InfocusNews 25 Sept - 01 Oct 2021
year, the exchange rate also remained stable and council also received central government support through devolution funds. All these factors improved service delivery for the city. However, COVID-19 remained a major challenge for the city especially on the health department,” explained Manyemwe.
Women and Civil Society Organisations reject Bulawayo City Council’s proposed 216% tariff increase
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omen and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have rejected Bulawayo City Council’s (BCC) projected tariff increase of 216% in the proposed 2022 budget. Women and CSOs attending the consultation meetings highlighted that this increase was beyond the reach of citizens especially in the current economic turmoil that the country is faced with. The tariff increase was presented by City of Bulawayo in its 2022 Budget Consultation meetings which ran from the 26th to the 30th of September 2021. The aim of the consultation meetings was to review the 2021 budget performance and present the 2022 proposed Budget. The consultations facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
were conducted both virtually and physically. Presenting the 2021 Budget Performance review for 6 months, during the women’s budget consultation, Audrey Manyemwe the BCC’s Gender Focal Person highlighted the 2021 budget priorities as well as the budget implementation context. “The 2021 Budget priorities were water, health, sewerage, housing, roads, education, public lighting, social services, fire and ambulances in that order of priority. During the first six months, prices of basic goods continued increasing but at a reduced pace, water supply improved with dams over 60% full at the beginning of the
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Manyemwe went on to highlight that as at 31 August 2021, the City of Bulawayo had received a total of ZWL63,538,502.37 in Devolution Funds and had utilised a total of ZWL 43,731,728.50. She highlighted that some of these funds were utilised on water supply, roads, sanitation, education and health. Thandekile Mlilo a representative from the Council’s finance department who presented the Bulawayo City Council 2022 Proposed Budget highlighted the priorities as follows: water, health, sewerage, housing, roads, education, public lighting, social services, fire and ambulances. “The Projected Average Tariff Increase for the 2022 budget is 216%. The total 2022 Budget is 24,741,154,503 ZWL with revenue budget at 16,834,864,215 ZWL and the capital budget at 7,906,290,288 ZWL. “Water as a top priority will be allocated Z $ 1. 1 6 4 billion which will cover projects such as domestic water meter replacements, water mains upgrading (main pipe
InfocusNews lines) and rehabilitation of the Criterion Water Treatment Plant. “Health which is the second priority will be allocated Z $ 1. 2 0 7 billion and this will cover projects which include construction of two Clinics in Cowdray Park and Emganwini, provision of primary health care and disease prevention and acquisition of drugs and health equipment,” explained Mlilo. In response to the proposed tariff increase of 216 %, Tabeth Mhizha who was in attendance lamented this hike as she implored the local authority to take into account the current economic situation. “As it stands unemployment rates are high in the city and most women have resorted to informal trading which does not generate enough income. The retirement packages of older women are also not sufficient to cover these rates hikes,” lamented Mhizha Consoletta Mguni who was also in
attendance raised the same sentiments as she called upon the local authority to be people oriented. “When we look at the state of service delivery in Bulawayo, it is not satisfactory. Residents are going for days on end without water, burst sewer pipes are not attended to on time and the roads are death traps. We call upon the local authority to address these challenges before imposing exorbitant rates on residents,” said Mguni. Juliet Samson a Devolution Champion commended the local authority on the use of devolution funds in the construction of Vulindlela Primary School in Cowdray park and the upgrade of Thorngroove hospital. She however said that there is need for a breakdown of how much of these funds were utilised so as to create accountability. The local authority also held a
virtual budget consultation with NGOs, CSOs and churches where the same sentiments were raised as the participants were in agreement that the 216% was too high and out of the reach of the citizens. Priscilla Dube who took part in the meeting said that the COVID-19 pandemic had adverse effects on the livelihoods of citizen making it difficult for them to afford these proposed rates. “The COVID-19 regulations saw citizens losing their livelihoods especially in the informal sector as they were forced to close down for prolonged periods of time. This has exacerbated the financial difficulties that citizens have been faced with. The local authority needs to take such factors into consideration before imposing these rates hikes,” said Dube.
malnutrition are the result of maternal malnutrition, low birth weight, poor feeding and care practices, and infection exacerbated by food insecurity, limited access to safe drinking water, and poverty.
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ore than 25 percent of under-fives were treated for severe wasting in Zimbabwe from January to August this year, facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
a development which has been worsened by Covid-19 especially in food insecure districts. Wasting and other forms of acute
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Severely wasted children are too thin for their height and are the result of recent rapid weight loss or the failure to gain weight, and on average they are 11 times more likely to die than their healthy counterparts. Despite recording normal cereal production during the past farm-
InfocusNews ing season, a majority of under-fives still do not have access to nutrition in Zimbabwe, according to a Unicef report. “From January to August 2021, a monthly average of 330,339 children aged 6-59 months (168,473 girls and 161,886 boys), constituting 79% of the target, were screened for acute malnutrition in the selected districts. Of the 22,176 children targeted for treatment of severe wasting in 2021, 5,690 children (3,189 girls and 2,501 boys), constituting 25% of the target, were admitted to community and facility-based programmes for the treatment of severe wasting from January to July 2021,” says Unicef. The number of children who suffer from wasting can increase dramatically as a result of conflicts,
epidemics and food insecurity, including that caused by climate change induced droughts and flooding. The report shows that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact access to nutrition services. “However, the household cereal security in the country which has improved following improved harvests and the increased household access to maize from own production and other foods from the local markets has contributed to the decline in children being admitted with acute malnutrition in 2021 compared to other years.”
She said malnutrition in this age group affects mental and physical development, increasing risk of succumbing to a number of diseases. “Our malnutrition rate has always been high especially in rural districts and we know that Covid-19 worsened the situation as many families lost their sources of income. We therefore urge families to invest in nutritious meals for their children so that their immune system is boosted and they do not easily fall sick even in the future,” said Madondo.
Bongiwe Madondo a nutritionist highlighted that it is important for family members to ensure that their children especially under-fives have access to healthy
Madondo encouraged members of the public to buy wholesome foods for their families and avoid giving their babies junk food as this affects their development.
Bulawayo citizens not happy with virtual budget consultations
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ulawayo City Council concluded its virtual budget consultations yesterday despite objections from residents who complained that the engagement was not effective as only a few can afford data. In a letter to council, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association cited that physical meetings would have served better and catered for facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
meals.
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InfocusNews the elderly who could not attend virtual meetings.
capture views from a majority of the residents.
“It is the position of BPRA that BCC should rethink its decision on this matter and we are willing to organise those meetings for BCC since Covid-19 restrictions allow for at most 100 people to meet,” said BPRA.
“We heard that we should attend at City Hall but not all of us could afford to go to town and we were hoping that the same meeting will be conducted in our halls so that we all get a chance to air our views. The WhatsApp platforms were only beneficial to youngsters who are ever online but affected elders and rate payers failed to access the meetings due to data costs,” said Ncube.
“Another concern is the use of WhatsApp groups to conduct budget consultations as this platform proved to be ineffective during the 2021 budget consultation process. Residents raised concern that the previous budget consultation process did not serve its purpose as most residents either did not have data or the times were inconvenient for them to attend the organised WhatsApp meetings.” One of the residents Sithandiwe Ncube from Emakhandeni said the WhatsApp platforms failed to
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Tadiwa Munetsi from Magwegwe West said the consultations were rushed and council was supposed to start the process a month ago to ensure that every view is captured. “Despite the disadvantages that come with conducting meetings over WhatsApp, the whole process was rushed. A few days is not enough to capture views from all
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residents. Since physical meetings could not be conducted, council could have allocated more time so that people state their issues and their considered for our budget,” said Munetsi. Sikholiwe Nyoni from Nkulumane 5 attended one of the women’s meetings held physically at the City Hall on Wednesday and said the platform afforded women a better chance to discuss their issues compared to WhatsApp. “The process was fruitful to a handful who managed to attend the physical meeting because I feel WhatsApp left a majority of residents without a voice to contribute to our budget issues. We hope that in the future the council will consult us on how best to include residents in such important consultations because not everyone is on WhatsApp although it appeared as a better option,” she added.
Community Voices Breast Cancer: Prevention is better than cure
My heart sinks and bleeds in pain when I hear them saying alcohol is the medicine for stress without knowing the repercussions. My soul crumbles when they say contraceptive pills are the only way to prevent pregnancy My tears gradually fall from my eyes when I see the lives of my people at risk! They say increase in weight is a sign of being healthy, unaware that the cancer disease accompanies weight gain.
Some will believe that breast cancer exists when it visits their homes. Some will believe that breast cancer exists when it knocks on their doors. KUMBE LIKHOLWA NGOKUBONA NJENGO Thomas. Be informed because information is power!! Be educated because education brings wisdom!! The ball is in our hands, it is now up to us to do the right thing.
I am not going to sit back, hold back, fold my hands and do nothing while my people’s lives are being destroyed! Why do we have to endanger ourselves on what can be avoided? Why do we get addicted to substances that kill us slowly but surely? Why do we neglect healthy living and lifestyles? Does that mean that we are unaware of the dangers that we are putting ourselves into?
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The time to act and fight breast cancer is now. A change of lifestyle can save lives Eat healthy, avoid excessive drinking and smoking and keep your weight in check. Those with ears have heard and those who heard will put it into practice. Together as one we can fight breast cancer. Fighting breast cancer takes everyone Join the fight, one step at a time.
By Penny de Poet
Community Voices
Abantwana abazithwalayo besasesikolo bakhuthazwa ukusebenzisa iFamily Planning
Ngo 2020 iEducation Act yantshintshwa ukuze inike abantwana abangamankazana ilungelo lokuba bengaxotshwa ezikolo nxa bengazithwala. Kodwa ngemva kwalolu tshintsho, inani labantwana abangamankazana abatshiya isikolo ngenxa yokuzithwala lokhu lisiya phezulu ngenxa yokuthi bazibona sebekhulile bengasafanelwa yikuqhubeka befunda.
eFamily Planning ngazozonke inyanga. Abasakhulayo siyabafundisa ngokuvikela imikhuhlane yasemacansini afana lama Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STI) kanye lokusebenzisa amacondom. Bakhona njalo esibakhuthaza ukuba bafake ijadel, amaimplants, njalo lokusebenzisa amaphilisi. Izakhamizi ezingabomama ziyakuthakazelela ukuthi abantwana basebenzise amaContraceptive uma bekwazi ukuthi umntwana
Imizamo esesiyenza njenge zakhamizi yikuthi sazise laba abantwana ngeFamily Planning.
By Mary Gwanyira (Village Health Worker -Ward 4 Umzingwane District) Thina sihamba sifundisa amayouth ngefamily planning bebodwa ukuze bakhululeke. Uhlupho olukhona yikuthi imuli ezinengi labesifazana abanengi, abakukhuthaleli ukuyathatha amaphilisi
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othile useqalisile ukuphatheka kwezemacansini ukuze azivikele emikhuhlaneni lokuzithwala. Okunzima njalo yikuthi bakhona abazali abangafuni ukusala bekhangele abazukulu nxa abantwana sokumele babuyele esikolo ngoba besithi labo bayabe belemisebenzi abayenzayo. Silohlupho sibili olukhulu olwenza kucine kusiba nzima ukuthi abantu balandele umthetho owafakwa yiEducation Act eka2020.
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Electoral Information Blitz the registry does not prioritise addressing their issues, ‘aliens’ will never be able to vote no matter how desperate they are. “This issue always comes up all the time during voter registration but nothing is ever done to ensure that we vote. As it is the registry offices are always fully booked and in no time we will be told that voter registration has closed while we await our chance to get identity cards,” she said.
‘Aliens’ call for swift issuance of IDs
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itizens normally identified as ‘aliens’ have called on the Government to speed up the process of issuing identity cards which will confirm their citizenship and enable them to register to vote. This comes at a time when the general populace is struggling to access the Registrar General’s office which is failing to timely issue birth certificates, passports, death certificates and identity cards. Agnes Phiri from Sizinda says her four siblings have been struggling to access IDs in the past six years. “During the last election, we were hoping to vote like everyone else who is born in Zimbabwe, but the process of accessing cards frustrated us until we gave up. We were told that according to facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
law we could register as long as we get a card but the registry office is denying that right,” said Phiri. As the country heads towards the delimitation exercise set for next year, there is growing fear that many eligible voters may fail to register because of failure to get identity cards. Phiri expressed concern that although she and her siblings were born in Zimbabwe their citizenship is just a dream despite it being guaranteed in the Constitution. People whose identity documents stipulate that they are aliens usually have one parent being a foreigner but the constitution changed this in 2013, to say a person who has at least one parent being Zimbabwean is a citizen of Zimbabwe. According to Pauline Katunga from Cowdray Park, as long as
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Human rights lawyer Tanaka Muganyi said the affected should have their citizenship regularised and confirmed so that they are able to register to vote. “Attaining citizenship for those people registered as aliens will not automatically happen. The affected people must approach the registrar of citizenship with proof that at least one of their parents is a Zimbabwean citizen then their status will be changed,” said Muganyi. Muganyi highlighted that the registry office should swiftly assist aliens to change their status as long as the affected have all documents required which show that one of their parents is a citizen of Zimbabwe.
“The affected people must approach the registrar of citizenship...”
Young women discuss empowerment at Intwasa Women’s Roundtable and Open Mic
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Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) in partnership with Intwasa, conducted an Open Mic session which ran under the Intwasa Women’s Day Roundtable. The Open Mic was attended by female creatives in Bulawayo.
The event facilitated a roundtable discussion on issues that curtail women’s effective participation in electoral processes, leadership and decision-making processes. Female poets recited poems on voter registration encouraging women to register to vote. Jennifer Chiveya (The Broken Poet) who was one of the poets in attendance recited a poem titled “Democracy”. Through the poem she encouraged young women to register to vote and exercise their democratic rights as enshrined in the Constitution. “Young woman, register to vote facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
so as to ensure accountability in public processes!! Voting gives young women the freedom to speak their minds, nothing can match the power of your voice. Get up and exercise your right to choose the leadership you desire,” said Chiveya Rachael Voko a young woman who also took part in the Open Mic recited a poem titled “Show Up”. “Register to vote and show up for what you desire and need. Show up for change or stay at home and watch things go haywire. Show up for community development. Young woman, claim your space, voting is your right!!” recited Voko. Thando the Poet also recited a poem calling upon young women to take their rightful place in nation building through active participation in electoral processes. “A nation is built by all its people to make it whole and complete.
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It is a collective effort. Everyone needs to take action to make democracy a reality. Walk with me young woman, vote and safeguard democracy!!” said Thando Lady Tshawe an award winning artist and renowned poet and also recited a poem titled “The trees are whispering” where she called upon young women to ready their hands to write in the books of history by registering to vote. She went on to highlight that women should be in the frontline of change by registering to vote. During the Women’s Roundtable, women also discussed the effects of media on women’s participation in public processes under a session titled “Media and the portrayal of women” which was facilitated by Sibusisiwe Bhebhe of Amakhosikazi Media. Women highlighted that lack of confidence, patriarchy and lack of resources are some of the factors
that have relegated women to the periphery of the media for community development agenda. Women were encouraged to have a strong work ethic, get the necessary qualifications and break
out of their comfort zones so as to control the media narrative on the portrayal of women. Closing the event, Barbra Kamba Nyathi a psychotherapist led
a discussion on the effects of COVID-19 on women’s financial, emotional and mental wellbeing which has affected their active participation in public processes.
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Thando the Poet and Lady Tshawe share poetic rhymes on voter registration
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wo phenomenal poets from Bulawayo as they present poetic rhymes in their quest to encourage young creatives and young women to register to vote. Listen to their
pieces and be inspired #hervotespeaks #myvotespeaks #registertovote These pieces were presented during the Intwasa Arts Festival in Bulawayo on Intwasa Women’s Day #Intwasa21
“...we as women are going to lift mankind...”
“Young women, register to vote so as to ensure accountability in public processess!” facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
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Click on the picture to watch
Listen to Rudo Amor as she highlights the key requirements that are needed when registering to vote.
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udo Amor is an award-winning contemporary Christian soul artist from Bulawayo. Rudo Amor is also a Real Estate Consultant.
Listen and find out what the requirements are and remember to encourage everyone around you that is 18 years and older #hervotespeaks #myvotespeaks #registertovote
“Your future and the future of your children is dependant upon your vote...”
2023 is around the corner, go and register to vote – Bulawayo Poets
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ulawayo poets have encouraged their counterparts and youths to register to vote so that they are able to participate in the upcoming general elections. Delivering her masterpiece poem, Cwebile Sibanda a female poet in the city urged young people, parfacebook.com/wildtrustzim |
ticularly young women to register to vote ahead of the 2023 elections. “2023 is around the corner, the corner is within reach. Now is the time to be proactive and be counted amongst those citizens who are actively involved in nation-building. “Go and register to vote today. You
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have a right to exercise your rights. The right to vote. The right to vote is that right which shapes democracy in our country. It is that right that makes us powerful as citizens of Zimbabwe” The bold poet also recited how voting is an opportunity to make a statement into the future and elect
the leadership of choice. Priscynth a bold and assertive Spoken Word Artist who won the Poetry Slam competition at Intwasa Arts Festival recited a thought-provoking poem delivered on a gospel note mixed with a dash of a radical twist of assertive diction.
The Poetry Slam also gave a platform for seasoned poets such as Sox The Poet, Godswill Muzarabani and Chester to inspire young
“There is great treasure in you more than what your eyes can see but that treasure within must come out and be seen. That treasure must come out to enrich you and your very next of kin,” she recited. The Poetry Slam was organised for Bulawayo Poets with the aim of using art to share messages on voting rights and election processes. The Poetry Slam also set the agenda for young female Poets to actively participate in electoral processes through spoken word. Running under the following hashtags #hervotespeaks #registertovote and the 2021 official hashtag for Intwasa Festival #Intwasa21, the Poetry Slam also galvanised young people to register to vote. In encouraging Zimbabweans to remain resolute amidst the chaos Priscynth boldly stated: “Whether you are tall or short you wear size 50 or size 0, you can be somebody’s hero. You might be dark skinned as coal. You might be young, middle aged or 60 years old, age isn’t nothing but a number. Don’t hold or be laid back but let this be your life’s goal to give back to society every gift within your soul.” recited the bold Poet. facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
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Poets through bold and daring spoken word that speaks truth to power and challenges the status quo.
to continue engaging WILD and other key CSOs as we intend to roll out a number of activities. “This also comes against the background of low voter registration at the just ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) where only 21 people registered to vote. We should strengthen the working relationship between ZEC and CSOs and register more people to vote ahead of the 2023 elections,” Khuphe said. Speaking at the same event, ZEC Voter Education Coordinator For Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Silas Silaigwana said the province is lagging behind the expected target of 400 000 registered voters.
Young women encouraged to register to vote
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OUNG Women should stand up and register to vote, as they can contest as candidates at the age of 21 either as Members Of Parliament (MPs) or Councillors at their Ward, District Elections Officer for Bulawayo Sithembiso Khuphe has said. Speaking at a Stakeholders Engagement organised by the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) and Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) yesterday in Bulawayo, Khuphe said if people do not register to vote they risk losing existing constituencies. “Projections from current statistics indicate that constituencies within Bulawayo Province such as Magwegwe have 14 000 registered facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
voters while Lobengula has 13 000 registred voters.” “Out of the 12 Constituencies in Bulawayo, 6 of them are below the minimum of a standard constituency due to low registered voters and this means they risk losing their seats come 2023 elections, Khuphe said. Khuphe added that ZEC will be disseminating information pertaining to delimitation dates, the electoral cycle as well as plans to carry out voter registration blitz in collaboration with Civil Society. “As ZEC we would like to commend the Women’s Institute For Leadership Development and Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association for this engagement. Engagement is key and we hope
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“Bulawayo is still lagging behind in the voter registration exercise. We now have to look beyond civic voter education but civic participation. “We need to find different ways of enticing first time voters. Explain to them the importance of voting as this has a huge bearing on resource allocation in the form of Community Development Funds. A lot still needs to be done to empower our people with verified information that enables them to actively participate in electoral processes.” Silagwana said. WILD Programs Manager Permanent Ngoma said the main objective of the engagement with ZEC was to gain understanding in terms of what they are working on and see how best CSOs can collaborate with the Electoral Commission ahead of the 2023 elections.
Click on the picture to watch
A message from Mandy Mae on where you can register to vote.
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andy Mae is an alternative African-Reggae/ dancehall artist, dancer and pianist from Bulawayo.
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It is our hope that female creatives and young women can also take part in key decision making processes #registertovote #hervotespeaks #myvotespeaks
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“I am here to encourage you to go and register to vote...”
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Electoral Information Blitz
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Electoral Information Blitz
VOTERS’ ROLL LINK facebook.com/wildtrustzim |
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