MUTARE – Strict implementation of safety and health management systems are the only key to accident reduction at work places, National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has said.
This was heard at the belated World Day for Safety and Health at Work celebrations held on May 5 in Mutare and other towns around the country courtesy of NSSA.
NSSA Manicaland acting regional manager Arcadia Kecho said safety and health matter at work place were important issue that must be enforced consistently.
 “We have reasons to believe that occupational safety and health management system are the answers to accident reduction solution nightmares,” Kecho said.
In Masvingo the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa addressed a similar gathering at the Civic Centre gardens where called upon authorities to develop reliable reporting systems so that all risks can be quickly exposed.
“Managing safety and health in work environments is often viewed as unnecessary luxury especially where the business approach is based on traditional concepts but this approach has led to an astronomical rise in occupational accidents and diseases.
“As a country, we need to develop a more reliable reporting system because effective information systems have proven to be among the most effective tools in the management of business in the modern world,” Mahofa said.
It was also heard that 6 300 in the world die every day due to accidents at work and local records maintained by NSSA indicate an increase in occupational accidents and diseases.
In 2014, the country recorded 5 736 injuries and 106 fatalities, 5 380 injuries and 54 fatalities were reported in 2015 while 5 364 injuries and 63 fatalities were recorded in 2016.
World Day for Safety and Health is celebrated on 28 April every year and this year’s celebrations ran under the theme “Reinforcing occupational safety and health preventive culture through optimum gathering and utilisation of data.”local

Patrick Zhuwao

Increase Gumbo

CHIREDZI – A Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) student who allegedly had sex with his girlfriend whom he then promised to marry but failed due to interference from his parents is now in trouble after he was arrested for rape.
Kudzai Gopodza, who is attached at Environmental Management Agency (EMA) as a graduate trainee, appeared before Chiredzi Magistrate Judith Zuyu facing charges of rape after he allegedly forced himself on the girl whom he later promised to marry but failed.
The court heard that on February 18, 2017 at around 19:00 hrs, Gopodza who resides at house number 562 Jerera Township, allegedly called his girlfriend who worked as a house maid next door.
The court also heard that the girl brought along her employer’s child but Gopodza sent the child away, leaving the two alone.
It is alleged that Gopodza then locked the door and at around 02:00 hrs, he forced himself onto the girl.
The court also heard that in fear that the girl report the case, Gopodza kept the girl at the house and promised to marry her.
The matter came to light after his parents came to the house and found the girl but did not like the idea of their son getting married to an uneducated girl working as a house maid.
The girl was then chased from the house and she went to file a rape case with the police leading to the arrest of Gopodza.
In his defence Gopodza, who was represented by Primrose Magaisa of Pundu and Associates, told the court that he was in love with the girl whom she claimed was just vindictive because his parents had objected to their marriage on the grounds of education.
He claimed that the two were in love and had consensual sex for many times during their stay together.
The matter was later postponed for further trial on a later date.
Moreblessing Rusere prosecuted.local

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – A tout who attempted to forcibly load sacks of roundnuts in a truck without the owners’ consent was last Friday severely bashed and left for dead with serious injuries at Rutenga market, along the Beitbridge-Masvingo road.
The tout, identified as Martin Maranda popularly known in Rutenga as Mhatso, was left in a pool of blood with a swollen face after he was beaten by an unidentified man who accused him of trying to forcibly load the roundnuts onto the truck.
One of the owners of the luggage said Maranda either genuinely did not know that the job already has takers or was just too desperate to let go of a rare chance to make some little money.
“The bags are destined for Harare so when Maranda came, he started to claim that since he was the first to talk to the truck driver, he deserved to be given the piece job to load our roundnuts bags into the truck.
“He continued doing the job even though he had been told that there were already people who had been hired to do the job. This angered one of the hired loaders who at first tried to peacefully stop Maranda but latter got aggressive,” the woman said.
This reporter witnessed first-hand the ugly brawl between seemingly desperate men who all could not easily let go of a chance to be fruitfully occupied.
The two were later restrained by bystanders and they both disappeared separately into the nearby thick bush.
Police details later visited the area but the two men were already gone.local

MBERENGWA – Villagers in Mberengwa West and Insiza South have called upon the government to allow the traditional leadership to be involved in the clearance and selling of cattle so as to curb the increasing cases of cattle rustling in the area.
A number of villagers who have lost their cattle to thieves this year said the government should give the local leadership power to handle livestock sales so as to reduce bureaucracy if the problem of cattle rustling is to be seriously countered.
The concerned villagers also expressed unhappiness with the transportation of livestock at night, saying all transportation matters must be done during the day as thieves were taking advantage of the darkness to steal cattle.
Insiza South house of assembly representative, Malaki Nkomo also said he was worried with the spike in cattle theft cases in the two districts over the past few months.
“It’s painful as many people are losing their cattle to thieves. This month alone, about 20 beasts have been stolen so far and no trace has been established as yet.
“These thieves are targeting mainly the heifers and oxen, leaving farmers in dire situations,” said Nkomo.local

MWENEZI – The decomposing body of a 41-year-old man, who had gone missing for some days under unclear circumstances, was last week found floating in Zvouturu Dam, barely two months after his relative was found dead under similar circumstances in another dam in the same area.
The body of Tanonoka Sitera of Zvirikure village under Chief Mawarire was discovered by passers-by and was laid to rest at his rural home.
Though no comment could be immediately obtained from the police, relatives of the deceased confirmed the incident and said they were not sure as to what exactly transpired to their relative.
“Although he usually had mentally challenges, he left home saying he was going to visit his sister who resides in Matibi area but after we had realised he didn’t get there, we began to search for him.
“His body was discovered later by passers-by. We are not sure as to what happened to him because he rarely visited the area where he was found floating in a dam,” said Richwell Sitera who is a relative to the deceased.
Chief Mawarire also confirmed the incident and told TellZim News that he had since advised the Sitera family to approach him if they want a letter to engage n’angas to investigate what might be the source of the problem.
Tanonoka was nephew to Clemency Sitera whose body was found by passers-by decomposing and floating in Pambe Dam in March after he had gone missing for almost two weeks.local

TellZim Reporter

MUTARE – An epileptic man from Honde Valley was recently found dead without private parts and flesh on the skull.
The man identified as Donemor Sanyoka (23) of Magadu village in Honde Valley went missing for some days and his body was found in a decomposing state.
Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident and said the matter is being treated as murder. Kakohwa added that investigations were in progress.
“We are investigating a case of a Honde Valley man who was found dead without his private parts and skin on the skull. We are treating it as a murder case.
“As police we are appealing to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the culprits to report to any nearby police station.
“Sanyoka stayed alone and on the fateful day, it was reported that he left to take a bath at Nyamuchingura River at around 17: 00 hrs.  He was last seen by a neighbour Vengesai Mutari,” Inspector Kakohwa said.
HE said Vengesai noticed that Sanyoka was missing after some days. He alerted the village Headman Themba Magadu and the whole village embarked on a search. They later found his body in a state of decomposing without private parts and skill on the skull. The case is being treated as murder and investigations are in progress.local

MBERENGWA – Angry in-laws from Gaha in Mberengwa have allegedly destroyed crops and burnt down their ex father in-law’s house in a nasty divorce dispute.
Herbert Shumba of Madhume village in Mavorovondo area lost his house last week in an arson attack allegedly perpetrated by his son in-law who was angry with being dumped by his wife; Tarirai.
Midlands provincial police acting spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said she had not yet received the story but it is understood Tarirai had four children with her ex-husband but had had left him some years ago after he reportedly married another wife.
Sources also say her father accepted her back into his family even though her former husband’s family had not paid any lobola and helped her further her education to become a qualified school teacher.
The former in-laws, sources say, now want their wife and are doing all the things possible to be given her back.
“When Tarirai came back years ago, she had four children with the Nguluve family. His father took her back though the in-laws paid not even a penny. Her father upgraded her and sent her to school. Now she is a school teacher and they are doing all possible things to get her back,” said the source.
The Nguluve family, it is said, came for the first time and allegedly destroyed a maize field at night and threw the crops into a well.
On the second occasion, it is also said, they came and set fire on three buildings at the Shumba family homestead.
“On the first day, Shumba woke up early after hearing his granddaughter, Chiratidzo, shouting that one of the huts was on fire and he woke up. As they were busy putting out the fire, the garage which is a distance from the huts was also set on fire and a bedroom started burning,” another source said.
Shumba confirmed that his homestead was gutted by fire but could not deny or confirm that his ex in-laws were responsible.
“My house was set on fire twice it is very true. Honestly I never saw the people who did it; I just heard some of the people saying they saw people wearing masks. I don’t even suspect anyone or blame anyone as of now but people are just saying things,” he said.local