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JCI Zimbabwe, Ras Caleb on US$370 000 Tokwe – Mkosi project

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JCI Zimbabwe, Ras Caleb on US$370 000 Tokwe – Mkosi project
By Itai Muzondo
The Tokwe – Mkosi hit maker, Caleb ‘Ras Caleb’ Tareka in collaboration with Junior Chambers International Zimbabwe (JCI) have launched a US$370 000 project which will see the construction of a primary school for Tokwe-Murkosi flood victims.
JCI Public Relations Officer, Paidamoyo Mafunda confirmed the development saying the project is already in course and they have also engaged government in the development activities at Tokwe-Murkosi.
“I can confirm that we are working on the project and it is in full swing. We approached government on how we could help and a range of problems including food, healthcare and education arose for which we decided to chip in with providing an educational facility,” Mafunda said.
“Minister Shuvai Mahofa has given us land at Chiwumburu farm where the flood victims are being moved to for the construction of the school. The US$370 000 project will definitely be a success and it will be a state of the art facility,” she said.
“The former Reserve Bank Governor , Gideon Gono also donated a brick moulding machine worth ZAR25 000 for the project to move on so I can safely say we are up to achieving the  project,” said Mafunda.
Ras Caleb said he was happy to be involved in the project and said he never expected that the message he was bringing across through music would gain such attention.
“I am pleased to be involved in such a striking and helpful project at a time I least expected that my message about the Tokwe – Mkosi disaster through music would have such an impact for the nation as whole.
“The other interesting thing about the project I was engaged in with JCI is that it is not spoon feeding the victims but employing them as they are involved in the school construction for available payments. Through the project we also wish that by the completion of the project that the general populace would have acquired different skills which will help them to make an income for living in life,” said Ras Caleb.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa said she is proud to be working with such innovative and productive young minds and promised to help them in any way possible.

“I am proud to be working with such innovative and productive young minds. I was surprised to see that they had already engaged the locals in moulding 160 000 bricks which I will help them ship from where they are to Chiwumburu farm where the flood victims are being resettled. I have also made land available for their project so that the villagers will have an educational facility constructed for them,” said Mahofa.
JCI Zimbabwe is an international based youth based organisation that aims to provide to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.local

Wezhira’s 2015 Easter prayer

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Wezhira’s 2015 Easter prayer
Wezhira’s 2015 Easter prayer
 …. May our leaders remember that they are not God themselves
By Golden Maunganidze

This is Easter holiday and Wezhira being a God fearing man encourages everyone to close their eyes in order for him to pray. Wezhira, however, is aware that there are some people who will never close their eyes because they believe that they are too big for that. They have no conscience at all. They have no one to respect because to them everything is possible. Dont think they are encouraged by Matthew 17 verse 20  which demonstrates  how faith can make all things possible.
No. It’s not that they dont know that above all there is God. It is because their political power and muscles have allowed them to do anything and they have remained unanswerable to their illegal actions. No police officer or court has the power to reprimand them… they are a law unto themselves. It is therefore against this background that they have persuaded themselves into believing that by some chance they are going to sweet-talk death so that they will not die. I say this because if they knew that one day they will die, surely they were going to revise their ways so that they treat all human beings equally. It is this reason that I dont care whether they close their eyes or not as I pray.


Either ways my prayer continues because I believe, one day God will hear the cries of the people in my beloved Zimbabwe. God, may Zimbabwe be cleansed of corrupt leaders. They are many and they continue to multiply. Even the President of this country knows that they are there. He promised to have them arrested and rot in Zimbabwean jails where they are likely to have soup as their meals seven days per week. We pray that you give our law enforcement agencies power and energy to arrest these corrupt leaders. Of late we have seen Zanu PF bigwigs being fired from the party over corruption but up to now no one of them has been arrested or convicted. We continue to wonder whether the allegations levelled against them are real or imagined because if they are really corrupt, God, we expect to see them in jails.
Again we continue to wonder whether the fisherman has mastered a skill to capture everything from Kapenta fish to the big fish. We are extremely worried as we believe the small fish is captured while the big fish is immune to the fisherman’s hook. However, we continue to pray that our country is cleansed of corrupt leaders.
God, may Zimbabwe be cleansed of leaders who abuse power. We pray for leaders who genuinely address the people’s plight Lord. Just recently, we were praying for sanitation facilities at popular flea markets in our city, Masvingo and the response that we are getting from our leaders is not sweet for our ears. We heard that they accepted to slash daily fees collected from stall owners from $2 to $1 but our joy was short-lived since we now hear that the flea market has been turned into a certain political party’s cooperative. That political party’s membership card is now your gate pass to the market. Forgive me for forgetting the name of the party but listeners can quickly remember the name of that party God. We therefore pray for leaders who respect human rights. We hear a certain man was abducted in Harare and its now more than three weeks and the government has no clue of his whereabouts. Can you give our leaders energy and wisdom to value human life!  
God, may Zimbabwe be cleansed of sycophantic public. We have people among ourselves who have lost conscience. All they want to do is to give undue praise to the leaders and in the process of such dangerous hero-worshipping, they make our leaders believe that they are God. We pray for a responsible government which respects its people through fulfilling its obligations without compromise.
God, may Zimbabwe be cleansed of employers who dont respect labour laws. Due to high unemployment rate in this country, employees are abused and exploited every day. Companies are going for months before paying their employees and as if not to be outdone, the government has also joined in taking ages before paying its workers.
God, may Zimbabwe be cleansed of all deadly diseases. As I pray, I am aware that there is high likelihood of a cholera outbreak as municipalities are not able to collect rubbish. We dont want to be reminded about 2008 cholera outbreak which wiped out a sizable number of our church mates and friends.
Over and above all Lord, may our leaders and their followers fear God. May they always remember they are not God themselves and will die someday.
Amen!!
Until then, we continue to say Wezhira Wati wahwei? Send feedback and comments to editor@tell.co.zw

Former MDC-T councillor rescues Ethiopian national in Masvingo

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Former MDC-T councillor rescues Ethiopian national in Masvingo
Tell Reporter
Former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) councillor for ward six (6) David Vasivenyu Chingombe has rescued Haile Glselassie – an Ethiopian who had lost his house to a friend in Masvingo recently.
Chingombe who got powers of attorney over Glselassie’s house number 37 Rhus Avenue in Rhodene had to endure a three-year long court battle in order to get back the ownership of the house which had been transferred to  one Norman Chakanyuka through fake court papers.
Speaking to Tell Zimbabwe soon after winning the case last week, Glselassie who is now based in Addis Ababa said the Zimbabwean courts were fair and just.
David Vasivenyu Chingombe
“I am happy to get my house back. There is rule of law in Zimbabwe. Although it took us almost three years, Chingombe fought until we got my house back and I am very grateful,” said Glselassie.
Glselassie bought the house in 2002 when he was based in Masvingo working for World Food Programme (WFP) and when he was transferred to Liberia in 2005, he left the house being manned by Chakanyuka who later used fake documents to get ownership of the property.
“I am happy that we managed to evict people who were staying in the house as we were given the house back to us by the courts,” said Chingombe.Local

Lightning kills Village head, aide in Zaka

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Lightning kills Village head, aide in Zaka
Tell Reporter
ZAKA-  What started as a normal rain took deadly turn when a lightning bolt struck  and killed Tapanya village head and his aide under Chief Nhema in Zaka on Sunday afternoon.
The incident took place while the village head together with turns of people were enjoying traditional beer at Denis Mataruse’s homestead.
Sources said while they know that lightning can strike and kill people, what made this incident more shocking was that the village head was inside the house and his aide was in the company of other villagers outside.
According to villagers, how lightning picked the duo from the crowd remains a mystery.
“There were light drizzle and we never thought it would turn violent. We were also shocked at how lightning picked village head and his aide while they were not seated near each other,” said the source.

Chief Nhema confirmed the incident but could not be drawn into giving further comments.
The incident brings the number of people killed by lightning in Masvingo province to 13 since the beginning of the rain season.local

Mahofa 1 – Masvingo City Council 0

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Mahofa 1 – Masvingo City Council 0

By Itai Muzondo

In a sudden turn of events, the newly appointed Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa has won the battle over the reduction of vendors' daily tax charged by the Masvingo City Council at Chitima flea market.

Following demonstrations by Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) over high tax which was being charged, Mahofa took the opportunity and joined the campaign to lower the charges from $2 to $1 last week. However, her campaign met stiff resistance from councillors who claimed that they were not able to cut the tax over night.

Humbled ….. Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze


When it was almost obvious that Mahofa had lost the battle, she engaged Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Ignatious Chombo over the issue. Chombo swiftly moved in and gave a directive that they reduce the tax to a dollar with immediate effect.

A source from Masvingo City Council said Chombo demanded that they (council) give in Mahofa’s order which they have since done with effect from March 30 2015.

“Council should obey Mahofa’s instruction because two dollars as levy on a market that houses 1 200 vendors with no considerable development seen to benefit the stallholders,” said the source who refused to be named.

Masvingo Mayor, Hubert Fidze confirmed the development but expressed concern saying it would slow progress at the market because the reduction of revenue affects the annual budget.

"It is true we have reduced vendor levy at Chitima to one dollar. This will, however, not stop our proposed developments as we wish to complete the toilets and add extra stalls to make them 2000 but it will be slowed due to reduced revenue. The condensed revenue simply means our annual budget has been affected," said Fidze.

Fruit and vegetables Chairperson at Chitima market, Tarisai Katini was not available for comment by time of publication.local

Chivi councillor urges Mahofa to speak truth

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Chivi councillor urges Mahofa to speak truth
… minister equates Chingwizi to Sodom and Gomorrah 

By Itai Muzondo
Chivi rural district councillor and Zimbabwe Cross Boarder Traders Association of Zimbabwe president Killer Zivhu has challenged the newly appointed Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Shuvai Ben Mahofa to consistently speak the truth and fulfill her promises so that her term will see considerable development for the province.
In his speech at the welcome celebrations hosted by his association for Mahofa in Chiredzi recently, Zivhu urged the minister to hold on to her promises so as to bring relief and development to the province.
“We as cross boarder traders felt that we should welcome you to our province. Our biggest hope is however that you fulfill the promises you have given to the beloved people of Masvingo Province. We also hope that your contributions will bring development and relief to Masvingo as a whole,” Zivhu said.

              Shuvai Mahofa
However, Mahofa said her task as a minister was very challenging. She said her first mission in the province was to make sure that she puts to rest the issue of Tokwe-Mkosi flood victims. The victims were relocated to Chingwizi last year but Mahofa equated Chingwizi to a biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. She promised to further relocate the people to Chiumburu farm – about 200 km south of Chingwizi.
“I accept the plea from Zivhu that I should speak the truth all the time. I want to promise you that we will be together all the time – I have an open door policy. Soon after my appointment, I immediately addressed the Chingwizi problem and the victims are soon going to Chiumburu farm,” said Mahofa.
However, investigations by Tell Zimbabwe reveal that Chiumburu farm is worse than Chingwizi since there is no source of water.
Some prospective beneficiaries of the development said they were not going to accept the offer since have since managed to build permanent structures.local

ZSP permits’ late release unsettles expatriates

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By Moses Ziyambi

Zimbabweans working in South Africa have accused the country’s Department of Home Affairs of delaying the release of permits applied under the Zimbabwe Special Permits (ZSP) dispensation, saying such delays are affecting the daily lives of applicants.

In an telephone interview recently ZSP Permits Forum Director of Projects, Gift Eglone said his organisation had received numerous complaints of applicants who were called to collect their permits long after their issue dates.

“We are trying to engage the Department of Home Affairs to get at the bottom of the matter. We think there is no good reason to explain why permits bearing issue dates of as long back as November last year are only being issued now.

“People are being inconvenienced in their everyday lives due to hassles of not having their permits timely,” said Eglone.

The ZSP programme was launched in October 2014 to replace the Zimbabwe Dispensation Permit (DZP) launched in 2010 but many Zimbabweans claim they have been suspended at work or had their bank accounts frozen pending the release of the new permits.

However, the permits that are being issued now were applied for in October 2014 and they bear issue dates of November.

The government has however defended the time frame, saying administrative protocols take up the time between the print and issuance dates.

“The difference in date of print and date of issuance is informed by administrative processes from when the Visa is printed to when it is collected. These include administrative processes by VFS,” said Home Affairs Spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete in an email to Tell Zimbabwe.

The Department of Home Affairs has made arrangements with financial institutions through SABRIC (South African Banking Risk Information Centre) to avoid unsettling the daily lives of affected Zimbabweans. While affected Zimbabweans await their Visas they should be allowed to continue working, conducting business, studying, financially transacting and receiving medical treatment,” he said

The Department of Home Affairs while adjudicating the permits applications, has outsourced the administrative processes to VFS Global, a worldwide outsourcing and technology services specialist for diplomatic missions and governments.

Meanwhile, those who have not yet booked an appointment with VFS for interviews have been given until the 31st of March to do so or risk losing their right to the permit if they miss the deadline.local

 

 

 

MP Shumba attacks council over chaos at Chitima market

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MP Shumba attacks council over chaos at Chitima market
By Itai Muzondo/ Upenyu Chaota

Masvingo Urban legislator Dr Daniel Shumba has attacked Masvingo City Council (MCC) over chaotic situation at Garikai Flea market popularly known as Chitima due to its location which is adjacent to railway line.
Shumba said the council was ignoring vendors who are ‘genuinely pleading the slashing of daily tax which the pay to the local authority’.
Currently vendors are charged $2 to run a stall on daily basis but they are requesting the council to reduce the amount to $1.
“This MDC council is anti- development. I know they want to turn this city into an ungovernable community. We are going to stop them. I am sure the MDC guys will enjoy seeing Masvingo in shambles but we will swiftly chip in to immediately stop the rot,” said Shumba.
If the council fails to reduce the tax, Shumba said he will assist vendors by paying part of the money.

                             Masvingo Urban MP Daniel Shumba
“I have since informed the council that I can pay half of the money instead of them continuing with milking residents who are not making huge profits at Chitima,’’ added Shumba.
However, Masvingo mayor Hubert Fidze rubbished Shumba’s attack saying the issue was none political. Fidze said his council was professionally run. He however, said it was impossible to reduce the tax overnight since there were many other factors which needed to be considered.
“We had a meeting today (yesterday) and we agreed that we are not going to reduce revenue collected from the market. Shumba has never approached the council and we are not aware of his intention,’’ said Fidze.
Early this week, the police arrested six Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) members who were part of vendors who protested against paying $2 on daily basis.   Prosper Tiringindi, Godfrey Mudhumo, Mapfumo Mativenga, Tarwirei Chisikandieyi, Richard Mapedza and Jesina Gwabvira spent the whole day on Monday in the police cells at Masvingo Central police station and they were released upon paying $10 fine each.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa together with Zanu PF provincial leadership addressed vendors on Monday afternoon and assured them that they were going to pay US$ 1 but the council officials laughed at their decision saying it was not proper for Zanu PF members to make such crucial decisions at a rally.
                                  Mayor Hubert Fidze

Meanwhile, Director of National Vendors Union in Zimbabwe Samuel Wadzai condemned the chaos which saw MRT members being arrested. He also condemned in strongest terms the unleashing of riot police on vendors. He said it was gross human rights abuse for the police to harass and arrest vendors who were peacefully expressing their views.
“We condemn the police for interfering with council business. As a union, we still feel that the council should reduce the tax to R5. Where can a vendor get $2 to pay on daily basis? There might be infrastructure development but that should not invite exorbitant tariffs,” said Wadzai.local

Masvingo prepared to tackle cholera outbreak – Dr Shamu

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Masvingo prepared to tackle cholera outbreak – Dr Shamu
     
By Tell reporters

The cholera outbreak recently reported in the Chiredzi and Beitbridge are isolated cases that do not pose an immediate threat to the rest of Masvingo province as measures are in place to counter any eventuality, Deputy Provincial Medical Director Dr Amadeus Shamu has said.
An outbreak of cholera was reported in Chiredzi at the beginning of this month while other cases reported in the border town of Beitbridge, putting authorities on both sides of the border on high alert
Speaking to Tell Zimbabwe on the cholera scare gripping the province, Dr Shamu said medical institutions have been put on high alert to deal with any possible spread of the contagious disease.

“Community mobilisation and sensitisation programmes have always been in place to deal with such issues,” said Dr Shamu encouraging people to practice good personal hygiene to prevent the disease.
On the preparedness of medical facilities and whether they are adequately equipped to treat cases, Dr Shamu said he was confident any possible case would be handled well.
“Yes, I am confident our hospital and clinics are well prepared to treat any cholera case should any other cases are reported.
Meanwhile the two Chiredzi victims have reportedly been discharged from hospital where they had stayed in isolation.
South African authorities have meanwhile sealed off the Sikwalakwala border post with Zimbabwe to prevent a spill over of the disease.
Lack of basic sanitation facilities and access to clean drinking water coupled with poor personal hygiene have frequently been cited as causes of cholera both in towns and rural areas.local

SMZ does community work at Alpha Cottages

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SMZ does community work at Alpha Cottages
 By Moses Ziyambi

The Scout Movement of Zimbabwe (SMZ) on Friday embarked on community service at Alpha cottages as part of its Messenger of Peace, an initiative aimed at instilling good moral values and promoting interaction among scouts.
School children from Dikwindi Primary school and other movement members came together and weeded a vegetable garden at the cottages before joining children at the shelter in games.
“As the scouts movement, we intend to mould children’s character for the improvement of their moral values, social awareness and intellect,” said SMZ Assistant Provincial Commissioner Rumbidzai Tonhodzai.
“We are looking forward to spreading our presence to such places as Alpha Cottages and to other institutions across the province by liaising with all children of school going age who are our main concern,” said Tonhodzai.

The school children also took time to tour the poultry project at the shelter and feed the hundreds of chickens that are reared there.
Alpha Cottages’ Matron Shumirai Chifamba thanked the movement for showing humanity to the children at the institution and taking their time to interact with them.
“We are humbled with the kindness that they have shown to us. We wish the kindness won’t end here but will be spread to other needy places elsewhere. Children here have been waiting for this kind of a visit and today we are happy their wish has been fulfilled,” said Chifamba.
Pioneered by British military serviceman Robert Baden-Powell back in the 1907, the Scouts Movement grew to become a renowned international pro-children organisation, with membership in most countries of the world.local
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