Politics

Hwange Central MP’s office urges residents to register to vote

Published

2 years ago

December 14, 2022

BY TICHAONA MATARUSE

The Office of the MP for Hwange Central is appealing to all residents in the constituency who are not yet registered voters to urgently approach their local councilors and benefit from the ongoing voter registration blitz.

The Office of the MP last week launched its own voter awareness and registration campaign in partnership with the local ward councilors.

Hwange Central Constituency has 17 wards.

A spokesperson at the Office of the MP Thulani Moyo said they were targeting all wards in the campaign set to continue until early 2023.

“We are targeting all wards in our constituency and the voter registration campaign will continue for the next several weeks until early 2023. During its initial week of operation, only Ward 12 Urban managed to take advantage of the voter registration initiative. All registered voters who need to transfer from their respective polling stations must also urgently approach their local councilors so as to personally benefit from this opportunity with support from the Office of the MP,”said Moyo.

In an interview with Councilor for Ward 15 Makwika/Ingagula Township in Hwange Local Board Lovemore Ncube who represents Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) , welcomed the initiative.

“I would like to applaud the Honorable MP for taking this initiative,” said Ncube.

“We have discovered that a lot of people, in particular the youths, are not registered. The residents are happy and are coming forward to this initiative. As a community leader I have mobilised other leaders for door to door mobilisation for this blitz and the response is excellent.

There are over 1 500 voters in my ward (but) as it is, some were complaining that the ZEC offices are too far and they need a minimum of US$4 to and from, so the blitz is a blessing.”

Ward 5 CCC Councilor for Hwange Local Board Tendai Sibanda also welcomed and applauded the MP for the initiative but raised concern over how young people were so reluctant to register to vote.

“There are some people who have taken the registration seriously, especially the elderly,” said Sibanda.

“The young ones are so reluctant; they need people with patience to persuade and plead with them to go and register to vote. They no longer trust the voter’s registration from what they get from social media. Now that the schools have closed with the young who have turned 18, the MP is providing transport every Thursday for people to go and register.”

She added: “As at the end of 30 May 2022 there were 931 registered voters in my ward. We have new stands where houses are dotted. Some stands are not yet built. From the electoral boundary delimitation, the proposal is that my ward will borrow from ward 6 and we are waiting for the final outcome. I’m yet to get the figures as after the 30 of May and know how many people are registered in my ward.”

Hwange

Former Victoria Falls opposition mayor defects to Zanu-Pf, pledges to bring more supporters

Published

9 months ago

August 27, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY BAYANDA NKATHA

Former Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dlamini has joined Zanu-PF alongside over 500 other opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members in Binga and Hwange.

Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha welcomed the returnees, including:

– Former legislator Patrick Nene Sibanda
– Former Binga Rural District chairman Munkombwe Dube
– Incumbent Mbizha Ward councillor Namo Chuma, who won the 2023 elections on an independent ticket
– Former councillors [names not specified]

Dlamini, who was sentenced to 36 months in prison last year for fraud, vowed to bring more people to join the party. “I am not coming here for positions but to build our country and defend the gains of the liberation struggle. My coming here is not a threat to anyone,” he said.

Zanu-PF’s Kumusha/Home/Ekhaya programme, led by Blessing Chebundo, aims to welcome returning members from the opposition. The new members were welcomed in Milonga on Saturday and Sonkaba on Sunday.

Dlamini contested for the Hwange West parliamentary seat as an independent candidate last year but was defeated by Vusumuzi Moyo of CCC.

This was after his defection as one of the strong supporters of Douglas Mwonzora’s faction after a fallout with Nelson Chamisa.

National

ZRP riot detains 19 MRP members in Bulawayo

Published

10 months ago

August 7, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has reported that a group of 19 members and community volunteers were arrested by the police riot team while participating in a peaceful clean-up activity in Mzilikazi this morning.

According to the MRP Information Department, the arrest was “unjust and unwarranted” and they demand the immediate release of their members and volunteers.

“Nineteen (19) MRP members and community volunteers who were participating in a peaceful clean-up activity from Noczim Matshobane to eMatshipsini in Mzilikazi have been arrested by the ZRP Riot team,” MRP said.

“The group was taken away a short while ago and are currently being held at ZRP Entumbane.”

“We condemn this action by the ZRP and urge all MRP members and community leaders to remain calm and peaceful,” said the department. “We will be engaging with relevant authorities to demand justice.”

The MRP Information Department has promised to provide regular updates on the situation as more information becomes available.

“We will provide further instructions and guidance as necessary,” they said. “Please stay tuned for further updates.”

The arrest has sparked outrage and concern among the community, with many calling for the release of the MRP members and volunteers.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association has announced on X that, “Unidentified men have just scalled the walls of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition offices (Harare). They disembarked from a white Toyota Hilux GD6.”

For the past two months, Zimbabwe has seen several activists and opposition party members being arrested, amid concerns over the violations of human rights.

NB: This is a developing, and more information from the police will be provided as it becomes available.

National

Legislators push for indigenous language promotion in schools

Published

10 months ago

July 24, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

It was a lively debate in the Parliament of Zimbabwe as MPs discussed the motion tabled by Discent Bajila on promoting indigenous languages in schools.

“I stood up to support the motion…the issue of our indigenous languages is very important,” said Spencer Tshuma.

“We were colonised by the whites and that is why we love the English language…we were lost as a nation and it should be rectified in the shortest possible time so that we can develop as a country.”

Another MP added, “We used to pray in our local languages. We would use our local languages to talk to our ancestors who would then take our prayers to God…why is it that such things are changing on a daily basis?”

They emphasized the need for children to learn in their local languages, saying “it will be easy for them to learn and it will also be easy for the teacher to teach them.”

Sithabisiwe Moyo for Bubi/Umguza expressed her happiness about the motion.

“I am really happy about this motion which pertains to the discussion of having children being taught in their native languages so that they grow up articulating and appreciating their mother language.”

Elizabeth Masuku, also from Bubi/Umguza supported the motion, stating “this motion is not merely a nod to cultural preservation, it is a profound step towards fostering inclusivity, enhancing comprehension and fortifying our national identity.”

Others also noted that trying to speak in a foreign language may lead to a breakdown of communication.

Finally, Taurai Dexter Malinganiso emphasized the need for action.

“We therefore require a deliberate action, deliberate policy with which to preserve our languages, promote the same in a manner that salvages our identity from this marauding quest by the erstwhile colonisers to actually down our heritage.”

Biatah Nyamupinga, who had spoken earlier, was also in agreement with the motion, highlighting the importance of understanding local languages in healthcare, particularly in discussing diseases like cervical cancer.

Recommendations from the debate included:

– Including indigenous languages in the school curriculum from an early age

– Providing funding and resources for the development of teaching materials in local languages

– Encouraging the use of local languages in schools, especially for subjects like Biology, Science, and Maths

– Supporting cultural programs that promote local languages and heritage

– Developing technology to facilitate communication in local languages.