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My only sin is I’m neither Nambya nor Tonga, says Victoria Falls town clerk

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BY TINASHE KAIRIZA

LOCAL Government and Public Works minister July Moyo has instituted an investigation into corruption allegations that led to the suspension of Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube, to ascertain the veracity of the claims.

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The six-member probe team, which is being led by Harare Metropolitan province Local Governance director Cathrine Kampila has cast light on tribal dynamics rocking Victoria Falls as Dube claims that he was victimised because he is neither “Tonga nor Nambya”.

Moyo’s initiated probe seeks to test the veracity of allegations levelled against Dube, which include the sale of a stand at a cost of US$4,3 million although it was tendered for US$5,8 million by the highest bidder. This could have potentially prejudiced the resort city of US$1,5 million.

Dube was suspended on September 8 by Victoria Falls Mayor Somveli Dhlamini, after which he was served with the charge sheet that shows the allocation of a brewery stand to Jackleberry Investments without council authority and expropriating US$84 000 from the local authority’s account.

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Dhlamini was also arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on October 6, 2022, for allegedly acquiring a residential stand illegally.

In a letter dated September 29, 2022, and seen by the Independent, Moyo appointed Kampila to lead the investigating team, assigning her to “validate all issues and allegations raised in the letter of the Town Clerk’s suspension and other related matters.

“I refer to the attached letter from the Mayor of Victoria Falls, suspending the Town Clerk and copied to me. Subsequent to the request therein to cause an investigation into the matter and the provisions of the Urban Councils Act, I appoint you as the chairperson of the investigations committee. Note that this is a serious matter…I trust you shall execute your task diligently,” Moyo wrote to Kampila.

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Moyo’s letter to Kampila was also furnished to a number of government bureaucrats including Matebeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo and Local Government and Public Works secretary Zvinechimwe Churu.

The Kampila-led committee will review the charges levelled against Dube, which resulted in his suspension.

The investigating team, as learnt by the Independent, flew to the resort destination last week to commence its work.

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In a letter outlining the charges and seen by the Independent, Dube is accused of abuse of office.

The Town Clerk is also accused of unprocedurally allocating the resort area’s dumpsite to Green Life Africa in partnership with Mosia Tunya Waste and Landfill Private Limited.

“On February 25, 2021, you unilaterally allocated the council dumpsite to Green Life Africa in partnership with Mosia Tunya Waste and Landfill Pvt Limited without a council resolution. In your letter dated 25 February 2021, you stated that management had no authority to lease the said dump site/landfill or sewerage pond area.

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You acted outside the scope of your mandate by usurping council powers,” Dhlamini wrote to Dube.

Dube, as the charge sheet shows, is also accused of “theft of trust property” with allegations stating that he illegally transferred US$84 000 from the Victoria Falls City bank account.

The embattled Town Clerk is also accused of “incompetence, dereliction of duty and failure to supervise staff”.

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Dube was also accused of “misleading” council to sell stand number 8300 in a transaction that potentially prejudiced the local authority.

Responding to the allegations, Dube denied any wrongdoing to the Independent, suggesting that he was being victimised by top officials because of his ethnic background.

“My only sin is that I am neither Nambya nor Tonga and this has compromised my effectiveness as some political heavyweights are fronting a tribal agenda,” he said.

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After receiving the charge sheet, Dube, sought counsel from his lawyers, who wrote to Dhlamini indicating that the Mayor’s actions were meant to settle personal scores against their client.

“On a separate note, our client is rather concerned at what appears to be a continued unwarranted attack on his person by yourself. He may be forgiven to think that you have a personal vendetta against him.

“For instance, it is common knowledge that you previously caused his suspension from work. Again, he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the court of law which found him not guilty and acquitted him, Ncube and Partners Legal Practitioners wrote to Dhlamini, in a letter that was also copied to Moyo.

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Dhlamini had not responded to questions posed by this publication. The investigation by the Local Government and Public Works ministry comes three months after the Independent reported that Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe’s top tourism drawcard and world spectacle, was at the centre of a legal dispute pitting environmentalists and two firms planning to build on restricted zones marked by Unesco as a world heritage site. – Zimbabwe Independent

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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.

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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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