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A Chiredzi mealies vendor, Muchapareva Mbaimbai was left without her left ear after she was attacked by another vendor on Monday over a US$2 debt she has owed her  since December last year.

Mbaimbai told TellZim News that she was attacked by the woman she identified as Mai B whom she owed the US$2.

“She approached me at Shingai Market where I was making some orders and made enquiries concerning the debt. I then told her to come home rather than demand her money in a public place.

She then became angry and grabbed my throat and pinned me down before a certain passer-by restrained her,” said Mbaimbai.

She said her attacker then went away only to come back a few minutes later with more vengeance.

“After a few minutes she returned and  violently grabbed my hands then bit off a part of my ear and spat the piece of the ear on the ground…a man who was close by grabbed her to end the commotion,” said Mbaimbai.

Mbaimbai was then taken to Chiredzi General Hospital where she received medical attention and the case was reported at ZRP Chiredzi Police Station.

Attempts to get a comment from the Provincial Police Spokesperson Charity Mazula were fruitless since she had not received the report by the time of going to print.news

Upenyu Chaota

The Chivi Magistrate court has sentenced two robbers Tafadzwa Munetsi (27) and Stanford Chibanda (43) to eight years in prison each on two counts of robbery.

Munetsi, who is from Mbizo, Kwekwe, and Chibanda, from Ascot in Gweru, were driving a silver grey Toyota Corrolla along the Mhandamabwe-Chibi highway when they committed the crimes.

Magistrate Bishard Chineka sentenced both men to eight years behind bars and suspended one month on condition that they do not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

It is the State’s case that on April 25, 2016, Munetsi and Chibanda were travelling along the Mhandamabwe-Chibi highway at around 5:00 am when they offered the victim, Timothy Chimire, a ride from Mhanda bus stop.

After picking up Chimire, the car drove for about four kilometres heading towards Chivi turn off but stopped at Tsuro bus stop. 

They switched off the headlights of the car, switched on the light in the car and grabbed the complainant by the neck.

They searched him, removed his clothes then pushed him out of the car and sped off.

The court heard that the duo continued with their robbery spree and proceeded to pick yet another victim, Morgan Matumba, at Chivi growth point.

After about three kilometres, the car stopped at Mazorodze bus stop and the robbers repeated what they had done to Chimire but this time they pointed a pistol at Matumba.

The court also heard that there was a third robber in the car, only identified as Joe who is still at large.

Matumba was robbed of US$450, R9000, his passport, a Samsung phone and all his clothes.

Reports were made to the police leading to the duo’s arrest in Zaka by the CID Mashava.

Hakufiwi Hakufiwi prosecuted.news

Itai Muzondo

Outspoken Pastor and activist of the ‘#This Flag’ campaign, Evan Mawarire has urged all Zimbabwean to stand up and speak against the socio-economic problems that are bedevilling the country.

Mawarire told TellZim News that there is no need for him to launch his ‘#This flag’ campaign in every province because the message has already reached everyone through social media.

He encouraged those who have seen his social media videos to wrap themselves in the national flag and join the campaign to push for solutions for the political and economic problems facing the country.

“Visiting every corner of the country is not necessary right now. Everyone already knows things are not well and all they need to learn is how to stand up and speak out. That is the core of #ThisFlag campaign.

“It’s about emboldening the citizen to speak out once again. Social media and word of mouth will do the job. I don’t need to come there (Masvingo or any other province). I’m not doing this as a secret. Bad governance will come to an end and I go about my daily chores without hiding. In short #ThisFlag is a citizen’s movement,” Mawarire said.

He said he was moved by the worsening socio-economic situation and decided to start his campaign whose use of WhatsApp and Twitter has earned him multitudes of fans.

“Zimbabwe is my country and I can’t be doing nothing while things get worse. What our national flag stands for and what the nation has become are worlds apart. It is my job as a citizen to get involved in the building of my country. 

“Hapana asiri kuzviona kuti nyika yaparara and that madhara apererwa (Nobody can hide from the fact that the country has been destroyed and the government is clueless).

“We have so many intellectuals in this country who can help with meaningful advice but they are never consulted. The citizen is the one who votes so the citizen must be the one who complains when the people they voted for are failing to do what they promised us,” Mawarire added.news

Moses Ziyambi

Makonde Primary School in Gutu district is reeling under suspicions that a teacher at the school has initiated some pupils into Satanism after the pupils began to act strangely following their participation in prayer sessions led by the teacher.

The Grade 7 teacher, who has been identified as Henry Shumba, is said to be in the habit of taking his pupils to his house for prayer sessions during lesson time.

Although the school’s head, Eria Makumbinde refused to comment, some parents said they suspect the sessions, known as ‘Deliverance’, are being used to initiate pupils into the dark underworld.

Ward 28 Councillor, Johnson Nhema, said he had taken the issue to the District Education Officer (DEO) after receiving complaints from parents who say their children were becoming delusional. 

“Parents are angry that their children could be exposed to satanic rituals disguised as prayer meetings. Up to five parents have complained that their children have suddenly fallen sick while others have visions of weird things and snakes,” said Nhema.

Parents said Shumba works with a ‘dodgy’ local prophet to whom he directs the traumatised children for ‘deliverance’, telling their parents that their children cannot be helped anywhere else.  

A mother to one of the victims (name withheld), said she believes Shumba is pursuing a sinister agenda while pretending to be a man of God.

“My daughter has not been well after she got involved in Shumba’s so-called deliverance meetings. She sometimes loses sight when she goes to school and she acts strangely. There are several other parents whose children are facing a similar problem.

“One day I took my daughter to one of the sessions to see what happens there only to be shocked when another seemingly possessed pupil started to say strange things to the extent that my daughter was being bewitched. 

“I want to know who gave the teacher a right to induct our children into the spiritual realm without our consent,” said Gusha.

Gutu DEO, Sonnie Christian Chirikure said he had reprimanded Shumba about involving children into things that are outside his job description.

“He assured me he had stopped. Teachers must not go beyond the normal teaching duties that are expected of them. They must not get pupils into issues of spirituality beyond the classroom.

“We however find it problematic to deal with such cases because they do not breach the Ministry’s code of conduct. We have therefore recommended that the case be taken up by the traditional leadership,” said Chirikure.

Shumba is expected to appear at Chief Makore’s court next week.news