Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A “VIOLENT” Zvishavane-based police officer is locked in a legal wrangle with his business partner whom he allegedly wants to kick out after the latter reportedly invested $70 000 in their joint mining venture in Mberengwa.

The cop, Taitos Vambire, allegedly wants to kick out his business partner, Mr Taurai Piruke, even though the police officer is alleged to have not contributed any capital.

Mr Piruke, who is the managing director of Camp Mine, is accusing the police officer of being greedy by threatening to kick him out of the mine and seize all the mining equipment and cars.

He said the police officer has also hired thugs to intimidate and harass his workers.

In papers before the court, Mr Piruke said he injected $70 000 into the mine and the money was used to buy mining equipment and service vehicles.

Mr Piruke, though his lawyers T Hara and Partners, has filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Vambire as the respondent.

He is seeking an order temporarily stopping mining operations pending the finalisation of the matter.

Mr Piruke also wants the court to bar Vambire from harassing mine workers and kicking him out of the mine.

In his founding affidavit, Mr Piruke said he entered into an agreement with Vambire for the mining venture and injected $70 000 into the joint business.

“The main reason why the respondent co-opted me into the business venture was because he had no capital save for the fact that he owned the tributary. I was able to source the funds and subsequently injected $70 000 into the project. We were able to access the difficult area where there were gold ores because of the dewatering equipment that I bought,” said Mr Piruke.

He said Vambire has in the past nine months turned hostile and greedy and wants to kick him out of the project.

“The respondent wants to kick me out of the project and this came as a shock to me as the respondent did not contribute a dime into the project save for the fact that he owns the tributary. He is prohibiting me and my workers from accessing the mine and has also assigned unknown people to stalk and intimidate my workers,” said Mr Piruke.

He said the cop’s conduct had a negative impact on the welfare of his 92 workers.

“Now that everything is running smoothly, the respondent has become violent and hostile and he wants to kick me out of the project despite the fact that I have invested so much into the business. I am approaching this honourable court on an urgent basis as the respondent wants to seize my cars and prohibit me and my workers from accessing the farm,” said Mr Piruke.

He said there was chaos at the mine and wants an order temporarily halting operations until the matter is finalised.

@mashnets

Midlands Correspondent
THE Midlands State University (MSU) has said it is targeting to test at least 5 000 students for HIV and other ailments at its campuses across the country this year.

MSU held a two-day Health Expo which ended yesterday.

Stakeholders in the health sector converged at the institution and offered health related services to students.

Acting director of health services at MSU, Mr Tafirenyika Shoko, said the Health Expo is meant to ensure that students access various services at the same time.

He said: “We have stakeholders from the health and related sectors at this Health Expo. They set up stands so that students can pass through and access services they are offering such as HIV testing and counselling, information on cancer, diabetes and many other ailments,” said Mr Shoko

“This is part of our efforts to conscientise our students about the importance of their health which is a form of empowerment. Last year we had 2 600 students passing through the stands being tested and this year we are targeting 5 000 students hence we have made it a two-day affair”.

He said as part of the university’s efforts to raise awareness on HIV, the institution participated at the National HIV Counselling and Testing programme where about 1 200 students got tested. Mr Shoko said only 0,86 percent of students tested positive for HIV.

The move by MSU comes as statistics from the National Aids Council (NAC) show that higher and tertiary education institutions have the highest rate of new HIV and AIDS infections in the country.

According to statistics from Nac, the number of new infections stands at 86 708.

The organisation is now advocating for mainstreaming of HIV and Aids in the tertiary institutions’ curriculums.

Cde Monica Mguni

Crystabel Chikayi, Chronicle Reporter

Liberation war heroine Cde Monica Mguni has died.

She suffered a stroke on Sunday and died at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) on Monday.

Cde Mguni was 56.

A family member Ms Adelaide Ndlovu said Cde Mguni will be buried at Nkulumane Provincial Heroes Acre tomorrow.

Cde Mguni worked at the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment as the Deputy Commandant at Border Gezi Training Camp in Mashonaland Central Province at the time of her death.

She was born on August 24, 1960 in Mtshabezi and did her primary education at Sankonjane Primary School in Matobo District.

Cde Mguni, joined politics and became the company instructor for C in the second group training female cadres under ZIPRA forces.

She joined the liberation struggle in 1977 in Zambia, Mkushi Training Camp.

She was trained and specialised in Artillery under Cdes Brezneve and Zvobgo.

After cease fire she returned home and was discharged at Siera assembly point in 1980.

The same year she was appointed as an election agent of the Patriotic Front (PF) stationed at Nembudziya Mission in Midlands Province.

She remained in the party structures.

Cde Mguni is survived by five Children, three boys and two girls.

@cchikayi

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
A 13-YEAR-OLD pupil in Grade Seven at a Gweru school is lucky to be alive after she concealed her bleeding for a week having had sexual intercourse with a 48-year-old man who lured her with $15.

The girl, the court heard yesterday, tried to conceal the bleeding for a week until her aunt saw blood stained clothes and blankets she had hidden in her room.

This came out during the trial of a 48-year-old vendor from Ascot suburb in Gweru who appeared before Gweru magistrate, Mr Musaiwona Shotgame, facing one count of sleeping with a minor.

Since the girl is above 12 years old and is admitting that she consented to sleep with the man, the accused is now facing a lesser charge of sleeping with a minor.

The accused who pleaded not guilty to the charge was remanded out of custody to October 18 for continuation of trial.

Giving her evidence, the girl said she started having sex with boys when she was in Grade Two.

She said she also consented to having intercourse with the man.

Her aunt told the court that after her ordeal, the girl tried to conceal the matter for about a week.

“One day I entered the toilet and found blood on the floor. On investigating, we realised that it was her who was bleeding and had been hiding blood-stained clothes, linen and blankets under the bed,” she said.

Prosecutor, Mr Bernard Nyoni said in December  last year, the complainant was outside the house preparing to go to school and their neighbour called her.

He gave her $5 and did not say anything.

“When the complainant came back from school, the accused called her to his house and had consensual sexual intercourse with the complainant once. The complainant went home and told no one,” said Mr Nyoni.

On another day during the same month, the accused gave the girl $10 as she was preparing to go to school.

When she came back from school, the court heard that the accused had consensual sexual intercourse with the complainant for the second time.

“On another date in December, the accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant and after the act, she discovered that she was bleeding and the accused person told her to put paper between her legs before dismissing her,” he said.

Mr Nyoni said the matter came to light when the complainant messed up the toilet with blood stains.

She subsequently revealed to her aunt that she had consensual sex with the accused person on three different occasions.

@pchitumba1.

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A HERDSMAN from Bulilima, who allegedly stole a gun, killed a woman, raped another and robbed a third in 2009 before fleeing to South Africa has been arrested after he was deported from the neighbouring country.

The long arm of the law finally caught up with Joshua Ncube of Madlambuzi last Friday, seven years on, when he arrived in the country with a group that had been deported for illegal migration.

Ncube, a court heard, stole a rifle from a fellow herdsman that he had been assigned to guard a field with.

He appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa, who remanded him in custody to October 24.

Prosecuting, Mrs Rose Sibanda said Ncube was arrested on October 7.

She said Ncube committed all the offences in June 2009.

“Ncube was a herdsman at a farm in Marula area and his duties required him to guard fields against wild animals. On June 4 he was assigned to guard fields together with Mr Leonard Moyo who was armed with a rifle.

“Mr Moyo left the firearm unattended as he went to look for firewood. Ncube stole the rifle and fled from the farm,” said Mrs Sibanda.

She said on the same night Ncube went to a homestead at Ashallow Farm where he knocked on the door purporting to be selling meat.

Mrs Sibanda said a lady opened the door and Ncube pointed the rifle at her demanding cash.

She said Ncube failed to get the money and dragged the woman to a nearby bush where he raped her.

“Ncube then force-marched the victim to another farm but she escaped along the way. Ncube fired two shots in the air to stop her from escaping.

“Police detectives that were patrolling the area heard the gunshots and proceeded to investigate. Ncube saw them and he ditched the rifle and fled from the scene,” she said.

Mrs Sibanda said on June 6 Ncube went to a homestead in Dombodema in the middle of the night.

She said he found Ms Tasiwa Dube seated outside her kitchen hut and demanded money. She refused to give him the cash and Ncube attacked her with an iron rod all over the body.

He allegedly fled after realising he had killed her.

Mrs Sibanda said Ms Dube’s grandchildren found her body a few minutes later.

“On 17 June Ncube went to Figtree Hotel armed with a log. He demanded money from Ms Sindiso Ncube who was staying at the hotel.

“He struck her with the log several times on the body until she gave him R590.  Ncube then fled from the scene,” she said.

She said Ncube escaped into neighbouring South Africa where he has been holed up ever since.

@DubeMatutu.

Prince Zwide Khumalo

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE death of some of the elders who are direct descendents of King Lobengula is becoming a major setback in the revival of the Ndebele monarchy as they pass on with critical information needed in the setting up of the kingdom.

This comes following the death of King Lobengula’s granddaughter, Princess Sibuzo Sodumo Khumalo, daughter to Nyamande and MaThebe, on Saturday.

She was 96.

Princess Khumalo was buried at Athlone Cemetery in Bulawayo yesterday.

Family spokesperson Prince Zwide Khumalo said the revival of the Ndebele monarchy hinges on the information provided by the elders and direct descendants of the King.

He bemoaned the death of some of the Khumalo descendents who are knowledge sources and are critical in the monarchy’s revival bid.

Prince Khumalo said the revival of the monarchy is at a research stage which involves consulting the elders.

“The process of the revival of ubukhosi (kingdom) involves a structure that does research. The research teams runs around interviewing some of these elderly people to get details about the monarchy,” he said.

“It’s a disadvantage that the team did not interview her as she has historical information particularly from Nyamande’s house.”

Prince Khumalo said the princess’ death was a sad development as she was a fountain of knowledge that should have been tapped.

He said Princess Khumalo was born in 1919 at Mbembesi Forest Area before moving with her mother and two brothers to Nyandeni area in Matopos after the death of her father in 1929.

Prince Khumalo said all is not lost when it comes to information sources as the princess is survived by a brother who was born in1930 and the last of the elders in the Nyamande family.

The prince said Princess Khumalo got married to the late Henry Malcom Huntley.

He described the late Princess Khumalo as an honest and humble person, who was quick to forgive, never asked for more and smiled through difficult situations.

Prince Zwide said the princess did not like hospitals and was admitted a few times in her lifetime and for over 50 years she did not visit a hospital until this year in September.

“On October 8 in the morning we called an ambulance for her but she was passed away before she could reach hospital,” he said.

She is survived by three children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

The death of Princess Khumalo follows that of Princess Simoli Khumalo who succumbed to a chronic liver ailment in July this year.

Princess Simoli Khumalo was the eldest daughter of Prince Rhodes Khumalo, son to Prince Njube Khumalo who was one of Lobengula’s sons.

Gweru commissioners Chamunorwa Parenyi (left), Tsungai Mhangami (centre) Mark Choga during the 2017 budget consultations yesterday

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
FURIOUS Gweru residents have disrupted the 2017 budget consultations called by the city fathers demanding an explanation on how a three-member commission running the city gobbled about $300 000 in travel and subsistence allowances in the past 12months.

The Tsungai Mhangami-led commission has now entered a 14th month at the helm of the City of Progress after the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, suspended Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi and 10 other councillors in August last year on allegations of gross misconduct, incompetence and mismanagement of council funds and affairs.

“From August to September, Commissioner Mhangami has received in cash $100 000 while Commissioners Choga (finance) and Parenyi (administration) have received $90 000 each. This is exclusive of fuel allowances as well as $100 per month they receive for being board members of the now defunct Go Beer Breweries,” reads a document seen by The Chronicle.

However, with a day to go before finance directors from all the urban authorities in the country meet in Gweru to look at their proposed 2017 budgets collectively and share notes, fears are that the proposed $41million budget will be presented without any input from residents.

From Mkoba 1 Community Hall to Mkoba 16 council administration hall; Mtapa and Senga areas, angry residents have refused to participate in budget consultations.

Council officials were forced to abandon the consultation meeting at Mkoba Hall, which covers Mkoba South, while a few residents attended in other areas.

The numbers were deemed too low to constitute proper representation of a population of about 250 000.

The Mkoba South meeting at Mkoba 16 council offices was also a flop after residents questioned the legality of the commission running the affairs at the local authority.

The Wednesday meeting at Ingwe Hall in Senga was also not successful with residents accusing city fathers of attempting to impose the budget on them.

The consultation meetings were expected to start on Tuesday and end today (Thursday) in different parts of the city.

Since most of the MDC-T dominated councillors are still on suspension, the commission is moving around with three elected Zanu-PF councillors and part of the management team in consulting residents.

Acting town clerk, Mr Edgar Mwedzi, said his finance director was going to present the proposed $41million Gweru budget today.

He said consultation meetings were called and those who managed to attend had their views recorded.

“Yes, local authorities are coming here with their 2017 proposed budgets and we will be represented. Views will be exchanged and all. As Gweru we invited residents and some attended while others didn’t. We cannot force residents to attend the meetings,” he said.

Asked to comment on the alleged payment of about $300 000 to the commissioners for travel and subsistence, Mr Mwedzi disputed the figure saying it was an exaggeration.

He however, could not provide the exact amount paid out to the trio.

“It’s not true that council has paid them that much. If there is anything, they have only been paid for food and accommodation,” Mr Mwedzi said.

@pchitumba1

Cde Saviour Kasukuwere

Walter Nyamukondiwa in Norton
THE Zanu-PF party leadership should allow a committee set up by President Mugabe to look into the dealings of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to execute its mandate, national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere has said.

Cde Kasukuwere warned party members against interfering with the work of the commission saying the party did not need instability at this stage.

The ruling party’s national commissar said leaders should refrain from discussing in the public domain issues that had to do with the operations of ZACC, which is investigating Higher Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, his deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa and officials from the ministry and the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund official for alleged fraud.

“In the party, we must not allow this unnecessary distraction that we are slowly sliding into,” said Cde Kasukuwere. “Party leaders must refrain from talking too much. We have a committee appointed by his Excellency President Mugabe to investigate issues to do with ZACC and let’s give that committee its time.”

He said the committee would report on its findings soon.

The committee was set up at last week’s Politburo meeting.

The anti-graft body has reportedly carried out extensive investigations into Prof Moyo’s dealings with the Zimdef.

Prof Moyo together with his deputy Dr Gandawa and several officials in his ministry, face allegations of misappropriating close to $500 000.

Turning to the media, Cde Kasukuwere said it should guard against damaging the image of the party.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a ground-breaking ceremony for a vocational training centre in Norton, which is expected to absorb school leavers in the dormitory town.

On the Norton parliamentary by-election slated for October 22, the national PC said the party was raring to go and would soon ramp up campaigns.

Our structures are strong, and as a party, we are ready to give our opponent Temba Mliswa a run for his money, he said.

Cde Kasukuwere condemned violence saying independent candidate Mr Mliswa was fomenting disturbances in the constituency.

The Norton Vocational Training Centre will move from its makeshift premises to the new location after completion of construction work at the new site.

Youths and students from the centre are expected to take part in the construction of the centre.

The ground-breaking ceremony was also attended by Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Cde Patrick Zhuwao, his deputy Cde Mathias Tongofa and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister Cde Christopher Chingosho, among others.

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A MAN from Fort Rixon who stoned a fellow villager to death during Christmas Day celebrations, was yesterday sentenced to eight years in jail.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo convicted Misheck Ncube (24) of Alindale Village in Shangani of culpable homicide. Ncube struck Emmanuel Mkhaliphi (25) with a stone on Christmas Day in 2013 and he died two days later upon admission to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.

Ncube will serve an effective five years in jail after the judge suspended three years for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime.

Justice Moyo condemned Ncube’s conduct, saying beer drinkers had a tendency of using intoxication as a flimsy excuse to engage in acts of violence. “The courts have been disturbed by the loss of human life on the most flimsy of excuses. It cannot be an excuse that people turn beer drinking sprees into sessions where violence abounds,” said the judge.

Justice Moyo said the courts have a duty to uphold the sanctity of life by meting out custodial sentences to perpetrators of violence.

“Violent behaviour at beer drinks is becoming the norm rather than an exception and as courts, we note with great concern that these beer drinking sprees have suddenly become death-traps. The courts have a duty to send a clear message out there that all beer patrons should conduct themselves appropriately and honour the sanctity of life,” he said. “A young life was unnecessarily lost simply because the accused person chose to become unruly and behave in a violent manner by throwing stones indiscriminately at a public area. This clearly shows lack of respect for human life and the courts frown upon such conduct”.

Ncube through his lawyer, Ms Privilege Mvundla of Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys, pleaded for leniency.

He said he was remorseful and had compensated Mkhaliphi’s family with three beasts.

Prosecuting, Mrs Sifiso Sibanda said on Christmas Day in 2013, Ncube, who was drunk, turned violent and started indiscriminately hurling stones over Madzi Tuck Shop which is located in Shangani.

“Ncube behaved irresponsibly by hurling stones indiscriminately in a public place which resulted in him striking Mkhaliphi on the right side of his head and he died due to the injuries sustained,” said Mrs Sibanda. Ncube fled from the scene after realising he had killed someone and was on the run for one week.

Mkhaliphi collapsed and was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital before he was transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where he died soon after arrival.

Although Ncube admitted he committed the offence, he argued that he retaliated after Mkhaliphi hurled stones at him. — @mashnets

Cynthia Dube, Court Reporter
A MARRIED man from Woodville suburb in Bulawayo has been taken to court by three women seeking maintenance for the upkeep of his children.

Langton Beta, a Canteen Assistant at a city transport company, appeared before Bulawayo Maintenance court magistrate Mr Manasa Musiiwa where his three ex-wives Ms Afroleta Tshuma, Ms Miriam Dube and Ms Millicent Hungwe claimed he was an irresponsible father who neglected his children ever since they were were born.

Beta has two children aged 14 and 12 with Ms Tshuma, one each with Ms Dube and Ms Hungwe aged six and five years old.

Ms Dube and Ms Hungwe are neighbours in Nkulumane suburb and went to court yesterday while Ms Tshuma’s maintenance order was granted in June this year.

Beta earns $250 per month and has been ordered to pay $140 for his four children.

Ms Hungwe told the court that she has been struggling to maintain her five year old boy who was abandoned by the respondent.

“I heard my neighbour, Ms Dube saying she dragged Beta to maintenance court for their daughter and that encouraged me to apply for maintenance because Beta is not taking care of our child. I’m self-employed and raise $60 per month but the money is not enough for the upkeep of our child,” she said.

Ms Hungwe said she wanted $60 per month to cover food, school fees and clothes.

Beta told the court that he cannot afford to pay the money as he has three other children to take care of.

“I have other responsibilities including $90 for rentals every month. I have to buy food for $30 every month and transport fare to go to work,’ he said.

Mr Musiiwa ordered him to pay $30 per month for the upkeep of his child.

The magistrate advised Beta to apply for a variation order after he complained that the money was not shared equally as Ms Dube was given $50 for one child.

In June, Ms Tshuma applied for $180 for the upkeep of their two children. She said she wanted the money to buy clothes, food and to pay school fees for their children.

The magistrate ordered him to pay $60 for the upkeep of his children until they reach the age of 18 or become self-supportive.

Ms Dube claimed $200 for the upkeep of the child, but Beta offered $20.

Mr Musiiwa ordered him to deposit $50 every month into the applicant’s bank account.— @cynthiamthembo 1.

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A MAN from Lupane who allegedly killed his brother-in-law by striking him with a log for continuously pestering him for lobola has been arrested.

Fayo Ncube (52) was allegedly in the habit of assaulting Thomas Moyo (63) and demanding the lobola for his sister whenever he got drunk.
Moyo allegedly retaliated on the day and killed Ncube of Lutho Village under Chief Mabhikwa.

The incident happened last Thursday around 9PM and Moyo had been on the run since the killing until his arrest on Tuesday.

Police arrested Moyo at an abandoned shack where he had been hiding at Ndamuleni Village.

Fayo’s daughter Ms Sithokozile Ncube said Moyo was arrested in a bush about 25 km from their village.

“Villagers embarked on a manhunt for the killer who had vanished from the village immediately after he committed the crime. He fled from the scene leaving my father lying unconscious on the ground.

“Since that day, he had not been seen. Villagers found him hiding in a shack at an abandoned homestead in the bush. We are happy he has been arrested and will be charged for his crime,” she said.

Villagers had told The Chronicle that Ncube had a tendency of beating up Moyo over non-payment of lobola for his sister.

“Fayo had a habit of demanding lobola from Moyo whenever he got drunk. He would beat him up even at the bar.

“On the fateful day as the two walked home from the bar, Fayo started to demand the lobola. As the two neared Ncube’s home, Fayo called out to his son to bring him his sjambok,” a villager had said.

A neighbour had said the two had been seen earlier on that fateful night drinking beer at Lutho Business Centre.

“As the two walked home, a misunderstanding over their usual topic of the bride-price arose. Fayo started to beat up Moyo and as they neared his home, he called out for his son to bring a sjambok.

“The son quickly brought the weapon. Fayo grabbed the whip from the young boy and started to assault Moyo,” he said.

The neighbour said Fayo continued to chase after Moyo as he ran to his home.

“He continued to beat him up until Moyo decided to retaliate. He picked up a log and struck Fayo several times on the head. He immediately fled from the scene and we haven’t seen him to date.

“He (Fayo) fell unconscious on the ground and his son who had later decided to follow them, found his father lying in a pool of blood”.

Chief Mabhikwa said he was pleased with the way the community came together and assisted police to arrest the suspect.

“Bad people should be removed from the community as they are a danger to others. I continue to urge the community to learn to resolve disputes through dialogue. Violence results in loss of lives.”

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said he had not yet received information on the arrest of the Moyo.

— @winnie_masara.

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A BULILIMA woman has begged a court to evict her 85-year-old husband from their homestead after accusing him of ill treating his step children.

Ms Nosizi Dube (54) of Malalume area said her husband of 15 years, Mr Ndunga Ndlovu habitually insulted her three children who were staying with them.

“I don’t want my husband in my homestead anymore because he is ill treating my children just because they are not his biological children. He insults them at times by mentioning their private parts.

“This has gone on for a long time and I have decided that I don’t want him at our homestead any longer. He can go and live with his relatives. After all I built this homestead alone before I met him and when he fell in love he moved in with me,” she said.

Ms Dube said she had taken the matter to their village head but that did not help.

She said she had asked her husband to move out but he refused.

Mr Ndlovu denied the allegations and accused his wife of ill treating him. He said Ms Dube was making false allegations just to get rid of him. He said his wife realised that he was now old and regarded him as a useless man.

Mr Ndlovu said he met Ms Dube in 2001 and wedded her customarily. He said he had always treated his step children as his own. He said he had nowhere to go if he was evicted from his homestead.

Plumtree magistrate, Mr Livard Philemon dismissed Ms Dube’s application and described her actions as harassment towards the old man. He ordered the couple to resolve their disputes amicably.

“I will not evict Mr Ndlovu because he is an old man and he has nowhere to go. You had initially made an agreement that you will stay together and that is what you will continue doing.

“All families have conflicts but they work through them. Likewise go back home, resolve your matter and stop harassing one another,” he said. —

@DubeMatutu

Wynne Zanamwe, Midlands Reporter
A 57-YEAR-OLD prophet from Mberengwa has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping a 16 year old girl after claiming that he was removing evil scars from her private parts.

The accused of  Zivavose Village under Chief Mataruse, Mberengwa, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape when he appeared before Regional Magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire.

The magistrate convicted and jailed him to 20 years for both counts.

Five years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

In passing the sentence, Mr Nemadire said the prophet took advantage of a girl who, judging by her age, could be his grandchild.

“You were a prophet and the complainant and her mother took you in but you took advantage of that and sexually molested the complainant.

“The age difference is wide and you could have been the complainant’s grandparent and you should have been responsible of her as you would have your own grandchild,” said the magistrate.

“You have pleaded not guilty to the two counts saying that you were in a relationship with the minor and the two of you had agreed to have sex.

However, the complainant said that you forced yourself on her and the doctor’s letter shows that there were tears on her hymen that were still fresh.”

Mr Nemadire rejected the prophet’s claims that he intended to marry his victim upon finishing Form Four.

In his defence, the convict said the complainant had agreed to have sexual relations with him.

“I deny raping the complainant. We had actually agreed on having sexual intercourse on the night in question. She was the one who came to where I was sleeping and started to seduce me.

“Also her mother was the one who had facilitated my visits and pushed me to ask her to marry me,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Kelvin Guvheya said in May, the complainant and her mother met the prophet and he told them that the complainant had evil scars on her body and they were supposed to be removed.

“On June 6 the accused removed scars on the complainant’s toes and fingers and told the complainant that he was now tired and would come back the following day. The accused forgot his knobkerrie in the bedroom hut and he came back on the following day at around 12AM knocking at the complainant’s bedroom. “The accused said that he had forgotten his knobkerrie and also wanted to remove the remaining evil scars on her body,” said Mr Guvheya.

He told complainant that the remaining scars were on her private parts and he was supposed to shave her pubic hair.

Soon after he had shaved her, he forced the complainant to lie down and raped her twice. — @wynnezane

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter

THE Bulawayo City Council is setting up a stakeholders’ water crisis committee to deal with the city’s deepening water crisis.

On Tuesday, council wrote to its major stakeholders inviting them to provide volunteers wishing to be part of the committee.

“The City of Bulawayo is in the process of implementing a water shedding programme so as to counter a water crisis that may befall the City.

The City has thus deemed it necessary to revive the Water Crisis Committee which will be comprised of various stakeholders,” wrote Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube.

He said the committee’s terms of reference include monitoring the water crisis, recommending possible solutions as well as contributing material, financial and expertise towards the management of the crisis.

According to council, the committee is expected to hold its first meeting on October 25 at the City Hall.

The BCC is set to introduce water shedding early next month.

Water shedding is a system of conserving tap water by cutting supplies for a fixed period.

At the height of water shedding in 2013, Bulawayo residents went without water for up to four days in a week.

Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo has warned a 48-hour schedule may be implemented if residents do not conserve water.

He said water levels at the city’s six supply dams — Insiza, Mtshabezi, Umzingwane, Inyankuni, Upper and Lower Ncema — stand at less than 30 percent of their cumulative capacity.

“This is a serious predicament we’re facing. The only way the city can be spared from shedding is if we receive substantial rains in the interim.

“As long as no water flows into the dams we will have to go through with water shedding. We might be looking at 48 hours per week but depending on the severity we might push to 72 hours. We’re hoping that it doesn’t get that bad,” said Clr Moyo.

Households in high density suburbs are expected to use 450 litres per day while those in low density suburbs are limited to 550 litres per day.

In July 2011, the city introduced stringent fines for people who waste water.

Fines for residents found using a hosepipe were hiked to $1 500 from $200.

The previous year, council announced that people caught using domestic water for construction would be fined $1 000 up from $30 and those who use water for brick moulding would also pay $1 000.

Experts have argued that Bulawayo is not a water shortage area but the city is facing challenges in extracting available water for use.  — @AuxiliaK.

Andile Tshuma, Court Reporter
A Bulawayo woman (63) has been arraigned for allegedly conning her neighbour out of $500 after selling her a non-existent residential stand.

Maggie Mpofu of Emganwini suburb pleaded not guilty to fraud when she appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndhlovu, who remanded her out of custody to October 18.

Prosecuting, Mr Kenneth Shava said in May last year, Mpofu promised Ms Sibongile Matema (36) that she would help her acquire a residential stand as she was close friends with a councillor. “On May 1, 2015, the complainant approached the accused person in need of a residential stand.

The accused told the complainant that it was easy for her to get a stand as she was connected to a councillor.”

“The accused person was given $500 over five months by the complainant but nothing materialised from the agreement,” said Mr Shava.

The court heard that Ms Matema demanded receipts of payments from Mpofu, who failed to produce them.

She allegedly became suspicious and demanded to be shown the residential stand.

Mpofu, the court heard showed Ms Matema a corner stand in Emganwini and said it was the one she was paying towards.

Ms Matema approached the ward councillor for verification. Said Ms Matema: “I was shocked to discover that all along I had been tricked by Mpofu as there was never a stand for me.”

She took the matter to the residents’ association where Mpofu apologised and promised to pay back the money.

Mpofu failed to pay and Ms Matema filed a police report. — @andile_tshuma

Cephas George Msipa

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
FORMER Midlands provincial governor, Cde Cephas Msipa, who is admitted at a private hospital in Harare, is said to be now out of danger.

The former Zanu-PF politburo member is said to be now breathing unaided. He has been admitted at the hospital since Friday complaining of chest pains.

In an interview yesterday his son Douglas said his father was responding well to medication.

He dismissed social media reports which were saying that the former freedom fighter had died.

“Cde Msipa is responding well to medication. He is out of danger and the doctors have since removed the oxygen mask he was using to breathe. He can now breathe on his own and is talking to visitors. We are grateful for everyone’s prayers,” he said.

His son said several top Zanu-PF officials, among them national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, visited him at the hospital. — @pchitumba1

Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
THE Government refused to bow down to pressure at a recent wildlife meeting and rejected demands to burn 96 tonnes of ivory worth about $9 billion.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Wednesday, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, said during the just ended Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meeting held in Johannesburg from September 24 to October 5, the country maintained ground to keep the stockpiles and would sell them at the right time.

“We have a problem, Zimbabwe as a member of CITES and the countries all over the world look at the endangered species.

“There are certain countries in Africa like Botswana, Kenya and Chad that no longer have wild animals and they are pushing that there should be a ban on the sale of ivory,” she said.

“When we went to CITES we fought very hard because they wanted us to burn our ivory that we have stockpiled and we refused that. The quantities and the values that we had placed are very high and we will wait for an opportune time to sell it.”

A nine-year moratorium was sanctioned by the CITES in 2007 in a bid to curb illegal trade in ivory, which threatened both elephants and rhinos with extinction.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri is on record as saying the country is sitting on stockpiles worth about $9,1 billion.

Responding to a question on whether the ivory could be used as security, the Minister said internationally the ivory was valueless.

“I would want to respond by saying that it is illegal because as it stands right now it is only countries like us, Japan and North Korea that have seen value in this. China has closed its domestic trade in ivory. So as it stands, our ivory internationally has no value, therefore, we cannot use it as security,” she said.

Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said although Zimbabwe is unable to sell elephant tusks, in the interim it can make personal artifacts, earrings and bangles, but a permit is needed to do so.

“Whenever tourists come to Zimbabwe, they must have a permit from their country of origin to import the earrings that are made of elephant tusks. Furthermore, whenever tourists come to Zimbabwe they must apply to the National Parks and Wildlife Management so that they can be able to buy earrings,” she said.

Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said the process is cumbersome and deters visitors from buying the artifacts.

“We are not tired as Zimbabwe; we will keep on fighting so that we are not banned from trading in ivory,” she said. — @AuxiliaK

Professor Jonathan Moyo

Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo yesterday said the $450 000 that he allegedly siphoned from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) was a drop in the ocean as it constituted 1,8 percent of the $24 million that he distributed for development of industrialisation and modernisation at various tertiary institutions.

He said this while officiating at a graduation ceremony at Madziva Teachers’ College where 275 teachers were being conferred with diplomas.

He said $20,3 million had been distributed to all tertiary institutions in the country while with an additional $4,5 million going to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

“In 2016, Zimdef support to these institutions is $20,315 515. If the $4,5 million for 2016 A-Level students is added, the total Zimdef support to our institutions this year is $24, 815, 515. There is none of our institutions that is not a recipient of Zimdef fund. Let us be generous and say muri kuti (you are alleging) $450 000 (was abused), this $450 000, which is disputed, is only 1,8 percent of Zimdef 2016 Fund. Only 1,8 percent of the fund has gone towards what you would call corporate social responsibility. Hamudi izvozvo (You don’t want that). Which of the organisations that is as significant as this one does not have corporate social responsibility at this low figure?” said Prof Moyo.

“One would have to be a terrible malcontent or an incorrigible misfit of society not to understand the positive implications of Zimdef’s support for the 2016 A-Level STEM initiative because under that initiative, 5 132 students in all the country’s provinces have been supported. ”

Prof Moyo said Zimdef’s funding of the 21st February Movement, One Million Man March and Zimbabwe Youth Council were national programmes that constituted corporate social responsibility which, as a trustee he reserved the right to determine.

He said all his predecessors had exercised their legal right and policy mandate to determine which programmes to support.

“The difference is that the predecessors were doing it quietly and clandestinely and we have done it too publicly in broad daylight with the media and everybody and then they say aaahh, ko mabhasikoro aya abvakupi? (some of the money was used to buy bicycles).  Vamwe vaingoita vachinopa zvinhu (Some were doing it quietly), some of the things that have been built are not even working. History will record that some desperate political interests have sought to treat as unusual, illegal and corrupt the public programmes that I have supported as an expression of my policy mandate and legal discretion in my capacity as Zimdef Trustee,” said Prof Moyo.

“It is one thing for people to disagree with these choices or not to like my choices but quite another for them to label the choices unusual, illegal or corrupt simply because they do not like them or do not fit with their political interest. That I cannot accept. In fact, that should not be acceptable in a normal functioning society. And as far I am concerned, we will object in the strongest possible terms and we will fight to the end and logical conclusion because it is about people quarrelling with other people’s discharge of their responsibilities.

“Our responsibilities as Zimdef Trustees are given not by ourselves, not from my predecessors. They are given by our appointing authority. Saka kana mune nyaya, siyanai neni (So leave me alone). I did not appoint myself. I have an appointing authority and am accountable to that authority and I understand the boundaries and parameters of the policies and the law.”

Prof Moyo said Zimdef was neither a student fund, scholarship or cadetship but its purpose was to research, plan, develop and train human capital or skills needed by the country’s economy.

“Those who are abusing the public media to present Zimdef as a student fund or a scholarship are not only mischievous in their mistaken conclusion or ignorance but what they are saying in presenting Zimdef as a student fund is a misrepresentation which, if not handled properly, can end up as a threat to national security in so far as it is being used to incite students to organise demonstrations believing that Zimdef is a scholarship fund,” said Prof Moyo.

Mr Goodson Nguni

Harare  Bureau
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigations committee chairman, Mr Goodson Nguni, has dared those who accuse him of being a “convicted fraudster” to provide evidence of where and when he was convicted of any crime.

Mr Nguni says his work at ZACC has led people to make unfounded allegations to besmirch his character and added that he was not pursuing a political agenda.

In an interview with our Harare Bureau in a week that has been dominated by news of the alleged fraud committed by Higher and Tertiary Education Minister professor Jonathan Moyo, his deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa and their cronies, Mr Nguni also said he had nothing personal against Prof Moyo and the present matter, involving aroung $400 000, stemmed from a whistleblower.

The Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, who is also a Zanu-PF Politburo member, has claimed political victimisation.

But Mr Nguni said: “First of all, can I make it very clear that there is no personal battle between me and Minister Moyo, there is no grudge. Before I became a member of the commission I was also a member of Zanu-PF. Of course now I am not a member anymore because the constitution does not allow me.

“What happens here is that there is a direct attempt by people that have been caught on the wrong side of the law to politicise this matter as a strategy to get away from facing justice.”

He said he could not solely pursue a personal agenda.

“The truth of the matter is that no commissioner has the authority to order an investigation to begin. No commissioner has the authority to stop an investigation. No commissioner has the individual authority to determine what should happen in the commission. In terms of the Constitution and the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, all decisions taken by the commission must be by majority decision taken at a vote for it to become a resolution.

“So, this is how we work, if someone brings a story making allegations of corruption, the secretary of the commission takes the matter to the full commission meeting and tells us that we have received an allegation of this nature. The commission sees if there is a merit in the case, then they mandate the investigations sub-committee to investigate the matter.

“The investigations sub-committee has got a lot of investigators employed by ZACC, the managers will then decide on who are the investigators to work on the case. What happens is that when they finish their investigation, the investigation sub-committee is given the report from the investigations and they must report to the main committee (and) then, a decision is proposed, seconded and taken about taking a way forward.

“I as chairman of the investigations committee do not have the individual authority to order an investigation. In this case of the Jonathan Moyo case I want to state very clearly that a whistleblower who took part in the fraud approached the commission and told the commission that, ‘I may have committed an offence and I want to report myself’. Then he explained to us the fraud, that is how we got to know the story. It is not personal at all.”

Mr Nguni dismissed claims that he was a convicted fraudster.

“I have never been arrested by the police anywhere in the world, not in South Africa, not in Zimbabwe.

I have never appeared in any court in South Africa or in a court in Zimbabwe. In short I have never been convicted in any court of law on this earth.

Those people who are calling me fraudster do not have an understanding of what a conviction means,” he argued.

He threatened to sue those peddling the “lie” warning that next week, “summons are flying and they will be fast and furious.”

Patience Mutsiwi, Midlands Reporter
STREET kids in Gweru apprehended two machete-wielding men who were trying to rob a businessman of $200 000.

A third suspect who is said to have been in a getaway car is still on the run.

Sources close to the incident said Lucky Mavhura of Mbizo and Nesbert Banda of Amaveni pounced on a shop after allegedly getting information that the owner had not been depositing cash into a bank and had              $200 000 in a safe on the premises.

The duo is said to have broken into the clothing shop near Kudzanayi bus terminus on Thursday morning but failed to locate the safe.

“The shop owner, Mr Utta Akian, was with his worker Mr Edwin Phiri when they parked their vehicle near their shop,” said the source.

“As they approached the shop to open for the day, the duo heard footsteps coming from inside their shop.”

The source said when they opened the shop to investigate, Mavhura and Banda grabbed them and dragged them inside.

“The armed robbers assaulted the shop owner and his employee demanding $200 000 which was said to be in the safe. Akian and Phiri screamed for help and they were rescued by street kids who swarmed the shop and apprehended one of the suspects,” said the source who preferred anonymity.

He said the other suspect tried to scare the homeless children with his machete but they would not be deterred. “Seeing that they could overpower and assault him, he climbed onto the roof. A sizeable crowd had gathered and were baying for his blood,” said the source.

A witness said someone from the crowd called police who were manning a roadblock in the Central Business District (CBD).

“The roadblock cops called colleagues at Gweru Central Police Station who reacted quickly to arrest the suspects,” said the witness.

Mavhura and Banda allegedly told the police that they were informed by one of the employees that there was $200 000 cash in the safe.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident and said the suspects were assisting police with investigations.

“I can confirm that the police in Gweru nabbed two armed robbers, Mavhura and Banda, in connection with an attempted robbery of $200 000.

They are assisting us with investigations and they will appear in court soon,” said Insp Mukwende. — @patiemtsiwi