By A Correspondent- A talented painter and a fine artist, Remiuos Sithole (20) currently serving his sentence at Bulawayo Prison has blamed his mother for his wayward behaviour that has turned him into a habitual criminal.

In an interview, Sithole said venturing into crime was caused by his mother after she ventured into prostitution to try and fend for her children as she was divorced and not formally employed.

“It is very unfortunate that my life was spoilt when I was still young as my father divorced my mother and soon after that separation my father decided to relocate to South Africa. This move left my mother who was not formally employed with a task of looking after me and my siblings.

“That situation left her with no option, but to venture into prostitution and in the process she even recruited my own younger sisters into this “dirty” industry,” he said.

Sithole said as they were growing up his friends used to laugh at him, saying that his mother was a prostitute and that really embarrassed him, such that he felt it was his responsibility to stop what his mother was doing.

“When my father left for South Africa I was left in the custody of my mother so a lot of people in our neighbourhood knew that she was into prostitution and some even started calling me names because of that.

“The names that I was given by people in my neighbourhood really hurt me to the extent that I felt that it was my duty to stop her from doing whatever she was doing and I would like to believe that if it were not for this issue I would not be a regular visitor of this place called prison,” he said.

The inmate said the pressure that he indirectly got from the members of the community saw him venturing into crime at the age of 16. This decision came after his mother had forced him to drop out of school as she could no longer afford to pay his school fees.

“It was when I was in Form Three; when my mother told me that she could no longer afford to pay my school fees and these words left me with only one option in life and that was venturing into crime.

“If I am to be honest with you guys, at times I feel like I am the most unfortunate person because as we speak right now I am only 20 years old and I have been convicted more than nine times in courts,” he said.

Sithole said his first conviction came when he was only 17 years old and he was sentenced to 24 months in prison. During that time in prison he was regarded as a juvenile as he was still below the age of 18.

“When I was arrested by the police on charges of unlawful entry I was taken to the courts, where the matter was tried and it was proven that for sure I had committed that offence.

“Being in prison for the first time was not easy, the environment was totally different, but considering that I had committed a crime I had no option, but to quickly adjust,” he said.

The inmate told B-Metro that when he started providing basic commodities for his family his mother immediately quit prostitution as she was now getting all the goods that she required to live a normal life.

“You know there is nothing which is as embarrassing as being asked on the whereabouts of your mother by a boy of your age, worse knowing the reason why he is looking for her. That really got to my nerves and it was so bad such that I would not even want to think about it.

“So after having realised that I had found the solution to my problem, I promised that I was going to continue committing any crime that involves money to help my family,”he said.

Sithole said while in prison he discovered that he was a talented painter, but it was difficult for him to develop his talent due to a serious shortage of funds as that industry had the potential to sustain him and his family.

“While in prison I took that opportunity to reflect on my life and I discovered that I was really talented in the area of art and painting but the major challenge that I discovered was that I really needed funding to start running such a project.

“Right now I am in prison and when I get so stressed I use the painting skill as a way of relieving myself from the stresses that I would be going through considering that I am in custody,” he said.

The inmate appealed to the corporate world to assist him to acquire the resources that he requires to start an art project for him to be able to fend for his family without being involved in crime.

“As we speak people in my neighbourhood now know that if I am not at home, I would be in prison and that is not good considering that directly or indirectly I need their support as a community.

“That whole issue really affects me, so I am kindly appealing for assistance from the community to support me in establishing my new project as I really would like to leave crime and venture into something totally different from what I have been doing all along which is crime,” he said.

The station rehabilitation officer, Lameck Mazaka, said it was actually encouraging that inmates were slowly realising their mistakes and showing their commitment to leaving the field of crime.

“It is actually a good sign that some of our inmates like Sithole have finally realised their mistakes and are prepared to work to develop the nation through their personal projects.

“We hope more of them are going to follow the same path and fix their mistakes that brought them to prison,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Two men have been arrested for taking turns to hit a police suggestion box with a log, damaging it in the process.

The two men, Busani Ndlovu and Vusumuzi Khumalo, both reside at Plot 52 Dunstal Farm on the outskirts of Bulawayo.

A source, who declined to be named in fear of victimisation, said on Tuesday this week while he was on his way to Mopane shops, he saw the pair of Ndlovu and Khumalo taking turns to hit the Pumula police station suggestion box with a log.

They pulled it down and stamped on it.

The source reported the matter at Pumula Police Station, leading to the arrest of the duo.

Khumalo and Ndlovu are expected to appear in court and the State will be represented by ZRP Pumula officer in charge Chief Inspector Martin Chivandire.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident: “I can confirm that we arrested two men — Vusumuzi Khumalo and Busani Ndlovu — for damaging a police suggestion box. They are expected to appear in court soon for malicious damage to property. The damaged property is valued at US$50.”

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- Thousands of people have been left stranded since Wednesday this week after government imposed a level 4 lockdown, which banned intercity travel as they are failing to get transport back to their homes for the past two days.

In the capital, hundreds of people thronged the Harare Exhibition Grounds hiking spot to try and find transport to various destinations along the Bulawayo highway without success.

Dozens were scattered along the Bulawayo highway up to Kuwadzana.

“I was here yesterday (Wednesday) because I failed to get transport home because of the suspension of public transport,” a civil servant told NewsDay after spending a second fruitless day looking for transport to Bulawayo.

“I had to walk from Showgrounds to come here at Marimba bus stop. I am now looking for any transport to take me home. I had come to Harare to buy some things, but due to the lockdown,, I
cannot get transport back home,” another hiker, who intended to travel to Gweru, said.

Police swooped on the stranded travellers and chased them away from the Showgrounds hiking spot, accusing them of not observing COVID-19 regulations while scrambling for the few vehicles that were on the road.

There are reportedly thousands of travellers that are stranded around the country who were left in limbo by the lockdown.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said people travelling back to their permanent homes or workplaces would be assisted on providing proof to the police that it was a genuine case.

“We can’t make a blanket decision to say all people who are seeking to travel are either going back to their permanent homes or workplaces. Each case will be treated on its own basis upon proof of what is being said,” he said.

“We have to see that there are no people who take advantage of the situation. Every person should provide genuine proof and officers on the ground have been told what to do and they will assist.”

-Newsday

MUTARE Magistrate Purity Gumbo has ordered City of Mutare to immediately restore water connection to a trader after the local authority had unilaterally disconnected supplies at his premises in a desperate bid to force him to pay arrears on his utility and rates bill.

Dharmesh Pitamber, who was represented by Moses Chikomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, filed an application at Mutare Magistrates Court after some officials from City of Mutare on Thursday 17 June 2021 disconnected water supplies at his premises in central Mutare after serving him with a “notice to disconnect water supplies” on 15 June 2021.

City of Mutare officials had disconnected water supplies on the basis of outstanding arrears on Pitamber’s utility and rates bills which has a separate account number and when in fact his water bill has its own separate account number, which he is religiously paying and is up to date.

In court, Chikomo argued that Pitamber could not be denied water without a just cause as he has a right to access to safe, clean and potable water enshrined in section 77 of the Constitution and the local authority’s actions amounted to an unlawful despoliation of his right to the enjoyment and use of water at his premises.

Chikomo said while City of Mutare has a right to collect its debts, it cannot do so by resorting to unlawful means and said since it is a public body and institution of local government it cannot deny a citizen water without a just cause.

The human rights lawyer stated that although Pitamber acknowledges his indebtedness on utility and rates bills and is making efforts to clear the arrears, the unilateral cutting of water supplies amounted to self-help.

Chikomo argued that Pitamber together with other people at his premises had been left exposed to unhygienic conditions since he could no longer use toilets, wash hands nor access clean drinking water and practice health and safety precautions of washing hands with clean and running water, which is critical to the national control of the outbreak and spread of coronavirus.

He reasoned that the purported disconnection of water supply at his premises was unlawful, unwarranted and could not be justified in any way.

In the end, Magistrate Gumbo ordered City of Mutare to immediately restore water connection at Pitamber’s premises.

Magistrate Gumbo also ordered that in the event of failure by City of Mutare to restore water supply within 24 hours after service of the court order, a Messenger of Court would be empowered to restore water supplies at Pitamber’s premises.

By A Correspondent- People gathered at the court in Mwenezi were astounded when two teenagers who should still be in school dragged each other to court for maintenance.

Both the girl and the boy are aged 17 and the girl who cannot be named because of her age left Neshuro High School after being impreg_nated by the boy.

The boy who also cannot be named is doing Form 3 at the same school.

However, Resident Magistrate Honesty Musiiwa said that there was no law that said an underage boy can pay maintenance and he therefore dismissed the case. The girl who was accompanied by her mother to court left with a fallen face.

The mother later granted an interview to Two Nations and said that she wanted the boy to pay maintenance so that she can find someone to look after the child while her daughter goes back to school.

The girl argued in court that the child should be a responsibility of both and she also needed a chance to go back to school. She said that the boy’s parents must take custody of the child this time.

The boy refused paternity of the child in court. The mother said that they tried to solve the matter with Chief Mawarire but it failed.

-MasvingoMirror

 By A Correspondent- Deputy minister recently lost R600 000 through a cyber security breach on his South African bank account.

Cyber criminals used his phone number to unlock his personal data. A phone number is an easyto-find key that can be used by cyber criminals (hackers). According to reports, Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister, Tinoda Machakaire lost the money after his bank account was hacked.

The thieves took control of his mobile line and blocked him and gave instructions to companies using the hacked mobile line.

It is alleged that at different intervals, the hackers used the minister’s mobile number to send instructions to his company, Tinmac Motors, to make payments to accounts in South Africa and also instructed some drivers of his fleet of trucks to take up commercial loads to various destinations around the country.

Following the Covid-19 outbreak cyber criminals are diversifying their targets and using stealthier methods to commit fraud in Zimbabwe and Africa and no one is immune. An average Zimbabwean has a business that operates in South Africa due to the stability of the South African economy and the ability for local businesses to easily borrow. As long as you have a passport number and a mobile number, you are a target. An average business person is now a victim of cyber fraud annually, with individuals having been victimised multiple times.

As a leading business person, worse of a minister, cyber criminals already possess sensitive details about you that are floating around the online sphere. These criminals take their time to collect details that they may wait months or even years to actually exploit, inflating your sense of security.

Coupled with the rise of online tools that let threat actors easily identify individuals living in wealthy suburbs, the lack of constant garbage collections has allowed these criminals to drive by and steal more data such as bank statements and utility bills straight from your bin.

This allows them to quickly stockpile a wealth of information on virtually anyone, including the answers to security questions that can help them quickly circumvent typical fraud-prevention measures.

Hackers have devised a way of stealing your phone number, by obtaining your subscriber identity module (SIM). To avoid cyber criminals, there is no need to provide

With your phone number, a hacker can start hijacking your bank accounts one by one by having a password reset sent to your number further information.

Once the hacker has your phone number they become you, for all intents and purposes. With your phone number, a hacker can start hijacking your bank accounts one by one by having a password reset sent to your number.

Banking systems are automated systems and hackers can easily trick the banking automated systems into believing they are interacting with you when you call customer service. Using this method they can transfer funds or buy products and services using your bank details. Once criminals have your details e.g. name, date of birth, village, etc they can reproduce your National Identity (ID) document and use the ID to then obtain a subscriber identity module (SIM) card replacement.

Once one is issued with a replacement SIM card, the actual SIM card owner is immediately blocked and the criminal will now assume full access to your bank account while the owner does not have access to the bank account. This gives the cyber criminal or hacker the opportunity to change online passwords, activation codes and OTPs will be coming through the obtained SIM card.

—-
Mutisi is the CEO of Hansole Investments (Pvt) Ltd and the current chairperson of Zimbabwe Information & Communication Technology, a division of Zimbabwe Institution for Engineers.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A man who used to bash his live-in girlfriend whenever they argued at home will regret his unbecoming actions because his fed-up lover dumped him in court.

Regina Munyati of Mpopoma suburb said she could not bear the brunt of being bashed and insulted by her lover Danisa Mawindi and told presiding magistrate Prince Jeconia Ncube that she no longer loved him and was terminating the affair.

“He was treating me like a useless thing, would hit me with fists each time we had an argument. I had to desert our home and went to stay with my parents. Despite that he would come to my home begging me to forgive him. I turned down his demands, but he does not accept that I no longer love him and I do not want anything to do with him,” said Regina.

Danisa also confronts her at her workplace and embarrasses her.

“He comes to my workplace. He would shout at me in front of my workmates and would demand the things he bought for me when we were staying together. When he encounters me with a man, he would insult him while claiming that I’m still his live-in girlfriend,” said Regina.

Regina had to approach the civil court to apply for a protection order against her stalker.

In her founding affidavit she said:

“I’m applying for a protection order against Danisa Mawindi who was my live-in lover. Sometime in April I had to desert our home and stayed with my parents because he used to beat me and insult me whenever we had an argument.

He comes to my workplace and shouts obscenities at me while demanding things he bought me while were staying together. He is in the habit of ambushing me at my workplace and would follow me wherever I go and would spew insults at any man that talks to me while claiming that I’m still his lover,” she said.

Danisa did not attend the court session forcing the magistrate to reserve her ruling on the case.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- An unnamed Harare man lost more than US$90 000 in a deal that was supposedly meant to help him clear tax arrears with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

Three suspects Tsungai Mazanhi (33), Tawanda Walter Machingauta (37) and Valentine Genko (27) appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi facing theft charges.

Magistrate Mangosi remanded them in custody pending a ruling on their application for bail on Monday.

The State alleges on June 14, Mazanhi told the complainant that he had set an appointment for him to meet a Brigadier Mutsvairo in Norton, who would assist him clear his tax arrears with Zimra.

On June 15, the complainant took US$90 000, a pistol and put it in a satchel and went to meet Mazanhi at OK Marimba car park.

The accused persons and one Farai Kachepa, who is still at large, plotted to steal cash from the complainant, whom they knew kept large sums of money in his vehicle.

When the complainant and Mazanhi went into the OK supermarket, the latter’s accomplices jammed the complainant’s car as he tried to lock it and stole the satchel with the money and pistol.

The State alleged that the gang later shared the loot and Mazanhi bought a Mazda Axela vehicle with the proceeds of the offence.

The prosecutor Anesu Chirenje told the court that a CCTV was obtained which showed the accused persons committing the offence.

The State alleges a remote used to jam the locking system was recovered by the police.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A robbery suspect was rearrested on Wednesday for allegedly robbing a Harare man of over US$8 000, while the former was still on bail for an alleged money heist at Maswede Holdings.

Edson Mashamhanda and an accomplice who is still at large allegedly robbed a 40-year-old man from Waterfalls of US$8 220 cash at knifepoint and other valuables after offering him a lift to Hwedza.

Edson Mashamhanda is linked to last year’s theft of $300 000 worth of fuel coupons and US$8 950 from Mashwede Holdings where he was a bookkeeper.

It is alleged that Mashamhanda and 13 other suspects last year allegedly stole over US$100 000, R42 000, $14 000 worth of fuel coupons, two firearms and 20 live rounds of ammunition at Mashwede Holdings’ premises in Harare.

Brothers Edson (30) and Christopher Mashamhanda (19), and Nevanji Madanhire (27) allegedly connived with an 11-member gang and destroyed the CCTV system at the premises to conceal the offence.

Eight of the suspected robbers have since been arrested in connection with the case while their three other accomplices are still at large.

They were freed on a $1 000 bail each with stringent conditions while Spicer Takawira, who is suspected to have been part of the gang was granted a $250 000 bail after failing to avail an immovable property as surety that he will attend the trial.

Edson, who was a bookkeeper at Mashwede Holdings, is reported to have taken advantage of the robbery at the firm to cover up the theft of $300 000 worth of fuel coupons and US$8 950.

He reportedly told management that in addition fuel coupons for 23 000 litres, which he had already diverted to his own use, had also been stolen in the robbery, resulting in the company blocking the numbered coupons.

The matter came to light when a customer who had bought the blocked coupons and failed to get fuel, approached the company seeking clarity.

This prompted an investigation which found that Mashwede Holdings had been duped of $300 000 worth of fuel coupons and US$8 950.

By A Correspondent- The once Flamoyant Harare Businessman, Phillip Chiyangwa is facing arrest for fraudulently selling state land.

This came out after the High Court this week nullified the multi-million dollar transaction in which the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) blindly purchased 526 hectares of land in Chegutu from Chiyangwa using pensioners’ money, ignoring to follow due processes.

US$3.5 million of pensioners’ money went down the drain after it emerged that the sale was illegal and the land actually belongs to Chegutu Municipality.

Recently, the Auditor General’s report raised a red flag after the purchased land was not part of NSSA’s assets despite millions of dollars having been paid to Mr Chiyangwa’s Gabroc Investments.

A dispute arose with the local authority arguing that the sale of land was null and void because laid down procedure of selling council land was not followed.
The procedure of selling council or public land involves publication of a notice in at least two issues of a newspaper. The notice should also be posted at all council offices in terms of Section 152(2) of the Urban Councils Act. Terms and conditions of the sale, the full description of the land must be publicised.
The proposal to sell the land must also be open for the public’s inspection for up to 21 days, to allow objections, if any.
Council argued that the procedure was not followed when Chiyangwa’s company purchased the land, hence there was no binding sale agreement.
The case spilled into the High Court with Gabroc seeking to compel council to approve the sale. Justice Charles Hungwe ruled that the said sale of the land was a nullity hence the court could not sanitise it.
“Clearly for this court to grant the relief sought, would be to condone an illegality. The transaction between first applicant (Gabroc Investments) and the respondents (Chegutu Municipality and the town clerk) contravenes the clear provisions in the Urban Councils Act.
“The rationale behind Section 152 of the Act is to promote transparency in the administration of public assets. The agreement executed by the parties in 2001 did not comply with this public policy thrust as set out in the Act.
“The courts cannot sanitise a transaction that is abjectly illegal,” said Justice Hungwe.
The judge expressed shock at how NSSA blindly released funds to buy the same land from Gabroc without due diligence.
“It is surprising that second applicant (NSSA) put its money into a transaction when simple and cost-effective due diligence could have saved it a fortune.
“Second applicant administers public funds. It is expected to execute its mandate diligently. It is strange that second applicant found this transaction attractive,” he said.
The judge nullified the transaction and threw out the application by Grabroc and NSSA with costs.
The contentious 526-hectare piece of land at Hintonville Extension was illegally sold to Mr Chiyangwa’s company in 2001 for ZW$10.5 million. Two years later, the company went to sell it to NSSA before concluding its initial transaction with Chegutu Municipality. Chegutu Municipality maintained that there was no proof either supporting Gabroc’s purchase of the land or NSSA’s subsequent right to ownership.

-State media

By A Correspondent- A Chimanimani couple has revealed that in their pursuit to acquire quick riches, they caused their 17-year-old child’s mental illness.

Thomas Mashingaidze and Enesi Mutendadzamera made the spine-chilling confessions last week on Saturday when they appeared before Chief Saurombe’s court.

They were facing charges of defiling the area by engaging in ritual practices.

The two accused each other of being the brains behind the child’s suffering.

The court heard that five years ago, the couple’s son (name withheld) was forced to chew off his mother’s finger and swallow it as part of the money spinning rituals.

The couple has business interests and properties in Chimanimani, Beatrice, Harare, Norton, Nyanyadzi and Nhedziwa.

In fact, the couple had become the envy of town due to their lavish lifestyle until Mashingaidze started dating and marrying other women.
The heartbroken Mutendadzamera could not stomach the betrayal and let the cat out of the bag on how they were using black magic to acquire their wealth.

Mashingaidze has since moved to Beatrice due to the humiliation brought about by the expose.

“Mutendadzamera is bitter that her husband is now spending the little they have left from their ill-gotten wealth on other women,” said Chief Saurombe.

He added: “Their fortunes have since taken a knock due to Mashingaidze’s reckless behaviour. Since the whole issue has now been exposed, we expect a riches to rags tale from this couple.
“Thomas confirmed using his son for the rituals but he says his wife convinced him to do so. He also claims that Mutendadzamera’s father initiated the whole process.

“Last week I had to send my assistants to Beatrice to drag Mashingaidze to my court,” said Chief Saurombe.

The couple’s son and Mutendadzamera’s father are expected to be in attendance when Chief Saurombe hands down his verdict on July 27.
“The woman’s father has a case to answer. He is supposed to furnish us with more details of his involvement in this whole saga,” said the traditional leader.

By A Correspondent- The government has announced that it has intensified war on private cars which are carrying people to and from their homes after the ruling elites have failed to provide adequate and affordable transport to commuters.

This week government increased the bus fare charged by its ZUPCO buses from $30 to $60.

Home Affairs minister, Kazembe Kazembe on Friday said soldiers would be deployed to eradicate private cars carrying people.

 “In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, security forces will ensure that pirate taxis known as mushikashika are decisively dealt with as part of the COVID-19 measures. Those found violating the measures will be dealt with decisively.”

By A Correspondent- The government has announced that it will be unleashing soldiers and the police on bars and streets of Harare to ensure that covid-19 lockdown rules are adhered to.

This was announced by Home Affairs minister, Kazembe Kazembe on Friday.

“In response to the spike in COVID-19 cases and fatalities across the country amid the third wave as well as the spread of the deadly variants such as the Delta variant, the security forces will ensure strict adherence to the level four COVID-19 lockdown in line with World Health Organisation protocols,” he said.

“All citizens are mandated to wear masks properly and strictly practise social distancing. Failure to wear face masks is a punishable offence, given the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Security officers will enforce strict compliance of the COVID-19 regulations without fear or favour.”

Added Kazembe: “In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, security forces will ensure that pirate taxis known as mushikashika are decisively dealt with as part of the COVID-19 measures. Those found violating the measures will be dealt with decisively.”

In June, police arrested 51 018 people for failing to wear masks properly.

By A Correspondent- The Zanu PF government has hinted at unleashing the army on the citizens to enforce strict enforcement of COVID-19 regulations.

Announcing new COVID-19 measures at a Press conference yesterday, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe said the police was enforcing the lockdown measures, but the government could release the army to enforce compliance.

He was flanked by Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri and State Security Minister Owen Ncube.

The ministers had just come from a Joint Operations Command meeting at Chaminuka House, the Central Intelligence Organisation headquarters.

“In accordance with the emergency status we may find ourselves in, the government can call upon any security institution to implement the measures should there be that necessity,” he said.
“The law allows the government when the requirement to call any security institutions if the need arises but as for now, the police will be enforcing. But if the need arises, the government will call any security institution to assist in enforcement.”

The government deployed soldiers to enforce the first lockdown in April last year, which led to an outcry over human rights abuses during the period.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, since he went into power through a military coup in November 2017, has deployed the soldiers several times, including to quell protests over the delay in releasing the results of the presidential elections on August 1, 2018 and brutally clamp down on fuel price hike protests in January 2019.

Six civilians were killed in the first instance, while 23 people were killed in the 2019 protests clampdown by the soldiers, with thousands left nursing bullet wounds, while women were raped and tortured.

By A Correspondent- The High Court has nullified the multi-million dollar transaction in which the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) blindly purchased 526 hectares of land in Chegutu from businessman Phillip Chiyangwa using pensioners’ money, saying due process was not followed.

US$3.5 million of pensioners’ money went down the drain after it emerged that the sale was illegal and the land actually belongs to Chegutu Municipality.
Recently, the Auditor General’s report raised a red flag after the purchased land was not part of NSSA’s assets despite millions of dollars having been paid to Mr Chiyangwa’s Gabroc Investments.
A dispute arose with the local authority arguing that the sale of land was null and void because laid down procedure of selling council land was not followed.
The procedure of selling council or public land involves publication of a notice in at least two issues of a newspaper. The notice should also be posted at all council offices in terms of Section 152(2) of the Urban Councils Act. Terms and conditions of the sale, the full description of the land must be publicised.
The proposal to sell the land must also be open for the public’s inspection for up to 21 days, to allow objections, if any.
Council argued that the procedure was not followed when Chiyangwa’s company purchased the land, hence there was no binding sale agreement.
The case spilled into the High Court with Gabroc seeking to compel council to approve the sale. Justice Charles Hungwe ruled that the said sale of the land was a nullity hence the court could not sanitise it.
“Clearly for this court to grant the relief sought, would be to condone an illegality. The transaction between first applicant (Gabroc Investments) and the respondents (Chegutu Municipality and the town clerk) contravenes the clear provisions in the Urban Councils Act.
“The rationale behind Section 152 of the Act is to promote transparency in the administration of public assets. The agreement executed by the parties in 2001 did not comply with this public policy thrust as set out in the Act.
“The courts cannot sanitise a transaction that is abjectly illegal,” said Justice Hungwe.
The judge expressed shock at how NSSA blindly released funds to buy the same land from Gabroc without due diligence.
“It is surprising that second applicant (NSSA) put its money into a transaction when simple and cost-effective due diligence could have saved it a fortune.
“Second applicant administers public funds. It is expected to execute its mandate diligently. It is strange that second applicant found this transaction attractive,” he said.
The judge nullified the transaction and threw out the application by Grabroc and NSSA with costs.
The contentious 526-hectare piece of land at Hintonville Extension was illegally sold to Mr Chiyangwa’s company in 2001 for ZW$10.5 million. Two years later, the company went to sell it to NSSA before concluding its initial transaction with Chegutu Municipality. Chegutu Municipality maintained that there was no proof either supporting Gabroc’s purchase of the land or NSSA’s subsequent right to ownership.

-State media

By A Correspondent- The High Court has nullified the multi-million dollar transaction in which the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) blindly purchased 526 hectares of land in Chegutu from businessman Phillip Chiyangwa using pensioners’ money, saying due process was not followed.

US$3.5 million of pensioners’ money went down the drain after it emerged that the sale was illegal and the land actually belongs to Chegutu Municipality.
Recently, the Auditor General’s report raised a red flag after the purchased land was not part of NSSA’s assets despite millions of dollars having been paid to Mr Chiyangwa’s Gabroc Investments.
A dispute arose with the local authority arguing that the sale of land was null and void because laid down procedure of selling council land was not followed.
The procedure of selling council or public land involves publication of a notice in at least two issues of a newspaper. The notice should also be posted at all council offices in terms of Section 152(2) of the Urban Councils Act. Terms and conditions of the sale, the full description of the land must be publicised.
The proposal to sell the land must also be open for the public’s inspection for up to 21 days, to allow objections, if any.
Council argued that the procedure was not followed when Chiyangwa’s company purchased the land, hence there was no binding sale agreement.
The case spilled into the High Court with Gabroc seeking to compel council to approve the sale. Justice Charles Hungwe ruled that the said sale of the land was a nullity hence the court could not sanitise it.
“Clearly for this court to grant the relief sought, would be to condone an illegality. The transaction between first applicant (Gabroc Investments) and the respondents (Chegutu Municipality and the town clerk) contravenes the clear provisions in the Urban Councils Act.
“The rationale behind Section 152 of the Act is to promote transparency in the administration of public assets. The agreement executed by the parties in 2001 did not comply with this public policy thrust as set out in the Act.
“The courts cannot sanitise a transaction that is abjectly illegal,” said Justice Hungwe.
The judge expressed shock at how NSSA blindly released funds to buy the same land from Gabroc without due diligence.
“It is surprising that second applicant (NSSA) put its money into a transaction when simple and cost-effective due diligence could have saved it a fortune.
“Second applicant administers public funds. It is expected to execute its mandate diligently. It is strange that second applicant found this transaction attractive,” he said.
The judge nullified the transaction and threw out the application by Grabroc and NSSA with costs.
The contentious 526-hectare piece of land at Hintonville Extension was illegally sold to Mr Chiyangwa’s company in 2001 for ZW$10.5 million. Two years later, the company went to sell it to NSSA before concluding its initial transaction with Chegutu Municipality. Chegutu Municipality maintained that there was no proof either supporting Gabroc’s purchase of the land or NSSA’s subsequent right to ownership.

-State media

By A Correspondent- The Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) has described the failure by the urban councils to collect refuse as a human rights violation because it exposes citizens to health risks.

This follows a damning report by AuditorGeneral Mildred Chiri, which revealed that most local authorities were struggling with refuse management.

MIHR coordinator Khumbulani Maphosa said key environmental concerns noted by the Auditor-General’s report include the worrying increase of dumpsites in populated areas.

Chiri’s report, for instance, noted that Masvingo City Council’s Victoria Range landfill site was unsuitable, as it is too close to the residential areas. It was also revealed that Mutare City Council has been operating without an approved dumpsite in compliance with environmental management legislation.

“The one in use (for Mutare) was situated near a river and development of residential stands was underway around the dumpsite making its location unsuitable for continued use. The affected residential areas were Gateway City, Darlington and Clay Hill. Bindura Municipality has no standard engineered landfill but was using a decommissioned mine site,” Maphosa said.

Chiri reported that the de-commissioned mine dumpsite used by Bindura Municipality remained non-compliant with Environmental Management Agency (EMA) requirements as it was unregistered.

She also noted that Marondera Rural District Council used a dumpsite that is not compliant at Mahusekwa Growth Point while Bubi Rural District Council was operating without a landfill site.

The AG report states that the other problem noted is lack of proper refuse equipment like compactors and refuse collection trucks.

The report further states that Masvingo City Council is operating with three, instead of the required six refuse compactors and this result in refuse at the landfill site not compacted at all.

Chitungwiza Municipality was operating with one refuse compactor and old garbage collection trucks that frequently broke down.

Indications are that a near similar scenario was noted in Binga Rural District Council where the local authority relies on a tractor to collect garbage as it does not have refuse collection trucks.

Maphosa said: “With 43 local authorities still to be audited, MIHR is concerned by the inability of local authorities to have standard scientific engineering landfill sites and proper standard and adequate refuse management equipment. unsuitable landfill sites pose a threat to environmental management, increase land pollution, air-pollution and pollution of underground water sources through leachates.

“We therefore call on the local authorities to expedite the construction of proper landfill sites and procurement of suitable garbage collection and management vehicles. Innovative funding mechanisms may need to be developed to fund environmental management concerns. Government through the ministry of Environment, Water and Climate to develop a Treasury funded program of action to assist local authorities finance standard landfill sites construction.”

He added that Parliament must amend the Environment Management Act [Chapter 20:27) and specifically devolve the management of the Environmental Fund to Provincial and District authorities.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Harare magistrate has ordered Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe to pay more than US$10 000 to a couple that was roughed up by law enforcement agents in Chitungwiza in 2019.

In a statement yesterday, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said Matanga and Kazembe were ordered to pay US$5 000 each or its equivalent in local currency to the victims of police brutality, Canaan Machando and his wife Sipetangani as compensation for violation of their rights and their property.

In addition, the magistrate Winfild Tiyatara ordered Matanga and Kazembe to pay $56 800 to Canaan and $24 000 to Sipetangani as compensation for damages to their mobile phone handsets.

During trial, Canaan and Sipetangani, who were assisted by Fiona Iliff of ZLHR to sue Matanga and Kazembe, told Tiyatara that on January 14, 2019, some ZRP officers, along with some soldiers who had been deployed to quell anti-government protests, slapped Sipetangani several times and kicked her in the presence of her two children.

The police officers and soldiers also ordered Canaan to lie flat on his stomach, stepped on him before assaulting him.

In her ruling, magistrate Tiyatara said Sipetengani and Canaan, and their children suffered emotional pain, trauma and shock from the incident and the couple was humiliated and embarrassed by the indignity of being forced out of their home owing to misconduct by police officers.

The magistrate said the conduct of ZRP officers was unlawful and “there was no legal justification whatsoever for them to have conducted themselves in such a wayward manner”.

The magistrate also ruled that the actions of the ZRP officers were so indiscriminate, unwarranted, and unnecessary and that their conduct fell short of the duty of care that the police service has towards civilians.

-Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late founding President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda as humble and selfless leader who spent his life fighting for the emancipation of the continent.

President Chamisa also described Dr Kaunda as a humble leader and devout Christian.

On Friday, President Chamisa released a video footage in which he paid tribute to Dr Kaunda.

“The history of the liberation struggle cannot be complete without mentioning the role played by Dr Kaunda.

Dr Kaunda was a leader par excellence.He was a man who worked tirelessly to unite the continent.We wish to follow his footsteps…”

Watch video below:

By A Correspondent- Vehicle smugglers on Wednesday engaged in a shootout with South African soldiers at an illegal entry point in Beitbridge, forcing them to flee and leave behind three stolen vehicles which were destined for Zimbabwe.

According to a statement by the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF), the vehicle smugglers left behind a Toyota Hilux valued at
R400 000, Volvo XC60 (R800 000) and a Toyota Fortuner (R430 000) after fleeing to the Zimbabwe side of the border.

“The vehicles were handed over to the SA Police Service (SAPS),” read the statement by one Captain ME Semono of the SANDF Joint Tactical Headquarters, Limpopo.

“SANDF soldiers were busy with Standing Patrol in the Madimbo area when they spotted a Toyota Fortuner which was travelling at a very high speed towards the illegal crossing point along the Republic of South Africa/Zimbabwe border. Upon trying to intercept the vehicle, the occupants of the vehicle fired shots from what looked like pistols.

“The soldiers returned fire and the suspects escaped towards the Zimbabwean side of the border. While the soldiers were trying to retrieve the Fortuner, shots were fired from the side of the Zimbabwean border allegedly by the suspects.

“Our members called for back-up and eventually managed to retrieve the vehicle. The soldiers did the mop-up operations around the area and discovered that there were two other vehicles hidden in the bushes.”

By A Correspondent- A high-speed chase involving three suspected carjackers and the police from Vehicle Theft Squad resulted in the death of a woman and the injury of her daughter after they were hit by the “flying” vehicle.

The incident happened around 1130am at corner Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa near the Boggie tower in Gweru.

The woman died on the spot while her daughter was ferried to Gweru Provincial Hospital where her condition is said to be bad.

The woman was hit and flew for about four meters crushing her skull.

Two of the alleged carjackers were arrested while one fled from the scene.

By A Correspondent- A high-speed chase involving three suspected carjackers and the police from Vehicle Theft Squad resulted in the death of a woman and the injury of her daughter after they were hit by the “flying” vehicle.
The incident happened around 1130am at corner Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa near the Boggie tower in Gweru.

The woman died on the spot while her daughter was ferried to Gweru Provincial Hospital where her condition is said to be bad.

The woman was hit and flew for about four meters crushing her skull.
Two of the alleged carjackers were arrested while one fled from the scene.

By A Correspondent-The Registrar General’s Office, is battling with clearing a passport backlog.

According to the state media, the RG’s office is yet to clear a 200 000 backlog and has only managed to process less than half of the number.

This is causing corruption at the RG’s office as officials demand bribes from applicants.

By A Correspondent- A Budiriro man committed suicide on Tuesday afternoon after receiving positive HIV test results.

The 32-year-old man identified as Simbarashe and married to two wives was well-known money changer at Current Shopping Centre in Budiriro.

A local publication got a chance to speak to the wife of the deceased who said the man went into denial after receiving his results.

“Yesterday he came with the result slip of HIV test saying that he was positive.

“He was not settled and it seems like he was not accepting that he was now positive.

“He married another wife a few months ago where he was now staying and he was now spending more time there with his new love.

“Today around 1am he woke up and said he was going to kill himself.

“I tried stopping him but later he sneaked out of the house,”

”It was his first time to go out of the house that time,”

”Around 5am I was called that my husband Simba is dead,” said Mai Makanaka who is the first wife.

His friend identified as Tafadzwa said the deceased had said nothing of the results.

“I was with him last night but he told me nothing.

“I was surprised when I heard that he killed himself early in the morning (Tuesday).

“He never shared any information about what is going on in his private life.

“He had another girl friend who he was now staying with these days.”

In the pockets of the deceased was found a will showing on the distribution on his estate.

The man’s landlord said Simbarashe had used a well rope to hang himself.

“I last saw him yesterday night and I never knew that he had this type of thoughts because he greeted me and went to his room, without any long conversation,” said the landlord.

— HMetro

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given in to his vice Constantino Chiwenga’s pressure and declared Major General (Retired) Clever Shadreck Chiramba, a national hero.

Chiramba died of Covid-19 last Sunday.
.
Maj-Gen (Rtd) Chiramba, who was aged 66, died at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

By A Correspondent- The Trial of the three Mupamhanga family members who committed three robbery cases in Harare continued at the Harare Magistrate’s courts.

The three, Musafare, Liberty (29) and their sister Leona (33) are from Hwedza.

Some of the siblings who are a suspected criminal family, have been arrested on several occasions before being released on bail pending appeal and then absconding.

Three of them, Liberty, Musafare and Godfrey have since been rearrested and are currently in custody while Leona is out on bail.
Liberty and Godfrey are also involved with the suspected serial armed robber and gang leader Musa Taj Abdul (47), who was finally arrested by a police crack team in Beitbridge last year after a fierce gunfight. Taj Abdul and others suspected to be part of his gang were arrested in dramatic fashion, with dog teams playing a leading role.
Musafare Mupamhanga and his accomplices who include Spicer Takawira of Highfield and Conwell Junior Kasambarare (26) are alleged to be part of 11-member gang that raided Mashwede Holdings on April 5 last year and got away with over US$100 000, R42 000, $14 000 worth of fuel coupons, firearms and 20 live rounds of ammunition.
Investigations have so far revealed that in 2019, Musafare, Liberty and Leona were arrested in the city after committing three cases of unlawful entry and armed robbery targeting clothing, electrical gadgets and gas shops.
In one of the cases, the trio is suspected to have attacked a reaction team from a local security firm after they had broken into one of the shops in the city before disappearing.

Their luck ran out however, when a police crack team which was making a follow up of another armed robbery case arrested Musafare, Liberty and Leona at a house in Glen Norah B. Police then recovered some of the clothes and goods that had been stolen in some of the shops in the city.
However, before their trial commenced in March last year, Musafare and Liberty went into hiding.

Musafare and his other accomplices then raided Mashwede Holdings.

Musafare was later arrested in Murambinda, Buhera where he was staying with a girlfriend before he was transported back to the city. He has however been in and out of prison on several occasions after released on bail.

Tinashe Sambiri|Finance Minister Mr Mthuli shocked all and sundry after claiming the Zanu PF government is transparent.

Mthuli Ncube was responding to questions from Cable News Network(CNN) during a no -holds- barred interview on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

After being grilled by CNN, Mthuli Ncube attempted to paint a rosy picture of the situation in the country.

Mthuli spoke of economic recovery and stability…

Commenting on Mthuli Ncube’s remarks, MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said:
Economic recovery ipi? Ityai Mwari veduwe. What a pack of lies.”

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson,
Clifford Hlatywayo said :
“No room for liars in the New Zimbabwe.
We need new leaders.”

Respected Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono also commented:

I am shocked by the LIES that Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister @MthuliNcube said to @richardquest on @cnni

He lies that he is paying poor citizens social welfare money through cash transfers, he lies about free schooling, he lies about robust vaccination, YET there is a shortage!”

Watch Mthuli Ncube’s interview with CNN below:

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late founding President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda as humble and selfless leader who spent his life fighting for the emancipation of the continent.

President Chamisa also described Dr Kaunda as a humble leader and devout Christian.

On Friday, President Chamisa released a video footage in which he paid tribute to Dr Kaunda.

“The history of the liberation struggle cannot be complete without mentioning the role played by Dr Kaunda.

Dr Kaunda was a leader par excellence.He was a man who worked tirelessly to unite the continent.We wish to follow his footsteps…”

Watch video below:

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent- Primrose Siziba seethed with anger and spewed the f-bomb at her mother and stabbed her in the stomach with a kitchen knife after she was asked why she came home late.

Tarisai Sipanda (47) of Cowdray Park suburb got worried after her daughter failed to come home by 6pm recently on a Sunday.

When she finally arrived at around 7pm, Sipanda who was anxiously waiting for her in the kitchen, asked her why she came home late.

The situation spiralled out of control as Primrose unleashed the f-word at her mum, reached for a kitchen knife and knifed her mother in the stomach.

“I don’t know what got into her head because she is a respectful child, but last week she acted strangely when I asked her why she arrived home late. She insulted me while telling me to go to hell and told me f*** off,” she said.

She added: “She picked a kitchen knife and charged at me while accusing me of ill-treating her. She then stabbed me in the stomach,” she said.

Sipanda cried for help and Primrose bolted out of the kitchen and summoned her athletic abilities to evade arrest.

However, an alert neighbour who was watching the incident while he was standing in his yard, gave chase and caught up with her.

They took her to a police station leading to her arrest, said a neighbour who requested not to be named.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident: “I can confirm that we arrested an 18-year-old woman who stabbed her mother with a kitchen knife for asking her why she came home late. We would like to advise community members not to resort to violence whenever they are involved in disagreements because at times such fights could lead to unnecessary loss of life.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- Jada Fenyere, an Arcturus toddler who was injured when an Airforce of Zimbabwe (AFZ) helicopter crashed on the Fenyere family home early this year has been discharged from hospital.

This was revealed on Thursday when AFZ donated an assortment of goods worth thousands of dollars to the families of victims of the helicopter crash that happened early this year.

The donation included basic commodities and clothes worth $140 000 from the Manyame Air Base community and Kutsaga Tobacco Research Board.

The accident claimed two AFZ pilots, Wing Commander Thomas Tinashe Manyowa and Flight Lieutenant Anita Mapiye, an aircraft technician Flight Sergeant Tinodiwanashe Chikamhi and the 18-month-old Jade Fenyere.

Speaking while handing over the groceries to the families, the deputy Commander of Manyame airbase, Group Captain Maxwell Sakupwanya said:

Yes, we know it takes time to heal from this painful experience, but we are also there to support and provide welfare to the families of our beloved ones.

… Through this donation we are also welcoming a baby, Jada who was in the hospital two months ago, she was discharged last week so we are here to welcome him with these assortments of groceries including diapers, cereals and other essential foodstuffs.

… We want also to see Anita’s child growing up similarly to other children so will continue to provide the necessary support to the families.

Elias Mapiye, Anita’s father appreciated the support offered by Kutsaga Tobacco Research saying it will go a long way in providing the welfare and support of the baby.

Joseph Fenyere, Jade’s father also welcomed the development saying AFZ is an organisation that shows a sense of responsibility.

Last month the AFZ also handed over property which included two double beds, a gas stove with a 9kg tank, a television set, blankets, cutlery and pots, a complete solar power unit, a kitchen unit, a wardrobe, food, a lounge suite and US$400 to the Fenyere family in Arcturus who lost their daughter Jade who was sleeping when the helicopter burst into flames.

Jade and Jada who are twins, were both sleeping in their parents’ house when it was damaged by the chopper which caught fire on impact.

By A correspondent- Pirate kombis were Thursday back in full force as some passengers shunned the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) buses which have increased fares by 100percent.

The doubled fares which came into effect today will now see commuters forking out $60 for the bus and $80 for the kombis for shorter routes.
The pirate kombis are still charging $50 per single trip.

The new development has seen mshikashika kombis being a preferred option as they are now cheaper.

There was a rare sight of buses canvassing for passengers in most western areas this morning.

One mshikashika driver told Chronicle that they were not planning to hike their fares.

Zupco has said the fare hike was necessary to maintain viability.
Zupco chief executive officer Mr Everisto Madangwa said the new fares were a cost-containment measure by the company.

“High operational costs and frequent price hikes taking place in the country has forced us to increase the fares to ensure the company improves service delivery as well as cushion its costs. What the public should however note is that we do not increase our prices all the time, instead we doit after a period of time,” said Mr Madangwa.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Doctors at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital have offered to reconstruct the face of a seven-year-old local boy who was recently attacked by three pit-bull dogs in the town’s suburb of Mapako which seriously injured his face and legs.

The attack saw Samuel Phineus receive a mini-facial reconstruction through 21 stitches at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is still being attended to.

While the boy is lucky to be alive, the attack has wiped the pockets of Tendai Phineus (39), his unemployed father.

“Since he was attacked on 17 June, we have parted ways with over US$270 for his medical bills and transportation,” said Mr Phineus.
“The owner of the dogs has only offered US$60 and $1 500 and has since started giving me cold shoulders because I reported the incident to the police.”

Mr Samuel Mugari, the dogs’ owner, could not be contacted as he was said to be at his Zvimba farm.

The young boy was attacked while coming from her grandmother’s house which is opposite Mr Mugari’s residence.

-State media

By A Correspondent-Five people died on the spot, while seven others were injured when a FAW truck and a Mitsubishi truck collided head-on at the 129km peg along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Road early this week.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

“The ZRP confirms that five people died in a road traffic accident which occurred at the 129Km peg along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Road on June 29, 2021 at 0730hrs when a Faw truck and a blue Mitsubishi pick-up had a collision,” he said.

“Seven other occupants were injured and taken to hospital.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said they were still gathering more details on the accident.

-State media

By A Correspondent- “It was love at first sight, I hope Chichi will understand..” A Waterfall girl Chichi (21) has regretted her decision to go home with her man Tafadzwa (23) as she lost her man to her mother Donna (43).

She only got to know she had lost when her mother mistakenly sent pictures she took with Tafadzwa at a Kariba safari lodge. Tafadzwa didn’t deny the relationship. “We didn’t mean for her to find out this way.

I have always been too mature for my age and I fell in love with Donna the first I met her on a visit with Chichi. We exchanged numbers and met for lunch and one thing led to another. I meant to break off with Chichi but her mom may have felt I was taking too much time.

She was not ready to share me with her daughter. I hope Chichi will understand and maybe accept me as her stepdad. ” Donna refused to entertain The Citizen and threatened to shoot us with something that looked like a toy gun. Chichi has moved out of her mother’s house. ” I felt like killing them”.

– Zimbolive

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has commended young people for speaking out against corruption.

President Chamisa was commenting on a video clip produced by Bustoptv.The clip lampoons rampant corruption in the country.

“When young people speak about corruption leaders should listen …
The future belongs to the young,” said President Chamisa.

He also denounced the persecution of Netsai Marova by government agents during the time of bereavement.

“Multiplying another’s pain and misery is diabolic and sadistic.This is just too cruel…”

By A Correspondent- Authorities have destroyed structures at Gazaland informal industrial area along Willowvale Road.

Vehicle wrecks that had encroached on the road servitudes were removed before being crushed. Even a dumped haulage truck on the roadside was removed. The traders managed to save almost half of the vehicle wrecks s by pushing them to safe places, including nearby houses.
Structures that had encroached onto the road verges from houses, some used by food shops and barbers, were also destroyed.

Thieves and looters, including children, were preying on the traders that were collecting their wares at the last minute with a handful that resisted notice to vacate having lost their valuables including broken-down bicycles.

One of the earth moving machines used for demolishing the structures developed a tyre puncture around lunchtime and was parked at a nearby council facility.

A traditional healer at the Gazaland shopping area partly hogged the limelight after resisting the demolition of his illegal shack alleging that his operations were aboveboard as he was registered with Zinatha. The shack was still intact.

City spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme on Tuesday said the demolitions are ongoing and those still operating illegally should vacate the public space they are illegally occupying.

“Where people have been given notices, they should do the honourable and move off on their own, he said. A trader, Mr Felix Chavengwa commonly known as “ngoma ngoma” in the Gazaland area who has been operating at the site for the past 15 years only complained of being given a short notice.

By A Correspondent- A prominent Zvimba farmer, Mr Samuel Mugari, is on the run after setting his on a seven-year-old Chinhoyi boy.

The innocent boy, Samuel phineus was recently attacked by three pit-bull dogs in the town’s suburb of Mapako which seriously injured his face and legs.

The attack saw him receive a mini-facial reconstruction through 21 stitches at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is still being attended to.

While the boy is lucky to be alive, the attack has wiped the pockets of Tendai Phineus (39), his unemployed father.

“Since he was attacked on 17 June, we have parted ways with over US$270 for his medical bills and transportation,” said Mr Phineus.

“The owner of the dogs has only offered US$60 and $1 500 and has since started giving me cold shoulders because I reported the incident to the police.”

Mr Samuel Mugari, the dogs’ owner, could not be contacted this morning as he was said to be at his Zvimba farm.

The young boy was attacked while coming from her grandmother’s house which is opposite Mr Mugari’s residence.

-State media

By A Correspondent- A man from Gokwe North died after he was stabbed to death for recklessly telling a newlywed husband, that he was the one who had impregnated his wife.

22-year-old Justice Chidhakwa seems to have been harbouring feelings for his former lover, despite the fact that she had recently married Joseph Muzenda.

Over the weekend Chidhakwa approached Muzenda and rashly told him that he had married a woman who was pregnant with another man’s baby. He claimed that he was actually the one who was responsible for Muzenda’s newly married wife’s pregnancy.

It is not yet clear what Chidhakwa hoped to achieve through this reckless course of action. Muzenda, on the other hand, did not take the news well and plotted with his friends to attack his love rival.

Muzenda is alleged to have teamed up with Simbarashe Zikoke and Wellington Zharare to ambush Chidhakwa. During the attack, the alleged father was stabbed twice and died on the spot.

The incident was confirmed by Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko. Inspector Mahoko told the state-owned daily The Herald: “The suspects waylaid Chidhakwa along a footpath near Manoti Business Centre in Gokwe North on Sunday at around 7pm before confronting him for claiming that their friend, Joseph Muzenda, had married his pregnant girlfriend.

“Simbarashe Zikoke then grabbed Chidhakwa from the back, while Zharare stabbed him once on the left side of the chest and once on the leg with a knife. He died on the spot.”

The police did not release more details on the status of the investigation into the killing.

By A Correspondent- The parents of a seven-year-old Chinhoyi boy who recently survived an attack by stray vicious dogs are appealing for support to have their child’s face worked on by surgeons.
.
Samuel Phineus was recently attacked by three pit-bull dogs in the town’s suburb of Mapako which seriously injured his face and legs.

The boy is at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is receiving treatment.

still being attended to.
While the boy is lucky to be alive, the attack has wiped the pockets of Tendai Phineus (39), his unemployed father.
“Since he was attacked on 17 June, we have parted ways with over US$270 for his medical bills and transportation,” said Mr Phineus.
“The owner of the dogs has only offered US$60 and $1 500 and has since started giving me cold shoulders because I reported the incident to the police.”

Mr Samuel Mugari, the dogs’ owner, could not be contacted as he was said to be at his Zvimba farm.

The young boy was attacked while coming from her grandmother’s house which is opposite Mr Mugari’s residence.

-State media

By A Correspondent- A seven-year-old Chinhoyi boy has survived an attack by stray vicious dogs.

Samuel Phineus was recently attacked by three pit-bull dogs in the town’s suburb of Mapako which seriously injured his face and legs.

The boy is at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is receiving treatment.

By A Correspondent- A 28-year-old man from Guruve has hanged himself after his wife cautioned him against attending nyau dance.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Ndliwayo confirmed the incident which happened on 21 June.

Adam Kanyandura came home drunk at around 7pm and had an argument with his wife Paidamoyo Jack (26) over why she had barred him from attending a nyau dance.

Asst Insp Ndliwayo said Kanyandura left home unnoticed and was later seen by a juvenile standing by the roadside some meters away from his home at around 11pm.

His mother-in-law Eunice Mairosi (43) discovered him at around 6am the following day hanging on a tree approximately 400 metres from his home.

A report was made to the police and no foul play was suspected.

“We are encouraging members of the public to share problems with other people and to value the sanctity,” said Asst Insp Ndliwayo.
“When people face social problems, they should seek help and counselling from third parties. Refrain from taking your own life.”

By A Correspondent- The ruling Zanu PF party has once again directed local authorities to go ahead with destroying structures in and around Harare.

Zanu PF on Monday said it had ordered Local Government and National Housing ministers July Moyo and Daniel Garwe, respectively, to stop the demolitions, describing them as “inhumane”.

But barely 24 hours after Obert Mpofu’s statements, demolitions resumed in Glen View suburb, following on from the destruction which started at Mbare’s Mupedzanhamo market and spread to Chitungwiza and in Mashonaland East province, with the destruction of over 3000 stands at Melfort, under a housing development run by Roger Pote.
Pote is a director at Eastwinds Properties, which was developing the Melfort stands. He is also a Zanu PF youth league provincial executive member. Yesterday, the police demolished illegal tuckshops in Mutare.
The ruling party yesterday convened a stakeholders meeting which was attended by Garwe and Moyo as well as Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Aplonia Munzverengi to try and resolve the Melfort demolitions.
Mpofu said those who had unlawfully allocated land to land seekers should be prosecuted to uphold the rule of law and address unscrupulous parcelling out of land, which he said was rampant throughout the country.
The party claimed Pote and his company disregarded the instructions from Goromonzi Rural District Council to halt construction in Melfort, which prompted the local authority to seek a court order to demolish the illegal houses.
Zanu PF shifted the blame to some unnamed party members, whom it said were using the party’s name to defraud land seekers.
“Let us all take cognisant of the fact that the rule of law should prevail as is continuously reiterated by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” Mpofu said.
“The issue of capture of State land and disenfranchisement of our people at the hands of unscrupulous individuals under the guise of the banner of the party has become pervasive and should be brought to an end.”
He said the ruling party could not risk losing votes of Mashonaland East residents in the 2023 harmonised elections due to the demolitions.
“The GDP of Mashonaland East, which has been increasing as a result of the projects undertaken there, must not be overshadowed by the unfortunate events which led to the demolition of houses in Melfort,” he said.
Zanu PF acting commissar Patrick Chinamasa said there was a frank discussion in the stakeholders’ meeting.
He said Moyo and Garwe were ordered to resolve the issue of land barons, while Zanu PF councillors were ordered to consult in future before land developments are undertaken.
He said a housing regulation committee was set up to include the Small and Medium Enterprise ministry, Justice, provincial ministers as well as Local Government and National Housing.
Chinamasa also said the party was going to take action against party members implicated in “selfish heinous activities”.
“Name-dropping does not award anyone authority and the law must take its course,” he said.
“Land barons must be brought to book. As the ruling party, we say that all those who were affected by the demolitions should be awarded another land. The demolitions were done in error. Consultations must have been made with all stakeholders before they were done.”
Zanu PF has been accusing the MDC Alliance of causing the demolitions, an allegation the opposition party has denied.