Budding musicians in Masvingo have received a major boost towards developing their musical careers after a youth empowerment organization MARODO introduced a competition meant to offer them opportunities to receive free training and capacitation.
The recruitment auditions set for April 22, 2023 at Mucheke Hall will target youth below 35 who are into music so that once considered, they will receive free training meant to equip them with entrepreneurship skills.
MARODO founder Acknowledge Mawere confirmed the development to TellZim News.
“MARODO as a youth empowerment organization seeks to empower youth at grassroots level so that they can be able to become socialpreneurs utilizing their talents.
“The agenda of the organization remains Gender EduTain project and thus MARODO will help train artists to advocate for Gender Justice in respective communities. If you are a youthful talented music artist, then this is your opportunity.
“The programme package will include among other issues a recording contract, radio show time, newspaper features as well as capacity building training with a certificate. The opportunity is here for budding artists to showcase their talent and get empowered,” said Mawere.
He added that the programme also aims at occupying youth as a way of fighting drug and substance abuse as well as gender based violence and national goals achievement.
“The project supports the Ministry of Youth and Recreation Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) strategy (2020-2030) which emphasizes development and growth of the sector as a critical player in the matrix of attaining an upper middle income economy as spelt out in Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
“It also supports United Nations (UN)’s Sustainable Development Goals such as goal 5-gender equality and goal 10- reduced inequality,” he said.
Mawere won an award as 2022 Gender champion from the Netherlands Embassy in Zimbabwe and that recognition has driven his zeal to move forward to develop the new project ‘Gender EduTain which incorporates use of art in entertaining and educating people on gender issues.
The auditions to be undertaken by MARODO, Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, ZIMPAST and MYAGE ZIMBABWE will be done from 09000-1200 hours.
Silobela-With more than 982 households expected to benefit, the newly commissioned Exchange Silobela irrigation scheme has been described as an agricultural hub that will enhance food security in the community.
The 169-hectare irrigation scheme was commissioned by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka last week.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the scheme, Dr Masuka said sustainable agriculture is crucial towards rural industrialisation and development.
He added that, going forward the community was supposed to take farming as a business.
“Agricultural production must facilitate rural industrialisation and development and catalyse the attainment of Vision 2030 which is possible through innovation and a revolutionised agriculture system. This must be replicated across irrigation schemes in the country.
“I therefore urge beneficiaries to take farming as a business focused on attaining profits. We as government hope that the rehabilitation of this scheme will go a long way to transform the livelihoods of the 982 farmers that are in this scheme.
“However, this can only be achieved if farmers focus their energies on improved production and profitability. I therefore urge you to exercise an extreme sense of ownership of the irrigation scheme which should be run as a business,” Dr Masuka said.
A beneficiary in the scheme, Shepherd Dzinoreva said as a cooperative they were now able to do an all year round cropping season.
“I am happy that we no longer wait for the rainy season. Now we can grow crops all year round and that way we are able to cater for our clients and feed our families all year round,” said Dzinorwa.
The Irrigation Scheme Chairperson Elizabeth Mushonga applauded government for revitalising the scheme which had become unproductive for years.
“The water canals, fence and pipes were broken but thanks to government it’s now a different case altogether. We say going forward, we are going to use it effectively and efficiently for the development of our community and the country at large,” she said.
The Exchange Irrigation Scheme was established in 1972 as part of compensation for relocated farmers from Hunyani settlement in Chirumhanzu district during the colonial era.
It was declared dysfunctional in 2017, after pumping units broke down coupled with the drying up of Exchange Dam due to siltation.
The scheme became one of the beneficiaries of the International Fund for Agriculture development (IFAD) through the Smallholder Revitalisation Programme (SIRP), something that brought hope to the Silobela community.
Government has embarked on an irrigation rehabilitation scheme, a seven-year programme which started in 2016.
The programme is expected to resuscitate many irrigation schemes in Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland South and Midlands provinces.
Whilst others were enjoying the last day of Easter holidays, Chiwumburu family in Bikita District was thrown into mourning after a family member died from a bee attack.
Collen Kumbirai Chiwumburu (67) from Mapanga village under Chief Mukanganwi who is alleged to have been partially blind was stung and died upon arrival at Bikita Rural Hospital where he was rushed to after the incident.
Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwakwe Dhewa confirmed the incident and said the body had sting bites all over and post-mortem was waived since there was no foul play suspected.
“Chiwunguru’s body sustained several sting bites and the postmortem was waived by Bikita Resident Magistrate Takawira Mugabe since there was no foul play suspected,” said Dhewa.
Sources close to the incident said Chiwumburu was driving his two-year abandoned tractor within his homestead while his brother 74 year-old brother Zoro Moyo was driving a lorry that was pulling the tractor when a swam attacked them.
“Chiwumburu jumped off from the tractor and ran towards the direction where the bees were coming from. He sustained a swollen face and head and he was rushed to Bikita Rural hospital where he died upon arrival and the matter was reported to Bikita police station,” said the source.
Recently, another woman from Chief Nyajena area in Masvingo Rural was attacked and killed by a swam of bees while trying to rescue her two year old grandson who had been attacked first while she was in her field.
…Implicated activists in sixes and nines trying to fire fight
Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – A plan to dupe the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Gutu political violence victims who were brutalized by suspected Zanu PF members last year by Masvingo town based activists backfired after one of the victims’ alert wife discovered the deal putting the ‘culprits’ in sixes and nines as they tried to fire fight and restitute the money which they had already spent.
The victims cried foul after being allegedly duped of US$ 6 360 donor funds by a CCC activist and aspiring candidate for Masvingo Urban ward 7 council seat, in cahoots with another local activist.
The victims Nhamo Makumbe and his young brother Jevas Makumbe said they initially received US$ 100 each from a combined amount of US$ 6 560 the two activists had solicited on their behalf from donors as relief funds following their assault.
Prosper Tiringindi who was recently nominated for a council seat and fellow human rights activist who is with Masvingo Residents Forum, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Masvingo and Shingirai Nyahwa are alleged to have sought for donations from unnamed donors based in America for the Makumbes but could not channel the money directly to their pockets so they allegedly devised a smart way of duping the unsuspecting victims.
Contacted for comment, Tiringindi referred questions to Nyahwa saying he was with the victims trying to solve the matter.
“Can you speak to Mr Nyahwa, he is the one dealing with that matter and he is with them right now trying to resolve the matter. They were not duped but there was a simple miscommunication and that is what they are working to rectify,” said Tiringindi.
Nyahwa’s cell went unanswered several times after which he later returned the call and said it was just a misunderstanding that had since been rectified.
“We didn’t dupe them, it was just a misunderstanding that has since been rectified, they will get in touch with you to explain,” said Nyahwa.
When he was pressed hard to give his version of what had transpired, Nyahwa said he would call later to meet with the reporter.
TellZim News however managed to speak to the victims who were in Masvingo town to meet with Nyahwa and Tiringindi earlier than the scheduled meeting.
“Yes, we suspect that we were duped by the duo. We didn’t know until my wife alerted me of a possible fraud when she said donors cannot use personal accounts for such payments. She then called them and they called us here to settle the matter and we are waiting for our lawyer to meet them and hear what they have to say,” said Nhamo Makumbe.
Nyahwa and Tiringindi are alleged to have sent the victim brothers’ details to the donors but went on to use their numbers so that the money received through forex remittance facility, Western Union, would reflect on their phones.
Jevas received US$ 3100 and on the purpose section the receipt was written ‘Construction’ and the address was 10 Rekai, Masvingo GZU, telephone number 0771633029 and the money was collected at 02:43pm yesterday (11 April 2023).
After checking for the name on EcoCash, the number reflected that it was registered in Fellow Zinyemba’s name and the number was not getting through when the reporter attempted to call.
The details of sender on both receipts were the same, indicating New Horizon INC – Thomas Addison
Nhamo’s receipt had a South African Number 062822005 and 10 Regai, Masvingo as the address and indicated that the money was collected at 2:54 pm.
When they came, Nhamo said he had no ID on him and it is alleged that Tiringindi and Nyahwa bribed the cashier with US$ 100 and used a copy of the ID which had been sent on WhatsApp.
After being alerted, Nyahwa and Tiringindi allegedly went on to call the Makumbe brothers to Masvingo town saying they wanted to have a workshop with them together with a USA based donor.
Upon arrival, they were told that they had received some money for the workshop but it had been directed to their accounts, a quicker way to receive the money unlike using an organization’s account. The workshop never took place.
They then gave the two US$ 100 each which was said to be for transport.
When the Makumbes got home, Nhamo’s alert wife discovered the fraud after seeing the Western Union collection receipts which showed that they collected more than US$ 3 000 each.
When confronted by the victims later that day, Nyahwa is alleged to have been adamant and demanded that the duo return the money they had given them but later on discovered that their deal had been discovered after which they allegedly began to negotiate for them to meet and discuss the issue.
However, after continuous engagements, the victims asked Tiringindi and Nyahwa to give them only US$ 4 000 and keep the remaining US$ 2 560 but they failed.
The Makumbes claim to have been given US$ 2 500 at first and later they got another amount to make it US$ 3 200 and they have since signed an agreement that they will pay the reminder soon.
Ladies and gentlemen, where are we with the CCC nomination of candidates, the process seems to be copying that of Zanu PF. We waited and waited until they released the results pavaidira zvavo. We thought CCC as the government in waiting will show us how efficient they could be when they get in power, of course that is if they get into it because as I see it, it’s not a walk in the Park for Chamisa, Fadzi and Ostallos kkkk. I heard people saying as the party is working with structure less structures, the trio ndovane yese kkkk. Right, without reforms its almost certain that the team housed at Jongwe house will retain power and this one headquartered at Harvest House will not get a single cent in parliament or council kkkk. I used to think I know it all but I have just realized that I don’t know where CCC is HQued kkkk. Forgive me my avid readers I will do sviResearch soon.
Right, I have heard a lot of people passing here at Chitima both CCC and Zanu sympathizers saying hee Fadzi is no longer eligible to contest for a seat in council, parliament or presidency because she was convicted on that useless crime. I am not a constitutional expert zvangu but I know Fadzi will be able to contest. Ko ndiye atanga here, the president was convicted and sentenced to death wani but nhasi he is running the country, whether running up or down but he is the President. Ko ana Killer Zivhu were arrested, convicted and stayed in jail but later became MPs wani takamboti kudii isu. Fadzi will contest chero achida kuita president if Chamisa decides kumusiira kkk.
I had vowed not to talk much about Togarasei, Dhagi, and the culprit who has been influencing elections in Zimbabwe. He has sent Zimbabwe on numerous by-elections across the country vanhu vachisekerera. Imi marections are expensive aya zvekungotambisa mari tichiitiswa maelections nemunhu when the country is on its knees ndokudii ikoko? Now he is up to something and I don’t know what he is really up to. Ko iyo Zanu PF did its primaries, zvekuti they were chaotic or not zvava zvenyuwo, I mean even CCC is busy with their candidate selection and Dhagi instead of going for their own kind of selection, hecho busy kuenda kucourt. I think it has now dawned on him that he will not only lose but haatorina macandidates acho kkk. Who will contest on MDC ticket? I mean who in his or her right mind will do that? I am sure Linda will have more candidates than Mwonzora. We saw how she managed to have a few candidates during by-elections.
But what is Dhagi smoking? Kuti akaratidzawa gwenzi naMthuli Ncube? This grade of mbanje is only found kuRBZ chete or he managed to connect to Mandiita Wefodya Chimene pachiManicaland. She is the one who had high grade which can send someone to court to try and stop elections over delimitation because he has no candidates to fill in positions from Council to the president. He is not even confident that he can be the president, he knows that very much and these could just be last kicks of a dying horse. Yes that could be true, he has been living on borrowed time and his power is ending with the term, after elections no matter who wins, he and his MDC party would have been buried. In fact, not only his party but I see imwe mikono ichinyura ipapa let’s watch and see.
Chete he has a case kkk, the elimination process was flawed and I hear it favors the Jenarari’s faction more than the incumbent, on the other hand the only boy who is over 40 is happy with it. Yes hanzi naSmall Boy Nero I don’t care about it because there is yellow everywhere. It’s true, he is safe as the president but his MPs ndovari pama1. They have no time to campaign, worse they will be competing against the well-oiled Zanu PF machinery which is busy greasing the hands of its number 1 rigging machinery, the masabuku and the chiefs.
Before I go zvangu kunokanga maputi angu for lunch, let me tell you this ladies and gentlemen, things may work in favor of POVO this time, the army is not happy at all. They are complaining after their salaries were cut down kkkk. munhu akahora $300 000 last month is getting 70 this time around kkkk. Zvakaiomera Zanu PF this time around. Masoja achajamuka mirai zvenyu muone, havasi kufara vakomana, they have been buying things in town but this time vakazara kuno kuchitima vachitaimira zvakacheaper kkk. Vari kututa maChunks zvavo kkkk hanzi hazvisi kukwana.
If anyone sees Mandi please tell her to remain in hibernation and stop supplying Mwonzora naMthuli with drugs. The whole country is on an anti-drug drive apa ndopaunoona vamwe vakuru vakuru vari busy smoking and hallucinating. Apawo Jenarari is nowhere to be found in the Aljazeera documentary.
But if you have an analyzing mind like me you would smell a rat in all this Aljazeera documentary because hmmm, how come to you so? Where is Kedha in all this? If you remember before the first episode came out, we heard murungu weracism uyu Macmillan said Genarari is a dunderhead, but in all four episodes kana sign yaGenarari kana tsee. Hamuoniwo here kuti pane iripo apa? Kana, kana, kana chero kungonziwo vice president veZimbabwe ndavaKedha kana tai? Imika! Mukati hadzisi kutungana dzemudanga iyemi? It all looks like a big circus, and the monkey breaking things up in here is the Genarari, tichazvihwa hedu, houno ndiripano. Musazoti Mapombi haana kureva. I was beginning to lose hope in the Jazire thing but Episode 4 went for the jugular. And please explain this, how do three cartels, who are not even connected all have links to our own Number One? Vese zvavo. In this case, the big question is, who exactly are the criminals surrounding the president? Zvenyika ino zvinokunda ngoma kurira chokwadi. Vanhu vari kuzvidhlira mafuta ayo nyika isu vanyai tichitambura. Kuita kukambura naYave kudai. Dr Gire hanzi she used to fly out nyanga dzenzou. Imika! Irikudyiwa nevene vayo nyika iyi. Unosvika paunozorora munhu.
Anyway, before I go kunokanga maputi angu for lunch, I just want to say kuna Dhagi ukawana nguva ukwane, taneta neshenanigans ako please. Secondly, VaMadhuku torai mari United but zvimwe munaita muchinyarawo vakomana, hanzi classified intelligenceopeartion, munotijairira vanhu imi. Asi Mboko aripi chaizvo? I don’t think if he was around taimushaiwa pakadai, wakambonetsazve uya nenyaya yezvitiyo kkk. Zvitiyo Mafia! Mboko Imboko !!!.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has honoured at least 105 students from institutions of higher and tertiary education, who excelled in the 2022 regional and international competitions.
The inaugural awards are expected to motivate and inspire students to focus more on innovative solutions to community challenges and to be brand ambassadors of Zimbabwe.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of higher and tertiary education, Professor Amon Murwira, President Mnangagwa said the awards seek to foster a culture of recognizing students who excel in different competitions.
The president said the awards seek to inculcate a “culture of innovation and team work” with a view to showcase Zimbabwean talent locally, regionally and internationally.
Zimbabwe has embraced education 5. 0 philosophy underpinned by emphasis on teaching, learning, community service, innovation and industrialization.
The philosophy challenges institutions of higher and tertiary education to do more to become engines of the country’s innovation and industrialization drive. The philology is beginning to bear fruits. “The awards are a clear testimony that our education 5.0 is now a movement of doers, problem solvers and the I-can- do-it-people,” Mnangagwa said.
In a speech read by his deputy Mr. Raymore Machingura, Minister of higher and tertiary education, Prof Murwira spoke about the new thrust of Zimbabwe’s education system.
“Capability and excellence are the product of a correct education and correct education causes development. Correct education must be linked to provisions of solutions to human needs. The curriculum must respond to the need of our people and produce an industry that satisfies those needs,” he said.
The awards were graced by Universities, Polytechnics and Industrial Training Colleges. The Midlands State University collected the highest number of awards winning 22 of the 105 awards. Among universities it was followed by Bindura University of Science and Technology (BUSE) and University of Zimbabwe (UZ).
For Polytechnics, Harare Polytechnic received the highest number of awards while Westgate Industrial College led the pack.
MUTARE-It was long ride back home for Misheck Sibanda and his Renco Mine charges this past Saturday as they received a heavy defeat at the hands of Manica Diamonds Juniors.
Seasoned campaigners Renco Mine FC who showed little to no attacking prowess throughout the 90 minutes suffered a not so friendly defeat at Sakubva stadium to the youthful Manica Diamonds side.
The goals came courtesy of Joseph Kembo and Wesley Chitsumba who both netted twice.
Manica Diamonds Juniors gaffer Hibron Makukutu applauded the stellar performance by the boys.
“The game was nice and since it is our first game, l was really impressed. The youngsters really played according to instruction. The first goal started today’s campaign well but the boys went on to relax during second half but the changes we made really helped a lot,” he said.
Asked on where the boys got it right to clinch the convincing win Makukutu said ball retention was their major strength.
“I think on ball retention we were much better than them because if you have more possession, there is a high chance that you will win that game. In terms of controlling the game, we were as well much better,” he added.
However, Renco Mine head coach Misheck Banda said his charges lost control of the game around 15-20 minutes though it was initially well balanced.
“I think during the first minutes of the game, it was evenly balanced. We then lost control of the game 15 to 20 minutes from start when we allowed them to play down the wings. They ended up getting more crosses into the box and getting more chances to score in the process,” said Banda.
He also said that there was need to rectify their wing play as the seasoned campaigners prepare for their next outing.
“I think as we go on, we have to tighten up those areas so that we don’t allow crosses in the box. Another thing, we never created goal scoring chances because we were giving away a lot of possession. You have to keep possession first so that you build positive play,” added Banda.
Manica Diamonds Juniors play Fc Hunters in their next game while Renco Mine play JM Busha.
“I can say that our next opposition are new kids on the block. We don’t know much about them but hopefully we will maintain the winning vibe. It’s looking positive as we go into the next game because this win is a morale booster,” added Makukutu on prospects of the next match.
In other results Tenax won 2 nil against Ruwa Fc. Mutare City Rovers settled for a 1 nil win against Grayham at Sakubva Stadium. Buffaloes scored twice to win against 2023 new boys Bikita Minerals.
A total of 800 farmers from Masvingo province graduated with Master Farmer certificates on April 6, 2023 at an award giving ceremony held at Consen Mutasa’s homestead in Zaka.
Agricultural Rural Development Advisory Services Chief Director Professor Obert Jiri presided over the ceremony which saw 236 farmers 159 from Zaka, 33 from Bikita and 44 from Chiredzi getting their certificates on sight.
Speaking at the ceremony, Jiri said the master farmer graduates should receive first priority when inputs are disbursed as they have the required expertise.
The master farmer training programme started a few years after independence.
“Master farmers must be given certificates and must be given first choice when inputs are distributed because of the zeal they have shown in farming. District Agriculture Extension Officers must prioritize master farmer graduates in all presidential inputs programmes,” said Jiri.
Famers were happy to finally receive as they had long waited for their certificates.
In another event held in Chivi on April 5, 2023 Jiri also handed over prizes to Farmer Field School winners at Farirai Madume’s homestead in ward 12 in Chivi.
Madume, the overall best Farmer Field School Farmer was rewarded with a knapsack sprayer, ripper, tick grease, 50kg bag of Compound D fertilizer and 50kg bag of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizers.
Madume a traditional grains farmer said he has managed to become food secure because of these small grains.
“I am happy for being awarded an overall winner because I have heeded to the call to venture into small grains farming which has made me become food secure,” said Madume.
15 other farmer field school farmers were recognized and received prizes from the seven districts.
The Farmer Field School (FFS) is a community based non-formal education targeting farmers interested in finding solutions to farming constraints brought about by climate change and climate variability.
So far the project has established 234 farmer field schools with 64 in Masvingo and 15 in Chivi.
The FFS has seen more women taking up the programme constituting 66 percent of the total farmer population.
MASVINGO – The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Gutu political violence victims who were brutalized by suspected Zanu PF members last year are crying foul after being allegedly duped of US$6360 donor funds by a CCC activist and aspiring candidate for Masvingo Urban ward 7 council seat, in cahoots with another local activist.
The victims Nhamo Makumbe and his young brother Jevas Makumbe said they only received US$100 each from a combined amount of US$6560 the two activists had solicited on their behalf from donors as relief funds following their assault.
Prosper Tiringindi who was recently nominated for a council seat and fellow human rights activist who is with Masvingo Residents Forum, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Masvingo, Shingirai Nyahwa are alleged to have sought for donations from unnamed donors based in America for the Makumbes but could not channel the money directly to their pockets so they allegedly devised a smart way of duping the unsuspecting victims.
Contacted for comment, Tiringindi referred questions to Nyahwa saying he was with the victims trying to solve the matter.
“Can you speak to Mr Nyahwa, he is the one dealing with that matter, and he is with them right now trying to solve the matter. They were not dupe but there was a simple miscommunication and that is what they are working to rectify,” said Tiringindi.
Nyahwa’s cell went unanswered several times after which he later returned the call and said it was just a misunderstanding that had since been rectified.
“We didn’t dupe them, it was just a misunderstanding that has since been rectified, they will get in touch with you to explain,” said Nyahwa
When he was pressed hard to give his version of what had transpired, Nyahwa said he would call later to meet with the reporter.
TellZim News however had managed to speak to the victims who were in Masvingo town to meet with Nyahwa and Tiringindi earlier than the scheduled meeting.
“Yes we suspect that we were duped by the duo. We didn’t know until my wife alerted me of a possible fraud when she said donors cannot use personal accounts for such payments. She then called them and they called us here to settle the matter and we are waiting for our lawyer to meet them and hear what they have to say,” said Nhamo Makumbe.
Nyahwa and Tiringindi are alleged to have sent the brothers’ details to the donors but went on to use their numbers so that the money received through forex remittance facility, Western Union, would reflect on their phones.
Jevas received US$3100 and on the purpose section the receipt was written ‘Construction’ and the Address was 10 Rekai, Masvingo GZU, telephone number 0771633029 and the money was collected at 02:43pm yesterday (11 April 2023).
After checking on EcoCash, the number reflected that it was registered in Fellow Zinyemba’s name and the number was not getting through when the reporter attempted to call.
The details of sender on both receipts were the same, indicating New Horizon INC – Thomas Addison
Nhamo’s receipt had a South African Number 062822005 and 10 Regai, Masvingo as the address and indicated that the money was collected at 02:54 pm.
When they came Nhamo said he had no ID on him and it is alleged that Tiringindi and Nyahwa bribed the cashier with US$100 and used a copy of the ID which had been sent on WhatsApp.
After receiving the alert, Nyahwa and Tiringindi allegedly went on to call the Makumbe brothers to Masvingo town saying they wanted to have a workshop with them together with a USA based donor.
Upon arrival they were told that they had received some money for the workshop but it had been directed to their accounts, a quicker way to receive the money unlike using an organization’s account. The workshop never happened.
They then gave the two $100 each which was said to be for transport.
When the Makumbes got home, Nhamo’s alert wife discovered the fraud after seeing the Western Union collection receipts which showed that they collected more than US$3000 each.
When confronted by the victims later that day, Nyahwa is alleged to have been adamant and demanded that the duo returns the money they had given them but later on discovered that their deal had been discovered after which they allegedly began to negotiate for them to meet and discuss the issue.
On the night of April 10, 2023, social media was awash with messages of appeal to find an eight months old baby boy after he had disappeared with a teenage girl who had been employed as a child minder by the parents a day before.
Every mother’s heart sank, with socialites and celebrities sharing the message on their Facebook pages appealing for the finding of the baby, who almost everyone feared could end up being a victim of child trafficking.
What made the situation worse was that the girl had vanished into thin air, leaving behind a very faint trail of where she could have taken the infant, making it very difficult for the Marenga family to locate their beloved baby, who despite being too young to be out with a stranger, had had an operation the previous week.
The girl (name withheld for ethical reasons), said to be between 15 and 17 years old, left the Marenga house on the pretext of cooing the baby as well as familiarising with the surroundings since she was new, only to vanish into thin air together with the baby.
But who is the girl at the centre of the storm?
Her story runs short of a movie script, as at only 16 she is already a divorcee and has for years been doing sex work in Masvingo, Midlands and Matebeland.
Her paternal uncle Sibanengi Guwa, who is Shereni Village head in Mberengwa said she was orphaned at a very young age and was left in the custody of her paternal aunt until she went truant and ran away from home.
“She is my niece, my elder brother’s child. This girl is of no fixed abode because if you are to have time with her, you will notice that there is something weird about her. Until recently, we had not seen or heard from her for around three to five years because she has been moving from one place to another all this time.
“Recently, she came with the police and reported her aunt to us for mistreating her, but her story was not coherent, which left us all puzzled. I cannot remember exactly where she was born but it should be in Mhandamabwe, Chivi because she came here after her parents passed on,” Guwa said.
More about the girl was dug out by the Marenga family in their pursuit of their baby’s whereabouts, as they had to travel all the way to Beitbridge following leads to where their baby could have been taken to.
The baby’s uncle, Davison Marenga said in Beitbridge, they found out that the girl was a known sex worker who plied business centres along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway.
“In Beitbridge that is where we got information that the girl was doing sex work along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway. If you go to Chibi Turn Off, Rutenga and Mwenezi, you will hear about her.
“We then established that she was from Mberengwa, but had used a different name at Mberengwa Turn Off where she was doing sex work and was being referred to as Noria Dube (not her real name),” Marenga said.
Marenga said they then got a tip off that she had been seen in Mberengwa, where they rushed to and to their luck, found her together with the baby, around 6pm on Wednesday (April 12).
He said the lady who referred the girl for domestic work to the Marengas is from Bhuka, and had to pretend to be her relative to secure the job for her after she had allegedly been left in her custody by another elderly woman, and the Marengas had to send her transport money to go to Zvishavane to work as their child minder.
The girl (left) holding the baby after they had been found
At Bhuka, the girl was allegedly doing sex work, and the lady probably wanted to help her out of sex work out of pity.
It also emerged that the girl’s rural home is in Mberengwa, had previously eloped with a man in Sovelele but left the ‘marriage’ last year and had planned to go back to her former in-laws claiming that when she left she was pregnant and had returned to leave their grandson, the Marenga baby.
“When she was questioned why she took the baby, she said she went out to coo the baby as well as familiarising with the place, after which she met a man with a car who proposed love to her and she ended up getting into the car with the baby.
“She said she then went with the man to his house but it got late before she returned home so she got scared and decided to go to Mberengwa. The guy allegedly escorted her to Mberengwa Office where he left her and she stayed overnight doing sex work and the following morning walked to York where her sister stayed and stayed overnight.
“She then said she proceeded to Jeka where a well-wisher helped her, and she allegedly left the baby for most of the day soliciting for clients, then proceeded to Sovelele where she wanted to leave the baby at her ex-inlaws’ place,” Marenga narrated.
Marenga said the girl told them that she was feeding the baby maheu all the time she was with him, to keep him hydrated as she had no access to milk.
It also emerged that her paternal aunt confirmed that she started sex work at a very young age, around Grade 5, and left home when she was Grade 6, moving from place to place.
The girl is reportedly in police custody, and when contacted for comment, Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said he was going to release details before end of day on Thursday (April 13).
“We will publish the details in due course after we have finished compiling. We will let you know of the details, Mahoko said.
