IT is a great feeling to see one of the best football brains in the land being appointed Zimbabwe national team coach.
I remember seeing Norman Mapeza taking Caps United players through drills before matches during the days of Charles Mhlauri, while he was the assistant coach.
Back then he was known for being a hard-tackling defender popularly known as Mushina Wamajuzi.
He became the favourite of many soccer-loving fans such that they began to demand more from him.
Now that he is back to coach the Warriors with the assistance of Taurai Mangwiro, Mandla Mpofu and goalkeepers’ coach Energy Murambadoro, we hope they can bring about the much-need results.
Our prayer is that the Felton Kamambo-led association do not interfere in the team selection and we urge it to give players financial support. – Mukunda Chitova
Village head secretaries fuelling partisan aid distribution
COMMUNITY members from Tsholotsho North working with a Community Peace Club (CPC) established by the Community working with Heal Zimbabwe have attributed partisan distribution of food aid for the elderly to village head secretaries. This was revealed during a social cohesion dialogue conducted in Tsholotsho North on September 8, 2021. The meeting was attended by the councillor, village heads, an agritex extension officer and 30 community members.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Participants noted that in some instances during compilation of food aid beneficiary lists, village head secretaries deliberately omit deserving beneficiaries and replace them with their relatives.
Participants also noted that this issue was fuelling conflicts in the area. The meeting also presented an opportunity for an agritex extension officer to give feedback on the Ministry of Agriculture farm inputs scheme. Going forward, government is going to distribute inputs to groups as a way of enhancing yields unlike before where the scheme was only targeting individuals.
As the way forward, the meeting resolved that there was need to continue monitoring food aid distribution as a way of guarding against abuse and discrimination. The councillor was tasked to engage the Social Welfare Department and come up with mechanisms to address this practice.
The meetings by Heal Zimbabwe are part of efforts to empower local communities to help guard against human rights abuses and also help build peaceful communities. Heal Zimbabwe utilises various strategies to address conflicts in local communities. One of these ways is the use of community dialogues, an initiative for communities to discuss and collectively identify ways through which they can proffer solutions to problems in their communities.
The platforms also equip communities with relevant information on COVID-19, gender-based violence and human rights. Such platforms also facilitate local level conversations on pertinent issues affecting communities as well as create socially cohesive communities. –Heal Zimbabwe Trust
Crisis Coalition condemns criminal activities
CRISIS in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) notes with concern and dismay attempts, by the State through a shadowy online publication to create fictitious charges of “terrorism” against the organisation.
The organisation notes that this article comes against the background of the organisation’s successful litigation against the unilateral directive by the Harare provincial co-ordinator to civil society organisations and the petitioning of Sadc chairperson to push the regional body to facilitate the resolution of the Zimbabwean Crisis through a Sadc-mediated national dialogue which creates conditions for political, economic and social reforms. The report alleges that:
lThe Zimbabwe Republic Police arrested 11 suspects at House number 2345 Nharira, Norton in Mashonaland West province,
lThese suspects were armed and had motor vehicles, possessed drugs and mobile communication units with South African registration;
lFour of the arrested are on the wanted list for various unresolved murder and rape cases in Zimbabwe.
The story further alleges that the said house belongs to CiZC.
CiZC seeks to put it on record that:
lThe organisation is a legally registered umbrella body of more than 350 organisations which uses peaceful constitutional means in its contribution to building a truly democratic society. The network did not in any way and by any means in its 20-year history of advocating for a democratic society, involve itself in any of the crimes alleged in the article.
lIt has no knowledge or contact with any of the people named in the article. The coalition does not have any safe houses.
lCiZC’s membership includes known legally registered institutions like labour, women’s organisations, youth, human rights institutions, farmers, war veterans, students, among others.
CiZC remains a civilian network of institutions working to promote the ethos of the liberation struggle, including one-person-one-vote, promotion and protection of human rights including marginalised communities and engaging the State to ensure pro-poor developmental policies.
In response to the above the coalition has instructed its lawyers to engage and take necessary legal action to seek truth, assist the police and protect civil society space and its leaders.
Marvellous Khumalo (CIZC spokesperson)
