Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – A villager who tried to pay for a hired transport service allegedly using a fake five dollar bond note was savagely beaten by three friends who felt hard done by the deal, the Mwenezi Magistrates Court heard last week.
Lawrence Vengai (39), Abraham Musekwa (30),  Prosper Guni (19) who all reside in different villages under headman Gororo, Chief Nemauzhe in Chivi were convicted, on their own plea of guilty, for assaulting Munyaradzi Paringa.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa sentenced the trio to eight months imprisonment of which two months were conditionally suspended.
Asked by the magistrate what made them to brutally assault their victim, the trio said they were angered by the fact that the person had hired them yet wanted to cheat them by using fake money to pay for the services.
The court heard that on June 19, Vengai was at Lundi business centre when he was approached by Paringa requesting to be ferried to Helani village. The two agreed that Paringa will pay two dollars for the service.
Vengai approached Musekwa and Guni to accompany him and they complied and they drove the car to Helani village.
Upon reaching the destination, Paringa gave Vengai a five dollar bond note for the service but Vengai began to question the authenticity of the money leading to an argument.
Musekwa and Guni intervened and took turns to assault Paringa with fists, logs and open hands, accusing him of issuing fake money. 
Paringa later managed to escape but the trio had already caused immense harm on his body and was taken to Neshuro District Hospital for treatment.
A medical report that was produced in court showing that the victim sustained severe injuries. Willard Chasi appeared for the State.local

Lawrence Mandava

MASVINGO – Victor Ranga (19), Panashe Blessing Ncube (19) and Kudzai Musanje (24), were last week sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each by magistrate Dambudzo Malunga for hijacking Mathius Tauyanago’s car.
Ranga and Ncube will serve seven years effectively after three years were suspended on condition of good behavior but Musanje will serve ten year and three months as he had an attached theft crime of the past years.
Appearing for the State, Shamiso Masokovere told the court that around 23:00 hrs on June 18, the three hired Tauyanago who was coming from Rujeko going to Mucheke. The trio wanted to be taken to Mucheke Bus Terminus and paid US$2 for the service.
When they arrived, they stopped the driver to buy beer and the driver got out to smoke while waiting for them to buy their beer.
They later handcuffed and demanded a bribe saying they were cops and accused him of driving an unlicensed vehicle.
The complainant offered them US$1 but they refused and forced him to sit in the back seat before driving to Mucheke grounds outside Mucheke Stadium where they took his cellphone and US$27.
From there they drove to The Ritz night club to buy more beer, upon arrival, Ncube and Musanye went into the club leaving Ranga in guard.
The complainant overpowered Ranga and ran out and reported to Masvingo central police.
Sensing danger Ranga is said to have drove off and was caught after he was involved in an accident with the stolen car along Harare Road.local

Lance Chigodo

BULAWAYO – With big dreams and confidence, Thandinkosi Sibanda, a stunning local model who is deaf, recently defied the odds and contested alongside other fully able-bodied beauties in the Miss Cultural Zimbabwe pageant held at Horizon Pub.
The 21-year-old beauty turned many heads through a flawless performance and finished as a finalist ahead of a bevy of other beauties.
The tittle, held on May 26, saw Zandile Ncube becoming Miss Cultural, with Amanda Nyoni  and Anita Kubi as the First and second Princesses respectively.
 “It felt really great contesting for the first time against models who are not living with my condition. I performed the same way as other contestants, with the only difference being that the others could hear while I could not,” said Sibanda.
Iconic Model founder and Miss Cultural Zimbabwe organiser, Nilton Makazhu praised Sibanda as a remarkable model with vast talent.
“For the first time, Miss Cultural has had a model living with a disability and she turned out to be impressively good. She has a bright future in front of her,” said Makazhu.
The immaculate Sibanda began her modelling career only this year when she contested at the Miss Deaf Zimbabwe Pageant in March where she was crowned Miss Personality.
Inspired by the television show Project Runway on Fashion TV, she has now set her sights on the fashion industry and is working to begin her studies in that area.
Her family and friends, especially sibling Bonginkosi and friend Leona Nyarota have been supportive of her dreams and passion.
She hopes to support the modelling industry for people living with disabilities and help other deaf models live their dreams.
“I would like to see more beauty pageants for the deaf taking place in the country and see their modelling industry grow,” Sibanda said.local

MWENEZI – A homeless mentally-challenged man who had been squatting at Neshuro growth point for many years died last week after his clothes caught fire, causing him severe injuries that killed him two days after being admitted at hospital
Paradzanai Shonhai is understood to have been suffering from mental health problems for decades and had had no decent abode since the 1990s.
He was laid to rest at his rural home in Mukachana village under Chief Chitanga.
Ward 5 councillor, Master Makope confirmed Shonhai’s death saying the injuries that he sustained had caused his death.
“People found his burnt body in the morning and he was rushed to Neshuro Hospital but he died two days after admission and his death was necessitated by injuries caused by the fire,” said Makope.
He said Shonhai was given a decent burial after the community around the growth point mobilised resources.
It is suspected Shonhai’s clothes could have caught fire after crawling too close to a fire he had started to keep warm in the night.
His burial was attended by council representatives, Neshuro District Hospital Staff, representatives from various political parties, various church denominations and ordinary people among others.local