Kudzai Matava / Peter Chawapiwa

Gutu – In a bizarre incident that has left the local community tongue-tied, a woman from Maravanyika Village under Chief Munyaradzi allegedly killed and feasted on her newly-born baby before throwing the remains in a bucket.
Speaking to TellZim News recently, elders from Maravanyika Village confirmed that they were still in a state of shock saying family representatives and community elders had taken the woman, only identified as Irene, to her family in Gokwe.
Irene was reportedly married to Webster Muzavazi from Muzavazi village but was currently staying in Maravanyika village.

 “This is a suspected case of witchcraft. Irene is said to have been initiated into witchcraft by her relatives at a tender age so upon giving birth to her child at Mutero Mission hospital, she was being pressured by members of her sinister witchcraft group to supply human flesh and ended up giving her own baby,” the source said.
Narrating the strange incident to TellZim News, Webster’s uncle only identified as Baba Rudo Munyaradzi, who was part of the team which escorted Irene to Gokwe said everyone was still in shock.
“When all this happened, I was not around but I can confirm everyone is still in a state of shock. On the fateful  day in question about two weeks ago, lrene was seen running up and down around the yard- she was behaving in a strange way and people suspected that something was wrong. She was then asked about the whereabouts of the newly born baby and she initially claimed that the child had been eaten by dogs. Initially people thought it was a joke but after a search, people bumped into a bucket which was full of blood and the child’s remains. The bucket was hidden behind the door in the house,” said Webster’s Uncle.
 “My elder brother was called to attend to the scene and her husband who was away was also alerted about the incident. Irene was still acting strangely so we had to communicate with her family who instructed us to bury our grandchild and bring them their child. Even when I left her at her rural home in Gokwe, she still appeared distracted,” he said.
Muzavazi Village head who is also a relative to Webster said the incident will be remembered as one of the saddest episodes in both the family and the community history.
“Webster comes from my village but he is now living in Maravanyika village. We are failing to come to terms with this issue up until now. This is the saddest episode of our life, everyone is shocked. I am not sure if Sabhuku Maravanyika is going to take any action against anyone but all I can confirm is that we are not happy,” said Sabhuku Muzavazi.
Village head Maravanyika could not be reached for comment before going to print.
Sources insist that Irene confessed that she was a witch.
“She confessed that she was a witch and said she had started the practice when she was still very young. She said she had no option besides killing her child since it was her turn to sacrifice her child,” said another source.news

Tinomutenda Midzi

CHIVI – Chivi Rural District Council (RDC) chairperson killer Zivhu last week donated building material worth thousands of United States Dollars to Dzingirai Primary School in Chivi South’s Ward 29.
Zivhu, who is also Zanu PF Masvingo provincial treasurer, confirmed that the non-stop factional fights in his party were hindering development in the province and urged people to unite.
“Members of Zanu PF in Masvingo must stop creating divisions within the party. We should work for the people party and promote development in the province. If we were united, more people would have come to donate towards the construction of classroom blocks here,” said Zivhu.news

Tinomutenda Midzi

MASVINGO – In an act of negligence, a couple driving a Toyota Vitz escaped death by a whisker after the vehicle veered off the road and overturned several times before landing on its roof near Masvingo Polytechnic College when the driver left the steering unattended as they engaged in fist-fighting, while the car was in motion last week.
Speaking to TellZim News soon after the accident, the wife blamed her husband for the mishap saying before she accused him of having an extra-marital affair.
 “He (husband) came to town where I sell airtime and told me to get in the car saying he wanted to discuss something. When I got in, he started driving off the place punching me all over with one hand on the handle saying unodanana nabamunini vako (you are having an affair with my young brother), and it is fun that the boy being referred to is young enough to be my son.
The woman goes further saying she tried to escape when they were crossing the bridge just after Chicken Inn along Masvingo-Beitbridge road but the husband kept speeding.
“I then touched his hand trying to save myself and that was when the vehicle veered off the road and overturned. It is a lie that I wanted the car to crash into an oncoming truck,” she said.
The husband denied the accusations saying they had an early fight which he thought they settled at home so he was shocked to see her turning the car to a passing truck to intentionally commit suicide.
“We had a misunderstanding at home and I thought it was over. I was shocked when she pushed me off the handle turning the car sideways. All she is telling the people now is not true,” he said.
The two live in Runyararo West, have children together and the car they were driving in is a tax that belongs to their employer.news

Peter Chawapiwa

MPANDAWANA – The Gutu Business Development Association (GBDA) has pleaded with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to lower water tariffs for churches in the town saying they were too high for non-profit organisations.
Church organisations in Mpandawana are reportedly not happy with being billed for water at commercial rates.
In a letter addressed to the Runde Catchment Area manager and signed by the GBDA chairman, Isaiah Ngwaru, the association asked ZINWA to reduce the water tariffs from the current commercial rate to domestic rates.
“Churches are non-profit making organisations whose consumption is primarily for domestic use by congregants when they come to church.
“In view of the above we hereby request your office to look into the matter with a view of reducing the water rates from commercial to domestic grade,” reads part of the letter.
In the same letter Ngwaru made reference to the fact that as an association, they had successfully approached the relevant ministry for the reduction of all water rates at in new town.
“In this instance Gutu churches have approached us to bring the water issue to the attention of your honourable office.”
Ngwaru said they were still to receive a response from ZINWA but maintained that they will continue to pursue the matter until they received a favourable response from the water authority.news

Paida Mukono

CHIREDZI – Despite the hot temperatures in Chiredzi many people braved the hot weather and trooped to health centers that are dotted around the town to seek prevention from the second world killer disease, Lymphatic Filariasis.
 Lymphatic Filariasis is a tropical disease and the second leading cause of permanent and long term disability in developing countries. This is the disease that the government had embarked to eradicate hence the introduction of the programme.
Resident’s quid up to get treatment recently and the treatment was free of charge so as to make sure everyone get treated.
“The medication is for free and open to everyone and not suitable to baby feeding woman, also given to people above age of 15 and it is also a national practice. The medication was supplied by the government to ensure health protection of its people”, said Chiredzi Council Poly Clinic nurse in charge.
“We have also managed to visit and give medication to local primary and secondary school pupils,” she said.
Many people however complained of some side effects after taking the drug, varying from vomiting and diarrhea in young children and dizziness in adults.
The disease is caused when a mosquito bites an infected person. It picks up the parasite and the infection spreads to other people through mosquito bites. It is also caused by parasitic filarial worms that lodge in the human lymphatic system producing millions of immature microfilaria that circulates in the blood.
Complications of Lymphatic Filariasis include swelling or elephantiasis of the limps, swelling of the genital organs, welling of breasts in women and damage to the kidneys and the lymphatic system.
Prevention of the disease include integrated vector management  which include spraying houses against mosquitoes ,use of treated mosquito nets and avoiding mosquito bites by use of repellents creams ,wearing long sleeved clothes and avoiding being outdoors at dusk.news