ZVISHAVANE – A man has appeared in court for attempting an unlawful break-in into his ex-girlfriend’s house after she had refused to let him in.
Saymore Negore aged 25, appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga for attempting to gain forced entry into his former girlfriend’s house in Isiah Park.
An outline which was read by the court interpreter, Ashleigh Gougoh alleged that Negore went to Ruramai Mashunye’s house around 02: 00 hrs and started swearing and shouting at Mashunye ordering her to open the door but she refused.
Negore proceeded to grab a brick and smashed a window pane but vanished after realising that he had alarmed Mashunye’s neighbours.
Negore pleaded guilty and told the court that he had been insulted through an anonymous phone call which he suspected to be the work of Mashunye.
He was expected to be back in court to receive his judgement.
Meanwhile, a man from Mandava was sentenced to 135 hours community service after he pleaded guilty to having sex with his 14-year-old girl friend.
Twenty-year-old Runesu Shumba, appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga for having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl.
Shumba told the court that he was love with the girl and claimed that he had the right to satisfy his partner’s sexual desires but Wochiunga told him the law criminalises sexual relations with minors.local

Shumirai Zhou

ZVISHAVANE – Moses and Mathius Sibanda of B Mine, Mberengwa were fined US$150 by Zvishavane Magistrate Archie Wochiunga after they pleaded guilty to charges of trespassing.
The two were identified as related when they appeared in court.
Appearing for the State, Tinashe Maponde told the court that on October 18, 2017 at around 1400 hrs, the accused unlawfully entered Way Broke Mine with the intention of mining.
They were caught upon entry and the complainant, Aaron Mutetwa reported the matter to the police leading to their arrest.
The accused said they knew it was illegal to get into the mining area without the approval of authorities but had no option since they were doing it for survival.
They were sentenced to 30 days imprisonment which was wholly suspended on condition they pay a fine of US$150 on or before November 15, 2017.

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – A woman from Susupeni village under Chief Neshuro suffered losses after a fellow villager burnt down two houses at her homestead after suspecting that her sister was going out with her husband.
Houses at Enita Shoko’s homestead were burnt allegedly by Zvandinatsa Chitoro who suspected that Shoko’s younger sister was seeing her husband.
Chief Neshuro, born Rodwell Gudo, reluctantly confirmed the case when TellZim News contacted him for comment.
“It’s true there was an incident in Susupeni village where a woman burnt another woman’s homestead. I am not sure about the names of people who were involved, they are known by the village head,” said Chief Neshuro.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Susupeni village head were fruitless as his mobile phone went unreachable.
However, villagers who witnessed the alleged arson attack said an enraged Chitoro took the bold decision after learning that Shoko’s sister was in love with her husband.
“What surprised many is that Chitoro burnt Shoko’s homestead yet the person who was in love with her husband was Shoko’s younger sister who had just visited.
“She went to Shoko’s homestead in broad daylight, with her husband following helplessly behind after failing to restrain her. She took a burning log and threw it onto the rooftop of a thatched bedroom hut. The fire soon spread to the kitchen hut,” said a witness.
TellZim News also learnt that only a few items were recovered from the blaze after other villager rushed to contain the situation.local

CHIREDZI – The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) has built a clinic in Chief Masivamele’s area, Ward 8 in Chiredzi East as part of the church’s efforts to spread access to basic health services to the marginalised.
The clinic was built in a very short period of time and has already been handed over to the community.
The project was initiated by the community with assistance from SDA which took up the task and funded the construction of the ward’s only clinic. 
Speaking at the official opening of the clinic, Chiredzi East Member of Parliament Denford Masiya applauded the church for the work which he said was the best health services development to happen in the constituency in recent times.
“The SDA church involved me when they began here and today they have invited me to this occasion now that the structure is finished. I want to thank them for the great work they have done in Chiredzi East especially in Ward 8 where there are enormous health services delivery challenges,” said Masiya.
He also said it was the duty of churches to support government programmes especially in health and education, as the SDA was doing.
SDA Central Zimbabwe Conference president Pastor Jothamu Manyakara applauded the Chiredzi Rural district Council for expediting arrangements for the project.
“I am humbled by the cooperation of this community’s leadership, both the council and traditional leaders, they were very much cooperative and worked smoothly with us.
“I also want to say that this structure was made possible through the maximum involvement of SDA church members in the whole conference. It is through their financial and material contributions that this project is a success,” said Manyakara.
He said the church intended to drill a borehole at the clinic in the coming days.
“We are constructing a state of the art boarding school very close to this place, with two blocks already finished. If we did manage to build this clinic, by the grace of God we will complete the boarding school,” said Manyakara.local

Moses Ziyambi

MASVINGO – Helen McGhie Primary has promised to increase support for the development of tennis in the wake of the school’s stunning performance in the inaugural Mordecai Tournament.
The school’s players bagged a whopping five gold and two silver medals in a tournament which attracted many other primary schools with immensely talented competitors.
Most outstanding was Tinotenda Chipfakacha, a Grade 4 pupil who competed in the Green Ball category and won two gold medals.
Other Helen McGhie pupils who competed and won medals are Edna Mhango (Grade 5) who also played in the Green Ball category and scooped gold, Anenyasha Mukwenje (Grade 3, Red Ball) gold and silver as well as Rachel Mhizha (Grade 4, Orange Ball) gold and silver.
Speaking to TellZim News Helen McGhie Primary School head, Sheila Deve said the results had a motivational effect on the school such that more support will be given to pupils to develop their talent.
“As a school, we are excited by the performance of our children at the Mordecai Tournament. It has served to make us notice the immense talent and potential that pupils at Helen McGhie Primary possess. We pledge to give more attention to the needs of our children for the sake of developing their tennis talent,” said Deve.
On his part, School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson, Tinashe Mutema praised the children who participated in the tournament and called for better training programmes.
“Our school emphasises greater participation of children in all sporting activities because that is good for both their psychological and physiological development. We therefore need to support the exploits of our children in sports so that we can have more of such medals,” said Mutema.
The Mordecai Tournament, which is recognised by Tennis Zimbabwe, is a brainchild of the Simon and Melody Mhizha who are on a drive to promote tennis development among children.
Other primary schools that took part in the inaugural leg of the tournament include Dikwindi, Shakashe, Kyle Preparatory, Victoria Junior and Francis Aphiri.
Meanwhile, Helen McGhie Primary School has announced that it has sought the services of Privy Fanisai, one of the most renowned tennis coaches in Masvingo province.local

BIKITA – The Bikita Minerals boys’ community football team last week put on a determined assault against a similarly stubborn Pamushana Social Club in the finals of the Chief Marozva Trophy to emerge victorious by four goals to one in a tightly contested match played at Lithium Stadium.
In the netball category finals, Gombo humbled Nyika to walk away with the trophy as well as US$200 in prize money.
The tournament was incepted in 2015 as an idea of Chief Marozva, supported by the new Bikita Minerals executive which took over management of the mining company in 2014.
The tournament began as a community project exclusively for teams that fall under the jurisdiction of Chief Marozva (born Phillip Mudhe) but organisers have now expanded it to include teams from the whole Bikita district.
The Bikita Minerals boys’ social club got its four goals courtesy of Ezekiel Nyangaswa, Blessed Marwisa Jefta Mabhugu and Hardlife Chitambu.
For their efforts, the champions walked away with the trophy and got US$300 in first prize money.
Speaking before the handover of the prizes, Chief Marozva praised Bikita Minerals for showing a deep passion for the good of the district.
“The previous owners of this mine would always give us a cold shoulder; they disregarded our needs and requests. They were not at all worried about the community but their own profits only.
“I am however happy that Grant Hudson (company director) and his team has brought a new approach altogether and is investing in our people. We must all work to defend Bikita Minerals because it is our company which is giving us jobs and fighting poverty. You can’t be our friend if you work against Bikita Minerals,” said Chief Marozva.
Speaking at the same occasion, the director in the Ministry of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Kudakwashe Machako urged participants to use the sporting event for greater good.
“We need to take advantage of opportunities such as this to promote downstream industries and create jobs. We should also use the opportunity to fight the spread of HIV and Aids as well as non-communicable diseases. We thank Bikita Minerals for bringing us together in this spirit of togetherness,” said Machako.
Other teams that participated in the trophy are Mufuka, Mukondo, Nyika, Mangondo, Bikita South, Domboshava and Bikita East.
In the netball category, Gombo’s competitors were Bikita Minerals, Pamushana, Mufuka, Nyika, Gombo, Bikita East, Bikita South and Chesuko.local

MASVINGO – The construction of Nyuni Primary and Secondary Schools in Mwenezi is expected to start in January 2018, Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister Larry Mavhima has said.
Speaking at Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) conference held at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel recently, Mavhima said the project should have started in June this year but was suspended due to resource challenges.
“The country has a shortage of schools and a number of pupils are learning under tree shades and tents. The government is considering building new schools so as to ensure that every pupil is granted quality education while doing away with satellite schools.
“In rural and farming areas, satellite schools have been established to deal with the challenge of pupils walking long distance to attend class. Construction of more schools is expected to go a long way in dealing with shortage of learning facilities in the country.” said Mavhima.
The schools will be constructed under the $20 million grant from the Opec Fund for International Development (Ofid) and the building levies paid by pupils.
Under the Ofid loan facility the ministry will build other 16 world class primary and secondary schools starting January.
This model of construction is said to come complete with all amenities, science and computer laboratories, furniture and standard teachers’ houses.local