CHIPINGE – Five men were recently left for dead after they were viciously attacked by a gang of five men after an alteration over $1 change.
Simbarashe Matsvaire (23), Prosper Musabayana (20), Mutulisi Kaiboni (21), Samuel Sigauke (19) and Brian Guzete (26) of Gaza high-density suburb were viciously attacked by broken bootless after they demanded a $1 refund from the $3 they had paid for their transport costs from a night club to Gaza township.
They appeared at before magistrate Noah Gwatidzo while bandaged on their faces.
The five accused, Prince Zengeni (27) of 1759 Gaza O, Millan Charuma (26) of Coffee Research Station, Bright Tabana (26) of Watergate Farm, Clemence Chigidi (35) and Tagarira Chigidi (38) both of 5291 ZBS Extension appeared in court facing assault charges.
Witness Nyamundaya of the State said on the December 3, 2017 at around midnight, the complainants boarded a Mazda B200 Toyota vehicle at De Plaza Lodge for Gaza Township.
“The vehicle belonged to Shepherd Makuyana (37) who was also a passenger in the car. They agreed to pay $3 but on arrival at Total Service Station, Prince Zengeni, who was driving, told the complainants to disembark because he was no longer proceeding to Gaza.
“A misunderstanding ensued leading to the five complainants to demand a $1 refund but this did not go well with Zengeni,” he said.
In a furious rage, Zengeni grabbed Kaiboni, Musabayana and Sigauke one by one and threw them out of the vehicle.
“Zengeni’s co-accused persons, Tabana, Charuma and the Chigidi brothers joined in and started assaulting the complainants.
“Tabana stabbed Matsvaire with a broken bottle once on the left cheek and he fell on the ground, crawled from the scene and fled for his life.
“Charuma grabbed Musabayana by his hands while Tabana held him by the waist with Clemence Chigidi hitting him with an empty beer bottle which broke upon contact.
“Tagararira Chigidi took a piece of the broken bottle and stabbed Musabayana once on the neck, once on the cheek, once on the arm and once on the stomach.
Chigidi hit Kaiboni with his open bare hands twice and cut him with an unknown sharp object which he was holding and assaulted him again with a wooden plank all over his body,” he added.
Chigidi stabbed Sigauke with a broken bottle once on the cheek and stabbed Guzete with a piece of broken bottle once on the left cheek before fleeing from the scene.local

MASVINGO – It never rains but pours for the Joice Mujuru led National People’s Party (NPP) as it continues to lose key members with the latest being the national secretary for legal affairs Rodney Makausi and Masvingo provincial chairperson Shylet Uyoyo calling it quits.
In their resignation letters, seen by TellZim News, Makausi and Uyoyo say they have personal businesses to attend to, making them unavailable for party business.
Makausi indicated in the resignation letter addressed to NPP national chairperson Gift Nyandoro that he was parting ways with the party as they have other critical matters to attend to.
 “I wish to humbly notify you that I have crucial work which I need to be embarking on to such an extent that I will not have adequate time to devote myself to the party business. It would therefore only be logical that I stand down from my post for someone else to take over.
“I accordingly in the exercise of my constitutional and legal rights to belong to a political party of my choice inform you of my voluntary resignation from the National People’s Party,” said Makausi in his letter.
Uyoyo’s resignation letter addressed to national chairlady Marian Chombo said she was resigning from the party without giving any other reasons.
“Please accept this letter as formal notification of my resignation from National People’s Party,” said Uyoyo in her letter.
There are however, reports that both Makausi and Uyoyo plan to go back to Zanu PF. Makausi is also said to be interested in contesting for Masvingo Urban constituency.
When contacted for comment Makausi dismissed the allegations as mere bar talk saying his resignation was because he has personal business to attend to.
“I resigned from NPP because I have a lot of business to attend but I want to make it clear that I currently have no interests of contesting for any position in the election,” said Makausi.
Uyoyo made a clear hint she intends to retrace her footsteps back to Zanu PF, saying she had left the ruling party because of former President Robert Mugabe, who is no longer there.
“I left Zanu PF because of Mugabe and his wife; but he is now gone,” said Uyoyo.
NPP national spokesperson Jeffreyson Chitando said he was unaware of the resignation letters but said the party remains strong despite the current turbulence.
“I am yet to see the resignation letters but all I can tell you is that the party remains strong and committed to bring about the change which is long overdue in the country,” said Chitando.
Nyandoro could not be reached for comment by the time of going to print as his mobile was not reachable.local

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Notice Ndlovu, a driver at Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) Rutenga branch, is living in fear after the husband of the woman he had an adulterous relationship with allegedly promised to shoot him, the Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court heard.
Ndlovu admitted to having an affair with Sifasonge Muleya’s wife.
He however dragged Muleya, an employee at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), to the civil court seeking a protection order. He told the court that at one point in time, Muleya telephoned him swearing that he will shoot him dead for having an affair with his wife.
In his defence, Ndlovu pointed out that he fell in love with Muleya’s wife because he was not aware that she was married to another man. Muleya, however, dismissed the claims arguing that Ndlovu knew very well that the woman in question was married to him.
Muleya told the court that the matter was still troubling him and he requested for the case to be postponed as he was due for a special assignment at his work place.
Magistrate Langton Ndokera took his time trying to counsel the two men before postponing the matter to a later date as per Muleya’s request. The matter was due to be heard again by the time of going to print.

Precila Takabvirakare

GUTU – A member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) residing in Mbwedza village under Chief Mazuru was last week arrested for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a man from Chirefu village with a knife.
Life Mafuruse (33) allegedly stabbed and seriously injured Liberty Mubhawu on his left hand biceps and spinal area.
The soldier was hauled before the Gutu Magistrates’ Court charged with attempted murder as defined in the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 09:23 and remanded to 10 January 2018. He was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
It is the State’s case that on the Christmas Day 2017 at Rineshanga business centre, Mabhau was walking with his friend (name withheld) when they met the Mafusire who was not in uniform.
Mafusire asked Mabhau’s colleague to identify himself but he failed, and mafusire responded by beating him.
Mabhau then asked the Mafusire why he was beating his friend and this infuriated the assailant who then stabbed the victim.
Magistrate Edwin Marecha lamented the amount of violence and physical abuse taking place on a daily basis. He said the people would be misplaced to think that improved literacy and knowledge of the law was enough to prevent crime.
“So I think the best way to teach the community is to give those who are found guilty tough sentences,” said Marecha.
Millicent Azangwe stood for the State.local

Clever Taperamoyo

MASVINGO – A drunk 16-year-old girl of Village 5 Uswaushava, Chiredzi, was ploughed down to death by a vehicle at the 61 km peg along Ngundu – Tanganda Road on January 2, at around 12 midnight.
The unusually named Trevor Ngorima left the homestead for Uswaushava business centre where she took alcohol in the company of other three juveniles.
The four then left the business centre at around midnight on their way home but Trevor, in her drunken stupor reportedly sat in the middle of the road.
An unidentified vehicle then came and ploughed into her, leading to the girl’s death on the spot.
Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula confirmed the incident and urged parents to look after their children.
“Parents should monitor and make sure that children below the age of 18 do not drink alcohol. Even bar owners should desist from selling alcohol to children below the age of 18,” Insp Mazula.
On the same day, two men were also crushed by a train while sleeping on a railway track along the Mbizi – Chiredzi railway line in Triangle.
Before Bhidiri (21) of Village 1, Basi and Paison Chikwanya (24) of Village 6, Chahoba in Triangle met at Muzhu rail hold to board a train to Rutenga on their way to South Africa.
The two reportedly fell asleep on the rail line while waiting for the train. Fanuel Mutakwa, the engine man with the locomotive, hooted loudly but when he managed to stop, the two were already crushed.
Inspector Mazula also said under no circumstance should people sleep on the roads or railway lines as those were dangerous areas.local

Francis Moyo

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – City of Masvingo mayor, Cllr Hubert Fidze has expressed outrage at reports of abuse of resources allocated to old people’s homes, children’s homes and other charities benefitting from the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund.
He made the remarks during the handover ceremony of proceeds of the 2016 Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund at Civic Centre two weeks ago.
The mayor said he heard disturbing news about officials at the receiving institutions diverting the donated groceries and money to their own personal use.
“There are stories which I’m hearing at the places where we are giving these goods. I am sorry, but I am coming there. I heard very disturbing news concerning some of you. If we give you, go and give the goods to the rightful people.
“We have our elderly, the disabled and the blind. For they do not see, you put the goods behind. We have children and these goods belong to them so do not give them left overs,” said Fidze.
He said corruption by those in charge of charity institutions will not be tolerated, with resources now getting scarcer in the difficult economy which has seen less people contributing to the fund.
“This list I have this year is not the usual list. We have reduced it by almost 60 percent from what we used to give and the list corresponds to what we have,” said Fidze.
The fund is a customary fundraising initiative which is designed to mobilise resources that are then distributed to the elderly, the poor, as well as disabled and disadvantaged children towards Christmas time.
This year, the fund raised US$7 652 which was donated to such charities as Copota School for the Blind, Alpha Cottages children’s home, Zimbabwe Association for the Visually Handicapped, Pioneer Trust, Masvingo General Hospital and Mucheke Old People’s Home among others.local