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Dunira pledges more for Masvingo Urban

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Godhati Dunira

Brighton Chiseva

Zanu PF Masvingo Urban MP apparent, Godhati Dunira says he is the right candidate for the seat as he has a proven track record of empowering the generality of residents through his many initiatives especially in the housing sector.
Dunira, who drove the development of Victoria Ranch through Vashandi Housing Cooperative, is convinced Masvingo is a sleeping giant that should be helped to rise.
“Masvingo is a sleeping giant; it needs leaders who are constantly in touch with the grassroots so as to map out strategies for sustainable development.
“I have been working with people for a long time as a leader but some of our projects took time to establish because we lacked power. I look forward to people giving me a bigger political responsibility so that I will be able to champion more of their needs,” said Dunira.
He said it was high time authorities install a sewer system in Victoria Ranch so as to improve hygiene in the sprawling suburb.
Dunira said he is in a better position than anybody else to set a new developmental tone for the city as he has already demonstrated immense capability in his leadership of Vashandi.
“As many as 30 000 people got employed or benefitted directly or indirectly when we implemented the housing cooperative. Think of the hundreds of artisans working there, thousands of tons of materials we purchased from local hardwares every months, thousands of dollars’ worth of groceries bought in town every day and the several downstream manufacturing industries that were stimulated in as faraway places as Bulawayo,” said Dunira.
HE pledged to do more for the people of Masvingo whom he said have never known a hands-on, active MP for a long time.
“I am here to serve, to champion the needs of our people in parliament. We need policies that make housing more affordable, policies that make our SMEs thrive,” Dunira said.local

New Chief Gutu removed

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Wafios Hlavati

Precila Takabvirakare

The man who was chosen to be the new Chief Gutu late last year has been dethroned before being formally installed following strong objections from some branches of the royal family that felt his selection was irregular.
Godwin Tavaruva, of the Chagwiza family, was selected to take over the throne from Edmund Managanise who has been acting chief since 2013 following the death of the substantive chief, Amos Kasirayi Masanganise.
Tavaruva is the son of formerly prosperous passenger bus services operator, Tanda Tavaruva of the Mhunga Bus Services.
The Provincial Chiefs Council convened a new selection meeting on April 24 at the Gutu Rural District Council offices following months of strong representation from the other families that objected to Tavaruva’s ascendancy.
Some members of the Goronga, Bere, Chiriga, Chivasa and Rusina families say Mareya Chivasa is more suitable for the throne as he was older than Tavaruva.
It is said Chivasa had been detached from family affairs for over 20 years, resulting in him being overlooked when the initial selection process was done.
Others are vouching for Lawrence Bere to take over though the current dynamics are said to be favouring Chivasa.
Both Chivasa and Bere are also from the Chagwiza royal family.
When asked for comment, Gutu District Administrator (DA) Wafios Hlavati said several complaints had forced authorities to reconsider the selection of Tavaruva.
“We decided to redo the selection because soon after the initial selection, several complaints were presented to us. We then advised them to write a letter of appeal to the Provincial Administrator which led to the new selection meeting,” said Hlavati.
The council of chiefs and the royal families then agreed to make further investigations on to the Chagwiza family tree in order to find the most suitable candidate between Chivasa and Bere.
No comment could be obtained from Tavaruva as his mobile continuously going unanswered, with some people saying he has not been feeling well for some time.local

Chiduwa takes Zaka East by surprise

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Clemance Chiduwa

Brighton Chiseva in Zaka

Prominent businessman and academic, Clemance Chiduwa (pictured), has taken Zaka East by surprise as he has emerged to be one of the favourite candidates despite his late entry onto the campaign trail.
Chiduwa is becoming more popular everyday as the people in the constituency are slowly but surely falling in love with his policies.
The aspiring Member of Parliament (MP) has become a role model for many young people in Zaka after he managed to establish a successful business at a tender age which has branches in many African countries.
Chiduwa is the founder and owner of the Institute for Capacity Development (ICD) which has branches in Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda and South Sudan among other African countries.
The organisation focuses on economic development.
Apart from running successful businesses, Chiduwa worked in various universities across Africa including Midlands State University (MSU) where he taught economics.
He once worked as a lead consultant for Namibia Airports Company (NAC). He also consulted for the National Treasury South Africa. He has also worked for as Writeshop Capacity Development Expert for UN – Habitat, African Union and African Development Bank.
If he manages to beat his contestants on Sunday, Chiduwa may become the first highly qualified Zanu PF candidate for Zaka East constituency.politics

Zanu PF its own enemy

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Omega Hungwe


… Chitepo School of Ideology moves to stop bhora musango
…aspiring candidates forced to sign oaths of allegiance


Upenyu Chaota

The principal director of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology and Zanu PF politburo member, Munyaradzi Machacha has warned that his party would be a threat unto itself if losers of this Sunday’s primary elections do not concede graciously.
Machacha is also in charge of the party’s cell structure verification in Masvingo province.
Speaking at a provincial coordination committee (PCC) at Victoria Junior School recently, Machacha warned the primaries, if not managed properly, could trigger an implosion in the party.
He said the Chitepo School of Ideology, working together with the Zanu PF, commissariat have devised a strategy to make all the aspiring candidates sign oaths of allegiance tying them to the party regardless of the outcome of the primary elections.
“We do not face any imminent threat from outside the party. Our real threat is from within and we need to address that issue head on.
“We know primary elections divide people and it takes true party cadres to accept defeat and support the winner. We are one and we should always move as one,” said Machacha.
There is widespread discontentment on the ground after some aspiring members, who had paid the required money to contest in the primaries, saw their hopes blow up in their faces after they were disqualified.
“In every game, there is a winner and a loser. In politics, it’s unfortunate there is no draw; you either win or lose. For those who will lose, we want you to support the winners so that the party can move forward.
“We do not want a system where people threaten a bhora musango because they have lost the race. It is against this background that we would like all the aspiring candidates to sign oaths of allegiance that are binding.
“The document will outline the rules of engagement in our primaries and that a member will accept the outcome,” said Machacha.
Machacha said Zanu PF is not at all moved by activities from opposition parties which have seen the MDC Alliance pulling huge crowds at rallies, saying his party only needs to go the test of primaries and romp to victory in the general elections expected in July or August.
The Zanu PF national deputy secretary for the commissariat, Omega Hungwe once told a Masvingo provincial inter-district meeting that all the aspiring candidates from local government and national assembly should have certificates from the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology so that they are properly inducted into the ruling party’s principles.local

MDC-T Masvingo rebels against Chamisa

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From left…MDC-T Vice president Elias Mudzuri, MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa and Masvingo provincial chair James Gumbi

Upenyu Chaota

BIKITA – MDC-T president and MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa met a backlash last week during a rally at Nyika growth point where Masvingo provincial chairperson James Gumbi openly declared that he will defy Alliance agreement by fielding candidates in constituencies reserved for Alliance partners.
A visibly shaking Gumbi declared, ‘over my dead body’, that he would field MDC-T candidate in constituencies reserved for Alliance partners like Bikita East which was allocated to Transform Zimbabwe (TZ).
“…I will not allow anyone to contest in those constituencies that our people suffered; over my dead body. We are going to field candidates in these candidates because we are emotionally connected because our people were tortured and killed like in Bikita East,” charged Gumbi.
The Masvingo chair’s sentiments were viewed as anti-alliance thereby forcing Alliance president Nelson Chamisa to read riot act.
Chamisa humbled Gumbi saying this election needs all opposition parties to pull their resources together to defeat Zanu PF.
“I listened to chairman Gumbi making a declaration. I listened to you saying it cannot be done but we say no because we have the vision of our late leader President Tsvangirai  who told me to work with everyone and I will be Joshua.
“Joshua doesn’t walk alone; he needs helpers. On that you don’t make a declaration. We are now giving you direction and it will not be contested because that is leadership and that’s a directive.
“When we give you direction you follow, you don’t come and question why it has been done the way it is. We however, will consider the strongest candidate in each constituency,” said Chamisa.
Gumbi’s sentiments were taken as anti-alliance forcing other party supporters to accuse him of being a Thokozani Khupe’s stooge.
Khupe’s anti Alliance concerns, which got her persecuted and led to her ultimate dismissal from the party, are beginning to take root in some party officials who believe they are being too generous to their Alliance partners by giving them more than they deserve.
Political analyst Dr Takavafira Zhou, commenting on the MDC Alliance, wrote “As much as we are not against the issue of an Alliance, we must also note that we were too generous in allocating constituencies to partners who do not have a foothold in some areas.
“So as much as the Alliance is a way of maximising votes, we may end up frustrating voters if we are not careful in our distribution matrix. The idea of the Alliance is noble but there was no scientific way in distributing some constituencies so much that a rationalisation process is needed”.
In the run up to the 2008 presidential June runoff, the ruling Zanu PF launched a terror campaign against the MDC-T supporters with Bikita and Zaka in Masvingo being the most terrorised.
MDC-T supporters were brutalised and killed, some petrol bombed in the Zaka district office forcing Tsvangirai to pull out of the re-run election.top news

Hwarare’s housing project raises eyebrows

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Addmore Hwarare

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) last week criticised deputy minister of agriculture, Davis Marapira, over his intent to handover land to Addmore Hwarare saying it will give rise in land barons something which the local government is battling to eradicate.
Marapira was in Chiredzi last week for the identification of land which he promised to hand over to all sugarcane farmers for housing projects.
The housing project is being facilitated by Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe’s (CSFAZ) chairperson Addmore Hwarare who is alleged to be involved in corrupt activities that had lured Marapira to facilitate stands for them.
Hwarare is alleged to have been making some donations in Marapira’s Masvingo north constituency.
Chiredzi RDC chairperson Edward Matsilele dropped a bombshell during his 2018 first quarter report that the housing scheme has usurped local authority’ powers and will lead to the rise in land barons.
“On a disturbing note, we realised the rise in land barons again. We are being informed that the ministry of lands intends to handover land for housing to private individuals under the disguise of farmer’s representatives.
“Our Ministry has promised to do away with land barons so we wait to be guided accordingly. One thing for certain is that we will resist unprocedural usurpation of local authority functions by individuals,” said Matsilele.
Minister Marapira addressed CSFAZ farmers at Buffalo Range where he said the housing project is set to benefit all sugarcane farmers despite their affiliation to various associations.
“There are farmers who visited our office on issues of houses. We came to identify the land which belongs to sugarcane farmers.
“I mean all sugarcane farmers and I have been shown the land here. Minister will come after recommendations to identify whether the land is suitable for housing project which will undergo another process of handing it over to the ministry of local government,” said Marapira.local

Gutu businessman in court for kidnapping

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Precila Takabvirakare

GUTU – Businessman Liberty Chifamba recently appeared before magistrate Edwin Marecha facing kidnapping charges, improper use of firearm, theft and unauthorised use of property belonging to Lovemore Denhere.
Chifamba’s lawyer Collen Maboke of Ruvengo Maboke and company applied for discharge of the case on April 16 and the defence’s application is set to be heard on a later date
The state led by Millicent Azangwe told the court that on March 7 this year, Chifamba had a misunderstanding with Denhere’s wife, Glenda Pambayi, whom she accused of syphoning money from his shop where she used to work and allegedly bought a car with the stolen money.
In a fit of rage, Chifamba went to Denhere’s house and took $974 from the wardrobe before demanding the keys to the car claiming it to be his.
The following day, Chifamba forcibly ordered Denhere to get into his car and drove to Masvingo.
On their way Chifamba produced a gun and threatened to kill Denhere if he does not return the money stolen by his wife.
 From Masvingo they proceeded to Zvishavane where they met Amos Mapfumo, a car dealer, and processed the sale of Denhere’s car.
They later returned to Denhere’s house and Chifamba ordered Pambayi to write an affidavit indicating that she had stolen money from his shop.
After the incident, Denhere reported the matter to the police leading to Chifamba’s arrest.local

Chamisa reads riot act on imposition of candidates

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Nelson Chamisa


Upenyu Chaota

BIKITA – MDC-T leader, Nelson Chamisa has warned members of his party against imposition of candidates particularly in Masvingo where the selection process has been marred by deep controversy.
Chamisa was addressing a fully subscribed rally at Nyika growth point last week where he said his party will have shadow candidates in all constituencies even those allocated to alliance partners just in case the other partners put forward candidates who lack popular appeal.
“A candidate should come from the people following all the democratic processes of our party. Masvingo province, listen to this word, no one has the power to impose a candidate at any level,” said Chamisa.
 “All our candidates are chosen by the people. There is no candidate who is going to come from the top in form of imposition,” he added.
Chamisa said all the aspiring candidates should submit their Curriculum Vitae (CVs) that will then be vetted at national level with successful applicants being allowed to go for primaries.
“All aspiring candidates please submit your CVs through the proper channels. We are going to look into the CVs and your history so that we establish where you stand with regards to the party.
“We will send back the names of all those who would have sailed through the vetting process so that you choose the final candidate through primaries. Feel free, no one is going to be coerced. We are a movement for democratic change and we believe in popular democracy.
“Leaders should be subjected to appointment by popular appeal,” said Chamisa.
The candidate selection process in Masvingo province primarily in Masvingo Urban has of late drawn a lot of negative attention over perceived widespread irregularities that saw some candidates purportedly being disqualified without any apparent reasons.
Both the ruling party Zanu PF and the main opposition MDC-T are facing challenges in maintaining harmony in their respective candidate selection processes with many disqualified candidates disputing the fairness of the processes.politics

St Anthony High fails to supply pupils with uniforms

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Zedius Chitiga


Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – With many schools having taken the responsibilities of supplying their own fabric to pupils, many are failing to provide the uniforms in time regardless of having received full payment from parents and this has haunted the Roman Catholic run St Anthony Musiso High School whose pupils are learning in tack suits after the school failed to supply the already paid for uniforms.
Provincial Education Director (PED) Zedius Chitiga said pupils should go to school with uniforms and it is the parents’ duty to make sure that their kids have uniforms and it does not matter where they get the uniform as long it is the right one
“It is wrong for schools to force parents to get uniforms from the school. If they want to provide the uniforms there has to be an agreement with the parents. If they agree to it then they have to supply the uniforms in time.
“Some schools add a little extra on the uniforms but the money has to be reasonable and affordable to parents and should be used for the development of the school. If the school fails to provide the uniform then it has to let the parents buying the uniforms for their kids,” said Chitiga.
Parents who spoke to TellZim News said they were worried that the school is misusing their money as they were asked to pay $260 for girls and $265 for boys towards uniforms but the school hasn’t delivered enough uniforms.
“We were asked to pay money for the uniforms at the school and the school will supply. What is surprising is that we have reached the end of the term and yet some of our pupils are yet to get their uniforms,” said one parent who refused to be named.
Another parent expressed concern over the issue saying some pupils were given shirts only and some got trousers only and many are attending lessons in track suits and said the colors also don’t match indicating that they are bought from different suppliers.
“Our kids are attending lessons in tracksuits like they are in AFCON but we have paid all the money. The challenge is that they contract suppliers who have no capacity to deliver because they are bribed. A plain shirt costs US$5 but the school sells it for US$16, we don’t know if the logo costs 11 dollars,” said another parent.local

Matutu drums support in Ngezi

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Lewis Matutu

Exsto Makunzva

ZVISHAVANE – Zanu PF deputy secretary for Youth Affairs, Lewis Matutu has declared his interest for the Zvishavane Ngezi parliamentary seat sending the incumbent legislator John Holder and other aspiring candidates into panic mode.
Matutu who is a darling to the constituency stole the lime light at the independence celebrations held at Zvegona Primary School where people began chanting his name and holding placards endorsing him for the seat.
The youthful Matutu’s campaign manager Maxwell Moyo told TellZim News that the electorate have chosen their candidate and the primaries will be a formality to endorse what is now obvious.
“We have done so much and the people have shown overwhelming support. Matutu has drilled boreholes and donated cement towards the construction of school blocks in various schools,” said Moyo
In the primaries on May 5, Matutu is likely to battle it out with Holder and another candidate Dumezweni Mahwite.politics