Mwenezi- A 26-year-old Mwenezi man is reported to have taken a 12-year-old primary school learner, who is also his relative, as wife before vanishing into thin air with her to an unknown destination.
Ronald Zireva of Chirongedze village under Chief Chitanga allegedly eloped with the Guramatunhu Primary School grade five pupil on January 26, 2022 before taking her to a destination yet to be established.
The two are also believed to be related.
Sources closer to the developments, said the two were last seen at Rutenga Bus Stop claiming to be destined for Harare.
TellZim News caught up with a brother to Ronalds’ father, John Zireva who confirmed the incident saying they had already filed a police report at Rutenga police post.
“We came to realise that the two were allegedly in love after they eloped. What also boggles our minds as a family is that the two are relatives. Ronald is my late younger brother’s son while the minor girl is my sister’s daughter who was residing with her grandmother in a village faraway from where the man was residing,” said Zireva.
He however appealed for any information from anyone who might spot the two adding that, after Ronald took the girl, he was told that he had allegedly proposed love to the child more than a year back.
Cases of child marriages have been on an increase in the country with most of them attributed to cultural and religious practices as well as idle minds due to lockdown induced school closures.
A 22-year-old Chiredzi man has been arrested for killing his 25-year-old girlfriend following a dispute over a reason yet to be established on January 25, 2022.
Obvious Toruvanda (22) who stayed in Payer Road, Tshovani with his girlfriend Paidamoyo Manyika (25) is alleged to have fatally attacked his girlfriend during the wee hours of January 25.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and encouraged members of the public to solve their issues amicably.
“Members of the public should find amicable ways of solving their differences or seek third part intervention. Use of violence should be shunned,” said Dhewa.
The incident occurred on January 25 at around 0200 hours, when Manyika was overheard by neighbours arguing with her boyfriend Toruvanda.
At around 0300 hours Ruvarashe Jara (25) who lives at the same house arrived and saw blood drops, followed them and they led to Manyika’s room.
She found her unconscious and naked while lying in a pool of blood and reported to the victim’s sister Thokozile Manyika who lived nearby.
The two found out that Paidamoyo had a deep wound on the left thigh but she could not talk.
They took her to Chiredzi Hospital where she was pronounced dead. A report was made to Chiredzi police where they launched an investigation which led to the arrest of Toruvanda who is to appear in court soon.
CHIVI – Jostling for Chivi South House of Assembly seat has already begun after four candidates successfully filed their nominations with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on January 26 at Masvingo Magistrate’s court.
The nomination followed the recent announcement of by-election dates by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, with the elections to be held on March 26, 2022.
Masvingo province has only two vacant parliamentary seats, Chivi South and Mwenezi East.
Chivi South fell vacant after the recall of Killer Zivhu by Zanu PF for alleged acts of indiscipline while Mwenezi East fell vacant after the death of Joosbi Omar in 2020.
Battle lines for Chivi South have already been drawn between two major rivals businessman Munyaradzi Zizhou representing Zanu PF and Paul Thompson Mhlolo of the newly launched Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) (formerly MDC –Alliance).
Zizhou has an advantage of resources as compared to his rival, as Zanu PF will likely bankroll his campaign as pressure is minimal because it will only focus on two constituencies.
The time is also opportune for the newly elected Zanu PF provincial executive to prove their capabilities as they will likely pull all the stops to retain the seat.
He also has the general advantage of a pro-Zanu PF rural electorate and Chivi South is one of the areas where the party enjoys dominance over the opposition.
His predecessor Killer Zivhu also seems to have support for him after he announced that he will not stand as an independent but would support President Mnangagwa, which can translate to Zivhu’s sympathisers voting for Zizhou.
Born in 1988, Zizhou said he joined politics at the age of 21 as Lundi Cell chairperson. He was later elected deputy secretary for transport for Chivi district. In 2019, he was elected a provincial member where he became deputy secretary for economic affairs, a post he held until December 2021.
Munyaradzi Zizhou
Zizhou was born in Mandava village, ward 22 under Chief Nemauzhe in Chivi district.
He first attempted to run for office in 2018 but failed because he could not qualify to enter into the primary election race against Zivhu and then incumbent Mafios Utete.
“I attempted to run for the seat in 2018 but I could not qualify for the primaries as per Zanu PF party’s constitution. I then continued working for the party waiting for my time which I believe is now,” said Zizhou
He said his major attribute as an aspiring MP was his age, which he said was a key tool into modernising the rural community as the country aims to achieve vision 2030.
“As a youthful person, I am the best candidate for Chivi South, we want to modernise the rural areas and that need a young person who is conversant with the new communication technology which is fast becoming a key development driver.
“I stand a better chance to transform the area for the youths who are key players because as a youth, I am well conversant with their needs, since their needs are also mine,” said Zizhou.
He said getting in office will give him the chance to further push for the establishment of network boosters in ward 23 where network is a major challenge and provide communication services and connectivity in key areas.
“I am currently engaging network service providers for the erection of one or more boosters in ward 23, so if I win as I am confident will be better positioned to make that dream a reality,” said Zizhou.
He also promised to make sure that all schools get access to the internet and electricity connectivity so that they can do online learning.
He said he is also targeting the completion of a dam project in ward 32 and start the construction of an already pegged clinic in the same ward and another clinic in ward 29 and make sure that locals benefit from the Tugwi–Mukosi dam.
“There is an on-going dam construction in ward 32; I will give priority to that dam and start the construction of a clinic that has already been pegged. We also have another clinic project in ward 29 which needs urgent attention.
“I will also prioritise road rehabilitation with special interest in Berejena-Maringire, Berejena – Mandiva, Nyahombe-Simudzirai then Mutote-Runesu and make sure that locals especially youths benefit from the Tugwi Mukosi dam in terms of fisheries as well as irrigation scheme when it starts,” he said.
Thompson Mhlolo
The newly launched Citizens Coalition for Change formerly MDC-Alliance will be represented by Paul Thompson Mhlolo.
His major advantage is the current wave and excitement associated with the change of name by his party from MDC-Alliance to CCC.
People in his constituency are also disgruntled by delays in the establishment of irrigation schemes at Tugwi-Mukosi dam and compensation of their relatives who were displaced after the floods and blame Zanu PF for that so voting for Mhlolo could be a way of expressing their displeasure.
The economic situation has also deteriorated after the 2018 elections and their hopes could have been lost so they can do a “Bhora Musango” vote for the opposition.
Mhlolo (51) did his primary at Zunga Primary School before going to Neruvanga Secondary for form one to four.
He is in the Real Estate Industry and runs a signage company and he said he started politics in 2000 as an MDC member having been introduced into it by his late brother Samson Hove who was the secretary general of the catering department during the formation of MDC.
He first ran for office in 2013 but lost in the primaries and went on to contest in 2018 representing MDC.
He is the current organising secretary for Chivi South Constituency and says he was arrested with former Beitbridge Mayor Fanuel Mandebvu after Chamisa’s visit to Ngundu last year but later released without charge.
He said he supports President Nelson Chamisa’s Vision of freeing Zimbabweans from oppression under the current ruling party.
“I support President Chamisa and the will of the people of Zimbabwe who were freed from colonial power in 1998 but continue under oppressive rule economically from the ruling party,” said Mholo
He said if voted into power, he would work together with the people not only to doing lip service. He said he will make sure they benefit from their natural resources like the Tugwi- Mukosi dam as well as bringing more investment into the constituency.
“I promise the people of Chivi South real development and not just a talk. Together we can achieve more and I promise to be with them all the time unlike others who after being voted, disappear only to resurface when they need re-election.
“The people of Chivi South should benefit from their natural resources and Tugwi-Mukosi dam. The highway that passes through the constituency should bring more investment and I will work to achieve that,” said Mhlolo.
He went on to say the people of Chivi deserved better leaders like him because they have continuously been lied to by previous MPs.
“They should vote for me because I understand their problems well and will work out to address them. They have been lied to for a very long time and the long wait is coming to an end on March 26,” said Mhlolo.
Faith Chuma
The little known Zimbabwe Patriotic Front will be represented by 46-year-old Faith Chuma who said she is better positioned to win the election by virtue of being a woman who wants to represent women and youths interests as they constitute a larger number of people in the constituency.
Chuma said she was born in Mwenezi but is a resident of Chivi South and stays at Ngundu Business Centre in ward 46.
“If I win I would focus on construction of bridges in the constituency. I have discovered that there are a lot of areas in need of bridges and other areas with bridges that only need to be repaired.
“I will also make sure that the vulnerable members of the community get assistance in terms of food as well as paying fees for orphans,” said Chuma.
Shadreck Mapope
Douglas Mwonzora led MDC- Alliance candidate Shadreck Mapope said that he awaits to deliver what the electorate would have tasked him to.
“When people assign a certain task to me, I would just do what they would have asked me to. Of all the people who have been elected in the past, no one has bothered themselves to go and represent the interests of the ordinary people especially our needs as a constituency.
“We have got a number of issues that directly affect people in Chivi South hence need for the elected person to set aside personal interests and forward people’s needs. Once elected into office, you do not have further party interests but address the needs of people,” said Mapope.
…As the world commemorates International Day of Education
Thabiso Nxumalo
Zimbabwean education sector has for the past few years witnessed a state of chaos, characterized by teachers’ unions and government clashes over ‘peanut-salaries’, exorbitant fees coupled with indefinite school holidays owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic seeing the country lose the position it once held on the continent in terms of literacy levels.
Education is a right enshrined in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education, while the Convention on the Rights of the child, adopted in 1989 goes further to stipulate that, countries shall make higher education accessible to all.
As the world commemorated International Day of Education on January 24, schools in Zimbabwe are still closed, as they were scheduled to open on January 10, 2022 and Acting President Constantino Chiwenga further increased the Covid-19 national lockdown restrictions by two more weeks, putting the academic calendar on hold.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president, Takavafira Zhou said it is high time government invests more in quality public education and restrict the mushrooming of private schools whose main aim is profit making.
“This is a sad day for education, as it marks the fall of public sector education from grace to grace with monotonous regularity because of vandals masquerading as leaders.
“We have witnessed slackening of investment in public education, inaccessible and exorbitant school fees that have made education a preserve for the rich. We therefore call upon African governments in general and Zimbabwe in particular to invest in quality public education and restrict the mushrooming of many private schools whose main thrust is profit making as opposed to life serving skills that can enable children to function beyond the classroom,” said Zhou.
A Masvingo school head, speaking on condition of anonymity said the sector’s integrity is slowly being eroded by politicizing the education system which is draining the will of professionals in the field together with neglect of both administrative and physical structures especially in the rural areas.
“The gains we had made are seriously being eroded due to lack of political will in advancing or maintaining the enviable position we had attained as politicization of the education system has drained the will out of the few dedicated professionals in the field.
“Rural schools suffer neglect from infrastructure to staffing, there is no more moral to talk about in the system due to deplorable working conditions. This is as a result of responsible authority relegating its duty to parents and teachers to run schools,” said the head.
He also added that positively, the government has through initiatives such as Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) assisted the less-privileged in accessing education although the BEAM facility is at times abused.
“We however, applaud government and various stakeholders in their attempts to cushion the vulnerable through initiatives such as BEAM, but the effort is diluted by abuse of the system and lack of funding resulting in schools running on zero budgets, going for years before receiving funds.
“Envisage a situation where three quarters or more of learners are sponsored and there is no money for two years, hence schools struggle with buying supplies, textbooks and paying rates,” added the school head.
Great Zimbabwe University student, Calvin Muvheyi said the standards in most tertiary institutions do not match the fees they are paying.
“The education system in Zimbabwe is depreciating in terms of standards. We know that Covid-19 has dealt a huge blow in the sector and contributed hugely to the prevailing low standards, but makes it unfair as we are paying astronomical amounts of fees for micro semesters.
“The standards simply do not tally with the fees we are paying and hence we call upon relevant bodies to intervene,” said Muvheyi.
This year’s International Day of Education was running under the theme “Changing course, Transforming Education”.
ZVISHAVANE-A 31-year-old man and his gang members from Gudo village under Chief Mazvihwa appeared before the Zvishavane magistrate Charity Tonongera on January 24 facing three counts of assault after allegedly assaulting three people, one allegedly for no given reason and the other two for denying giving them smoke on different occasions.
Kelly Chawa (31), Watsanai Mupomwe (22) and Costa Hlanga (21) are accused of assaulting three people whom they are not related to or even know them.
It is the state case that Chawa assaulted people using a machete, back of an axe and open hands with the help of his friends.
It is reported that on the first count, that occurred on January 22, 2022 around 0600hrs at Sabi compound, the complainant Mike Gombwe(26) employed at Sabi Valley mining company in Zvishavane was coming home from work when he met the accused and his friends. Chawa started hitting Gombwe’s chest using a machete, forcing him to give a cigarette.
Gombwe fell down and Chawa struck the complainant on the waist while he was on the ground before he managed to escape. They tried to follow him up but did not catch him. Gombwe sustained a cut on the waist and bruises on the right knee.
On the second count, it is reported that on the same day around 8pm at Sabi compound, Chawa and his friend Mupomwe met the complainant Panashe Gwama (21) who was coming from his home. The two started to hit the complainant with open hands and fists all over the face for unknown reasons. Chawa then took his machete and used the flat surface to hit on Gwama’s back. He then struck him once on the back which left him with a deep cut.
Chawa’s third count was done with help of his two accomplices Hlanga and Mupomwe when they assaulted Thompson Murambiwa (28) who was going to Sabi Mine shops on January 22 at around 0900hours.
Chawa and friends forced Murambiwa to buy them dagga (mbanje), but when he refused, Chawa hit him twice on the head. Hlanga was holding a machete and hit Murambiwa’s face several times with machete’s flat surface and pushed him to the ground. Chawa then assaulted the complainant on the buttocks several times with an axe handle. The complainant sustained a cut on the back of the head, on the left thumb, buttocks and on his face.
The case was remanded to February 8, 2022 as the accused who pleaded not guilty were denied bail as the court fears that they could cause harm to people if they are released.
Meanwhile a 21-year-old man from Shiku under Chief Masunda appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Charity Tonongera on January 25, 2022 facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly axed his uncle on the forehead over a misunderstanding.
Samuel Moyo is accused of attempting to kill his uncle Edmore Mugidisa on the January 23 2022 using an axe.
It is reported that on January 23, Moyo had a misunderstanding with his uncle Mugidisa when they were coming from Vengai Beer hall. They started to fight, and Moyo fled to his homestead. He then collected an axe and went back to where he had left his uncle and struck him with it on the forehead before fleeing the scene leaving the axe stuck on the forehead of Mugidisa.
He was then arrested when the matter was reported to police.
Moyo was remanded in custody to February 8 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Hilda Sibanda appeared for the State
Mwenezi- A 26-year-old Mwenezi man is reported to have taken a 12-year-old primary school learner, who is also his relative, as wife before vanishing into thin air with her to an unknown destination.
Ronald Zireva of Chirongedze village under Chief Chitanga allegedly eloped with the Guramatunhu Primary School grade five pupil on January 26, 2022 before taking her to a destination yet to be established.
The two are also believed to be related.
Sources closer to the developments, said the two were last seen at Rutenga Bus Stop claiming to be destined for Harare.
TellZim News caught up with a brother to Ronalds’ father, John Zireva who confirmed the incident saying they had already filed a police report at Rutenga police post.
“We came to realise that the two were allegedly in love after they eloped. What also boggles our minds as a family is that the two are relatives. Ronald is my late younger brother’s son while the minor girl is my sister’s daughter who was residing with her grandmother in a village faraway from where the man was residing,” said Zireva.
He however appealed for any information from anyone who might spot the two adding that, after Ronald took the girl, he was told that he had allegedly proposed love to the child more than a year back.
Cases of child marriages have been on an increase in the country with most of them attributed to cultural and religious practices as well as idle minds due to lockdown induced school closures.
CHIREDZI- More than 1200 A2 sugarcane farmers here in Chiredzi have been reprimanded by Chiredzi Rural District Council (CRDC) over their failure to pay rates amounting to more than ZW$25 million collectively.
The local authority recently issued an ultimatum to sugarcane farmers to pay their rates amounting to more than ZW$25 million before April 2022 on they engage debt collectors.
Speaking during the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Development Association (Royal Farmers Trust) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Duma City recently, Takudzwa Chimanya, who was representing council said farmers were unbecoming as far as rate payments are concerned as they are currently owing CRDC more than ZW$25 million.
“Farmers are buying luxurious cars, which they later use on bad roads just because they are not paying their rates to the local authority. Only a fraction of five percent of farmers are paying their dues, but are being let down by those who are not paying. So in order to do justice to those who are paying, council will engage debt collectors to recover their dues from farmers who would have failed to settle their bills by April 2022.
“More than ZW$25 million is being owed to council by farmers. We had pegged that farmers should pay US$20 per hectare, but farmers complained and suggested to drop to US$15 but still no one paid. We then reverted back to the initial $20/ha,” added Chimanya.
Sugarcane farmers in Chiredzi have however pledged to fund Zanu PF in Chiredzi district as a token of appreciation for the land reform programme despite the ballooning debt they have with council.
A consortium of Churches under the banner Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) has challenged political parties to set aside differences in order to achieve development with such programmes like devolution.
The consortium, which is on a national tour of familiarising villagers with issues of devolution; is also urging the local community to actively air their voices on decision making when devolution projects are implemented.
Speaking in Makuvaza, Bikita (ward 4) recently, Bishop of Zion Apostolic Church Peter Makamba said only unity of purpose can make the country achieve its blue prints.
Bishop Makamba said many projects failed because there is no harmony between political parties in the country.
“For long, churches were excluded when government implemented their programmes. However, government has recognized that we should also play the ball as they seek to achieve long term visions like 2030, as we cannot really separate the church from affairs of the state.
“However, for us to achieve this, our political leaders should also sing the same hymn. As churches we are going to tell all the political parties to work together for the betterment of our country.
“We are a group of different churches but we are working together. If churches from different backgrounds work together, why not political parties? We will engage government time and again so that unity is realized. We need to live above all the differences. Everyone is a Zimbabwean and we should stop fighting. We need to see this country moving forward peacefully,” said Bishop Makamba.
Union For Development of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA) coordinator for Bikita district Bright Maduyu said their organization will work with the local community, urging them to unite so that such demands are met.
“The devolution programme has come and it is the chance of the local community to benefit from the national cake.
“For long, decisions were made from the central government, but now it is their chance to speak with one voice and say what they need from the tax payers’ money. All this can be achieved when the community is united.
“We are urging them to stand with one voice since it is the grassroots which benefit not politicians,” said Mr Maduyu.
ZHOCD said it is working in Chimanimani, Bikita and Chipinge districts spreading awareness on devolution issues to the grassroots.
The organization said it received the grant from the European Union to implement the project.
As Chipinge and Chimanimani districts have already experienced strong winds together with heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Ana, the destruction is relatively mild compared to previous catastrophes, officials in the districts have said.
In an interview, Chimanimani DDC Joseph Manyurapasi said the whole district has received heavy rains but reports of devastating destruction have been generally few.
“The whole district has been affected and we cannot specify which area since we have not yet marked. A few households in Chimanimani Urban ward 15, ward 14 in Machongwe area and ward 13 in Nyawa area have been affected and their houses were destroyed especially the rooftops,” said Manyurapasi.
He said they have established 86 evacuation centers in case of emergency.
“We have established 86 evacuation centers. In every ward there are one or more evacuation centers.
So far no people have been evacuated.
“We were doing projects for places affected by cyclone Idai that will be affected again by tropical storm Ana, but as soon as the weather allows us, we will resume our projects,” he added.
Chipinge DDC William Mashava said the district suffered only the after effects of the storm though no casualties were recorded.
“We only suffered the cyclone after effects and there were no fatal casualties but we have reports of one house which got destroyed. We also have 39 evacuation centres which are already set up throughout the district,” said Mashava.
In March 2019 the districts were extensively hit by Cyclone Idai which destroyed lives and left many people homeless, with some still not accounted for to date.
Cyclones, floods, heat waves and droughts have been attributed to the manifestation of climate change.
In a notice this week, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) warned that heavy rains might affect Manicaland and Masvingo provinces for four days, and urged people to secure loose items, including roofs, and to stay on high ground.
As at January 25, the storm had killed three people and injured 49 in Mozambique while the United Nations forecasted that around 500 000 people in that country may be affected by the tropical storm.
In Madagascar, the tropical storm, characterized by heavy rains, flooding and mudslides, has already killed about 34 people on the island.
Zimbabwe is already on high alert as parts of Manicaland province have already experienced the strong tropical winds that could be effects of tropical depression from Tropical Storm Ana.
The Zimbabwean women’s rugby team is geared up for the upcoming Africa Sevens World Cup pre-qualifiers to be held in Maseru, Lesotho.
The tournament, which will kick off on January 29 up to 30, 2022 will see six teams taking part in the competition and only one team will qualify to meet other teams that have already qualified for the Rugby Africa World Cup finals in Tunisia.
Lady Cheetahs coach Derick Chiwara said they are well prepared for the tournament and confident with the team that he picked.
“I would like to say I am confident with the team that we have picked. It is a powerful and strong squad of top ladies that are ready to represent the nation in Maseru.
“We are ready to deliver and in terms of the mind set the girls are prepared and geared for the tournament and they know what is at stake. The theme that we have set for this journey is one goal, one dream and I would like to say support the ladies and we thank you for that,” said Chiwara.
Lady Cheetah’s co-captain Lindiwe Munerenyu said they are happy to be part of the teams that are going to Lesotho and are looking forward to win the tournament and qualify for the World Cup.
“We are so excited that we are going to Lesotho for the pre-World Cup qualifiers and are looking forward to doing well as we want to win the tournament.
“The team is looking great because we got people from way back. So we got the new, old blood and with the fusion, we are truly expecting to do wonders. We have a good team and the coach made good choices in selection.
Recently the Lady Cheetahs got a major boost ahead of the tournament after Harare-based food outlet RocoMamas chipped in to sponsor them by providing kits on January 19 2022.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, RocoMamas operations manager, Lawrence Muziya said they are happy to be associated with Lady Cheetahs and wished them the best in the upcoming tournament.
“RocoMamas is glad to be part of such a successful and dynamic sporting brand as the Lady Cheetahs and we take pride in associating our RocoMamas with these Rock Star ladies-the Lady Cheetahs. We look forward to the Lady Cheetahs ‘rocking’ in this beautiful jersey we are presenting this morning as they play in the Sevens tournament in Maseru, Lesotho.
“RocoMamas celebrates people and food that goes beyond the norm. We celebrate you ladies for qualifying into this tournament and we wish you only the best,” said Muziya.
Lady Cheetahs captain, Margaret Magwaro applauded the great gesture from RocoMamas and thanked them for coming on board as they expect that they will grow together.
“We would like to thank you very much, we are really excited with you coming on board, supporting the women’s sevens who are known as ‘The Cheetahs’, we hope we will continue to grow with you as we become better, we become better with you and with time you will give us more.
“Thank you very much we are really excited about the new kit and we hope that we continue to grow together thank you,” said Magwaro.
Lady Cheetahs has in the past managed to reach the last stage of the African qualifiers but have never made it to the World Cup.
