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Battle for Masvingo Urban begins


Passmore Kuzipa

Jostling for constituencies has already begun in Masvingo province with the most interesting battle being in Masvingo Urban where more than five prominent and well-resourced candidates are said to be vying for the seat come the 2018 general elections.
The incumbent Zanu PF Mavingo Urban legislator Daniel Shumba should be losing sleep these days as he is under fire from members of a rival faction, Team Lacoste, which is already agitating for his ouster from the party and subsequently recall from Parliament. Team Lacoste, which pushes for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to replace the 93 year-old President Robert Mugabe, is understood to be supporting Goddart Dunira to replace Shumba.
Though they may not succeed to remove Shumba before 2018 and replace him through a by-election, the incumbent legislator might kiss goodbye to the Masvingo Urban seat at party primaries which are expected to be held either later this year or early next year.
Dunira, who is the chairperson of Vashandi Housing Scheme which built over 3 000 houses for its members at Victoria Ranch, is posing a serious threat to Shumba and might spring a surprise at party primaries.
The Chivi Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 30 councillor is riding high on factional fights currently going on in Zanu PF Masvingo province and that might be an advantage on his side against Shumba who is under fire for allegedly being a Generation 40 (G40) loyalist.

Dunira, being brother to Physchomotor Minister Josaya Dunira Hungwe, seems to be fighting in the same corner with the Masvingo provincial godfather who is believed to be loyal to Team Lacoste faction.
Fighting a strong faction like Team Lacoste in Masvingo might spell doom for Shumba who is said to be a G40 loyalist. Most of the G40 faction members who were in the provincial executive have been suspended few weeks ago and that leaves Shumba with few colleagues to turn to in times of trouble.
Shumba’s biggest undoing is that he appears to have created more enemies than friends since he was elected to the National Assembly on July 31, 2013. Since being appointed politburo member, Shumba looked like he had crossed paths with many comrades among them Senator Clemence Makwarimba, Masvingo Central legislator Edmund Mhere and many others over issues to do with seniority.
While Shumba has the best brains among the MPs in the province and is a strategist, this might not be of any help as the more powerful Team Lacoste faction is already baying for his blood. Chances of Shumba winning the party primaries are really slim and Dunira might have the last laugh if no other strong candidate emerges.
Dunira might easily sail through the primaries but will face stiff competition from the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) which is likely to field Harare-based businessman Takanayi Mureyi.
Though Mureyi has to first face Boniface Mazarire in the primaries, chances are very high that he will win the ticket to represent MDC-T in the 2018 general elections with much easy. Former MDC-T Masvingo Urban legislator Tongai Matutu is also said to be eyeing a comeback, and if that is true, it would make the MDC-T primaries even more interesting.
Reliable sources, however, suggest that Matutu is planning to contest for the position of councillor in Harare and if he wins,  then he would contest for the mayoral position. This sounds true and more real therefore, Mureyi is likely to be the MDC-T candidate for Masvingo Urban in 2018.
Interestingly, Mureyi and Dunira have somewhat similar circumstances – they both have more experience with the rural electorate and probably very little knowledge about the urban electorate. Mureyi contested and lost the Masvingo West seat to Zanu PF’s Ezra Chadzamira on July 31, 2013 elections while Dunira was elected councillor for Chivi RDC ward 30.
This background might appear as not that important but already the duo’s approach to urban politics needs to be refined. They should both work on strategies and most importantly, how to address urban electorate otherwise their conduct might affect them even at primary elections.
Prominent lawyer Rodney Makausi of Makausi Saratoga Legal Practitioners is also said to be eyeing Masvingo Urban seat under the National People’s Party (NPP) ticket. Makausi is smarter than Dunira and Mureyi in terms of strategy and approach. However, his main challenge is the current on-going grand coalition talks between his party, the MDC-T and other opposition political parties as it is not clear at the moment what criteria the parties would use to field candidates in the 2018 general elections. MDC-T is already pushing to field candidates in all the constituencies it won in 2008, and if it succeeds, that means Masvingo Urban would go to Tsvangirai’s party.
But that cannot completely push Makausi out of picture as he has another option to contest for the local authority seat for Ward nine (Rhodene) and, if he wins, he can use his financial muscle to contest for the Mayoral position for Masvingo City. Either way, Makausi stands a better chance. Since age is on his side, Makausi might be a big name come 2023 general elections. His circumstances are almost similar to the current mayor Hubert Fidze of MDC-T who is being pushed to try his lucky and contest for Masvingo Urban seat. Fidze has been on record both in private and public gatherings that he was not ready for a Parliamentary seat. One only hopes that Fidze remains content with his current position and battle to be re-elected City Mayor because the Parliamentary seat might be too hot for him.
However, all the candidates that have emerged so far are well resourced and that would be interesting to see who will win at the end of the day. The electorate should however, choose the candidate based on merit if we are to develop as a nation.
For comments and contributions contact 0772 729 937 / 0718 729 937 or
e-mail pkuzipa@tellzim.com / editor@tellzim.co.zw.politics

Women Breaking Barriers – Clearer vision with Bibikawa Kopolo Militala

Optometrists are healthcare professionals who provide primary vision care ranging from sight testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. An optometrist receives a doctor of optometry (OD) degree after completing four years of optometry school, preceded by three years or more years at college. They are licensed to practice optometry, which primarily involves performing eye exams and vision tests, prescribing and dispensing corrective lenses, detecting certain eye abnormalities, and prescribing medications for certain eye diseases.
Gutu-born Kopolo went to Victoria High in Masvingo and she says people depend on their vision in more ways than they realise.
“Without healthy vision, our ability to work, play, drive or even recognise a face would be severely affected
Many factors can affect our eyesight, including other health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Having a family member with eye problems makes one prone to having that condition as well. Sight-stealing eye diseases can appear at any time. Very often they are unnoticeable at first and are difficult to detect. “Your sight depends on seeing the right eye doctor at the right time” says Kopolo.

“I want the girl child to be empowered to say no with confidence, while raising herself to be a confident and professionally independent woman.”

Pote Holdings manager ties the knot


Kudzai Kanjanda and her husband Gareth Nyika

Exsto Makunzva

ZVISHAVANE – Pote Holdings marketing manager Kudzai Kanjanda is now a happily married woman after she wedded her long time fiancé Gareth Nyika on Saturday April 22, 2017.
The wedding, which was held at Pote Hill Hotel, was one of the best weddings to be ever hosted at the same venue.
Speaking on behalf director Clever Pote, management and staff, Pote Holdings general manager Tamson Mtombeni was full of praises for Kanjanda.
“We really appreciate what has happened here and the director is also very happy about. He has sent me here to extend his blessings to this couple.
“Kudzi is doing a great job here. Maybe some of you do not understand the kind of job this lady is doing; she is the one in charge of marketing Pote Hill Hotel, Pote Supermarkets, Pote Hardware, Pote Drilling, Pote Milling, Pote Farm and Pote Transport. She is the one in-charge of marketing all these companies together with her assistants,” said Mtombeni.
He also said by going into holy matrimony, Kanjanda had set a good example for others who are behind her.
Mtombeni also presented the newlyweds with a present from the Pote Holdings director while every other department brought gifts for the couple as well.local

Gutu home razed down in nasty divorce dispute

File pic


Peter Chawapiwa

GUTU – A whole homestead in Hwicho village under Headman Gadzingo in Gutu was recently destroyed in an acrimonious divorce wrangle pitting a scorned woman and her brother on one hand, and her annoyed husband on the other.
Angelina Mangava, wife to Damascus Chibhachi, and her brother Simon Mangava allegedly decided to completely destroy the home to punish Chibhachi who had filed for divorce alleging that Angelina was cheating on him.
Angelina, however, disputed the adultery allegations before Chief Gutu’s court which ruled in her favour and ordered Chibhachi not to evict his wife from home.
A determined Chibhachi, however, went on to apply for a peace order against Angelina after which he applied for an eviction order at Gutu Magistrates Court which ordered him and Angelina to bring three and two witnesses respectively.
It all started when Chibhachi called his brother-in-law Mangava instructing him to come and take his sister Angela whom she said was having an extra-marital affair. The matter was referred to Village Hwicho’s court but Chibhachi refused to appear before the village head.
“I then told Chibhachi that he was aware of the traditional proceedings which he had to follow if he wanted to divorce my sister. However, nothing happened and the next thing that I heard was that my sister had been evicted from her homestead.
“I reported the matter to the police at Gutu and they were all told, the village head included, to follow the proper procedures,” Simon told TellZim News.
In the Gutu Magistrates Court, Simon claimed that Chibhachi had been away for at least 10 years and he had personally built all the structures at the homestead for his sister.  He said in the event that his sister was divorced, he would be forced to take away all the building material which he had donated.
The home was later completely destroyed and Chibhachi was left with nothing to call home.local

Woman drowns own child to please lover

File pic

Memory Rasa

MASVINGO – A 25-year-old woman from Gwatinyanya village under Chief Mapanzure together with her 39-year-old lover from Mushawasha village under Chief Shumba are facing murder charges after they allegedly conspired to drown the former’s child whom they regarded as a disturbance to their love affair.
Joyce Madzimure and Amos Chipare were charged for murder as defined in Section 47(1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 when they made an initial appearance before Masvingo Provincial Magistrate Langton Ndokera late last year and are scheduled to appear in the Masvingo High Court on July 13-14, 2017.
It is the State’s case that on an unknown date in October 2016 along the flooded Mutirikwi River, Madzimure and Chipare drowned Farai Sigauke (3) and left him to die after stripping him and throwing his clothes in nearby bushes.
It is alleged that the lovers, who were staying together in Zaka, agreed to get rid of Farai whom they accused of disturbing their affair.
However, things took a dramatic turn on November 25, 2016, when the two’s affair ended, with Madzimure returning to her former husband who inquired on the whereabouts of his child.
Madzimure allegedly confessed about what had happened and a report was made to the police leading to her arrest
The boy’s body had already been retrieved and sent to Masvingo General Hospital by Muchakata police after a fisherman, Nickson Nyangani stumbled upon it.
The body was examined by Dr Chiwororo on October 24, 2016 but the actual cause of the death could not be clearly ascertained because the body was already in an advanced state of decomposition.local

Man stabs wife, mother-in-law over infidelity


Shumirai Zhou

MBERENGWA – Lathi Nyoni and her daughter Aquino Ncube of Danangombe under Chief Bankwe in Mberengwa West are struggling for life in Mnene Hospital hospital after being severely stabbed by Ncube’s husband who suspected his wife of infidelity in his absence.
TellZim News established that while he was in South Africa, Moreblessing Nkala got wind of his wife’s alleged adulterous affairs and that she had aborted a pregnancy.
Though no police comment could not be obtained by the time of going to press, it was learnt that Nkala returned home in Danangombe where he allegedly stabbed his wife and mother-in-law all over their bodies with a knife accusing Nyoni of having a bad influence over her daughter.
Nyoni told TellZim News she was stabbed by Nkala after she tried to rescue her daughter who was shouting for help after being attacked.
“It happened upon Nkala’s arrival from South Africa. I heard a strange noise from my room and decided to go and see what was taking place. Nkala was holding a knife with Aquie lying on the floor with blood all over her body showing that she had been stabbed. When I asked what was taking place, Nkala turned on me and started attacking me,” said Nyoni.
A villager told TellZim News that Nkala disappeared from the scene when he saw people coming to see what was happening.
The two victims were carried to Masase Hospital but later transferred to Mnene Hospital where they were being treated.
“I do not know what might happen to us when we get discharged from the hospital since my young sister phoned me saying that she is receiving Nkala’s threatening messages on her phone. He disappeared and until now the police are investigating on his whereabouts,” said Ncube.
Elsewhere, Sophia Tawana of Pasvana village under Chief Neshuro in Mwenezi and his co-accused, Herbert Dube were sentenced to eight months imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting Marvelous Tapudzai whom they accused of having an affair with Tawana’s wife.local

Sex worker stabs man over change

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – A 26-year-old commercial sex worker who does her work around Rutenga growth point stabbed her drinking mate after a dispute over change in a local bar, the Mwenezi Magistrates Court recently heard.
Appearing before Magistrate Honest Musiwa, Rosemary Buchu, who resides at Rutenga, pleaded guilty to charges of stabbing Tafadzwa John of house number 561 newsstands, Rutenga.
Buchu was sentenced to 12 months behind bar with an option to perform 350 hours of community service at Mwenezi Magistrates Court.
Asked by the magistrate on how she earns a living, Buchu confidently said she does her business in the bars.
“Ndinoshandira mumabhawa….mari yandinowana pavhiki inoita iyo $10, ndiyoyandinoziva kuti panozopera vhiki handingaishayiwo.”
The State, led by Patience Mutsikwi alleged that on February 27 this year, Buchu and John were drinking together at Gumbo beer hall at around 01:00 hours.
John gave Buchu US$5 to buy some beer but Buchu later refused to give John his change leading to an altercation.
Buchu drew a knife from her pocket and stabbed John on his right hand.  He sustained some injuries and was rushed to Neshuro Hospital for treatment.local

Lawyer assaulted in court

Upenyu Chaota

MASVINGO – There was drama at the Masvingo Provincial Magistrates Court last week after an incensed complainant in a civil case attacked the defendant’s lawyer after the case had appeared set to go against him.
The lawyer, Tichaona Bhunu was attacked by Tatenda Munyai who was suing Bhunu’s client for damages for allegedly impregnating his daughter.
Munyai was immediately arrested and later brought before regional Magistrate Langton Ndokera who convicted and sentenced him to eight months imprisonment with two suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
During the trial and sentence of Munyai, the court was packed with lawyers from Masvingo who demanded increased security at court.
 In giving the sentence, Ndokera said the court had to be respected and it was unheard of that a lawyer is attacked in a court room.
He also bemoaned lack of sufficient security for lawyers at court.
Nelson Chavarika prosecuted.local

Gun gives away armed robbers

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Three suspected armed robbers who were recently arrested at Lundi were sold out by a gun that slipped off the pocket of one of the ruffians, TellZim News has learnt.
The thugs are believed to be the part of a gang that has been terrorising many people in Masvingo and parts of the Midlands for a long time, raiding businesses and shooting their victims.
Though no comment could immediately be obtained from the police, eyewitnesses said detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) acted on a tip-off and ambushed the suspects.
“Police acted after a tip-off from some diesel dealers who had become suspicious after a gun slipped from one of the thugs’ pocket at a Lundi night spot the previous night. People were also suspicious because the strangers were squandering money as if there was no tomorrow,” said a Lundi businessman.
Another eyewitness said the suspected criminals were taken by surprised as they had appeared very much at ease with their surroundings.
“They parked their Toyota Altezza vehicle in front of Madhuha beer hall and got busy feasting at another shop. Police fired warning shots that left bystanders shivering and one of the robbers tried to resist but he soon gave up. A gun was recovered from inside the robbers’ vehicle, hidden behind a seat,” said an eyewitness.
People who spoke to TellZim News praised the police for acting quickly and arresting all the suspects that they said were looking capable of robbing any business in the area.
Earlier this year, robbers pounced at Stopover and got away with a significant amount of money after firing shots and seriously injuring a worker. A service station in Zvishavane was also robbed and its owner shot and seriously injured just around the same time.local

Married Nyanga woman caught pants-down

TellZim Reporter

NYANGA – A Nyanga married woman and her boyfriend were left shame-faced after being caught red-handed having quality time in her matrimonial bedroom last week.
Ivy Masamba, wife to Never Zimbiti who works at Troutbeck in Nyanga, and her boyfriend only identified as Gwenzi – a tout at Evergreen Bus Terminus in Rusape – were caught in Dombo, village 22 Makoni district.
The two lovebirds were caught and detained for hours by angry villagers who severely assaulted.
Witnesses said Masamba’s mother-in-law visited her and Gwenzi later arrived and confidently proceeded to the kitchen without even bothering to greeting her.
A suspicious Gogo Zimbiti did not get a good answer when she asked about the stranger and she left but returned a few moments later to find her daughter-in-law being intimate with the stranger.
She then locked the door from outside and informed the whole village.
Zimbiti and his wife’s parents were also called and they joined in assaulting the hapless woman and her lover. The lovebirds were locked in from Tuesday evening till Wednesday before police came to their rescue.
Efforts to get comments from Masamba and Gwenzi were fruitless and Zimbiti’s number was unreachable by the time of going to the press.local