Andile Tshuma, Court Reporter
TWO Bulawayo men who are friends gave Nkulumane suburb residents a free street show after they were engaged in a verbal war which ended after one of them was stabbed on top of the right eye.

Mr Emmanuel Dungani (28) of Nkulumane suburb is nursing injuries after he was stabbed by Given Ntini for allegedly going around their neighbourhood spreading malicious falsehoods about the accused.

Ntini appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube and pleaded guilty to assault. He was remanded in custody to today for sentence.

Ntini told the magistrate that he was angered by derogatory things that his friend said about him to their friends.

“I did not like the things that he said to people about me. I made a mistake because I was angry,” said Ntini.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said Dungani and Ntini were at Bangane Sports Bar in Nkulumane suburb last month when a misunderstanding arose.

Ntini started accusing his friend of gossiping about him.

“On March 28, 2017 at around 7PM, the complainant was at Bangane Sports Bar in Nkulumane suburb when he met the accused person who then started accusing him of gossiping about him. The two got into a misunderstanding and the accused person then punched the complainant twice in the face,” said the prosecutor.

The court heard that the complainant was rescued by his uncle who ordered Ntini to stop assaulting his friend.

Ntini later followed Mr Dungani on his way home and stabbed him once on the top of the right eye.

Mr Dungani sustained a deep cut and was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where he was admitted.

@andile_tshuma

Rodney Tongai Jindu (left) smiles while being led to a police van by members of the CID homicide section after his court appearance in Bulawayo (file photo)

Cynthia Dube, Court reporter
A SUSPECTED serial killer from Bulawayo, who allegedly shot dead his friend and a neighbour before burying them in shallow graves in Burnside suburb, was yesterday further remanded in custody.

Rodney Tongai Jindu (26) of Glengarry who is facing charges of killing his neighbour Mboneli Joko Ncube (30) and childhood friend Cyprian Kadzurunga (28) yesterday appeared before Mr Tinashe Tashaya in connection with the murder of Ncube.

He was further remanded in custody to May 5.

Jindu was arrested on February 3 for allegedly killing Kudzurunga of Queens Park East and further investigations linked him to earlier murder of Ncube on January 29.

He allegedly shot Ncube, dismembered his body and set the pieces on fire before burying them in four shallow graves.

Jindu will be back in court on April 25 to answer charges of  killing Kadzurunga.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on January 12 this year, Jindu drove to a supermarket situated at corner Robert Mugabe Way and 11th Avenue and met Ncube.

They proceeded to Burnside suburb, but the reason for the trip was not mentioned in court papers.

Mr Dlodlo said on arrival in Burnside, Jindu pulled out an Optima pistol serial number 13752 from his car and allegedly shot Ncube twice in the chest and he died on the spot.

He then allegedly chopped the body into pieces, set them on fire before burying them in four different shallow graves.

Police investigations led to the arrest of Jindu and he confessed to the killing.

He allegedly made indications which led to the recovery of the body parts at four different sites where they were buried.

The firearm allegedly used in committing the offence was recovered.

@cynthiamthembo1

Cde Kizito Chivamba

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
ZANU-PF Midlands provincial deputy chairperson Cde Kizito Chivamba has died.

He was 59.

Cde Chivamba who was Member of the House of National Assembly for Chiwundura died yesterday morning at Gweru Provincial Hospital after a short illness.

Zanu-PF Midlands secretary for information Cde Cornelius Mupereri confirmed the passing on of Cde Chivamba.

“Yes Cde Chivamba is no more. He was admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital last week before he passed on today. Mourners are gathered at his Indiva Farm in Sino area just outside Gweru. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised,” he said.

Cde Mupereri described Cde Chivamba as a dedicated member of the ruling party who worked hard for the growth of the party in the province.

He said Cde Chivamba will always be remembered for taking a lead in the restructuring exercise of the party ahead of the coming 2018 elections.

He said he held different posts from the youths to the main wing until his death.

“Cde Chivamba worked well with the late Vice President Simon Muzenda as well other party members from the cells to the politburo.

“He was a dedicated party member and we have lost a pillar of the province. In his constituency he was spearheading party development programmes,” said Cde Mupereri.

He said the province had since written to the Politburo requesting a suitable hero’s status for Cde Chivamba whom he said started activism in the 1970s after the Pearce commission during the Ian Smith regime in Rhodesia.

The Midlands province Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya said he had received the news of Cde Chivamba’s death with great sorrow.

He said he worked well with Cde Chivamba from the early 1980’s when they were both youths in Zanu PF.

Cde Machaya said he moved to the main wing while Cde Chivamba remained leading the youths.

“I worked well with him from the youths up to the main wing. When I was elected chairperson of the province, he was elected my deputy before he took over when I was suspended and was subsequently confirmed chairperson of the province. He worked well with the people and was dedicated and committed to the revolutionary party,” he said.

Cde Chivamba was suspended last year together with two other provincial chairpersons Cde Joel Biggie Matiza (Mashonaland East) and Cde Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo) on allegations of inciting insolence and failing to rein in unruly and rogue elements in their respective provinces before he was cleared of wrong doing by the National Disciplinary Committee.

In February Cde Chivamba bounced back into the provincial executive as the deputy chairman.

At the same time his then vice-chairperson, Engineer Daniel McKenzie Ncube was elevated to substantive provincial chairperson.

Cde Chivamba was elected MP for Chiwundura in 2008.

He is survived by wife Ceromina, six children and five grandchildren.

Politburo member Cde July Moyo and Cde Mupereri were among the first party members to arrive at Indiva Farm to console the family.

@pchitumba1

Cde Kizito Chivamba

Emmerson Mnangagwa

Farirai Machivenyika, Harare Bureau
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has said it is receiving threats from Cabinet ministers and political interference from high profile individuals, which have hampered its investigations of cases of corruption in line with its constitutional mandate.

ZACC said in its 2016 Annual Report that it feared for the lives of its officers following such threats.

The report was recently tabled in Parliament by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in his capacity as the overseer of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

“In the period under review, ZACC investigated a number of corruption cases, large and complex, involving high profile figures, including Cabinet Ministers as a result of public reports, information and inquiries among other sources,” said ZACC.

“There were incidences of political interference, including threats by ministers against ZACC officers. This compromises investigations and puts the life of officers in real danger.”

ZACC did not mention the specific cases in which it was threatened due to political interference.

But one of the high profile cases it handled involved Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo and his Deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa, who were up for alleged abuse of office and misappropriating over $400 000 Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) funds.

Zimdef chief executive Mr Frederick Mandizvidza and Zimdef principal director (finance) Mr Nicholas Mapute, were also arrested over similar allegations and their case is pending before the courts.

Last year, ZACC issued warrants of arrest to Permanent Secretaries Grace Mutandiri (Lands and Resettlement), Munesu Munodawafa (Transport and Infrastructure Development), George Mlilo (Local Government, Public Works and National Housing), Willard Manungo (Finance and Economic Development), Evelyn Ndlovu (Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development) and Sam Kundishora (Information, Communication Technology and Courier Services).

Others who got the same warrants included Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke, Zimbabwe National Roads Administration acting chief executive Engineer Moses Juma and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation acting chief executive Mr Patrick Mavhura.

NetOne acting managing director Mr Brian Mutandiro, Premier Service Medical Aid Society managing director Mr Tendai Kapumha and his Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe counterpart, Mr David Chawota, are also being investigated.

ZACC’s probes have sucked in companies owned by prominent businesspeople Messrs Wicknell Chivayo (Intratrek), Phillip Chiyangwa (Pinnacle Holdings), Farai Jere (Helcraw Electrical), Moses Chingwena (Croco Motors), Agrippa Masiyakurima (Bopela), Paddy Zhanda (Veracity Private Limited) and Shadreck Mashayamombe (Solomon Mujuru Housing Trust).

ZESA Holdings bosses are in trouble with ZACC over the awarding of Mutare Power Peak project to Helcraw Electrical Private Limited owned by businessman Mr Jere.

It is alleged that the State Procurement Board awarded the tender to the company that had failed to meet technical specifications stated by the Zimbabwe Power Company.

Allegations are that the SPB unilaterally awarded the tender to technically non-compliant Helcraw Electrical (Pvt) Ltd because it was the lowest bidder at $92 million against a recommendation by ZPC to award the tender to technically-compliant Pito Investments that had charged $120 million for the emergency diesel power plant.

Also under spotlight is Zesa’s deal with Intratrek owned by businessman Mr Wicknell Chivayo, whose company clinched a $202 million tender to construct a 100-megawatt solar power plant in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province. The law enforcement agents suspect that tender procedures could have been flouted.

Zesa is also under probe for engaging Fruitful Communications owned by Highfield MP Mr Pyschology Maziwisa (Zanu-PF) and journalist Mr Oscar Pambuka over how the company was meant to do public relations when the power utility has a fully-fledged public relations department headed by Mr Fullard Gwasira.

Reports say several Government ministers and other high profile figures have criminal cases that are at different levels of investigations.

Prof Moyo has been denigrating ZACC, claiming that it was improperly constituted and was not supported to handle his case.

ZACC also noted in its report that financial challenges were also affecting its ability to fulfil its constitutional mandate.

The commission was allocated $1,6 million in 2016, although some of the money has not been disbursed.

Meanwhile, ZACC owes the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority $5 million in tax arrears accrued due to abuse of a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe vehicle facility.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rapped MDC-T legislators for continuously demanding that all Cabinet ministers attend Parliament despite there being deputy ministers and some ministers in the Chamber at all times.

In an interview last week, VP Mnangagwa said the public posturing by the opposition legislators was meant to please their handlers.

Question time in Parliament on Wednesdays has often been disrupted by MDC-T lawmakers who launch protests over the number of ministers in the House.

But VP Mnangagwa said there was no justification for MDC-T MPs to raise those complaints or make such demands.

“Ministers are Honourable Members of Parliament and in my view are responsible persons,” he said. “Most ministers have deputies. I have no doubt that the deputies understand the policy of the ministry for which they are deputies. So, the question time is an issue of policy and not of statistics.

“Question time is about what is the policy, the direction, the vision (of a ministry). How would you have a deputy who does not know what his ministry is doing and where it intends to go? In many cases, the ministers would be engaged elsewhere, but their deputies would be there.

“But in most cases at least six or eight ministers would be in the Chamber and above all, I come. I cover (as Leader of Government Business) all ministries, it does not matter which one, in terms of policy; I would be able to answer.”

VP Mnangagwa said the tendency to blame Government ministers was in most cases unfair.

“It is the opposition (which does that) but that is their duty; I do not blame them, that is their duty to criticise,” he said. “If there are no ministers, they can make the noise and it passes, because their constituency must know that they are talking, so they must talk, but there have been no questions that have gone unanswered.”

On his party, VP Mnangagwa said he reminded ministers during Cabinet meetings every Tuesday of the need to attend Parliament the following day.

“Every Tuesday I remind my colleagues in Cabinet that the next day, Wednesday, there will be question time, so most minsters who are able to come will do so, but those who are committed elsewhere will make sure that their deputies are there,” he said.

“But you find that members of the opposition may not want deputy ministers to answer, they want the particular minister to answer. This is democracy, they are allowed to make noise.”

Justice Nicholas Mathonsi

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A HIGH Court judge has blasted the increasing tendency to use unscrupulous methods by what he termed “bush lawyers” to trick the court into fraudulently granting orders in favour of their clients.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi said this in a hearing in which Khumbulani Jubane, a United Kingdom-based Bulawayo man, was granted divorce in an unprocedural manner against his wife of 17 years.

Jubane had been taken to court by his ex-wife Thandazile (nee Khumalo) in a dispute over the custody of their five-year-old daughter.

Khumalo, who is also based in the UK, filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an order suspending the awarding of custody of her daughter to Jubane.

In papers before the court, Jubane was cited as the respondent.

Jubane clandestinely obtained a default judgment on July 16, 2015, to take custody of his daughter after secretly divorcing his wife without the woman’s knowledge.

Prior to the divorce, Jubane and Khumalo were on separation.

Justice Mathonsi ruled in favour of Khumalo.

He blasted Jubane and his lawyer for tricking the court into granting him divorce under case number HC2187/14 after abusing the procedure for substituted service of summons by claiming that he had no knowledge of his wife’s whereabouts.

“The marriage subsisted until it was terminated on July 16, 2015, in HC2187/14, a termination induced by fraud perpetrated brazenly and indeed shamelessly in broad daylight by the respondent. He used trickery and outright falsehood to influence the court to grant him a decree of divorce and ancillary relief all titled in his favour, uncontested,” he said.

Justice Mathonsi noted that there was an increase in the number of cases of fraud in divorce proceedings, which threaten to erode confidence in the country’s judicial system in unopposed divorce matters.

“The respondent’s (Jubane) papers in that matter have all the footprints of a bush lawyer who was aware of the procedure for substituted service and was obviously wallowing in the bush because of such unprofessional and dishonest conduct. In fact, this court has in recent history been inundated with such cases where Zimbabweans in the diaspora abuse the procedure for substituted service by claiming they have no knowledge of the whereabouts of their spouses in order to avoid service of summons and to obtain quick divorces fraudulently. It is despicable,” said the judge.

“While there is nothing wrong with seeking greener pastures in the diaspora, these people must appreciate that this is a court of law which should not be subjected to abuse by unscrupulous persons who no longer know how to act honourably. It is usually the dishonourable who associate with bush lawyers.”

Justice Mathonsi said by duping the court into granting him divorce and sole custody of their daughter, Jubane demonstrated unreliability and dishonest.

“This is a person who has lied and misled this court before as a result of which he obtained a divorce order by false pretences. His story therefore has no evidentiary value and cannot be relied upon. I am satisfied that the application for rescission of judgment is meritable and therefore that the respondent cannot benefit from his ill-gotten order. The applicant has a right to sole custody until an order regulating the custody has been made,” ruled the judge.

Jubane and Khumalo married each other in Bulawayo on July 13 in 2001 in terms of Chapter 5:11 of the Marriages Act. During the subsistence of their marriage, the parties were blessed with three children. The custody of their last born formed the basis of Khumalo’s application.

Khumalo and Jubane acquired immovable properties both in Zimbabwe and the UK.

The two, who are now both British citizens, had marital problems after Jubane started having an extra marital affair with a Jamaican woman resulting in a separation.

Jubane regularly brought their last born to Zimbabwe until he decided to enrol her at a local school without the knowledge of her mother.

Khumalo only learnt about the divorce after she had visited the country intending to collect their daughter. She also discovered that Jubane had been granted sole custody of their daughter which subsequently prompted her to challenge the order.

@mashnets

Tanaka Mrewa, Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man burst into tears in court on Monday claiming that his wife fabricated rape allegations against him because he had caught her red handed having sex with another man.

Itai Tariro Mufambi (26) was facing physical abuse and rape charges.

More tears gushed from his eyes when Western Commonage Magistrate Mr Lungile Ndlovu remanded him in custody to April 26 for trial.

Mufambi begged the court to remand him at Bulawayo Prison instead of Khami Maximum Prison, claiming that his wife’s “lover” was a prison guard stationed there.

“Your Worship my stay will be miserable at Khami. My wife’s lover is a prison guard there and seeing him every day will make my situation worse. The problem I had with my wife is that I caught her in a sexual act with the guy,” he said.

Mufambi allegedly brutally bashed his wife on Saturday evening last week and later on the same night forced himself on her.

The court heard how Mufambi’s first attempt at rape was fruitless as he failed to penetrate so he poured water between his wife’s legs then raped her once.

Mufambi pleaded guilty to physical abuse but swore to the court that he never raped his wife.

“I admit to slapping her out of anger, but for the rape allegations I’m innocent. The sight of her disgusted me, honestly how could I sleep with someone that I had found with another man before she had even taken a bath? I never slept with her that night Your Worship,” said Mufambi, raising his right hand in a swearing pose.

Mr Ndlovu commended Mufambi for being able to control his anger at the time he found his wife in a compromising state.

“Thank you so much for being able to control yourself. That man you caught with your wife could have been dead by now to say the least had you let your emotions get the better of you. What you witnessed was extreme torture, most men commit serious offences from merely hearing that their spouses are cheating, but you reacted in an admirable manner,” he said.

“Your request has been granted. It wouldn’t be fair to be seeing a man who was with your wife pretending to be guarding you at prison. It would only make the situation more painful for you. Arrangements shall be made that you be remanded at Bulawayo Prison during the course of your trial.”

Prosecuting, Mrs Esther Sibanda told the court that Mufambi savagely attacked his wife, bashing her with fists and kicking her all over her body.

She said the wife is admitted to Mpilo Hospital.

“Accused came home around 7PM and asked complainant to cook for him. While she was cooking, accused approached her and demanded to know where she had spent her day. He started assaulting her,” said Mrs Sibanda.

“Later on that same night accused ordered complainant to ‘open her legs’ so that he would have sex with her. Complainant complied but accused failed to penetrate. He complained that she was too dry so he took a small bucket of water, forced her thighs apart and poured water on her before he had sex without her consent.”

—@tannytkay.

Alistair Shingirai Mukosera

Amanda Chikari, Midlands Reporter
BUSINESS came to a standstill in Gweru yesterday as over 400 vehicles passed through the Central Business District (CBD) hooting with some mourners hanging from car doors as residents and friends of the late socialite Alistair Shingirai Mukosera took him to his final resting place at Mtapa cemetery.

Alistair (30) — a socialite and popular car dealer in the city —succumbed to injuries he sustained when the car he was driving hit a pothole before overturning and rolling several times when he was coming from a friend’s party on Monday night.

Before his burial — a convoy of mourners coming from his parents’ house in Ivene suburb passed through the CBD at around 11AM before the convoy stopped by Moonlight Shopping Centre along Fourth Street where Alistair and his friends used to hang out and conduct their business.

His relatives and friends cried loudly at this point and motorists were forced to wait for up to 20 minutes as the convoy made stops along the road before heading to Mtapa cemetery.

Alistair got a befitting send off from Gweru residents.

At the cemetery, a family spokesperson who identified himself as Alistair’s uncle, Mr Joseph Mukosera, said the socialite’s friends and associates had arranged and paid for all funeral expenses.

“While we mourn the loss of our son, we are humbled and happy by the love shown by his friends who met all the funeral expenses,” he said.

“I always thought that they were his friends by name but they have proved us wrong. As a family we are very grateful.”

His friend who is identified as T1 in a video of Alistair while on his deathbed at Gweru Provincial Hospital, Mr Tawanda Muyezwu, confirmed the viral recording was genuine.

He, however, refused to disclose the name of the person who took the video.

“I was called as soon as the fire brigade team attended to my friend and we accompanied him to the Gweru Provincial Hospital. I’m aware of the video that has gone viral but unfortunately I can’t disclose the person who captured it,” Mr Muyezwu said.

He said he thought his friend was going to survive the crash at the time they shot the video.

— @amanda49

Cde Kizito Chivamba

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
ZANU-PF Midlands provincial deputy chairperson Cde Kizito Chivamba who died on Tuesday morning has been declared a liberation war hero.

Cde Chivamba (59) who was the MP for Chiwundura died at Gweru Provincial Hospital after a short illness.

Zanu-PF Midlands provincial chairperson Cde Daniel Mackenzie Ncube confirmed the development.

He said Cde Chivamba is likely to be buried over the weekend at Gweru Provincial Heroes Acre, but they were yet to agree with his family on the exact burial day.

“The late Cde Chivamba has been accorded liberation hero status by His Excellency [President Mugabe]. We received the information from Harare. We are happy as a province that the party leadership under the guidance of Cde Mugabe found it befitting to accord him with the liberation war hero status. He will be buried at Gweru Provincial Heroes Acre over the weekend. We are just waiting to agree with the family on the exact day but it should be this weekend,” said Cde Ncube.

He said condolence messages were pouring in from other provinces as the party continued to mourn the loss of Cde Chivamba.

“It will be difficult to replace this cadre who was a stabilising factor and voice of reason in the province,” he said.

Cde Chivamba was born on August 27 in1958 in Bikita in Masvingo.

In 1972 and at the age of 14, Cde Chivamba joined Zanu as a youth activist in Hippo Valley and took part in demonstrations against the Pearce Commission.

In 1975 he moved to Gweru where he continued with his activism.

Between 1977 and 1978, he worked with freedom fighters around Zaka and Bikita areas before returning to Gweru in 1979 soon after the Lancaster House conference.

He joined Monomotapa District branch as a youth member and helped in the recruitment of new members into the party.

After independence, Cde Chivamba was involved in trade unionism between 1980 and 1992.

He joined the city of Gweru from 1992 to 1988 as an accounts clerk before joining Zesa as a senior liaison clerk from 1988 to 2008.

On the political front, in 1993, he was elected unopposed as the provincial youth Secretary for Administration before he was elevated the following year to the position of deputy chairman.

In 1998, he was re-elected provincial youth deputy chairman unopposed.

Between 2001 and 2004 he was also elected unopposed as the provincial youth chairman.

Between 2009 and 2013, Cde Chivamba was elected provincial secretary for Health and Child Welfare in the main wing. Between 2013 and 2014, he was elected to the post of provincial vice chairperson.

From 2014 to 2015 he served as the acting provincial chairman before he became substantive provincial chairman the following year.

Cde Chivamba was suspended last year together with two other provincial chairpersons Cde Joel Biggie Matiza of Mashonaland East and Cde Ezra Chadzamira in Masvingo for allegedly promoting factionalism.

In February Cde Chivamba bounced back into the provincial executive as the deputy chairman.

Cde Chivamba is survived by wife Ceromina, six children and five grandchildren.

Mourners are gathered at Lot 1 of Indiva Farm, Ward 14 near Sino on the outskirts of Gweru.

— @pchitumba1

Professor Welshman Ncube

Innocent Ruwende, Harare Bureau
THE split of 2005, not alleged vote rigging MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC president Professor Welshman Ncube have been peddling for over a decade, has contributed to the opposition’s dismal performance in successive elections, the two leaders confirmed yesterday.

Mr Tsvangirai has been losing elections to President Mugabe since the formation of his party in 1999 and has contested the polls outcome as manipulated.
Speaking yesterday at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Prof Ncube’s MDC for a proposed coalition of opposition parties ahead of next year’s harmonised elections at his Highlands home in Harare, Mr Tsvangirai said they shot themselves in the foot by splitting. He was flanked by his deputy Mr Nelson Chamisa and Senator Morgan Komichi.

Mr Tsvangirai admitted it would be folly for anyone to think they could defeat President Mugabe contesting as splinter parties.

The original MDC split in 2005 after a faction led by Mr Tsvangirai insisted the party should not take part in senatorial polls that year while Prof Ncube and his backers wanted to participate.

Said Mr Tsvangirai: “It would also be equally dishonest not to recognise that in our journey with Professor Ncube we both made our own mistakes. We split our party in 2005. The cost of that vote splitting in addition to the blatant manipulation of results delayed change for the people of Zimbabwe in 2008.

Ladies and gentleman, it takes humble leadership to accept one’s mistakes but it takes bold leadership to correct those mistakes.

“It is in this respect that I am both relieved and pleased to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Professor Ncube as a first step towards undoing the damage we caused ourselves. Today, Professor Ncube and I will open a new chapter and craft a political agreement that should see us harness and combine our known electoral strength to face our common opponent as a united front.

“If anyone in this country expects us to contest the next elections separately as we did in 2008 and 2013 and expect a different result, it will not only be a third moment of real madness, but the highest form of insanity, and none of us is insane.”

Prof Ncube weighed in: “I too take responsibility for the mistakes we have made in the past. The decisions that we made, which were clearly not always in the national interest in particular in relation to the splitting of the MDC. We accept that we divided our people, we divided the membership of the party which we should not have done”.

He said he concurred with Mr Tsvangirai in everything that followed the split.

“Let me associate myself with everything that he (Mr Tsvangirai) has said to you this afternoon both in terms of the vision, the economic and other policy interventions that we intend collectively to make post-2018 and his description of the nature of the political crisis that faces us as a people, which have caused us to be here today.”

Prof Ncube said what was important was not just to accept the mistakes but to begin to take the requisite steps to be accountable to the people of Zimbabwe.

On Monday Mr Tsvangirai and former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru and her National People’s Party leadership signed a similar pact at his residence in Highlands, Harare.

President Mugabe

Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
ZANU-PF First Secretary and party leader President Mugabe is set to visit provinces next month to have an appreciation of the challenges facing youths, as he seeks to interface with young people across the country.

The first meeting has been earmarked for Mashonaland East province.

The engagements are expected to run until October this year as the revolutionary party’s youth wing heightens preparations for the 2018 general elections.

Zanu-PF Youth League Secretary and Politburo member Cde Kudzanayi Chipanga confirmed the meetings, saying preparations were at an advanced stage.

“The objective of the meetings is in line with our party’s constitution where we have a responsibility to mobilise youths to participate in the political, social and economic activities of the country,” said Cde Chipanga.

He said socially, the Youth League would be promoting young artists, while economically, they were advocating for young people to have access to land, access to agricultural inputs and participate in mining activities.

“Politically, that is where this programme falls, where we are saying one cannot talk of politics without the President and Zanu-PF,” said Cde Chipanga.

“Zanu-PF is the game in town. We want our youths to interface with the President, the only centre of power as in line with the 2014 party congress resolution.

“He is our candidate for 2018 general elections and as the Youth League, we have been clear and consistent that we want him to be Life President.”

Cde Chipanga said the meetings came after a realisation that most youths failed to meet with President Mugabe during the One Million Men March organised by the Youth League owing to the long distance as the event was held in the capital.

“So, we are creating a political platform where our youths are able to meet with their icon,” said Cde Chipanga.

As a forerunner to the meetings by the President, said Cde Chipanga, the Youth League’s national political commissar, Cde Innocent Hamandishe, had been visiting provinces to inform their structures of the pending visit.

“He has visited several provinces and he is left with a few,” said Cde Chipanga. “After that I will be going around as well, starting with Mashonaland East where we will have inter-district meetings and I will be announcing the dates on which the President would be visiting the province.”

Prof Levi Nyagura

Auxilia Katongomara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
UNIVERSITIES have called for the revision of the legal frameworks that guide their operations in order to adapt to the new dispensation of industrialisation and technological innovation.

Vice chancellors say the “obsolete” legal instruments that define their operations are hindering the paradigm shift from being only academic institutions to industry incubating universities.

Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technological Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo receives a picture showing the campus of National University of Singapore from the institution’s President Professor Tan Chuan on Wednesday.

Speaking after a tour of universities in South Korea and Singapore, University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor, Professor Levi Nyagura, said most initiatives by institutions of higher education were being limited by legislation.

“A number of things have already been put in place, the basis of this new thinking, new orientation, new operational philosophy is already there but sometimes universities are constrained by obsolete legal instruments that sometimes define their existence and location in terms of this paradigm shift.

Sometimes you find people saying your Act says you are only supposed to teach and do outreach services and do research but I think what we now require is a revision of the mandate of universities in the country to explicitly indicate a new responsibility that is connected to the development, incubation and registration of productive enterprises because that orientation doesn’t exist right now,” he said.

Prof Nyagura said a lot still has to be done in local universities so that they fit into the operational model of research, innovation and enterprise.

“This paradigm shift requires the creation of an enabling environment both within the institution and externally. It also means we have to come up with legal frameworks that enable universities to dream and translate the dreams into things that benefit society and that way universities become relevant, they become true sources of wealth creation,” he said.

Prof Moyo shows off a gift from National University of Singapore President Professor Tan Chuan during a visit to the university. Looking on from left are University of Bindura Science Education Professor Edias Mwenje and Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) vice chancellor engineer Quinton Kanhukanwe and NUS President (right) looks on.

“We need a change of mindset not just among academics but also among those responsible for drafting legal instruments that govern the running of universities. Certainly the new thrust of wealth creation is a new dimension of universities in Zimbabwe which must be totally embraced if universities have to become totally relevant.”

“So universities probably look at themselves as repositories of knowledge which is now everywhere because of advances in 21st century information technology. We can no longer assume that is the main function of a university in the 21st century. It has since changed.

“What is clear is that universities we have visited in South Korea and Singapore have redefined their mandate and philosophy to align the two with the national development agenda and that I think is critical as opposed to running and maintaining universities as repositories of knowledge”.

Great Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo said universities need to redefine their mandate. “Legal framework needs revisiting in order to empower universities to be more effective in pushing the nation’s development agenda. Therefore, there is a need for universities to revisit their roles in society in order to justify the huge funding that goes into educating students,” he said.

National University of Singapore President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan accompanies Minister Moyo after a visit to the university on Wednesday.

Prof Zvobgo said universities are the cornerstone of development if the knowledge taught to students is used to improve the development and well-being of the country’s citizens.

The two Vice chancellors are part of a high level delegation led by Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo touring universities which have successfully incubated their institutions with industry in Asia and South America.

— @AuxiliaK

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A-38-YEAR OLD man from Gwanda is battling for his life in the intensive care unit at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo after he was found lying unconscious on his bed with a deep cut on his head on Tuesday morning.

Mr Ntokozo Moyo was transferred from Gwanda Provincial Hospital due to his worsening condition.

Police are treating the matter as attempted murder and are appealing to members of the public who may have information on the matter to approach them.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele said investigations were underway.

“I can confirm a man was found with a deep cut on his head. No weapon was found but we are suspecting an potential murderer is out there. The man was transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital where he is still in a critical condition.

“Police are appealing to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the dangerous culprit, to come forward with the information. We are appealing to people to solve their differences amicably and not to resort to violence” said Insp Ndebele.

A source said Mr Moyo’s herdsman, Mr Peter Musaka (38), found his employer lying in a pool of blood on his bed in Insindi village at around 6AM.

“He knocked on Moyo’s bedroom and after getting no response he pushed open the door which was not locked. He discovered that he was unconscious with a deep cut in his head.

“Musaka rushed to Moyo’s sister’s homestead which is a few metres away within the same village. The two rushed back home and ferried him to hospital where he was transferred to Mpilo Central hospital for further management,” said the source.

— @winnie_masara

The Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr Chris Mushohwe (left) and his deputy Cde Sithokozile Mathuthu appreciate a performance by artist Obert Dube while BAZ CEO Engineer Muganyura, acting ZBC CEO Mr Patrick Mavhura and an official from Zim-Digital look on at a Zim-Digital meeting in Victoria Falls yesterday. — (Picture by Eliah Saushoma)

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its support to content producers in the country as it moves a gear up in the process of migrating from analogue to digital television and radio broadcasting.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Chris Mushohwe told content producers at Chinotimba Hall in Victoria Falls yesterday that Government was prepared to assist every Zimbabwean who wishes to participate in the digitalisation project.

Minister Mushohwe is on a nationwide tour to mobilise content producers for the digitalisation programme.

He is accompanied by his deputy Cde Sithokozile Mathuthu, Permanent Secretary Mr George Charamba, officials from the ministry, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), Trans Media and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

“Government, through my ministry is committed to assist every Zimbabwean who wishes to participate in this global crusade. We have made available funds and resources to make sure that this project is a success. When the project begins we’ll have 12 channels that will be running for 24 hours. This means we’ll need a lot of producers, script writers, technical directors, editors, sound designers, costume designers, production designers and actors. Some will benefit directly while others will benefit indirectly,” said Dr Mushohwe.

He said the digitalisation project was a major Zim-Asset project that required full participation from all Zimbabweans who have talent.

“We want 75 percent of our content to be local and for us to be able to fill the 12 it requires maximum participation from everyone. If you have talent, that’s content. Young men and women should take advantage of this project because it will create the two million jobs that we’ve been talking about.

“We don’t want to wait for some white men to come back and provide jobs for us. Let’s prove to the world that we can succeed without assistance from white people,” said Dr Mushohwe.

He added that it was a disgrace that people in Binga and other parts of the country were not able to access local radio and television programmes for the past 37 years, adding that it will soon be a thing of the past.

The Minister urged the people of Victoria Falls to support one another in coming up with content and advised them to produce the content in their local languages.

“No language is better or superior to the other. The constitution recognises 16 Zimbabwean languages and these must all be respected. I therefore encourage our content producers in Victoria Falls to produce content in their local languages.

“Government is ready to assist. No producer will spend money to produce their content. Government will provide the funds and the resources and the producers will be paid when their products are filmed on television,” said Dr Mushohwe.

Mr Charamba said the digitalisation project, which will create thousands of jobs, will see the construction of three major state-of-the-art content centres in Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and Harare.

“These content centres will be of international standards and they will cater for our communities and address the requirements of Africa. We’ll also have smaller content centres in the country’s provincial capitals.

“In terms of progress Matabeleland North province is leading the digitalisation project. When you compare the province with others, it’s miles ahead. I therefore expect maximum production from this province. The province must maintain that lead,” said Mr Charamba.

He assured the content producers that the ministry had made sure that the project has legal grounding to protect their productions free of charge.

The digitalisation programme is in line with international trends and the requirement for countries to migrate to digital television broadcasting in order to avoid interference situations between countries.

It entails the replacement of all existing analogue equipment with new digital equipment for the country’s television studios and television transmission equipment.

This will see Zimbabweans benefiting from a modern television delivery platform with service capacity to license new television players in Zimbabwe as well as improved reception of television services.

The process will also provide a business opportunity for independent producers to supply content to broadcasters.

— @pamelashunba1

Dr Nyasha Masuka

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
ONE person has died while 11 others are being treated for suspected anthrax after consuming meat from hippos that died a fortnight ago in Binga’s Mlibizi area.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has since deployed a team to Binga to fight the outbreak.

Anthrax is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by bacteria that normally affects animals.

Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Nyasha Masuka said the death of a 19-year-old man at Siansundu Clinic on Wednesday is suspected to be related to an anthrax outbreak in the area.

“A man who showed signs and symptoms of anthrax admitted to have eaten hippo meat which he was given by a relative living in Saba ward. Anthrax infected hippos started dying as from March 27 and this man consumed the meat on April 12. He had ulcers on the mouth and face and complained of severe headaches. He visited the hospital a few days ago and died within seven days,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that our health team focused on Saba ward villagers only hence this man from a neighbouring village was least suspected to have anthrax because they were not aware of the outbreak.”

Dr Masuka said health officials were facing a challenge in fighting the outbreak as villagers were not opening up or being honest as to whether they consumed the meat from the hippos or not .

He said 1, 5 kilogrammes of hippo meat was found mixed with 45 kilogrammes of goat meat on sale in a butchery at Binga Centre and has since been destroyed to eliminate human contact with the infected meat.

“We had dispatched a team which went into Saba village and had to check for signs and symptoms on the villagers’ bodies after many denied to have eaten the meat.

“It is after receiving the report on the now deceased that we realised we had to re-check all people in the surrounding villages. Apparently, they are now opening up to have shared the meat with relatives in neighbouring villages,” said Dr Masuka.

He said awareness campaigns will be intensified to warn villagers of dangers associated with eating meat from animals that die under unclear circumstances.

“They are also being notified of the signs and symptoms of human anthrax so that the affected seek treatment as soon as possible,”  Dr Masuku said.

He said there were 58 villagers, including children, whom health workers were following up on for possible infection.

“We have so far treated 11 people from Siansundu village for anthrax and our teams are closely monitoring 58 others who also ate meat from the dead hippos for any signs or symptoms of the disease. The samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Harare for confirmation,” Dr Masuka said.

—@winnie_masara.

Emmerson Mnangagwa

Tendai Mugabe, Harare Bureau
THE Government has made major strides  towards creating a conducive business environment to transform the economy and attract Foreign  Direct Investment, after tabling seven Bills to do with the ease of doing business during the first quarter of this year.

This is in keeping with Government’s pronouncement last year that 13 laws will be promulgated in the first quarter of the year, aimed at creating a conducive investment climate by addressing concerns previously raised by foreign investors.

Some of the Bills include the National Competitiveness Commission Bill, the State Procurement Bill, Judiciary Laws Amendment Bill and the Shop Licences Amendment Bill.

Addressing delegates at the fourth Zimbabwe Accountants Conference in Harare yesterday, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Government was committed to working with the private sector in formulating policies that enhanced the country’s competitiveness.

He said Government had no monopoly and was open to new ideas that could spur economic development.

“I am sure that with right policies in place, for example, a conducive business environment, a skilled financial services sector, an adequate enabling infrastructure and most importantly an aggressive private sector, nothing can stay in the way of attaining a prosperous economy,” said VP Mnangagwa.

“I am aware that Zimbabwe is listed very low in the quest of ease of doing business. On our own as Government, we have now several, seven to 10 pieces of legislation, that are going through Parliament in order to enhance the ease of doing business.

“But most importantly, I think professionals like you (the accountants) should come forward to assist us with knowledge as to what you see as constraints in the implementation of ease of doing business in the country so that we legislate accordingly.

“If you think that we have the capacity and the knowhow to bringing about the ease of doing business without yourselves you are mistaken. The desired socio-economic development is the collective responsibility of all Zimbabweans, inclusive of those at home and in the Diaspora.”

Zimbabwe was “endowed with various trade and investment opportunities which cut across value addition, technology transfers, productivity, capacity enhancement and industrialisation, especially in the agro-sector, VP Mnangagwa said.

“Zimbabwe, like most developing economies, needs an enhanced investment climate, inclusive of opportunities for business to acccess finance, improved private and public sector governance, as well as a workforce with skills and competencies to work in the modern market place and commitment to tackling endemic corruption,” he said.

“As you are all aware, Zim-Asset was formulated in pursuit of a new trajectory of accelerated economic growth and wealth creation. It was crafted to achieve sustainable development and social equity anchored on indigenisation, empowerment and employment creation.”

VP Mnangagwa said Government, through Command Agriculture, was expecting an estimated maize output in excess of two million tonnes this season, which was expected to spur industrial growth.

“Worldwide, there is growth in industries using starch as a raw material from maize and other agricultural produce, as it is vital for industries to foster value addition and beneficiation of produce from the agricultural sector,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said the thrust of the indigenisation law was to ensure that indigenous people had direct control of the economy.

“When we as Government introduced the concept of indigenisation, may people in our society thought that we are taking the country backwards, but all the developed countries in the world are indigenised,” he said.

“They call their economies theirs. That is the indigenisation we are talking about. Those of you who have misconception must understand that we want to be ourselves, manage our economy ourselves, be the major players in our economy ourselves.

“Empowerment means that you must have access to the tools, make yourself able to run your own economy. Employment creation, this would be achieved through judicious exploitation of the country’s abundant human and natural resources.”

VP Mnangagwa said the country was endowed with numerous trade opportunities cutting across all sectors.

In light of this, VP Mnangagwa said, the accountancy profession was strategically positioned to make remarkable contribution to the growth of the economy.

“Accountancy professionals need to assist business with developing sound corporate strategies, providing sound financial advice and helping business to reduce costs, improve their top line in mitigating risks,” he said.

“As chief financial officers, you have oversight on all matters relating to the company’s financial health. This includes creating and driving the strategic direction of the business to analysing, creating and communicating financial information.”

The conference was also attended by Minister of State for Harare province Miriam Chikukwa, Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office Clifford Sibanda, Comptroller Auditor General Mrs Mildred Chiri and Public Accountants and Auditors Board chairperson Mr Brain Njikizana.

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE trial of a 26-year-old Beitbridge woman who allegedly fatally stabbed her 50-year-old husband with a kitchen knife during a paternity row, has been postponed to May 3.

Geraldine Nyoni is accused of killing her husband Majahana Mazibuko on the night of March 4 during a fight at their rented Dulivhadzimu house.

She has since been charged with murder and was not asked to plead to the charges when she appeared before Mr Godswill Mavenge.

Mazibuko was remanded in custody pending trial.

The State led by Mr Oswell Arufandi alleged that the two had a long history of domestic disputes relating to money issues. The court heard that matters turned for the worst after Nyoni told Mazibuko on March 4 that he was not the father of ‘their’ five months-old daughter.

Mr Arufandi said a fight ensued between the two over the paternity issue resulting in the woman picking a kitchen knife. She then stabbed her husband on the right side of the neck and vanished from the scene.

Nyoni then allegedly made a false report to the police that Mazibuko had snatched her baby and was denying her access.

The court heard that after he was stabbed, Mazibuko stormed out of the house to seek help with his body soaked in blood.

He was rushed to the hospital where he died upon admission.

Nyoni was later arrested by police while still in the same town following the death of her husband.

The blood stained knife was recovered from their house and the baby behind the paternity row was later picked up from the crime scene by a female relative after she was found crying while lying in a pool of blood.

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
TWO Beitbridge men who were arrested for allegedly stealing a top-of-the-range vehicle worth about $30 000 in South Africa before smuggling it into the country through Beitbridge Border Post have approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial.

Morris Ndou (35) of Dulivhadzimu suburb and David Mashava (28) of Lutumba area in the border town, through their lawyers Dube and Associates, filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as the respondent.

The two men who are facing charges of theft of a motor vehicle and smuggling appeared before a Zvishavane magistrate and they were denied bail and remanded in custody pending trial.

Ndou and Mashava are denying the charges and argue that there are no compelling reasons to justify their continued detention at remand prison.

In their grounds of appeal, the two applicants said they were only hired to drive the car to Harare.

“The first applicant (Ndou) was hired to take the allegedly stolen vehicle from Beitbridge to Harare for a payment of R3 000 and he then ordered second applicant (Mashava) to drive the car,” said the lawyers.

“The applicants submit that they harbour no intention of absconding or evading justice. The applicants never resisted arrest and cooperated well with the police in their investigations and therefore with such conduct there is no risk of absconding.”

The two men are seeking an order compelling them to deposit $50 as bail and to continue residing at their given addresses pending the finalisation of the matter.

As part of the bail conditions, the applicants are also offering to report at Beitbridge Police Station once a week as well as not interfere with state witnesses.

Mr Thompson Hove, who is representing the State, opposed the bail application, arguing that there was no guarantee that the applicants would not abscond.

He said granting them bail would not be in the interest of justice as they were likely to tamper with investigations.

“The investigations are still ongoing and it is submitted that the release of applicants might jeopardise investigations. The applicants are likely to abscond since they are facing a serious charge of theft of a motor vehicle and the state prays for the dismissal of the application,” said Mr Hove.

It is alleged that sometime in February this year, Ndou and Mashava went to a house in Lindela area of Johannesburg where they allegedly stole a Toyota Prado belonging to the complainant identified as Mr Latib Abdul Dawood.

The matter was reported at Lindela Police Station under case number CR462/2/17.

Ndou and Mashava allegedly drove the car to Beitbridge Border Post where they smuggled it into Zimbabwe.

On March 29 this year at around 4PM, they were intercepted by police along the Zvishavane-Mbalabala road. On being quizzed by detectives, the two men failed to give satisfactory reasons leading to their arrest.

—@mashnets

Richard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
A SOUTH African professional hunter is feared to have been devoured by crocodiles in Chikwalakwala area of Beitbridge after he went missing last week during a hunting expedition.

His backpack was recovered on the banks of the Limpopo River.

Mr Scott van Zyl (44) had gone on a hunting safari with his pack of dogs and a Zimbabwean tracker.

Mr Van Zyl owns the SS Pro Safaris company in the neighbouring country that takes foreign clients on hunting trips.

Reports from the area are that he and his tracker left the pickup they were in and walked into the bush in different directions.

However, later in the day his dogs returned to the camp without him.

The tracker tried to search for him without success and raised alarm leading a search team from Zimbabwe and South Africa to be dispatched to the area but he was not found.

Helicopters, trackers and divers scoured the area while search and rescue teams distributed pamphlets with Mr Van Zyl’s image on them in villages and to fishermen on the banks of the river.

Mr van Zyl’s footprints were later spotted leading to the banks of the river. Trackers then found his backpack nearby.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson yesterday confirmed receiving a report of a missing person.

“I can confirm that we received a report of a missing South African hunter on the Zimbabwean side in Chikwalakwala area. A search has been made but he not been found but his belongings were found on the banks of the Limpopo River. However, I can’t confirm that he was killed by crocodiles as we have not received such information as yet,” he said.

The British Telegraph newspaper quoted Mr Sakkie Louwrens, who was involved in the search, saying police and nature conservation services had decided to shoot two Nile crocodiles in the area after suspecting that they may have been responsible for Mr van Zyl’s disappearance.

“We found what could possibly be human remains in them,” he said.

The paper said forensic experts are currently testing whether the remains belong to Mr van Zyl, who has a wife and two children.

At least four people have been killed by crocodiles in the past month after heavy rains caused the reptiles to move away from rivers.

One of the latest victims is an 11-year-old boy, Mphathi Ndlovu, who was killed by a crocodile while he was swimming in the Kana River with two friends.

Villagers from Jotsholo village in Matabeleland North tracked down the crocodile and killed it with machetes before skinning it and recovering some of the boy’s body parts.

— @richardmuponde

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
THE High Court has slashed an eight-year jail term of an HIV positive man who deliberately infected his girlfriend with the deadly virus after engaging in unprotected sex, to three years.

Perfect Ngwenya of Blanket Mine tested HIV positive in June 2014 and was put on antiretroviral therapy. He however, hid the medication from his girlfriend until the woman stumbled on it three months later.

Ngwenya pleaded not guilty to a charge of deliberate transmission of HIV, but was convicted by a Gwanda magistrate and sentenced to eight years in jail.

However, three years of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Dissatisfied with the court’s decision, Ngwenya through his lawyers, Shenje and Company, filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court challenging both conviction and sentence.

Justice Nokuthula Moyo, who was sitting with Justice Martin Makonese during the criminal appeals court, confirmed the man’s conviction. She upheld the appeal on sentence and substituted it with an effective two years in jail.

“There is unfortunately no case law on sentencing of offenders in HIV-related offences. The penalty provision is imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years as the offence is considered a serious one in nature,” said the judge.

“Again the threshold given for a sentence not exceeding 20 years implies as well that the legislature considers that a long term of imprisonment is the appropriate penalty. This is rightly so considering that the deliberate infection of another with HIV changes their whole life in a drastic way and could even affect their life expectancy.”

Justice Moyo said Ngwenya’s personal circumstances warranted the court to interfere with the sentence.

“The personal circumstances of the appellant (Ngwenya) are that he is a first offender, and he is on ART as well as that he has hypertension,” she said.

The judge said there was no misdirection on the conviction of Ngwenya.

“The conviction is confirmed and the sentence is set aside and substituted with three years in jail of which one year is suspended for five years on condition that the appellant does not within that period commit a similar offence,” ruled the judge.

Ngwenya, in his grounds of appeal, argued that the sentence was excessive and induced a sense of shock.

He argued that the magistrate erred in convicting him in the absence of evidence to sustain the charge.

Proven facts of the matter are that Ngwenya tested HIV positive on June 26 in 2014. The affair between him and the complainant had started in August 2013.

The two engaged in unprotected sex on several occasions until the complainant stumbled on Ngwenya’s antiretroviral drugs on September 4 in 2014.

Ngwenya had not revealed his HIV status to his girlfriend.

The court heard that the complainant had tested twice in 2012 prior to her relationship with Ngwenya and the results came out negative.

A report was made leading to Ngwenya’s arrest.

—@mashnets