Mayor Charles Chikozho

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru – Mayor Charles Chikozho has called on the government to implement realistic mechanisms on imports so as to boost the development of the local enterprises and promote the buy local concept in the country.
Speaking recently at the 8th Buy Local Summit held under the theme “Competitiveness and retaining local preference in an open economy”, Chikozho said coming up with local content policy and realistic mechanisms on imports substitutions will help turnaround the economy.
“At a most basic level when you buy local more money stays in the country so I hope this summit will help to come up with strategies that promote the buy local concept in our economy.
“The business community must help in sourcing funds for domestic enterprises as this is a critical sector if we want to promote the buy local concept.
“I hope strategies are going to be brought forward to come up with realistic mechanisms on import substitutions which are crucial in developing our economy,” said Chikozho.
Chikozho emphasised on the creation of employment through production of local goods and services for consumption locally and abroad.
“We need to promote locally produced goods. We do not want a situation where we import goods which our very own people can produce. We have to be exporting some goods not to just be importing.
 “We will be proud of ourselves as Zimbabweans if we reach such levels of economic growth where we are able to produce our own goods and money will be circulating internally not the situation we have where all the money is being given to other economies importing goods which can be produced locally,” said Chikozho.local

Tiyani Hahlani

ZAKA – All roads are this week Friday leading to Jerera growth point where the Community Tolerance, Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), in partnership with Heal Zimbabwe, will launch their Go Out And Vote campaign of initiatives against voter apathy especially among the youth.
The event will be boosted by the presence of an array of popular Zim Dancehall artists, with David ‘Sabhuku Vharazipi’ Mubaiwa and the ‘Chairman’ – of the Vharazipi fame – being the directors of ceremonies.
Artists that will be will performing at the road show are Tocky Vibes, Freeman, Lady Squanda and Jah Signal.
Speaking to Tell Zimbabwe, COTRAD programmes manager, Zivanai Mazorodzi encouraged all those who registered as voters to take the final step on July 30 by going out in their numbers to vote for the candidates they want.
He said the youth, women, people with disabilities and first time voters in general were particularly being encouraged to take a stand in the elections as theirs will be a call for the recognition of their issues.
“As COTRAD, we are saying the Biometric Voters’ Roll (BVR) has been closed and thank you to all those who went out to register as voters. But there remains the most important step to take on July 30. Let us continue with the cycle by going out in our large numbers to our respective polling stations and vote in peace.
“We encourage women and the youth to take this as their election which will decide whether or not their issues, as the biggest demographic group of citizens and registered voters, will be find space in the policy making discourse of the country. Their votes alone have the potential to decide winners or losers,” said Muzorodzi.
He also said similar campaigns will also be done in other districts such as Mwenezi, Gutu and Bikita this month.local

Amand Bagamu Rao

Clever Taperamoyo

MASVINGO – The people of Masvingo had had their employment hopes raised high after it had been announced that SIMBI Steelmakers Company which closed four years ago was set to reopen in April but to date nothing has materialised.
In April, the minister of State for Provincial Affairs Josiah Hungwe did a tour at the company and assured members of the media that operations were going to start in a week’s time.
SIMBI Steelmakers general manager, Amand Bagamu Rao said they have started mining and getting ore from Glenlivet located in the east side of Masvingo which they will use when they open.
“We have started mining and getting ore from Glenviet. We imported critical spares and fixed them at our local plant. We have now finished plant maintenance and taking trial runs therefore we are ready to start,” Rao said.
The company closed down in 2014 due to depressed iron prices on the international market after being commissioned in 2004 becoming one of the biggest heavy industry to operate in Masvingo employing a number of workers.
The plant previously produced nearly 60 000 tonnes of sponge iron per annum while supplying about 30 tonnes of sponge iron daily to the Steelmakers in Redcliff.
Rao said they were only waiting for the process of outsourcing coal from Botswana on long term contract basis to ensure continuity.
“We are outsourcing coal from Botswana. We received some but we would like to get it continuously. There are some production issues in Botswana. We are discussing with them for long term contract without interruption. Efforts are being made for the start-up,” said Rao.local

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Simbarashe Hove (51), who is a teacher at Masaswe Primary School in Mwenenzi District, was last week convicted at the Mwenezi Magistrate Court after he was found guilty of entering into a one-to-one marriage with another wife before legally cancelling his first marriage.
Hove was convicted on his own plea of guilty of Contravening Section 104 (1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 “Bigamy”.
He was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment or alternatively pay a fine of $160.
Hove, who spent hours locked up at the cells before he later raised the fine, was severely condemned by magistrate Honest Musiiwa during trial.
Musiiwa pointed out that had he not taken into consideration that Hove was still employed, he would have imposed a straightforward custodial sentence without the option of a fine because Hove deserves such punishment.
The magistrate insisted that as a teacher, Hove was supposed to be exemplary but he decided to deliberately lie and hoodwink the courts into endorsing his second monogamous marriage.
State facts are that on October 19, 1990, at Masvingo Magistrate Court, Hove entered into a monogamous marriage with Naume Ngwenya in terms of the Marriage Act Chapter 37, which stipulates that a man/woman is obliged to have a single partner.
It was further heard that, on October 27, 2010, at Mwenezi Magistrate Court, Hove entered into another monogamous marriage with Patricia Ruzengwe in terms of the Marriage Act Chapter 5:11, which is an amendment of Chapter 37, with similar provisions.
The matter came to light when Ruzengwe approached the Chivi Magistrate Court claiming maintenance from Hove and a police report was filed leading to the accused’s arrest. Two marriage certificates were produced as exhibit in court.
Angelinah Makonya prosecuted.local