Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – The Sex Workers Advocacy Group (SWAG) has called upon the government to rebrand and add lubricants to the Panther condom saying men despised the freely distributed condom and some were not willing to make use of it.
The sex workers were speaking at a workshop called provincial SWAG dialogue organised by Batanai HIV and AIDS Service Organization (BHASO) at Chevron Hotel.
The workshop was meant to discuss problems faced by sex workers and find solutions so as to meet the government’s policy towards HIV and Aids.
Popularly known as the ‘ma deMbare’ due to its distinctive blue and white colours synonymous with Dynamos Football Club, the Panther condom, the sex workers said, was also uncomfortable during sex.
“We are asking for authorities to rebrand the ‘deMbare’ condom because our clients do not want to use it because it’s itchy and this leaves us without option. We end up having unprotected sex,” said one sex worker.
They appealed for the provision of extra lubricants for free condoms so that they become more appealing, comfortable and less likely to burst during sex.
The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) board chairperson Peter Vhoko told the gathering that the suggestions may take some time to implement because the condom is not manufactured in locally.
 “The request has however been send to the manufacturer. My organisation and its partners will make noise and do follow ups to make sure the request is taken care of,” Vhoko said.
The ‘sisters’, as the sex workers called themselves, also asked for the legalisation of prostitution so as to end stigmatisation.
Sex workers, they said, need to be supported through funding for income generation projects as most of them were in it not out of choice but out of necessity.
“If we are given something to do we won’t risk our heath by engaging in unprotected sex,” another sex worker said.
Statistics show that Zimbabwe is one of the countries with the highest condom use in the world.
Many Africans, however, have negative perceptions of freely distributed condoms which they regard as of poor quality.news

‘I think service delivery all the time’

Tatenda Shunyai

MASVINGO – City of Masvingo Town Clerk, Adolf Gusha is now regarded as one of the finest managers in the country after he scooped the prestigious Best CEO of the Year award (Second Runner-up) at the Megafest Business Awards in Bulawayo on October 28, 2016.
Gusha was nominated in the category alongside top CEOs in the southern region and was the only public sector nominee in a category dominated by corporate private players.
Gusha said he felt honoured to be ranked among top CEOs in the country.
“I feel honoured to receive the award; an achievement which came in light of my long service in local governance. I have hardworking people with a cordial working relationship which is critical for service delivery,” said Gusha.
Gusha thanked councillors and the people they represent whom he credited for making a contribution through rate payments.
Gusha said he is motivated to see the city of Masvingo growing.
“I have passion for governance issues and I have been working for local government all my life. I would however, want to thank people like Mr Tsunga Mhangami and Munyaradzi Vhudzijena who mentored me to be who I am today.
“My management is very competent and they are development oriented. I am happy that we always talk of innovative solutions. We have a rare crop of manager who think outside the box all the time,” said Gusha.
The Town Clerk took the opportunity to thank the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa for supporting the municipality.
“Minister Mahofa is very supportive, she loves this city and I am happy that she is someone who is always there for us,” added Gusha.
He said the award symbolised better things to come and will put Masvingo on the business map, leading to improved investor confidence.
“We are running up and down so that the people get quality services. I think quality service all the time,” added Gusha.
City of Masvingo Mayor, Hubert Fidze said the award was a source of pride for the city.
“I feel honoured to be working with people who are dedicated to the development of our city. The award testifies to the spirit of commitment and hard work that we share.
“We put politics aside and work together as a team so that we deliver what we are expected of as council,” said Fidze.
Gusha has been in local governance since 1983 when he joined the Shurugwi Rural District Council after completing his university education the previous year.
He later joined the local governance ministry before moving to Masvingo city council in 1987 where he started as the deputy housing director. He then rose through the ranks until he was appointed substantive Town Clerk in 2004.news

ZVISHAVANE – A prophet from Buchwa Camp recently appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Story Rushambwa, charged with domestic violence as defined in Section 4 as read with Section 3(1) (a) of Domestic Violence Act Chapter 5:16.
Israel Masuku (34) admitted to the allegations levelled against him and said that he assaulted the complainant after she replied harshly to him during a conversation at home.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the period of five years, leaving him to serve an effective six months jail term.
Masuku, who resides at house number L17 ZRP Buchwa camp, had deceived the court as he lied that his name was Ronald Kereke until his wife Florence Bebura, who is a Chief Inspector at Buchwa, exposed him and told the court his real name.
It was the State’s case that on October 21, 2016 at house number L17 ZRP Buchwa Support Unity camp, Israel Masuku committed an act of physical abuse on Bebura.
Masuku poured water on the complainant’s face, booted her on the back, grabbed her neck, bit her left side ear and hit her once with a clenched fist on the left eye causing her to suffer a painful left eye , back and neck.
Talent Tadenyika prosecuted.news

ZVISHAVANE – A Mberengwa school teacher, Ruramai Sibanda (43) last week made an application at the Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court to have her husband, Washington Mapurisa (58), barred from threatening her with a knife when they have a misunderstanding.
Magistrate Peter Madiba granted the order in favour of Sibanda and ordered Mapurisa to stop threatening to stab his wife.
The applicant said their problems started when her husband lost his job at Shabani Mine.
Sibanda still works as a school teacher at Batanai School in Mberengwa and has assumed the role of breadwinner.
“My husband was never violent to me for the good part of our marriage but things turned sour when he lost his job at Shabani Mine.
“I think he is insecure and thinks I might leave him since he is no longer working. That is why he is turning violent,” said Sibanda.
The court heard that Sibanda used to come back home for lunch but on one fateful day, she angered her husband after she failed to show up during the lunch hour.
Her husband suspected she had found somebody else to spend time with during lunch and he became jealousy.
Mapurisa admitted threatening his wife but pleaded for clemency saying he would not do it again.
“Your Worship, I did that out of love. I thought that if I held a knife she would start respecting me but I realised I was wrong so I destroyed the knife.
“I love my wife and I will never threaten her again and she knows that. Even at home, she doesn’t touch anything as I do all the household chores for her since I am not working,” said Mapurisa.news

TellZim Reporter

Ward 30 Councillor for Chivi Rural District Council Goddard Dunira (pictured) said he will not rest until the people who elected him have quality services.
Dunira said he will make sure that he people of Chivi would benefit from his servant leadership skills.
Speaking at Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) event recently, Dunira assured the people in his ward that he will make sure that the people in the Silver City residential suburb will get electricity.
“We have since engaged ZESA to connect electricity in Silver City. We are happy that ZESA has responded positively and we are hoping that very soon we will light up the Silver City residential area,” said Dunira.
Dunira said he was very happy that the council has managed to connect sewer in Silver City. It has always been my wish to see my ward being up lifted,” added Dunira.
Initially, residents in Silver City were using septic tanks.

Tatenda Shunyai

MASVINGO – A gang of daring robbers clad in police regalia recently paid a surprise visit to Masvingo Christian College where they attacked and made away with US$220.
It is understood the gang was made up of six men all dressed in police uniforms but they did not have hats when they pounced on the school at around 2:00am a fortnight ago.
They reportedly gained entry into the school yard by climbing the security wall.
They allegedly went around the school using torches to light their way and were approached by an alert guard who had noticed unusual movements.
The robbers are said to have misled the guard into believing they were policemen pursuing a thief who had escaped into the school yard before attacking him after they had persuaded him to tie his dog.
The hapless guard was then tied up to prevent him from moving before the robbers force-opened the screen door at the admin block which gained them access to the safe.
After blowing the safe, they looted the cash and escaped.
The school head could not give comments on the issue and referred all questions to the Provincial Education Director (PED) Zedias Chitiga who could not comment as he had not yet been fully briefed by the time of writing.news