adminCPU ready. . . as floods are expected countrywide
By Pamela Shumba
THE Department of Civil Protection (DCP) is on alert and ready to deal with the threat of anticipated floods, as heavy rains, strong winds and thunderstorms are expected in the country.
DCP has set aside resources, adequate equipment and a special fund that can be accessed at any time for flood victims.
The Department of Meteorological Services yesterday warned that those in flood prone areas and poorly drained soils must be on alert.
The weather forecast indicated that there would be a propensity of violent thunderstorms that would be accompanied by gusty winds and hailstorms starting yesterday.
DCP acting director, Ms Sibusisiwe Ndlovu, said the department was ready as there were district civil protection committees ready to respond to any eventualities.
She said the department had conducted awareness campaigns to make sure that people were ready for the floods.
“We have placed our workers in various parts of the country to deal with the situation. The team from our department is working tirelessly with communities to make sure that no lives are lost in case of disasters,” said Ms Ndlovu.
Injivas throng passport offices
By Prosper Ndlovu
THE Bulawayo Passport Office has in the past few days recorded an increase in the number of passport seekers, a majority of whom are Zimbabweans working in South Africa and Botswana.
The increased pressure at the provincial registrar’s office comes at a time when the Government and South Africa authorities are engaged in dialogue to extend the documentation period for Zimbabwean immigrants.
About 300 000 out of about two million Zimbabweans resident in the neighbouring country applied to the South African Home Affairs Department to legalise their stay in the last documentation exercise.
On Thursday the Registrar-General’s Harare office announced that it has stopped processing passports following an electrical fault that damaged the processing system at Makombe Building.
Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede said only urgent passports would be processed while ordinary passports and Temporary Travel Documents remain suspended until further notice.
A snap survey by Chronicle yesterday established that most Zimbabweans working outside the country were taking advantage of the holidays to obtain proper travel documents.
When a news crew visited the Bulawayo registrar’s offices in the early hours of yesterday, hundreds of passport seekers had joined the long queue waiting to be served.
While some jostled to get passports others wanted to get birth certificates and identity cards in order to apply for passports.
Zimbabwe: Beware of the Google Types!
Picture this: Charles Ray Honoured by Zimbabwe Organisation for Youth in Politics (ZOYP), a “human rights” organisation working with youth at the grassroots. The award, 2011 Diplomatic Human Rights Defender, was given to the American ambassador for, in the words of ZOYP’s national coordinator, one Nkosilathi Moyo, “critical helping hand that Ambassador Ray gave” ZOYP, for which ZOYP notes “with bounteous gratitude”.
Shabanie Mine employees get first pay since 2009
Midlands Correspondent
SHABANIE and Mashava Mines employees were yesterday paid a month’s salary after going for close to three years without a salary.
The workers, who were paid cash at the Shabanie Mine offices, had not been paid since the country adopted the multi-currency system in 2009.
They were paid amounts ranging from $160 to $3 000 depending on one’s grade.
Shabanie Mine Human Resources manager, Mr Ray Munangwa, confirmed the payment of salaries which he said were for this month.
“I can confirm that the employees were paid their December salaries. As we speak they are in queues getting their salaries at the mine offices. We decided to pay the workers cash after we realised that there were long queues at banks which could have resulted in some employees failing to access their salaries,” he said.
Mr Munangwa said the salaries were availed by the new investor, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).
He, however, declined to shed more light on the future of the giant asbestos mining company referring this reporter to ZMDC chairman, Mr Goodwills Masimirembwa.
2011 in retrospect: Bulawayo a hive of activity
By Auxilia Katongomara
THE year 2011 was one of the busiest and fun-filled years that saw a plethora of activities headlining the Bulawayo arts industry.
Platform One fails to get clearance for shows
By Givemore Muzariri
Platform One, a South African musical group that was in the country for a week, has left Zimbabwe after failing to secure a licence to perform.
My career began in Byo: First Farai
By Givemore Muzariri
Chinhoyi-based musician First Farai has paid tribute to Bulawayo saying it was the place where he launched his musical career in 2000.
Alick Macheso inspires me: Madiz
By Givemore Muzariri
ITAI Madzikura aka Madiz, one of the pioneers of urban grooves is buying music instruments and could be playing with a live band as early as next month.
THE WORD with Bruce Itai Chimani:What a privilege to talk to you on the last day of 2011!
I don’t know about you but for me 2011 has really been a great year. I have seen the hand of the Lord at work both in my life and in the lives of the people of God around me. He surely has been Jehovah Ebenezer, the God who has brought us this far; He is still taking us further.
Fashion designer takes Masvingo by storm
Masvingo Correspondent
AFTER completing her Advanced Level studies at Mukaro Girls High in Gutu, Masvingo, Priscilla Ruzive never knew that what started as a natural desire in fashion and fabrics would land her a career, which has made her one of the renowned fashion designers in the country.