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Victoria Falls residents boycott 2023 budget meetings as tension rises over graft

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Victoria Falls ratepayers are boycotting the city council’s 2023 budget consultations as they are demanding answers on various allegations of corruption scandals that have rocked the local authority.

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The budget meetings that started this week failed to take off on two consecutive days as residents stayed away while demanding to be first addressed about the alleged irregular sale of commercial stands, a US$89 000 loan that was given to town clerk Ronnie Dube to buy a car and a luxury car for the mayor.

A budget meeting that was organised the business community comprising of tourism operators, non-profit organisations and special interests groups saw only five residents attending.

Four of the people that attended the meeting were members of the Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association (VIFACORA) while a meeting for wards nine and 10   that was held at Mosi-Oa-Tunya High School had less than 20 residents.

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Those who attended the meetings demanded answers from the local authority on how it was handling its funds given the latest scandals.

VIFACORA and some residents accused some council employees and councillors of shifting from the core mandate of service delivery to pursue corrupt deals for personal gain and this has impacted negatively on council’s finances.

In both meetings, residents demanded accountability on the sale of stand 8300 to the lowest bidder yet the highest bidder had offered more than double the amount.

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VIFACORA chairperson Kelvin Moyo said residents’ concerns must be addressed before the budget could be formulated.

“This stand was earmarked for the state-of-the-art hospital that was supposed to be built before Covid-19, but the investor was affected by the pandemic,” Moyo said.

“After that it was resolved that it must be retendered and at the time it was valued at US$14 million and then then investor was supposed to build two reservoirs in Mkhosana, which was to deal with perennial water challenges there, especially between the months of august to November,” Moyo said.

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The residents are querying how the stand was bought by the lowest bidder.

“There are a lot of questions that residents are asking,” Moyo said.

“They want to know what exactly happened (on the stand issue) and we feel this should be addressed in order to bring confidence to residents before we continue with the budget formulation.”

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Residents said they also needed an explanation on circumstances that saw town clerk Ronnie Dube getting a US$89 000 to buy a car with a 25 percent discount and at the interbank rate.

“We all know what that means,” VIFACORA secretary general Trymore Ndolo said.

“Additionally, the same vehicle bought using council funds becomes personal property entitling the town clerk to claim mileage on it, which means that in the end council will repay the loan and more.

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“The town clerk has a contractual office vehicle, which should have been bought as a priority over the personal vehicle loan and where is the signed loan agreement, did he get a loan without signing a loan agreement or an offer?”

Residents are also demanding answers on council’s proposal to give mayor Somvelo Dhlamini a Toyota Fortuner vehicle as a golden handshake at the end of his term next year without a full council resolution.

“The resources are not theirs to squander, but ours to protect for the benefit of everyone and future generations,” Ndolo said.

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“At this rate nothing will remain of our beautiful city.”

Other issues include the controversial leasing of the council brewery for 15 years without proper procedures being followed.

Residents also queried why councillors were not attending the budget meetings.

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Councils’ finance director Neville Ndlovu in response said residents who felt aggrieved should always raise questions with the local authority.

“I know there is so much information that goes out and we have seen so much in the media, (but) those things have nothing  to do with the budget processes that we are currently doing,” Ndlovu said.

“If stakeholders have issues they feel they need clarification on, council officials are available from Monday to Friday (where) we do those engagements because this will actually hamper other progress because as it is now.

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“We need to do the budget for 2023 because come January one, we have not really completed the process, we will have not a budget to work with.”

Budget meetings in other wards are scheduled for today and Friday.

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National

RemitHope launches “100 for 10” campaign to raise $100K for grassroots organisations across Africa

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

RemitHope, a pioneering fintech social enterprise – founded by global philanthropist and social entrepreneur Tsitsi Masiyiwa – has launched a bold campaign to raise US$100 000 in just 60 days for 10 grassroots organisations serving some of Africa’s most vulnerable communities.

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The campaign – themed “100 for 10” – seeks to channel life-changing support to organisations on the frontlines of health, education, gender equity and community resilience.

The 10 beneficiaries span nine African countries, including Cancerserve (Zimbabwe), Cáritas Regional De Chokwe (Mozambique), Empowered Girls (Tanzania), Ewang’an Nadede Advocacy Initiative (Kenya), Child Restoration Outreach (Uganda), Hands of Hope (Zimbabwe), Bana Ba Metsi (Botswana), Njira Impact (Malawi), Phelisanong Children’s Centre (Lesotho) and Refugee Children’s Project (South Africa).

“The 100 for 10 campaign is intended to harness the transforming power of small acts of generosity into life-changing opportunities for communities too often overlooked. And every dollar given delivers hope, dignity, and the promise of progress,” Mrs Masiyiwa said.

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Running from September 15 to November 15, 2025, the campaign pivots RemitHope’s unique model of transparency, real-time storytelling and direct funding to vetted local partners, ensuring every contribution makes a measurable difference.

In a powerful show of commitment, and leveraging its network of donors and partners, RemitHope has pledged to match every donation given, dollar-for-dollar – effectively doubling the impact.

“If you give $5 it becomes $10, give US$50 and it becomes US$100. This is multiplying hope, opportunities, and futures with every dollar donated,” she said.

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The campaign builds on RemitHope’s recent success, where the platform raised over US$81 000 in funding to rebuild Mt Selinda Orphanage in Zimbabwe after a devastating fire swept through the institution.

That effort demonstrated RemitHope’s unique ability to mobilise rapidly, scale generosity and deliver urgent impact.

“We’ve witnessed how extraordinary things happen when people unite in moments of crisis. And now, with 100 for 10, we are channelling that same spirit beyond emergencies, for the long journey of community-led development,” Mrs Masiyiwa said.

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RemitHope seeks to unlock the transformative potential of diaspora remittances – redirecting a portion of the more than US$90 billion sent to Africa annually, into structured, high-impact community giving.

By blending trust, technology and targeted generosity, RemitHope aims to mobilise US$50 million for grassroots organisations over the next five years.

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National

New 600 schools vs. reality: Mat North rural students trek over 10 kilometers for class

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BY WANDILE TSHUMA

In a recent parliamentary session, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerayi Moyo, proudly announced that the government has constructed over 600 schools across Zimbabwe between 2022 and 2025. “I can happily inform this House that we have constructed more than 600 schools,” he stated, adding that “this year, we are targeting to build not less than 200 schools in 2025.”

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Despite this achievement, reports from Matabeleland North province reveal a stark contrast, where students in rural areas often walk over ten kilometers to reach their nearest secondary schools. For example, in Nkayi, learners from areas such as Menda and Mantshololozane must travel long distances to access secondary education at Tohwe and Nkayi High Secondary Schools, which are situated more than ten kilometers apart. This trend has persisted, making it difficult for many students to pursue beyond primary education.

While the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to educational development, the experiences of many rural students paint a different picture. One legislator noted, “We were informed in this House that we have a deficit of 3 000 schools in Zimbabwe… what could have probably caused the mushrooming of these schools is the fact that there is a gap, and children do not have to walk long distances.”

In response to the issue of unregistered schools, Moyo addressed concerns, stating, “It is mandatory for any school to be registered before they can operate.” He explained that there is a dedicated department responsible for school registration and encouraged those operating illegally to regularize their status.

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Four men on the run after allegedly killing man over relative’s death

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

Four people from Silobela are being sought by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for their alleged involvement in a gruesome murder that took place on Sunday.

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The police are investigating the murder of 21-year-old Thandelwenkosi Moyo, who was allegedly killed by the four suspects after being accused of killing their relative.

According to the police report, the incident occurred at Munklenuck Village, Inyathi.

The accused have been identified as Nyoka, Zizimuzi, Mboya, and Aweli.

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The police report states that the four suspects took turns to attack the victim with booted feet and a sharp object, resulting in his death at the scene.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspects to come forward and report to the nearest police station.

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