By Tatiana Mhararira

In a nation grappling with the devastating grip of drug addiction, one young man’s remarkable journey offers a beacon of hope. Without the aid of rehabilitation centres or government support, his story is one of personal triumph over addiction as he fought his way out of the darkness of substance abuse and into a life of purpose.
His harrowing journey from the depths of drug addiction to a life full of hope and potential is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for transformation.
Born and bred in Masvingo Brave Mutava (27) passed his Ordinary and Advanced levels with flying colours at Ndarama High in Masvingo but failed to proceed to tertiary triggering his involvement drug abuse.
“In 2015 I finished my A level but failed to continue with my education because of financial challenges. Coming from a poor background, I have several siblings who needed to go to school as well.
“With nothing to do, I had to stay at home alone most of the time because my parents lived out of town. I got involved with people who exposed me to dangerous drugs such as mbanje, broncleer and maragada from around 2015 to 2016,” said Mutava.
Mutava’s drug addiction worsened to the extent that at some point he got employed but his whole salary lost to drugs.
“I got employed in 2019 and became less burden to my family but because I had become an addict, I used my salary to buy drugs. I left the job, sold my phone and returned home.
“In March 2020 I went to South Africa where I was introduced to new drugs like mutoriro. I got employed, started living alone and had a simple life to buy drugs because guka went for as little as R30. From 2019 to 2021 I took guka full time. We were now being named champions of the drugs,” he said.
He said mutoriro had negative effects on his life while he was in South Africa where he got injured leading to his return home later.
“One day I got injured and I did not feel it because I was high after taking guka. I told my brother about the injury but I never endured pain after taking the drug so I continued taking it so that I won’t feel any pain.
“I was admitted at a local hospital for two weeks but I would go out to look for guka using the money my brother would give me after hospital visits,” he said.
Mutawa said after getting discharged, during the Covid-19 lockdown, he lived a hard life since he was not employed and his relatives decided to send him back home to Zimbabwe.
“During the Covid 19 lockdown I survived with Indian food aid which was given to people in Pretoria. My relatives having seen the type of life I was living contributed money for me to return to Zimbabwe but personally I did not want to return. My brother paid for the bus fare and gave the other money to the bus driver so that he would give me upon arrival at Exor.
“I was only given R50 to buy food along the way. The money I was given could not sustain me so I had no option other than returning home. Back home I failed to blend with other family members,” he said.
He said his journey to recovery began when he was sent to the rural areas having failed to live with others in town because of his character.
“After having problems with family members in Renco Mine compound, I was sent to our rural area in Zaka where I had no access to money. I could only get mbanje and beer only. So from March 2022 up to the end of the year I failed to get the drugs I was used to and that changed me. I got help from my grandmother who gave me milk and other traditional therapies and that family rehabilitation was helpful for me.
“I told myself that I wanted to change so that I live a purposeful life. When I finally came back to town, I stayed in Victoria Ranch,”
He said he went to church in a bid to redeem himself and started selling popcorn, a business he learnt in South Africa but after getting the little money, he tried getting back to drugs but fought off the urge after considering several factors including losing the little he got from selling popcorn.
“I started selling popcorn a business that I had seen some doing in South Africa. After I got money I looked for those who sold drugs and wanted to return to the old fashion. After taking drugs I would lose capital and had no one to help me bounce back to business or even cater for my utilities. That’s when I told myself that I want to stop, remembering my grand mother’s words and effort, I went to church and they prayed for me,” he said.
Mutava encouraged others who are into drugs to stop and urged them to work hard saying drugs were destroying lives.
“Drugs destroy life and future of individuals taking them. I am now into business full time because if people realize that you are doing something fruitful they support you.
So I urge those who are into drugs to find something to do to occupy themselves otherwise they lose lives,” said Matawa.
Mutava is a proud owner of Brave Snacks, Spices and Events a growing initiative which he hopes to grow into a company when funds permit.
With funds permitting he also hopes to further his studies now in line with business.

By TellZim Reporter

Masvingo City’s failure to replace flat tyres on a critical JCB machine has sparked outrage among residents, who accuse the council of misplaced priorities.

The machine was digging a trench on Dare Street in Mucheke, a project that had brought hope to residents.

The new trench is a significant improvement over the previous one, which was prone to collapse and had become a dumping ground for trash. Residents praised the council for addressing the issue, but the sudden halt has troubled them.

“We were thrilled with the new trench, but now we’re worried it will be abandoned,” said a resident.

Ward 3 Councilor Maxwell Madhuna confirmed the halt, saying two tyres were damaged and needed replacement.

“It’s been almost a month now, and the tyres still haven’t been fixed and I am equally worried,” said Madhuna.

However, Masvingo City Mayor Alec Tabe said the tyres had been bought and would be fixed on July 7, with work resuming thereafter.

 “Tyres were supplied today, and they will be fixed today,” said Tabe

Council workers have been guarding the idle machine near Mamutse Stadium, enduring cold nights. The incident has raised questions about the council’s priorities, especially after councilors pushed for an international trip to see a solar project.

By TellZim Reporter

A heated debate between Masvingo City councilors nearly turned physical over international trips, specifically a proposed “look and learn” tour to Zambia and licensing of a new liquor operator at Hillside Extension Shopping center in the last full council meeting held on June 27.
The Public Works and Planning Committee Chaired by ward 8 councilor Richard Musekiwa had recommended that the committee visit Kitwe, a city with a twinning arrangement with Masvingo, to learn about a solar plant they wanted to implement back home at Bushmead water works.
The members of the finance and general purpose committee and those in the health, housing committee who do not sit in the public works committee were against the idea saying the local authority had no money so they could not have the trip.
Sources said ward 3 councilor who chairs the health committee Maxwell Madhuna clashed with ward 10 councilor Sengerai Manyanga and PR councilor Esther Zishiri with the support of the chairperson pushing for the trip and the debate almost degenerated into a fist fight.
“Madhuna pointed out that council had recently funded an international trip to Japan for the Mayor and Health Director, and Councilor Manyanga was poised to go to China for another trip.
“He had support from councilor Benard Muchokwa who chairs the finance committee and the PR councilor Alaica Time and the two groups exchanged harsh words and vulgar,” said the source.
Sources said Madhuna and company argued that if there was real need, they would rather send the two engineers instead of the whole committee and other department members since the council’s financial situation was precarious.
“The tension between Manyanga and Madhuna was palpable, with both sides dug in and unwilling to back down. The near-fistfight was averted, but if the situation had continued like that they would have exchanged blows,” said a source.
However, it was later resolved that council should send only the engineers who would understand what was done there and what could be done back home than sending people with no technical knowledge.
Sources said the issue had escalated from a previous disagreement over the Health and Housing Committee’s recommendation to allow a bar to operate atHillside Extension Shopping center which was disputed by Manyanga and Zishiri.
“The standoff was a carryover of a clash over the licensing of a bar operator at Hillside Extension Shopping center, Manyanga’s committee rejected the proposal, citing noise concerns and potential competition with existing businesses. The Health Committee, led by Councilor Maxwell Madhuna, argued that the bar owner had met all requirements, including soundproofing.
“Manyanga and PR councilor Esther Zishiri argued that no one was supposed to get another license in that area. They argued that there were reports of noise so they could not allow another operator to add more noise despite reports that he had met the requirements. Tempers flared and Madhuna accused them of having been paid by the current operator to make sure than no other person gets a license there,” said the source.
Madhuna accused Manyanga’s committee of being influenced by a prominent nightspot operator who wanted to limit competition.
However, the matter was sent back to the committee for further scrutiny and would come to the next full council meeting for deliberations.