The Mutare City Council has vowed to continue slashing maize crops planted by residents in areas not designated for urban farming.
Mutare Councillor Simon Chabuka emphasized the need to protect the environment and address the rising cases of city flooding, which have been exacerbated by unregulated farming in urban areas.
This decision follows a recent incident where council employees were captured on camera slashing a mature maize crop in Sakubva’s OTS Section. 
The video quickly went viral, drawing criticism from those who felt the council had lacked a compassionate approach to the issue.
However, during a full council meeting earlier this week at the Civic Centre, Councillor Chabuka defended the council’s actions, noting that, in his personal capacity, he had compensated some of the urban farmers whose crops were destroyed in Sakubva. He said:
<blockquote>
The manner in which the issue of slashed maize crop was captured did not give a good picture of us as a local authority.
It dented our image, but the problem is not ours as council. The same residents who complain that their maize crop has been slashed are the same who approach us complaining about being mugged because of the cover that the maize crop provides to thieves and robbers.
Some of the crops, because the farmers plant right to the edge of the roads, make it difficult for drivers to have a clear vision, thereby causing unnecessary accidents.
My plea to councillors is that we should educate our people on the proper ways of securing urban farming land.
More importantly, we have been facing challenges related to flooding in the past two months as a city. This is all because people are planting crops in areas that are not designated for that.
</blockquote>
Councillor Chabuka said that his visit to the areas where the maize crops were slashed in Sakubva was not on behalf of the local authority, but a personal gesture of kindness. He said:
<blockquote>
I went to the areas that were captured on camera in Sakubva, and I went there as Councillor Chabuka, and not as a Mutare City Council representative.
I managed to agree with the affected people, and some of them were saying they lost a bucket or two of maize-meal, hence I had to buy them from my own resources.
</blockquote>
However, he reaffirmed that the local authority will not back down from its stance on removing crops planted in undesignated areas. Said Chabuka:
<blockquote>
We are not going back on that. Everyone is aware of issues related to climate change, and we cannot just sit and watch residents continuing practicing poor farming methods that place the lives of residents and infrastructure in danger.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/council-will-not-stop-slashing-crops-mayor/">The Manica Post</a>

Pindula News

The Mutare City Council is cutting down maize that people are growing in the wrong places. They want to protect the environment and stop urban flooding caused by illegal farming. Some people are upset, but the council says it's necessary for safety. A councilor personally helped some affected farmers. The council won't stop removing crops from unauthorized areas. They want to educate people on proper urban farming practices to prevent accidents and protect the city from flooding.

Mutare Council Vows To Continue Slashing Maize Planted In Unapproved Areas

The City of Mutare has issued a one-month notice to all property owners and occupants of buildings in the Central Business District.
The notice requires them to undertake repairs, refurbishment, and repainting. The primary goal is to enhance aesthetics.
The local authority said a failure to comply with this corrective action by April 8, 2024, will result in legal consequences under the relevant Act and Town Planning Scheme. Reads the notice:
<blockquote>
The City of Mutare wherein referred to as the Local Planning Authority, is giving one (1) month notice to all property owners and occupants of buildings in the Central Business District to have these repaired/ refurbished, and repainted.
This is being done to improve the aesthetics. It can be widely agreed that most buildings in the Central Business District have gone for a long time unattended, thereby dilapidating.
This is also in contravention of the provisions of the said Act and the operative Town Planning Scheme covering the area.
This corrective action should be taken not later than 8 April 2024, failure which Council will proceed to take legal action in line with the provisions of the Act.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mutare Council Orders CBD Property Owners To Repair And Repaint Buildings

Mutare City Council has been hit by a mass exodus of nurses and firefighters due to poor conditions of service, reported <a href="https://newziana.co.zw/2023/11/24/mass-exodus-of-nurses-rocks-city-council-clinics/">New Ziana</a>.
The Acting Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka said that on average, 10 nurses resign every month resulting in a workforce of less than 70, down from 170.
He said nurses resigning have cited poor salaries and working conditions with most of them moving to Europe and Arabia, as well as local NGOs. Said Chafesuka:
<blockquote>
The brain drain of our firefighters and nurses, who are drawn to Saudi Arabia and Europe, is a severe problem for us. Our reliance on temporary nurses has increased due to the high rate of nurse attrition.
We started off with 170 nurses, but now we have fewer than 70, and we hire new nurses every month. Due to that severe scarcity, some of our clinics have ceased to have staff on weekends.
We are also facing the same challenge within the fire department as the members of staff are again seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
</blockquote>
He said the shortage of nurses is compromising the quality of health as patients cannot be attended to on time.
Mutare City Council runs Chikanga, City Center, Dangamvura, Fern Valley, Gimboki, Hobhouse, and Forbes Border Post clinics.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mass Exodus Of Nurses, Firefighters Rocks Mutare City Council

Mutare City Council has been ordered by the courts to compensate a nurse who sustained injuries after being assaulted by a municipal police officer during the council’s operation Restore Sanity.
Provincial magistrate Lazarus Murendo ordered Phineas Munyika, and the local authority to pay damages amounting to $9 727 to a local nurse Kumbirai Furusa who was roughed up and assaulted on July 6, 2018.
Mutare City was, together with Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) members and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers, carrying out a joint operation meant to rid unregistered taxi operators and vehicles parked at undesignated places in the city when Phineas Munyika assaulted Furusa.
Furusa was seated on the front passenger seat of a taxi when the police officer dragged her outside the taxi and she fell down sustaining knee injuries.
A plaster she already had on her wrist and was supposed to be removed on July 9 2018, had to be replaced as a result of the fall from the taxi.
Her new plaster was only removed after six weeks although she continued to experience pain on her wrist.
Furusa said because of the injuries she sustained, she could not cook for her family and endured a lot of pain.
Ruling on the matter, magistrate Murendo said Munyika had a duty of care towards Furusa yet he recklessly and out of over-zealousness tried to execute his duties without regard to the safety of the nurse.
Local government police across the country have for years been clashing with commuter omnibus (kombi) operators over parking at undesignated places or unavailability of licences.
Sometimes, loaded kombis, in a bid to run away from police, speed and violate road regulations putting the lives of the public in danger.
More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/court-orders-mutare-city-cop-to-compensate-nurse-9-000-for-assault/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe</a>

Mutare City Ordered To Compensate Assaulted Nurse

ZANU PF supporters reportedly disrupted a Pungwe Breweries meeting in Mutare last week which was meant to choose replacements for councillors recalled by MDC-T.
NewsDay reports that the Zanu PF activists who were allegedly involved in the disruptions included Occasion Chimwendo, Wellington Moyo and Kenneth Chimbuya.
The publication was told that the activists stormed the Civic Centre in Mutare and demanded that a meeting which was being held by Pungwe Breweries, a subsidiary of the Mutare City Council should be stopped.
Mutare City Council spokesperson Spren Mutiwi confirmed the incident adding that the local authority was investigating the matter. He said:
<blockquote>We are still investigating the issue to have an appreciation of the motive behind the disruption.</blockquote>
Another council official, who commented on the condition of anonymity, said he witnessed the drama. Said the official:
<blockquote>We wanted to install a transitional board to run council affairs for the next three months, as we are awaiting the Pungwe financial report. The disruption was done by Zanu PF supporters.</blockquote>
The source added that security details including military intelligence officers witnessed the disruptions and only said the meeting was supposed to end in compliance with the 3 pm COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
Mutare mayor Blessing Tandi refused to comment on the matter.
The meeting was premised at replacing two former MDC Alliance councillors, Edson Kalulu and Kudakwashe Chisango on the company board.
The two were recalled recently by the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/01/zanu-pf-supporters-disrupt-mutare-council-meeting/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewsDay</a>

ZANU PF Supporters Storm Mutare City Council Meeting

Mutare residents have responded with fury to reports suggesting that the Ministry of Local Government allocated residential land to senior government officials without considering the local authority’s house waiting list.
In an objection letter, one of the concerned residents, Rodney Kunenungo wrote:
<blockquote>Several applicants have applied for the same pieces of land in (some areas) and council turned them down, saying the land was not suitable for development…
We question the council’s change of mindset, thus making the stands developable and reserving the same for the town clerk.</blockquote>
United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) director Sebastian Bakare condemned the timing and preference of allocating the stands. He said:
<blockquote>Housing is a basic right provided for in the Constitution and must be accorded to everyone regardless of political affiliation and occupation.</blockquote>
<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/top-govt-officials-get-land-in-mutare-through-special-favours/">A document</a> that was shared by award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono on Wednesday indicated that more than 20 senior civil servants, judges and security officials, were granted “special favours” by the Ministry to acquire residential land in Mutare.
Mutare City Council spokesperson Spren Mutiwi confirmed that council had resolved to allocate stands to government departments, its employees and strategic partners.
More: <a href="https://zimmorningpost.com/no-to-allocation-of-stands-to-security-chiefs-cabinet-ministers-mutare-residents/">Zim Morning Post</a>

Mutare Residents Object To Allocation Of Land To Political Elites

Speaking at a council budget consultative meeting with business on Monday, town clerk Joshua Maligwa said heads are set to roll at Mutare City Council after a forensic audit instituted last year.
Maligwa said 90 percent of council employees were corrupt and the report implicated many workers, including those in management. Said Maligwa:
<blockquote>About 90 percent of the 1 300 people here (at council) are involved in shady deals. The forensic land audit is ready and about to be presented to council. There are so many heads which are going to roll. The report is bad news for the city, but once its handed over to council, we will be taking action.</blockquote>
He said corruption cases involving land had prejudiced council of millions of dollars, which would have been included in the 2019 budget.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/heads-to-roll-at-mutare-city-council/">Herald</a>

Heads To Roll At Mutare City Council Following Audit

Addressing Mutare’s new Councillors, Mutare district administrator Wilson Boore advised them to serve the people and not enrich themselves.
Boore also warned the Councillors against taking their MDC Alliance matters into council chambers.Said Boore:
<blockquote>You did not come here to enrich yourselves, you should now take the task and responsibility of serving the people. You should also discuss and contribute on issues that benefit council, its stakeholders and ratepayers. Political games ended with the July 30 election and you cannot continue advancing political issues that have nothing to do with council business and we should now put across the demands of the people in your wards.</blockquote>
Blessing Tandi was elected Mutare mayor unopposed on Thursday. Councillor Kudakwashe Chisango from the MDC Alliance was also elected unopposed as the new deputy mayor.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/09/new-councillors-warned-against-taking-politics-into-chambers/">NewsDay</a>

You Did Not Come Here To Enrich Yourselves: New Councillors Advised To Serve People

MDC-T Manicaland provincial spokesperson and Mutasa Central legislator, Trevor Saruwaka criticised Mutare town clerk Joshua Maligwa for publicly declaring allegiance to Zanu-PF.
Said Saruwaka:
<blockquote>Maligwa is digging his own grave, a man of his position ought to know better that his job doesn’t allow him to pronounce his political affiliation. It’s a public secret that all top council and government positions are packed by Zanu PF cardholders, but only the foolish ones openly beat their chest supporting the stinking association. Mutare’s poor performance is linked more to Zanu PF’s incompetence, ruinous policies, tolerance of corruption, favouritism and outright theft than anything else. I used to take Maligwa seriously, but now I know that instead of a town clerk we have a town clown running the show in Mutare. We are going to respond to the political shenanigans if he chooses to advance a Zanu PF agenda in our provincial capital.</blockquote>
MDC-T Manicaland chairman David Chimhini told NewsDay that the full council will ask Malingwa to respond and explain the circumstances that led to him publicly declaring his allegiance to Zanu-PF.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/09/mdc-t-blasts-mutare-town-clown/">NewsDay</a>

MDC-T criticises Mutare town clerk for pledging allegiance to Zanu-PF

Responding to threats by Zanu PF Manicaland Province youth leader, Mubuso Chinguno that they would use “land reform style” invasions to acquire residential stands, Mutare mayor Tatenda Nhamarare said that the local authority will not allow Zanu PF youths to illegally occupy its land without following the proper housing procedures.
Said Nhamarare:
<blockquote>We will not allow anyone to go against our housing policy. It’s illegal; we won’t allow such practices.</blockquote>
Addressing party youths during a 21st February Movement clean-up campaign at Meikles Park in Mutare, Chinguno had said:
<blockquote>Our programme to allocate stands to youths is progressing well in other districts serve for Mutare where we are meeting a stiff resistance from the council. So the best way forward is to adopt the land reform type of approach. The issue will be regularised whilst we are already on the ground. If we try to follow the council procedures it will take us decades to be allocated residential stands.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-34948-Zanu%20PF%20vows%20housing%20land%20invasions/news.aspx">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

We will not allow Zanu PF youth to occupy stands illegally says Mutare Mayor

Mutare City Council will start the process of shortlisting candidates for the vacant town clerk’s post after 32 candidates applied for the job after it was forced to re-advertise the post after the Local Government Board (LGB) rejected three shortlisted candidates.
In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, Mayor Tatenda Nhamarare refused to reveal the names of the new applicants, but said council was eager to have a new town clerk by early next year. Said Nhamarare:
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<blockquote>We will begin the process of shortlisting next week. We have 32 candidates that applied for the post. We don’t know how many candidates are going to be shortlisted. It now depends on the qualifications of the people who want the job. We are going to interview the candidates and come up with the best three. We are going to submit them to the Local Government Board. By mid-February, we are going to have our town clerk.</blockquote>
The post fell vacant after former town clerk Obert Muzawazi quit early this year.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/12/30/32-apply-mutare-town-clerk-post/">NewsDay</a>

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