Blessings Chidakwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Students at Chibero College of Agriculture last week boycotted lessons over a litany of accusations against authorities at the institution. They accused college authorities of neglecting their welfare. Chief among the concerns was the unavailability of electricity for six months, the provision of dirty and contaminated water while they also accused the authorities of duping them of money for entrepreneurship projects.

College principal Mr Philip Tafirei Mushayi confirmed the development. “The students are on strike since Wednesday morning. They are complaining about having spent at least more than six months without electricity,” he said.

“We have been engaging ZESA authorities since last year when we experienced the fault, but they are saying the transformer is not in stock, therefore our hands remain tied.” He, however, accused the students of exaggerating the situation.

“They forced toilet cleaners to stop cleaning so that the situation is exaggerated when the authorities come to assess, but all these problems started when I was on leave.”

Mr Mushayi also blamed Zimbabwe National Water Authority (zinwa) for supplying untreated water to the college in the past few months.

“We receive treated water from zinwa, but we realised that it was now supplying us with dirty water and we ordered them to stop the supplies so we are using borehole water.”

zinwa spokesperson Mr Tsungirirai Shoriwa, however, disputed Mr Mushayi’s claims.

“Water supplies at Chibero College remain normal and there was no time when ZINWA was asked to stop supplies to the college. If there was any demonstration or strike by students at the college we are quite certain that it had nothing to do with our service.”

He said the allegations from authorities at Chibero were “not only false, but also appear to be part of a nefarious agenda to soil the image of the Authority” and were meant to cause unnecessary panic among the public at a time when Zimbabwe had recorded some Cholera cases.

“ZINWA, being the Government’s water resources management lead agency, does not and cannot supply contaminated water to its clients as that is against the authority’s own internal policies and Government policies.”

Mr Shoriwa said their water supplies are subjected to rigorous quality tests at various points of the treatment process.

“The quality check starts with the untreated water up until to the tap and ZINWA’s water has always complied with the standards set out by the Ministry of Health and Child Care as well as the World Health Organisation standards.”

“In the case of Chibero, which is administered by ZINWA’s Manyame Catchment, the college is supplied with both treated and untreated water.”

Water supplies to the college come from Chibero Dam and fed into an overnight storage dam where ZINWA draws water for the treatment plant while the college draws water for its irrigation activities.

Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter
Chegutu Municipality requires about $1,5 million to urgently rehabilitate its water and sewer reticulation system, acting town clerk Mr Jacob Chikuruwo has said.

The town is battling a cholera outbreak that has killed four people. Mr Chikuruwo said while they received assistance to rehabilitate 36 boreholes in high-density suburbs, water and sewer reticulation system remained a challenge. He said they have since approached Government for borrowing powers.

“We are still pursuing a facilitation to borrow money so that we fix our water reticulation system, which is now very old,” said Mr Chikuruwo. “Once we fix the water system we would have fixed half of our problems as far as sewerage system is concerned.” Mr Chikuruwo said the sewer pipes were now old and needed rehabilitation. A team from the Department of Civil Protection assessed the magnitude of the dilapidation on Sunday.

“We hope they will be able to raise awareness on the level of dilapidation as far as water and sanitation is concerned and help us advocate for resource mobilisation at national level,” said Mr Chikuruwo.

Meanwhile, Mashonaland West provincial medical director Dr Wenceslaus Nyamayaro said suspected cases of cholera were still being recorded in the district and surrounding areas with latest figures standing at 68. Dr Nyamayaro said last week another case was confirmed positive for cholera.

“We have been able to manage all the cases that have come through our facilities such that we have not recorded any deaths yet. Provision of uninterrupted clean water supplies and continued sewer bursts in high density areas remain a challenge for the district,” he said.

John Murwira Correspondent
Chefs in the local hospitality industry have called on food outlets to implement the Hazard Analysis Critical Point (HACCP), which emphasises on heightened food monitoring from preparation to consumption, in order to prevent cholera. HACCP involves monitoring food from the source, transportation, storage, preparation and consumption.

In an interview at the Chef Culinary Conference which ended on Saturday, Chinhoyi University Hotel general manager Mr Innocent Manyera, who is also a member of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ), urged chefs and stakeholders in local food processing industries to effectively implement the HACCP to make sure food was safe from source up to when it would be ready for consumption.

“As chefs, we are in full support of Government’s efforts in fighting cholera and typhoid in the country and we are urging all people who are in the food industry to effectively implement HACCP as that will make sure our food is safe from the source up to where it reaches consumption point,” he said.

Mr Manyera said there was need to continually assess the standards from where food is sourced from. Storage facilities, he saPd, also need to be monitored to avoid food contamination.

“Food preparation itself also needs to be done effectively as failure to safely prepare the dishes may affect consumers, exposing them to issues like food poisoning,” he said.

Mr Manyere said the chefs would undergo training in the fight against cholera. Mr Leonard Moyo, who is an executive chef at Legacy Monomutapa, urged food outlets across Zimbabwe to take hygiene issues seriously.

“Each and every person who will be dealing with food must take hygiene as a top priority, making sure your working environments are disease-free,” he said. Since the beginning of the month, Zimbabwe has recorded about 65 cases of cholera and four deaths — all in Chegutu — while more than 2 200 typhoid cases have been recorded in Harare since October last year.

Sydney Kawadza Chinhoyi Bureau
The mid-summer dry spell sweeping across Zimbabwe since the beginning of the year has led to a marginal 0,58 percent decline in the country’s average dam levels to 67 percent since January 15.

According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) spokesperson Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, the Manyame Catchment, which supplies most major dams in Mashonaland West Province, remained with the highest average dam level at 87,5 percent.

Lake Chivero, which is used for water supplies and irrigation purposes, is at 76,1 percent, while Manyame Dam is at 89,2 percent. Mazvikadei Dam, which supplies water to major mining and irrigation activities, is at 92,6 percent. Biri Dam and Karoi Dam (Mashonaland West) are at 90,7 and 56,7 percent, respectively.

“While the dams have not gained since the beginning of the rainy season, most of the dams still have sufficient water to meet the country’s domestic and irrigation needs,” said Mrs Munyonga.

“Almost all the dams supplying water to towns and cities satisfy the 21 month rule, meaning they can carry the towns to the next rainy season.” Mazowe Catchment at 85,9 percent and Mzingwane Catchment at 80,4 percent are the second-highest average dam levels after Manyame.

“Gwayi Catchment’s dam level average is 64,1 percent, Save 76,7 percent, Sanyati 75,9 percent and Runde 53,4 percent,” said Mrs Munyonga. Mazowe Dam, which supplies irrigation water, is currently at 87,7 percent, Nyambuya Dam (irrigation and water supply) is at 100 percent, while Kushinga-Phikelela (Irrigation and Water Supply) is at 98,4 and Kotwa, used for water supplies, is at 40,2 percent.

In the Runde Catchment area, Tokwe Mukosi Dam, which supplies irrigation water, is at 58,1 percent, Tokwane (70,1 percent), Bangala (15,4 percent) and Manjirenji (75,1 percent). All the above dams supply water for irrigation purposes. Lake Mutirikwi, which supplies water to the City of Masvingo and for irrigation purposes, is at 38,3 percent.

In the Mzingwane Catchment, Lower Ncema Dam is at 66,7 percent and Mzingwane Dam (irrigation and water supply) is 99 percent full. Upper Ncema (water supplies) and Zhovhe (irrigation) in the same catchment area are 64,5 percent and 91 percent full, respectively. Bubi-Lupane Dam, which supplies irrigation and water provisions in the Gwayi Catchment, is at 76,1 percent.

Exchange Dam is at 59,2 percent, Khami Dam (86,5 percent) and Insukamini Dam (70,3 percent). In the Sanyati Catchment area, Sebakwe Dam is at 77 percent, Claw Dam (78,2 percent), Chibero Dam (100 percent) and Clifton at 61,7 percent. Dams in the Save Catchment areas are between 50 percent and 96 percent full.

Osborne Dam, which supplies irrigation water, is at 77,5 percent, Wenimbi Dam — a major source of water for Marondera — is 94,4 percent. Ruti Dam and Siya Dam are at 50 percent and 96,2 percent, respectively. Mrs Munyonga urged water users to use the available water efficiently and sparingly.

Minister Mupfumira

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Government is finalising the Tourism Master Plan, which seeks to promote domestic and international tourism, a senior Government official has said. In an interview in Chinhoyi last week, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira said the master plan would be launched next month.

Government is considering revamping provincial publicity and information centres that archive critical data on areas of interest for tourists in any given province. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has already released $100 000 for the development of a tourism site specialising in wildlife in Tsholotsho.

UNWTO has also promised to continuously provide technical and financial support for the development and strengthening of domestic tourism products. Minister Mupfumira said the plan sought to decentralise tourism development to the country’s respective provinces.

“We want to encourage domestic tourism so that we do not rely solely on international tourists,” she said. “For domestic tourism, we are saying we want to revamp publicity information centres in the provinces so that development of tourism happens at provincial level.

“This means that every province has potential for tourism with what they have.” Government is spearheading the development of provincial brands that look at salient tourism, cultural and social aspects to feed into the national brand. Minister Mupfumira said pricing of domestic tourism products had always been a hindrance to the development of the sector.

“There is the issue of the prices that people are supposed to pay at the tourism sites, which is too high for the average person,” she said.

“We are working with colleagues in other ministries to see how the prices can be reduced to manageable levels. Like now, fuel has gone down and we expect the prices of hotels and other products also coming down.” Government, she said, will also come up with incentives targeting special groups, including pensioners, the elderly and civil servants to encourage them to travel around Zimbabwe.

The ministry is also spearheading an ongoing survey to quantify the level of understanding of travel and tourism among the ordinary people. There are plans to erect a shrine at the Battle of Chinhoyi site, where the first shots of the Second Chimurenga were fired.

“We want, first of all, to validate the site so that we build a shrine,” said Minister Mupfumira. “We have done that already in Masvingo, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa blew up a train. We want to do the same also for the Seven Heroes’ Site.”

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Zanu-PF Mashonaland West Women’s League has reinstated Cde Angeline Muchemenyi as the provincial chairperson of the wing, citing irregularities in her recent ouster by the party’s leadership in the province.

Cde Muchemenyi was dethroned together with some members of her executive on a raft of allegations, including failure to hold meaningful meetings, impropriety with proceeds from the wing’s fundraising projects and fanning divisions within the party. She had been replaced by Cde Joyce Mukazhi, who was recently voted in by 21 out of 29 executive members.

Zanu-PF’s Women’s League national executive members, including Cdes Monica Mutsvangwa, Tambudzani Mohadi and Jenifer Mhlanga, held a meeting at the provincial party offices in Chinhoyi, where Cde Muchemenyi’s ouster was reversed. Cde Mutsvangwa, the wing’s national secretary for administration, urged the executive to work together and focus on growing the party.

“Due process was not followed in removing the Muchemenyi-led executive. For now, Cde Muchemenyi will lead the province, deputised by Cde Mary Phiri, while Cde Martha Tafirenyika remains the treasurer. Cde Angelina Nyenyai reverts to being provincial political commissar,” she said.

Cde Mutsvangwa said people should not focus on party positions, but start preparations for the forthcoming harmonised elections. The Women’s League national secretary for finance, Cde Caroline Tsitsi Mugabe, said the province should now continue with its programmes led by Cde Muchemenyi.

“The party had planned programmes to reach out to all the districts and they should continue so that our party wins resoundingly,” she said.

Cde Muchemenyi welcomed the decision by the national executive, saying she would work closely with her executive to strengthen the party.

“This is a welcome decision, which helps to diffuse tensions in the province. We want to now move to ensure that the party is strengthened through carrying out various programmes in the province. The President is on record saying we should be united and that is what we want so that our party wins in the forthcoming elections,” she said.

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Government has started rolling out “containerised” community information centres in remote parts of the country to improve access to technology for people. The pilot phase of the programme will see up to 24 information communication and technology centres established across the country.

The new rural ICT centres will not be brick-and-mortar facilities, but they will be established in special containers. In an interview recently, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz) director-general Gift Muchengete said the move was aimed at reducing the technology divide between urban and rural areas.

“When you look at our post offices, they are mainly in towns and some are in townships out there, but we do not have community information centres in villages. It might not be worth it to start building structures in the villages,” he said.

“So we have decided that in such areas where we believe there is enough traffic to justify action, we just put a containerised community information centre.”

It is envisaged that the information centres could provide a dual role of not only providing access to information, but providing postal services as well. Government has been converting underused post offices into community information centres as part of improving access to technology.

Internet access is still low in most rural communities. It is believed that the new thrust will help complement Government’s efforts to broaden the country’s education system to include ICTs. Most services are now riding on ICTs and rural communities are being left behind owing to limited access to the products.

Presently, most people walk long distances to access ICT services, most of which are located at growth points and business centres.

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Government has allocated $2,8 million to the District Development Fund (DDF) for the purchase of state-of-the-art drilling rigs to improve sanitation and access to clean water, especially for disadvantaged communities.

The rigs are expected to complement efforts by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), which has since received $4,8 million from Government, to drill more than 1 000 boreholes countrywide. In a recent interview, DDF acting permanent secretary Mr Edwin Toriro said Government was supporting the fund to effectively serve rural communities.

“Government efforts in terms of recapitalisation of DDF are quite immense. We have acquired six brand new drilling rigs. We are going to ensure that this will be a game-changer in the borehole-drilling industry in this country. We are making sure that we also attend to the water needs of the disadvantaged,” he said.

The rigs, which are mounted with the mud-pumping drilling technique, are expected to arrive later this month from India. They are able to drill up to 300 metres and have the capacity to drill the hardest surfaces and areas with loose sands. Usually most rigs falter when presented with a hard ground profile, leaving most areas without access to water.

The parallel programme being spearheaded by Zinwa targets at least four boreholes per constituency. Government has also set out to recapitalise the roads engineering division of DDF, with particular emphasis on uplifting the lives of people in rural areas.

The fund maintains and rehabilitates the country’s 32 000-kilometre rural road network, which is critical in making most areas accessible. Mr Toriro said the department was being capacitated to be responsive to issues of infrastructure rehabilitation and development in the country.

“The gesture by Government is indicative of how much value it places on the issue of water and sanitation in the country,” he said.

Government is implementing a robust programme to improve access to water through water harvesting techniques such as construction of weirs and dam de-silting.

Environment, Water and Climate Minister Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government’s effort was aimed at improving general access to water and sanitation in line with World Health Organisation standards. The approach is expected to reduce water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, which affects at least 50 000 people each year.

Tawanda Marwizi Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) has rehabilitated boreholes in Chegutu as part of the organisation’s efforts to reduce cases of cholera in the area. ZRCS last week rehabilitated boreholes and donated non-food items to clinics, schools and affected households as a way of managing cholera in Chegutu.

Recently, cholera claimed five people in Chegutu while several cases were treated in the Mashonaland West town. ZRCS secretary-general Mr Maxwell Phiri said it was their mandate to step in through disaster management projects when such cases arises.

“Since the source of cholera is not yet clear, we have decided to rehabilitate boreholes as well as donating non-food items in several institutions that include clinics, schools and other households,” he said.

“We need to promote health and hygiene and better management of waste. Our volunteers came and worked with the community in improving hygiene together with Ministry of Health and Child Care. They have reached about 15 000 households.”

Mr Phiri said they had donated non-food items to institutions which organise large gatherings.

“We have brought buckets and jerry cans and we are still mobilising more because there is more need for that. So far we have distributed in institutions because they are at risk since people gather at such,” he said.

Mr Phiri said his team will continue to mobilise more resources for the communities in Chegutu.

“We are still mobilising for non-food items so that we reach out to several households in Chegutu,” he said.

The district administrator, Mr Tariro Tomu, hailed the organisation for their support in managing the disaster.

“Organisations have come to assist us in several ways that include revamping water system, having hygiene awareness and donating non-food items. With the help of these organisations and different Government departments, we are managing the situation,” said Mr Tomu.

He said so far 73 cholera case have been confirmed and they have done well in treating them. Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa recently said Zimbabwe was on high alert and had reactivated its emergency response teams to deal with cases that might arise.

He said Government had also stepped up awareness campaigns, particularly on buses leaving Harare for Zambia and Malawi. Malawi has recorded cases of cholera in Lilongwe.

Blessings Chidakwa and Fortunate Gora
Some officials at Chinhoyi Municipality are being accused of duping former Golden Kopje employees of 16 houses. There are also allegations that the officials could have tampered with title deeds for two other houses.

Sources alleged that when the mine stopped operations in 2007, council irregularly offered the houses to people who did not originally occupy them.

Golden Kopje started offering the houses to its employees in 1996, before it downsized its workforce the following year.

Documents seen by The Herald show that Government, which conducted investigations into the matter, questioned the authenticity of some of the title deeds that were used to evict ex-Golden Kopje workers.

“The people claiming to have bought the stands are non-former Golden Kopje employees,” said the Government in the report.

“The title deeds, which the people are using to evict these former mine employees, do not recognise the structure the mine built and clearly state that it is a vacant piece of land.

“The deeds themselves require verification from the Deeds Registrar since they appear dubious.”

There are also allegations that the houses were corruptly allocated.

Chinhoyi Municipality spokesperson Mr Tichaona Mlauzi said the local authority did not have any hand in the allocation of the 16 houses as it was an internal matter at Golden Kopje.

“After the closure of the mine, we gave them offer letters as council for the purchase of all the houses,” he said.

“However, among themselves they set up an internal committee to share the properties and council was never at any given time involved in the allocation of those houses to any individual.”

Golden Kopje and the Chinhoyi Municipality reportedly entered into a Public-Private Partnership more than a decade ago, in which council gave the firm 150 stands free of charge for the construction of mine houses.

As part of the arrangement, council was supposed to take full ownership of the houses in the event that Golden Kopje closed.

Conrad Mupesa in Mhangura
Villagers in Kapako District in Mhangura are up in arms with mining companies operating in the area for causing damage to the environment. In an interview recently, Councillor Lameck Ncube said Chinese officials operating Detroop Mine under Jiangxi Risheng Mining Company — a gold mine in Ward 5 of Makonde District – were not giving back to communities affected by their activities.

The company, he said, was reluctant to maintain roads and bridges destroyed by mining activities.

“We have approached the Chinese miners over the issue on several occasions, but it seems as if they are thick-headed,” he said.

“They haven’t done anything. They are exploiting our resources and at the end, we are benefiting nothing.”

Cllr Ncube said the miners were polluting Angwa River with cyanide, which was not only affecting the environment, but poisoning livestock as well.

“Cyanide poisoning is of great concern in our area as effluent with cyanide coming from the mine infiltrates Angwa River, which is our main source of water for our livestock,” he said.

“After numerous engagements with the foreigners, nothing has been done to normalise the situation.”

An official from the mine, who chose to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the Press, denied the allegations, saying it was in fact artisanal miners that were responsible for the mess.

“A lot of villagers around here are gold panners and they use mercury in their activities,” said the official.

Kapako Village head Mr Ponziano Tahwasha said apart from the Chinese officials, there were other miners operating in the area using hazardous chemicals.

“One villager lost two beasts in October last year after effluent infiltrated with cyanide contaminated a water body used for livestock,” Mr Tahwasha said.

The villagers are now calling for miners to contribute to the well-being of the communities.

Mhangura legislator Cde Douglas Mombeshora shot down the villagers’ demands at a recent meeting in the mining town.

He urged them to approach the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) instead.

EMA provincial spokesperson Mr Munyaradzi Nhariswa said he needed to gather facts on the issue before commenting.

In 2016, a joint operation was conducted by Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), Makonde Rural District Council, police, Fidelity Printers and Refiners, and Ministry of Mines to bring an end to the pollution of Angwa River, especially by Detroop Mine.

Mashonaland West Correspondent
Chegutu Municipality will establish both on-site and off-site infrastructure for stands at Kaguvi as it begins to feverishly work on plans to provide 1 500 residential stands through the National Housing Programme.

It is envisaged that servicing of the stands will be completed within Government’s 100-day work cycle.

All Government departments have come up with 100-day plans that are designed to materially impact on people’s livelihoods.

In an interview recently, Chegutu Town Clerk Mr Alex Mandigo said the municipality was using a rapid-results approach in achieving positive change within the targeted 100 days.

“We are using the 100-day plan with the rapid-results approach; this is to achieve positive change in Chegutu,” he said.

“We are working towards servicing of Kaguvi Phase 4 on-site and off-site infrastructure during the period.

“The estimated cost is $16 million and is most likely to create 300 jobs for the local communities and it is set to alleviate the national (housing) backlog by 1 500 units.

“So far the design and tendering has been done.”

Mr Mandigo said Chegutu will also reconstruct more than 10 kilometres of road within its jurisdiction.

“This is to improve the trafficability of our roads by five percent and will also see improved investments in Chegutu,” he said.

“Thirty more people would be employed. The project is still in progress and is expected to be complete within the 100 days.”

Council, Mr Mandigo said, had achieved some great strides in its development agenda. “So far we have completed our water reticulation works in Chegutu East and the road construction has been completed in the same area,” he said.

“We have also constructed a maternity wing, as well as the rehabilitation of the existing clinic to reduce infant mortality rate in Chegutu District.”

Blessings Chidakwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Authorities in Chinhoyi want Government to consider constructing more schools in the town to cater for the area’s growing population. Some schools are resorting to hot-seating, while in others more than 100 pupils have to share a single classroom.

Speaking at a recent meeting convened by Chinhoyi legislator Dr Peter Mataruse at Chinhoyi Town House, Ward 5 Councillor Mr Tongai Kapesa said part of the $3 000 his ward was allocated through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) should go towards construction of new classroom blocks at Ruvimbo and Rujeko primary schools.

The meeting was meant to set top priorities for projects to be covered through proceeds from the CDF. The projects are supposed to be undertaken within the scope of the 100-day plan.

“I plead with this House (gathering) that may the CDF be used towards the construction of new classroom blocks at Ruvimbo and Rujeko primary schools,” said Mr Kapesa.

“At Chikonohono Primary School, more than 200 pupils are learning outside classrooms. The rate of construction of schools in Chinhoyi is a bit slow.”

It is believed that Mashonaland West Province has a high number of satellite schools, especially in resettlement areas.

Out of 1 171 primary and secondary schools in the province, 457 are not registered.

Councillor for Ward 9 Cde Tapera Mutovidho told the same meeting that the CDF funds should also be channelled towards the rehabilitation of clinics in the town.

“Our major priority in my area is the procurement of a water tank and stand to be placed at Mzari Clinic,” he said.

The other priorities mentioned during the meeting included the construction of market stalls across the town and drilling of boreholes.

Dr Mataruse urged council to deal with vendors in the provincial capital and provide proper vending sites for the informal traders.

Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
lack of participation and coordination among Government health departments here has resulted in poor implementation of State initiatives. This was said by Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) Mashonaland Central provincial manager Mr Nemisio Shoniwa yesterday at a meeting in Bindura to chart a roadmap for adolescence sexual reproductive health (ASRH).

Mr Shoniwa said they will engage the Ministry of Health and Child Care in the province, who were not present at the meeting to take up their role in the programme

“It is difficult to coordinate with Government departments in the province. If people come together things move forward,” said Mr Shoniwa.

“The issue is different at national level where there is commitment, that is not the same at provincial level. The issue of ASRH affects our children.

“Teenage pregnancies, child marriages and sexually transmitted diseases are our priority area.

“Youths in concentrated areas like resettlements and mines need to get information to help them in decision making.”

ZNFPC provincial marketing and communications officer Mr Percival Kushure said the council is committed to engaging 15 Parliamentarians in the province to help mobilise resources.

“The provincial youth council will engage junior Parliamentarians for advocacy among their peers on child marriages,” said Mr Kushure.

“We have also resolved to continue engaging religious and traditional leaders for them to express a positive attitude towards ASRH. All our stakeholders have committed to a work plan towards ASRH.

“We will have training on clinical family planning services and stakeholders undertook to train their staff to communicate with people with disabilities.

“Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) is in the process of establishing a disability resources unit so that they can recruit students with disabilities.”

Mr Kushure said all ZNFPC centres will be monitored to assure that they are providing quality services.

The meeting resolved to establish thematic groups to strengthen linkages and coordination between organisations.

“These groups will facilitate evidence-based ASRH through research and documentation,” said Mrs Elisah Chiriga, ZNFPC marketing and communication officer.

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care shall be the chair of the programme, while ZNFPC will be the secretariat.”

Mr Farawo

Heather Charema Herald Correspondent
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has discovered four elephant carcasses at Hwange National Park following suspected cyanide poisoning.

Separately, two people have also been arrested in Binga after they were found in possession of two pieces of ivory.

In an interview, Zimparks public relations manager Mr Tinashe Farawo said the elephant tusks had already been removed when the carcasses were found.

“Four elephants were found dead due to suspected cyanide poisoning at Hwange National Park and the carcasses were found after we increased our mobile patrols,” he said.

“The elephant tusks were already removed upon discovery.”

Mr Farawo said a bucket of cyanide was recovered near the scene.

“We have so far recovered a bucket of cyanide in the nearby area and we are on high alert,” he said.

“In the same vein, we have arrested Markson Mleya (42) and Molo Mwembe (41) in Binga after they were found in possession of two pieces of ivory.”

Speaking at a passout parade for rangers and dog-handlers in Hwange recently, Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Mrs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri gave the green light to Zimparks rangers to shoot to kill.

“Due to Hwange National Park’s magnitude of wildlife diversity, poachers are attracted to rob our nation of its wildlife heritage,” she said.

“These poachers have become so daring to the extent of using sophisticated methods such as poisoning of our elephants in search of their raw ivory in great demand on the black market.

“Let me at this juncture reiterate that wildlife crime is a serious issue and as such our rangers will not hesitate to shoot and kill those found on the wrong side of the law.

“Eradication of wildlife crime requires collaborative efforts both locally, regionally and internationally.”

John Murwira in Karoi
A 22-year-old woman who lived at a farm here was on Tuesday electrocuted by a laundry line which became live following an illegal electricity connection. Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara said Juliet Honzeri of Marshlands Farm compound was electrocuted while removing clothes from the laundry line. When the woman was electrocuted, Insp Mabgweazara said, she called on her husband for help.

“When her husband tried to remove her from the line, he received electric shocks and sought assistance from fellow villagers, but they found the woman dead,” he said.

A report was made at Karoi Rural Police after the incident. A team from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) was called to the scene and discovered that there was an illegal electricity connection.

“They noticed that there was an illegal connection of electricity on a number of houses at the compound. The house’s corrugated iron sheet roof was electrified and the washing line was joined to the electrified roofing,” he said.

Insp Mabgweazara said the farm owner saw the illegal connections last year and ordered his employees to switch off the breaker, but people continued tampering with the breaker through an opening.

The deceased body was taken to Karoi District Hospital for post-mortem. Meanwhile, a Chinhoyi man is battling for life at Parirenyatwa Hospital after he was seriously burnt by oil while vandalising a transformer at Chinhoyi University of Technology.

On January 13 this year, Claud Bwana and his accomplice Maxwell Mandizha tried to drain oil from a transformer and this resulted in an explosion.

Correspondent
Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council (RDC) plans to construct a bridge across Gwazane River, a block at Gweshe Clinic and an additional school at Turf Township as part of its 100-day programme.

The local authority also intends to develop Lalela Mine, including 29 hectares of gum plantations. Further, the sewer reticulation system at the district’s 71 commercial stands will be revamped. In a recent interview, Mhondoro-Ngezi District planner Mr Timothy Sithole said a number of projects had already begun.

“We have so far completed the site planning and land clearing at the additional primary school we are constructing at Turf Township and the estimated cost is $75 000,” he said.

“We believe, through community participation, work will be expedited since the community will supply bricks and building brigades. Construction of a four-barrelled shelvet bridge across Gwazane River has already been completed. What is only left are the rail paintings, but the bridge is now trafficable already.”

Council, said Mr Sithole, was planning to construct a main block at Gweshe Clinic, ablution facilities and improving water supply.

“The project is almost 90 percent complete,” he said.

The RDC will also establish 29 more hectares of gum plantations to the already existing 18 hectares.

“We have so far injected $5 300 into the 29-hectare gum plantation project at Turf to add to the existing plantation of 18 hectares, which is ready for harvesting,” said Mr Sithole.

“We are already reaping some rewards through sale of untreated poles to customers who used to get supplies from Makoni. Though the project is still at its infancy, it is promising because we now supply big companies like Zimplats and other customers.”

Conrad Mupesa in Mhangura
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) is owed over $100 million by water consumers, with Manyame Catchment area contributing at least 11 percent of the outstanding bills.  Manyame covers parts of Mashonaland West Province that receive raw water and other related services from the Government department.

Zinwa spokesperson Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said as at November 30, 2017, Manyame Catchment area owed more than $11,7 million, which represents 11 percent of the overall bill owed to Zinwa.

“As of November 30, 2017, clients under Manyame Catchment owed Zinwa $11 767 335, representing 11 percent of the $108 414 657, the authority was owed by its clients countrywide. The figure represented what both clear and raw water clients owed,” she said.

Despite the huge bill, Zinwa is still mandated to supply both clean and raw water to its clients. The water management body is revamping Mhangura’s water reticulation system.

“The Zimbabwe National Water Authority took over the Mhangura water reticulation system in 2011 and since then, (it has) been carrying out works aimed not only at curbing the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera, but to ensure the overall improvement of service to its clients in the former mining town,” said Mrs Munyonga.

Mhangura mining town is receiving nearly eight hours of water supplies a day, up from the previous three hours.

Mr Mlauzi

Blessings Chidakwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Chinhoyi Municipality has been forced to cut working hours at its clinics due to a serious shortage of health personnel, which is affecting the local authority.

There are fears that the municipality might be overwhelmed in the event of a disease outbreak. Council spokesperson Mr Tichaona Mlauzi said some clinics which used to operate for 24 hours had since revised their working hours to eight.

“As of Mzari Polyclinic, it operates between 8am and 4.30pm, while Chikonohono and Chinhoyi clinics still operate 24 hours a day. Due to staff shortage, Chinhoyi Clinic has cut off its operating time as it is now serving patients from 8am to 4.30 pm,” he said.

One of the council clinics, Shackleton Mine Clinic, has never operated a 24-hour shift. Further, Alaska Mine Clinic only attends to emergency cases. Mr Mlauzi said plans were underway to recruit additional personnel.

“All patients who fall ill after Chinhoyi Clinic has closed (or after hours) can still be attended at Chikonohono Clinic or Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital (CPU), which are nearer,” Mr Mlauzi said.

Meanwhile, Chinhoyi residents are calling on council to build new toilets in the central business district (CBD). Currently, there is only one functional public toilet in the area. Mr Tendai Musonza of Ward 11 made the request during a Constituency Development Fund consultative meeting in Chinhoyi recently.

“We appeal that part of the $3 000 CDF which has been allocated for development purposes in Ward 11 to be channelled towards the construction of new toilets and maintenance of existing ones in the city centre,” he said.

But Mr Mlauzi said council was in the process of repairing the damaged toilet.

Cde Shamu

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Government has hailed strategic tie-ups that have been established between Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital and Chinese and Italian organisations as a key step towards improving health services through skills and technology transfer.

The partnerships have enabled Chinhoyi to upgrade its systems with modern equipment such as Computerised Tomography (CT) scans, cardiology services, including a Renal Dialysis Unit. The Renal Dialysis Unit is expected to be functional later this month as technicians are in the final stages of installing the plant and equipment provided under the Zimbabwe-China project.

Speaking during a familiarisation tour of the hospital on Wednesday, Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Webster Shamu said health institutions should move away from donor dependency.

“I am pleased that Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital is already collaborating with an Italian organisation. What we need to do is to collaborate with the developed world for skills transfer. Skills development should be relatively easy because the high literacy rate in the country is already a solid foundation. We should move away from donor dependency syndrome and seek skills transfer instead.”

Minister Shamu said Italy has a developed health delivery system and highly skilled medical personnel which Zimbabwe can tap into. This comes as Italy has warmed up to Zimbabwe’s re-engagement efforts and economic development policy interventions. The European country recently extended an intervention to local companies and various interest groups to that country to explore areas of further cooperation.

Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital entered into a partnership with Lifeline Dolomite of Italy in 2013, which has seen the hospital offering cervical cancer screening, cardiology services and laparoscopic surgery.

The Italian organisation also donated a 500 kV back-up generator for critical departments such as radiology, laboratory, operating theatres, cardiology, Intensive Care Unit and renal units.

Minister Shamu urged hospital authorities to find innovative ways and incentives to attract medical specialists such as surgeons, physicians and radiologists, among others. The hospital administration, he said, should find ways of reducing the waiting period before a patient is served.