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Women demand equal participation ahead of 2023 elections

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Women demand equal participation ahead of 2023 elections
Joyce Mhungu

 Clayton
Shereni

Women’s rights advocacy group, Women’s
Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) has partnered with Masvingo’s female politicians
from across the political divide in their quest for a level field ahead of the
2023 elections.

Over the years, women have been
fighting for a seat on the decision making table with the 2018 harmonised
elections proving difficult for women to break even and make it into the highly
toxic political environment.

WCoZ has moved in to partner female
councillors and legislators as they target to stand toe to toe with male
politicians who have for long enjoyed much of the space in politics both at
local and national levels.

Speaking during a virtual Strengthening
Women’s Advocacy for Inclusive Governance (SWAG) meeting held last week,
Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 7B councillor, Benengina
Mudambiranwa said women’s rights advocacy groups should offer support to female
politicians for them to match their male counterparts who usually spoil the
electorate during election periods.

“We should get to 2023 ready to take
our male counterparts head on. Organizations which work towards women’s rights
advocacy must give us support as female politicians as we go around
campaigning.

“When male politicians campaign they
have a lot of backing and financial muscles and as women we are disadvantaged
naturally, so every woman should support any aspiring female politicians in any
possible way,” said Mudambiranwa.

WCoZ Masvingo chapter chairperson,
Joyce Mhungu said the meeting was an eye opener which revealed an urgent need
of support for female politicians if they are to achieve a level political
ground.

“What we saw is an urgent need of
assistance for women, be it moral or financial support because this is what has
been missing on their part. Usually female politicians are financially
disadvantaged but what worries us is that women constitute more of the
electorate. As an organization we will lobby for women to get some financial
allocation from the government,” said Mhungu.

The meeting was also attended by councillors;
Virginia Hwena (Masvingo Central Ward 19), Susan Samatanga (Ward 34 Gutu),
Sungano Matakanure (Masvingo South Ward 30), Kumbirai Takunyayi (Masvingo RDC
Ward 10) and Members of Parliament (MPs); Yeukai Simbanegavi (Gutu North) and
Jacob Nyokanhete (Masvingo Urban).

Masvingo city has one female councillor,
Alderman Selina Maridza, against nine male councillors proving the gender
imbalance in the local authority.

Female parliamentarians occupy 35
percent of the total number of legislators in the country and out of the 270
seats, 60 are reserved for the women’s quota which some women have called for
its abolishment, demanding a 50/50 representation.

This has also been the case for
aspiring female presidential candidates who have fallen victim of the
patriarchal nature of politics in the country. 

It is an irrigation scheme not Lucerne project, govt amends Chilonga Statutory Instrument

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It is an irrigation scheme not Lucerne project, govt amends Chilonga Statutory Instrument

 Beatific
Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI– The under pressure government has
made amendments to the Statutory (SI) 50 of 2021 which effected the removal of
thousands of families in Chilonga paving way for a Lucerne grass project by the
Kwekwe based Dendairy company.

The amendments made yesterday came
through SI 63A of 2021 where some cosmetic changes were
made but the objective remained the same.

The amended SI 50 0f 2021 torched a
storm with the government receiving a lot of punches over the move.

SI 63A of 2021 only deleted some words
where previously the government had gazetted a Lucerne grass project and now
refer to it as just an irrigation scheme.

“It is hereby notified, for general
information, that the communal Land (Setting Aside of Land) (Chiredzi) Notice,
2021, contained errors-

“The statutory instrument is corrected-
(a) By the deletion of the words “Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural
Development” and the substitution of Minister of Local Government and Public
Works (b) In Section 2 by the deletion of the words “purpose of lucerne
production” and substitution of “establishment of an irrigation scheme,” reads
the correction.

On Friday last week, the Magistrates
Court gave a temporary relief to stop the evictions after the Zimbabwe
Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) filed an urgent chamber application
seeking to interdict the government from going ahead with its plan.

Chiredzi South and East Members of
Parliament (MPs) whose people are being affected have refused to comment on the
move.

Chiredzi South MP Denford Masiya told
TellZim News that the matter was way above him and could not comment.

“This is something which is above me as
an MP and I am sorry I cannot comment on that,” said Masiya.

Minister of State for Masvingo
Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said no one will be evicted
from their land but rather people will benefit from the project.

Chiredzi channels $228million devolution funds towards schools, clinics

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Chiredzi channels $228million devolution funds towards schools, clinics

 Blessed
Chauke

Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC)
has allocated a huge chunk of its 2021 devolution funds towards improving
education and health infrastructure in the district.

The RDC was allocated $228 million up
from $13million which they received in 2020.

Speaking to TellZim News, Chiredzi RDC
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ailes Baloyi said that the funds will be used
for social projects especially schools and clinics which had stalled in recent
years.

“Our funds will be mainly used to
construct schools, clinics and some will be channeled towards solving the water
crisis in the Lowveld.

“There are also some wards in Chiredzi
District such as Wards 16, 17, 20 and 24 which do not have proper social
amenities. We also have 32 schools and also 15 clinics which are under
construction,” said Baloyi.

Baloyi said the projects will be done
in conjunction with the community and the corporate world whom they have partnered
on various projects.

“We do all our projects with the help
of the community. The community provide what they have and we provide what we
have and that is how we work together to build up the community,’’ said Baloyi.

He said they were also focusing on
areas where they were having water challenges by drilling more boreholes and
installing solar systems.

“We purchased a borehole drilling rig
from China last year which we will use to drill boreholes in areas where there
is a dire water crisis in Chiredzi District.  

“We will make sure that we drill at
least two boreholes every year and we will try to equip the boreholes with
solar so that our people will not have challenges to access the water,” said
Baloyi.

The schools and clinics building programmes
will prioritize marginalized areas where social amenities remain hard to
access.

Father, son bashed to death for ‘stealing’ donkeys

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Father, son bashed to death for ‘stealing’ donkeys

 

Tinaani
Nyabereka

ZHOMBE– Instant justice turned fatal when two men
were fatally assaulted for allegedly stealing three donkeys sometime in
December last year.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel
Mahoko confirmed the death of Helken Ncube and his son Khulekani from Mudzingwa
Village under Chief Malisa who were allegedly assaulted to death by three
brothers from the Moyo family over donkey theft.

Inspector Mahoko said investigations were underway and
suspects were in police custody.

It is said that on February 28 at around 1700 hours, the now
deceased were at Bhaparara Business Centre where they were confronted by the
Moyo brothers Lee, Moffat and Mpilo.

The Moyo brothers allegedly accused the now deceased of
stealing their donkeys in December last year.

The deceased are said to have professed ignorance over the
allegations and the Moyo brothers allegedly started assaulting them using
knobkerries.

The savage attack ended
when the now deceased were lying unconscious on the ground. The Moyo brothers
are said to have fled from the scene.

The now deceased were
then taken Kwekwe Genaral Hospital where they were pronounced dead upon
arrival.

A police report was made leading to the arrest of the Moyo
brothers.

Neshuro District Hospital in deplorable state

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Neshuro District Hospital in deplorable state
Cattle patrolling at Neshuro Hospital 

…hospital laundry hand-washed after washing
machines break down

…meals fire cooked as kitchen shuts down

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI- The conditions at Neshuro
District Hospital continue to decline after it emerged that the district’s
referral centre has been operating without a functional laundry section and
kitchen.

The
hospital’s washing machines reportedly broke down several months ago and
hospital staff are reportedly hand-washing dirty linen exposing themselves to
numerous health risks.

Owing
to broken down electrical utensils, the hospital’s kitchen section is also in
shambles leaving cooks to rely entirely on firewood for preparing patients’
meals.

TellZim
News’ visit at the hospital last Thursday, February 25, revealed that there was
nothing being done to improve the situation at the hospital.

With
the hospital’s ramshackle perimeter fence, Neshuro District Hospital resembles
an overcrowded paddock as domestic animals freely roam within the health center’s
yard.

Main
roads leading to the hospital are full of potholes with the most critical one,
the TNP road, which links the hospital to the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway in
dire need of urgent attention.

In a
telephone interview, the District Development Coordinator (DDC), Rosemary
Chingwe acknowledged some of the problems haunting the district hospital.

She
told TellZim News that the government working with other development partners
was working to address the situation at the hospital.

“The
hospital’s perimeter fence is in bad shape but we have decided to start with
working on the water situation.

“So far
a borehole which was funded by Unicef with the support from government is at
the final stage of being set up and Africa Ahead is the one implementing the
process.

“Everything
is now ready, it’s only a few water tests which are yet to be finalised for the
borehole to be completely set up.

“After
working on the hospital’s water situation we will focus on addressing the
institution’s problems which include laundry section, kitchen and its perimeter
fence,” said Chingwe.

The
district hospital has for years been experiencing erratic water supply from Zinwa.

At one
point in time, owing to the water crisis, the pediatric section of the hospital
was temporarily closed with authorities also forced to cut-back on new
admissions.

 

Dear Chilonga, it is the same Zanu PF you voted for

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Dear Chilonga, it is the same Zanu PF you voted for

Since
this is a women’s month, Mapombi is in high spirits and happy that she, among
millions of other women, are being celebrated across the globe. Madzimai muriko
here uko. Mapombi being a woman will fight patriarchy teeth and nail. Hatichadi
zvekubatirirwa and it is high time we take over. Men have failed in all
aspects. They are only good on populating the world but kana zvava
zvekutungamira they have proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are failures.
Kana pane ane nharo let us make a case study of Emmerson and Nelson kkkk. What
have these two men done to better our lives?

The
whole country is crying because of Emmerson and Nelson and I always say it is
time for a paradigm shift. Women tisu takawanda so why do we let men ruin
everything. We have to make sure that we take over the reins of power. Who can
stop us if we support each other? We do not want charity cases where we are
given a carrot to chew on while men harvest the entire field. Women I hope tiri
tese. We respect men a lot but when it comes to running the country, they have
proven to be incompetent. They have rather chosen to ruin everything. Dear
women, are you aware that the so called quota system was designed to pacify us.
This is the charity case I was talking about.

Look at
what Mohadi did when he was in the VP office. He brought shame upon the office
and at least I give him credit for doing something which men in Africa would
never ever do, resigning. The whole country and world are anxiously waiting to
see who will be chosen to occupy the office left vacant. A lot of names have
been thrown into the ring but Mapombi is informed that Mohadi’s replacement
should come from Zapu. What nonsense is that? I know the Unity Accord is in
place but why not shred that document because it is taking us back.

Why
should we say one of the VPs should come from Zapu and then the Presidency and
another VP post is a preserve for Zanu. That arrangement does not work and it
is the biggest reason why we are here today. We are against this arrangement
and it should stop forthwith. You Stop It!!! Kkkk. Dr Grace Mugabe where are
you? This woman has become so silent and I wonder what she is up to. We
celebrate women like Grace Mugabe because she had the charisma and guts to
confront patriarchy head on and send shivers down all the male goons who
thought that it could not be done.

Happy
Women’s Day to you Dr Gire. You are a woman but you showed men that kuita
mafootballs is nothing. They needed military guns and artillery to deal with Dr
Gire. That is how powerful women can get if given the platform to shine.
Tinovatonga varume ava. Kana pane murume atsamwa nazvo huya kuno tipedzerane
kkkkk. Hanzi naGire masoja ngaauye nepfuti andipfure kkkkk. Uku kwanga kwava
kufarisawo but the fact remains. That woman had intestines I tell you. How can
you tell the military to come with guns when you know perfectly well that the
army never backs down from a challenge? Dzakazoti dzabuda pfuti dziya wanei Dr
Gire was nowhere to be seen. She was silenced ipapo ipapo kkkk. Dr Gire went
too far plus akazongofarisawo hake but the fact of the matter remains that
women can do much better than men.

It is
against the background that Mapombi calls on all women to push for a woman VP
to replace Mohadi. We need that seat and we will show men how it is done.
Zvenyu zvekuti Unity Accord what what muchingotsvaga mazungairwa kuti aite maVP
just because they are from Zapu should stop. We do not want that. Meritocracy
should reign supreme. This Zanu and Zapu divide should be disbanded forthwith
because it is doing us a massive disservice. We are all Zimbabweans and we
should all be accorded equal chances and opportunities. Positions should never
be ring fenced like that. Kana kuMatebeleland kune a potential presidential
material, then let that person lead kwete kumuvharira panze because of the so
called Unity Accord. Why should we have VPs like Mboko ahhh sorry I mean Mphoko
and Mohadi? These guys were useless and did not add any value to their offices
other than abusing their power. Mphoko dzaitorwa nemapurisa ukuwo Mohadi kuita
take take with married women. Mapombi says it is enough. The national
chairperson position in Zanu PF was reserved for Zapu members but ikozvino pana
Oppah Muchinguri wani. Is she Zapu?

What I
am failing to understand is the fact that Mohadi still remains the second
secretary in Zanu PF. What does this mean? This is a sign dear readers that we
may not get his replacement in government. I think Mohadi struck a deal which
leaves him in charge kuparty and lose his government job. If he was genuine he
should have resigned both chairs. How many agree that Mapombi should be the
next VP. Women rise up and demand that Mapombi take over the chair. Maybe
ndingaregawo kudya rotten bananas and maputi for lunch.

Before
I sign off let me pass through kuChilonga uko. I hear a lot of noise about
thousands of families being evicted from their lands hanzi panoda kurimwa bundo
kkkkk. You mean Dendairy has seen it fit to plough Lucerne yavo iyoyo at the
expense of our people. How can you come from Midlands to displace our people
here? Izvi ndizvo zvairamba the late Shuvai Chikoforo Mahofa. Mahofa would have
never allowed that at all, over her dead body. Rest in Power our iron lady. Mugabe
once pledged mombe kuAU and then he ordered provinces to contribute towards
that donation. It was only Mahofa who stood up to Mugabe and told him point
blank that Masvingo haina mombe dzacho kkkkk. I am sure Dendairy would have
been told kuti garai kuMidlands kwenyu.

But
imiwo vanhu munazvo. Hanzi panotungana dzemudanga maone anenge atanga kkkk.
These people in Chilonga voted for Zanu PF do you still remember. And now it is
the same Zanu PF which is displacing them. Mapombi does not want to get
involved in this fight. What I am failing to understand is why MDC is trying to
get involved in this fight. I heard Biti and team went to Chilonga to score
cheap political points but little do they know that the Chilonga people are Zanu
PF to the core. MDC should watch this fight from the terraces. Izvi zvekuda
kukwana pamusingakwani hazvina pundutso imi vana Biti. What kind of a strategy
is that? Regai zvikweshane and we will all see the results. Zanu PF is not
stupid to play around with votes especially when 2023 is around the corner. Do
not say Mapombi did not warn you. I have said enough regai zvangu ndinokanga
maputi angu for lunch. Mboko imboko.

Gweru mayor delivers State of the City Address

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Gweru mayor delivers State of the City Address

 … as service delivery deteriorates

Tinaani
Nyabereka

The City of Gweru has expressed concern over the management
of solid waste which they say is largely to blame for the flash floods
experienced in the city due to the clogging of the drainage system.

Delivering his State of the City Address last week, Gweru mayor
Josiah Makombe encouraged residents to desist from throwing solid waste into
the city’s drainage and sewage systems.

“People are throwing solid waste into the drainage and
sewage system. People do this not knowing the effects which follow.

“Throwing solid waste into the drainage systems means they
will be clogged and water will flow into people’s homes. The situation we
experienced recently is testimony to that.

“If the drainage systems are clogged, water will flow all
over the city and the same people who throw solid waste will be crying foul.

“We need proper solid waste management otherwise the same
problems will recur,” said Makombe.

He
said most homes in the low lying areas bear the brunt of sewer back flows due
to the clogging of the pipes.

“As a result most low lying areas closer to the trunks
have experienced serious back flows thereby causing an outcry from residents. All
the waste water stations are currently overwhelmed and cannot cope with the flows,”
said Makombe.

On a positive note, Makombe said that the city’s dam levels
were promising and have accumulated enough water to take them through to the
next rain season.

“Our dams are full and some of them spilling. Gwenhoro,
Whitewaters and Amapongokwe have gone beyond 100 percent and this means we have
enough water to take us to the next rain season,” said Makombe.

He said the city, however, continues to receive interrupted
water supplies owing to pipe bursts and strained pumping capacity.

Makombe bemoaned the state of roads saying there were no
longer trafficable due to effects of flooding rains.

“Most of our roads are no longer trafficable, worse now
because of the recent rains. The biggest challenge we have on roads is lack of
funding and related equipment,” said Makombe.

On
refuse collection, Makombe said their refuse compactors were overwhelmed and
cases of breaking down were on the rise.

The City of Gweru has come under fire for purchasing a brand
new Toyota Prado for the mayor while service delivery was on the low.

Cattle herder killed for herding cattle in uncultivated field

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Cattle herder killed for herding cattle in uncultivated field

 Perpetua Murungweni

A
man from Chief Nyajena area was recently arrested after he fatally assaulted a
cattle herder with the help of his friend for herding cattle in his
uncultivated field, TellZim News has learnt.

It
is alleged on February 25, Jameson Makudo from Chebani village under Chief
Nyajena and his friend Hillary Moyo of Chikwadze village found Mutanda Mapfurira
 herding cattle in the former’s
uncultivated field.

Makudo
is said to have been infuriated by the deceased’s actions and went on to
assault him with fists.

Makudo
allegedly picked up a stone and struck Mapfurira on the forehead, chin and on
the mouth before Moyo joined in and started assaulting the deceased with a
whip.

After
the savage attack, the now deceased is said to have taken his herd home and
secured them inside the kraal.

The
now deceased is said to have limped his way to his place where he narrated the
ordeal to his brother.

The
following morning, the now deceased’s condition deteriorated and his brother
went on to report the matter to the police.

Mapfurira
died while his brother was at the police station.

Masvingo
provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe
Dhewa confirmed the incident and urged people to look for an intermediator to
help them settle their disputes.

“We
urge people to try by all means to consult someone who will help them settle
disputes rather than engage in fights,” said Dhewa

Defender Paints appoints Baba Rah brand ambassador

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Defender Paints appoints Baba Rah brand ambassador

 

Baba Raah

Veeslee
Mhepo

Talented musician and theatre artist
Ngoni Chinovava popularly known as Baba Raah in the entertainment industry
recently clinched a land mark deal with Masvingo based paint producing company,
Defender Paints.

The company which has been operating
for more than six years roped in Baba Raah on an ambassadorial role to increase
its visibility and their presence in the painting business.

Defender Paints manager, Samson Shonhai
said they decided to partner Baba Raah considering his great influence and
popularity in Masvingo and also with the hope that his artistic skills will
help the company improve its brand awareness.

The company has been tactful and is on
a mission to expand. The manager says that appointing Baba Raah as their brand
ambassador was a marketing strategy that was beneficiary to both sides.

“We have decided to work with Baba Rah
because of his talent and creativity, like any other company our goal is to grow
and we are prepared to join venture with anything that will get us there,” said
Shonhai.

In an interview with TellZim News, Baba
Raah said he was elated to have clinched a deal with Defender Paints which he
said was going to benefit him in his arts career.

“It’s quite a good deal and if it was
not for the lockdown delays, we would have been somewhere by now, it is also a
survival strategy and a huge platform to showcase the power of music and art in
the development of society and businesses,” said Baba Raah.

Baba Raah is enjoying a purple patch in
his career and has been involved many projects which have received national and
global recognition.

He featured as one of the lead actors
in the award winning Gonarezhou movie which won the Best First Feature
Narrative at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles last year.

Small grains should substitute maize on stock feed – Minister Masuka

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Small grains should substitute maize on stock feed – Minister Masuka

In Blue worksuit Tarisai Mudambanyuki (THZ Agric General
Manager), Minister Chadzamira, Minister Masuka and THZ
Managing Director Aiden Mhere

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Minister of Lands Dr Anxious Masuka has said
that Zimbabwe loses about 450 000 metric tonnes of maize to stock feed saying
during poor farming season, millers prioritise venturing into the production of
stock feed because it is an uncontrolled area.

Dr Masuka, who was accompanied by Minister of State for
Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira, last week toured
the 3 000 hectares of maize and sorghum at Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe’s Hippo
Valley and Triangle Estates.

Tongaat has recently harvested 2 800 metric tonnes of maize,
with 900 metric tonnes having already been delivered to the Grain Marketing
Board (GMB).

Dr Masuka said that the country achieves food security by
growing sufficient maize and reducing competition between people and livestock.

“You achieve food security by growing sufficient maize
for those that have a pallet for maize. We also achieve food security by
reducing competition between people and livestock because we are using 450 000
metric tonnes of maize for feed.

“Millers in bad years prefer to do feed because they
make more money since it is not controlled. So we are saying that millers
should use traditional grains as alternative to maize so that maize becomes
available for people so we need more of this (traditional grains),” said
Dr Masuka.

Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe, through its commitment to fight
hunger in Masvingo province, increased its hectrage from last season’s 327
hectares, where it delivered 1 186 tonnes of maize grain, to 2 400 hectares of
commercial maize this year.

Winter maize project was introduced by the then Governor for
Masvingo province, Josaya Hungwe, after the 1992 drought.

Tongaat agriculture general manager, Tarisai Mudambanyuki
said they have since harvested 1 300 hectares, where they have delivered 900
tonnes of maize grain to GMB and have since shelled 1 900 tonnes.

“We have committed a total of 3 000 hectares of which 2
400 was planted with commercial maize which we are currently harvesting. We
have harvested about 1 300 hectares and to date we have shelled about 1 900
tonnes and delivered 900 tonnes which is more than what we delivered from last
year’s crop,” said Mudambanyuki.

Since 2018, THZ had been partnering Masvingo Development
Trust (MDT) to produce winter maize.

This year, from the 3 000 hectares devoted by THZ, 1 000
hectares was grown under partnership with MDT.

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