.
“The political intolerance which happened at Charumbira area in Masvingo is just a reflection of the deeply rooted symptoms of a vicious iceberg. Until a sustainable solution is found, we will continue to have an intolerance, political violence and structural violence in society. Rule of law should also be observed if we are to attain a peaceful and sustainable society where all citizens have respect for each other’s political views,” said Mutambirwa.
Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC A) Manicaland provincial spokesperson David Panganai said all the time and energy wasted in violence should be diverted towards something that can develop the country.
“We strongly condemn the barbaric attack on our MDC-A leader. Maturity, tolerance and soberness are cardinal virtues for civilized countries and Zimbabwe must never be an exception. We certainly can never develop in a brutal, anarchic, thuggery and violence against unarmed civilians by the state.
“All the energy wasted in violence and thuggery must be channeled towards sustainable development and improvement of the livelihoods of Zimbabweans to fulfill our liberation legacy. As MDC-A, we continue to say violence has no space in our modern world,” said Panganai.
ZANU PF Masvingo Youth Political Commissar Sengerayi Manyanga said what happened in Charumbira area has nothing to do with ZANU PF and its youths.
“ZANU PF had no hand in what happened in Sipambi area. People in that area were only demonstrating against sanctions that were asked for by Nelson Chamisa and team. Everyone hates sanctions, citizens are wallowing in poverty in rural areas,” said Manyanga.
Residents of Garikai residential area in Masvingo urban have lived as ‘outcasts’ for 16 years after commissioning of the area and they feel city fathers are neglecting them by failing to offer social services other suburbs are enjoying.
Garikai housing scheme commissioned in 2005 after government launched the widely condemned operation Murambatsvina, a forced eviction programme which saw the demolitions of homes and informal businesses around the country’s major cities and towns.
In 2013, Masvingo City reportedly secured a US$2, 1 million loan from National Social Security Authority (NSSA) that it promised to use to connect Garikai housing project into the main city’s sewerage system. However, to date nothing has yet materialised and the whereabouts of that funding is shrouded in mystery.
The area is located a few meters from Masvingo city council’s dumping area that the local authorities are taking too long to decommission and residents said the site cast an unpleasant odour into the houses.
A visit to Garikai residential area by TellZim News revealed that people have resorted to the use of surrounding bushes and open spaces as toilets.
Residents are still using bush toilets and sharing fewer water sources installed during the construction of the houses in 2005.
Area committee chairperson Gertrude Mukokovondo said the unavailability of sanitation facilities in the area is a huge blow to local women who oversee family welfare especially during this era of Covid-19 and is posing a health hazard to the local people.
“Women are mostly affected by the poor situation here; they are the ones who stay at home most of the time. We have a serious challenge when it comes to hygiene. The few blair toilets that people used to relieve themselves are full forcing people to use bush toilets which has created a potential health hazard causing air pollution in the fly-infested area.
“The problem is doubled by shortage of water. Before the coming in of Covid-19 , Minister of state for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo visited us, saw our situation and we are still waiting for their action,” said Mukokovondo.
A local woman who identified herself as Svunurai Mugiyani said she is among hundreds of women who are living without a toilet in Garikai area.
“As women and mothers, we find it hard to live without toilets. We need toilets and access to clean water. Even though Covid-19 is not caused by open defecation, we are now fearing for other disease outbreaks like cholera,” said Mugiyani.
Ndaizivei Mutero, another woman who resides in Garikai said the responsible authorities seem to be neglecting and discriminating women.
“We wish to be like any other locations; we do not know the plans council have for us concerning the issue of water. We wish council could treat us like other residents in Masvingo urban.
We are being told to wash hands regularly but we cannot follow such regulations here. The community has 100 houses and we wake up at 3 am to fetch water at a single water point. Each family is allowed to fetch only two buckets,” Mutero said.
A male resident who requested to speak on condition of anonymity said the area seems to be unworthy in the eyes of those in power.
“The area is despised by many. No one wants to associate with this place maybe because it is a ZANU PF old dispensation project,” he said.
A senior male citizen in Garikai area said they are finding it difficult to live with the bad odour that come from the dumping site.
“Toilets here are a challenge; we have been talking about the issue since long ago. Even during the days of cholera, we have been living in fear. Council should provide us with a sewerage system. We are also appealing to local authority to deal with the issue of this nearby dumping site quickly. It is hard for a human being to live while breathing bad odour,” he said.
In English the word Garikai can be translated to mean ‘live well’ however Garikai residents seem not to be living well without water, toilets and with unpleasant odour from the dumping site
Gweru- Villagers in Lower Gwelo ward 8 areas are pleading for health facilities and clean water in the area as they have to walk long distances to access these services.
Speaking during an engagement meeting with Midlands Aids Society Organisation (MASO) on a community advocacy meeting last week, Southern Western Region Gender Network (SWRGN) Programs Officer, Albert Moyo said the only way to develop a community is by way of identifying its challenges first.
“To achieve development, we first need to identify challenges surrounding us then look for possible solutions and ways to address them. This can happen if we advocate more on these problems,” said Moyo.
A resident, Livingstone Moyo said there was need to increase health centres in the area as people were struggling and have to walk long distances to access such facilities.
“As ward 8 residents we appeal to government to prioritize our health as we are struggling to access health care due to distance. Our health care facility is 5km or beyond and for us to travel in cases of emergence is a challenge, as we cannot access the facility on time.
“We also need our clinics to be well furnished with maternity wards for mothers to be able to deliver well without any problems. Sometimes going to town is a challenge due financial constraints.
“Another thing is that we require the services of a dentist in our area because we struggle a lot with toothaches. We appeal for a mobile doctor who can visit frequently to offer dental services because we end up using harmful methods and tools like wires and sticks to remove rotten teeth,” added Moyo.
Ward 8 Councillor Siphiwe Moyo said access to service delivery is still hampered by a number of challenges as residents are failing to access clean water.
“As a community we are facing quiet a number of challenges. Access to clean water and health facilities remains a major challenge. We still have few boreholes in the area. We appeal to government through the Ministry of local government to come and install more boreholes so that we get clean water.
Then coming to our health facilities, the issue of distance is affecting villagers. At least we ask for each ward to have a well-established clinic so that travelling long distances can be minimized. As you can see here at Makepesi, we have a clinic but the next ward does not and people walk 5-10 km to this clinic,” Cllr Moyo said.
Gweru’s Assistant District Development Co-ordinator (DDC), Tarisai Mudadigwa said, as an office they had noted some of the challenges raised by the community.
“We have taken note of your concerns and we are going to reach out to the relevant authorities so that they will come and attend to the issues particularly water as it is the source of life.
“Also health is an important aspect and government should prioritize health always, so we are also going to forward your request to the relevant ministries so that we hear how best they can assist our community. We are going to work out on a feedback meeting and come back to you with the responsible authorities so that they can address the issues,” added Mudadigwa.
MASVINGO- In an effort to reduce child abuse, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) recently conducted a youth leadership training at Langhorne Presbyterian Church in Masvingo educating youths about Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), sexual abuse and child marriages.
The youth leadership program aimed at educating youths and making them aware of their constitutional rights in an attempt to curb child marriages and sexual harassment that youths face in churches.
EFZ Masvingo Co-ordinator, Bernard Katenjele said they were rolling out awareness campaigns equipping youths with necessary life skills on how to deal with abuse issues.
“This is an event where we are trying to equip youths and create awareness and the greatest thing that we have done is to make sure that we do awareness campaigns and we target youths educating them and also telling them that there are certain rights that they have that protects them from different types of abuse,” said Katenjele.
He also added that they are urging youths not to have second thoughts about reporting abuses even in churches.
“We are telling and encouraging youths in churches that whenever their rights are violated, they should go and report, so that they protect themselves from anything or anyone who violate them,” added Katenjele.
A youth who attended the event, Hepson Jangano said that training program was good for youths as they were taught about SRH and girl child empowerment.
“The training program came at the right time and we were taught about SRH, good health and also that the girl is equally capable just like their male peers,” said Jangano.
EFZ has also joined hands with Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in fighting child marriages and sexual harassment in churches by writing petitions.
ZAKA- A St Engenas Zivavose High school teacher is in hot soup after an alleged fist fight with a Form 6 pupil on October 11, 2021, ended badly after the pupil sustained serious injuries on the face.
It is alleged that the teacher, Desire Chimwanza was whipping pupils for not sweeping the classroom and Tatendaishe Mverecha refused to be beaten.
Chimwanza allegedly started to assault the pupil using bare hands and clenched fists on the face and Tatendaishe suffered a swollen face.
Tatendaishe however reported the police and his father then approached school authorities for a mutual agreement but they reportedly refused to foot his son’s medical bills.
Thomas Mverecha, father to Tatendaishe told TellZim News that school authorities had failed to show a human face and that he was now seized with making sure that his child gets medical attention.
“The school administration refused to take my child to the hospital because they feared there will be need for a police report. I am now making sure that my child gets treatment at Ndanga Hospital since they are not forthcoming,” said Mverecha.
Sources within the school however, said the teacher was in the classroom beating everyone but Tatendaishe resisted and jumped on a desk where he fell and sustained injuries on his face.
“The pupil was not beaten by the teacher but he was trying to escape from the teacher and he climbed on a desk where he fell with his face and sustained injuries,” said a source.
When contacted for comment, School Head Willbert Dera declined to comment and directed all questions to Zaka District Schools Inspector (DSI) Samson Chidzurira.
Chidzurira however said his office had not received any complaint in regards to the matter from the school.
“I did not receive a report of that,” said Chidzurira.
MASVINGO- One of Masvingo’s nightclubs popularly known as Ritz has now turned into a shopping complex after having been closed for over a year as a result of the Covid-19 induced national lockdown.
With over a year of non-operation, some Masvingo clubs like Liquids Bar and Viks Liquor Store were forced to stop operating.
Despite their forced closure, bar owners still had to pay rentals, service charges and electricity tariffs in anticipation of a quick return to business but it took the government over a year to allow them to resume, leaving other businesses on their knees.
One of Masvingo nightclub owners Jackson Chivanga who had to compromise and lease his club to grocery retail shop, Goshen Cash and Carry called upon government to avail financial aid to them to cope with the economic effects of Covid-19.
“It is my wish that relevant authorities engage us and give financial aid because this has been a tough year for our sector. We had to pay rent and other bills during the lockdown and that money was coming out from our personal funding and some of our colleagues did not make it through.
“We hope that we will also manage the first months of operation because a lot of bills have to be paid including some of the loans that were advanced to us to keep afloat,” said Chivanga.
Meanwhile, government on October 6, 2021, gave bars and nightclubs the green light to operate under strict Covid-19 regulations serving only fully vaccinated patrons.
MASVINGO- Ndarama High School continues to bask in educational glory after it recently scooped its second Secretary’s Merit Award in a space of five years for demonstrating academic, cultural and sporting excellence.
The award, which was presented to the school is a recognition by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education permanent secretary to top performing schools.
Ndarama High School Head, Oddy Matongo expressed joy for the recognition which he said was evidence of hard work.
“Winning such big awards means we are equally good in terms of academics, innovation, and infrastructure development. Hard work, unity are the secret behind our success. We give credit to our SDC, parents, teachers, and leaners for their hard work and sacrifice, “said Matongo.
The School Development Committee (SDC) Chairperson Ray Muzenda said clinching the award was a proud achievement that should be maintained in the long run.
“This award means a lot to us as a school. It means we are the best in this province and the best is yet to come. The lifetime achievement will go a long way in encouraging the school to greater heights as we will not rest on our achievements, but continue striving for the best, particularly in the provision of quality education,” said Muzenda.
Shirley Makausi who was the school’s head till 2019 said she was elated to see the school getting yet another merit award.
“This is my second Secretary Merit Award at that school, I am very much happy with this development, leaving a legacy that will live longer even after we are no longer there. It was very fortunate to have hard working teachers who admired what l did,” said Makausi.
In 2013, the school won the same award and went on to retain it in 2019.
Bikita Minerals Primary School was adjudged the best in the primary schools category.
Youths from the country’s ten provinces working under the banner Youth Perspective Initiative (YPI) have resolved to take their call to the National Assembly for legislative acts that ensure stiffer penalties for defaulters in submitting public accounts statements in order to bring sanity and accountability.
Presenting their concerns and programme lay out to Gutu East legislator and member of the portifolio committee on public accounts Berita Chikwama and Clerk of parliamentary Public Accounts Committee sub-committee on local government Francis Muchadakuenda in Masvingo recently, the youths called for clearer pieces of legislation aligned to the main constitution that will safeguard public resources from ‘incompetent’ leaders.
Abel Sibanda of (YIP) said there should be control measures to protect national resources from benefiting individuals at the expense of the majority.
“There should be control measures in place to ensure government operates within the limits set by parliament. The ministry of Finance is said to have used resources more than those approved by parliament and thus such an expenditure delegitimise the status of parliament as an institution in their role of overseeing the spending by government ministries.
“Failure to implement the recommendations made by the Auditor General after her reports shows how much we lack in terms of seriousness on part of government thereby compromising service delivery,” said Sibanda.
He also highlighted the need for stiffer measures or penalties to be put in place to whip into order local authorities whose trend in defaulting is growing as well as trust over the allocated devolution funds’ fate would be in the hands of such people.
“For the years 2014, 15, 16 and 17 there have been general trends and similarities from one authority to the other. The number of authorities that were still outstanding in submission of financial statements on the time of the AG tabling the 2017 report in June 2018 kept on rising.
“In 2014, two authorities have not submitted, eight in 2015, 22 in 2016 and 63 in 2017. If they were not submitting reports that they are supposed to submit then the obvious question would be why they are not doing their jobs. Failure to present papers for audit will result in speculation over the manner in which they do their work, as it seems like they are hiding something. These are some of the issues young people wish to understand and see them addressed.
“We have noticed that the ways in which municipalities are run is not in line with Public Finance Management requirement which is in contravention of the Constitution, Audit Office Act and Public Finance Management Act. Then we wonder whether funds allocated to lower tiers of governance through devolution would be a case of throwing money down the drain, ” added Sibanda.
Receive Nyamutamba an activist also with YPI called for the introduction of mechanisms that will go a long way in addressing the poor governance issues currently obtaining in various ministries and local authorities as well.
“In my view there is need to have such mechanisms to be in place and strengthened. I have noted with concern from the AG report that some employees in such organisations are even incapacitated to do the work. There is need for retraining and capacity building workshops to public office bearers who seem not to know what they are supposed to be doing,” said Nyamutamba.
Responding to the issues raised by the youths, Chikwama said the public accounts committee has encountered quite a number of challenges in bringing perpetrators to book in their bid as Parliament to account for every cent of the public resources.
“We have encountered quite a number of challenges as the Public Accounts Committee. For example when we went to the ministry of Agriculture, we discovered that the ministry of finance made payments for command agriculture but when we asked the permanent secretary was not aware of them, the accountant was not also aware but the minister would say he knows of such payments. There was no written evidence as to the payments made,” said Chikwama.
She however, said the committee’s visit to Zambia has helped open their minds and modes of operation as they adopted the use of sub-committees that she believes will address some of the shortcomings the committee has been facing.
“After the visit to Zambia we learnt about the use of sub-committees which we have since adopted into our own system. The anti-corruption commission works together with the AG and that is the scenario we wish to prevail in our own country so that the anti-graft commission can be effective.
“There have been a lot of loopholes in most parastatals which in some cases have resulted in victimisation of whistle blowers though we would revoke the powers of parliament to resolve the cases but the victims will not be willing to act again. ZACC has also been given the green light to attend oral evidence hearings before parliament for the sake of gathering evidence,” she added.
Chikwama also said she supports the incorporation of stiffer penalties to act as a deterrent measure against likely defaulting.
“If we look at the Finance Management Bill, one could see that there have been some amendments to the laws which were not effective. For instance, one would deliberately ignore what would have been recommended and nothing affects him/her. As a result, we still wish that some improvements that would enable ZACC to arrest their suspects for prosecution be made.
“Introduction of independent internal auditors who operate free of the top management of any organisation would also address the challenges. These internal auditing systems will follow own channels in terms of feedback which I feel would ensure accountability is guaranteed at organisational basis than waiting for the AG,” she said.
The youths proposed for investigations into the accounts or properties of those employees who retire after allegations, establishing capacitation programmes for employees, amending constitutional acts, incorporating competent individuals after forensic audits as well as initiating public audit act provisions to tighten the relaxed laws.
They also called for the enforcement of Chapter 9 of the constitution that looks at principles of public administration and leadership governing various enterprises be they state-controlled or private.
