By Tinoonga Mawere Masvingo| The broke government defaulted on paying fees for Copota School for the visually impared, creating glaring arrears for the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe run school.

Sources at the school last week said government defaulted on fees payment under the Basic Education Assistance Module(BEAM) resulting in a severe backlog. It is understood the arrears stretch back to more than two terms thereby creating a budget crisis.
The government is unlikely to clear the debt because the Ministry of Primary and Secondary School coffers are empty, sources have said.
A staff member at Copota School last week said: “we are facing problems at the school because the government has stopped paying fees under the BEAM programme. Our efforts to seek clarity on the matter have not materialised and we have been referred to different offices but all did not yield anything. We deal with children who are socially disadvantaged therefore most of them are assisted by the government.”
Several pupils are set to drop out of school since the government’s lack of commitment is frustrating the school authorities. Government services across all sectors are literally ground due to lack of funds as President Robert Mugabe’s administration continues to preside over waning service delivery.

Government says the alleged trapping of six people at Pickstone Mine in Chegutu reported last week is turning out be a hoax and is keen to question the local legislator, Dexter Nduna, over the matter.
It was reported that at least six illegal miners were trapped in a shaft after the owners of Pickstone Mine “forcibly” backfilled the shafts used by the panners while some were still underground.
The matter was reported to the relevant authorities and a rescue team comprising experts from various arms of Government was commissioned to go and excavate the area with a view to retrieving the bodies.
However, their efforts according to Mines and Mining Development Secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga, were frustrated by Nduna with the aid of the illegal miners and the district administrator.
Prof Gudyanga told The Herald that although a rescue team was still on the ground, no shred of evidence had been found to give credence to the alleged trapping.
Sources confided that it had since been established that Nduna was the biggest beneficiary of illegal mining activities at Pickstone Mine and he was using his political influence to protect them.
As such, the alleged trapping saga, according to sources, was a hoax aimed at tarnishing mining operations by Pickstone Mine.
Said Prof Gudyanga: “The local Member of Parliament claimed that there were people who were trapped underground at the mine so we decided to send a team of experts to rescue them.
“We sent the ministry’s chief mining engineer, the inspector of mines and explosives in the province and a director from Mashonaland West.
“They went there on Saturday and decided to excavate somewhere along where the alleged trapping occurred but the MP and the DA stopped the rescue team.
“The team dug up to 22 metres with the assistance of one of the panners, but there was no evidence of bodies or something like clothes to suggest there were trapped bodies underground. There was not even a stench to indicate that there were some decomposing bodies near.
“I personally went there to examine the place and I talked to our experts but we have taken great exception at the conduct of the MP and the DA for blocking our team.”
Prof Gudyanga said contrary to what should be expected from a leader Nduna was encouraging the nomadic panners to block the rescue team.
He said he was keen to talk to Nduna adding that as a legislator, he was not supposed to interfere with mining operations of a legally licensed mine.
Prof Gudyanga said it was the prerogative of the Mines and Mining Development Minister (Walter Chidhakwa) and the President to decide who should mine where in the country.
“He ( Nduna) is the one who was actually directing operations there. He is not the mines minister and he is taking the law into his own hands,” he said.
“I want to talk to this MP because he is misleading the nation because he even went on television dancing with the panners celebrating their success in blocking our team.
“We thought that maybe he was doing that for political reasons and we don’t know if these miners are depositing their gold with Fidelity Printers. I don’t think so and it’s a matter that we are already investigating as a ministry. The matter was reported to Cabinet and we are waiting for their decision.”
Sources said Nduna was protecting the illegal miners at Pickstone Mine for personal enrichment.
It was further submitted that Nduna had a bone to chew with Pickstone Mine because the company refused to give his company a $400 000 road refurbishment contract.
Another source said: “The net is closing on him on various criminal charges including making a false report to the police and inciting people to assault the police. He is also receiving royalties from a consortium of panners every month and recently when he went to the Zanu-PF National People’s Conference the panners contributed $3 000 for the trip.
“Surprising, the Pickstone Mine project is the biggest gold project to be initiated in the province this year, but he ( Nduna) is on a crusade to tarnish it. Pickstone is possibly the second biggest gold producer in the country, after How Mine.” – State Media

The courts have no power to compel couples to remain in marriage when one party insists on divorce, the High Court has ruled. Even if the other party feels he or she is still in love, the fact that one is no longer interested in the marriage should end the union.
Justice Esther Muremba granted a decree of divorce in favour of a Harare woman, Ms Elta Matore, despite the fact that her former husband of 12 years Mr Enock Johannes Matore, was insisting on trying to salvage the marriage through prayer.
Mr Matore was strongly opposed to the divorce, arguing that he still loved his wife and that his wife was only possessed by a spirit of divorce. Ms Matore told the court that the marriage had irretrievably broken down as the couples had differences on financial issues.
She argued that Mr Matore’s mother was running the family’s finances and daily life and he would neglect his immediate family to cater for his father and mother. Ms Matore said she would literally surrender her own salary to the mother-in law and Mr Matore insisted that there was no problem in him taking care of his parents.
The court then ruled that the parties were not prepared to adjust and reach a consensus, they had not been staying together for at least three years, hence their marriage had irretrievably broken down. Ms Matore insisted in court that she was no longer interested and that she wanted a divorce.
To that end, the judge ruled that the court had no legal basis to force Ms Matore to continue in marriage when she personally insisted on divorce and that she had told the court orally and in papers that she had lost love and affection for the man.
“If there is no love and one insists it is the end, the question is: on what basis would a court then order the parties to reconcile and continue to stay together as husband and wife in a normal marriage relationship when one party is unwilling?”
Justice Muremba said the conduct of the parties in court showed that there was no longer room for reconciliation. “Upon considering the totality of the evidence before the court and having considered the law applicable, I find no reason why the divorce as prayed for by the plaintiff should not be granted.
“There is no basis upon which this court can force the plaintiff to remain in love and in marriage to the defendant when clearly, from her stance in court, the issuance of summons and living apart from the defendant, she is desirous to end the marriage,” ruled Justice Muremba.
The court observed that there was hostility between the parties as they gave evidence in court. “The mode of talking in court clearly showed hostility between the parties which supports that the parties had irreconcilable differences and that they are incompatible,” she said.
It was also the court’s finding that Mr Matore was simply trying to impose himself on the woman as a way of fixing her. “I read the defendant to be an ingenuine man who insisted on marriage in form simply to fix the plaintiff….
“The defendant sought to impose himself on the plaintiff under cover of biblical desire to be divorced only by death.
“Self imposition would not amount to marriage as envisaged by the law. The contract has to be between two consenting parties,” ruled Justice Muremba. The court also found that Mr Matore’s evidence was riddled with inconsistencies.
The couple was married on February 21 2003 and the union was blessed with two children who are still minors. Problems started in 2007 when the couple migrated to South Africa for employment. They had challenges in securing jobs in line with their professional qualifications. The couple had financial constraints as well as financial differences.
When it came to budget issues, it was undisputed evidence that Mr Matore would put his immediate family last while he prioritised his mother, siblings and cousins. Mr Matore argued in court that he had an obligation to help his relatives since he was first born in the family.-State Media

President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace, is now the virtual President of Zimbabwe, opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says.
Grace Mugabe, 50, had taken over in a “palace coup” and no one in government was doing anything about the country’s crisis, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader said in an end-of-year message. “No one in government is thinking of solutions to the national challenges as everyone is preoccupied with issues of who will succeed this tired man steering the ship of State,” Tsvangirai said on Monday.
“There is no boldness to confront the national crisis; what with an aged president and everyone around him fighting to succeed him,” Tsvangirai added, highlighting Zimbabwe’s growing unemployment and hunger.
He said Zimbabwe is faced with a leadership crisis. His own popularity plummeted since a coalition government in which he served as prime minister ended in 2013. “Unless and until we sort out the legitimacy crisis, we will not resolve the confidence deficit this government has suffered from local and international investors,” he said.
Critics warned that Monday’s announcement of a ban on cellphone recharge cards, to be implemented in six months, would threaten the livelihoods of thousands of vendors. Most Zimbabweans are employed in the informal and vending sectors.
Mugabe, who is to turn 92 in two months, has been in power since independence in 1980. He appeared in relatively good health, although he stumbled twice in public in 2015. Tsvangirai lost to him in presidential elections in 2002, 2008, and 2013. Each time the MDC leader claimed Mugabe rigged and intimidated his way to victory.
In the last 18 months, Grace Mugabe has taken an increasingly prominent role in Zimbabwe’s politics, spearheading the fight to get Joice Mujuru removed from her position as vice-president last year. Currently head of the ruling party’s powerful women’s league, Mugabe has denied having presidential ambitions.
The opposition criticised her recent handouts of clothes, washing powder, and agricultural equipment procured using a government loan from Brazil, at rallies. – Guardian

Police here are hunting down three men who allegedly assaulted, kidnapped and gang-raped a woman who was with her boyfriend before escaping in their victims’ vehicle, which they used to commit other crimes.
The incident happened in Cowdray Park suburb near TM Shopping Centre on Saturday night.
The trio allegedly smashed the windscreen of their victims’ Nissan Drift with an axe before using the same weapon to attack the male victim, hitting him on the forehead.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango urged couples to desist from meeting at secluded places, saying that exposed them to criminals. Insp Simango said the lady was gang-raped by the trio.
“After attacking the boyfriend they forced him into the back seat of the car before driving away to an area near Norwood plots.
“That’s where they stopped the car and took turns to rape the woman. The three then forced the couple back into the car and drove towards Victoria Falls-Nyamandlovu Road,” said Insp Simango.
She said the three suspects stopped the car and made a U-turn after they encountered a police road block.
“When they were approaching Victoria Falls road they saw a police road block, prompting them to a make U-turn back to Cowdray Park. They dumped the couple before driving back into the suburb where they committed more crimes,” she said.
Insp Simango said in Cowdray Park they attacked another woman and robbed her. “They found a woman who was coming from South Africa and was still trying to open a gate of her house. They attacked her and robbed her of groceries, a purse, and other bags.
“The woman screamed awakening her neighbours and she was also heard by police who were on night patrol,” said Insp Simango. She said one of the neighbours managed to take down the vehicle’s registration number.
“They pursued the vehicle together with the police who were on patrol. The suspects drove towards the Nkulumane-Solusi Road where they lost control of the vehicle. The three suspects disembarked and escaped on foot,” she said.
Insp Simango said everything that had been stolen was found in the car, suggesting there could be other victims who had not reported to police. “All the groceries, cellphones, tablets were found in the car.
“However, we are still searching for the culprits and members of the public who may have information regarding their whereabouts must come forward,” said Insp Simango.
She said robberies are getting increasingly common in Cowdray Park, adding that cooperation from members of the public was important in arresting a gang that once terrorised residents in the suburb.
In October police arrested Njabulo Mlalazi (42) from Cowdray Park suburb after he, together with his gang, robbed a couple and forced them to indulge in unprotected sex as they watched. chronicle

President Robert Mugabe says the late national hero, Senator Aguy Georgias, was a real fighter who exposed the evil, brutality, callousness and greed of the west when he used his personal resources to fight western imposed economic sanctions.

The Harare City Council has served about 20 000 defaulters with summons to attach properties as it moves to recover money owed in unpaid bills by residents.
The council is owed in excess of US$400 million in unpaid bills by residents and industry.
The Harare City Council has served 20 000 households in Borrowdale, Mabvuku, Mt Pleasant, Highlands, Mabelreign, Marlborough and other suburbs with summons to attach properties.
Earlier this year, the city fathers disconnected water supplies to defaulters hoping they would pay their dues but this did not turn out the way they wanted, leaving with no option but to attach properties.
“Indeed, we have issued these households with summons, 10 000 have been served with warrants of execution for attachment while the other half should come forward and arrange for payment plans,” Harare City Council Principal Customer Relations Officer, Dorothy Mavolwane, said.
The city fathers have resorted to incentivising debtors who pay all their dues by offering discounts of up to 30 percent.
The council has also been failing to meet its financial obligations with workers reportedly going for months without getting their salaries.
Service delivery is also at an all time low.

A Chitungwiza teacher who sodomised his 16-year-old pupil after drugging him with unknown tablets, mbanje and Broncleer syrup while conducting extra lessons, was yesterday slapped with a one-year prison term.
The man (22) sexually abused the boy on several occasions and ordered him not to reveal the offences.
He denied aggravated indecent assault charges before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Ms Estere Chivasa, but was however, found guilty of sodomy.
“The State failed to prove the case of aggravated indecent assault charges the accused was facing. This is as a result of the victim who is now over 16 years and is capable of consenting. If the complainant was less than 12 years, accused was going to be convicted of the same charges.
“But in this case complainant had agreed and he is above 16, section 247 makes it very clear under such circumstances,” said Ms Chivasa.
Ms Chivasa sentenced the man to a year prison term after convicting him of sodomy.
Ms Chivasa said it was not clear from the evidence adduced in court if the victim had been drugged as the complainant could have also been abusing drugs.
It was also established that the complainant would frequent the teacher’s house for money and engaged in the act.
The prosecutor Mr Loveti Muringwa proved that from July to November this year, the boy used to go to the man’s house for extra lessons.
While there, the teacher would force the boy to take some tablets, Broncleer and smoke mbanje before abusing him.
This would happen on several times and after the abuse, the teacher gave the boy money to silence him.
On November 26, the man insulted the boy leading to a heated argument that saw the minor reporting the abuse to his mother.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest. State Media

A report claiming the Zimbabwean dollar is being introduced by the Reserve Bank, is false.
The central bank has allayed fears over the return of the local currency after panic gripped the banking public yesterday following a fake message circulating on social media platforms which said Government has resolved to re-introduce the local currency.
According to the message, the reintroduction will counter “negative” effects caused by the appreciation of the US dollar against the currencies of the country’s major trading partners.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Dr John Mangudya however, said such claims “are unfounded”.
Dr Mangudya told The State Media that the message was false and not called for as it will cause panic among Zimbabweans who are already traumatised from the hyperinflationary environment.
While high demand for cash is synonymous with holidays such as the current festive season, banking sources said yesterday the “unusually high demand of cash triggered the message”.
At the height of economic challenges in 2008, Zimbabwe adopted the multi-currency regime anchored in US dollar. This was meant to stabilise the economy and establish a credible nominal anchor. The replacement of the Zimdollar brought the hyperinflation and the currency devaluation to a halt, laying foundations for economic recovery.
Average annual inflation during 2009-2013 was 3,3 percent, while the real gross domestic product grew on average more than 8 percent a year.
The message claimed the Cabinet and Parliament okayed the re-introduction of the local currency, which would be temporarily used as bond notes and bond coins. It said the decision was taken after Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa proposed the return of the local unit to enhance competitiveness of local firms.
The message claimed that local companies had been thrown out of business as a result of continued appreciation of the dollar against currencies of trading partners, particularly the SA rand.
Dr Mangudya said Minister Chinamasa’s statement had been quoted out of context.
“In fact, pensioners received their payments in US dollars yesterday while grant-aided institutions will be paid out on Wednesday (tomorrow).”
The message further claimed the internal devaluation proposed by Dr Mangudya has failed to achieve the desired results, hence the need to re-introduce the local currency. Banking officials said the banking public should not panic.
“This is economic sabotage,” said an official with one of the leading banking institutions.
“While we are making efforts to restore public confidence, we have such things happening.”
Another official said the public should not take the message seriously considering that despite claims that banks will start receiving “notes and coins” yesterday, “there is no such thing”.
Minister Chinamasa and Dr Mangudya have on several forums said the Zimbabwean dollar will only return after all the fundamentals to support the local currency are re-introduced.
Minister Chinamasa said the re-introduction of the Zimbabwean dollar under the current environment would be counter-productive.
The minister said the major reasons for introducing the multi-currency regime were inflation pressures, unsustainable current account position, fiscal imbalance and depressed real sector activities. While some progress has been achieved in some areas, it is not enough to support the return of Zim dollar.

The Harare City Council says it will continue the demolition of illegal structures in all suburbs as efforts to bring sanity in the housing sector intensifies.
“The demolition of unregistered housing cooperatives and the operation of tuck shops which were phased out in 2005 is set to continue,” according the City of Harare Principal Customer Relations Officer, Ms Dorothy Mavolwane told the State Media.
Meanwhile, some Glenview 4 Dare Rechimurenga Housing Cooperative members say they are spending sleepless nights in fear their houses could be destroyed.
They claim to have been in constant communication with the city authorities, whom they say had indicated regularising their stands, but have now turned against them.
A visit by the ZBC News revealed that some of the residents are already moving out while others are still resisting.

Anyone in Zanu-PF regardless of whether they belonged to former Zanu or PF-Zapu before the signing of the Unity Accord, can stand for Presidency when a vacancy arises, party Second Secretary and Vice President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

President Mugabe and the late Vice President, Dr Joshua Nkomo who led their revolutionary parties and armies Zanu and Zanla as well as PF-Zapu and Zipra respectively, signed the Unity Accord on December 22, 1987 which culminated in peace and unity in the country following the disturbances that afflicted parts of the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces soon after Independence.
According to the Unity Accord, whoever is elected as President under the ambit of the united Zanu-PF must appoint two Vice Presidents with one from former Zanu and the other one from former PF Zapu.
Cde Mnangagwa who is also Vice President, said the Unity Accord never stated that only a former Zanu official would be President, while a former PF-Zapu one would be one of the VPs.
In an exclusive interview yesterday ahead of the Unity Day celebrations tomorrow, VP Mnangagwa said it was also up to future generations to decide whether they wanted to continue with the system where two VPs must come from both former Zanu and PF-Zapu.
He said the position of having two VPs from former Zanu and PF-Zapu was meant to make sure that they were both represented. “That was the concept at the time, to make sure everybody is represented at that level but as we go down the line, I don’t know whether that shall continue to be the same. We leave this to the future generation as to how they look at it,” said Cde Mnangagwa.
There have been claims by some quarters that former PF-Zapu could only provide one of the Vice Presidents while former Zanu would provide a Presidential candidate and one of the VPs.
VP Mnangagwa dismissed this claim saying the Presidential candidate could come from either of the two parties. The VP lashed out at secessionists saying Zimbabwe was a unitary State that would not allow itself to be divided.
“Anybody can be President from former Zanu or former Zapu. It’s in the agreement. You must read the agreement. Whoever becomes President, his two Vice Presidents must come from the two former political parties. That is what is in the Unity agreement.
“I sometimes read about things that you people write that there are elements of secessionists, Mthwakazi, something like that, that fringe. You always have people of that nature in every society and that does not stop the revolutionary train to continue its journey. They will shout and bark, the train of development and unity will continue to go,” said VP Mnangagwa.-State Media

Industrialist, economic empowerment advocate and former Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Senator Aguy Georgias has been declared a national hero.
He will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Tuesday.
Zanu PF National Secretary for Administration, Ignatius Chombo said the decision to confer a national hero status to Georgias was in recognition of his contribution to the economic emancipation of all Zimbabweans.
“The honour is in recognition of his unwavering support and contribution to the country before and after independence. Georgias fought against imperialism, wanted economic empowerment of locals and was generally a fighter for freedom. The country has lost a dedicated cadre,” Minister Chombo said.
The family welcomed the decision and honour bestowed upon Georgias.
Georgias died aged 80 last Friday at A.M.I Hospital in Avondale, Harare after succumbing to heart and kidney failure.
Burial has been scheduled for Unity Day on Tuesday.
Georgias is survived by his wife, Lizzy Georgias, 11 children and 16 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at number 14 Rocky Lodge, Browning Drive, Strathaven in Harare.

The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe Party (PDZ) led by UK based internet protege Barbara Nyagomo, has successfully tailgated ZANU PF coming second in the Nkulumane Constituency by-election.
The PDZ shoved up with a shocking 680 pushing Elton Mangoma’s Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe (RDZ) behind as the latter polled a 397 count.
Zanu PF won the by-election with its candidate, Killian Sibanda polling 2161 votes, beating Mr Ngwalo Nyathi of the PDZ, and RDZ’s Mrs Sibusisiswe Mpofu.
Briefing the media on the outcome of the polls, ZEC Bulawayo Provincial Elections Officer, Mr Innocent Ncube said the country’s electoral body is happy in the manner in which the elections were conducted.
The winner, Sibanda told the State Media his major task is now to work with captains of industry and commerce to revive Bulawayo industries.
The proposed local devaluation, a strategy to lower tariffs and bank interest rates, is one solution in dealing with the current economic challenges, noted Sibanda. He promised that he will not be going to Parliament just to add numbers but wants to make a difference by contributing to debates and co-ordinating development activities in Nkulumane and Bulawayo at large.
Meanwhile commenting on the development, Barbara Nyagomo wrote in the ZimEye newsroom her projections that if this victory is repeated countrywide, her party will get at least 20 seats in the upcoming 2018 elections.

A GARDENER at a Bulawayo children’s home allegedly raped a seven-year-old girl daily over an unspecified period.
The alleged attacker, Nachiwale Johanes, 28, popularly known as Uncle Officer, lived at the home. He is now a student at the Bulawayo Polytechnic. The abuse allegedly came to light when the child was adopted from Isaiah’s Umuzi Wothando Children’s Home in Hillside suburb by a Bulawayo family two weeks ago.
A court heard that the girl started having nightmares where she would call out the name of her alleged attacker, prompting her foster mother to investigate. The foster mother, who cannot be named to protect the girl, allegedly opened a can of worms when the girl told her that Uncle Officer would sneak into their room and abuse her together with seven other girls at the home.
Uncle Officer has since appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya to answer rape charges. He was remanded in custody to January 14. The State alleges that the girl was raped while sleeping in a room she shared with other girls on an unknown dates last year.
“Uncle Officer would sleep in the same cottage with the girls and during the night he would sneak into the girl’s room where he would remove the complainant’s panties and rape her,” read the State outline.
“Each time he raped her, he would first fondle her buttocks and insert his fingers into her privates. The girl at one point screamed and attracted attention of their caregiver who only peeped through the window but did not investigate, the court heard. On December 5, the girl was adopted and she moved in with her foster mother.State Media

The man who way-laid Vice President Joice Mujuru soon after her husband’s suspicious death, conspiring to destroy her career, Christopher Mutsvangwa, is in trouble and now swallowing his own poison.

Samuel Takawira|News24|Ladies of the night from Epworth, Harare have begun shunning the use of condoms as long as the customer pays more.
The harsh economy in the country has an effect on their business, and they say they now have to rely on unprotected sex to put food on the table.
One of the prostitutes, Tarisai Nyikadzino, says that they accept anything from as little as five to $10 dollars for unprotected sex.
She said another reason that has fuelled, unprotected sex, which is now a boom in the satellite town of Epworth is a stiff competition from the young and energetic hookers who have flooded the popular Booster area since the day sex work was legalised.
” I prefer unprotected sex because it pays better,” she said stating that on good days one can take home around $25 and $30 from unprotected sex. This has forced most sex workers to resort to dump condoms so they can make more cash.
Most of these hookers believe that after having unprotected sex, there is a pill, they take that will prevent them from getting the deadly HIV virus, even though they don’t know that tablet’s name.
 
“Soon after every sexual encounter, I have to take one of the pills so as to protect myself from HIV/AIDS,” said one hooker, confirming the rampant illegal use of Post Exposure Prophylaxis.
Post-Exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is normally prescribed to people who have potentially been exposed to HIV usually through rape. This form of HIV treatment can prevent the virus from becoming established in the body.
Another commercial sex worker, affectionately known as Sister Nancy, revealed how easy it is to get hold of PEP, as her supply is delivered to her by agents who have ties to medical staff at the government owned Overspill Clinic.
“The guy who bring PEP to us charges US$6,50 for 30 pills,” she said without giving more information on the person.
The agent buys 30 pills for US$5 .There is overwhelming evidence that sex workers have much confidence in PEP.
“I trust PEP,” said Alice, another sex worker. She added that if PEP can be used by rape victims to prevent them from being infected with HIV; they can also use it for the same purpose after having unprotected sex.
“It is a treatment pill to some but to us it is a passport to having more money,” Alice added.
Though they could not directly link the reduction in disposed condoms in their area to an increase in unprotected sex, a cross section of Epworth residents confirmed that their area had less litter.
“In the past you could see a lot of used condoms scattered around but nowadays as you can see there are a few,” said Lloyd Tafirenyika a senior resident in Epworth.
Asked for comment on allegations that PEP pills were being obtained from her clinic, the Sister in Charge at Overspill, (not her real name)Melody Chipenga* refused to attend to this reporter and threatened to have the reporter thrown out of the clinic.
“Go away with your false allegations, I will have you thrown out of my premises,” she said before banging her door.
The abuse of PEP is rife in Epworth and this is replicated in many places around the county’s capital.
PEP is also flourishing on the streets of Harare, popularly known as kumaAvenues, another hub of moral decadence.
Prostitutes in Harare’s avenues who are notorious for forcing men to indulge in sexual activities also use PEP in a bid to ‘protect’ themselves from the HIV virus.
Though PEP is not regarded as a protective measure against HIV and Aids, sex workers are shunning condoms as they believe the drug prevents them from being infected with the deadly virus.
“Most of our clients demand unprotected sex. In such scenarios you have to give in and use the protective pill afterwards,” said Chelsea Moyo a sex worker who operates from the Avenues.
In an environment where the dogma is “unprotected sex pays”, commercial sex workers like, Chelsea have to make sure they carry PEP for use after a business night.
PEP was designed for victims of sexual abuse and is not a recommended consistent protective measure against HIV and Aids.
However, the need to make money from unprotected sex has seen the use of PEP flourishing among sex workers.
Investigations by this reporter revealed that after securing ARV drugs from the donor community, the government owned company, NatPharm stores and distributes the drugs.
The drugs are distributed to various centres according to the number of HIV patients that a centre serves.
A senior worker at NatPharm who requested anonymity said that PEP is distributed to all the hospitals and clinics.
“PEP is distributed everywhere but most of it is channeled to areas where cases of rape are high,’ he said.
Epworth was one of such centres. ZRP victim friendly unit senior staff officer, Assistant Commissioner Isabella Sergio revealed that 2 405 children were raped in Epworth from January to October.
But despite its rampant use, Dr Owen Mugurungi, Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Director of AIDS and TB said t there was no shortage of PEP for victims of rape.
“We have not heard of any report saying we have shortages of the drug. As long as you come out in the open within 3 days you can get help,” he said
Dr Nyaradzo Mugodi, the Project Director of UZ-UCSF (a collaborative research program between University of Zimbabwe and University of California, San Fransisco) said that though PEP can reduce the chances of getting the HIV/AIDS virus, is not completely safe.
“Anti-HIV drugs can reduce the risk of HIV infection if taken within 72 hours of an exposure to HIV and if taken every day for four weeks. The sooner PEP is started after an exposure, the more likely it is to work,”
She, however, advised against taking the drug without seeking advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
‘A person must first discuss their situation with a nurse, doctor or counsellor. There are side effects associated with PEP and these include nausea, fatigue and diarrhea,” she said adding that PEP provides no protection against other sexually transmitted infections.
She also confirmed that a person could develop drug resistance if they become infected with HIV while taking PEP.
“If a person’s HIV becomes resistant to the PEP drugs, the same anti-HIV drugs may not work for treating their HIV,” she said.
Organisations responsible for educating and raising awareness on HIV and AIDS,however, seem to underestimate the magnitude of the rampant use of PEP.
“We do not have evidence that there is abuse of PEP,” said Tadiwa Nyatanga-Pfupa, the Communications Officer of National Aids Council.
She however warned against the use of PEP.
“As NAC we do not encourage irresponsible sexual behavior and taking PEP afterwards. We encourage the use of condoms or abstinence for prevention of HIV transmission,” she said.
According to Pfupa, rape survivors can get PEP from public institutions through the set regulations but evidence gathered from Epworth suggests that no procedures are being followed by commercial sex workers to get PEP.
Peter Marimi of Batanai HIV and AIDS Service organization condemned the abuse of PEP by commercial workers saying that it causes serious shortages of the drugs among rape victims who might need it the most.
“We condemn the illegal way commercial workers are using to acquire the pill and with immediate effect nurses should stop selling drugs which are meant for a specific target group in this case not sex workers,” he said
This is not the first time ARV drugs have found their way on black market in the country. A documentary by Aljazeera unearthed the illegal distribution of ARVs by doctors and nurses. Samuel Takawira

In what could prove to be the tipping point in the post-congress Zanu PF’s seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars, the Daily News has reliably learnt that political heavyweight Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri is on the verge of being hit with the party’s infamous vote of no confidence.
This comes as allies of the Water minister, seen as the godmother of Manicaland by virtue of her seniority in the province, are being booted out of Zanu PF one after another as punishment for defending her, and as Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s supporters are under the cosh in the ruling party as the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe hots up.
The party’s youth league in Manicaland announced on Thursday that they had passed votes of no confidence in their chairperson Kelvin Manyengavana, commissar Washington Ziwiwi and executive member Gertrude Mutandi over their participation in a meeting where Muchinguri-Kashiri was recorded attacking her Zanu PF foes.
Mubuso Chingunu, who announced the ejection of the trio from the party, has since assumed the leadership of the regional youth organ.
“The trio also stand accused of holding unconstitutional clandestine meetings with Comrade OCZ Muchinguri from time to time where they discussed and deliberated matters to do with the youth league, bad-mouthing senior party leaders, and therefore defeating the whole sense of following proper party protocols of the provincial youth league to be answerable to the national youth league as stated in article 25/230,” Chingunu said.
Well-placed sources told the Daily News yesterday that Muchinguri-Kashiri was now “definitely in the firing line” of her party enemies, and that she could “suffer the same fate” as that suffered by former Vice President Joice Mujuru, whose allies were purged one by one last year before her eventual ouster from power.
At the heart of the deadly ructions is the battle to succeed Mugabe, where a faction loyal to Mnangagwa is locked in a bitter battle with ambitious Young Turks known as the Generation 40 faction, who are pushing for the appointment of a woman vice president in place of the beleaguered VP.
Such a move would, if successful, fatally dent Mnangagwa’s chances of ever succeeding the increasingly-frail Mugabe.
Muchinguri-Kashiri’s allies claim that the G40 has instigated the axing of several of her supporters in Manicaland, all of whom are allegedly ultimately loyal to Mnangagwa, in a plot to “incapacitate” the VP.-DailyNews

Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has paid back US$100 000 extended to his private surgery by Premier Medical Aid Society.
The payment to Dr Parirenyatwa’s surgery had caused an uproar, with his critics saying it was improper as his ministry regulated PSMAS and hence he could have arm-twisted the service provider to extend the bailout to him.
The minister in turn said the payment was above board, a position supported by former Health Minister Dr Timothy Stamps.
PSMAS, under the leadership of former MD Mr Henry Mandishona, authorised an agent transfer of US$100 000 to Dr Parirenyatwa’s private surgery in 2014, prompting calls for him to return the money and quit his Government post.
Last week, Dr Parirenyatwa told The State Media that his private medical practice paid back the money in full and PSMAS owed his business more than US$3 000.
“In March 2014 the medical practice received a lump sum owed to it by PSMAS. The medical practice further negotiated for an advance from PSMAS. The medical practice and PSMAS have since reconciled their accounts. PSMAS now owes the medical practice,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
“The advance has since been paid up in full. For the record, advances are standard practice by medical insurers and their medical service providers or patients.
“The Parirenyatwa Medical Practice was therefore not ‘overpaid’ by Psmas, and Dr Parirenyatwa did not ‘pocket’ money unprocedurally as some reports have claimed. The process was above board and agreed upon by the medical practice and PSMAS purely on a professional basis.”
Dr Parirenyatwa added: “There was no rule and no regulation, and no code or anything of the sort that was broken, violated or compromised contrary to numerous reports over the past weeks which sought to maliciously distort and misrepresent the facts and the circumstances of the in-famous advance.”
Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba said Dr Parirenyatwa’s action was to Government expectation.
“He has paid the money in full. That was the expectation of the Government for him to pay and we are happy he has fulfilled that expectation,” he said.
PSMAS acting MD Dr Nicholas Munyonga confirmed that Dr Parirenyatwa had repaid the money.
According to a letter from Dr Munyonga to Dr Parirenyatwa dated December 15, 2015: “I write to inform you that since the reconciliation of the claims submitted from your practice since January 2014 to date and the subsequent monetary set-off paid to PSMAS, your claims awaiting payment is currently at US$3 190. This amount reflects the amount you are owed by PSMAS as at 16 December 2015.” State Media

ZANU PF MP (Mutoko South)and former Finance deputy minister, David Chapfika has been caught fraudulently enriching himself from his late brother’s estate.
Report by Newsday

Seven people, four of them believed to be soldiers, died while five others were injured on Thursday evening when a Toyota Vitz and an Isuzu truck were involved in an accident in Murehwa. The accident comes after Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday said police would maintain a heavy presence this festive season with random breathalyser tests set to be conducted on motorists on the country’s roads.
The crash occurred near the 11km peg along the Murehwa- Madicheche Road at around 5pm. Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the accident.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the death of seven people in a fatal road traffic accident which occurred near the 11km peg along Murehwa-Madicheche Road near Rukungwe Primary School on December 17, 2015 at around 1700 hours,” she said.
She said the Toyota Vitz was travelling towards Madicheche with four passengers on board and on approaching the 11km peg, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it swerved to the right.
It encroached into the opposite lane where it side-swiped the Isuzu KB250, which was travelling towards Murehwa with seven occupants.
“Six people including the driver of the Toyota Vitz died on the spot while one died on admission at Murehwa Hospital. Five others were injured and rushed to Murehwa Hospital for treatment,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
The bodies were taken to the hospital’s mortuary for post-mortem. “Police are conducting investigations into the circumstances which led to this unfortunate accident. The names of the deceased will be released in due course once their next of kin have been advised,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Dr Chombo said reckless motorists including those driving under the influence of alcohol, should face the full wrath of the law.
“We all need to collectively take a stance against reckless and irresponsible driving exhibited by some motorists on our roads. It is unfortunate and regrettable that human error has time again been singled out as a major cause of accidents,” he said.
“I wish, therefore, to assure the nation that the Government is taking bold measures to reduce the carnage. Members of the ZRP have already been deployed along all major roads to enforce traffic rules and regulations.”
He said as most parts of the country have received rains, motorists should desist from speeding as the roads would be slip- pery. “All motorists especially those driving public service vehicles should adhere to stipulated speed limits and any behaviour contrary shall be dealt with decisively,” he said.
During the last festive season, the period between December 15 2014 and January 15 2015, a total of 2 251 accidents were recorded. From the accidents 112 were fatal and they claimed 114 lives, while 1 1 33 people were injured and property valued over millions of dollars destroyed.
There will be heavy police presence countrywide to ensure an accident- and crime-free festive season. Police would intensify patrols, carry out stop-and-search blitzes on all residential, industrial, farming and other areas where the public will be undertaking various activities.
The police visibility would also be maintained on the country’s major roads to ensure that travellers are free to move to and from their destinations.
Drivers have been urged to be responsible and adhere to all road rules and regulations

The Phillip Chiyangwa reign at Zifa is off to a rocky start as three top coaches have refused to take charge of the Warriors after the sacking of Callisto Pasuwa.
Norman Mapeza said he was not willing to be the next Warriors coach while Chicken Inn head coach Joey Antipas who had been appointed by ZIFA to take charge of the Warriors declined to take the post.
Current Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya who had been appointed assistant coach has also snubbed the football mother body.
Yesterday ZIFA fired Pasuwa and his technical department in a development that has been roundly condemned. Pasuwa was fired for reasons that had nothing to do with football.

Staff Reporter|It was all blood at a filling station owned by Gwanda North ZANU PF legislature in Gwanda early this morning.
An unlicenced cross border transporter popularly known as Malayisha ran over two sleeping women at the filling station in Gwanda town at about 4am this morning.

The incident took place at the HON Madodana Sibanda owned Engen Garage where cross border traders mostly women unlawfully sleep over night waiting to catch early transport to Messina for their shopping.
The two sisters were amongst the dozens of people who were sleeping in the open space along the filling station court yard when the heavily overloaded Toyota Quantum with a double deaf trailer rammed over their feet.
At the time of the accident, the tired driver of the vehicle had given his unlicensed assistant to drive the vehicle while he took a nap.
The 16 passengers in the vehicle expressed shock at the revelation that the assistant “driver” actually did not have a driver’s licence as he had gone past five road blocks on his way to Gwanda from Beitbridge where he had taken over the driving of the vehicle.
According to witnesses, the two sisters arrived at the filling station about an hour prior to the accident from Messina with their wares and decided to put up at the filling station waiting for dawn before proceeding to their rural home some 20km out of town. As they settled to sleep at the foyer the driver of the Toyota Quantum came in at a very high speed and in a bid to avoid bumping on a fuel tank near by he swerved the vehicle too much to the right and ran over the two sleeping women with both vehicle and trailer.
The two women suffered severe injuries and an ambulance picked them up from the scene to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where they were immediately rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals. Sources at the hospital claim that the two will certainly be amputated from the waist.
This is not the first incident to happen at the filling station while people sleep at the garage at night. On several occasions some women have reported being robbed at the garage while they sleep. Now and again fist fights are experienced during the night as people jostle for sleeping space under the shade in the foyer.
An employee at the filling station who would not be named told Zimeye.com that the owner of the filling station is aware that people sleep there at night and has never spoken against it. The filling station is arguably the busiest place at night after the local night clubs. Pirate taxi operators run their business from the precinct of the filling station and night travelers use the place as their rank during the night. Across the road several haulage trucks are seen parked overnight. With the influx of the haulage trucks and activity at the filling station, even women of the night have found a business hunting ground at the filling station.
Comment could not immediately be opened from the Member of Parliament. A police detail operating in the area said that the unlicensed driver of the vehicle is currently being held at Gwanda police station and will appear in court soon.

A MARRIED 74-year-old Mberengwa man allegedly broke into his 72-year-old neighbour’s bedroom hut, throttled her and raped her for almost six hours, a court heard. The old man, the court heard, even forced the granny to perform different sexual positions for his pleasure.
Wereni Chandavengerwa of Matoka Village in Mberengwa appeared before regional magistrate Collet Ncube facing charges of unlawful entry into premises and rape.
Ncube remanded Chandavengerwa out of custody to December 21 for continuation of trial. Chandavengerwa denied the allegations saying the woman made up the allegations to fix him.
“Your worship I’m a married man. Why would I want to rape this woman? She hates me and that’s why she’s falsely accusing me of raping her. I didn’t go to her house,” he said. The granny told the court that before the rape, Chandavengerwa came to her homestead and declared that he would sleep with her that night.
“He came to my homestead and refused to leave saying he wanted to sleep at my home but I chased him away and told him that it wasn’t possible,” she said. She said that on the fateful day, she was sleeping when she heard Chandavengerwa struggling to break down the door.
She said he kept at it and succeeded on the third attempt. The woman told the court that when Chandavengerwa got in, he started whispering in her ear. “He then throttled me to stop me from screaming before raping me.
Prosecuting, Andrew Marimo told the court that on November 22 last year at around midnight, Chandavengerwa went to the 72- year-old woman’s homestead.
“Chandavengerwa allegedly broke down the locked door and gained entry into the woman’s bedroom hut. He then went on to choke the complainant and covered her mouth with his hands to stop her from screaming,” said Marimo.
He told the court that Chandavengerwa then undressed the old woman and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her without her consent and without using protection. Marimo said Chandavengerwa allegedly raped the woman all night and asked her to perform different sexual positions.

Many Zimbabwean PhD holders are useless and worthless, Professor Jonathan Moyo has said.
“There are many doctors who are useless, absolutely useless but we know that they have PhDs . . . But here in Zimbabwe we think that if you’re Doctor so and so and Professor so and so you’re important yet the truth is that you’re not.”
Moyo said that there are numerous rotten habits in higher and tertiary education institutions with most of the country’s academics failing on both visibility and usability.
Moyo said none of Zimbabwe’s universities are recognised regionally and internationally. He said academics’ failure to research on sound projects has led to the country failing to make it into the top 50 universities in Africa.
Moyo said none of the country’s universities are rated among the best 800 globally.
He said this on Wednesday while addressing Lupane State University’s lecturing and non-lecturing staff during a familiarisation tour of the institution.
“We think that there’s something rotten about the state of higher and tertiary education, science and technology development. We think that’s why the best among you are snatched by universities in South Africa,” said Prof Moyo.
There are six universities in South Africa, Moyo said, which are among the 14 in Africa appearing in the top 800 in the world. “They’re benefiting from our institutions and we know that and we want to correct it strategically,” said Prof Moyo.
He castigated academics for being involved in irrelevant studies saying the country’s PhD holders are never cited by other scholars for their researches.
“There are many doctors who are useless, absolutely useless but we know that they have PhDs . . . But here in Zimbabwe we think that if you’re Doctor so and so and Professor so and so you’re important yet the truth is that you’re not.”
“You can’t become important just because you are doctor so and so. You can only be important as doctor so and so on the basis of what you are doing,” he said.
Moyo said publishing relevant documents will put institutions on the spotlight.
“It’s important for doctors and professors to be among leading researchers and contributors of development not just of their communities and countries but mankind at large,” he said.
“How do you measure that? By their publications and citations of those publications. We’ve a lot of useless people with PhDs who have published things that nobody cites,” Moyo said.
He said it was scandalous that academics who are researching on irrelevant topics were getting promoted.
Moyo said intellectual property was serious business and universities must tap into that.
Turning to LSU, he said starting January next year the university should start relocating to its campus in Lupane as a lot of ground has been covered.
“Early next year, which begins next month, we are going to see movement to the Lupane Campus where you really should be. We hope by the end of next year no one would be here who is either a member of teaching staff or student,” he said.
Moyo said the Ministry was aware that some staff members were reluctant to move to the campus site. He said those who did not want to move to the campus should leave the university.
“We’re aware or at least heard rumours that some of you members of the staff joined out of a belief that Lupane relocation is wishful thinking, propaganda from the government, it will never happen, there is no money for it. So you thought it’s going to be Lupane State University in Bulawayo,” said Prof Moyo.
He said: “We’ve heard rumours suggesting that some of the staff with that attitude have their children going to elite schools here. It might be nursery schools and primary school and they say I can’t go with my family to live in the bush where they don’t have these schools. It means these are the last days we are with you,” he said.
Moyo said LSU should be an engine for development in Lupane through making Matabeleland North’s provincial capital a university driven town.
He said government was working tirelessly to address accommodation for student and staff, through the infrastructure bond which is designed to expedite construction work.
He said fireworks are expected at National University of Science and Technology today as the Ministry is not impressed with how the institution is executing its mandate.(State Media/Additional Reporting)

The Remnant Church pastor, who was arrested for allegedly staging a demonstration denouncing President Robert Mugabe’s 35-year-old rule during the just-ended Zanu PF conference in Victoria Falls, has been freed on $500 bail.
Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa freed Patrick Phillip Mugadza, 45, on Tuesday.
Mugadza is being accused of contravening Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
This was after he allegedly staged a demonstration in the resort town protesting the manner in which Mugabe was handling the country’s affairs.
The National Prosecuting Authority alleged that Mugadza, who resides in Kariba, disturbed the movement of Zanu PF party supporters who were on their way to attend the ruling party’s annual national people’s conference in the resort town, by waving a banner with a message denouncing Mugabe’s leadership.
Prosecutor Listen Nare told the court that Mugadza committed criminal nuisance by waving a banner, which read “Mr President the people are suffering”.
The banner also quoted Proverbs 21:13 from the Bible, which reads, “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered”.
The prosecutor charged that Mugadza acted unlawfully because his actions disturbed the movement of members of the public.
Mugadza, who first appeared at Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Courts on Saturday December 12 and was briefly freed on summons, returned to court on Monday and was remanded in custody to Tuesday when he was eventually granted bail.
His lawyer Thulani Nkala of Dube and Company Legal Practitioners and a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is challenging the State’s allegations, arguing that the pastor had not committed an offence.
The lawyer argued that his client was exercising his constitutional right as guaranteed under Section 59 of the Constitution which provides for “freedom to demonstrate and petition”.
Magadza’s trial has been set for January 5, 2016. Daily News

LEADERS of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) met in Harare last week for consultations aimed at reviving efforts to merge the two parties.
The MDC is led by Welshman Ncube while the PDP is led by Tendai Biti.
The two parties are hopeful that a position would be reached by January 2016, to pave way for the unification of the two parties in a bid to form a formidable challenge to the ruling ZANU-PF in 2018 polls.
The merger of the two parties, both offshoots of the MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai, has encountered hurdles since a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed last year.
Both parties have been pre-occupied with internal challenges that had forced them to abandon talks.
Ncube’s MDC has been hard-hit by internal ructions whereby a significant number of its top leadership resigned from their posts, while others have left the party altogether.
These include senior party officials such as Nhlanhla Dube, Frank Chamunorwa and Goodrich Chimbaira, among others.
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, the party’s former secretary-general, resigned from her post this year.
PDP, formerly the MDC Renewal Team, had its own share of internal turmoil that made it near impossible for talks on unity with peers.
Elton Mangoma, an instrumental figure in the formation of the then MDC Renewal Team, fell out with Biti over leadership of the new party.
A disgruntled Mangoma then went on to found the Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe in June this year, a move heavily criticised by political analysts as fragmenting the country’s opposition political parties.
Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo, then the caretaker president of the MDC Renewal Team, had told this publication that his party had decided to halt coalition talks as its members wanted to first go to an elective congress and elect a substantive leadership before joining hands with other opposition political forces.
Sipepa-Nkomo told the Financial Gazette in an interview this week that the dust which had gathered around the unification talks had settled.“As late as last week, the top leadership of both parties met and we are pursuing these discussions. We are investigating on the finer details of whether its re-unification or unification, seeing that now we have a new party (PDP),” he said.
Sipepa-Nkomo said the coalition talks would proceed smoothly despite the absence of Mangoma, who was once a part of the talks.
“There is zero impact caused by his (Mangoma) absence. Of those in leadership, those that were there and have since left, it was only Mangoma. The rest of the leadership remains in place,” said Sipepa-Nkomo.
“The re-unification or unity talks have not collapsed and we are all aware that we have unfinished business on the shelf. The MDC is currently oiling its machinery ahead of the 2018 elections. The morale is at roof level in the MDC camp and exciting moments for the MDC family are lying ahead,” a jovial Sipepa-Nkomo said.
Political observers opined that a united opposition political force was the best chance possible of dislodging ZANU-PF from power.
Financial Gazette

A COWDRAY Park woman, believed to be a member of an apostolic sect, is reportedly under police investigation for starving her one-year-old daughter to death while fasting, and concealing the toddler’s decomposing body for a week inside her house.
Police sources said the suspect, Khayelihle Ndebele, was arrested on Monday following a tip-off from neighbours and was taken to hospital for medical examination.
The baby’s corpse was also taken in for post-mortem. The toddler was identified as Simangaliso Mlalazi.
According to police, the matter came to light on Monday when inquisitive neighbours, led by Agrippa Moyo (45), teamed up and peeped through a broken window at Ndebele’s house.
“They saw the mother lying on a sofa looking frail, while the child was lying beside her. Moyo then reported the matter to the police, who went to the scene and forced the door open. When she was asked about the child, she said she was sleeping,” a police source said.
During interrogation, Ndebele allegedly disclosed that she was an Apostolic sect member and that they were fasting.
Police sources said it emerged during investigations that Ndebele was dumped by her husband, who is now staying with another wife in Emganwini.
Neighbours said, three months ago, Ndebele allegedly locked herself in the house for some days with the child until the local councillor intervened and engaged the police.
Contacted for comment, provincial police pokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said she would verify the matter with her counterparts at Luveve Police Station and call back.

AN 11-month-old baby died from suspected smoke inhalation at Bulawayo’s Sizinda Flats while her mother is fighting for life at Mpilo Central hospital after their apartment caught fire yesterday morning.
Portia Makuva, 29, whose husband died last month, was rushed to hospital after the fire brigade crew went into the burning house and found her unconscious under a running shower with her dead child next to her.
Bulawayo chief fire officer Richard Peterson yesterday said arson or suicide could not be ruled out.
Neighbours who climbed up a balcony, broke through steel burglar bars and smashed down a door with axes and hammers, said all doors were locked.
Prince Ncube, a witness, said the incident occurred at around 10AM. Ncube said he was relaxing with friends behind Makuva’s flat when they saw smoke billowing out of her house. “We ran to her front door and saw more smoke pouring out of the house through the locked door,” said Ncube.
He said they banged on the door and called out to Makuva, who did not respond.
“We ran around and found hammers and axes and tried to break down the front door. We failed because the door had become red hot. We couldn’t bear the heat,” he said.
They then climbed up the walls onto the balcony.
“We pulled a hose pipe from next door to try and put out the fire which had spread to the balcony, which is adjacent to the bathroom,” he said.
Ncube said the searing heat from the flames was unbearable. He said he was blinded by the smoke, which made him cough as he started shouting Makuva’s name.
“We could hear the baby crying and the mother started responding. Unfortunately the doors were closed. Intense heat was coming from the inside doors which had also turned red with heat,” said Ncube.
He said when they finally opened the bathroom door, through the thick smoke, they could make out Makuva huddled under a running shower with her baby. Ncube said the heat still prevented them from advancing into the house.
He said the fire brigade arrived and took over. Ward 21 Councillor Reuben Matengu said he called the fire brigade when he heard about the fire, but they were already at the scene.
Peterson said: “We’re still to determine the cause of the fire, although we can’t rule out arson or suicide.”
He urged residents to immediately notify the fire brigade when a fire breaks out.
“A lot of damage occurs during the period when people will be deciding how to put it out. The first action to take is to phone the fire brigade, close all other doors to confine the fire in one room and then try to put it out, if possible,” he said.
The Chronicle news crew noted that the fire virtually incinerated everything in the kitchen.
Metal objects like cutlery and chairs melted.
Last Thursday two boys miraculously survived a gas canister explosion — albeit with severe burns — at their Mpopoma home in a blast that rattled windows in the suburb.
One of them is battling for life at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
Another teenager from the same suburb escaped death recently after a 20-litre petrol container that he was carrying caught fire in their house.
Peterson reminded residents to remember to put the 09 code before dialling the 71717-9 emergency numbers on their cellphones. He said residents could call 993 or 994 toll free lines if they are using landlines. chronicle

By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo|The National Blood Service Zimbabwe has been hit by a critical blood shortage as the festive season approaches.
Officials in the organisation said early this week they are in panic attempts to boost the blood bank to avert disaster during the festive season.
At festive seasons the demand for blood supplies usually increases due to a high number of accidents and the organisation is battling to boost the blood banks as the festive season approaches.
Officials in the organisation said poor storage facilities as a result of erratic electricity among other factors contributed to the critical shortage of blood across the organisation’s centres in the country .
“We call upon youths and members of the public to come and donate blood in order to boost the supply for the festive season. Currently there is great need for the ‘O’ blood group. We are therefore appealing for donations. We are trying to boost the blood supply for the festive season,” said an official.
Hundreds of people have lost their lives due to excessive bleeding after being involved in accidents.
It has also emerged prolonged power cuts have grossly affected the blood storage facilities forcing the National Blood Service to reduce the volumes of blood storage.
The situation at the organisation is a telling reminder of the state of the country’s parastatals that have been grounded as service standards deteriorate.
The National Blood Service of Zimbabwe has since embarked on desperate efforts to collect blood in and around Masvingo but the programme has proved futile raising fears there could be fatalitilies due to excessive bleeding at the festive season.

A Central Intelligence Organisation official attached at Parliament, Walter Ngorima, who was facing two charges of abuse of office and extortion has been acquitted by a Harare regional magistrate at the close of the state case.
Regional Magistrate Mrs Fadzai Mtombeni granted the defence’s application for discharge and reprimanded the prosecution for not doing thorough investigations prior to approaching the courts.
In her ruling, Mrs Mtombeni outlined that the state failed to prove that the accused was a public official who abused his office to extort money from a Kenyan businessman Benjamin Masyuku whom he allegedly threatened with deportation.
On the second count of extortion, Mrs Mtombeni ruled that the state’s key witness Mr Timothy Waweru was unreliable as he failed to justify why the accused would demand a bribe or cause the deportation of Mr Masyuku when the businessman had valid papers to stay in the country.