Itai Muzondo

“I have always wanted to venture into what are generally perceived as domains of masculinity and I feel women can do it too despite the odds being heavily stacked against them within the kind of society I grew up.”
These are the words of Hellen Venganai, an Information and Communication Technology guru who attributes her success and the progress of the charitable work she does in Bikita to her attitude towards her own personal life experiences.
Venganai runs a charity organisation called Mambure Trust which works to help mainly young rural girls with ICT skills.
She says her life has been a tale of overcoming obstacles and she is now committed to the goal of advancing the rights of marginalised girls especially those living in rural areas.
At high school, a mathematics teacher discouraged her from studying sciences saying those were difficult areas that girls could not possibly hope to do well. That alone was an eye opener to what she calls a repugnant world which employes stereotypes to undermine the potential of the girl child.
“My desire to get into the sciences was nearly shattered when a maths teacher told me sciences at ‘A’ level were for males so I grudgingly studied arts subjects and ended up as a journalist.
“Working as a journalist did wonders for me because the vast information at my disposal made me realise that I still had a chance to pursue whatever dream I still had to get into the sciences.
“It was then that I went to Netherlands for further studies in Gender and ICT before coming back home, not to find a job, but to help young rural girls with relevant ICT skills,” Venganai said.
She says only voluntarism can change the fortunes of such communities as those that she works with because most of the people there cannot afford to buy computers, let alone to hire an expert to train them.
Her basic computer skills programme for primary schools like Jaravaza and Nyemba in Bikita has helped hundreds of children, mainly girls.
“Getting hired skills is out of reach for communities I targeted so I understand the importance of volunteerism, having stayed abroad for long. It is important that people work to spread ICT skills to communities with no other chance of getting them.
“The programme was primarily targeted at girls but boys later complained that they were being excluded so we created their own classes so that they too could gain from the programme.
“Besides now involving young boys, the programme has also gone further to train teachers after a realisation that teachers themselves had no basic ICT skills. All this I do because I don’t want young girls in rural communities to face the problems that I myself faced,” said Venganai.
On the future of her programme, she says it is her wish to see children from more disadvantaged communities being included.
 “I don’t have much resources but I would like to see the programme growing. The world is moving fast and it is leaving behind those who lack skills and access to information. We want to change that by leveraging on the little that is available to make a difference. With hard work and the determination that has always underlined this idea, all that I wish for can come to reality,” she said.local

Tanaka Mapfumo

GWERU – The Prison Ministries International (PMI) Zimbabwe academy 17th graduation ceremony was held recently at Gweru Trinity Presbyterian Church with the idea of advancing the goal of rehabilitation of ex-prisoners and prevent recidivism.
Graduates were drawn from four provinces namely Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonaland West and Manicaland.
The occasion was graced by dignitaries including Councillor Farai Mudza who represented City of Gweru Mayor Charles Chikozho, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Midlands’ Superintendent Godfrey Gohodzi, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Midlands Assistant Inspector Trymore Mushope, former presiding Bishop Rev Sithole and the executive assistant to PMI president, Edwin Gumbura, who is also the director of training for the academy.
PMI national coordinator Martin Mugandani said the organisation, which started in 2011 with its first class at Pan African Christian College in Harare, has 900 trained personnel and 180 ordained civilian chaplains from the four ordinations held so far.
He said PMI had a memorandum of understanding with ZRP, ZPCS and ZNA which mandated it to complement government’s efforts to reduce crime and recidivism.
“Upon release, some prisoners face discrimination and that is when PMI intervenes to provide exit support and bridge the gap by conducting peace circles between offenders and family members affected by the crime,” said Mugandani.
Speaking on behalf of ZPCS Commissioner General Rtd Maj Gen Paradzai Zimondi, Supt Gohodzi said PMI was doing a good rehabilitative job.
“We now have somewhere to refer inmates unlike in the past when there were no bridges to cross over to the family. I would like to thank Prison Ministries International for being a short in the arm,” said Supt Gohodzi.
Six students gave testimony on how the training had made a difference on them, among them Ruben Chigumira who served a 22 years 10 months and 13 days sentence at Chikurubi.
He said he never allowed prison life to get into him because he had received Jesus Christ, adding that to him, the encounter with PMI was an answered prayer.
“I had fasted and prayed for five days asking God to get pastors to prison to continue with the work I had started of converting inmates,” said Chigumira.
Gweru, Bulawayo and Kwekwe stations were awarded chapter status to exercise a certain level of autonomy.
Certified correctional care churches were AFM Amazing Grace Zvishavane, PAOZ Zvishavane, Holy Spirit Apostolic Church Zvishavane, Family Fellowship Mission Zvishavane, Church of Christ Marodera, Balm of Gilead Bulawayo, Higher Grace International Ministries Bulawayo, Trinity Presbyterian Church Gweru, AFM Chitungwiza East, Harvest House International Gweru, Nations For Christ Kadoma and Word Alive Restoration Ministries Redcliff, Anglican Church Kadoma, Life and Liberty Churches International, Victory Fellowship Bulawayo and Great Commission Marondera.local

Prince Danda

ZVISHAVANE – A 23-year-old appeared in the Zvishavane Magistrates Court charged with contravening Section 168 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 after he allegedly stole a bank card and went on a reckless spending spree.
Knowledge Kapitapita of Lot 2, Makwasha, appeared before magistrate Archie Wochiunga for allegedly stealing Uian Hlekiso’s bank card and pin number.
The court heard that the two met at Batanani Beer Hall on the September 25 and Kapitapita asked Hlekiso to buy him a beer, and she gave him her bank card and pin number.
Kapitapita bought the beer and then pretended to be answering a call before vanishing without informing the 46-year-old Hlekiso of where he was going.
Hlekiso then realised that Kapitapi was using her card through transaction text messages that were being sent to her phone.
Kapitapita made transactions at Chicken Inn, Amazon, Pizza Inn, Ok Supermarket and other supermarkets and it all reflected on Hlekiso’s phone, forcing her to engage her bank to block the card.
The total spending by Kapitapita amounted to US$3 411 but only US$40 was recovered at the time of his arrest.
Kapitapita pleaded not guilty and is expected to be back in court on the October 11 for continuation of trial.
Tinashe Maponde prosecuted.local

…appeal over turned

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Lovemore Chuma, a village head who was early this year convicted by Chief Chitanga’s court for engaging in an adulterous affair with the wife of his younger cousin brother, had his sentence appeal rejected by Mwenezi magistrate Honest Musiiwa who ruled in the complaint’s favour.
Earlier this year, Chuma, who is Mushayavanhu village head, was ordered by the traditional court to pay four beasts as compensation for having an affair with the wife of his namesake cousin, Lovemore Chuma MB.
Through his defence lawyer Joseph Maweni, Chuma admitted the offence but argued that the chief’s judgement was too harsh.
On his part, Chuma confessed that they indeed engaged in an illicit affair with Chuma MB’s wife.
“We had sexual intercourse once and it is Chuma MB’s wife who approached me because she was the first to send provocative messages to my cell phone,” said Chuma.
Giving her side of the story in court, Chuma MB’s wife said the whole affair was exposed when the child who was born from the illicit affair had gone for several weeks with the umbilical cord still wet.
The court further heard that, after realising that the family was about to go on a witch-hunt to find out the cause of the child’s problem, Chuma MB’s wife spilt the beans and revealed that the child belonged to Chuma.
On his part, Chuma MB said despite the fact that his brother was guilty he did not show any remorse.
“Mukoma hunhu hwenyu hunonyadzisa munototaura kuti mukadzi wangu agara achizikanwa nenyaya yekuhura muraini. Makamitisa mukadzi wangu dzoke zve monditsvagira lawyer futi…kana ndatokunzwirai tsitsi ndingatoti mubhadhare mombe nhatu,” said Chuma MB.
Musiiwa sternly reprimanded Chuma and ordered him to pay the complainant three beasts as per his request.local

Shumirai Zhou

GWERU – A 15-year-old Lower Gweru boy recently appeared before Gweru regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire facing three counts of sodomy.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal and ethical reasons, pleaded not guilty to the charges claiming that he was playing ‘chikudo’  with the nine-year-old victim.
He claimed there was no penetration and he was remanded out of custody under the care of his grandfather to October 23 for trial.
The court heard that on January 12, 2017, the accused visited the minor at his homestead in Madhuveko Village in Lower Gweru and asked if he could accompany him to a neighbour’s homestead.
While in the bush along the way, they started to engage in playful wrestling (chikudo) and the accused allegedly took advantage of that to sodomise the complainant before threatening him with unspecified action if he reported the matter to anyone.
On the following day, the accused met the complainant in the veld and sodomised him again and on the third incident, they were caught by a passerby who took the alleged offender to the police.
However, the accused said that they were just playing and turning each other up and down so when the passersby found him on top of the younger boy, he assumed that he was molesting him.
Lloyd Mavhiza prosecuted.local

Shumirai Zhou

GWERU – Tafadzwa Mugarisanwa (26) of House number 1398/17 Mbizo, Kwekwe was recently slapped with a 23-year-jail term over 43 counts of armed robbery of which nine counts were withdrawn after witnesses failed to provide satisfactory testimonies, and the robber was acquitted on six others.
Mugarisanwa pleaded not guilty to all charges but the court found him guilty and Gweru magistrate Solomon Jenya sentenced him to 23 years in jail.
Appearing for the State, Robert Ndlala told the court that the accused was linked to a group of armed robbers that are still at large.
The gang terrorised business people, stealing electrical gadgets in Zhombe, Kwekwe and Silobela between the months of February and March 2015.
Ndlala said the modus operandi of the gang involved producing a pistol to force shopkeepers to hand over their electrical gadget such as radios, laptops and DVD players as well as groceries.
It was heard that the accused was caught after stealing submersible pumps at a local school where he was performing a community service for another case not counted on the 43 counts.
The police then tracked him and arrested him, leading to the revelation of the 43 counts.
The value of stolen property was not known by the time of his appearance in court.local

Prince Danda

SHURUGWI – The old Shona adage that ‘chisi hachieri musi wacharimwa’ proved to be accurate last week when a Shurugwi man appeared in court in connection with a murder case he allegedly committed in 2011.
Twenty-nine-year-old Brighton Mugwisi, from Mugwisi village appeared before High Court judge Francis Bere facing murder charges.
The court heard that Mugwisi and Lawrence Chaitezvi were drinking at Shumba business centre in Shurugwi, in November 2011.
The two started quarrelling and Chaitezvi spilled Mugwisi’s beer in the process.
Mugwisi then struck Chaitezvi with a beer bottle and the victim later died due to bleeding.
Justice Bere, who was sitting with assessors Wellington Matemba and Chipo Baye, convicted Mugwisi with a charge of culpable homicide and sentenced him to seven years in prison.
Two years of the sentence were set aside on condition that he does not commit a similar crime within the next five years.
Mugwisi, who was appearing in his third and final circuit, was represented by Antony Chihiya of Makonese, Chambati and Mataka Attorneys.
Mirirai Shumba prosecuted.local

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – The Shona truism that goes ‘mhosva hairovi’ proved to be up to the point in the Mwenezi Magistrates Court last week when two men were arraigned before the court for the rape they allegedly committed between 2006 to 2008.
Appearing before magistrate Honest Musiiwa, the two accused, Zogi Matsonga (57) and Edmore Mufandaedza (35) who are both from Zvinonyanya village under Chief Neshuro, were not formally charged with rape as defined in section 65 (1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Chapter 9:23 but were remanded in custody.
Matsonga and Mufandaedza are facing charges of having separately and on different occasions raped a 42-year-old woman who resides from the same village with them.
The court heard that sometime between 2006 and 2008, while the complaint was coming from the garden, Matsonga ambushed the victim and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.
Mufandaedza also ambushed the complaint, who was coming from the borehole, and raped her.
Despite the fact that the offences were allegedly committed on different occasions sometime between 2006 and 2008, it came to light this year.
According to State papers the complaint reported the matter in Bulawayo this year. Willard Chasi appeared for the State.local