Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – A woman who was stung by the prospect of getting divorced burnt down her husband’s bedroom hut, the Mwenezi Magistrate Court recently heard.
Caroline Jimu (20) of Mahondo village under Chief Negari was convicted of malicious damage to property by Magistrate Honest Musiiwa on her own guilty plea and was sentenced to eight months behind bars or alternatively to serve 280 hours of community service.
Asked by the magistrate what made her to act in the manner which she did, Jimu who was holding a toddler, said cited the pressure of divorce.
“I burnt the hut because he had divorced me—kundiramba hanzi ndiende kumba kwavabereki vako pakati pousiku, apa ndakanga ndakatakura mimba yake futi,” Jimu told the court.
The State’s case, as presented by prosecutor Willard Chasi, was that on September 16, 2016 at around 1900 hrs, Jimu and her husband had a misunderstanding resulting in the husband packing his wife’s belonging and escorting her to her parents’ homestead.
Jimu was left a few metres away from her parents’ homestead while her husband retreated and went to sleep at his grandmother’s homestead.
Jimu reportedly came back that same night and set her husband’s bedroom hut on fire resulting in the destruction of property worth US$245 and nothing was recovered. A police report was made leading to Jimu’s arrest.local

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Malilangwe Conservation Trust is in the middle of a storm after workers accused one of the managers of fomenting anti-government sentiment by repeatedly showing employees videos clips of #ThisFlag, #Tajamuka and of xenophobic attacks in South Africa as a way of inciting them, TellZim News has learnt.
Disgruntled employees at Singita Pamaushana Lodge, which is part of the trust, are complaining over tourism department head Jason Turner’s alleged acts of incitement by forcing them to watch the videos as a way of inculcating in them a sense of revulsion against government mismanagement of the economy.
This comes ahead of the visit by the trust’s benefactor, American billionaire Paul Tudor Jones II, who is scheduled to arrive on the June 19, 2017.
The workers told TellZim News that Turner, who is said to be an American citizen, was always mocking President Robert Mugabe’s age and health, showing a determination to make them rise against the government.
Though no comment could immediately be obtained from Turner himself, Malilangwe Conservation Trust director Mark Saunders denied the reports which he said was a misrepresentation of facts although leaked minutes of a staff meeting held on October 17, 2016 show that workers had indeed raised objections.
“We did our investigations and found out that it was misrepresentation of facts,” said Saunders.
The Trust’s Human Resources manager Tendai Nhunzvi acknowledged that there were issues at the lodge but was quick to say it had all been resolved internally.
 “What you saw from those minutes you read was true but we internally solved the issue,” Nhunzvi said.
The minutes, among a host of other things, allege that Turner had threatened to unleash scouts against them.
“Jason often states things of a political nature that undermine the president and present government. This puts the staff in a difficult position when they are asked about the political opinions of Malilangwe Management.
“How are staff expected to protect someone who has a complete disregard of the law? At work, staff are shown inappropriate videos of xenophobic and This Flag Tajamuka clips,” reads part of the minutes.
One of the employees who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of losing his job claimed that many people were already leaving their jobs fearing victimaisation.
“We are forced to watch these inciting videos while at work and he even extends to mocking the President over his age. He is inciting terrorism as he seems to be influencing us to revolt against the President and the current government,” said the source.local

The Masvingo Rotaract Club will on July 1 go on a Youth Motivational Campaign under the theme ‘Walk for Charity’ which is aimed at educating young people to have focus and goals in their lives.
The walkathon will begin at the Civic Centre and end at Alpha Cottages where members will donate foodstuffs, clothes and blankets.
Rotaract Club president Rodney Goldman said the event was open for members of the public to join and support the cause.
“It is an event which welcomes everyone willing to partner us as we seek to put Masvingo on the map as a vibrant, safe city producing high quality young leaders with youth that give back to the community,” said Goldman.local

ZVISHAVANE – A Zvishavane woman who emerged naked during the day in Mapanzure and was labelled a ‘witch’ by locals has turned out to be an innocent woman suffering mental health problems.
Confirming the development to TellZim News, Chief Mapanzure said after assessing the lady’s condition, he recognised that she was mentally challenged.
“People were just quick to think and label that lady a witch because she was naked but she just has a mental illness. The woman dumped by a motorist on the roadside after she indicated that she was travelling to Masvingo, a direction which was totally opposite to where the motorist was driving to.
“I was also told she had been seen the previous day looking for warm clothes and food, something uncharacteristic of our understanding of witches. A witch never opens up and never wants to be known when he or she arrives in an area,” Chief Mapanzure said.
The Chief also said the lady was simply labelled a witch in accordance to local beliefs that link nakedness in broad day light to witchcraft. He also highlighted that the police just instructed locals to find a way to have the lady taken back to her home saying they had no transport.
“We tried helping the lady but she tore up all clothes we gave her. Some even identified her as a Zvishavane local who even has a family but no one was willing to help her because of her condition. I am however informed that she is now back in Zvishavane and is in better shape,” said Chief Mapanzure.local

GWERU – A 35-year-old man from Gweru was fined US$400 for transporting 131 trafficked second-hand clothes and shoes valued at $34 113.
Isaac Pandukai (35) of Number 92, 9th Street, Gweru, appeared before provincial magistrate Phathekile Msipa and pleaded guilty to a smuggling charge.
Appearing for the State, Andrew Marimo, told the court that Pandukai was arrested on May 11 in Gweru with 128 bales of second hand clothing, three bales of new satchels and one bale of new shoes, valued at US$34 113.
The accused was on his way from to Gweru from Mutare.
In mitigation, Pandukai told the court that he had only been hired by the owner of the goods, who had had his car broken down.
“I am only a driver and I was hired by the owner of the bales to transport the bales from Mutare to Gweru since his car had a breakdown. I was only trying to help and by so doing I would earn a living and look after my three minor children,” Pandukai said.
“I was not aware of the fact that these bales were smuggled into the country and it wasn’t my intention to go against the State and the law,” said Pandukai.
The goods have since been surrendered to the State.
If Pandukai fails to pay the fine he will spend 30 days in jail.local

Nashe Mahachi

RUSAPE – Police detectives in Rusape are investigation a murder case of a man who was stabbed to death over a sex worker.
Givemore Mulinga was pronounced dead on arrival to Rusape Provincial Hospital last week.
Rusape district police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Muzondiwa Clean confirmed the murder which took place at Desim Night Club.
“We are investigating a murder case which took place last week at Desim Night Club. Givemore Mulinga (31) was having a beer drink together with his young brother Dibiana Mafetuka.
“The two were in company of two sex workers whose identities are still to be verified. A male adult came and inquired if they were still some more sex workers to hire, Malinga told him to court any lady that he wanted, this angered the man.
“A misunderstanding arose. Two more men appeared and started to fight with Malinga. They dragged him for a distance of ten metres from the night club. One of them stabbed him with an okapi knife in the chest. The suspects then fled from the scene. Malinga was rushed to Rusape Provincial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” Ass Insp Clean said.
He added that the culprits are still at large and he said anyone who may have information leading to the arrest to the trio must report to the nearest police station.local

MBERENGWA – Lordstar Magogo (37) of Bherera village, Nelson Sibanda (36) and Zvinavashe Mahohoma (26) both of Entumane Compound in Mberengwa were recently sentenced to three years in jail each by regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire over attempted murder.
The trio pleaded guilty to charges of stabbing a colleague who had mistakenly stepped their dog.
Appearing for the State, Kelvin Guvheya told the court that on August 9, 2016 around 21:00 hrs, the trio and their colleague Moses Chuma were drinking at a bar in Mberengwa and the latter stepped over Magogo’s dog by mistake.
The incident angered Magogo who then stabbed the complainant twice with an okapi knife, once on his right eye and another on the right hand.
The complainant started bleeding on the eye and Mahohoma approached Chuma moments later asked that he buys him a drink.
The complainant kept his peace but Mahohoma went on to stab the complainant on the chest with a knife and he fell and the trio started kicking him all over his body.
The trio was later arrested when the complainant’s friend Tinomutenda Mutamiri took him to the police station to make a report.local