… Says it was most widely consulted in Zimbabwe’s historyBy Brighton ChisevaMasvingo – Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Portfolio Committee Chairperson Edson Zvobgo Jnr has said The Constitutional Amendment Bill #3 consultation process was one of the most widely consulted bills in Zimbabwe’s history, dismissing criticisms that the process was flawed or rushed.Speaking at a press discussion organized by the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe in partnership with TellZim News at Chevron Hotel on April 11, Zvobgo acknowledged that there were a few incidents of concern but insisted they did not discredit the overall peaceful process.”Of course there were one or two incidences of concern. I saw some videos, but when we look at the overall process, dealing with a country of around 16 million, then point to two videos and say the whole process was faulty is not correct,” said Zvobgo.He argued that some people opposed to the political implications of the bill were now attacking the process, which he said went well in most areas.”There are people who were against the political implications of the passing of the bill. They should learn to differentiate the two. Those who are against the political outcome are now attacking the process, which went well in most areas,” he said.Zvobgo rejected claims that the consultation period was too short, explaining that critics were only looking at one part of the process.”Some say the process was too short, but they will be talking about a part of the process where the MPs had to come and meet people. The process is still ongoing, but the challenge is people don’t know that written submissions are equally important just like the submissions made during the meetings. The process is 90 days, and people have all the time to make written submissions,” said Zvobgo.He explained that the decision to compress the face to face meetings into four days was driven by the need to manage resources.”The committee had only 20 members, so we had to take other members from other committees and compress the period within a short time to avoid using taxpayers’ money for travel and other monetary requirements,” said Zvobgo.He said during the Constitutional Amendment Bills #1 and #2, there were only two meetings per province, with no complaints, but this time there was a dramatic increase to 64 meetings.”The idea of consultation is to get a sample; it’s not a referendum that requires going village by village. We had the first and second amendments which we had only two meetings per province but people did not complain,” he added.Zvobgo also addressed the issue of people bringing thousands of copies of submissions against certain clauses, stating that quantity does not matter.”Some people brought 10,000 copies with the same message and the same clause. That doesn’t change anything. It’s not about the number of copies because it’s not a vote where we count the number of people who have put in input,” he said.He also insisted that the meetings were fair, saying opposition MPs were involved, including the vice chairperson for the Masvingo team.”We had opposition members amongst ourselves. I was chairing the Masvingo meetings, and my vice was Honourable Shiriyedenga, who is a member of CCC. “She chaired in Zaka and other meetings. This is a result of people’s objections to the result and the political implication, which is fair enough. Everyone has a right to have their view of the political implication, but they should not confuse the two. The result and the process, during the process, the constitutional requirements were followed,” said Zvobgo.Zvobgo also defended the proposal that the President be elected by Members of Parliament rather than through direct popular vote, arguing that such a system was not foreign to Zimbabwe.He said similar systems were used to elect Presidents in countries such as South Africa, Botswana, and the United Kingdom. He challenged what he called double standards, saying it is acceptable when practiced by neighboring nations but criticized when Zimbabwe seeks to adopt the same approach.
Masvingo records 55 drowning deaths in 2025/26 rainy season
By TellZim ReporterMASVINGO – Masvingo Province has recorded a shocking 55 drowning cases during the 2025/26 rainy season, a figure that police have described as deeply worrying.Speaking during a provincial road safety campaign ahead of the 2026 Easter holiday, Assistant Commissioner Peter Sibanda warned residents not to take chances crossing flooded rivers, as heavy rains continue to pound the country.“One of the major problems that we are facing at the moment is people crossing flooded rivers. Since the beginning of the rainy season in November 2025 to March 2026, we have recorded 55 cases of people drowning. Most of them were taking chances and drowned,” said Ass Comm Sibanda. Ass Comm Sibanda reiterated the call for the public to avoid crossing rivers, even those they are accustomed to using.“Let us avoid crossing rivers, even if that is the usual place we used to cross. Others are being killed while poaching fish,” he said.He also cautioned the public against fishing in Crocodile infested Rivers, noting that the abundant rainfall this year had made waterways particularly dangerous.In March, the province recorded two separate drowning incidents involving a nurse and a teacher.Frank Siziba, a 64yearold male nurse from Mwenezi, went missing on March 6, 2026, after he was last seen in the Matibi area. His body was found 19 days later on March 25, 2026, trapped between tree roots along the Muchingwizi River. He was identified through his watch and the clothes he was wearing. Police and villagers conducted extensive searches along the riverbank before the body was recovered.In another incident, Mavengahama Maisiri, a teacher at Chibi High School in Chivi, was swept away by floods in the Bhuka area near Zvehuru shopping centre on March 15, 2026, while on his way home. In Zaka district, two men died after their makeshift canoe capsized in the Mutirikwi River downstream of Bangala Dam on March 12, 2026. Brighton Rugwevera and Cliff Chikara were swept away by strong currents. A third occupant, a pregnant woman, managed to survive by clinging to a tree trunk for several hours before she was rescued by the ZRP SubAqua Unit.Search teams, including police divers and local villagers, combed the river for days. The bodies of the two men were found on March 15, 2026, several kilometres downstream.Police have also appealed to motorists to exercise caution on the roads during the Easter and Independence holidays, warning that law enforcement agents will remain on duty throughout the period.
Masvingo City Councillors Clash over Caravan Park
By Virginia NjovoMasvingo City councillors recently clashed over Caravan Park’s three-year lease application while owing City Council rentals over US$9 000.The councillors were divided as to granting the application, with some saying the owner should clear the arrears first while some said they should grant him since they benefited from the park’s services.The debate turned partisan, with Zanu PF councillors arguing that council should grant him the three-year lease request while the some opposition councillors objected.Zanu PF’s Ward 10 councillor Sengerayi Manyanga, his counterparts Ward 2 Benson Hwata and Ward 7 councillor Simbarashe Shonhiwa strongly backed the application while vocal Ward 9 opposition councillor Bernard Muchokwa led the objections.Manyanga said they should consider that councillors and some senior officials went there to eat food for free, so they should grant him the application.“He should be given the lease of three years even having the rental arrears. In this house we rely on that facility. We go there and eat without paying. There was a time we had an arrear of around USD $3 000 for sadza only, so how do you expect him to pay the money while we make such huge debts,” said Manyanga.He went on to say council was supposed to set a precedence by making profit from its bars before them disadvantaging others who were doing better.“The Caravan Park is in my ward and we have no problem with it having a three-year lease. If you want to turn down the application then we have to go to all bars in other wards and see how they are faring, are they paying up?“Council is failing to run its own bars, we are making losses in council bars but we want to turn down this application because the applicant owes us. Don’t we owe others? We owe Zesa and other institutions but they haven’t penalized us,” said Manyanga.Hwata chipped in and said Caravan Park operator was doing Corporate Social Responsibility and was supporting council in different aspects, so it was unfair to turn down the application.“Besides going there eating sadza, let us not forget what he did to us recently. He sponsored a jersey for the inter-municipal ball games when we went to Mutare. Let him operate; he is trying and his existence benefits council more,” said Hwata.Shonhiwa said the lease approval should proceed, arguing that the debt issue could be settled easily if council gives him a payment plan.“There is no problem in giving him the three-year lease because of the debt. We can give him while preparing a payment plan so that he settles his debt while operating, since we have a good mutual relationship,” said Shonhiwa.Ward 3 councillor Maxwell Madhuna argued that the application should proceed since it was clearly stipulated that the contract will be terminated once the business unit becomes operational.“I do not see the problem in proceeding with the approval of this application while arguing that three years is too much while the minutes clearly states that the contract will be terminated once the business unit becomes operational, even tomorrow, so let us just proceed,” said Madhuna.Ward 1 Councillor Sabina Chikwangwani who once opposed the three-year lease approval later changed her mind and supported it, arguing that they were supposed to be fair since council approved other leases of people who had debts.“I was not in support of this three-year lease but later I realized there are a lot of leases being approved in this house regardless of them owing the council. And to those who are saying why I changed, I once argued with the approval of Farai Beerhal. I told you the operator was facing difficulties in running the business but you approved, so let it be fair. The Caravan is failing so give him also the chance to operate,” said Chikwangwani.Muchokwa, who chairs the finance committee, dismissed allegations that the Council once owed Caravan Park some money and said that should not stop him from clearing his arrears for him to get the lease approval.“We never had that kind of arrears with Caravan Park especially directly to sadza, and that alone does not guarantee him to be given the lease. We should stick to the rules and regulations of the lease, not considering the CSR. Or if we are to give him, let’s just give him a one-year lease,” said Muchokwa.Ward 8 councillor Alderman Richard Musekiwa supported Muchokwa, saying rules were rules and that they should be followed.“We should follow operational rules. Traditionally we used to have a one-year lease and now why is he applying for three years? Given he is facing difficulties in paying his dues, we should give him one year if we are to consider his application,” said Alderman Musekiwa.Women’s Quota councillor Easther Zishiri said since council had a working relationship with council, they were supposed to stick to one year, not three.“I do not agree with three years but considering the issue raised in this house that we also benefit from him, I think we should at least give him one year while waiting for our business unit to become active, then we take over,” said Zishiri.Concluding the debate, Masvingo City Council Mayor Alec Tabe said before turning down the request various factors should be considered.“Before we say no to the three-year lease we should consider the challenges he is facing. It could be because of our mismanagement of how the licences operate. One has a sports bar but operating as a night club, so how do we expect night clubs to make money when we are not enforcing the law?“Secondly, there was a time where this house turned down his proposal when he wanted to make renovations and make the place marketable,” said Tabe.The full council resolved that Caravan Park be given a three-year lease.
ZHRC condemns CAB3, public hearings
By Yvonne Mangani
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has strongly condemned the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), warning that it threatens democratic principles and fundamental rights, while raising alarm over alleged abuses during recent public hearings.
Presenting the commission’s analysis, ZHRC chairperson Jessie Majome said the bill could undermine constitutional governance, particularly provisions that may extend presidential tenure and alter electoral processes.
Majome cautioned that extending presidential terms could infringe on citizens’ political rights enshrined in Section 67 of the Constitution, including the right to participate in regular elections. She noted that such changes may also violate international democratic standards that require periodic, credible elections.
“The potential negative effects are significant. Public trust in constitutional governance may erode if citizens perceive the law as pliable to political expediency. The balance of powers could be destabilised, marginalising Parliament’s oversight and the judiciary’s interpretive role, while concentrating authority in the executive,” said Majome.
The commission also expressed concern over proposals to remove citizens’ direct role in electing the president, warning that this could weaken popular sovereignty and democratic accountability.
“Removing the electorate from directly voting for the President risks diminishing popular sovereignty and weakening public trust in institutions. Concentrating presidential selection within Parliament raises the danger of parliamentary capture, where dominant parties manipulate rules to entrench power, marginalising smaller parties and opposition voices,” said Majome.
Beyond the bill itself, ZHRC reported widespread allegations of intimidation, harassment, and the exclusion of dissenting voices during the public consultation process, casting doubt on the credibility and inclusiveness of the hearings.
In a statement, the Commission said the conduct observed during the hearings undermined several constitutional rights, including freedom of expression (Section 61), freedom of conscience (Section 60), the right to human dignity (Section 51), personal security (Section 52), as well as equality and non-discrimination (Section 56).
ZHRC noted that individuals and groups who opposed the proposed amendments were, in many instances, denied the opportunity to participate in the hearings.
“Whilst those in support of the Constitutional Amendment were able to give their views, the Commission noted the harassment and intimidation of dissenting voices. Individuals and groups opposed to CAB3 were denied audience.
“The Commission observed instances where participants with divergent views to the proposed amendments were threatened, silenced, denied opportunities to contribute and in some instances physically attacked,” reads part of the statement.
The Commission further highlighted concerns over restricted access to hearing venues, alleging that some entry points were tightly controlled in ways that limited open participation.
“There was a strong pattern of controlled participation across most provinces. Some entrances to venues were often controlled by youths, with vetting at entry points and supervised sign-in registers with restricted access. For example in Mashonaland West, men holding whips were involved in vetting participants in Mhondoro Ngezi,” reads the statement.
Across the monitored venues by the ZHRC most submissions were in support of CAB3. The most supported proposals included extension of Presidential and parliamentary terms, election of the President by Members of Parliament, transfer of the voters roll from ZEC to the Civil Registry, appointment of additional senators by the PRESIDENT, MERGING THE Zimbabwe Gender Commission into the ZHRC, and allowing traditional leaders to participate in politics.
ZHRC said the reported incidents point to a broader pattern of interference that compromised the credibility of the public consultation process.
Four Zaka Schools Receive Starlink Kits to Boost Learning Connectivity
By Staff Reporter
ZAKA – Four schools in Zaka district, three primary schools and one secondary school
recently received Starlink internet kits, a development that recipient school heads say
will significantly enhance the learning environment.
The beneficiaries are Baramanza Primary School, Gondo Primary School, Chivingwi
Primary School, and Rusere High School.
Zaka North legislator Ophias Murambiwa, who facilitated the Starlink kits, said he had
appealed to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for connectivity support
for all schools in his constituency but only received four kits so far, with hopes of
securing more.
“The motive was that we saw these schools were behind in terms of connection. Moving
with the national vision of leaving no one behind, I saw it fit to distribute them in that
way. If we get more, they will also go to needy schools. Nowadays, connection
enhances education for research and ICT learning so there is need for every school to
be connected,” said Murambiwa.
He said he made another application to the Ministry of ICT recently and was waiting for
a response, anticipating that more kits would be secured to ensure all schools are
connected.
Baramanza Primary School head Sevias Matanda said the Starlink kits would enhance
connectivity for teachers to conduct research, enabling them to keep updated with
current affairs and the ever-changing trends in education and syllabuses.
“Teachers can now easily download syllabuses, guides and other materials which we
used to print. They can now do reseaches that would enrich their knowledge that they
would impart to their pupils,” said Matanda.
Chivingwi Primary School head Edmore Nhopi thanked Murambiwa for the initiative,
saying the Starlink kits arrived at the right time as the school had been facing serious
connectivity challenges.
“The Starlink have come at a right time when we were struggling with connectivity. The
connection will enhance both learning and teaching at the school,” said Nhopi.
Gondo Primary School head Obina Munangwa expressed gratitude on behalf of the
school and the community, saying the kit would help teachers conduct research and
allow learners to do research and learn ICT.
“The Starlink will also help the community, as those who want to use the network will be
allowed,” said Munangwa.
Zaka district has some of the remotest areas in Masvingo province, with most parts of
Zaka North being mountainous. Some areas are difficult to access for mobile network
coverage, making it hard for locals even to use mobile data to access internet services.
Murambinda gets facelift to meet full town status standards
By TellZim ReporterMurambinda Growth Point is undergoing major upgrades to meet full town status standards, it has been learnt.Murambinda Town Board Chairperson Chamunorwa Mudzimu confirmed the development and said the major upgrades include upgrading of dust roads to tarred roads as well as “Part of the works ongoing include upgrading gravelled roads to tarred and fixing drainage systems to address dust challenges in the growth point. “We are also upgrading our roads after considering that during the rainy season, roads get damaged with more potholes. This is costly as we have to do resurfacing and gravelling regularly,” said Mudzimu. Mudzimu also said the local authority had plans to extend the upgrades to residential areas to allow residents to drive motor vehicles to their homes. “At the moment the focus is on the growth point and the Central Business District but we also have plans to extend the upgrades to residential areas to enable our residents to drive their cars up to their homes,” he said.
St Joseph Tongoona High cultivates skills and income through Agriculture
By Tadiwa Shunje
ZAKA- St Joseph Tongoona High School is transforming education through practical agriculture projects
that are equipping learners with life skills while generating income to support the school operations.
Located a few kilometers from Jerera Gowthpoint, the school has embraced farming as a key part of its
learning system with pupils actively involved in fish farming, piggery, crop production and poultry.
The school Head Of Department for practicals and agriculture teacher Never Mukuhudzi said the school
runs a fish pond stocked with bream which they harvest every three months and sold to the staff and
local community.
“We run a fish pond with breams where we normally harvest every three months and sell them to the
staff and locals,” said Mukuhudzi.
The piggery project has 61 pigs which Mukuhudzi said were sold live at various stages while others are
slaughtered and sold to the staff and the surrounding community as well.
Crop production is another major focus area, the school manages two plots that were under maize
production and a garden where tomatoes and various vegetables are grown.
Mukuhudzi said these projects were not only meant for food and cash production but were mainly
,meant to provide hands-on learning opportunities for learners where they gain practical agricultural
skills that prepare them for life after school.
“If you go in Jerera Growth Point, a number of people who are running poultry projects are our former
leaners who are using the knowledge they got here,” said Mukuhudzi.
The Deputy Head, David Chipezaya said they used sustainable agriculture where the projects
complement each other. He said they conserve water by creating a system where they drain nutritious
water from fish ponds to the garden promoting water.
“To save water, when we want to put in fresh water in the fishpond, we pump out the water to our
garden. This means we don’t waste water. We use a water pump to drain water from the fish pond and
use it to water our garden,” said Chipezaya.
He said money generated from the agricultural produce sustained school operations and the school
does not solely relies on fees and said the school was paying a loan that they borrowed to buy a bus and
the proceeds from agriculture were coming in handy.
“Funds generated from the agricultural projects are reinvested into the school, supporting sports
activities and infrastructure development, this approach reduces reliance on school fees and
strengthens the school’s ability to sustain its operations.
We are currently paying the bus loan but the gap is not felt much because we are still able to do other
basic monetary requirements,” said Chipezaya.
St Joseph Tongoona High scoops two rural schools awards
By Staff Reporter
ZAKA – St Joseph Tongoona High School, located a few metres from Jerera Growth
Point in Zaka, has scooped two prestigious awards, one at national level and another at
provincial level, recognising its outstanding academic performance in 2025 .
The school was named the Best Rural Secondary School at Advanced Level nationally,
and also the Best Rural Day School with the highest number of 15 points at Advanced
Level at provincial level.
The awards were organized by by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and
were presented by Vice president Kembo Mohadi.
The school has maintained a 100 percent pass rate at Advanced Level for three
consecutive years 2023, 2024 and 2025 demonstrating a clear pattern of excellence.
School head Mapiye Magara said he was elated by the recognition, which he attributed
to cooperation among learners, teachers, parents and other stakeholders.
“We are proud of the recognition, and that speaks volumes about what we do as a
school. The awards are a result of a combination of measures in place that help us get
better results.
“We have a dedicated staff and well-disciplined learners. We have a supportive SDC
and the parents are always behind our success stories,” said Magara.
He said the school had dedicated members of staff who maintain discipline, and that
was behind the outstanding results that saw the school scooping the two awards, each
coming with a shield, certificate and cash prize.
The school’s senior lady, Norliwe Jange, said St Joseph Tongoona was a model for
discipline, as a palisade fencing ensures that learners are always within the school
premises.
She said being close to a growth point, learners might be tempted to sneak out, but that
was unheard of since anyone who wants to leave requires a pass.
She also highlighted measures in place to protect the girl child to make sure that they
are always in school and that was one of the reasons behind good results.
“Even if a girl is on her monthly periods at school, we have spare uniform to change if
she messes up her clothes. We also have a mattress and painkillers for relief, which
allows girls not to miss any school time because of menstruation,” said Jange.
She added that cases of learners getting pregnant at school were very few, and those
few served as a learning curve for others. The affected girls managed to write their
exams and had time to educate their peers about the dangers of getting pregnant while
still at school.
Deputy Head David Chipezaya said the school was moulding responsible learners, with
no cases of drug abuse, which has become a menace in Zimbabwean schools.
“We are proud of the environment we have created, and these awards are a testament
to the hard work and discipline of our learners and staff,” said Chipezaya
Mother, five children perish in traffic accident
By Staff Reporter
The Easter holidays have started on a devastating note after a mother and her five children perished in a horrific head-on collision along the Harare-Masvingo Highway on Thursday (March 2) morning.
Police confirmed that the fatal accident occurred at around 9:50 AM at the 246-kilometre peg near Masvingo when a Toyota Corolla and a Mercedes-Benz truck collided. Sources allege the victims were Lilian Maranda Mujuru (40), the mother who was driving the vehicle, and her five children and the family was travelling from Harare to Zvishavane when tragedy struck.
According to police reports, the woman reportedly lost control of the Toyota Corolla, causing it to veer into the opposite lane where it was hit by the oncoming haulage truck. The truck was heading in the opposite direction towards Harare.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that all six occupants of the Toyota Corolla died instantly at the scene.
The victims have been identified by their next of kin as Lilian Maranda Mujuru (40), Nokutenda Mujuru (15), Makanaka Mujuru (13), Ronald Junior Mujuru (11), Rufaro Shalom Mujuru (7), and Kayden Mujuru (3).
Their bodies were taken to the Masvingo Provincial Teaching Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
Police have extended their deepest condolences to the bereaved family and have urged all motorists to exercise extreme caution on the country’s roads during the holiday period. This accident marks a grim start to the Easter and Independence holidays, highlighting the ongoing dangers on one of Zimbabwe’s busiest highways despite recent road safety campaigns.
Age saves teen convicted of six counts of aggravated indecent assault
By Ndinatsei Mavodza
MASVINGO – Age saved a 13-year-old boy has from custodial sentence after being
convicted of six counts of aggravated indecent assault involving minor boys. He pleaded
guilty to all charges.
The teenager appeared before Masvingo Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura on March 23,
2026 facing six counts of aggravated indecent assault involving boys under the age of
eighteen.
The court heard that the offenses occurred between July 2025 and September 2025 on school
grounds. According to court records, the acts amounted to anal sexual intercourse.
Magistrate Bepura sentenced him to six years in prison but suspended the sentence on
condition that he commits no crime of a sexual nature in the next five years. He further stated
that it was only because of the offender’s young age that the court had spared him from
immediate imprisonment.
The defence lawyer had asked for leniency, arguing that his client was still young and in
Form Two. He further noted that the teenager had attributed his conduct to his tender age,
stating that he was an “inexperienced juvenile who acted out of youthful exuberance.”
The court also heard that the boy had since received intensive counselling from a Child
Protection Officer. His father, who serves in the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional
Services, had been actively involved in the rehabilitation process.
It was also noted that outside the court, the teenager now faces discrimination from
classmates and the wider community, with some labelling him using derogatory terms.
In Zimbabwe, aggravated indecent assault is a serious offence under the Criminal Law
(Codification and Reform) Act. Across the country, a number of cases of adults in positions
of authority abusing children have been recorded, but cases involving a juvenile offender are
less common.
Child protection experts note that such cases require a different approach than adult cases, as
juvenile offenders themselves are often influenced by their environment and circumstances.
Under Zimbabwe’s Constitution in Section 81, it is noted that children under eighteen shall
not be detained except as a measure of last resort. As such, this principle prioritises
rehabilitation over punishment for juvenile offenders where possible.
The Children’s Act further provides that when deciding on appropriate outcomes for juvenile offenders