Mutare, PSMAS in $1m land swap deal

CASH-STRAPPED Mutare City Council last week resolved to settle its more than $1 million debt to Premier Services Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) through a land swap deal as revenue collections in the eastern border town continue to shrink.

The local authority owes its workers salaries for seven months.

Last week, police were called in after some contract workers stormed Civic Centre demanding their dues.

In a full council meeting on Tuesday last week, the council resolved to offset its $1 180 698 debt to PSMAS through a swap of land measuring 18 500 square metres.

Town clerk Obert Muzawazi told the council meeting that at the rate at which they were collecting revenue, the local authority would not be able to settle the debt hence the proposal for a land swap.

He said PSMAS was agreeable to the land swap deal.

The local authority said the move was the only solution to the difficult financial situation.

“In line with the litigation that council has with PSMAS for an outstanding fee for services rendered to its employees, the parties came up with an out-of-court settlement wherein the council offered land namely sub-division A of stand 7212 of Mutare Township, subdivision B of stand 7212 Mutare Township, subdivision C of stand 7212 Mutare Township,” the council minutes read in part.

“The piece of land measures in total 18 500 square metres.

“This is in full and final settlement of the debt of $1 180 698 owed by council to PSMAS.”  Manica Post

Mutare Shelves Plans to Destroy Illegal Structures

CITY authorities in Mutare have temporarily shelved their plans to demolish hundreds of illegal structures that have been mushrooming in the border city's high density suburbs and the CBD. The demolitions were targeted at tuckshops and some buildings illegally constructed on undesignated areas.

Before the new development, the local authority had informed residents of its plans to destroy illegal structures. Mutare mayor, Tatenda Nhemarare confirmed the local authority has decided to shelve its plans for now while they sought alternative places to accommodate the affected families.

"We have halted the exercise as the local authority is trying to locate alternative areas for the residents to carry out their operations," said Nhemarare. The local authority's decision could also be associated with a petition from United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Association (UMRRA) asking city fathers to first consider the humanitarian element to their unpopular decision, before the demolitions.

UMRRA Executive Director, Dr Sebastian Bakare, confirmed his association had written a petition against the demolitions and thanked the council for heeding to their call. "We wrote a petition to the council and they heeded our call. The petition was purely on humanitarian grounds," said Bakare.

UMRRF had argued that proceeding with the exercise was going to severely disadvantage poor residents in Mutare. "It is our view that the owners of these illegal structures are innocent residents who are trying to eke out a decent living through honest means," said Bakare.

"Unemployment rate is around 90 percent. We kindly ask you to provide alternative designated working areas in consultation with them before demolition." Due to economic hardships and job scarcity, residents have resorted to constructing tuckshops and salons in their backyards to raise funds to survive.

Mutare Residents Seek to Raise U.S $250k for Flood Victims

TOUCHED by the plight of the Tokwe-Mukosi flooding victims, a group of Mutare residents will next month embark on a sponsored walk through three of the country's surrounding provinces hoping to raise $250 000 for the troubled villagers.

The residents will do the walk under the leadership of their local civic group, Combined Mutare and Residents and Ratepayers Trust (CMRRT) on May 21.

CMRRT programmes manager, David Mukunda, told New Zimbabwe.com weekend the walk will start from their Mutare base to Masvingo, proceeding through Harare and ending in Mashonaland East province.

"We intend to raise $250 000 to buy blankets, food, medicals, just to mention a few, to assist the victims," said Mukunda, adding that it was their responsibility as civil organisations to help needy fellow citizens.

"It's our duty to see that rights of citizens are protected in this time of need. Access to shelter, water, food and medical is a basic human right for all," said Mukunda.

He said they have since met Manicaland provincial administrator, Fungai Mbetsa and Mutare District Administrator, Cosmas Chiringa to discuss how they intend to raise the donations.

He encouraged other civil organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and churches to come forward with donations to assist the victims.

Mukunda further said the sponsored walk has been sanctioned by police under the Public Order Security Act.

Over 3,000 families that had been staying in the flood prone Tokwe-Mukosi area were left homeless early February when incessant rains in Masvingo province caused the flooding of the man-made dam whose wall partially collapsed under increased pressure.

The resultant flooding saw homes, crops and property washed away and causing a huge disaster that saw government move to relocate the villagers to Chingwizi holding camp where they await being allocated plots to build new homes.

But their stay at the transit camp has not been rosy as they have experienced overcrowding and hunger and have survived through the benevolence of government agencies and humanitarian organisations.

Sex-Starved Guard Up for Raping Mentally Ill Victim

A SEX starved security, who was guarding the Provincial Medical Director's Offices in Mutare weekend, was arrested after being caught red-handed while having unprotected sex with a 40-year-old mentally challenged woman.

It is reported that Kudakwashe Matapure, 26, of Chikanga Phase 2 in the border city, was on duty Saturday night when he saw the complainant loitering near the premises. He lured the woman into the premises where he allegedly raped her once.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda, confirmed the incident. Chananda said on the day in question, a passer-by and now witness in the criminal case, reports having heard some strange noises coming from the premises.

His suspicions were confirmed when he quickly informed one Simbarashe Nyatondo, a motor mechanic at the premises, who was not very far from the place. The two immediately visited the premises where they found Matapauke allegedly forcing himself on the woman.

A report was made at Sakubva police station leading to Matapauke's arrest. The complainant was taken to Mutare Provincial hospital for medical examination. "At the moment, the complainant cannot narrate what really transpired on the day in question because of her mental status," said Chananda.

He said it was a serious offence to take advantage of the mentally challenged in the society.

ZIMBABWEAN EDUCATION AND THE INTERNET

The world at large has witnessed an incredible improvement of technology although the levels of technology are poles apart in various countries. African countries are legging behind even though slowly they are catching up with the rest of the world. Zimbabwe is one country that is recording a significant rise in the use of technology. The education system particularly has registered a massive impact in terms of the use of technology, the internet in particular. In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe at some point in time donated computers in schools around the country with the intention to improve the use of computers in schools as the world is becoming more and more technologically cognizant. Private schools in Zimbabwe are well equipped with computers and some government schools are making efforts in acquiring computers as they are facing financial hardships. Schools in the rural areas hardly have computers in classrooms. There are mixed feelings concerning the use of the internet in the education system. Clearly noticeable are two sides, there are positive and negative effects of having the internet embraced in the education system.

The internet is one good resource for educational researches and has every kind of information one could possibly want. There are websites geared for learning on the internet. The internet is very useful for learning purposes as students will be accessing up to date information on the internet. The internet allows one to find information at any time of the day thus making it easy for students to study, do their homework and research at any time they like. Placing computers in classrooms and at home offers the greatest benefit to education from computers. Zimbabwean schools have been struggling to source enough textbooks and learning materials for their learners. With the internet, teachers can access all categories of information and learning aids can be made for learners thus maximizing learning in the classrooms. The internet has a positive impact on Zimbabwean education by providing students with a variety of resources for their studies.

Sharing of information has been made easy by the invention and use of the internet in education systems around the world. Teachers can put information on the internet then learners can have access to it provided that they have computers and access to the internet. The internet provides a platform for communication between teachers and learners, students can communicate with their teachers by using emails. The internet can provide a platform for interaction to students from different schools around the country. Information can be shared, debates and sporting activities can be organized very easily via communication on the internet. The internet provides an easy way for communication, sharing of information; in this respect the internet has a positive effects on the Zimbabwean education system.
In Zimbabwe and countries beyond our borders people are being encouraged to learn computers for them to be computer literate as the world requires them to be so. Jobs mostly available nowadays require one to have knowledge of computers. If a person can use the internet via a computer it means one must have some knowledge as to how a computer works. The use of the internet means that schools will be teaching computers in schools thus the education system will be producing computer literate individuals into a technology mindful world. Computer literate young people coming out of schools into the world can easily be familiar with technology involving computers they may come across.

However, the internet does not only have educational material but also material that can easily steal the attention or focus of learners when they visit the internet with the intention of doing some researching. Young people in Zimbabwe are very much interested in the old and new softwares, games, social networks and dating sites found on the internet. The desire to learn and use some of these programmes creates a big problem of internet addicts. The internet can make students computer addicts who may even opt to abscond from school lessons as they will be so engulfed by games for example on the internet. Students instead of studying may spend so much time playing games or surfing the net without any particular reason but for the fun of it. If this happens this means that the time spend on studying is reduced resulting in poor grades. The internet in this way poses a serious problem to the education system thus a negative effect on the Zimbabwean education system.
The internet allows people to easily view information thus students can view unsuitable material like pornography. The internet is a tool for sexual predators who engage in chat rooms young students who may easily fall victims. Pornography can be very addictive making it inevitable in some cases for students to act out what they see. Female students may fall pregnant resulting in them being expelled from schools and that will be disappointing as the government is making efforts for the elevation of the girl child in the society through education. Students are also prone to false information that might be available on the internet. This may cause or lead to lots of confusion among students.

Conclusively, the internet has good contributions to the education system in Zimbabwe. The internet is a gateway to all various kinds of information that can benefit students. Having computers in the classrooms generates computer literate individuals and makes available the platform for interaction for learners and their teachers. Simultaneously, measures ought to be taken to stop students from viewing inappropriate content- pornography and using false information by verifying with their teachers.

Onwell Muzawazi.I'm

single. I did my O level at Mabvuku high school then came to Mutare
where I did my A level at St Joseph's high school- Mutare. Later I
proceeded to Africa University where i'm currently doing my studies
for a bachelor's degree. I love writing short stories and poems, and I
also enjoy watching movies.

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