adminHealth hazard looms in Maphisa
Chronicle Reporter
A HEALTH hazard is looming at the Garikai-Hlalani Kuhle housing project in Maphisa, as the two Blair toilets that were servicing residents are no longer operational.
Council summons defaulters
Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has started
School ‘rips off’ parents over entrance fees
Chronicle Reporter
St Columba’s High School in Bulawayo’s Makokoba suburb is reported to have made a “killing”
Regional airlines take over AirZim clientele
Victoria Falls Reporter
REGIONAL airlines have taken over beleaguered Air Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls clientele amid revelations that some travel agents have started omitting the airline in their air travel information guide.
With Air Zimbabwe having indefinitely suspended servicing its domestic, regional and international routes citing “viability” challenges, its competitors have stepped in to fill the void.
According to sources at the Victoria Falls International Airport, South African Airways (SAA) and British Airways’ Comair are now plying the Johannesburg-Victoria Falls route daily.
Air Namibia lands at Victoria Falls Airport about three times a week.
Some visitors to the resort town are also using One Time Airways, Zambia Airways and other airlines from South Africa that land just across in Livingstone town.
As if that competition is not enough, there are about three airlines that have proposed to fly into Victoria Falls in a development that could see increased traffic and revenue for the tourism sector.
Parents opt to send boarders to school early
Chronicle Reporter
IN a bid to beat congestion on the opening day of schools, most parents with children learning at boarding schools have opted for an early send off of their children.
In an interview with some parents waiting for the departure of their children at the Large City Hall yesterday, some parents said it was convenient to send their children to school early.
“I think it is convenient to send children at least two days before schools open as it will give them some time to rest,” said Mrs Ncube whose daughter learns at Empandeni Girls’ High.
Another parent echoed the same sentiments and said children would be able to move freely because of less traffic volumes along many roads.
“It is convenient because today is a Sunday meaning there will be less volume of traffic on the highway,” he said.
Other parents with children from Thekwane High School also agreed that was less congestion yesterday compared to today.
Community turns to river as water woes persist
Chronicle Reporter
CIVIL servants in Kezi have resorted to bathing in Mwewe River due to water shortages reportedly caused by a power outage that has affected the pumping of water from Kezi Dam.
The power outage occurred on Christmas Eve.
Business people and villagers have not been spared either as the main business area and surrounding areas have also gone without electricity and water.
When a Chronicle newscrew visited the area on Friday, civil servants appealed to Zesa to attend to the problem.
A civil servant in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said the situation was unacceptable and Zesa should take their job of providing electricity more seriously.
“We all converge at the river to bath and this includes doctors, nurses, magistrate and many other civil servants,” said the civil servant.
He said when they contacted Zesa employees in Gwanda, they were advised to provide fuel so that electricians could drive to the area to fix the fault.
Thousands at ANC’s centennial celebrations
From Caesar Zvayi in BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa
THE colourful ANC centenary celebrations were held here with Vice President Joice Mujuru joining 46 other heads of state at the festivities at Magaung Stadium.
In his address, President Jacob Zuma chronicled the history of ANC from its launch at a humble hall here to the force it is today, with over a million members.
President Zuma outlined how South Africa’s freedom would not have been possible without the support of its neighbours.
“We thank our brothers in Zimbabwe . . . the veterans who fought in Zimbabwe during the 1967 Wankie-Sipolilo campaign. We also pay tribute to Malawi, Angola and Mozambique whose people died during the South African army’s cross-border raids in search of MK bases,” he said.
Tens of thousands of South Africans, reports AFP, joined ANC’s huge centennial bash in Bloemfontein yesterday, dancing and singing for the party that freed them from apartheid and gave them homes.
Janet Leshilo (68) slept outside to join a rally of ANC supporters in a wash of party colours and images of heroes like Nelson Mandela.
Kunonga declares support for Zanu-PF
From Samuel Kadungure in MUTARE
HEAD of the independent Anglican Province of Zimbabwe Archbishop Nobert Kunonga has openly declared his support for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF in the next elections.
Dr Kunonga urged Zimbabweans to reject MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his party, saying they are an embodiment of evil.
He was addressing about 200 clergymen at an annual retreat at St Augustine’s Mission last week.
Dr Kunonga hailed Zanu-PF’s determination to come up with solutions to challenges besieging the country through formulation of appropriate policies.
MDC-T’s policies, he said, remained parochial and completely divorced from national aspirations.
“We are not choosing man, but principles and values they embody. Who is fighting against homosexuality, who is giving people land, we should stand guided by life and death,” he said.
“Those politicians and churchmen who are calling for the imposition of sanctions, propagating for the inclusion of gay rights in the new constitution, and are refusing to see life, are an embodiment of evil. During elections we will reject them. We will reject death.”
Zesa in prepaid meter pilot project
Bulawayo Bureau
ZESA Holdings has embarked on a pilot project to install prepaid meters at strategic places as it prepares for the installation of the gadgets estimated to cost millions of dollars countrywide.
Zanu-PF Mash West polls to go ahead
Chinhoyi Bureau
The election to choose the Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman will go ahead as scheduled on January 21 while modalities and dates of filling other vacant posts are being worked out.