A Chipinge woman has been hacked to death with a machete for shaving her pubic hair without her husband’s consent.

Now Kudzai Ndongwa (35) of Mbeure Village under Chief Musikavanhu, Chipinge has been convicted by High Court Judge, Charles Hungwe of murder. He was slapped with a 25-year jail term.

Justice Hungwe condemned Ndongwa for being ruthless towards his wife and cutting her life short in cold blood.

He said: “The matter constitutes the worst case scenario of domestic violence at a time where we are fighting day and night against such violent acts.

“It has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that the deceased had not provoked you in any way, but you went ahead and murdered her. As your wife and dependant, your main duty was to protect her, but you acted otherwise and killed her in cold blood and therefore you deserve an even stiffer jail term.”

In his defence, however, Ndongwa told the court that his wife’s action was taboo in their culture and that she had to get his nod before shaving off her pubic hair.

“I did not intentionally kill her My Lord. My main aim was to discipline her as she had disrespected me by shaving off what belonged to both of us. Instead of asking for permission, she went ahead and shaved off the pubic hair behind my back. This angered me.

“I, however, do not know what happened next as I was no longer myself after I begun assaulting her. It might not have been me who committed the heinous crime because up to now I do not remember how everything happened. I was not in my normal senses,” he defended himself.

The State led by Mrs Jane-Rose Matsikidze alleged that on April 3, 2016, Ndongwe who was in his bedroom hut, noticed the late Tendekai Mabika burying something in a disused pit within their homestead.

After Mabika had left the pit, Ndongwe went to check on what had been thrown away by his wife. He concluded that the buried plastic bag contained what seemed like human hair.

The angry Ndongwa then confronted his wife on why she had shaved without his consent and even went further to throw away the pubic hair secretly. This led to a heated argument between the couple.

Mabika is alleged to have asked Ndongwa on whether he was labelling her witch, thereby making the latter much angry.

Ndongwa went back into his bedroom hut and came back armed with a machete.

In the middle of the heated argument, Ndongwa struck Mabika with the machete. Mabika took to her heels, but Ndongwa was in hot pursuit.

Ndongwa struck her on the head, chest and neck multiple times with the machete. After committing the heinous offence, Ndongwa went and changed his blood-stained clothes and hid the machete.

By Staff Reporter A Germany based organization, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, (KAS), has pledged to give technical support to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, by inviting regional and international intellectuals to engage with local law makers in various political and economic discourses which inform legislative processes.

The intellectual capacity of some of the current local Members of Parliament is questionable as evidenced by the ill-informed discussions and debates they engage in, in parliament.

The poor quality of parliamentary debates is exacerbated by lack of stipulated minimum qualifications required for one to become a law maker.

Emerging from his closed door meeting with the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, at his government offices at the weekend, KAS director, David Mbae, said they intended to strengthen the intellectual capacity of Zimbabwe MPs.

“ The most important part is working on capacity building of Parliament portfolio committees  and briefing members of parliament on several issues , for example bringing in local experts ,regional experts and even  people from Germany ,where we as an organization come from , bringing them in order to brief local legislators on questions that they might need in order to put the right legislation in place  and be informed and also inform their constituencies and communities about issues that affect them,” said Mbae.

Mbae, said they were also interested in intensifying climate change awareness campaign programmes , which   most communities in Zimbabwe were  yet to get a full appreciation of.

“ We are looking at sustainable development issues which make the country’s economy blossom  and  my meeting with the speaker of parliament was focused on our cooperation  we are trying to have with parliament and portfolio committees   on several issues,” said Mbae.

The ANC Youth League supports the party’s Mpumalanga chairman David Mabuza’s position that EFF leader Julius Malema should be brought back to the governing party.

ANCYL leader Collen Maine told Sowetan that people who were expelled from the ANC, including Malema, must come back.

“The ANC is a home for everybody. We need each other in the ANC. The ANC is a big elephant, but if many people leave, the elephant will collapse. We must do everything in our power to prevent the elephant from collapsing,” Maine said.

“If bringing [back] people who were expelled will assist the ANC, let us bring them back.”

This comes after Mabuza told the ANCYL provincial general council in Mbombela at the weekend that the ANC was weaker without Malema.

Mabuza, a close ally of President Jacob Zuma, also said he was considering bringing Malema back into the ANC.

But the EFF will have none of this. EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi described the remarks by Mabuza as a “selfish attempt to raise his profile and make news”.

“Mabuza, who represents nothing ideologically, has taken a decision to use the name of the CIC [commander-in-chief] in his campaign towards the ANC conference,” Ndlozi said yesterday.

“We know for sure that he does not mean any of the things he is saying, just like those in the ANC who are talking about land. They are all claiming that they believe in land expropriation without compensation, but we are not fooled because they only use this to gain public attention for their aims to take over the ANC.”

Mabuza is reported to have ambitions to become the ANC deputy president when the party holds its national elective conference in December.

Ndlozi said Malema would never be recruited into any political formation by a “kleptocrat” like Mabuza.

“DD Mabuza represents everything that is wrong with the ruling party,” Ndlozi said.

Malema was ANCYL leader before he was expelled from the ANC in 2012. Sowetan

A CHITUNGWIZA woman allegedly stole a baby in Pretoria, South Africa where she was employed as a maid before misleading her Zimbabwean based boyfriend that she had just given birth.

Sarudzai Mutingondo, 33, was nabbed by police in Chitungwiza’s St Marys on Saturday and is currently in police cells as she waits to appear in court.

According to a source, Sarudzai stole the baby in October 2016 in Pretoria before escaping to Zimbabwe where she lied to her boyfriend that she had given birth while in South Africa. The baby’s real mother is believed to be a Zimbabwean from Masvingo.

Sarudzai is said to have been pregnant when she left Zimbabwe for South Africa last year but had a miscarriage, which she presumably didn’t inform the boyfriend about.

The 33-year-old is said to had got a job in Pretoria where she worked as a maid and when her employer left her with the baby, she took advantage and escaped with the baby to Zimbabwe.

Sources suspect that the baby is about 10-months-old as Sarudzai does not know the exact age of the child.

“Sarudzai was left with the baby by her employer in Pretoria before she stole the baby and escaped back to Zimbabwe. She brought the baby to her boyfriend and they have been living with the baby as theirs since October.

“It was just recently when we heard that she was on the run in South Africa for stealing the baby. She was picked by police on Saturday,” a source said.

Sources added that Sarudzai had been handed over to the Harare Central Police’s Law and Order from Chitungwiza and she is set to appear in court. – State Media

A two-year-old boy has been admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo after his mother, who is a psychiatric patient, allegedly chopped off his manhood.
The woman from Magwegwe North suburb, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, was alleging that her son’s privates were too big for his age.

The baby was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where he has been admitted for the past two months.

Authorities are reportedly now looking for a Children’s Home where he will be taken to when he is discharged.

A family member who spoke on condition of anonymity said the baby’s mother was taken to Ingutsheni Central Hospital following the incident.

“We were shocked when we heard that she had cut her son’s privates. Neighbours said she called them screaming for help after chopping the manhood which she described as too big for his age,”she said.

“We’re equally shocked and sad that the boy will live without his manhood for the rest of his life. It was a traumatic incident and we hope both him and the mother will recover.”

She said a police report was made.

Mpilo acting clinical director Dr Xolani Ndlovu said: “I’m sorry I’m not in a position to confirm or deny if there is indeed such a patient as it involves a minor.”

A nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity said the child had suffered a traumatic amputation.

“This child came here sometime in January and we didn’t see the piece of the cut manhood. We have been treating and nursing him since then as his mother had to be taken to Ingutsheni Central Hospital. She had become a hazard to the child and other patients as she exhibited violent tendencies,” said the nurse. -State Media

PRIMARY and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora yesterday defended the introduction of Muslim and Buddhism studies in the new education curriculum, arguing this would not result in learners being converted to these religions.

Dokora told legislators after a thorough grilling that the idea was to get children to appreciate other religions and understand how they function and exist in the world. “The responsibility of preaching is for pastors, not for teachers. Pastors are responsible of preaching and converting people to their religions, not my teachers,” Dokora said.

“You are responsible for taking your kids to church. You are responsible for converting them to different religions, not my teachers, they are teachers, not preachers.”
Dokora’s deputy Paul Mavhima weighed in, saying: “Just like we teach different cultures, we are also teaching different religions so that our children can understand different religions without asking them to convert to any other religion because we are not pastors.”

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda urged Parliamentarians to organise fundraising projects in areas that they represent and channel the resources to educational development.

“Teachers must have a good attitude and should be able to teach children in their local languages so that they can understand. As MPs, I also urge you to do fundraising programmes to assist school development committees and the ministry. You should also attend open days for your schools so that you can appreciate the nature of challenges that they have,” Mudenda said.

Dokora has come under fire over allegations he wanted to clandestinely have Zimbabwe declared a Muslim State with even President Robert Mugabe revealing he had quizzed the Cabinet minister over the issue.

Mugabe went further to reveal Dokora now carries the moniker “Ayatollah” after Iran’s former supreme leader.

The Education minister has consistently argued that his plan is to align Zimbabwe’s education system with contemporary global trends. -Newsday

Zimbabwe is negotiationg a new deal to continue importing power from South African utility Eskom to make up for shortfalls in generating capacity at its Kariba hydropower station, the energy minister said on Monday.

In January last year Eskom agreed a one-year deal to sell up to 300 megawatts of capacity to Zimbabwe, which was facing biting shortages of electricity caused by low water levels in the Kariba dam. Generation capacity fell to a low of 275 MW from 750 MW, causing widespread blackouts.

Samuel Undenge told reporters after a meeting between Eskom and state power utility ZESA Holdings that the two utilities were still discussing how much Eskom would supply to Zimbabwe, adding that imports would be paid for upfront.

“I don’t want load shedding (scheduled power cuts) to return and we have been assured of continued support from Eskom so that we continue to have the country supplied with power,” he said.

Officials from Eskom and ZESA did not comment.

Undenge said customers should pay their bills to ZESA, to enable the company to settle its Eskom debt, which stood at $40 million at the end of February.

ZESA is owed $1 billion in unpaid bills by customers, including government departments.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| A Chivi man went berserk and brutally murdered his father over family differences.

The man accused his father of failing to hold a memorial service for a late relative.

Lovemere Mutambu(29), of Muteve Village, under Headman Makovere in Chivi brutally killed his father,Marwi Mutambu(89) following a heated argument over the memorial service for the accused’ s late sister.

The matter was brought before Masvingo High Court Judge, Justice Mawadze on February 27,2017.

The court heard that the accused had an altercation with his father over the holding of the memorial service. The accused is a confined mental patient.

He picked up a log and used it to hit his father all over the body. He also crushed his father’s head with the log.

His father was rushed to Berejena Hospital where he was referred to Matibi Hospital .Nothing could be done to save his life.

“Marwi was rushed to hospital but it was too late to save his life, ” read part of the State Case.

A post mortem report submitted by Dr Calvin Maimba indicated that severe head injuries caused the death of Marwi.

Lovemore was acquitted of murder charges through a special verdict because he committed the offence when his mental state was unstable.

However he will undergo further examinations at Chikurubi Psychiatric Unit to determine whether he can rejoin the society.

A section of parents in Bulawayo have expressed concern over the limited time they were given to pay for November public examinations saying they were not given adequate time to raise the required fees considering the prevailing economic situation.

Parents who spoke to the state media said some schools notified them with two weeks left before the closing date for registration. Said Mrs Thobekile Dube:

I think it’s unfair. Normally when registration opens, it would be announced when there is ample time to look for money but now I only saw my child coming with a school form indicating the subjects they are registering. I’ve another A-Level student who must register. It’s hard for us, we need time.

Mr Isaiah Mandaza said his Upper Sixth Form child came home telling him about the deadline on the first of this month and he has to look for funds to hurriedly pay. Parents also said they were not aware of Zimsec’s two-year payment plan for examinations. However, Zimsec Public Relations Officer Ms Nicholette Dhlamini said parents were given ample time to pay for exam registration. Dhlamini said Zimsec only announced deadlines to exam centres and not to parents and it was up to the centres to give parents a deadline to pay.

Most of them professed ignorance over Zimsec’s two-year payment plan for examinations.

Zimsec Public Relations Officer Ms Nicholette Dhlamini said parents were given ample time to pay for exam registration.

She said Zimsec only announced deadlines to exam centres and not to parents and it was up to the centres to give parents a deadline to pay. “Two years ago we announced in the newspapers that a parent can now pay for their exam sitting pupil a year before the exam.

For example a parent can pay for their Grade Seven child when they are in Grade Six, giving them two years to pay exam fees, the same for O and A-Levels,” said Ms Dhlamini.

“Schools have different deadlines for examinations for administrative purposes. If schools don’t meet the deadlines we fine them.”

A headmistress who spoke on condition of anonymity said parents preferred to pay at the last minute forcing schools to come up with earlier deadlines.

“The plan by Zimsec is working well in primary schools where parents are told to pay a $1 or two for their Grade Seven examinations starting when the pupils are in Grade Six but in high school they want to pay during the last month,” said the headmistress. “The Zimsec deadline is March 30 but we are sticking to March 17 for A Levels and March 27 for Ordinary level because we will be trying to avoid last minute rushes. If you come and check on March 28 and 29 there will be people who will still be negotiating for an extension of the date.”

Zimbabwe Teachers Association Chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu encouraged parents to look for money to ensure that their children sit for examinations.

“It’s the right thing to pay on time and everybody will be ready for examinations,” said Mr Ndlovu.

The June registration period closed last month.

Former Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) chief executive Dr Cuthbert Dube, has lost a $3,5million cash award.

The Labour Court has quashed a $3,5 million arbitral award granted to Dube after he had earlier won a contractual dispute with the society.

Dr Dube won the $3,5 million arbitral award against the medical aid society in April 2015, entitling him to monthly salary and benefits backdated to January 2014.

He won the money in two arbitral awards, one against Premier Service Medical Investment (PSMI), a subsidiary of PSMAS, for $2 070 000 and the other against PSMAS for $1 380 000, bringing his total claims to $3 450 000.

But Dr Dube’s hopes for the rich pickings were damned after the Labour Court on Friday set aside the two arbitral awards.

Mrs Euna Makamure, sitting with Mrs Betty Chidziva, ruled that there was merit in the PSMAS and PSMI challenges and granted the appeal.

“In my view, in the two appeals, the respective arbitral awards are to be set aside,” said Mrs Makamure. “Accordingly, it is ordered that the arbitral award is each case be and is hereby set aside and substituted with the following — ‘the claimant’s (Dr Dube) claim is hereby dismissed’.”

Dr Dube was fired in January 2014 for awarding himself a hefty salary of $92 000 excluding other benefits from the group, and another $43 000 plus benefits from the subsidiary — PSMI.

After getting paid his allowances by both entities, Dr Dube would take home as much as $500 000 per month.

The two appeals were dealt with in one hearing because PSMAS and PMSI are closely related and the grounds of appeal were largely similar.

The appeals arose from the determinations made by arbitrator Mr Don Moyo.

Dr Dube had a written contract of employment with PSMAS, where he was the chief executive, drawing a salary of $92 000 per month.

He reached retirement age and was stopped from work, but the parties failed to agree on the contract, prompting the matter to be referred for arbitration.

Mr Moyo had to determine whether or not Dr Dube’s contract of employment was lawfully terminated, if not, what was the appropriate remedy?

He ruled in favour and ordered PSMAS to pay Dr Dube all his salary arrears at the given rate per month and benefits from the date he was last paid.

Mrs Makamure said Mr Moyo was called upon to decide whether the termination of contract was lawful or not, which he did not do.

“The learned arbitrator by making a finding that there was still a contract in existence between the parties, effectively made a new contract of employment between the parties,” she said.

“Making contracts for parties is not the duty of an adjudicating authority. An adjudicating authority deals with disputes arising from contracts or indeed interprets the terms of contracts where parties need interpretation of the terms of thereof in the context of disputes between them. They do not make contracts for parties.”

Mrs Makamure said there was no longer any binding contract between PSMAS and Dr Dube.

She said had Mr Moyo found that the contract had not been lawfully terminated, the appropriate remedy would then lie on whether to reinstate or make another order.

On PSMI, Mrs Makamure ruled that it was wrong to insinuate that Dr Dube’s contract of employment was enforceable against the firm.

She said the board, which was acting, extended Dr Dube’s contract for a 10-year period, but the same board reversed its decision.

“The position, therefore, is that the respondent’s contract was terminated upon him reaching retirement age,” she said.

Dr Dube, Mrs Makamure said, had no contract with PSMI.

Advocate Fadzayi Mahere instructed by Mr James Chikobvu Muzangaza argued the matter for PSMAS and PSMI, while Mr Jonathan Samukange of Venturas and Samukange acted for Dr Dube. -state media

A Harare man raped his friend’s sister in his car after offering her a lift home on Christmas Day.

Davison Mutizwa (44) raped the 19-year-old woman in his vehicle while her two-year-old son watched. The woman reportedly sustained internal injuries in her privates and bled for two weeks, a medical report revealed.

Mutizwa was yesterday convicted of rape by regional magistrate Ms Lucy Mungwari after a full trial. During the trial, the woman narrated her ordeal and told the court how she bit Mutizwa on his left arm during the scuffle.

“When I was about to get home I handed him 25 cents for the trip since it is the usual fare and he refused it saying it was not enough and he started demanding sexual intercourse instead,” she said.

“I then turned down his request and he suddenly became violent and stopped the vehicle before coming to the back seat where I was sitting. He took my baby from my lap and placed him on the other seat before raping me.”

To substantiate her testimony, the complainant told the court how she bit Mutizwa’s left hand during the scuffle. She then advised the court to check his hand and see if he had a scar.
The State and the defence approached Mutizwa who was in the dock and examined his hand. Both counsels saw the scar the complainant was referring to. The woman also told the court that she was supposed to tie the knot on March 4, but due to Mutizwa’s actions, her husband cancelled the wedding ceremony pending finalisation of the matter.

In his defence, Mutizwa denied the charges saying that he was being wrongly accused.
He added that the woman might have been raped by a fellow passenger who dropped off together with her, a claim that the victim vehemently denied insisting she was the only passenger.

As for the scar on his right hand, Mutizwa told the court that he has always had that scar.
However, Ms Mungwari convicted Mutizwa due to overwhelming evidence adding that the woman was a credible witness.

She remanded Mutizwa in custody to today for sentencing. Prosecutor Mr Ephraim Zinyandu proved that on Christmas Day last year, thewoman went to a Christmas party with her child.

At around midnight she decided to go back home and was accompanied to the bus stop by her brother. The victim’s brother flagged down Mutizwa’s vehicle after recognisinghim and he assured his sister that she would get home safely since he knew Mutizwa.

Mutizwa drove to New Mabvuku where he parked his vehicle and started demanding sexual intercourse as payment for the lift before raping her.

A Manicaland-based Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer is set to lose a substantial amount of his salary after it was garnished by the court to pay a victim that he brutally tortured over two years ago.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), which represented the victim, who was an ‘‘A’’ Level student then, the garnish order was granted last Friday.

The organisation said that the police officer Crispen Chikazhe will have $100 deducted from his salary every month, until he manages to pay the full damages of $570.

Chikazhe was accused of having tortured Brighton Sanyanga, then a 19-year-old pupil at Pafiwa High School in Mutasa District in Manicaland Province, following a demonstration that took place at the school.

“Sanyanga, who was an ‘A’ level student …was tortured by Chikazhe who had invited him to Nyanga Police Station to answer allegations of malicious damage to property … after a demonstration allegedly staged by the students.

“Chikazhe, in an effort to extract information from Sanyanga, tortured the student physically by exposing him to electrical shock and psychologically by threatening to kill him,” ZLHR said.

Through his lawyer Peggy Tavagadza from ZLHR, Sanyanga dragged the police officer to court demanding compensation.

“In 2014, after a full trial, the Mutare Magistrates’ Court awarded damages in the sum of $570 to Sanyanga, for torture, pain and suffering, medical expenses and transport costs,” ZLHR said.

However, Chikazhe, who is stationed at Nyanga Police Station, according to ZLHR had reneged on paying the judgment debt, prompting Tavagadza to file an application seeking an order compelling the Salary Services Bureau (SSB) to garnish the police officer’s salary.

In the application, Tavagadza argued that since Chikazhe earns about $380 per month, after the execution of the order, he would be left with a sufficient balance of income to maintain himself and his dependents.

ZLHR has in the past assisted villagers from the same community after being tortured by the police at Nyanga Police Station.

According to ZLHR, in one of the cases, two Nyanga Police Station-based officers only identified as Kapfunde and Kambanje were ordered to pay $3 000 in damages for torturing hotel security guard Tsitsi Chimhutu when they were investigating a break-in at Montclair Hotel last year.

The organisation said that Chimhutu was tortured by the police officers, who were trying to force a confession in a case where $2 500 had gone missing. Daily News

THREE members of the same family died on the spot after they were hit by a commuter omnibus which was travelling in the wrong lane allegedly to avoid potholes in Gweru’s Mkoba suburb.

The accident occurred on Saturday at around 4PM near Vashandiri Study Centre in Mkoba 12.

The commuter omnibus had no passengers at the time of the accident but is said to have been rushing to town since it was peak hour.

Witnesses said the deceased were dragged for about two metres while under the commuter omnibus as the driver tried to speed away from the scene.

The driver later stopped but bolted from the scene leaving his vehicle — a Nissan Caravan.

He later handed himself to the police and is assisting with investigations.

A family spokesperson, Mr Trust Mugovera, identified the deceased as Moreblessing Mharakurwa (20), her daughter Anopaishe Mugovera (1) and sister-in-law Tendai Mugovera (11) who was in Grade Six at Pakame Primary School in Shurugwi.

He said the three were on their way home from a barber shop which is opposite Vashandiri Centre where they had taken Tendai for a haircut.

“We lost three family members over the weekend. They were hit by a commuter omnibus that was rushing to town for passengers. They were walking coming from the barber shop when this commuter omnibus, which was travelling in the wrong lane as the driver was avoiding potholes, hit them. They all died on the spot,” said Mr Mugovera.

He said they were still to come to terms with the sudden death of their relatives.

“What is hurting us the most is the fact that the driver of the vehicle hasn’t shown up to apologise. He ran away leaving the three trapped under his vehicle,” Mr Mugovera said.

He said mourners were gathered at 2870/1 Mkoba 16.

The deceased are expected to be buried today at Mutasa cemetery in Gweru.

Meanwhile, the Gweru City Council director of Engineering Mr Robson Manatsa and some police officers visited the scene of the accident.

Acting Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende was not reachable for comment.

Last week, 14 people were killed along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Highway near the National University of Science and Technology and a pothole was blamed for the accident.

OVER 25 people have been killed by floods that have wreaked havoc in the Midlands Province since the beginning of the rainy season.

Mberengwa, Gokwe North and Gokwe South districts recorded the most deaths in the province, said the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya.

Speaking during the donation of blankets and food for over 400 families who were affected by the floods and which were sourced by platinum miner Mimosa Mining Company in Zvishavane last Friday, Cde Machaya said some were killed by lightning.

“To date we have lost over 25 people to flooding since the beginning of the rainy season. However, many deaths occurred in Gokwe North, Gokwe South and Mberengwa.

“These three districts received more rains which saw rivers flooding which killed many people who attempted to cross the flooded rivers. Some were struck by lightning,” said Cde Machaya.

He said the floods left a trail of destruction in the Midlands Province and several families were left homeless.

The Minister said more than 10 bridges were either swept away or extensively damaged. Hundreds of livestock, including goats and chickens as well as the maize crop were swept away too.

He said Government with assistance from non-governmental organisations like the Red Cross and companies like Mimosa Mining Company was now moving in to assist the affected villagers to avert a humanitarian disaster.

@pchitumba1

The Chronicle is co-ordinating donations to assist Tsholotsho floods victims and those with donations such as second hand clothes and other such items should contact Editor’s secretary Estere Linje on 09-888871-9 or 0777952380 or bring such donations to the Chronicle at corner 9th Avenue and George Silundika Street.

A Harare man raped his friend’s sister in his car after offering her a lift home on Christmas Day.

Davison Mutizwa (44) raped the 19-year-old woman in his vehicle while her two-year-old son watched.

The woman reportedly sustained internal injuries in her privates and bled for two weeks, a medical report revealed.

Mutizwa was yesterday convicted of rape by regional magistrate Ms Lucy Mungwari after a full trial.

During the trial, the woman narrated her ordeal and told the court how she bit Mutizwa on his left arm during the scuffle.

“When I was about to get home I handed him 25 cents for the trip since it is the usual fare and he refused it saying it was not enough and he started demanding sexual intercourse instead,” she said.

“I then turned down his request and he suddenly became violent and stopped the vehicle before coming to the back seat where I was sitting. He took my baby from my lap and placed him on the other seat before raping me.”

To substantiate her testimony, the complainant told the court how she bit Mutizwa’s left hand during the scuffle.

She then advised the court to check his hand and see if he had a scar.

The State and the defence approached Mutizwa who was in the dock and examined his hand.

Both counsels saw the scar the complainant was referring to.

The woman also told the court that she was supposed to tie the knot on March 4, but due to Mutizwa’s actions, her husband cancelled the wedding ceremony pending finalisation of the matter.

In his defence, Mutizwa denied the charges saying that he was being wrongly accused.

He added that the woman might have been raped by a fellow passenger who dropped off together with her, a claim that the victim vehemently denied insisting she was the only passenger.

As for the scar on his right hand, Mutizwa told the court that he has always had that scar.

However, Ms Mungwari convicted Mutizwa due to overwhelming evidence adding that the woman was a credible witness.

She remanded Mutizwa in custody to today for sentencing.

Prosecutor Mr Ephraim Zinyandu proved that on Christmas Day last year, thewoman went to a Christmas party with her child.

At around midnight she decided to go back home and was accompanied to the bus stop by her brother.

The victim’s brother flagged down Mutizwa’s vehicle after recognisinghim and he assured his sister that she would get home safely since he knew Mutizwa.

Mutizwa drove to New Mabvuku where he parked his vehicle and started demanding sexual intercourse as payment for the lift before raping her. – State Media

Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa has flown to Geneva.

Mnangagwa on Monday evening left the country for Switzerland where is to attend a UN Human Rights periodic review meeting.

The state media says he flew off accompanied by a large delegation of government officials.

Zimbabwe is to appear before the UN Human Rights Council for the consideration and adoption of the 2016 human rights review carried out in November last year.

He is accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mrs Virginia Mabhiza; Principal Director in the Vice President’s Office, Mr Nharo Gwatidzo and other senior government officials.

It never rains but pours for embattled former Premier Service Medical Aid Society chief executive Dr Cuthbert Dube after the Labour Court quashed a $3,5 million arbitral award granted to him in a contractual dispute with the society.

Dr Dube won the $3 million arbitral award against the medical aid society in April 2015, entitling him to monthly salary and benefits backdated to January 2014.

He won two arbitral awards against Premier Service Medical Investment (PSMI) for $2 070 000 and against PSMAS for $1 380 000, bringing his total claims to $3 450 000.

However, Dr Dube’s hopes for rich pickings were damned after the High Court on Friday set aside the two arbitral awards.

Mrs Euna Makamure sitting with Mrs Betty Chidziva ruled that there was merit in the PSMAS and PSMI challenge and granted the appeal.

“In my view, in the two appeals, the respective arbitral awards are to be set aside,” said Mrs Makamure.

“Accordingly, it is ordered that the arbitral award is each case be and is hereby set aside and substituted with the following—‘the claimant’s (Dr Dube) claim is hereby dismissed’.”

Dr Dube was fired in January 2014 for awarding himself a hefty salary of $92 000 excluding other benefits from the group, and another $43 000 plus benefits from the subsidiary – PSMI.

The two appeals were dealt with in one hearing because PSMAS and PMSI are closely related. State Media

Staff Reporter l Some villagers from the flood hit Sipepa Village in Tsholotsho claim that ZANU PF officials and members in the area are victimising them for receiving food and clothing items donated to them by MDCT Vice President Thokozani Khuphe a fortnight ago.

The villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com in confidence said that the ZANU PF leaders have a list of names of all people who received donations from Khuphe and they are being deliberately excluded from government and other organisation’s relief that is being brought through to the flood victims.

“We have been openly told by some people within ZANU PF that it has been said within the party that we will get help from Khuphe and not ZANU PF,” said one of the villagers in her narration to ZimEye.com.

Khuphe visited the flood victims in the area in the company of fellow legislature Ruth Labode and donated 150 blankets, 400kgs mealie meal, 200kgs chunks, 3 cartons of cooking oil and salt to some off the many flood victims who were camping at Sipepa Hospital.

WOMEN’S Affairs Minister Nyasha Chikwinya has defended her decision to appoint a male board member to the soon to be opened Women’s Bank, something feminist groups say flew in the face of ongoing attempts to uplift local women.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe CEO Matthew Kunaka was introduced by Chikwinya during last week’s International Women’s Day celebrations in Harare.
The event was attended by hundreds of local women.
In her address, Chikwinya said she was inundated with demands for her to second a woman to the position, something she said she vehemently disputed insisting she went for competence as opposed to one’s sex.
“Some people said to be I should appoint a female chairperson but I stood my ground saying we do not operate like that,” Chikwinya said.
“We are looking for a competent person who is able to drive the bank forward.
“A man or a woman with a vision and passion for women who is able to articulate issues for women and bring whatsoever women want in terms of financial inclusion on the table.”
However, this did not go down well with the women’s movement that is advocating women’s increased involvement in managerial positions.
Grace Chirenje, a feminist, said Kunaka’s appointment was a step backwards in the country’s painstaking efforts to advance women’s affairs.
“The appointment shows lack of political will towards women’s human rights development; it’s simply not there. Women’s spaces should be simply that, women’s spaces.
“This is retrogressive unless it’s a gender bank,” Chirenje said.
Similarly, Nyasha Sengayi, also a feminist, said the government was showing lack of commitment towards fulfilling its own pledges of empowering local women.
“It is sad to note that 36 years into independence, a key leader who is leading a women’s ministry is showcasing serious structural challenges by supporting a move such as this within her ministry,” Sengayi said.
“We are past the age of being directed by men on issues concerning our economic empowerment as this erodes our gains in the fight for equality as the women’s movement.
“The minister should seriously consider changing this as soon as possible. Gender inequality is unacceptable in this era.”
Don Mavhudzi, an activist, said while a woman should head the board, the candidate should be experienced and competent.
“There are many competent, well qualified and experienced women out there who should be given a chance.
“Having a man leading such an organisation is tantamount to claiming that women cannot lead themselves.
“They should be empowered in every respect, beginning with the leadership of the institutions that are fronting women issues.”
It is not the first local women have been up in arms with a government official for allegedly overlooking them on issues to do with top leadership positions.
President Robert Mugabe was in 2013 slammed for appointing a cabinet which only had 17 percent female component, months after the country had adopted a new constitution which prescribed equal opportunities for both men and women.
The envisaged Women’s Bank is meant to address women’s access to credit. -VOP

By Staff Reporter l  Zanu-PF youths disrupted a funeral of an MDC-T care who passed on in Mbare last weekend.

At the late  Chikita Ngano’s homestead a Moragn Tsvangirai led MDC party cadre, rowdy Zanu-PF youths on Saturday told mourners to vacate the place because they wanted to hold a rally.

Similar violent attacks happened in Highfield at the weekend when Zanu PF youths attacked MDC-T members who were conducting door to door voter education.

MDC-T Harare district deputy organiser, Prosper Tirivacho and six others were seriously injured.

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s “useless” foreign jaunts are to blame for the poor state of infrastructure in the country, the opposition MDC has said.

The party led by former Industry minister Welshman Ncube, has blamed the ruling Zanu PF government ineptitude for the unfortunate loss of lives, including last week’s horror crash that claimed 13 lives in Bulawayo.

Thirteen people died on the spot, while four others were seriously injured and admitted at the United Bulawayo Hospital after a commuter omnibus, which was carrying a dead body, collided with a haulage truck just outside the country’s second largest city.

In a statement, MDC spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said his party was saddened and outraged by the unnecessary loss of life.

“It is sad to note that it has to take nothing short of the loss of precious lives for government to begin to take notice of the serious disrepair of our roads. It is our hope that government will acknowledge and accept responsibility for these unnecessary deaths and swiftly make reparations to the families of the deceased,” Chihwayi said.

“The cause of this accident like many others before it is the negligence and rampant corruption inside President Robert Mugabe’s government. The government and in particular the Transport ministry must be brought to book over the horrific deterioration of our roads.”

Chihwayi said it seems Mugabe’s government is happy with increasing the road death toll, while he gallivants across the globe.

“Instead of improvements on our roads all we are seeing are traffic police officers at literally every 5km stretch whose sole goal is to further milk motorists of their hard-earned cash. Zinara needs to come clean about why it continues to collect revenue from our roads without repairing them for years on end,” he said.

The party’s Matabeleland South chairperson Pilate Ndebele said the government’s declaration of some roads as a state of disaster will not help matters.

“This government is now blaming the destruction of the infrastructure on the rains, forgetting that since independence they have not been rehabilitating the infrastructure,” Ndebele said, adding devolution was the answer to the problem of infrastructure decay. Newsday

Langton Ncube| A Gweru witch hunter, tsikamudanda, who late last year hit headlines for repenting to God and delivering his three goblins to a prophet has made a shock turn around demanding his goblins back from the prophet.

The witch hunter who ZimEye.com sources only identified as Moyo is reportedly claiming that he is battling with life since the day he delivered the goblins to the prophet in October last year and wants to go back to his previous life. The man who is now visibly mentally ill, claims the Satanic elements and the profession were supplying him with money all the time.

Moyo is claiming that when he handed over the goblins (VIDEO BELOW) to the prophet the understanding was that they were going to be set on fire but the prophet instead concealed them and converted them to his personal use.

The renowned tsikamudanda is showing signs of mental disorder.

Efforts to get a comment from the concerned pastor were unsuccessful. Moyo is reported to be continuously seen visiting the prophet’s home demanding his goblins back to no avail.

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi| A teacher at a local school fled to South Africa after raping a Grade 7 pupil several times.

Goodwill Gwata disappeared from Mhlanguleni Primary School in fear of being arrested for sexually abusing the minor.

Police in Chiredzi said they arrived at the school when Gwata had already vanished.

“The teacher who was fingered for the abuse was nowhere to be seen when the cops arrived at the school. The said teacher forcibly had sex with the minor several times,” police in Chiredzi said last week.

Authorities at the school said when Gwata overheard the police were coming to investigate the matter, he immediately vanished from the school.

“Gwata was last seen the day the matter was reported to the police. The information we have is that Gwata is now in South Africa,” said a senior staff member at the school.

Local parents have called on the police to act on the matter.

Members of the Mhlanguleni Old Students’ Association have vowed to launch a search for Gwata.

“Gwata is reportedly hiding in Soshanguve Extension, Pretoria. We will find him very soon. We cannot tolerate such heartless behaviour,” said a member of the association.

Chiredzi District Schools Inspector, Petronella Nyangwe was not immediately available for a comment on the matter.

The founder of Build Zimbabwe, Dr Noah Manyika is on ZimEye early this morning at 7am.

He will be interviewed on a wide ranging spectrum of his political movement which has taken social networks by storm. The program begins at 7am (London time), 9am (Harare time).

TRANSPORT minister Joram Gumbo (pictured) told Senate that the situation at the comatose National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) had worsened, making it difficult to attract investors and resuscitate it.

Gumbo said NRZ operations have been on a downward spiral for years now.

“Just yesterday (Wednesday) we presented a paper to Cabinet to look at options to resuscitate NRZ, but the problem is that their books are very bad to the extent it is difficult to attract partners, but we are negotiating with different companies for partnership,” he said.

Gumbo said the poor performance by NRZ was contributing to the dilapidation of roads in the country as heavy goods were carried by road instead of rail.

He said one of the problems that affected NRZ was overstaffing, where they used to have 20

000 employees, which dropped to 12 000 in 1990 before the current idle 5 000.

Gumbo also told the Senate that government would not compensate vehicles damaged by potholes, adding it was the duty of vehicle owners to insure their vehicles.

The Transport minister recently told journalists that the death of NRZ has forced transporters to move heavy loads such as granite stone, coal and raw minerals by road.

“When we construct roads it is done in such a way that some roads are only meant for light vehicles and medium toll vehicles like the Harare Bindura road, but that road is now being used by trucks which carry up to 50 tonnes of black granite stones and this is now destroying the road. The point is that rail, which is supposed to provide transport for such heavy stones is not working properly and, therefore, people are forced to use the road,” Gumbo said.

Government has come under fire over allegations that Gumbo’s ministry was allowing the construction of substandard roads, with most falling apart inside five years amid corruption accusations.

NRZ board chairman, Larry Mavhima, backed Gumbo saying that the viability of the parastatal was vital to road maintenance and durability.

“We have to access funding so that we turn around the fortunes of NRZ and allow it to play its role in reliving the burden of the toll brought by heavy trucks on our roads, unfortunately before we are capitalised transporters will continue using road,” he said.

Next our roads without repairing them for years on end,” he said.

The party’s Matabeleland South chairperson Pilate Ndebele said the government’s declaration of some roads as a state of disaster will not help matters.

“This government is now blaming the destruction of the infrastructure on the rains, forgetting that since independence they have not been rehabilitating the infrastructure,” Ndebele said, adding devolution was the answer to the problem of infrastructure decay. – Newsday

A jilted gold panner who crashed his 73 year old neighbour’s head to death has been given life in prison.

H suspected him of having an affair with his ex-girlfriend before tying the woman up with barbed wire and kidnapping her, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Hloniphani Ngulube of Altyre Farm in Fort Rixon, Insiza district axed the now deceased, who was not named in court, before pounding his head with a big stone when he found him with his ex-girlfriend.

He tied his ex-girlfriend, Ms Petronella Ndlovu’s hands with a piece of barbed wire before kidnapping her for two days.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi convicted Ngulube of murder with actual intent and kidnapping.

He jailed Ngulube for life on the murder and sentenced him to an additional five years for the kidnapping offence.

Justice Mathonsi said although Ngulube suffered from the swirls of passion and pangs of jealous, his actions were not a justification for the crimes he committed.

He described Ngulube as a heartless sexual pervert who targeted defenceless women.

“Nothing can atone for the savage killing of a 73 year-old man who was minding his own business at his home thinking that he was safe. What we have here is a man who was rejected by a woman because of his abusive tendencies. He simply could not accept rejection because he had harboured this obtuse and indeed warped mentality that a woman is an object of appropriation by a man, a piece of chattel which he could own. – State Media

Former vice-president Joice Mujuru says she will support any leader chosen to lead a coalition against President Robert Mugabe in next year’s elections.

Mujuru made the declaration in an interview with the BBC during her recent visit to Britain. The interview will be screened tomorrow under the respected programme, HardTalk.

The National People’s Party (NPP) leader said coalition talks with former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai were progressing well and they were now drafting a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

“We have been in talks for the coalition with Morgan Tsvangirai,” Mujuru said. “It is part of the process iwe are carrying out now which I can’t say who is who, but it is part of the results that are going to come out.

“Between Tsvangirai and myself, we are working together, we have done some addresses together and right now, we are working on an MoU so that we are able to work together.”
Mujuru has been in coalition talks with Tsvangirai since last year when she was still Zimbabwe People First leader before the party split last month due to differences with former allies Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa.

There have been fears that the acrimonious relationship between Mujuru and her former allies would scuttle the coalition talks with the MDC-T leader, who has on the other hand promised to engage both factions.

“Anyone who is chosen according to our discussions, I will be able to work with,” she added.
Mutasa has already endorsed Tsvangirai — the only opposition leader to hand Mugabe his first electoral defeat in 2008.

Mujuru was also quizzed on why she intended to forgive Mugabe if she wins in the 2018 general elections after the humiliating way she was haunded out of Zanu PF.

“My party is not for retribution, but for restitution. We have to encourage people to forgive but not to forget. We cannot continue to lead in the past,” she said.

“We should be busy thinking of how best we should move forward.”
On the 1980s Matabeleland and Midlands massacres also known as Gukurahundi, Mujuru said she was partly to blame as someone who was in government according to the concept of collective responsibility.

But she said it was unfair to blame everyone who was in government at the time because the atrocities were not executed by the regular army.

Mujuru also disputed claims that she looted diamonds from Chiadzwa, saying the term “Churu ChaMai Mujuru” (Mujuru’s hill) was a joke created by villagers involved in a flower export project she initiated at Hotsprings, Mutare. The project was a major source of foreign currency.

She said when diamonds were discovered, people started claiming that they now had their project similar to the horticulture project. Mujuru said villagers teased each other about the “Churu chaMai Mujuru”, but she was never into mining. Standard

Seven of the 14 people who perished in a horror crash in Bulawayo last week are likely to be buried tomorrow at Luveve Cemetery, a family spokesperson has said.

The family which has received State assistance to the tune of $700 per body says they wish to bury their loved ones as the hospital has notified them that the bodies had gone bad.

Mr Kenny Sibanda who lost three children in accident said: “I’m really saddened by the loss of my children. When I went to hospital they told me that akusangeneki e mortuary ngabantu benu. Honestly this saddens me, so since I don’t have money, I am hoping that tomorrow (today) we will finalise the whole process and bury them at Luveve,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said one of his relatives had a funeral policy with Kings and Queens which had moved the bodies from the hospital’s mortuary to their parlour.

Mr Sibanda thanked the Government for the assistance but said his sister was in urgent need of $600. “We are appealing for assistance for Enert Sibanda who is at Mpilo hospital’s intensive care unit. The doctors said a CT head scan is required and it costs about $600 and we don’t have that money. We are appealing to people who can assist us to have her scanned, right now she can’t talk at all,” said Mr Sibanda.

He also appealed for assistance in taking care of orphans left by his children. “I am an old man and I can’t take all these children left behind by their parents to school. I have two who are in Form Three and very intelligent and I wish to see them continue with their schooling,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said his wife was recuperating at United Bulawayo Hospitals and also that they were not sure of the burial arrangements of their other relatives.

Mr Sibanda said his relatives that would be buried at Luveve Cemetery are Gift Sibanda (43), Gracious Sibanda, (41), Luke Sibanda (65), Sovia Sibanda (37), Magret Dube (46), Rebecca Dube (65) and Grace Ndemera (48).

Other deceased are Agnes Ngwenya (55), Danisani Masukume (40), Esther Moyo Mangena (21), Gladys Nyathi (65), Sinikiwe Mangena (32) and Yvonne Machingauta (32).

The two families were travelling to Masvingo for the burial of Hopewell Masukume (14) who passed away after a long illness at Mpilo Central Hospital.

Mr Sibanda said Hopewell’s body and that of his relatives had been collected by his family for burial in Masvingo.

Mourners for the Sibanda family are now gathered in Mabutweni suburb at Mr Sibanda’s home. The funeral wake for his daughter Gracious is in Emganwini, at her in-laws’ house. State Media 

,
The 35-year-old Zimbabwean man, who was employed as a gardener has been in police custody after he was nabbed along with three Batswana after allegedly illegally obtaining an Omang and masquerading as his late boss to steal at least P3.9 million from the deceased.

The accused has been charged with theft common, official corruption, obtaining by false pretences and giving false information to a government officer.

When appearing before Extension II magistrate Ntombizodwa Ncube, the accused said that he has learnt of a break in at his house and that he has been robbed. He said that he has not been able to find out what has been stolen and open a case because he is in custody.

“My house has been broken into, but I have not been able to see what has been stolen or report the matter. I plead with the court to give me time to go and see what has been stolen and open a case with the police,” he said. He also said that in the last court appearance, the substantive prosecutor Seeletso Ookeditse asked the court to be given more time as she said that they are working on separating charges and referring them to relevant courts.

He said this could be difficult, as it would now mean he has to travel between Gaborone and Francistown to attend court cases. He further pleaded with the court to assist him get his three bank cards, cheque books and a cellphone (Samsung S7) that were confiscated by the Investigating Officer when he was arrested. He asked the court to set the nearest court appearance.

Magistrate Ncube extended the remand warrant of the accused, but ordered the prosecution to assist him to go to his house and see if he could open a case of robbery.

She also ordered the prosecution to update the court on the accused’s properties in the next appearance. The matter would continue on March 14, 2017. Mmegi

A 61-YEAR-OLD grandfather from Shurugwi who raped his 17-year-old granddaughter twice as “compensation” for looking after her since she was young has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.

The grandpa, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his grandchild appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire facing two counts of rape.

He was convicted against his own plea of not guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He will however serve an effective 15 years after Mr Nemadire suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.

It was not indicated in court whether or not the grandchild is an orphan, leading to her grandfather raising her.

Prosecuting Mr Lloyd Mavhiza said the complainant and the accused person lived at the same homestead.

He said in October 2014, the accused approached the complainant and told her that he wanted to be compensated for raising her.

“On being asked by the complainant the type of compensation that he would require, the accused stated that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her, the proposal the complainant vehemently refused,” he said.

In December of the same year, the court heard that the accused proceeded to the complainant’s bedroom hut during the night before sneaking into her blankets.

He then raped her with a condom on.

In June 2015, the accused person again went to the complainant’s bedroom hut while naked.

Mr Mavhiza said he sneaked into his granddaughter’s blankets and forcibly removed her clothes before raping her.

“The matter came to light in December 2015 when the accused was seen forcibly kissing the complainant by his son before the complainant revealed the whole story leading to his arrest,” he said.

‘
Terrence Mawawa Masvingo l Furious war veterans have accused President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace of running Zimbabwe like a tuck shop.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya, last week said Mugabe and his wife Grace were running the country like a family tuck shop.He said Mugabe and the G-40 Team must be stopped before they plunge the nation and the ruling party deeper into an abyss.
Mahiya described the nonagenarian and the G-40 members as destructive elements in the ruling party.
Mahiya’ s scathing utterances mirror the shocking level of internecine battle for supremacy between the G-40 and Team Lacoste.
“What is happening in Zanu PF is total madness. The country is being run like a tuck shop. Kasukuwere is a misguided political errand boy who is being used to eliminate custodians of the liberation war.Kasukuwere does what he wants thereby dragging the party into the mud,” said Mahiya..
He added: “We cannot let Mugabe and the G-40 ruin the party. Someone has to stand up and say no to the goat -butting nonsense.”
Mahiya also took a swipe at Kasukuwere for attempting to subvert the will of the ruling party supporters by nullifying the results in Masvingo Province following the G-40′ s drubbing in the Zanu PF internal polls.
“Who is he(Kasukuwere) to nullify the election results? The people voted and Chadzamira won resoundingly,” said Mahiya.

When his son Lloyd Madubeko went out of town, Tinashe Madubeko would sleep with his daughter-in-law Bridget Siamukwa and pay her $1 for the “wonderful” moments.

“Loweyd confronted his brother’s wife about the affair and she confessed that the two were having an affair since last year. He told his twin brother about the incident and the matter was taken to Chief Nemangwe’s traditional court,” said a source.

Chief Nemangwe under whose jurisdiction Mufungo Village falls under presided over the matter and made Tinashe pay a damage token.

“His son (Lloyd) is the one who demanded that his father compensate him with five goats,” said Chief Nemangwe.

The source added that Siamukwa apologised to her husband but her father-in-law denied having an affair with her.

“Siamukwa apologised to her husband when she appeared before the traditionbut Tinashe, however, denied sleeping with her arguing that his manhood was too small for s-e-x and let alone satisfying a woman,” said the source. State Media

Staff Reporter| Following an exposure by ZimEye.com of an already set National People’s Party National Executive Committee ahead of the party’s inaugural congress set for next month, party President Joyce Mujuru has rushed to disclaim the leakage.

In a media statement sent out yesterday, Mujuru claims that her party has not preset the executive committee but invited all members of the party interested in occupying the party’s top six positions to send their applications through.

“The National People’s Party would like to dismiss rumours doing rounds that the party’s top six positions have been filled before our inaugural National People’s Elective Convention early April 2017,” said Mujuru.

“The party is currently taking submissions from aspiring candidates to contest for the positions of President, two Vice Presidents, National Chairperson, Secretary General and Treasurer General.”

“Party members should dismiss recent online media reports that positions have already been filled before our democratic process of leadership choice has been allowed to give us leaders from the people, chosen by the people,” she added in her statement.

Very reliable sources within the party indicated to ZimEye.com early last week that the party caucuses had preset and establish the top six of the party which would see Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and John Mvundura being Mujuru’s two Vice Presidents while Dzikamai Mavhaire would be party chairman. Gift Nyandoro and Esnath Bulayayi would be Secretary General and Treasurer respectively.

Speaking to ZimEye.com the sources said that besides Mujuru’s disclaimer the executive committee is destined to come out the same as provinces led by Mavhaire have held behind doors discussions to retain the list as it is.

“Every NPP member vying for the top 6 positions should follow due process and know that the responsibility to elect leadership lies with the people not some appointing figure somewhere,” insists Mujuru in her statement.

According to the sources. The only likely change will see Nyandoro being replaced by Mujuru loyalist David Butau who is currently in self imposed exile in South Africa allegedly fleeing death threats from dismissed former party elders Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo.

Do you know a UK based woman known as Patience Tich? She is wanted in connection with a scam that has defrauded cancer sufferer Esther Mhuri. The so called Patience Tich uses the below pictures taken at a UK university said to be in Coventry. Contact ZimEye now on +447426863301 

https://youtu.be/jB6jYGDibPo

A 28-year-old National University of Science and Technology (Nust) student allegedly shot himself and died at his Hillside suburb lodgings in Bulawayo after being involved in a road accident in the early hours of Saturday. The student, Tapiwa Zhanje, a relative of Bulawayo businessman and former Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial youth league secretary for finance  Davies Muhambi, was reportedly driving Mr Muhambi’s Mercedes Benz S600 to Kumalo where he wanted to drop friends after attending a party.

He is said to have lost control of the car and rammed into a gate and precast wall opposite the Hockey Stadium in Kumalo suburb. Muhambi confirmed the incident. “He is my nephew and I was staying with him in Burnside.

It is unfortunate I was in Harare when it happened. I received a call at around 5AM today (yesterday) and I was told that he had been involved in an accident. I asked if people were injured and they did confirm that there were injured people. I then tried to call Tapiwa but his number was not being answered. I called back home and I was told he came and said he had come to take money from the safe to pay for a cab he had hired at around 6AM,” he said.

Added Muhambi, “I understand Tapiwa said he came home with a cab because he had locked the car keys inside the car and could not open the car. That is when I am sure he took the gun and left my house.”

According to Muhambi, he was staying with Tapiwa but learnt that he also had another apartment that he was renting at Hillside suburb. “After he took the money from the safe he went to the apartment along Weir Avenue in Hillside where he took his life with the gun and the firearm belongs to me.

The car he was using is also my car. I had asked him to pick it up from Tristar (garage) as I was not around, so he took the car and some friends and I do not know where they were going to when they had the accident.” Muhambi said he had not received full details of what really transpired during the accident. The six other passengers, also Nust students, were immediately taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where they are receiving medical attention.

The owner of the house where the car crashed into, Mrs Debra Mweke said she was asleep when the accident occurred. “I was asleep when l was awaken by the impact of the car, l thought thieves were trying to break into the house and when l came out l saw the car burning in our yard, the gate had also fallen,” she said. Mrs Mweke revealed that the car had caught fire after the impact and neighbours had to assist to put it out using water.

“There were three women and three men in the car who said their families were in Harare and only one lady who identified herself as Nozie was from Bulawayo.

The driver ran to the gate and stood there in shock while we were trying to help the people who were in the car.” Mrs Mweke said she suspected that the driver thought the passengers had died as he immediately fled from the scene. “From what I heard from the police, the guy went to Hillside and shot himself, we don’t know exactly the place but that’s what we got from the police,” she said. One of the residents who witnessed the accident Mr Anglistone Sibanda said they struggled to remove the trapped students from the car. Contacted for a comment, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said she had not received details of the accident and shooting. -state media

At the same time, the angry war veterans appeared to back down on their hardline stance against President Robert Mugabe, surprisingly saying he was still their patron despite their nasty fallout with him last year.

Speaking at a press conference in Harare yesterday, former Cabinet minister and chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Christopher Mutsvangwa claimed that the Generation 40 (G40) faction had come up a cropper against Mnangagwa because “he is too big a fish” to be expelled from Zanu PF by them.

“They create their own stories and they peddle them as if it is fact. Look, we are being hawked to every political party and political leader. When we were expelled, me and my friends (other war vets) were said kuti tiri vanhu vaMnangagwa (that we were Mnangagwa’s allies).

“It’s a year since we were expelled and Mnangagwa is still in Zanu PF. They are failing to expel him the way they did to Teurai (Joice Mujuru) . . . his position is strong there. He is not a push over, we assume.

“The accusation by G40 was we were pushing for Mnangagwa to take over. We cannot look for another political home, our home is where we came from (Zanu PF) . . . but only if it changes and respects the will of the people.

“We are very happy with where we are because where we are that’s where people are,” the straight-talking Mutsvangwa said.

Mnangagwa has been under the cosh in Zanu PF ever since Mujuru was hounded out of the warring ruling party in December 2014, and has on many occasions appeared to be on his way out of the former liberation movement as the marauding G40 have pummelled him and his supporters mercilessly and unrelentingly from all angles.

At the same time, Mutsvangwa and the larger section of war veterans have been making loud calls for the VP to take over the reins immediately from Mugabe, at both party and government levels.

The former freedom fighters have also warned previously that blood could be shed in the country if the Midlands godfather does not succeed the nonagenarian.

Early this month, a former Cabinet minister and liberation struggle stalwart, Rugare Gumbo — who worked with both Mugabe and Mnangagwa for many decades, before and after Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain in 1980 — told the Daily News’ sister paper, the Daily News On Sunday, that it would be foolish to assume that the nonagenarian had shut the door on his deputy succeeding him.

He also said it could not be ruled out that Mnangagwa himself was “playing a game of hide-and-seek” with Mugabe, adding that the two men had a strong bond and long-standing relationship which was “only fully understood by them”.

Gumbo — who was expelled from Zanu PF in 2014 with many other ruling party bigwigs on untested allegations of plotting to assassinate and topple the nonagenarian from power — said the two men were “sizing and testing each other up”.

The countrywide tour by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, has reignited victimisation of opposition activists in rural areas, a political pressure group has said.

Tsvangirai recently wrapped up a 29-day countrywide tour under which he met ordinary citizens. In the aftermath of the engagements, the Zimbabwe Yadzoka/Mayibuye iZimbabwe group says there have been “disturbing reports of threats and victimisation of villagers”.

“Victimisation of villagers for simply associating with a party of their choice is a blatant violation of the Zimbabwean Constitution,” it said.

MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu also confirmed that villagers were being terrorised after Tsvangirai’s tour.

“We are not at all surprised to learn that opposition activists in rural areas are now being targeted for persecution soon after Tsvangirai’s . . . countrywide meet-the-people tour,” he said, adding that “Zanu PF has always survived on terror, banditry, violence, intimidation and thuggery”.

“The ailing, bankrupt and fractured Zanu PF regime is extremely paranoid and insecure because they know they can never win a free and fair election, especially against Tsvangirai and the MDC that he leads.

“This is the main reason why the collapsing regime has literally ring-fenced most rural areas and made them protected villages of terror, violence and intimidation,” he said.

“However, our game plan is very effective as we have managed to penetrate all rural areas on a continuous programme of consulting our party structures and other opinion leaders such as traditional leaders, church leaders, students, small-scale miners and various other stakeholders.

“The MDC is surely on a roll and this has made the faction-infested and crumbling Zanu PF regime feel very insecure and threatened,” Gutu said.

Efforts to get comment from police spokesperson Charity Charamba were fruitless as her mobile phone went unanswered.

Zimbabwe Yadzoka/Mayibuye iZimbabwe also called on chiefs to stop meddling in politics.
“We implore traditional leaders to respect the country’s supreme law and refrain from meddling in politics,” it said.

The Constitution explicitly states under Section 281 (2) that traditional leaders must not participate in partisan politics.

“In a nutshell, traditional leaders have become more of an extension of the ruling party and are abusing their authority to fan violence and hatred against perceived and known opponents of the regime.”

The group said chiefs must support the interests of all Zimbabweans not to back one political party.

Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, has summoned the MDC-T run Norton town council.

Kasukuwere, who is notorious for firing opposition run local authorities, invited the Norton Town council after Temba Mliswa, who represents the area had complained about poor service delivery.

“With regards to this meeting board affiliates under the Norton Advisory Board are to send 3 people each to attend this crucial meeting aimed at discussing issues of Service Delivery in Norton. Also present will be the Norton Secretary and the Norton Town Council Chairperson,” reads part of the notice circulated to Norton residents by Mliswa’s offices.

The meeting is due Monday at Kasukuwere’s government offices in Harare.

Staff Reporter| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is taking away urban constituencies and placing them in rural areas ahead of the water shed elections.

ZEC stands accused of rigging elections in favour of Zanu PF which has a strong base in rural areas.

One such urban constituency which ZEC has taken to the rural areas, is Harare” Mount Pleasant constituency.

In a statement condemning the rigging tactics by ZEC, on Saturday, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said the electorate should be aware of vote rigging which ZEC had already started.
“In a surprising move that has left many baffled by the recently completed Zimbabwe Election Commission delimitation exercise, Mount Pleasant now falls under Mazowe South, a rural constituency serviced by Mazowe Rural District.

“The move defies logic for an urban constituency that is serviced by Harare City Council. In previous years analysts have argued that the Zimbabwe Election Commission works in carhorts with the ruling ZANU PF to dilute the urban vote which is a stronghold of the opposition in Zimbabwe,” said Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.

FORMER Education Minister David Coltart was almost run over by a reckless driver who was driving on the wrong side of the road in Bulawayo yesterday.

Mr Coltart posted the road rage video on Facebook showing the driver of a white Mercedes Benz C Class registration number ADA 8205 almost running him over.
He had to jump to safety while the Mercedes Benz sped off. The incident occurred at the intersection of Cecil Avenue and Banff Road in Hillside suburb while Mr Coltart was driving his daughter to school.

The road rage incident occurred as the road was partially closed due to an accident.

In the video, other motorists are seen patiently waiting for their chance to pass, but the Mercedes Benz driver crosses a continuous white line, blocking vehicles in the oncoming traffic lane.

Mr Coltart is seen getting out of his vehicle to try and engage the driver who arrogantly drives off, almost hitting the politician and a woman.

“As I was walking back around the front of his car, he saw a small gap to the left and that was when he tried to run me over forcing his way through.

Fortunately I was able to step aside and so was not injured, but his intention was clear and his car rammed my knees. Had I stood my ground, or been less agile, he would have kept going. He drove round the accident and off into the distance,” said Mr Coltart.

He said he managed to identify the vehicle 15 minutes later and recorded its number plates before reporting the matter to the police.

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“The car involved is a white Mercedes Benz registration number ADA 8205. If anyone knows the identity of owner please let me know as that will help the police in their investigations and in the civil action I may take against this arrogant and dangerous young man,” Mr Coltart said.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said the case had not reached her office.

She however, called on motorists to observe the rules of the road.

“Motorists should know that the roads are not meant for individuals and drivers should respect the rules of the road. There is no motorist who is better than the other,” Insp Simango said. – Stage Mediap

OFFICIALS in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) are haggling over the selections criteria to be used to choose candidates to represent the party in the 2018 harmonised elections.

As a result, two camps have emerged with the first supporting the endorsement of candidates by the national executive while the other is rooting for the conduct of primary elections.
Incumbent Members of Parliament are against the conduct of primary polls for fear of losing their seats. They enjoy the support of party officials who believe that primary polls could open the MDC-T to infiltration by ZANU-PF elements.
But this group faces resistance from members who are advocating for a democratic process to select candidates for the forthcoming polls.

A frustrated MDC-T member this week warned of what he called “a miscarriage of democracy”, should the leadership fail to manage the ensuing crisis.
“You cannot say that approaching elections with endorsed candidates will strengthen the party at the expense of democracy. In actual fact, going into elections without elected candidates weakens the party,” said the MDC-T official, adding that the party leadership should not protect non-performing MPs and councilors. “We cannot afford to ignore internal party democratic processes because we want to protect a few non-performing deadwood councillors and MPs who form the bulk of (MDC-T leader Morgan) Tsvangirai’s executive,” he charged.

MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said the party national elections directorate led by Lovemore Moyo was seized with the matter of coming up with a template regarding how our municipal and parliamentary candidates will be chosen.
“This is still work in progress because the matter will also have to be tabled before the national council, which is the highest decision-making body in between congresses,” he said.
Political analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya, said it would be ill-advised for the MDC-T to undermine its internal democratic processes.
Ngwenya said candidates’ selection systems must be based on merit.
“…It is the norm that most political parties’ leaders within the structures tend to be close to common people when they get elected into office, but get detached from them after claiming victory. Hence, when election time comes there are high possibilities that the incumbent or those who had been previously voted into power lose out. Despite these factors, primary elections present the opportunity for political parties to prune off lazy office bearers,” said Ngwenya.

Another political analyst, Alexander Rusero, said primary elections were not the best model in the 21st Century because they appear to be giving victory and conferring leadership to vocal candidates who do not have the spine to deliver as expected.
“It is important that the MDC-T balances between democracy and competency. There is nothing bad with those who believe that candidates have to be endorsed as long as it suits the party,” he reasoned. -fingaz

A lecturer at Hillside Teachers’ College in Bulawayo collapsed and died in his office yesterday morning.

Paul Ndlovu, a lecturer of English, was allegedly found dead at about 10AM.
A post mortem is set to determine the actual cause of death.
Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the death and said no foul play was suspected.
“I can confirm the sudden death of a lecturer at Hillside Teachers’ who was found dead today (yesterday) in the morning. He was found dead in his office. His body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) by Hillside Police for post mortem,” said Asst Insp Ncube.
It could not be established yesterday if Ndlovu was suffering from any ailment. Hillside Teachers’ College Principal Mr Edward Gumpo said: “I can neither confirm nor deny the matter. I’m not cleared to comment on such issues. Such communication has to come through head office.”
Some students at the college said a security guard found Ndlovu’s body and alerted officials who then called the police.

A shocking picture has emerged of Mugabe MP Psychology Maziwisa filling road potholes with mud and water. He is snapped posing for a photo-shoot. The legislator was during the week mocked for the act. A critic wrote of him saying, “A Psychologically disturbed Highfield MP filling potholes with bare mud and posing for a photo, kutofiririra kuti ndagona.”

Terrence Mawawa, Zvishavane| A woman from Muganhu Village is lucky to be alive after being hit by her neighbour with a brick following an altercation over rice donated by President Robert Mugabe.

Suwisai Muganhu hit his neighbour, Chipo Sibanda with a brick accusing the former of unfair distribution of rice.

Mugabe donated the rice as a Christmas gift to the disadvantaged people in December last year. The rice was distributed to villagers through the Social Welfare Department.

The case was heard before Zvishavane Magistrate, Archie Wochiunga last week.

Representing the state, Stanley Ncube said on January 8,2017, Muganhu hit Sibanda with a brick and she fell down.

He then began to assault the woman on her head until one villager, Sadam Mlangeni heard the woman’s loud wailing and rushed to the scene.

The incident happened soon after Chief Mapanzure had convened a meeting to discuss the distribution of food aid in the area.

Serious disputes emerged over the distribution of the donated rice.

Muganhu accused Sibanda of denying him access to food aid. He then waylaid Sibanda and assaulted her.

Muganhu was sentenced to 20 days in prison or alternatively a fine of $100.

In February Chief Makumbe of Buhera District called for the suspension of food aid.

By Associated Press| The Rhodes grave lies in Matobo National Park, a United Nations heritage site where granite spires and other unusual rock formations captivate visitors, and where indigenous spirits are said to dwell. About 15,000 people visit the grave annually, some ascending to watch the sunset or sunrise, said Moira FitzPatrick, a regional director for a state agency that oversees Zimbabwe’s museums and monuments.

The grave generates badly needed cash in a country beset by economic turmoil. A foreign adult pays $15 to get into the park, and then another $10 to see the burial site. A Zimbabwean adult pays a total of $8.

Mugabe came to this area near Bulawayo in western Zimbabwe for his birthday celebrations last month, addressing thousands of supporters near a school named after Rhodes. While officials announced that the school would be renamed after Matobo – also called Matopo or Matopos by visitors – the president joked about the British empire builder.

“Where is the ghost or spirit of Rhodes coming from?” Mugabe said in the Shona language. “If he is to rise from the dead, I am not going to order the boys to fire one bullet or use an AK-47. I will order them to use a machine gun to crush that head like that of a cobra.”

Amid laughter from the audience, Mugabe continued: “We are not the ones who killed him. We don’t know where he died in South Africa but he demanded that he be buried here. The colonialists here in Zimbabwe listened to his wish, which was written in his will, and buried him here.”

Mugabe, who says he will run in elections next year, has not said where he will be buried. One strong possibility is the National Heroes Acre, a North Korean-built national monument in the capital, Harare, where independence leaders and other prominent Zimbabweans, many linked to Mugabe’s ruling party, are interred.

There has been talk of building a monument to indigenous heroes in the same place as the grave of Rhodes, who had an estate in the area and described the hill where he is buried as the “View of the World.”

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean government takes an entrepreneurial approach.

The thinking, FitzPatrick said, is “if it’s a tourist spot, then let’s make some money.”

Joice Mujuru’s former party ZimPF has begun seeking a new leader .

Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo say the new leader must be a young person.

Mujuru dumped the party and formed a new one, the National People’s Party (NPP) after expelling founders, Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa.

The party’s steering committee led by Mutasa and Gumbo, the founding elders who are the caretaker leaders, met on Wednesday where they agreed to set the standards for the person who will take charge of the party.

Mujuru initially fired the two elders and five others, a move that sparked an exodus of other senior members who did not agree with Mujuru.

“Among the critical issues discussed was the issue of the ideal leadership for the party. On this point it was agreed that the leader should be a visionary, democrat, a Pan-Africanist capable of uniting the people of Zimbabwe and all political parties in Zimbabwe and be able to work with other political parties in the region and the continent in fulfilment of the Pan African Vision,” said ZimPF career leaders.

The party is also looking at holding its inaugural elective congress as soon as possible and also to revisit the party constitution with a view of addressing some pitfalls that militate against democratic tenets.

ZimPF is also looking at ways to form an alliance with other political parties ahead of next year’s harmonised elections.

Several parties are negotiating on how they can form a formidable alliance that will face Zanu PF in the next harmonised elections.

“On the issue of coalition with other democratic forces, ZimPF re-affirms its unwavering support and total commitment to this noble ideal. With regard to the leader of the coalition, the meeting concurred that at this stage it is premature to come up with a firm position,” said ZimPF in a statement. – Newsday

Elton Mangoma’s  RDZ party has rubbished the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s Biometric Voting System.

In a statement the party said it reiterates its “strong opposition to the introduction of the questionable, porous, intrusive and manipulable Biometric Voting System in the 2018 General Elections. RDZ has been on record stating that the credibility of elections in Zimbabwe has never been technological but man made.

“Multiple voting, violence, intimation and exclusion are some of the reasons why the elections in Zimbabwe have been discredited. These are critical issues that must be addressed and the introduction of Biometric Voting can never address the element of violence, intimidation, exclusion and force marching voters to polling stations.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe is never ambiguous on the right to vote for all citizens. Procuring electronic gadgets of unknown origins and tendencies to screen people for voting is tantamount to taking away their constitutional rights.

“It is to this end that RDZ proposes very affordable solutions on enforcing the people’s right to vote. We demand that citizens with valid passports and identity cards be allowed to vote on the voting day at polling stations of their choice and for their candidates. Zimbabwe used the same system in 1980 and at the 2000 referendum and it worked perfectly.

“The current impasse on who should procure what is not necessary. All we need to do is to agree on the ink to be used to eradicate multiplicity in voting.

“The voting population has lost confidence and trust in ZEC after years of crooked polls. Therefore, we join other Zimbabweans in calling for an election that is run, supervised and monitored by the international community e.g SADC, AU, EU and UN. It is beyond any reasonable doubt that ZEC cannot be separated from the ruling party. Continuous tendencies of changing the rules by ZEC before an election are clear testimony that they want to twist the game in favour of their paymasters.

“The only way out is the simple and manageable “Munhu nechitupa chake formula” considering the time left before the next year elections. There are over a million people who are not registered and there will also be need to verify the results. Therefore, Munhu nechitupa chake is the way to go!

A Bulawayo Woman teamed up with her sister and two friends and allegedly assaulted a woman she accused of having an affair with her boyfriend before stripping her naked.

The quartet recorded themselves while assaulting and stripping the complainant in Iminyela suburb on Monday.

Lungile Chiwaya (22), her 17-year old sister, friends, Zinhle Mlilo (23) and Primrose Nyoni (18), appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube charged with assault and criminal insult.

They pleaded guilty to assault and not guilty to criminal insult charge. The four were remanded out of custody to March 10. During cross examination, Chiwaya said they assaulted Ms Thandeka Mabhena (23) over a man.
“We fought over our boyfriend. He is mine. She knows that I am in a relationship with him and I am pregnant. We did not even strip her, her dress just fell on its own,” she said.
Her alleged accomplices said they were just assisting her to deal with her rival.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said the four women recorded footage of themselves assaulting and stripping Ms Mabhena in a street in Iminyela suburb.

“The accused and the complainant are not related but have the same boyfriend. On March 6 this year, the complainant went to visit her boyfriend in Iminyela suburb. The accused persons teamed up and hunted down the complainant. They met her at Mabutweni shopping centre and assaulted her with fists and open hands all over the body,” said Mr Mageza.

On the second count, Chiwaya and her sister, alongside their two friends, stripped Ms Mabhena of all her clothing, including underwear.

“The accused persons stripped the complainant while one of them was recording the assault. A resident intervened and took her into her house before police were called,” said Mr Mageza.

Ms Mabhena was rushed to hospital and a medical report was produced in court as evidence.-state media

Thirty pupils in Mberengwa have failed to return home from school since February 22 because of floods which left three vital bridges destroyed and roads impassable.

Scores of pupils are also said to have stopped going to school because of flooded rivers and extensively damaged roads in the district.

This was said by the District Administrator for Mberengwa Mr White Nkoma yesterday at a handover ceremony of goods donated to flood victims in Mberengwa and Zvishavane by Mimosa Mining Company in Zvishavane yesterday.

He said there was an urgent need for humanitarian aid as well as reconstruction of bridges so that life goes back to normal in the district.

Mr Nkoma said seven pupils who had been cut off from their families since February 22 were at Chegato High School.  The other 23 attend Mutate High School and had been forced to seek residence at homesteads close to the school.

“Mberengwa District was hard hit by the floods which resulted in the destruction of three vital bridges namely Chizungu-Phonex, Zverenje and Chegato-Jeka bridges which are all along Mwenezi River.

“The bridges have seen communities being cut off from schools, clinics and this has resulted in the marooning of pupils from their homesteads. We have seven day scholars who can’t go back to their homesteads because of impassable roads, flooded rivers and bridges that were destroyed. These pupils have not been back to their families since February 22,” he said.

Mr Nkoma said the situation was dire at Chegato High School which did not have electricity after power lines were swept away.

“As a result there is no water at the school because there is no power,” he said.

Mr Nkoma said a total of 200 homesteads were affected by the floods.

He said in Buchwa area, 100 homesteads were destroyed.

Mimosa Mining Company executive chairman Mr Winston Chitando said they felt the need to assist villagers in the community they operate from.

“We have seen that what we have raised today is not enough to cover the needs of the flood victims so we are going to host a fundraising dinner in Harare where we are going to invite our partners to contribute in cash and kind towards the flood victims,” he said.

Mr Chitando said they were donating 20 tonnes of maize, five tonnes of sugar beans, 10 tonnes of soya chunks, two tonnes of potatoes, two tonnes of onions, 1 000 blankets and grocery for 400 families.

The Minister of Mines and Mining Development Cde Walter Chidhakwa said Cabinet had agreed to partner with mining companies to repair infrastructure that was destroyed by the floods.

“We are going to enter into a long term partnership with respective mines in the respective areas so that they assist in the reconstruction of bridges, schools, clinics that were affected by floods in their areas,” he said.

Minister Chidhakwa commended Mimosa Mining Company for donating to those affected by the floods. He urged other mining companies to emulate Mimosa by assisting in the communities they operate from. – State Media

A WOMAN from Bulilima allegedly threw herself in a dam and drowned after being frustrated by living with HIV.

Chief Kandana said Belinda Ndlovu (37), who is from Nyabane area, allegedly defaulted on taking her medication and then committed suicide.

He said her condition worsened after she stopped taking her medication until she took her own life. Chief Kandana said the woman’s body was found by her daughter in a dam on Wednesday morning.

“There is a woman from my area who threw herself into a dam which is in the area. It appears she was HIV positive but she recently defaulted on her medication and became critically ill. “This frustrated her because at one time her relatives caught her trying to drink a dipping chemical and when they asked she said she wanted to kill herself because her illness was unbearable. Her family says she was constantly making threats of ending her life,” he said.

Chief Kandana said the woman woke up in the middle of the night on Monday and went to a dam which is about 100 metres away from her home.

She allegedly threw herself in and drowned.

The woman’s 14-year-old daughter was sleeping in the same room with her mother but did not hear her leave the hut. The chief said on the following morning, the girl realised that her mother was not home and went to look for her.

“The teenager found her mother’s body floating in the water at around 8AM and she alerted neighbours abou twhat had transpired. It’s never wise for people to end their lives when they are going through challenges. Rather it’s important for people to seek help and a support system,” he said.

Chief Kandana said the incident had left villagers shocked as Ndlovu was a well known and respected woman in the community. – State Media

A man from Umguza who allegedly killed his four-year-old stepson has been referred to the High Court for trial.

Khumbulani Sibanda (31) allegedly assaulted his stepson, whose name was not disclosed in court, and he died five days later at Mpilo Central   Hospital.

The minor had been left by himself at home and went to his uncle’s homestead saying that he was afraid.

State allegations are that Sibanda followed the boy later that evening and savagely whipped him.

He was not asked to plead to a murder charge when he appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya.

Sibanda was remanded in custody to March 21 when he will appear at the High Court for commencement of trial.

Prosecuting, Miss Leanne Nkomo told the court that on October 23, 2015, the minor went to his uncle’s homestead saying that he had been left alone and was afraid.

“Accused person went to the minor’s uncle’s homestead to look for him around 8PM.

“Carrying an axe and whip, accused proceeded into a room where the minor was.

“He whipped the minor several times all over the body. Accused then took the minor home,” said Miss Nkomo.

She said the on following morning the minor became seriously ill.

“Three days later the minor was taken to Mpilo Hospital where he was admitted. The minor succumbed to the assault injuries two days later. Accused told investigating officers that one Thandazani had assaulted the minor.

“The investigators found out that Thandazani was a fictitious character and Sibanda was arrested.” – State Media

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says 13 people who died on the spot in an accident which occurred at the 8 kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Gwanda highway early morning yesterday have been identified.

In a statement , police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the deceased are Agnes Ngwenya  aged 55, Danisani Masukume 40, Esther Moyo Mangena 21, Gift Sibanda 43, Gladys Nyathi 65, Grace Ndemera 48, Gracious Sibanda 41, Luke Sibanda 65, Margaret Dube 46, Rebecca Dube 65, Sinikiwe Mangena 32, Sovia Sibanda 37 and Yvonne Machingauta 31.

Chief Superintendent Nyathi said the ZRP would like to express its deepest sorrow to families who lost their relatives and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.

He added that the police continue to urge motorists to exercise extreme caution when travelling at night as it is difficult to observe the condition of the road due to poor visibility.- State Media