MASVINGO – The Voluntary Service Organisation (VSO) Zimbabwe last week handed over an extended three-hectare drip irrigation facility to Mutimurefu Prison farm.
The donation was as a result of a partnership between the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS), Batanai HIV & AIDS Service Organisation (Bhaso) and VSO.
In an acceptance speech read on his behalf by ZPCS Deputy Commissioner General (DCG) Moses Chiobvu, ZPCS Commissioner General (CG) Rtd Major General Paradzai Zimondi thanked the non-governmental organisations for boosting the horticultural production capacity at Mutimurefu.
“Today’s ceremony has been ushered in through VSO’s considerate partnership with ZPCS in the form of the extended drip irrigation facility which is, no doubt, critical in boosting the station’s horticultural production which enhances and boosts the inmates’ nutritional support scheme,” said Rtd Maj Gen Zimondi.
He also praised the scheme which he said will help in Mutimurefu’s prisoner rehabilitation work.
“More so, extension of the drip irrigation scheme also means that more inmates would be exposed to some rehabilitation activities that include training on nursery management and horticultural production,” Rtd Maj Gen Zimondi said.
He also said the facility came at an opportune time when the institution was in great need of such support which said was critical to facilitate and improve horticultural production, adding that the scheme dovetails with government efforts to improve food security and nutrition.
It was also heard that the extension of the drip irrigation lines and pumps increased production at Mutimurefu Prison farm by making it possible to run a sustainable horticultural project on 15 hectares of land.
Such vegetables as carrots, cabbages and tomatoes are among the produce that the irrigation scheme specialises in.
Bhaso director Simbarashe Mahaso said under the organisation’s rehabilitation and integration efforts, they have managed to support 100 inmates with skills development.
He said many inmates have graduated with certificates in different trades at Mugashagashe Training Centre.local

Bothwell Chabarika

MPANDAWANA – Todias Tizai, a remedial tutor who was based in Gutu district, passed on last Saturday, September 16, after a short illness.
The 49-year-old Tizai died after arriving at his home at Chivi while coming from Gutu where he worked. He complained of chest pains and he was rushed to Chivi General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
He was buried on Tuesday in Tizai village, Muvhundusi area in Chivi.
Taizivei Tizai, a young brother to the deceased, expressed shock over the death of his brother saying he died a few hours after they had talked over the phone.
“I am still in shock, Mukoma Toddie had just called me when he died. I could not believe it moments later when I was told that he had passed on. It is something that we don’t even understand,” said Taizivei.
Tizai was a holder of a Master’s Degree in Special Education and worked in different places like Simudzirai, Zunga, Shindi and Dombo primary schools before he was promoted to partake the role of district remedial tutor for Gutu.
He is survived by his wife Tsitsi and two children Truth and Ruth.local

Davison Marenga

ZVISHAVANE – Melania Zhou of 2204 Makwasha surbub lost one of her front teeth after Mercy Dube attacked her with a stone during a fight, the Zvishavane Magistrates Court heard last week.
The matter came in the open when the two appeared before resident magistrate Archy Wochinga with Zhou accusing Dube of using stones during the fight.
“She hit me with a stone instead of fists and I lost my tooth because of that,” said Zhou.
It was the State’s case that on September 9, Dube assaulted Zhou with open palms and fists on the face following a misunderstanding.
The outraged Dube then struck Zhou with a stone on the mouth resulting in the victim losing a tooth and a police report was made resulting in the arrest of Dube. 
In her defence, Dube said she was only retaliating because Zhou had hit her with a pot and had poked her on the face multiple times.
In passing judgement Mr Wochiunga issued a stern warning to the two, saying differences must never be settled through violent means.
Dube was slapped with a 180 hour community service.
Stanley Ncube persecuted.local

ZVISHAVANE – The economic challenges in the mining town have spawned unprecedented levels of desperation, leading to some children dropping out of schools to take up commercial sex work.
Night clubs and bars have become havens for these nocturnal activities, by which young girls, some as young as 13, can be seen soliciting for paid sex from as early as 19:00 hrs.
In high density suburbs like Mandava, main shopping centres are a hive of activity in the evenings, with young girls hooking up with men old enough to be their fathers.
One girl who agreed to talk to TellZim News narrated her ordeal saying circumstances forced her to dropout out of school to take up commercial sex work.
“I live with my grandmother and my little brother. My parents died when I was barely 8, and I dropped out of school and started selling my body to cater for our needs because nobody was there to help us,” the 15-year-old said.
Since the ruling by the Constitutional Court outlawing arbitrary arrest of women on allegations of asking for sex, arrests of suspected sex workers loitering on the streets seem to have stopped.
This has however caused an increase in young sex workers who are being seen in the company of seniors in the profession.
TellZim News has learnt that older commercial sex workers use these young ‘fresh’ school drop-outs to lure customers.
In return, the young girls are guaranteed protection and access to places where underage children are normally barred.local

MASVINGO – A Masvingo Central Police Station officer, Delight Chibaya allegedly led three accomplices Donald Chibaya (33), Webster Zingori (24) and Sikhumbuzo Mukaka (20) to hijack a car and steal thousands of dollars in cash, the Masvingo Magistrates Court heard last week.
The four, who are all residences of Rujeko C, appeared before magistrate Peter Madiba who remanded them to September 27 for continuation of trial.
The State, led by Edmond Mapope, claimed that on September 10 in the night, Darlington Gowera, the complainant, who also resides in Rujeko C, was driving his Toyota Fun Cargo in Rujeko A when he passed through the business centre in the same location.
The court heard that he was waved down by the four accused who pretended to be honest people who wanted a lift and they paid him a dollar so that they could be taken to Exor.
The State further alleges that as they approached Exor, one of the man, either Zingori or Mukaka who were seated at back of the vehicle, slapped Gowera on the head.
The court heard that Gowera stopped the car so that he could understand what was happening but Delight then pushed Gowera out of the vehicle.
The four got out of the car and started assaulting the complainant with fists and booted feet all over the body until Gowera fell onto the ground. They then drove away with US$3 500 which was later on recovered.
The complainant later on reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the quartet and the recovery of his vehicle at Chicken Inn parking bay.local

Nyasha Marumbi

MASVINGO – Incumbent Chief Serima, Vengai Rushwaya has lost his tractor after the Masvingo High Court ruled in favour of a Mpandawana businessman who was suing the traditional leader over assault.
In August last year, Naison Bvungo dragged Rushwaya to court claiming that the chief had assaulted him at Marts Mart supermarket after a dispute involving a small chicken cage and a US$10 debt.
Bvungo runs a butchery, bottle store and grocery store in Mpandawana.
Masvingo High Court Judge, Justice Joseph Mafusire ordered Chief Serima to pay US$6 400 including cost of suit and US$400 medical expenses at five percent per annum although Bvungo was seeking US$51 400 from Chief Serima.
The Sheriff of the High Court went on to attach Chief Serima’s tractor from his Rossal Farm in Chatsworth, Gutu.
By the time of writing, the tractor was yet to be auctioned in order to raise money for damages and interest awarded to Bvungo by the court.
It was, however, said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development was frantically trying to stop the auction, claiming that the tractor had been given to the chief under the government’s farm mechanisation scheme.
Bvungo and his lawyer Collen Maboke of Ruvengo Maboke and Company proceeded to write to the Sheriff of the High Court in Masvingo advising to proceed with the auction.local

CHIVHU – A 36-year-old man, Nomore Munemo from Chibhora village, Chief Murambwa in Mhondoro-Ngezi last week stood before Chivhu Magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni facing two charges of rape in aggravating circumstances after he allegedly raped and sodomised a 37-year-old female teacher at St Michaels High School.
The State, led by Nicholas Mabvongodze, alleges that on May 08 this year at around 22:30 hrs, the complainant disembarked from a commuter omnibus at Murambwa Business Centre and made her way to St Michaels Mission on foot.
Along the way, she met the accused person at Musinambi Bridge, and the accused greeted her but she kept quiet.
The complainant walked for about 100 metres and saw that the accused person was following her so she started to run but the accused pursued and caught her.
He tripped her onto the ground but she managed to fight him off and she again tried to flee from him.
When the suspect caught her for the second time, he again tripped her to the ground, slapped and kicked her several times.
Feeling vulnerable, the complainant offered money to her assailant but he held her by the throat and threatened to kill her.
She then undressed herself and the accused raped and sodomised her before robbing her of US$12 and her pair of panties.
The complainant later approached a nearby homestead and phoned a workmate who later arrived with the school head and ferried her to St Michaels Hospital.
Two nurses accompanied the victim to Mamina Police Station where a report was made, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
The trial was due to continue in Chivhu Magistrates Court by the time of writing.local

…Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights takes up case

Moses Ziyambi

CHIREDZI – A 32-year-old Chiredzi man has been charged for undermining the authority of the police after he was arrested for allegedly shouting abusive words at two uniformed police officers who were depositing government money at the local CBZ branch.
The incident happened on August 1 this year when Zephania Virimai allegedly verbally abused Lazarus Nyahonzo and Slyna Nyamaropa, who are both members of the Zimababwe Republic Police (ZRP) in the bank.
Virimai, who is represented by Blessing Nyamaropa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), has already made his initial appearance before magistrate Tafadzwa Mhlanga and will return to court on October 11.
According to the State outline, the two officers entered the CBZ branch at around 11:20 hrs intending to lodge cash into the bank when Virimai, whose given address is ‘Near Magwaza Road, Tshovani, Chiredzi’, shouted ‘mbavha idzo ngadzibvepo’ literally translated to ‘thieves move away from there.’
And upon realising that the officers were not moved, the accused went on to say ‘zvimapurisa zvinobhenga mari yecorruption ‘rogue police officers who bank corruption money’.
The State argues that Virimai’s statements were prejudicial to the police force and that his actions created ‘a real risk or possibility of engendering feelings or hostility towards such police officer(s) or the police force or exposing such officers of the police force to contempt, ridicule or disesteem’.local