Home Blog Page 628

Multiple farm ownership time’s up, says Gono

TellZimNews
-
0

Faster Gono


Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Zimbabwe Sugarcane Milling Industry Workers Union (ZSMIWU) secretary general, Rtd Maj Faster Gono has threatened to expose multiple farm owners in the district, saying the time had come for such corrupt people to lose their ill-gotten land.
Gono told TellZim News that his stance against corrupt land ownership patterns – that are characterised by some individuals controlling vast tracts of land or multiple farms – has cost him many friends, and has of late seen him being removed from many influential WhatsApp groups.
He said he warned top Zanu PF members that he wanted those injustices corrected so that more people can be brought into the sugarcane farming business.
Many top Zanu PF officials have more than one farm each while others have over 50 hectares of land in one holding.
“My first area of focus is to fight corruption in Chiredzi. We should correct the injustices that have been committed against our people. We have individuals with more than 50ha of net cane yet the rule is that one family should have one farm. Those with more than 50ha should share with others so that more families can have their own pieces of land,” said Gono.
He called upon members of the public to investigate and report cases of multiple farm ownership, and expose those who bribe land officers.
“People should also assist in reporting such cases of people who think they are clever. I know more than 200 of such people and three of them are war veterans. And the rest are people who have money to bribe people at the district lands office. We have detailed information on our fingertips and it will soon be all over for those people,” Gono said.
Gono, who was part of winning Zanu PF Chiredzi West parliamentary candidate, Farai Musikavanhu, in the recent elections, has been vocal in his criticism of corruption in the lucrative sugarcane farming business.
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Rtd Air Marshal Perence Shiri has also came out strongly against multiple farm ownership, saying government had instituted processes to correct those imbalances.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has also said government was looking at oversized and underutilised farms so that they could be cut and allocated to other deserving people.local

Zimbabwe remains a safe tourist destination: ZTA

TellZimNews
-
0
Zimbabwe remains a safe tourist destination: ZTA

Stephen Ephraem

CHIPINGE – The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), a government arm whose mandate is to market the country’s tourism sites, has said the country remained a safe destination despite the post-election turmoil that happened in Harare on August 01.
This was said by ZTA chief executive officer (CEO), Dr Karikoga Kaseke, in a statement issued earlier this week.
“The authority sincerely regrets the loss of lives during the disturbances and extends its deep condolences to the bereaved families. Tourism thrives in a peaceful environment and as such, ZTA does not condone any form of violence at all and joins the rest of the nation and international community to condemn the perpetrators of violence in the strongest terms,” said Kaseke.
The ZTA boss said that the skirmishes only affected selected areas and not the whole country.
“The disturbances were restricted to the central business district of Harare and the rest of the country remain peaceful and all our tourist resorts are undisturbed by the state of affairs in the capital city.
“We would like to urge all travellers to Zimbabwe and those currently in the country to [continue] to conduct their business as the situation is back to normal. Leisure travellers are therefore advised to stay calm and enjoy their experience in this country,” said Kaseke.
Meanwhile, ZTA Manicaland has embarked on a marketing drive of the eastern province, with the branch manager, Ropafadzo Dunira and marketing officer, Tsitsi Madzungo visiting Chipinge this week to gain a deeper insight into the district’s tourist attractions.
They said their marketing drive will cover all the seven districts of Manicaland.local

MDC Alliance’s headache for Masvingo mayor

TellZimNews
-
0

Selina Maridza

Upenyu Chaota

Having won seven out of the 10 contested wards in Masvingo Urban, the MDC Alliance now suffers a headache of selecting the best person to take over from Hubert Fidze as mayor.
Possible contenders are councillors Godfrey Kurauone (Ward 4), Daniel Mberikunashe (Ward 5), Richard Musekiwa (Ward 7) and Babylon Beta (Ward 9).
Collen Maboke (Ward 2) and Selina Maridza (Ward 1) are new councillors who are said to be making their own determined bids for the post.
With three councillors, Zanu PF has almost zero chances of taking the post but whoever wants the job must lobby for those three votes.
Kurauone stands a better chance of winning the race but he has made a few enemies in his own party, and they may use their influence to scuttle his ambition.
Beta, Mberikunashe and Musekiwa would do better if they campaign for the deputy mayoral position but gender considerations may see the post going to Maridza.
All the interested councillors have reportedly submitted their CVs to the party’s provincial leadership which will make recommendations.
District chairperson, Murangamwa Chanyau confirmed that the CVs were submitted but referred further questions to provincial chairperson James Gumbi.
“The selection of the mayoral candidate will be done at national level but the province will make some recommendations. All those interested have already submitted their CVs but the province has more information,” said Chanyau.
Gumbi could not be reached for comment by the time of going to print.local

New Chiredzi Cllrs jostle for chairmanship

TellZimNews
-
0
New Chiredzi Cllrs jostle for chairmanship

Francis Moyo


Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – At least Six councillors are already jostling to take over from outgoing town chairperson Francis Moyo, TellZim News can reveal.
With four councillors, Zanu PF has an upper hand over MDC Alliance which has three, and will have to rely on the vote of independent councillor, Ropafadzo Makumire for a stalemate at best, when the issue goes to a vote.
Two MDC Alliance councillors, one incumbent and the other incoming, are said to be interested in the job, while Moyo – who is from Zanu PF – is said to be doing the bidding for his party’s Josphat Nzombe of Ward 8.
“I have already started engaging fellow councillors to ask for their votes but the field is not level as some are said to be using money to buy votes,” said Nzombe.
Another Zanu PF councillor, Obert Ngwenya (Ward 2) is also interested in the post and has been accused of using his resources to buy votes.
“I have since begun soliciting for votes so that I can be council chairman. I am, however, not doing any vote buying and there is no any form of corruption involved. I am running a clean campaign for votes,” said Ngwenya.
Liberty Macharaga of Zanu PF said he was still considering his options on whether or not to join the race.
“I am yet to decide. If I choose not to contest, I will support whoever I think carries our hopes better. We need good leaders so we must be careful whom we choose, it should not always be about him or her belonging to this or that political party,” said Macharaga.
On his part, Makumire revealed that three councillors had come and pleaded with him to vote for them.
“A lot of people are interested. So far three have visited me looking for my vote but what I want to make clear is that I will not vote for any candidate who served in the previous council,” said Makumire.politics

Chibuku Neshamwari: Guruve Marimba traditional dance heads to China

TellZimNews
-
0
Chibuku Neshamwari: Guruve Marimba traditional dance heads to China

Guruve Marimba Dance Group after their win at the Chibuku Neshamwari national finals in Mutare

Lloyd Shunje

MUTARE – Guruve Marimba Dance group secured a trip to China after being crowned national champions in the nationals of the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival held in Mutare last week.
The 15-member group, which showcased the dinha dance, walked away with US$7 000 while Makarekare from Mashonaland East and Matabeleland South’s Bolamba won US$5 000 and US$3 000 respectively for being the first and second runners up respectively.
Other groups that performed at the competitions were Chabvondoka Zambia Gure Club (Mashonaland West), Maramuro Agure (Harare), Simunye Arts (Mat North), Dhuma Tasangana Arts (Manicaland) Dzimba Dzemahwe (Masvingo), Khaya Arts (Bulawayo) and Mbada Arts (Midlands).
In contemporary dance category, Peter and Vain’s Ballerinas Dance won the China trip grand prize and pocketed US$3 000 after outclassing four other competitors.
The Chosen Dance Group and Forgotten pocketed US$2 000 and US$1 000 respectively for coming second and third in the contemporary dance category.
This year’s competition was dominated by dinha and Jerusarema dances and all the participating groups performed fascinatingly as if to justify their presence at the national finals.
Guruve Marimba Dance, manager Prince Muzanenhamo told TellZim News that this year’s festival was more competitive than ever.
“We play traditional dinha dance and this is our third attempt at the top prize. Competition was tough but we were confident that we would make it because we had been rehearsing thrice a day every day. The money we have won will be used to buy the musical equipment we need. I am sure you have witnessed that we are a large group using few drums,” said Muzanenhamo.
Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association (ZNTDA)’s vice president, Edson Museka said they were confident that the winning group was going to raise the country’s flag high by performing the indigenous dance in China.
“We are happy that the Guruve Marimba Dance group will go and be our ambassadors showcasing what Zimbabwe has to offer,” said Museka.
Founded in 1963, Chibuku Neshamwari is sponsored by Delta Beverages through their popular Chibuku brand, and is coordinated by National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and ZNTDA.entertainment

Election results: Zvishavane responds badly

TellZimNews
-
0
Election results: Zvishavane responds badly

Patience Muzhingi

ZVISHAVANE – There is a subdued mood in Zvishavane following the announcement of the election results that have seen the opposition MDC Alliance, which carried the hopes of many people, failing to get any parliamentary seat in the district and surrounding areas.
In Zvishavane, as in almost the whole country, real competition seemed to be between MDC Alliance and the ruling Zanu PF party despite the presence of over twenty presidential candidates and over fifty political parties in the harmonised elections.
Zvishavane town, which hosted a big alliance rally just before the elections, is noticeably downcast, with many people saying they did not know what went wrong.
Before the elections, MDC Alliance supporters were overexcited by the prospect of victory, with many betting on social media that their presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa would get 61.8 percent of the vote.
“We are gutted. How can this really be? We worked hard to convince the people that ours were the best parliamentary candidates and that Chamisa was the best person for President. These results are not unquestionable,” said one supporter from Mberengwa.
Another one said they will now wait for Chamisa’s leadership on the way forward as well as the results of his legal challenge of the presidential election results.
“We will patiently wait Chamisa’s direction. We believe in the whole MDC Alliance’s leadership and we will do as they tell us to do,” said the supporter who stays in Maglas.
Zanu PF prevailed in both constituencies in the district; Zvishavane-Runde and Zvishavane-Ngezi, but no serious celebrations had happened by the time of writing.
The current mood now leaves a question of whether the majority of Zvishavane residents are shocked MDC Alliance supporters or are Zanu PF supporters rejoicing silently.local

Mother Touch shines at Welsh music festival

TellZimNews
-
0
Mother Touch shines at Welsh music festival

The Mother Touch team that travelled to Wales for the Llangollen Music Festival

Shingirai Vambe

HARARE – Some 25 pupils with Mother Touch group of schools experienced a moment of their lives recently when they visited the United Kingdom from July 03 – 18 for the 2018 Llangollen Eisteddfod where they won prizes in two categories.
Held in Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales, the annual music festival attracted 4 000 participants from around the world.
The Mother Touch team won awards in the cultural showcase and children’s dance categories.
Mother Touch group of schools proprietor, Salome Mutsinze spoke to iTell News upon her return from the European country, saying the school was humbled by the recognition.
“This is our third time to visit the UK and it was such great fun for the children. They got exposed to the outside world thus giving them an opportunity to gain an insight into new cultures and new concepts. We participate every year and this time, we travelled with 25 children, one parent and three teachers.
“We performed very well and the prizes we won are proof that we are heading somewhere good. It is not out of our own meticulous planning or the wisdom of our decisions that we have made this feat, but a result of God’s grace,” said Mutsinze.
All age groups were part of the Mother Touch team, with Mutsinze accompanying the team fresh from Victoria Falls where she had been named the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Business Woman of the Year 2017.
“Let parents bring their children to Mother Touch group of schools where we take our time to learn the needs of all children and their varying capabilities. Ours is a ceaseless effort to bring out the best out of each child,” said Mutsinze.
Mother Touch is situated at 2164 Tynwald South, in Harare.local

‘Tongofa deserved another term’

TellZimNews
-
0

Matthias Tongofa

Clever Taperamoyo

CHIVI – Some people in Chivi North have said they re-elected Matthias Tongofa as their Member of Parliament (MP) because he effectively represented them during his last tenure, and has worked hard to meet their expectations
Terrence Nhara of Taruvinga Village in Ward 5 said he was pleased that Tongofa, whom he credited for drilling boreholes, helping the elderly get medical attention and fencing gardens during his previous term, had won resoundingly.
“I am a first time voter and I voted for Tongofa since he is doing a wonderful job to improve the livelihoods of people in this area.
“We have a problem of water shortages here in Chivi so the MP has been actively assisting in the maintenance of boreholes and drilling of new ones in such wards as 4, 5 and 9,” said Nhara.
A villager from Ward 4 who did not want to be named said Tongofa deserved another term as he had done well convincing the electorate he was a better candidate than his strongest rival, Dickson Mapipi of MDC Alliance.
“The MDC Alliance candidate was not visible therefore people just voted for someone whom they knew better. Tongofa has always been in touch with communities,” said the villager.
Other villagers, however, said Tongofa unfairly benefited from the politicisation of social welfare food aid and voter intimidation.
“There was intimidation of voters here and that worked well for Tongofa. He was an absentee MP who rarely did anything meaningful since 2013. He promised to upgrade the Denge Irrigation Scheme and resurface the Madzivadondo – Takavarasha dusty road but all that did not happen,” said a female voter from Ward 9.local

US State Dept issues statement on Zim election

TellZimNews
-
0
US State Dept issues statement on Zim election

…condemns post-election violence

TellZim Reporter

The United States of Department State on 03 August spoke on the conduct of the Zimbabwe’s recent elections, praising the peaceful voting process but condemning the violence that erupted in Harare on Monday.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert says it was unfortunate that what began as a peaceful process had later degenerated into violence.
“The Zimbabwean people turned out massively to cast their votes, underscoring their aspirations for a better future, despite challenges during the pre-election period.
“Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s success in delivering an election day that was peaceful, and open to international observers, was subsequently marred by violence and a disproportionate use of deadly force against protesters by security forces.
“We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured and appeal to the leaders of all parties to urge their supporters to act peacefully.
“The United States welcomes the commitment by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release comprehensive election results in a form that provides full transparency. The United States will continue to review the data collected by its own observation teams, international observation missions, and by local observers to make a complete assessment of the overall election,” the statement reads.
It also urges all stakeholders to peacefully seek the address of any grievances they may have, and to do so through the established legal channels.
“The United States remains focused on working with Zimbabwe as its people and government strive toward still-needed comprehensive electoral, political, economic, and human rights reforms,” it reads.local

Commonwealth condemns Harare killings

TellZimNews
-
0
Commonwealth condemns Harare killings

Shingirai Vambe

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dream of re-engagement with the West and return the country to the Commonwealth of Nations could suffer a still birth following the use of live ammunition by soldiers against protesters on August 01, resulting in the death of six people.
In the wake of the grisly shootings, the Commonwealth election observer mission issued a statement calling for calm.
“We categorically denounce the excessive use of force against unarmed civilian…tragically this has resulted in a number of fatalities and injuries, we extend our sympathies to the families and loved ones of all those affected by these deeply troubling incidents.
“The rule of law should be respected, and all parties should exercise patience and restraint. We urge the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to speed up the process of counting and announce the result,” former president of Ghana, John Mahama said in a statement on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Mahama said the Commonwealth mission had deployed its observers to all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe after a 16-year absence.
The government regards rejoining the Commonwealth one of the key strategies of getting rid of Zimbabwe’s years of international pariah status and unlocking Western capital which is critical for the revival of the country’s collapsed economy.local

1...627628629...960Page 628 of 960