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Check FAQAbout Tatenda
Tatenda Chitagu is a seasoned Zimbabwean freelance journalist with a decade of experience in the field. Based in the southern city of Masvingo, Chitagu has been a pivotal figure in the media landscape since the launch of The Newsday in 2010, contributing to its growth as the country's largest privately-owned daily paper. Chitagu's expertise also extends to writing for The Standard and The Independent, two sister weeklies of The Newsday. Prior to this, Chitagu honed journalistic skills as a news editor for The Masvingo Mirror, the biggest privately-owned regional paper, and contributed to an international radio station and a national news agency. Chitagu's educational background includes a Master of Science in Media and Society Studies from Midlands State University. This academic foundation has underpinned a career marked by a commitment to investigative reporting and giving a voice to marginalized communities. In 2015, Chitagu was honored with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) Best Human Rights Defender Journalist of the Year Award, recognizing the impactful coverage of the displacement of 18,000 people due to the construction of the Tokwe Mukosi dam. Further cementing Chitagu's reputation, the journalist is the recipient of the Haller Prize for Development Journalism award in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, Chitagu is broadening journalistic horizons by attending a fellowship program at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Chitagu's work has illuminated a spectrum of critical issues, from public health challenges, such as the government's COVID-19 vaccination mandate, to the economic crisis and hyperinflation in Zimbabwe. Reporting on political violence, environmental conservation, and the empowerment of development through digital technology, Chitagu continues to shed light on the complexities of Zimbabwean society and the broader Sub-Saharan African region.
Feature Stories
Fact Checking
Politics
Fact Checking
Portfolio
Mliswa slams Mutsvangwa for 'political immaturity'
Norton MP Temba Mliswa has publicly criticized Zanu PF party spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa, calling him 'politically immature' following Mutsvangwa's negative comments about Mliswa's private meeting with former Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu and exiled former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere in South Africa. Mutsvangwa had attacked Kasukuwere for his remarks on Zanu PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership, and also disparaged Mliswa, referring to him as 'a lost soul rapidly losing burnish.' Mliswa defended his sister, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, who was also targeted by Mutsvangwa, and condemned the attack as patriarchal and abusive. Mliswa explained that his meeting with Kasukuwere was to uncover the truth behind their expulsion from Zanu PF, and he vowed to reveal the truth, asserting his commitment to the nation's progress.
Mimosa spends US$75m on waste clean-up
Mimosa Mining Company (MMC), a platinum miner based in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe, is nearing completion of a new US$75 million tailings storage facility (TSF) with an accompanying water dam, designed to handle mine waste for the next 20 years. The project, which is 90% complete and set to be commissioned in April 2024, also includes a recreational park with wild game. MMC's general manager, Steve Ndiyamba, highlighted the company's commitment to environmental sustainability and community investment. MMC has contributed to health, education, and infrastructure in the local community, including interventions in several hospitals and support for educational institutions. The mine, operational since the 1920s, processes 2.8 million tonnes of ore annually, producing a concentrate of 10 different metals.
District lands officer implicated in farm dispute
Boaz Vurayayi, the Mwenezi district lands officer, has been implicated in a controversial farm dispute. He is accused of ordering the owner of Battlefields Safaris, Shelton Lucas, to leave the property to make way for Leonard Mutema, a local businessman with retail shops at Nyika Growth Point in Bikita district. Vurayayi allegedly informed Lucas' workers about the change in ownership during a meeting, which Lucas did not attend. Despite video evidence, Vurayayi denies being at Battlefields Safaris, and Mutema has also distanced himself from the situation, claiming ignorance and stating that he owns Valley Farm, acquired under land reform.
Lack of IDs, proof of residence disenfranchising potential voters: ERC
Solomon Bobosibunu, the programmes manager of the Elections Resource Centre (ERC), highlighted the disenfranchisement of potential voters in Zimbabwe who lack national identity cards and proof of residence, which are required to register to vote. This issue particularly affects squatters, vendors, and the youth. During the launch of an advocacy campaign in Masvingo, organized by the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset), Bobosibunu advocated for less restrictive voter registration processes. He suggested that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) officers or lawyers should commission those without proof of residence. The low number of registered voters is attributed to factors such as COVID-19 restrictions and the centralization of registration centers. Viset's executive director, Samuel Wadzai, emphasized the importance of including vendors in the electoral process and mentioned that Viset would provide shuttle services to facilitate their voting. The article also notes that a low percentage of youths are registered to vote despite making up a significant portion of the population.
Masvingo Residents Accuse Local Authority of Misusing Devolution Funds
Residents of Masvingo have accused their local authority of misusing devolution funds and failing to consult stakeholders on projects prioritization. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, led by Miriam Chikukwa, visited the city following a petition to Parliament by the residents. The city received $125 million for devolution, with some funds allocated to the construction of Rujeko Secondary School, Runyararo West Clinic, and the main sewage trunk. Residents, represented by Tracy Musakarukwa, expressed their concerns about the lack of consultation. Mayor Collins Maboke responded by promising future consultations and called for legislation to guide the use of devolution funds.
Mimosa spends US$75m on waste clean-up
Mimosa Mining Company (MMC), a platinum miner based in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe, is nearing completion of a new US$75 million tailings storage facility (TSF) with an accompanying water dam, designed to handle mine waste for the next 20 years. The project, which is 90% complete and set to be commissioned in April 2024, also includes a recreational park with wildlife. MMC's general manager, Steve Ndiyamba, highlighted the company's commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible waste disposal. MMC, which has been operating since the 1920s, produces a concentrate containing 10 metals and is involved in various community development projects, including health, education, and infrastructure, with significant investments in local hospitals, schools, and universities.
Robert Jnr endorses Mnangagwa in a bid to protect family interests
Robert Junior, the son of the late former President Robert Mugabe, has endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling party Zanu PF, which is seen by analysts as a move to protect the Mugabe family's business interests and secure the future of his widow, Grace. Robert Jnr's appearance at a Zanu PF rally in Chitungwiza, where he expressed his support for the party, comes as a surprise given the history of animosity between Mnangagwa and the Mugabe family, especially after Mnangagwa ousted Mugabe in a 2017 coup. Analysts suggest that the Mugabe family is under pressure due to failing businesses and legal battles, prompting a need to align with the current government. The government also appears to be making efforts to be seen as continuing Mugabe's legacy, creating a win-win situation for both parties.
Mimosa spends US$75m on waste clean-up
Mimosa Mining Company (MMC), a platinum miner based in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe, is nearing the completion of a new US$75 million tailings storage facility (TSF) which includes a water dam. The project, which is 90% complete and set to be commissioned in April 2024, is part of MMC's strategic initiatives to enhance the sustainability of its mining operations and responsibly manage waste. The facility is designed to handle mine waste for the next 20 years and accommodate future expansions. MMC also aims to contribute to the local community by setting up a recreational park with wild game and investing in health, education, water, sanitation, and infrastructure projects. The company has a history of mining dating back to the 1920s and currently produces a concentrate containing 10 different metals.
Recycling offers economic reprieve in Zimbabwe, but environmentalists say it’s not enough
In Zimbabwe, amidst hyperinflation and economic crisis, recycling has become a lucrative business. Community-based organizations for recycling have grown significantly, now picking up 15% of the country's plastic waste. Nyemudzai Jakiti, a single mother, turned to collecting litter for income and now works at Stable Packaging, a recycling company. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) reports a rise in recycling organizations and companies, which has helped reduce plastic waste pollution. However, environmentalists warn that recycling alone is not enough to address the global plastic waste problem. The EMA monitors recycling facilities to prevent pollution, and the government has taken steps to reduce plastic use. Despite these efforts, the challenge of managing plastic waste at its root remains significant.
Zimbabwean Government Fails to Uphold Children's Rights
The article by Tatenda Chitagu discusses the failure of the Zimbabwean government to provide a conducive environment for children's well-being, as noted by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights). Despite constitutional provisions, children in Zimbabwe face numerous challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. ZimRights highlights issues such as a high number of school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, statelessness due to lack of identity documentation, and a growing drug problem among children. The World Bank reports that poverty affects half of Zimbabwe's population, impacting children significantly. ZimRights urges the government to meet its obligations under the African Charter and improve children's lives by reducing poverty and providing quality health care and education. The article also references the Day of the African Child, which commemorates the 1976 Soweto uprising where black students protested for better education in South Africa.
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