Upenyu Chaota

Chivi – Acting District Administrator (DA) Wafios Hlavati has banned witch hunters (tsikamutandas), warning chiefs not to entertain such people whom he accuses of creating divisions in families.
Hlavati recently described tsikamutandas as evil people who leave a trail of destruction in their wake while robbing families of their wealth.
“These tsikamutandas are not welcome in Chivi. They are day light robbers who destroy families. We want peace and harmony not a situation where people are left at each other’s throats because of some nefarious claims.
“Some of them are so young and you wonder where they got the power they claim to possess,” said Hlavati.
He said people were losing their livestock to the dubious witch hunters who often demand payment in return for ‘cleansing homesteads of bad omens and goblins’.
“They are the very evil thing which needs to be cleansed. You cannot come and impose your services on people who never asked for that in the first place.
“Cattle are a valuable asset in our society so for someone to come and perform some ‘magic’ on our people and then demand cattle is criminal. We will not tolerate that in Chivi.
 “Hakuna musha usina zvawo. Kana auya atora mombe uye apumha vanhu uroyi vachasara vogarisana sei? For the chiefs in Chivi, I warn them against entertaining such people because if we find out these people are operating in our area, the chief will have to answer,” said Hlavati.local

Itai Muzondo

MASVINGO – Leading humanitarian organisation Care International is challenging a National Employment Council (NEC) judgment requiring it to pay Rumbidzai Chikuse over US$4 000 outstanding dues following the termination of her contract.
The case, recorded under case number LC/MS/LRA/APP/50/17 and whose judgment has been reserved, sat in the Masvingo Labour Court Circuit on July 14 2017.
TellZim News is well informed that Care International hired Chikuse on a fixed 10 months contract which they later terminated using a contract clause which states that either parties can terminate the contract on two weeks’ notice.
“Chikuse had been given a 10 months contract which included three months’ probation period but the contract was terminated without reason. She then went to the Labor Court where judgment was granted in her favour.
“Care International, however, does not agree with the judgment as it requires them to pay the former worker over $4 600 for the remaining 9 months of her terminated contract,” a source said.
When contacted for comment, NEC Masvingo representative Lovemore Boorerwa refused to talk about the matter, saying he was not allowed to speak to the media.local

TellZim Reporter

BIKITA – A 14-year-old form two pupil at Silverira Mission High School committed suicide by hanging himself in a dormitory storeroom using his tie and was discovered on Monday, two days after he went missing.
Though no comment could be obtained from school head Albert Maruta and Provincial education Director (PED) Zedius Chitiga by the time of going to print, sources said the boy, identified as Wesley Shuro, hanged self after he was bullied by fellow students.
Another version of the story leading to the suicide said the boy had left a note claiming two prefects (names supplied) had beaten him earlier on and he had decided to hang himself than face more abuse.
When contacted for comment, acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhehwa said he was yet to receive the report.
“I have seen the story circulating on social media but I am yet to receive the report from Bikita,” said Ass Insp Dhewa.
There was yet another version to the story alleging acts of Satanism, after another pupil allegedly produced a three-headed snake and threatened the boy that the snake was going to swallow him.
Shaken by the incident, the boy is said to have decided it was better to commit suicide than having to bear the snake swallowing him alive.local

CHIVHU – A man severely assaulted his wife recently after she threw away his bottle of ‘anointed’ water which he was given by a prophet as a solution to infertility, TellZim News has learnt.
The drama occurred at the couple’s residence in Buckernhill suburbs after the husband came home to find his special water missing.
The couple, whose identity has been protected,  has been married for three years but have not had a child, a challenge which, according to sources, forced the man to seek the services of a prophet who gave him the water.
The sources said his wife, however, has always opposed the idea of using anointed water as she strongly doubts the trustworthiness of modern-day prophets.
“Zvekuti takarwa haisi nyaya kwandiri but kuti takarwirei. I do not believe mutuporofita twamazuvano tunoreva nhema, iye ndakamuudza kuti enda hako ikoko asi ini handidi kuona zvinhu zvaunopihwa pano. Anonyeperwa kuti ndini ndine shavi rinoita tisabare vana,” the woman said after she was contacted for comment.
Her husband, on the other hand, refused to shed light on the matter saying he was not comfortable discussing his personal affairs with the media.
“I do not discuss family matters with reporters. Go write whatever you want because I know you are capable of doing that,” he said.
Another source, however, said the woman’s failure to conceive over the past three years had taken its toll on the couple as quarrels were now happening more often than not.local

MASVINGO – The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) last week commissioned two classroom blocks; one in Bikita and the other in Zaka West as part of the armed forces’ efforts to widen their social responsibility work in ordinary communities.
In Bikita, the classroom block was built at Chikukutu Primary School and was officially commissioned by ZNA commander Philip Valerio Sibanda.
Chief of Staff Administration, Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba commissioned a computer laboratory in at Mutonhori High School in Zaka.
Mjr Gen Nyikayaramba said building infrastructure was one of ZNA’s ways of giving back to the community in appreciation of the role that parents played during the liberation struggle.
“During the liberation struggle, we were ordered not to destroy schools for we wanted to use them after the war. The army is at your disposal; just provide all the necessary materials and invite us and we will not take long,” said Nyikayaramba
Local Member of Parliament Vincent Mawere praised the ZNA for working hard for the development of education in his constituency.
He also hailed former Mutonhori school head Severino Bvunyenge for initiating the project and urged current head Lucas Masokose to continue with the spirit of development.
ZNA will commission two more completed projects in Chivi and Mwenezi districts this month.local

Upenyu Chaota

Masvingo General Hospital could soon be singing the ‘Amazing Grace’ after a medical team from Licking Memorial Hospital in the American state of Ohio showed keen interest in establishing a partnership which would result in the provision world class health care services.
The medical team came into the country on a scouting mission to see which hospitals they could partner for the purposes of development and training.
They came under the banner of Rotary International and their trip was also facilitated by the philanthropic organisation, the Living Water of Ohio.
The Masvingo Rotary Club also played an active role in securing the visit of the medical team.
Head of delegation and former president of the Newark Heath Rotary Club in Ohio, Jeff Smith said the people of Ohio loved the people of Zimbabwe and they will work hard to create relations with

medical institutions in the country.
“For the love of humanity, we have travelled this far to come and see how best we can work together with Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
“We want to create a mutual relationship which benefits both sides and if possible, we could create an exchange programme for our staff to gain more experience and knowledge. This is the beginning of a long relationship,” said Smith.
The tour revealed the urgent work that needs to be done to fix the deplorable conditions at the hospital’s mortuary.
Masvingo General Hospital Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ruth Zulu said there were huge problems with the mortuary of the province’s only referral medical facility.
“The mortuary is very small and in a deplorable state. There is need to build a bigger morgue which can accommodate more bodies and keep them well preserved,” said Zulu.
The medical team from Ohio also donated some theatre materials before spending the whole day treating patients free of charge.local