Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Precious Manomano

Herald Reporter

THE Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water yesterday visited Morton Jaffray water treatment plant to ascertain progress on restoration works aimed at addressing the water supply challenges in the capital.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka and Local Government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando led the tour.

Speaking after the tour, Minister Masuka said efforts should be scaled up to ensure that 520 mega litres per day were achieved by December 31.

“President Mnangagwa directed that we put a technical committee to assist the City of Harare to provide enough water and this is to provide 520ML/day,” he said. 

“The technical committee was put in place and why we visited today is to appreciate the work the committee has done. There is an elaborate plan to restore the City of Harare. We assisted the committee to prioritise and we think the target that has been given to restore the 520ML a day by December 31 is indeed achievable.’’

Harare Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said about US$12 million was needed for maintaining plant infrastructure to ensure that the 520ML is attained by December 31 this year.

He added that for the chemicals the consumption is about US$1,6 million per month.

“The planning has been done, the engagements are also being done to ensure that we have adequate supply of chemicals. We should also see an improvement in the supply of chemicals .

“It takes bit of time to get to our target because we are looking at infrastructure as well, but as soon as we have an improvement in chemical supplies, there can be an improvement in the output.”

“We still have to work on those filters and clarifiers to be able to get to 520ML/day,’’ he said.

Eng Chisango said debtors were now owing over $589 billion adding that those who were failing to pay would be blacklisted was affecting the operations of the plant.

“We have put measures in place to ensure that we collect what we are owed. We are improving on our debt collection. We are going to blacklist some of the debtors,’’ he said.

The water technical committee chair team Professor Hodson Makurira of the University of Zimbabwe said there was need for more chemicals and attention towards the plant.

“The clarifiers and the plant need attention. Once we get the water treatment to appreciable volumes and quantities, we will then have water pumped to communities in greater Harare. 

“All those stages need attention and the priority is to get water out of here to acceptable levels. Government promised to send some support and we are trying to get more chemicals,’’ he said.

Government has appointed a technical team to assist the City of Harare to resolve water challenges.

The move will help to improve hygiene and minimise the risk of spreading water borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

Yeukai Karengezeka

Court Correspondent

A HIGH Court judge has deferred judgment in the trial of Pius Jamba Mukandi who is accused of the murder of  Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime in June last year.

Justice Esther Muremba said yesterday she was still finalising the judgment and will deliver the verdict on December 4. 

Both the State represented by Mr Michael Mugabe and Mr Terrence Mukuze and the defence represented by Garikayi Mhishi have presented their cases, leaving the verdict to the judge and her two assessors.

Mukandi denied the allegations during his trial but the prosecution brought in seven witnesses including his mother, Lina Mukandi, and sister Mercy.

Mukandi in his defence insisted that on the day of the killing he had already planned a journey to his mother’s rural home and had notified her, but his mother told the court that she was not aware of his whereabouts. 

Mukandi denied killing Ms Ali saying he was sacrificed to ease political tension in the Nyatsime area after the activist was killed. 

He said he was forced to admit to the crime and do indications despite not knowing Ms Ali.

Ms Ali was last seen on May 24 last year at a night club in Nyatsime where she allegedly had an altercation with Mukandi and who was later seen by Ms Ali’s friend Kirina Mayironi dragging Ms Ali.

She attempted to save her friend, leading to Mukandi striking her with a stone propelled by a catapult and hitting her chin leaving an open wound.

No one was able to help Ms Ali as Mukandi was throwing stones and he took her to a secluded place where he allegedly struck her using an unknown instrument and strangled her using her trousers thereby causing her death.

He also used an unknown instrument to cut the body of Ali into three pieces consisting of the upper torso and two legs.

The court heard Mukandi then took the disjointed body parts to Plot 321 Dunnotar Farm, Beatrice belonging to his mother where he dumped them in a disused well. He then went on the run.

Zvamaida Murwira

Senior Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has conferred a State-assisted funeral to Mrs Lillian Matiza, nee Mbonjani, widow on national hero and former Cabinet Minister Joel Biggie Matiza, following her death in Harare on Sunday evening.

Mrs Matiza suddenly fell ill before being rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

President Mnangagwa yesterday visited the Matiza Borrowdale residence where he consoled the family before conferring a State-assisted funeral on Mrs Matiza, whose burial is set for today at Warren Hills cemetery.

Mrs Matiza’s husband was Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister and Zanu PF Provincial chairperson for Mashonaland East Province.

The Head of State and Government was accompanied by his two Vice Presidents, Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Cde Kembo Mohadi, party chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, several Cabinet ministers, Zanu PF senior officials, among others.

Addressing mourners, President Mnangagwa said he was saddened to hear about the death of Mrs Matiza whom he thought would provide guidance and support to the children following the death of her husband and father to her children in January 2021 due to Covid-19 complications.

He said he was surprised to hear about the death of Mrs Matiza at a time when she had remained as a pillar of the family.

“Cde Biggie Matiza was one of us, very dependable. When he died, we said the mother will take care and support the children. We thought the mother would continue to help, caution children against any possible delinquencies. At one point she even came to see me with her children,” he said.

“Just like the song that was being sung here, no one knows the day when God will take you away from this earth. Each one of us has his or her days on earth and only God knows. God does not have a rubber to vary or alter the numbers like what we do when we want to delete what we would have written. I am now 81-years-old and you might think that I am the next, no, it is only God who knows who is next.”

What was more saddening, said President Mnangagwa, was that Mrs Matiza had been well all along without complaining of any ailment until the last day.

He implored the surviving children to remain united and well behaved.

“We expect you to remain united. We will help and support you should there be any problems you might face, we are equally your parents, so we are prepared to render any support that might be required,” said President Mnangagwa.

Family spokesperson Mrs Dorothy Mabika said they were shocked by the death of Mrs Matiza who never complained of any ailment.

“We are not aware of any ailment that Mrs Matiza had complained of. It was only late on Sunday when she asked her son to bring her water that was when he discovered that she was unwell. She was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead,” said Mrs Mabika.

She said they had since requested that a post mortem be conducted to establish the possible cause of death.

Mrs Mabika hailed President Mnangagwa and the Government for conferring Mrs Matiza a State-assisted funeral.

The event was attended by several Cabinet ministers, Zanu PF Politburo members who include the ruling party National Political Commissar, Cde Mike Bimha, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, Zanu PF provincial members among other dignitaries.

Mourners are gathered at Number 15 Highgate Road, Borrowdale in Harare.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, smoyo@chronicle.co.zw 

MATABELELAND North has been hit by an outbreak of tick-borne diseases with veterinary authorities saying 276 cattle succumbed to the diseases from 525 cases recorded in the province since January.

Hwange, Binga, Lupane and Nkayi districts are the worst affected. The most prevalent tick-borne disease in the province is heartwater, contributing about 60 percent of all reported cases followed by anaplasmosis which accounts for 30 percent and lastly babesiosis. 

According to the Department of Veterinary Services, theileriosis (January disease) has not been reported in Matabeleland North although there is a history of corridor disease associated with domesticated buffaloes, which have since been relocated.

In an interview, provincial veterinary services director, Dr Felistas Ndlovu said tick-borne diseases in the province are seasonal as they follow the tick activity pattern with most cases reported during the rainy season as it is most favourable for adult ticks which are the major vectors. 

She said ticks have been known to familiarise with certain habitats according to rainfall amounts. During the wet season, animals are susceptible to many challenges, and if a farmer is not careful, they may be killed by various diseases including tick-borne diseases.

In Zimbabwe, the most common tick-borne diseases recorded are theileriosis (January disease), anaplasmosis (gall sickness), heartwater and babesiosis (redwater). 

With the exception of theileriosis, the other three occur in Matabeleland North and Bulawayo provinces. 

“Tick-borne diseases contributed 22 percent of disease prevalence and close to 40 percent mortalities in Matabeleland North since the beginning of the year. Cases of anaplasmosis and heartwater have been reported across the province while babesiosis has been reported mainly in Binga and Hwange districts,” said Dr Ndlovu.

She said since the beginning of the year, the tick-borne diseases killed 276 cattle. 

Dr Ndlovu said the province reported 338 heartwater cases with 165 deaths, 158 anaplasmosis cases with 106 deaths and 29 babesiosis cases with five deaths.

“Tick-borne cases were mainly reported from Binga district followed by Lupane district and Nkayi district. Tick-borne disease deaths were reported from Lupane district, followed by Nkayi and Binga districts,” she said.

Dr Ndlovu urged farmers to continuously adhere to the stipulated dipping timetable as a way of controlling the tick population and breaking the tick lifecycle.” 

Government is also rehabilitating and constructing dip tanks across the country and since 2021 more than 4 000 dip tanks have been constructed thereby setting the country on course to have sufficient infrastructure required to curb theileriosis and other cattle diseases.

A total of 5 000 dip tanks are expected to be constructed by 2025 to help fight the brown tick that has recently been wiping out the national herd.

The Department of Veterinary Services recommends weekly dipping from the onset of the rainy season until the rain stops and thereafter every fortnight.

“In January disease areas the period is reduced to a 5-5-4 day dipping interval, and already in the province, cattle are on a weekly dipping regime. The 5–5-4 dipping method means cattle dipping twice for five days, followed by a four-day interval to break the life cycle of the ticks,” said Dr Ndlovu. 

She said farmers should be vigilant in the control of animal movements to avoid spreading diseases.

Dr Ndlovu urged farmers to pay attention to the dipping frequency and the cattle turnout which should be above 90 percent per session for the country to achieve adequate tick control and reduce the mortality rate of cattle, sheep and goats.

“Farmers are encouraged to report to the department any signs of dipping failure as evidenced by ticks not dying and continuing disease occurrences on their premises so that the department can conduct investigations,” she said.

Government has already launched the ticks and tick-borne disease control strategy for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases. Over the past two agricultural seasons, the combination of the dipping programme and the tick grease produced great results, with a 47 percent reduction in tick-borne cattle deaths recorded in 2021 when compared to 2020.

The livestock growth plan is part of the agriculture food systems transformation strategy which seeks to achieve a US$8,2 billion agriculture economy by 2025 to ensure the attainment of Vision 2030. 

Statistics from the department show that over 500 000 cattle succumbed to tick-borne diseases from 2016 to date leading to the decline of the national herd which stands at five million.

The Government has also manufactured tick-borne disease vaccines which are expected to boost livestock production.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, smoyo@chronicle.co.zw

ZANU-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman, Cde Jabulani Sibanda, has expressed confidence that the ruling party would win resoundingly in the forthcoming by-election slated for December 9.

Speaking during a campaign rally at a packed Nketa Hall in Bulawayo yesterday, he called upon party supporters to work together and drum up support for the party candidates.

Zanu-PF will be represented by Cde Albert Mavunga in Nketa for the National Assembly seat while Cde Tawengwa Zidya will contest in council elections.

“Let us pluck out the dirt from the teeth. You must also stop destroying the party from within, let’s go to this election as one and get a thunderous victory,” said Cde Sibanda.

He said the road to the December 9 elections must be characterised by a strong unity of purpose and oneness and this is only possible when the party comes first ahead of individual interests.

Cde Sibanda told party supporters that the Nketa constituency seat must be won to consolidate the country’s legacy of development.

“No one must do what he wants but instead we must always do what must be done and needed. We don’t want people who think they are bigger than the party and system,” he said.

The by-elections were necessitated by the recall of Citizens Coalition for Change candidates by the party’s interim secretary general, Mr Sengezo Tshabangu.

Disgruntled by how the party conducted its selection process for candidates in preparation for the August 23 harmonised elections, Mr Tshabangu initially recalled 15 legislators of which nine were constituency holders while the other six had gone in through the proportional representation.

He has also recalled a total of 69 councillors from 15 local authorities.

The state of confusion in the opposition resulted in them fielding double candidates in all constituencies except for Mabvuku-Tafara constituency in Harare.

The Nketa constituency is one of five constituencies in the city that will have by-elections, with the other being Cowdray Park where the ruling party will be represented by Cde Arthur Mujeyi, Lobengula-Magwegwe where Cde Menziwe Dube will stand for the party, Bulawayo South where former Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Cde Raj Modi went in unopposed when the party held its primary elections.

The last constituency is Mpopoma-Mzilikazi and Zanu-PF is represented by Cde Dzingai Kamamba.