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Refugees in Zimbabwe resort to wood poaching to survive

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Lack of opportunities for refugees at the Tongogara Camp in Manicaland is forcing some of them to resort to poaching firewood at the Save Conservancy, a top official has said.

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Tongogara, the biggest refugee camp, has over 14 000 immigrants and the number keeps growing.

Totamirepi Tirivavi, director of social development in the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry to a recent regional symposium on the impacts of climate change on humanitarian issues hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Victoria Falls that said there was need to come up with ways to assist the refugees instead of punishing them for poaching firewood.

“There is the issue of lack of employment opportunities so that these people can generate income and the main issue was when we had a cash crisis the government changed from giving them cash to rations yet they have other needs,” Tirivavi said.

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“So, they end up selling charcoal so that they can buy other requirements and they cut down trees from Save Conservancy and other surroundings and that is one of the challenges that we are faced with.

“My view is that people should not be harassed for selling firewood or charcoal as they will be trying to survive, but instead, we should try to come up with a sustainable way for them to do that while we are mitigating issues of deforestation and air pollution.”

He said although there have been no reported cases of death due to human-wildlife conflicts, they had begun erecting a fence and solar streetlights to protect the refugees from wild animals.

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“We are happy that from the beginning of this month they will be getting a monthly allowance of US$13 per head so that they will be able to buy from markets and this is good for the economy,” Tirivavi added.

“These wild animals have destroyed infrastructure and crops in their fields.

“We are happy that we got support from the Africa Development Bank of US$1.4million and we managed to erect streetlights for even women to freely move at night without fear of any gender-based violence.”

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Most of the refugees are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.

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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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