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Haven for All: Masvingo Christian College’s inclusive philosophy paying off

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Haven for All: Masvingo Christian College’s inclusive philosophy paying off

By Beverly Bizeki

While many schools in Zimbabwe compete for top-performing learners, Masvingo Christian College is proving that success can be cultivated, not just selected as the school’s inclusive approach is paying off.
The school head Dr Edison Muresherwa said the school was founded on the motto of inclusivity, “kwahuyai mose” (come all) and has become a beacon of hope for learners who are often sidelined due to poor performance.
At the heart of the school’s philosophy is the belief that intelligence is multi-dimensional and not defined solely by academic grades.
“People compete for a place on the district and national log sheet in terms of academic performance, yet intelligence is not only measured in terms of cognitive functioning. We have multiple skills that we can measure, and we can have more than five types of intelligence that we can work on,” Dr. Muresherwa,
The school’s strategy is paying off as in 2024, Masvingo Christian College achieved a 98% A Level pass rate and a 52% pass rate at O level, despite its inclusive enrollment policy. The school’s top achievers included Dorcas Dongo, Mathew Dundi, and Takundanashe Bozho, who all scored 20 points in their respective subjects.
Dr Muresherwa said Masvingo Christian College made history by becoming the first day school in Masvingo town to offer A Level Sciences in 2012, a bold move that many doubted at the time.
“From the first class, we produced three medical doctors and 14 engineers and now many other schools in the town have followed suit,” he said.
The school empowers learners not only academically but also personally, encouraging self-awareness and career versatility.
“Not every child is university-bound, and that’s okay. What matters is helping each learner discover where they can thrive. The school’s approach has yielded impressive results, including a group of former pupils who are currently constructing a new state-of-the-art house for the school’s head.

Masvingo Christian learners listening to Dr Edison Muresherwa’s address at the assembly point

Min Mthuli accepts high taxes destroying businesses, promises major cuts within 2 weeks

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Min Mthuli accepts high taxes destroying businesses, promises major cuts within 2 weeks

By Beverly Bizeki

Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof Mthuli Ncube has announced that he will make major policy changes within the next two weeks that will ensure viability among small scale businesses.
Prof Mthuli was addressing delegates at an investment conference held in Masvingo recently where he acknowledged that the current obtaining environment was stifling small businesses and in an effort to address that he promised to make major policy changes which he said are going to promote the ease of doing business.
“In terms of the cost of doing business, we are seized as government with this matter and we are going to reduce the cost of doing business, watch the space within the next two weeks, the cost of licenses will come down.
“Secondly, the number of licenses or steps towards the acquisition of permissions will be reduced. Between now and two weeks we should announce a reduction in the monetary value of licenses and over the next six months reduction in the number of steps to acquire these licenses,” said Prof Mthuli.
Prof Mthuli said the move would benefit both the government and the small businesses as most were surviving in business through cheating government.
“Some businesses are only profitable because they are not complying with the rules. It cannot be the case that you only remain in business if you cheat government hence government will reduce what it needs from you then you can do business competitively,” said Prof Mthuli.
Prof Mthuli said the province was being tasked to look for a special economic zone which will be supported by government as part of a national campaign to boost investment opportunities in the countries.
“Government remains committed to creating a conducive environment for investment in particular lowering regulatory costs and improve ease of doing business with a focus on beneficiation especially in downstream processing of minerals like lithium batteries, steel production. We should be able to establish special economic zones to support some of these beneficiation initiatives. Minister Ezra Chadzamira we are asking you and your team to find some project which will be awarded a special economic zone status especially if the project is focusing on value addition,” he said.
Government policy and heavy taxation have been significantly stifling businesses in Zimbabwe especially in the formal sector.

Mandiva Primary makes history, wins provincial NAPH soccer crown

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Mandiva Primary makes history, wins provincial NAPH soccer crown

By Tatiana Mhararira

From dusty pitches to provincial glory, Mandiva Primary School’s soccer team has made history by clinching their first-ever provincial title at this level, winning the NAPH tournament and defying expectations from a school nestled along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway in rural Chivi.
Mandiva Primary won the ticket to represent Masvigo Province at the national tournament after defeating Negwari Primary School from Bikita district in the finals with 3 goals to 1 at Mucheke Stadium recently.
The young team showcased exceptional skill, determination, and teamwork, leaving spectators and opponents alike in awe despite their rural background.
The tournament, which featured teams from Masvingo’s seven districts, saw Mandiva Primary overcoming stiff competition to claim the title.
Their winning spirit and passion for the sport were profound throughout the tournament, and their historic win is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.
Speaking to TellZim News, Mandiva School Head, Jemeas Matingwina, said he was happy that the school was crowned provincial champions despite their rural background.
“As the school head, I am excited with the provincial trophy coupled with a sense of accomplishment considering that we are in a rural setup. Rural schools are usually looked down upon when it comes to games like soccer.
“After winning this for the first time, we are full of joy and satisfaction as a testimony that there is massive talent in rural schools; hence this will motivate schools in Chivi district as well as other districts within Masvingo province,” said Matingwina.
Mandiva Head coach Atanas Mukandi said he was happy with the players’ performance and they were conducting thorough preparations for the national tournament.
“I was happy with the win, and the secret behind this success was thorough preparation, teamwork, and support from the school administration.
“As we prepare for the national tournament, we are having friendly matches and inviting qualified resource persons. We expect to win the national trophy in Marondera,” said Mukandi.
Mukandi also said the achievement would encourage the young learners and uplift his career as a school coach.
“Following this achievement, I encourage the youngsters to keep focused, reach great levels, and take football as a living career. We expect this win to inspire a new generation of learners to take up soccer and strive for excellence.
“The first trophy at Mandiva Primary is a great achievement and has also uplifted my profile in the football field. Special appreciation goes to the Mandiva School staff and God, at large, for making this success possible,” he said.
The victory is a milestone moment for Mandiva Primary, and the 2025 Provincial tournament will always be remembered in the school’s history.

Two arrested for smuggling in Masvingo

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Two arrested for smuggling in Masvingo

By Valentine Makufa

Two men were arrested in the early hours of July 12, 2025 in connection a suspected smuggling syndicate after police intercepted a truck and a cross-border MBT Yutong bus loaded with undeclared goods along the Masvingo–Harare road.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhehwa confirmed the arrests and warned members of the public against participating in smuggling activities, noting that law enforcement was actively monitoring smuggling routes and operations.
“We urge members of the public to report any suspicious activities as we continue to clamp down on crime. Police are not going to slumber and let criminals go,” said Inspector Dhewa.
Police officers who were on duty arrested Milton Chigumbura (37) of Highfields, Harare who was driving the truck and Makuyana Musabani (50) of Zengeza 5, Chitungwiza at around 0300 hours at a two kilometer peg from Masvingo.
Both the truck and the bus were laden with various smuggled goods and the police sent both vehicles to ZIMRA Masvingo for further management.
Among the confiscated items were 34 boxes of 750ml bottles of VAT 69 whisky, groceries, and cosmetics, all of which were being transported without proper customs clearance.

“WHERE DID YOU LEARN ENGLISH?” -TRUMP QUIZZES THE PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA (JOSEPH BOAKAI)

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“WHERE DID YOU LEARN ENGLISH?” -TRUMP QUIZZES THE PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA (JOSEPH BOAKAI)

By Nicholas Aribino
(Writing in own capacity)

This world is not just as we see it, if we don’t listen to the unspoken messages as we converse, we are bound to lose the context and content of the conversation. Similarly, as conversationalists we should be adept at understanding where we have conversation starters and enders. Failing to understand subtexts or unspoken messages in a conversation is the worst thing that one can do because one risks being where he or she is no longer wanted. Unspoken messages can patronise, flatter, pooh-pooh, discriminate, thingify, objectify, amplify or persuade. Unspoken messages communicate more to those people who care to listen closely and can be used either as the premise upon which conversations can continue or discontinue. When President Trump recently said to the Liberian President, “Where did you learn English?” he conveyed multiple unspoken messages to listeners who have third ears and eyes that look through the window. It is the object of this opinion piece to undress the “Where did you learn English?” utterance.
In terms of socio-linguistic competence, utterances can be examined against the context of pragmatics and the need to hear out one another as social animals without necessarily looking at phonology, semantics, grammar, syntax or rules that govern a language. In the light of socio-linguistic competence, what is primary is the relaying of a message to the next person. What is of paramount import in a dyad where socio-linguistic competence is involved is not approaching a language as a subject, but as a tool for facilitating communication. In the case of the question, “Where did you learn English?”, the questioner is departing from seeing English as a language and focuses on English as a subject. At the back of President Trump’s mind, the African President cannot be grammatically competent, hence his amazement regarding the African President’s fluency in the Queen’s language. By extension, President Trump is conveying the unspoken message that African Presidents are not good at English and that English is a preserve of a chosen few-the Whites. President Trump, when he asks the question under interrogation is coming to the table with the perspective of grammatical competence. Grammatical competence is concerned with rules that govern a language, and these rules seem to be sacrosanct for President Trump.
In his remark about the competence of the African President’s fluency in English, President Trump forgets that English is one of the lingua franca of the citizens of the world. A lingua franca is a language that is used for business purpose; it enhances human connection. That the Liberian President speaks English like a British is neither here nor there because the context in the oval office does not mirror the four walls of a classroom where an English lesson should connect perfectly the dots of phonology, syntax, grammar, morphology, and semantics, among other things that are tucked into grammatical competence. President Trump also sends an unspoken message of his pride in his source language, English. English for the Liberian President is a target language by virtue of his history and geography as it was introduced in Liberia in the 19th century by freed slaves from the United States. There is another unspoken message to Africans that their languages are not in the same basket with English. President Trump is being full of himself as he converses with the President of Liberia, because for him English is a language extraordinaire that is also associated with intelligence. Arguably, intelligence for President Trump is just for a chosen few who happen to be Whites. The interaction between President Trump and the Liberian President also comes with the unspoken message of power dynamics. Observably, those who speak fluent English wield social, political and economic power as compared to those whose source language is not English.
In African students’ daily interactions within and outside of the structured environments of education like early childhood development, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, there is trumponomic thinking that English is of paramountcy and that anyone who speaks it through the nose has sound cognitive structures. That English is critical as a subject and a language is not debatable, but the same argument can be pitched for any other language. Research has shown that formation of thought patterns is effectively done through one’s source language. One’s source language is the fulcrum for thinking and expressing one’s thoughts. Arguably, colonialism disrupted the development of African languages knowing very well that if they were to be developed, they were going to account for creative thinking, innovation and industrialisation. Some African languages now have died out and out go some people’s cultures. Language is integral to culture. When African cultures pooh-pooh their languages, they resemble peacocks-beautiful outside and ugly inside. President Trump sends a clear but unspoken messages to the listenership that their lives do not amount to anything if they are not conversant in English. Today Africa has in its universities French, Portuguese, Mandarin, German and English, among other foreign languages as intercultural communication courses. While this may be good for preparing students for the status of international citizenship, the Global North does not largely focus on teaching African languages in their universities as intercultural communication course.
President Trump in his, “Where did you learn English?” utterance or question observably demonstrates that Africa was defined and ruled and continues to be presided over according to the linguistic tastes of the colonialists.

Pamushana netball team brings bronze medal from Namibia

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Pamushana netball team brings bronze medal from Namibia

By Courage Dutiro

The Pamushana High School netball team, representing Zimbabwe in the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games 2025 in Windhoek, Namibia recently, brought home a bronze medal.
The Under 19 girls, known as the Young Gems, competed against teams from seven countries in the region, including South Africa, Malawi, Namibia, and Zambia.
South Africa took first place, followed by Malawi in second, while Zimbabwe came third, Namibia and Zambia came forth and fifth respectively.
The team’s coach, Stembile Banda, attributed their success to the girls’ resilience, character, and rigorous training camps.
“The team’s character and resilience enabled us to achieve a podium performance. It was hard work, determination, and teamwork since day one,” said Banda
The team has participated in various competitions, including league bubbles, NASH, and the Zambezi Telkom games in South Africa.
Banda praised the team’s youngest player, 16-year-old Ashly James, who performed well, and Captain Ruvimbo Pawandiwa, who led the team with an outstanding performance.
In their matches, the Young Gems displayed a dominant performance, powering past Botswana 76-23 on match day one and clinching a 45-41 victory over host Namibia on match day two.

Turning Scars into Seeds, Bikita community harvesting water from Idai gullies

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Turning Scars into Seeds, Bikita community harvesting water from Idai gullies

By Staff Reporter

In the heart of Bikita East ward 31, Chief Mazungunye area, a remarkable group of 51 people, including 35 women, from Mabheka garden, led by chairperson Kasira Chiweshe, have come together to make a difference in their community.
After the devastating Cyclone Idai, they refused to give up. Instead, they joined forces to harvest water through the creation of small dams to prevent runoff on gullies and streams left by the cyclone. They worked tirelessly to build dam walls using innovative techniques like soil, stones, and mesh wire, and their hard work paid off as they are already reaping the benefits of their labor.
One garden committee member, Pauline Pasipanodya, said they managed to harvest water in the small dams, which they use to irrigate their garden, in which they grow vegetables, onions, and tomatoes, among other crops.
“We saw an opportunity from the gullies left by Cyclone Idai and decided to use them to harvest water, which is now making a difference in the garden and the community,” said Pasipanodya.
She said they had learned about water harvesting and contour ridge making from some NGOs operating in the area, which provided them with some materials. She said contour ridges prevented runoff and kept the fields moist as it allowed drainage.
“We’ve learned that contour ridges prevent runoff and allow water to go down into the ground, keeping our fields moist, which is ideal for agriculture,” she said.
She said the garden had become a source of fresh produce and a symbol of their hard work and dedication. They’ve developed a system for selecting and processing own seeds from their yields, which reduce costs associated with buying seeds.
They carefully select the best seeds from their harvest, process, and store them in a dedicated hut for future planting seasons.
“We now do our own seed processing here. We select grain from the field and after harvest. We then treat the seeds, which we keep in our storage hut. We will then use the seeds when the time comes. This lessens the burden on farmers since we do not need to buy seeds,” said Pasipanodya.
The group’s commitment to sustainable practices is also noteworthy. They’ve learned the importance of tree farming for wind barriers, preventing frost bite, and desertification. They’re replanting trees for firewood and other uses, ensuring that their natural resources are preserved for future generations.
Another member, Gladys Chinofunha, who is responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation, said tree farming contributed to nutrition and almost every household had its own fruit trees. “Tree farming has not only provided us with fruit, but it’s also enhanced nutrition and reduced the need for households to ask neighbors for fruit. Many households in the area now have their own fruit trees, promoting nutrition and community self-sufficiency,” said Chinofunha.
She said the group established a greenhouse, which they use for tree nursery, allowing them to propagate and nurture young trees on their own.
The group has seen impressive harvests of small grains that are drought-tolerant and ideal for their dry land. They’ve even started brewing beer and maheu for events, selling some to generate income for their community from the small grains.
Other committee members include Gray Ushe, who is the vice chairperson, Elizabeth Makono, who is the secretary deputized by Rumbidzai Mandiki.
Committee members include Revesu Mapuranga, Rezen Zvapano, Tendai Mutendi, Pauline Pasipanodya, and Lovemore Mhesa.

Part of Mabheka garden

N Richards till operator steals US$12k in Gutu

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N Richards till operator steals US$12k in Gutu

By Valentine Makufa

A N.Richards Group till operator, Philisani Nyathi, is on the run after allegedly stealing US$12 000 from the company on July 15, 2025.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and urged businesses to adopt safer cash management practices to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“We have received a report concerning an employee at N. Richards who stole US$12 000 from the company. We are appealing to the members of the public for any information on Nyathi.
“Businesses should not to keep such amounts of money with till operators; rather, they should deposit in banks for safety,” said Inspector Dhewa.
Sources privy to the incident said Nyathi reportedly conducted his routine sales throughout the day but left the shop around 1400 hours claiming he was looking for change from another branch across the street.
Security personnel raised alarm after realising that Nyathi had not returned in hours and initiated a search. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful, as his phone was not off.
Upon reviewing the transactions, management discovered that Nyathi had sold cement worth US$12 000, which he did not deposit.
A high-priority alert was issued and a US$2000 reward is being offered by N-Richards for information leading to Nyathi’s successful arrest.
Anyone with information should contact: ‪+263 772 900 995‬ ‪+263 776 987 494‬ NRG Tip Off Line: 0808 06 88 (Toll Free) Call Centre: 08512 011 111 or report to the nearest Police Station. All information will be treated with confidentiality.

Mwenezi missing man found dead after 6 months

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Mwenezi missing man found dead after 6 months

By Tadiwanashe Mberikunashe

A missing Mwenezi man was found dead near the edge of Emangonde River after six months.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, confirmed the discovery of Nhamo Muzenda (55) from Chivhuru Village under Chief Chitanga in Mwenezi, and said investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of death.
“We confirm the discovery of human remains believed to be those of Nhamo Muzenda, who was reported missing in January. The remains were identified by his wife based on the clothes. Investigations are currently ongoing to determine the cause of death. We urge anyone with information to come forward,” said Inspector Dhewa.
Muzenda allegedly left home in January 2025, saying he was going to work at Zimbabwe Bio Energy. His wife, Eliza Beture (54), became worried when she failed to reach him on his cell phone.
She called his workplace and was told he had never reported for duty. She then filed a missing person report at the Mwenezi Police Station.
On July 14, at around 1:00 p.m, his remains were found, and a police report was made. Police attended the scene and took the body to Masvingo Provincial Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

72-year-old drowns while gathering firewood

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72-year-old drowns while gathering firewood

By TellZim Reporter

A 72-year-old man from Kupuka Village under Chief Mazungunye in Bikita drowned on the morning of July 15, 2025, while gathering firewood along the Mijuche River.
Masvingo Deputy Provincial Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu, confirmed the drowning of Murindiwa Peter Zivanai and urged people to exercise extreme caution near rivers and other water bodies.
“I confirm the death of Zivanai from Kupuka Village in Bikita. We advise members of the public to avoid walking or working near dangerous water areas to prevent such unfortunate tragedies,” said Patinyu.
Zivanai left home at around 08:00 hours, leaving his wife, Senzeni Ruzive (64), behind. Hours later, a woman from the same village discovered his lifeless body lying on the riverbank, with a bundle of firewood by his side.
Zivanai’s palms had struggle marks, and the riverbank showed slippery marks, suggesting he had lost balance and slipped into the water. It is suspected he drowned while attempting to cross over the spillway.
His body was retrieved and taken to Silveira Mission Hospital Mortuary, where it is currently awaiting a postmortem.

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