Uncategorized

Mwonzora’s MDC Alliance backs graft accused Victoria Falls councillors

Published

3 years ago

October 19, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC Alliance says it suspects that corruption allegations being levelled against its councillors in Victoria Falls are politically motivated as pressure mounts on authorities to act on the alleged pilfering of the local authority’s resources.

Victoria Falls residents and war veterans from Matabeleland North are pushing for a lifestyle audit for councillors and the local authority’s management amid claims of a looting frenzy at a time the council is struggling to provide basic services.

The calls for an audit grew following the arrest of city mayor Somvelo Dhlamini about a fortnight ago on fraud allegations.

There are also allegations that town clerk Ronnie Dube and other councillors are involved in corrupt activities related to the parcelling out of commercial stands.

The Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association (Vifacora) claimed last week that it has evidence that Dube and some councillors sold a prime commercial stand number 8300 for $4 million instead of $14 million before councillors and some senior managers shared $400 000 that was paid as a bribe by the lowest bidder.

Responding to the allegations, MDC Alliance spokesperson Witness Dube told VicFallsLive that they were sceptical about the developments in Victoria Falls.

Dhlamini and other Victoria Falls councillors have remained loyal to Mwonzora after he saved them from recalls when the MDC Alliance was still led by Nelson Chamisa, who now leads the Citizens Coalition for Change.

“The party is seized with the matter of rampant corruption that is alleged to be happening in Victoria Falls and indeed, the party has a very keen interest in issues of corruption in any of the local authorities where we have representation,” Dube said.

“However, in the issue of Victoria Falls there are some dimensions which the party is not comfortable with in terms of what we suspect are strong political hands at play leading to perhaps the possibility of having spurious allegations of corruption where there is no such corruption.

“We will assume that our officials are innocent until they are proven guilty by a competent court of law and as a party we have a complete organ dedicated to those issues who are in the process of investigating everything that has led to the allegations, which has led the incarceration of our sitting councillors or the executive members in the council, some of which has led the party to be viewed in bad light everywhere.”

Dube said the MDC Alliance valued honesty and diligence, and as such, they were not going to interfere with the investigations.

“I can assure residents in Victoria Falls and anywhere in Zimbabwe that we are not a party that is going to stand in the way of the Zimbabwe Republic Police or Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission or any whistle blower for that matter where corruption is concerned,” he said.

“We will only ventilate and come out in defence of any party official if we find that they are being victimised by political hands for instance in this case our colleagues in the newly formed political party (Citizens for Coalition of Change), or even in the ruling party we will not brook the abuse of our elected officials and victimization through whatever means that may take.”

He added: “We are a party that abhors corruption because it amounts to the misuse of public funds, it amounts to the enrichment of public officials through public resources.

“So we are totally against corruption and as a party our policy is that we do not stand on the way of any efforts to stop corruption or to stamp out corruption.”

Meanwhile, Vifacora has written a letter to the local government ministry, speaker of parliament and police, among other institutions demanding investigations into the alleged corruption and mismanagement at the Victoria Falls City Council.

Ratepayers have also signed a petition demanding action against those implicated that implicated in corruption cases.

National

Seven killed, 36 injured in road accidents in Masvingo and Hwange

Published

2 days ago

August 12, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A tragic weekend on Zimbabwe’s roads has left seven people dead and 36 others injured in two separate accidents in Masvingo and Hwange.

The first accident occurred on Monday, at around 2:00 a.m. along the Mutare-Masvingo Road when a Toyota Quantum vehicle carrying 22 Zion Christian Church congregants veered off the road and overturned, killing six people and injuring 16 others.

In a separate incident, one person was killed, and 20 others were injured in Hwange when a Nissan NP300 vehicle overturned after its left rim broke on Sunday, at around 5:00 a.m.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads, avoiding speeding and observing all road rules and regulations to prevent such tragic accidents.

The police are currently working to identify the victims, and the names will be released once the next of kin have been notified.

National

Zimbabwe on track for 6% growth as economy recovers from drought

Published

2 weeks ago

August 1, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY REUTERS

Zimbabwe is on track to achieve a forecasted 6% economic growth in 2025 helped by good agricultural output and strong commodity prices, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday.

The Southern African country’s economy has shown signs of recovery in the first half of the year following a severe drought and currency turbulence in 2024 that pushed GDP growth down to 2%.

“Given the positive economic developments during the period January to June, we are confident that the projected economic growth of 6% alluded to in the 2025 National Budget is achievable,” Ncube told parliament in a mid-year budget review.

“All sectors of the economy are expected to record positive growth in 2025, mainly on account of a favourable agriculture season, improved electricity generation, stable exchange rate and inflation rate,” he said.

He did not give an update on the budget deficit, which was seen at 0.4% of gross domestic product in 2025 during the budget forecast last November.

Zimbabwe’s fiscal position remains under strain from grain imports, drought relief spending and the public sector wage bill. While the government has collected more revenue than in the same period last year, analysts say containing the deficit may prove difficult without new fiscal measures.

The local currency, the ZiG, launched in April 2024 to replace the Zimbabwe dollar, has largely remained stable against the U.S. dollar but is still overshadowed by widespread use of the dollar in everyday transactions.

Ncube reiterated the government’s commitment to the gold-backed unit and said the currency had benefited from tight monetary and fiscal policies.

Slider

ZimParks salutes brave rangers on World Ranger Day

Published

2 weeks ago

July 31, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Today marks World Rangers Day, a commemoration of the critical work that rangers do in protecting the world’s wildlife and natural resources. The day is significant as it recognizes the bravery, dedication, and sacrifices made by rangers who often put their lives on the line to safeguard the environment and conservation efforts.

In commemoration of World Rangers Day, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has issued a statement. Below is the full statement:

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) joins the rest of the world in recognizing the work of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line in protection of wildlife.
It is also a day to remember those who have lost their lives in line of duty and some who are still missing to date.

This year’s theme, “Rangers,Powering
Transformative Conservation,” speaks to the important role Rangers play, not only as protectors of wildlife but also as leaders who bring change and help shape the future of conservation.

From patrolling wildlife protected areas and stopping poachers to working with local communities and educating the public, Rangers are at the heart of everything we do to look after our wildlife heritage for current and future generations.

Rangers work across vast landscapes and often spend weeks in the bush facing dangerous conditions, tough weather, and limited resources but despite these challenges, they carry on with strength and dedication, knowing that their work makes a difference.

We believe that by investing in our Rangers, we are investing in the future of conservation in Zimbabwe.
As we mark this important day, we say thank you to all our Rangers. Your courage, passion, and commitment inspire us every day, you are the backbone of conservation, and we stand with you.