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Low voter registration haunts Victoria Falls as wards are redrawn

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A spirited lobby by politicians and activists for an increase in the number of Victoria Falls wards from 11 to 14 ahead of the 2023 elections has been turned down by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, it has emerged.

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The development was revealed at a Hwange West constituency stakeholder delimitation consultative meeting held in Victoria Falls on Friday.

ZEC has begun delimitation consultations, which will culminate in the redrawing of ward and constituency boundaries based on the latest voter population.

Hwange West MP Godfrey Dube’s personal assistant Robson Salimu told the meeting that Victoria Falls only had 22 000 registered vote and the majority of them were from Mkhosana high density suburb, which makes up ward 11.

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Salimu said ZEC told a recent delimitation stakeholder meeting in Hwange that Mkhosana will be split into four wards, but the city will still remain with 11 wards.

He said the same message had been sent to Victoria Falls town clerk Ronnie Dube.

“What has come out of the delimitation process is that Mkhosana will have four wards (and that means) other wards will have to be scrapped so that we maintain the 11 wards,” Dube said.

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“There is a scientific formula that is used to demarcate a ward and the minimum threshold is 1600 registered voters per ward.

“As we speak ward one has about 600 registered voters and this applies to ward two and with the central government’s standards, they can’t form a ward even if they were combined.

“So naturally, such wards will be combined to make one ward

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“All these wards like ward seven, eight, and four will be affected.

“There will be a new map because those wards are very small, and they don’t meet the minimum requirements to constitute a ward.”

The announcement was met with indignation from the stakeholders, who included politicians, pastors, education sector representatives and activists.

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They argued that ZEC’s decision to dissolve some wards was not justified and was done without consultations.

“Most of the people seated here did not take part in the consultations or give input,” said former ward six councillor Ephia Mambume.

“So yes the horses may have bolted, but is there no way we can get audience (with ZEC) where we can raise our concerns and this is where the MP should come in and help us to try and solve this thing.”

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Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association representative Trymore Ndolo urged ZEC to ensure that voters in the city were made aware of the reconfigured wards.

“What is very important now is for people to be told about their new voting centres when the mapping has been done,”Ndolo said.

“We also have some aspiring councillors, who also need to know about this information.”

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Dube was of the view that information about the reconfiguration of the wards should have been given to the people before voters’ registration blitz as council had proposed to increase the number of wards to 14, but the lobby failed because of the low number of registered voters.

“Such meetings should, perhaps, be done during the process of registering to vote because Victoria Falls has 22 000 registered voters and that divided gives us 11.

“So our proposal to have at least 14 wards next year will not work without any scientific justification backing our proposal.”

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Zanu PF’s Hwange district chairperson Matthew Muleya argued that it was too late to convince ZEC to reverse its decision.

“If you see us from the revolutionary party being quite it means that this was passed long ago and we don’t have the resources to send a delegation to Hwange,” Muleya said.

“(In any case) they will present what has been said by the people and nothing will come out it.

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“We tried it as the ruling party, although we could not disclose it because we are sometimes much better than the opposition.

“So this issue of numbers cannot be changed even in rural areas where we have a grip.

“The number of registered voters determines (the number of wards) and even my ward (19) is affected because there are not enough registered voters.”

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The meeting agreed that the MPs office will make submissions to ZEC calling for more consultations.

The delimitation exercise is done every 10 years and is informed by the population census and the number of registered voters.

 

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National

Migration on the rise: Matabeleland North tops outbound movement in latest ZimLAC report

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINK

Matabeleland North has recorded some of the highest levels of migration in Zimbabwe, with 12.6% of households moving to urban areas and 7.8% leaving the country, according to the 2024–2025 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) report.

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The figures highlight a growing trend in which families are uprooting in search of work, education, and better living conditions, with the province’s migration rate well above the national averages of 9.9% for rural-to-urban moves and 5.0% for emigration.

For many in Matabeleland North, economic necessity drives these decisions.

“I had to send my son to Bulawayo because there was simply no work here,” said Thabani Ncube, a smallholder farmer in Lupane. “Even piece jobs have dried up. At least in town, he can hustle and maybe support the family.”

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The ZimLAC report shows that employment opportunities are the leading reason behind rural-to-urban migration nationally (6.3%). In Matabeleland North, 7.7% cited education as the next big pull factor, followed by new residential land and improved living standards.

Experts warn that while migration can bring relief through remittances, it also risks hollowing out rural communities.

“This trend is a double-edged sword,” explained Dr. Nomalanga Sibanda, a livelihoods researcher in Bulawayo. “Families may benefit from remittances, but local economies lose critical labour and skills. Over time, this weakens resilience in rural districts.”

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Other Provinces: Contrasting Patterns

Matabeleland South recorded the highest rate of emigration, with 13.5% of households reporting that members had left the country — nearly triple the national average. Masvingo followed closely, with 16.5% moving to towns and 7.7% leaving for the diaspora.

Meanwhile, Mashonaland Central had the lowest levels of outward movement, with just 4.4% moving to towns and 1.0% emigrating.

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Midlands also stood out, with 12.9% shifting to urban areas and 6.2% relocating abroad, driven mainly by job opportunities and schooling.

National Picture

Across Zimbabwe, nearly one in ten households (9.9%) reported rural-to-urban migration, while 5% indicated emigration outside the country. Employment, education, and improved living standards remain the strongest motivators.

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For ordinary families, the story is about survival and hope.

“My husband left for South Africa last year,” said Memory Dube of Gwanda, Matabeleland South. “He sends money when he can, but life is tough there too. Still, we rely on that income to buy food and pay school fees.”

ZimLAC, which advises the government through the Food and Nutrition Council (FNC), says the data will guide evidence-based interventions. The report stresses that migration trends are not just statistics, but reflect deeper issues of economic opportunity, resilience, and service delivery across provinces.

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Matabeleland North tops in open defecation as sanitation gaps persist

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The latest 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment by the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) has revealed that Matabeleland North province has the highest proportion of households practising open defecation in the country, underscoring deep-rooted poverty and infrastructure challenges in rural communities.

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According to the report, Binga district leads with a staggering 80.1% of households without toilets, followed by Tsholotsho at 56.5%. Kariba (50.8%) and Mwenezi (49.4%) also recorded alarming levels of open defecation.

Nationally, there has been modest progress. The proportion of households with basic sanitation services increased slightly from 51% in 2020 to 55% in 2025. At the same time, open defecation declined from 29% in 2020 to 24% in 2025.

While these statistics point to progress at a national level, the reality in provinces like Matabeleland North paints a starkly different picture. Communities continue to struggle with extreme poverty, limited resources, and inadequate support to build or maintain proper sanitation facilities.

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ZimLAC noted that the findings are critical for shaping livelihoods policies and targeting interventions where they are most needed. The report emphasized that tackling inequalities in rural sanitation remains central to advancing Zimbabwe’s development goals.

Community Voices: Life Without Toilets in Matabeleland North

In Binga, where most households lack toilets, villagers say poverty is at the heart of the crisis:

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“We want toilets, but we cannot afford cement or bricks,” said 64-year-old grandmother from Sidinda. “Even when NGOs come, they only build for a few households. The rest of us dig shallow pits which collapse in the rains. That’s why many people just go to the bush.”

In Tsholotsho, young people express frustration over promises that never materialize:

“We were told about sanitation projects, but they stopped halfway. People survive by selling firewood; where will they get money for toilets?” asked Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, a 22-year-old.

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For families living along the Zambezi in Binga, land conditions add another challenge:

“The soil is sandy and unstable. Even if we dig, the pit does not last long. Poverty makes it worse, because we cannot reinforce the toilets like people in towns,”another villager explained.

In Nkayi, the harsh climate compounds the problem:

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“We focus on finding food and water first. A toilet is a luxury for many families here,” said Joseph Moyo, a farmer battling drought conditions.

Despite the struggles, communities across Matabeleland North expressed a strong desire for better sanitation, linking the lack of toilets to health risks, dignity, and children’s wellbeing.

As ZimLAC’s findings show, progress is possible — but without targeted support in the hardest-hit areas, open defecation will remain entrenched in Zimbabwe’s rural poverty landscape.

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Zimbabwe selected for groundbreaking HIV prevention initiative

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe has announced an exciting development in the fight against HIV: Zimbabwe has been selected as one of the ten countries globally to roll out lenacapavir, a breakthrough in HIV prevention.

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“Yes Zimbabwe, it’s happening!” the embassy declared, highlighting the significance of this initiative.

“For decades, we’ve fought to turn the tide against this epidemic, and each day we get closer,” the statement continued. This new treatment represents a pivotal moment in HIV prevention efforts, as it is the first twice-yearly HIV prevention medicine.

The implementation of lenacapavir is made possible through a partnership with U.S.-based Gilead Sciences and the Global Fund. A key finding from a large-scale clinical trial shows that more than 99% of people on lenacapavir remained HIV negative. While this has the potential to save millions of lives, the Embassy emphasized that for Zimbabwe, it represents a major step toward ending new infections.

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“But this is more than medicine—it advances us on a pathway to a safer, stronger, and healthier future!” noted the embassy’s announcement.

The initiative particularly focuses on pregnant and breastfeeding women, aiming to protect the next generation. It will also work toward strengthening healthcare systems, empowering Zimbabwe to lead its own fight against HIV. Moreover, the goal of making lenacapavir more affordable and accessible ensures that no one is left behind.

The embassy highlighted, “This is American leadership at its best: driving innovation, and building a world where children, mothers, and communities can thrive.”

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As this initiative rolls out, the message is clear: “Together, we’re not just fighting HIV—we’re winning.”

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