Deceptive hope for Chisumbanje communities

After years of economic plunder, pillaging coupled with an uncontrollable economic meltdown, Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) finally collapsed. The main business entity that brought life to the sleepy Checheche Growth Point and the surrounding areas could no longer operate causing so much suffering to the locals who had become dependent on it for survival.

In the process, vast employment and business opportunities were lost plunging hundreds of people back into the village without alternative source of living. The grief was not to last long as rumours of a new gigantic investor started filtering the whole community like wind sending screams of joy for the restoration of survival means.

The new investor only discovered later to be Macdom Investments under the banner of Green Fuel entered into an agreement with the ailing ARDA to construct an ethanol plant at the latter’s premises. The harsh landing of ARDA had resulted in tragic loss of so many opportunities that came with the presence of a key economic driving company.

The new investor was oozing with promises of economic recovery, employment and community development which the locals been deprived of since the demise of ARDA. The locals never took time to accept that the government had done a fairly good job in awarding Chisumbanje with a big investment of that magnitude. In the midst of joy, news spread like a virus, ‘Macdom Investments wanted to take over all the community land since the 5000ha from ARDA was not enough to match the capacity of the built machine.’

Confusion become rife in the community with some accepting that big projects like bio-fuel business will bring more benefits that the small pieces of land lost. Some were convinced that they were being treated unfairly. Cheap fuel to the community and the country at large, eco-friendliness and ability to generate employment formed part of the strong points scored against the vulnerable locals who started seeing perennial hunger and poverty looming.

Promises of small irrigation plots were heard but no clear communication from the company or any of its representatives were available to substantiate the fact. The idea appeared noble since drought and hunger had taken deep roots in the community. Many thought a saviour had come in the form of Green Fuel and no reasonable human being would turn down such a God given privilege.

Pressure was coming from all angles for the locals to accept the coming of Green Fuel as a key development in the area. Determination to remain masters of their own destiny won the contest and the locals continued to fight for their land. They were resolved to fight for justice and never to accept something that is not mutually beneficial. The company and former land owners ARDA were communication differently further complicating and reducing the whole issue into some episodic drama.

The project scored reasonable points against a hostile community but along the way lost some valuable marks because in the midst of proving their worthiness, tragic scenes never stopped happening in the community. After the machine started operating, villagers woke to the news that livestock, fish and frogs had died in one of the local rivers where the wastes from the machine were being disposed into. 

Firstly the company prioritized people from other districts ahead of locals in employment opportunities. This angered the locals who lost trust in the capacity of the investor to help them overcome an almost looming poverty. The company had promised that in return for lost land locals were prioritized for employment opportunities and this proved that the company was preaching the gospel they were not willing to live.

In addition the investor was not forthcoming in terms of helping resolve some of the community problems like helping social service providers like schools and clinics in meeting their goals in the face of limited resources. This portrayed an investor who was only concerned in amassing wealth without giving back to the community.

No proper consultations were made between the company and the community leadership inclusive of chiefs, headman, Member of Parliament and Councillors and this has led to confrontational scenarios and for a company as big Green Fuel and serious as much as portray, lack of basic communication procedures shrouds the whole investment into clouds of suspicion and up to date no one from the local community and Zimbabwe at large really understands what the company intends to do and how it operates.

This has reduced the value and trust local communities had on the investor giving the latter a mountainous task to make sure that they convince the locals to share the same goal and agenda so that they work together to ensure that the relationship is mutually beneficial typical of the time ARDA was in operational.

Statement on the International Day of Peace

"As we forge ahead let us continue to exert our energy in fostering unity, peace, development and equality of opportunity of all our people," President Mugabe at the official opening of the 4^th session of the 7^th parliament.

Platform for Youth Development PYD joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Peace. We salute all individuals, organisations and governments that have committed resources and effort towards ensuring that peace prevails in the world. We are also indebted to our local organisations and movements that subscribe to the global message of peace.

As a youth organisation, we feel honoured by our involvement in peace campaigns. We are very cognisant of the value of peace in national development and democratic processes. We therefore wish to challenge all Zimbabweans to respect and honour President Mugabe’s message of peace in the country. The only question that remain unanswered is the President’s level of commitment to peace when his own party is unrepentant and responsible for the recent spate of violence at Parliament building, Fourth Street bus terminus and Mbare suburb.

As we approach the referendum, we call upon the people of Zimbabwe to respect and make a pledge for peace in the country. Zimbabweans should now begin to see elections as a democratic necessity and not a battle zone. Elections provide citizens with freedom and right to choose a political party that present the best opportunities for them. This is something that can be done in a peaceful manner without fighting and killing one another.

PYD believes peace is a critical element if Zimbabwe is to develop itself into a mature democracy that meets regional and international emulation. This clarion call demand concerted effort towards creating a peaceful environment for every citizen. It is thus imperative that messages of peace be reinforced and amplified for Zimbabwe to gain faith from its citizenry.

We wish to raise concern over the lackadaisical manner in which COPAC is conducting its business at the Rainbow Towers. We believe the new constitution is a critical foundation of peace hence should be properly handled. We become worried when politicking and partisan tendencies become the order of the day even at the uploading stage.

PYD is increasingly worried that the organ on National Healing and Reconciliation and Integration has already thrown the towel and accepted failure when it was everyone’s hope that they were going to be engine for a once more peaceful Zimbabwe.

Lastly we feel betrayed by the current Indigenization and Empowerment drive which is being handled in a partisan manner by Minister Kasukuwere. Just recently the nation woke up to the news that marauding Zanu PF youths were grabbing buildings and businesses in Masvingo and Chiredzi in total defiance of the principles of peace. The biggest question from young people is whether the Empowerment drive is genuine and if so how does Chisumbanje ethanol project fare noting that Billy Rautenbauch and Graeme Smith are all controversial investors.

Compiled by Information and Communications Department

P Bag 5004 Checheche

Email: platformtrust@gmail.com, clarismadhuku78@gmail.com

Cell: +263773010331, 0773011599

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PYD Day of the African Child commemorations on Africa TV

 Day of the African Child Chisumbanje, Chipinge, children from surrounding schools marching from the township to the venue of the meeting

 Take action and protect us, children were saying

 Adressing school children, PYD Director, Claris Madhuku

 Chawira sports academy founder member, Sailas Chawira addressing the gathering

 Leading from the front, PYD Director, Claris Madhuku

 Bubbling with energy, they sang and dance in commemoration of the day the Soweto children were massacred in 1976

 Take action, challenge violence against women

 PYD team from left to right, Priscillar Chimanyiwa, Sally Mlambo, Tinashe Chamisa and Memory Masokweni

 Youth Dialogue Action Network member Owen Dhliwayo

Elder women supported the day of the African child

 Owen Dhliwayo, Priscillar Chimanyiwa and Memory Masokweni

 The African child on his day

 The Honourable member of parliament for Chipinge South, Meki Makuyana

 The young poet doing what he knows best

 Hon Meki Makuyana hands over a sports kit to the winner of the African Child trophy

 winning teams had time to zora butter, netball team from Katanga

PYD staff and community leaders pose for a picture with the winners

PYD NEWS FLASH-CHISUMBANJE

Despite the prevailing sombre atmosphere as the people of Chisumbanje are battling to adjust to the tragic loss of Noel Mundeta (Chipinge District Administrator),a provocation is brewing.

Early this morning 21/06/12 flyers have been distributed urging the residents of Chisumbanje to support the reopening of the Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant unconditionally. Not only that, a group of unidentified individuals have been visiting traditional leadership overnight threatening them with death if their subjects would dare oppose the reopening of the plant. Workers at the plant have been couched on how to speak in support of the project. As you read, those patronised employees are being carried by the company buses to the venue of the meeting in Chisumbanje. Many unknowing and uninformed members of the community have been promised heaven on earth if they are able to speak in favour of the reopening.

The meeting which is expected to be attended by Minister of Agriculture Joseph Made, Minister of Energy Elton Mangoma and other government delegation is expected start at 1000hrs at Chisumbanje primary school. The flyers are emanating from the offices of the investor. This is clearly provocative as it undermines the objective discussion that is supposed to take place at the planned meeting. We are no longer confident if the views of the community will be respected. Barely on Saturday the 16th of June 2012, had over 2 500 people in Chisumbanje clearly articulated their recorded worries against the reopening.

PYD position is clear. The people of Chipinge should be given respect and their worries attended to before the plant reopens. We demand the consideration of employment to the locals, we demand that the Investor be guided by a well published and communicated Memorandum of Understanding, We demand a clear boundary resolution between the investor and the people of Chisumbanje. All these demands should be the basis of discussion and agreements.

The problem created by the investor and partners is to abuse people who are non resident in Chisumbanje to speak. We are concerned that people who are uninformed and unpatriotic are being given space to decide on this controversy. We condemn the intimidation of traditional leadership, who are being coerced to unilaterally support oppression and displacement of their subjects.

This meeting today should have been postponed to allow the people of Chisumbanje to mourn their late D.A Noel Mundeta.People of Chipinge deserve respect.
We are sure the voice of people in Chisumbanje will prevail and be heard.

Inserted by PYD Information Department

Statement on the commemoration for the Day of the African Child

Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) joins Africa and the rest of the world in commemorating the Day of the African Child. This year’s theme: The right of children with disability, the duty to protect, promote and fulfil is well meaning and fits well with the work PYD is undertaking. Children and young people all over Africa have suffered from neglect, abuse while being taken for granted mainly by governments and political leadership. The Day of the African Child provides PYD with a rare opportunity to evaluate what governments, political leadership and local communities are doing for the children and young people.

The 2012 edition of the day of the African child is yet another sad chapter as the welfare of children is still to be a top priority of many African governments. Reports of child rape, kidnapping of pupils coming from schools, child trafficking, and political violence cases have resurfaced in the press. The talks of elections as well as the inconclusive constitutional reform have all contributed to shrink the available space for the young people, while increasing their vulnerability to abuse and patronage.

It should be the duty of society to protect children with disabilities who continue to be victims of abuse. Society has shown a lack of respect for the children with disabilities. African governments and civic groups should work hard to promote the rights of disabled children as society looks failing to accept as equal members.

Like every other child, disabled children have ambitions and goals in life. It is our utmost desire to see society working hard to ensure that everyone helps to fulfil the ambitions of the disabled. Disability is not inability and it should be everyone’s challenge to see to it that those disabled members of society are integrated in all initiatives as this goes a long way in motivating them to work for the fulfilment of their visions and goals.

The constitutional reform process which was expected to be the life blood of youth empowerment is proving to be a dead end. The Copac team has literally failed to produce an agreed draft document, while important national issues are getting PARKED. In addition to having excluded the young people in the committee and outreach processes, the leaked draft is clearly not youth friendly.

As we commemorate the Day of the African Child we wish to reiterate that it is that time young people find their space in all national democratic, social and economic processes. Time has come for young people to start championing for their inclusion in all processes and negotiations that seeks to map and shape the present and future of Zimbabwe.

PYD is glad to commemorate the day while basking in the glory of much added relevance culminating from the developments at the Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant. Having been vocal and poignant against the Green fuel/Macdom behaviour towards the community, the organisation has already been vindicated.

The Chisumbanje investor whose relationship with the government of Zimbabwe was not in any formal and binding had no right to destabilise the livelihoods of the local communities by grabbing their land. The investor has continued to disregard local youths in its activities as they continue to play second fiddle to expatriates and manpower from faraway places.

We receive the message that the government of Zimbabwe has taken over the administration of Green fuel with a sigh of relief. However we are quick to remind the government to quickly resolve the land dispute with the community as well as address the disparity in the awarding employment contracts at the company. Young people in the area have been demonstrating and complaining with no action being taken.

The Zimbabwe government has literally failed to honour the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on health as well as the Abuja declaration that compels governments to target 15% of the national budget on health funding. This has a large bearing on young people who are make up more than 60% of new HIV infections in Africa and world over. 

We commend the government and stakeholders to continue in the fight against HIV/AIDS. While the disease seems manageable in the urban set up due to increased knowledge, this has not been the case with the rural areas. We have cases of this pandemic affecting young people and children the most. Statistics point that around 60% of the affected and infected are young people.

PYD is very much disturbed by the continuous talk of elections without clear evidence of reforms that seeks to guard against violence and rigging. While we acknowledge that the GNU must finally be concluded because of the involved parties’ inherent differences, constitutional reform must be given proper mindset not compromises and concessions that are only detrimental to the progress of our great country.

NB-PYD is commemorating the day of the African Child at Takwirira High School grounds in Chisumbanje, Chipinge from 0900hrs to 1700hrs. The day will start with a cleanup campaign followed by the main activity that will be filled with poems, dramas and entertainment to be provided by selected primary and secondary schools from Chipinge district. The main entertainment shall be provided by Poets for Human Rights as well as Savannah Arts .In addition to the local traditional dances of Muchongoyo, there shall also be a soccer and netball gala pitting six local high schools. Over 1000 members of the community are expected to grace the occasion where Professor Lovemore Madhuku will be the Guest of Honour.



Inserted by the Information department
For more information contact PYD Director
Email: platformtrust@gmail.com ; director.platformtrust@gmail.com
Mobile phone: +263773010331

PYD International Women Day statement

 “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty.”

Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Women’s day. As an organisation working with rural women, the theme could not come at a better time than now. Rural women have endured the brunt of sweating to end poverty and hunger in their respective homes. Living in a country with high unemployment, rural women have not been spared of temptations to shelve their values as they seek to make ends meet.

Rural young women have been exposed to girl pledging and other traditional social cultures without considering their right to choice. They continue to live under horrible conditions which relegate them to spectators and subjects of decision made in their absence. Claiming and fighting for their rights is translated to mean being rebellious by a culture that is not sincere to the changing demands of the 21^st century.

Due to HIV/AIDS, rural young women have been exposed to breadwinning roles which in normal circumstances should be the business of elder family members. The burden of breadwinning has never been light to the extent that some of them have dropped out of school to donate their labour for survival.

Societal backwardness has also worked to deny rural young women education. Scores of societies still do not believe in the education of the girl child. Young girls are recruited from rural areas for exploitation as domestic workers sacrificing their education on the altar of money and greediness.   

Our appeal to the government of Zimbabwe is to create an enabling environment for women to escape threatening poverty and hunger. The empowerment project in Zimbabwe has not been advantageous to women especially young women who have not been accorded the same opportunity to own means of production. Society has not been welcoming and receptive of women’s ideas and ventures. Successful women in business have often been tagged immoral or loose. Should we allow our society to continue to suffocate women and deny them an opportunity to leave peaceful and decent lives?

It is high time government place stringent laws that criminalise employing underage girls in domestic work. The biggest empowerment that young women need at the moment is education. If they are educated they are automatically extricated from poverty and hunger. We can end poverty and hunger by empowering women to be masters of their own destiny.

Together for an equal society with empowered women, poverty and hunger can be a thing of the past. Let’s work together.

Inserted by Information and Communications Department