By Richard Mukwenya

Five men from from Farm 15 Hippo Valley, Chiredzi fatally assaulted a 30-year-old man from the same area while his accomplice escaped after they caught the two skinning a goat they had stolen on March 2, 2025.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the death of Rutendo Ncube (30) at the hands of Wayne Makosi (27), Decent Munguni (26), David Muwadzanira (24), Leavas Mushava (18) and Panashe Simbi (19) and urged members of the public to not take matters in their hands but report to the police.
“I confirm the death a Chiredzi man who was assaulted for stealing a goat. I urge citizens not to take matters in their hands and punish criminals but rather report to the police,” said Inspector Dhewa.
It is alleged that on the fateful day at around 0500 hours, Ncube and a male accomplice arrived at one Tanyaradzwa Mhari’s barn and started slaughtering a goat.
Mhari discovered the intrusion and alerted Makosi, Munguni, Muwadzanira, Mushava and Simbi who advanced towards Ncube and his partner who both attempted to flee.
However during the chase, Ncube fell into a pit which was one meter deep and five meters wide while his partner escaped. The five now accused caught up with Ncube and started assaulting him with fists and switches until he became unconscious and died on the spot.
Ncube had two cuts on the back of the head, bruises from his back and bleeding from the mouth and nose.
Mhari was later informed and he reported the matter to ZRP Chiredzi and the five were arrested.
Ncube’s body was taken to Chiredzi General Hospital Mortuary for post mortem

By Meditation Mposi

A Chivi man appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Innocent Bepura on allegations of raping his 16-year-old daughter twice.
The accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim appeared in court on March 4, 2025, pleading not guilty and was remanded in custody to March 11 for continuation of trial.
It was the state’s case as presented by Prosecutor Liberty Hove that on November 19, 2024 the accused approached his daughter who was washing plates outside and asked her to get into the kitchen.
He then ordered the complainant to undress herself and raped her once.
On the second count it is alleged that on December 27, 2024 in the evening the complainant was in the kitchen with her two siblings.
The trio were sleeping in the kitchen while waiting for the homemade bread they were baking to be ready while their mother was in her bedroom as she was not feeling well.
The accused then went into the kitchen and raped the complainant once. On the following day the complainant’s sibling reported the incident to their mother, which led to the matter being reported to the police after which the accused was arrested.
In his defense, the accused told the court that his wife and children fabricated the story because they had marital issues, adding that his wife had always told him that children had their own rights. He further said his wife threatened him that she was going to force him out of their marital home.
He added that he worked hard for his family and was expecting his daughter to excel, therefore he could not abuse her.

… busted with US$25K worth of cough syrup

By Beverly Bizeki

 A cunning drug smuggling syndicate of four men was busted with a massive shipment of cough syrup worth $25 000 from South Africa with fake funeral documents and an empty coffin.

Their plan was foiled by alert police at roadblock on March 6 at the 110km peg along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway.

The suspects, identified as Charles Bhebhe (the driver), James Sibanda, Nevson Nhamo, and Sifelane Nkiwane, appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Arafat Khozanai on March 8 where Bhebhe pleaded guilty and exonerated his co-accused.

 The other three denied the charges and they were released while Bhebhe was remanded in custody and is expected to appear in court today (March 10) for continuation of trial.

The four were traveling in a white commuter omnibus towing a trailer branded with Clairmont Funeral Parlour stickers. When stopped at the police checkpoint, they presented a fake burial order in an attempt to avoid a search.

 However, when officers inspected the trailer, they found an empty coffin. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed large quantities of cough syrups stashed under the seats and some under the empty coffin.

The recovered drugs included 2,400 bottles of Benylin cough syrup, 2,250 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup, 480 bottles of Astrapain cough syrup, and 100 bottles of Adco-Salterpyn cough syrup. Authorities seized the drugs, vehicle, trailer, burial order, and empty coffin as evidence.

Precious Takuva prosecuted.

By Meditation Mposi

A mother and her four-year-old daughter’s decomposing bodies were found at their home in Makurumidze Village, Chief Gutu in what is suspected to be a gruesome murder, TellZim News can report.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe confirmed the death of Mery Chirume (33) and her daughter, Fadzai Machote (4) and encouraged members of the public with information on whereabouts of the murderer.
“I confirm the death of Chirume and Machote who were found murdered at their home in Gutu on May 4. The police is appealing to the public to bring information which may lead to the arrest of the murderer,” said Dhewa.
Circumstances are that, on March 1, 2025 Chirume and her minor daughter Machote visited her sister in law Cecilia Mavhima who resides in the nearby village at 2000hours and returned to their home the following day at around 1400hours.
On March 4, 2025 Mavhima sent her daughter aged 16 to Chirume’s house to confirm when she was returning to her home as per her promise. The child found the doors locked and knocked but no one responded. She then opened the kitchen hut and found Chirume’s body in a pool of blood.
The girl notified Josephine Utaunashe (56) who resides in the same village with Chirume and she went with other villagers to see for themselves. They found Chirume in a pool of blood while the toddler was missing and they reported the case to the police.
The police came, searched for the little girl and found her body floating in a disused open well which is about 1, 5 meters behind the kitchen. The bodies were taken to Gutu Mission Hospital for postmortem.
In another case of murder in Chivi, Proper Chimatsi (28) of Chivasa Village Headman Gororo, Chivi stabbed Wellington Bako (24) of the same area accusing him of insulting him during a football match.
Allegations are that on March 4, at around 2300hours Bako and Chimatsi were watching football at TT Dube Bottle Stole, Gororo Business Centre in Chivi.
During half time, Chimatsi approached Bako who was standing by the door and asked why he was insulting him during the match. Bako denied the accusations and an altercation arose leading to Chimatsi stabbing Bako once on the chest and once on the shoulder.
Bako fell down bleeding and Chimatsi vanished from the scene. Bako was taken to Gororo Clinic by well-wishers and died upon arrival.
His body was taken to Chivi District Hospital mortuary for postmortem. On March 5 at 0000 hours police were alerted and Chimatsi was arrested.

By Staff Reporter

Masvingo City ward 2 councilor Benson Hwata recently hosted a soccer tournament which he said was aimed to provide entertainment while raising awareness on drug and substance abuse.
The event attracted spectators from across the entire city to witness a showdown between Pudo Crackers FC and Runyararo West Football Club.
Pudo Boys thrashed Runyararo West with a whopping four goals to one.
Hwata, a devout soccer player and fan told TellZim News that he used the platform to encourage residents and youths to make better decisions about their lives and refrain from abusing drugs and substances.
“The whole idea behind the tournament was to provide a platform for entertainment for residents and youths alike. However the most important message I wanted to relay to the youths was to refrain from drug and substance abuse. I encourage youths to find other things to occupy themselves and not drugs,” said Hwata.
Although the match was the first of its kind, Hwata promised residents many more to come, reinforcing his commitment to using sports as a tool for social change.
Drug and Substance abuse has become a cause for concern especially among youths due to economic hardships, unemployment and easy access to illicit drugs.
Commonly abused drug and substances include crystal meth, broncleer and marijuana.