Dozens of MSU students participated in the cleanup exercise

Darlington Kanyongo

ZVISHAVANE – Some students at the local campus of the Midlands State University (MSU) on October 17 cleaned up the environs of Shabani Mine Hospital as a way of communicating their commitment to environmental health.
Speaking during the exercise, Margaret Nsiyaludzu, a nurse at the hospital, praised the cleanup campaign, saying it sent an important message that clean surroundings were a responsibility of all citizens.
“I am pleased with what is being done here because it shows that the generation of these students is a better generation, a generation which will help to build a better Zimbabwe.
“Many patients were wondering what was happening outside and I informed them that there were MSU students cleaning around the premises. They too were pleased with what the students are doing,” she said.
Mandava and Makwasha warden, who is also deputy director of sports and recreation, Dr Kaves Zvapano said the event was just the beginning of even greater things that the university planned to do for the hospital.
“This is just the beginning of greater things to come. We came here today on zero budget, but next time we are going to do something even greater,” he said.
Davice Chiware, a student at MSU, thanked his colleagues for mobilising themselves for an event which she said had brought a positive change to the environment. She also called for a bigger response in all future charitable activities, saying the university had a critical role to play in the wellbeing of the town.

Darlington Kanyongo

ZVISHAVANE – Female learners at the council-owned George Chipadza Secondary School recently received a donation of sanitary wear from the Helper International Club on October 25.
The club donated 200 sanitary pads to pupils in forms one and two on October 25.
Helper International Club president Prosper Mukombami told TellZim News that the  school was identified by Bethany Project, a community-based organisation which works with the less privileged.
The school was chosen because it accommodates a large population of less privileged pupils who struggle to get basic needs.
“We have realised that urban poverty is an issue affecting many girls, with parents not affording to provide their children with proper sanitary wear. There are statistics that only two out of 10 pupils can afford proper sanitary wear, and the rest use such things as toilet rolls or newspapers. It is this reality that has spurred us to do something for the children,” Mukombami said.
The beneficiaries spoke on how the recent price increases had forced them to improvise odd ways of meeting the demands of their periods.
“Sanitary pads are now unaffordable and we end up using newspapers and tissues, or we tear pages from our exercise books or pieces of clothing,” said one pupil.
Tatenda Rukanda from Bethany Project demonstrated how to use the pads and spoke on the dangers of using tissues, newspapers and pieces of clothing as sanitary wear.
“When you are using a piece of cloth, it is advisable that the cloth should be super clean and ironed before use,” she said.
Tendai Museva, a health officer at George Chipadza, thanked the club for helping the school with the provisions.
“I really appreciate what the club has done today. I do hope that they will keep on doing the good work. The school has been providing the sanitary wear but is was now struggling as the price of the commodity has been rising non-stop,” she said.

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Several Lundi business centre residents and others from elsewhere who recently invaded a broken down truck and looted 600 bags of fertiliser meant for the government’s maligned command agriculture programme are in trouble with the law.
The residents took advantage of the truck, which had developed mechanical faults while travelling along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway, to make off with its cargo.
As of last week, about 300 bags of the looted fertilisers had been recovered and nearly 35 people had been arrested and dragged to the Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court on charges of theft.
Some of the suspects pleaded guilty, many of them admitting stealing as much as 35 bags of fertiliser each.
Some were ordered to pay fines of varying sizes while others were ordered to perform community service at public institutions.
It was heard that on October 14 at around 08:00hrs, Kaitano Kateya, the driver of the haulage truck had a tyre burst at the 105km peg along the road.
While Kateya was busy extinguishing the fire that was about to engulf his load, several Lundi residents and motorists stampeded to the scene where they went on a looting spree, stealing all the 600 bags of fertiliser that was in the truck.
When police launched a manhunt following the looting incident, some of the stolen bags of fertiliser were recovered from houses of the suspects while others were found discarded at open spaces.
By the time of writing, more suspects were still coming to court and half of the stolen fertiliser was said to have been recovered while investigations continued.

Clayton Shereni

MASVINGO – A police officer who was deployed to maintain order at Glow fuel station in town had a bad time recently after an agitated motorist who had lost patience at the slow-moving queue attacked him.
Owen Dzinodya (30) who resides at House number 1912 Tembwe Street, Aphiri, appeared before Masvingo magistrate Rufaro Mangwiro facing charges of assaulting or resisting a peace officer.
Dzinodya pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered to come back to court on November 07 with a witness.
It is the State’s case that on October 20, Alex Mutamburirwa (35) a police officer stationed at Masvingo Central Police Station was accompanied by support unit details to maintain order at Glow Petroleum fuel station along Robertson Street.
The court heard that while doing his duties, the complainant approached the accused who was alleged to be jumping the queue and causing mayhem.
Upon being confronted by the officer who was trying to cool him down, it is alleged that the emotionally-charged Dzinodya grabbed the cop and dragged him to the ground before biting him once on the left thigh.
In the scuffle, the police officer was injured and got his trousers’ pocket torn off. The assailant then got into his vehicle, locked the doors before other officers finally managed to arrest him.
Andrew Ndaramira represented the State.