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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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