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Waste Management: Recycling as a business

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Waste Management: Recycling as a business

Staff Reporter

Solid waste pollution has become a serious environmental and planetary threat, affecting nearly every terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems globally. Local authorities in Zimbabwe are struggling to manage current volumes of municipal solid waste and heavy plastic pollution that has characterized the natural environment. Plastic pollution poses various serious threats to the environment, which include loss of aesthetic value of the environment, death of aquatic life, decrease in domestic and international tourism, death of livestock and soil biota leading to a decrease in biodiversity. Plastics are products of industrial polymerization reactions, and unlike other polymers plastics cannot be broken down by hydrolytic enzymes present in most bacteria and other microorganisms. Because most microorganisms fail to feed on plastic, it results in plastics persisting in the environment for undefined periods of time. Plastic waste is a waste type in municipal solid waste yet a number of challenges still exist in its management. Rapid and unplanned urbanization leaves municipalities largely overwhelmed when it comes to the collection and disposal of increasing amounts of waste. Municipal solid waste management remain one of the most neglected areas of urban development and this has called for sustainable means of management.
In a bid to fight this increasing global problem, the nation has taken various stances that aim at completely eradicating plastic from the natural environment. The government is in this day drifting from the common linear economy, where natural resources are extracted from environment, processed into products and in turn produce a lot of solid waste that ends up being disposed in the environment. However, the linear economy is currently being replaced by the circular economy model. This model ensures that all waste generated from the extraction of natural resources up to production process is reintegrated back in the production process. This has benefits that outweigh the linear process and these include reduced rate of natural resource extraction there by reducing resource overexploitation, improved energy use efficiency and most importantly improve solid waste management. It is through the adoption of the circular economy that the government has intensified its efforts to promote recycling as a business.
The recycling process is now a livelihood for many people. Various people are realizing the importance of approaching recycling more as a business than a waste management strategy. To date, a number of people have upgraded their standards of living after adopting the recycling as a business. The process has various stages, which include (i) collection and sorting of waste (ii) transportation (iii) waste processing. All these three stages offer business opportunities for many, as recycling is an upcoming and highly income generating business. In a bid to ensure the recycling as a business gains adequate momentum, the government through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) embarked on an intense nationwide program on training people about the recycling as a business course. In Masvingo province training was conducted across all the seven districts and a total of 522 people devoted themselves and successfully completed the course. These people where awarded with certificates, at the recycling as a business graduation ceremony that was officiated by the First Lady, Dr. Auxilia Mnangagwa on August 2 2023 at Masvingo Polytechnic. Also present at the graduation ceremony was Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Ezra Chadzamira, Acting secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Clever Chingwara, ZANU PF Provincial Chairperson Robson Mavenyengwa. Recyclers exhibited products made from waste, and these include irrigation pipes, bin liners, packaging plastics, 3 legged pots, artefacts and baskets.
Waste recycling is becoming a livelihood for the marginalized societies in Zimbabwe and now quite a number of individuals, community-based organisations and companies are participating in waste collection and sorting for recycling. Recycling is considered as one of the best options in solid waste management hierarchy to reduce threats posed by plastic wastes. Other than contributing to municipal solid waste management by diverting materials which have economic value from the main waste flow, thus reducing quantities of waste to be collected and disposed recycling also provides the opportunity to use recovered plastics to manufacture new products.
For these reasons, recycling is presenting to everyone opportunities for recovered polymers to cascade through multiple stages throughout various production cycles hence contributing to sustainable manufacturing. Recycling is now being recognized as the “most environmentally sound’’ strategy for dealing with municipal solid waste following only the preventive strategy of source reduction and reuse.

Villagers clash with limestone prospective mining syndicate

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Villagers clash with limestone prospective mining syndicate

Staff Reporter

MASVINGO – Villagers in Manyama area in under Chief Charumbira are up in arms with a prospective mining syndicate which they are accusing of carrying out activities without the knowledge of local traditional leaders.
Villagers are demanding that Mapirenda Mining Syndicate, which is into limestone mining, vacates the area saying the syndicate had no requisite paperwork to show that they were licenced, not consulted locals, a development which has seen them carrying out work in the dead of night.
Locals are accusing fellow villager Shamhu Chipfuro of being bribed by the syndicate after which he allowed them to carry out activities in his fields and the nearby mountain without notifying locxals so that they take precautionery measures.
Leaders from 18 local villages’ heads gathered at Chipfuro’s homestead on August 31 after touring the activities in the presence of the syndicate representatives demanding immediate cessation of any activity saying the company had no Enviromental Impact Assessment (EIA) from the Enviromental Management Agency (EMA) to show that their activities will not harm them.
One villager William Madzvamuse Mubaiwa said they were not against development if there was going to be any but the mine should follow proper channels and show them that they were licenced to operate and put measures in to make sure that locals benefit from the mine.
“If there is going to be a mine, there is need for our involvement. This syndicate came claiming to have their papers in order, little did we know that even our village heads and chiefs were not aware. So they must rectify that anomaly and make sure that they follow proper channels,” said Mubaiwa.
On his part, the syndicate representative, Ephraim Mudzungairi said they accept all the blame that is being leveled against them and would engage the locals and put corrective measures in place before they carry out any work.
“We accept what the villagers are saying, we made a mistake on our part but we have heard their concerns and we are ready to take corrective measure so that if we are to continue working here, we will do it in harmony with the locals.
“We will make sure that all the relevant authorities have been appraised and all requirements are in place before we start working. We will make sure that we give five percent share ownership to locals, another five percent to the local traditional chief’s council,” said Mudzungairi.
He also said they would seek to compensate everyone affected and all was in place to make sure that when they start mining they would put the processing plant there as dictated by the government.
The negotiations were done in the presence of the police details who were there to make sure that the deliberations were done peacefully as tension was high.
A local resident Anna Zisheche from Machaka said at first they thought the syndicate was just prospecting but later on realized they were now mining and reaping while the locals had nothing.
“When they came we thought they were registered and were only prospecting only to realise they were not and were carrying out their work during the night without our knowledge. So now we no longer want to hear anything about them. They have to go,” said Zisheche.
Elastos Nhikiti of Nhikiti village said they were afraid that if work is done without their involvement, they will be abused and the mine could use harmful chemicals that may affect land, people and animals.
Rebbeca Muwaro of Machaka Village where the claim is located said it was not welcome in their area saying they could be relocated, a development that could affect many like what happened to the 2014 Tugwi Mukosi victims.
“We are old and widowed, I cannot imagine being relocated elsewhere. How will I cope with all the work involved when one relocates to another area? What guarantee do we have that we would be compensated? We are all aware of what happened to Tugwi Mukosi flood victims in Chivi,” said Muwaro.
Villagers said the mining syndicate had defiled their traditional land and mountains where their ancestors were buried.
In his defense Chipuro who was accused of allowing the mine to operate in the area said when they came he was also not aware that they had no permission from authorities and local leadership but now that he was aware, he will also seek to be compensated.
“They came here in 2017, I thought all their papers were in order so I could not block them. Now that I have support from my fellow villagers, I will side with my fellow villagers and make sure that I also get compensated,” Chipfuro said.

If You Were To Die Today, Would You Go To Heaven?

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If You Were To Die Today, Would You Go To Heaven?

By Solomon Chimange

If you were to die today do you know for certain, without a doubt, that you would go to heaven and be with the Lord forever? Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Our number one priority in this life must be to go to heaven. Nothing is as important as this. We cannot afford to miss Heaven.
Our Lord tells us in Matthew 7:13-14 that only few people will go to Heaven, but the vast majority will be eternally lost in the burning fires of Hell. This is not a pleasant thought. But all of us will make the choice as to where we will spend eternity. The only way, to even grasp how long eternity will be, is to think that after we have been in Heaven or Hell a billion years, eternity will have just begun.
Our soul is the most precious thing we possess. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Our soul is worth more than the whole world put together. If we lose our soul in Hell, we lose it all.
Jesus wants us to pay attention to what He is trying to tell us. He says in Matthew 13:41-43, “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom (the church, that’s us) all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Our Lord is trying to warn us if we will only listen. He has already paid the awful price for our salvation and He doesn’t want to see it wasted.
For a child of God, sin in our life will keep us out of Heaven. Because of unrepented sins, our name will be taken out of God’s Book of Life. Revelation 22:19 says, “God shall take away his part from the Book of Life and from the holy city.” Has your name been taken out of God’s Book of Life? If it has then this is a very serious matter. Revelation 20:15, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” God wants to forgive us. As a Christian, how do we get our name put back into the Book of Life? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Jesus has promised, “Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of Life” (Revelation 2:10).
If you are not a Christian, how do you get your name into God’s Book of Life, so you can be saved and go to Heaven? Our Lord says in Luke 13:3, “Except you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus also says, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will confess before My Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Our Lord then tells us, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). If a person misses Heaven, he will only have himself to blame.

Solomon Chimange is the founding member and Senior Pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship. He is also The Director for Southern Africa Carmel Bible Institute. Solomon is a Distinguished Proffessor of Practical Theology at Carmel. He also holds a Doctor of Divinity Degree and a PhD in Systematic Theology. Solomon is a teacher par excellence and is a Chartered Christian Instructor.

Decline in strike activity! Does this mean that conflict between employers and workers is no longer an important feature in contemporary employment relations?

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Decline in strike activity! Does this mean that conflict between employers and workers is no longer an important feature in contemporary employment relations?

Shadreck Zangairai

Conflicts are inevitable in all employment relationships. Management and employees tend to have conflicting views because of the differences between the expectations and this may lead to conflicts. Therefore conflict is a phenomenon in any organization and it remains the most permanent feature. The Marxist analysis assumes that conflict that takes place in employment relationships is a permanent feature of capitalism which merely reflects the predominant power base of the bourgeois and class relations. Conflict is generally perceived as something devastating, abnormal and dysfunctional and this will lead to counter actions from the disadvantaged part. Some of the actions may be legalized such as strikes and other various forms of collective job action. Decline of strike activity doesn’t necessarily mean total eradication of conflicts but in most cases it will have been suppressed. In this article I shall discuss the reasons for the decline in strike activity and its relationship to conflict in the organization. This will include management strategies to combat conflict, legal instruments used to minimize the strike, influence of the economic environment, and political interference among others.
The decline in strike activity contributes to a perception of industrial peace. But my question is whether its decline truly reflects industrial peace or whether it reflects the continued discontent of alternative forms of expression. The most common expressions are disputes, which may be collective or individual, involving actions such as a strike, grievance procedure and disciplinary procedures. Other expressions embrace organizational misbehavior, for example, theft and sabotage, absenteeism or resignation. As I stated earlier on, conflict is inevitable in employment relations, it is part and parcel of life in employment relationships, and therefore the decline in strike activity in such environment may reflect that conflict is no longer an important feature in the workplace. Its decline in Zimbabwe is due to a variety of reasons which include positive aspects such as human resource strategies through welfare policies, informal or formal channels of communication and good terms and conditions of employment as well as collective bargaining. It also involves negative aspects such as unemployment, restrictive laws such as Maintenance of Peace and Order Act Chapter 11:23, Presidential Powers (temporary measures) and political interference. Decline in strike activity to some extent reflects workplace harmony portraying good employment relationships but to some extent it exposes employees to exploitation by employers.
The right to strike for the purpose of collective bargaining(CB) is one of the employee fundamental rights enshrined in the Labour Act (CAP 28:01). It is an extremely important right and is essential for CB to work effectively. If workers could not, as a last resort, collectively refuse to work, they could not bargain collectively, otherwise there can be no equilibrium in the workplace without the freedom to strike. Employers and employees have found that the most effective way to advance their interests and at the same time to avoid unnecessary strike action is to participate in sophisticated mutual gain negotiations. They have realized that the use of strike action to win benefits is often futile in an economy in which the imbalance of power between capital and labour is so pronounced. They appreciate that there are better ways to get what workers need than by simply flexing their muscles.
Again, most successful organizations now pay great attention to human capital management after realizing that human resources are the important asset that should be kept stronger in order to have the best chances of success. Organisations have been forced to examine and re-evaluate how they manage, and hence they have shifted from collectivism to individualism, forcing employees to move away from trade unionism. Workers no longer have faith in trade unions and now engage their organizations to seek recourse in matters affecting them in the workplace. Organisations are now responsible for the attraction and rewarding of employees. They take care of the employee needs thereby reducing conflict in the workplace. To advocate for strike action in such a situation will be faced with stout resistance because of employee engagement to their organization. Roles that used to be enjoyed by trade unions such as ZCTU or ZFTU have been taken over by the human resources department and most bargaining is being carried out at industrial level. This has brought the decline in strike activity though conflict is inevitable in the workplace. To some extent the decline in strike activity is negatively imposed thereby seemingly giving a picture that conflict is not an important feature in contemporary employment relations. The economic downturn which negatively impacted in the country after the turn of the millennium has seen most companies closing. For example, in Bulawayo around 80% of the companies collapsed. This was followed by massive retrenchments which left workers redundant. Those few workers who were spared are scared to engage in strike action in order to protect themselves. They would rather accept the little they are getting from employers than to be redundant. ‘Half a loaf is better than nothing’ is the psychological perception that seems to have crept into the workers’ minds. For instance, the civil servants, since 2019 they have never had any meaningful salary increase and their salaries are way below the poverty datum line (PDL). Recruitment of new employees and promotions has been halted. In such environments it will be difficult to engage in a successful strike action. Next week I will follow up with the other side of the assertion.

Disclaimer; Shadreck Zangairai is the Principal Human Resources Officer at Masvingo Provincial
Hospital. He writes in his personal Capacity
(shadreckzanga@gmail.com)

Mentally challenged man kills mother over sadza

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Mentally challenged man kills mother over sadza

Bright Zhou

A mentally challenged man from Chikombedzi under Chief Mpapa was recently arrested after he killed his mother over a misunderstanding involving a plate of sadza.
Masvingo Provincial Acting Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Lorraine Chanakira Ndlovu confirmed the incident and urged people to value the sanctity of life.
“We received a case from Chikombedzi where the accused was arrested after striking his mother with a log after she removed his plate of sadza from the table whilst he was still eating.
“We urge members of the public to value the sanctity of the life and involve a third party when solving disputes, we also urge people with mentally challenged relatives to make sure that they always take their medication,” said Ndlovu.
The incident happened on August 20, 2023 around midnight when the deceased Mudhlava Sibanda (65) removed the plate of sadza which was on the table after the accused had finished eating.
Livison Matsilele (27), the deceased’s son went outside of the bedroom, came back with a log and struck his mother on the back and she collapsed.
The incident happened in the eyes of Livison’s brother Japhet Matsilele (49) who then hired a car and rushed the now deceased to hospital.
On August 23, 2023 Sibanda succumbed to her injuries leading to Chikombedzi police arresting the suspect.

UFC fighter Gorimbo promises more boreholes for his village

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UFC fighter Gorimbo promises more boreholes for his village

Admire Chatindo

Ascending Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter, Zimbabwean born Themba Gorimbo has fulfilled his promise and sunk two boreholes in Bikita, promising to drill more boreholes in his village.
Gorimbo made headlines after meeting Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson commonly known as ‘The Rock’ who gifted him a house, and the fighting champion has promised to give out money for two more boreholes for Bikita villagers, where his roots are.
He got a chance to fight in the UFC in May 2023 against Japanese fighter Takashi Sato and prevailed against him.
Gorimbo channeled his winning proceeds towards borehole drilling in his village Bikita, Masvingo, giving access to portable water to his kinsmen.
Gorimbo, who struggled to make ends meet in his fighting journey’s twist of fate came when ‘The Rock’ heard his tale of endurance and resolve to change his fortunes as an ascending UFC fighter, with no place to lay his head and would spend his nights sleeping on a couch in a gym.
‘The Rock’ had earlier applauded Gorimbo on social media, who at the time when he went to fight in the UFC only had USD$7 in his bank account, but promised to drill a borehole for his people from his winnings.
‘The Rock’ then paid Gorimbo a surprise visit where Gorimbo was training at MMA Masters, and Gorimbo burst into tears, surprised after laying his eyes on ‘The Rock’, his source of inspiration and ‘The Rock’ in return surprised him with a fully furnished and paid for house in Miami.
After touring the house offered as a free gift by ‘The Rock’, Gorimbo said, he was going to drill two more boreholes in his home town.
“I am going to drill two more boreholes in my town from the money that I won from the fight,” said Gorimbo.
As he had promised so he delivered, Themba flew back to Zimbabwe on a reunion with his people and drilled two more boreholes, one at a school and the other in the community.
His return to his home town, was marked by joyous celebrations, as Gorimbo organized a party for his people. Villagers celebrated their champion in the UFC and a champion again for drilling boreholes for them.

‘Drunk’ woman enters wrong house, caught napping

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‘Drunk’ woman enters wrong house, caught napping

… Arrested for unlawful entry

Admire Chatindo

A 24-year-old lady on August 28, 2023 appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Conceptor Ngwerume facing charges of unlawful entry after being found in another woman’s house.
It is the State case as presented by prosecutor Precious Takuva that Nomatter Pinzirai (24) of Sisk, Masvingo, was found sleeping on the bed in Elizabeth Tandare of Mucheke D, Masvingo’s house on August 26, 2023 at around 1930 hours.
Pinzirai is reported to have gone to Tandare’s house at around 1300 during the complainant’s absence before gaining entry into the house through an unlocked door.
Tandare then found her and reported the matter to the police who carried out investigations leading to the arrest of Pinzirai.
The complainant told the court that soon after arriving home from work on the said date, she saw some footprints on her verandah and became suspicious.
“I arrived home at around 1930 hours from work. I then saw some footprints at the veranda and became suspicious that there were some people who were loitering around.
I then unlocked the main door and got inside the house and later checked in the rooms and that is when I saw the accused person sleeping in the spare bedroom whilst drunk and also wearing my clothes.
I tried to talk to her but she could not respond because of her state of drunkenness,” said Tandare.
The accused and the complainant are not related.

Zanu PF wins uncontested in 4 Masvingo wards

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Zanu PF wins uncontested in 4 Masvingo wards

Beverly Bizeki

Zanu PF won three wards uncontested in Mwenezi West Constituency, Mwenezi District, winning all 7 wards in the constituency and 18 wards in the district, taking another ward in Masvingo South uncontested.
According to results released by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Zanu PF won uncontested in Mwenezi West wards 10, 12 and 17 and one in Masvingo South ward 29.
Ward 10 was won by Pilate Sayi, Collen Shoko won in ward 12 while Lizwe Madhevhu won uncontested in ward 17.
In the remaining Mwenezi West wards, Zanu PF’s candidate Karikoga Rupikiro won with 2 111 votes against CCC candidate Augustine Masikwa who got 334 votes and independent candidate Maranda Shadreck who had 504 votes in ward 8,
In ward 9 Runoza Hlaisi garnered 2 603 votes against CCC candidate Tinovimba Mupari who got 235 votes.
In ward 11, Ncube Sifelani got 3 804 votes against CCC female candidate Moyo Philisiwe with 222 votes.
In ward 16, Venganai Shoko garnered 3 091 votes against CCC candidate Runesu Shiri who had 104 votes.

Chief Ngungubane, Chireya elected to represent Midlands in Senate

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Chief Ngungubane, Chireya elected to represent Midlands in Senate

Tinaani Nyabereka

MIDLANDS – Chief Ngungumbane born Zama Mkwananzi of Mberengwa and Chief Chireya real name Henry Chidzivo of Gokwe were last week elected into Senate.
Chief Ngungumbane’s election saw him retaining the seat while Chief Chireya was elected for the first time.
Speaking on the sidelines of the process, Ngungumbane said the smooth flow of the process reflected the people’s minds.
“I am happy that I have been elected to represent other Midlands Chiefs in senate. The election went on peacefully and I want to encourage other chiefs to remain united.
“We are also happy that we now have a representative from Gokwe and we hope he will represent the people from that side in the senate,” Ngungubane.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Midlands Deputy Elections Officer Nyasha Chirikure said the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner.
“I want to thank traditional leaders for participating in this election, it was done in a free and democratic manner,” said Chirikure.
Meanwhile out of 35 Chiefs in Midlands Province, 31 participated in the election and four chiefs contested in the election.

Masvingo not safe haven for criminals – Police

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Masvingo not safe haven for criminals – Police

Beverly Bizeki

Officer in Charge for Masvingo Criminal Investigations Department Chief Hazvinei Jindu has sent a strong warning to ‘wanna be’ offenders saying Masvingo is not a safe haven for criminals.
Speaking during a handover ceremony of a Toyota Wish motor vehicle given to the department by the Masvingo Business Against Crime Forum in Zimbabwe (BACFOZ) committee, Jindu said the donation made had sent them on a mission to eradicate crime.
“To the criminals I say hokoyo (beware) this time wish manyama (the vehicle will be used in the fight against crime) Masvingo is not a safe haven for criminals and will never be.
“The BACFOZ committee has given us a fishing rod to go to the deep ends to weed out criminals in Masvingo District thus fulfilling our BACFOZ mantra iwe neni tine basa. The team have sent us on a mission by this crucial donation hence we are going,” said Jindu.
Jindu also said the department had managed to solve eight high profile cases where lots of cases were cleared over the past year.
“My team arrested Nelson Matsvange down in Chiredzi after seven days of tirelessly hunting for him. Same cleared 25 counts of armed robbery cases perpetrated all over Masvingo. An AK 47 rifle was recovered in the process. The team leader was none other than madam Chafesuka,
“Tafadzwa Kanengoni was arrested for armed robbery and murdering a tuckshop owner. Same had fled after committing the heinous crime and was co habiting with a girl of the night in Zvishavane,” said Jindu.
Jindu also said the team managed to arrest team Rambique and cleared 20 cases for highway robberies.
“Late last year we had a spate of robbery cases known as carry-carry which were committed along the high way from Harare to Masvingo. The criminals would purport to be genuine commuters seeking transport at Mbudzi Bus Stop.
“They would tie victims ‘mbiradzakondo’ style, undress them, and take all valuables and cash. Most victims were dumped in Mushagashe area. With DS Chafesuka being the team leaderwe arrested team Rambique and cleared 20 cases for Masvingo, Harare and Chivhu. Since then highway robberies are now a thing of the past.
“We arrested two notorious criminals who were terrorizing Morgenster area, CBD, farms and schools. The team cleared 18 counts of unlawful entry and recovery of 15 solar panels, 35 cellphones, school tracksuits and laptops. Property was recovered from as far as Bulawayo,” said Jindu.
The department also managed to rescue an eight year old child who had been kidnapped.
“Two months ago we were saddened to receive a case whereby an eight year old (name withheld) who was kidnapped on his way from school. As always is the case I strategized for my team and they proceeded to Bikita, lured the kidnapper who wanted US$ 5000 ransom to release the child after two days of hostage.
“Detectives reacted wearing skirts, lipstick and wigs and managed to recover the child although the kidnapper managed to escape in the dark,” said Jindu.
Assistant Commissioner Dr Godfrey Zimbwa graced the event as guest of honour and received the gift on behalf of Officer Commanding Masvingo Province Commissioner Chrispen Charumbira.

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