Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – In a move that was interpreted by many as a desperate attempt to evade justice, a man who is facing charges of culpable homicide and driving without a licence, got possessed by a spirit soon after walking into the courtroom.

Accompanied by a police officer, Moses Blackwatch of House Number 7159 B Western Triangle, Highfields in Harare, began to behave strangely; refusing to sit on the court bench and opting to sit on the floor while taking his snuff (bute).

While in the dock, the ‘possessed’ Blackwatch frequently interrupted the court interpreter, Vimbai Ngazimbi.

“Taura nechivanhu,chirumbi handichinzwi. Ndoda kutora zororo musana wangu unorwadza. Pazvakaitika zvetsaona ndaivapo handizivi kuti vanhu vanoda kuchiurayirei chizukuru changu ichi. Ndezvekushina chete chete hapana nyanya, kwandabva kunopisa,” interjected Blackwatch.

After noticing the inconsistencies in his statements, magistrate Honest Musiiwa postponed the case. When the case returned to court on Wednesday, a soberly Blackwatch pleaded guilty to driving without a licence but denied the culpable homicide charge.

He was remanded in custody to a later date for continuation of trial.

It is the State’s case that on July 26, 2017, at around 20:20 hours, Blackwatch drove a Kings Bus Company passenger coach towards Sango border post.   

At the 42 km peg, there was a Toyota Corolla parked on the left side of the road, with the now deceased Rumbidzai Mupinga and four others standing behind the car.

The unlicenced driver then lost control of the bus and it veered off the road, hit the corolla and knocked down Mupinga who sustained severe injuries and died on her way to hospital.

The court further heard that when Blackwatch was assked to produce his driver’s license, he misrepresented himself and produced the one belonging to one Mandiyambira Joaz.

After some investigations, the police discovered that Blackwatch did not possess any driver’s licence.

Willard Chasi prosecuted.court.

Brilliant Mukaro

BIKITA – A 22-year-old woman from Magare village under Chief Mazungunye shocked the Bikita Magistrates’ Court when she pleaded guilty to a charge of killing her own baby and throwing the body into a Blair toilet.

It was the State’s case that on March 14 at around 23:00 hrs, Beauty Gwariro gave birth to a baby girl, her fourth child, at Dhewa Bvumavaranda Bottle Store at Silveira business centre.

After giving birth, the accused killed the baby by strangling her using a string, wrapped the dead body with her skirt and threw her into a Blair toilet.

The offence was discovered by Nelson Zimunya who saw a blood stained skirt in the toilet and reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the accused and retrieval of the infants' body.

Bikita resident magistrate Caroline Tafira was expected to sentence the accused this week.

Richard Nyamuwomba prosecuted.court

GZU girls' football team

Clayton Shereni

HARARE – The Midlands State University (MSU) and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) girls’ soccer teams put up a spirited show at the just-ended Zimbabwe Universities Sports Association (Zusa) cluster one games held at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).

It was, however, MSU that proved to be the big sisters of the game after they were crowned champions following a 8-0 rout against UZ in the grand finale.

GZU won bronze after finishing at number three, beating a host of other strong competitors from across the whole country.

Over ten private and state universities competed in such disciplines as athletics, football, handball and basketball.

Despite coming into the tournament as underdogs the GZU girls’ soccer team shocked some of the tournament's favourites with a stellar performance. MSU, on the other hand, had come in as strong favourites, being the defending champions.

GZU, MSU, Women's University in Africa (WUA) Africa University (AU) and Chinhoyi University of Technology (Cut) were grouped together.

In their first encounter, GZU thrashed WUA 8-0 before losing 5-0 to MSU. They also settled for a goalless draw against Cut but won 2-0 when they played their last match against AU.

GZU proceeded to the semis as best runners up in Group A but fell 4-0 against the hosts.

They then played the third and fourth playoffs versus other semifinal losers, National University of Science and Technology (Nust), beating them 1-0 to claim the bronze medal.

"We competed well though most of the players were new on this big stage. I am proud of their endurance and they have helped to raise the GZU flag higher," said GZU head coach Ishmael Mahachi.

GZU striker Tarshia Mlambo scored eight goals and was among the tournament's golden boot contenders.sports

Rtd Mojor Faster Gono addresses workers after the new wage structure was agreed

…sugar producer agrees to pay backdate over $7 million in backdated wages

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe (THZ) has finally agreed on wage increment for Band A and B employees going as far back as April 1, 2017 and has set out a three-month period to pay the US$7.5 million owed to employees, TellZim News has learnt.

Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers Union (ZSMIWU) last weekend announced to its members from Triangle and Hippo Valley estates that Tongaat Hulett had agreed to increase wages as per an arbitration ruling made in workers’ favour of October 18, 2017.

The ruling was made by Justice George Smith and later upheld by Justice Owen Tagu of the High Court of Zimbabwe.

ZSMIWU secretary general, Rtd Major Faster Gono said the sugar company had agreed on a new wage structure of 15 percent increment for Band A employees and 7.5 percent for Band B employees as awarded by Justice Smith.

“Our war is over now! They have agreed on a wage increase as awarded by Justice George Smith last year. The backdated wages will be payable over a period of three months,” said Gono.

The National Employment Council (NEC) for the Sugar Milling Industry notified that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Services had since published the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“It is hereby notified that the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services has, in terms of section 80 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], published the Collective Bargaining Agreement set out in the Schedule, which has been registered in terms of section 79 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01].”

For the Band A1 employees now earn US$207.00 and each worker is owed US$324.00, those in A2  now earn US$227.68 with each employee owed US$356.4. Workers in the A3 category now earn $250.44 with each owed US$392.04.

The Band B new wage structures stand as follows: B1 – US$292.57 owed US$244.92, B2 – US$321.96 owed US$269.52, B3 – US$354.12 owed US$296.52, B4 – $442.73 owed US$370.68 and B5 – US$486.84 owed $407.64.business

TellZim Reporter

GWERU – One of the most popular joints in the city, Powerhouse Night Club is continuing along its chosen path of promoting dance groups for the purposes of talent development.

Speaking to TellZim News, Powerhouse Night Club manager, Dennis Murewa said the popular spot was growing rapidly due to artists that are regularly being given a chance to perform there.

He said the Super Sweet dance group from Harare is performing at the club this very week starting Wednesday, April 04, until Sunday.

The Club has so far hired quite number of artists including Taruvinga Manjokota popularly known as Sugar Sugar, Madzibaba Nicholas Zakaria and Lucky Kunene.

“Our weekly Ladies Night that are held on Thursdays started promoting upcoming female artists last week and we have Zillah from Kwekwe who left the patrons crying for more and this week we have T Fyness from Harare, who is in the Ricky Fire-led Fire Family, and Gweru’s finest MC DJ Ice.

“We are going to be introducing our weekly episodes of the Mad Sundays (Reggae and Dancehall Nights) which will bring in reggae-playing soundmen and DJs,” said Murewa.entertainment.

Margaret Mutsamvi

Moses Ziyambi

CHIVI – People in Ngundu are living in intense fear following several reports of violent criminals roaming the environs, leading to prospective female voters choosing not to go to registration centres, TellZim news has learnt.

Recently, police captured self-confessed criminal Charles Matanga Magombedze who had gone on a spate of violent rapes and murders against countless women.

 Although he was sentenced to a total of 72 years in prison before being referred to the High Court to face multiple counts of murder, there is still palpable fear in many communities in Chivi district as people believe was not acting alone.

 The Economic Justice for Women Project (EJWP) has identified the many reports of marauding robbers, rapists and murderers commonly referred to as ‘mabhinya’ as a setback against efforts to encourage more people, especially women, to go and register to vote.

 The organisation is targeting to work with organised groups of sex workers in the area as project ambassadors.

 It aims to take a leading role in mobilising community leaders and members in enhancing active participation in electoral processes.

 EJWP director, Margaret Mutsamvi told TellZim News that the organisation was facing serious challenges in mobilising people in Chivi particularly women and people with disabilities.

 "People in Ngundu are living in fear for ‘mabhinya’ and the rising speculation has kept them afraid. In this regard, the mobilisation process tends to be harder as people cannot freely walk to registration centres.

"Some people now have to accompany their young children to and from school so walking to Chivi Rural District Council offices to register to vote is no longer a priority," Mutsamvi said.

 A woman from Chivi South said it was true that freedom in the area had been dealt a blow by the fear of bandits, such that woman would go out only when there is a burning need to do so.

 “I am fortunate because I registered to vote long back when all this had not started. Now it’s something else, the environment is different and women are the most affected,” said the woman who requested anonymity.

Zimbabwe Election Commission (Zec) has not yet been able to establish an on-site voter registration kit at Ngundu despite representations by the organisation and other stakeholders in Chivi.

On that issue, Mutsamvi said such a kit would help much in efforts to improve voter registration figures in a constituency that has emerged as being among those with the least number of registered voters so far in Masvingo province.

She said it was high time women, rural women more so, realised their importance and used their numerical advantage over men to register to vote in their thousands so that their concerns can stand a better chance of being heard.

“There is need to continue developing the capacity of rural as well as other groups of marginalised women to take part in the informed selection of political leaders,” she said.

She said the group was running another mobilisation project in Beitbridge targeting people with disabilities while seeking to enhance their active participation in electoral processes.

Wilson Chivhanga

Tiyani Hahlani

MASVINGO – Dream Zimbabwe (DZ) executive director Wilson Chivhanga has challenged the youths in Zimbabwe to participate in the upcoming harmonised elections as they cannot really expect to be leaders of a tomorrow they did not map.

DZ is a youth-led organisation founded in 2017 to enhance youth participation in democratic processes through promoting democratic governance, human rights and citizen participation.

Chivhanga said young people should participate by voting as well as by standing as candidates in the general elections if they are to claim their rightful stake in the affairs of the country.

“Youths cannot be the leaders of a tomorrow which they did not help shape. They can lead today by making sure that they participate in events which will shape the future,” said Chivhanga.

He also said youths tend to overlook the importance of voting and do not know that their voice is important.

He said democracy could not work without the active participation of the majority of citizens, with history having shown that a collective youth vote could actually sway an election.

Chivhanga also said he would like to partner TellZim News to have interviews and guest columns and offer public debates on youth participation in elections.

He also highlighted reasons why youths do not participate in elections, saying young people have largely been neglected in decision-making processes hence they do not see the need to participate.

He said there was a cultural phenomenon that elders should lead, adding up to discriminatory primary election entry requirements by parties and financial constraints as some of the reasons why young people are not dominant in political offices.

“Because of the financial constraints, the youth do not have a fair chance in politics as they will be doing something else to survive. Young people, as a result, find themselves playing second fiddle to dominant political players who are often older, more resourced persons,” said Chivhanga.

In Masvingo, the trend shows that many Members of Parliament (MPs) are older men, mostly in their late 40s going upwards but their campaign managers are mostly much younger men who, if better resourced, would be MPs themselves.