Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter

PRIMARY healthcare facilities in Beitbridge used to be  few and under-resourced presenting a nightmarish experience to communities especially pregnant women who used to endure long distances for periodic checkups.

The situation led to home deliveries which were not always successful.

Lives were lost in the process while others would deliver on their way to the clinic and it had somehow become the norm until the advent of the Second Republic that actualized the Constitutional provision of devolution and started allocating funds for priority projects to be undertaken in  districts.

New clinics became part of the priority projects in Beitbridge.

Old ones were spruced up and resourced while other developments took shape in the education, transport and communication sectors.

Through devolution funds and in partnership with stakeholders and communities, the district has managed to construct three primary healthcare facilities that are expected    to serve more than 6 000 people   bringing the lives of communities at ease as they can now access healthcare services close to them.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of   the Beitbridge Rural District Council, Mr  Peter Moyo, said he was elated by the progress made in reviving the healthcare system of the district.

He said the project started in 2003 and recorded no significant progress till 2020 when the Government intervened  through devolution funds while communities chipped in by providing bricks and other resources.

“The clinics that have been built are a major part of the infrastructure developments. From the clinics that we had, we have added three more clinics which are Chabili Clinic in Ward 1, Dumba Clinic in Ward 5 and Mazunga Clinic in Ward 14. From these clinics, Chabili Clinic is operational but still to be commissioned while Dumba Clinic and Mazunga Clinic are at 96% completion,” he said.

Mr Moyo applauded the Government efforts in ensuring the provision of essential services to the Beitbridge communities saying he hoped that funding would be made available to ensure there was enough stock of drugs and other medication.

“There is inadequate supply for drugs and other medications and it becomes difficult for people visiting these centres to get assisted. We appeal to the Government to provide the drugs as well as improve on the devolution allocations and disbursements so that things run smoothly,” he said.

He added that the RDC through devolution funds has managed to spruce up roads, built new schools and provide safe water for communities.

“All thanks to the devolution funds, we now have several schools which are under construction in the district. There is Novhe Primary School which is in Ward 10, there is a construction of a classroom block at Matshiloni in Ward 4, a classroom block at Mtangamutshena Secondary School in Ward 12 and a new classroom block at Langeni Primary School in Ward 5.

“There is relief in knowing that villages   won’t endure the burden of walking long distances to water points as we have   introduced the piped water scheme in various villages.

Access to clean and safe water is a fundamental right and as a district it pleases us that the Government has ensured  that its people are well taken care of,” he   added.

Mr Moyo said through the road rehabilitation funds, the roads were now in good shape.

“We are maintaining all council roads annually through routine grading. This helps keep our roads in good condition so that travelling becomes easy.

In 2024 our aim is to complete all unfinished projects so that our communities benefit fully from the devolution funds and fulfil President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.”

The President implemented the devolution programme in his first year in office and since then, the programme has changed lives in many aspects.

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Sione Amidu, Gwanda Correspondent

SEBASA Irrigation Scheme in Gwanda District has been praised for being the best performing irrigation scheme in Matabeleland South Province after excelling in management, sustainable operation, maintenance and production.

The 65ha irrigation scheme was rehabilitated by the Government under the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP) in November 2017 at a cost of US$524 000. The rehabilitation also saw its conversion from diesel to solar power, drilling of eight boreholes and the construction of canals and a barrage.

Speaking on behalf of Professor Obert Jiri, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development at the irrigation prize giving day ceremony at Sebasa Irrigation Scheme last week, the Provincial Director for Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services Mrs Medeline Magwenzi applauded the farmers for working hard in improving the irrigation scheme. She said it was an honour to award farmers who have excelled in various disciplines.

“We are happy to be witnessing this important event, the awarding of prizes for good performance in the field of irrigation. The awarding of prizes is meant to motivate farmers to excel in the future. Irrigation is a critical component of agricultural production and a key driver of economic growth and development,” said Mrs Magwenzi

She added that the national prize giving day was meant to reward those who have shown excellence and commitment in agricultural practices.

“These remarkable individuals and organisations have embraced the strategies of optimising water use, implementing efficient irrigation technologies, and promoting responsible water management. Through their ingenuity and commitment, they have set new benchmarks for sustainable agriculture and serve as beacons of inspiration for others to follow,” she said.

Khwalu Irrigation Scheme came second and Zhulube third out of the 74 irrigation schemes in Matabeleland South. Despite being in one of the arid provinces in the country which falls under natural region five, Sebasa Irrigation Scheme also took up the fourth position in the national competition. 

The irrigation scheme received US$1 075, a shield and five moisture sensors, while Khwalu received US$750 and five moisture sensors, and Zhulube irrigation U$500. The prizes were from the ministry. Mrs Magwenzi said the Government was on a drive to rehabilitate more irrigation schemes in the country as they were significantly contributing to the country’s food security.

“The Government is committed to the development and expansion of irrigation schemes, and has made significant investments in this area over the years. The Government prioritises investments in the irrigation facilities. It has put in place plans to rehabilitate 460 irrigation schemes covering 26 000ha and the target is to reach 350 000 hectares by 2025. Efforts in irrigation rehabilitation and development are bearing fruits and the area under irrigation has significantly increased,” she said.

Speaking at the same event, the director for irrigation development Engineer Bezzel Chitsungo said the rehabilitation motivated the need for the ministry to come up with the competition and there were partners who have been working with the Government in the rehabilitation of the schemes.

“This is a national competition and all the irrigation schemes were given a chance to participate, compete and show their finest in terms of sustainable operation and maintenance and production in the irrigation schemes,” he said

He said the judges were drawn from different districts across the country. Sebasa Irrigation vice-chairman Mr Makatso Sebatha said winning the first prize was a great honour as their efforts were not in vain. 

“We are happy to witness this day, as an irrigation scheme we have been working hard listening to our supervisors and extension officers. We really deserve this and we are thankful to the judges and Government for recognising us. There is no single workshop that we missed, our efforts were not in vain. The irrigation has also helped us financially as we are educating our children using the money we get after selling some of the produce, we are getting something tangible. We received the prize money of US$1 075 from the Government, we are going to buy some machinery that can bring us money and also ease our means of doing business, agriculture is now a business,” said Mr Sebatha.

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Source: ZIMBABWE POLITICS | IMPACT OF CHAMISA’S EXIT FROM MAIN OPPOSITION

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Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter

THE Government has warned traditional leaders and individuals who are parcelling out State land to desperate land seekers in return for kickbacks, saying such behaviour was a criminal offence.

The Government said it will not hesitate to dismiss and prosecute those found on the wrong side of the law. The warning comes at a time when the parcelling out and selling of State land has become rampant countrywide with four village heads from Dema in Mashonaland East Province having been convicted after appearing in court for selling stands in undesignated places and pocketing the proceeds.

To curb the menace, the Government has been carrying out capacity building workshops within the country’s eight rural provinces to conscientise traditional leaders on their role and ensure they do not overstep their mandate. The issue of land distribution in exchange for bribes was one of the major objective of the workshops. The available land is advertised on social media as “Sabhuku deals”. The deals are said to be rampant in most parts of the country, especially in areas near towns and cities.

Responding to questions from Sunday News, Director of Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Mr Gabriel Masvora confirmed that they were receiving reports  where village heads were parcelling out State land and receiving payments. He said their ministry conducted workshops with the aim of curbing the illicit land deals by traditional leaders.

“The sale of State land is illegal. The duties of a village head are clearly spelt out in Section 12 of the Traditional Leaders Act 29:17 and do not include allocation of land. Land is allocated by the rural district council concerned after the submission of names of those who want communal land to council and a resolution is then made. Our ministry carried out capacity building workshops from May 2022 to April 2023 at all the eight rural provinces in every district and the meetings were attended by chiefs, headmen and village heads. Duties of each traditional leader were explained and illegalities spelt out. Chiefs and headmen supervise village heads and where rampant sale of land takes place they are empowered by the law to recommend dismissal,” said Mr Masvora.

He said Section 13 of the Traditional Leaders Act 29:17 spells out the disciplinary action that would be taken in the event of an offence or misconduct by a village head.

“We continue to engage the Council of Chiefs which is an assembly of elected traditional leaders and the provincial assembly chairpersons to continue to raise awareness of the illegality of land sales and the consequences thereof. Several village heads have been convicted of illegal land sales in the country with the recent example of Dema village heads who were convicted on 8 January 2024,” said Mr Masvora.

In an interview, Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs president Chief Mtshane Khumalo said as traditional leaders, they know that State land should not be sold and if ever there were traditional leaders selling State land, the law enforcement agents should arrest them.

“It is known that State land should not be sold, so those engaging in that will be contravening the law and are candidates for prosecution,” he said. -@nyeve14

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THE Hwange community is appealing to the Hwange Colliery Company to improve their water and sanitation provision to starve off the cholera epidemic, whose spreading countrywide has forced Hwange to shut down all unlicenced food outlets in the mining town.

Speaking during a Cholera Response meeting recently held in Hwange, community leaders said there is an urgent need to renovate the common ablutions in concession areas. A local religious leader Pastor Emmanuel Nkomo said the toilets in the concession area are in a sorry state.

“The toilets are unbearable, they have burst pipes and some don’t even work at all. In an event we have confirmed cholera cases, Hwange residents will be doomed,” he said.

Zimbabwe has declared a state of emergency over a cholera outbreak, Hwange has recorded 10 suspected cholera cases in the concession area. Another, Pastor Moyo was not happy with the continued open defecation by some church members in Hwange.

Public Health Officer Medicine Shonai from Hwange Colliery Hospital said the  company was working tirelessly to ensure guided safety measures and re-inforcing  good hygiene practices within the concession area.

“We know our common toilets and bathrooms in the concession area are not in the best state, but we really are working towards improving them. We continue to commend the tireless efforts of healthcare workers, community leaders and their resilience.

We are working towards the improvement of water provision in the concession area. We need to work together, as all stakeholders and improve the sanitation in Hwange,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Hwange Local Board has closed all unlicenced food preparation outlets and those operating from undesignated areas. The move was necessitated by the need to fight a cholera outbreak which has been reported in Hwange urban.

The ban was announced by the Acting Town Secretary Paulus Mabhureni, who said the local authority had also banned church gatherings which operate without toilets.

“We have also banned all open –air church gatherings and all worship activities at premises without ablution facilities.

Failure to provide ablution facilities poses a risk to open defecation leading to the spread of communicable diseases such as cholera,” he said.

Mabhureni urged the public to exercise good hygiene practices.

“We urge members of the public to exercise good hygiene, which include thorough washing of hands after using the toilets as well as before handling or preparing food and drinking water from protected sources or boiling water before drinking.

They must desist from buying food, fruits and vegetables from vendors at  undesignated vending sites. Residents are also advised to seek early treatment for suspected diarrhoeal illness.

Hwange district has since activated the Civil Protection Committees with concerns of outbreak of Cholera in Hwange. Sources close to the committee revealed that the Cholera hotspot in Hwange is Number 3 residential area. (source: NewZiana)

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