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

CHIVHU – A 27-year-old man residing at Denenga Farm in Beatrice allegedly took advantage of the absence of his wife and raped his 16-year-old before ordering her not to reveal the ordeal to anyone, the Chivhu Magistrates Court heard last week.
Jairos Mageza appeared before magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni facing allegations of rape and was remanded in custody for further trial.
The State, led by Nicholas Mabvongodze, claimed that on July 14, 2017 at around 04:30 hrs, Mageza entered the dining room where his maid was sleeping alone, got in to her blankets and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent.
The accused then ordered the maid not to tell his wife and he left the victim crying while going to work.
The complainant, however, divulged everything when the accused and his wife returned from work in the evening of that day.
After the accused was questioned by his wife, he denied everything but their neighbour noticed changes on the victim’s character as she would look confused, unhappy and devastated.
When asked what was wrong, the victim refused to talk, only saying she wanted to go back to her mother at Mupandaguta Farm in Banket.
The neighbour then asked the accused’s wife for US$5 and gave it to the maid who then used it as bus fare to travel home where she reported the case to her mother.
A report was filed at Banket police, leading to the arrest of the accused person.
The trial continues tomorrow, Firday, in the Chivhu Magistrates Court.local

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – More than 66 households in wards 28, 29 and 30 under Chief Bota have no access to clean water and are relying on mufuku – a small well dug on a dry riverbed – on the narrow Musungusungu stream, TellZim News can reveal.
Last week, representatives from District Development Fund (DDF), Agritex and Zaka West legislator Vincent Mawere paid a visit to the area after reports of disputes over access to the well.
It was established that these households depend on water from the well, which they have since named Chikanga, for drinking, cooking, laundry and watering their gardens.
“I am old now and I have grandchildren and this has been our only source of water. Some areas have had the privilege of boreholes but we have not been that fortunate,” said Egnes Chavizha.
Another old villager, Esnath Chipanera said the water point was often congested and was not safe for young children who risk drowning since the well is not protected.
“Vamwe vakadzi vaviri vatori pano vakawira mumufuku uyu, kana mvura yava shoma panotyisa apa, zvekuti munhu akange ari ega anofiramo,” Chipanera.
Ward 30 councillor fortune Maputsa said the area has never had a borehole or any better source of water.
“To some people, the closest borehole is six kilometres away while for others it’s five and those who are closer have to walk about three kilometres. However, many find it easier to fetch water from Chikanga than to walk long distances to fetch cleaner water,” said Maputsa.
On his part Mawere promised to work hard and mobilise resources so that better sources of drinking water can be established.
“I will engage the local authorities and DDF and the Ministry of Environment Water and Climate so that we find a solution to this problem. As for now, we encourage people to boil their drinking water,” said Mawere.local

Children who attended the GCET seminar were given certificates

TellZim Reporter

MASVINGO – Girl Child Empowerment Trust (GCET), a non-governmental organisation concerned with the rights of the girl child, is empowering girls by giving them a voice on aspects that affect their lives.
GCET founder Morenlet Mawire said the trust’s vision was to grow and become the leading and reputable action team which cultivates an understanding and active participation of young girls in areas to do with their lives.
“Girl Child Empowerment Trust aims to build consciousness among girls through increased understanding and participation in issues affecting them. We do this through coordination of such areas as information dissemination, networking, advocacy and resource mobilisation,” said Mawire
The trust recently held a workshop in Chiredzi district at which various concerns were raised chief among them the scourge of child marriages which many girls said was being fueled by poverty and lack of education.
Mawire said GCET wanted to empower the girl child and advocate for her personal and reproductive health rights. She said the organisation was working to educate the girl child on her personal health issues concerning puberty, menstruation and personal hygiene.
She also said the GCET aims to increase levels of awareness on such social ills as abuse of children which is one of the most worrying problems especially in poor households.local

Itai Muzondo in Gweru

GWERU – Informal traders operating at designated stalls behind Swift Complex in the light industrial sites last week demonstrated against those operating illegally, forcing many off the streets.
One of the demonstrators, Phillip Musi said he was angry that he had to compete with unregistered vendors who pay nothing to council.
“We have suffered enough. We were moved to designated stalls recently but others are sticking around in town and this is a disadvantage to us. That’s the reason why we rose to take them out of the streets ourselves.
“It’s just so painful that you pay to sell from a designated selling point and someone operating illegally takes all the customers,” Musi said.
An unidentified female vendor who was among the demonstrators said she too was angry with those who were operating at undesignated sites.
“Most of them have been given regular stalls but they are leaving them and getting back to the pavements. This is unfair because we are paying to sell our wares and they are not. They must come to the Swift,” she said.
City of Gweru Mayor Charles Chikozho, who is on record saying council had given up on vendors, pointed out that the demonstrators’ grievances were justified.
“I can’t blame them for that action because they too are worried for their businesses. No one would want to get into business and then be made to compete with somebody operating illegally. The set-up is not fair to them at all.
“I am not justifying clashes between the groups but I understand that these people expect authorities to protect them. As council, we are incapacitated, we can’t remove vendors and the police also say they cannot do it and that is why we have engaged the Ministry of Local Government,” Chikozho said.local

Agnes Gudo