Connect with us

National

Police urge public to behave during SADC Summit, Heroes’ holiday

Published

on

BY STAFF REPORTER

As the country prepares to host the 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has issued a statement urging the public to exhibit law-abiding behavior during the upcoming event and the Heroes’ holiday.

Advertisement

Commissioner-General of Police, Tandabantu Godwin Matanga, assured foreign dignitaries, visitors, and Zimbabweans that adequate police deployments have been made to ensure peace and security throughout the country. “We want to assure the public that we have deployed enough police officers and resources to ensure that peace prevails not only in Harare but in all parts of the country,” said Matanga.

The statement comes as the country prepares to host the 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit from August 17-18.

The summit will be preceded by the commemoration of the nation’s Heroes and Defence Forces holidays.

Advertisement

However, rights watchdogs, including the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference have expressed deep concern over the prevailing situation in the country, citing the resurgence of “ugly vices” ahead of the SADC Heads of States meeting where sores of rights activists and opposition members have been locked in jail for varying degrees of freedom of expression charges.

The police commissioner also urged motorists to drive responsibly and cooperate with police officers controlling traffic. “We implore motorists to be exemplary in their driving conduct…we will impound all unroadworthy vehicles and take stern action on any motorist who will be found driving through red traffic lights, going against the flow of traffic or creating third or fourth lanes on the roads,” he warned.

Matanga also appealed to parents to prioritize the safety and security of children during the holiday and urged the public to report any criminal acts to the police. “We want to assure the public that we will take decisive action against anyone operating unlicensed liquor outlets or shebeens during this period,” he said.

Advertisement

The police commissioner also reminded the public that the police will maintain its usual visibility in residential, industrial areas, and Central Business Districts through patrols, stop and search blitz, and monitoring suspects who might want to take advantage of the pending holidays and the SADC Summit to commit criminal acts.

“We will also take decisive action against anyone found driving under the influence of alcohol,” Matanga warned. “We want to assure the public that we will do everything in our power to ensure that they are safe and secure during this period.”

The police commissioner concluded by wishing all visitors to the country a safe stay and hospitality. “Please enjoy the safety and security of Zimbabwe during your stay,” he said.

Advertisement

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National

New 600 schools vs. reality: Mat North rural students trek over 10 kilometers for class

Published

on

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

In a recent parliamentary session, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerayi Moyo, proudly announced that the government has constructed over 600 schools across Zimbabwe between 2022 and 2025. “I can happily inform this House that we have constructed more than 600 schools,” he stated, adding that “this year, we are targeting to build not less than 200 schools in 2025.”

Advertisement

Despite this achievement, reports from Matabeleland North province reveal a stark contrast, where students in rural areas often walk over ten kilometers to reach their nearest secondary schools. For example, in Nkayi, learners from areas such as Menda and Mantshololozane must travel long distances to access secondary education at Tohwe and Nkayi High Secondary Schools, which are situated more than ten kilometers apart. This trend has persisted, making it difficult for many students to pursue beyond primary education.

While the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to educational development, the experiences of many rural students paint a different picture. One legislator noted, “We were informed in this House that we have a deficit of 3 000 schools in Zimbabwe… what could have probably caused the mushrooming of these schools is the fact that there is a gap, and children do not have to walk long distances.”

In response to the issue of unregistered schools, Moyo addressed concerns, stating, “It is mandatory for any school to be registered before they can operate.” He explained that there is a dedicated department responsible for school registration and encouraged those operating illegally to regularize their status.

Advertisement

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

National

Four men on the run after allegedly killing man over relative’s death

Published

on

BY STAFF REPORTER 

Four people from Silobela are being sought by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for their alleged involvement in a gruesome murder that took place on Sunday.

Advertisement

The police are investigating the murder of 21-year-old Thandelwenkosi Moyo, who was allegedly killed by the four suspects after being accused of killing their relative.

According to the police report, the incident occurred at Munklenuck Village, Inyathi.

The accused have been identified as Nyoka, Zizimuzi, Mboya, and Aweli.

Advertisement

The police report states that the four suspects took turns to attack the victim with booted feet and a sharp object, resulting in his death at the scene.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspects to come forward and report to the nearest police station.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

National

Parliament grills minister on Zimbabwe’s climate and food security policies

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Last week, the Parliament saw a robust exchange as Members of Parliament (MPs) probed the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement, Anxious Masuka, about the government’s plans to enhance food security amidst climate challenges. The session highlighted both the progress and the hurdles faced in rehabilitating irrigation schemes across the country.

Advertisement

Addressing Food Security

Thusani Ndou initiated the discussion by questioning the government’s food security policies in light of reported irrigation schemes operating at a mere 20% capacity. He emphasized the critical food shortages resulting from this inefficiency, despite the season’s good rainfall. In his response, Minister Masuka underscored that the government considers food security a cornerstone of its agenda and described ongoing efforts to combat the effects of climate change on agriculture.

“We regard food security everywhere and every day as one of the philosophies of the Second Republic,” Masuka stated, explaining the government’s commitment to “climate-proof” agriculture. This involves implementing the Pfumvudza/Intwasa model, which promotes sustainable agricultural practices tailored to the environment, and accelerating irrigation development.

Advertisement

Masuka announced ambitious targets to complete the development of 26 000 hectares of smallholder irrigation across 460 schemes by 2030, with 19 000 hectares already achieved. However, he acknowledged that regional disparities mean that some areas, particularly Bulilima and Binga, continue to face significant food shortages, despite the government’s commitment to addressing these needs.

Irrigation Scheme Oversight

Further inquiries from MPs, including Phathisiwe Machangu, Lupane east, raised concerns about idle irrigation schemes and the government’s policies for monitoring their functionality. The Minister acknowledged the historical context of these schemes, noting that many were established during colonial times as “uneconomic, unviable units.” He highlighted a new initiative aimed at transforming these uneconomical schemes into viable business units by restructuring governance and management practices.

Advertisement

“We are now using the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model to pool smaller plots into larger, economically viable units, thereby improving their sustainability and profitability,” he explained. The Ministry has successfully onboarded 341 out of the 460 irrigation schemes onto this new model.

Budget and Development Challenges

Others further pressed the Minister on the apparent lack of follow-through on government budgets allocated for these irrigation schemes. Masuka expressed disappointment over budget allocations, revealing that as of June, only 37% of the requested resources had been disbursed.

Advertisement

He urged Parliament to advocate for the importance of developing irrigation infrastructure, especially in light of changing climate conditions. “It is saddening that we have resources lying idle while communities suffer as candidates for social welfare,” he lamented.

Regarding the quality of irrigation contractors and value for money, Masuka acknowledged ongoing assessments by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee. He assured the MPs that procurement regulations were in place to ensure contractors deliver quality work but left the door open for evidence of failures to be addressed.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 VicFallsLive. All rights reserved, powered by Advantage