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Lawyer faces 22 counts of forgery, fraud

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Lawyer faces 22 counts of forgery, fraud



Beatific
Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI–
A Harare-based practicing lawyer, Farai Chauke last week appeared before
Chiredzi magistrate Geraldine Mutsoto facing 21 counts of forgery and one count
for defrauding Nyangambe Wildlife Project, TellZim News can reveal.
The
State represented by David Tafangenyasha alleges that on January 16, 2018,
Chauke, of Village 5, Nyangambe in Mkwasine, forged 21 signatures and
fraudulently compiled a notarial deed of trust in respect of Nyangambe Wildlife
Conservation Trust.
Chauke
is employed by F. Chauke and Associates Legal Practitioners.
Nyangambe
is alleged to have fraudulently appended signatures of 21 people onto the
notarial deed of trust.
The
matter came to light when the registered deed of trust was presented before a
meeting held in Nyangambe in May 2018 where the 21 were surprised to see their
signatures on the deed of trust when in fact had never appended their
signatures onto it.
The
complainants are Luka Mukwena, Ranganai Rukwava, Phenias Muzamani, Climate
Tapudzai, Peter Chipfere, Godfrey James Machadu, Benjamin Masocha, Isaiah
Salani, Antony Mashiri, Peter Chanaka, Annah Murambi, Ishmael Machipisa, Amos
Chikamhi, Isaac Tizirai, Pedzisai Muchini, Marisa Chihanya, Chomu Majimba,
Pilason Mucheni, Shandurai Chinodya and Rhaina Musapoyoka.
In
the 22nd count, Chauke is alleged to have defrauded Nyangambe
Wildlife Conservation Project when he visited the office of the Registrar of
Deeds in Harare on the February 02, 2018 where he presented the fraudulent deed
in respect of Nyangambe Wildlife Conservation Project Trust.
In
his defense outline, Chauke claims he did not forge any signatures but was
asked by the parents, commonly called the Nyangambe (1983) Resettlement Scheme
(also known as the 181 Farmers) who are the owners of Nyangambe Wildlife
Project, to advise them on how to avoid tax.
He
said he was given register of the 181 farmers where he was supposed to choose
the 21 signatories to draft the deed for the benefit of the community and not to
his benefit as it only sought to lawfully avoid tax.
The
deed is currently being used by the community’s auditor, one Mashonga Manyika
for tax avoidance purpose only.
By
the time of writing, the case was now awaiting judgement on the December 05,
2019.

Govt negligence behind zero percent pass rate at Mwenezi School

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Govt negligence behind zero percent pass rate at Mwenezi School

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI –
Children’s access to appropriate education is a constitutional right which the
government should honour.
Section
19 (1) of the national constitution precisely specify that in matters relating
to children,  the State ought to take
measures to ensure that their best interests are taken good care.
However,
at Turf Primary School, which is located some 85km away from the
Masvingo-Beitbridge highway in Mwenezi district, the right to decent education
does not exist.
The
place is a microcosm of all that is wrong in this country; forgotten innocent
pupils who are completely hopeless of a brighter owing to the depressingly bad
conditions in which they find themselves. 
Located
in Ward 15 of remote Mwenezi West, Turf Primary School has for the past 17
years been conducting lessons under unimaginable conditions.
While
government has become very good at shifting blame and giving excuses, one
wonders how any responsible authority with the slightest sense of
responsibility could shift blame on this one.
Since
the schools’ inception in 2003, it has been operating without a single
classroom block and has consistently recorded a zero percent pass rate in grade
seven examinations as correctly reported by TellZim News in an earlier article
about conditions at the school.
Many
have pointed an accusing finger at the government for the misery at Turf
Primary and other satellite schools established in the wake of the Land Reform
Programme.
The
school has not received any support from authorities ever since its
establishment despite being the only one available for hundreds of children in
the resettlement area.
The
understaffed school is seriously under-staffed and the Teacher-in-Charge (TIC)
Bernard Mahutse told TellZim News that only five teachers are available for the
368 pupils currently enrolled there.
During
lessons many pupils sit on the ground under makeshift structures built of
wooden poles and dagga with thatched roof.
There
seems to be no plan or even concern on the part of government which enjoys
taking all the credit for redistributing land to previously landless natives of
the land but does not want to account for its neglect of the social needs of
those resettled people.
In
an interview, Ward 15 Cllr Edson Chauke blamed the Ministry of Lands for
backtracking on pegging the school to make its site officially permanent.
“Conditions
at Turf are tragic to the future of our children as some of them are conducting
lessons in open spaces and they are always at the mercy of the weather. Owing
to the bad conditions, teachers do not stay longer at the school and this is
disadvantaging pupils,” said Chauke.
In
a telephone interview with TellZim News, Mwenezi West legislator Priscilla
Zindari-Moyo acknowledged the difficulties at Turf Primary School.
“I
am not happy with condition at the school. I have been pushing for authorities
to speedily address the issues there. I have mobilised some locals and there
are structures that are already being worked on as we speak.
“After
publication of the issue in the media recently, I approached the Ministry of
Education and engaged with them on how best we can help. I am confident a
solution will be found soon,” said Zindari-Moyo.
In
this digital age, several primary schools across the country, especially those
in urban areas, are establishing e-classrooms and computer laboratories where
pupils access education materials digitally.
Given
that there are several known primary school which are being funded by the
government with regard to those programmes, it is ironic some schools like Turf
Primary are not even being afforded the support to build mere classroom blocks
and furniture.
“To
us the blame game does not work but the truth of the matter is that government is
failing us and perpetuating all these problems. If they were serious about addressing
our plight, it we could be in a better situation by now.
“We
no longer see the value of sending our school children to Turf as nothing is learnt
there. We feel this is just wasting time and our hard earned money on fees and
uniforms. Since the school’s inception, there is not even a single professional
to emerge from that school. We are just grooming only cattle herds, child
brides and domestic workers due to the school drop-out rate. Many are migrating
to South Africa as illegal immigrants after dropping out of school,” said one
parent.
Other
parents said they appreciated the nobility of the Land Reform Programme but
feel that government did not follow it up with the requisite development of
social amenities like schools, hospitals and decent roads.
Most
beneficiaries of the programme, therefore, are living in remote areas when
those areas could now be reasonably developed after all these years.
A
local war veteran said the neglect of the area was a disservice to the Land
Reform Programme.
He
said it was outrageous that politicians only visit the area in the run-up to
elections looking for votes by making endless false promises.
“We
are just looking forward to the government to urgently act on this crisis that
has gone for too long. During this rainy season, pupils do not go to school
because most of them conduct lessons siting on the ground under the trees.
“During
elections, politicians visit the area for selfish reasons and never honour
their promises afterwards,” said the war veteran.
Mwenezi
district has a total of 172 schools 102 of which are such satellites as Bubi,
Nyuni, Dembe, Muvhoko and Vezvi.      

Our soldiers’ shots do not miss

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Our soldiers’ shots do not miss

…Matemadanda
warns ‘drama queen’ Chamisa
Upenyu
Chaota
Zanu PF national political commissar and deputy
minister of Defense and War Veterans Affairs Victor Matemadanda has lashed out
at ‘drama queen’ MDC leader Nelson Chamisa whose party sensationally claimed
that the army and police used live ammunition at him in Marondera saying the
Zimbabwean security forces do not miss their targets.
Matemadanda said that if Chamisa is alive today it
means that no one in the government or Zanu PF want to cause him any harm
because the security forces have a record of hitting their targets with
precision.
Addressing a Zanu PF Masvingo provincial
inter-district meeting at Masvingo Polytechnic College on Monday (December 2),
Matemadanda said that the Zimbabwe military has left a good record with their
precise and lethal tactics.
“Someone (Chamisa) goes to Marondera and claims that
the army fired live ammunition at him. The media goes wild with the story
saying Chamisa missed death by a whisker.
“Our soldiers have a record of hitting their targets
with precision. They do not miss. If you want to know more about our soldiers
go to Somalia, Angola, Mozambique and DRC then ask if our soldiers miss their
targets.
“They will tell you that vanonzi vana mapfura nhunzi,”
said Matemadanda.
Chamisa was in Marondera for a tree planting ceremony
earmarked for Dombotombo Clinic but he is said to have abandoned the exercise
scurrying for cover as police allegedly fired rubber and live bullets at him.
Matemadanda said that Chamisa is losing relevance and
he tries by all means to get public sympathy but the people of Zimbabwe are now
seeing his true colours.
“This same guy (Chamisa), some eight or so months
staged a kidnapping scene with a Toyota Harrier and he brought a lot of
cameras. Who is that fool who kidnaps a nonentity like Chamisa?
“Our army and government does not benefit anything by
killing Chamisa. What value has he got other than making noise? There is also
another nobody in Marondera who claimed that the army wanted to kill him and
ended up shooting his fuel tanks.
“Our army does not miss a person to hit tanks, no.
These guys are so desperate. We will not lose sleep over Chamisa. He is just a
desperate young man. He has failed,” said Matemadanda.
He said that Zanu PF will never beg Chamisa for
anything and they will move the country forward since they were given the
mandate by the people.
“They say President Mnangagwa is desperate to be
recognised as the legitimate leader by Chamisa and we laugh because it is
fools’ talk. Who is Chamisa, kumisa ani?
“The issue of legitimacy was dealt with by the
Zimbabwean people in the ballot and Chamisa challenged it at the Supreme Court.
He lost again at the Supreme Court so who is he to talk about legitimacy?
“Legitimacy does not come from your opponent. We do
not care about being recognised by MDC. There is no value addition whatsoever.
They must worry about their dying MDC. Hatishaiswi hope nembudzi iri kukwesha
madziro,” said Matemadanda.

Chief Neshuro lives large

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Chief Neshuro lives large

…as
he demands forex from villagers

Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Village
heads that are under Chief Neshuro (real name Rodwell Gudo) are complaining
that the traditional leader is charging foreign currency for services that are
often rendered free of charge.
Last
weekend, each village head in Rutenga West had to pay R50 to receive a 10kg bag
of rice which village heads receive under an annual government programme.
Some
of the village heads told TellZim News that they felt Chief Neshuro was conning
them, saying he was making them pay for services that must not be paid for.
When
contacted for comment, Chief Neshuro denied the allegations, arguing that there
was a named senior politician fighting him and trying by all means possible to
soil his name.
“It’s
true that rice was distributed to village heads under the Zunde raMambo
programme but the truth of the matter is that no one was charged in forex.
There are politicians here who are trying to tarnish my image because we have
got some unresolved land issues,” claimed Chief Neshuro.
However
one of Chief Neshuro’s headmen, Tanaka Zano whose area covers Rutenga West
confirmed that village heads were indeed being made to pay forex for services.
“It’s
true that we convened a meeting that was presided over by the chief himself. Our
village heads were given rice and they were asked to pay R50 transport cost but
those who did not have money were also given the option to pay in the local
currency,” said Zano.
Text
messages had been sent to the village heads informing them that they were
required to pay the R50 when they come to collect their share of the grain.
“Sabhuku
uyai neR50 nesaga empty paMutove neSvondo magwanani muzopiwa rice naMambo
musanonoka kana kutadza. (village head bring R50 and an empty sack at Mutove on
Sunday morning so that you receive your share of rice from the Chief. Make sure
you come early and you comply accordingly),” read one of the messages sent to
one village head.
Other
village heads also complained that the chief was demanding that they raise
foreign currency from their subjects on his behalf.
“Earlier
this year, we were each forced to raise R200 for his car tyres. Although we
managed to raise the money from the villagers the chief did not come back with
the said car tyres, rising suspicious that he could have used the money for
something else.
“He
is exploiting us for his lavish lifestyle and we are now helping him to raise
his maintenance arrears,” fumed one village head who spoke on condition of
anonymity.
Chief
Neshuro has on several occasions been in the media all for wrong reasons. He
was convicted twice at the Mwenezi Magistrate Court after he failed to pay
maintenance arrears to his ex-wife.   

The effects of road sign deficit on Zim’s roads

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The effects of road sign deficit on Zim’s roads

A fallen road sign

Clayton Shereni
Accidents
across the world have been related to various factors including bad roads, bad
weather and human error but the impact of poor road signage has largely been
ignored as one of the major causes of road carnage on Zimbabwe’s roads.
Human
error, according to reports by leading road safety advocacy organization,
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), is the biggest cause of road traffic
accidents in Zimbabwe.
The
failure by relevant authorities to provide and maintain traffic signs in order
to guide road users through the numerous accident black spots and hazardous
places on the highways is now being seen as one of the major causes of road
accidents across the country.
In
Zimbabwe’s towns and cities, local authorities are responsible for road signage
and road maintenance while the Ministry of Transport maintains national roads.
These
authorities are doing very little, if anything to maintain roads and road
signage to optimum standards as evidenced by derelict road signs on both
highways and smaller, council-owned roads.
TSCZ
spokesperson Tatenda Chinoda said the roads should communicate with the drivers
which is the international standard.
“Road
signs will enable our roads talk. International best practices speaks about
‘talking’ roads; meaning roads are speaking to the driver and warning them and
advising them where necessary,” said Chinoda.
He,
however, warned that drivers themselves needed to be cautious even where there
was no road sign that could save anybody from gross negligent driving.
“Lack
of these signs does not necessarily translate to serious consequences of road
carnage as the behavior of the drivers themselves determines most of what becomes
of them, their vehicles, fellow motorists and their vehicles as well as pedestrians.
Today, we see drivers are flagrantly ignoring red traffic lights and not
stopping at stop signs. All the best road sign signals are in the mind of the
drivers. This is, however, not to say local authorities have no obligation to ensure
that the roads they construct are talking roads,” said Chinoda.
Some
traffic signs are now old, vandalized and faded while some are located at a
short distance from the hazard, giving no sufficient time for the user to take
action.
These
days’ road users have to bank their safety on their familiarity with the roads
not on the signage or demarcations usually erected on the side of the roads or
on the tarred surface.
Sharing
his sentiments, an illegal pirate driver who plies the Harare-Masvingo highway
route said he was being extra cautious when driving since the road signs are
now faded and some of them are no longer there.
“Our
Harare-Masvingo road is now in an extremely bad state and road signs haven’t
been spared the vandalism, dilapidation and utter neglect. During the night, it’s
very hard for me to drive without the assistance of these road signs which are
supposed to warn me of a hazard as I drive through,” said the driver.
Inadequate
budgetary allocations, corruption and nepotism have also contributed to the
lack of road signs since tenders to maintain and construct roads are allegedly
given to non-deserving companies on political grounds.
If
road signs are maintained, the rate of accidents can drop significantly as road
users would be well-informed of hazardous areas.

Abel Mauchi retires from poetry

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Abel Mauchi retires from poetry

Mauchi with TellZim News news editor Moses Ziyambi

Ruvarashe Chichera

MASVINGO – During the launch of a poet album by Ngoni Paradza at
the Charles Austin theatre on December 6 2019, Abel Mauchi, one of the Masvingo’s
best poets told the audience that he was resigning poetry.
Mauchi performed a poem titled ‘Ndakumboenda’
as a way of saying goodbye to his fans whom he praised for being loyal to him.
He made it known that he will be
focusing on his monuments where he keeps lizards, millipedes, centipedes and
other creepy creatures.
He anointed Paradza as the new
leader of poetry in Masvingo; advising him to groom all other upcoming poets in
the province.
“I am resigning poetry. I will be
focusing on my monuments and the creatures I keep. I am appointing Ngoni as the
leader of all poets in Masvingo as he has proved potentially very great poet
with immense talent. I advise Ngoni to groom all other upcoming artists and
help them improve,” said Mauchi.
He went on to give tips to
upcoming poets surviving skills in the poet industry.
Mauchi is known for his rhyming
poems including Kurwara kwangu mai mwana and Nhai varoyi.
 

Manchester United FC supporters remember Alpha Cottages

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Manchester United FC supporters remember Alpha Cottages

TellZim
Reporter
MASVINGO
– Several
members of the Masvingo Chapter of the Manchester United Supporters Club
Zimbabwe mobilised each other and raised money to buy some groceries for Alpha
Cottages Children Home.
The groceries consisted
of mealie-meal, cooking oil, corn snacks, tea leaves, sugar, rice, salt, toilet
rolls, bars of washing soap and petroleum jelly.
The goods were received
by Alpha Cottages superintendent Brighton Karidza and other members of staff
who said they were humbled by the act of kindness.
“We greatly appreciate
this generous gesture from football lovers. It will help plug some gaps in our
supplies and we pray for this spirit of kindness to find room in the hearts of
many other people,” said Karidza.
He revealed that the
children’s home had registered capacity for 24 children but was currently
accommodating 33.
In his remarks,
Manchester United Supporters Club Masvingo Chapter chairperson Deckford Mautsi
said they decided to come together for a charitable cause in light of the
approaching festive season.
“We realised that this
could be one of the good way of putting smiles on the faces of the
underprivileged this festive season. It is a way of showing the more humane
side of local Manchester United Football Club supporters. We are, therefore, not
just football lovers but responsible community members that are concerned with
the greater societal good and human welfare,” Mautsi.
His words were echoed
by the association’s secretary general Mugejo Makoni who said going forward,
they will be making charity one of their main priorities.



“We won’t end here
because this is just the beginning of greater things that we aspire to do for
our community. This is just but one of the needy areas we have identified. We
acknowledge that we have a role to play in creating an ideal society we all
want. We are an association of responsible people and we want our club to grow
through the work we do in communities,” said Makoni, who also urged other
Manchester United supporters to join the club.

The event was also
attended by the club’s treasurer Isaac Bwanali, deputy treasurer Asiel
Pamhirwa, and chief advisor Josphat Zvemhara.
The club is affiliated
to English premiership football giants Manchester United and is recognised by
the Zimbabwe Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).

Gvt must fund NAC forex, says ZNNP+

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Gvt must fund NAC forex, says ZNNP+

…ARV
shortages forces HIV+ adults to take pediatric, expired drugs
Courage Dutiro
The
Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) has urged government
to provide funding to the National AIDS Council (Nac) in foreign currency in
order to stem the rampant shortage of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs).
There
have been many media reports recently to the effect that HIV and Aids
medication was in critically short supply, with health facilities at times
dispensing expired drugs or children’s drugs to adults.
Speaking
during the national commemorations of the World Aids Day held at Mucheke
Stadium, Evelyn Chamisa, who works in the communication department of ZNNP+,
said Nac was failing to procure ARVs due to the unavailability of adequate
foreign currency.
“The
drugs are supposed to be bought by Nac using money raised through the Aids levy
but they do not have foreign currency. Government is failing to avail forex for
the procurement of the anti-retrovirals. As people living with HIV, we fear an
increase in cases of defaulting caused by shortages of the medicine.
“Due
to the unavailability of HIV second-line drugs adults are now forced to take
pediatric drugs. We have also some cases in some provinces where people are
given expired drugs. Our question to the government is what will be the
after-effects of taking expired drugs, kids dosages and single dosages. The
government should make sure the Nac trust fund is built on forex to tackle the
problem,” said Chamisa.
She
said they engaged the government through the parliament in September but
nothing had materialized.
In
his speech at the commemorations, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr
Obadiah Moyo admitted that procurement of adequate ARVs was being hindered by
economic challenges being experienced in the country.
“Funding
for the response remains a major challenge as we grapple with an economic
setback occasioned by poor productivity and critically low levels of foreign
currency. I have been informed that the National Aids Council collects millions
of dollars but have challenges in accessing foreign currency to procure
critical HIV and drugs used to treat non-communicable diseases. I am therefore
appealing to government to prioritise the allocation of foreign currency to Nac
so as to ensure that we do not delay buying the requirements,” said Moyo.
This
year’s World AIDS day commemorations ran under the theme “Communities Make the
Difference”.

Helen McGhie Primary sets new record at Grade 7

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Helen McGhie Primary sets new record at Grade 7

Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – Helen McGhie
Primary School this year produced a remarkable 98.96 percent pass rate at Grade
7, setting a new unmatched record of 19 pupils with five units.
Of
the 19 pupils who obtained five units each, 14 are girls; a development which
augurs well for efforts being made to promote the girl child.
The
19 superstars are Audrey Chiguma, Ropafadzo Chivandire, Makanaka Hlasi, Lorreta
Kundanai, Kwashiwa Wayne, Rufaro Mhariwa, Tariro Rwafa, Esther Taendesa,
Makwara Tapiwa, Nenyasha Manyemwe, Jeremiah Mhlanga and Peace Nyaguze.
The
school had never exceeded 14 units in any of its previous examinations, and the
latest achievement will help cement the school’s record as one of the best in Masvingo
province and the whole country.
A
total number of 96 pupils set for the 2019 grade seven exams.
A
total of 17 pupils had six units, 16 had seven, nine had eight, four had nine and
three had 10 units.
From Grade
7 Red were Shalom Chakauya, Rutendo Daka, Laura Gore, Anopa Mpepetwa, Mutayi
Nokutenfa, Tafadzwa Tazvivinga and Takunda Saungweme.
The
school organised a special dinner for the outstanding pupils and their parents
at Bethany House last week where school head Sheilla Deve, teachers and pupils narrated
the journey that led to the results.
Deve
said she was happy with the results which she attributed to hard work and
enduring team spirit across the board.
“We
are very happy with the results which we got this year. The results indicate hard
work from all our stakeholders. The teachers, SDC, ancillary staff and the
pupils themselves worked very hard.
“We
used to have a challenge in the Shona subject but with the help of the parents,
we managed to get a consultant who helped our learners and it has yielded good
results,” said Deve.
She
challenged the 2020 Grade 7 class and their teachers to aim for better
outcomes.
Grade
7 Green teacher, Peuse Zuze said the 2019 results will inspire them to do
better for the sake of the growth of the school’s brand.
“I
think we have super parents. They provided stationery for printing out mock
exams which helped to prepare pupils for the final exams. It was a tough game
to get where we are now,” Zuze said.
Ruzai
Magumise, a grade Seven Red teacher said there was need for continuous
improvement through closer working relationships between teachers, parents and
their children.
Other
Grade 7 teachers are Catherine Muzondo who teaches a special class and Farirai
Hamandishe who teaches Agriculture.

Protesters embarrass Minister Moyo on World Aids Day

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Protesters embarrass Minister Moyo on World Aids Day

…accuse Govt of ignoring crisis in public
hospitals
TellZim Reporter



MASVINGO – Some 23 protesters embarrassed the Minister of Health and
Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo as he addressed people who gathered for the
national commemorations of the World Aids Day at Mucheke Stadium recently.
Some of the protesters, who were from HIV and Aids lobby group; The Aids
Arts Foundation (TAAF), lay down in front of the high table as Moyo conducted
his address.
They raised a banner written, ‘Communities Need Doctors and Drugs’ and
they managed to grab the attention of the media dignitaries there present.
Health ministry spokesperson Donald Mujiri tried to
persuade the protesters to disperse so that they could negotiate later but the
protesters refused.
The protesters said they were there to raise awareness against
government’s failure to address the shortage of drugs, equipment and other
things needed for hospitals to operate optimally.
They said they were displeased that government was not taking seriously
the grievances of health personnel in public hospitals; a crisis which has seen
doctors going on strike for several weeks.
“The theme for this year’s World Aids Day Commemorations is,
‘Communities Make the Difference’, but how can they make the difference if they
are incapacitated? There are no drugs in hospitals and people living with HIV,
we can’t get anti-retroviral medication.
“The doctors are on strike and the nurses are demoralised. People are
dying of opportunistic infections and there is no second line treatment. It’s
difficult if not impossible to make the difference needed under those
circumstances,” said TAAF national coordinator Emmauel Gasa.
After his address, Moyo refused to take questions and hos security team
barred journalists from getting close to him.

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