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Soldier bashes wife over perfume

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Soldier bashes wife over perfume

Clayton Shereni

A Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officer stationed at 4:1 Brigade appeared in the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court after his wife, Tryphine Tagwira reported him to the police for assaulting her over perfume scent in the house.
Obert Marwirana, who stays at House Number 3543 Musaneta Street, Rujeko A, was charged with physical abuse.
Magistrate Tendai Mugabe sentenced Marwirana to an effective three months imprisonment which was wholly suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
In mitigation, Marwirana who had pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him, begged the court to be lenient with him saying he was acted under the influence of alcohol.
It was the State’s case that on July 5, the accused came home from work and smelt a perfume scent and demanded the complainant to explain where she had found it but she failed to give him a satisfactory answer.
Marwirana then started to assault his wife with fists on the face and head several times before she managed to escape.
Tagwira went on to file a report at Rujeko Police Station leading to Marwirana’s arrest.
Edmund Mapope represented the State.crime

Ndava hits hard times

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Ndava hits hard times

…as patronage networks close

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Zanu PF provincial secretary of information and former Chiredzi North Member of Parliament (MP) Ronald Ndava seems to be facing serious financial problems with the Sheriff of the High Court recently confiscating his property for failing to pay US$20 000 to Farmec.
Ndava’s company, R&G Tractor has since gone broke while title deeds to his US$100 000 house are being held by credit services provider, Microcred Zimbabwe, which he owes US$40 000.
The former MP has had a rough patch in his life especially ever since he lost to current MP Robert Mukwena in the 2013 Chiredzi North Zanu PF primaries.
Ndava’s spirited attempts to stage a comeback in the recent party primaries of the constituency failed after the race was won by Roy Bhila.
Adding to his woes, Ndava has since been fired from his offices in Msasa Drive, Chiredzi, for failing to pay U$6 000 rentals and has sold his tractors in order to recover the other property he had lost after failing to pay the US$20 000 debt owed to Farmec.
This publication saw summons indicating that in 2017, Ndava entered into a written agreement with Microcred by which he was lent US$40 000 which was supposed to be repaid within a period of one year in monthly instalments of US$4 676.86.
“On the 31st of March 2017 at Masvingo, Plaintiff and defendant entered into a written loan agreement, a copy is attached hereto as “A” the material terms of the agreement were as follows,..The plaintiff lent and advanced a loan of $40 000 to the defendant.
“The defendant would repay the loan in monthly instalments in the sum of $4 676.26 commencing on the 15th of May 2017. The loan would be repaid over 12 months. That interest would accrue at the rate of 5.2% per month (inclusive of insurance 0.2 %) on the daily balance outstanding from time to time,” read part of the summons.
In March this year, Ndava was summoned to answer the claim of Microcred that he still owed them US$22 863.56 plus interest, collection commission and costs at attorney to client scale.
“You are hereby summoned that you do within fourteen days after service of this summons upon you enter or cause to be entered with me, and also the plaintiff’s legal practitioner at the address specified herein an appearance to answer to the claim of Microcred Zimbabwe…The plaintiff herein for the sum of USD22 863.56 plus interest, collection costs at attorneys scale,” the summons further read.
Mocrocred is currently holding the title to House Number 304 Inyathi Road belonging to Ndava whose company was forced to vacate its Msasa Drive offices for failing to pay US$6 000 rentals.
The company is barely surviving after it sold asserts to repay part of the debt.
Most successful business people in the Lowveld are members of the ruling party and they have to remain in good standing with the system if they are to stay afloat.local

Gutu man licks daughter’s private for business

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Gutu man licks daughter’s private for business


Precila Takabvirakare

MPANDAWANA – A man from Magombedze village under Chief Makore recently appeared before the Gutu Magistrates’ Court facing charges of indecently assaulting his 14-year-old daughter by fondling her breasts, buttocks and licking her vagina and breasts.
The 39-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the victim, pleaded guilty to contravening with Section 67(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
He was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment but eight months were conditionally suspended, leaving him to serve an effective 16-month jail sentence.
State facts were that on a date not known by the prosecutor but in April 2016 at around 20:00 hrs, the man called his daughter into his bedroom, ordered her to sit on his bed where he was seated but the girl refused and fled to her bedroom hut.
The man then followed the girl to her room where she slept, opened the door but the girl stood up to check who had got into her room.
The man then closed the door behind him, lifted the girl’s skirt, removed her pant, lifted her blouse, fondled her breasts and buttocks, and licked her vagina and breasts.
The girl later divulged what had happened to her mother, leading to the man’s arrest.
When magistrate Victor Mahamadi asked the offender why he committed the offence, he said a prophet had advised him to do so if he wanted to prosper in business.
“The prophet I consulted told me to do that so that I could prosper in business and get a lot of money,” the man said, courting the ire of the magistrate who said the act was immoral and was not expected of a father.crime

MSU donates to Gweru Provincial Hospital

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MSU donates to Gweru Provincial Hospital


Tinaani Nyabereka

GWERU – Midlands State University’s (MSU) marketing department recently donated an assortment of goods worth over $2 000 to Gweru General Hospital’s pediatric and maternity wards.
The donations included groceries, toys, clothes, sheets and other essential materials.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the department’s chairperson Miriam Mugwati said the donation was the first of its kind and they will keep on assisting the hospital whenever they can.
“This donation is targeting nursing mothers and the disabled children who are amongst the vulnerable groups in the society especially in these trying economic conditions,” said Mugwati.
The hospital’s acting superintendent, Dr Tendai Chandaengerwa said they were humbled by the gesture and appealed to other institutions in the province to emulate what has been done by MSU.
“We feel honoured by what MSU has done for us. As you all know Gweru Hospital is the biggest referral center in the province so our resources are sometimes strained and it affects our work.
“But we are grateful, we welcome and greatly appreciate this helping hand as it will go a long way in improving the living conditions of our patients,” said Chandaengerwa.local

Two cattle herders arrested for sex with same minor

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Two cattle herders arrested for sex with same minor


Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Two cattle herders who both reside in Flora, village 5 under Chief Maranda who engaged in consensual sex with the same minor from the same village will live to regret the act after they were arrested for the offence.
Godfrey Siziva (24) who is employed as a cattle herder in the area, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before magistrate Honest Musiiwa.  Siziva’s other co-accused, a 17-year-old minor who is a cattle herder as well, did not appear in court and is out of custody as he is set to be legally represented by the Justice for Children (JCT), a non-governmental organisation.
Siziva was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment of which four months were conditionally suspended for five years, leaving him to serve an effective 20 months behind bars.
Represented by prosecutor Angelinah Makonya, the State convinced the court that sometime this year but on separate occasions, the two accused persons proposed love to a 14-year old girl who resides in the same village.
It was further heard that later on, the two accused persons separately engaged in consensual sex with the minor in the bush. The matter came to light after some village elders got suspicious about the minor’s conduct with the two cattle herders.
A police report was then made leading to the arrest of the two persons.crime

Cure Chem in Gweru miners’ safety awareness campaign

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Cure Chem in Gweru miners’ safety awareness campaign


Tinaani Nyabereka

GWERU – Cure Chem Zimbabwe has urged small-scale miners to uphold safety measures when dealing with mining chemicals, saying failure to handle such substances with care often results in long term damage to personal health.
Speaking at an awareness campaign held at Bata Club for miners last week, Cure Chem group manager, Obert Chikwature said most miners were ignorant on how to properly handle chemicals they use.
“Chemicals are dangerous no matter how long the effects take to show. As miners and suppliers of mining chemicals, we are responsible for the safe handling of chemicals because sometimes, we take it for granted. Workshops such as these help us to know how to protect ourselves because such chemicals as sodium cyanide, nitric acid, sulphuric acid and others have long term effects on human health.
“Cure Chem Group, Medent Private Limited and the Environmental Management Agency (Ema) will deliberate on various indications on how best we can use chemicals and how best we can put on protective wear for our own safety in times of emergency. There is need for us to even know the environment and the people in surrounding communities for they are the immediate victims of any chemical and hazardous substance disaster whenever it occurs,” said Chikwature.
Medent Private Limited group sales manager, Nyasha Chakanetsa said mine owners must carry the mandate of keeping their workers safe, adding that an uninformed worker is a vulnerable worker.
“It is mandatory for mine owners to know the welfare and safety of workers in the mine. You must always control hazardous substances and provide the necessary steps because most diseases that affect miners are due to inhalation of poisonous gases and air.
He said the company offered affordable PPE equipment that can play a critical role in the prevention of such accidents.local

Man flees circumcision mob naked in broad daylight

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Man flees circumcision mob naked in broad daylight


Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – A 64-year-old man tried to escape home while stark naked in broad daylight after a mob from a nearby circumcision camp that had found him bathing in the river cornered and chased him before assaulting and forcing him to join them.
This was heard at the Mwenezi Magistrate Court during the trial of Chenjerai Chivarange (38) of Chiwarure village under Chief Maranda.
Chivarange faces charges of malicious damage to property belonging to Lysias Hlaisi who resides in the same village.
Appearing before magistrate Honest Musiiwa, Chivarange pleaded not guilty.
However, the complainant’s son identified as Chakwesha said Chivarange was the ring leader of the circumcision mob.
“Chivarange and a group of about 40 people arrived home chasing my father who was completely naked. When my father locked himself inside his hut, they went on a rampage, destroying the locked door and some property. They forcefully entered the hut, manhandled and bashed my father before taking him to their mountain camp,” said Chakwesha.
Arguing for the State, prosecutor Willard Chasi told the court that sometime in September 2010, Chivarange arrived at Hlaisi’s homestead with about 20 men. They wanted to take Hlaisi to a male circumcision camp at Tungunyu Mountain but Hlaisi locked himself into his bedroom hut.
When Hlaisi refused to open the door, Chivarange picked an axe which he used to break in and the mob started destroying property including a bed, a solar panel, radios sets and a set of cups all valued at US$1 872.
Upon committing the offence and after hearing that police were looking for him, Chivarange fled to South Africa where he spent some years.
The case was postponed to a later date for continuation of trial.local

Overpriced Zimbabwe hospitality industry putting off tourists

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Overpriced Zimbabwe hospitality industry putting off tourists
Azambezi Hotel on the Zambian side of the border along the Zambezi River. Photograph by Shingirai Vambe
Shingirai Vambe
VICTORIA FALLS – Hospitality facilities in Zimbabwe have been described as unreasonably expensive especially when juxtaposed with similar services offered in neighbouring countries like Botswana and Zambia.
The distance from Victoria Falls to the closest spot in Botswana is around 90km while the journey to Livingstone in Zambia is only 15 km. It is however, a far much longer route to South Africa, with most of the tourists from there preferring air travel over road.
These factors, and the fact that local products and services are very expensive, are militating against efforts to grow the tourism sector so that it can create more jobs.
Although hotel occupancy rates are said to have risen significantly over the past few months, tour operators in Victoria Fall told TellZim News their clients often complain that services in the country are way more expensive than elsewhere.
They said tourists from South Africa, for example, find Zimbabwe particularly expensive due to the fact that rates are charged in the US dollar whose strength against their rand puts them at a disadvantage.
Tourists who had crossed into Zimbabwe from Botswana and Zambia also made similar comments, saying tour operators, lodges and hotels needed to come up with a more reasonable rates regime.
Misheck Muzaza, who works for Escape to Adventure Safaris, said most of their clients from South Africa, Botswana and Zambia cannot afford to spend a night in local hotels because their rand, pula or kwacha is rendered useless when benchmarked against the dollar pricing system.
“They say their own money, though it definitely cannot be expected to have the same purchasing power as the US dollar, works well in their own countries or elsewhere outside Zimbabwe. They make use of our safari services during the day and depart to Zambia in the evening to sleep,” Muzaza said.
Local tourists have been hit hardest, with a night in Victoria Falls lodges or hotels becoming a preserve for a small elite with deep pockets.business

Look after your children, First Lady tells Chipinge

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Look after your children, First Lady tells Chipinge

First Lady during his visit to Mt Selinda


Stephen Ephraem

CHIPINGE – First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa last week poured her heart out to the Chipinge community and pleaded with them to look after their children and desist from the norm of dumbing their little children at the Daisy Dube Orphanage housed at Mt Selinda Mission Hospital.
There has been many reported cases of mothers in Chipinge who dumb their babies at the Mt Selinda Mission hospital entrance and disappear without a trace.
The Daisy Dube orphanage would then take in the children and raise them.
“We have heard from the authorities that some of the children catered for here were baby dumped at the hospital entrance. Why would a mother who carried a child in her womb for nine months end up doing such a thing?
“I appeal to the people of Chipinge to stop baby dumping. Families should cater for their relatives. Sending children into orphanages should not be fashion. That should be a last resort,” said the First Lady.
 The First Lady, who has been doing national tours carrying out her cancer screening awareness programme, said she would push for Mt Selinda hospital to have a well-equipped cancer screening unit.
“I am concerned about the issue of cancer screening here. Women cannot get screened for cancer because of inadequate facilities. Something should be done to avoid our mothers from dying of cancer,” she said.
The First Lady, who was in the company of the minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa and Manicaland Provincial Administrator (PA) Edgars Seenza, donated foodstuffs and blankets towards the Daisy Dube orphanage.
Mt Selinda Mission Hospital was established in 1893 by the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ).local

South East Zimbabwe: A cultural tourism hub

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South East Zimbabwe: A cultural tourism hub
Chokoto dancers at a 

Ndau Festival of the Arts in Chipinge

Stephen Ephraem

CHIPINGE – Cultural tourism, which can be described as travel by which the tourist is concerned with experiencing cultural environments like landscapes, arts, the lifestyle of locals, values, language, religion, traditions and events has gained ground in South East Zimbabwe.
South East region of Zimbabwe consist of Chiredzi and Chipinge districts. 
The cultural tourism concept was necessitated by the introduction of culture groupings, leading to the birth of high culture, sub culture, popular culture and global culture. The high culture group is termed as the “upper” class society which does not allow the ‘lesser’ class to dilute its ‘elite’ status and is the main consumer of cultural tourism.
Economically, cultural tourism contributes to economies of many countries. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, a forum for business leaders in the Travel and Tourism industry, in 2014 alone, nearly 1.14 billion people worldwide crossed borders as tourists.
Tourism, directly and indirectly, contributed US$ 7.6 trillion to the total global GDP (Gross Domestic Product). It also created 6.1 million jobs, thus one in every 11 jobs worldwide.
In Zimbabwe, tourism has directly and indirectly contributed US$1.44 billion in 2014 which is 10.4 percent of the GDP. It also generated 181000 jobs directly which is 3.1 percent of total employment. 
Socially, regardless of the cultural groupings, cultural tourism has broken the hatred and xenophobia barriers and has promoted peace, friendship and understanding between the host destination and the tourists. 
It also helps curb rural migration. Rural communities which have something to market in their culture have a sense of belonging in their environments and do not need to move to other areas for survival or well being.
Cultural tourism helps preserve the cultural and historical heritage to keep attracting visitors. The Karanga people ofMasvingo are a good example of people preserving their culture and heritage through marketing of the Great Zimbabwe monuments. 
Cultural tourism helps the host communities to maintain and take pride in their identity. This is a case with the communities of the San people in Tsholotsho who are regard as primitive by some people. To them, there is nothing primitive about their culture.
The south east region of Zimbabwe is a cultural tourism hub packed with Machangana Festival held in Mahenye in Chipinge, Ndau Festival of the Arts held in Bangira, Chikore in Chipinge and Great Limpopo International Cultural Fair held in Muhlanguleni in Chiredzi.
MaChangana Festival
MaChangana Festival brings together Tsonga (also known as Shangani or Xangani) communities surrounding Zimbabwe’s second largest national wildlife ornament, the Gonarezhou National Park. It takes place in September every year.
Established in 2010 and bankrolled by award winning conservationist, Clive Stockil of Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, the inaugural MaChangana gala was held in Chiredzi South and in Chiredzi North in 2011. The third edition took place in Mahenye in Chipinge in 2012.
Due to general elections that were taking place that year, the 2013 commemoration was deferred to the following year. The 2014 event took place in Chief Gudo’s area in Chiredzi North. From 2015, the festival is now held in Chief Mahenye’s area in Chipinge South. 
The MaChangana Festival showcases most of Tsonga cultural practices including cultural villages, traditional food, traditional dressing, traditional dances and traditional hunting ceremonies. The traditional fishing ceremony known as saila is the key feature of the festival.  
Ndau Festival of the Arts
Ndau Festival of the Arts (NDAFA) takes place every September and was established in 2013 by Phillip Kusasa of Bangira village in Chikore, Chipinge district. He formed a trust which went on to apply for land to construct a heritage site. 
Kusasa’s dream became real when the trust received a shot in the arm by the allocation of a hectare of land by United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ) in Chikore. Today, Paiyapo Arts Development and Heritage Centre is the pride of Bangira. 
Kusasa works closely Dr Elias Konyana of Great Zimbabwe University, Mr Fred Bandama of Chikore and revered female author of Ndau literature, Mrs Joyce Simango, who published a 90 page Ndau book titled “Zviuya zviri mberi” in 1974. 
NDAFA hosts various cultural aspects like research, music and dance, food, costume, paintings, environmental awareness as well as children and women’s rights. 
The festival has seen high profile government officials like permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Dr Thokozile Chitepo and principal director, Biggie Samwanda visiting. 
Great Limpopo International Cultural Fair
The Great Limpopo International Cultural Fair (GLICF) was established by Herbert Hasani Pikela in Chiredzi. The fair takes place in communities surrounding Gonarezhou National Park and is held in July. This year, it has been deferred to November. 
Gonarezhou is part of the Great Limpopo Trans Frontier Conservation Areas which amalgamates it with the Limpopo National Park of Mozambique and the Kruger National Park of South Africa. The Great Limpopo International Cultural Fair derives its name from the trans-frontier park.
The fair showcases mostly Tsonga cultural aspects in food, drink, dressing, agriculture, conservation, music and dance.                                                                                                                              
GLITF is the cultural tourism flagship of a non-profit making organisation, Centre for Cultural Development Initiatives (CCDI). In addition to the fair, the organisation runs Great Limpopo Cultural Village and Simuwini Conference Centre at Muhlanguleni in Chiredzi. 
GLITF draws participants from Tsonga communities in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It has won recognition from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and has partnered Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) in its marketing drive. 
High profile government officials like former vice president, Phelekezela Mphoko, Dr Chitepo and Samwanda have graced the festival in the past years. 
Truly, the south east region of Zimbabwe is cultural hub. Its pregnant with tourism packages that await to be delivery.business
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