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GZU to build two houses for Gutu granny

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                     Chigwindiri’s huts were destroyed by  Cyclone Idai

Prof Zvobgo adopts orphaned Cyclone Idai victims
Precila Takabvirakare
Great
Zimbabwe University (GZU) has promised to build a kitchen hut and a two-bedroomed
house for a 76-year-old woman whose houses were destroyed by Cyclone Idai.
Sorotia
Chigwindiri of Kudzerima Village under Chief Nyamandi is currently surviving in
tough circumstances after his three huts were destroyed by the cyclone.
The
university has said it will provide everything needed for the work to be
completed, including paying for the labour.
Vice
Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo also promised to adopt two orphans Tafadzwa
Dzivakwe (19) and his young brother George Dzivakwe (10) of Dzivakwe village.
The
orphans’ houses were also destroyed by the cyclone.
GZU
Dean of Students, Sarafina Mudavanhu said the university was a caring
institution that is particularly compassionate about the welfare of the most
vulnerable.
“Last
week, the Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo and his team carried out an
assessment in some affected villages in Gutu Central and resolved to help the
old lady. The houses will be built soon,” said Mudavanhu.
She
said Chigwindiri no longer has any close relatives who are capable of giving
her a hand.
“We
heard that a child she used to stay with ran away from home. We hope this will
also be a great learning opportunity for students studying courses that are
focused on development and community welfare,” she said.
Gutu
assistant district administrator, Benedict Gwede thanked GZU for its generous
response to the ravages of the cyclone.
“We
really appreciate the assistance that the university and government, through
various stakeholders, are giving us. We appeal to everybody with something to
give to urgently come forward and make a difference to the many people who were
affected by the cyclone,” said Gwede.

Matutu, Gumbi’s ugly fight divides branches

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                                                                   Timitia Dziva

Cephas Shava

The
battle for the MDC Masvingo provincial chairperson post between incumbent James
Gumbi and rival Tongai Matutu is turning ugly in Mwenezi district with members of
the two camps engaging in serious mudslinging and turning social media
platforms into war zones.
The
Gumbi team in the district is fronted by the current district chairperson Timitia
Dziva who is also facing a stiff challenge from his deputy Alfred Sithole
Chihwakwa.
Dziva’s
team is reportedly moving around the district discrediting rivals.
“Dziva
is engaging in divisive politics that will cost the party if it goes unchecked.
He is moving around telling some members not to accommodate those who once left
the party. He is even arguing that some Alliance partners should not hold any
party post as they do not know the party’s ideology and history,” said an
insider who spoke on condition of anonymity.
When
contacted for comment, Dziva professed his support for Gumbi but refuted allegations
that he is employing dirty tactics.
“As
the current district chairperson and as is always the norm, I support the
existing office bearers from Gumbi up to President Nelson Chamisa. I am not
discrediting anyone in any way but my opponents are soiling my name by taking
every opportunity to falsely accuse me of dictatorial tendencies,” said Dziva.
Leaked
WhatsApp messages purportedly sent by Dziva to some members in the district,
however, seem to prove the allegations.
“Murisei
maleader vakakusvikirai here ana Chihwakwa neteam yake yana Mapepa (ZimPF
provincial vice chairperson). Tichengeterei musangano varume paward ipapo. Ivo
vakatumwa kuuputsa. Vamwe vacho ndevakauya muparty zuro havana kana chavanoziva
vanofanira kutodzikama kugara pasi chaiko,” reads part of the message.
In
the district’s WhatsApp group, vicious accusations and counter accusations have
become party members’ daily meal. Members take turns to accuse each other of
belonging to the ‘wrong camp’, meaning a faction that is backing party secretary
general Douglas Mwonzora to take over from Chamisa.
In
another group, a staunch Gumbi supporter with the name Bhuru goes into
overdrive, relaying malicious audios and text messages lambasting the Matutu
camp.
“Matutu
and team are sell-outs. I just equate them to people who led to the bombing of
Nyadzonya and Chimoi during the liberation struggle. We just accommodate them
in the party out of sympathy. Gumbi hoyee,” reads part of Bhuru’s text.
In
the same group, members of the Matutu camp ruthlessly attack and insult Bhuru.
“Matutu
is a hard worker and has proved beyond any reasonable doubt during his tenure
in 2008. Your Gumbi is a disgrace and disservice to the whole province as
evidenced by the party’s performance in the recent elections. As for now, we
are definitely going to elect Gumbi to be our branch chairperson in Zaka
district,” reads one of the messages.
Respected
political analyst, Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya, recently warned that the party risks
disintegrating and falling into irrelevance if its internal democratic
practices are not strengthened.
Writing
on Facebook, Ruhanya said the party’s provincial leadership was only fighting
for positions without reenergising the structures.
“The
MDC will be in huge trouble in 2023 if it does not organise its Masvingo
provincial, district, ward and branch structures. The leadership fight for
power but the structures are in disarray with no leadership at the grassroots.
The provincial leadership are mostly tourists, visitors in Masvingo. Was in the
village and what I saw and heard is pathetic, MDC Masvingo is pathetic and
represents the neuroses of undesirable representatives of opposition politics.
They are arrogant, divisive, pompous, impose their surrogates (sic) and
suicidal.  This explains why they got 1
seat out of 26 in 2018 election but they remain defiant like the Bourbon
Monarch,” said Ruhanya, who hails from Zaka.
  
       

St John’s Emerald Hill hosts Orate Africa competitions

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Shingirai Vambe

HARARE – St John’s Emerald
Hill High School last week played host to more than 20 schools competing at a quiz,
spelling B, English and Shona public-speaking event organised by Orate Africa
for Harare and Mashonaland East.
Winners will
participate in the national competitions to be held later this year on a date
yet to be decided.
In the quiz
category, Zengeza 1 High got 24 points followed by St Francis of Assisi with 20
points and Rusununguko at number three with 19 points.
In other
categories, the hosts managed to be in the top 10 together with Vainona which
had 14 points in public speaking. A pupil from Rusununguko was the most
outstanding in the spelling bee category.
Twenty participants
in English and Shona public speaking, 20 from quiz and 20 from spelling bee
categories will take part in the nationals.
“I am happy that
we scooped an award after garnering 24 points but we still have a lot to learn
and we also want to try other areas as well,” said a participant from Zengeza 1
High School.
St John’s
Emerald Hill High head, Sister Vimbai Bhoroma said she was delighted the school
was chosen as hosts to the many competitors from the two provinces.
“The programme
communicates directly to the new curriculum and we are glad our children had an
opportunity to take part in this massive event. All the categories of the
competition are critical to the development and education of our children.
“It is through participating
in these kind of events that our school won an award in the Sadc quiz and
public speaking competitions last year,” said Sr Bhoroma.

Corrupt police syndicate unravels in strange cattle theft drama

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                                                                 Mercy Muganyi



…kidnapped suspect spills beans to investigators


Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A stock theft suspect is reportedly implicating some police officers in the illegal trade which could earn him a couple of years in jail if convicted.
Talent Moyo, who had been on the run after escaping from police custody last year, was recently abducted from his South African hideout back to Zimbabwe by a couple from which he allegedly had stolen cattle.
After forcibly bringing Moyo back, the couple allegedly went on to kidnap Charles Masawi, a police officer whom they suspect of assisting Moyo to escape.
The couple; Jerifanos Muganyi (48) and Mercy Muganyi (41) and their four accomplices are now in custody on kidnap and assault charges.
Moyo, however, is not out of trouble himself as he was also remanded in custody when he made his first appearance before magistrate Honest Masiiwa on stock theft charges last Thursday.
Sources told TellZim News that Moyo was spilling the beans, claiming that he managed to escape lawful custody last year with the help of some identified police officers who also kept him informed of the situation back home.
“Moyo is just a grade seven school dropout but he is acquitting himself quite well with the investigators. He is very vivid in his explanations and I see some police officers going to jail over it,” said a source.
Moyo is said to be claiming that some police officers facilitated his escape so that he would not have a chance to explain himself in court and implicate them.
“They wanted him away from the justice system so that he would remain the fall guy with no chance of the real culprits having their day in court. He is adamant he didn’t steal any cattle but he witnessed a theft; people loading stolen cattle into trucks and he got framed for it,” said the source.
Other sources said while in his hideout in Louis Trichardt in South Africa, Moyo would receive constant updates, urging him to remain in hiding as the case ‘was still hot’.
“They used scare tactics against the poor guy. They would tell him that he would rot in jail if he came out prematurely. They constantly advised him to remain in hiding while they worked to have the case swept under the carpet but they were just buying time.
“Now that they have failed to keep Moyo away, the dirty cops have employed plan B which has seen them working tirelessly to make sure that Moyo is nailed alone but if the case is given the prominence that it deserves, it would be a real bombshell,” the source said.
It is said the Muganyis are real victims of a corrupt police syndicate that works closely with notorious cattle rustlers by clearing stolen cattle in exchange for big bribes.
TellZim News understands that following a complaint over the police’s alleged involvement in stock theft; some internal investigations were launched at the station sometime last year leading to the forced transfer of some police officers.
Some victims of cattle rustling who spoke to TellZim News said they have always been suspicious of the snail pace at which their cases move at the local police station.
“What boggles the mind is that at times police initiated shoddy investigations on some cases leading to cases being thrown out of court. In many cases, investigations take for ever. Right now, we have a case of stock theft that was referred to the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court because it implicates local police officers.
‘It’s been more than a year but there is no progress as police are always said to be still investigating. People here are losing faith in the criminal justice system and that explains why the Muganyi couple took matters into their own hands,” said one victim of stock theft.
 

 

Govt commissions diamond survey for Mwenezi, Chiredzi

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            Chitando commissions an air tractor aircraft at Buffalo Range International Airport

Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI
The
Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Winston Chitando has commissioned
the Mwenezi Aeromagnetic Survey for Diamonds to ascertain the veracity of the speculated
diamond wealth in Chiredzi and Mwenezi.
The commissioning was done at
Buffalo Range International Airport.
The search is being done by Aerosurv
in partnership with a South African cmpany, Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics.
The Airborne Mineral Exploration
Project is aimed at unpacking the country’s diamond wealth over a survey
distance of 8 800km.
Aerosurv seeks to further utilise
capacity, expertise and equipment in the Limpopo Mobile Zone (Ngundu) area to
conduct a high resolution, low level airborne survey of the surrounding areas
including River Ranch, Murowa and Mwenezi.
The primary focus will be on
conglomerate, alluvial and Kimberlitic diamond deposits.
Chitando said his ministry wanted
to grow the size of the national diamond industry from the current $2.8 billion
to a $12 billion industry by year 2030.
“It’s an important milestone
which government is working towards. The attainment of Vision 2030 will require
the diamond industry to contribute,” said Chitando.
He said the diamond industry
produced 2.8 million carats in 2018 against a target of 10 million carats.
“Last year the diamond industry
produced 2.8 million carats of diamond and the whole idea for this is to go to
at least 10 million carats by 2023. The 10 million carats projection is based
on geologically proven sites and on the exploration which is now taking place,
who knows what can happen?” said Chitando.
The Minister of State for
Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira welcomed the prospective investment
opportunity which he said will transform Rutenga and Sango border post.
“The exploration of diamonds will
bring new diversified activities in Mwenezi and Chiredzi districts resulting in
economic transformation of the Lowveld towards massive rural development. This
will include the development of Rutenga as a dry port and the modernisation of
Sango border post,” said Chadzamira.

Zaka man tries to cook baby

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Brighton Chiseva
ZAKA – An 18-year-old man from Chibuku village
under Chief Nhema took his three-weeks-old baby and tried to shove him into a
boiling three-legged pot but failed because the pot was full of pumpkins and
mealies, TellZim News has leant.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief
Inspector Charity Mazula confirmed the heinous incident and said the accused
was in police custody helping with investigations.
“We received a report of a man who killed his
three-weeks-old daughter under bizarre circumstances. I can confirm the man is
in police custody and is helping us do our investigations,” said Mazula.
Sources said Leo Nzara was at home with his
16-year-old brother, his aunt (his mother’s elder sister) Fancisca Dikinya (64)
and his nursing wife when he allegedly committed the grisly crime at around
19:00hrs on March 25.
It all started when Dikinya received a text
message and asked Nzara to read it for her as she could not do it herself due
to failing eyesight.
Nzara, however, took the phone and threw it
into the fire and Dikinya quickly retrieved it and admonished him for it.
An angry Nzara then left the outside fireplace
and went into the kitchen hut where he repeatedly attacked his wife with a
blunt object.
Sensing grave danger, she managed to escape but
Nzara followed in hot pursuit, picked a brick which he threw at her but missed.
“He went back in the kitchen and picked up the
baby and smashed her head onto the ground. He then tried to shove the child
into a three-legged pot that was on the fireplace outside but failed because it
was full of pumpkins and mealies,” said a source.
“He then dropped the baby onto the ground where
she lay bleeding until Dikinya came back and tried to administer first aid. It
was, however, too late as the child had already died. It remains unknown what
angered Leo so much that he would do what he did,” the source said.
The old lady then called other villagers and
effected a citizen’s arrest against Leo before he was handed over to the police.

Mwenezi man murders, skins 71-year-old woman

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Diana Gondongwe

In a horror movie style which has left the community shell shocked, a Mwenezi man allegedly killed a 71 year old granny with a machete before skinning her head and gouging her eyes out.
Austin Chitema of Village 2, Chiwumburu under Chief Chitanga in Mwenezi went to Castina Moyo’s (71) homestead in the same village and brutally murdered her in broad day light.
Chitema found Moyo with her four year old grandchild while her two ten year old grandchildren were out herding cattle.
Chitema picked a machete that was lying in the compound and struck Moyo several times in the head and neck until she fell down and he went on to skin her head.
The two grandchildren who had gone to herd cattle found their grandmother lying in a pool of blood and told their neighbour Ndaizivei Dube (34) who then alerted relatives and other villagers.
The matter was then reported to the police who then came and picked up Chitema who had already been rounded up by villagers.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula confirmed the incident saying Chitema was in custody and investigations were under way.
“I can confirm that we have a murder suspect in custody and investigations are under way to ascertain what really transpired and what could have been the motive for the gruesome murder,” said Mazula.

Chipinge sangoma defrauds client

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Munyaradzi Goche

A Chipinge sangoma recently appeared before Mutare magistrate Perseverance Makala for coning a client.
Isaac Makuyana (34) of Mapungwana Village under Chief Musikavanhu in Chipinge, was remanded to April o8 after pledging guilty.
It is alleged that on March 21 in Area 3, Dangamvura in Mutare, Makuyana misrepresented himself to Collin Chakanyuka by claiming that he could treat his stomach problems. The accused told Chakanyuka that he needed money as a payment for the service and a cell phone so that the two could communicate.
Chakanyuka gave Makuyana US$20 and an Itel phone.
Makuyana also lied to Chakanyuka that the cell phone will be returned to him by spirit mediums.

Marange men in trouble for stock theft

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TellZim Reporter


MUTARE – Two men from Nyamadzawo village under chief Marange have appeared before Mutare magistrate Perseverance Makala facing charges of stock theft involving two cows and one heifer.
Noah Mushipe and Innocent Marumbi (37) were charged for contravening Section 114 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and were given $100 bail each.
The State alleges that on December 26, 2018, Marumbi approached Nicholas Masiye (32) selling a heifer and Masiye bought it for $300.
Mushipe and Marumbi are also accused of stealing two cows from Agnes Mafararikwa of Taguta village under chief Marange. 
One of the cows has been missing since November 2018 while the other one was recovered on March 22 when Mafararikwa heard that the two accused were apprehended for stock theft by the community.
The two were taken to the police leading to their arrest.

Grandpa grows mbanje in garden, avoids prison

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Courage Dutiro

A 68-year-old man of Kwanga village under Chief Zimuto who was found growing 13 plants of dagga measuring 30cm and 160cm in length in his garden was last week convicted and given a wholly-suspended prison sentence.
Nyashadazaishe Chihwehwete, appeared before Masvingo magistrate Rufaro Mangwiro facing charges of unlawful possession of dangerous drugs as defined in section 157(1)(c) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
Chihwehwete pleaded guilty and was given a 30-day prison sentence which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit the similar offence.
It was the State’s case that on March 22, at around 13:00hrs, police in Masvingo Rural received information from an informer that Chihwehwete was cultivating dagga in his garden.
Acting upon the information, police officers went to Kwanga village where they managed to locate Chihwehwete’s garden.
Upon arrival at the garden, Chihwehwete was watering several plants of dagga and he was arrested on the spot.
Fortune Mukede appeared for the State.