Prosper Dembedza Court Correspondent
Ten people, including a 16-year-old teenager yesterday appeared in court for fatally stoning a suspected thief after they found him unlocking their neighbour’s door at night.

Pasca Bunya (37), Nota Nota (46), Kuziva Gopo (37), Shungu Ngwaru (33), Prince Magutakuona (44), Gilbert Gocha (38), Nicholas Nyamundanda (34), Caroline Mutandwa (28), Tafadzwa Nota (25) and a 16- year- old boy were charged with murder when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo.

Mr Makomo released the adults on $100 bail each while the boy was released on free bail.

As part of their bail conditions, the 10 were ordered to stay at their given addresses and not to interfere with State witnesses.

They will be back in court on January 29 for trial.

Allegations are that on September 9 last year, the 10 teamed up and assaulted the now deceased with bricks and sjamboks alleging that he was a thief after they found him trying to unlock Bunya’s door at around 2am.

The court heard that the 10 assaulted the now deceased who succumbed to injuries sustained from the assault leading to their arrest.

Meanwhile, two suspected robbers appeared in court on Wednesday for fatally stoning a man before stealing his valuables and $120 in cash.

Tatenda Gwanda (22) and Saymore Dzimaita (22) were charged with murder when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo.

Mr Makomo remanded the two in custody to January 29 for their trial.

Prosecutor Mrs Idah Maromo alleged that on November 8 2014 along Hurst Road, Waterfalls in Harare Gwanda and Dzamaita waylaid Caleb Muzunze along the road as he was coming from work.

The court heard that the two suddenly started stonning Muzunze on the head until he fell the ground. When Muzunze fell down, it is alleged that Gwanda and Dzamaita started searching him and stole a black grey satchel containing groceries, Nokia Asha cellphone and a wallet containing $120.

Muzunze was rushed to hospital by passerbys where he died on admission on November 12 2014.

The two were arrested on November 17 and they led police to the recovery of Muzunze’s satchel at their place of residence.

Fungai Jachi Court Correspondent
A Midlands State University student was yesterday ordered to perform 105 hours of community service after being convicted of defrauding Alpha Omega Dairy of $970 in a salary scam.

Twenty-one-year-old Tapiwa Nyoni, pleaded guilty to fraud charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate, Ms Nomsa Sabarauta.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail before three months were suspended on condition he restitutes $970 to the complainant by March 31 this year.

The remaining months were suspended on condition Nyoni performs 105 hours of community service at the Harare Magistrate’s Court.

Nyoni, who was employed as a truck assistant, told the court that he committed the offence out of ignorance and was willing to restitute the complainant.

“I am just a chemical technology student at MSU and I plead for a non-custodial sentence. I kept on withdrawing the money with the impression that it was money that the company owed me,” he said.

Circumstances are that Nyoni resigned from work in July 2014.

Alpha Omega Dairy, however, continued to deposit his monthly salary of $242 into his CBZ bank account.

Nyoni continued to withdraw money from his account for four months and by December 5 he had withdrawn $970.88.

The company discovered the offence and reported the matter to the police leading to Nyoni’s arrest.

Meanwhile, in a different matter, a 36-year-old man pleaded guilty to stealing a 10 meter long copper cable at Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD) in Waterfalls before the same magistrate.

Phillimon Gudo was remanded in custody to today for sentence.

The copper cable is valued at $170.

Facts are that on January 5 this year, Gudo unlawfully entered PHD premises and stole a 10 meter copper cable.

Security guards at the premise got a tip off from two men and they tracked down Gudo whom they found sitting on the cable beside Mukuvisi River.

Gudo admitted to the guards that he had stolen the cable and was taken to the police.

Mrs Devoted Gwashavanhu Nyagano prosecuted in both matters.

Ivan Zhakata Court Reporter
A Harare man reportedly slept with a gun under his pillow to instil fear into his wife whom he accused of being violent. Cuthbert Gweshe allegedly threatened to shoot his wife, Angela Femberwi and their children before killing himself, the Harare Civil Court heard yesterday.

Femberwi who was seeking a protection order against Gweshe yesterday told magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa he also severely assaults her and accuses her of neglecting their children.

“I want the court to stop my husband from coming to my house because he assaults me threatening to kill me and the children are now afraid of him,” she said.

“He is threatening to kill me and my relatives and he sleeps with a gun under his pillow. He said that if I make any silly move towards him he would kill me,” added Femberwi.

Gweshe refuted his wife’s allegations. He told the court that since they separated, he only visited Femberwi once inquiring about the children’s performance at school.

“She is lying,” Gweshe said. “The only time I went to her house is when I wanted to tell her that one of our children was watching pornography.”

“I was concerned about our child because this was affecting his grades at school. I have never abused her or threatened to eliminate her as she is alleging,” he said.

Gweshe told the court that Femberwi was the violent one and the court should protect him instead.

Mrs Gofa ordered Gweshe to keep peace with his wife and refrain from threatening her.

Fungai Jachi Court Correspondent
A 29-year-old alleged serial robber who mostly targeted churches and allegedly stole property and cash amounting to $7 000 was recently granted $500 bail by High Court judge, Justice Alphas Chitakunye.

As part of his bail conditions Enock Mubengwa was ordered to report thrice a week at Hatfield police station in Harare.

He was also ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at the address he gave to the court.

Mubengwa, who is facing 10 counts of robbery, is represented by Mr Tungamirirai Muganhiri.

Allegations are that on 10 different occasions Mubengwa used the same tactic of breaking into locked church buildings using an iron bar with which he assaulted the security guards before stealing cash and mobile phones.

It is alleged that on October 14 at Zaoga Church in Sunningdale, Mubengwa, in the company of three accomplices who were still at large, used an iron bar to assault the security guard manning the premises.

The court heard that he went on to open the church’s locked door using an iron bar and looted 1 489 rands and $632 from the church safe.

Allegations are that on November 11, Mubengwa and his gang went to an Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church in Hatfield and assaulted the security guard with an iron bar before tying his hands with a wire.

It is the State’s case that Mubengwa went on to break into the church’s safe and took $4 913, 8 119 rand and 894 pula.

Two of Mubengwa’s victims who were robbed of their cash and mobile phones had sought refuge at a Zaoga church in Hatfield.

Mubengwa was arrested after he was found in possession of some of the stolen mobile phones.

The total amount stolen was $7 238, R8 119 and P894.

Only $1 053 was recovered.

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Some prisoners at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison trap rats for food, one of the nine men accused of masterminding a foiled jailbreak at the prison told the court yesterday.

Lucky Matambanadzo (39), who is a self actor, made the revelations while cross-examining a State witness Claudius Mutizwa.

Each prisoner will be accorded the opportunity to cross-examine the State witness.

Matambanadzo is jointly charged with Robert Martin Gumbura, Blessing Chauke (25), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28) and Elijah Vhumbunu (38).

Matambanadzo asked if Mutizwa would dispute that starving inmates were eating rats.

“Since you said your evidence is confined to B Hall alone not other cells, would you then dispute it if I tell that starving inmates in your cell were feeding on rats just like inmates from my cell, C Hall. Inmates resorted to trapping rats for food. Would you dispute it if I tell you that was what prisoners were going through at Chikurubi Maximum Prison,” asked Matambanadzo.

Mutizwa replied that there was never food shortage at the prison.

“If prisoners were being given two slices of bread it meant that the government was only able to provide that,” responded Mutizwa. “The country is going through socio-economic hardships and Chikurubi is not an exception.”

However, Matambanadzo insisted that food was never enough at the prison and the inmates would scramble for food, running away with food bins while others became bullies.

“The prison is just like the society where one will find street kids and such kind of people,” replied Mutizwa.

Matambanadzo added that that prison officers broke windows after the alleged prison break to strengthen their case against the nine accused.

Harare magistrate, Mr Francis Mapfumo, adjourned the trial to Friday.

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
Anti-riot police severely assaulted Herald correspondent Lovemore Meya while he was covering the violence that erupted in Chitungwiza between touts and residents on Tuesday.

Meya, who sustained injuries all over the body, reported the matter at Harare Central Police Station under case number IR01/02/64.

He said police officers in riot gear hit him with batons, slapped and kicked him several times, despite displaying his Zimbabwe Media Commission accreditation card and explaining to them that he was a bona fide reporter assigned to cover the skirmishes.

After bashing him, the police officers seized his camera and ordered him to delete the pictures he had taken.

“The anti-riot police officers were hunting for some rowdy residents that were fuelling violence,” he said. “Suddenly, one of them charged towards our vehicle demanding to know who we were and what we were doing, threatening to smash the vehicle’s windscreen.

“He called his colleagues who seized my camera and they took turns to assault me.”

Meya was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital on the same day where he was examined and treated by Dr Kamutika.

The medical report indicated that he experienced trauma, generalised limb pain, a mild swelling forearm and bloodshot in the left eye.

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists president Michael Chideme said the attack on Meya was uncalled for, especially considering that police officers were expected to be conversant with the law.

“ZUJ condemns in the strongest terms any form of abuse and harassment of journalists,” he said. “Journalists deserve protection and respect.

“We appeal to the police to extend an apology to Meya and all journalists as an injury to one is an injury to all.”

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said journalists were allowed to carry out their work and said investigations were in progress to find out what transpired on the day.

“We want to assure journalists that their safety is guaranteed,” he said. “In this particular case, we will conduct comprehensive investigations with a view to finding out what happened.

“As long as journalists are conducting their work in terms of the country’s laws, there is nothing that will hinder them from doing their job.”

The incident came after another Herald correspondent, Fungai Jachi, was threatened by a police officer while she was covering a court case in which the officer was accused of assault.

Jachi reported the case at the Harare Central Police Station.

Phineas Chihota

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
SEKE Legislator Phineas Chihota’s vehicle and household property valued at $30 000 will now be auctioned in settlement of a debt owed to his former employee.

This followed the dismissal of his urgent chamber application for stay of execution at the High Court this week.

Chihota and his co-director in Wallace Laboratories, Bessie Chihota, received a $30 000 loan from the company’s former managing director, Mr David Mabuwa, but failed to pay back.

The Sheriff has since attached a Ford Ranger vehicle and an assortment of household goods.

Removal of the property from the family’s Greystone Park house had been set for Monday this week, but Chihota filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court to stop the process and subsequent sale of the property.

However, Justice Hlekani Mwayera, threw out the application, a development that gave green light to the sheriff to remove and auction the attached property.

The property in question includes:

A Ford Ranger vehicle (ADV 3229), black water tank, two refrigerators, washing machine, microwave, eight dining chairs and a table, two sets of leather sofas, six bar stools, television sets and coffee tables.

In the failed application for stay of execution, the Chihotas wanted to stop the process pending determination of their application for rescission of a judgment compelling them to pay the debt.

The two argued that the attachment of property was done pursuant to a default judgment entered against them and that they were now challenging it.

They argued that the default judgment was fraudulently obtained and must be rescinded.

Former managing director for Wallace Laboratories, Mr Mabuwa advanced a loan of $30 000 to the Chihotas on February 5 2010.

Wallace laboratories acted as guarantor.

The loan, according to the agreement, was repayable within a month but the two breached the agreement.

Despite demand, the two did not repay the money resulting in Mr Mabuwa approaching the courts for recourse.

Nqaba Matshazi

Herald Reporter
NewsDay deputy editor Nqaba Matshazi and reporter Xolisani Ncube were yesterday arrested on allegations of publishing falsehoods, after they published a story alleging that members of the Central Intelligence Organisation were secretly paid their annual bonuses last year.

The two are expected to appear in court today facing allegations of communicating or publishing false statements prejudicial to the State.

Matshazi and Ncube were yesterday taken to the Harare Magistrates’ Courts, but their case could not be heard as they were referred back to the Prosecutor-General’s Office.

Police chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrest.

“I can confirm the two were arrested over a story in which they claimed that members of the Central Intelligence Organisation were secretly paid their annual bonuses, while payment of other civil servants salaries were done this week,” she said.

“We want journalists to be responsible and report truthfully and remember that those who enforce the law will arrest them if they publish falsehoods.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the story was likely to cause turmoil given that most civil servants were not given bonuses and some had just received their salaries days after they were expected.

The story published on Wednesday was headlined: “CIOs ‘secretly’ get bonuses” and chided Government for paying the alleged bonuses to members of the organisation while postponing salaries for other civil servants. The story read: “The Government last year quietly paid Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives their annual bonuses, yet postponed, several times, paying the salaries of civil servants, only releasing the payments yesterday, a development that is likely to spark a rebuke from other public sector workers.”

Police said the story was not factual as members of the CIO were not given the said bonuses just like other civil servants.

By Fungai Lupande
NewsDay deputy editor, Nqaba Matshazi and reporter, Xolisani Ncube, who were arrested on Thursday morning for allegedly publishing falsehoods, have been freed on $200 bail each.

Matshazi and Ncube appeared in court today and were jointly charged with their employer, Alpha Media Holdings Private Limited, represented by its company secretary Sifikile Thabeta.

Granting the trio bail, Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo ordered them to surrender their passports and report every Friday at Harare Central’s CID Law and Order.

They were also ordered to reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with State witnesses.

The three will be back in court on January 27.

More to follow . . .

Fungai Jachi Court Correspondent
A 29-year-old man accused of 15 different criminal offences, including assaulting a police officer and extorting money from his mother-in-law, was yesterday arraigned before the Mbare Magistrates’ Court.

Albert Ushewokunze, of No. 298 Engineering, Highfield, appeared before magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma.

He is facing five counts of assault, five of malicious damage to property, two counts of theft, one count of disorderly conduct and one of extortion.

He was remanded in custody to January 19.

Prosecuting, Mr Tafara Chirambira alleged that on October 31 last year, Ushewokunze attacked Happymore Gwande, a police officer, with an unknown object, accusing him of having an affair with his wife. The court heard that Ushewokunze went on to take Gwande’s police identity card and his mobile phone.

On November 2, Ushewokunze allegedly deflated Fidel Marume’s car tyres after they had a misunderstanding over the manner he was driving.

It is the State’s case that on December 10 last year, Ushewokunze destroyed Beulah Muchanyerei’s EcoCash booth valued at $500 following a misunderstanding with his wife who works there.

On November 15, Ushewokunze allegedly insulted his mother-in-law while demanding back the bride price he paid for his wife. He also extorted $100 from the mother-in-law, threatening to burn down her house if she failed to give him the money.

Allegations are that on October 6 last year, Ushewokunze struck his friend with an iron bar on the back before stoning his car for unclear reasons, causing damage worth $700. The court heard that in May, Ushewokunze stole a mobile phone worth $500 from a soldier at a party.

Ushewokunze was arrested after different matters were reported to police.

The total value of property he damaged and stole was $1 800 and nothing was recovered.

Fungai Jachi Court Correspondent
A former nurse aide at Parirenyatwa Hospital, who unlawfully occupied a house at the nurses’ homes on the hospital premises, was on Thursday fined $50 by a Harare magistrate for criminal trespassing.

Appearing before Ms Nomsa Sabarauta, Elvis Gorwa (24), of Nzvere Village in Chief Musana’s area, Bindura, pleaded guilty to the charge.

He pleaded with the court for a non-custodial sentence saying he was a single parent and jobless.

“I ended up staying at the said premises because I had no option. I told myself that I would squat at the place until I found a job. My situation is hopeless, I can’t take care of myself or my child, my younger brother is the one who takes care of both of us,” he said.

Ms Sabarauta spared him incarceration and fined him $50, but warned him that failure to pay the fine would land him in jail.

Facts are that on December 28 last year, authorities at Parirenyatwa received information that Gorwa was unlawfully staying at Adlan Complex, where nurses at the hospital reside, without permission.

The court heard that upon being questioned, Gorwa told the authorities that he was once employed as a nurse assistant at the hospital and resigned in 2013 but had nowhere else to stay while looking for a job.

Gorwa was asked to leave the premises, but refused and a report was made to police leading to his arrest.

Mrs Devoted Gwashavanhu Nyagano prosecuted.

Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
Sixteen commuter omnibus drivers were on Tuesday fined up to $300 by a Chitungwiza magistrate after they pleaded guilty to charges of contravening Section 4 (a) of the Road Traffic Act.

The offences include driving without a defensive driving certificate, lack of five years’ experience and no medical certificate endorsement.

They appeared in separate courts with some being fined $200 on two counts and $300 for three offences.

Samuel Diringa (34) of 15A Ashburton Road, Chadcombe, Harare, was charged together with Jonathan Jenje.

They each faced three counts.

Aggripa Nyangumbe (40) was charged on two counts, with each offence attracting a fine of $100. Failure to pay the fine will attract a month-long prison term.

Diringa and Jenje pleaded guilty before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo and were each fined $300 for the three offences.

Nyangumbe and others appeared in separate courts.

The prosecutor, Mr Tatenda Mukatera, told the court that all the accused were holders of Zimbabwe driver’s licences issued in respect of classes 2, 3 and 5.

However, they were arrested on January 4 after being stopped by Inspector Karonga and his team at a police checkpoint.

They were driving Toyota Hiaces ferrying commuters.

When they were requested to produce their particulars, it was noted that some had no medical certificates, five years’ experience and did not have defensive driving certificates.

Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
The 14-year-old boy from Gweru, who recently went berserk and allegedly murdered a 41-year-old maid in cold blood in a dispute over a memory card appeared in court yesterday.

The boy reportedly attempted to commit suicide when news of the callous killing began to spread.

The boy from Mkoba Village 20 in Gweru was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga facing murder.

He was remanded in custody to January 22 for trial and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The State, led by Mr Daniel Tafuma, alleged that on Sunday last week at around 11pm, the boy fatally struck Nyarai Mudonzwa with a hoe on the head in an argument over a memory card.

After committing the crime, the boy dragged the body into the toilet and locked himself in the house for two days before attempting to commit suicide by drinking a cleaning detergent when neighbours alerted the police.

The court heard that the matter came to light when a suspicious neighbour who overheard the fight went to the house after failing to see any movement outside for the two days.

The neighbour knocked on the door, but there was no response, despite hearing the boy’s movements inside the house.

It was further alleged that the neighbour alerted the police and the lad attempted to escape through the roof before downing the detergent.

The boy was later rescued by police and neighbours who rushed him to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he recovered.

Nqaba Matshazi

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
NewsDay deputy editor Nqaba Matshazi and reporter Xolisani Ncube’s story alleging members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) were secretly paid their annual bonuses last year sparked the Chitungwiza demonstrations, the court heard yesterday.

Matshazi and Ncube appeared in court jointly charged with their employer, Alpha Media Holdings (Private) Limited, which was represented by its company secretary, Sifikile Thabeta.

Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo granted Matshazi and Ncube $200 bail each. As part of their bail conditions, Mr Makomo ordered the pair to surrender their passports and report every Friday at CID Law and Order.

They were also ordered to reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with State witnesses.

The trio’s lawyer, Mr Taona Nyamakura, gave notice to court that he intends to apply for referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court.

Mr Makomo postponed the matter to January 27.

The three face charges of communicating or publishing falsehoods prejudicial to the State in contravention of Section 31 (a) (ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23, alternatively Section 31 (b) (ii) (B) of the same Act.

Prosecuting, Ms Sharon Mashavira alleged that the trio connived and published a false story in the NewsDay newspaper on Wednesday headlined, “CIOs secretly get bonuses”.

The story read in part: “The Government last year quietly paid Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives their annual bonuses, yet postponed, several times, paying the salaries of civil servants . . . While most civil servants were penniless during the festive season, members of the CIO received their December salaries on December 21 and their bonuses 10 days later . . . ”

The trio, well knowing in truth and fact that Government did not pay the 2015 bonuses to the CIO staff or members, allegedly published the false article without verification.

The court heard that as a result of the story, the message was communicated nationally, causing an outcry from other Government employees.

This resulted in Chitungwiza demonstrations on the same day, it is alleged.

Some of the placards displayed by the demonstrators were written, “Together united, pay all civil servants their dues now, bonus are crumbs that fall from the masters table,” among others.

Rowdy youths and kombi crews patrol the streets of Chitungwiza, using catapults against the police. —(Pictures by Innocent Makawa and Lovemore Meya)

Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
Forty people, including two juveniles of school-going age, who allegedly took part in skirmishes that led to the destruction of property worth thousands of dollars in Chitungwiza, appeared in court on Thursday charged with public violence.

The 40 also allegedly barricaded roads with large stones and stoned the police.

Pardon Mashayamombe (35) of St Mary’s is jointly charged with 33 others including the two minors aged 15 and 16 respectively.

Michael Charamba (34) of Zengeza 4 and five others also appeared in court on separate charges.

The accused’s ages vary from 15 to 50 and most of them are from Chitungwiza while a few came from Waterfalls and Westlea in Harare.

Appearing before Chitungwiza resident magistrate Mrs Renika Dzikiti, they were not asked to plead to charges of public violence and participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaching of peace or bigotry.

The 38 adults were remanded to January 21 on $50 bail, while the two minors were freed into the custody of their parents.

Prosecutor Mr Donald Mudadirwa told the court that on January 5 and at around 7:30 am at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza, the accused persons barricaded the road.

They allegedly blocked the road with stone boulders and threw stones towards the police who were dispersing the riotous mob. It is further alleged that the mob was demonstrating against Chitungwiza Municipality for hiking annual commuter operating fees.

Charamba and his accomplices, acting in concert on the same day at around 11.30 am allegedly teamed up with the purpose of protesting against council decision. They allegedly went to Zengeza 4 Pagomba Shopping Centre and barricaded the road using boulders, forcing all commuters to disembark from commuter omnibuses despite warning by the police to desist from such acts.

Touts carry a coffin bearing the body of Lazarus Chimwendo in Chitungwiza yesterday. Chimwendo died during skirmishes pitying kombi crews and Harare Municipal Police early this week. – (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

Samantha Chigogo Herald Correspondent
Touts and vendors in Chitungwiza yesterday caused chaos in the town when they paraded a coffin of a tout who was fatally hit by a kombi fleeing from municipal police officers in Harare last Sunday.

The tout was run over during Harare City Council’s operation codenamed “Scorpion”, which was aimed at enforcing city by-laws meant to clear illegal passenger pick-up points popularly known as “mishikashika”.

Lazarus Chimwendo (31) was hit by the commuter omnibus at the corner of Julius Nyerere Way and Robson Manyika Avenue in running battles between kombi crews and municipal police.

He was rushed to a local hospital where he died on admission.

Eight people, including two Harare municipal traffic police officers and several other people, including passers-by were injured in the skirmishes.

The touts in Chitungwiza, who were visibly angry, paraded the coffin at Chitungwiza Town Council offices as a way of protesting against municipal raids in the town.

Business in the town came to a halt as the touts were joined by kombi drivers and vendors singing and chanting insults at municipal police and council officials.

They were blaming council officials for the death of their colleague.

“The way council operates has caused the death of one of our own, hence we have decided to parade his coffin at the council premises as a way of showing our anger and discomfort towards municipal police,” said one of the touts.

“Let them come up with better ways to deal with our mischief than this because we are afraid the situation will continue, but we will not surrender.”

The touts vowed to continue operating from undesignated points.

“We are warning municipal police against the way they handle us during these raids. We are not criminals but desperate people trying to make ends meet without stealing from anyone,” said another tout.

“If they take us from the streets where do they expect us to earn a living in these harsh economic times?

“Municipal police should just leave us alone to operate as we please as we are not disturbing anyone.”

Harare City Council has since launched an operation codenamed “Scorpion” which is aimed at enforcing city by-laws to clear illegal passenger pick-up points by pirate taxis.

The raids led to the arrest of over 40 touts during the operation.

Court Correspondent
Two suspected robbers appeared in court last week for fatally stoning a man before stealing his valuables and $120 in cash. Tatenda Gwanda (22) and Saymore Dzimaita (22) were charged with murder when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo.

Mr Makomo remanded the two in custody to January 29 for their trial. The prosecutor Mrs Idah Maromo alleged that on November 8 2014 along Hurst Road, Waterfalls in Harare, Gwanda and Dzamaita waylaid Mr Caleb Muzunze as he was coming from work.

The court heard that the two suddenly started throwing stones at Mr Muzunze, hitting him on the head, until he fell to the ground.

When Mr Muzunze fell down, it is alleged that Gwanda and Dzamaita searched him and stole a black grey satchel containing groceries, a Nokia Asha cellphone and a wallet containing $120.

Mr Muzunze was rushed to hospital by people who found him in agony but he died on November 12 2014. The two were arrested on November 17.

Ellah Mukwati recently in Kadoma
Members of two housing cooperatives in Kadoma engaged in a brawl last Friday during a meeting at Pixie Combie after they discovered that there were double allocations for some stands.

The warring members had to be separated by the police who urged them to solve their problems amicably.

No one was arrested during the skirmishes, but some people sustained minor injuries.

Addressing the housing co-operatives’ members after the fight, chairperson of Pixie Combie Housing Cooperative Mr Simon Solomon warned residents to verify title before buying stands.

Pixie Combie Housing Cooperative claims to be the legitimate owner of the land which it said was allocated by Kadoma Town Council.

“We have a case here whereby we are seeing members from Kadoma Housing Trust selling stands that already have owners,” he said.

“The issue is that the housing cooperative was allocated its own land in Phase Two, but they are coming to disturb the Phase One project by allocating stands to their members, stands that already have owners.

“Some of the people who benefited from Phase One project have not yet built houses on their stands, so Cde Jimayi Muduvuri (a Kadoma businessman and politician) and his group (Kadoma Housing Trust) take advantage of the situation and resell the stands to rich people who then build houses and claim ownership of the land.”

Mr Solomon said people should not take advantage of their authority to abuse other residents, as well as stealing from the poor.

“I would like to say Cde Muduvuri and his committee should stop collecting money from people, promising them stands in Phase One because they already have owners.” he said.

“Those who will do anything against the law will be arrested.

“We do not want to cause misunderstandings in the way we are doing our things. Those that did not get stands during the establishment of Phase One should benefit from the next phase.”

Ms Chipo Phiri, a resident at Pixie Combie Housing Scheme, said she was not happy with the way the housing cooperative leaders were handling their business.

“We are having a problem that one stand has been sold to more than one person and in some cases we even find one stand with three or four people claiming ownership,” she said.

“We understand these stands where sold in 2006 and the people who bought these stands are the only ones with original offer letters and a yellow receipt with an amount of $10 000. Other people are buying fake offer letters by just paying $15 and we cannot allow that.”

Some of the residents said they had already lost their stands and even after reporting the cases, nothing had been done.

When contacted for comment, Cde Muduvuri denied the allegations and refused to further discuss the case.

Most cities and town across the country are dealing with cases of land barons who sell land to desperate home seekers without authority.

A number of people in the various areas have lost their hard earned cash after discovering that they would have bought stands allocated to other people.

The situation has been worse in Harare where a number of land barons appeared in court recently after unprocedurally selling land to home seekers.

Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
A cheating woman who saved contact details of her alleged boyfriend in her phone under the name of a female friend was severely assaulted by her husband after he discovered a WhatsApp conversation of the affair.

Tarisai Mbiriyakura (28) of 5940 Unit J in Chitungwiza received a thorough beating from her husband Richard Gororo (36) of the same location.

Gororo was slapped with a six-month prison term after pleading guilty to physical abuse charges before Chitungwiza resident magistrate Mrs Renika Dzikiti.

Three months were set aside for five years.

Gororo told the court that he could not control his emotions after unearthing the chat between his wife and her boyfriend.

“Your Worship, she was cheating on me,” he said.

“I discovered that she saved the contact number of her boyfriend bearing the name of a woman.

“This was after I woke up at midnight and went through her cellphone and picked the conversation with her boyfriend.”

Gororo said this resulted in a scuffle and he ended up bashing her.

In sentencing him, Mrs Dzikiti noted that cases of domestic violence were on the increase.

“It is high time that the court should send the correct message to would-be offenders by incarcerating people who resort to solving their differences by beating up their wives,” she said.

The prosecutor Mr Donald Mudadirwa proved that on January 2 at around 10pm, the couple had a misunderstanding over messages which were sent to Tarisai’s cellphone.

Gororo suspected that his wife was having an illicit affair and beat her up.

Tarisai sustained a swollen right eye and had some pains all over her body.

Midlands Correspondent
A librarian at Great Zimbabwe University, Mashava Campus, has been ordered to pay $6 000 in compensation and damages after he lured a married woman into an affair in exchange for free WiFi access.

Shepherd Chinofunga of Mashava was taken to court by Tirimukai Madhuku after he caught him having sex with his wife, Muchaneta Muchemwa, whom he offered free use of WiFi when she was supposed to pay since she was not a student.

Madhuku, who was represented by Mr Hebert Tafa of Tafa and Associates Legal Practitioners, was demanding $7 000 from Chinofunga, but Masvingo magistrate Bishard Chineka reduced the amount to $6 000.

It is understood that during the period extending from January to May last year, Chinofunga proposed love to Muchemwa fully aware that she was married to Madhuku and offered her free WiFi access at the university in exchange of sex.

The two started dating and Muchemwa would leave the house at around 8pm going to the institution’s library where Chinofunga would then take her to a secluded place and have sex.

The matter came to light in May last year when Madhuku realised that his wife, who was semi literate, had become techno-savvy and became suspicious.

He followed his wife from a distance one night to the institution and saw her with Chinofunga.

The two went to an abandoned building close to the university campus where they started making love and they were caught in the act.

He then took them to his house where Chinofunga agreed to pay an undisclosed amount in damages to Madhuku and was freed. Chinofunga did not honour his commitment, prompting Madhuku to institute court proceedings demanding damages.