100 Desson Building, 8th Street and R.G Mugabe Way, Gweru, Zimbabwe Tel: 0712 718 043 Email: [email protected] When The Sun Speaks, The World Listens Est: 2003 The Sun 10 - 16 February 2023 e- paper Page 4 Page 3 www.thesunnews.co.zw [email protected] 0712718043 100 Desson Building, 8th Street and R.G Mugabe Way, Gweru, Zimbabwe Tel: 0712 718 043 Email: [email protected] P/3 Page 6 When The Sun Speaks, The World Listens Est: 2003 The Sun 10 - 16 March 2023 E-paper PAGE 2 rrant long-dis tance buses passing through Gweru remain headstrong as they continue to pick up and drop passengers at undesignated points in and around the city despite a US$30 deterrent fine pegged by the government. Last week the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works announced that passengers who are picked up or dropped off at undesignated stations in and around central business districts of towns and cities will now be liable to a US$30 fine. It has become a norm in Gweru to see long-distance buses picking up passengers along Bulawayo road opposite food outlet KFC, and at Amtec along Lobengula road, where travelers to Harare are picked up, while those going to Masvingo and Beitbridge are illegally using the Cathedral bus stop area. The illegal activities have been going on for a long time with Gweru municipal police accused of turning a blind eye. In his statement on the picking and dropping of passengers at undesignated places, Local Government and Public Works' communications and advocacy director Mr Gabriel Masvora said offending vehicles will be clamped and towed away.
2. LOCAL NEWS The paper that digs deeper The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 EDITOR- IN - CHIEF Willie Mponda SUB-EDITOR Tendai Chifunyise SENIOR REPORTER Kelvin Kasiwulaya REPORTERS Ashley Suruma Tashinga Madzingira Tanyaradzwa Chigumbu Nkosiyethu Ncube PHOTO JOURNALIST Abijah Makuluni MARKETING Vimbai Nyamukutu PUBLISHER Community Newspapers of Zimbabwe The paper that digs deeper S uspended City of Gweru Acting Town Clerk Vakayi Chikwekwe is challenging the council's decision to remove him from Townhouse without pay claiming that some councilors were also involved in the awarding process of the disputed tenders. Chikwekwe who was suspended on the 22nd of February 2023 to pave way for investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), wrote through his lawyers Admire Rubaya and Everson Chatambudza to Gweru Mayor Councilor Hamutendi Kombayi challenging his suspension without pay, noting that he just implemented a council resolution as per the requirement of the law. He said several individuals at Townhouse including the former City of Gweru Mayor Josiah Makombe were jointly involved in the awarding of tenders to Cacas, Wackdrive and Sheasham. "It is critical for you to consider that the Memorandum of Agreements for land development relating to Wackdrive, Shesham and Cacas was signed on or about the 19th and the 20th of August 2020 wherein the former Mayor of the City of Gweru co-signed as a representative of the Council. It cannot be argued that the signing was illegal in circumstances where the signing was preceded by a valid Council Resolution which was passed by the Council on the 24th of July 2020. "There are councilors who made the alleged offending decision to award tenders who have been appointed to the special committee.of inquiry These include Councillor J. Makombe, Councillor M. J. Manyundwa, Councillor J. Zvidzai, Councillor C. Chikozho, and Councillor E. M. Kuregbaseka. With all due respect, in the event that the Committee has been legally set up, it is unjust and unfair for these councilors to constitute the Committee in question in circumstances where they are seeking to save their own skins at the expense of our client who is an innocent soul. "It is therefore clear as daylight that our client being a mere Council employee without a vote in council and decision-making powers to pass council resolution did not make the decision to award the alleged tenders but the Council in its wisdom as constituted by sixteen (16) Councilors made the ultimate decision to award the tenders in question to the specific companies, reads part of the letter. The letter which was carbon copied to the office of the Attorney General, the Permanent Secretary of local government and the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo brings up the suspension case of former Town Clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza noting that the reasons for Chikwekwe's current suspensions are just a "copy and paste" of Gwatipedza's case. "The above matter refers and in particular your two letters of suspension both dated the 22 of February 2023 which have been forwarded to us for further management. Please note our professional interest in the matter. Our client has taken note of his suspension from duty without pay in terms of the provisions of Section 139 of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15). He however has been taken aback by a clear "copy and paste" job regards the reasons for the suspension. With respect, the first letter related to the 14th of October 2019 clearly shows that there has been a brazen regurgitation of the reasons used in the suspension of our client's predecessor, Ms.Elizabeth Gwatipedza. "Our client has been perplexed by the material contradictions of the reasons proffered in your letter of his suspension and those proffered by the Council in its Special Council Minutes dated the 22nd of February 2023.In the circumstances, our client seeks clarity as to the actual reasons for his suspension. It is not clear whether you are implementing a Council Resolution and or you have instigated a totally different process not linked to the Council Resolution, reads the letter. Chikwekwe's counsel has called upon the City of Gweru to reconsider its decision to suspend their client without pay noting that there are other legal provisions that allow the council to give a fixed salary to a suspended Acting Town Clerk. "Our client draws your attention to Section 139 5(b) which gives the Council the discretion to fix an allowance that may be paid to a Town Clerk during the suspension in terms of that section. Our client instructs that the Council may consider this provision in light of the suspension without salary and benefits as has already been imposed. The letter also challenged the legality of the special council meeting which resulted in Chikwekwe's suspension. "Our client is concerned with how the Special Council Meeting was conducted. The Special Council Meeting Agenda was circulated to all the Councilors on the 20th of February 2023 and it is critical to note that in terms of the Agenda of the Special Council Meeting, there was nothing in relation to the appointment of a purported Special Committee of Enquiry. "It is our client's considered view that the setting up of the alleged special Committee of Enquiry during a Special Council Meeting whose agenda did not include that subject is contrary to law and thus it birthed a legally invalid decision. We urge you to consider the provisions of Section 84(4) of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15]. In the circumstances, our client instructs us to demand as we hereby do the immediate disbanding of the illegally set Special Committee of Enquiry failing "which we have instructions to lodge an urgent Chamber application interdicting the alleged Special committee of inquiry from executing its purported terms of reference," reads the letter. The letter clearly notes that Chikwekwe is in the process of fighting the Charges leveled against him. "Our client appreciates that he has been arrested on charges of Criminal Abuse of Duty as defined in Section 174 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] or in the alternative c/s Section 94 (3) of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act General (Regulation) SI 5 of 2018. He is in the process of fighting those allegations through a different process. Our client is of the firm view that there was nothing criminal in the alleged conduct and there is no reasonable suspicion that he committed the alleged offense more so if one considers the whole gamut of circumstances relating to the tenders in question.
The paper that digs deeper LOCAL NEWS 3. The Sun 10- 16 March 2023
The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 The paper that digs deeper LOCAL NEWS 4. CITY OF GWERU REGIONAL TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT (CHAPTER 2912) NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF USE IN TERMS OF SECTION26(3) OF THE ACT Notice is hereby given of an application to carry out the following development on Stands 808 and 809 Gwelo Township Lands, Gweru. It is proposed to establish a Temporary Small to Medium Enterprises Market Place on the above mentioned properties. Stands 808 and 809 Gwelo Township Lands are in the Light Industrial Zone 4A in terms of the Operative Gwelo Town Planning Scheme No. 1 wherein the establishment of a Temporary Market Place may be permitted through the Special Consent of the Local Authority. The application plans and any special conditions which the Local Planning Authority is likely to impose, in the event that this application being favourably considered may be inspected in the City Planning and Development Control Section during normal office hours. Any person wishing to make objections or representations relating to the application must lodge them with the undersigned within one month of the date of the first insertion of this notice. The Acting Town Clerk City of Gweru P.O. Box 278 Gweru 1st Advert n a bid to ameliorate service delivery chal lenges in the city, the City Of Gweru recently procured three brand new TT75 Holland tractors worth US$93 000 which were commissioned at Townhouse this Tuesday. The procurement of the tractors comes barely two months after the City Mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi commissioned three Nissan pick-up trucks, an Ambulance, a Front- end -Loader and a Tipper truck. In an interview with The Sun, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the newly procured tractors will improve the quality of service delivery in the city and in the long term build a sustainable, prosperous city of choice by the year 2030. "Three tractors were delivered to us today by Duly's and as a local authority, we are very much happy about this development because these tractors are going to be dedicated to ensuring quality service delivery to our valued clients, residents, and our stakeholders. "We bought these tractors at a total cost of US$93 000. The two of the tractors are going to be used in the engineering services department and the other tractor will be devoted to the department of housing and community services for grass cutting on our roadsides," said Chingwaramusee. The tractors will be localized in residential areas so as to attend to emergencies at real and appropriate times. "Gone are the days when the local authority used to cry foul over inadequate transport to ferry equipment and employees to attend to blockages and burst pipes. Residents should pay their bills as this will allow the local authority to operate smoothly and improve the quality of service delivery," she added. Late last year the local authority's former Town Clerk Vakayi Chikwekwe commissioned a Navara single cab which was bought for USD$33 000. In an interview, at Townhouse on 6 December 2022, Chikwekwe said Council is also expecting the delivery of a new tipper truck and has plans to purchase new graders, as well as tractors. "We have another tipper coming in 8 to 10 weeks' time, so we have three tippers that will service the city at the beginning of the year if we are allowed to sell our land, we want to buy graders, if possible, a Li gong, CAT or a Champion grader as they are durable and efficient so that we can service our roads and not rely on other people for roads rehabilitation.
The paper that digs deeper LOCAL NEWS 5. The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 CITY OF GWERU REGIONAL TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT (CHAPTER 29:12) NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF USE IN TERMS OF SECTION 26(3) OF THE ACT Notice is hereby given of an application to carry out the following development on Stand 1675 Mkoba Township. (Mkoba 7 Ingonte Street), Gweru. It is proposed to establish a Clinic, Pharmacy and Theatre on the above mentioned property Stand 1675 Mkoba Township, in the Residential Zone in terms of the operative City of Gweru Master Plan wherein the establishment of a Clinic, Pharmacy, Theatre may be permitted through the Special Consent of the Local Authority. The application plans and any special conditions which the Local Planning Authority is likely to impose, in the event that this application being favourably considered may be inspected in the City Planning and Development Control Section during normal office hours. Any person wishing to make objections or representations relating to the application must lodge them with the undersigned within one month of the date of the first insertion of this notice. The Acting Town Clerk City of Gweru P.O. Box 278 Gweru 2nd Advert nspired by the health service delivery sys tem in the United States of America (USA) where they worked as nurses for decades, a couple has constructed a state-of-the-art clinic in Mkoba high-density suburb. Westside Clinic, which will cater to over 11 000 households in Mkoba will offer inpatient, outpatient, maternity, home care, family planning, youth counseling and health education services. In an interview with this reporter, West Side owner Mr Onias Mabwe said he and his wife Diana as individuals who have seen the dire need for a robust health service delivery system in Zimbabwe decided to construct their own medical facility in Mkoba. "We wanted to make a difference for our people as we saw the need for health facilities, the drive was mainly when we compared the health services in the US to Zimbabwe they are two opposite things and that gave us the inspiration, we asked ourselves did we come here to US to just feed ourselves isn't there a bigger calling back home than just to come to enjoy life here it bothered me, he said. Mabwe said the clinic will offer affordable health care to the Mkoba community and the city at large. "Our health fees are community friendly, we are here to help the Mkoba community, even our medical fees are reasonable, we deeply consider the fact that most of our patients are people who are financially constrained. Women in the Community have welcomed the health facility saying the clinic will go a long way in providing maternity services in the high-density suburb. "As for me the Clinic is now nearer because women in general now don't have to deliver babies at home some used to delivering at roadside but now the clinic is nearer even those who are sick can't die without getting treated they can go to the clinic and get help", said Delight Chigatse Another resident Mrs Eustina Mudzimiri said it was a blessing to have a well-resourced clinic closer to the people, in the yesteryears women had to commute to Gweru General Hospital for advanced maternity problems. It's good that we have a well-resourced clinic closer to our homes, this other day I had complicated back pains and it was easier for me to go to the nearest clinic rather than commute to GPH for a checkup. Ward 12 Councilor Jefta Zvidzai welcomed the opening of the clinic in his ward and noted that residents will get quality health services. "I am quite grateful that the Ward has quite good health institutions, primarily to complement our council health facilities for primary health care. The new facility in Village 8 will go a long way in improving the community's health status. Our community now has a wide range of facilities to visit for various ailments. "I also implore the private clinics to go beyond customer expectation with regards to offering health services to our communities and Gweru at large. A healthy community is a productive one," he said.
The paper that digs deeper LOCAL NEWS 6. The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 In a move that is meant to curb possible corruption cases at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) in Gweru, the government has finally introduced a computerized provisional license testing system. Dubbed the Electronic Provisional Driver's License (EPDL), the new system will allow prospective provisional driver's license seekers to write their examinations on a computer system, which will then mark and publish the results instantly. In an interview with this reporter, the Provincial Chief Vehicle Inspector for Midlands, Mrs Eustina Nyathi said the system will go a long way in curbing corruption by reducing human interface in the acquisition of Provisional driver's licenses. "It's a process that has been on the cards for a long time. We have the problem of corruption as a nation and in provisional licenses, the human interface has been causing a lot of dishonesty. The government saw it fit to reduce corruption hence the introduction of the electronic learner's license. The learner just logs into the computer system and the system does its job. You pass or fail according to how you perform. With this system in place, we will surely have competent drivers. "Corruption will be reduced in the sense that the more electronic systems, the less interface and the less likelihood of people asking for bribes and certain fees," she said. The examinations will be centrally and electronically administered at VID Gweru. Each candidate will write a different set of questions from the next candidate during the same session and in the same exam room. "The computer picks the questions randomly, it's not like the hard copy exams system, which allows learners to memorize past exam papers and answers, however with the newly introduced computerized system learners have to understand the questions", she said Mrs. Nyathi said most stations in the province have already incorporated the new electronic provisional driver's license system. "Gweru was the last, we started with Zvishavane, then Kwekwe. We are looking forward to expanding our operations to areas like Gokwe and if resources permit we expect to have containerized classrooms in rural areas. In a sad incident, an epileptic Silobela woman recently died after she drowned in a village well The Sun has learnt. The woman, Mavis Ndlovu (23) of Vala Village under Chief Malisa allegedly fell into a well while fetching water and drowned. Confirming the sad incident Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said Ndlovu's body was discovered by a passerby who then made a report to the police leading to the retrieval of the deceased's body from the water source. In another painful incident, three juveniles aged 8, 12 and 13 of plot 40 Fallow Field Somabhula drowned while swimming in Mhlonga River. Clothes belonging to the three deceased juveniles were found on the river bank but their bodies could not be located, the matter was reported to the police and on Sunday 5 March 2023 the three bodies were found floating in the river and were retrieved by local villagers. For the avoidance and prevention of such fatal incidents Inspector Mahoko urged members of the public to desist from leaving children and the vulnerable unattended. Private Voluntary Organisations, (Board ) and (General) Regulations , 1997 FormP.V.O .2 PRIVATE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION ACT (CHAPTER17.05) Notice of Application for registration of a Private Organisation NOTICE is hereby given ,in terms of subsection (2) of section 9 of private Voluntary Organisations Act (Chapter 17:05) , that application for registration has been made in respect of: 1.Name and address of private voluntary organisation: Earth Wise Zimbabwe 100 Simon Mazorodze Athlone ,Gweru 2.Aims and Objectives of private voluntary organization proposes to render its service: Conserving biodiversity for a sustainable environment. Objectives I. To curb deforestation and degradation II. To advocate for better waste management and disposal in communities and local councils III. To educate communities on environmental issues and climate change. 3. Area or areas in which the private voluntary organization proposes to render : Midlands Province, to spread operations to other areas subject to identification of need and consent of the local Authority thereof: Any objections to the proposed registration to render of Private Voluntary Organisations P.O Box 429 Causeway, not later than twenty -one days from the date of publication of this notice. Tinoda Clenah Mafukidze. Secretary 1st advert To advertise in The Sun Call our marketing team on 0714165677
LOCAL NEWS The paper that digs deeper The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 7. Visit our Website for more news www.thesunnews.co.zw G weru's Claremont Fuel Service Sta tion owner Favour Mupfumira lost US$44,800 to his tenant, Thomas Rice (34) in a botched deal to purchase 40 000 liters of fuel from the National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) The matter came to light when Rice pleaded not guilty to the fraud charge when he appeared before Gweru Magistrate Blessing Tsingano on the 22nd of November 2022 promptimg the state to conduct a full trial. Rice was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment, one year was suspended on good behaviour and the fraudster will serve a 3-year effective sentence at Whawha prison. Prosecuting, Taurai Bongani Mavuto told the Court that, on the 10th of June 2021 at around 0800 hours, Mupfumira (complainant) received a call from the accused person (Rice) informing him that he had acquired a link at NOIC fuels in Harare where he can obtain petrol at a cheaper price of US$1-08 per litre. Mupfumira got interested in the deal and called his employee Mellita Nkondlo. Mupfumira instructed Mellita Nkondlo to hand over US$44 800-00 equivalent to 40 000 litres of petrol to the accused, of which he did. The accused then told the complainant that he will deliver the fuel on the 18th of June 2021. On the 18th of June 2021, Mupfumira made logistical arrangements to collect the promised fuel by instructing his fuel tanker driver Mginci Dube to accompany the accused to Harare. At around 1100 hours of the same date, the complainant got in touch with the accused whether he was proceeding and he confirmed that he was now proceeding to make some payments for duty in a certain bank. Mupfumira also called his fuel tanker driver and the driver said they were progressing as he said he was in a queue and only two trucks were left for him to be serviced and also said that his release order was combined with those two trucks. Around 1400 hours, the tanker driver called Mupfumira and informed him that the release order that he was given was fake and that the attendants at NOIC fuel said that they were not going to serve him together with the two trucks that he was combined with. On the 24th of June 2021, after seeing that there was no progress Mupfumira ordered the tank driver to drive back to Gweru which he did. From that day the complainant had not received any product from the accused or his cash. Mupfumira tried to talk to the accused persons to reach a business consensus so that he could recover money from the accused, but the accused became dodgy and evasive. The matter was reported at Mtapa police station under CR 45/07/2021 and an Investing officer, Tafadzwa Siwela was tasked to the case. Siwela tracked Rice's criminal footsteps back to Harare and found out that no money had been paid at NOIC. Rice was then arrested and the matter was brought before the courts. During court sessions, Thomas Rice tried his con artist moves to dispute the fraud case but the state prosecutor Taurai Mavuto remained tenacious and provided all the required evidence to cement the case. In one incident, Rice handed over a photocopied stamped receipt to the Magistrate but Mabuto was quick to find out that the original evidence document was not stamped and Rice was trying to temper with the chief evidence. The accused person and the complainant are not related but the accused person is a tenant of the complainant selling gas at the complainant's business premises. SunGweru www.thesunnews.co.zw
The paper that digs deeper LOCAL NEWS 8. The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 Visit our Website for more news www.thesunnews.co.zw he Zimbabwe Electoral Com mission (ZEC) will begin its final nationwide mobile Biometric Voter registration exercise on Sunday 12 March 2023, The Sun has learnt. The voter registration blitz which will run for 10 days, from 12 to 21 March 2023 will provide an opportunity for new registrants to register and for existing registrants to apply for transfers. However, this is not the last slot, eligible voters will still be able to register two days after the proclamation of the election date by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Announcing the mobile biometric voter registration exercise, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utolile Silaigwana said the plebiscite body is currently training educators, voter registration officers and their supervisors in preparation for the 10-day blitz. "Currently training to equip voter educators, voter registration officers and their supervisors is underway in preparation for the blitz. The Commission will undertake a nationwide voter registration exercise from March 12 to 21, 2023 as it normally does before any general election," he said.\ Silaigwana said the electoral body is also finalizing the crafting of an election roadmap that will be shared with members of the public once the President proclaims the 2023 election date. "The commission is finalizing the roadmap to the print and electronic media and the use of the ZEC website and social media platforms, said Silaigwana. He also mentioned the creation of a Multi-Party Liaison Committee which will be a dispute resolution platform for political parties during the election period. "We will have a MultiParty Liaison Committee which will help with the resolution of all possible disputes during the election period. The committee will have, among its duties, the responsibility "to hear and attempt to resolve any disputes, concerns, matters or grievances relating to the electoral process, including, in particular, any disputes elections which will be shared with stakeholders once the election date has been proclaimed by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. "The roadmap carries a multifaceted program that entails the engagement of various stakeholder groups, deployment of voter education officers, use of both arising from allegations concerning non-compliance with the code (of conduct)", he said. Silaigwana also revealed that the Electoral body requires $128,6 billion for the upcoming plebiscite. President Mnangagwa gazetted the final delimitation report on February 20 this year and ZEC is preparing for an extensive postdelimitation awareness programme to explain to the electorate the new electoral boundaries.
9. LOCAL NEWS The paper that digs deeper The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 he Government of Zimbabwe will soon embark on a countrywide consultation exercise to seek public opinion and come up with a position on death penalty executions. Currently Zimbabwe has no hangman and executions have been on halt for the past 17 years but the courts keep on passing death sentences as enshrined in the 2013 Constitution. However, calls have been made to abolish the act. In a statement, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs confirmed that public consultations will be carried out across the country's 10 provinces this month. "The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with the support from Centre for Applied Legal Research (CALR) and the Embassy of Switzerland is in the process of drafting a death penalty position in Zimbabwe. After convening a High Level Consultative meeting on the subject matter to inform policy formulation and law reform agenda, several recommendations were proffered in the meeting. One major reason highlighted was to a mass public opinion on the subject matter. "Against this backdrop, the Ministry shall hold consultations at the grassroots level in March 2023 across the country's provinces. Additionally, the Ministry will conduct preliminary Training of Trainers with Case Care Workers, Village Health Workers and Youth Officers in anticipation of the actual consultations to capacitate the cadres on the mobilization of participants ahead of the consultations. The aim is to capacitate the cadres on the mobilization of participants ahead of the actual consultations to obtain a clear and unbiased representation of the community" reads the statement In 2013, as Justice Minister then, President Mnangagwa publicly declared his disdain for capital punishment of prisoners. "As someone who has been on death row myself and only saved by an 'age technicality', I believe that our justice delivery system must rid itself of this odious and obnoxious provision," President Mnangagwa was quoted saying at the Harare Gardens on October 10 of that year. The death penalty is the killing of a person as punishment for a crime. It is sometimes called capital punishment, and people on whom the penalty is imposed are "sentenced to death" or "given the death sentence". Throughout the world societies have invented many ways of carrying out the death penalty: impaling condemned prisoners on stakes, stoning them to death, dismembering them (tearing or cutting them into pieces), and cutting off their heads. Nowadays in the few countries that still carry out the death penalty, the methods have become less obviously cruel: hanging, shooting and administering lethal injections are the main ones. In Zimbabwe the law says that the death penalty must be carried out by hanging the condemned person by his neck until he is dead. "There are by-laws that prohibit the picking up and dropping off of passengers at undesignated points. So, the passengers will be arrested by the police, while the council will have the right to clamp the vehicle and tow it away. This is also applied to private motorists who drop off passengers at undesignated places. Police will determine the fines that the passengers will have to pay," he said According to Statutory Instrument 41 of 2016 of the Road Traffic (Traffic Signs and Signals) Regulations, local authorities should ensure that signs are erected to prohibit pedestrians from being picked up and dropped off at undesignated points. The SI reads in part: "This prohibition on hitch-hiking is effective for a distance of 500 meters beyond such a sign". Commenting on the matter, City of Gweru Public relations and communications officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the local authority will work to enforce traffic by-laws in the city. We will work to ensure that our traffic by-laws are enforced and we encourage buses to pick up and drop passengers at our designated bus terminus Kudzanai, we encourage transport operators to use designated routes within the city, we don't want to reach the extent of clamping vehicles, operators should just follow the law," she said.
The paper that digs deeper 10. The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 By Kelvin Kasiwulaya With swiftness, celerity and great precision an egg-shaped head tradesman welds deeply through a framework caricature of what is going to be a future wheelbarrow, besides him stands another snobbish light skinned thick bearded elderly apostle who patiently knits through several strands of kinky wire to manufacture what is probably going to be a great work of diamond art, "a fence in simple terms", in industrial summation these are some of the underreported works being done within the corridors of Mtapa's informal industry. F or Evans Chindedza a w h e e l b a r r o w maker, his operations at Mtapa earn him a reasonable livelihood and is committed to his enterprise. He has every intention to continue in the informal sector, even if other employment options were open to him. "For me, making wheelbarrows is my lifeline, I can make five wheelbarrows per -day, and from each wheelbarrow, I can earn between US$50 to US$60. Unlike in the formal sector where I worked more and earned less, I once worked in Harare "Mupedzanhamo" making wheelbarrow dishes, the owner paid us peanuts, here at my own workspace I have personal independence, I can bargain with customers and still make a profit. In summary, economic independence and higher income appear to be more attainable in a situation of self-employment than in the highly competitive formal sector economic structures," he said. Chindedza also revealed that production costs in the informal industry were very low since he acquired some of his materials from the rubbish dump and through his own scrap metal dealings. "Making one wheelbarrow can cost me less than 10 bucks because most of the materials used here are collected from dumpsites, scrap metal is cheaper to find, what I only need to buy are the welding rods, the wheel and paint for the finishing part," he said. A further survey into the Mtapa industry revealed that Informal channels of acquiring production materials were more marked among the group engaged in repair activities. Most of the shoe and fridge repairers said that they purchased items from their customers, thus obtaining the materials necessary to mend other shoes and fix fridges. It appears that the informal sector in Mtapa serves as a 'safety net' for those who are squeezed out of formal employment in the money economy and who lack alternative sources of income and livelihood. "I once worked for ZimAlloys but soon after retrenchment, I found myself roaming the poverty streets as a loafer, the only skill I had acquired during my childhood was fence making, my grandfather was a fence maker. One day I passed through this place and saw an apostolic man weaving a wire mesh, I approached him and we started working together, he sharpened my skills, now I can craft any pattern and size of the fence," said Wilson Tembo. For many of the informal sector operators interviewed, Mtapa itself has provided the type of learning environment where skills were acquired and information gained regarding reliance on small-scale production, repair or trade activities as a source of livelihood. Despite the unstructured appearance of informal sector operations, as judged by the casual observer, a closer examination of the Mtapa industry reveals a higher level of structure and organization. Coffin makers are the most organized and structured sector of Mtapa's informal industry. "We as coffin makers are very much organized, among us are carpenters, tailors and spray painters, after I finish making the coffin, the spray painter comes in, sometimes we use vanish for the cheaper ones, but for cascade, we need a tailor who will put the comfort materials in the coffin. We also have links with funeral parlors, some of the coffins that you see at several funerals are bought from our packages, "said Brighton Nsingo, who operates a coffin-making carpentry site on the roadsides of Mtapa market," he said. Most of the workplaces in Mtapa are located along the side footpaths that link the residential areas to the city. The popularity of the area for informal sector operations seems to be derived from its location and the fact that it is a transit area for many thousands of urban workers in the formal sector who travel into the center of the city daily. Working at Mtapa has its own challenges, this reporter after several interviews managed to categorize the challenges as Economic, Social and Environmental. The first category of problems faced by the informal sector workers is related to economic constraints experienced. The self-employed workers mentioned the lack of customers as a problem they faced; the greater number of these being people working in the shoe repair trade. Lack of finance to acquire more materials or capital equipment was another economic constraint frequently mentioned. Delays in payments also posed a difficulty for a number of workers, especially those engaged in repair work. With regard to the economic difficulties experienced, a number of solutions were envisaged. Bulk purchase of inputs at wholesale prices was mentioned by a number of interviewees. It was suggested that a license or 'permission' be obtained from the government to entitle informal sector workers to purchase goods at wholesale prices. The need to obtain a loan in order to do this was mentioned by several informal manufacturers. The need to work cooperatively with others to overcome these economic difficulties was expressed by several individuals. The most frequently mentioned social problem affecting informal sector workers interviewed was theft. Usually this was mentioned in relation to the lack of adequate provision for storage, particularly where tools and capital equipment were concerned. Inadequate transport; poor sanitation and water facilities as well as harassment by police of unlicensed operators were also identified as problems experienced in the workplace. On environmental challenges, the Informal industry interviews spoke of unfavorable weather conditions, specific reference was made to the lack of adequate shelter. More needs to be done to support the Informal industry of Mtapa, robust economic reforms are required to acknowledge this large 'hidden economy' which acts as a major 'employer' and provides a source of income for many thousands of people in Gweru. @Kasiwulaya1
11. The paper that digs deeper The Sun 10- 16 March 2023 It's very unfortunate that most of our time we spend focusing on someone's life.. forgetting our own life in our hands and later blame ourselves ' failure to others, especially to blame ourselves to Politicians saying if it was not this I could be that. Some blame their families, that if it was not him I could be this. It's very important to find yourself first, what type of a girl you are before you become a woman, but before you even know your girlhood you will be a woman already. How will you understand womanhood while you have jumped into girlhood without even understanding it or without even knowing you are a girl but you open your eyes and you are a woman already. As for boys before he is a man, he wants to play the kingmaker. Boyhood full of experiment. Trying to each chalk because the teacher is a problem to you writing the notes on the chalkboard. By the time you realize how important education is, you will be drunk already, you will be a father already and life will be wind moving from all directions but too fast not to see or catch. Then before you think of correcting what you have failed when the opportunity was in your plate, you start to blame your family members or your country politicians for your failure which they were not even around by the time you eat the plate, not the food and now you have no place to put your food... It's very important to find ourselves before we blame someone for our failure and quickly put our minds back to what makes us better for the next day...! Never look forward to someone's victory as your victory or someone's success as your success because tomorrow you will depend on what is yours and it will make you judgmental to someone therefore you will be forgetting about yourself till you become lost... and die blaming others for your failure....! Read the signs of the Times... Edgar Benjamin - Political and Social Commentator and Analyst - Author and founder of The 7day theory After he was hired on two consecutive seasons to transport tobacco bales from Kwekwe to Harare auction floors and, seeing farmers being paid huge amounts of money for deliveries, Kwekwe-based tobacco farmer, Mr Solomon Nhondova developed a passion for the "golden leaf". T he former soldier who retired with the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 after serving in theZimbabwe National Army (ZNA) for 23 years, said seeing tobacco farmers being rewarded with high returns made him jump at the opportunity to grow the crop and also make money. The 2023 tobacco selling season officially opened yesterday in a development that is expected to boost the country's foreign currency earnings. An estimated 8,5 percent growth in tobacco output of 230 million kilogrammes is expected this year, compared to 212 million kilogrammes last year. The trend is seen as a reflection of increased interest by small and large-scale growers in venturing into the capital-intensive, but viable tobacco-growing industry. The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is anticipating increased business activities during this year's marketing season. "I was a soldier with ZNA for 23 years and after I retired I bought a truck and started farming at a plot along Kwekwe-Gokwe road and that was around 2005. By that time, I was busy growing maize and I thought I had made it in life since I could buy food and generally look after my family," he said. Mr Nhondova who is a widower, said around 2006, he moved from the plot along KwekweGokwe road to Plot 30 Bonstead Farm Sherwood Kwekwe where his life changed for the better. He said around 2011, some tobacco farmers from his area started hiring his truck to ferry their crops to Harare tobacco auction floors. "The first year, I saw the farmers being paid hard cash and it was a lot of money. I drove back with them and they did a lot of things with their money to uplift their livelihoods," said Mr Nhondova. He said in 2012 the same farmer hired him for another trip to Harare with their tobacco. "Again they were paid huge amounts of money and in cash. I was smitten by what I was seeing at the auction floors as the farmers who hired me received cash payments. On my way back I told myself that the following year, that was 2013, I was going to start tobacco farming," said Mr Nhondova. In 2013, he cleared three hectares of land and embarked on a new journey of growing tobacco and since then, Mr Nhondova has never looked back. He managed to buy and install two water pumps, and a drip irrigation system and fenced his plot using proceeds from tobacco farming. Mr Nhondova is also a proud owner of 34 cattle through tobacco farming. "So it's been 10 years of growing tobacco and I am glad I ventured into this crop which has high returns. I managed to construct a house at the plot, bought other cars, and also installed drip irrigation on three hectares," he said. Mr Nhondova said he also constructed two tobacco curing barns at his plot and plans to put in a third one. The barn is for flue-curing and is usually small and tightly constructed with ventilators and metal pipes extending from under the floor of the barn. Tobacco is flue-cured to provide temperature and humidity conditions that will encourage certain desirable chemical and biological changes and preserve the leaf and retain quality through timely drying. "I have two barns for the three hacters and I want to add more barns as soon as I get paid. I have 30ha of land and it is my goal to utilise all of it, mainly doing tobacco," said Mr Nhondova. Tobacco is also one of Zimbabwe's top foreign-currency earners, accounting for about 12 percent of the nation's economic output. In 2018, tobacco production reached 252 million kilogrammes, the highest in Zimbabwe's 121- year history of commercial growing, according to TIMB. The crop provides the highest economic return for each hectare among all the major annual crops grown in the country, says the association. Tobacco curing involves a series of physical and chemical changes that begin when the plant is cut until it is dried and it takes up to eight weeks to complete the process. Mr Nhondova had to employ workers to assist him with planting, harvesting, curing, and taking the crop to tobacco auction floors in Harare. Online
www.thesunnews.co.zw [email protected] 0712718043 08644216800 The Sun Newspaper www.thesunnews.co.zw Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito has played down the talk of winning the league in the 2023 Castle Lager Premiership season. Brito took over the reins following the sacking of Mandla Mpofu after the last winter. The Portuguese gaffer managed to stabilised the ship and finished the season on fifth position with 51 points. Speaking to The Herald, Brito said winning the league title this season will be a huge bonus as he is still getting used to the environment and developing the players. “The good thing is that we have managed to have most of the players we had last season. It’s a very good thing to have the same players for another season. It is an advantage for us,” the gaffer said. “Winning the league title? I don’t think we have played together for a long enough time. I have been at Highlanders I think for a short period now. I am impressed by the environment, the players and the fans. “I think they will be very happy if we win trophies for the team. But to say we are winning the title now, I think it will be a bit overambitious. We are building in stages. We have the right players but we need to be together for some time. “We will see what happens as we go into the season but the aim is to play good football, bring results and make the fans happy.” Highlanders will begin the 2023 Castle Lager Premiership season at home against ZPC Kariba during the weekend of 18-19 March.Soccer 24 Knox Mutizwa has become the tenth player to score fifty goals for a single club in the South African Premier Soccer League. The striker scored his 50th goal for Golden Arrows over the weekend. He scored from the spot in 2-1 loss against SuperSport. The Zimbabwean is the only local player on the list along with other foreigners in the likes of Zambian Collins Mbesuma and Namibian Peter Shalulile. In his season tally, Mutizwa currently sits on six goals after 22 rounds of matches. He is three goals behind pacesetters Bradley Grobler and Shalulile who have nine goals each. Alec Mudimu has joined a new club following his release at Welsh Premier League club Caernarfon in January. The Warriors international has signed with another Welsh team Flint Town FC. A statement by Mudimu’s representatives PES FOOTBALL AGENCY said: “We are delighted to confirm the transfer of Alec Mudimu to Flint Town Football Club in the first tier of the JD Cyrmu Premier League.” Visit our Website www.thesunnews.co.zw