01 March 2017, CHIVHU – A 16-year-old girl from Mugwenhi village under Chief Mutekedza in Sadza, exposed her rape by her uncle through letters she had written and intended to send to the rapist’s wife.
The 53-year-old rapist uncle, who appeared before Magistrate Fadzai Mutombeni, was slapped with a nine-year jail sentence after being convicted on counts of indecent assault and rape.
It was the State’s case that in August 2016, the complainant went to her uncle’s bedroom hut where she wanted to charge her cell phone but the uncle followed her, grabbed and fondled her breasts.
On the other day, the man took advantage of the absence of his wife from home and raped the girl in the hut where she had gone to put her phone on the charger.
Matters came to light when the man’s wife caught him kneeling down in the kitchen trying to kiss the girl who was asleep, but husband and wife decided to chase the girl to her father who lives in Wedza.
The complainant’s father only learnt about the case when he stumbled upon letters that her daughter had written to the uncle’s wife detailing the abuse.
The father reported the case to Wedza police leading to the arrest of the culprit.
Nicholas Mabvongodze stood for the State.local

01 March 2017, MUTARE – Bridget Mhlanga (18) of House Number 10659, Federation, Dangamvura, and her accomplice, who is a minor, will spent two years behind bars after they were convicted of stealing US$6 500 from Mhlanga’s boyfriend.
Mutare Magistrate, Tracy Muzondo sentenced the duo to 24 months imprisonment with six months suspended for good behavior.
The minor, who was 14 when the offence was committed in October 2016, will serve her sentence when she turns 18.
It was the State’ s case that on October 30 last year, Mhlanga and her friend were cleaning Dawn Mazendure’s house but the minor searched Mazendure’s toolbox and found US$6 500 which she connived with Mhlanga to steal.
The two then shared the cash with Mhlanga getting US$3 000 while the minor got US$3 500. They then went to town where the minor gave her share to one Tafadzwa with Mhlanga giving hers to one Ambitious Machite.
It was only on November 4 when Mazendure checked his toolbox and found that his money was missing. He questioned Mhlanga who only told him her friend had once showed her the money. After investigations only US$240 was recovered from Machite.
Fletcher Karombe appeared for the State.local

27 Feb 2017, GWERU – Gaika Gold Fields workers are complaining of what they say are inhuman working conditions characterised by lack of protective clothing, poor sanitation, long working hours and poor remuneration.
The miners say there have been disease outbreaks at mine, which is located along Chiundura road near Kwekwe, with some miners dying as a result.
Workers who spoke to TellZim News said many workers are facing health challenges because they are forced to work with such harmful substances as caustic soda and cyanide with no protective clothing.
 “In the past, cyanide contamination led to the death of two miners; Douglas Chowa and Lovemore Nyambara but the mine did not cover for their burial services and has never bothered taking corrective measures ever since,” said a miner who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Other workers also complained that mine management was in constant breach of employment contracts with no medical aid given when workers fall ill.
“Only the clerk is covered by the medical aid and we grapple with high medical bills because our salaries sometimes fall to as little as $250 or less,” said one worker.
Some former employees of the mine have reportedly gone for a long time without being given their benefits and they are not getting their monthly pension payouts.
The workers said they had raised these complaints in one of the meetings with management but nothing was addressed.
Though no comment could be obtained from top management, mine plant operator Mathius Nyakudya said issues of pensions were addressed by the company’s headquarters in Bulawayo and all ex-workers were getting their pensions every month.local