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Cattle deboning syndicates give ZRP headaches

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Cattle deboning syndicates give ZRP headaches

Emmanuel Chitsika

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Masvingo has reiterated its commitment to nab cattle rustlers who are on the prowl, rustling and deboning cattle, further reducing the national herd which has been affected by January disease.
The call was made by Assistant Commissioner Fredrick Mbengwa (on behalf of Officer Commanding Masvingo Province Commissioner David Mahoya) when he addressed the media during an engagement organised by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) at Chevron hotel in Masvingo last week.
“We are really at pains looking at the devastation that has been inflicted on our national herd by diseases like January disease and Foot and Mouth and now this deboning thing. “In Masvingo province we have had reports of cattle theft in Gutu in places like Bhasera. We will arrest all those who do deboning without fear or favour. As part of ways of trying to curb the thefts, we have engaged local leadership like chiefs and village heads where we formed committees as a way of trying to find out who the perpetrators are and that is the gap we hope the committees would help close,” said Ass Com Mbengwa.
He appealed to the media to provide information if they come across any from their sources as it is helpful in the fight against crime.
“Like I have earlier said it has so far been difficult that during those wee hours of the day where not all people are allowed to move around serve for the police, there are some people who commit such crimes. We are appealing to the media because you have a lot of sources of information which can help you give us something tangible on the crime. We don’t necessarily need names of people, we just need to know where the deboning is likely or has been done and that will help lead us to the bottom of the matter.
“For us to destroy this menace, we need to destroy the market as well. It is really a cause for concern for ZRP. As leaders of the hierarchy, we sometimes run out of words in case we are asked by our superiors on issues to do with deboning.
“With deboning, it’s different from normal stock theft in the sense that it shows a well-organised criminal activity with ready markets which from reliable sources are sausage, mincemeat makers as well as meat pie processors.
“What happens is the criminals kill the beast, debone it and by early morning, the thieves would be in Harare, Bulawayo or even here in Masvingo because the destination is not yet known for now. We haven’t received any information on the destination but the above-mentioned categories of business people are likely the ones fuelling the thefts and the means of transporting are either buckets like has been the case with drug traffickers. They use the routes which we are yet to identify as law enforcement agents,” he added.
Cases of deboning (where thieves would kill beasts and strip away steak, leaving offals and bones) have been recorded in the province especially in Gutu and in Midlands province as well.

Man loses US$ 1.6 k worth of property to robbers

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Man loses US$ 1.6 k worth of property to robbers

Tinaani Nyabereka

Kwekwe- man lost property worth US$ 1 600 to armed robbers last week in an incident that took place in Amaveni on February 16, 2023 at around 0530 hours along Gokwe road.
It is reported that the complainant Thomas Matipedza was driving his Nissan hard body pickup vehicle registration number ADV 4664 from Amaveni to Zhombe with no passengers.
Upon reaching Ivan mine turn off along Gokwe road, he offered transport to four men who indicated to be going to Tiger Reef Mine Kwekwe.
On arrival at Tiger Reef mine, two of the passengers pulled out pistols and ordered Matipedza to drive along Silobela Road.
After diverting the route, the suspects however forced the complainant to drive for about 8 km on the same road until he was ordered to stop.
The four searched Matipedza and took cash amounting to US$ 1 000 from his pocket and a Tokarev 9 mm pistol.
Two other suspects disembarked the vehicle and walked towards Kwekwe while the other two remained with the complainant.
After about three hours, the remaining two suspects ordered Matipedza to drive to Kwekwe along Gokwe-Kwekwe road.
When they arrived to Harven Estate Farm, the two disembarked from the vehicle and ordered Matipedza to go to town and drive back towards Gokwe road as they went away.
A report was made at Amaveni.
Luckily the Tokarev 9 mm pistol was later found along Gokwe-Kwekwe tarred road and it is believed that it was dumped by suspects when they travelled along the road.
Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said police is appealing to members of the public with information to inform them.
“We are appealing to members of the public who might have information that can help in arresting the suspects to inform any nearest police,” he said.

Acting Gweru Town Clerk cheats death

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Acting Gweru Town Clerk cheats death

TellZim Reporter

Gweru -Council’s newly appointed Acting Town Clerk Livingstone Churu was involved in a horrific car crash with the local authority’s service vehicle but escaped with no injuries barely a day after assuming the post on February 21.
Council Public Relations Spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramise confirmed the incident saying Churu was involved in the accident around Norton along Gweru-Harare road in Norton.
Churu was appointed as acting Town Clerk on Monday this week, taking over from Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe who was requested to recuse himself from duty following his recent arrest by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of criminal abuse of office.
The US$176 000 Toyota SUV was bought for use by former Town Clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza in 2019.

Water crisis: Teachers buy water from villagers

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Water crisis: Teachers buy water from villagers

Brighton Chiseva

NYIKAVANHU–While people in some parts of Masvingo are praying for rains for their crops and livestock, teachers and nurses at Nyikavanhu Primary School and Clinic respectively are waiting to harvest it from their roofs for all domestic uses or risk forking out money every day to buy the precious liquid from local villagers.
Sources said the school and local clinic have no other alternative source of water and rely on Zimbabwe National Authority (ZINWA) controlled pipeline which is always down due to mechanical and technical challenges and the two institutions have gone for close to six months without regular clean water.
Two other alternatives are a river which is about 2 km away where they dig holes on the river bed (Mufuku) or a borehole which is about 3.5 km away with rusty and salty water.
Teachers and nurses at Nyikavanhu primary school and clinic are forced by the situation to buy water from local villagers who ferry the water using scotch carts.
Contacted for comment, school head Johnson Mawuruse could neither confirm nor deny the crisis but said he was not allowed to speak to the media.
“I am not allowed to speak to the media, you can contact the Provincial Education Director (PED), she is the one authorized to speak on our behalf,” said Mawuruse.
However, one teacher who spoke to TellZim News on condition of anonymity confirmed the development as she said they were buying a bucket at a cost of R6 – R10 or risk fetching from a river which is about 2 km away.
The teacher said they are only relieved when it’s raining where they get water from their roofs and store for some days.
“We have a situation here, we used to rely on ZINWA but their pump and pipes are always down. Now the two sources of water we have now is a river which is about 2 km away and a borehole which is about 2.5 km from the school.
“However, the borehole has salty water and is rusty so we have no option except to buy from the locals who fetch using scotch carts from other better sources. We just pray that it rains regularly so that we harvest from our roofs,” said the teacher.
The local councilor Johannes Bangweni also confirmed the crisis but was quick to say ZINWA was fixing the problem.
“Yes the school and clinic rely on water from Zinwa. However, there are faults along the line but I have seen a ZINWA vehicle and I am sure that they are going to fix the problem soon,” said Bangweni.
The teachers blamed local leadership saying they have raised the water crisis challenge with the councilor and MP but nothing is being done to address the problem.
“We have approached our local leaders with the idea of them facilitating the drilling of a borehole at the school but nothing has materialized so far. The MP promised to fix the problem several times but we are still suffering,” said another teacher.
Efforts to get a comment form the local MP Claudius Maronge were futile as his cell was unreachable by the time of writing.
The school had proposed a US$ 5 levy per learner to raise funds for a borehole but some parents refused and the idea was later abandoned.

Police urges journalists to be cautious during elections

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Police urges journalists to be cautious during elections

Tinaani Nyabereka

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has warned journalists to be extra cautious when executing their duties during mass gatherings ahead of the 2023 elections and also ensure balanced as well as objective reporting.
Speaking during an engagement meeting last week, National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said journalists should work with police officers and distance themselves from being entangled with politicians for their safety.
“We appeal to journalists to identify themselves to ground commanders because it will assist our officers to recognise them.
“Some journalists will say ‘I want a scoop’ but don’t go for scoops at the expense of your life. Sometimes you will be assisted by these ground commanders to say, Terry what you want to do here I can foresee danger, can you do it in such a manner that police officers can consider your safety.
“As we move towards the elections, I know there going to be rallies and we have made it clear that you as the media don’t be used by politicians. It will be very difficult because you would have been offered a lift, you are traveling together, there is a disorder situation and police want to restore order, how do they separate you from the politician?” said Ass Com Nyathi.
He also said there are politicians who use the media for cheap political scores.
“We have a challenge of some politicians who want to be arrested in the full view of the media. They want to move around with the media, provoke a situation and when arrests are effected, they want the media to capture the arrest,” he added.
ZRP Officer Commanding Midlands Province Commissioner Winston Muza said it is difficult for officers on the ground to identify journalists during chaotic situations.
“One of the resolutions we made in 2018, we said that when we get into situations let’s identify ourselves to police officers on the ground.
“What usually happens when you are on the ground is this; when I get there and for me to ensure that there is a state of order, I see that there should be no one from there to there; I should see no one,” he said.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Gweru Chapter chairperson Terry Madyauta called for unity of purpose between journalists and police ahead of the 2023 saying there was need to find each other.
The engagements are on a national scale where media and police commanders around the country discuss on ways to ensure safety for the former while at the same time exercising duties diligently.

Masvingo court pardons teen rapist, sodomist

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Masvingo court pardons teen rapist, sodomist

Beverly Bizeki

A teenage rapist from Masvingo on February 15, 2023 escaped a jail term after being pardoned by the court but given a condition that he does not commit a similar offense over the next five years.
The teenager, a 13 year-old boy appeared before magistrate Bishard Chineka where he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Chineka pardoned the accused saying by the time committed the crime, the accused who is now in grade 4 had nothing to do as he had dropped out of school and it was the resultant idleness that led him to committing the crime.
He however said the weight of his offense was heavy in that the victims were both defenseless children whom he physically injured and traumatized.
Chineka also said the accused deserved a heavier punishment as sodomy cases are on the rise in the communities.
The accused pleaded guilty to the three counts of rape and said he did not know what had befallen him to commit these crimes.
Representing the state prosecutor Eunice Shoko told the court that on September 8; 2022 the convicted approached the two victims at their house asking if their mother was around.
He was told the mother had gone to collect some food items.
The accused took advantage of the mother’s absence and sodomized the first victim a 6 year old.
The kid (boy) cried for help to no avail and the accused moved on to his next victim a girl aged 2 whom he raped.
On the same day during the evening, the abused girl told her mother that the convicted boy had visited their place and fondled her.
The mother was then told that the accused had molested both children and the matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the boy.

FC Platinum appoints Under 19 coach

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Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- Zimbabwe Premier Soccer (PSL) champions FC Platinum has announced the appointment of a seasoned new U19 coach to take of the club’s junior football.
The new coach Alexio Sigion who joins the pure Platinum boys brings in vast and rich football experience to the Zvishavane based outfit.
He will be assisted by Moses Mwafulirwa.
Announcing the new arrival FC Platinum General Manager Denzel Mkandla said Sigion is bringing in vast experience to the club.
“Seated with me is Alexio Sigion, he has coached a lot of teams in the Premier League including Shabanie Mine. The reason we appointed him is based on the vast experience he has in the field. We seek to ensure graduation and transition of our U19 into the senior team through his experience.
“We saw him fit for the job and he will help us to promote level based players and we are happy to have him so that he takes charge of the U19 side,” Mkandla said.
Sigion expressed gratitude to FC Platinum for the opportunity.
“For me it’s a great opportunity to be under FC Platinum umbrella, the club are champions with a great record.
“I am honoured to be in a club where there is philosophy and such a great record of quality football,” he said.
FC Platinum U19 ply their trade in the Central Region Division 1 league.

‘New Dispensation now new desperation’

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‘New Dispensation now new desperation’

…Mnangagwa delaying to gazette delimitation report unconstitutional

…our plan is to win Zim for change

Emmanuel Chitsika

Current Zimbabwean government under the brand ‘New Dispensation’ has been labelled ‘New Desperation’ for relegating the general populace into the pools of poverty through presiding over increasing levels of unemployment the young people found themselves in, an opposition youth leader has said.
Speaking to the media in Masvingo on February 19, 2023 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) national youth taskforce coordinator Takudzwa Ngadziore said young people’s dreams of working for and in the country have been dealt a major blow by ‘Crocodile politicians’ who seem not to care at all.
“The country’s leaders are crocodile revolutionaries who think they understand where we are coming from and going, but they only understand the struggle for power retention and accumulation. The so-called ‘New Dispensation is now New Desperation’. Zimbabwe is not even under developed but has rather failed the test of being an under developed country and is way below the level of being under developed because of the leadership vacuum. The office of the president is vacant and there is no one there except for the property in there.
“The State which ideally should be a parent for its citizens has failed to play the role. I appreciate the role media is playing as the ‘fourth estate’ to make sure we have these platforms but not being a prophet of doom, but from an understanding of the situation obtaining the information gap is likely to widen because Zanu PF is afraid of the realities obtaining on the ground
“Zimbabweans can no longer support poverty, unemployment, forced mobility and oppression. They said the country has moved from austerity to prosperity but rather it’s a movement from austerity to poverty because the country that used to be the ‘bread basket’ is now the ‘begging basket’ of the region. Austerity policies are neo-liberal in nature.
“Young people who graduate from colleges and universities are driven through forced mobility looking for jobs in other countries and that is the narrative we want to and have the electorate aware of,” said Ngadziore.
The youthful former Zimbabwe National Students Union president also vowed CCC is positioned to lead Zimbabwe through a change of leadership.
“We have come up with the Register Elect and Protect (REAP) initiative on various social media platforms while on the ground we are traversing across the length and breadth of the country making sure we make people aware of the initiative.
“REAP is an inter-generational consensus to win Zimbabwe for change and transformation by ushering in a new prosperous era under the capable leadership of President Nelson Chamisa.
“CCC has embarked on a drive to reach out to people by people, person by person, street by street, village by village so that we re-energize the spirit of the revolution that is coming and are already in. It would be lie for Mnangagwa and Zanu PF to think they are going to face the next day in power. Their days in power are numbered. We are busy setting forth to look forward to issues after them in the presidency,” said Ngadziore.
Ngadziore also went on to say President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s failure to gazette the delimitation report within the stipulated time frame is unconstitutional and that Zanu PF has always breached the supreme law of the land.
“We understand that we are dealing with people who are afraid of change. The issue of (delimitation) boundaries is an important one so that political parties become aware of the constituencies at ward level and parliamentary seats.
“That failure to respect the constitution just tells you something on their fear of where we are coming from and going. CCC position remains that the constitution must be respected, have the constitution followed, delimitation report gazetted and the final response to it determines who we will face come election day,” he added.
He described as propaganda actions by Zanu PF information publicity structures to portray the party as most followed when in actual fact; its support base has dwindled.
“Zanu PF has felt the growing popularity of our president (Chamisa) and responded by coming up with ‘storm troopers’ Varakashi because they know very well that their party no longer commands a huge following on the ground and thus seek to push false narratives.
“Tafadzwa Mugwadi (Zanu PF information director) is always importing pictures trying to portray that Zanu PF has many supporters but that is not the case. The rallies are becoming too artificial with the intention of trying to dispel evidence that they no longer command as many followers as the may think.
“There also have been incidences of vote buying to falsify the declining support base. Whenever the President jets into the country from international tours, people are bused to the airport to sing which to us is a sign of desperation on the part of the party,” he added.
Ngadziore however said the continued incarceration of Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala is part of the ‘bruises of the struggle’ but the party remains in solidarity with their cadre.
“The plan that comes through us is that of solidarity anchored on pillars of solidarity, justice and freedom which we believe in as social democrats. President Chamisa regularly visits Sikhala and his welfare is one of the things we do care for.
“But since we are dealing with a dictatorship, these detentions are part of the bruises emanating from the struggle we are faced with. There is no way we can tell the media that we will take out Sikhala from Chikurubi but our plan is to win Zimbabwe for change and then change the narrative in which people who air their voices are abducted, arrested, detained, tortured or even imprisoned.
“Sikhala as the brother I know, is not phased because he always speaks to courage and bravery that is he is not moved at all,” added Ngadziore.

Ensure public access to bill contents before hearings- MP Gonese

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Ensure public access to bill contents before hearings- MP Gonese

Beverly Bizeki

Mutare Central constituency Member of Parliament Innocent Gonese has called upon government through Parliament to realize the need for and come up with ways to enable public access to contents of the bills prior to public hearings and widen communication channels.
Speaking during the public hearings on Prisons and Correctional Services Bill and Criminal Law and Codification Reform Amendment Bill on February 23, 2023 at Mucheke Hall in Masvingo, Gonese pointed on the need for participants to have a background understanding of the bills prior to consultations.
“Going forward, it might be advisable for us as an institution to devise methodologies that enable the people to acquaint themselves well with the contents of bills so that they are better informed because the summary which I gave may not be adequate,” said Gonese.
However the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator said he was happy with the meaningful contributions they got from people though the meeting was poorly attended.
“I want to believe some of the people that came were not prepared to make contributions because it is not easy to be at the forefront in public meetings but I am happy that we got some useful contributions, very insightful and interesting views on the two bills,” added Gonese.
Some residents who attended the public hearings welcomed government efforts to bring about changes in the constitution concerning prisons and correctional facilities.
Speaking at the meeting, attendees welcomed the prisons and correctional services bill and said there was need to work on the rehabilitation of prisoners in preparing them for the life after imprisonment.
“Prison services must have well trained facilitators at the vocational centres for prisoners to learn practically and resources allocated towards correctional services including expert knowledge so that these people can learn and practice what they do,” said one of the attendants.
Some of the women at the meeting applauded the parole system and suggested that prisoners be allowed time to visit their families at home once in a while for socializing with their families.
“We wish government can allow prisoners some time to visit their families for a few days so they can get to see and know what is happening with their families. Some come back from prison to find their children raped or married off as this is quite stressing especially for us women when it happens in your absence,” said one woman.
As the world is moving towards reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners and not just punishment, the prisons and correctional services bill is set to introduce new issues such as the parole system, safety of prisoners, rights of prisoners, legal frameworks of operations of the prisons, establishment, functions and responsibilities of prison facilities, quarterly reviews and posts to the high court.

Water security improves as dams fill up, spill

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Water security improves as dams fill up, spill

Beverly Bizeki

Water security in the country is set to improve after incessant rains in the country over the past few weeks have seen a great improvement in water levels in dams with some of them spilling.
Some of the dams spilling are Mutirikwi, Muzhwi, Manyuchi, Woodlands, Nyatare, Makonese, Gozho, Turamura, Chingami, Mundi, Mataga, Chimwe, Matezva and Rozva.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) Stakeholder Relations Officer Tsungirirai Shoriwa said the spilling of dams will ensure water security for various uses.
“The filling up and spilling of the dams means improved water security for both irrigation and domestic purposes,” said Shoriwa.
Shoriwa further said the availability of water also meant that irrigation water for the coming irrigation season will be enough and urged farmers to work on the required processes to legally use the water.
“Those intending to irrigate in the coming irrigation season are therefore being advised to start working on the renewal or signing up of their water abstraction agreements as required by the law,” said Shoriwa.
Other dams have also improved in water levels like the Tugwi-Mukosi which is now on 90.4 percent, Siya at 53 percent, Manjirenji at 54 percent and Bangala dam at 61.45 percent.
The improvement of water security in the nation enables government to realize its goals some of which were mentioned at the recently held Regional Water Conference which was held under the theme ‘National Water Roadmaps’ by the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“The government has accelerated the development of critical water infrastructures to address access gaps. We are working on a record twelve dam projects across the country including the Gwayi-Shangani dam,” Mnangagwa is quoted.

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