Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – Masvingo Photographers Association (MPA) in partnership with Zimbabwe Performing Arts for Schools Trust (Zimpast) last week organised a charity walk from Mangwandi Cemetery to the Civic Centre in order to raise money to buy sanitary wear for disadvantaged girls.
MPA secretary general manager Charles Maregere said the idea was to help improve access to sanitary wear by girls in children shelters.
 “People contributed some few dollars to participate in the walk. All the money will be channeled towards helping the underprivileged girls in orphanages in Masvingo,” said Maregere.
Zimpast director and founder Tichamupei Nyandoro said the money raised will buy sanitary pads so as to help girls in orphanages to have a more enjoyable festive season.
“As we approach the festive season, many people donate groceries, clothing and other basics. We have decided to complement that by buying those necessities,” said Nyandoro.
Deputy director in the Provincial Affairs ministry Lovemore Chisirimunhu, who was the guest of honour, said national resources should be used to improve the wellbeing of the girl child.
He said it was the duty of all stakeholders especially those in the public health sector to work for the improvement of access to sanitary wear by girls in disadvantaged communities.
“We call for collaboration of all stakeholders in the public health sector in order to carry out robust community-based health education. Our target should be both in school and out of school youths,” Chisirimunhu said.
The march also served to raise awareness on HIV and Aids, gender based violence and domestic violence.
Small business people, members of professional bodies, non-governmental organisations and Masvingo Christian College pupils also joined the March.
In 2016, MPA and Zimpast organised a similar event where they celebrated women who are in largely male-dominated trades.local

Nyasha Marumbi

Members of the public and passers-by were last week Friday shocked to see a baby boy crying alone in a busy area behind Chevron Hotel after his mother allegedly dumped him.
Informal traders who do their business nearby said the baby was first seen by a passer-by who head him crying helplessly.
People began to gather around the boy and police were later called and they took the baby away.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Masvingo Central has since issued a press release asking for information that can lead them to the mother of the baby.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Masvingo central is appealing for information leading to the location of the mother of a baby boy of about +/- 2 years who was found in a bushy area close to the foot path near Chevron Hotel, Masvingo on the 8th day of December 2017 at around 1300 hours.
“Anyone with information (is encouraged) to contact the officer in charge Masvingo Central Chief Inspector Chichera on landline number (039)262986 or the investigation officer Constable Zivhave on cell member 0775036926,” reads part of the press release.
Other people who spoke to TellZim News said the parents of the baby probably lost him, not that they deliberately dumped him.
“It’s difficult to say because newborns are often the victims of baby-dumping, not children who are that old,” said an eye witness.local

…as Hwarare bounced back as CSFAZ chairperson

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Chiredzi West legislator and member of the Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CSFAZ), Darlington Chiwa last week lashed out at the organisation’s former secretary general Roy Bhila and chairperson Tawanda Mafurutu whom he accused of failing to advance the interests of members and selling out to Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe.
Chiwa and other members of CSFAZ had for long been fighting against Bhila and Mafurutu over alleged mismanagement. He had also been actively working to prop up Addmore Hwarare who has since bounced back as chairperson after winning elections.
Addressing farmers before the announcement of the election results, Chiwa said all the problems being faced in the sugar industry emanated from failure on the part of Bhila and Mafurutu.
“There is no farmer who can fight his/her colleague. Our main opponent is Tongaat Hullet which is manipulating Bhila and Mafurutu. We had an agreement on the payment of by-products which was signed in June 2014 but nothing has yet been paid.
“Bhila and Mafurutu were busy defending Tongaat instead of facilitating for the payment of those by-products.

They are being paid by Tongaat thereby worsening problems we face as farmers. Administrator, please check the print out of trucks that transport sugar from Tongaat, you will find out that other transporters are given fewer loads than those given to these two men. They would rather die fighting to remain in office because they were benefiting a lot,” said Chiwa.
Bhila and Mafurutu had made a High Court application through their lawyer Alex Nduna in a bid to postpone elections and give the Mafurutu executive a chance to balance its books which are reportedly ‘tattered’.
CSFAZ administrator Jairos Masiye, however, told the farmers that he would only accept a High Court interdict which is served by the Sherriff of the High Court.
“There are speculations that there is a High Court document barring the continuation of these elections. I will only accept an interdict served by Sherriff of the High Court, and not a lawyer,” said Masiye.
Addmore Hwarare was voted chairperson while Julius Changamire was voted vice chairperson. Ralph Sakupwanya was elected secretary general while Collin Togarepi was elected treasurer general.local

Zinatu provincial chairperson Misheck Kudzaishe Mhike and Livison Maunganidze

MASVINGO – The Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (Zinatu) has been officially launched here amid optimism that the interests of teachers will find new momentum in the employer/labour relations.
Zinatu provincial chairperson Misheck Kudzaishe Mhike said the union had already hit the ground running by setting up committees in all districts of the province.
“Since our launch in Masvingo earlier this month (November), we have managed to set up structures in all districts and membership is increasing every day,” said Mhike.
He said the union is aimed at restoring the profession’s dignity and improve teachers’ welfare.
“As an organisation we want to work for the welfare of teachers and revisit the remuneration issue while pushing for the reintroducing of grades. For now, all teachers are receiving the similar salary regardless of qualifications,” said Mhike.
He also said the union will create projects for its members as well as its own funeral policies and its own pension fund.
The union was formed in June last year but was officially registered with the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare in April this year.
The national president of the union is Davy Mudhebha from Murambinda Government High School.
Provincial vice chairperson is Gladys Dangwa from Terrygoes Mufakose High School in Triangle while Trust Mavambira from Cheninga School in Bikita is the secretary. 
Masvingo is set to hold the International Teachers’ Day celebration on December 04 at the Charles Austin Theatre.local

The late Zacharia Makopa

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – District Schools Inspector (DSI) Lackson Zanamwe has praised learning conditions at the Roman Catholic-run Sacred Heart High, saying developments at the school put it among the best in Masvingo province.
Speaking at a colourful speech and prize giving ceremony held at the school recently, Zanamwe said Sacred High possessed all the qualities needed for a school to become a candidate for the Permanent Secretary’s Merit Award.
“Sacred Heart High School is one of our most esteemed schools in the district. The school is evidently providing a favourable learning environment for quality learning outcomes. These achievements make it possible that the next time we gather here, it will be for the purposes of celebrating the coveted Permanent Secretary’s Merit Award,” said Zanamwe.
In his remarks, Sacred High School head Brother Joachim Kamwana said in spite of the economic hardships, the school managed to build a new classroom block and to fence the whole school yard. 
“Plans to buy a school bus and construct a state-of-the-art laboratory are now at an advanced stage,” said Brother Kamwana.local

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Chamunorwa Zhiradzago has dragged his ex-wife Sithokozile Chikunguri, a teacher at Mashura Primary School in Mberengwa, to the Mwenezi Civil Court claiming US$150 maintenance per month.
Zhiradzago told the court that he was still legally married to Chikunguri and had helped her to further her education.
“She began answering some of her phone calls out of the bedroom and when I asked for explanations she would scold me saying it was none of my business.
“When she later left home, she took all the household property and I was left with nothing. Right now, we have two children together but she does not allow me to see them and I was once severely assaulted when I visited the children,” said the tearful Zhiradzago.
He accused his wife of cohabiting with a Mberengwa businessman identified as Laison Ndlovu.
Through her defence lawyer, Chikunguri argued that Zhiradzago did not deserve any maintenance benefit since all their two children were residing with her.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa reserved judgement to a later date but made it clear the issue of maintenance is not confined to a specific gender in any relationship.local

Elliot Jinjika

CHIVHU – Seventy-year-old Nobert Mudyawabikwa from Gamanya village, Chief Nyoka, Featherstone is alleged to have eased his sexual desire on his 13-year-old niece and he recently appeared before Chivhu magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni facing rape charges.
Mudyawabikwa denied the charges levelled against him.
The State, led by Nicholas Mabvongodze, stated that in November 2016 around 14: 00 hrs he called the minor into his bedroom.
Upon entering the bedroom, the accused ordered the complainant to lie down on an empty sack, undressed and raped her while closing her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
He later on threatened to kill her if should she divulge the matter to anyone.
In August 2017, the complainant divulged all the details to her friend’s mother who had noticed that she was not happy.
The woman and her husband took the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the accused. The case was set to continue in the Chivhu Magistrate Courts by the time of going to the press.local

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Fifty-one-year-old Acia Shirichena of Rineti village under Chief Neshuro stunned many at the Mwenezi Civil Court recently when she categorically stated that the continued presence of her husband at their homestead was a stumbling block for her freedom to accommodate her boyfriend.
Shirichena dragged Wilson Chauke to the court seeking his eviction from the homestead, claiming he made no contribution towards the building of their homestead.
“Hongu tinevana tese asi ini handichamudi murume uyu. Hapana chaakaita pamusha uyu kuti uvepo uye musha wacho ndewangu ndakavaka ndega iye asipo. Kugara kwaari kutoita pamba apa arikutotadzisa mukomana wangu kuuya pamba nokuda kwake,” Shirichena told the court.
On his part, Chauke said he was also the owner of the homestead and requested the court to give some of his five children with Shirichena a chance to stand as witnesses.
Shirichena however rejected the suggestion, claiming the children have a history of always defending their father.
Magistrate Musiiwa advised Shirichena that since she wanted an eviction order, she had to redo her papers because she had merely applied for a protection order.
The matter was due to be heard again by the time of going to print.local