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Early Christmas cheer for Mucheke Old People’s Home inmates

By Staff Reporter

MASVINGO- Regina Munyamani, a local philanthropist, brought early Christmas cheer to the inmates of Mucheke Old People’s Home, treating them to a special lunch on Sunday, December 8th.
The inmates could not hide their joy, showering Munyamani with praises for her regular donations of clothing, food, and other items.
The home’s acting administrator, Florida Chijena, thanked Munyamani for the kind gesture and called on others and the corporate world to follow suit, showing the inmates that they are not forgotten.
“I want to thank Regina Munyamani for the kind gesture. She has brought joy to our elderly, and if you look at them, you can see how happy they are. We urge her not to tire and continue supporting this place as she has been doing.
“I, however, call upon other like-minded individuals and the corporate world to come and support us with whatever they can, so that our elderly don’t feel neglected. Showing them support gives them strength and resilience,” said Chijena.
Munyamani explained that she brought the lunch to the elderly as a way to fulfill her passion for helping vulnerable groups. She acknowledged the support of the Ngorima family based in South Africa and others in different areas, which made the early Christmas treat possible.
“I have a passion to help vulnerable groups and I have done a lot here and other places as well. I have had support from the Ngorima family, based in South Africa, and others in different areas, so I decided to give the grannies and grandpas an early Christmas,” said Munyamani.
She urged others to support the institution, which is in dire need of various items to improve the living conditions of the elderly.
“I want to appeal to others out there to bring anything they have to our elderly people here. Even the smallest gift counts, so people should join hands to make sure that they live a better life just like anyone else,” said Munyamani.
Mucheke Old People’s Home is currently home to 14 inmates.

Chiredzi residents petition parly over poor service delivery

By Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (UCHIRRA) together with Public Information Rights Forum recently petitioned Parliament over poor service delivery by Chiredzi Town Council.
The two organisations called for the parliament to exercise its oversight role and protect the constitutional right of Chiredzi residents to clean and portable water as enshrined in the constitution.
“The petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its oversight function and protect the constitutionally guaranteed right of Chiredzi Residents to water and sanitation by enquiring into the situation in Chiredzi.
“To inquire into the usage of resources procured from residents of Makondo Extension, considering that they paid an additional US$900.00 for land servicing that included provision of water and sanitation and accessible roads and yet till now service has never seen the light of the day since 2013.
“To inquire on water production and distribution infrastructure to ascertain whether it meets the current and future demand since there has been no significant upgrading since 1957 in Chiredzi urban and to also inquire why the water treatment plant is still being run by Hippo Valley Estates and why there is no sewerage reticulation in Makondo High Density 10 years down the line,” reads the petition.
Chiredzi Town Council is alleged to have created an environmental disaster in Makondo Extension, where people were allowed to construct houses without proper sewerage infrastructure which later prompted the construction of septic tanks in the high density suburban.
In Ward 5, Magwaza area, residents have gone for decades without clean and portable water as they mainly rely on salty boreholes.
“Chiredzi residents, Ward 5 Magwaza area, Ward 7 Mai Joe area, Ward 8 Makondo, layby and Joina City as well as Ward 2 Shineplus area have been effectively deprived of their constitutionally guaranteed right to water, which has affected their right to life, the right to human dignity, freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment, environmental rights, the right to education, and the right to health care.
“Further, more than 3500 housing units seating on 300 square meter stands are relying on septic tanks and Blair toilets. To complicate the matter, residents have drilled boreholes and wells on their stands which are highly contaminated due to their proximity to the Blair toilets and pit latrines,” reads the petition.
Makondo Extension is currently prone to flooding due to the land saturation with septic tank water which is highly likely to lead to loss of property in case of floods.
Hippo Valley Estates in running Chiredzi Town Council’s 10 megaliter water treatment plant at a cost recovery basis.
With the growing population of Chiredzi Town Council, residents are calling for upgrading of the water treatment plant as the newly connected Melbourne Park Residential Estate and the Lowlands Residential estate are drawing water from the same small treatment plant which will led to portable water disasters.

Bikita unregistered schools put on notice

By Beverly Bizeki

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has issued a formal notice to unregistered educational institutions operating in Bikita district.
The notice warns offenders that they will not be allowed to open their doors from January 2025.
In a notice to offenders, the Bikita District Education Office stated that they are ready to enforce the law on unregistered schools. The district currently has 12 unregistered schools out of a total of 18 private and independent institutions.
“This letter serves to inform you that all unregistered independent and private institutions are supposed to be registered as according to the Zimbabwe Education Act, section 42(a), (b), (c) (3) 1. Failure to do so will result in the closure of the institution from 1 January 2025. Law enforcement agencies, including the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, will be prepared to enforce the Education Act,” reads the letter.
Bikita District Schools Inspector (DSI) James Mahofa told TellZim News that the notice was a warning shot after several attempts by the education office to encourage schools to follow proper procedures.
“These unregistered institutions in Bikita are very relaxed. We have asked them twice this year to come and register their institutions, but they have not taken any action. This is now a warning shot as we are prepared to ensure that they will not operate come January 2025 when schools open,” said Mahofa.
Mahofa stated that the move aims to safeguard learners’ education and protect parents from potential abuse by some unregistered institutions.
“We have discovered that there are many such institutions in Bikita. We have received reports of parents complaining about being abused, but when we try to trace these institutions, we find them closed.
“We want to prevent this, as some of these institutions do not even meet the required standards for a formal school. They lack basic amenities like ablution facilities, and we are uncertain about the curriculum they are using.
“It is crucial to have these schools registered so that proper inspections can be conducted by all relevant stakeholders,” said Mahofa.
Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) spokesperson Lucky Mukomondera however cautioned against the drastic action, arguing that there was no formal warning against the illegal operators.
He pointed out that the alleged illegal operators were paying levies to the council and the Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe (BSPZ). He therefore suggested the need for dialogue to ensure that the measures do not negatively impact learners.
“There was no formal warning, as these colleges had already budgeted for BSPZ subscriptions and council levies. A dialogue between the colleges and the ministry is necessary to protect the interests of the learners. This sudden ban will affect the already registered learners in these institutions.
“Why take such a harsh approach to social and economic drivers? Amicable solutions should be sought. Radical policy enforcement in education can undermine its purpose of justice. Authorities should support community-driven education initiatives without punishing already registered learners. These schools have contributed to both economic and social development in Bikita, providing innovative research, employment opportunities, and community development. We urge the Ministry to provide ample time for the easy registration of private colleges in Bikita,” said Mukomondera.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to the rule of law but also highlighted the need to address the shortage of schools in Bikita, which has led to the emergence of private colleges. In some cases, learners have to travel up to 10 kilometers to reach the nearest school.
“The rule of law must be upheld in the education system. However, Bikita District lacks sufficient primary and secondary schools, forcing some learners to travel long distances. The rise of private schools has facilitated easier access to education for many pupils in Bikita, aligning with global and national commitments.
“The sudden ban on unregistered private schools will strain the capacity of existing educational facilities, exacerbating the challenges posed by education inflation,” Mukomondera said.

“2030 vanenge vachipo” slogan widens factional rifts in Zanu PF

By Virginia Njovo

The Zanu PF ‘2030 VaMnangagwa vanenge vachipo’ slogan which started in Masvingo Province has exposed the factional cracks in the ruling party, with some party members saying the slogan is yet to be approved by the Central Committee, which is the highest decision making authority in the party.
A Zanu PF Bikita ward 12 councillor Brighton Mushekwa was recently expelled verbally from the party by deputy secretary for youth affairs in Zanu PF John Paradza for allegedly refusing to do the said slogan, which the former said he was forced to do though he felt it was not mandatory to do it.
Mushekwa said he thinks that since the slogan has not yet been approved, no one has the mandate to force anyone to do it because it is yet to be approved by Central Committee, adding that he did not belong to any faction, and he supports the sitting President, as he was simply following party constitutional obligations.
Paradza is said to have verbally expelled Mushekwa during a DCC meeting in Bikita recently after the chairperson complained that the councillor was against ‘2030 vanenge vachipo’ agenda.
Mushekwa is being accused of rallying behind Mnangagwa’s Vice President, Constantine Chiwenga’s faction for Chiwenga to take over from Mnangagwa in 2028.
Mushekwa told TellZim News that he was expelled from the party after the DCC lied that he belonged to Chiwenga faction saying he was just a constitutionalist.
“On that day I was at school when I heard I was expelled from the party, stripped off my duties as DCC secretary after false allegations that I was supporting Chiwenga faction which is not true. I am loyal to the party constitution.
“I don’t belong to any faction, I support the current president and party constitution which guides party members,” said Mushekwa.
Mushekwa said that as far as the slogan was concerned, the party had its constitutional slogan which was mandatory to every party member.
“The party constitution says Central Committee is the highest organ of the party—the highest decision maker, and all slogans are approved by Central Committee. The ‘2030 vanenge vachipo’ has not been approved.
“Zanu PF is a constitutional party which has its slogan to be followed, I don’t know those chants and I am not forced to do them as they are not part of our constitution. Those demeaning party members who do not chant the ‘2030 VaMunangagwa vanenge vachipo, asvotwa ngaarutse’ slogan are abusing power as they will be using baseless allegations,” said Mushekwa.
Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Spokesperson Pepukai Chiwewe said Mushekwa was not expelled as there were protocols to be followed when expelling a member from the party.
“There are protocols which are followed when a party member is suspended or expelled from the party, there is a hearing from district level, following provincial level up to national level so about this so-called member who is said to have been expelled, it is invalid if he did not receive any summons,” said Chiwewe.
Chiwewe said it was normal for people to insult each other during political rallies.
“It is normal for politicians to insult each other during rallies, some of these insults are not valid and should not be taken seriously,” said Chiwewe.
Masvingo Province has remained adamant over the slogan despite Mnangagwa’s calls that he will not stand as a candidate in 2030.
Paradza and other provincial leaders threatened to punish all those who were against the slogan.

Mucheke Old People’s Home sends distress call

By Staff Reporter

Mucheke Old People’s Home in Masvingo has sent a distress call as the elderly inmates are facing numerous challenges, ranging from bedding to food shortages.
The call was made by the home’s acting administrator, Florida Chijena, during a luncheon organized by local philanthropist Regina Munyamani. Chijena expressed concern about the old inmates sleeping on very old beds with thin mattresses and spring bases, which are not ideal for their needs.
She mentioned that the spring beds could easily yield to weight, forcing the elderly people to bend their backs while sleeping, which is not ideal for their age.
“The beds are very old, they have very thin mattresses and old model bases. They need strong bases that do not yield to weight as that affects their backs considering their ages. So we are appealing to the corporate world to help us on that regard,” said Chijena.
She went on to say that their rooms had no wardrobes or shelves to store their clothes, forcing them to hang clothes on lines or pack them in bags or sacks.
“They pack their clothes in bags and sacks because they do not have wardrobes or shelves to put clothes. They also need side tables or side shelves to put a plate of food if they are not willing to eat the moment they get it,” said Chijena.
She further mentioned challenges in providing relish, as well as shortages of staff, wheelchairs, and medication, among other things.
“In terms of food, our main challenge is relish and at times firewood which we mostly use for cooking their food. We also have a shortage of staff, and that affects us from giving them the maximum care they need.
“We also appeal for anyone who could help us to pave the ground here because during the rainy season, the ground gets wet and becomes slippery so the inmates would struggle to walk from their rooms to the dining hall. The pavement will also make it easy for those with wheelchairs to navigate,” she said.
Munyamani also urged the corporate world to come on board and assist the elderly at the old people’s home by providing medical care.
“There used to be a doctor who would come to see our grannies here but now he is no longer coming, maybe he has other commitments, so I appeal to doctors who can help to come on board and do regular checkups for the inmates.
“We have a family pharmacy which usually assists here with prescribed medication and I call upon other medical service providers to join,” she said.

MP calls for immediate repair of Boterekwa road

By Tavonga Munyanyi

Shurugwi South Member of Parliament, Engineer Wilson Mhuri, has called for a multi-stakeholder approach to address a pending hazard on the Boterekwa road. This comes after rising concerns from Shurugwi District, as the government’s plans to refurbish the road are long-term.
Speaking to TellZim News, Mhuri, a qualified engineer and road construction expert, emphasized the necessity of prompt short-term interventions to ensure the safety of motorists and residents.
“I call on authorities and stakeholders to work collectively in finding immediate solutions and to avoid repetition of the same scenario.
“The Government is aware of the road’s state. It is included in its plans for refurbishment, but immediate measures are critical to address the current state of disarray,” said Mhuri.
Engineers from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development recently assessed the road and are expected to provide feedback on appropriate solutions.
The state of disaster was observed last week on Wednesday (December 4) when residents and motorists discovered a hole on the edge of the road along the Zvishavane-Shurugwi highway, which is suspected to be a result of underground mining.
Mhuri, who is also a Member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Transport and Infrastructural Development, said there were plans by the government to start the rehabilitation of the Gweru-Shurugwi-Zvishavane-Rutenga Road.
“The Government has plans to start the rehabilitation of the Gweru-Shurugwi-Zvishavane-Rutenga Road as part of the government’s infrastructural development,” he said.
He urged motorists and all road users to stay calm without panic, saying the situation was under control.
Boterekwa road is making driving conditions increasingly treacherous despite efforts to seal the hole. Motorists who spoke to TellZim News said they were still afraid that another one may emerge.
“Boterekwa is now a death trap. This situation is unpredictable and it can happen again. Boterekwa is jeopardizing our jobs. We are bracing ourselves for the rough ride ahead, that seal may peel off leading to fatal road accidents,” said another motorist.
Another said it was better to condemn the road until it is repaired than waiting for the pending disaster to happen.
“I think it’s better to condemn this road. Drivers and passengers’ lives are at risk. The Government needs to commence Boterekwa road rehabilitation urgently,” he said.
The collapse of Boterekwa road is alleged to be a result of the digging of tunnels underneath the road by artisanal miners, which weakened the road.

Shurugwi South MP Wilson Mhuri

Council budgets to complete 2 blocks already under construction at Rujeko Secondary

By Virginia Njovo

Masvingo City Council is expecting to complete two classroom blocks at Rujeko Secondary School in Ward 7. The two classroom blocks were initially budgeted for in 2024 under Devolution Funds but could not be completed due to inflation and other economic factors, though they are now 85% complete.
Council has since included the two classroom blocks in the 2025 budget proposal presented by finance committee chairperson Benard Muchokwa and the construction is expected to be complete before end of next year.
“Rujeko Secondary remaining two blocks are under construction with actual expenditure of ZWG 144,541.05 from devolution funds. Council was supposed to get ZWG 370 556 200 under devolution funds but only received ZWG 162 804.49 which resulted in many projects being left unfinished,” said Muchokwa.
Completion of Rujeko Secondary School is expected to go ease congestion at the few available secondaries schools in the city namely Mucheke High, Ndarama, Masvingo Christian and Victoria High.
However, the establishment of Rujeko Secondary did not completely solve the challenge as the schools are still overwhelmed with pupils seeking Form 1 places.
Rujeko Secondary School opened door to its pioneers on February 14, 2022 with two intakes, with a total enrolment of 360 pupils for Form One and Two classes.

FC Wangu Mazodze disappoints again

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By Rangarirai Shanyurai

What seemed to be a fairy-tale run towards Premier Soccer League promotion ended in flames for Masvingo Division One side FC Wangu Mazodze, leaving supporters frustrated following the team’s failure to secure promotion.
After leading the Eastern Region Soccer League (ERSL) Division One league with 14 points for the greater part of the season, the “flamboyant outfit” surrendered the ticket to eventual winners Triangle United FC and ended the season in second position, though with similar points to the latter.
The Kingdom Boys, as they are popularly known, saw their PSL aspirations finally come to an end in the final game, following a 3-2 win against Surrey FC, while Triangle United FC won 1-0 against Rusitu Tigers.
Both teams played 32 matches, but Triangle United FC topped the table with 72 points and a superior 57-goal difference, while FC Wangu Mazodze followed with 72 points and 33 goals.
In 2023, FC Wangu Mazodze missed out on promotion after drawing with Renco Mine FC on the final day, while Tenax FC lost their chance for promotion to the PSL following a board decision that revealed they had fielded an unregistered player in their last match, allowing Bikita Minerals FC to secure promotion instead.
FC Wangu Mazodze fan Priscilla Uche Chikute expressed disappointment over the team’s failure to secure PSL promotion for the second time, urging players to improve despite past let-downs and criticisms.
“Honestly, I’m disappointed because the team failed to secure promotion to the PSL. Looking back, the team was leading with many points but fell short in the final moments. Despite this setback, the focus now shifts to the next season. I am encouraging players to step up for the next season so that we can secure promotion to the PSL.
“This is not the first time FC Wangu Mazodze has let us down; a similar situation occurred last season, and many believed we had fixed the issues. Those who wish to stop supporting Mazodze clearly do not care about the team, so they are welcome to leave. I will continue to support Mazodze, even if it means returning to Division Two because I love my team,” said Chikute.
Another fan, Desire Struggle Nyahunda, said football has three outcomes and the team performed well but got relaxed during the course of the race.
“Football has three results: a draw, a win, and a loss. The team played very well, and the race was tight during the second half of the season, and the team had its shortcomings. Our boys relaxed and were too comfortable with the 14-point gap. All other teams were fighting to defeat or stop the log leaders. However, we fought a good fight, and there is always another day to fight.
“Football is a competition, and all 18 teams wanted to be promoted. Last season we finished at number three, but this season we are at number two, and we lost on goal difference. This tells us where we are going,” said Nyahunda.
Another Zhalala Zhululu supporter, Ruth Mapiye, said football is unpredictable but she expressed hope that they would shine in the future as a team.
“As loyal supporters of the Kingdom Boys, we appreciate the outcome of the results. We had high hopes of advancing to the PSL, unfortunately, things did not unfold in our favor. However, we understand that football is unpredictable, and every match brings its share of surprise.
“Despite this setback, my dedication to the team remains unwavering. I will not lose hope, for we believe that our team will rise to the top someday. Our unwavering loyalty and support will drive Mazodze forward, and we will achieve greatness,” said Mapiye.
FC Wangu Mazodze Spokesperson Richard Kwesha issued a statement expressing deep gratitude to sponsors, stakeholders, and supporters for their dedication to the 2024 season, despite falling short of PSL promotion, and announced continued support for 2025.
“The Zhalala Zhululu brand wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed sponsors, the Dr. R W Mazodze Family Trust, stakeholders, executive, technical team, players, and our devoted supporters for their unwavering dedication and determination throughout the 2024 season.
“Although we fell short of our ultimate goal of promotion to the PSL, we showcased remarkable resilience and a fighting spirit that made us proud.
“We’re delighted to announce that our sponsors have pledged their continued support, ensuring Zhalala Zhululu will return stronger and more determined in the 2025 season.
“As the term of the current executive will come to an end soon, we thank them for their service as they hand over to the new team,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the loyal supporters who vowed to support the team despite the disappointment.
“Our true supporters are, of course, disappointed but they have made it clear that they are committed for the long haul. Those who claim they are leaving the club never truly belonged to it, considering that Masvingo United spent 14 years in Division 1 yet still has loyal supporters,” he said.

Women demand seat on Chiefs’ Advisory Council

By Brighton Chiseva

BIKITA – Women in Bikita are demanding a seat at the chief’s table as part of the advisory council to represent their interests and break down the barriers that have historically excluded them from decision-making processes.
Women who spoke to TellZim News during the International Human Rights Day Commemorations held at Chikuku Vocational Training Center on December 11, organized by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in partnership with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC), said women had already proven that they are good judges, as many of them were magistrates, judges, and lawyers, and could also be judges and advisors at traditional leaders’ courts.
Pauline Pasipanodya, who stays in Chief Mukanganwi’s area, said it was not fair for women to stand trial in front of an all-male panel of judges from the chief’s advisory council and that the inclusion of women would make the court more accommodative.
“Imagine you are a woman and you stand before 10 or more men, each one asking questions. It’s so intimidating and not fair for women. We urge traditional leaders from the village head level to include women as judges because they would understand fellow women more than men do,” said Pasipanodya.
She said they were in the process of submitting their call to the chiefs in the district and hoped they would implement it as a matter of urgency.
Pasipanodya praised CCJP for enlightening the community on conflict resolution and human rights, saying they were now aware of their rights and that had reduced the number of human rights violations in the area.
Another local woman, Chipo Muteiwa, said through interventions by organizations like CCJP, they were aware of their rights and no longer felt inferior as women.
“We no longer feel inferior; we now know that we can play equal roles with men. Some time ago, fellow women would label anyone who wants to lead as someone of loose morals, but now they know, we even compete for posts at various levels with men.
“So, the area which is still lacking is that of traditional courts; men still feel we cannot take positions there, but I want to assure them that we can, and it’s good for us as women,” said Muteiwa.
Respinda Shindi from Ward 31 said women constituted a larger number compared to men, so it was unfair to leave them out of any sphere of society. She argued that traditional leaders’ courts needed female representation, as women understood the challenges faced by fellow women better than men.

Desperate Mthuli turns to 539 betting outlets for money to fund Govt

By Perpetua Murungweni

Desperate Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube recently introduced a 10% withholding tax on betting houses in Zimbabwe, in a bid to fund government from 539 betting houses licenced in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Lotteries and Gaming Board (LGB) indicated in their 2024 strategic plan meeting, held on December 4, 2024, that they had managed to license over 500 gambling outlets in Zimbabwe to ensure compliance.
This number suggests that the government is poised to make significant revenue from the tax as more people frequent betting houses due to the challenging economic situation.
“In 2024, we had targeted the issuance of 535 licenses, but by now we have issued out 539 licenses, which is not really scary and it’s within our target. As the lotteries and gaming board, we are charged with the responsibility to license all those interested in pursuing gaming activities, such as sports betting, lotteries, and casinos.
“As we are doing that, we are guided by the philosophy of gambling density, where we monitor the number of entities or gaming activities within any geographical space so that we don’t end up exposing our general citizenry to gambling hubs by unveiling unnecessary access to gaming activities,” said LGB interim secretary Dr. Misheck Chingozha.
The board acknowledged challenges in regulating online gambling and expressed hope that a statutory instrument would be in place by 2025 to address this issue.
“In view of the advent of technology, there is some proliferation of illegal activities, and we are falling short in terms of online gaming. Currently, our legislation doesn’t address this, but efforts are underway. We have sent our principles to cabinet in August and they have since been approved. It’s work in progress, and we are hoping that by the first quarter of 2025, at least we will be having an (SI) that will help us to deal with such illegalities,” said Chingozha.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Chido Sanyatwe encouraged the board to develop strategies to ensure compliance and adherence by gaming operators.
“I call upon the board to intensify their strategies that enhance compliance with the gaming industry’s framework. The strategies must ensure strict adherence and compliance by all operators in the industry. This must be controlled and balanced with the growth of revenue collection, protection from gambling harm, and social responsibility,” said Sanyatwe.
Sanyatwe also urged the board to implement strategies that promote responsible gaming practices to protect players and control operator density to limit overcrowding of gambling services.
“Strategies that enhance responsible gaming practices and protection of players should remain top agenda of this board. Such policies and strategies should not just be window-dressing policies to tick your compliance boxes but reflect commitment to the protection of players. Intensify the control of operator density to limit overcrowding of gambling services to the detriment of other social and economic obligations of the citizens,” said Sanyatwe.
She reminded the board that gambling is closely associated with drug and substance abuse and that the board must develop strategies to mitigate this risk.
“The board is reminded that drug and substance abuse is closely related to gambling, and the strategies must reflect how this regulatory authority is going to mitigate this risk,” said Sanyatwe.