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Hebron High School: Unbeaten academic record persists

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Hebron High School: Unbeaten academic record persists
Mirirai Svinurai
                                              
Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi’s Zion Christian Church (ZCC)-owned Hebron High School’s top-notch academic record continues to strengthen as evidenced by the 2019 ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level examination results.
A total of 84.72 percent of pupils who sat for the ‘O’ level examinations passed five subjects and better, with Lennon Kandenga emerging as the best pupil after scoring 12As and 2Bs.
Wonders were also done at ‘A’ level where the overall pass rate of 94.5 percent was recorded, with the best pupil being Samson Shereni who obtained two As and two Bs to earn himself 18 points from the four subjects he sat for.
History was the most passed subject at ‘O’ level where 64 pupils got As and 35 others got Bs, followed by Heritage Studies where 39As and 46 Bs were obtained.
Geography has 19As and 39 Bs while Combined Science and Shona recorded 13 As each, with Accounting recording 6As and 20Bs. In physics, the overall pass rate was a straight 100 percent made up of 3As and 12Bs.  
Hebron High School head, Mirirai Svunurai dedicated the results to staff, parents and pupils whom he praised for hard work and unwavering commitment.
“The school always strives for the best. These results, as has become the trend, are pleasing results. We managed to obtain an overall pass rate of 84.72 percent at ‘O’ level, with our pupils passing more than five subjects each.
Our ‘A’ level class also performed well and managed to record an overall pass rate of 94.5 percent and we are pleased by that,” said Svunurai.
The ‘A’ level class has one other pupil with 14 points while 13 other pupils attained between 10 and 13 points. A total of 19 other pupils got between seven and nine points.
The ZCC-run school has continued to grow its record as a place where minds are nurtured in class, and where education is imparted in the most enabling environment.

TellZim intern bags traffic safety awards, again

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TellZim intern bags traffic safety awards, again
Cephas Shva and Clayton Shereni
                                        

TellZim Reporter
HARARE— TellZim News keeps growing in leaps and bounds earning national recognition for its immense contribution to the nurturing of young talent with one of its interns, Clayton Shereni, winning the 2019 Best Road Safety Student Journalist of the year for the second time in a roll.
Shereni was named the Best Road Safety Student Journalist of the year 2019 at the awards ceremony held in Harare last Friday.
The Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Media and Cultural Studies student has now won three awards while on his internship becoming the first student journalist at TellZim News to win three accolades.
In February last year, Shereni was named the Best Road Safety Student Journalist of the year 2018 and in December he was adjudged the inaugural Sports Journalist Association (SPOJA) Emerging Male Sports Journalist of the year 2019.
TellZim News editor Passmore Kuzipa said the award is a recognition of the media house’s dedication to student journalism training and also a sign that the media has a role to play in road safety awareness.
“We have proven that we are there to train journalists the best practices and in our efforts we have given a chance to students who come for attachment to learn every aspect of journalism and be nurtured by senior journalists.
“As TellZim News, we have also tried to report more on road safety because we believe news can change road users’ behaviour and by putting pen to paper reporting about safety on our roads, we believe we can help save lives,” said Kuzipa.
TellZim News’ Mwenezi reporter, Cephas Shava was named the third runner up in the Best Road Safety Print Media reporter of the year category which was won by Nkosilathi Sibanda of The Chronicle.
For the award, Shereni was given a shield and also went home with a substantial amount of money with Shava also smiling his way to the bank.
The overall winner of the Road safety 7th edition awards was Tobias Mudzingwa from Capitalk who also won the Best Road Safety Radio Journalist of the year.
The awards ceremony was graced by Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa and Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Joel Biggie Matiza and other senior government officials.

Legal Perspectives with Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa

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Legal Perspectives with Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa
Should Deliberate Transmission of HIV Be Decriminalised?


There was a hullabaloo after the Marriage Bill, 2019 was gazetted. The public uproar was necessitated by the infamous Clause 40 which sought to legalise ’small houses’.  The Clause 40 tumult eclipsed yet another contentious provision of the Bill; clause 53(2). The latter clause seeks to repeal (revoke) section 79 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.  Section 79 criminalises the deliberate transmission of HIV.
About the offence
The offence of  ‘Deliberate Transmission of HIV is committed by a person who  intentionally does anything which he or she knows will infect another person with HIV or anything which he or she realises involves the risk or possibility of infecting the other person with the HIV virus.  For  a  person to be convicted of this offence, the person must be aware that he or she  is  infected with HIV or should at least realise that there are chances of him or her being infected with the virus.
If convicted, the person can be imprisoned for up to 20 years. In the case of Nevison Mpofu v The State HB 314/17, a Bulawayo man  who knew that he was himself HIV positive was sentenced to five years imprisonment after he intentionally had unprotected sexual intercourse with the complainant who was HIV negative. This is the offence which the Bill seeks to outlaw.
Arguments for decriminalisation
It has been argued that the offence is unconstitutional in that it discriminates against persons living with HIV/AIDS. Some have debated that the offence is vaguely formulated such that it can lead to convictions of the innocent. Other proponents argue that the offence dissuades people from being tested for HIV thereby promoting transmission of the virus. Be that as it may be, the Constitutional Court ruled in the cases of S v Mpofu and Mlilo CCZ 05/16 that section 79 is not unconconstitutional.
Arguments for criminalisation
Criminalisation originated in the USA after a one Nushawn Williams exposed over 100 women to the virus in New York. It is a no brainer that HIV/AIDS is a prominent world public health issue. Its prevalence in Zimbabwe can never be overemphasized. The virus affects life expectancy and has serious and life changing consequences to the victim. Criminalisation undoubtedly curtails the intentional and reckless exposure of innocent persons to HIV. This explains why deliberate transmission of the virus was made an offence in Zimbabwe
Conclusion and recommendations
It is a fact that prosecution of the offence of deliberate HIV transmission is problematic. Repealing it as contemplated by clause 53(2) of the Marriage Bill however seem not to be the best solution. In S v Semba HH 299/17 Hungwe J observed that “there is need to revisit the section with a view to developing proper guidelines for the prosecution under that section”. A recent study indicates that 23 states have adopted HIV specific statutes that criminalises deliberate HIV transmission. The other alternative is therefore emulating other countries and enact an HIV specific statute in Zimbabwe.
Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum!
Nyamukondiwa Fidelicy writes in his personal capacity. He holds a Diploma in Law and is a former Public Prosecutor at Masvingo Magistrates Court. He is a LLB(HONS) student at Herbert Chitepo Law School. Contactable on 0785827154 /nhanyams@yahoo.com.

Vengeful woman burns down ‘cheating’ husband’s car

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Vengeful woman burns down ‘cheating’ husband’s car
The smouldering Nissan Caravan 


Star Matsongoni
MASVINGO – A 45-year-old jealousy woman allegedly burnt her husband’s Nissan Caravan to ashes after she had suspected him of cheating on her, it has been learnt.
Close sources said in the morning of January 31, Rudo Chakanyuka, who is married to Denfod Mazorodze (39) went to Chitima market for some business.
While at the market, Mazorodze asked his wife for the car keys so that he could charge his cell phone.
Chakanyuka reportedly refused to hand-over the keys and threatened to burn the car as she suspected her husband wanted to communicate with his girlfriend.
She later drove the vehicle alone without her husband’s knowledge and when he called to find out where she was, Chakanyuka boldly answered that she was now at Mucheke Stadium to burn the car.
Mazorodze rushed to the scene and found Chakanyuka standing by as the burning vehicle, with all the doors locked and windows shut.
The vengeful woman then told her husband that she was now going home to burn all his clothes.
The matter was reported to the police and the value of the goods damaged were said to be worthy US$ 6 000.
Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa encouraged members of the public to find counseling in the event of disputes and to resolve domestic differences peacefully.

Junior Driving School celebrates 9 years of success

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Junior Driving School celebrates 9 years of success

Star Matsongoni

MASVINGO – Junior Driving School is marking nine years of solid success and has lined up a number of promotions to celebrate the feat.
The driving school began operations Back in 2011 and has registered phenomenal growth to become the biggest and most reliable player of the sector in the whole southern region of the country.
The driving school has reduced Class 4 fees from $40 per lesson to $28, and those for Class 2 from $75 to $58.
The driving school has already indicated that the promotion will be prolonged as part of efforts to plough back into communities that have supported the business throughout the years.
The driving school is also replenishing its fleet and constantly monitoring the condition of its fleet to ensure a smooth driving experience for its students.
“By coming up with this promotion, we are trying to make it easy for our customers and make sure that they can make use of the little they have to get driver’s licenses,” said Junior Driving School director Noah Marima.
Junior Driving School, which provides full packages in theory and practical lessons, is the first to offer lessons for all road traffic vehicles, and has since opened its newest branch in the Midlands capital of Gweru.
The school has since purchased an automatic car that is tailored to suit the needs of for people with disabilities.

Water crisis: Masvingo City Council refuses to connect GZU Medical School

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Water crisis: Masvingo City Council refuses to connect GZU Medical School
The GZU Medical School is still under construction

Progress Chaya

The Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Medical School will have to manage without access to municipal water after council turned down the institution’s request to be connected.
The issue came out in a full council meeting held at Civic Centre on Monday, January 27, 2020.
The university recently wrote to council requesting that the under-construction medical school, which is situated at the former Riverside Lodge close to Mucheke River along the road to Bulawayo, be connected to municipal water.
The Public Works and Planning Committee, after meeting to deliberate the request, turned down the request citing an acute water deficit in town. With advice from the engineering department, the committee wrote back to GZU saying diminished pressure in the water pumping system means the medical school will not receive supplies even if it was to be connected to the infrastructure.
In the full council meeting, Ward 10 Cllr Against Chiteme, however, took a different position, saying council would better connect the medical school and then communicate the problems at hand.
“I feel it is a wrong decision to turn down the GZU request. This is one big investor who may help us in the long run. It would be better to communicate with them the problems we face but connect them nonetheless rather than turn them down outright. They might be in a position to help us improve pressure in the pumping system,” said Chiteme.
He was then supported by Ward 4 Cllr Godfrey Kurauone who said there were less deserving institutions that still received municipal water.
“We have institutions that receive water yet they seldom pay for it. All GZU institutions are better clients because they pay their bills. It is better to connect them and we then help each other find a solution,” said Kurauone.
Acting town clerk Edward Mukaratirwa then stood up and said council had not simply turned down the GZU request for the sake of it, but had acted as per engineering advice with regards to pumping pressure.
“We realised that water will not be able to flow to that place even if it was to be connected today due to depressed pressure in our systems. Other reticulated areas close to the GZU Medical School are not even receiving water for the same reasons,” said Mukaratirwa.
It was then agreed that the case be sent back to the Public Works and Planning Committee for further deliberation.
Recent minutes from the commitee state that the place will never receive water under the obtaining circumstances.
“It was noted that there was already a Council water supply connection to Glyntor Farm where the Medical School is being developed, which lies outside of the Municipal commonage. However, due to water deficit in town, the area would not get water. The University had previously requested Council for water supply but it had been advised that there was inadequate water in town to supply Glyntor Farm,” reads part of the minutes.

Bikita man murdered for teaching youngster how to smoke

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Bikita man murdered for teaching youngster how to smoke
Christian Kwaramba
A 23-year-old man was murdered last week, January 25, in Bikita under area of Chief Budzi after he had offered a young man some cigarettes to smoke.
On the day in question, the now deceased, Listen Tayedzerwa (25) was drinking traditional beer with Makuzha Takasiiwa and Salishio Takasiiwa, who was younger brother to Makuzha.
Masvingo provincial police confirmed that they had since arrested one of the suspects while the other was still on the run.
The three enjoyed their time until Tayedzerwa offered Salishio some cigarettes to smoke.
This, however, offended Makuzha who then started to shout at Tayedzerwa accusing him introducing Salishio to smoking.
He then hit Makuzha with open hands all over the body until the victim became unconscious.
After regaining some strength Tayedzerwa followed the Takasiiwas who had already gone home where a quarrel began.
Salishio reportedly took a knobkerrie and hit the victim on the forehead, while Makuzha used a wooden stick to attack the victim who then collapsed.
The two brothers then reported what they had done to the victim’s mother Keresencia Ganga who then rushed him to hospital where he died on admission.
Salishio was arrested and taken to the police station but Makuzha was still on the run by the time of writing.

‘Charge Matemadanda, Hungwe with treason’

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‘Charge Matemadanda, Hungwe with treason’
 …Sikhala remains defiant in face of subversion charges

…‘I definitely want ED to go before 2023’

Moses Ziyambi

MASVINGO – MDC national vice chairperson and Member of Parliament for Zengeza West, Job Sikhala has described his ongoing trial at the High Court on subversion charges as a persecution of democracy, saying the State should instead prefer the charges on some Zanu PF members who have made controversial statements in the past.
Speaking to TellZim News during an exclusive interview a day before his appearance before Justice Garainesu Mawadze on Monday, January 03, Sikhala criticised what he implied to be selective application of the law and a crackdown on free speech.
“You remember what Josaya Hungwe said while addressing a Masvingo Zanu PF Provincial Coordinating Committee, when he said that Mnangagwa is prepared to use the guns to shoot anybody if they are not going vote for him.
“We heard Matemadanda saying several times that we are going to use the soldiers and everybody to kill everyone if they you are not going to vote for Zanu PF. These are the people who are treasonous against our people of Zimbabwe not a statement that I said Mnanagwa must go before 2023,” said Sikhala.
Victor Matemadanda is the Zanu PF secretary for the commissariat in the party’s politburo and he is also the Deputy Minister of Defence.
Josaya Hungwe is a veteran party member and has served in many portfolios since independence, and he still sits in the politburo.
“Even if I could have said that Mnanagwa must go before 2023, that’s my democratic right. And I truly want him to go before 2023 because he has destroyed this country, our people are suffering, the economy is so downtrodden that every citizen you meet on the streets is angry and shocked by how the country has been run since the coup. You would see the cluelessness of the people who have taken over control of our country. So people have got the right to say, ‘you have failed; our aspirations are being destroyed, the dreams of several generations are being destroyed by these people’. So I want him to go!” said Sikhala.
Asked on whether he acknowledged that free speech came with limitations and immense responsibilities at law, Sikhala said the statements he is alleged to have made harmed nobody.
“It has no limitations as long as it doesn’t harm anyone. A statement at a rally does not harm anyone. Did it harm anyone, if you know? People must be able to understand the concept of freedom of expression as provided for in our Constitution. Your actions must be able to harm someone. My statements at the rally did not harm anyone.
“They blew it out of context and the issue is that it has now grown out of order, it has now become an international issue and people are laughing at this government that they are trying to persecute an opponent of the government on an issue that did not harm anyone. There are people who have done and said worse words,” he said.
Sikhala is being charged for a statement he is alleged to have said in 2019 while addressing a campaign rally at Mandadzaka ahead of a Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 31 by-election.
The State has interpreted the statement to mean the tough-talking senior MDC member was advocating for violence and the unconstitutional overthrow of President Emmerson Mnangagwa before the 2023 general elections.
“The stupidity of it all emanates from the just bringing an audio or a video of 57 seconds of a rally which I addressed for two hours. When I took the podium, I addressed for two hours. They are depending on a video which they downloaded from one Jones Musara’s (Twitter account) – a Zanu PF activist based in Toronto, Canada, which they are now trying to use as primary evidence in court. However, the video is only 57 seconds.
“I cannot discuss the merits of the case as that is sub-judice so I will depend on what is already in the public domain as contained in their indictment papers. The first thing you must understand at law, in terms of Section 381 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence (Amendment) Act, where documentary evidence is being produced in court, the author and originator of that document must come with it to court and tell the court how they got that evidence. So we are also interested to know how a Zanu PF activist based in Cananda, in Toronto, could have taken a video in a countryside village in Mandadzaka,” he said.
Sikhala said it was very difficult if not impossible to prove that a video that was downloaded on Twitter is fully authentic and was not altered in any way.
“We wonder whether he used drone satellite to take that video. It is very clear in their indictment papers that they are saying they downloaded the video from the Twitter account of Jones Musara. It’s a surprise that the State is depending their evidence on a video downloaded from Twitter. We are going to be very keen to see Jones Musara coming to court and testify on where he took the video and whether he was present during the period of the rally,” he said.
Sikhala said the charges amounted to a persecution of democracy and a crackdown on free speech by an authoritarian ruling elite.
“The other issue you would also have to understand is that no matter the people’s thinking, to say that it (what he is alleged to have said) is reckless, this is the a democratic society we want to build in our country. The people of Zimbabwe must be able to take to task the people who purport to govern them. So the moment we allow the leaders to go after the opposition and opponents based on what they say against them on public platforms shows utter desperation,” Sikhala said.
On prospects of getting a fair trial in face of many reports and complaints of a compromised judiciary, Sikhala said it can only be his hope that he will receive a fair trial.
 “The right to a fair trial is one of the fundamental cornerstones of our new Constitution. It’s provided for in terms of Section 69 of the Constitution. It clearly states that every citizen in our country is entitled to a fair trial. And the right to a fair trial is not only one of those rights in our Constitution, but is one of those unlimited rights in the Constitution to say that no one who can abrogate against the principle of a fair trial. And my expectation as a legal practitioner and lawyer is that I am going to be given a fair trial as provided for by the Constitution.
“So the right to a fair trial is one of the fundamental rights that must be observed by every State that believes in constitutionalism, the rule of law, democracy and good governance. And this is my expectation as a legal practitioner in this country and also as a citizen that I am going to get a fair trial,” he said.
The integrity of the country’s judiciary recently came into further question after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, in his bitter divorce battle with his estranged wife Mary, appealed to the Supreme Court, complaining that the High Court, which is supervised by Judge President George Chiweshe, was possibly biased against him when it awarded Marry custody of their three children.

Hungwe mourns Machingauta

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Hungwe mourns Machingauta
                                             The late Boniface Machingauta             
TellZim Reporter
Zanu PF politburo member and former Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Josaya Hungwe, has described the death of the Chibi High head Boniface Machingauta as a terrible loss to the school and Chivi district.
Hungwe said Machingauta played a critical role in rebuilding efforts after a raging fire destroyed many facilities at the school several years ago.
“This is a devastating loss. Machingauta was the brains that helped to make Chibi High the great school that it has become, with a good record even in sports,” said Hungwe.
Machingauta died at the school yesterday, January 06, evening following a battle with diabetes and colon cancer.
Hungwe, who is a product of the school himself, said Machingauta was part of the brains behind ongoing plans to set up a technical college close to Chivi growth point.
Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) education secretary, Samson Shava said he had learnt Machingauta’s death with great shock.
“No words are enough to describe the feeling of sadness. We worked with him very well and this comes as a big blow to the church and the school,” said Shava.
Chibi High deputy head Edias Mukwazvure said Machingauta had been around all day as the school hosted a sports tournament.
He said Machingauta got ill in the afternoon and he attempted to drive to Zvishavane to see his doctor.
“He tried to drive to Zvishavane to consult his doctor but his condition deteriorated along the way and he had to turn back. He passed on soon afterwards,” Mukwazvure said.
He said the late Machingauta was likely to be buried in the Magadzire area of Gutu district on Sunday, February 09, as funeral arrangements were already underway.
Machingauta held positions in several provincial and national academic and sports associations.
At a prize giving ceremony held at the school in October 2017, Hungwe told parents and education officials that Machingauta was ‘the Nehemiah’ of Chibi High School.
He was referring to Machingauta’s efforts in rebuilding the school when all hope for making the school a competitive institution seemed all but lost.
“I remember receiving information to the effect that fire had destroyed the school, but like the Biblical Nehemiah, Machingauta has rebuilt it to become an academic powerhouse not only in Chivi or Masvingo, but nationally,” Hungwe said at the time.
Machingauta is survived by his wife and children.

Leading Masvingo lawyer Chakabuda acquitted

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Leading Masvingo lawyer Chakabuda acquitted


MASVINGO – Prominent local lawyer, Foroma Chakabuda was recently acquitted of charges misrepresenting fact.
Chakabuda was being accused of referring a resident to a fake lawyer.
The State, led by Richard Nyamuomba, had argued that on the April 23, 2019, at Mucheke Bus Terminus, Tranos Chihanga and Chakabuda made a misrepresentation to Tasarawo Tasisio Mandava that Chihanga was a legal practitioner.
Mandava, who is former Masvingo Urban Ward 2 councillor, then paid Chihanga
RTGS$540 as payment for legal representation in a civil case but he later realised that he had been duped.
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