Tell Reporter

There was drama at a local garage in Masvingo on Monday when a mysterious cat in a prominent pastor from a pentecostal church was found protruding its head through a tiny ignition key hole but could neither wholly get through nor get its head back.

 The ignition kit of the pastor’s (name supplied) Mercedes Benz had just been removed for repairs. After the cat’s head had been thoroughly pummeled it went back and suddenly disappeared. The church’s name starts with a U.Local

By ItaiMuzondo

The Masvingo City Council  started this year’s consultative budgetary meetings last week for 2015 financial year amid allegations by Masvingo United Residence and Ratepayers (MURRA) Association that the intended meetings have failed to attract more than seven people per gathering.

MURRA coordinator Anoziva Muguti  said the poor turn-up at budget consultative meetings was mainly caused by the exclusion of residence associations in such meetings as well as lack of critical feedback to the ratepayers.

Muguti said there were a lot of issues which need an explanation from the city fathers but they remained mum thereby creating a very huge rift between the people and their municipality.

expressed the failure of the much anticipated budget to the lack of explanation on ratepayer’s money, the never ending trans sewer construction and more so in neglecting residence associations in such procedures.

 “The residence have so many questions towards the council which need clarification before they engage in any form of work. We are all aware of the rank incident where a council vehicle ran over a baby before being burnt by residents  recently …the people expected formal feedback from the council but nothing was done. The council also neglected the quarterly budget performance review only to come back now to demand people to rubber stamp their selfish decisions,” said Muguti.

The Masvingo  Mayor Hubert Fidze however, indicated that they were willing as the council to engage and work together for development with residence associations though none of these organizations has approached them .

            Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze

Fidze however, disputed the allegation that the meetings were a flop saying everything was going on well.

“Who said there are problems faced in conducting consultative budgetary meetings, they are being done swiftly and are already in full swing. If anyone has a question, I am free, I am a public figure, you are free to approach me and I will attend to you. We as council are also willing to engage with these  association.

“We have invited them for a strategic meeting to be held in Beitbridge which can be stepping stone towards  working together.  Both MURRA and Mavingo Residents Trust (MRT) will be in attendance,” said Fidze.Local

By Moses Ziyambi

The Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ), a civic organisation concerned with female students welfare, hosted a workshop at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)’s Mashava Campus where they urged the undergraduates at the institution to remain focused.

Running under the theme “Safe Spaces for Students Campaign”, the event which was part of an going series of nationwide awareness campaigns saw the guests deliberating on issues of gender and gender-based violence. Students were also urged to be pro-active in issues of gender and the creation of an environment safe for learning.

Speaking at the event, SCMZ national coordinator Douglas Tigere urged female students to value their studies above all else and ignore possible distractions they encounter.

“This campaign specifically targets female students and as an organisation, we expect you to live up to the expectations and overcome all the pressures that you come across despite that you don’t have your parents and guardians with you,” said Tigere.

“We call upon each and every one of you to remember your circumstances and shun short-time pleasures that may ruin your future,” said Tigere, alluding to reports that some girl students end up selling their bodies to afford niceties.

He encouraged both female and male students to work together to ensure a peaceful environment suitable for female students to learn freely.

“Our aim is to ensure that these sisters of ours have freedom to participate in class without being subjected to any form of prejudice. Let us also personalise the issue of gender violence so that we take it not as a problem for females alone but as a problem for all of us,” added Tigere.

Speaking at the same event, Sister in Charge at the Students Medical Centre Zvinake Tavuyanago advised students to be steadfast in pursuit of their education and to be satisfied with what they have.

“We must learn to manage with the little that we have and avoid rushing to catch up with our more privileged colleagues. If we do that we become vulnerable to older people who may take advantage of us especially our girls,” said Tavuyanago

“As girls, let’s learn to be assertive – a no must be a no,” added Tavuyanago.

The event also saw the movement donating refuse bins for use by the university community.

Douglas Tigere (left) handing over some bins to GZU Mashava Campus director

On the sidelines of the handover ceremony of the refuse bins, Director of Mashava Campus Sarafina Mudavanhu commented SCMZ for its commitment to a clean environment.

“As a Christian organisation they are promoting a clean environment as it is said that cleanliness is next to Godliness. I am pleased by the message that they are sending,” Mudavanhu said.

Formed way back in 1962 to support black disadvantaged students, the movement has survived with the goal of building a God fearing and democratic society in which young people have access to equal development opportunities.Local 

   

 

By Upenyu Silent Chaota

Mazare villagers of Gutu district in Masvingo province are living in a state of terror as crocodiles from Mutirikwi and Mazare rivers are roaming around posing a threat to the lives of the villagers.

Villagers said over 20 cattle have fallen prey to the crocodiles so far.

When Tell Zimbabwe visited the area, kraal head of Mazare village, Daveson Mangare confirmed that his village is under a serious threat from the loose crocodiles.

“We are under a serious threat from these crocodiles. Since the water levels are shrinking to isolated dams, the cattle in the area are exposed to a serious threat as they go to these dams for water and the crocodiles attack them.

“Some cattle are left crippled after having escaped the jaws of these crocodiles”, said Mangare.

 

Mazare village head showing remains of his cattle

Robert Makado a prominent beef famer at the same time the chairperson of the Masvingo Beef Producers Association said that they are losing a lot of livestock as a result of these crocodiles.

“The Parks and Wildlife Management should come and remove these animals because they are no longer tolerable in the society. I have lost 5 cattle so far and the number may rise if these crocodiles are not removed.

“In some instances you find a cow decomposing after having been attacked by a crocodile which is a painful experience for the owner”, he said.

A herd boy who witnessed the crocodile attacking a calf but managed to rescue it from its jaws said that these beasts should be vacated as soon as possible.

“I had taken the herd to the dam for a drink and when the calf was just about to start drinking, I saw the crocodile bursting out of the water and grabbed the calf on the leg. I used my catapults to hit the crocodile till it let go of the calf. The calf’s leg was broken and it died days later”, he said.

“These crocodiles are a serious threat to the peace and tranquil of our village because you never know when these beasts are going to attack. The lives of our children are in potential danger since they are always in those dams swimming”, said one concerned villager.

The villagers say that these crocodiles change territories and they move around at night which makes them dangerous to the community.

Efforts to get a comment from the Parks and Wildlife Management were fruitless as the members were all saying they could not comment.Local

By Itai Muzondo /Moses Ziyambi

President Robert Mugabe hailed Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) for naming its law school after the gallant freedom fighter and nationalist Herbert Chitepo.

Mugabe said this when he officially opened the Herbert Chitepo Law School where he hastened to say he would have named the law school the same name if he had given the chance to do so.

 “I do accept and appreciate the effort shown to our departed hero by naming this magnificent school after him, I would have done the same. We had planned to establish Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology as a party (Zanu PF) but we were limited by financial constraints. We have been talking about this school of ideology since 1980 but nothing tangible came out as was done by Professor Rungano Zvobgo in a short period.

“Other than burying Chitepo at the National Heroes Acre, the GZU’s Herbert Chitepo Law School is the first serious honour given the pioneer black lawyer who initiated the armed struggle from exile in Zambia where he was eventually killed in a car bomb.  

“I want to congratulate Vice-Chancellor Prof (Rungano) Zvobgo on your very enterprising, magnificent, indomitable energy and trust. Thank you also for using magnificent technology to produce buildings of this nature,” said President Mugabe.

Chitepo’s last born son, Khule Chitepo said his family was humbled by the befitting honour of his late father.

“As Chitepo family, we are truly humble by this honour. My father was a ferocious reader and as a he result he left 155 text books which we decided to donate to this law school library,” Chitepo said.

Meanwhile There was pomp and fanfare yesterday at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)’s Main Campus during the institution’s eighth graduation ceremony which saw a record 1063 graduates being conferred with various degrees.

Speaking at the event, GZU Vice-Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo, highlighted the progress that the university has made in providing quality education and improving its standing among universities nationally and internationally.

“Great Zimbabwe University has come out of its slumber and made its mark on the educational terrain nationally, regionally and internationally,” said Professor Zvobgo, pointing out that the university’s goal was to produce a graduate who relates to his culture.

“We have managed to align the curricula in line with culture and heritage,” Professor Zvobgo added.

He also noted the growing stature of GZU in foreign countries as evidenced by the presence of foreign students, saying internationalisation was an image builder and a global trend.

“Internationalisation of higher education is a world-wide trend that falls in line with the attainment of Millennium Development Goals,” he said

GZU has managed to attract a significant number of foreign students from the SADC region in the past year, with numbers rising from zero two years ago to 158 currently.

“The population increase has been adequately catered for by infrastructural development. We now boast a total of five campuses that are supported by two main libraries,” said Professor Zvobgo, who added that the multi-campus approach adopted by the university was a well-planned system.

The event was also punctuated by the official opening of the Herbert Chitepo Law School by the president, who hailed GZU for striving to improve education.

Entertainment at the event was provided by, among others, the GZU Marimba Band, GZU Jazz Band, GZU Museve Band and another brass band from the army.Local

…..Cabinet reshuffle  needed urgently

By Golden Maunganidze

I am sure that it’s  no longer a secret that we have serious divisions threatening to split any political party that you may think of in Zimbabwe.

While it might not be the preferred or normal situation, factions have become a dominant feature among those who want to possess power.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) which has been soliciting for a mandate to govern this country since 1999 is going for a congress at the end of this week but factionalism within the country’s biggest opposition party is there for everyone to see. Although I am not a prophet nor a prophet’s son, allow me to predict that those who are going to assume power will do so along factional lines. It is a matter of belonging to a certain group which matters at the expense of competence.  It is because of this reason that the MDC-T has continued to see splits and divisions among itself thereby have opposition against another opposition party. That has acted as a  blessing in disguise to Zanu PF which used to know when to play factional politics . MDC-T continued to shrink thereby frustrating millions of people whose hope was in opposition politics for the economic turnaround in Zimbabwe.

On the other hand, Zanu PF – which seemed to be the only political party with a vision is on fire leaving those who believed in the revolutionary party in a state of confusion. Those who trust elected leaders for economic development are certainly failing to interpret ongoing events in Zanu PF.

 Although senior party members in Zanu PF keep denying the existence of factions within the ruling party, the First Lady’s recent entry into politics has revealed it all – Zanu PF is deeply divided. Knowing that there are warring factions in Zanu PF might not be much of a story especially to some of us who have been attending some of the party’s events, however, when Dr Grace Mugabe started her meet the people  tour rallies across the country, Zimbabweans were exposed to a real factional drama unfolding within the revolutionary party. It was devastating for an ordinary Zimbabwean to realise that senior government ministers including the Vice President are accused of corruption. To an ordinary Zimabwean, the First lady is a voice of authority who has exclusive information about what happens in both government and the party hence we are bound to take her speeches seriously. Now, it was stunning to know that senior government officials who are supposed to have caucus meetings discussing strategies to turnaround the economy cannot even shake hands. How then can we expect the government to deliver when ministers are not in talking terms due to factionalism.

As I see it ladies and gentlemen, for the sake of the Zimbabweans who believed in you in 2013, its rather moral for you comrades to respect the electorate. Where is the anti-corruption commission in all this drama to clear the air on who is corrupt or not. If we do not have further explanations from some senior officials, we should be forgiven for thinking that all ministers were appointed along factional lines. We should be forgiven for thinking that several ministers and top government officials are corrupt and we thus have to be forgiven for calling for immediate cabinet reshuffle.

As I see it, for the sake of ordinary Zimbabweans, it’s high time we have new ministers who are goal oriented. I believe there are a lot of Zanu PF officials out there who can execute their duties perfectly — why can’t you just reshuffle and bring in new blood because those who are there cannot talk to each other.

 As I see it ladies and gentlemen, we have been undermining the effects of factions in the ruling party – in fact ending factionalism in Zanu PF is now every person’s concern. Government business is under threat due to these factions as ministers and senior civil servants are deeply involved in factional fights rather than doing their day to day business.

I am not going to judge whatever the First Lady said because I am not better positioned to do that but I want to highlight that her rallies exposed that Zanu PF is more concentrated in factional fights than doing the real government business. As we speak, it seems you have to be in a certain faction for you to be in minister or to occupy any powerful positions in government. The danger of appointing along factional lines is that at the end of the day incompetent people are promoted to lead critical sectors of government. This has affected our progress and development as a country. It is now clear that competent people belonging to unpopular factions will never get a chance to lead us. Thus far we have ruined this country as we pursue selfish political ambitions at the expense of docile Zimbabweans who have suffered silently.

Let me end here for now lest I be accused of yep yep or speaking too much or yep yepping if you like!!!!

Golden Maunganidze is a journalist and a media trainer. He writes in his own capacity. You can send feedback or comments to goldenmaunganidze37@gmail.com.Local

By Itai Muzondo

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), is set to honour music superstar Oliver Mutukudzi with an honorary doctorate degree at the university’s eight graduation ceremony this Friday.

GZU Vice-Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo confirmed the development and said the university will give Mutukudzi an Honourary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Ethnomusicology and Choreology.

“We will honour him (Mutukudzi) with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Ethnomusicology and Choreology this Friday. He is Zimbabwe’s ambassador of culture and heritage. His music is rich with our cultural values and norms; he therefore is not an ambassador only in Zimbabwe but also abroad,” said Prof Zvogbo.

Oliver Mtukudzi

Tuku, as he is known by his adoring fans, is a super star in Africa and a house name throughout the world. His music is a blend of traditional Zimbabwe and East African genres and modern subgenres of Afro – pop including chimurenga and JIT, which is dubbed ‘Tuku Music.’

Tuku’s music frequently tackles social issues, particularly poverty and HIV and AIDS that is responsible for so much misery in Africa. He first recorded in the 1970s when Zimbabwe was still known as Rhodesia and under white control; his music hails African cultures. He has so far released over 60 full-length albums. Tuku was born on September 22, 1952 in Harare.

It is against this background that GZU saw it fit to acknowledge Tuku’s artistic work and his ambassadorial role of promoting African culture and heritage by giving him PhD.

President Robert Mugabe is expected to cap Tuku and other graduands on the day.Local

By Moses Ziyambi

Political analyst and media consultant Takura Zhangazha yesterday bemoaned disunity in the media industry and called on journalists to put interests of their profession first by shunning factionalism if they are to gain the respect of politicians and the public.

Addressing delegates at a workshop on democratisation and constitutional reporting hosted by the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) in Masvingo, Zhangazha urged journalists to embrace the highest professional standards and fight for the cause of their industry.

“The media and journalists have a role to protect their interests. You must be involved in advocating and arguing for your side,” said Zhangazha who also called for journalists to push for the realignment of media laws to the provisions of the new constitution.

“You must continue with re-engagements for the realignment process and fight for the democratisation of the country,” said Zhangazha.

Takura Zhangazha

He also encouraged journalists to familiarise themselves with the new constitution, saying it was only through reading and understanding the supreme law that they will then fully know their rights and argue their cases.

“It is compulsory for you to discuss the new constitution, to read the constitution from cover to cover,” added Zhangazha, encouraging the media to spread awareness and to publicise the document.

“Hurumende yeZimbabwe kubva 1980 inotya vatapi venhau, nekutapwa nekufambiswa kwemashoko (the government of Zimbabwe since 1980 is afraid of journalists, the gathering and dissemination of information). You guys must fight in your own corner,” he said.

“You are not defending your profession. That is why politicians have been treating you with contempt,” said Zhangazha.

Speaking at the same occasion, veteran journalist and media consultant Tapfuma Machakaire urged journalists to aim for excellent constitutional reporting, saying a lot still needs to be done in terms of monitoring the progress of the implementation of the new constitution.

“When you come up with a story idea, you have to think outside the box. The idea is to come up with relevant stories that you may then develop to reflect on what is happening on the ground,” said Machakaire.

The country’s media industry is governed by more than seven laws, most of which are in conflict with Sections 61 of the constitution which deals with freedom of expression and Section 62 which guarantees journalists’ right to access information. These laws include the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which, among other things, requires the registration of media houses and journalists, and the highly contentious Criminal Procedure and Evidence (Amendment) Act which has often been evoked of late to convict journalists for petty offences.Local

   

The Member of Parliament Mr Chakona was key and instrumental in the construction of the information center block. The event was attended by the Information and publicity Minister Webster Shamu among other dignitaries representing most government departments in Zaka district as well as 7 Councillors drawn from the 9 wards of Zaka Central constituency.  The construction of the block and donation of computers to Zaka High School is part of a success story of the responsive leaders program started by COTRAD after the 2013 harmonized elections.

As from 1980 to date elected leadership has been criticized for failing to respond to citizen and community needs.  Community engagement activities by COTRAD are aimed at entrenching a culture of responsiveness, approachability and accountability of local leaders and service providers.

Technology has become a spring board of development worldwide and it has become a prerequisite for all the young people in the job market. The introduction of technology in the rural areas goes a long way in bridging the gap between rural and urban schools while introducing a new concept of E-learning to the Zimbabwe Curriculum.

The establishment of the ICT center comes at a time the government has ceased to disburse Community Development Funds thereby neglecting constituency developmental issues in the rural communities which widens the rift between rural and urban education systems.Local