By Ndinatsei Mavodza
MASVINGO – Eleven suspected drug traffickers were arrested on March 10 after police
intercepted a load of about 200 kilogrammes of dagga that had been disguised to look like
blankets in an attempt to avoid detection.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the incident in an X post and said the
suspects who are both men and women were travelling from Beitbridge when they were
stopped during a police operation.
The dagga had been carefully wrapped and packaged in a way that made it resemble blankets,
a tactic believed to have been meant to avoid suspicion during transportation.
During the operation, officers also recovered unregistered medicines that were found in the
suspects’ possession.
The 11 suspects were arrested at the scene and are expected to appear in court facing charges
related to the illegal possession and trafficking of drugs.
Police say investigations are still ongoing to determine whether other people could be linked
to the trafficking syndicate.
In a statement, ZRP warned that the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse
remains a top priority.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there is no going back in the fight against
drug trafficking and substance abuse. All individuals involved in the illegal production,
transportation and distribution of drugs will be arrested and taken to court,” the police said.
Drug trafficking cases have been rising across the country and border towns such as
Beitbridge are often used as entry points for drugs being moved into Zimbabwe.
Police have urged members of the public to report drug dealers and suspicious activities in
their communities to help reduce the spread of illegal drugs.

By Staff Reporter

A 64-year old Mbuyamaswa Primary School Head in Zaka recently appeared before Zaka Magistrate Grace Tupiri on rape charges allegedly after raping a 14-year-old form 2 leaner from nearby Mutevhure Secondary School.

The head, Alexander Gwara from Manhubvu Village, Chief Ndanga in Zaka was arrested on March 5, 2026, and is charged with rape as defined in Section 65(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

He was remanded in custody and is expected to appear at Chiredzi Regional Magistrate’s court on Wednesday 11 March 2026.

The state led by David Mavenga told the court that the incident occurred in November 2025 at around 1320 hours. 

The complainant from Chief Nhema, Zaka, had left Mutevhure Secondary School to visit her younger brother at Mbuyamaswa Primary School, which is close to the school together with her friend.

The court heard that the complainant and her friend met Gwara in the schoolyard and he allegedly requested the two girls to fetch water from the nearest borehole, promising them US$2 for the job.

When the two returned with the water, Gwara gave them only one dollar, and told them to collect the balance the following day.

The following day at lunchtime, the complainant and her friend proceeded to the accused’s house at the cottages to collect the outstanding money. They found Gwara at his house, who handed over the dollar to the complainant’s friend.

It is alleged that the accused then told the complainant to enter the room, saying he wanted to give her a message to deliver to her mother, while leaving her friend standing outside. 

When the complainant entered, Gwara allegedly closed the door and dragged her to his bedroom while covering her mouth with his right hand.

The court heard that the accused took a cloth and used it to cover the complainant’s mouth to prevent her from shouting.

He allegedly held her hands tightly before raping her once.

The matter came to light on March 2, 2026, when the complainant’s mother noticed her crying and scratching her privates at night. 

When asked, the complainant told her mother that she was feeling pain in her genitalia and disclosed that she had been raped by the accused.

The complainant’s mother escorted her to report the matter to the police leading to the accused’s arrest on March 5.

By TellZim Reporter 

MASVINGO – A domestic dispute ended in tragedy, in Chief Budzi area, Bikita after a 31-year-old man from Buhera allegedly took his own life after drinking a suspected poisonous substance during a domestic dispute at his in-laws’ homestead on February 27, 2026.

Masvingo Deputy Provincial Police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu, confirmed the incident and urged members of the public to look for peaceful ways of resolving conflicts.

“Suicide is not an option and we encourage couples facing challenges to involve third parties when disputes arise,” said Ass Insp Patinyu.

The deceased, Courage Zvoumba (31) of Chief Nyashanu, Buhera, had reportedly travelled to Chief Budzi to resolve a marital dispute with his wife. During the meeting, a quarrel allegedly broke out after the wife accused him of being abusive and violent and declared she was no longer interested in continuing the marriage.

In a dramatic turn of events, Zvoumba allegedly produced a 500ml container with an unknown liquid and consumed its contents. He reportedly collapsed shortly afterwards and began vomiting. Efforts by his wife and mother-in-law to administer first aid were unsuccessful and he died on the spot. His body was taken to Silveria Mission Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

In a similar incident in Chivi, a domestic dispute over suspected infidelity ended in a double tragedy after a woman died from complications of a bite wound before her husband was later found hanging near their home.

According to Police reports, the couple allegedly had a misunderstanding at their home around 10PM on February 13 over suspected infidelity. The dispute reportedly turned physical when Mbathane grabbed Mataga’s private parts. In an attempt to free himself, Mataga allegedly bit her right arm, inflicting a deep wound.

Mbathane did not immediately seek medical attention. Days later, her condition reportedly worsened as the wound became severely infected. She was admitted at Chivi District Hospital in critical condition on February 19 and was transferred to Masvingo Provincial Hospital the following morning. She died on the way along the Tokwe-Mandamabwe Road.

Her body was taken back to Chivi District Hospital for a post-mortem.

Later that same day at around 4PM, Mataga’s body was discovered hanging from a tree branch on a mountain approximately 200 metres from their home.

By Andrew Zhou
CHIVI – Hope has been restored for the Denge community following the official launch of
rehabilitation works at Makonese Denge Dam in Chivi North ward 9.
The project, spearheaded by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), seeks to
repair the critical water source which was destroyed by heavy rains a year ago.
​During the official mark-out ceremony held at the dam site, Chivi North Member of Parliament,
Hon. Godfrey Mukungunugwa, highlighted the hardships endured by locals since the dam’s
infrastructure failed.
He noted that the destruction of the dam didn’t just break a wall but broke a way of life. The
primary impacts included collapsed irrigation schemes that supported local livelihoods and a
domestic water crisis that forced families to rely solely on a few overstretched boreholes.
​”The people of the Denge area have suffered significantly over the past year.Water is life, and
without this dam, our irrigation systems were paralyzed. Depending on boreholes for everything
is simply not sustainable for a community of this size.” Said Mukungunugwa.
Speaking on behalf of the government, a RIDA representative confirmed that the contractor was
on-site to begin the structural repairs. The agency emphasized that the speed of the project
depends heavily on the local environment and community support.
“The speed at which we complete this project is heavily dependent on the local environment and
the support we receive from the community,” the representative stated.
The representative urged the people of Makonese Denge to cooperate fully with the contractor to
ensure the security of equipment and a smooth workflow, which will allow the dam to be
completed as early as possible.
“I encourage the people of Denge to cooperate fully with the contractor to ensure the security of
equipment and a smooth workflow, which will allow the dam to be completed as early as
possible.” Said the rep.
​The rehabilitation project is expected to bring back the productive gardens that once defined the
area, providing both food security and income for Chivi North villagers.
Speaking to TellZim News, Chivi District AGRITEX officer Brighton Hadzirabwi said the
destruction of the local dam had triggered a severe livelihoods crisis in Denge area, leaving
hundreds of families without a reliable source of income or food security.
The collapse of the dam effectively paralyzed the local irrigation scheme, which had served as
the lifeblood of the community for years. Many farmers who previously specialized in

horticulture had been forced to abandon their plots, leading to a significant spike in poverty
levels within the district as the once-productive greenbelts turn into dust.
​”A total of five hundred households were affected since the irrigation scheme stopped
functioning when the dam was destroyed,”said Hadzirabwi.
One of the local villagers, Dambudzo Tongofa, expressed his gratitude, noting that the
restoration would resolve the perennial water challenges that have crippled the community.
​“I applaud the government’s move to rehabilitate the dam, which was destroyed by rains last
year. It will once again ease our water burden and improve income generation through farming,
specifically in both livestock and crop production,” said Tongofa.
Sharing the same optimism, another villager from Ward 9, said the project would serve as a
lifeline for those struggling to maintain their herds and gardens.
​“This project is a massive relief for us in Ward 9. Without this dam, we had no way to sustain our
livestock or grow enough food to sell. Its rehabilitation means we can finally return to productive
farming and support our families again,” the villager said.
With the dam contractors Travesal Trading teams now on-site and the community standing ready
to assist, the path to recovery for Chivi North is finally clear. As the dust settles on a year of
hardship, the successful restoration of the Makonese Denge Dam promises to transform these
once-parched plots back into the thriving greenbelts that sustain the heart of the district.