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Victoria Falls residents boycott 2023 budget meetings as tension rises over graft

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Victoria Falls ratepayers are boycotting the city council’s 2023 budget consultations as they are demanding answers on various allegations of corruption scandals that have rocked the local authority.

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The budget meetings that started this week failed to take off on two consecutive days as residents stayed away while demanding to be first addressed about the alleged irregular sale of commercial stands, a US$89 000 loan that was given to town clerk Ronnie Dube to buy a car and a luxury car for the mayor.

A budget meeting that was organised the business community comprising of tourism operators, non-profit organisations and special interests groups saw only five residents attending.

Four of the people that attended the meeting were members of the Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association (VIFACORA) while a meeting for wards nine and 10   that was held at Mosi-Oa-Tunya High School had less than 20 residents.

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Those who attended the meetings demanded answers from the local authority on how it was handling its funds given the latest scandals.

VIFACORA and some residents accused some council employees and councillors of shifting from the core mandate of service delivery to pursue corrupt deals for personal gain and this has impacted negatively on council’s finances.

In both meetings, residents demanded accountability on the sale of stand 8300 to the lowest bidder yet the highest bidder had offered more than double the amount.

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VIFACORA chairperson Kelvin Moyo said residents’ concerns must be addressed before the budget could be formulated.

“This stand was earmarked for the state-of-the-art hospital that was supposed to be built before Covid-19, but the investor was affected by the pandemic,” Moyo said.

“After that it was resolved that it must be retendered and at the time it was valued at US$14 million and then then investor was supposed to build two reservoirs in Mkhosana, which was to deal with perennial water challenges there, especially between the months of august to November,” Moyo said.

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The residents are querying how the stand was bought by the lowest bidder.

“There are a lot of questions that residents are asking,” Moyo said.

“They want to know what exactly happened (on the stand issue) and we feel this should be addressed in order to bring confidence to residents before we continue with the budget formulation.”

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Residents said they also needed an explanation on circumstances that saw town clerk Ronnie Dube getting a US$89 000 to buy a car with a 25 percent discount and at the interbank rate.

“We all know what that means,” VIFACORA secretary general Trymore Ndolo said.

“Additionally, the same vehicle bought using council funds becomes personal property entitling the town clerk to claim mileage on it, which means that in the end council will repay the loan and more.

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“The town clerk has a contractual office vehicle, which should have been bought as a priority over the personal vehicle loan and where is the signed loan agreement, did he get a loan without signing a loan agreement or an offer?”

Residents are also demanding answers on council’s proposal to give mayor Somvelo Dhlamini a Toyota Fortuner vehicle as a golden handshake at the end of his term next year without a full council resolution.

“The resources are not theirs to squander, but ours to protect for the benefit of everyone and future generations,” Ndolo said.

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“At this rate nothing will remain of our beautiful city.”

Other issues include the controversial leasing of the council brewery for 15 years without proper procedures being followed.

Residents also queried why councillors were not attending the budget meetings.

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Councils’ finance director Neville Ndlovu in response said residents who felt aggrieved should always raise questions with the local authority.

“I know there is so much information that goes out and we have seen so much in the media, (but) those things have nothing  to do with the budget processes that we are currently doing,” Ndlovu said.

“If stakeholders have issues they feel they need clarification on, council officials are available from Monday to Friday (where) we do those engagements because this will actually hamper other progress because as it is now.

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“We need to do the budget for 2023 because come January one, we have not really completed the process, we will have not a budget to work with.”

Budget meetings in other wards are scheduled for today and Friday.

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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.

National Picture

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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National

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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