Statement on the Commemoration of the International Human Rights Day

As we come to the end of our 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, the Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) joins the  world in commemorating the International Human Rights Day.

The theme of the 2019 International Human Rights Day, Youth Standing Up for Human Rights resonates well with our 2019 – 2023 strategic thrust which calls for a well-trained, mentored and nurtured young people with life skills in Manicaland Province. The 2019 – 2023 strategic thrust is buttressed by our programming and implementation that places young people at the centre of community development initiatives as we strongly believe that they are the drivers and agents of transformation and social change.

We call upon policy makers and community stakeholders to provide a conducive environment in which young people can enjoy their inalienable human rights. From our programming, we have realised that young people play an integral part in advancing social justice, democracy and peace in local communities.  Despite the young people’s passion for human rights, their contribution has been undermined by our political leadership who view young people as political cannon fodder and spectator partners for the full realisation of a human rights culture in Zimbabwe.

The upholding of human rights in Zimbabwe has become a challenge, with human rights abuses increasing at an alarming rate. This has exposed young people to serious challenges which limit their freedoms of assembly and expression. Having realised that they are growing up in a context marked by serious human rights violations, pervasive poverty and weak social controls, the young people have been exposed to a vampire world yet with little coping mechanisms to advance the principles of human rights in local communities.

PYCD is closely working with young people to socialise them to value human rights based approaches as a solution that brings about social cohesion, good health, political tolerance and economic growth.

Ward 20 Councillor bemoans early marriages and school drop outs in Chibuwe.

Speaking at a Family Fun Day in Chibuwe organised by Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) on the 5th of December 2019, Councillor Charles Mugidho Mahlonga bemoans the rising cases of early marriages in Chibuwe.

" The fun day is happening alongside the commemoration of 16 days of activism against Gender based violence and I am here to express my concern on early marriages; children as young as 12 years are getting married .The children are running into marriage instead of focusing on education" Councillor Mugidho said.

Councillor Mugidho has been working with community stakeholders in denouncing child pledging and other forms of child marriages. However, there have been worrisome cases of children being involved in child pledging due to adequate and effective awareness on harmful cultural practices. Most children in the community are exposed to irresponsible men

" We have agreed with the traditional leadership to denounce child pledging but it's shocking to see the children we are protecting getting married .At Chibuwe high I have received reports of girls who have dropped out of school " He added.

PYCD was commended on its role in denouncing harmful cultural practices through various activities in ward 20 that included awareness and a stakeholder approach to the human and wildlife conflict.

The Family Fun Day was held to interface with the victims and survivors of cyclone Idai disaster which caused untold damage in Chipinge and Chimanimani. The tropical cyclone Idai, a natural disaster that hit Chimanimani and Chipinge districts in March 2019, caused flooding and left a trail of destruction. Chibuwe was one of the most affected areas in Chipinge district, with Chibuwe Primary School losing a block of toilets that was serving the more than 2000 learners at the school. The tropical cyclone Idai was intricately linked to the concept of social vulnerability and it disrupted the social functioning of people by destroying the common forms of survival such as food security, health, education and other related aspects of humanity in the community.

The Family Fun Day at Chibuwe Primary School acted as a way to bring people in the community together through cultural events and various activities that offer psycho – social support.

Sex workers in Checheche bemoans lack of confidentiality at St Peters hospital

Artwel Chingwara

Speaking at a focus group discussion at Checheche organised by the Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) Gender desk; Sex workers complained of the publication of their health status which lead them to lose customers and even reluctant to seek medical help

“The medical staff at the local hospital (name supplied) doesn't respect our privacy and confidentiality when we go to seek medical help on sexual transmitted infections. This has made many of us not to seek urgent treatment making the infections get into serious stage" Said Chipo,who is one of the familiar and regular visitors to the PYCD Drop In centre in Checheche.

She went on to say her friend nearly died of genital watts as she feared to go to the local hospital and ended up resorting to traditional remedies which could not help.

PYCD Gender Wellness and Advocacy Officer Ms Cynthia Gwenzi urged the sex workers not to delay seeking medical attention. She went on to suggest to them to continue visiting the nearest clinics since her organisation would come to their help by engaging with the hospital staff. Despite this assurance, the sex workers complained that the treatment they were getting was inhumane in addition to the fact that the charges are expensive and unaffordable considering the little they get after providing services.

"We don't have money to seek medical help at other centres since we charge smaller amounts moreover customers are now low because of the economic situation. We beg PYCD to talk with the local hospital staff to respect patients’ privacy and confidentiality; if that is sorted we will feel free to be treated”.

Said one of the vocal participants identified only as Mai Tee.

This important discussion came at a time when PYCD has joined the international community in celebrating 16 days of activism against Gender based violence under the theme "ORANGE THE WORLD: GENDERATION EQUALITY STANDS AGAINST RAPE"

This year's theme resonates with the efforts PYCD have been making in undertaking its endeavour to empower young women and girls against harmful cultural practices.

The achievement of Goal 5 on Gender Equality by 2030 requires urgent action to eliminate the many root causes of discrimination that still curtail women’s rights in private and public spheres. Eliminating gender-based violence is a priority, given that this is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world today.

Vheneka village welcomes the message to speak out against violence

Cheriel Dzobo

There was consensus by the women who were participants to a women hearing in Vheneka village, that speaking out about their experiences of abuse and violence was one of the surest ways of eliminating violence against women and girls in Chipinge district.

Ms Cynthia Gwenzi who was the guest visitor for the hearing, encouraged the women to speak out and fight the tendency of suffering in silence. She went on to say that tolerating gender based violence and rape is tantamount to violence as this lead to more people falling victims. The women who attended the hearing session were notified of the existence of a drop in centre at the PYCD Offices. The main purpose of the drop in centre is to receive and document all cases of violence against women including harmful cultural practices that hinder women’s positive contribution to the development of our community. Women who come to the centre are offered counselling and other relevant skills to institute the process of apprehending perpetrators of gender based violence.

The women hearing attracted 25 women from Vheneka who were mobilised to speak out about their personal experiences in response to the various challenges in the ward which includes early child marriages, school drop outs, wife beating and high cases of divorce.

Women who attended appreciated the role of PYCD for enlightening them to understand that they have a voice and were equal partners for development together with their male counterparts.

“Women hearing has been part of our response to afford women an environment and platform that is free of men so that the participants can freely reflect and plan on the best way to end GBV and early child marriages” Cynthia Gwenzi , PYCD Gender Wellness and Advocacy Officer reiterated

The Women Hearing in Vheneka was organised as part of PYCD’s commemoration of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence that is being held under the theme: Orange the World: Generation Equality stands against Rape. Vheneka village is found in ward 27 of Chipinge South constituency. There has been numerous reports of gender based violence in the ward, and it becomes imperative to hold a women hearing session. The women hearing in Vheneka village aimed to prevent gender-based violence through a consultative approach.

The women hearing in Vheneka brought to the fore the main challenge for violence prevention as the absence of health or social services. The absence of health and social services expose the village with little support with which to intervene in cases of gender based violence. There is little police intervention, and the village is left to police the situation themselves. On the other hand, there is also little social services support for women victims, and therefore, the priority for the village then becomes the maintenance of the status quo rather than protection of the woman experiencing abuse or violence.

The Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) joins the rest of the international community in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence under the theme; “ORANGE THE WORLD: GENERATION EQUALITY STANDS AGAINST RAPE.” This year’s theme resonates with the efforts that we have been undertaking in our endeavour to empower young women and girls against harmful cultural practices in Chipinge. We will have varied activities in Chipinge district that will start from the 25th of November 2019 and ends on 10^th of December 2019.

Chipinge district is a conservative community that has strong patriarchal beliefs, power and control that have created social environment for the perpetuation of gender inequalities.  Through our #NdirimunthuNgeanthu campaign, PYCD has put the issue of sexual violence, rape and abuse of young women and girls on the spotlight. We have increased awareness on violence and rape against young women and girls through women hearings, door to door campaigns and interface meetings with traditional leaders among key community stakeholders.

The 2019 activities are configured around the narrative of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as it has been realised that gender discrimination is still woven into the fabric of social norms. PYCD is of the belief that gender equality, quality education, good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, peace, justice and strong institutions will bring impetus to the elimination of violence and rape against young women and girls.

PYCD will officially launch the commemorations on the 2nd of December 2019 at Checheche growth point, through a march that will fold into a mobile clinic to afford the community at large to interact with free legal aid through one of our partner, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).From the 25^th there will be various activities in selected wards of Chipinge Rural District Council. These activities will include women hearings, men’s forums, interface meetings with traditional leaders as well as understanding the plight of sex workers, door to door campaigns and sensitisation meetings with key community stakeholders. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence will also address the unequal economic relations between Mutema banana farmers and a large scale investment company. The unequal relations have exposed the vulnerability of young women in areas of entrepreneurship and land justice.

Young women have suffered violence and discrimination in Chipinge district in the on-going evictions that both the central government and local government have undertaken to pursue. Currently, young women have borne the brunt of the exercises to evict villagers from their area of residence. Women and girls are left stranded and exposed to sexual violence and rape, just like what happened during the Cyclone Idai disaster. Young women and girls suffered abuse, sexual violence and abuse as the distribution of relief aid was heavily gender insensitive.

Another major highlight of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence will be a family fun day to be held at Chibuwe Primary school aimed at providing psycho-social support to the victims and survivors of Cyclone Idai disaster.

Can the new currency ease cash shortages?

By Success Majaramhepo

Zimbabwe is trying to bring back its “Zimdollar” currency and not for the first time. Ten years since the troubled national currency was essentially destroyed by years of hyperinflation, central bank officials and a few strategic government insiders have been hinting or openly discussing the need for its return.

Last week the government moved a step ahead in its currency reforms when the central bank announced new notes will be introduced in two weeks to fight transactional challenges emanating from over-reliance on digital and mobile money exacerbated by cash shortages.

Mobile money, an area in which Econet spin-off, EcoCash is the dominant player has often been helpful for ordinary Zimbabweans in alleviating the cash shortages they have been experiencing. However, mobile money has also become problematic as wallet holders have had to pay premiums of up to 50% to access their funds in cash and this is why the Monetary Policy Committee of the central bank is moving to introduce new currency notes under the banner of the Zim dollar.

But to understand the Zimbabwean currency changes and reforms and the resultant crisis, one needs to go back to 2009 when the country—ravaged by hyper-inflation—abandoned the Zimbabwe dollar and adopted multiple currencies including the US dollar and South African rand.

In 2015, the foreign currency notes dried up at the banks, leading to cash shortages in the economy. Then in 2016, Zimbabwe introduced bond notes as a surrogate currency which initially had an equal value to the US dollar but today it trades at 1:15 with the greenback.

The currency crisis worsened even after longtime ruler Robert Mugabe was deposed by Emmerson Mnangagwa in November 2017. He appointed Mthuli Ncube as finance minister in 2018 leading to the adoption of a monetary policy pivoted around currency reforms which have in turn led to the removal of foreign currencies and re-introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar in 2019.

This November Zimbabwe will inject more cash into the economy in the form of new ZWL $2 coins, ZWL $2 and ZWL $5 notes and these will be legal tender alongside the bond notes introduced in 2016 pending their gradual phasing out from the market.

According to the monetary policy committee of the Zimbabwean central bank, “the level of physical cash in the economy is inadequate to meet transactional demand” hence its decision to “boost the domestic availability of cash for transactional purposes through a gradual increase in cash supply over the next six months” and starting with the new notes coming up this month.

With Zimbabweans having to pay premiums for their own money in their mobile wallets, economists including Oxlink Capital’s Brains Muchemwa have described the situation as a reflection of failures but some Zimbabwean economists believe the introduction of new notes under the Zim dollar banner will help address cash shortages in the economy, mainly because of fears that further injection of money will drive up inflation. It may be too late, the economy recently officially sunk into hyper inflation despite the government stopping publication of yearly inflation data.

Cash shortages have been pushing up transaction fees for digital money, leaving analysts divided over the role of mobile money in abetting or worsening the monetary crisis. Authorities in Zimbabwe have recently ordered mobile money operators to stop cash in and cash out functionalities, apparently because of the premiums some agents were charging and has only re-instatement of these functions after imposing limits of about ZWL100 per transaction. On the parallel market, ZWL100 is equal to $5 while on the official interbank market, ZWL100 is about $6.60

Apart from the pricing distortions and premiums on cash, Zimbabweans are having to cope with sharp price rises, the most recent of which has been fuel prices and data tariffs. Econet Wireless this week hiked mobile voice call and mobile data tariffs while fuel has also gone up by about 12% after the removal of subsidies on petroleum products this year. This is expected to provide further room for inflation increases. Re-Invent Zimbabwe chair and economist Vince Musewe says “increasing liquidity through hard cash will be like giving more chips to the gambler” as prices will likely shoot over the roof.

Apart from the skepticism and divided opinions over the new notes to be introduced and their impact on the economy, some analysts such as independent economist Jeffrey Kasirori say the government still has to do more to clear the way for the new currency notes to have a positive impact. Zimbabwean businesses have long complained about the high costs of doing business and a placid regulatory framework.

“If we don’t address fundamentals especially around the cost of production then the new currency might not work. We are waiting to see what else the government will do to address the business operating framework because as things stand, accessing foreign currency is still problematic for many companies and this makes their production difficult,” says Kasirori.

Success Majaramhepo is a 22 year old young woman who strongly believes in social justice and equality. She is a third year student at the University of Zimbabwe studying Journalism and Media Studies. Success is a contributor to PYCD's Social Media platforms.

Chipinge town residents run amok, as they reject increment of water rates

By Allan Murozvi

Residents of Chipinge town have caused a stir  by accusing the local authority of mismanagement and incompetence,  which are responsible in the eventual decision by  ZESA to disconnect the water source for residence.

ZESA was forced to disconnect water for residence over non-payment of a bill amounting to over I million dollars. The local Council is now in a catch 22 situation since the on-going budget consultation to increase the rates are now in limbo.

The budget consultation meetings are scheduled in terms of the Urban Council Act, to prepare the 2020 budget. The exercise which  started on Monday the 21st of October 2019,is now uncertain as residents  are refusing to budge as they demand to understand what led to the bill ballooning to  I million dollars when water had not been efficiently distributed by authority .

 Residents suspect that if the rates are increased, this will continue to give the local authority uninterrupted access to Council funds without accountability. They are not ready to approve the proposals as they view the proposed figures of an interbank equivalent of USD 8 is beyond the reach of the majority. This proposal to increase water rates for Chipinge town residence is failing to find takers and now raising emotions.

 Ward 4 residents have already disrupted a consultation meeting at Gaza Town Hall. The Council management had to call police after the residents became agitated. They are threatening to expose unethical operations of council which might eventually need the Anti-Corruption Commission to intervene.

 The Chipinge district Edition of the Cyclone Idai Sport Tournament, a huge success

Chimanimani and Chipinge districts are in distress following the Cyclone Idai that ravaged their communities in March of this year. Most survivors are still narrating the traumatic horrors of seeing visions of people being swept away in the muddy floods. This is a reflection of a community that is still in deep shock. On 19 October 2019, PYCD in collaboration with Sports for Excellence Trust staged a successful sports tournament in Chipinge District.

The sport tournament brought different walks of life together and it improved the self-esteem of Cyclone Idai survivors and prevented them from physically and mentally disintegrating. It was refreshing to see the community getting closer during the sport tournament, despite the sweltering and blistering heat.

Cyclone Idai survivors and other people who graced the tournament acknowledged the fact that sport has proven to be an extremely beneficial tool in re-establishing normalcy, providing space for people to laugh and interact with others, free of guilt and fear. This has been identified as a crucial factor in rebuilding their lives and communities, and thus sport becomes an effective tool to rebuild dignity and faith in life, to overcome trauma and build resilience.

The sport tournament took place in two venues in Chipinge district. The venues chosen for the tournament were Takwirira High School and Checheche Primary School who were hosting teams from Chipinge South Constituency and Musikavanhu Constituency respectively. The sport tournament was configured around proffering psychosocial support to Cyclone Idai survivors. Therefore, participating teams were drawn from the community and surrounding schools and numbered 16 teams in total.

In Musikavanhu Constituency, Manzvire Secondary School and Manzvire community team emerged together with Rimbi High School and their community counterpart. These four will now progress to the next stage of the tournament. On the other hand, Takwirira High School and Katanga High School made it for school teams while One One FC and Mkukuzi FC community teams managed to progress to the next stage of the tournament. The finals for the tournament will be held on the 1^st and 2^nd of November 2019 at Takwirira High school where more firework is expected. ZIFA has confirmed attendance to come and scout talents through the vice chairperson of the soccer legends Mr Harlington Shereni.

The sport tournament enabled survivors to cope with traumatic experiences and return to their daily activities, helped in restoring and maintaining the social functioning of the affected Chipinge and Chimanimani districts as well as in creating an emotional balance of survivors at the level of their social environment.

According to the sponsors, the 1^st and 2^nd of November 2019 will be big events in Chipinge district where the public is invited to show solidarity with the victims and survivors of the disaster. Mr Claris Madhuku, the Director of Platform for Youth and Community Development has extended his invitation to well-wishers and the corporate world to also play a part.

“As a community based organisation we have been doing so much since March to contain this sad loss both in Chipinge and Chimanimani. We have reconstruction projects in schools where we have been involved in repairing classes, libraries and toilets for schools including paying for school fees to affected kids. We also expect other more serious players to join our plea in the spirit of Ubuntu” Madhuku pleaded.

PYCD Rallies the Community to Denounce Gender Based Violence in Chipinge

Hordes of people converged at Takwirira High School, Chipinge on the 28th of September 2019 to raise their voice against the increased statistics of women who are losing life due to the occurrence of gender based violence targeted at young women and girls.

The more than 200 marchers were coordinated by the Platform for Youth and Community Development together with Vemuganga Community Radio Initiative who were commemorating the International day of Peace in Chisumbanje. The day which was running under the theme "Climate Action for Peace” lived up to expectation.

This theme is a realisation that climate change is an indisputable challenge to human rights, security and socio -economic development in our local communities.

The march was organised in the view that climate change poses far greater challenges especially to vulnerable members of our society, as it has the potential to aggravate existing fragile situations as has become the case in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts due to the impact of Cyclone Idai. The advent of tropical storms like the recent devastating Cyclone Idai is expected to increase further due to climate change.

The socio – economic impact of Cyclone Idai did not discriminate but it was experienced differently by women and girls. Women and girls were affected more significantly than men due to gender inequalities and power imbalances in access to resources and information in the district.  Chipinge is the most climate change vulnerable districts in Zimbabwe which makes women and girls more susceptible to the adversities that result from climate change.

The march against domestic gender based violence took an hour, and raised awareness on the vulnerability of women and girls to climate change. The song s ".....Isu taramba bongozozo…” (We are against violence) punctuated the March and filtered through the community. Stakeholders graced the event whose main purpose was to raise awareness and recommend action against gender based violence in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts. PYCD Gender wellness and advocacy officer addressed the marchers and encouraged them to coexist by involving closer relations and family networks to mediate disputes before they escalate into violence.

The theme for the International Day of Peace for 2019 allowed the organisers of the event to provide statistics on how women suffered due to the effects of climate change that led to many people perishing and houses destroyed as a result of Cyclone Idai that struck Chimanimani and Chipinge district the most. The most affected are women and children who remain vulnerable today 6 months later.

After the March, there was a tournament that featured 8 soccer teams and 6 netball teams as part of the activities for the day. Sport has always been used as the best symbol of working together,  co-existence and peace.

Headman Forichi Chisumbanje a Hero of Land Rights and Social Justice in Chipinge

Headman Forichi Chisumbanje passed away on 17^th of September 2019 after a short illness, and was buried on Friday the 20^th of September 2019 in Chisumbanje. The death of Headman Chisumbanje is a heavy blow to the land rights and social justice movement in Chipinge District, as he was a vital cog in the land rights and social justice advocacy. Mourners who attended and spoke at the funeral of headman Chisumbanje unanimously agreed that the late headman was an irreplaceable character who gave the community direction in the land dispute between the community and Greenfuel Pvt Ltd. His passing on created a sombre atmosphere in Chisumbanje,since it was an emotional moment for land rights and social justice activists in the area.

His counterpart within the land struggle, Headman Phineas Chinyamukwakwa admitted that the land struggle for justice and beneficiation will be poorer in the community without the personality of headman Chisumbanje. He was the spirit behind the community resistance to arbitrary communal land take over without respecting traditional leadership as well as local customs.

His value was echoed by village head, Leonard Uchaka Muyondozi who described the headman as a rare breed of traditional leaders of our time. Headman Chisumbanje practiced effective delegation in terms of serving leadership tasks, an approach which made him to be revered and respected by both the young and elderly in the village.

“We have lost a firm and consistent leader who believed in a stakeholder approach in achieving community beneficiation within the framework of the land dispute.” Village Head Muyondozi told mourners.

The burial was attended by members of the Christian community, business community and various community stakeholders. People of different walks of life who attended the burial also appreciated the role played by a local community based organisation, Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) for leadership on the land dispute as well as taking an active role in laying to rest headman Chisumbanje. The local community based organisation PYCD had to postpone its activities that were lined up for the weekend of 20^th – 22^nd of September 2019 in order to accord a decent and dignified send off to one of the community key stakeholder in land rights and social justice.

“We had to postpone all our weekend activities to pay our last respect to Headman Forichi Chisumbanje who was a pillar of strength to PYCD’s advocacy work since 2009.” PYCD Director, Mr Claris Madhuku said.

The ongoing land dispute in Chisumbanje and Chinyamukwakwa involving the community on one side and Green fuel Pvt Ltd, Chipinge Rural District Council and ARDA on the other hand has taken many dimensions that include confrontation, dialogue and legal processes. PYCD has been mandated by the community stakeholders to continue with the advocacy work on the land dispute to ensure that villagers are not inconvenienced by the Green fuel investment so that proper and adequate compensation is attained by the villagers. This can only be achieved through just and equitable land investment policy framework that addresses community beneficiation adequately. This is possible through the empowerment of a stakeholder dialogue platform where issues that affect the villagers and the Green fuel project stakeholders, are discussed and addressed for actioning.  

Press Statement on the commemoration of International Day of Peace 2019

Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) joins Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Peace. This year’s celebrations are running under the theme "Climate Action for Peace.” 

This theme is a realisation that climate change is an indisputable challenge to human rights, security and socio -economic development in our local communities.

 PYCD is cognisant of the fact that climate change poses far greater challenges especially to vulnerable members of our society, as it has the potential to aggravate existing fragile situations as has become the case in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts due to the impact of Cyclone Idai.

This year’s commemorations come in the midst of serious concerns by citizens of Zimbabwe and Africa, to invoke the values of ubuntuism as a lasting solution to the various forms of violence taking place in the world. A Case in point is the gothic scenes of Xenophobia attacks that are currently going on in South Africa against fellow African nationals. The xenophobic attacks have resulted in the death of 12 people with more than 680 people arrested for violence.

The commemoration provides an opportunity for PYCD to advocate not only for a legally binding instrument against violence, but for a moral campus that will assist citizens and governments to develop common values that allows for human rights, justice, freedom and protection of all core values of humanity.

PYCD will be commemorating this day through a sports tournament  featuring eight community soccer teams and eight community netball teams. The participating community teams have been picked from various villages in Chipinge district. 

The sports tournament will be preceded by a march which is expected to denounce the sprawling of gender based violence cases in Chipinge district .The procession will be from Machona village via Chisumbanje village to the venue of the commemoration, which is Takwirira High School on the 28th of September 2019.

This year’s theme commensurate with the current efforts by government and development agencies to mitigate against the effects of Cyclone Idai which left more than 1000 people dead. Cyclone Idai left a trail of destruction in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts.

In commemorating the International Day of Peace, PYCD will engage in public awareness activities that seek to address a wide chasm between women adversely affected by the consequences of climate change and community leaders who control the resources and hold the decision – making power.

Great Test for Greenfuel on the Women Empowerment Project.

Greenfuel (Pvt) Ltd is making effort to shrug off criticism from the community by building a vegetable market place at Chisumbanje township. The market project has had many false starts due to procedures linked to the application process at Chipinge Rural District Council. It also lacks consensus from the community stakeholders.

As usual, initiatives involving Greenfuel tend to draw sceptism as its modus operandi is always embroiled in controversy. Within the community, Greenfuel is yet to work hard on improving its reputation when it comes to initiatives of a corporate social responsibility nature. The community has a negative perception in regard to the company since it normally sanctions political polarization by its selection of beneficiaries on political grounds.

The local councilor for ward 26, Mr Misheck Busangavanye admitted that the delay for the building of the market place is a result of an absence of consensus among key stakeholders. The most critical stakeholders like traditional leaders remain divided on the site of the market place. The intended beneficiaries of the market place are women who ironically were direct victims of the company’s expansionary policy. These women are among the people who lost land to Greenfuel and whose crops were constantly ploughed down. These women have shown serious reservations on the vegetable market place. Others who appear to be receptive to the project want it to be located not in the centre of the township, and also want a bigger place.

However, Greenfuel is targeting women who were recipients of the 0.5 hectares of irrigable land who they believe need a market place for their produce. Thus, the project is a great test to the sincerity of the promises made by the company to the community in view to improve their lives. Women hold the key to food security and community development.

PYCD is of the opinion that the empowering women in the community should strengthen food security, reduce poverty and ultimately drive community development. The organization is pointing out to Greenfuel that the concept of a vegetable market place has been plagued with failures and inefficiencies in some parts of the country. The failures and the inefficiencies were due to the location of the place in relation to the buying community. Therefore, the planning and designing should have taken into consideration the issues of accessibility by the intended customers or risk constructing an infrastructure that will end being a white elephant. At the same time, Greenfuel must avoid entrenching political marginalization as this has an effect of deepening food insecurity in the community. 

PYCD is doubtful about the project because Greenfuel is in the habit of creating publicity stunts at the expense of the community. From the experience of the interaction with Greenfuel, PYCD has come to an understanding that the company provides what it thinks the community needs rather than opting for consensual arrangements. Corporate social responsibility is a tool that can transform the plight of women in the district only if it is done through an agreed structural framework.

Greenfuel emerged during the economic crisis of 2008 but have had issues with compliance  social justice, environmental and health standards.

PYCD warns male teachers who abuse minors

PYCD has received reports of male teachers allegedly abusing minors in Chipinge district, and this has caused dismay and disappointment from parents and other key community stakeholders. The Herald recently reported that Chipinge district tops in teenage pregnancies. The case of Gideon Mhlanga High School makes disturbing reading. It is alleged that a teacher impregnated a 16-year-old ordinary level student. The case came to light in April 2019 where it is said the teacher took advantage of the minor who had come to him for holiday lessons. Circumstances around the case is a big worry for parents who are pro-life, as the minor will be deprived of a future involving her independent choice. Reports now claim the minor is not only pregnant but has been infected with the dreaded HIV virus.

PYCD Gender activists who are dotted in 20 wards of Chipinge District have received numerous anonymous calls with reports of abuse. Baseline survey done by PYCD Gender desk has revealed that there are many cases currently taking place in schools within the district. The cases have gone unreported due to the vulnerability of the girls involved. In cases being handled by PYCD, parents end up giving in to school authorities who are preoccupied with maintaining the image of school at the expense of justice.

It is common knowledge that adolescence is a tumultuous period where it involves major physical transitions but lack the psychological maturity to understand the transition. The cases of abuse targeting minors clearly brings to the fore the relationship between adolescence and the community in which adults expected to be responsible create a situation where it becomes a difficult transitional period.

Thus, adolescence in the district represents the most troubling years because sexual abuse of minors impacts individual adolescents’ development.

Sexual and reproductive health is an important component of the universal right to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health. Thus, every community need to respect, protect and fulfill the right to sexual and reproductive health to adolescents. It is sad to note that a school environment is slowly becoming fertile ground for sexual abuse of minors. Schools are part of the socialization institution. Schools together with the community shape the adolescent development within the social and cultural context in which it occurs. Therefore, PYCD condemns the perpetuation of a culture of sexual abuse of minors in the district.

PYCD have noted with grave concern that the major drivers of adolescent and reproductive health violations include socio – cultural and economic issues as well as inadequate enforcement of the laws and policies that offer protection to minors. The 2016 – 2020 National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy states that a significant number of new HIV infections occur among the 15 – 19 year age range. However, PYCD is gravely concerned with the inconsistency in some laws in regard to definition of a child, the age of consent to sex and to marriage. There is need for the harmonization of laws relating to adolescents.

PYCD will endeavor to increase advocacy on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights in schools to mitigate against the abuse of minors.

Female Councilors in Chipinge District Adopted Social Media as Tool to Raise Awareness on Devolution

 Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) in conjunction with Vemuganga Community Radio (VemugangaFM) held a training workshop for female councilors in Chipinge District to sensitize and capacitate them on the use of social media and the constitution.

 Chipinge District has 38 wards with 30 of them being under Chipinge Rural District Council whilst 8 are from Chipinge Town. Out of the 38 councilors in Chipinge District, only 9 are female councilors. The training workshop succeeded to capacitate female councilors with knowledge and understanding of the legal and policy framework guiding local government systems, with special focus on Chapter 4 & 14 of the Zimbabwean Constitution.

In our socio – political culture, there is prevalent gender inequalities in bargaining power and access to resources. Therefore, in targeting female councilors, PYCD and Vemuganga FM endeavor to enhance women’s status in the district through empowering female councilors against social norms within the community. Thus, the training process promoted Female councilors’ effective participation, influence and leadership in the devolution implementation framework.

Chapter 14 of the Zimbabwean constitution outlines the idea of devolution, and it is envisaged that it will go a long way in repealing the erstwhile centralized system of governance. Devolution allows local authorities to execute local affairs, steer socio-economic development and promote citizen participation for effective democratic processes. The female councilors also gained an insight into the Bill of Rights as pronounced in Chapter 4 of the Zimbabwean constitution. A session on Chapter 4 enhances their greater knowledge on social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights. The Bill of Rights form part of the broader right to livelihood and has significant implications for incorporating into the policy framework of the local government system.

The 9 female councilors were taken through the basics of sustainable community development which has ecological integrity, economic security and social cohesion as the main components. Gender power relations influence the impact of people on sustainable development and can in turn bear great effect on social cohesion. From a policy stand point, it is essential for the 9 female councilors to have an overview of the relationship between gender and sustainable community development so as to facilitate a more sustainable use of local resources while empowering women at the same time.

The Chairperson of Chipinge Rural District Council, Patience Mlambo, who was also among the participants, applauded the training. She pointed out that the greatest challenge being experienced by female councilors in Chipinge, emanates from lack of access to empowering information due to the lack of resources from central government.

“This training is an eye opener and can go a long way if there will be increased support and funding to ensure that we have the gadgets (smart phones) and an Information Centre in Chipinge, where we will be able to access internet facilities to support our social media operations. I admit that those councilors with access to social media, have better capacity ” said Councilor Patience Mlambo of ward 18 in Chipinge East Constituency.

The words of councilor Patience Mlambo were supported by Wishes Hama, who is councilor for ward 24 in Chipinge South Constituency.

“As female councilors we face a lot of criticism that is sometimes unjustified, simply because we are women and lack the tenacity to defend ourselves by providing evidence of our work. This training on social media will go a long way in providing evidence to the public on community development we are involved”

Social media has become an integral part of the communities and can no longer be ignored in the community development trajectory. It has proven to be an interactive tool that bring members of the ward together and encourage them to discuss and explore the underlying issues within their respective wards. One of the outstanding features of the training process is the realization that the female councilors are knowledgeable about their respective wards.

 Ethel Toungana of ward 17 pointed out that she is using bulk sms as a form communication in addition to periodic meetings she holds in her ward. However, the use of social media is being hampered by the cost of social media bundles as well as lack of gadgets that are compliant to social media. Access to information on local government system, community needs and devolution can make female councilors more competitive.

 Information is highly regarded as power in itself and communication tools can channel power instantaneously to members of wards. In addition to making wards more effective, social media has been identified as a means to improve the quality of engagement and the subsequent decisions. However, there is need to address the economic environment that is undermining the advancement of affordable and access to the full range of communication services.

One of the facilitators Cynthia Gwenzi, who is the Gender Wellness and Advocacy Officer for the Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD), admitted that female councilors faced a lot of challenges.

“These female councilors are mothers, spouses and daughters who are expected to behave in a particular way that conforms to the stereotypes and patriarchal beliefs of their communities in Chipinge. It is therefore important that we profile them as a way of strengthening their leadership to overcome these challenges” Cynthia Gwenzi reiterated.

The training process brought out the salient features of women in politics. All the 9 female councilors were elected on the first past the post principle. The electoral field in the district is highly contentious and these female councilors provided a different perspective to politics. The councilors promised to address harmful cultural practices prevalent in the district. These include child marriages and gender based violence.     

Greenfuel (Pvt) Ltd Paranoia Fuels Community Tension

Sport in Chipinge district is often regarded as an important part of life, contributing to community identity, sense of place and social interaction. The presence of a competitive soccer team in the district is expected to contribute to social capital and one of the most distinctive characteristics of the Greenfuel ethanol project is the promotion of a soccer team that is playing in the ZIFA Eastern Region Division One. Greenfuel FC and Chipinge Stars are the only teams from the district that are currently competing in the ZIFA Eastern Region Division One. 

On Saturday the 27th of July 2019, Greenfuel FC was playing Chiredzi Stars but the match was marred by a disgraceful incident that took place at the instigation of Dean Chikukwa, Human Resources Manager at Greenfuel (Pvt) Ltd.

Dean Chikukwa ordered the security details from Greenfuel (Pvt) Ltd to remove Patrick Chitongo from the ground after the latter had approached him for a comment. Patrick Chitongo is a journalist based in Chiredzi. six security details manhandled Chitongo, literally dragging and assaulting him all the way. The incident took place in full glare of those who came to watch the match. Patrick Chitongo made a police report of the assault at Chisumbanje Police Station and the reference number of the report is RRB 3783116. He is feared to have broken a rib.

The assault on Patrick Chitongo by Greenfuel (Pvt) Ltd security details does not augur well with the district’s principles and values on community tolerance. Greenfuel (Pvt) Ltd security details have a responsibility to protect the company from a variety of hazards usually in the form of criminal acts. Security details enforce the company rules. However, the question arises to what threat was Patrick Chitongo posing to both Dean Chikukwa and the company?

The company’s security has been known in the community for the heinous acts ranging from killing people suspected of encroaching into the cane fields as well terrorizing villagers along the fields. The security details have become a terrible menace in the community as they are the enforcers of the company’s aggression and vindictiveness against common villagers. There have been cases of children drowning in the canals as they were running from the gun totting security details who were harassing and beating them.

The attack on Patrick Chitongo can be disguised as a harmless execution of responsibilities but the impact has been significant. This is an undermining of journalism that seeks to uncover the truth and hold the company to account for its social responsibilities to the community. The company is exhibiting a subtle fear of the community and in response it adopts a mafia style approach to anyone it deems as an undesirable. 

We implore Dean Chikukwa and the company to offer an apology to Patrick Chitongo and the community.  Chitongo was treated as a common criminal whereas he was merely doing his job as a journalist. His conduct was commensurate with his profession. At the same, the company has projected the community as intolerant to different views. The incident took place in Chipinge district and it is imperative that the company apologies also to the community for putting its name into disrepute. 

PYCD ENGAGES THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH, SPORTS, ARTS AND RECREATION.

The current socio – economic and political challenges facing Zimbabwe has hit the youth in rural communities most. In response to the challenges, the youth adopted various coping mechanism that affect the community in various ways. On 5th July 2019, Platform for Youth and Community Development hosted 80 young people at Manzvire Community Hall in Musikavanhu Constituency, Chipinge. The Community Hall meeting was configured around the theme; YOUTH AND RESILIENCE.

The Youth and Resilience session sought to promote self-awareness and provide diverse perspectives on current challenges facing the young people. This was done in order to build a conversation between young people and policy – makers. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, and Zimbabwe Youth Council as well as Research and Advocacy Unit. This is a first step in providing the structural framework that allows them to actively engage with issues around sustainable development and to present their own reflections to duty bearers.

Most of the rural youths are estimated to abuse drugs and related substances, drop out of school, face early pregnancies, prostitution and lack of psycho – social support. These challenges constitute serious violation of child rights, and these violations are a result of absence of progressive ways of social engagement between the young people and duty bearers. Yet these young people are remarkably resilient despite seemingly unsurmountable odds. However, rural poverty can significantly influence young people by the lack of resources and supports available to them through both their family systems and their community contexts such as peer networks, educational systems and neighborhoods.

The meeting at Manzvire Community hall discussed the salient risk factors and protective processes for the young people living in Chipinge district. The risk factors are within the context of adverse socio – economic and cultural impacts associated with rural settings. PYCD engaged the responsible youth ministry so that varying risk factors and resilient processes are interrogated from a policy framework. This was meant for the young people to highlight their coping mechanism as they face challenges produced by a deteriorating rural economic base.   “Communication between the youth and the government has been weak leading to low uptake of the Ministry’s initiatives. It is important to improve and work towards creating a congenial relationship.” Simon Sikota, a representative from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation acknowledged poor communication and weak engagement between the ministry and the youth. This is ample proof that explains the frustration young people experience when issues they present are discarded on the grounds that young people are rude, arrogant, disrespectful or not politically correct. As a result of inhibited youth expression, youth voices are faint in the structures of policy making, and can be left out of various governmental initiatives. Thus, the opinions, perspectives or ideas of the young person are rendered untenable, and unworthy of consideration.

Suggestions were provided for ways in which the responsible ministry and PYCD can create resilience-promoting rural environments for young people. The suggested solutions included providing psycho – social support, vocational training, youth empowerment programs and inculcate the value of cultural respect. However, youth participation in these is crucial, as the responsible ministry should provide adequate spaces for the youth engagement. The engagement learning spaces in which young people can acquire a set of expectations about their right to participate and their power to bring about change by doing so.

The youth and resilience series have allowed youth to voice opinions and, to some extent, engage with responsible authorities. This platform has emerged as channels for youth-policy maker dialogue and envisaged to improve the accountability of those in authority. The conversations on done on the youth and resilience series represent a gold mine of information and reference for performance. 

Currently, PYCD is embarking on a livelihood project in Chipinge district as a means to respond and to fight social and economic exclusion. The project focuses on inspiring young people to pursue economic opportunities in the community.  

Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) advocacy on the Tanganda - Ngundu Road bears fruit.

For those who have been following Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) advocacy on the state of the Tanganda - Ngundu highway, may understand the effectiveness of that particular campaign by the people of Chipinge. This is a positive indictment on the work of the organization. President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened the Tanganda - Ngundu highway on 1 July 2019 that was rehabilitated after concerted efforts from Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) to have the road rehabilitated. Road safety has been a complex issue of concern for PYCD as well as the local community, considering its magnitude and the negative impacts on the general welfare of the people. 

The advocacy strategy was configured with a view to draw attention to road safety generally as well as creating political will to address the deplorable state of the highway. The highway was rehabilitated to the tune of US$20m. 

Green Fuel trucks use the highway to transport sugarcane from their fields in Chipangayi to the ethanol plant stationed in Chisumbanje. Between October 2013 – December 2018, locals witnessed horrifying accidents that involved Green Fuel trucks and other road users. This resulted in locals calling for the company to take full responsibility for destroying the road as well as being liable to road accidents. 

“We were told that a section of the highway had become a black spot. We ordered that the area be rehabilitated, and was rehabilitated under phase one. After the rehabilitation of that phase we continued to record accidents along this highway.” Acknowledged President Mnangagwa.

The local community-based organization adopted a visible advocacy approach by using mass media and organizing events for the community. On 8 November 2018, PYCD facilitated for a Town Hall meeting that was conducted by the Media Centre in conjunction with the Voice of America – Studio 7. The meeting was held at Checheche growth point under the topic; “Road Network in Chipinge District - Tanganda - Ngundu Highway Rehab. The approach of local council & cabinet to solve the problem.” The residents who attended the meeting bemoaned the state of the road. It was brought to the attention of the meeting that the 80km highway has forced motorists to limit their travelling speed to almost 20km/hr. The strategic use of the media played a critical role of nurturing citizenry advocacy on the state of the road. 

The Chipinge Rural District Council has limited administrative and technical capacity to deal with the magnitude of the damage made to the road due to its low revenue base. At the same time, the use of heavy vehicles by Green Fuel on the highway led to it being eroded. The subsequent damage inflicted on the road by the road made it unusable for other forms of transport.  

The advocacy work led to the Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Joel B Matiza touring the Tanganda - Ngundu Highway in February 2019 to assess the progress of the rehabilitation work. On the 1st of July 2019, the Minister accompanied the President for the official opening.  At the official opening of the highway the Minister was quoted as saying that “the completion of this road restores the seamless flow of traffic between Manicaland and Masvingo Provinces and also key to the sustenance of the Chisumbanje ethanol project.” In the context of the Minister’s words, it is of paramount importance to compel Green Fuel’s capacity and prospects for leveraging maintenance financing of the highway. It is to be noted that slow deterioration of road quality is closely linked with a lack of maintenance. Finance in general is a scarce commodity, as such roping in Green Fuel plays a critical role in ensuring road quality is prioritized. Road maintenance should be a high priority area for the government as it is entangled with social service delivery. the effect of regular and timely maintenance is to increase the life of the road.

“We are now confident that we can rehabilitate our roads using money generated locally.” The President said at the official opening in reference to ZINARA. However, ZINARA provides a major institutional challenge relating to the lack of clear responsibility at different decentralized levels for maintenance planning, budgeting and implementation. It is therefore appropriate that Green Fuel contribute to the maintenance and operating costs.

Government urged to do more as the Youth Empowerment Bank visits Checheche.

Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) welcomes the effort being done by the Youth Empowerment Bank in their endeavour to raise the status of young people both in the rural communities. On 31st of May 2019, the Youth Empowerment Bank visited and trained 58 young people in Checheche on how to access loans from the bank. The bank is giving loans to the youths who are in the agricultural sub – sector like piggery, bean farming and poultry. The bank promised to offer three types of loans in the form of working capital, order finance and invoice discount. What is restricting is that on all the afore – mentioned loans, the bank would need collateral.

It is a fact that the majority of the youths in rural communities’ lack collateral security. This is the basis for which PYCD recommends that the bank be encouraged to provide more services and participation to modify on those services announced at the training.

The initiative by the Youth Empowerment bank is promising only if it aims at empowering the young people, because it does not only create jobs, but also enhances economic participation of young people in community development. 

Complimentary to the proposed lending facilities, PYCD strongly believes that partnership between YEB and local based civic society would go a long way in promoting the development of youth led projects. It is prudent for the Youth Empowerment Bank to partner local CBOs so as to ensure that the funded projects are secured for the purposes of sustainability. The partnership will ensure a social, commercial and environmental sustainability that protects the noble projects to partisanship and collapse due to lack of supervision. The Youth Empowerment Bank is providing a restricted loan amount not exceeding RTGS2000 to the youths, a figure that may not rescue the young people from the debilitating and prevailing economic environment. This figure can significantly slow or act as a hurdle to the promised youth entrepreneurship.

While measures to alleviate poverty among the youth are lauded, the current approach which is restrictive to a single sub – sector is likely to contribute little to the objective of improving the current state of affairs of the rural youth. 

Platform for Youth and Community Development encourages the Youth Empowerment bank to consider other sub – sectors like carpentry, welding, metal fabrication, catering and cosmetology. This recommendation is cognisant of the fact that most youths are venturing into entrepreneurship not as a business but as a form of livelihood to escape from poverty. 

PYCD is seeing an opportunity in which Green fuel can be roped in to play a positive role. We are ready to create a platform that offers life skills training that can then be the basis for the young people to network in a manner that ensures that the loans they get from the Youth bank and any other potential funding partner are used efficiently and profitably to improve the position of young people in the community.

We remain positive and ready for dialogue and engagement.