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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.

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ZimParks to host first-ever International Wildlife Conservation symposium

Published

1 week ago

October 17, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) will hold its inaugural International Wildlife Conservation Symposium under the theme “Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Development.”

The two-day event, scheduled for October 22 to 23, next week, will take place at the Management Training Bureau in Msasa, Harare. It will bring together conservationists, researchers, policymakers, and students to discuss key issues around wildlife protection and sustainable development.

The symposium will focus on eight sub-themes, namely Wildlife Conservation and Transboundary Management, Freshwater, Fisheries and Aquatic Management, Sustainable Tourism and Socio-Economic Development, Human-Wildlife Interactions, Environmental Health and Safety, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Community-Based Natural Resource Management, and Natural Resource Policy and Governance.

ZimParks says the symposium will provide a platform to exchange ideas and deepen understanding of the link between wildlife conservation and sustainable development. Members of the public, students, and professionals are encouraged to attend.

National

CCC legislators in road accident, Nkulumane MP dies

Published

2 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

One Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator has died while four others were seriously injured in a road accident that occurred early Friday morning near Shangani along Bulawayo-Harare highway.

CCC spokesperson Promise Mkhwananzi confirmed the accident, saying it happened between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. when the vehicle carrying the members collided with an elephant.

“The vehicle hit an elephant along the Shangani area, and unfortunately Honourable Desire Moyo, the Member of Parliament for Ngulumane, died on the scene,” Nkwananzi said.

He added that the other occupants — Honourable Madalaboy Ndebele, Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Honourable Sethulo Ndebele, and Libion Sibanda — sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital in Bulawayo.

Nkwananzi said he was deeply shocked by Moyo’s death, as he had met him just yesterday in Harare.

“I had seen Moyo yesterday and we spent about an hour chatting outside Jamieson Hotel about the party and our future plans for national development,” he said. “I’m gutted by his passing. It’s a huge loss for the party.”

He conveyed his condolences to the Moyo family and wished a speedy recovery and strength to the families of the other CCC members who remain in critical condition.

He said further details, including the name of the hospital where the injured are receiving treatment, would be released once confirmed.

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National

Doctors slam delays in using sugar tax funds for cancer treatment equipment

Published

3 weeks ago

October 8, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has expressed concern over the government’s continued delays in disbursing funds from the Sugar Tax meant for the procurement of cancer treatment equipment.

In a statement released yesterday , ZADHR said it was deeply worried by the slow pace of progress, two years after the introduction of the levy that was expected to finance the purchase of essential medical equipment for cancer patients across the country.

According to the association, by November last year, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development had confirmed collecting US$30.8 million through the sugar tax — a surcharge imposed on sugary drinks and beverages. However, no disbursement had yet been made to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the intended purpose.

“This delay undermines the purpose of the Sugar Tax, which was intended to improve public health outcomes through targeted investment in non-communicable disease management, including cancer prevention and treatment,” ZADHR said.

Zimbabwe currently bears one of the highest cancer burdens in Southern Africa, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 208 per 100,000 people and a mortality rate of 144 per 100,000, according to Globocan 2022 data. These figures surpass those of neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana.

The association warned that the government’s inaction continues to worsen the plight of thousands of patients who face long waiting lists and limited access to treatment.

“The country records over 17,700 new cases and nearly 12,000 deaths annually, largely due to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment capacity,” read the statement. “This growing burden strains Zimbabwe’s fragile health system, escalates household health expenditures, and undermines productivity.”

ZADHR called on the Ministry of Finance to urgently release the collected funds and for the Health Ministry to ensure transparent procurement and installation processes once funds are received.

The association also urged the Ministry of Health to build technical capacity among staff to maintain and effectively utilise the new equipment once installed.

“Equitable access must be at the centre of this rollout. Beyond the main Central Hospitals, provincial and district centres should also benefit to ensure no patient is left behind,” ZADHR added.