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The Young Observer Program, Kadoma (2026)

25/09/2023

📰:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥
🗞:𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢
✍|📸:Edith Mugabe
📍:Kariba, Mashonaland West
🗓:25/09/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/bringingjoylovelife

Zimbabwean Journalists and online Content Creators have been urged to uphold the ethics and professionalism required in their craft. This was said by a number of trainers who attended the National Media Fora facilitated by the Zimbabwe Online Content Creators in partnership with Zimbabwe Media Commission and UNESCO.

The Media Fora, which was held at Carribea Bay Hotel in Kariba from the 18th to 19th of September, brought together content creators from all corners of the country.

Zimbabwe Online Content Creators ZOCC Chairperson Mr Toneo Rutsito highlighted that journalists and online Content Creators should abide by professional ethics and continue to uphold the good standards of reporting as they promote trust and integrity between journalists and the community.

"As online content creators, it is our responsibility to maintain credibility, ethical standards, and professionalism in our work. While we strive to deliver breaking news in a timely manner, we should prioritize the principles of factual content and employ various fact-checking mechanisms. Zimbabweans rely on us as their gatekeepers of information, expecting us to provide accurate content. Therefore, it is our duty to verify information to prevent disseminating unverified, false, or sensationalized content." Said Toneo.

The ZOCC Chairperson also highlighted how major main stream media houses have achieved their success not solely by rushing to publish first, but by consistently verifying their content and earning the trust of their audience.

"Quality should never be compromised, as spreading misinformation may generate temporary traffic but ultimately leads to a loss of credibility. Reputable brands prefer not to associate themselves with clickbait or unethical content creation. Engaging in such practices would hinder the progress of online Content Creators"said Toneo

He went on to advise content creators to remain committed to factual and professional practices of reporting and disseminating information to the public. "I urge all content creators to remain committed to factual and professional practices on our journey towards media greatness. Each publication should be a step forward in achieving this goal." Said Toneo.

The event was also graced by Prof Ruby Magosvongwe who is the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Media Commission. In her presentation the seasoned tutor had this to say:

"Digital media should be credible, professional, ethical and abide by the laws of the country and the laws that govern their profession and report for the general good of the society, The media's role is to filter hate or negative speech and push for positive reporting."

The writer urges that as young journalists we should strive to uphold these standards and create an environment of transparency and integrity in our work. The dealings we have with the information we communicate should be fair towards our readers.

25/09/2023

📰:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥
🗞:𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢
✍|📸:Edith Mugabe
📍:Kariba, Mashonaland West
🗓:25/09/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/bringingjoylovelife

Zimbabwean Journalists and online Content Creators have been urged to uphold the ethics and professionalism required in their craft. This was said by a number of trainers who attended the National Media Fora facilitated by the Zimbabwe Online Content Creators in partnership with Zimbabwe Media Commission and UNESCO.

The Media Fora, which was held at Carribea Bay Hotel in Kariba from the 18th to 19th of September, brought together content creators from all corners of the country.

Zimbabwe Online Content Creators ZOCC Chairperson Mr Toneo Rutsito highlighted that journalists and online Content Creators should abide by professional ethics and continue to uphold the good standards of reporting as they promote trust and integrity between journalists and the community.

"As online content creators, it is our responsibility to maintain credibility, ethical standards, and professionalism in our work. While we strive to deliver breaking news in a timely manner, we should prioritize the principles of factual content and employ various fact-checking mechanisms. Zimbabweans rely on us as their gatekeepers of information, expecting us to provide accurate content. Therefore, it is our duty to verify information to prevent disseminating unverified, false, or sensationalized content." Said Toneo.

The ZOCC Chairperson also highlighted how major main stream media houses have achieved their success not solely by rushing to publish first, but by consistently verifying their content and earning the trust of their audience.

"Quality should never be compromised, as spreading misinformation may generate temporary traffic but ultimately leads to a loss of credibility. Reputable brands prefer not to associate themselves with clickbait or unethical content creation. Engaging in such practices would hinder the progress of online Content Creators"said Toneo

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19/09/2023

📰:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥
🗞:𝙀𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙖 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙠𝙚𝙢𝙩 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝
✍|📸:Buhlebenkosi Nkomo
🗓:19/09/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/bringingjoylovelife

Buhlebenkosi Nkomo is a young writer and journalist from the City of Queens, Bulawayo. Through her writing, she was part of the Emoyeni Dig2 and Yield Trust Bulawayo Community Champions in 2022. She graduated in 2021 from the National University of Science and Technology with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies.

With the escalating rate of unemployment in Zimbabwe, entrepreneurship has fast become a solution for many young youths. The desire to be financially stable is a dream for many youths who have developed an entrepreneurial spirit.
According to the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) Zimbabawe's national unemployment rate stood at 19% during the first quarter of Zimbabwe while the expanded unemployment rate for the nation was 46, 7%.
Echoing these sentiments, Rejoyce Ndlovu noted that getting a job is very difficult as jobs are hard to come by.
"The best way one can escape being part of the numbers that make the unemployment rate high is to try venturing into enterpreneurship. Well this is what many people are doing nowadays. Of course most do not have the capital to start their small businesses but it is all about commitment, sacrificing and just making things happen. Nothing comes on a silver platter, it is all about working hard to make it."
While the idea of entrepreneurship is a comforting one, Ndlovu noted that the lack of capital and business acumen may hinder the progress of one's business. She therefore echoed the need for collaborative efforts and trainings by saying:
"For example one might lack the income to start that small business, another might have that income but struggle with managing the business and getting investors or clients and another might start well and things go smooth but as time goes, the business just collapses or gets phased out by other outstanding businesses out there."

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19/09/2023

📰:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥
🗞:𝙀𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙖 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝
✍|📸:Buhlebenkosi Nkomo
🗓:19/09/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/bringingjoylovelife

Buhlebenkosi Nkomo is a young writer and journalist from the City of Queens, Bulawayo. Through her writing, she was part of the Emoyeni Dig2 and Yield Trust Bulawayo Community Champions in 2022. She graduated in 2021 from the National University of Science and Technology with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies.

With the escalating rate of unemployment in Zimbabwe, entrepreneurship has fast become a solution for many young youths. The desire to be financially stable is a dream for many youths who have developed an entrepreneurial spirit.
According to the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) Zimbabawe's national unemployment rate stood at 19% during the first quarter of Zimbabwe while the expanded unemployment rate for the nation was 46, 7%.
Echoing these sentiments, Rejoyce Ndlovu noted that getting a job is very difficult as jobs are hard to come by.
"The best way one can escape being part of the numbers that make the unemployment rate high is to try venturing into enterpreneurship. Well this is what many people are doing nowadays. Of course most do not have the capital to start their small businesses but it is all about commitment, sacrificing and just making things happen. Nothing comes on a silver platter, it is all about working hard to make it."
While the idea of entrepreneurship is a comforting one, Ndlovu noted that the lack of capital and business acumen may hinder the progress of one's business. She therefore echoed the need for collaborative efforts and trainings by saying:
"For example one might lack the income to start that small business, another might have that income but struggle with managing the business and getting investors or clients and another might start well and things go smooth but as time goes, the business just collapses or gets phased out by other outstanding businesses out there."
Nira Kwela, the organiser of a workshop which was dubbed as Take the Plunge! said her focus was to empower and help youths find gaps in their communities that they can fill up to develop themselves and their communities.
"It really stands out because most of us want to be productive in life, we want to make a change in our communities and we have dreams for a better tomorrow. Of which I believe with an entrepreneurial mindset we can do more to make a positive difference in our lives."
While others agreed that entrepreneurship may be the solution to the high unemployment rate amongst youths in Zimbabwe, Nobukhosi Sibanda was of a different view. She had this to say:
"Entrepreneurship on its own needs a functioning economy to be grounded as entrepreneurship, one can highlight that the lack of disposable income in this country suggests that a majority of youth(s) are are turning not as a means of survival but as a means to just to see the rise of the morning, so the former is not the solution to the current crisis the nation is going through."
Sibanda noted that while entrepreneurship may seem to be a fitting solution to the high unemployment rate in Zimbabwe, there are other means. Her sentiments were further echoed by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira who was quoted in the media who urged university students to create employment for themselves by saying:
"Under Heritage based Education 5.0 institutions of Higher and Tertiary Education must impart capabilities that enable learners to produce goods and services that satisfy the needs of our people.It is through the production of goods and services that we shall propel Zimbabwe to an upper middle income economy."
Heritage based Education 5.0's primary goal is to nurture students to become employment creators rather than employment seekers by providing them with the necessary skills.

19/05/2023

📰:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥
🎯ʷᵉ ᵃʳᵉ ˡᵒᵇᵇʸⁱⁿᵍ ᶠᵒʳ ᵃ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᶜᵒᵐᵐᵘⁿⁱᵗʸ
🗞:𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨
🏆:National Winner Citizen Journalism 2022
✍|📸:Makanaka Mavesere
🗓:19/05/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/joylovelifezw

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. 𝐊𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐛 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐁𝐃.

Kadoma City has long been known for its beautiful residential areas, rich with open spaces that provide ample room for outdoor activities. These open spaces, though aesthetically pleasing, are often left unused, serving no significant purpose for the community.

It's time for Kadoma City to consider a policy change that would see some of these open spaces converted into recreational areas. Imagine a community with parks, walking trails, and designated areas for outdoor activities like soccer, basketball, and tennis. Such recreational spaces would serve a crucial role in improving the overall quality of life for residents, and would also have tremendous economic benefits for the city.

To begin with, the value of real estate in residential areas would significantly increase due to the availability of recreational amenities. Research has consistently shown that homes near parks and recreational areas have higher resale values than those that do not. Increased property values translate to higher tax revenue for the city, ultimately benefiting its coffers. This means that investing in such spaces would be a sound financial decision for the city.

Another benefit of converting open spaces into recreational areas is the considerable boost it would give to urban development. More recreational areas mean more opportunities for businesses related to sports, entertainment, and other outdoor activities. Such businesses would generate more revenue for the community while attracting additional investment into the city needed for the area's continued growth.

Aside from the financial benefits, recreational spaces provide physical benefits to the community. There is growing concern about a sedentary lifestyle, which is linked to some critical health problems such as hypertension and heart disease. Low-income families who may not have the resources to access recreational areas far from their homes stand to gain the most from these spaces. Encouraging increased physical activity through the availability of outdoor amenities in the community will improve their quality of life significantly.

In conclusion, the city council of Kadoma should consider converting open spaces into recreational areas as a policy change. The benefits are numerous and range from increased property values and increased revenue to the city to improved health and quality of life for residents in the community. Kadoma City has the potential to be a model city if more recreational spaces are developed, and investment in these areas can go a long way in stimulating the area's future growth and development.

14/05/2023

📰:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥
🗞:𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐾𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑎 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠
✍|📸:Makanaka Mavesere
🗓:14/05/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/joylovelifezw

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘣 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥.

As the backbone of any city's transportation system, roads play an essential role in the smooth functioning of our daily lives. But for far too long, the state of our roads has been a cause for concern among residents and city officials alike. From potholes that damage vehicles to broken sidewalks that pose a risk to pedestrians, poor roads can create a litany of problems that hinder the city's growth and development.

One of the most significant effects of poorly maintained roads is on real estate values. Studies have shown that deteriorating roads i.e potholes, cracks and bumps in the roads can lead to a drop in property values by as much as 5%. This decrease in property values can mean fewer tax dollars for the city, which can limit the resources available to maintain its infrastructure.

In addition to the financial impact, poorly maintained roads pose a significant impediment to a city's development. Broken pavement and potholes can make it difficult for businesses to transport goods and services to their desired destination. This can cause delays and extra expenses, ultimately leading to inefficiencies and a reduction in economic prosperity for the city.

The city council must take the necessary steps to ensure that our roads are properly maintained, paved, and free of potholes. Proper maintenance involves regular inspections and timely repairs of cracks and potholes, along with the timely laying of new asphalt or tar. More importantly, such measures will allow the city to continue to grow and prosper while increasing property values and attracting new businesses, which will ultimately lead to an improved quality of life for all residents.

Investing in our roads is an investment in our city's future. It's time for the city council to prioritize the maintenance of our roads and pave the way towards a more prosperous and sustainable future. With proper attention, our roads can once again become the backbone of our transportation system, contributing to a more connected, prosperous, and thriving city.

11/05/2023

📰:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥
🗞:𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠
✍|📸:Makanaka Mavesere
🗓:11/05/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/joylovelifezw

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘷𝘪 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢𝘵𝘪, 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘪𝘳 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥𝘺 𝘢 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯. 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.

Traffic lights are an essential component of modern road infrastructure. They help control traffic flow, increase safety, and reduce the risk of accidents on our roads.

Traffic lights play a crucial role in regulating traffic at intersections and pedestrian crossings, making them an important tool for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. While the importance of traffic lights on major roads cannot be overstated, they are especially vital in areas near schools with young children.

Traffic lights near schools with young children are crucial to ensure that drivers slow down, stop when necessary, and remain mindful of pedestrians crossing the street. Studies have shown that young children may not always understand the dangers of crossing the street, so it's crucial that drivers pay extra attention and obey traffic signals in these areas. Pedestrian crossings near schools are often equipped with flashing lights to alert drivers of their presence, helping to prevent accidents.

Traffic lights have the added benefit of allowing pedestrians to cross the street safely, ensuring that they are not caught in the middle of heavy traffic. Traffic signals near schools also play an essential role during school pick-up and drop-off times when the streets can become congested and filled with anxious parents. Traffic lights help manage the flow of traffic, ensuring that everyone gets to their destination safely and without incident.

When it comes to major roads, traffic lights perform an even more crucial function, as they are the primary mechanism for regulating traffic flow.

Traffic lights help manage the ebb and flow of traffic on major roads, which reduces stress and helps keep drivers as well as other road users safe. They ensure that everyone is on the same page and adhering to the same rules, making the road a safer place for all.

In conclusion, traffic lights are a vital part of modern road infrastructure, and they play a critical role in maintaining road safety. Whether you're driving on a major road or near a school, traffic lights ensure that you stay in control and avoid causing accidents. With the addition of high-tech features such as sensors and cameras, traffic lights are now smarter than ever, making them even more effective at managing traffic flow and keeping everyone safe on the road.

12/03/2023

📰:𝐊𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄, 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘
🗞:𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴:𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗮
✍|📸:Makanaka Mavesere
🗓:24/02/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MavesereRealty/?ref=share

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: ****𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳.****

𝗔𝗻 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻
The Constitution describes agricultural land as land suitable for all forms of agriculture but excludes communal land. The land reform program addressed colonial imbalances and made it possible for Zimbabweans to access the natural resource of land however it can only be successful if we agree to the following beliefs:

1.Land is a limited resource that forms part of every Zimbabweans common heritage.
2. Every Zimbabwean citizen has the right to use, occupy, transfer, lease and sell agricultural land having followed the laws necessary to enjoy these rights.
3. The sharing of land must be fair, equal and must respect gender balance and community interests.
4. Land use must promote productivity and investment by Zimbabweans meaning Zimbabweans must have enough food whilst protecting the environment for future generations.
5. No person may be denied the right to use and occupy land without a reason.

𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹
Urban Farming is a phenomenon to me because historically we have been known to migrate from rural areas to urban areas in search of better living standards far away from a lifestyle of farming. Ironically it is very common to find maize growing on land zoned for residential/comercial use in urban areas. In fact most if not all unused land in urban areas is currently used to grow maize crop. Land owners do this to utilize their properties to generate income as a result of high costs of construction to build on those properties instead.

𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Urban Farming can also be a testament of how our land is a blessed heritage one that can feed ourselves and potentially nations. We successfully grow crops despite location and use. Most of the maize grown is able to sustain households and even contribute to national output. Even compared on a global scale in relation to size and use a large portion of Zimbabwean land is arable for agricultural purposes. Even historically speaking Zimbabwe has been known to be a bread basket of Africa so collectively we must remember where we came from in order to understand where exactly we can go to.

*****𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲*****

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲
At first I thought the story here was about Urban Farming but after weeks of reflection I have come to the conclusion that the story should be about misuse of prime land by the local authority. The land in the image above is of a 1ha+ piece of land in one of Kadoma's low density surburbs named Westview. It is the closest to the CBD as well as the oldest low density surburb making that land prime for Real Estate Development.

The land belongs to the local authority and is zoned as an open space. The local authority has zoned tuckshops and allowed nearby residents to farm maize and other agricultural projects annually instead. The land has been used for these purposes for over 20 years and one would wonder why a whole local authority that's in need of income would let residents use the land to grow crops and build tuckshops when there are so many income producing projects they could initiate to develop our city while generating income for themselves in the process. A win win for all.

𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗳𝗳
Don't get it twisted I support farming and the idea that Zimbabweans should be able to feed themselves and potentially contribute to agricultural output. However when a local authority allows it to happen on their own land its not a good image for the city. You see a local authority must make use of land for residential, commercial, industrial or recreational use not for agricultural purposes. There are no agricultural clauses in the Urban Councils Act so why not make the best use of land a finite resource.

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗴𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁

1. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹
Kadoma has no decent commercial zones in one of its largest low density areas and a well structured and planned one will do Westview some justice. It will also potentially increase the value of all surrounding properties in the process. This is something I'm sure homeowners would opt for rather than the labour involved in tilling land and growing crops.

Zoning tuckshops in low density areas isn't ideal development in a city that wants to spread its wings and grow in real estate capacity. The local authority should see this as an opportunity to capitalize on increasing their rates collection as well as generating much needed income. I'm surprised that zoning tuckshops in low density areas was something approved in a council meeting.

2. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹
You see this local authority has never successfully zoned a park ever since independence but even then the only existing park development pre-date independence. One would wonder if a whole local authority understands the importance of zoning recreational areas for its residents.

You'll find that most people come as far as Ingezi township to enjoy the only existing park in Kadoma located in the CBD. Recreational areas are good for people to rest, eat, play, meet, talk, interact, enjoy, celebrate, exercise, take pictures, go on dates, relax and just feel at ease. However with all this in mind there has never been another park meanwhile the city continues to grow in size and population.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗴𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗴𝗴𝘀.

I'd like to believe that zoning a park would be the easiest and most ideal use of that open space instead of growing maize and zoning tuckshops. It will also increase property values, improve the lives of Westview residents as well as create an opportunity for the local authority to be more marketable as an authority that has ability and potential thus increasing the confidence of ratepayers seeing as how they are now charging US$.

02/01/2023

📰:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥
🗞:𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗡𝗘
✍|📸:Makanaka Mavesere
🗓:02/01/2023
🌐: https://www.facebook.com/joylovelifezw

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘔𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘣𝘦 Street 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘥 9 𝘒𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘢, 𝘡𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘸𝘦.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: "ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵉᵃˢᵘʳᵉ ᵒᶠ ⁱⁿᵗᵉˡˡⁱᵍᵉⁿᶜᵉ ⁱˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃᵇⁱˡⁱᵗʸ ᵗᵒ ᶜʰᵃⁿᵍᵉ"
According to Albert Einstein the definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

Albert Einstein was a genius and widely known as one of the most influential physicists of all time. Albert Einstien is the father of modern day physics and our city fathers are the local authority. So basically what I'm trying to contrast here is the relationship between physics and engineering. You see a physicist studies how the world works and the engineer uses that information to design, build and produce.

So when Albert Einstein gave us the definition of insanity I believe that Einstein was talking to engineers. He wanted them to be more proactive and make changes even if they are painful, harder and more expensive to carry out. You see it is in fact crazy to not adapt and improve especially when your work must be sustainable. The work of engineers in our society is very important because engineers are the designers of our built environment.

𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲: "ʸᵒᵘ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᶠᵃⁱˡ ᵘⁿᵗⁱˡ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵗᵒᵖ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ"
Robert Mugabe Street in Kadoma is the longest street in Kadoma's CBD. It moves from the highway into town and reconnects to the highway again going out of town. It moves through commercial, residential, industrial, recreational and institutional properties. It has two of the only traffic lights in the city and boy is it a busy road. Traffic from Mashumavale, Westview, Rimuka, Ingezi, Cherrybank, Cherrygrove, Southgate, Rosebank, Victory Park use it to access the central business district of Kadoma. Meaning that this road should infact be preserved as it is of high priority considering traffic in Kadoma has increased over the holiday season.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺:"ᵃ ᶜˡᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿ ˢᵒˡᵛᵉˢ ᵃ ᵖʳᵒᵇˡᵉᵐ ᵃ ʷⁱˢᵉ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿ ᵃᵛᵒⁱᵈˢ ⁱᵗ"
The problem here is that every single year when it rains the potholes are reopened and the road gets worse. And to make matter that are worse even more worse every single year the local authority tries the same thing to remedy the problem. However instead of finding a solution that is permanent they are only delaying the inevitable thus creating an even bigger problem in the long run. The road isn't being fixed the road is being destroyed they are just delaying its destruction.

Every year the local authority fills the potholes with earth and considers it a job well done. I showed the images above to a Young Civil Engineer based here in Kadoma and her response was complete and utter shock. She believes that the job is being done halfway and that they are not actually solving anything by filling the road with just earth.

The way I see it is there is also another problem here as well. You see I'd like to believe that the poor drainage system plays a part too. The water has no where to go because the drains are blocked thus the water is trapped and contributes to the destruction of the road too.

𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:"ʷᵉ ᶜᵃⁿⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵒˡᵛᵉ ᵒᵘʳ ᵖʳᵒᵇˡᵉᵐˢ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵃᵐᵉ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏⁱⁿᵍ ʷᵉ ᵘˢᵉᵈ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʷᵉ ᶜʳᵉᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉᵐ"
The engineer I spoke to recommends that putting earth is doing the job half way. She believes the best solution is to compact the earth and cover the hole with tarmac in order to prevent further damage thus preserving the road for future generations more sustainably. She is currently doing her Master in Sustainability at UCT and is a strong believer that engineers should always consider sustainability in their work.

The drainage system in that area should be looked at more closely too as it is a threat to road works. The current system must be unblocked and improved so that the water flows naturally instead of creating rivers in our CBD.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: "ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ ⁱˢ ᵃ ᵈᵃⁿᵍᵉʳᵒᵘˢ ᵖˡᵃᶜᵉ ᵗᵒ ˡⁱᵛᵉ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ ʷʰᵒ ᵃʳᵉ ᵉᵛⁱˡ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ ʷʰᵒ ʷᵒⁿᵗ ᵈᵒ ᵃⁿʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ"
The role of the local authority is to provide service to its residents who in turn must pay rates in a timely manner so repairs and maintenance can be done. The local authority must understand that it is only natural for residents to convey their dissatisfaction when they provide poor service to their residents. The image above shows what is now a dust road at corner Milton Road and Robert Mugabe Street in Ward 9 of Kadoma, Zimbabwe.

This ward is designated as the central business district of our beautiful city where we have the most tarred roads in the city however instead of tarred roads we now have dust roads. The local authority should preserve our roads and create a sense of pride in our city instead of doing the job halfway.

Engineers are an integral part of our built environment because they design it. So to see these situations where our current engineers are failing to not only improve but maintain work done decades ago is rather appalling to the standards that our local authority will have us believe they uphold.

It means then that we are regressing instead of progressing and that is not something one should be proud of especially when one must 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 to the residents of Kadoma. I personally don't like to criticize when I write because I strongly believe in words of progress however this is a matter of concern. Our tarred roads are quickly becoming dust roads and the work we do today will impact future generations tomorrow. So when the work isn't done properly it will set them back even further than we are today. 𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀.

The Young Observer Program

25/09/2023

25/09/2023

19/09/2023

19/09/2023

19/05/2023

14/05/2023

11/05/2023

12/03/2023

02/01/2023

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