LIMPOPO MIRROR
10 11 November 2011 By Kaizer Nengovhela
“ANC owes me money,” claims woman Jenita Banda, a businesswoman from Musina, claims that the African National Congress owes her R25 000. Banda says she was contacted by top ANC members in the region to provide chairs and tents when President Jacob Zuma was visiting the Skoonplaas Stadium in January 2009. This was shortly before the by-election at the municipality. Banda, a former ANC member, is now an ACDP councillor in the Musina Municipality. She said she rendered the service
and sent an invoice of R18 000, but the ANC didn’t pay. "I have been calling them (ever since). Later, the suspended manager of the Musina Municipality, Abram Luruli, told me the money would be paid by the Musina sub-region of the party. When I went to the treasurer, she refused, saying she hadn’t received such a directive from her seniors," says Banda. "They didn’t pay. What they did was to send me from pillar to post. The ANC Women’s League also approached me to
provide them with transport when they were going to celebrate a Women’s Day in Lebowakgomo in 2009. They told me it was urgent and I provided two mini-buses. I sent my invoice of R7 000, but they never paid. Initially when I phoned the Deputy Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, Matodzi Ramadwa, she used to answer the phone without any problem, but now she ignores my calls. I have been a service provider since 1997, and never experienced problems like what the ANC is doing to me." Abram Luruli said he could not recall such a payment dispute for services rendered. "I can’t confirm or deny this. I will go back to the ANC and check if we owe her. If we owe her, we will pay," he said. Representing the ANC Women’s League, Matodzi Ramadwa said she would check with fellow comrades in the region if it was true that Banda was not paid. “If she was not paid, we will sort out the matter as soon as pos"I need my money, nothing else," says businesswoman Jenita Banda. sible,” said Ramadwa. By Peter Muthambi
Photographed during the minister´s visit to the Masia area a fortnight ago are, from left, the acting executive mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality, Cllr Humbulani Mathavha, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti, Makhado Municipality Mayor Cllr Mavhungu Luruli, Chief Mbangiseni Masia and the MEC for Agriculture, Ms Dipuo LetsatsiDuba (right). By Peter Muthambi
R33,6 mil for Masia community project
The Minister of Rural Development and Land country and had therefore identified rural developReform, Mr Gugile Nkwinti, injected R33.6m ment as a priority. This government is conscious into the Masia Development Trust as part of ru- that our people in rural areas face the harshest ral development. This was during the minister's conditions of poverty, food insecurity and lack of visit to the Masia area a fortnight ago. access to basic services on an almost daily basis," All this came after the minister had made a com- he said. mitment to the Masia Development Trust during The community centre will be comprised of his first visit to the area last year. Nkwinti pledged a show ground, cultural village, sports facility, to make money available for the construction of a computer laboratory and entertainment square. community centre in the area. According to a traditional leader, Chief MbanHis promises eventually became a reality when giseni Masia, the centre will contribute positively he announced the start to the lives of the people through job creation and of the project. Nkwinti access to services. said that government He said that the project would go a long way in was committed to taking resolving challenges in society. Masia also urged service to the people. the community once more to take part in the deAccording to W/O Lazarus Netshizati, "Government was aware velopment of the area. the suspect fled. He added that a case of that the challenges in “These developments that are in the pipeline rape had been opened with the police, Masia were common in cannot be well implemented without the support most rural areas in the of the community,” he emphasized. following the incident. "We tried to arrest the suspect but he By Mashudu Netsianda fled. On Monday, his lawyer called the station, saying that he would personally hand over the suspect to the police, but this never happened," he said. Khosi Elish Mbedzi was officially Chombo commended the Venda installed as the new Chief Matibe (Vhapfumbi) tribe for upholding their of Beit Bridge East area last Fri- traditional values, which he said had day. He replaced his father, Chief stood the test of time. Chichewo Matibe, who died last "Traditional leaders are the custodiyear after a short illness. ans of the people and they know their Khosi Mbedzi is the eldest son in priority areas in terms of developthe Matibe family. ment, hence the need for a synergy The new Chief Matibe was in- between them and all development stalled at a traditional ceremony partners. I would also want to urge held in line with the local Venda traditional leaders to be pro-active (VhaPfumbi) traditions at Makote in HIV and Aids intervention provillage outside Beit Bridge. Mbedzi grammes," he said. (43) went through full initiation processes for six months, following the formal burial of his father in May this year. The entire Beit Bridge district has been operating without a chief, following the death of Pariti Sitauze of Beit Bridge West and Chichewo Matibe of Beit Bridge East. The Sitauze clan has, however, been involved in a longstanding dispute over the chieftainship. The installation was preceded by a traditional ceremony in the local Matopo Hills where the chief spent six months being initiated. Zimbabwe’s Local Government, Urban and Rural Development Minister, Newly installed Chief Matibe Khosi Elish Ignatius Chombo, pre- Mbedzi, seen during the traditional ceremony sided over the chief's marking his official installation as the paramount installation programme. chief of Beit Bridge East area.
Girl (17) allegedly raped by friend’s boyfriend A 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her friend's lover in the Nzhelele area last Friday evening. The incident occurred at Tshiswenda village, where a 27-year-old man allegedly raped his lover's friend. According to the police report, the two had been drinking together at a tavern at Ha-Rabali village. They then went to a
filling station as the vehicle they were travelling in was running out of petrol. The police added that the suspect then went to a nearby bottle store, where the man purchased some liquor. They later went to the suspect's place at the nearby Tshiswenda village. The police report states that when they arrived there, the man forced himself onto the girl and allegedly raped her.
New leader for Beit Bridge