MBERENGWA – Troubled C-Mine ex-employees in Mberengwa have called upon the government to intervene in the impasse between them and their former employer over unpaid dues.
The gold mine changed ownership 10 years ago and went under liquidation after the then owner Patrick Down relocated to Canada leaving more than 300 workers with unpaid packages.
The hopes for the workers to get any form of their outstanding remuneration were shattered when all of the company’s movable property was sold, leaving the former workers with nothing to get hold of as a form of payment for the services they rendered to their former employer.
“We are calling upon the government to come to our rescue. There is no other avenue we can use to get our packages now that the assets we were holding onto as collateral are being sold,” said a dejected ex-worker.
Over the years, a number of mines in the Great Dyke have been closed leaving many workers stranded and with nowhere to go. Some former workers were chucked out of mine houses that they have been staying before the collapse of the mining businesses.local

MWENEZI – It is double tragedy for Nyengeterai Gondo lost her husband to a-41-year-old woman who later teamed up with her son and severely assaulted Gondo, the Mwenezi Magistrates Court heard last week.
Appearing before magistrate Honest Musiiwa was Sinikiwe Mbuderi and her son, Hardley Mbuderi (25) who reside at Lundi business centre.
Both of them pleaded not guilty to the charges of assault though Sinikiwe admitted to having an affair with Gondo’s husband.
“Murume ndizvo ndinodanana naye uye akandivakira imba, seven rooms. Zvose ari kundiitira saka chiii chandaizokurovera iye murume achindipa zvose zvinondigutsa. Kuda hako vakarohwawo nezvikomba zvako waakuda kupomerawo ini mhosva,” Sinikiwe said.
On her part, Gondo told the court that the two severely assaulted her when she went to Lundi business centre to look for her husband.
“Hakasiko kekutanga kundirova. Unonditorera murume wangu futi. Musi uyu mose mai nemwana makanditema nematombo. Sinikiwe waitokuza mwana wako uchiti rova rovesa rife chaiko,” Gondo told the court.
The State’ case as argued by prosecutor Willard Chasi was that on August 3 this year, at around 2000 hrs, Gondo who reside in Helani village under Chief Chitanga, went to Lundi business centre to ask for some money from her husband Tyson Moyo who operates a welding shop there.
As she walked around the business centre, Gondo met the two accused person who began to scold her. They then allegedly took stones, logs and assaulted her all over her body.
Gondo later bolted and was taken to hospital for treatment and a police report was later made, leading to the arrest of the duo.
A medical report was produced as exhibit in court.
The trial was due to continue by the time of going to print.local

Itai Muzondo in Gweru

GWERU – Gweru provincial magistrate Pathekile Msipa last week acquitted eight MDC-T youths accused of staging an illegal demonstration against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) demanding a level political playing field ahead of the much anticipated 2018 poll.
The State had alleged that on July 22 2017, the MDC-T activists marched through the city centre chanting political slogans and denouncing ZEC chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau and the ruling Zanu PF party thereby disturbing public peace.
The youths who were being represented by Lizwe Jamela and Claudius Makwara, contested the grounds of their arrest arguing that police had been notified of the demonstration.
The eight had been out on US$100 bail each.
In dismissing the case, Msipa said there was no evidence to show that the accused had intended to promote violence through their actions adding that no complaints had been cited in the charge sheet.
MDC-T information and publicity officer Munyaradzi Mutandavari said the youth league and party at large welcome the judgment.
“We are happy they were released. It shows the courts have respect for the rule of law and the youth league and party are happy about it,” Mutandavari said.local

GWERU – In an innovative development that is set to boost the construction of infrastructure, Midlands State University (MSU) has acquired new construction equipment.
The new equipment, which was officially commissioned by Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Victor Ngonidzashe Muzvidziwa, consists of a bulldozer and an excavator.
Speaking at the commissioning of the new equipment, Professor Muzvidziwa expressed hope that the new equipment will reduce costs incurred by the university in construction.
“We hope that this investment will significantly reduce infrastructural development costs as we strive to provide world class facilities,” he said.
The new equipment was purchased under Sodew Investments which is a wholly owned subsidiary of MSU is expected to generate third stream income flow for the university.
Also speaking at the same event, Sodew Investments (Pvt Ltd) Acting Chief Executive Officer Tendai Chigwaza applauded the initiative saying it has come at the right time.
“The equipment comes at a time when the university is still expanding and the construction of infrastructure is a priority. We need to clear the land and for several university construction projects and this equipment will help to get the job done,” Chigwaza said.local

…messages on circumcision should be in Xangani

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – People who recently gathered for a voluntary medical male circumcision graduation ceremony at Mhlanguleni protested what they described as the dominance of outside languages on traditional Xangani cultural rituals, TellZim News can reveal.
Some participants bitterly castigated the Ministry of Health and Child Care and its partner Population Service International (PSI) for prioritising Shona and Ndebele at the expense of minority languages, in this case Xangani (also spelt Shangani).
In 2011, the ministry and PSI began to partner traditional leaders in Chiredzi, particularly the Xangani, to advance the voluntary male circumcision drive because male circumcision had been part of the Xangani culture since time immemorial, albeit being carried out in a traditional way.
In a speech read on his behalf by Chiredzi Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Isaac Matsilele, Chief Sengwe urged everybody to abide by the Xangani culture if the partnership is to succeed.
“Your banners and regalia should be branded in Xangani as those graduating are of Xangani origin,” the speech read, as if in response to the many banners and paraphernalia that were mostly branded in Shona and Ndebele.
However, PSI deputy country director Clinical Programmes, Dr Ngonidzashe Madidi justified the use of other languages in the circumcision drive, saying the messages were designed to cater for a wider audience while riding on back of the old Xangani tradition.
“In 2011 we had regalia which were branded in Xangani stating ‘HOKO’ in the front and a statement in the back. When the programme grew, we realised that the work being done in Chiredzi should not only end in Chiredzi but that it should influence the whole nation.
“We want the nation to know that this is a national programme they can join although it has its roots in Xangani culture. So if we have messages written in Xangani only, their impact will be limited because many people do not understand the language,” said Dr Madidi.
Chiredzi South Member of Parliament Rtd Brig Gen Gwanetsa, who is Shona by origin, said he was happy to be part of the process as he wanted to prove the inaccuracy of rumours that people die at such rituals.
 “It is a common cultural value of the Xangani people in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is very good and I participated for my personal health and those people honoured me. I am the first Shona speaking person to represent them in parliament so I have to honor their culture,” said Rtd Brig Gen Gwanetsa.local