Like many Zimbabweans, Mapombi has joined the bandwagon in publicly writing to Sir Wicknell following the current galore where cars are falling like confetti kkk, manna from heaven. Sevamwe, ndiri kutogarawo ndakageza in case I am called to go and see Victor sevana vevamwe, asi in handikumbiri sechanana checreche zviri kuita rimwe team renyu iro. I have decided to write this letter kumbinga yenyika, yadai kusiya vazhinji vave nemota mbiri mbiri nhatu nhatu, sevachafamba vakati gumbo mune imwe rimwe mune imwe.
Before I get carried away nekuvhukunura nyaya dzanaChamisa nevamwe vake dzisina musoro like usual, let me go straight into what pushed me to write this letter. I hope this letter finds you well muzvinamari yenyika vaChivayo imizve makatsika nzou ikarutsa. Before I go any further I am also appealing to those who have access to you like VaMashwede vepedu pano paChivi apa vatakanzwa kuti ndivo chireranherera wenyu; vandibatsireiwo kusvitsa mwadhi yangu iyi. Shona inoti chirere chigokurerawo, pamwe maikurudzirawo wamakarera kuti abatsire zvipatara zvekwaChivi vuno kwenyu, where some women are walking distances anodarika kuma30km to go kunobatsirwa to the nearest clinic. Zvisinei, mwadhi yangu VaChivayo haisi yekutuka zvayo asi kutokumbira. We all know munhu haaudzirwe zvekuita nemari yake, and I also believe that your generosity proves that you are a good person who cares for at least those who he cares for, meaning humanity munayo zvenyu. While we are in the spirit of celebrating and rewarding our artists, ndaiti dai tarangarirawo mumwe wevaimbi vedu whose untimely death left us all heartbroken, Garry wekuno kwedu Masvingo. Pfungwa dzangu dzinondiudza kuti had our hospitals been well equipped we could be talking something else. Hongu, hapana akambobata rufu nemaoko, asi dai zvikwanisiro zvaivapo taichemawo netariro. Another heart-breaking incident was when we lost a young doctor in Manicaland due to unavailability of life-saving facilities. These are just a few cases auya mumusoro mangu. Ahh, ini zvakandibaya moyo ini VaChivayo ndisingaziviwo imi. Zuro uno ndakambopfuurawo nekumaward ekuMasvingo General Hospital ndichitoona hangu varwere varere mumaward ane mawindow akawira panze, idzo mosquito dzichiita hadzo party navo. Ko idzo mari dzinodiwa dzematests nemishonga kana warwarirwa mufunge henyu VaChivayo? Maprivate lab anoida zhinji mari. Unotoona kuti chokwadi kurwara yava kuita seluxury muZimbabwe. Nerimwe divi it is almost being sentenced to death because nevuchira hwekumageneral hospitals huya chero masoja emuviri anoshaya motivation yekurwa. You wouldn’t know zvenyu because you will never find yourself at our public health facilities mune mari dzenyu ka imi but ruzhinji rwuya runozara kumarally ndokwavanoponera. Akanzi adonha mu1 of the lorries aya anoshandiswa nemusangano wenyu kuvatuta kuuya kurally they will find themselves iko kuzvipatara izvozvo. But if you look at it, tumwe twezvinhu turi kudiwa at these hospitals for them to look decent hazvimbodi mari yakawanda mufunge. NeAcqua one chaiyo lives would be changed, and the low income and marginalized populace kunova ndiko kunowana musangano wenyu wamunoda chaizvo weZanu PF mavotes, will forever be grateful. The old lads who come to Zanu rallies are the ones who are suffering when they or their family members get sick. Maingoti Masvingo oyi mota yenyu iyi, totoitengesa togadzirisa one or two pachipatara, zvizamei muone. We know you are in close proximity to the first family, ehe papi pacho pamungangoita zvamuri kuita izvi without their blessing, I hear kuti Exquisite ndeyevene wani, and so we believe kuti philanthropy yenyu neyaMai should mean something. We know that you do not have to be afraid of donating anything to anyone like others vanozonzi ndeveregime change agenda, so your donations are not as scrutinized navaED nevamwe vavo vaya vatinotya seruzhinji rweZimbabwe. Ndamboti tsamba iyi haisi yekutuka, asi pamwe pacho it is difficult to express myself regarding the obtaining situation in our country without getting angry. Hongu mari yemagetsi tongonzwa kunzi pane imwe isina kuzofamba zvakanaka between you and ZPC, asi taingoti pashoma iyoyo yasara vakoti nemachiremba edu who are leaving in droves kuenda kune dzimwe nyika vaonewo value mukugara muno muZimbabwe, kana dai maigona kupindirawo ipapo. Ini hangu ndinogara kuChitima as a vagabond asi ndinotorwadziwawo nekushainirwa nekununirwa muromo nemari yenyika inofanirwa kuita benefit tose, that is why ndichizobuda musaga kudai. Ikozvino zvekare, we are going to have many who will need the services of those hospitals, vaya varikuputsirwa misha nehurumende vachinzi maillegal settlers, maBP akakwira izvozvi. Tinonzwa kuti varungu vaya vekubviswa nehondo yeminda varikuda kuripwa mushure mekunge peri-urban land yatengeswa through a particular bank at high rates, ndosaka vanhu vari kudzingwa, asika those being evicted are people who require shelter and other facilities sezvamunongoitawo imi nemhuri yenyu kumansion kwenyu ikoko. Pashoma iyoyo yasara padzimota paya you could assist mabiyenyu who are in power, ivo Baba Two chaivo to see the plight of these people because musha uri kusviba uyu. Kune dzimwe nzvimbo where people were displaced under the current operation right now kutaura zvemusangano weZanu kwaakuita kunge kutaura zvinyadzi, vulgar chaiyo, vanhu havachadi kana kuzvinzwa. Rangariraika kuti the land issue is a controversial issue chero Ba Bona yaivatemesa musoro, so inoda a delicate approach. Saka kwamuri Sir Wicky, I just want to advise you kuti ehe mota ipai vamunoda henyu asi cheukai rudhende runoita kuti vamuri kuita reward on behalf of vasaita matambudziko. I heard ZACC is after you, questioning where you get your money, which you said does not bother you, but mukabatsira kuvaka nyika ndinoona zvichiita zvakanaka. Inga munoti nyika inovakwa nevene vayo wani. All these spineless artists who you are rewarding havana kwavo vaya, and you can never say you have loyal friends in them, chavo kungoda mukana wekudya. It’s not like Mapombi is jealousy or anything but ini ndiri gentleman handivanzi. Vanoenda kwaenda mhepo vaya, and honestly, it is not their fault. Also, kutovatengera dzimota ikoko might be detrimental to their careers in the long run. Handiporofiti hangu like zvinoitwa kuchurch kwenyu where you were told you were going to be a billionaire but pandinoreva batai manzwi. A lot has been said about your wealth, and however you acquired it kungwara kwenyu, but may you please stop gaslighting Zimbabweans into thinking that they are not working hard enough because that is clearly an insult. Tiri kuedzawo zvichiramba, because the environment is just not conducive for anyone but a chosen few to succeed. Look at how the young have relegated themselves kumutoriro and other dangerous drugs, vana varikurwadziwa. Zimbabwe is very far from being open for business. I know Mthuli Ncube disagrees with this but he is a denialist of note, tovaziva nekunyeba baba vaya.
Handizivi, I want to ask you if you have ever heard paya panonzi nevanhu vekuparty kwenyu kuZanu pfee musangano wakasimbira kumasero? Do you ever ask kuti who constitutes masero acho? Ndivoka vanhu ivavo vanopihwa machicken inn nemaPepsi vototi tsepete tsepete. Ivavo ndovanhu vekuti chero mukati mota yake yake hatinyanyi kushora, kungoti zvinogona kuzorwisana neMweya. Sometimes those people want more, vopihwa mbeu nechibage, pamwe vanopihwa rice, but one thing I want to assure you is that one day their stomachs will start grumbling nenzara, and the sounds will grow louder and louder until they suddenly stop because they would have eaten those in power. I am not trying to scare you or kukushuridzirai but chisingaperi chinoshura, kana muchiti ndinonyepa bvunzai mubiyenyu Dr Gire. Ehe I know that she is still enjoying the proceeds of her late husband Bhobho’s thievery, but with side eyes. What I am trying to say Sir is that while you may have amassed wealth through whatever means, mukabatsira nyika yenyu pazvipatara, migwagwa nezvimwe, maizoita kumhanya kushoma paya pazvinenge zvaipa, mafriends anowanda. Ali Bongo paGuinea apo akazokumbira vanhu to make noise zvashata but people instead laughed at him, and zviri zvaGaddafi paLybia hatichatauri. Maybe you will manage to build good relations with the incoming establishment after this one, maybe not, asi akubaira zanhi ndewako. Sezvandamboisa disclaimer before, munhu haaudzirwi what to do with their wealth, kungorevawo sezvo mafun’afun’a achiti ndeyenyika yamakangowana matorero ane hungwaru badzi.
Ini let me go ndindokanga maputi angu for lunch ndakamirira kunzwa kunzi Masvingo warangarirwa, Sir vaburukira muguta redu, michina yanga isipo.yavakuiswa paGeneral Hospital apo. Bva kana imi muchigona kungopa mota you can give one to Mapombi and see what she will do nayo. Chimwe chikumbiro changu ndechekuti mukaona VaMphoko muudzwe pavakasiira project yezvitiyo muisimudzire, nyika ibudirire. Ndini wenyu murudo murudo Mapombi Adonha.
Mapombi’s Letter to Sir Wicknell
UNICEF’s piped water scheme saves Zaka School
By Beverly Bizeki
For Ashley Ronje, a grade 7 pupil at Charingeno Primary School one of the major developments she has witnessed at her school and can still remember is the availability of water as she no longer has to fetch water from a distance but is now able, together with other pupils, use hosepipes for watering trees in the orchard.
Situated in Zaka Central, Charingeno’s water situation was so dire that the school had to fetch water from a bush pump borehole sharing with people from the 16 villages surrounding the school which resulted in learners at the school running short of water to use time and again.
“The recent development that has taken place at our school is the availability of water through the piped water scheme. We can now get water from the tap and no longer have to fetch water using buckets from the borehole, we now use hosepipes to water the trees in our orchard,” said Ronje.
The school now has a functional piped water scheme using solar power which has made it possible to supply water around the school and the community around. This was made possible by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) in collaboration with UNICEF and funding from the UK government implemented by Christian Care for improving schools in marginalized communities.
MoPSE Director of Communications Taungana Ndoro applauded the ongoing projects at the school saying it was important for learners to have these and would ensure that children from marginalized schools are not left behind.
“The government’s efforts in collaboration with development partners such as UNICEF are such that we leave no one and no place behind by ensuring that schools in remote areas like Charingeno here have access to WASH programmes which have made sure that the school is self-sufficient as they can now grow their food, have a vibrant orchard and fishpond.
“We urge all schools to implement such projects so that children in remote schools are not left behind to make up the dream school which we are campaigning for,” said Ndoro.
School head Mary Mukwenha said the water system had helped the school in starting projects like fish farming and fruit tree plantation.
“Before the piped water scheme we used to have a timetable for fetching water among teachers, the community, and the learners at the bush pump borehole. Scotch carts would line up to the gate to get water making it hard for pupils especially those in ECD to get access. UNICEF’s intervention saved the situation.
“Through the availability of water, we have started a fish farming project to boost the school’s income although we anticipate to supplement the children’s meals. We started our orchard in 2014 to supplement children’s meals and you can see that it is green all over, we have fruits all year round and the orchard is lively unlike before. We have two orchards and want to add a third one,” said an elated Mukwenha.
Deputy school head Nizwani Mazhara said although the water system had saved the school the school still needed more water preferably a unique source which they would not share with the communities.
“We used to irrigate our fields but have since stopped and we are now depending on rain-fed agriculture because the water is not enough. Sometimes we have to ration the water because the demand is high,” said Mazhara.
SDC Chairperson Mumbire Tombizana said the provision of water at the school had helped prevent disease outbreaks such as cholera as we haven’t had any cases at the school.
“The provision of water at the school has been helpful to us. Learners have access to clean drinking water. Last year but one we were affected by a cholera outbreak because of shortage of clean water but now we have access to drinkable water even our community,” said Mumbire.
One of the SDC members Juliana Tafirenyika said the situation was so dire such that learners could go without drinking water but it is a thing of the past now.
“Before the intervention by UNICEF, learners clashed with parents from the community to access water at the borehole and could fail to get drinking water from the borehole at times. However the situation has improved and the tapped water is coming in handy in the fight against cholera and for our school feeding program which relies on access to clean water,” said Tafirenyika.
The school however is still facing challenges with its ICT department as the school only has eight functional computers out of the 14 they have to serve their enrolment of 597 learners.
According to UNICEF, in Zimbabwe, access to safe water and sanitation is a major issue especially in rural areas.
Driver hits, kills juvenile by car
By Decide Nhendo
Tipedze family from Chitando village under Chief Makore in Gutu was left mourning after a juvenile, Tinashe Tipedze was knocked by a car and died on the spot 4, 2024.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and urged motorists to avoid inattention and speeding while driving.
“I can confirm an incident where a male juvenile was knocked by a car and died on the spot and we urge drivers to avoid speeding,” said Dhewa.
It is alleged that Jonack Mugoni (40) from Gutu was driving Memory Mapfumo’s Toyota Vitz towards Roy with one passenger on board.
Upon reaching 118km peg along Chivhu-Royi road, male juvenile Tinashe Tipedze (11) dashed onto the road and Mugoni failed to stop his car on time as he was speeding.
As a result, Tipedze was hit and died on the spot and the incident was reported to Gutu police who took Tipedze’s body to Gutu Mission Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Man kills another in road rage
By Tinaani Nyabereka
Gokwe – An assailant who is still at large stabbed and killed a 25-year-old man with a sharp object in a road rage incident that occurred on 30 January 2024 around 8 pm at Dove River Bridge in Gokwe North.
Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident and said the police had since launched a manhunt for the suspect.
“I can confirm that we have a report where a man was killed after confronting a group of men who were blocking a bridge with a scotch cart.
“We are appealing to members of the public who might have information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect, Brighton Ncube,” said Mahoko.
Circumstances are that the now deceased Christopher Dube (25), of Sinangwenga Village, Chief Simuchembo, Gokwe was aboard a Nissan pickup truck coming from Chitekete business center driving towards Savara.
He was serving as a conductor and the motor vehicle was being driven by Knowledge Siachilima from the same area.
On approaching Dove River they found the bridge blocked by a scotch cart with four men and Dube asked them to clear the way for the vehicle but they refused.
Dube together with the other passengers disembarked from the vehicle to persuade the four to move their scotch cart aside which did not go down well with the suspect Brighton Ncube (19) of Village Siawanga chief Simuchembu, who was among the four.
Ncube charged towards Dube and clapped him once on the face. Sensing danger Dube ran away but Ncube was in hot pursuit. He caught up with him and stabbed him once on the chest.
Dube fell and died on the spot.
Political polarisation-side and perspective taking
By Dr Aribino Nicholas
NB- Views expressed in this column are solely his, and are not associated with the publication
Political polarization at a global level is worming itself into the governance fabric of institutions. Institutions are being immobilized by political polarization at both elite and mass levels. Political polarization is cancerous, once it sets in, it creates binary divisions that complexify human relations and power and decision dynamics. It is the intent of this opinion piece to check in my thoughts and feelings about political polarization as it relates to side and perspective taking.
Political polarization is about binary divisions that define social groups according to homophilic tendencies, it is about US versus THEM, it is about sharp divisions between political groups whose political credos and normative practices are at tangent with one another. Political polarization is also a spectrum that comes with innumerable variables such as belief polarization, affective polarization and pernicious polarization, among others. Political polarization at a global level has seen the remainers and leavers in Britain with respect to the area -issue of Brexit, political polarization has seen the stagnation of the immigration bill in the USA because the Republicans and the Democrats cannot agree on the best way forward, political polarization in Africa has seen African countries that are being ruled by parties of former liberation fighters siding with one another on matters of regional and national sovereignty that have cajoled them to regard oppositional forces as the spirit mediums of the neo-colonialists’ bent on giving back the hard won political independence to the former colonisers.
The examples given above regarding political polarization amply demonstrate that where there is political polarization there is side taking as compared to perspective taking. When ideas are floated for policy development, the ideas are not entertained on the basis of their cogency, rather they are looked at in terms of their source. The source of ideas will determine whether the ideas will be considered for agenda setting or not. In America there have been fights at the elite level regarding the best policy to adopt with respect to gun control, abortion, immigration and support for Ukraine. In Uganda there has also been unprecedented brouhaha regarding the rights of LGBTI as a key population, and the brouhaha has caused sharp divisions at geopolitical, geoeconomic, transnational and national levels. At a geopolitical level, international financial institutions (IFI) have loudly and clearly stated that Uganda will not receive any official development aid (ODA) because of its tendency to trample upon the sexuality rights of the LGBTI population. The polarization along the sexuality orientation of people has also caused sharp divisions between the global South and the global North. In South Africa elite and mass polarization regarding foreigners as the chief causes of unemployment and poor living conditions for the South Africans has necessitated xenophobic tendencies. In Zimbabwe political polarization at both the elite and mass level, has left the country in a roundabout of by-elections that have taken away critical time for development. Where there is political polarization, the bottom line is out-thinking and out-maneuvering one another at the expense of growth with development.
Political polarization is not healthy, as it has the potential to lead to civil wars, conflicts and dysfunctionality of institutions. Where there is political polarization, people spend their emotional, physical, intellectual, intuitive and spiritual energies trying to outdo one another. With political polarization filter bubbles become common and echo chambers, the order of the day. Political polarization paralyse institutions, parliaments become arenas for side taking rather than perspective taking, the judiciary becomes a tool for manipulation by those wielding both economic and political power, rule of law becomes rule by law depending on who is before the courts, public policies become missiles for the oppositional politics and the media become the instrument of the powerful politicians to communicate hate speech, spew propaganda and also to popularize the ideologies of those in rulership.
Political polarization will not build nations, rather it will create distinct camps that will not prize development but personalities. When personalities are godified, they can deliberately micro-other outgroups with the aid of state-controlled media. Micro-othering outgroups may create a fertile ground for frustration which may eventually give birth to underground activities that may destabilse a country. While political polarization may have the unspoken message of motivating those in power to change their ways for the better, it is largely corrosive with respect to the development of the moral economy and democracy. Countries will not prosper if their expenditure of effort is more towards fighting one another, team work should be the signature of citizens. The DNA for prospering countries begins and ends with a singleness of purpose and fixity of focus. The more political polarization gets to be pronounced in a country, the more institutions become dysfunctional and the more vulnerable groups get exposed to structural causes of poverty. In whatever citizens do, they should appreciate that citizenship is much more than a right as it straddles bundles of duties. Nations that thrive on perspective taking thrive more as compared to nations that thrive on side taking because they are bound by a spirit of co-nationality and positive reciprocity.
Cop borrows from detained drug dealer, refuses to pay back
By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is allegedly being accused of refusing to pay back US$200.00 he owes to a man arrested for drug peddling, Luckmore Mapfumo.
Sources say Detective Tindikai Mandidewa borrowed from Mapfumo who was in detention after arresting him for dealing in dangerous drugs.
Mapfumo was found with two stubs of mbanje and was fined US$30.00.
Mapfumo told TellZim News that he suspected that the detective was taking advantage of having arrested him saying all efforts to recover his cash were futile and he is no longer answering his calls.
“I was arrested by Mandidewa and his colleagues after they had found me with two stubs of mbanje. Mandidewa, in his personal capacity then borrowed me US$200.00 after he said he had encountered a problem which needed money urgently.
“I was still at their offices when he borrowed me US$200.00. He later went to my shop and borrowed another US$100.00 making it US$300.00. Of the US$300.00 he borrowed, he only paid US$75.00 and is no longer answering my calls. I now think he is taking advantage that he once arrested me for dealing with cannabis and the money he owes me now acts as a protection fee,” said Mapfumo.
Contacted for comment, Mandidewa acknowledged having borrowed money from Mapfumo but said it was only US$100 and he had already paid US$75, saying what Mapfumo was saying was just meant to discredit and tarnish his name.
“Mapfumo is my friend. Yes, we arrested him after he was found with two stubs of cannabis. I borrowed US$100 from him, not the US$300 he is claiming and I have so far paid back US$75. It is just a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing my image,” said Mandidewa.
A lot of known drug dealers in Chiredzi are walking scot-free and are allegedly paying the so-called ‘protection fees’ to several police officers.
ZWAN trains Masvingo women on business farming
By Beverly Bizeki
As calls for women empowerment escalate, Zimbabwe Women Agribusiness Network (ZWAN) has embarked on a training program for women in Wendedzo, Masvingo Rural to embrace farming and climate-smart agriculture as a way of improving their livelihoods.
Speaking at the training event held at Ngonidzashe Mutodi’s homestead in Village 32, Wendedzo ZWAN Executive Director Philippa Jaya said the training was targeted at helping women find sources of livelihood in farming.
“The purpose of today’s training is to help women create sources of livelihood and help them see the opportunities available in agriculture while dispelling the myth that there is not much in farming as we share knowledge and network with key stakeholders in the ministry.
“During today’s training about 100 women and 10 men from the villages were taught how they can acquire financial assistance for starting projects from banks like the Women’s Bank,” said Jaya.
Ward 32 councilor Phios Chinyoka said he was impressed by ZWAN’s initiative of training women in farming as a business and said the initiative was key in reducing cases of domestic violence against women and contributing to economic growth.
“When women gain financial freedom, they can be of help to their families which often reduces cases of violence in families where the husband is the sole provider of the family. This initiative is therefore welcomed in our communities as it contributes to peace in the homes and economic development in our country,” said Chinyoka.
One of the beneficiaries of the program, Progress Mutodi said she was grateful to ZWAN for the programs offered to women and urged other women to embrace farming.
“I am grateful that ZWAN has programs to teach women about farming. At my age, people tend to ask what I am doing at the farm but my advice to them is they should embrace farming as I my able to sustain my family through farming,” said Progress.
Women were trained on the importance of climate-smart agriculture in fruit and mushroom farming.
The organization works in line with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development as the parent ministry and Zimbabwe Youth Council.
Children’s Home champions child reunification, fostering, adoption in Mutare
By Felix Matasva
Located about 42 kilometres South of Mutare, Eastern Zimbabwe, Kudavana Children’s Home has made positive impact in Mutare district through its work in supporting vulnerable children and families through facilitating reunification, fostering and adoption which has positively contributed to the well-being of orphaned and vulnerable children in the city.
The home’s dedication to the three-pronged approach has also contributed to Zimbabwe at large by providing children with stable and caring environments, a development that has proven that such practices are not exclusive to Western countries hence they could be successfully implemented in various cultural contexts and regions.
Kudavana Partnership Trust director, William Pepukai told Tellzim News that currently, the home has 46 children with a holding capacity of 50 Children from zero to 18 years and since 2021 they, have managed to facilitate reunification of six children, fostering of six children as well as adoption of six children.
“We run under the theme ‘Every Child Deserves A Family’. This we have set out to achieve through a three legged approach which is tracing and reunification, fostering and adoption.
“With tracing we go back to where the children came from and look for their relatives if they are still alive. If they are not, we look for close or distant relatives or even well-wishers and discuss with them about the importance of children being raised in families especially from where they come from,” said Pepukai.
He said if all agree, they would be referred to Social Development Department where documents could be processed for them to assume parenthood and said they were proud as an institution that some of their children who left the institution are now better off in life.
“We have children who are now adults and have followed successful career paths after going through our youth transitional programme where we fund their higher education. Some are now teachers, we are proud of a financial manager and others in different careers after graduating from various universities.
The children’s home is believed to be the only home which takes care of infant children in Manicaland as it has got a nursery which can accommodate 10 children (aged 0-3 years) at a time.
The other houses at the home accommodate children ranging from the age of three to 18 years.
After the child turns 18 years, they would be sent to a halfway home situated in Buhera where they can be taken care of until they reach 25 years. At the halfway home they can be send to school up to tertiary level under the Youth Transitional program.
In the context of child welfare, reunification commonly involves the return of a child to their biological or original family after a period of separation. It is aimed at reestablishing a stable and supportive family environment for the child.
Fostering can be defined as a temporary living arrangement whereby individuals or families provide care, support and a stable environment for children who are unable to live with their biological parents.
Foster care is often utilized when there are challenges within a child’s biological family, such as abuse, neglect, or any other issues affecting their safety and well- being. This is done while the permanent solution is being devised such as adoption or reunification.
Adoption on the other hand is a legal process by which individuals or couples assume parental responsibilities for a child who is not biologically their own. The adoptive parents will absolutely become the legal parents of the child, with all rights and responsibilities that are associated with biological parenthood.
Renco Mine woman in soup for selling pills without license
By Bright Zhou
A 46-year-old Masvingo woman has appeared in Masvingo magistrate court facing charges of selling unregistered medical products.
Elizabeth Mukwe from Renco Mine compound was remanded out of custody waiting for continuation of trial.
Allegations against Mukwe are that on December 11, 2023, at around 1100 hours police officers who were on surveillance received a tipoff to the effect that Mukwe was selling unregistered medicines at Renco Mine business center in her shop.
Acting on the information, police officers proceeded to Mukwe’s shop, and upon arrival one of them posed as a customer and gave Mukwe’s employee Rejoice Pasipanodya one US$1 note to purchase ibuprofen tablets.
After being given the medicinal product, police officers introduced themselves to Pasipanodya before they asked her to produce a license or permit authorizing her to sell the complementary medicines.
Pasipanodya was informed of her arrest and a search was conducted into the shop leading to the recovery of 22 by 10 units of paracetamol tablets, 10 by 10 units of ibucap tablets, 22 by 10 units of ibuprofen tablets, and 3 by 10 units of magnesium trisilicate tablets.
Pasipanodya implicated Mukwe as the owner of the medicines leading to her subsequent arrest.
Man kills fellow patron at traditional beer binge
By Decide Nhendo
A traditional beer binge in Mkwazi village 7, Mkwasine, Chiredzi turned sour after a man was murdered following a scuffle.
The incident occurred on February 4 2024 at around 1900hrs.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and said the suspect was still at large and appealed to the public for any information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect.
“I can confirm that we received a report where a man was killed during a beer binge in Mkwasine. We appeal to members of the public who might have information on the whereabouts of the suspect to contact any nearest police station,” he said.
Circumstances given are that on the fateful day, Richard Gorenga Chihoyi (41) from village 15, Mkwazi was drinking traditional beer at Mutendi homestead in village 7 together with the deceased Winfred Rugaro (29) of the same village.
The two had a misunderstanding and as the argument heightened, other patrons dismissed the two from the homestead saying they were disturbing their peace.
Chihoyi walked away and Rugaro followed and when they were alone Rugaro stabbed the former four times on the right side of neck, on the back of the left hand, left hand palm and on the left side of the chest using a double edged sword.
The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene, while the perpetrator fled the scene.