From Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
THERE is massive congestion at Beitbridge Border Post with Immigration Department and Zimbabwe Revenue Aut-hority officials battling to clear vehicles, returning residents and shoppers crossing from South Africa.
Both human and vehicular traffic drastically increased from last Friday when most South African firms shut down for the year.
Many travellers told The Herald yesterday that they had spent more than three hours on either side of the border.
However, both Zimra and the Immigration Department blame the delay on lack of personnel and appropriate infrastructure.
Between 15 000 and 19 000 people are entering Zimbabwe on a daily basis.
The normal figure at other times of the year is 2 500.
Figures from the Immigration Department indicate that 55 190 people entered Zimbabwe between Friday and Sun-day night, while 21 738 left the country over the same period.
Both Zimra and the Immigration Department have taken staff from other stations and deployed them to Beitbridge, but the numbers are still inadequate.
Zimra has 227 workers instead of 400, while the Immigration Department is operating with 55 against a requirement of 80.
Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Develop-ment Minister Nicholas Goche and his Finance counterpart Tendai Biti yesterday toured the border post to assess the situation and help hammer out a solution.
During the tour, Assistant Regional Immigration Officer-in-Charge (Southern Region), Mr Charles Gwede, said they had a host of measures to try and ease the congestion.
"We are separating traffic into human, vehicular, buses, cargo, tourists and returning residents.
"We have enlisted the services of the police to assist with controlling queues and preventing touts from entering the border post. Our volume of traffic has of late increased. As of Friday and Sunday, we recorded 55 190 arrivals and 21 738 departures.
"Under normal circumstances, we clear about 6 000 peo-ple over the same period. We are anticipating an influx in the next two days, but we are, however, equal to the task.
"We are operating with 18 officers per shift though we usually operate with 10. We have brought in 13 more immigration officers from less busy stations," said Mr Gwede.
Zimra has deployed an extra 39 officers to Beitbridge.
Minister Biti promised that such travelling nightmares would end this year.
"At the moment, people are taking between six and seven hours to cross from Zimbabwe to South Africa. We are going to do everything within our power to improve the situation," said Minister Biti.
Government has said it will transform Beitbridge into a modern urban centre and consolidate services to spruce up the border post’s image and improve clearance procedures.
"As Government, we are very concerned by the way things are happening at Beitbridge Border Post, which is one of the busiest ports of entry in the country and region.
"The state of affairs here is affecting the speedy movement of both cargo and private traffic.
"Furthermore, most of the infrastructure here is in a bad state and we have courted other partners to help in the re-organisation and transformation of the border post to world class standards.
"We expect the process to be completed by September next year. We are also going to consolidate services here and make the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority the lead agent and do away with a lot of control measures which are frustrating
and delaying travellers.
"You will realise that at the moment we have a lot of agents duplicating services yet that can be consolidated and carried out by one lead agent.
"We have also noted with concern that a lot of operations are being done manually which is slowing down the movement of people and cargo.
"With that in mind we are going to work out on a serious programme to computirise services especially with Zimra where we are going to link all the computers through the Asycuda Clearance System.
"Some of the clearance facilities, especially for commercial purposes, should be done over the Internet rather than truckers spending days for their documents to be processed manually.
"In essence we need a multi-faceted approach to address the challenges we are facing here.
"A border post should be a place for happiness not depression – people should be happy that they are going home or visiting a hospitable country.
"This (border post) is the preface to the country and whatever image we portray here which is way beyond the 21st century is going to affect us as a country," he said.
Herald 21 Decemebr 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Monday, December 20, 2010
Miss Tourism Beitbridge 2010 crowned
By Thupeyo Muleya
Perennial modelling "bridesmaid" Precious Mpofu was at the weekend crowned Miss Tourism Beitbridge 2010 during the third edition of the pageant held at the Beitbridge Hotel.
Mpofu (19) romped to victory after shrugging off a stiff challenge from 14 other contestants from Matabeleland South region.
She will now represent the southern province in the national pageant to be held in Harare next year.
Her first and second princesses were Michelle Chindari (23) and Yvonne Chikore (24) respectively.
This year’s pageant was held under the theme "Queen of Diamonds".
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority co-ordinated the pageant, which was sponsored by Golden Sisters General Dealers.
The queens of catwalk shared US$1 000 cash and several hampers for their efforts.
Mpofu, who is a trainee at Londa Hotel, proved to be the crowd’s favourite from the onset though she had to work very hard to beat Chindari, who was breathing down her neck for the better part of the day.
Mpofu, who is doing a course in hotel management, said she has been participating in most pageants from high school, adding that her determination had finally paid dividends.
Last year’s winners were Rumbidzai Mangezi, Gugulethu Mataga of Beitbridge and Duduzile Ncube of Gwanda.
Urban groover Madiz and several local artistes spiced up the event with their a flawless acts.
Beitbridge Town Council deputy chairperson Mrs Patricia Ndlovu, who was the guest of honour, called on the models to work very hard in initiating projects that empower both women and the girl child in the district.
published by Herald 21 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Perennial modelling "bridesmaid" Precious Mpofu was at the weekend crowned Miss Tourism Beitbridge 2010 during the third edition of the pageant held at the Beitbridge Hotel.
Mpofu (19) romped to victory after shrugging off a stiff challenge from 14 other contestants from Matabeleland South region.
She will now represent the southern province in the national pageant to be held in Harare next year.
Her first and second princesses were Michelle Chindari (23) and Yvonne Chikore (24) respectively.
This year’s pageant was held under the theme "Queen of Diamonds".
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority co-ordinated the pageant, which was sponsored by Golden Sisters General Dealers.
The queens of catwalk shared US$1 000 cash and several hampers for their efforts.
Mpofu, who is a trainee at Londa Hotel, proved to be the crowd’s favourite from the onset though she had to work very hard to beat Chindari, who was breathing down her neck for the better part of the day.
Mpofu, who is doing a course in hotel management, said she has been participating in most pageants from high school, adding that her determination had finally paid dividends.
Last year’s winners were Rumbidzai Mangezi, Gugulethu Mataga of Beitbridge and Duduzile Ncube of Gwanda.
Urban groover Madiz and several local artistes spiced up the event with their a flawless acts.
Beitbridge Town Council deputy chairperson Mrs Patricia Ndlovu, who was the guest of honour, called on the models to work very hard in initiating projects that empower both women and the girl child in the district.
published by Herald 21 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
NGO calls for unity in prayer
| Beitbridge Bureau Chief THE Concerned Christians of Zimbabwe has called on the nation to unite and pray for an end to the challenges facing the country and the African continent. In a statement yesterday, the South Africa-based NGO’s Secretary-General, Mr Giyani Dube said: "We believe that only through prayer can all our troubles be solved. "Our diversities and our humanity is not merely defined by our languages, skin colour, political, religious, social and economic affiliation but rather by our abilities to realise, deal and collectively pray over the challenges that bedevil our communities. "Our hope as Christians is that all challenges faced by our beloved country Zimbabwe will one day come to an end through the power of the Almighty God. We believe that only throu-gh prayer are we able to overcome all ills." He said a number of activities had been lined up such as prayer meetings, fasting sessions and musical galas across the continent. "An all night prayer meeting which was scheduled for the 17th of December 2010 has been deferred to a date yet to be announced. We call upon all people to fast and pray for our country on the 17th of December, 2010 from 6am to 12 noon." he said. Mr Dube said they were concerned with issues including corruption, HIV/Aids, documentation, poverty, peace and stability and elections "We the peace loving, concerned Christians are inviting you to pray for issues of concern such as; peace and stability in Zimbabwe and Africa. "Let us pray for the end of any form of violence, love and unity. As long as Zimbabweans are not united and love each other and their God, then there is no promise of a better Zimbabwe." source; Herald 16 December 2010 www.herald.co.zw |
15 models vie for Miss Tourism Beitbridge title
By Thupeyo Muleya
A total of 15 beauty models are expected to outclass each other in this year’s third edition of Miss Tourism Beitbridge scheduled for Beitbridge on December 17.
This year’s contest is being held under the theme "Queen of Diamonds".
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is co-ordinating the event.
According to ZTA’s Beitbridge marketing executive and also regional co-ordinator, Mrs Lindarose Ntuli, preparations were at an advanced stage.
"We have done everything necessary to ensure the success of the event which is held annually to choose the models who will represent Matabeleland South region in the national contest to be held in Harare in February next year.
"The pageant aims at identifying a young Zimbabwean woman who portrays the country’s values, traits, morals and aspirations to both domestic and international audiences.
"We have done all the necessary preparations in terms of the venue, entertainment and registering the models. We have five people who would be coming in from Gwanda and 10 from Beitbridge district.
"We are upbeat that this time the event will be better and bigger as we are building it on the success of last year’s edition," she said.
Performances by renowned artistes Madiz and Leprechaun, alongside other Beitbridge artistes ,are expected to illuminate the event.
"We are calling on the Matabeleland South community to come in their numbers and support the pageant.
"The co-ordinating team has selected the best ladies from the provinces aged between 17 and 24 years who have beauty and brains," she said.
She said they had managed to put together a total of US$1 000 that would be split among the three queens.
Last year’s winners were Rumbidzai Mangezi, Gugulethu Mataga of Beitbridge and Duduzile Ncube of Gwanda.
Among Matabeleland South’s bevy of beauties who will be vying for the crown are Pamela Mativenga, Melta Katiyo, Linah Siziba, Yvonne Chikoore, Michelle Chindani, Sipho Chirwa, Thandi Mafu, Precious Mpofu, Irene Antonio and Fadzai Mataura — all of Beitbridge town.
source; The Herald 15 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
A total of 15 beauty models are expected to outclass each other in this year’s third edition of Miss Tourism Beitbridge scheduled for Beitbridge on December 17.
This year’s contest is being held under the theme "Queen of Diamonds".
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is co-ordinating the event.
According to ZTA’s Beitbridge marketing executive and also regional co-ordinator, Mrs Lindarose Ntuli, preparations were at an advanced stage.
"We have done everything necessary to ensure the success of the event which is held annually to choose the models who will represent Matabeleland South region in the national contest to be held in Harare in February next year.
"The pageant aims at identifying a young Zimbabwean woman who portrays the country’s values, traits, morals and aspirations to both domestic and international audiences.
"We have done all the necessary preparations in terms of the venue, entertainment and registering the models. We have five people who would be coming in from Gwanda and 10 from Beitbridge district.
"We are upbeat that this time the event will be better and bigger as we are building it on the success of last year’s edition," she said.
Performances by renowned artistes Madiz and Leprechaun, alongside other Beitbridge artistes ,are expected to illuminate the event.
"We are calling on the Matabeleland South community to come in their numbers and support the pageant.
"The co-ordinating team has selected the best ladies from the provinces aged between 17 and 24 years who have beauty and brains," she said.
She said they had managed to put together a total of US$1 000 that would be split among the three queens.
Last year’s winners were Rumbidzai Mangezi, Gugulethu Mataga of Beitbridge and Duduzile Ncube of Gwanda.
Among Matabeleland South’s bevy of beauties who will be vying for the crown are Pamela Mativenga, Melta Katiyo, Linah Siziba, Yvonne Chikoore, Michelle Chindani, Sipho Chirwa, Thandi Mafu, Precious Mpofu, Irene Antonio and Fadzai Mataura — all of Beitbridge town.
source; The Herald 15 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Thursday, December 9, 2010
NSSA to invest US$22m in Beitbridge hotel project
| Beitbridge Bureau Chief The National Social Security Authority has set aside US$22 million for the construction of a 140-roomed three-star hotel here, an official has said. In an interview in yesterday, NSSA public relations manager, Ms Agatha Kubvaruno, said civil works were at an advanced stage. She said they expected the project to be completed in 15 months. The project is being implemented under the Government’s National Economic Development Priority Programme that was introduced in 2006. "The work generally comprises the construction of a three star hotel in Beitbridge. A total of US$22 million has been budgeted for the project. "The proposed development involves the construction of a double storey hotel, main administration building, three blocks of hotel rooms accommodating a total of 140 hotel rooms including maintenance workshop, guardhouse and boundary wall. "On completion of the project, Beitbridge town will have a state of the art three star hotel to be operated by RTG. "This is indeed a major achievement for the town. "During construction, a number of locals will be employed. Similarly, on completion permanent and casual staff will be employed to work at the hotel. She said NSSA’s thrust was to create employment as well as develop the country. "Bulk earth works have since been completed and this is the platform on which the hotel building will be erected. "We also expect to carry out some more civil works including the road network, drainage, water and sewerage (onsite infrastructure) to commence early next year," she added. Ms Kubvaruno said the project was likely to be delayed by the late connection of power supplies by Zesa, the rock outcrop on the construction site and the supply of materials. published by; The Herald 09 December 2010 www.herald.co.zw |
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
| Violent storm destroys schools, clinic From Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE The Beitbridge district Civil Protection Unit is appealing for assistance to repair two schools and a clinic in Chamnangana area that were destroyed by a thunderstorm last week. Speaking during a district CPU meeting yesterday, committee chairman Mr Peter Moyo described the situation in the area as terrible. The secondary school caters for 749 pupils while more than 800 attend the primary school. The rains that pounded the area lasted for two hours. The storm destroyed children’s end of year reports, text and exercise books. Two classroom blocks at the primary school had their roofs blown away. Mr Moyo said teachers and children at Kwalu Secondary School escaped death by a whisker after roofs of most classroom blocks were blown away by strong winds that accompanied the hailstorm. The storm also affected Zesa transformers, plunging areas like Zezani, Mpande, Kwalu and large parts of Beitbridge into darkness. "This incident is a sad disaster and as the district CPU we are working flat out to repair the damage. We are, however, appealing to all stakeholders to assist us with resources to repair both the primary and the secondary school. "We have since written to our superiors in Harare to assist us. The secondary school was extensively damaged with all its six classrooms’ roofs blown off while furniture and windows were damaged. "One of the churches under construction had part of its wall damaged by the hailstorm. The ceiling to one of the buildings at Chamnanga clinic was also damaged. "Anyone who would want to assist should contact the Beitbridge Rural District Council who will be co-ordinating the programme. "Our technical team is busy working on the bill of the funding that will be needed for repairing both the schools and the clinic. The community has since promised to work with anyone willing to assist them. "As the district civil protection committee we don’t have a fund for such eventualities hence we are calling on other development partners to assist us," he said. Mr Moyo said World Vision Limpopo Area Development chapter, Medicine Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders) and the Organisation of International Migration had since pledged to assist the committee. He said well-wishers from across the country were welcome to assist. Beitbridge Constituency Senator Cde Tambudzani Mohadi visited the school yesterday. She appealed to non-governmental organisations to assist in repairing the schools and clinic as a matter of urgency. "This is an unfortunate incident and we are now appealing to other players to assist the school authorities to repair the damage to the schools and clinic," she said. published by the Herald 8 December 2010 www.herald.co.zw |
Beitbridge truck port complete
By Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Town Council has completed construction of state-of-the-art truck port that seeks to decongest the border post and the central business district of heavy vehicles.
Civil works began last year and the truck port has the capacity to handle over 200 trucks at any given time.
The traffic passing through Beitbridge border post border daily is heavy and at peak can surpass 3 000 vehicles.
In an interview yesterday, the Town Secretary, Dr Sipho Singo, said the truck port was racking in an average of R50 000 per month.
He said they were working on resurfacing the ground in the truck port arena.
"The truck inn is doing very well — we have managed to flush out all the heavy vehicles which were causing unnecessary congestion around the town and border post.
"In fact we are getting an average of R50 000 from the truck port and we are looking at interlocking it before the end of this year.
"You will realise that this is an international border which has high volumes of traffic and hence we need to control the movement especially commercial vehicles.
"In the near future we want to attract the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to do the customs clearance from the truck port so as to avoid the congestion at the border post.
"Another advantage is that they can twin the clearance of trucks and imported vehicles from one point since the truck port and the Export Processing Zone are close to each other.
"We have managed to buy some earth moving equipment, which will be delivered anytime this month and these will be used to resurface and maintain some of our damaged roads.
"The road network system is a very important aspect of our development programme because of the nature of traffic we handle as a border town," he said.
He added that they would also be installing traffic lights at seven strategic points across the town to effectively control the movement of both human and vehicle traffic.
Dr Singo said they would spend US$7000 on the traffic lighting project.
He said apart from traffic lights, the local authority was about to complete the installation of six tower lights around the town’s crime hot spots.
"As a new developing council, we have to work very hard to spruce up the town’s outlook since it is the preface to anyone coming into the country through South Africa.
"We also want to improve on street lighting and security for both the residents and other travellers. We expect the tower lights to be fully functional by the end of this month.
"To ensure that almost of the areas around the town are safe, we have cleared the bushes as a starting point," said Dr Singo.
The town secretary said they were in the midst of courting more private partners to implement other developmental project as part of their public private partnership initiatives.
Beitbridge border post was granted town status in 2006 at the instigation of the National Economic Development Priority Programme (NEDPP).
published by the Herald 07 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Beitbridge Town Council has completed construction of state-of-the-art truck port that seeks to decongest the border post and the central business district of heavy vehicles.
Civil works began last year and the truck port has the capacity to handle over 200 trucks at any given time.
The traffic passing through Beitbridge border post border daily is heavy and at peak can surpass 3 000 vehicles.
In an interview yesterday, the Town Secretary, Dr Sipho Singo, said the truck port was racking in an average of R50 000 per month.
He said they were working on resurfacing the ground in the truck port arena.
"The truck inn is doing very well — we have managed to flush out all the heavy vehicles which were causing unnecessary congestion around the town and border post.
"In fact we are getting an average of R50 000 from the truck port and we are looking at interlocking it before the end of this year.
"You will realise that this is an international border which has high volumes of traffic and hence we need to control the movement especially commercial vehicles.
"In the near future we want to attract the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to do the customs clearance from the truck port so as to avoid the congestion at the border post.
"Another advantage is that they can twin the clearance of trucks and imported vehicles from one point since the truck port and the Export Processing Zone are close to each other.
"We have managed to buy some earth moving equipment, which will be delivered anytime this month and these will be used to resurface and maintain some of our damaged roads.
"The road network system is a very important aspect of our development programme because of the nature of traffic we handle as a border town," he said.
He added that they would also be installing traffic lights at seven strategic points across the town to effectively control the movement of both human and vehicle traffic.
Dr Singo said they would spend US$7000 on the traffic lighting project.
He said apart from traffic lights, the local authority was about to complete the installation of six tower lights around the town’s crime hot spots.
"As a new developing council, we have to work very hard to spruce up the town’s outlook since it is the preface to anyone coming into the country through South Africa.
"We also want to improve on street lighting and security for both the residents and other travellers. We expect the tower lights to be fully functional by the end of this month.
"To ensure that almost of the areas around the town are safe, we have cleared the bushes as a starting point," said Dr Singo.
The town secretary said they were in the midst of courting more private partners to implement other developmental project as part of their public private partnership initiatives.
Beitbridge border post was granted town status in 2006 at the instigation of the National Economic Development Priority Programme (NEDPP).
published by the Herald 07 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Highway robber convicted
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
AN armed robber whose gang is targeting motorists along the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway has been thrown behind bars for an effective 10 years for robbing a South African of valuables worth R12 150.
The robber who was identified as Masunda (30) of Number 609 Dulibadzimu pleaded not guilty to four counts of armed robbery when his trial opened recently.
However, the town’s regional magistrate, Mr Owen Tagu, convicted him on the strength of evidence presented by the prosecution.
Mr Tagu slapped Masunda with 12 years in jail, but set aside two years for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Charges against Masunda arose on April 18 this year, at around 3am, when the complainant was travelling from South Africa to Harare along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.
His vehicle developed a mechanical fault about 40 km from the border town prompting him to park at a nearby lay-bye.
However, on the same day Masunda was patrolling the area in the company of his two accomplices, Tanaka Jana and Webster Mawere, who are still at large, robbing motorists on lay-byes along the highway.
The three were travelling in a Mazda 323 registration number ABH4994.
They spotted the complainant fixing his car at the lay-bye and accosted him.
Masunda produced a pistol, while Jana and Mawere were armed with iron bars.
They ordered their victim to lie down while they ransacked his vehicle. They stole 10 000 Zambian Kwacha, 75 litres of petrol and clothes all worth R12 150.
published by the Herald 2 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
AN armed robber whose gang is targeting motorists along the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway has been thrown behind bars for an effective 10 years for robbing a South African of valuables worth R12 150.
The robber who was identified as Masunda (30) of Number 609 Dulibadzimu pleaded not guilty to four counts of armed robbery when his trial opened recently.
However, the town’s regional magistrate, Mr Owen Tagu, convicted him on the strength of evidence presented by the prosecution.
Mr Tagu slapped Masunda with 12 years in jail, but set aside two years for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Charges against Masunda arose on April 18 this year, at around 3am, when the complainant was travelling from South Africa to Harare along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.
His vehicle developed a mechanical fault about 40 km from the border town prompting him to park at a nearby lay-bye.
However, on the same day Masunda was patrolling the area in the company of his two accomplices, Tanaka Jana and Webster Mawere, who are still at large, robbing motorists on lay-byes along the highway.
The three were travelling in a Mazda 323 registration number ABH4994.
They spotted the complainant fixing his car at the lay-bye and accosted him.
Masunda produced a pistol, while Jana and Mawere were armed with iron bars.
They ordered their victim to lie down while they ransacked his vehicle. They stole 10 000 Zambian Kwacha, 75 litres of petrol and clothes all worth R12 150.
published by the Herald 2 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Zim braces for surge in border traffic flow
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
The Department of Immigration is geared for the increase in traffic expected to pass through Beitbridge Border Post during this year’s festive holidays.
In an interview last week, the officer-in-charge of Beitbridge (Southern Region), Mr Charles Gwede, said they had come up with a host of measures to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
Mr Gwede said they had requested for additional 15 staffers from less busy stations in anticipation of the human and vehicular traffic surge coming into and leaving Zimbabwe.
The department has a staff complement of 55 at Beit-bridge.
"At the moment, we are operating on four shifts and with effect from the 10th of December until the 16th of January next year, we will suspend all off and leave days.
"Immigration officials from Zimbabwe and South Africa have agreed to implement a similar clearance programme to ensure the speedy flow of traffic.
"The police will also be engaged to assist in maintaining order and providing queue marshals at all clearing points.
"More immigration clearing cubicles will be opened outside the main immigration hall if we have more traffic.
"Past experience has shown that most industries in South Africa have their annual shut down from December 10 and hence we need to be equal to the task."
He said they would separate traffic into pedestrians, buses, commercial, tourists and private motorists. Presently all these are cleared at the same counters.
"On average we clear between 1 500 and 2 000 people per day and clear about 15 000 during holidays," said Mr Gwede.
Immigration and police patrols have been beefed up to clamp down on crime. Mr Gwede said the presence of touts was fuelling corruption and scaring away tourists.
Government declared Beitbridge Border Post, a security zone in 2004 and the National Taskforce on Image, Communication and Tourism adopted a zero tolerance for crime.
published by the Herald 2 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
The Department of Immigration is geared for the increase in traffic expected to pass through Beitbridge Border Post during this year’s festive holidays.
In an interview last week, the officer-in-charge of Beitbridge (Southern Region), Mr Charles Gwede, said they had come up with a host of measures to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
Mr Gwede said they had requested for additional 15 staffers from less busy stations in anticipation of the human and vehicular traffic surge coming into and leaving Zimbabwe.
The department has a staff complement of 55 at Beit-bridge.
"At the moment, we are operating on four shifts and with effect from the 10th of December until the 16th of January next year, we will suspend all off and leave days.
"Immigration officials from Zimbabwe and South Africa have agreed to implement a similar clearance programme to ensure the speedy flow of traffic.
"The police will also be engaged to assist in maintaining order and providing queue marshals at all clearing points.
"More immigration clearing cubicles will be opened outside the main immigration hall if we have more traffic.
"Past experience has shown that most industries in South Africa have their annual shut down from December 10 and hence we need to be equal to the task."
He said they would separate traffic into pedestrians, buses, commercial, tourists and private motorists. Presently all these are cleared at the same counters.
"On average we clear between 1 500 and 2 000 people per day and clear about 15 000 during holidays," said Mr Gwede.
Immigration and police patrols have been beefed up to clamp down on crime. Mr Gwede said the presence of touts was fuelling corruption and scaring away tourists.
Government declared Beitbridge Border Post, a security zone in 2004 and the National Taskforce on Image, Communication and Tourism adopted a zero tolerance for crime.
published by the Herald 2 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Car accident claims two on highway
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Two people died on the spot when the driver of a vehicle they were travelling in tried to avoid hitting a cow and lost control resulting in them veering off the road and overturning.
The accident happened at the 233km peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway at around 5am last Friday.
Police spokesman for Matabe-leland South Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe, said the bodies were taken to Beitbridge District Hospi-tal mortuary.
He identified the victims as Sydney Mushekisi (32) of Murehwa and Ananisai Hove (37) of Duliba-dzimu in Beitbridge.
"The Mitsubishi twin-cab was travelling from Masvingo towards Beitbridge with four people on board.
"Three of them were members of the same family. When they got to the 233km peg the driver saw a cow in his way and tried to avoid hitting it.
"As a result, the vehicle swerved to the right and the driver lost control.
"It then veered off the road and overturned once killing, Sydney Mushekisi instantly.
"Ananisai Hove sustained serious head injuries. The other two occupants, including the driver, escaped unhurt.
"The matter was reported to police and we rushed Hove to Beitbridge District Hospital where she was pronounced dead on admission," he said.
published by the Herald 1 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Two people died on the spot when the driver of a vehicle they were travelling in tried to avoid hitting a cow and lost control resulting in them veering off the road and overturning.
The accident happened at the 233km peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway at around 5am last Friday.
Police spokesman for Matabe-leland South Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe, said the bodies were taken to Beitbridge District Hospi-tal mortuary.
He identified the victims as Sydney Mushekisi (32) of Murehwa and Ananisai Hove (37) of Duliba-dzimu in Beitbridge.
"The Mitsubishi twin-cab was travelling from Masvingo towards Beitbridge with four people on board.
"Three of them were members of the same family. When they got to the 233km peg the driver saw a cow in his way and tried to avoid hitting it.
"As a result, the vehicle swerved to the right and the driver lost control.
"It then veered off the road and overturned once killing, Sydney Mushekisi instantly.
"Ananisai Hove sustained serious head injuries. The other two occupants, including the driver, escaped unhurt.
"The matter was reported to police and we rushed Hove to Beitbridge District Hospital where she was pronounced dead on admission," he said.
published by the Herald 1 December 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Senator donates to vulnerable children
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi (Zanu-PF) has donated exercise books to orphans and vulnerable children at Dulibadzimu Primary School.
The donation last Friday was a follow-up to a pledge she made to the school during this year’s Heroes Day celebrations. The school has an enrolment of 1 400 pupils and is one of the biggest primaries in Beitbridge.
It caters for 200 orphaned children, most of whom can’t afford to buy exercise books and other essentials.
"We know that most of you would say politicians always make promises that they cannot deliver.
"This is meant to silence all the pessimists. As a local representative of the district in the Upper House, I have undertaken to work tirelessly towards assisting all educational institutions in my constituency.
"Currently, Government is faced with a number of challenges in revamping the economic sector including the education system, and hence we need to be innovative and complement each other. I also want to urge former students and other stakeholders to work together with school authorities in assisting each other where necessary."
She called for greater effort to be put into promoting local languages in schools.
"There is a need to promote indigenous languages in line with Government policy.
"Let me commend Dulibadzimu Primary School for the sterling work they are doing in promoting the local Venda culture through extra-curricular activities."
Cde Mohadi, who was attired in traditional Venda dress, was particularly impressed by Dulibadzimu Primary pupils who sung the national anthem in Venda.
She handed over US$100 to Mr Samuel Mulaudzi, the local Venda language co-ordinator, for his efforts in the development of the curriculum for schools in Beitbridge District.
Vice school development committee chair, Mr Mokibelo Makhurane, thanked Cde Mohadi for her donation, saying it would go a long way in addressing the plight of the underprivileged children at the school.
Published by the Herald 24 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi (Zanu-PF) has donated exercise books to orphans and vulnerable children at Dulibadzimu Primary School.
The donation last Friday was a follow-up to a pledge she made to the school during this year’s Heroes Day celebrations. The school has an enrolment of 1 400 pupils and is one of the biggest primaries in Beitbridge.
It caters for 200 orphaned children, most of whom can’t afford to buy exercise books and other essentials.
"We know that most of you would say politicians always make promises that they cannot deliver.
"This is meant to silence all the pessimists. As a local representative of the district in the Upper House, I have undertaken to work tirelessly towards assisting all educational institutions in my constituency.
"Currently, Government is faced with a number of challenges in revamping the economic sector including the education system, and hence we need to be innovative and complement each other. I also want to urge former students and other stakeholders to work together with school authorities in assisting each other where necessary."
She called for greater effort to be put into promoting local languages in schools.
"There is a need to promote indigenous languages in line with Government policy.
"Let me commend Dulibadzimu Primary School for the sterling work they are doing in promoting the local Venda culture through extra-curricular activities."
Cde Mohadi, who was attired in traditional Venda dress, was particularly impressed by Dulibadzimu Primary pupils who sung the national anthem in Venda.
She handed over US$100 to Mr Samuel Mulaudzi, the local Venda language co-ordinator, for his efforts in the development of the curriculum for schools in Beitbridge District.
Vice school development committee chair, Mr Mokibelo Makhurane, thanked Cde Mohadi for her donation, saying it would go a long way in addressing the plight of the underprivileged children at the school.
Published by the Herald 24 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Monday, November 22, 2010
Irrigation expansion nears completion
| Beitbridge Bureau Chief Work on the expansion of the River Ranch Irrigation Scheme in Beitbridge’s Ward 6 is nearing completion following a cash injection by Government. Councillor Joseph Itani Muleya on Tuesday said most of the equipment — including irrigation pipes, fencing and cement — had been bought. The project is being expanded from 10 hectares to 41,5 and will accommodate 80 plot holders. River Ranch Irrigation Scheme was established in the early 1970s and is owned by the community and run by Government through the Beitbridge Rural District Council. Clr Muleya said two blocks had been completed to accommodate 40 plot holders on the new extension and original project. Construction of a water reservoir and laying of pipes on 30ha are complete and engineers are working on fencing 1,5ha. A new pump has been mounted and draws water from Umzingwane River. "The plot holders are working with officials from the departments of Irrigation and Agriculture Extension in the project. "We hope that by the end of the farming season the project will be functioning to capacity," he said. Clr Muleya said maize and wheat were the major crops on the scheme and farmers would this year venture into horticulture. He said plans were afoot to erect an electric fence to protect crops from wildlife. The expansion started in September 2006 but was progressing at a snail’s pace due to an acute shortage of resources. An extension officer said the irrigation scheme was being funded through the Smallholder Micro-irrigation Develop-ment Support Programme, which is a bilateral agreement between the Euro-pean Commission and Government. The EC has contributed 125 000 euro so far while Government and the farmers should contribute 25 percent of the money needed to capacitate irrigation schemes in the province. It was not immediately clear how much money has gone into the River Ranch scheme. Published by the Herald 18 November 2010 www.herald.co.za |
Hut blaze claims 4 family members
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Four family members from the Madlambuzi area of Plumtree, among them toddlers aged three and one-and-a-half years-old, were on Monday night burnt to death when the bedroom hut they were sleeping in caught fire.
The incident occurred close to midnight in Maseha Village under Headman Senganyo.
Police spokesman for Matabe-leland South, Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe, said they were still investigating the matter.
He said a Plumtree magistrate had waived post-mortems.
Insp Dzirutwe identified the deceased as Agalucia (35), Polite (28), Gertrude (three) and Nkosinomusa Phiri (one-and-a-half).
"Preliminary investigations reveal that one of the huts at the homestead was undergoing repairs and some thatching grass was removed.
"It was put in the hut where the four were sleeping. The two adults were mentally challenged.
"They did not put out a cooking fire in the hut when they went to bed. We believe the grass caught fire and the hut was soon ablaze.
"A 66-year-old neighbour noticed the fire at around 6am and by then it was too late," he said.
Police took the charred bodies to Plumtree Government Mortu-ary. The incident comes a few months after an 84-year-old woman and a two-year-old boy were burnt to death when their bedroom hut caught fire in the same area.
Published by Herald , 5 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Four family members from the Madlambuzi area of Plumtree, among them toddlers aged three and one-and-a-half years-old, were on Monday night burnt to death when the bedroom hut they were sleeping in caught fire.
The incident occurred close to midnight in Maseha Village under Headman Senganyo.
Police spokesman for Matabe-leland South, Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe, said they were still investigating the matter.
He said a Plumtree magistrate had waived post-mortems.
Insp Dzirutwe identified the deceased as Agalucia (35), Polite (28), Gertrude (three) and Nkosinomusa Phiri (one-and-a-half).
"Preliminary investigations reveal that one of the huts at the homestead was undergoing repairs and some thatching grass was removed.
"It was put in the hut where the four were sleeping. The two adults were mentally challenged.
"They did not put out a cooking fire in the hut when they went to bed. We believe the grass caught fire and the hut was soon ablaze.
"A 66-year-old neighbour noticed the fire at around 6am and by then it was too late," he said.
Police took the charred bodies to Plumtree Government Mortu-ary. The incident comes a few months after an 84-year-old woman and a two-year-old boy were burnt to death when their bedroom hut caught fire in the same area.
Published by Herald , 5 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Veteran educationist Muleya retires
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Veteran educationist Mr Nixon Muleya (65) has retired from the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture after serving for a continuous 45 years in Beitbridge.
Mr Muleya has indicated he will be available for consultancy services.
He started as a teacher at Chamnangana Primary School on January 1, 1965 where he taught for 22 years.
He was promoted to the post of district staff officer in 1987 — a position he held until his retirement.
He will leave the ministry on December 31 this year.
Speaker after speaker spoke glowingly of Mr Muleya at a party held in his honour at Beitbridge District Club last week.
In his farewell speech, Mr Muleya said: "I am extremely gratified with everyone’s support during my years of service in the Ministry of Education.
"Your co-operation has indeed been my strength. Let me take this opportunity to urge you to continue working tirelessly towards the successful revamping of our country’s education sector.
"Working with teachers and school children has made me feel young, but now I am old enough to call it a day. I promise all stakeholders that I will be readily available for consultancy on issues concerning education because I have a strong passion for this sector."
Matabeleland South provincial education director, Mrs Tumisang Thabela, who was taught by Mr Muleya, described him as a hard working individual who had a burning desire to achieve quality results even in difficult situations.
She challenged him and other retired educators in the district to work as capacity builders.
Published by the Herald 22 November 2010
www.herald.co.za
Veteran educationist Mr Nixon Muleya (65) has retired from the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture after serving for a continuous 45 years in Beitbridge.
Mr Muleya has indicated he will be available for consultancy services.
He started as a teacher at Chamnangana Primary School on January 1, 1965 where he taught for 22 years.
He was promoted to the post of district staff officer in 1987 — a position he held until his retirement.
He will leave the ministry on December 31 this year.
Speaker after speaker spoke glowingly of Mr Muleya at a party held in his honour at Beitbridge District Club last week.
In his farewell speech, Mr Muleya said: "I am extremely gratified with everyone’s support during my years of service in the Ministry of Education.
"Your co-operation has indeed been my strength. Let me take this opportunity to urge you to continue working tirelessly towards the successful revamping of our country’s education sector.
"Working with teachers and school children has made me feel young, but now I am old enough to call it a day. I promise all stakeholders that I will be readily available for consultancy on issues concerning education because I have a strong passion for this sector."
Matabeleland South provincial education director, Mrs Tumisang Thabela, who was taught by Mr Muleya, described him as a hard working individual who had a burning desire to achieve quality results even in difficult situations.
She challenged him and other retired educators in the district to work as capacity builders.
Published by the Herald 22 November 2010
www.herald.co.za
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Congolese fined US$5 000 for evading duty
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
A Congolese man has been fined US$5 000 for evading paying duty for a vehicle he imported from South Africa.
Fani Fani Ageronga Lisamba of number 67 Learoyd Street in Braeside, Harare was arrested at his home at the weekend in connection with smuggling a Nissan Cefiro worth US$4 000 from Durban, South Africa.
He had lied to Zimra officials that the vehicle was destined for the DRC but instead sold the car in Zimbabwe.
Cars in transit are not charged duty in Zimbabwe.
Lisamba is reportedly part of a syndicate involved in the importation of vehicles from South Africa, which they claim are in transit, but are actually destined for the local market.
According to a senior police officer in the border town, four cars — including the Cefiro — have been recovered in Harare and forfeited to the State, while the other suspects are still at large.
Lisamba was on Wednesday convicted on his own plea of guilty to smuggling when he appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mr Carrington Karidzagundi.
If he fails to pay the fine, he will spend a year in jail.
A one-year prison term was also set aside on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years.
Prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that in September this year, Lisamba imported a 1994 Nissan Cefiro from South Africa.
At Beitbridge Border Post, he indicated to Zimra that the car was destined for the DRC.
However, he sold it in Harare for US$2 550.
The Police Border Control Unit, following a tip-off, arrested Lisamba in Harare and recovered the car.
Herald 12 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
A Congolese man has been fined US$5 000 for evading paying duty for a vehicle he imported from South Africa.
Fani Fani Ageronga Lisamba of number 67 Learoyd Street in Braeside, Harare was arrested at his home at the weekend in connection with smuggling a Nissan Cefiro worth US$4 000 from Durban, South Africa.
He had lied to Zimra officials that the vehicle was destined for the DRC but instead sold the car in Zimbabwe.
Cars in transit are not charged duty in Zimbabwe.
Lisamba is reportedly part of a syndicate involved in the importation of vehicles from South Africa, which they claim are in transit, but are actually destined for the local market.
According to a senior police officer in the border town, four cars — including the Cefiro — have been recovered in Harare and forfeited to the State, while the other suspects are still at large.
Lisamba was on Wednesday convicted on his own plea of guilty to smuggling when he appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mr Carrington Karidzagundi.
If he fails to pay the fine, he will spend a year in jail.
A one-year prison term was also set aside on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years.
Prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that in September this year, Lisamba imported a 1994 Nissan Cefiro from South Africa.
At Beitbridge Border Post, he indicated to Zimra that the car was destined for the DRC.
However, he sold it in Harare for US$2 550.
The Police Border Control Unit, following a tip-off, arrested Lisamba in Harare and recovered the car.
Herald 12 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Deal seeks to rehabilitate Shashe Irrigation Scheme
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Beitbridge Rural District Council and the Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources have struck a deal, in which, the NGO will provide US$200 000 to rehabilitate Shashe Irrigation Scheme, some 120km west of Beitbridge Town.
The rehabilitation programme is expected to be in two phases implemented over six months.
Shashe irrigation scheme, which was founded by in 1975, covers 120 hectares and is a source of livelihood for 184 plot holders though at full capacity it can cater for 800 families.
However, only five hectares are being tilled at the moment due to an acute shortage of water and other inputs. Safire is a local NGO mainly involved in community-based resources management, livelihood improvement, food security and relief for disadvantaged communities.
The organisation’s director, Mr Gladman Kundhlande, said: "We are working on refurbishing the Shashe Irrigation Scheme following the breakdown of the engine pumps, pipes and the canals. These were destroyed by Cyclone Eline-induced rains. We will also equip irrigation farmers with skills to maintain and manage their projects as well as link them with markets for their produce."
Beitbridge Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Albert Mbedzi, yesterday said work had already started.
He said the Shashe scheme had for the past few years malfunctioned due to aged infrastructure.Only one of four installed pumps is working full-time. "The Shashe project will be used as a barometer for future funding of other schemes in the district. Preliminary work has already been completed and we expect civil works to begin any time soon," Mr Mbedzi said.
He said they were also working on rehabilitation of Bili Irrigation Scheme with assistance from the European Union.
Mr Mbedzi said that they had approached Care International to assist in rehabilitating the 63ha Tshikwalakwala Irrigation Scheme, located 135km east of the border town.
Herald 12 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Beitbridge Rural District Council and the Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources have struck a deal, in which, the NGO will provide US$200 000 to rehabilitate Shashe Irrigation Scheme, some 120km west of Beitbridge Town.
The rehabilitation programme is expected to be in two phases implemented over six months.
Shashe irrigation scheme, which was founded by in 1975, covers 120 hectares and is a source of livelihood for 184 plot holders though at full capacity it can cater for 800 families.
However, only five hectares are being tilled at the moment due to an acute shortage of water and other inputs. Safire is a local NGO mainly involved in community-based resources management, livelihood improvement, food security and relief for disadvantaged communities.
The organisation’s director, Mr Gladman Kundhlande, said: "We are working on refurbishing the Shashe Irrigation Scheme following the breakdown of the engine pumps, pipes and the canals. These were destroyed by Cyclone Eline-induced rains. We will also equip irrigation farmers with skills to maintain and manage their projects as well as link them with markets for their produce."
Beitbridge Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Albert Mbedzi, yesterday said work had already started.
He said the Shashe scheme had for the past few years malfunctioned due to aged infrastructure.Only one of four installed pumps is working full-time. "The Shashe project will be used as a barometer for future funding of other schemes in the district. Preliminary work has already been completed and we expect civil works to begin any time soon," Mr Mbedzi said.
He said they were also working on rehabilitation of Bili Irrigation Scheme with assistance from the European Union.
Mr Mbedzi said that they had approached Care International to assist in rehabilitating the 63ha Tshikwalakwala Irrigation Scheme, located 135km east of the border town.
Herald 12 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Cops nab nine suspects, recover R30 000 goods
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Police in Beitbridge have busted a theft racket, which saw nine suspects being arrested and goods worth R30 000 recovered.
Arnold Chipato (23) and Moses Mhande (19) were the first to be arrested on Sunday morning at Beitbridge Border Post. The other suspects in custody are Antony Dube (23), Godfrey Moyana (22), Patrick Mulisi (20), Hassan Magan’a (19) and three juveniles aged between 15 and 17.
Chipato and Mhande reportedly stole two generators and a bag containing R2 000 from a haulage truck. They also allegedly stole the driver’s travel and customs documents at the border. The police officer commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Hosiah Mukombero, said the suspects would soon appear in court facing theft charges.
"We have arrested nine suspects linked to a notorious theft syndicate operating at the border. Soon after getting a tip-off we deployed our teams in the early hours of Sunday morning and they arrested the two main suspects.
"Our officers had to set dogs on them as they attempted to flee. They then led us to their safe houses where seven members of the gang were arrested. We then recovered several electrical gadgets, including; stoves, refrigerators, television sets, radios and a computer monitor.
"We also recovered a bicycle, car batteries, umbrellas, pots, bed linen and ladies body cream," Chief Supt Mukombero said.
He said the syndicate had been targeting truckers and they were taking advantage of poor lighting around the border post.
Herald 11 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Police in Beitbridge have busted a theft racket, which saw nine suspects being arrested and goods worth R30 000 recovered.
Arnold Chipato (23) and Moses Mhande (19) were the first to be arrested on Sunday morning at Beitbridge Border Post. The other suspects in custody are Antony Dube (23), Godfrey Moyana (22), Patrick Mulisi (20), Hassan Magan’a (19) and three juveniles aged between 15 and 17.
Chipato and Mhande reportedly stole two generators and a bag containing R2 000 from a haulage truck. They also allegedly stole the driver’s travel and customs documents at the border. The police officer commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Hosiah Mukombero, said the suspects would soon appear in court facing theft charges.
"We have arrested nine suspects linked to a notorious theft syndicate operating at the border. Soon after getting a tip-off we deployed our teams in the early hours of Sunday morning and they arrested the two main suspects.
"Our officers had to set dogs on them as they attempted to flee. They then led us to their safe houses where seven members of the gang were arrested. We then recovered several electrical gadgets, including; stoves, refrigerators, television sets, radios and a computer monitor.
"We also recovered a bicycle, car batteries, umbrellas, pots, bed linen and ladies body cream," Chief Supt Mukombero said.
He said the syndicate had been targeting truckers and they were taking advantage of poor lighting around the border post.
Herald 11 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Monday, November 8, 2010
Beitbridge artiste records debut album
| By Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge Beitbridge budding artiste Lloyd Mocheke, also known as Leprechaun, has recorded a 10-track hip-hop album due on the market early next year. The album is one of the few recordings from Beitbridge youths who for long have failed to record music due to lack of resources. The 24-year-old emcee said the album titled “From Pieces to Weight” was a result of perseverance and determination. The title track explains the troubles, the artiste went through in coming up with his project. “You will note that there are a lot of things involved in putting together such a huge project, for instance, collaborating with other artistes and getting funds. “I attempted to record the album with Chigutiro Records in 2008 but unfortunately some material was stolen from the studio before the producers could put final touches on the project,” he said. Leprechaun, which is childhood nickname, collaborated with renowned urban grooves gurus including Fadzi, Extra Large and Maskiri. The album was recorded at Umsindo Studios under the mentorship of Sanii Makalima. Some of the tracks expected to top the music charts include “Ndokukorobhera”, “Takasikirwa Kugara Tese”, “Zvinoita Rudo” and “Mbereko”. Leprechaun who is a rapper and also a poet, sings about love and social issues. He started singing in 1996 at Kuwadzana High 1 in Harare, where he would entertain his peers during talent shows. Like other upcoming musicians, he said there was a lot of untapped talent in the border town although sponsorship remained a major handicap. “There is a lot of talent around this town, but they are failing to breakthrough because of lack of resources. We have to travel to either Bulawayo or Harare to record our music, a feat very few people can achieve,” he said. His urged other aspiring artistes to believe in themselves and their talents. “One has to make the right choices in life and put dreams into reality,” he said. Leprechaun has made a name for himself in the border town through holding lives shows with several artistes among them Marcus Mandangu. He once stole the limelight during the last edition of the Mzee Bira held at Dulibadzimu Stadium. “As a little boy I used to like poetry and I got encouragement from my high school teacher and my girlfriend Ruramai Nyathi to venture into music. I thank all these people and friends for their continued support,” he said. Apart from singing, Leprechaun is employed as a Clearing Agent in Beitbridge. |
Published By The Herald 08 November 2010
website; www.herald.co.zw
Shift of focus crucial to sanitation development, stakeholders told
| Beitbridge Bureau Chief GOVERNMENT has called for a paradigm shift in hygiene, behaviour and development agendas among stakeholders to improve the country’s water and sanitation development. Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Matabeleland South provincial medical director, Dr Gordon Bango, at the launch of the Nation Water and Sanitation Week at Lutumba Business Centre last Friday. This year’s theme is “Zero tolerance to open defecation: Key to a cholera free environment”. Minister Madzorera said infrastructure development and expansion of sanitation services could be achieved if engineers, economists and social scientists plan together. “But without behaviour change, it might be very difficult if not impossible to drive the sector back to the position it was during the golden era of sanitation in Zimbabwe. “It is more worrying that a child born today has already lost the ideal situation vis-a-avis, water and sanitation hygiene. To him, lack of access to safe and dignified sanitation is more of a norm than an exception hence . . . used to open defecation. “There is, therefore, need to embark on a massive hygiene behaviour change programme to curtail cases of open defecation.” The country, Minister Madzorera said, was facing challenges in the improvement of sanitation. He said such commemorations presented the nation with a platform to look into how stakeholders could improve sanitation delivery. “While we look forward to the development and expansion of sanitation infrastructure, there is a concern that behaviour change will not have such an easy quick fix. It is the key to good health and leads to good sanitation practices,” he said. Dr Madzorera said the time had come for the change agents, policy makers and communities in general to tackle the challenges and adopt development models, which encourage a self-motivated desire to change behaviour. He also called for stakeholders to work together to maintain a healthy environment in a sustainable way. “At this juncture let me challenge the technocrats in our government, the national action committee on water and sanitation and our partners to seriously consider focusing much of the software component of sanitation aimed at behavioural change. “Participatory health and hygiene education and promotion approaches can be used as catalysts to this,” said Minister Madzorera. The Minister also challenged communities around Beitbridge district to take sanitation as an integral component of their overall development agenda. The decline in the water and sanitation services throughout the country, he said, had to a large extent contributed to the cholera outbreak that besieged the country since August 2008. Minister Madzorera said to date the death toll stands at over 4 000 throughout the country. In Beitbridge alone 5 126 cases of cholera were reported claiming more than 148 lives during the same period. published by The Herald 08 November 2010 www.herald.co.zw |
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Scramble for sugar turns sour for 17
By Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
POLICE here have arrested 17 people, who allegedly assaulted police officers and security guards during a scramble for sugar that had spilled from a haulage truck.
The 17 suspects were part of a mob that desce-nded on the truck that overturned near Tshapfu-tshe Village along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road.
The Zambia-bound truck overturned after the driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve.
The suspects, who have denied the charges, appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mr Carrington Karidzagundi.
They were facing theft charges.
The suspects are Tomani Chilenje (56), Joseph Nalana (55), Netsai Chauke (26), Rosina Ndou (51), Nyadzani Siziba (54), Irene Mudau (27), Matodzi Siziba (32), Steni Dube (18), Melody Moyo (19), Flora Choeni (20), Skhangele Dube (32), Lucia Ngwenya (18), Tatenda Sibanda (22), Annah Shumba (21), Alice Chatoni (25), Mary Moyo (25) and Fungai Banda (23) — all from Tshapfutshe Village.
Mr Karidzagundi remanded the suspects out of custody to November 25.
The State, led by prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi, alleged that on October 20, the haulage truck driver was travelling from South Africa to Zambia through Zimbabwe.
The truck was carrying a consignment of sugar. The driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve and the truck veered off the road before overturning.
The accident saw tonnes of sugar being spilled on the road.
Mr Mberesi told the court that villagers rus-hed to the scene and helped themselves to the sugar.
The driver raised alarm with his superiors who deployed security guards at the accident scene. The security guards were, however, met with fierce resistance from the mob which threw stones at them.
They were forced to enlist the services of police officers manning a tollgate near the accident scene.
Mr Mberesi said the undeterred villagers continued their attack on the security guards and police officers.
One of the police officers, Mr Mberesi told the court, fired a single shot into the air to disperse the crowd.
He said the villagers disappeared with the police managing to apprehend 17 of them while others were still at large.
Several cases of people salvaging spilled contents from haulage trucks involved in accidents have been reported across Zimbabwe.
Ruwa residents recently got away with tonnes of flour after a haulage truck overturned at a bridge along the Harare-Mutare Road.
A fortnight ago, people in Chitungwiza helped themselves to thousands of litres of Chibuku beer after a haulage truck spilled its cargo following an accident.
Published by the Herald 02 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
POLICE here have arrested 17 people, who allegedly assaulted police officers and security guards during a scramble for sugar that had spilled from a haulage truck.
The 17 suspects were part of a mob that desce-nded on the truck that overturned near Tshapfu-tshe Village along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road.
The Zambia-bound truck overturned after the driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve.
The suspects, who have denied the charges, appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mr Carrington Karidzagundi.
They were facing theft charges.
The suspects are Tomani Chilenje (56), Joseph Nalana (55), Netsai Chauke (26), Rosina Ndou (51), Nyadzani Siziba (54), Irene Mudau (27), Matodzi Siziba (32), Steni Dube (18), Melody Moyo (19), Flora Choeni (20), Skhangele Dube (32), Lucia Ngwenya (18), Tatenda Sibanda (22), Annah Shumba (21), Alice Chatoni (25), Mary Moyo (25) and Fungai Banda (23) — all from Tshapfutshe Village.
Mr Karidzagundi remanded the suspects out of custody to November 25.
The State, led by prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi, alleged that on October 20, the haulage truck driver was travelling from South Africa to Zambia through Zimbabwe.
The truck was carrying a consignment of sugar. The driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve and the truck veered off the road before overturning.
The accident saw tonnes of sugar being spilled on the road.
Mr Mberesi told the court that villagers rus-hed to the scene and helped themselves to the sugar.
The driver raised alarm with his superiors who deployed security guards at the accident scene. The security guards were, however, met with fierce resistance from the mob which threw stones at them.
They were forced to enlist the services of police officers manning a tollgate near the accident scene.
Mr Mberesi said the undeterred villagers continued their attack on the security guards and police officers.
One of the police officers, Mr Mberesi told the court, fired a single shot into the air to disperse the crowd.
He said the villagers disappeared with the police managing to apprehend 17 of them while others were still at large.
Several cases of people salvaging spilled contents from haulage trucks involved in accidents have been reported across Zimbabwe.
Ruwa residents recently got away with tonnes of flour after a haulage truck overturned at a bridge along the Harare-Mutare Road.
A fortnight ago, people in Chitungwiza helped themselves to thousands of litres of Chibuku beer after a haulage truck spilled its cargo following an accident.
Published by the Herald 02 November 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sleek makes take pirate taxi market by storm
From Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
AT the turn of the new millennium, anyone arriving here would be welcomed by a chain of Datsun 120Y-model cars at any hiking spot which had made a name for themselves as reliable taxis.
The Datsun makes, most of them 1974 models, are known for their durability.
These, common among them 1200, 120Y and 140Y models, were nimble-footed little creatures that could pass any road and thoroughfare.
But for most of the times, drivers of these pirate taxis were also playing cat-and-mouse with either the Vehicle Inspection Department or the police and the local authority over their roadworthiness.
But times are changing.
Datsun 120Y taxi operators are beginning to sing the blues following the influx of second-hand vehicles from Asian countries such as Japan and Singapore that have been turned into taxis.
In separate interviews, Datsun taxi operators said they were now losing business to the new family of imported cars among them Mazda Familias, Nissan March, Toyota Vitz, Toyota Mark II and Toyota Corollas.
"Before the influx of Ex-Japan vehicles we were having lucrative business but now things are getting bad," decried Tongai Zhou of Duli-badzimu suburb.
"People are now interested in using the new vehicles to shuttle them around the town. For those with Datsun cars we only get business from our traditional clients.
"I can foresee the Datsun cars disappearing in the next three years as they are being outclassed by these newer vehicles.
"I bought two houses in Muche-ke suburb of Masvingo through the proceeds I got from this taxi business. I was operating five Datsun 120Y taxis," he said.
A taxi costs R20 for a single trip around the border town and has been fixed for the past four years.
Beitbridge Town Clerk Dr Sipho Singo said in an interview that they have started registering taxis and commuter omnibuses since the border post was granted town status in April 2006.
"We started regularising the operations of taxis and commuter omnibuses soon after getting the town status.
"We want to do away with the issue of playing running battles with pirate taxi operators.
"Generally, there is a self-transformation within the residents whereby they are now interested in using these new vehicles as taxis rather than the traditional Datsun cars.
"Literally we did not issue any statement that we are phasing out the Datsun, but they are doing so themselves.
"The registration process starts with the vehicles getting a certificate of fitness from the Vehicle Inspection Department of which most of the Datsun vehicles have outlived their lifespan and cannot acquire these certificates.
"However, we are going to deal ruthlessly with those who operate pirate taxis as they will be violating our council by-laws and several traffic regulations," he said.
Dr Singo said they were also working on some routes for the commuter omnibuses and the radius to be covered by the taxis.
"You will realise that as a new town we are putting measures that befit our status and we are grateful that most residents and other stakeholders are complementing our efforts," he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer In-Charge of National Traffic in Beitbridge, Inspector Tendai Nyambuya said they were working hand in glove with the local authority and the Vehicle Inspection Department in ensuring that road traffic regulations were being enforced.
"Through our efforts as multi stakeholders we have managed to restore some sanity in the town. As the police we will continue raiding those who do not respect the laws of the land," he said.
Meanwhile, used cars such as those threatening the livelihoods of Datsun taxi operators have also become a niggling national issue.
The used car industry has become the fastest growing business in the country with Harare’s central business district and its environs now dotted with second hand vehicles.
As a result, Government is banning the importation of second hand vehicles above five years in a move aimed at reducing carnage on the country’s roads.
The regulations will take effect on March 1, 2011.
Left hand-drive cars and those older than five years will be affected by the new order.
publisher, The Herald 19 October 2010
www.herald.co.zw
AT the turn of the new millennium, anyone arriving here would be welcomed by a chain of Datsun 120Y-model cars at any hiking spot which had made a name for themselves as reliable taxis.
The Datsun makes, most of them 1974 models, are known for their durability.
These, common among them 1200, 120Y and 140Y models, were nimble-footed little creatures that could pass any road and thoroughfare.
But for most of the times, drivers of these pirate taxis were also playing cat-and-mouse with either the Vehicle Inspection Department or the police and the local authority over their roadworthiness.
But times are changing.
Datsun 120Y taxi operators are beginning to sing the blues following the influx of second-hand vehicles from Asian countries such as Japan and Singapore that have been turned into taxis.
In separate interviews, Datsun taxi operators said they were now losing business to the new family of imported cars among them Mazda Familias, Nissan March, Toyota Vitz, Toyota Mark II and Toyota Corollas.
"Before the influx of Ex-Japan vehicles we were having lucrative business but now things are getting bad," decried Tongai Zhou of Duli-badzimu suburb.
"People are now interested in using the new vehicles to shuttle them around the town. For those with Datsun cars we only get business from our traditional clients.
"I can foresee the Datsun cars disappearing in the next three years as they are being outclassed by these newer vehicles.
"I bought two houses in Muche-ke suburb of Masvingo through the proceeds I got from this taxi business. I was operating five Datsun 120Y taxis," he said.
A taxi costs R20 for a single trip around the border town and has been fixed for the past four years.
Beitbridge Town Clerk Dr Sipho Singo said in an interview that they have started registering taxis and commuter omnibuses since the border post was granted town status in April 2006.
"We started regularising the operations of taxis and commuter omnibuses soon after getting the town status.
"We want to do away with the issue of playing running battles with pirate taxi operators.
"Generally, there is a self-transformation within the residents whereby they are now interested in using these new vehicles as taxis rather than the traditional Datsun cars.
"Literally we did not issue any statement that we are phasing out the Datsun, but they are doing so themselves.
"The registration process starts with the vehicles getting a certificate of fitness from the Vehicle Inspection Department of which most of the Datsun vehicles have outlived their lifespan and cannot acquire these certificates.
"However, we are going to deal ruthlessly with those who operate pirate taxis as they will be violating our council by-laws and several traffic regulations," he said.
Dr Singo said they were also working on some routes for the commuter omnibuses and the radius to be covered by the taxis.
"You will realise that as a new town we are putting measures that befit our status and we are grateful that most residents and other stakeholders are complementing our efforts," he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer In-Charge of National Traffic in Beitbridge, Inspector Tendai Nyambuya said they were working hand in glove with the local authority and the Vehicle Inspection Department in ensuring that road traffic regulations were being enforced.
"Through our efforts as multi stakeholders we have managed to restore some sanity in the town. As the police we will continue raiding those who do not respect the laws of the land," he said.
Meanwhile, used cars such as those threatening the livelihoods of Datsun taxi operators have also become a niggling national issue.
The used car industry has become the fastest growing business in the country with Harare’s central business district and its environs now dotted with second hand vehicles.
As a result, Government is banning the importation of second hand vehicles above five years in a move aimed at reducing carnage on the country’s roads.
The regulations will take effect on March 1, 2011.
Left hand-drive cars and those older than five years will be affected by the new order.
publisher, The Herald 19 October 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Dad bashes crying baby against wall
By Thupeyo Muleya and Selah Gowero
A 24-YEAR-OLD Beitbridge man has been arrested for allegedly choking his 10-month-old son and bashing his head against a wall after the infant’s cries at night woke him from his sleep.
Webmore Mbedzi from the Malala area under Chief Stauze is now facing attempted murder charges.
Mbedzi was not asked to plead to the charges, which carry a custodial sentence in the event of a conviction, when he appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Miss Gloria Takundwa on Thursday.
He has been remanded in custody to October 20, with the magistrate advising the accused to apply for bail at the High Court.
It is the State’s case that on September 11 this year, Mbedzi was sleeping in his bedroom hut together with his wife and their 10-month-old son.
It is alleged that sometime during the night — as babies are wont to do — the boy began crying and the noise reportedly annoyed the sleeping Mbedzi who also woke up.
The State says the man grabbed the baby by the legs and dangled him in the air for a few seconds before dropping the infant headlong to the floor.
The prosecution alleges that Mbedzi then picked up his son by the throat and while choking him, banged his head against the wall.
The baby was saved from further harm by his mother who wrestled with Mbedzi and snatched her son from him, the court heard.
She left the homestead and went to make a police report that led to Mbedzi’s arrest that same night.
Meanwhile, a Harare woman has been convicted of secretly burying her new-born baby in a pit on the banks of Mazowe River.
Margaret Mulungu (26) was supposed to be sentenced yesterday, but the magistrate Mr Munamato Mutevedzi deferred the matter to Monday.
Mulungu pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody.
She, however, denied that she had killed the child and escaped the infanticide charge because when the body was discovered, it was so decomposed that the cause of death could not be easily ascertained.
Mulungu, a mother of three, lived at Jerera Farm, Nowdale in Harare.
She gave birth to a boy on September 13 at around 4am.
Mulungu said the baby accidentally fell immediately after delivery and died a few minutes later.
Mulungu then travelled a distance of about 1km to the Mazowe River, dug a pit by the bank and buried the body.
The matter came to light 10 days later when Edward Mutandagai, Mulungu’s ex-husband, noticed that the recently pregnant woman did not have a child.
He alerted January Julius, a member of the neighbourhood watch committee.
Julius interrogated Mulungu and she confessed to giving birth to a full-term baby who died soon afterwards and whom she secretly buried.
The body was exhumed and taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for a post-mortem but the results were inconclusive.
publisher, The Herald 09 October 2010
A 24-YEAR-OLD Beitbridge man has been arrested for allegedly choking his 10-month-old son and bashing his head against a wall after the infant’s cries at night woke him from his sleep.
Webmore Mbedzi from the Malala area under Chief Stauze is now facing attempted murder charges.
Mbedzi was not asked to plead to the charges, which carry a custodial sentence in the event of a conviction, when he appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Miss Gloria Takundwa on Thursday.
He has been remanded in custody to October 20, with the magistrate advising the accused to apply for bail at the High Court.
It is the State’s case that on September 11 this year, Mbedzi was sleeping in his bedroom hut together with his wife and their 10-month-old son.
It is alleged that sometime during the night — as babies are wont to do — the boy began crying and the noise reportedly annoyed the sleeping Mbedzi who also woke up.
The State says the man grabbed the baby by the legs and dangled him in the air for a few seconds before dropping the infant headlong to the floor.
The prosecution alleges that Mbedzi then picked up his son by the throat and while choking him, banged his head against the wall.
The baby was saved from further harm by his mother who wrestled with Mbedzi and snatched her son from him, the court heard.
She left the homestead and went to make a police report that led to Mbedzi’s arrest that same night.
Meanwhile, a Harare woman has been convicted of secretly burying her new-born baby in a pit on the banks of Mazowe River.
Margaret Mulungu (26) was supposed to be sentenced yesterday, but the magistrate Mr Munamato Mutevedzi deferred the matter to Monday.
Mulungu pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody.
She, however, denied that she had killed the child and escaped the infanticide charge because when the body was discovered, it was so decomposed that the cause of death could not be easily ascertained.
Mulungu, a mother of three, lived at Jerera Farm, Nowdale in Harare.
She gave birth to a boy on September 13 at around 4am.
Mulungu said the baby accidentally fell immediately after delivery and died a few minutes later.
Mulungu then travelled a distance of about 1km to the Mazowe River, dug a pit by the bank and buried the body.
The matter came to light 10 days later when Edward Mutandagai, Mulungu’s ex-husband, noticed that the recently pregnant woman did not have a child.
He alerted January Julius, a member of the neighbourhood watch committee.
Julius interrogated Mulungu and she confessed to giving birth to a full-term baby who died soon afterwards and whom she secretly buried.
The body was exhumed and taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for a post-mortem but the results were inconclusive.
publisher, The Herald 09 October 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Our stray cattle fed to lions: Villagers
By Thupeyo Muleya
VILLAGERS living in Beitbridge West (Ward 8) along Shashe River, separating Zimbabwe and Botswana, claim their livestock that stray into Botswana are being fed to lions and hyenas by game rangers at Charter Game Reserve.
The border is not clearly defined and villagers who attempt to retrieve their cattle which stray into Botswana are arrested and deported through Plumtree Border Post.
In separate interviews last Friday, the villagers alleged that the game rangers were feeding their stray livestock to wild animals while others were being starved to death.
They said in some instances, the rangers would detain the livestock for two weeks without feeding.
It is understood they then release them to wild animals while others die on their way to Zimbabwe as a result of dehydration and hunger.
One of the disgruntled villagers of Shashe area, Mr Isaac Tlou said: "The situation here is frustrating. When we try to track our livestock to the game park; we are arrested and assaulted as poachers.
"If you are lucky you will be assaulted and released, but in other cases you will be handed over to police at Plumtree Border.
"A number of people have lost their cattle and donkeys, which are being fed to the lions. As villagers, we are appealing to traditional leaders and Government to intervene because this has been going on for some time," he said.
Mr Tlou said one of his cousins was recently assaulted by the game rangers while tracking his herd of 10 beasts that had strayed into Botswana.
He said the worst affected villagers were those from Shashe, Limpopo and Jalukanga areas.
Another villager from Limpopo area, Mr Tambulo Mbedzi, said he lost three beasts early this year when they died of hunger after being detained for a week in the game park.
He said at times the game rangers would slaughter some of the cattle for meat.
A senior official from the Department of Livestock Production in the area confirmed the developments, adding they were still consulting with traditional leaders on the way forward.
There has been an outcry from villagers living on the boundary with both Botswana (in the west) and South Africa (in the east of Beitbridge District) over the conduct of veterinary officers and game rangers in parks on these areas.
In 2008 villagers living in the Madimbo corridor along the Limpopo River teamed up with veterinary officers from their country (South Africa) to shoot hundreds of Zimbabwean cattle that had strayed into that country accusing them of spreading foot and mouth.
However, the Zimbabweans accuse their counterparts of fuelling cases of stock theft in that area.
No comment could be obtained from the Botswana side.
herald 21 september 2010
VILLAGERS living in Beitbridge West (Ward 8) along Shashe River, separating Zimbabwe and Botswana, claim their livestock that stray into Botswana are being fed to lions and hyenas by game rangers at Charter Game Reserve.
The border is not clearly defined and villagers who attempt to retrieve their cattle which stray into Botswana are arrested and deported through Plumtree Border Post.
In separate interviews last Friday, the villagers alleged that the game rangers were feeding their stray livestock to wild animals while others were being starved to death.
They said in some instances, the rangers would detain the livestock for two weeks without feeding.
It is understood they then release them to wild animals while others die on their way to Zimbabwe as a result of dehydration and hunger.
One of the disgruntled villagers of Shashe area, Mr Isaac Tlou said: "The situation here is frustrating. When we try to track our livestock to the game park; we are arrested and assaulted as poachers.
"If you are lucky you will be assaulted and released, but in other cases you will be handed over to police at Plumtree Border.
"A number of people have lost their cattle and donkeys, which are being fed to the lions. As villagers, we are appealing to traditional leaders and Government to intervene because this has been going on for some time," he said.
Mr Tlou said one of his cousins was recently assaulted by the game rangers while tracking his herd of 10 beasts that had strayed into Botswana.
He said the worst affected villagers were those from Shashe, Limpopo and Jalukanga areas.
Another villager from Limpopo area, Mr Tambulo Mbedzi, said he lost three beasts early this year when they died of hunger after being detained for a week in the game park.
He said at times the game rangers would slaughter some of the cattle for meat.
A senior official from the Department of Livestock Production in the area confirmed the developments, adding they were still consulting with traditional leaders on the way forward.
There has been an outcry from villagers living on the boundary with both Botswana (in the west) and South Africa (in the east of Beitbridge District) over the conduct of veterinary officers and game rangers in parks on these areas.
In 2008 villagers living in the Madimbo corridor along the Limpopo River teamed up with veterinary officers from their country (South Africa) to shoot hundreds of Zimbabwean cattle that had strayed into that country accusing them of spreading foot and mouth.
However, the Zimbabweans accuse their counterparts of fuelling cases of stock theft in that area.
No comment could be obtained from the Botswana side.
herald 21 september 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Beitbridge:On the Border of Real Transformation
By Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge— Soon after independence, the Government undertook to develop all areas that were previously viewed as remote by successive settler regimes.
Very few people would remember when the then Beitbridge growth point was granted town status, as most were fast to dismiss it as an underdeveloped rural outpost.
However, in July 2006 the Government through the National Economic Development Priority Programme (NEDPP), then co-ordinated by Vice president Joice Mujuru sought to give this place a new face.
The resultant massive civil works programme seeks to facelift the once neglected growth point into a medium city. It is in this regard that President Mugabe officially launched the Beitbridge redevelopment exercise saying the Government wanted to turn it into a modern medium city.
The ministries of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development and that of Public Works were thus tasked by Cabinet to oversee the implementation of the project.
Under the programme, 16 blocks of flats to house 64 families mainly middle class civil servants, 250 core houses that would be for home ownership, 52 F14 houses for civil servants, road dualisation, upgrading water supply and sewer infrastructure in the town.
Furthermore, there is also the construction of other institutional facilities, namely a hospital, a primary school, a secondary school, civic centre, government composite office block, modern truck inn, shopping complex, a five-star hotel, an aerodrome and the upgrading of the current border post to meet world class standards.
This ambitious project has raised hope among Beitbridge residents and other people across the country and the continent. Two-thirds of these projects are nearing completion, while others have been completed and some are at various stages of construction.
In light of this development, the Government granted the border post town status in April 2006. According to the 2002 population census, the town had a population of 22 387 and an estimated 2 570 houses in formal settlements (primarily for government officials and mid-level private sector staff) and 3 000 in informal settlements.
This number has since increased due to the town's proximity to South Africa and its status as one of the busiest ports of entry in Sub Saharan Africa. Furthermore, the population started increasing following the construction of the Alfred Beit-Bridge in 1929 and the New Limpopo Bridge in 1995. Beitbridge town is frequented by people from many countries, with at least 25 000 of them passing through it daily.
Nearly 4 000 heavy trucks also use the border post every day. In a bid to speed up the redevelopment exercise, the Ministry of Local Government then appointed a six member commission to oversee and run the project on July 6, 2006.
The Commission's mandate included the de-linking of the urban and rural set ups and the sharing of assets, the delimitation of urban and rural boundaries and identifying capital projects for the border town. It was also to come up with an administrative structure and to work with the rural district council in addressing other cross-cutting issues. Their tenure expired in 2008 when a new town council headed by Dr Sipho Singo was put in place.
Former Beitbridge Commission secretary Mr Mandla Donga said the project was progressing at a snail's pace due to the resource constraints, but was quick to point out that the government was still committed to the project.
"The Government has still the zeal to complete the project and you will realise that a lot of strides have been made towards achieving a total uplift of the town from its former being. At the moment we do not have enough money to steer the project, but we have undertaken to implement it until its completion.
"This programme has raised hopes among citizens across the country and to that effect we will not abandon the project.
"A lot of civil works are underway and those are being constructed on priority basis-especially on the housing of civil servants, a state of the art truck inn and a hotel and government composite complex.
"The progress might be slow, but we are still in line with towards its completion. Since we kick-started in 2006 a lot of face-lifting of the town have been done people can see for themselves.
"Most roads have been tarred while others were resurfaced and furthermore the local authority is also working under that same town redevelopment framework crafted under the NEDPP", he said.
Mr Donga added that the expansion and re-organisation of Beitbridge will help boost tourism and the country's image saying that the town was a preface of the Zimbabwe to people coming in through South Africa. He said, had resources been readily available most of the civil works could have been completed by the end of last year.
It is understood the government would need US$10 732 200 to complete the out-standing civil works. In a recent interview, Mrs Theresa Makone who had been overseeing the programme early this year before being moved from the Ministry of Public Works to that of Home Affairs, said the money would be used to cover civil works such as roads, water and sewer reticulation.
"A financial allocation of US$175 000,00 was made by the treasury in October 2009 and was used to make the 52 F14 houses habitable. "To date we have managed to complete 24 by F14 houses, which are connected to temporary septic tanks and are now ready for occupation.
"A further 28 by F14 houses are between 70 percent and 90 percent complete and all the necessary items such as plumbing, sewer, painting and water reticulation are in progress," she said.
She added that the ministry of public works was also allocated US$450 000 in the fiscal budget last year and they expected the bulk of it to be used on housing projects
Beitbridge Town Secretary, Dr Sipho Singo said the local authority was incapacitated in terms of implementing some of its capital projects hence the need to bring other players on board.
He said they were facing a host of challenges in areas of water sanitation, sewer reticulation, solid waste management and providing adequate accommodation.
"We are just a small town council which is incapacitated -- the only way we can succeed in improving service delivery is through public private partnership. We want to adopt a multi-stakeholders approach in developing the town into a medium modern city.
"You will realise that we have luminaries in the cities, towns and foreign land and we want them to realise that Beitbridge is their home and that is where they need to put their money.
"At the moment we have struck a deal with Zimre who are going to put up flats around the town as we move in to ease accommodation problems. So far we have completed surveying over 8 000 residential stands and are still negotiating with other companies to service the land. We expect work to commence early next year" he said.
Dr Singo added that the local authority had completed the survey of 600 high density and 2 000 low density residential stands saying they would need investors to service that land. He said the newly formed Beitbridge Town Council was still finding its feet since the border post was granted town status in April 2006.
Hew added that there were a lot of opportunities in the fields of provision of accommodation, light industries, manufacturing, warehousing, and the upgrading of the sewer and water reticulation facilities among other things.
Dr Singo said some investors could also take advantage of the availability of the Export Processing Zone in the town and establish their industries.
"As the town council we have a public private partnership concept which has since been embraced by the Government and we are committed to fostering development in our area," he said.
He also called on private players and the business communities to join hands with the local authority in championing development in areas such as the road network, refuse collection, street lighting and the construction of a fire station. Beitbridge town has no fire station and relies on the service of the one in Musina, South Africa in cases of emergency.
He said they were still negotiating with two other NGOs which wanted to construct the new main bus terminus (Dulibadzimu). The current rank is in a low lying area which is water logged during much of the rainy season. Dr Singo said plans to move out truck ports from the CBD area were at an advanced stage
"We are still negotiating with other investors who want to establish a massive brick moulding plant and others who want to venture into other sectors," he said.
Beitbridge East House of Assembly Member Cde Kembo Mohadi who is also the Home Affairs co-Minister is on record saying the Redevelopment programme was still on the right track as the Government was in the midst of mobilising resources to fulfil their mission.
Only time will tell when this project will be fully implemented though many people feel it is the only way the town can be face-lifted.
Published by The Herald 7 September 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Two Countries Marathon called off
From Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
WHAT was supposed to be the fifth edition of the Two Countries Marathon, featuring athletes from Zimbabwe and South Africa, has been called off after the organisers failed to get a sponsor for the event.
The event, which is a culmination of a 1996 twinning agreement between Beitbridge and Musina Municipality of South Africa, has traditionally been held in September every year.
Over 300 athletes from both countries used to take part in this event annually.
Zimbabwean athletes have dominated the event in both men and the women’s sections.
The race was probably the only one in the world in which athletes crossed frontiers.
Athletes would register for the race and clear immigration formalities before the race.
Limpopo’s athletes’ promoter Southpasernburg had been sponsoring the event for the past season, but could not commit their sponsorship this year.
A source within the organising committee in South Africa said they were still negotiating with other potential sponsors to hold the event next year.
“We failed to get enough money for co-ordinating the event this year and we are looking forward to holding a successful event next year,” he said.
Both municipalities and Limpopo’s Phalaphala FM have also been instrumental in organising the race.
Beitbridge Town Council acting director of housing and social services Mbongeleni Muleya confirmed the sad development.
“We have failed to get enough sponsorship and therefore we cannot hold the race this year,” said Muleya.
Under normal circumstances the marathon involves a 42-km race which starts at Nottingham Turn Off, 10-km out ofBeitbridge Town, and finishes at either at Freedom Park Stadium or Eric Louw High School on the South African side. There is also a 21km and 10km race.
Last year’s winners won floating trophies and cash prizes ranging between R1 500 and R3 600.
published by The Herald 11 September 2010
WHAT was supposed to be the fifth edition of the Two Countries Marathon, featuring athletes from Zimbabwe and South Africa, has been called off after the organisers failed to get a sponsor for the event.
The event, which is a culmination of a 1996 twinning agreement between Beitbridge and Musina Municipality of South Africa, has traditionally been held in September every year.
Over 300 athletes from both countries used to take part in this event annually.
Zimbabwean athletes have dominated the event in both men and the women’s sections.
The race was probably the only one in the world in which athletes crossed frontiers.
Athletes would register for the race and clear immigration formalities before the race.
Limpopo’s athletes’ promoter Southpasernburg had been sponsoring the event for the past season, but could not commit their sponsorship this year.
A source within the organising committee in South Africa said they were still negotiating with other potential sponsors to hold the event next year.
“We failed to get enough money for co-ordinating the event this year and we are looking forward to holding a successful event next year,” he said.
Both municipalities and Limpopo’s Phalaphala FM have also been instrumental in organising the race.
Beitbridge Town Council acting director of housing and social services Mbongeleni Muleya confirmed the sad development.
“We have failed to get enough sponsorship and therefore we cannot hold the race this year,” said Muleya.
Under normal circumstances the marathon involves a 42-km race which starts at Nottingham Turn Off, 10-km out ofBeitbridge Town, and finishes at either at Freedom Park Stadium or Eric Louw High School on the South African side. There is also a 21km and 10km race.
Last year’s winners won floating trophies and cash prizes ranging between R1 500 and R3 600.
published by The Herald 11 September 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
‘Agriculture key to economic success’
By Thupeyo Muleya
Government is committed to developing irrigation schemes in communal lands with underutilised dams and perennial rivers to ensure food security at household level, a Cabinet Minister said last Friday.
Beitbridge East Member of the House of Assembly Cde Kembo Mohadi made the remarks at a field day at River Ranch irrigation scheme in Beitbridge.
He said: "Agriculture has been observed as the vehicle for turning around the economy, besides addressing national food self-sufficiency thereby reducing food imports.
"A lot of money can be generated through the export of agricultural products.
"Government acknowledges the role irrigation plays in drought mitigation as well as its immense contribution to the national agricultural productivity.
"With irrigation, agricultural production has been increased and stabilised in the high-risk areas and has permitted an expansion of the cropping period to two or three crops per year thereby raising incomes of beneficiaries," said Cde Mohadi.
River Ranch irrigation scheme has 40 plot holders and is still undergoing expansion from the current 20 hectares to 41,5 through the Smallholder Micro-irrigation Development Support programme.
The scheme is a bilateral agreement between Government and the European Commission.
The EC has released 125 000 euro for the project, which started last year and will see 1 800ha put under irrigation by the end of 2011.
Government and farmers will contribute 25 percent of the money needed to capacitate the irrigation scheme.
"This programme is focusing on small-holder irrigation development and food security in supporting poor farmers, undeveloped and disadvantaged communities particularly smallholder farmers in dry regions of Matabeleland South Province," Cde Mohadi said.
He said so far the programme had funded and developed River Ranch (Beitbridge) and Moza extension in Bulilima, while other projects had been lined up.
The MP said, "As farmers, you must strive for self-sufficiency. You must get linked to output and input markets.
"It is not wise for you to wait for Government inputs every season or start blaming Government for delayed distribution of inputs."
To date, the project has seen 900ha of land put under irrigation countrywide.
published by The Herald 30 August 2010
Government is committed to developing irrigation schemes in communal lands with underutilised dams and perennial rivers to ensure food security at household level, a Cabinet Minister said last Friday.
Beitbridge East Member of the House of Assembly Cde Kembo Mohadi made the remarks at a field day at River Ranch irrigation scheme in Beitbridge.
He said: "Agriculture has been observed as the vehicle for turning around the economy, besides addressing national food self-sufficiency thereby reducing food imports.
"A lot of money can be generated through the export of agricultural products.
"Government acknowledges the role irrigation plays in drought mitigation as well as its immense contribution to the national agricultural productivity.
"With irrigation, agricultural production has been increased and stabilised in the high-risk areas and has permitted an expansion of the cropping period to two or three crops per year thereby raising incomes of beneficiaries," said Cde Mohadi.
River Ranch irrigation scheme has 40 plot holders and is still undergoing expansion from the current 20 hectares to 41,5 through the Smallholder Micro-irrigation Development Support programme.
The scheme is a bilateral agreement between Government and the European Commission.
The EC has released 125 000 euro for the project, which started last year and will see 1 800ha put under irrigation by the end of 2011.
Government and farmers will contribute 25 percent of the money needed to capacitate the irrigation scheme.
"This programme is focusing on small-holder irrigation development and food security in supporting poor farmers, undeveloped and disadvantaged communities particularly smallholder farmers in dry regions of Matabeleland South Province," Cde Mohadi said.
He said so far the programme had funded and developed River Ranch (Beitbridge) and Moza extension in Bulilima, while other projects had been lined up.
The MP said, "As farmers, you must strive for self-sufficiency. You must get linked to output and input markets.
"It is not wise for you to wait for Government inputs every season or start blaming Government for delayed distribution of inputs."
To date, the project has seen 900ha of land put under irrigation countrywide.
published by The Herald 30 August 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Fault plunges Beitbridge into darkness
By Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge town was plunged into darkness for five days last week following a major technical fault at Triangle feeder that affected power supply to the area.
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority spokesman Mr Fullard Gwasira said engineers from the power utility worked round the clock to rectify the problem.
Normal power supply only resumed on Saturday after Tuesday’s blackout.
The power outage also triggered an acute water shortage in Beitbridge town as alternative power sources failed to cope with demand.
The only Zimbabwe National Water Authority treatment plant in Beitbridge relies on electricity to pump water to consumers.
The local authority has also been failing to meet the daily water demands for one of the busiest ports of entry in Southern Africa.
Zinwa has been operating on an emergency system basis and has been pumping a third of the 15 000 cubic metres of water needed per day.
Many tapes ran dry last Tuesday night forcing people to make use of the 32 boreholes drilled at strategic points around the town by the town council at the height of the cholera outbreak in 2008.
The town last had power supplies on Tuesday afternoon and since then most businesses and households had been relying on generators for electricity.
The border post and the district hospital and other essential service providers had also to run on generators.
"There is a fault along the Triangle feeder, which supplies Beitbridge with power and our engineers are working round the clock to restore power to the town.
"You will realise that the feeder has continuously been having problems on joins on the electricity supply cables. The feeder was struck by lighting some time last year and we have been battling to replace the damaged joins and since then, we have been making use of temporary cable joiners. Thus the joins would burn if put to severe strain because of the workload.
"However, we are in the midst of acquiring the permanent joiners as a lasting solution to the problem. Our consumers should bear with us as the engineers have assured us that by the end of the day power supplies would have been restored to the town," said Mr Gwasira last week.
He said Zesa engineers were in the midst of repairing and installing several electricity cables, which had been vandalised.
"We, however, do not do three day load shedding programmes. This happens if there is a fault along the cables or feeders and is not reported to our deports. Currently, we are repairing and replacing some of the cables, which were vandalised by copper cable thieves in most areas where there are constant power supply problems," he said.
Last year, the Government spent US$58 million in replacing electricity supply cables throughout the country with most of them having been vandalised by copper cable thieves.
Published by The Herald 30 August 2010
Beitbridge town was plunged into darkness for five days last week following a major technical fault at Triangle feeder that affected power supply to the area.
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority spokesman Mr Fullard Gwasira said engineers from the power utility worked round the clock to rectify the problem.
Normal power supply only resumed on Saturday after Tuesday’s blackout.
The power outage also triggered an acute water shortage in Beitbridge town as alternative power sources failed to cope with demand.
The only Zimbabwe National Water Authority treatment plant in Beitbridge relies on electricity to pump water to consumers.
The local authority has also been failing to meet the daily water demands for one of the busiest ports of entry in Southern Africa.
Zinwa has been operating on an emergency system basis and has been pumping a third of the 15 000 cubic metres of water needed per day.
Many tapes ran dry last Tuesday night forcing people to make use of the 32 boreholes drilled at strategic points around the town by the town council at the height of the cholera outbreak in 2008.
The town last had power supplies on Tuesday afternoon and since then most businesses and households had been relying on generators for electricity.
The border post and the district hospital and other essential service providers had also to run on generators.
"There is a fault along the Triangle feeder, which supplies Beitbridge with power and our engineers are working round the clock to restore power to the town.
"You will realise that the feeder has continuously been having problems on joins on the electricity supply cables. The feeder was struck by lighting some time last year and we have been battling to replace the damaged joins and since then, we have been making use of temporary cable joiners. Thus the joins would burn if put to severe strain because of the workload.
"However, we are in the midst of acquiring the permanent joiners as a lasting solution to the problem. Our consumers should bear with us as the engineers have assured us that by the end of the day power supplies would have been restored to the town," said Mr Gwasira last week.
He said Zesa engineers were in the midst of repairing and installing several electricity cables, which had been vandalised.
"We, however, do not do three day load shedding programmes. This happens if there is a fault along the cables or feeders and is not reported to our deports. Currently, we are repairing and replacing some of the cables, which were vandalised by copper cable thieves in most areas where there are constant power supply problems," he said.
Last year, the Government spent US$58 million in replacing electricity supply cables throughout the country with most of them having been vandalised by copper cable thieves.
Published by The Herald 30 August 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Foot and mouth hits Beitbridge
By Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
Beitbridge District has been hit by a foot-and-mouth outbreak that is suspected to have originated from 25 buffaloes that strayed into Zimbabwe from South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
The outbreak has been noted in the eastern part of the border town in Tshikwalakwala.
The Veterinary Services Department is said to be on high alert following the detection of cases in Tshikwala-kwala, Malungudzi and the Malipati areas of Chiredzi.
It is believed the buffaloes strayed into Zimbabwe earlier this year and had contact with cattle in Tshikwala-kwala.
The disease then spread through movements of livestock for sale.
A senior veterinary officer in Matabeleland South said they started dealing with the problem a fortnight ago at a cattle auction in Lutumba in ward five.
Isolated cases have been recorded in Chamnanga and Jopembe in Beitbridge West.
"Preliminary investigations reveal that the disease spread across Beitbridge east after stray buffaloes from South Africa mixed with herds of cattle. It then spread to other areas during cattle sales. We have started vaccinations and we have enough manpower to carry out the task.
"The whole district has now been put under quarantine until the situation gets back to normal," said the official.
He urged people to bring all their livestock for vaccination. Beitbridge district falls under agricultural natural region five where animal husbandry is paramount.
Deputy field director in the Vet Department, Dr Chenjerai Njagu, could neither confirm nor deny the outbreak and referred all questions to the principal veterinary services director, who was not reachable for comment.
In 2007, there was a stand-off between Zimbabwean villagers and those in South Africa in the Madimbo corridor near the Limpopo River when the latter teamed up with a white veterinary officer and shot scores of cattle belonging to the former.
They argued that the cattle were spreading foot and mouth into South Africa.
Villagers from both sides of the river also accuse each other of stock theft.
source, The Herald 23 August 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Beitbridge District has been hit by a foot-and-mouth outbreak that is suspected to have originated from 25 buffaloes that strayed into Zimbabwe from South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
The outbreak has been noted in the eastern part of the border town in Tshikwalakwala.
The Veterinary Services Department is said to be on high alert following the detection of cases in Tshikwala-kwala, Malungudzi and the Malipati areas of Chiredzi.
It is believed the buffaloes strayed into Zimbabwe earlier this year and had contact with cattle in Tshikwala-kwala.
The disease then spread through movements of livestock for sale.
A senior veterinary officer in Matabeleland South said they started dealing with the problem a fortnight ago at a cattle auction in Lutumba in ward five.
Isolated cases have been recorded in Chamnanga and Jopembe in Beitbridge West.
"Preliminary investigations reveal that the disease spread across Beitbridge east after stray buffaloes from South Africa mixed with herds of cattle. It then spread to other areas during cattle sales. We have started vaccinations and we have enough manpower to carry out the task.
"The whole district has now been put under quarantine until the situation gets back to normal," said the official.
He urged people to bring all their livestock for vaccination. Beitbridge district falls under agricultural natural region five where animal husbandry is paramount.
Deputy field director in the Vet Department, Dr Chenjerai Njagu, could neither confirm nor deny the outbreak and referred all questions to the principal veterinary services director, who was not reachable for comment.
In 2007, there was a stand-off between Zimbabwean villagers and those in South Africa in the Madimbo corridor near the Limpopo River when the latter teamed up with a white veterinary officer and shot scores of cattle belonging to the former.
They argued that the cattle were spreading foot and mouth into South Africa.
Villagers from both sides of the river also accuse each other of stock theft.
source, The Herald 23 August 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Friday, August 13, 2010
Preserve natural resources: Nhema
By Thupeyo Muleya
Minister of Natural Resources Management Francis Nhema has urged communities living within transfrontier conservation areas to take an active role in preserving their natural and cultural resources.
He said a well-managed natural environment was beneficial to communities and the nation.
Minister Nhema made the remarks while addressing delegates and 600 cyclists and journalists from 19 countries at one of their rest camps at Sentinel Ranch last Friday night.
The tourists were here for the second edition of the Tour De Tuli cycling/mountain bike expedition that encompasses Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.
This year’s theme was "Using Adventure to Build a Better World".
The minister commended the tourists for taking an interest in Zimbabwe and challenged them to be ambassadors of the country when they returned home.
The expedition was previously the preserve of Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa under the banner Tour de Kruger.
Minister Nhema reiterated that Government was committed to see Tour de Tuli growing from strength to strength.
"I am, therefore, convinced that your chosen routes offered you excellent opportunities for game viewing and learning about a rich ancestral and colonial history as well as a vibrant cultural heritage.
"I am quite certain that you came face to face with our history, nature and culture and interact with our communities living in and around the TFCA.
"With all the experience you have had here I hope you will be our ambassadors and share the good messages when you get back to your countries."
Minister Nhema also received a donation of 40 lap desks for rural schools.
"This donation comes in the wake of efforts by stakeholders to try and assist in the rehabilitation of Shashe Irrigation Scheme for the Maramani community. Our cultural and biological diversity heritage will be the ultimate winner," he said.
NGO the Children in the Wilderness donated the desks.
The Tourism Ministry through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority organised the expedition.
The tourists paid R12 000 registration fees to participate and the money will be shared between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa.
A third of the proceeds will be chanelled towards self-sustenance programmers for communities and disadvantaged children living within the Greater Mapungubwe TFCA.
The cycling showpiece started in the Tuli Circle between Botswana and Zimbabwe on August 5 and ended three days later between Zimbabwe and South Africa in the area once occupied by the Mapungubwe Kingdom.
Children in the Wilderness organiser Mr Blessing Munyanyiwa described the show as a great success adding that their target for next year was 700 participants.
The 2009 edition attracted 250 tourists.
source The Herald 13 August 2010
Minister of Natural Resources Management Francis Nhema has urged communities living within transfrontier conservation areas to take an active role in preserving their natural and cultural resources.
He said a well-managed natural environment was beneficial to communities and the nation.
Minister Nhema made the remarks while addressing delegates and 600 cyclists and journalists from 19 countries at one of their rest camps at Sentinel Ranch last Friday night.
The tourists were here for the second edition of the Tour De Tuli cycling/mountain bike expedition that encompasses Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.
This year’s theme was "Using Adventure to Build a Better World".
The minister commended the tourists for taking an interest in Zimbabwe and challenged them to be ambassadors of the country when they returned home.
The expedition was previously the preserve of Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa under the banner Tour de Kruger.
Minister Nhema reiterated that Government was committed to see Tour de Tuli growing from strength to strength.
"I am, therefore, convinced that your chosen routes offered you excellent opportunities for game viewing and learning about a rich ancestral and colonial history as well as a vibrant cultural heritage.
"I am quite certain that you came face to face with our history, nature and culture and interact with our communities living in and around the TFCA.
"With all the experience you have had here I hope you will be our ambassadors and share the good messages when you get back to your countries."
Minister Nhema also received a donation of 40 lap desks for rural schools.
"This donation comes in the wake of efforts by stakeholders to try and assist in the rehabilitation of Shashe Irrigation Scheme for the Maramani community. Our cultural and biological diversity heritage will be the ultimate winner," he said.
NGO the Children in the Wilderness donated the desks.
The Tourism Ministry through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority organised the expedition.
The tourists paid R12 000 registration fees to participate and the money will be shared between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa.
A third of the proceeds will be chanelled towards self-sustenance programmers for communities and disadvantaged children living within the Greater Mapungubwe TFCA.
The cycling showpiece started in the Tuli Circle between Botswana and Zimbabwe on August 5 and ended three days later between Zimbabwe and South Africa in the area once occupied by the Mapungubwe Kingdom.
Children in the Wilderness organiser Mr Blessing Munyanyiwa described the show as a great success adding that their target for next year was 700 participants.
The 2009 edition attracted 250 tourists.
source The Herald 13 August 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Tuku serenades Beitbridge fans
By Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge hosted Oliver Mtukudzi, Sulumani Chimbetu and Progress Chipfumo at a special show attended by around 500 people at Terry’s Hall on Monday night.
While the hall was almost filled with those who paid R100/US$15 for entry, two to three times the normal price, there was some disappointment from those who could not afford to go in.
The artists were in the border town courtesy of Pagomo Heights and Leisure Centre.
First to take to the stage at around 10 pm was Progress Chipfumo and The Sounds of the Motherland who shook the cold off the entertainment-starved revellers when he belted out his yesteryear songs such as Amai, Nyara Muroyi, Nyasha and Vanondi-chengeta.
After one and half hours, the superstar, Tuku and his Black spirits band took to the stage and put up a well choreographed act as they churned out the crowd’s favourite tracks including, Neria, Tozeza Baba, Kupokana, Dzandi-momotera, Ndakuvara, Hear me Lord and Munendipasa Manyemwe.
The house was moved into a frenzy when he played hit songs Dzandi-momotera and Tozeza Baba.
The superstar’s legions of funs were taken down memory lane when he belted out the song Muchatuta waramba kugarwa nhaka.
Tuku kept the funs dancing and singing along for 3 hours before making way for Sulumani and his Dendera Kings who also put up a flawless performance.
Sulu, as Chimbetu is commonly known by his funs made the revellers dance their feet lame until the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The king of Dendera put up an electric performance non-stop for about four hours, a feat which could only be matched by his late father Simon.
He blended dancing routines and music well that the funs had a request for a repeat of the song Chauta, a copyright of Chopper’s yester year hits.
Songs such as Karumba, Mwoyo Wangu, Mwana Wedangwe and Nguva Yakaoma were among the house’s favourites.
It was the first time the trio performed together in the border town.
source The Herald 12 August 2010
Beitbridge hosted Oliver Mtukudzi, Sulumani Chimbetu and Progress Chipfumo at a special show attended by around 500 people at Terry’s Hall on Monday night.
While the hall was almost filled with those who paid R100/US$15 for entry, two to three times the normal price, there was some disappointment from those who could not afford to go in.
The artists were in the border town courtesy of Pagomo Heights and Leisure Centre.
First to take to the stage at around 10 pm was Progress Chipfumo and The Sounds of the Motherland who shook the cold off the entertainment-starved revellers when he belted out his yesteryear songs such as Amai, Nyara Muroyi, Nyasha and Vanondi-chengeta.
After one and half hours, the superstar, Tuku and his Black spirits band took to the stage and put up a well choreographed act as they churned out the crowd’s favourite tracks including, Neria, Tozeza Baba, Kupokana, Dzandi-momotera, Ndakuvara, Hear me Lord and Munendipasa Manyemwe.
The house was moved into a frenzy when he played hit songs Dzandi-momotera and Tozeza Baba.
The superstar’s legions of funs were taken down memory lane when he belted out the song Muchatuta waramba kugarwa nhaka.
Tuku kept the funs dancing and singing along for 3 hours before making way for Sulumani and his Dendera Kings who also put up a flawless performance.
Sulu, as Chimbetu is commonly known by his funs made the revellers dance their feet lame until the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The king of Dendera put up an electric performance non-stop for about four hours, a feat which could only be matched by his late father Simon.
He blended dancing routines and music well that the funs had a request for a repeat of the song Chauta, a copyright of Chopper’s yester year hits.
Songs such as Karumba, Mwoyo Wangu, Mwana Wedangwe and Nguva Yakaoma were among the house’s favourites.
It was the first time the trio performed together in the border town.
source The Herald 12 August 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
ILO embarks on empowerment drive
By Thupeyo Muleya
The International Labour Organisation is mobilising funds to empower communities living within the Beitbridge-Chirundu corridor, an official has said.
In an interview during an ILO workshop in Beitbridge yesterday, the body’s Zimbabwe national project co-ordinator, Mr Colly Masuku, said they were training people to come up with viable businesses and they would provide seed money for the projects early next year.
He said this was part of the second phase of their programme on HIV prevention and economic empowerment along Southern African transport corridors.
Mr Masuku said they were yet to come up with the exact amount that would be channelled into the scheme.
"We have realised that most of the push factors leading to the rapid spread of the disease are economic hardships and hence we need to address some of the challenges by empowering communities living within international corridors.
"From experience, we learnt that prevention of the disease alone is not enough without economically empowering communities. With that in mind, we are working with several stakeholders, among them, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Department of Immigration, the Ministry of Health, the police, local authorities and the Beitbridge Business Association.
"Through the implementation of some inventions we developed during our first phase of the programme, a lot of projects have come to fruition in Beitbridge, Ngundu and Chirundu.
"We have, with assistance from our partners, managed to have more clinics for opportunistic infections along the corridor" he said.
Mr Masuku said they ultimately wanted to reduce the impact of HIV and Aids in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Acting Beitbridge district administrator Mr Peter Moyo challenged workshop participants to effectively make use of the ILO initiative and bring about positive change in their areas.
Published by; The Herald 3 August 2010
The International Labour Organisation is mobilising funds to empower communities living within the Beitbridge-Chirundu corridor, an official has said.
In an interview during an ILO workshop in Beitbridge yesterday, the body’s Zimbabwe national project co-ordinator, Mr Colly Masuku, said they were training people to come up with viable businesses and they would provide seed money for the projects early next year.
He said this was part of the second phase of their programme on HIV prevention and economic empowerment along Southern African transport corridors.
Mr Masuku said they were yet to come up with the exact amount that would be channelled into the scheme.
"We have realised that most of the push factors leading to the rapid spread of the disease are economic hardships and hence we need to address some of the challenges by empowering communities living within international corridors.
"From experience, we learnt that prevention of the disease alone is not enough without economically empowering communities. With that in mind, we are working with several stakeholders, among them, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Department of Immigration, the Ministry of Health, the police, local authorities and the Beitbridge Business Association.
"Through the implementation of some inventions we developed during our first phase of the programme, a lot of projects have come to fruition in Beitbridge, Ngundu and Chirundu.
"We have, with assistance from our partners, managed to have more clinics for opportunistic infections along the corridor" he said.
Mr Masuku said they ultimately wanted to reduce the impact of HIV and Aids in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Acting Beitbridge district administrator Mr Peter Moyo challenged workshop participants to effectively make use of the ILO initiative and bring about positive change in their areas.
Published by; The Herald 3 August 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Dog gives away baby dumper
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
A dog carrying the decomposing head of an infant led to the discovery of a dumped newborn baby in a pit in West Nicholson last Thursday.
Police have arrested 19-year-old Thubelihle Sibanda of Zimcam Compound for allegedly dumping her baby.
It is understood that Sibanda gave birth to a boy on July 18.
Police believe she threw the baby in a pit soon afterwards.
The corpse was found four days later when a dog was seen carrying the infant’s head.
Members of the community made a police report leading to Sibanda’s arrest.
The body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Acting police spokesman for Matabeleland South Sergeant Thabani Mkwananzi confirmed the arrest and said the suspect was assisting them with investigations.
published by, The Herald 31 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
A dog carrying the decomposing head of an infant led to the discovery of a dumped newborn baby in a pit in West Nicholson last Thursday.
Police have arrested 19-year-old Thubelihle Sibanda of Zimcam Compound for allegedly dumping her baby.
It is understood that Sibanda gave birth to a boy on July 18.
Police believe she threw the baby in a pit soon afterwards.
The corpse was found four days later when a dog was seen carrying the infant’s head.
Members of the community made a police report leading to Sibanda’s arrest.
The body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Acting police spokesman for Matabeleland South Sergeant Thabani Mkwananzi confirmed the arrest and said the suspect was assisting them with investigations.
published by, The Herald 31 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Friday, July 30, 2010
Blitz on shebeens, brothels nets 11
| By Thupeyo Muleya POLICE here yesterday raided several houses used as shebeens and brothels and arrested 11 people. Most of the houses are in Duliba-dzimu where illegal booking houses and brothels have sprouted over the past few years. Several houses in the border town have been turned into brothels with the owners cashing in on demand for accommodation by commercial sex workers. According to the 2002 population census, the town had a population of 22 387 and an estimated 2 570 houses in formal settlements, primarily for Government officials and middle-level private sector staff, and 3 000 informal structures. This has since increased due to the town’s proximity to South Africa and the hive of economic and commercial activity in the border town. The police officer commanding operations in Beitbridge District, Superinte-ndent Muzamo Bhebhe, said the exercise started on Tuesday. He said they were targeting operators of unlicensed drinking places, criminals and premises used by com-mercial sex workers. "Some notorious criminals use brothels as safe houses. "The local authority has also given us a vehicle to use in some of the night raids. "To date we have arrested 11 suspects, most of whom are shebeen operators, and they will soon appear in court for contravening provisions of the Liquor Licensing Act," he said. Published by, The Herald 30 July 2010 www.herald.co.zw |
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Woman cheats death in her sleep
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
A WOMAN here escaped death by a whisker early yesterday morning after a speeding pirate taxi rammed into her Dulibadzimu house and stopped right next to her bed while she slept.
The incident occurred at around 7am while Ms Talent Moyo was alone in her house.
She said, "It happened while I was fast asleep. I heard a big noise and then I saw the car coming to my bed.
"The car knocked down the door and a part of the wall and stopped after bumping my bed.
"It was like a dream to me and it took me a few minutes to understand what had just happened.
"I am glad that I escaped unhurt although the house is extensively damaged.
"There are a lot of cracks on the walls."
Ms Moyo said police were called to the scene and towed away the car.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver must have stepped on the accelerator pedal rather than the brakes as he reversed and in the process rammed into the house.
He escaped unhurt.
The incident comes a few months after a 25-year-old woman from Beitbridge was arrested by police after she allegedly ran over a 2-year-old boy who had been playing on the veranda of the family home.
It was established that the woman was an unlicensed driver.
published by , The Herald 27 July 2010
A WOMAN here escaped death by a whisker early yesterday morning after a speeding pirate taxi rammed into her Dulibadzimu house and stopped right next to her bed while she slept.
The incident occurred at around 7am while Ms Talent Moyo was alone in her house.
She said, "It happened while I was fast asleep. I heard a big noise and then I saw the car coming to my bed.
"The car knocked down the door and a part of the wall and stopped after bumping my bed.
"It was like a dream to me and it took me a few minutes to understand what had just happened.
"I am glad that I escaped unhurt although the house is extensively damaged.
"There are a lot of cracks on the walls."
Ms Moyo said police were called to the scene and towed away the car.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver must have stepped on the accelerator pedal rather than the brakes as he reversed and in the process rammed into the house.
He escaped unhurt.
The incident comes a few months after a 25-year-old woman from Beitbridge was arrested by police after she allegedly ran over a 2-year-old boy who had been playing on the veranda of the family home.
It was established that the woman was an unlicensed driver.
published by , The Herald 27 July 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Support children’s rights programmes’
From Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
The Beitbridge Town Council deputy chairperson has urged parents to take a proactive role in human rights-based education and maintain functional children’s rights and protection programmes in the district.
Speaking during a Beitbridge district education performance awards ceremony for 2009 at Lutumba Primary School last Friday, Councillor Patricia Ndlovu said child friendly schools should aim to develop the whole child by promoting diversity.
This year’s awards were held under the theme "Child friendly school a must for all".
"The schools should ensure equality of learning for all children by meeting their different circumstances and needs based on gender, social class and ethnicity and ability levels. The school environment should be conducive to meet the needs of the child".
Mrs Ndlovu urged school development committees across the district to join hands with other stakeholders to improve the education system.
She said revamping the education sector needed a joint effort from all stakeholders.
"School Development Committees need to work hard in collaboration with other stakeholders in providing resources necessary for curriculum that will cater for the pupils’ differentiated abilities, interests and aptitudes.
"They should promote a healthy, hygienic and safe learning environment with adequate water, sanitation and the provision of health services like the Nutritional Supplementation and counselling.
"It is highly pleasing that our schools are now offering ECD education and that our teachers are taking the teaching of local languages seriously as witnessed by the large number of teachers taking study leave degrees in local languages," she said.
Speaking at the same function, the district education officer Mr Sam Siyafa Moyo said the department was courting partners across Zimbabwe to improve the education quality of facilities.
"We have started championing the electrification of more schools, while others have to operate on solar panels as a way of improving the working environment for teachers and pupils.
"Apart from that we have also distributed 940 computers to most secondary schools and very soon we will be sourcing the same for primary schools," he said.
Beitbridge district has 55 primary and 13 secondary schools.
Among those who received awards were Jopembe School (Best Primary in academic performce), Zezani High (Best Ordinary Level results), Tongwe High School (Best Advanced Level results) and Dulibadzimu Primary School (Best Arts and Cultural school) among others.
Also honoured at the event were best O’ level results pupil Nyathi Lerato who had four As, three Bs and a C while the best A’ level pupils was Winnie Siziba who attained 12 points.
published by, The Herald 26 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
The Beitbridge Town Council deputy chairperson has urged parents to take a proactive role in human rights-based education and maintain functional children’s rights and protection programmes in the district.
Speaking during a Beitbridge district education performance awards ceremony for 2009 at Lutumba Primary School last Friday, Councillor Patricia Ndlovu said child friendly schools should aim to develop the whole child by promoting diversity.
This year’s awards were held under the theme "Child friendly school a must for all".
"The schools should ensure equality of learning for all children by meeting their different circumstances and needs based on gender, social class and ethnicity and ability levels. The school environment should be conducive to meet the needs of the child".
Mrs Ndlovu urged school development committees across the district to join hands with other stakeholders to improve the education system.
She said revamping the education sector needed a joint effort from all stakeholders.
"School Development Committees need to work hard in collaboration with other stakeholders in providing resources necessary for curriculum that will cater for the pupils’ differentiated abilities, interests and aptitudes.
"They should promote a healthy, hygienic and safe learning environment with adequate water, sanitation and the provision of health services like the Nutritional Supplementation and counselling.
"It is highly pleasing that our schools are now offering ECD education and that our teachers are taking the teaching of local languages seriously as witnessed by the large number of teachers taking study leave degrees in local languages," she said.
Speaking at the same function, the district education officer Mr Sam Siyafa Moyo said the department was courting partners across Zimbabwe to improve the education quality of facilities.
"We have started championing the electrification of more schools, while others have to operate on solar panels as a way of improving the working environment for teachers and pupils.
"Apart from that we have also distributed 940 computers to most secondary schools and very soon we will be sourcing the same for primary schools," he said.
Beitbridge district has 55 primary and 13 secondary schools.
Among those who received awards were Jopembe School (Best Primary in academic performce), Zezani High (Best Ordinary Level results), Tongwe High School (Best Advanced Level results) and Dulibadzimu Primary School (Best Arts and Cultural school) among others.
Also honoured at the event were best O’ level results pupil Nyathi Lerato who had four As, three Bs and a C while the best A’ level pupils was Winnie Siziba who attained 12 points.
published by, The Herald 26 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tourism showpiece to attract 600 cyclists
By Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Zimbabwe will this year host about 600 cyclists from across the globe at the annual Tour de Tuli that also involves Botswana and South Africa.
In a statement yesterday, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the number of participants had doubled from last year’s 300 following the great success that the 2009 event was.
The tourism showpiece will be held in Zimbabwe for the second year running.
Previously, it was a preserve for Botswana, Mozambi-que and South Africa under the banner Tour de Kruger.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said the cycling/mountain bike expedition will take place under the theme "Using Adventure to Build a Better World".
"Our task teams are already working with other stakeholders in and around our component of the Greater Mapungubwe transfrontier conservation area in making sure that this tour will again be a resounding success.
"Because of the increased numbers of participants, this year’s event will be divided into two batches of about 300 cyclists each.
"The first batch is scheduled to enter Zimbabwe through Tuli Circle Safari Area on the 5th of August 2010 and the second group enters Zimbabwe the following day.
"Included in these groups will be journalists from various international media," she said.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said participants will ride through Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa; and three national parks, namely Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Tuli Circle and Mapungubwe National Park.
"In addition the route in Zimbabwe will include an area in Beitbridge to the west, through Maramani communal lands and Sentinel Ranch, which is home to dinosaur fossils and footprints that are more than 200 million-years-old as well as grain bin shelters from the late Iron Age.
"This will no doubt market Zimbabwe as a tourism destination of choice.
Last year’s event received coverage on DSTV, Super Sport and in many tourism magazines at no cost at all", she said.
The event draws cyclists from across the globe to traverse participating countries and offers a unique marketing opportunity for the tourism sector.
published by, The Herald 21 July 2010
Zimbabwe will this year host about 600 cyclists from across the globe at the annual Tour de Tuli that also involves Botswana and South Africa.
In a statement yesterday, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the number of participants had doubled from last year’s 300 following the great success that the 2009 event was.
The tourism showpiece will be held in Zimbabwe for the second year running.
Previously, it was a preserve for Botswana, Mozambi-que and South Africa under the banner Tour de Kruger.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said the cycling/mountain bike expedition will take place under the theme "Using Adventure to Build a Better World".
"Our task teams are already working with other stakeholders in and around our component of the Greater Mapungubwe transfrontier conservation area in making sure that this tour will again be a resounding success.
"Because of the increased numbers of participants, this year’s event will be divided into two batches of about 300 cyclists each.
"The first batch is scheduled to enter Zimbabwe through Tuli Circle Safari Area on the 5th of August 2010 and the second group enters Zimbabwe the following day.
"Included in these groups will be journalists from various international media," she said.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said participants will ride through Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa; and three national parks, namely Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Tuli Circle and Mapungubwe National Park.
"In addition the route in Zimbabwe will include an area in Beitbridge to the west, through Maramani communal lands and Sentinel Ranch, which is home to dinosaur fossils and footprints that are more than 200 million-years-old as well as grain bin shelters from the late Iron Age.
"This will no doubt market Zimbabwe as a tourism destination of choice.
Last year’s event received coverage on DSTV, Super Sport and in many tourism magazines at no cost at all", she said.
The event draws cyclists from across the globe to traverse participating countries and offers a unique marketing opportunity for the tourism sector.
published by, The Herald 21 July 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
MDC-T members’ public violence trial postponed
By Thupeyo Muleya
THE trial of 60 MDC-T members who were arrested in February this year for public violence after a Beitbridge district meeting degenerated into fistfights was last Wednesday further postponed to September 28.
The 60 supporters were jointly charged with public violence and were not asked to plead when they appeared before local magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Mhene.
They were all remanded out of custody and ordered to reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses.
The duo of Moffat Ndou and Buhle Dube, who are the party’s western and eastern MDC-T branch chairpersons, were also jointly charged for convening the meeting, which led to the skirmishes without notifying the police.
Four other members; Tobias Sibanda (32), Sikhephula Moyo (42), Graham Nyoni (24) and Savious Singo (27) were further charged with criminal trespass for storming the house of Home Affairs co-Minister and Beitbridge East legislator Cde Kembo Mohadi.
All the six were also remanded out of custody.
The State, led by Mr Foster Abheki, said they were further postponing the case to a later date so that they could get enough time to screen the suspects against all aspects of evidence since they were arrested as a group.
He said they needed time to deal with the cases on an individual basis.
Mr Winston Tshakalisa of Tshakalisa Legal Practitioners and Mr Misheck Hogwe of Hogwe, Dzimirai and Partners represented the accused persons.
It is the State’s case that on February 6 at around 10 am, Ndou and Dube convened a public gathering at Caravan Park in the border town without notifying the police.
While at the Caravan Park, clashes ensued between the groups led by Enos Tshili and Eliot Maveza leading both groups to run wild and destroy property at the venue.
They also inflicted serious injuries to two people who have since been taken to Harare for special treatment, while six others were treated and discharged at Beitbridge District Hospital.
Those who were seriously injured are Nhlangano Zvambira and Paul Tadzembwa.
During the fight, the groups proceeded to the streets in the nearby low-density suburbs and town area where they stared disrupting the flow of traffic by throwing stones at motorists.
It was during that process that Tobias Sibanda (32), Sikhephula Moyo (42), Graham Nyoni (24) and Savious Singo (27) entered into Minister Mohadi’s premises where they were then apprehended by the police on guard.
Riot police were called in when delegates to the meeting at Caravan Park started exchanging blows in a tribal-based dispute.
Several people were seriously injured and 58 people were arrested. Police recovered 35 boulders and eight logs from Dube’s car while others were recovered from the scene.
published by, The Herald 19 July 2010
THE trial of 60 MDC-T members who were arrested in February this year for public violence after a Beitbridge district meeting degenerated into fistfights was last Wednesday further postponed to September 28.
The 60 supporters were jointly charged with public violence and were not asked to plead when they appeared before local magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Mhene.
They were all remanded out of custody and ordered to reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses.
The duo of Moffat Ndou and Buhle Dube, who are the party’s western and eastern MDC-T branch chairpersons, were also jointly charged for convening the meeting, which led to the skirmishes without notifying the police.
Four other members; Tobias Sibanda (32), Sikhephula Moyo (42), Graham Nyoni (24) and Savious Singo (27) were further charged with criminal trespass for storming the house of Home Affairs co-Minister and Beitbridge East legislator Cde Kembo Mohadi.
All the six were also remanded out of custody.
The State, led by Mr Foster Abheki, said they were further postponing the case to a later date so that they could get enough time to screen the suspects against all aspects of evidence since they were arrested as a group.
He said they needed time to deal with the cases on an individual basis.
Mr Winston Tshakalisa of Tshakalisa Legal Practitioners and Mr Misheck Hogwe of Hogwe, Dzimirai and Partners represented the accused persons.
It is the State’s case that on February 6 at around 10 am, Ndou and Dube convened a public gathering at Caravan Park in the border town without notifying the police.
While at the Caravan Park, clashes ensued between the groups led by Enos Tshili and Eliot Maveza leading both groups to run wild and destroy property at the venue.
They also inflicted serious injuries to two people who have since been taken to Harare for special treatment, while six others were treated and discharged at Beitbridge District Hospital.
Those who were seriously injured are Nhlangano Zvambira and Paul Tadzembwa.
During the fight, the groups proceeded to the streets in the nearby low-density suburbs and town area where they stared disrupting the flow of traffic by throwing stones at motorists.
It was during that process that Tobias Sibanda (32), Sikhephula Moyo (42), Graham Nyoni (24) and Savious Singo (27) entered into Minister Mohadi’s premises where they were then apprehended by the police on guard.
Riot police were called in when delegates to the meeting at Caravan Park started exchanging blows in a tribal-based dispute.
Several people were seriously injured and 58 people were arrested. Police recovered 35 boulders and eight logs from Dube’s car while others were recovered from the scene.
published by, The Herald 19 July 2010
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