MASVINGO-A 29-year-old Bikita man, Talent Mazambara, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after he was convicted of stealing two cattle worth US$900 from a fellow villager.
Masvingo Deputy Provincial Police Spokesperson , Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu confirmed that the stock theft which occurred in Chief Mabika’s area earlier this month was uncovered following a community tip-off that led police to the suspect’s homestead.
Mazambara appeared before the Bikita Magistrate’s Court on January 23, charged with stock theft under section 114 of the criminal law (codification and reform) act [chapter 9:23] which criminalizes the unlawful taking of livestock with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property.
Assistant Inspector Patinyu said the complainant, Tamboonei Muchadakurwa (47) of Tamboonei village, Bikita, discovered the theft on the morning of January 20 after securing his cattle in a kraal the previous night.
‘Muchadakurwa had closed his cattle in the kraal on January 19 and went to sleep. Around 6am the following day, he noticed that two of his cattle, a brown cow and a brown heifer were missing,” said Patinyu.
The matter was reported at Mashoko Police Station, triggering investigations. The breakthrough comes after members of the community tipped off the complainant that the accused had been seen driving cattle towards his home.
“Acting on the information, the complainant and others went to the suspect’s homestead in Manjova village, Chief Mabika, where they found a brown cow tied in his kraal,’ said Patinyu.
Mazambara failed to give a satisfactory explanation when questioned about the animal.
The complainant positively identified the cow and Mazambara was arrested the same day and the stolen cattle, valued at US$600 and US300 respectively were recovered.
Police once again urged communities to brand their livestock and promptly report cases of stock theft to assist investigations.
MASVINGO – As the curtains close on the multi-sectoral CARE Takunda project, communities in Chivi and Zaka districts are celebrating a transformative four-year journey that has redefined rural livelihoods and climate resilience.
Since its inception in 2020, the project has moved beyond mere subsistence aid, establishing a robust infrastructure of solar-powered water systems, rehabilitated boreholes, and economic empowerment hubs across 46 wards in the two districts.
One of the most visible successes of the Takunda initiative is the massive investment in Village Business Units (VBUs). These solar-powered garden schemes have turned arid patches of land into green belts. In Chivi, 26 VBUs were established, while Zaka saw the installation of 31 units.
Chivi District Agritex Officer Brighton Hadzirabwi confirmed that all VBUs established by CARE Takunda had officially transitioned to Agritex supervision and encouraged leaders to work closely with local authorities and agricultural extension officers to maintain the project’s momentum.
”The VBUs established by CARE Takunda are now under our (Agritex) supervision. Chairpersons should cooperate with local authorities and our Agritex officers in their respective wards to ensure the continuity of the great work done by CARE Takunda,” said Hadzirabwi.
Care Takunda Country Director, Charlene Ambali lauded the success of localized intervention programmes in Chivi and Zaka, noting a significant decline in climate-induced vulnerabilities.
“By fostering economic resilience through robust vocational training, the project is effectively equipping villagers with the skills necessary to drive sustainable growth and financial independence in the face of ecological shifts,” said Ambali.
Speaking to TellZim News, one of the beneficiaries from ward 24 in Zaka, Maneta Matingwina, hailed the project as a transformative milestone for her family’s financial stability saying she had managed to settle her son’s tertiary tuition fees independently.
“The revenue generated from the VBU produce has empowered me to independently settle my son’s tertiary tuition fees.”said Matingwina
Beyond gardening, the project addressed the basic need for clean drinking water through three piped water schemes in Chivi and six in Zaka, bringing water closer to doorsteps.
A staggering 124 boreholes were repaired or rehabilitated, with 58 in Chivi and 66 in Zaka, ensuring that the most remote villages have access to safe water.
The project’s reach has been expansive, touching nearly 160,000 lives, 91,652 in Chivi and 67,818 in Zaka including individuals trained in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and members of Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs) who are now running their own small-scale businesses.
The official handover of assets in Masvingo was done in October 2024 and the project is currently in its “wrap-up” phase with the official end date set for April 2026.
As the Takunda team prepares to exit, the lush gardens and functioning boreholes stand as a testament to what collaborative developmental work can achieve in Zimbabwe’s most drought-prone regions.
… As all 10 high schools post impressive A Level results
By Tadiwa Shunje
Reformed Church in Zimbabwe run schools have once again posted strong O and A level results marking another successful year for the church’s education system with all of its 10 schools maintaining high pass rates from the previous years, proving the church as a force to reckon with in the academic landscape in Zimbabwe.
Four out of 10 schools, that is, Chibi, Makumbe, Nyashanu and Magreth Hugo, a school for the visually handicapped scored 100 percent passrate at A level.
The six others performed exceptionally well, maintaining above 88 percent with Pamushana producing excellent results, with 99.37 percent. Important to highlight is the quality of the results with their best pupil scoring 56 points while 145 scored 10 points and above while 94 others are flying above 15 points.
Jichidza scored 88.88 percent. Of the 27 candidates that sat for the examination, 13 had 10 points and above. Gutu High scored 98 percent, out of the 95 candidates 61 attained 10 points and above.
Makumbe High, which is upcoming in terms of performance, scored 100 percent again, of the 95 candidates, 79 had 10 points and above.
Alheit Chingombe scored 98.2 with 34 out of 55 learners scoring 10 points and above. Chibi scored 100 percent with 97 learners out of 110 scoring 10 points and above.
Nyashanu scored 100 percent a repeat of last year’s feat with 46 out of 52 getting 10 points and above.
Zimuto High scored 99.18 percent with 104 out of the 122 candidates getting 10 points and above.
Magreth Hugo a special needs school scored 100 percent with 21 out of 29 candidates getting 10 points above.
Eaglesvale, which is a Cambridge institution, had 91 percent. Out of its 76 candidates, 13 had 10 points and above.
RCZ Education Secretary Dr Witmos Mutumburanzou applauded the schools for the hard work which he said was a testament to the responsible authority’s thrust to maintain excellence.
“This performance is quite exceptional, quite a lot of work was done for us to achieve these results. There is consistency in the performance of our schools. They are always performing very well and are in the 90s always maintaining that feat in some cases going up.
“We are gearing up for these schools to record 100 percent each. This outcome is a result of hard work and the commitment of people who are dedicated to their work despite many challenges they go through,” said Dr Mutumburanzou.
Dr Mutumburanzou said the 2025 results align with the church’s vision of delivering better quality education across its institutions.
“This performance is in line with the church’s vision where we are pursuing excellence. Our schools are topping the charts in their respective districts and even the nation so this is our vision where we expect to produce learners of high standards who would fit into their society as academics but also morally upright. We are quite happy that our vision is being fulfilled. We want to rule the academic ship in the country,” said Dr Mutumburanzou.
He said the RCZ was putting efforts towards digitalizing the schools in order to meet standards for the digital era and make learning easier.
“We have made deliberate efforts to digitalize our schools and we are beginning to see the impact of it. We have purchased smart boards and we continue to do so and have developed our staff in using these digital devices so we can bring out a product that is relevant to the 21st century needs. Products that fit contemporary society,” he said.
Dr Mutumburanzou also thanked parents and learners for supporting the responsible authority’s thrust in educating learners.
MASVINGO – Vision Academy has once again proved itself as one of Masvingo’s leading schools after achieving strong results in the 2025 Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC) examinations at both Advanced and Ordinary Level.
The privately owned school, located in Mucheke suburb, produced strong results that saw a significant number of learners attaining high grades.
At Advanced Level, Vision Academy recorded a clean 100 percent pass rate, with 11 out of 24 candidates attaining 13 points and above.
Two best learners scored 15 points each with Bright Mavhundutse scoring As in commercials with a combination of Mathematics, Economics and Business Enterprise Studies (BES).
Blessing Machingambi also scooped 15 in arts subjects namely Shona, Family and Religious Studies (FRS) and Sociology.
The school also posted encouraging results at Ordinary Level, achieving a 65 percent pass rate which is way above the national passrate.
Top performer at O level Samuel Nusena passed a total of eight subjects with 7 As and 1 B.
Vision Academy head Reuben Mapfumo expressed satisfaction with the results, describing it as a reflection of discipline, teamwork and commitment from both learners and staff.
“These results reflect the hard work, discipline, and focus of our students. We are also deeply grateful to our staff, parents and guardians for their unwavering support,” said Mapfumo
Operating under the motto “A school of fireworks,” Vision Academy bridges the gap left by public schools which cannot meet the demand in Masvingo Town.
Reformed Church in Zimbabwe run Pamushana High School has once again stamped its authority as one of Zimbabwe’s top-performing secondary schools after recording an impressive 99.37 percent pass rate in the November 2025 A Level ZIMSEC examinations.
159 learners sat for the examinations, with 97 candidates attaining 15 points and above, underlining the school’s continued dominance in academic excellence.
Top performer Mukudzeyi Ziveyi led the class after an exceptional performance that saw him amass 56 points from 12 subjects, while Tafadzwa Stezi followed with 30 points.
Other high achievers include Exy Jambaya, Gracious Mubvakure and Gideon Shumba, who each attained 25 points. Wonderful Chidaura and Tadiwanashe Zimuto followed closely with 24 points, while Ryan Zvandasara recorded 22 points.
Julius Marecha, Tatenda Charles Jegede and Tanyaradzwa Gosha each attained 21 points, while 17 other learners scored 20 points, further reflecting the depth of strong performance at the school.
The school recorded 100 percent pass rates in Literature in English, Geography, History, Shona, Economics, Accounting, Business Studies, Biology, Physics, Crop Science, Software Engineering among others.
At Ordinary Level, 267 learners registered for five subjects and above, with 250 candidates passing five subjects or more.
Of these, 247 passed five subjects including English, while 167 passed five subjects including English and Mathematics.
In Science subjects, 169 learners (65 percent) passed Mathematics and Science, while 167 candidates passed five subjects including English, Mathematics and Science.
School head Agrippa Moyo described the results as a reward for collective effort and discipline, praising both learners and staff for their commitment.
“These results are not just numbers, they reflect discipline, consistency, teamwork and consistency from both our teachers and pupils. We are proud of what our pupils have achieved both at O and A level. We are grateful to the Responsible Authority for its continued support,” said Moyo.
Beyond academics, Pamushana High continues to build a strong all-round profile, with the school also excelling in sporting disciplines such as soccer, reinforcing its reputation as a holistic learning institution.
Masvingo City Health Department has announced the introduction of weekly visiting doctor services across all city clinics in a move aimed at improving access to healthcare for residents.
According to a public notice issued by the City of Masvingo, Dr. Matsvaire will be available once every week to provide medical consultations and clinical support for a wide range of health conditions. The services will rotate among selected clinics on designated days, beginning at 11:00 hours.
Under the weekly schedule, Dr. Matsvaire will attend to patients at Runyararo Clinic on Mondays, Rujeko Clinic on Tuesdays, Mucheke Clinic on Wednesdays, and North West Medical Centre on Thursdays.
City health officials have encouraged residents to take advantage of the service by visiting their respective clinics on the specified days. The initiative is expected to ease pressure on referral hospitals while ensuring that communities receive timely and professional medical attention closer to home.
The City of Masvingo said the visiting doctor programme forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for residents.
For further information, residents can contact the City of Masvingo Public Relations Office on 071 286 8823.
In a proactive response to rising HIV infection rates Masvingo City Council through its Runyararo clinic launched Cabotegravir Long-Acting (CAB-LA), an innovative option for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
This new injectable treatment, administered every two months aims to enhance HIV prevention efforts for individuals at significant risk providing them with a more effective, discreet and user-friendly alternative addressing critical barriers to adherence and stigma associated with daily oral PrEP pills.
In an interview with City Council Director of Health Services Suzanne Madamombe said the purpose of introducing CAB-LA injection for HIV prevention was part of a broader programme in Zimbabwe which was introduced to address several key challenges in HIV prevention.
“The CAB-LA was introduced offer choice which is to expand the “basket of HIV prevention tools available, allowing people to choose the method that best fits their lifestyle and needs.CAB-LA improve adherence since it is an injection administered every two months (after initial doses one month apart), which is a significant advantage over the daily oral PrEP pill, where forgetting doses can reduce effectiveness.
“The CAB-LA increases efficacy as clinical trials have shown that CAB-LA is more effective at reducing HIV risk compared to oral PrEP, largely due to improved adherence with the long-acting format. The injection enhances discretion and reduces stigma since the injectable format offers more privacy and discretion than daily pills, which helps individuals, particularly those who may face stigma or have partners who do not know about their PrEP use, to protect themselves without fear of discovery,” said Madamombe.
Madamombe said the eligibility criteria for individuals to receive CAB-LA injection includes HIV-negative status, significant risk of HIV acquisition, weight requirement, adherence capability and have no contraindicated medications.
“For one to be eligible to access the CAB-LA injection the individual must have a confirmed negative HIV-1 test result (preferably using an antigen/antibody and HIV RNA test) before starting the injection and before every subsequent injection. Using CAB-LA with undiagnosed HIV can lead to the development of drug-resistant HIV strains. The individual must be at substantial ongoing risk of acquiring HIV through sexual behavior (e.g., has an HIV-positive partner with an unknown or detectable viral load, does not consistently use condoms, or has had an STI diagnosis in the past 6 months). The person must be an adult or adolescent weighing at least 35 kilograms
“The individual should be willing and able to adhere to the required injection schedule, which starts with two injections a month apart, followed by one injection every two months. The individual must not be taking certain medications that can interact negatively with cabotegravir, including carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, or rifapentine,” said Madamombe.
She also said CAB-LA injection differs from daily PrEP tablets because it is long acting hence reduces dose frequency that is twice per month compared to daily dosage which may cause pill burden and poor adherence resulting in ineffective protection.
The benefits of using the CAB LA injection are that the injection is discrete and private, it is more effective than Oral PrEP by 90%, has good adherence and reduced dosing frequency.
Madamombe said several measures were in place to ensure the safe and effective administration of CAB-LA.
“The following measures will be used to ensure good administration of the injection on job training of staff on injection administration, on job mentorship and routine supervision of staff, proper storage of medicine to ensure patient receive potent medicine, checking of expiry dates and if there are any discoloration before administration.
“The Runyararo clinic will manage follow up appointments or monitoring for patients receiving the CAB-LA injection through the following ways booking system for easy identification of missed appointment and also use of PrEP champions to follow up missed appointments and defaulters,” said Madamombe.
She said group health education sessions and individualized health sessions are the educational and counselling services provided for patients receiving the CAB-LA injection citing that the main challenge to be faced by the administration of the injection is defaulting and there will be defaulter tracking through community cadres who are being supported by Pangea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust (PZAT).
The Runyararo Clinic service hours are Monday to Friday from 0700hours to 1600hours for more information and scheduling of appointments since it is the only health facility initiating clients on CAB-LA injection.
Runyararo Clinic is one of the sites under the Maximizing Options to Advance Informed Choice for HIV Prevention (MOSAIC) consortium’s program launched by PZAT to this program is helping inform the national scale-up of the CAB-LA injection method across the country.
A Mufakose High learner and soccer star who aced his Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) November 2025 Advanced Level examinations with 2 As and 1B from a combination of three subjects is facing financial challenges which are a barrier to his tertiary dream.
David Mukuze whose parents are manual workers in the sugar plants in Triangle are incapable of raising the money required for his tertiary education.
He made headlines in 2025 after he helping Triangle United FC to secure a remarkable goalless draw against Scotland FC in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) besides him being the youngest player on the field he showed exceptional skills upsetting Scotland’s efforts to secure a win.
Mukuze completed his Ordinary level at Mufakose High in 2023 and scooped 2 Bs and 3Cs and took up a combination of History, Sociology and Family and Religious Studies, where he got the 14 points.
Mukuze said he would like to study Social Work at university but his parents’ income may be a barrier to fulfilling his dreams as they can not afford paying for his university fees.
“My parents have been paying for my primary and high school fees and at times I would assist them in paying the fees after getting some allowances from Triangle United FC but as I proceed the task can be hard for me and my parents,” said Mukuze.
He said it won’t be fair for him to give up on his dreams because of financial constraints and called on well-wishers to assist him.
“I wish to go to university and pursue my dreams. I also wish to go to a university where there is professional football team so that I will continue building my football career.
“To pass my A level studies I got motivation from my surrounding community and even Mufakose High staff who inspired me to be an educated footballer so that after football career I get something else to do,” he said.
The young talented individual has been making waves not only in academics but also on the soccer field currently serving as the goalkeeper for Zimbabwe U23 national team and also another goalkeeper for Triangle United FC.
His determination to both his studies and admiration from his peers and mentors alike motivates him to go far that’s why he is appealing for a scholarship to further his studies.
“What makes me to be able to balance soccer and academics is the commitment that I have as a person on everything that I do, I do it wholeheartedly this means that when its time for sports I do and when it’s time for school work l do the same. I do not mix the two this makes me balance the two.
“I have heard of people who assists with paying school fees for the disadvantaged learners like me who have the passion to fulfill their dreams that’s why I am appealing for such,” said Mukuze.
As Mukuze appeals for a scholarship he remains focused on his goals balancing soccer training with academic pursuits. His story serves as an inspiration to other youths demonstrating that with hard work, dedication and passion anything is possible.
Reformed Church in Zimbabwe-run Nyashanu High School, located in Buhera District, has achieved a perfect 100 percent pass rate in the 2025 Advanced Level ZIMSEC Examinations.
According to the school’s statistics, the overall performance of learners was impressive. A total of 62 learners sat for the examinations, with 46 candidates scoring 10 points and above. The standout performances included two learners who attained 19 points and six who scored 15 points. Further analysis shows seven learners recorded 14 points, four with 13 points, six with 12 points, eight with 11 points, and twelve with 10 points.
The institution recorded a perfect 100 percent pass rate in most subjects. Specific subjects where every candidate excelled include Heritage Studies, History, FRS, Geography, Shona, Biology, Crop Science, Business Studies, Economics, Theatre General (TG), Computers, Literature in English, Sports Science, Sports Management, and Statistics.
The School Head, Jackson Dunatuna, praised the dedicated teaching staff and the learners’ commitment.
“The learners’ dedication and parental and guardian support is the reason why their hard work paid well. We have a committed teaching and non-teaching staff and we employ several strategies including extended study time and that has paid well,” Said Dunatuna.
This excellence extends to the Ordinary Level, where the school posted an outstanding 96.97 percent pass rate.
A total of 165 learners sat for five or more O-Level exams, with 160 passing five or more subjects. Of the 165 candidates, 71 were male and 94 were female. Notably, 145 passed five subjects including English, 79 passed both English and Mathematics, and 81 passed five subjects including Mathematics and a Science subject.
Individual subject performance was strong, with Computers, Building, Physical Education (P.E.), and Theatre General (TG) achieving a 100 percent pass rate.
Other high scores included Chemistry (94.55%), Biology (98%), FRS (96.55%), History (93.87 percent), and Shona (95 percent). The top performers were Cliffton Tsvito with 8 As and 4 Bs, and Vivian Duri with 8 As, 2 Bs, and 1 C.
Nyashanu High School is also famed for its agricultural prowess, which sustains its operations. The school produces most of its own food and agricultural requirements, notably through massive potato production, making it one of the few schools in the region to venture into such large-scale farming.
The school’s location is also considered advantageous, situated away from negative urban influences. This environment guarantees security and ensures learners have no access to substances like drugs. The school boasts of having never recorded a single case of drug abuse, fostering a safe and focused atmosphere conducive to academic excellence.
…introduces affordable, modern boarding facilities
ZAKA – St Engenas ZCC Zivavose High School in Zaka District is celebrating a landmark academic achievement after recording a 100percent pass rate in the 2025 A-Level ZIMSEC examinations where 17 out 24 scooped 10 points and above.
The accomplishment is coupled with a significant infrastructure development resulting in the introduction of low-cost boarding facilities designed to modern standards.
All 24 learners who sat for the 2025 examinations passed with flying colours where the least performer scored seven points with standout performances from Enough Majaura who scooped 20 points, Thodhlana Malvin with 17 points.
Revinia Chikato, Gerry Mubaiwa and Tanaka Govere scooped 15 points while Renias Charuma and Rodrick Vushe scooped 14 Points
The School head Wilbert Dera expressed immense pride in the results, particularly as a rural institution saying the support they got from all stakeholders including the Responsible Authority were the reason behind the success.
“We are thrilled to have achieved these high grades and raise our flag high. Despite the fact that rural schools are often overlooked in academics, our achievement is exceptional.
“The achievement was enabled through collaborative efforts from all our stakeholders mainly our Responsible Authority and parents who pay fees. Special mention also goes to the teachers who worked hard to produce the results we are celebrating,” said Dera.
Building on the success, the school announced the introduction of modern, low-cost boarding facilities for A-Level students in January 2026.
The new units are designed to provide affordable, conducive accommodation and has also introduced Science subjects like Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Computer Science, featuring updated infrastructure and amenities that surpass older, outdated boarding schools.
Dera said the expansion was rooted in the school’s core values of nurturing an all rounded learner with moral and Christian values that are key in the world after school.
“At St. Engenas Zivavose High School, we are committed to nurturing not only academic excellence but also character. The introduction of our low-cost boarding facilities is a significant step towards making quality A-level education accessible to more, while ensuring they are nurtured in a Christian environment.
Enrolment is in progress as we offer both day and boarding facilities and our aim is to expand and have boarding facilities for all,” he said.
The school boasts well-equipped science laboratories and a wide range of subjects, supported by a dedicated teaching staff. Parents and guardians are encouraged to enroll their children for the 2026 academic year.
For inquiries, please contact Mr. Dera on 0773158557 or Mr. Zvavashe on 0773087113.
