MWENEZI – A 52-year-old man was last week convicted at the Magistrates’ Court for growing dagga in his field.
Mutema Makombe of village 6A Mufula Ranch under Chief Chitanga was convicted on his own plea of guilty for contravening section 156 (1)(b) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter  9:23 “Unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs”.
He told the court that dagga gave him a livelihood.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment of which four months were conditionally suspended.
The court heard that sometime last year during the start of the rainy season, Makombe planted some mbanje but on December 28 last year, police detectives received a tip on Makombe’s dealings.
Upon conducting a search at Makombe’s homestead, police detectives found ten mbanje plants that were planted in the nearby field. 
The plants were measured in Makombe’s presence and they measured between 49 cm and one metre long.
Willard Chasi prosecuted.local

MWENEZI – Reason Hlabani (36) of Chavani village under Chief Neshuro nearly died after his manhood was pulled by his 41-year old wife during a domestic violence incident, the Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court heard last week.
Hlabani pleaded guilty to the charges of contravening Section 4 (1) of the Domestic Violence Act Chapter 05:16 “Physical abuse”.
He told the court that he was left without any other choice except to assault his wife after she tightly grabbed his manhood.
“I stay with my wife and the four children whom she sired from her previous marriage. At times, those children assault me. So at some point, I told my wife that the children should vacate my homestead. While I was busy arguing with her, she firmly grabbed my manhood.
“Realising she would not let go, I bashed her to set me free. I was left is severe agony and I still feel the pain. Had I not beaten her, she could have killed me,” said Hlabani.
State facts as argued by prosecutor Willard Chasi were that on December 30 last year, at around 10:00 hrs, Hlabani told his wife Serina Hahlani that her children from a previous marriage should vacate his homestead.
Hahlani did not respond and this annoyed Hlabani who began to assault his wife with fists all over her face. A police report was made leading to Hlabani’s arrest.
After full trial magistrate Honest Musiiwa sentenced Hlabani to six months behind bars of which two months were conditionally suspended. The remaining four months were set aside on condition that he performed 140 hours of community service at Mushava Clinic.local

MASVINGO – A man from Rujeko, residing at House Number 3788 Makonde Close, was last week brought to court together with his family members after the police had found two dagga plants measuring 188 centimetres and 95 centimetres in their garden.
Four family members; Qetway Dadirari (40), Landnos Musvovi (49), Johanne Dube (21) and Matthew Dube(21) appeared before magistrate Takawira Mugabe facing unlawful possession of drugs charges as defined in Section 157 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9.33.
Musvovi and Dadirari escaped the charges after convincing the court that they left the house in possession of their two sons Matthew and Johanne for another house and they had simply returned to facilitate water reconnection to the house.
However Matthew pleaded not guilty after his brother Johanne admitted that the plants were his. Johanne was remanded in custody to January 12 for further trial.
It was the State’s case that on December 28, 2017 the police heard rumours that Johanne and Matthew were growing dagga in their garden. Investigations led to the discovery of two plants, leading to the arrest of the four.
Edmond Mapope prosecuted.local

TellZim Reporter

MPANDAWANA – Alouis Kufandikamwe (21) of Noorhood village 4 Chatsworth was recently sentenced to 12 months in prison for attempting to rape his 14-year-old girlfriend.
Six months were suspended on condition that it was the first crime committed and the other six were set aside on condition he performed community service at Chiwore Clinic in Chatsworth.
It was the State’s case that on November 24, 2017, the complainant was with her younger sister in the bush looking for firewood when they met Kufandikamwe.
The two love birds then sat on the log where Kufandikwamwe started fondling the toddlers’ breasts, grabbing her by the waist and removing her panties to knee level to solicit for sex.
The complainant realised what was about to happen and left to go home where she disclosed the matter to her grandmother who then accompanied her to the police to report the case leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Addressing this issue, magistrate Edwin Marecha warned against the habit of forcing underage girls into sex.
 “You can date a girl of your age or even date those who are older than you. No one will ask a question but it is another thing altogether to destroy a minor’s future,” said Marecha.
Samuel Magobeya appeared for the State.local

CHIREDZI – Sex workers who have been in the industry for a long time say they are pained by the continuing increase of young girls into the sleazy industry.
Speaking to TellZim News, one senior sex worker who chose to be identified as Giant said she was troubled by the proliferation of underage girls on the sex market.
 “These girls have not yet matured and as such cannot really take care of themselves in this tough business. They sell their bodies for a pittance, say $2 as a walk-away price and that is not at all pleasing,” said Giant.
Another one said it pained her to see children young enough to be in form 1 jostling for clients with much experienced older women.
Social worker Atipashe Taruberekera urged government to spread the national social safety net to more people so that the scourge of underage girls doing sex work can decline.
“Most girls are forced into commercial sex work by of lack of resources for them to access education. Government must avail more Beam (Basic Education assistance Module) funds so that the girl child in rural areas can have the means to remain in school even if her own parents cannot afford.
“There is need for government intervention to alert people especially those in remote areas on the dangers of letting their children leave home for the town,” said Tarubereka.
One senior citizen, Godfrey Mabika said children from rural Chiredzi were living mainly in poverty and that was forcing them to leave home for the town where they face the real risk of sexual predation.
 “In 2010, people called them ‘zvijete’, a derogatory name which alludes to the Jete area in Mkwasine where most of them were coming from,” said Mabika.local

Josaya Hungwe

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Senior Zanu PF members in Masvingo have complained about the existence of an elaborate scheme by people from outside the province to perpetually grab all economic opportunities for themselves while marginalising the local people.
They said the country’s resources in the agriculture and tourism sectors were benefiting people from other provinces.
Addressing Zanu PF delegates at an inter-district meeting held at Chitsanga Hall last week, Zanu PF provincial chairman Ezra Chadzamira bemoaned the deplorable economic circumstances of the ordinary Chiredzi man and woman, blaming their plight on outside influence.
“Chiredzi is the hub of Zimbabwe’s economy but to my surprised you are all still poor, why? Because various people from other provinces come to exploit our resources after making use of a few people in the district for advocacy. We should never be used by individuals,” said Chadzamira.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Josaya Hungwe expressed no less bitter remarks while addressing district administrators and heads of departments of local authority at Hippo Valley Country Club.
He said he curtailed the mooted hijack of Tokwe-Mukosi projects planning by corrupt official from outside the province, whom he said wanted a wholesale relocation of thousands of Chivi villagers to Mashonaland East to pave way for their grand schemes of greed.
“Some people from outside the province would have been brought to benefit from our dam by grabbing plots, but I refused. We need an independent body which will reserve a certain percentage for the people of Masvingo,” said Hungwe.
Addressing a provincial coordination committee meeting at Victoria Junior School in Masvingo two weeks ago, Zanu PF national political commissar Rtd Lt Gen Engelbert Rugeje said economic opportunities in the province must prioritise locals.
“Nyaya yeTokwe Mukosi neBeit Bridge Road zvinhu izvozvo ngazvikasire kuitwa. Tione vana vedu vemuno muMasvingo muno umu varivo vanotanga kuwana zvinowanikwa ipapo. Hatiti vekunze havauyi aiwazve. Kana uriwe watsikwa, unotanga kupakurirawozve vana vako, wozopakurirawo vaeni kana vauyazve.
“Zvino kana tikazoonekwa isusu hatina kana chedu muTokwe Mukosi, hatina kana chedu muBeit Bridge Road, handifungi kuti tinenge tichiita zvakanaka semusangano uye seMasvingo province. Let us make sure that our children benefit from local economic programmes,” said Rugeje.
The issue of lack of equitable distribution of resources continue to spur the devolution campaign, with activist criticising government for deliberately failing to fully implement the constitution which provides for the setting up of devolved systems of governance.local

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Dr Joram Gumbo has urged road authorities to incorporate local Members of Parliament on road rehabilitation programmes and to create private/public partnerships (PPPs) as funds from the fiscus alone are not enough.
Addressing district administrators and local authorities at Hippo Valley Country Club last week, Gumbo urged those responsible for roads maintenance to innovate strategies for resource mobilisation.
He said much of the local road network has outlived its lifespan with US$5.5 billion needed for rehabilitation.
He said the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) annual revenue, which he claimed stood at US$200 million, was inadequate.
“We urge road authorities to pursue innovative strategies like PPPs where applicable. We also encourage them to mobilise funds from local financial institutions. This applies to any other willing individuals and institutions with free funds that can be directed to revamping the road network.
“We have to come up with home grown solutions to our problems therefore I urge you to play your role in making our dream of a world class road network come true.
 “As you come up with your priorities in respect of the rehabilitation of roads in this province, I urge you to consult and involve local Members of Parliament as they play a pivotal role in all developmental projects.
“To strengthen synergies, Zinara is deploying provincial managers to enhance visibility through working together with road authorities and legislators. This, in my view, will avoid a situation where the ministry and Zinara are overwhelmed by different requests for road rehabilitation by legislators and road authorities from similar jurisdiction,” Gumbo said.local