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Mapanzure High introduces sciences at ‘A’ level

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Mapanzure High introduces sciences at ‘A’ level
TellZim Reporter

MASVINGO – Following impressive outcomes in the 2019 ‘O’ level examinations, Mapazure Government High School has decided to introduce sciences at ‘A’ level beginning this very term.
The school recorded a 76.9 percent pass rate in Chemistry and 66.7 percent in Biology, opening up the feasibility of introducing sciences at ‘A’ level.
Mapanzure High School head, Clapos Chauraya said the pass rate had inspired them, adding that the introduction of sciences will help the 2019 pupils who want to further pursue their studies close home.
 “Our leaners as well as others from the surrounding schools no longer need to face problems looking for spaces in faraway schools. We are confident in the standards we are setting and we want the first ‘A’ level sciences class to succeed. We provide quality education at a very affordable cost for people from modest backgrounds,” said Chauraya.
On the 2019 ‘O’ level results, Chauraya said the school was also pleased by the performance of the English department which produced 67 pupils with grade C or better.
“We also did well in English and it’s very rare for a rural school to have such a number of pupils who pass English. Our goal is to improve in terms of both quantity and quality.
“Our staff and learners are motivated and geared towards building upon 2019 ‘O’ and ‘A’ level pass rates. Each department has already set itself a target for the year,” said Chauraya.
At ‘O’ level, a total of 33 pupils passed five subjects and above including English. At ‘A’ level, the overall pass rates stands a whopping 96 percent.

Bere appointed ZimRights national director

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Bere appointed ZimRights national director


Upenyu Chaota
HARARE— The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has appointed Dzikamai Bere as its national director replacing Okay Machisa effective January 1, 2020.
Bere is a seasoned human rights defender who has served the human rights community for over ten years.
Prior to his appointment, Bere was the programmes coordinator at the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, where he worked with various human rights stakeholders, including Zimrights structures, to advance the human rights agenda in Zimbabwe.
In a statement, ZimRights said that the appointment of Bere is a plus for the organization because he brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge.
“A firm believer in the dignity of every person, Bere brings to ZimRights a wealth of knowledge and experience in community engagement, human rights policy advocacy at both national and international levels, as well as expertise in multi-stakeholder coordination.
“As Zimbabwe’s oldest and largest grassroots human rights movement of over 200 000 ordinary people across the country, ZimRights welcomes Bere to its big family and wishes him well in his tenure.
“The board takes this opportunity to thank the outgoing national director Okay Machisa for his great work at ZimRights for the past ten years,” reads the statement.
Bere holds Bachelors’ degrees in Law and History, among other qualifications. In 2011, Bere was awarded a scholarship to study for a Masters in in Peace and Conflict Transformation at Swisspeace Academy in Basel, Switzerland
In 2017, Bere was recognized as one of Zimbabwe’s influential young leaders and invited to participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship programme with a focus on Civic Leadership at the Presidential Precinct in Virginia, United States.
In 2019, Bere received the Presidential Precinct’s Young Leader of the Year Award in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of human rights and transitional justice in Zimbabwe.

Hopeless situation at Chivhu’s Northwood Primary School

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Hopeless situation at Chivhu’s Northwood Primary School

…560 pupils use one classroom block, two tents

Elliot Jinjika

CHIVHU –  There are enormous problems at Northwood Primary School where 560 enrolled pupils are using one classroom block and two tents as learning facilities.
The newly built school is facing infrastructure challenges after moving out of a rented upstairs building due to a hike in rental charges and lack of proper ablution facilities.
The lack of adequate infrastructure has seen grades 0 to 5 using two tents whilst grades 6 and 7 use one classroom block.
Northwood Primary School head Cosmas Made told TellZim News that his school will do its best to equip children despite the hardships but implored key stakeholders to intervene and help ease the situation.
“The situation is dire but we are trying to make the most out of what we have. We have two tents and on classroom block which is occupied by grades six and seven.
“The lower grades are using tents and we are soldiering one,” said Made.
The school wrote to the District Development Coordinator (DDC), Chikomba RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chikomba RDC chairperson, Education ministry and the local councillor.
A meeting to discuss the matter was recently held and it was chaired by Chikomba DDC Michael Mariga.
Mariga indicated that he was moved to take action on the matter after a resident called to brief him on the deplorable state of affairs at the school whilst turning a blind eye on the letter addressed to him by the school and said council will intervene and assist in the construction of the school.
“I was called by a resident who informed me about the situation and I had a meeting with the council administration and in two weeks time, the council will finish constructing that block which is at window level to easy difficulties facing the school,” said Mariga.
Chivhu Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (CHRRA) Chairman, Collen Zvarevashe appreciated the broad step towards the development of the school but implored that development needs a collective effort between residents and authorities to achieve the greater good.
“As local people we need to contribute to development and our business community should also be visible.
“The problem only comes when key stakeholders are not involved. We should work together for the greater good of our community putting politics aside as it is hindering development in our district,” said Zvarevashe.

Former minister’s son goes into hiding

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Former minister’s son goes into hiding

                                              Kudakwashe Bhasikiti

Cephas Shava


MWENEZI- The son to former Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Jonathan, is said to be on the run from malicious damage to property charges levelled against him after he allegedly destroyed water pipes connecting his father’s farm neighbour.
Jonathan, who was a farm manager at his father’s Moria Farm and on trial while out of custody, went on the run soon after his defence lawyer’s bid for the discharge of his case was dismissed by Mwenezi Magistrate Honest Musiiwa.
The case against Jonathan was supposed to continue in December 2019 but has been derailed because the accused is believed to have eloped to neighbouring South Africa.
An arrest warrant has since been issued on him.
The case against Jonathan is that sometime in September 2019, he went to the boundary between his father’s farm and Evans Runesu’s plot where he allegedly used a pick to destroy a water pipe which carries water to Runesu’s plot.
He is said to have poured concrete inside the pipe thereby blocking water from getting to Runesu’s plot.
Runesu immediately filed a police report leading to Jonathan’s arrest. The overall value of damage caused by the accused amounted to $2 850.

Runyararo Primary School celebrates debut gospel album

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Runyararo Primary School celebrates debut gospel album

Elliot Jinjika
CHIVHU– Runyararo Primary is celebrating the release of a seven-track gospel album which is being described as testimony of the school’s capacity to fulfill the practical requirements of education.
Titled Ndiitei Musoro, the album is generally about encouraging young children to observe Christian values by such practices as respecting parents and guardians.
The album was composed by Bright Raphel, a music teacher at the school, and was recorded at Dawn Straight Studios.
Produced by Lurvel, the album carries such tracks as Loice, Redeemer, Teererai Vana, Ngavarambe Vari Mwari, Rangarira and Pamuchinjikwa.
In an interview with TellZim News, Raphel indicated that the album was a step towards achieving the requirements of the new curriculum by nurturing young talent at the same time teaching children to respect parents.
“This album is an encouragement to parents to teach children the good way of life. We chose the gospel genre because the teachings are so powerful to the lives of the young ones, other genres tend to be controversial at times.
“In as far as the new curriculum is concerned, this is a hands on approach in the arts sector nurturing young talent into the music industry at a tender age,” said Raphael.
The group also appreciated the massive support that they received from parents and the school’s administration and staff in funding transport and recording expenses.
Runyararo Primary School head, Mugove Zinzombe, indicated that staff development workshops on syllabus interpretation, implementing vocational and technical subjects and providing necessary teaching and learning materials are being undertaken to boost the new curriculum requirements at the school.
The school for the past years primarily centered on choral music but the zeal to do more in the arts sector led to the release of the album and recently was live on air at Radio Zimbabwe launching their latest offering which is already receiving air play from the station as well as National FM.

Zaka man uses bush to rape 12-year-old daughter four times

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Zaka man uses bush to rape 12-year-old daughter four times


Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – A Zaka man was
last recently arrested and later sentenced to 56 years in prison by Chiredzi
Senior Regional Magistrate Judith Zuyu for raping his first born 12-year-old
daughter four times.
The man, who cannot be named to
protect the identity of the victim, used a machete to intimidate the minor into
submission.
The State, represented by
Innocent Tshuma, convinced the court that on the first occasion, the man, who
comes from Mapope village under Chief Bota in Zaka, allegedly took advantage of
his wife’s absence to rape the minor in the bush where he had lured her for a
supposed hunting expedition.
The man, who had been left in the
custody of his three children aged five, eight and 12, first raped the minor on
October 22.
According to state papers, on
October 25, the man again took the minor for hunting in the bush where he raped
her again.
On October 26, he followed the
minor to the garden where she had gone to do some laundry and water the
vegetables and raped her again.
He then threatened to kill the
minor and her mother if she ever divulges the abuse.
The matter, however, came to
light when the minor complained to her mother that she was experiencing severe
pain on her private parts.
The man will, however, serve 28
years of his sentence after the other years were set aside on condition of good
behavior and that he will not commit a similar offense over the next five
years.

‘Chamisa to dissolve Masvingo provincial executive’

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‘Chamisa to dissolve Masvingo provincial executive’
James Gumbi

                                                    
Ruvarashe Chichera

MASVINGO – The MDC Provincial Executive here will reportedly be dissolved
this weekend, with party leader Nelson Chamisa expected to come and preside
over the dissolution of the faction-riven provincial leadership.
Highly-placed sources told TellZim
News that an impromptu provincial assembly meeting was called after the
national leadership got irretrievably disillusioned by incessant fighting and
back-biting in the province.
“Nelson Chamisa is coming to
the provincial offices in Masvingo to dissolve the provincial executive in
response to the factionalism that has failed to die down despite the elections
of last year,” said a source.
The current executive, which is
led by James Gumbi, was elected at a chaos-marred provincial congress held at
Masvingo Sports Club in April last year.
The elections saw Gumbi retaining
the post of provincial chairperson against a strong challenge by Simon Mupindu
whose name had been abruptly put forward by a rival faction following the
disqualification of its first choice Tongai Matutu.
A message doing rounds on
social media and attributed to the MDC Masvingo provincial secretary general Erium Musendekwa reads: “This
note serves to notify that there shall be a provincial assembly tomorrow, the
1st of February at the provincial party offices at 10am. A must for all delegates
to attend”.
Musendekwa could not be drawn into comment as his mobile went unanswered. 

Devolution funds chaos, Ministry of Finance summons July Moyo

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Devolution funds chaos, Ministry of Finance summons July Moyo


                                              July Moyo

Upenyu Chaota
MASVINGO – Money
released by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to local
authorities under the devolution programme last year is reportedly being abused,
with the Minister of Local Government Public Works and National Housing July
Moyo being called to explain.
Presenting
some of the Ministry of Finance’s to do list at the Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial
Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting on Sunday, January 19, Finance deputy minister
Clemence Chiduwa said the money had fomented chaos among recipients as most do
not know how the funds should be used.
Chiduwa
said that his ministry had now decided to summon Moyo to help him with the
guidelines on how local authorities should use their shares of the money.
“On
devolution, we have a lot of challenges. Here in Masvingo it is better compared
to other provinces. There are a lot of people who come to our offices to
complain about how the devolution funds are being used.
“Early
this week, we are summoning the Minister of Local Government to give him
guidance on how devolution funds should be used,” said Chiduwa.
He
said some people had devious intentions of abusing the money to further their
own selfish political agendas.
“When
devolution started, there were people with hidden ulterior motives who wanted
to use the funds for campaigning purposes at the expense of our people. Let’s
be weary of such individuals. Devolution funds should help our people,” said
Chiduwa.
He
said the Finance Ministry will soon be asking all the recipients of the funds
to explain how they used the funds because abuse will not be tolerated.
“We
are coming to see how the devolution funds have been used. The guidelines are
coming when we meet with the minister this week.
“This
move have been informed by what we hear and the input which is put by our
legislators. We are going to make sure that the devolution funds are used
appropriately, and are not abused by people who build houses or offices and buy
cars,” said Chiduwa.
Local
authorities are battling nonpayment of bills by residents, forcing some of them
to misdirect the money to such non-critical areas as vehicle purchases, office
furniture and construction of administration blocks.

Minister Marapira pioneers stock-feed farming in Masvingo

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Minister Marapira pioneers stock-feed farming in Masvingo

Moses
Ziyambi

The Minister of State
in Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s Office, Davis Marapira is farming a special
grass which is used to make cattle feed as part of his own efforts to develop
the sector in Masvingo province.
Marapira is
implementing the project on part of his 500-hectare farm which is located some
few kilometres west of Masvingo city off Bulawayo highway.
The grass, which is
known by its Portuguese name Brazseed Panicum Mombaza, is rich in nutrients
that enable cattle to survive the worst of the lean seasons.
Marapira, who is one of
the best performing farmers in the whole province if not the whole country in
terms of yields per hectare and effective land use, imports the seed of the
grass variety from Brazil.
In an interview with
TellZim News, Marapira said the grass project was a response to the urgent need
to grow alternative stock feed in face of increasingly unreliable rainfall
patterns.
“If you are a serious
cattle farmer, you do not want to keep doing things the old ways because
everything is changing. You want to explore new ways of keeping your livestock
alive and healthy even in the worst of droughts. This is why we at this farm
have decided to start growing this grass variety.
“It’s not any easy
project because to import the seed is expensive, the fertilisers are expensive and
there is also need for manpower to remove unwanted weeds and to do all the other
nurturing work. We have begun with 30ha which can produce enough yields to feed
300 cattle for one year,” said Marapira.
One hectare of
adequately-nurtured Brazseed Panicum Mombaza can produce enough hay to feed 10
cattle for twelve months at a yield of 100kg/ha.
The grass needs to be
fed some compounds of phosphate, potassium, iron, zinc, nitrogen and urea
fertilisers for it to reach its fullest potential.
“Part of the harvest
will go to the local market and the rest will be exported to such countries as
Israel where demand is high. We need to earn as much foreign currency as we can
so that the project can grow and remain sustainable,” said Marapira.
The farm also produces
several tonnes of maize, sugar bean seed and wheat, and it also hosts several
hundreds of cattle, sheep and goats.
“By the standards we
are building, this farm is becoming smaller and smaller. Our activities are
growing because we are serious farmers who want to feed the country. There is
no need for people to keep land they cannot utilise,” said Marapira.
He said he was inspired
by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s successful farming business at his Sherwood
Farm in Kwekwe.

Muchinguri, Auxillia fingered in Zanu PF Masvingo factions

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Muchinguri, Auxillia fingered in Zanu PF Masvingo factions

Killer Zivhu
                    

…Zivhu
case opens can of worms

…Hungwe,
Rugeje and Mangwana seek Chadzamira’s head

Upenyu Chaota

Factionalism
in Zanu PF Masvingo province is getting nastier, with two sparring factions emerging
to fight for the spoils of the November 2017 coup which toppled long-ruling
tyrant Robert Mugabe.
One
faction is allegedly linked to the disgruntled old guard which feels is being
marginalised by the Minister of State for Masvingo provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira,
who is also the party’s provincial chairperson and Member of Parliament (MP)
for Masvingo West.
The
can of worms began to unravel last year when the Zanu PF provincial disciplinary
committee recommended to the national disciplinary structures that Chivi South
MP Killer Zivhu be expelled from the party for alleged acts of gross misconduct
and undermining the authority of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Sources,
however, say Zivhu has found allies in the powerful First Lady Auxillia
Mnangagwa, Zanu PF national chairperson and Defense minister Oppah Muchinguri,
politburo member Josaya Hungwe, former Zanu PF national political commissar
Engelbert Rugeje and the party’s secretary for legal affairs in the politburo, Paul
Mangwana.
Rugeje,
an army major general at the time of the coup, was made national political
commissar after the coup but only to be inexplicably removed and replaced by
Defence deputy minister Victor Matemadanda as Mnangagwa consolidated his power
by removing those seen to be close to his powerful deputy Constantino Chiwenga.
At
provincial level, Rugeje, who hails from Bikita, is said to have always coveted
the post of provincial chairperson and is unhappy with the post remaining in
Chadzamira’s hands.
The
recommendation to expel Zivhu from the party was made in August last year but
the first lady, Muchinguri and Mangwana are said to have stalled the process.
Though
Zivhu was barred from conducting any party business in his constituency, he has
remained surprisingly defiant.
Sources
said the Chivi South MP is being used to push the agenda of the old guard which
seeks to dislodge Chadzamira.
“Chadzamira
is now a threat to many people in the province. He is too powerful and that is
making a lot of people jealous. He occupies three powerful positions as party
chairperson in the province, the provincial affairs minister and MP.
“He
is being viewed as the one centre of power by most in his circles and they are
plotting to weaken him. Chadzamira has now found himself surrounded by vultures
who will take the first chance they get to go for the killer blow.
“Many
politburo members do not like Chadzamira anymore and they are secretly plotting
for a showdown. They want Chadzamira’s head and they will not rest until they
take the chairmanship from him,” said one source.
Another
source said that the old guard faction is using Zivhu to frustrate Chadzamira
so that he can be left exposed.
“The
fight has just begun and you are going to see fireworks soon. There is a lot of
power behind Zivhu and only a blind person cannot see that. You do not defy the
province when you have no powerful and superior backing.
“The
old guard was looking for an opportune time to penetrate Masvingo and the Zivhu
case was a fertile opportunity.
“Mangwana
is the one advising Zivhu to be defiant assuring him that no harm will come his
way. If you have observed of late, politburo members rarely show up at meetings
chaired by Chadzamira or even PCCs,” said another source.
At
last Sunday’s Zanu PF Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting, only
Rugeje showed up while other politburo members were nowhere to be found.
At
a Unity Day function organised by Chadzamira at Chivi growth point on December
22, 2019, only Masvingo South MP Claudious Maronge, Chivi North MP Matthias
Tongofa and his Chivi Central counterpart Ephraim Gwanongodza turned up while
the other 22 reportedly stayed away.
Some
of the MPs reportedly sympathised with a parallel function organised by the
party’s national chief whip and Gutu South MP Pupurai Togarepi who is also said
to be opposed to Chadzamira’s leadership. They, however, did not turn out for
Togarepi’s function either in order to be seen as neutral and avoid exposing
themselves to possible victimisation.
When
contacted for comment, Rugeje told TellZim News that there were people who were
out to soil his name. He said he had no special relationship with Zivhu other
than meeting him at PCC meetings by chance.
“This
is pure mudslinging at play. I do not have the power to protect Zivhu. There
are people who just want to tarnish my name. These are the same people who are
fomenting factionalism in the province. I know who is protecting Zivhu and
cheering him on and I am sure you do also. He is being protected by the people
from Chivi. I do not come from Chivi,” said Rugeje, in apparent reference to
Hungwe and Mangwana, who are both from Chivi.
Zivhu
recently threw mud into his enemies’ faces by posting on his WhatsApp status
and across various other social media platforms an improvised hymn which he
mockingly sings thanking God for protecting him from people whom he alleged to
be tormenting him.
Chadzamira
told the PCC last Sunday that Zanu PF members should stop abusing social media
and warned party members against being used to divide the province by people
from within and outside.
He
said there were people not happy with the unity in Masvingo and were trying to
destabilise the province.
“Whenever
we have disputes within the party, we call properly constituted meetings and
discuss our issues not use WhatsApp. We want to remain a one-party province.
Nyaya dzefactionalism dzakaenda nanaMavhaire nguva yavo.
“We
will not tolerate people who want to come and divide our people because of
their personal interests. We want to remain united and respect our leadership.
People should not abuse the respect accorded to them. We should know that the
province belongs to the people of Masvingo,” said Chadzamira.
He
castigated Zivhu’s defiant posture saying in the past, there were people who
thought had been bigger than Zanu PF but only to be shocked when they got kicked
out.
“We
want people who wait for the finalisation of their disciplinary cases and see
whether they come back and join others or they get kicked out.
“No
one will free themselves from their sins. If you think you are well connected
or Chadzamira thinks that he knows Cde Rugeje and he will protect him from his
trespasses, there is no such thing. We should respect our disciplinary
committee and the decisions they make. No one is more important than the other
in Zanu PF.
“Mugabe
tried to personalize Zanu PF by bragging that he formed the party but he died
from the outside. Zanu PF is for the people. It’s not for one person. We should
not be separated by people with hidden motives.  We know that people are not happy with our
unity. The fact that Masvingo remains number one always does not sink well with
some people and that is why they try to sponsor divisions,” said Chadzamira.
The
PCC recommended for the quick finalization of the Zivhu case so that a page can
be turned.

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