Beatific Gumbwanda in Chiredzi

10 Feb 2017 – CHIREDZI – The Zimbabwe Sugarcane Development Association (ZSDA) recently held its Annual General Meeting at Polo Cross in Hippo Valley at which the chairman’s report unveiled a theme on ‘specialising in intensive diversified farming’ so as to improve yields by fostering cordial working relations with millers and financial institutions.
The meeting was graced by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Responsible for Irrigation, Davis Marapira.
 ZSDA has empowered farmers by training and giving them new skills in such business ventures as fisheries, cattle fattening, beekeeping, boer goat keeping.
The organisation is also diversifying into cattle rearing and pen fattening but has been looking at how it can engage Tongaat Hullet so that more molasses is made available to local farmers before exports are made.
ZSDA chairperson Edmore Veterai said Tongaat Hullet should consider local molasses requirements first before shipping everything to other countries.
“Tongaat has exported more than 600 trucks of molasses to South Africa but in Zimbabwe molasses that went to Murehwa and Chitomborwizi and other places in 2016 are only 15 trucks. Our cattle are losing 35 kilograms every year between July and December, and they gain 30 kilograms between January and June,” Veterai said.
Farmers were also encouraged to utilise the opportunity to learn that has been made available by the working relationship between ZSDA and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) which is opening a campus in Chiredzi this February.
About 42 ZSDA farmers applied for the certificate in Sugarcane Agriculture.
“Our partnership with GZU has made the ZSDA to be the brand farmers. We are not just farmers but farmers of the revolution,” said Veterai.
In December 2016, ZSDA successfully held a successful tree planting day during which every farmer was urged to plant a minimum of 100 trees this rainy season.
Bananas gown in drains will also be produced on a commercial scale.
“CABS indicated that if we organise our farmers very well, they will give us loans to begin the banana project. These bananas will be grown in drains so there will be no need to irrigate them,” Veterai said.
ZSDA is on its way to construct its Headquarters in Chiredzi and they are still seeking funds. They are also to purchase a bus that will be transporting farmers and their families to field days, national events and meetings to mention a few.local

Cephas Shava

10 Feb 2017 – MWENEZI – A 41-year-old man went on the rampage destroying window panes of the house of his uncle – his father’s elder brother – after allegedly seeing the elderly man loitering at his homestead in the middle of the night.
Appearing before Mwenezi Magistrate, Honest Musiwa, was Cainos Mhere of Village 2 Beperi, Chief Maranda, who pleaded innocent to the charges of malicious damage to property of 66-year-old Nerian Mhere of the same village.
It is the State’s case that on December 10, 2016, Cainos went to Nerian’s homestead shouting, accusing him of witchcraft and ordering him to come out.
When Nerian refused, Cainos allegedly struck the door handle and smashed some window panes before he was restrained by his younger brother.
The accused however told Magistrate Musiwa that he only went to his uncle’s house to find out what was going on.
“I visited his homestead but I did not smash any window pane. I just ran after him because I had spotted him at my homestead in the night. So I wanted to ask him what exactly was he doing,” Cainos
Giving evidence before the same court, Nerian however said Cainos was armed with a stick when he visited his homestead.
He allegedly smashed his window panes saying he would bury him that day.
He also confirmed that the bad blood between him and Cainos dated back to 2011 when he refused to engage witch hunters because it is not allowed in his church.
The trial continues this week. Willard Chasi appeared for the state.local

Bigboy Madhochi (right) and a farm worker

Tinomutenda Midzi

10 Feb 2017 – Alex Gokova (39), of Madondo village under Chief Nhema in Zaka, was last week sentenced 12 months in prison for attempting to rape Tsitsi Muchemeri (18) of Chivanga village in the same district.
Masvingo Provincial Magistrate, Peter Madhibha, charged Gokova with attempted rape as defined in Section 89 of the Criminal Law Act Chapter 9.23.
It was the State’s case that on October 16 last year, Gokova went to the complainant’s place around 17:00 hrs and found her sleeping alone in a hut with the door open.
The accused entered the hut, grabbed the complainant and pulled her outside the hut to a nearby bush.
Gokova raised the complainant’s skirt up and pulled her pantiess down.
Muchemeri screamed for help before Jane Makasa and Dorcas Zava appeared and rescued her leading to the arrest of Gokova.
Nancy Makuvise appeared for the State.local

Davison Marenga
in Zvishavane

10 Feb 2017 – ZVISHAVANE – A 28-year-old Zvishavane appeared before Zvishavane Magistrate Achie Wochiunga facing charges of wearing a pair of camouflage shorts, a crime which is punishable by jail in the country’s laws.
Brighton Manguwo was found guilty of violating the Defence Act which prohibits civilians from putting on clothing with military colours.
He was however lucky to avoid a seven-day jail term after the court gave him an option of paying a US$50 fine.
The pair of shorts was however forfeited to the State.
In his defense, Munguwo told the court that he had been out of the country for some time and was not aware of the rules pertaining to that kind of apparel.
“Your honour I was out of the country for over eight years. I didn’t know that it was a crime to wear such clothes since they are sold everywhere even on the streets,” he said.
It was the State case that on the January 23, 2017 the accused was wearing camouflage shorts at Eskro shopping center when he was seen by Zvishavane CID details who were doing their routine patrols.
They stopped and arrested him.
Monica Nugwena stood for the State.local