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Chiredzi school principal holds domestic worker hostage

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Chiredzi school principal holds domestic worker hostage
‘Imprisoned Willie Chikosi can’t get out’

…locks gates, cuts off
water for days
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – South Eastern College
(SEC) acting principal, Contact Chigayo is being accused of keeping his
predecessor’s domestic worker hostage at the school premises as part of a retribution
campaign, TellZim News can reveal.
Chigayo is said to have sent
school employees to lock the gate of the residence where the former principal
Tawanda Chimhamhiwa used to stay before his dismissal for alleged
misappropriation of school funds a few months ago.
Sources said there was bad
blood between the two, and Chigayo is suspected of orchestrating Chimhamiwa’s
dismissal which he, however, is challenging in court.
Chimhamhiwa has also refused
to totally vacate the school residence, arguing that he would only do that if
the legal case he has launched goes against him.
Though he himself is no
longer staying there, he left behind a fowl run with 500 birds under the care
of his employee Willie Chikosi whom Chigayo has now allegedly imprisoned by
locking all the gates and assigning a security guard to make sure he does not
escape.
The acting principal has
also allegedly cut off water supply to the residence which is said to have caused
the death of a good number of Chimhamhiwa’s chickens.
TellZim News visited the
place this week and found a distraught Chikosi lingering inside the
palisade-fenced premise with no chance of escape.
“It has been four days
now since they locked me here inside. I am being watched by a security officer
so that I don’t run away. They have since cut off water supply to this
residence and the chickens that I must take care of here are dying of thirsty
and hunger. I can no longer find the chicken feed which I last received a few
days ago.
“Mr Chimhamhamhiwa is
also barred from entering this premise. I am just being given some food over
the gate. Some police officers came and asked some questions but they did not
rescue me,” said Chikosi.
When contacted for comment,
Chimhamiwa said since he had been trying to remain rational pending
finalisation of the legal case, he was shocked by what he said were drastic
measure taken by Chigayo.
“A hostel got burnt down
last week and they wanted to move the children into my residence and I had no
problem with that. I am now shocked that the acting principal has kept my
worker hostage, depriving him of water. Some 15 of the chickens of are now dead,”
said Chimhamhiwa.
When Chigayo was contacted
for comment, he said all was well and no one was being kept hostage.
“Everything is fine
here. It is a lie that someone is being kept hostage,” said Chigayo.

Five years on – Where is Itai Dzamara?

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Five years on – Where is Itai Dzamara?

Upenyu Chaota

He
is said to have been abducted by unknown assailants believed to be state
security agents on March 9, 2015 and since then no one has ever seen or heard
from him.
He
stood up to the brutal former President Robert Mugabe calling for his
resignation even when it was not fashionable to do so.
What
happened that day to Itai Dzamara remains a riddle, wrapped in mystery inside
an enigma. The family of Dzamara and his friends have all been left with more
questions than answers as the government has not done enough to find the
missing journalist cum political activist.
The
Mugabe regime denied having a hand in the abduction of Dzamara with some
government officials claiming that Dzamara was hiding somewhere enjoying his
life.
For
his wife and children, their hope is that the husband and father would one day
walk through the door.
For
the world, everyone is asking, Where is Dzamara? What happened to him? Is he
dead? Who is responsible? Will he ever be found?
Five
years on, the questions keep mounting and the hope of finding him keep fading.
When
President Mnangagwa took over from his predecessor Mugabe, he was pressured for
answers on the whereabouts of Dzamara and the country witnessed on the national
broadcaster an announcement from the police appealing to members of the public
for any information leading to the solving of the case.
That
was the only effort made under the ‘new dispensation’ and since then the case
has been filed in a very dark cabinet where it is gathering dust.
The
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said that the government has to come
clean and tell the country what happened to Dzamara because he is the citizen
of this country.
“Dzamara
deserves justice. He is the citizen of his country and we deserve to know what
happened to him.
“He
was abducted and the state denies involvement but we are alarmed with the level
of negligence on their part.
“They
have not committed enough resources into finding him and we wonder if this will
be the approach that will be taken if any countrymen goes missing,” said ZLHR
spokesperson Kumbirai Mafunda.
He
said that the government is responsible for taking care and guaranteeing the
safety of every Zimbabwean but it has failed to do so.
“We
should all feel safe in our country but if people just disappear to never be
found again it is very worrying. The government should move mountains to find
Dzamara so that this brings closure to the family and friends.
“He
had a family and they all want him to come home. He was the bread winner which
means his abduction spelled doom on them. The country deserves answers.
“If
the government had no hand in the disappearance then they have to prove it. No
person can just disappear like that,” said Mafunda.

Pacifying military will backfire: Kasukuwere

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Pacifying military will backfire: Kasukuwere

…move
a strain on civilian-military relations

Upenyu Chaota
Former
Zanu PF national political commissar and member of the once powerful G40
faction Saviour Kasukuwere attacked President Emmerson Mnangagwa for allegedly
dividing citizens by his government’s decision to create subsidised basic
commodities shops for the army.
The
Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube recently
announced that soldiers will soon be buying subsidised goods from garrison
shops that will be funded by a special tax levied on every other civil servant.
In
a telephone interview with TellZim News, Kasukuwere, who is in self-imposed
exile, warned that the plan will back-fire.
“What
is the rationale really? All civil servants are equal and they should be
treated as such. They are working for the country and no one is more special
than the other.
“Zimbabweans
have suffered enough and they should be rewarded for their toil. Civil servants
are yearning for salary increments but their government is busy deducting their
salaries.
“Mnangagwa
has no decency at all and he lives large while his people suffer. He was
presented with a golden opportunity to unite the country but he plundered it
and killed those that challenged him,” said Kasukuwere.
In
his announcement, Ncube said all civil servants except members of the military
will be levied a 2.5 percent ‘garrison shop’ tax which will be channeled
towards the revival grocery shops for the defense forces.
Many
people have, however, criticised the move as part of desperate efforts by a
failed government to pacify a restive military.
“This
is what happens when the country is in the hands of a mafia. The mafia does not
care about anyone else but themselves.
“They
are very selfish and they would rather watch everyone die than let their
interest get threatened. To them, Zimbabwe can burn just as long as they are
enjoying. No one cares, this is the unfortunate situation that we find
ourselves in,” said Kasukuwere.
He
said President Mnangagwa was desperate to find ways of pacifying the army which
he knew very well could show him the exit door anytime.
 “The army is running the country. Mnangagwa is
trying to save himself from sleeping with one eye open at night. We all know
the role played by the army to propel Mnangagwa to where he is today so if he
forgets the same people will kick him out.
“You
have seen Mnangagwa using the army to crush dissent so it is only logical for
him to make sure that his boys are happy,” said Kasukuwere.
The
2.5 percent ‘garrison tax’ will add to the two percent transactional tax and
bank charges which already are a heavy burden on the poorly-remunerated
government workers.
Progressive
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou lashed out at
Ncube’s latest policy announcement which he said was designed to worsen poverty
in the country.
“For
the Finance minister and the rest of cabinet to agree to tax civil servants 2.5
percent to set up shops that will sell subsidised commodities to members of the
army is lunacy.
“The
cabinet must be reminded that if they are so much interested in uplifting the
image of the army, they must pay the army well so that they can buy from shops
of their choice.
“Reducing
soldiers to ridicule and subsidisation by civil servants is dangerous and a
national security threat as it compromises the civilian-military relations,”
said Zhou.

Legal Perspectives: The Secret Behind Sentencing

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Legal Perspectives: The Secret Behind Sentencing

…as Govt hikes fines



Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa

When one man is
slapped with an effective imprisonment sentence and another is sentenced to pay
a fine or perform community service for committing the same offence, people are
often quick to conclude that it is corruption and injustice. Two or more persons
who jointly commit the same offence can be punished differently because their degrees
of participation and personal circumstances may differ. This editorial seeks to
enlighten the core legal reasons why sentences sometimes substantially differ.
It is also a highlight of Statutory
Instrument 57 of 2020 which hiked fines with effect from 28 February 2020.
Duty of the court
In determining the
sentence to be imposed in each particular case, the court takes into consideration
a number of factors depending on the offence committed. For instance in  a case of rape, it may consider the parties’ ages,
nature of  relationship if any, whether a
weapon was used and the degree of force or violence used. Using prescribed sentencing
guidelines, a court is mandated to rationally and objectively sentence the
offender by weighing up mitigating against aggravating factors. It must give full
reasons for whatever sentence it imposes.
Mitigating factors
Before sentence
is passed, a convict is given an opportunity to lay down factors which persuades
the court to impose a lenient sentence. Such factors are known as mitigating
factors. Where an accused is legally represented, the lawyer ordinarily adduces
evidence or makes written/oral submissions. Lawyers usually cite salient case
law in an endeavor to persuade the court. With some guidance from the court, an
unrepresented accused person is given an opportunity to outline mitigating factors.
Where a minimum
mandatory sentence is prescribed (e.g. 9 years imprisonment for stock theft)
the court must impose such sentence unless if special circumstances exist. Special
circumstances were defined by the High Court in the 1988 case of State v Mbewe and more recently in State v Kambuzuma as
extraordinary factors arising out of the commission of the offence or which are
peculiar to the offender. Trapping a person to commit an offence is regarded as
a special circumstance.
Duty of the
Public Prosecutor
There is a
misconception that a prosecutor’s duty is to ‘nail’ the accused. The prosecutor’s
duty is to assist the court in arriving at the most appropriate sentence based
on justice, fairness and proportion. The prosecutor may either accept or
dispute accused’s mitigation. Where an accused is unrepresented the prosecutor is
duty bound to assist in mitigation where necessary.
Aggravating factors.
After
mitigation. the prosecutor may if he/she so wishes, assist the court by bringing
to its attention factors which call for a more severe sentence. These are known
as aggravating factors and they vary from case to case. Robbery for example is
committed in aggravating circumstances if a firearm is used or if serious
bodily harm is threatened or actually inflicted. Being a repeat offender is
aggravating.
New Standard
Scale of Fines.
There exist a Standard
Scale of Fines which guides courts in imposing fines. In the same vein, there
are what are known as fine levels. These levels range from level one up to
level fourteen. The more serious the offence, the higher the level. If for
example an offence is a level six offence that does not mean a court must always
impose a level six fine. The prescribed level only acts as the upper limit
which a court must not exceed. Level one is the lower limit in all cases.
A court has
discretion to impose any fine as long as the fine is within the range between
level one and the prescribed level. Driving a motor vehicle without a licence,
criminal insult and ‘public drinking’ are examples of level six offences. Assault
and Theft are level fourteen offences. In exercising discretion, the court is
guided by mitigating and aggravating factors.
With effect from
28 February 2020, level one fine is now ZWL$ 200 (from ZWL$ 40). This means that courts or the police can no-longer impose
a fine of less than ZWL$ 200. Other fine levels are now prescribed as
following; level three; ZWL$ 500, level five; ZWL$ 2400, level six; ZWL$4800, level
ten; ZWL$ 24 000, level thirteen; ZWL$ 60 000 and level fourteen ZWL$ 120 000 (from ZWL$ 30 000).The new fine schedule
was published through the controversial Criminal
Law Codification and Reform (Standard Scale of Fines) Notice, 2020 [Statutory Instrument
57 of 2020]. The government had last reviewed fines in September 2019
through Statutory Instrument 209 of 2019.
Police fines
Where a person
voluntarily admits that he/she is guilty, the police has discretion to accept an
Admission of Guilt Fine. This discretion only comes into play when a ranked police
officer is of the view that the offence is so petty to an extent that a court
will impose a fine not exceeding level three. This mostly applies to traffic
offences, ‘public drinking/fighting’ cases, trivial assaults and other petty
statutory offences. In view of SI 57 of
2020, the ZRP now has powers to accept ZWL$ 500 as deposit fine. It must be
noted that all Admission of Guilt Fines are later sent to a magistrate for
possible confirmation. If confirmed, the offender is regarded as having been
convicted and sentenced by a court.  
Conclusion.
The sentence
imposed is determined by weighing mitigating against aggravating factors. The
existence or non-existence of special circumstances is also a determining
factor in cases where a minimum mandatory sentence is prescribed. With effect
from 28 February 2020, no court can impose a fine of less than ZWL 200. The
police is now empowered to impose fines as high as ZWL$500. The maximum fine
that a court can impose is now pegged at ZWL$ 120 000. The secret behind sentencing
is that each case is decided on its own merits.
Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum!
Fidelicy
Nyamukondiwa writes in his personal capacity. Contactable on 0785827154 nhanyams@yahoo.com  https://twitter.com/FidelNyams

Charles Austin Theatre marks 46th anniversary

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Charles Austin Theatre marks 46th anniversary

Tafadzwa
Masunda
MASVINGO
– Preparations for the Charles Austin Theatre’s 46th anniversary set
for March 21 this month are at an advanced stage with various performances from
top artists lined up.
The Charles Austin
Theater, which was opened on March 06, 1974, has grown in leaps and bounds, and
on many occasions proving to be a force to reckon with.
Charles Austin Theatre artistic
director Michael Banda said he was pleased that the theatre had stood the test
of time.
“We have come so far
and we hope we will be here for many more years to come. Forty-six years of
existence is not a joke and we have to look back and thank all those who have
supported us to be where we are today.
“We are going to have belated
birthday celebrations as we have been mobilising resources to make the event as
colourful as it can get. We want to make it memorable,” said Banda.
He said there were many
activities and entertainment programmes lined up for the day.
“The celebrations will
be held at the theatre and we have a lot of activities and entertainment activities
lined up. The Charles Austin Theatre will perform a play titled Mari Mari while
standup comedy and music will also take centre stage.
“There will be plays
from schools while pupils will also take the opportunity to learn more about
the arts industry,” said Banda.
He said adults will pay
$15 to take part in the celebrations while children will enjoy free entry.
Charles Austin Theatre
is among the five functioning theatres which have managed to remain standing in
the face of an underfunded and underappreciated sector.

Sandon Academy gifts best ‘A’ Level pupil with car

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Sandon Academy gifts best ‘A’ Level pupil with car
Sandon Academy

Christian Kwaramba
GUTU-
Sandon Academy has raised the stakes higher above any institution in Masvingo
province after handing over car keys to its best 2019 A Level student who
attained 20 points from four subjects.
The
19-year-old Tinotenda Chidume was given car keys to a Toyota Passo during the
top achievers awards ceremony held last week at the school.
Sandon
Academy principal Dr Thokozile Mupundu told TellZim News that they saw it fit
to reward their top achievers in a bigger and better way.
“Our
pass rate for this year was 100 percent for A Level and 96 percent for O Level
and we saw it appropriate to hold the awards ceremony in a bigger and better
way.
“The
grand prize was a car and we hope this will inspire other pupils to study
harder so that they will be in the same position as that of Chidume,” said Dr
Mupundu.
Chidume
who was over the moon with excitement said that hard work always pays and it
was possible for every pupil at Sandon to set their target on the grand prize
in future.
“The
secret is in studying harder each day. You do not have to stop when it hurts
but you have to stop when you are done.
“I
never thought I would be given this big of a prize but I was honoured with a
car. I am so happy and this can happen again to any pupil who studies hard and
put the name of the school on the map,” said Chidume.

Quit whatever you are smoking Cde Mthuli: Mapombi

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Quit whatever you are smoking Cde Mthuli: Mapombi

But
what is wrong with MDC MPs chokwadi. How can they accuse honorable member Vice
President and Retired Genari Constantino Guvheya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga of
bringing the notorious coronavirus to Zimbabwe. Imi vanhu veMDC siyanai
naChiwenga wangu. Kana akauya necoronavirus hamuoni the good side of it sei
kkkk. Handiti Chiwenga necoronavirus yake they are always behind closed doors
with our tormentors saka zvichapomerana ikoko nyika yese igopembera semazuva akabviswa
Uncle Bob. I am not saying Chiwenga has coronavirus get me right people because
I do not want the Generari to come down here at Chitima market to hunt me down.
It is the MDC MPs who accused our dearly beloved Chiwenga of such. Unless if
you are saying coronavirus inoita kuti munhu adongorera muguva angoita a
miraculous recovery otoita chigwindiri then Chiwenga is guilty kkkk. Nothing is
imposible with those Chinese. They are too clever. Tinoti vaitirapira mukuru
wedu izvo waitomuzadza zvavo coronavirus yacho wachida zvitapurirane kutop
ikoko. Kana zvikadaro haiwa tingati Ebenezzer China matigonera kkkk.
Hameno
kana paine arikuonawo zvandiri kuona mazuvano. The Generari is no longer going
to China dzinoya kufa wena kkkk. No one in Zanu PF is going kuChina nekuda
kwecoronavirus. Dai yaramba iriko corona iyi because our poor country will be
saved of millions of dollars. Tanga taneta nekungonzwa kuti nhingi nanhingi
waenda kunorapwa kuChina chero wachinzwa mudumbu nekurakasha mari dzenyika.
Haungatadzi kurwara nemadyiro anoita varume vaya. They have big bellies,
nematehwe kwawo anowana everything and they drive beautiful cars which makes
Mapombi wonder if these people have any decency in them at all. Hapana kana
nyadzi pane machinda nemadzimai aya. Ukangoda kusimudza musoro kuti manyanya
kuba unodzingwa kkkk. Matutu and Tsenengamu ikozvino zvakungoukura zviri panze
after wabata miswe yevakuru. But thanks to coronavirus our leaders have managed
to stay in the country for longer vasina kumbobuda zviisna direction. I hear
Chiwenga dzakungoenda hadzo paJoni apo kunoitwa checkup instead of China. Saka
kana Joni ichizvigona munoenderei China nhai imi vanhu. Chenyu kungoda kupedza
mari yenyika nezvinhu zvisina basa. Mwari ndiye anoziva.
Chokwadi
under the ‘new dispensation’ tichadzidza zvakawanda. I don’t know if there
someone else out there who is seeing what I am seeing. ED and his goons have
successfully surpassed Mugabe’s destructive 37 years in just 2 years. This is
the worst case that has befallen this county. Kutonga nyika kusvika Kariba
yapera mvura, upfu hwapera in the shops, petrol yashaikwa, zero electricity, hospitals
run out of drugs and doctors, more mad people on the streets including isu vana
Mapombi takungoita semipengo nekuda kwenhamo. New dispensation yandirwadza iyi
ini hama dzangu. I don’t know in the history of our country if there ever was a
time when Kariba ran out of water. This should give a signal to Dambudzo and
his team that varikumhepo are not happy. When things are not good vadzimu vanotsamwa
and mvura hainayi. Chero mukakomba vanhu kuti murove hazvifambi. I had hope in
the man of God out there but recent developments have shown that it is all a
joke. But muchinda uya anozviti prophet passion dzakanatsa kuti kwesere here or
dzakatamba nepwere dzikashaya akadzora. It’s one thing to play uchipusisa vanhu
vachibvumawo kupisiswa but it’s another when you take the Kingdom of Heaven for
a ride. Wakatnga uchiti twabam tikakureg vamwe ndivo vakanakidzwa nazvo but
ikozvino wakuita ndokutsotsonya mahumba mahumba mabeer malacto ako ayo
kwakufarisa manje. This country needs serious people not these jokes. I am
beginning to think that this fake prophet is on Zanu PF pay roll because he is
doing a good job to divide people’s attention form real pressing issues.
I
knew legalizing mbanje was a bad idea and now see the results. The whole
country is losing it. At first I thought Dambudzo was the only high person
around but I can see the wave is hereditary and the not so wise Finance
minister Prof Mthuli Ncube has joined the band wagon. I think the grade which
Mthuli is taking is stronger than that taken by ED and his deputies. Mthuli
haasi kana kmboona kuti what is going on in this country. Does the guy even
stay in Zimbabwe? I hear Mthuli is based in Switzerland but only works in
Zimbabwe. His family is there and he knows whatever he does will not affect his
family because the government of Switzerland is doing a good job mhuri yake
ichituhwina mumutambarakede. Quit whatever you are smoking Cde Mthuli before it
is too late. Mthuli does not even see that the economy has refused his bond
notes but he keeps believing in his optical illusions. Where in the history of
the world have you ever heard a country where grown man a put together to form
a roller meal committee kkkk. Mthuli siyana nembnanje iwe. The guy does not run
out of ideas though. He pulled another trick from his sleeves this time sinking
a bit lower by introducing roller meal coupons kkkk seka hako Mapombi Adonha.
The Professor is under the influence I tell you that. I can bet my last rotten
banana that Mthuli is high all the time which is why he comes up with
nonsensical policies. The man is useless and makes me miss Chinamasa. I know
that when presented with two foolish people you don’t have to choose benzi riri
nani because ese mapenzi but Chinamasa was a better useless man kkkk.
Prof
Mthuli never disappoints kkkk. This time he comes up with this brilliant idea
that fuel dealers with free funds can now sell the commodity in forex. Ndiani
anotenga with forex nhai iwe Mthuli. You say that Zimbabwe is not a
multi-currency economy so what are you trying to achieve. At the end of the day
fuel will never be available in the useless local currency. Are you
re-dollarizing in disguise? How will a civil servant whom you are refusing to
pay in US dollar buy that fuel when his salary in bond notes is a shame against
real money. Mukoma Mthuli ndinokukumbirai nemweya waMwari kuti dai mamboita
sober first before coming up with these stupid policies. Once you say fuel should
be sold in US dollars it means everything else will follow suit. The economy is
already using the US dollar anyway but chipai vashndi mari chaiyo chaiyo
intenga kwete mabond please. Zvimwe zvinhu ita uchibvunzawo Cde Chiduwa uyo I
am sure he will give you some sound advice kwete zvako zvekupenga izvo. Where
are your parents nhai Mthuli? Shuwa akabereka benzi haana mufaro. I wish to see
the people who gave birth to this and have a one on one discussion timboona
kuti dambudzo racho rakabva nepapi. Many people should be inspired to take up professorship
but I have come to the realization that most professors are fools. Look at
Madhuku kana uchiti ndonyepa. Even misoro inobva yachinja shape once one
becomes a professor. Madhuku ndakakura naye ini musoro wake wazoita banga
akuita zvehu professor and he has never been the same again. Look at Jonso
kkkkk I won’t say anything on this one but just picture him and those are the
effects of professorship.
I
wonder what would have happened if ED was a professor kkkkk. Mthuli shamwari if
you need someone to come and knock some sense into your head I will be glad to
do it for you. Unotoda mboma chaiyo because shavi raunaro haridi zvemagate.
Mapombi heard kalatest recently hanzi Joyce is warming up to get back to Zanu
PF kkkk. I heard her security which was once revoked was reinstated among other
benefits which is why she is so quiet these days. Arikumora zvake anyerere
Joyce kkkk. I cannot wait for the return of Tyson to lead us kkkk. Tyson ane
big dreams vakomana hameno regai tione hedu isu takati zete kuno kuChitima. I
have said enough regai ndinokanga hangu maputi for lunch but before I go I want
to wish you all a belated Uncle Bob day. I do not see why we gave that man a
holiday because he does not deserve it. Yes, we love holidays but why honour
Mugabe who has authored Mapombi’s suffering? This country was taken back 50
years by Mugabe and his team and we reward him on our calendar for what. Kana
muchida zvemaholiday ipai henyu Mogiza Tsvangson Chamatama zvitori nani. Rest
in Peace Save rwizi rwukuru tichiri nayo Zanu PF dai mapindira muriko kunyika
dzimu. Mboko imboko.

Feeding scheme maize vanish at Shakashe Pri

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Feeding scheme maize vanish at Shakashe Pri
Shakashe Primary School

Ruvarashe
Chichera
At least 145 bags of
maize which came through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social
Welfare  for the school feeding programme
at Shakashe Primary has disappeared with no clear explanation from the school
authorities, TellZim News can report.
It is alleged that the
school authorities including the school head and School Development Committee
(SDC) were overseeing the feeding programme.
Sources who spoke to
TellZim News alleged that the school head was responsible and is better
positioned to give answers about what really happened.
“School authorities are
responsible for everyuthing which comes in and goes out of the school. He
(school head Alexander Mashenjere) oversees all operations at the school so he
should tell you where those bags have gone,” said a source.
Contacted for comment,
school head Mashenjere confirmed the development and said the relevant ministry
was working hand in hand-in-glove with the police to get finer details of what
transpired.
“Yes it is true, the
Ministry of Education and the police are undertaking investigations. Please
don’t publish the story because the Ministry of Social Welfare gave a directive
that we mustn’t talk to the press so that the investigations go on smoothly,”
said Mashenjere.
SDC chairperson, Benny
Gudo also confirmed the theft saying the matter was reported at Rujeko Police
Station and investigations are underway.
“We can’t talk over the
phone because it’s an issue which is under investigation. We reported the
matter to the police and we are waiting for their feedback,” said Gudo.
Ministry of Public
Service, Labour and Social Welfare has been giving maize to poor primary
schools across the country for the feeding program.

Zinara letting us down says Mayor Maboke

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Zinara letting us down says Mayor Maboke
Josiah Tongogara Ave, Masvingo.

Virginia
Njovo
Masvingo – City
of Masvingo mayor Collen Maboke has bemoaned the poor state of the roads in the
city which he said are at their worst shifting all the blame solely on the
Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) which he said is not releasing
adequate funds.
Speaking
during a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) workshop at Flamboyant hotel last
week, Maboke said Zinara was the biggest let down as they were delaying to
release funds which left the city’s roads exposed.
“Our
roads in the city are in a sorry state owing to the heavy rains we received a
few weeks ago. There are plenty of potholes in all the major roads and they
need urgent attention.
“The
challenge remains with Zinara because it is the one in charge of collecting all
the levies and they then give us our share. The challenge is that the money
comes late and comes short.
“As
its stands it’s safe to say that all our roads need serious attention and
Zinara will never give us enough money to attend to them so that means we have
to prioritise the most critical areas,” said Maboke.
He
said that Zinara should consult local authorities first before they make their
allocations because sometimes the money they disburse will not be enough to
just put gravel patches on our roads.
“The
question is what informs the disbursements. That is the challenge we face as
the city. Zinara should first consult with the councils and carry out a survey
on the areas which need attention then disburse funds informed by the situation
on the ground,” said Maboke.

Chivhu man demands back US$400 extorted from him by police

TellZimNews
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Chivhu man demands back US$400 extorted from him by police
File picture

Elliot
Jinjika

CHIVHU – Four members of the police’s
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) here have found themselves in trouble
after a man from whom they extorted US$400 after accusing him of engaging in
illegal activities, wrote to the police boss demanding his money back.
Tafirei Mark Mandizha alleges that sometime in
January this year, police detectives approached his place of residence Northwood
looking for him but he was away in Harare.
Mandizha’s maid informed the detectives that her
boss was not home and would return the following day.
The four detectives only identified as Mazhambe,
Dondo, Mupazviripo and Nezanyuta returned the following morning and found
Mandizha back and allegedly searched his premises without a search warrant
accusing him of engaging in illicit deals.
Mandizha alleges that the search was characterized
by threats and harassments and was called outside his house by Mazhambe and
Dondo who demanded US$1 000 cash for them to stop investigating him.
Mandizha alleges that he told the detectives that he
only had US$100 but that offer was rejected before the detectives settled for
US$400.
In a complaint letter dated February 04, 2020, and
addressed to the Officer in Charge Chivhu Police, Mandizha claims that after
paying the money, he was threatened with unspecified actions if the matter ever
came to light.
“My wife and I were harassed in front of our maid
and kids as one of the detectives was holding a gun. They searched everywhere
even in my cars saying that I was partaking in deals that give me a lot of
money and that their bosses had instructed them to launch the raid.  
“Dondo and Mazhambe, on behalf of others, demanded US$1
000 so they could leave me alone but I told them I did not have that money. After
more threats, I was terrified and told them that I only had US$100 but they
rejected it and pushed the figure to US$400. We had to go to town to my nephew
where I borrowed another US$300,” alleges Mandizha.
Contacted for comment, Mashonaland East provincial
police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza said he had not received the letter
but will make inquiries.

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