MWENEZI – A group of about 40 men broke into the bedroom of a 64-year-old man whom they manhandled, severely bashed and forced to join their circumcision camp, the Mwenezi Magistrates Court heard last week.
It was also heard that the gang destroyed property worth US$1 872 in the process.
The State, however, found reasonable grounds to charge only Chenjerai Chivarange (38), of Chiwarure village two under Chief Maranda, for malicious damage to property but he pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before magistrate Honest Musiiwa.
Giving his side of the story in court, the complainant, Lysias Hlaisi of the same village said Chivarange stormed his place in the company of about 40 men.
“Vakauya pamba pangu varikuma 40. Gumi vandinonyatsokuziva ndivo vaindirova uye ndivo vandaka reporter kumapurisa…ndakarobweswa apa vaiva vakandibatirana vamwe vachindidhonza-dhonza zvombo zvangu. Mushure mokundirova uye mokuputsa property yangu vakaenda neni kumurundu (circumcision school).
“Ndakanochekwa ikoko haaa manje mubedroom hazvichaendeki futi. Ndakatozoita zvokutiza ndisati ndapedza course ndokupona kwandakaita. Chakazondirwadza futi ndochokuti ndiri ku murundu iko, sezvo Chivarange aive umwe wamacommander aipota achidzoka kumba kwangu achitorana futi nemukadzi wangu. Mhosva akamboitenda pakutanga akandiripa mombe mbiri asi gare gare akadzoka otora futi mombe dziya,” Hlaisi said.
Appearing for the State, Willard Chasi told the court that one day in September 2010 at around 17:00 hrs, Chivarange arrived at Hlaisi’s homestead with about 20 men, not 40 as was claimed by the complainant.
They wanted to take Hlaisi to a male circumcision camp at Tundunyi Mountain but Hlaisi locked himself into his bedroom hut and refused to open when the group arrived.
Chivarange allegedly took an axe that was on the yard and broke Hlaisi’s bedroom door into three pieces.
He entered the bedroom and went on rampage destroying property worth US$1 872. Some of the property that was destroyed include solar panels, a bed, set of cups and radios.
A police report was made leading to Chivarange’s arrest. The trial was due to continue by the time of going to print.local

The best parent receives her prize at the event

CHIVHU – Runyararo Primary School, undoubtedly one of the best primary schools in town, recently held a colourful price giving ceremony which saw prizes being awarded not only to pupils who excelled in academics and sporting activities but also to parents and school staff.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, government officials, parents and school heads from neighbouring schools.
The event lived to its billing with exquisite and energetic displays from the school drama and dance group.
Speaking at the event, School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson Maxwell Makurumure thanked parents for the support which enabled the school to build a good administration block and a new ablution block for ECD pupils.
He thanked CBZ, CABS, Jobcel and the Chivhu business community for donations that made the ceremony possible.
Chikomba District Schools Inspector (DSI) Emmanuel Kwenda, in a speech read on his behalf, praised the efforts made by the school for development.
“We are delighted with developments at the school; the high pass rates and excellent participation in sporting activities. I urge all pupils to keep on working hard and thumbs up for the wonderful organisation of this event,” he said.
Pupils who topped in academics were the big winners and they went away with uniform vouchers from Jobcel while others went away with school stationery mainly in the form of reading and writing books.
Trophies and shields were also won while staff members and parents received prizes for their efforts in the development of the school.local

Elliot Jinjika

CHIVHU – A 17-year-old girl from Chinembiri village under Chief Mutekedza who has been in the courts facing indecent assault charges for sexually abusing her 11-year-old sister has been slapped with a five year jail term wholly suspended because of the age factor.
The girl pleaded guilty to the charges and she was convicted by magistrate Fadzi Mtombeni.
“Ndaive ndakugara ndichinzwa kuda kurara nemurume saka taizoisana zvigunwe kuti tipedze chikara chaindibata nekuti tese taive tajaira kugara tichirarwa nevakomana vedu (I would always feel like sleeping with men so to make it up, we would use our fingers to satisfy each other,” she told the court.
The State, led by Nicholas Mabvongodze found out that sometime in June 2017, the accused would have sexual intercourse with her boyfriend in the presence of her younger sister.
She later on became so bold that she would allow her boyfriend to have sex with her young sister in her presence.
It was also discovered that the boyfriend then started to bring along his own friend so that he too could have sex with the complainant in their presence.
When they were alone, the sisters would caress each other and they would insert fingers into each other’s private parts for sexual pleasure until an unidentified person who knew of what was happening synonymously called the police and revealed what was happening.local

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – Chiramwiwa Katiyo, a teacher at Mazambara Secondary School on Monday afternoon attempted to commit suicide by swallowing an overdose of 20 unidentified tablets reportedly to protest against her husband’s alleged infidelity.
A source privy to the incident said Katiyo was rushed to Zimuto Clinic but was later transferred to Masvingo General Hospital after the school senior teacher found her struggling to breathe while frothing on the mouth.
“She called the senior teacher and told her that she was worried about the welfare of her kids and from the way she was saying it, the senior teacher sensed danger and went to investigate,” said the source.
Circumstances leading to the attempted suicide were not clear by the time of going to print but it is alleged that she had talked to her husband over the phone and it is suspected that their conversation was caustic.
It is alleged that she was having marital problems with his husband, a police officer in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Masvingo.
It is further alleged that Katiyo’s husband was having an affair with his female workmate and had taken away all bank cards, leaving Katiyo broke and distressed.
“Her husband lied to him that he was working in Beitbridge for some days yet in actual fact he was at his girlfriend’s place right here in Masvingo. She soon found out that her husband had been lying to her and could not take it anymore,” said another source.local