In an unusual development, ten Zanu-PF youths were arrested in Bikita for disrupting a Zimbabwe People First (Zim PF) meeting which was being held at Mashoko business centre in Bikita recently.

The ten, Maxwell Mushayamunda, Joseph Masakadze, Pikisanai Mufiri, Nyama Masakadze, Tichaona Mashavira, Innocent Mashavira, Sarah Chidzemwe, Botha Mupfumba, Jephitah Chiropa and Upenyu Mufiri were arrested after Bikita Zim PF Coordinator Kudakwashe Gopo made a report to the police.

“It was all a game of numbers. Zanu-PF actually tried to threaten people who had gathered for our meeting. They were annoyed that their own meeting which was being held a small distance from our venue was poorly attended. They then decided to disrupt our well-attended meeting. 

“They came with sticks threatening to beat us but we just remained calm and proceeded to make a police report since we had a clearance. The police were forced to take action when the youths followed us to the camp singing revolutionary songs,” Gopo said.

Bikita Zim PF leader, Retired Colonel Claudius Makova said he was happy with the action taken by the police and urged youths to refuse to be used as tools of violence.

“I am pleased by how the police responded to the rowdy behavior of the Zanu-PF youths. I am also happy that Zim PF members didn’t respond with violence against the thugs. They followed the right course as required by the law. 

“It gives us confidence that the police will continue to act against political violence in a non-partisan manner now that we are approaching elections.

“The youth must refuse to be used in exchange for opaque beer. Every sane person must reject orders to toyi toyi at police camps as these youths were made to do,” Makova said.news

Former Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joshua Mupamhadzi was involved in an accident when his car ran over and killed two minors, Ronald Munyeperi (12) and Liliosa Chikozha (16) while Brian Mauya (14) was seriously injured.

The accident happened near Nyika Growth Point on April 29.

Masvingo Provincial Acting Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said the accident occurred close to the 212 km peg along the Masvingo – Mutare highway.

“Mupamhadzi Joshua was driving his Toyota Hilux due east, towards Mutare with no passengers on board. Ronald Munyeperi was crossing the road from North to South and the other two victims, Liliosa Chikozha and Brian Mauya were beside the road.

“When Mupamhadzi was approaching the 212 km peg, he hit Munyeperi and swaved resulting in him simultaneously hitting Chikozha and Mauya who were beside the road. Munyeperi sustained head injuries and died on the spot whilst Chikozha who also sustained head injuries died upon admission at Nyika Clinic. The third victim, Mauya sustained critical head and wrist bruises and is currently admitted at Silveira Mission Hospital,” Dhewa said.

An eyewitness told this publication that the accident happened while Munyeperi was trying to recover his tennis ball from the busy highway.

“The kid was playing with a tennis ball along the busy highway. The accident then occurred when he tried to recover his ball which had bounced to the road side and he was hit by a car that was coming,” the eyewitness said.news

Villagers in the Makonde area in Gutu whose homes were razed to the ground by a vengeful man who lost his wife to his uncle have started rebuilding their homes barely two weeks after they were torched.

One victim of the arson attack, Thomas Makanda said he did not know why his home was burnt because he had nothing to do with the whole issue.

Makanda lost many belongings as he had moved out of his asbestos-roofed house into a thatched hut at the homestead to create room for his two sons who had just got married.

Chief Gutu’s Secretary, Kennedy Mupambavatyi, said he will assist the villagers to receive compensation from arsonist fugitive Andrew Muchena.

Muchena, originally from Muchena Village near Chamisa School but whose parents relocated to Makonde, left his wife at home after being accused of stealing several head of cattle. 

Muchena is believed to have fled to South Africa where he stayed for more than seven years but other sources say he never left the country but was simply hiding in different places.

Early this month Muchena came back home only to find that his wife had eloped with his uncle who had sired two children with her and was expecting a third one. 

The uncle was now working at Mubayiwa homestead in Makanda Village next to Muchena’s original home. 

Angry, Muchena followed his uncle to his workplace where the two had eloped.

Muchena immediately to the Mubayiwa homestead on fire before disappearing and villagers said they had had suspicions that Muchena’s uncle was related to Sophia, the woman he was staying with as his wife.

The following day a meeting of all the villagers was held to decide on the way forward and what action to take against Muchena’s uncle. 

Sophia, who was present at the meeting and all subsequent meetings, is believed to have tipped her new husband about the proceedings. 

This reportedly angered Muchena even more, and he burnt houses belonging to Makanda, Anna Runzonza Chirumhanzu, Letwin Mandovi and Brighton Chikede in revenge for plotting against him.

Muchena also later burnt the thorn fence around two of Makanda’s neighbours’ homesteads but police failed to apprehend him as he struck mostly at night.

Chirumhanzu’s hut was however lit around mid-morning when distressed village elders had gone to attend a meeting to discuss what was happening in the village. 

Muchena injured his former wife with an axe but could not locate his uncle who had already fled to Mpandawana where he now lives with Sophia in a low density residential area where they have found work.

Muchena’s victims have vowed to approach Chief Gutu’s Court to ask to be compensated from Muchena’s reported 20 head of cattle in Makonde.news

A 38-year old Mozambican national who was arrested on piracy charges in Mberengwa last month has been convicted of illegal immigration and will be deported to his country upon completion of his jail term.

Magistrate Sangster Tavengwa of Zvishavane Magistrate’s Court sentenced Peter Thomas Machikuire to an effective three months in jail after which he will be deported back to his country. 

Machikuire, of Muhuwai Village, Chief Mutada, Mozambique, was arrested on April 10 for playing pirated music.

At Mberegwa Police Station, Machikuire failed to produce his national identity card when he was asked to pay a fine.

Instead, he produced a Mozambican ID but did not have a passport, leading to another charge of illegal immigration.

The Mozambican had been staying in different places since he entered the country and had also married a local woman who stays in Harare and with whom he has one child.

Mikel Ncube appeared for the state.news

People living with HIV and AIDS in Masvingo have lamented the shortage of viral load testing machines at hospitals, a situation which makes it hard to measure the amount of HIV virus in their blood in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Speaking during a viral load testing awareness campaign organised by the Southern Africa AIDS Information and Dissemination Services (SafAIDS) in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Network of People living with HIV and Aids (ZNNP+) at Nyika Growth point recently, HIV positive patients said they have to wait for close to a month after their blood samples are taken before they can know the amount of the virus in their bodies.

“We go to hospitals here in Bikita for viral load testing and we have to wait for the results for close to a month as the blood samples are sent to Mutare hospital. We do not get the services here due to lack of machines and this leaves us in the dark concerning the amount of HIV in our bodies,” said one patient.

According to figures from the National AIDS Council (NAC), there are 10 083 HIV positive patients who are on Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in Bikita District alone.

Speaking at the same function, ZNNP+ communications and advocacy officer, Edmore Mutimodyo said the lack of the facility compromises the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“We would want a situation where our members can go for viral load testing after every six months and get their results instantly as prescribed by the WHO,” Mutimodyo said.

SafAIDS country Training and Advocacy Program Coordinator Adolf Mavheneke said monitoring the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment becomes difficult in such circumstances.

“It is like shooting in the dark as monitoring becomes problematic. Ideally, the facility should be accessible by all those living with the disease,” Mavheneke added.

Masvingo Provincial Medical Director, Dr Amadeus Shamu acknowledged that Masvingo General Hospital does not have the machine but said that the machines have since been put in the Ministry’s national program to make sure they are available at all hospitals.

“Yes, Masvingo General Hospital doesn’t have the machine but having the machine installed at hospitals is actually on our program as a province. Government has since roped in partners who have shown interest in having the machines installed though currently only Gutu has received the machine. More will be coming to cover all hospitals,” Dr Shamu said.

WHO statistics show that all people living with HIV and AIDS should ascertain the viral load in their bodies every six months for prognosis and prevention as purposes as well as for therapy management.

The HIV viral load may also be used to help determine whether the virus infecting a person has become drug-resistant. 

If a patient does not respond well to treatment and the amount of virus continues to increase, the virus could be resistant to that particular treatment and in such circumstances the treatment may then be modified.news