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Women, youth take back seat on Mwenezi East elections

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Women, youth take back seat on Mwenezi East elections

 

Cephas Shava

Vying
for elected political posts, be it in the local authority or for the
legislature, has become somewhat ‘sacred’ for Mwenezi East’s dejected youths
and women who have seemingly ‘accepted’ to be back seaters and mere stairs for
propping up men into top political posts.

Mwenezi
East constituency, which last had a female councilor during the 2008 elections,
has since then seen the political field being a preserve for men with youths
also reluctant to break grounds in eyeing top elected political offices.

With
both Zanu PF and the MDC Alliance having opened the race for party primaries to
replace the late legislator Joosbi Omar, women and youth have once again failed
to rise to the occasion on the prospective candidates.

The MDC
Alliance has three male aspiring candidates who include, Tineyi Mapepa,
Tendekai Mandizvidza and Alfred Chihwakwa.

Zanu PF
has about ten male candidates for their primary elections slated for May 4 with
no youth and women in the pot.

Zanu PF
list of primary contestants include Master Makope, Simbarashe Mpofu-Mabhena,
Takura Mudavose, Jabulani Mberesi, Marvelous Chifumuro, Hassim Hoosen and
Tinashe Nyoni among others.

Mwenezi
District Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs Passmore Madzudzu acknowledged the
reluctance of youths to eye for top political post saying more still needs to
be done to encourage their participation.

“I
am yet to be officially informed of any party youth who is aspiring to join the
Mwenezi East race.

“As a
party, we are going to spearhead programmes that will encourage youth to fully
eye positions in the local authority and in the legislature. I am very sure that
by the time the 2023 elections are held more youths will be geared to grab such
posts,” said Madzudzu.

MDC
Alliance Masvingo provincial youth spokesperson Timothy Muswere told TellZim
News that youths were not only reluctant to eye top political post but they had
completely lost hope in the voting process.

He said
since women and youths constitute the majority of the voting population, they
need to forge an alliance such that when elections come they would be fully
supported to compete in the political arena.

“The
youth and women are not fully supported to take up the political space. They
are largely used by man as stairs to the top.

“The
youth have completely lost hope and trust in the electoral processes. We need
to make a paradigm shift and make sure that the youth and women are never left
behind.

“By
2023 we should have made progress and we hope to see more youth and women
rising to the occasion,” said Muswere.

Several
youths who spoke to TellZim News pointed out that, after realising that
elections were predetermined events, they do not see the need to waste their
time taking part in processes that will end with them being used as political
pawns.

Shumirai
Tshuma who is the MDC Alliance’s Mwenezi East chairlady attributed women’s
reluctance to participate in top political positions to fear of violence.

She
said if women are given a level playing field with man, they would be more than
willing to stand up and challenge for political positions.

“There
is a lot of violence associated with elections and sometimes women do not have
the bone for it.

“This
is the reason why we have more man than women taking up positions and women are
just there to support man,” said Tshuma.

Zanu PF
Mwenezi district secretary for women affairs Viola Maregedze said women lack
education to join the political race.

“Here
in Mwenezi most women have limited education. Besides lacking self-confidence
to lead, they also assume that they cannot afford to be councilors or
legislators given their limited education.

“As for
youths, most of them here are school dropouts who usually prioritised crossing
to neighboring South Africa to seek employment before finishing school.

“There
is need to initiate programmes that instill confidence among both women and
youths so that they exude confidence and understand that regardless of one’s
level of education anyone can occupy top political office and execute expected
duties with diligence,” said Maregere.

The
proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill Number II which is now awaits its second
Senate reading proposes the extension of the women’s quota to 2023 and also has
a provision of the youth quota at both national assembly and local authority
levels.

It was murder, police open investigation into death of Bikita minor

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It was murder, police open investigation into death of Bikita minor

The late Mitchel Musharu 

Terrence
Ndowora

The police, who had ruled out foul play
on the death of Mitchel Musharu, saying they suspected drowning have turned
around and opened a murder investigation after post mortem results are said to
have shown indications that the girl could have been murdered.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson
Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the development saying the police now
suspect murder on the death of Musharu after the post mortem results.

“Initially the police had ruled out
foul play into the death of Musharu after the body was discovered without any
physical injuries.

“Now that the post mortem results are
out, it has been discovered that the cause of death was not drowning as
initially thought. We have since opened a murder investigation,” said Inspector
Dhewa.

He refused to shed light on the details
of the post mortem.

The deceased, who went missing on April
17 at Nyika Growth Point, was found a week later in a disused septic tank by
her parents who immediately notified the police.

Soldier killed over girlfriend

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Soldier killed over girlfriend
File Picture: soldiers showing of their fighting skills

 George
Chimwayange

ZAKA— A soldier from Makumire Village under
Chief Bota and based at 4.1 Infantry Brigade was killed over a girlfriend at
Svuure Shopping Centre in Zaka last week.

Munyaradzi Chikovore is alleged to have
been killed by his girlfriend Melody Munyaradzi’s ex-husband Samson Muzivirwa.

Efforts to get a comment from the
police where fruitless as Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector
Kudakwashe Dhewa said they haven’t received anything concerning the story.

Sources privy to the incident said on
the fateful day, Chikovore and Munyaradzi were seated at a Church of Christ
building at Svuure Business Center when the latter’s ex-husband arrived.

Muzivirwa is alleged to have attacked his
ex-wife first on the head and arm with an iron bar before she escaped and
sought refuge nearby.

Sources say Muzivirwa was demanding his
lobola back while attacking his ex-wife.

The enraged Muzivirwa is said to have
pursued his ex-wife with the intention to attack her further but was restrained
by onlookers.

The ex-wife is said to have fled and
locked herself in a shop prompting Muzivirwa to go after Chikovore who was
ambushed and assaulted by an iron rod accusing him of snatching wife.

The now deceased tried to escape but
was pursued and the attack continued. Chikovore’s body was discovered close to
Svuure Business Centre the following morning by villagers who alerted the
police.

Zanu PF MP, CIO order Cottco to withdraw MDC member’s tender

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Zanu PF MP, CIO order Cottco to withdraw MDC member’s tender
Roy Bhila

 Beatific
Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI– Chiredzi North Member of Parliament
(MP) Roy Bhila has unwittingly exposed Zanu PF’s capture of state enterprises
through a leaked conversation with the local Cotton Company of Zimbabwe
(Cottco) business manager Innocent Gukwe whom he was arm-twisting to cancel a
tender won by a purported MDC member.

Bhila could be heard on the other end
of the conversation threatening Gukwe that he risked been fired if he did not
reverse the tender for a 31-seater Plaxton Mercedes Benz omnibus awarded to
Sasavona Logistics.

The tender required the omnibus to
ferry Cottco staff members to and from work.

The bus is alleged to be owned by John
Manganye, who contested in the 2018 harmonised elections in Chiredzi West against
the incumbent Zanu PF’s Farai Musikavanhu, as an independent candidate.

Bhila refused to entertain questions
when TellZim News sought him out for a comment on the leaked conversation.

The leaked conversation involves a
member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) based in Chiredzi who
also piled pressure on Gukwe, who at first tried to stand his ground but later
on succumbed under political pressure.

Some names of government officials
including cabinet ministers were thrown around to intimidate Gukwe who
eventually buckled saying he would deal with the issue.

“I am saying withdraw that contract
with immediate effect. That bus belongs to an MDC Alliance member. Ministers
are coming here on the 23rd of April and the issue is going to be
briefed to those ministers.

“The owner of the bus is the one who
battled it out with Farai Musikavanhu in 2018 and Musikavanhu is saying he is
going to complain about the issue when briefing the minister.

“Leave that case otherwise you will be
in soup when it is discovered that you are giving money to an MDC member for
his next campaign. You have to make your way out on this issue,” charged Bhila
on one side of the conversation.

Gukwe tried to defend himself, saying
the company does not look into people’s political backgrounds when giving
tenders. He then tried to shift the blame to one of his colleague only
identified as Zimunya.

“No, we did not even know that the omnibus
belonged to an MDC Alliance member. We do not look into people’s political
backgrounds when awarding tenders.

“We thought it was just another local
business person. We are now following your decisions on the case because
Dingane Ncube (CIO) once came to me with the issue and said he was going to
advise me on how to handle the issue,” said Gukwe in his defence.

However, Bhila would have none of it,
reiterating that a delegation of cabinet ministers and government officials
which was in Chiredzi on April 23 would not take the matter lightly.

The cabinet delegation was led by
Agriculture minister Dr Anxious Masuka.

“I am saying cancel that tender,” said
Bhila before handing the phone to one Soul Nyangoni believed to be from the
CIO.

Nyangoni said that someone was going to
lose his job if they did not cancel the tender and strongly warned Gukwe to
recuse himself.

“You just have to follow the advice you
have been given by Bhila and we are managing the issue from our office. Zimunya
is always crossing roads with us and he is about to lose his job now,” said
Nyangoni.

TellZim News tracked the registered
owner of the bus, Israel Muchini, who said he was shocked to hear that his
tender has been revoked and his bus removed from the contracted list.

“I was surprised to be told that they
are withdrawing my omnibus from the contract because it is owned by an MDC
Alliance member. It is unfair. Why would they want to politicise everything?
Tenders should be awarded in a non-partisan manner,” said Muchini.

The supposed owner of the bus, Manganye
who is based in the United Kingdom, has been spear heading development in
Chiredzi.

He once donated a UK make Mercedes Benz
ambulance, water tanks and hospital beds at Chiredzi Poly Clinic which were
officially commissioned by Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs
and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira.

‘Govt failing HIV+ people in Covid-19 vaccination programme’

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‘Govt failing HIV+ people in Covid-19 vaccination programme’

Courage
Dutiro

With the country now approaching the third phase of
Covid-19 vaccination, People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Zimbabwe are blaming
government for not disseminating enough and clear information to them
concerning the programme.

Network of Positive Women national coordinator Evelyn
Chamisa said lack of clear information on the vaccination programme affected
the participation of their members.

“People are complaining about lack of information. There
has not been much information on whether we should take the vaccine or not. We
don’t know if there are side effects to the vaccines.

“The government should provide information for people
living with HIV because there are fears that they may develop some unknown
life-long side effects because they do not know if their medication is
compatible with the vaccine.

“However I am encouraging those who are willing to
take the vaccine to be vaccinated. I also encourage them to seek advice from
health specialists before they get vaccinated,” said Chamisa.

One person who lives with HIV confided to TellZim News
that she was ready to be vaccinated but was fearful she could experience some
side-effects as she did when her medication was changed from Antiretroviral (ARV)
Stalanev 40 to ARV Tenolum.

“I experienced severe side effects and was admitted in
hospital for a whole month. I experienced severe diarrhea for nine months and I
lost almost 25kg of body weight. I escaped death with a whisker, I don’t
know what the Covid-19 vaccine will do to me and I am now hesitant to take it,”
she said.

Former Zimbabwe National
Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) national chairman Sebastian Chinhaire said
information about Covid-19 vaccination with regards to PLHIV was not clear.

“The main issue is the lack of information on the
after effects of Covid-19 vaccines on People Living with HIV who are on ART.

“Not enough information has been disseminated
concerning those on ART. This has resulted in misconceptions and
speculations.  Much of the information on
PLHIV is social media-based and this has worsened the misconceptions and
skepticism. The Ministry of Health has not done much in terms of information
dissemination on Covid-19 vaccination and people with chronic diseases.

“People Living with HIV have experienced life long
after effects because of ARVs, with some now suffering neuropathy (unequal
distribution of body fat). So you cannot blame some of us who are reluctant to
get the jab, we need enough information. We fear that these life-long side
effects could be worsened if we get vaccinated. The government should assure us
if we are to be vaccinated,” said Chinhaire.

David Maziva, who described himself as a health
promotion officer in Chiredzi, said the vaccine seems to be safe even to those
on ART.

“At the moment vaccines seem to be safe even to people
living with HIV. A person should continue taking ARVs even after taking the
vaccine. HIV patients are among people who are at high risk of disease
progression when they contract the Covid-19 virus.

“However, those
on some treatment regimes such as chemotherapy and those people with unstable
health conditions like high Blood Pressure (BP) should not be vaccinated,” he
said.

The government aims to vaccinate 10 million people in
its free and voluntary Covid-19 vaccination programme which is now on the
second phase.

The first phase consisted of the frontline workers who
include those in the health sector, the security sector, the media fraternity
among others.

EFZ engages Gweru youths on entrepreneurship

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EFZ engages Gweru youths on entrepreneurship

 

Pastor Alfred Hove

…urges young people to be actively involved in developmental
initiatives

Tinaani Nyabereka

GWERU – Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe
(EFZ), a Pentecostal churches’ representative body, recently engaged young
people in Gweru on a business and entrepreneurial capacity-building training as
efforts to alleviate poverty among youths.

The training
was conducted under the theme, ‘Reducing poverty through entrepreneurship and
financial management skills’.

It was
attended by the EFZ National Executive Team and various other stakeholders.

EFZ
Gweru district chairperson, Pastor Alfred Hove said it was prudent for young
people to use their knowledge and skills to develop themselves.

“We
are happy because youths from the church were given the platform for skills
acquisition on how to start businesses and venture into entrepreneurship. At
the end of the day, one needs to earn a living and support their loved ones. We
urge the youth not to be hesitant to approach government offices or even to inquire
on projects, loans and grants which are set to benefit them.

Hove
further urged all young people to participate in youth-driven developmental initiatives.

“I
would like to encourage our youths who are in the church to be involved so that
they are not left behind. We also want them to apply for land and engage in developmental
projects so that they sustain themselves,” he said.

Nyaradzo
Tabe-Ndlovu, a provincial officer in the Ministery of Youth, said entrepreneurship
was the surest way to a more successful life.

“We
have many educated yet unemployed youths and that means we must not fold our hands
and do nothing. There are youths out there who have led by example; through hard
work and commitment, they have changed their fortunes.

“I
am also happy to inform you that company registration processes will now be done
in provinces as government seeks to decentralise services. Operations are therefore available at provincial level because we want to see youth succeeding.

“The
reason why we are on the subject of entrepreneurship is because most people in Zimbabwe
are now entrepreneurs. For one to be a successful entrepreneur, he or she should
have a clear business idea which is also open and clear to the intended market,”
said Tabe-Ndlovu

 

Conniving Gutu couple in court for raping minor

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Conniving Gutu couple in court for raping minor

 Precila Takabvirakare

GUTU— A couple from Mutsengi
Village under Chief Chiwara appeared before Gutu magistrate Mitchell Panavanhu
recently facing rape charges as defined in section 65(1) of the Criminal Law
(Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

The
state represented by Kudakwashe Muza alleged that on a date not known but
during the month of March this year, the two accused persons connived to enter
into the complainant’s, who is 13-years-old, bedroom and convinced her to have
sex with the husband.

The
wife convinced the child to act in accordance to what her husband wanted and
have sexual intercourse with him.

She is
alleged to have told her to lie down on the bed facing upwards so that her
husband can get easy access to having sexual intercourse with her.

It is
further alleged that her husband then entered in the room and the child complied
as instructed by the wife. He lifted her and put her on the bed, undressed her
and had sexual intercourse with her once without her consent.

The
matter came to light after the child narrated the story to her aunt who then
accompanied her to the police leading to the arrest of the couple.

The couple
was remanded in custody to May 4, 2021.

Zifa Eastern region AGM set for May

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Zifa Eastern region AGM set for May
Davison Muchena 

 …battle
for vacant posts heats up

Clayton
Shereni

MASVINGO- Local football mother body, Zimbabwe
Football Association (Zifa) Eastern Region, will next month hold its Annual
General Meeting (AGM), where two vacant posts are expected to be filled.

Eastern Region chairperson, Davison
Muchena confirmed the development and said they were putting final touches on
the logistics of the AGM.

“We lost two members last year, one
went to Australia and the other passed on so according to the constitution we
have to fill in those posts so we will be holding an AGM. 

“According to the initial plan, the AGM
is slated for May 1 or 2. We are yet to decide on the venue but there are two
options, Masvingo or Mutare,” said Muchena.

The board lost Cryil Mukweva who passed
on last year and Simon Mushangwe who went to Australia.

Mukweva was the board’s vice
chairperson while Mushangwe served as a board member in charge of
Development. 

Sources told TellZim News that Wisdom
Simba the current Secretary General is the favourite to land the vice
chairperson post.

However, other members interested in
the post are reportedly choosing to keep the cards to their chest and spring a
surprise at the AGM.

Mutare City football club (FC)
Secretary General Benjamin Chindima is also being tipped to replace Mushangwe
as board member in charge of development.

Simba had been reassigned to be the
acting vice chairperson and to the development portfolio while Farai Rutsvara
was assigned to the acting Secretary General post and also to be the board
member in charge of finance.

Meanwhile, the Zifa Masvingo province
Division Two board also has two vacant seats namely the board vice chair and
board member in charge of finance post.

The seats became vacant after the
suspension of Tinashe Gomba and Energy Zava last year over allegations of
defrauding four foreign players.

Dates of the AGM to replace these two
is so far not yet confirmed but sources claim something is brewing.

With Premier Soccer League (PSL) action
on the brink of a return in over a year, D1 football is reportedly set for a
month after PSL resumes and D2 following.

Junior director Marima named outstanding business personality

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Junior director Marima named outstanding business personality

 

Moses Ziyambi

Junior Enterprises director Noah
Marima has been named Outstanding Business Personality of the Year 2020 Silver
(Masvingo Region), helping to cement his image as a young entrepreneur of
repute, TellZim can report.

The recognition came during the
Megafest Business Awards ceremony held at Great Zimbabwe Hotel on Friday, April
24, 2021.

Being head of a dynamic business
enterprise, the latest recognition comes in face of the Covid-19 pandemic which
has put many people out of business.

Through his dynamic enterprises,
Marima employs dozens of people at his driving school, haulage business, security
firm and microfinance enterprise.

Junior High School, which is
under construction in Rhodene close to the road to Harare, is the latest
addition to the growing Junior portfolio.

“I feel honoured that I have been
given this recognition which comes at a very difficult moment when we are all
struggling to survive the Covid-19 pandemic and the pain that comes with it.
Business has not been good especially last year and we had to improvise in many
ways just to stay afloat. This award therefore means a lot to me, my wife and
our team at the company,” said Marima.

He said he will continue to work
hard to make a difference in his community particularly in Masvingo city where
he started his business and nurtured it to become a game changer in many
sectors.

“As a team, we are looking ahead
with optimism especially now that the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) and,
other stakeholder institutions that make the greater part of our business possible,
have opened their doors with the relaxation of the lockdown.

“Going forward, there should no
longer be any excuse because we need to adjust to the new normal and make our
business responsive to the circumstances of the moment. Our focus should now be
on sustainability and growth,” said Marima.

The annual Megafest Business
Awards, which have been running for 14 years, are hosted by Bulawayo-based
Megafest Holdings, with the objective of demonstrating appreciation for people
working diligently to make a difference in their business roles.

 

‘ELLT to create robust electronic integrated transport system’

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‘ELLT to create robust electronic integrated transport system’
 Felix Mhona at the Centre

 …plans to avail system in vernaculars

Kimberly
Kusauka

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development,
Felix Mhona has said the objective of the Electronic Learner License Testing
(ELLT) system is to create a robust electronic integrated transport system at the
Vehicle Inspection Department (VID).

Speaking at VID Masvingo depot on Sunday, April 25, Mhona
said the system will help contribute to the reduction of road accidents and
deaths.

“The main aim of the project is to create a robust
system that will see our economy qualifying to become a middle class economy by
2030, following the President Mnangagwa’s vision.

“Research shows that 90 percent of road accidents are a
result of human error, which is why it is our goal to reduce road accidents by
10 percent annually by providing effective driver training and testing with assistance
of VID which plays a critical role in the promotion of road safety through
vehicle inspection, driver training and testing, re-testing of Public Service
Vehicle drivers and overload control,” said Mhona.

He further mentioned that the project will help to ease
corruption as students now interact with the computer without any human interference.

Mhona said ELLT is currently available in English but plans
to include indigenous languages were underway.

He said there were plans to include a facility that will
enable prospective drivers to book a test from the comfort of their homes.

The VID Masvingo depot is the fifth to be equipped with the
new system but plans are there to roll it out to the rest of the depots
countrywide, Mhona said

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