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Source: Residents should withhold payments until service delivery improves! It is really a very simple principle: one pays for a service they receive. Tendai Ruben Mbofana The opposite is equally true: where there is no satisfactory service, one does not pay. This logic can not be more relevant as it pertains to the dismal […]
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Source: Residents should withhold payments until service delivery improves!
Tendai Ruben Mbofana
The opposite is equally true: where there is no satisfactory service, one does not pay.
This logic can not be more relevant as it pertains to the dismal and appalling service delivery being experienced all across Zimbabwe’s urban areas.
This is particularly so in my small town of Redcliff.
To say that I am thoroughly disappointed with the manner in which we are being mistreated and abused by our local authority would be the understatement of the century.
How else am i expected to feel when we have gone for nearly three years without any significant potable water in our homes?
Who, in their normal senses, would tolerate such objectionable violation of our constitutional right to water, as enshrined in section 77 – which states: every person has the right to safe, clean, and potable water?
Yet, some of us are making huge sacrifices under the most unforgiving and unbearable economic challenges as we faithfully pay the demanded bills, in spite of the absence of any meaningful service.
This is regardless of a long list of unfulfilled promises to address the crisis that has been persisting for years.
The question then becomes: why do we bother loyally paying for a service that is seldom delivered?
The local authority – as others crossing the width and breadth of the country – is never short of excuses and explanations (each more ridiculous than the last).
We have been repeatedly told of outstanding bills and debts – both by residents and the corporate (private and public) sector.
We have heard how the town owes the nearby city of Kwekwe – from where Redcliff procures its water – huge amounts in unmet payments.
We have also been told how outdated and broken down pumping equipment has been a major menace.
Each time, there has to be a reason we are not getting the life-giving liquid.
These may sound all plausible!
However, this brings up an even bigger question.
As there does not appear to be a solution in sight – what with all these excuses – why should those of us who have been faithful continue paying?
In fact, where is the hard-earned money we are parting with every month being channelled?
Are we surely expected to keep paying for no apparent benefit?
Would that not render us foolish mugs and nitwits?
If anything, our town fathers and mothers are never short of the best life – all, obviously, thanks to our payments.
That does not seem fair now, does it?
It gets even worse!
Numerous times, residents have been informed of various deals entered into by the municipality to clear outstanding bills with the city of Kwekwe.
This has included the sale of land – notwithstanding a ministry of local government directive to municipalities to desist from utilizing land for recurrent expenditure.
Nonetheless, after the ‘deal’, there was never any water for Redcliff residents forthcoming.
As a matter of fact, shortly afterward, we were shocked to learn that the debt to Kwekwe had seemingly miraculously ballooned back.
It does not end there!
Repeated annual reports by the auditor-general have unearthed gross mismanagement, irregularities, and flouting of tender regulations by the Municipality of Redcliff.
The most horrifying being the sale of 21 hectares of land to Livetouch Investments, to the staggering tune of US$847,962 in exchange for vehicles!
The auditor-general was clearly repulsed by the brazen violation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act
Not only did the sale not go to tender, but as Livetouch Investments was into chrome processing, and not a vehicle supplier, the entire deal was seriously flawed.
What were those vehicles our local authority exchanged for an asset as invaluable as land?
Four Toyota Hilux, one Toyota Fortuner GD6, Toyota 18-seater bus, one Backhoe loader, five Nissan NP300 trucks, one Grader, one Skip bin loader, one Toyota Quantum ambulance, and a fire tender.
What caught my attention more than anything else, though, were the luxury cars that found their way into this deal!
These are for the enjoyment of top officials within the local authority, at the expense of residents and service delivery.
It gets even more shocking!
According to the report, some of the supposed service vehicles had not been delivered!
Yet, for reasons we can only speculate on – the luxury Toyota Fortuner GD6 was promptly made available!
Furthermore, on 31 August 2021, the local authority paid a mobile phone company using stands valued at US$13,348 for the purchase of mobile phones.
Are these people serious – selling our land in exchange for mobile phones?
Yet we do not have water in our homes?
We have gone for nearly three years being deprived of one of the most fundamental constitutional rights – in the midst of a devastating cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe.
However, our local authority can afford to purchase luxury vehicles and mobile phones for top officials.
Based on information I recently received, employees of the Municipality of Redcliff have not been paid their salaries for months.
The same excuses of the unavailability of funds have been cited.
How outrageous!
All these underhand and possibly criminal activities by the local authority need to be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators brought to book.
We can not continue suffering in this way, whilst there are those reaping where they never sowed!
I am quite sure that, once exhaustive investigations have been instituted, much more devious acts – buried out of residents’ sight – will be unearthed.
We have heard of payments for roads that were never constructed.
I am convinced there are more vehicle and land scandals – outside the ones already reported by the auditor-general – which need proper scrutiny.
All that can be said for now is that it is time for those of us who have been religiously paying our bills to stop.
On what logic are we to pay for no discernible service?
Are we not simply financing the lavish, comfortable lifestyles of those at the top – whilst we ourselves suffer?
It is time our local authority provides the services we expect as residents.
Only then will we re-open our pockets.
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Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) Industrial Training and Test results for November have been released, the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development has announced. In a statement yesterday Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira said a 68 percent pass rate had been recorded. He also announced that […]
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Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter
Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) Industrial Training and Test results for November have been released, the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development has announced.
In a statement yesterday Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira said a 68 percent pass rate had been recorded.
He also announced that results were now available from candidates’ respective regions.
“The Permanent Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor. F. Tagwira wishes to announce that the Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) Industrial Training and Trade Test results for the November 2023 Examinations Session have been released.
“He wishes to thank all stakeholders involved in the national examination system. Their contribution towards the success of the examinations has resulted in the achievement of a 68% pass rate.
“All candidates are advised to access their results from their respective regions from Wednesday 20 December 2023,” he said.
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Herald Reporter Zimcare Trust, a leading organisation dedicated to caring for and educating intellectually challenged individuals in Zimbabwe, has elected Dr Tinashe Manzungu and Ms Patricia Glenda Kambarami as chairperson and vice chairperson respectively. Pete Compton, Siwinike Tauya, Elsie Stevenson Mahlangu, Emily Manyere, and Advocate Takudzwa Josiah Mafongoya make up the rest of the board […]
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Herald Reporter
Zimcare Trust, a leading organisation dedicated to caring for and educating intellectually challenged individuals in Zimbabwe, has elected Dr Tinashe Manzungu and Ms Patricia Glenda Kambarami as chairperson and vice chairperson respectively.
Pete Compton, Siwinike Tauya, Elsie Stevenson Mahlangu, Emily Manyere, and Advocate Takudzwa Josiah Mafongoya make up the rest of the board members.
Dr Manzungu said the newly elected councillors will champion inclusivity, empowerment and ensure opportunities are availed without discrimination.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new Councilors. Their diverse professional backgrounds, experience across industries and boards, and unwavering commitment to the welfare of intellectually challenged individuals provide the right mix of innovation which will undoubtedly disrupt Zimcare Trust in a positive manner and enhance our ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
“Together, we are dedicated to furthering our mission of fostering inclusivity, empowerment, and opportunities for all members of our community,” he said.
The new Councillors represent a significant step forward in the organisation’s ongoing commitment to advancing the welfare and empowerment of intellectually challenged persons in communities.
Dr Manzungu is a philanthropist, prominent business leader, holder of two doctorate degrees along with several other qualifications and the Zimcare Trust Council is poised to benefit from his wealth of experience and expertise in leading organizations towards impactful and sustainable change.
Ms Kambarami, the incoming vice chair, is a dedicated professional with a Bachelor of Science Honors in Sociology, disability advocate and founder of St. Christopher’s Children with Disability (SCCD) an institution committed to empowering marginalized children in Hatcliffe.
The rest of the members will bring unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that will contribute to the organization’s mission of providing comprehensive care, support, and education to intellectually challenged individuals.
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Professor Mthuli Ncube Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter THE Government, which has already scrapped Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status for mining projects, will remove tax havens for investors in the sector to enforce value-addition and beneficiation of minerals for maximum benefit to locals. Previously, companies that had SEZ status benefited from various incentives that included […]
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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
THE Government, which has already scrapped Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status for mining projects, will remove tax havens for investors in the sector to enforce value-addition and beneficiation of minerals for maximum benefit to locals.
Previously, companies that had SEZ status benefited from various incentives that included tax exemptions among others, but Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube told Senate during debate of the 2024 National Budget that President Mnangagwa has appointed a Cabinet Committee to come up with measures that will ensure the country derives maximum rewards from its minerals.
The Cabinet Committee will, inter-alia, make recommendations on new mining regulations focusing on contracts, incentives for investors and revenues to ensure that the country benefits more from its vast mineral resources.
This followed concerns by senators that the country was not benefitting much from its minerals.
“As I speak, the President has set up special Cabinet Committee to look into these issues around mining sector, the incentives, revenues, contracts. The Committee will be reporting to the President in the next few months. I am a member of that Committee. Once that Committee has met and gone through the issues, I can assure you, there will be no more tax havens in mining, it would be a thing of the past,” he said.
Prof Ncube said three mining companies have been affected by the scrapping of SEZ status for mining of ore.
“They have been trying to persuade us to stay but then we have said to them look, you need to beneficiate, if you show us your beneficiation plans, what you produce in the end, we are happy to extend special economic zone status to only that portion of your business which is doing beneficiation,” Prof Ncube said.
“We have become very clear, we are going to revise the framework for the mining sector going forward. Then they need to create a template for how these investors should conduct corporate social responsibility. I agree, what we have proposed in this budget was the initial one percent tax or levy which will be ploughed back into those communities, but a more comprehensive framework should be developed.”
Manicaland Senator, Cde Irene Zindi suggested the fees for obtaining a mining licence, especially for foreigners, be reviewed upwards.
“This is a good idea, we will investigate this issue, already we are looking into the other issue of Exclusive Prospective Orders (EPO) licence fees. If a foreign investor is only paying US$1 500, that is a very low amount and we ought to raise it. I am aware that the Ministry of Mines is in hot pursuit on this issue,” she said.
Prof Ncube added that Government was going to be tough on the issuance of EPOs to ensure that investors awarded EPOs stick to the mineral they have been licenced for to curb leakages.
Chief Fortune Charumbira also bemoaned the low contribution to the fiscus by the mining sector as indicated in the Minister’s budget statement and called on Parliament to investigate the matter.
“Here (in the budget statement), you are saying that the total revenue of the mining sector has remained subdued and I am very concerned. You stated that platinum was number one contributor to revenue and that the contribution of gold remains insignificant at 0,33 percent despite accounting for about 32 percent of mineral exports — that is a serious contradiction. I believe as Parliament, we are meant to pursue this issue and ask why. How can gold contribution remain insignificant when we have said we have moved from 12 tonnes and we are now at 32 tonnes per year? Why would an increase in the production tonnage lead to insignificant contribution?”
Prof Ncube reiterated that these were some of the issues that would be addressed in the new regulations.
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