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Mnangagwa commissions Bubi-Lupane Dam water supply station

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BY DAVID OCHIENG MBEWA

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday commissioned a water supply station at the Bubi-Lupane Dam in Matabeleland North province as the government looks to address challenges in accessing clean and safe water.

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According to a statement from the presidency, the Lupane Water Supply Station has an installed capacity of 115 million litres and will improve the supply for Lupane area from seven million litres per month in turn satisfying the current demand of 23 million litres per month.

The Bubi-Lupane dam, which was commissioned in 2012, supplies water to Lupane Centre and surrounding villages.

The supply station, the statement added, will also provide the Lupane State University with all its water needs.

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Zimbabwe has faced occasional nationwide water crises due to poor rains and recurring droughts.

The country’s second largest city, Bulawayo, was particularly hard hit last year with the search for clean water becoming a daily struggle.

With that in mind, Mnangagwa added that the government expects to complete the Gwayi-Shangani Dam in Hwange District by December this year to “end water problems in Bulawayo.”

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Mnangagwa also commissioned the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme, which has two crops farmed annually: maize and wheat.

The scheme currently has 180 hectares under wheat and is expected by the end of next year to expand its area to 700 hectares.

The news of future expectations of more wheat being farmed comes in the wake of Zimbabwean authorities predicting the country will achieve wheat self-sufficiency this agricultural season for the first time in more than a decade.

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Zimbabwe’s government is expecting to harvest 300,000 tonnes of wheat this agricultural season in addition to the 70,000 tonnes already in stock, while the country needs about 360,000 tonnes of wheat annually to meet its demand.

More than 66,000 hectares of land were used to farm wheat this season, according to local media, representing the third-highest portion of land to farm wheat since 1980. – CGTN

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National

Cyclone Chido moves away from Zimbabwe

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

According to the latest updates from the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC), Tropical Cyclone Chido has made landfall in Mozambique, approximately 35-40km south of Pemba, in Cabo Delgado Province.

The intense tropical cyclone brought heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds of up to 220km/h, causing widespread destruction in Mozambique. The system is expected to continue tracking west-southwest towards Malawi, steadily dissipating.

Zimbabwe, which was initially predicted to be in the cyclone’s path, has been spared the worst of the storm.

However, neighboring countries, including Malawi, are expected to experience heavy rainfall and strong winds over the next 72 hours.

The SHOC has issued a multi-hazard impact-based classification, warning of expected impacts, including strong gusts, heavy rainfall, and rough seas, in Mozambique, Malawi, and other parts of the region.

Member states have been urged to closely monitor official weather updates, intensify public awareness campaigns, and preposition relief supplies to enable a swift response to the cyclone’s impact.

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National

Senate passes death penalty abolition bill

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

The Zimbabwe Senate has passed the Death Penalty Abolition Bill, paving the way for the country to join the growing list of nations that have abolished capital punishment.

The bill, which has already been approved by the National Assembly, will now be sent to the President for assent and subsequent publication in the Gazette as an Act.

The country has 62 convicted prisoners facing the death penalty.

Veritas has congratulated the Senators, Members of the National Assembly, the President, and the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for their role in facilitating the bill’s passage through Parliament.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who is also the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, defended the bill in the Senate, citing studies that show the death penalty has failed to deter crime.

He emphasized that the actual number of murders remained the same despite the death penalty’s existence, questioning its effectiveness as a deterrent.

Ziyambi also highlighted the bill’s potential to address the root causes of crime, which he believes the death penalty does not tackle. He pointed out the bias of the death penalty against poverty-stricken people, stating that history shows the majority of those executed are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Zimbabwe has been on a de facto moratorium on executions for about 17 years, with the last execution conducted in 2005.

 

 

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Cyclone Chido bears down on Zimbabwe, government issues warning

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

A powerful tropical cyclone named Chido is moving menacingly towards Zimbabwe, prompting the government to issue a warning and advise residents to take necessary precautions.

According to the Meteorological Services Department (MSD), Cyclone Chido has intensified into an intense tropical cyclone and is likely to affect Zimbabwe on December 17.

The storm is expected to bring heavy rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds to several provinces, including Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland East and West, Harare Metropolitan, and parts of Midlands and Mashonaland West.

The MSD has warned of heavy rainfall exceeding 70mm in 24 hours in some areas, which could lead to floods, rockfalls, and mudflows.

Residents have been advised to plan evacuation mechanisms, avoid open spaces, secure their homes from damaging winds, and stay informed through authentic updates from the MSD and the Department of Civil Protection (DCP).

The government has assured citizens that it is taking necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of the cyclone. The DCP is on high alert, and emergency services are ready to respond to any situations that may arise.

As Cyclone Chido bears down on Zimbabwe, residents are advised to remain calm but vigilant. The government’s warning and advisory come as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and minimize damage.

Stay tuned for further updates on Cyclone Chido and its impact on Zimbabwe.

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