Itai Muzondo in Bikita

06 April 2017, BIKITA – A 14-year-old girl from Sosera village who mysteriously disappeared at Rozva Dam in a suspected mermaid (njuzu) attack on Monday last week miraculously came back alive after intense prayers and intercessions by an indigenous apostolic church prophet from Buhera.
Winet Govheya from Chief Marozva’s area is said to have gone missing mysteriously on her way to school.
The girl’s mother Ringanirai Hwande told TellZim News in an interview that her daughter had vanished in the presence of school mates on their way to school.
“Winet went missing on Monday and I went to seek help from church elders who instructed me not to cry or raise alarm while promising to help pray for the child’s safe return.
“Her schoolmates are not sure how she vanished. They only said she did not cross the road with others who moved fast to dodge an approaching whirlwind (chamupupuri) and never thought of checking on her,” Hwande said.
Winet’s father Douglous Govheya said he was still to come to terms with what happened to her daughter.
“I am still to know how it all happened because those who were there do not have clear descriptions. When Winet herself came back, she could not talk and could barely sit.
“A clear explanation would clear my heart of what really happened to my daughter during the days she went missing. You never know, maybe she had been kidnapped because after prayers at home, we found her lying on the banks of Rozva Dam,” Govheya said.
Charles Kasirai, the prophet who challenged the mermaid through prayers, told TellZim News he was staying with Winet for two weeks to initiate her to become a prophet.
“Most people who survive mermaid attacks become traditional healers but Winet will be a prophet. Men of God are interceding on her behalf and praying for her angel to come and guide her in her prophetic work,” Kasirai said.local

05 April 2017, Masvingo –  The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Masvingo Shuvai Mahofa, who once dismissed President Robert Mugabe’s plea for all provinces to contribute towards the 300 cattle donation he pledged to the African Union (AU) last year, is now under immense pressure as all the provinces have been ordered to immediately deliver the livestock, TellZim News has learnt.
 Though the donation is against Mahofa’s conscience as she indicated last year that Masvingo province is facing a number of challenges chief among them starvation that it cannot afford to contribute the cattle Mugabe wants for the donation, she is now mobilising the business community to chip in and assist, amid reports that all Rural District Councils (RDCs) have been forced to contribute at least $400 each.
Initially, Masvingo had pledged to reimburse 100 herds to the President but Mahofa back-peddled saying there is no stipulated number of cattle and the province will just raise what it can.
“We haven’t been given a figure but we will raise what we can as a province,” said Mahofa.
She, however, seems to be in panic mode after the Zanu PF national secretary of administration Ignatious Chombo is said to have written to her office indicating that the cattle were now due.
“We received communication that the cattle are now due therefore, we are on the ground to mobilise people to support us in cash or in kind. We have held meetings with the business community as well as the rural district councils and they have agreed to support us,” said Mahofa.
“They have all agreed to pay at least $400 but some have challenged themselves to go beyond the stipulated amount. We are not forcing anyone but people are making pledges,” she added.
Mahofa said they are committed to clear Mugabe debt as soon as possible. 
“The money we are getting is going straight to buying cattle. We are not going to send money. There is a committee which has been put in place and will soon be visiting the province to check on the cattle and we would like to be found at least with something,” said Mahofa.
TellZim News established that the ministry of rural development has written to all RDCs ordering them to donate at least $400 to buy the cattle.
Zaka RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Majaura could not be drawn into commenting about the letter as he indicated that he was not around when the finance committee discussed about it a fortnight ago.
“I heard about the letter from the ministry of rural development but I was not there when it was presented in the finance committee meeting,” said Majaura.
However, councillor Peter Imbayarwo, who was present in the meeting, said the letter was not only directed to Zaka RDC but all councils in the province including the Masvingo city council.
Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze said the council is yet to receive such a letter but laughed off at such attempts saying they will not get a cent from the city council.
“They can be successful at the rural councils but as the city council we have always and will always stand by our principles of not getting involved in political party activities. We are yet to get the letter but that will not change anything,” said Fidze.politics, local

Davison Marenga

03 April 2017, ZVISHAVANE – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) has donated food staffs to flood victims in Ward 4, Zvomukonde village in Mberengwa as part of efforts to ensure food security in an area badly affected by the havoc caused by Cyclone Dineo.
A total of 65 families benefited from the donation; each family receiving 70 kg of mealie meal, 10 kg soya chunks, cooking oil and salt.
Speaking at the event, Mberengwa Assistant District Administrator (DA) Rodwell Mtetwa praised Adra for its charity work which he said will provide some needed relief to the destitute families.
“I am happy to witness the handover of these provisions to the affected families. I hope Adra will continue helping the people of Mberengwa as theirs is one of the worst affected districts in the country. There are a lot more people who have been affected,” said Mtetwa.
He also thanked Mimosa Mining Company, Oxfam and World Vision, among other organisations that teamed up and donated to more than 200 households in the district.
Beneficiaries of the Adra donation could not hide their joy as they thanked Adra for the assistance which they said will help them cope during their time of great need.
“I am grateful that there are people out there who have remembered us in our time of suffering. This food will sustain us for some time while we ponder our next move,” said Tendai Maphosa.
Adra has also been in Tsholotsho where victims of the floods received food and other necessities.local

Jubilee Mahlamvana

03 April 2017, MBERENGWA – The 14 – year old Mberengwa girl who made headlines in various newspapers last year after successfully giving birth while writing her Grade Seven examinations is appealing for financial help for her to go to secondary school.
The girl is a victim of sexual abuse which she suffered at the hands of her cousin brother who is said to be a minor too.  Her poor parents are struggling to help her raise the child and are in no position to find the money to let her continue with her education.
Speaking to TellZim News, the minor’s mother said her daughter obtained 23 Units in her Grade Seven examinations but given the hardships they are facing as a family, they do not have enough money for the wellbeing of the baby, let alone for school fees.
“We do not have money to pay for her school fees and buy supplementary milk for her child so we suggested she drops out of school and breast-feed the child while we look for money,” her mother said.
The family is pleading with individuals, communities and organisations to come and assist so that the young mother does not end up hopeless as most teenage mothers are.