Beitbridge Bureau Chief
A dog carrying the decomposing head of an infant led to the discovery of a dumped newborn baby in a pit in West Nicholson last Thursday.
Police have arrested 19-year-old Thubelihle Sibanda of Zimcam Compound for allegedly dumping her baby.
It is understood that Sibanda gave birth to a boy on July 18.
Police believe she threw the baby in a pit soon afterwards.
The corpse was found four days later when a dog was seen carrying the infant’s head.
Members of the community made a police report leading to Sibanda’s arrest.
The body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Acting police spokesman for Matabeleland South Sergeant Thabani Mkwananzi confirmed the arrest and said the suspect was assisting them with investigations.
published by, The Herald 31 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Blitz on shebeens, brothels nets 11
| By Thupeyo Muleya POLICE here yesterday raided several houses used as shebeens and brothels and arrested 11 people. Most of the houses are in Duliba-dzimu where illegal booking houses and brothels have sprouted over the past few years. Several houses in the border town have been turned into brothels with the owners cashing in on demand for accommodation by commercial sex workers. According to the 2002 population census, the town had a population of 22 387 and an estimated 2 570 houses in formal settlements, primarily for Government officials and middle-level private sector staff, and 3 000 informal structures. This has since increased due to the town’s proximity to South Africa and the hive of economic and commercial activity in the border town. The police officer commanding operations in Beitbridge District, Superinte-ndent Muzamo Bhebhe, said the exercise started on Tuesday. He said they were targeting operators of unlicensed drinking places, criminals and premises used by com-mercial sex workers. "Some notorious criminals use brothels as safe houses. "The local authority has also given us a vehicle to use in some of the night raids. "To date we have arrested 11 suspects, most of whom are shebeen operators, and they will soon appear in court for contravening provisions of the Liquor Licensing Act," he said. Published by, The Herald 30 July 2010 www.herald.co.zw |
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Woman cheats death in her sleep
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
A WOMAN here escaped death by a whisker early yesterday morning after a speeding pirate taxi rammed into her Dulibadzimu house and stopped right next to her bed while she slept.
The incident occurred at around 7am while Ms Talent Moyo was alone in her house.
She said, "It happened while I was fast asleep. I heard a big noise and then I saw the car coming to my bed.
"The car knocked down the door and a part of the wall and stopped after bumping my bed.
"It was like a dream to me and it took me a few minutes to understand what had just happened.
"I am glad that I escaped unhurt although the house is extensively damaged.
"There are a lot of cracks on the walls."
Ms Moyo said police were called to the scene and towed away the car.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver must have stepped on the accelerator pedal rather than the brakes as he reversed and in the process rammed into the house.
He escaped unhurt.
The incident comes a few months after a 25-year-old woman from Beitbridge was arrested by police after she allegedly ran over a 2-year-old boy who had been playing on the veranda of the family home.
It was established that the woman was an unlicensed driver.
published by , The Herald 27 July 2010
A WOMAN here escaped death by a whisker early yesterday morning after a speeding pirate taxi rammed into her Dulibadzimu house and stopped right next to her bed while she slept.
The incident occurred at around 7am while Ms Talent Moyo was alone in her house.
She said, "It happened while I was fast asleep. I heard a big noise and then I saw the car coming to my bed.
"The car knocked down the door and a part of the wall and stopped after bumping my bed.
"It was like a dream to me and it took me a few minutes to understand what had just happened.
"I am glad that I escaped unhurt although the house is extensively damaged.
"There are a lot of cracks on the walls."
Ms Moyo said police were called to the scene and towed away the car.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver must have stepped on the accelerator pedal rather than the brakes as he reversed and in the process rammed into the house.
He escaped unhurt.
The incident comes a few months after a 25-year-old woman from Beitbridge was arrested by police after she allegedly ran over a 2-year-old boy who had been playing on the veranda of the family home.
It was established that the woman was an unlicensed driver.
published by , The Herald 27 July 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Support children’s rights programmes’
From Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
The Beitbridge Town Council deputy chairperson has urged parents to take a proactive role in human rights-based education and maintain functional children’s rights and protection programmes in the district.
Speaking during a Beitbridge district education performance awards ceremony for 2009 at Lutumba Primary School last Friday, Councillor Patricia Ndlovu said child friendly schools should aim to develop the whole child by promoting diversity.
This year’s awards were held under the theme "Child friendly school a must for all".
"The schools should ensure equality of learning for all children by meeting their different circumstances and needs based on gender, social class and ethnicity and ability levels. The school environment should be conducive to meet the needs of the child".
Mrs Ndlovu urged school development committees across the district to join hands with other stakeholders to improve the education system.
She said revamping the education sector needed a joint effort from all stakeholders.
"School Development Committees need to work hard in collaboration with other stakeholders in providing resources necessary for curriculum that will cater for the pupils’ differentiated abilities, interests and aptitudes.
"They should promote a healthy, hygienic and safe learning environment with adequate water, sanitation and the provision of health services like the Nutritional Supplementation and counselling.
"It is highly pleasing that our schools are now offering ECD education and that our teachers are taking the teaching of local languages seriously as witnessed by the large number of teachers taking study leave degrees in local languages," she said.
Speaking at the same function, the district education officer Mr Sam Siyafa Moyo said the department was courting partners across Zimbabwe to improve the education quality of facilities.
"We have started championing the electrification of more schools, while others have to operate on solar panels as a way of improving the working environment for teachers and pupils.
"Apart from that we have also distributed 940 computers to most secondary schools and very soon we will be sourcing the same for primary schools," he said.
Beitbridge district has 55 primary and 13 secondary schools.
Among those who received awards were Jopembe School (Best Primary in academic performce), Zezani High (Best Ordinary Level results), Tongwe High School (Best Advanced Level results) and Dulibadzimu Primary School (Best Arts and Cultural school) among others.
Also honoured at the event were best O’ level results pupil Nyathi Lerato who had four As, three Bs and a C while the best A’ level pupils was Winnie Siziba who attained 12 points.
published by, The Herald 26 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
The Beitbridge Town Council deputy chairperson has urged parents to take a proactive role in human rights-based education and maintain functional children’s rights and protection programmes in the district.
Speaking during a Beitbridge district education performance awards ceremony for 2009 at Lutumba Primary School last Friday, Councillor Patricia Ndlovu said child friendly schools should aim to develop the whole child by promoting diversity.
This year’s awards were held under the theme "Child friendly school a must for all".
"The schools should ensure equality of learning for all children by meeting their different circumstances and needs based on gender, social class and ethnicity and ability levels. The school environment should be conducive to meet the needs of the child".
Mrs Ndlovu urged school development committees across the district to join hands with other stakeholders to improve the education system.
She said revamping the education sector needed a joint effort from all stakeholders.
"School Development Committees need to work hard in collaboration with other stakeholders in providing resources necessary for curriculum that will cater for the pupils’ differentiated abilities, interests and aptitudes.
"They should promote a healthy, hygienic and safe learning environment with adequate water, sanitation and the provision of health services like the Nutritional Supplementation and counselling.
"It is highly pleasing that our schools are now offering ECD education and that our teachers are taking the teaching of local languages seriously as witnessed by the large number of teachers taking study leave degrees in local languages," she said.
Speaking at the same function, the district education officer Mr Sam Siyafa Moyo said the department was courting partners across Zimbabwe to improve the education quality of facilities.
"We have started championing the electrification of more schools, while others have to operate on solar panels as a way of improving the working environment for teachers and pupils.
"Apart from that we have also distributed 940 computers to most secondary schools and very soon we will be sourcing the same for primary schools," he said.
Beitbridge district has 55 primary and 13 secondary schools.
Among those who received awards were Jopembe School (Best Primary in academic performce), Zezani High (Best Ordinary Level results), Tongwe High School (Best Advanced Level results) and Dulibadzimu Primary School (Best Arts and Cultural school) among others.
Also honoured at the event were best O’ level results pupil Nyathi Lerato who had four As, three Bs and a C while the best A’ level pupils was Winnie Siziba who attained 12 points.
published by, The Herald 26 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tourism showpiece to attract 600 cyclists
By Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Zimbabwe will this year host about 600 cyclists from across the globe at the annual Tour de Tuli that also involves Botswana and South Africa.
In a statement yesterday, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the number of participants had doubled from last year’s 300 following the great success that the 2009 event was.
The tourism showpiece will be held in Zimbabwe for the second year running.
Previously, it was a preserve for Botswana, Mozambi-que and South Africa under the banner Tour de Kruger.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said the cycling/mountain bike expedition will take place under the theme "Using Adventure to Build a Better World".
"Our task teams are already working with other stakeholders in and around our component of the Greater Mapungubwe transfrontier conservation area in making sure that this tour will again be a resounding success.
"Because of the increased numbers of participants, this year’s event will be divided into two batches of about 300 cyclists each.
"The first batch is scheduled to enter Zimbabwe through Tuli Circle Safari Area on the 5th of August 2010 and the second group enters Zimbabwe the following day.
"Included in these groups will be journalists from various international media," she said.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said participants will ride through Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa; and three national parks, namely Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Tuli Circle and Mapungubwe National Park.
"In addition the route in Zimbabwe will include an area in Beitbridge to the west, through Maramani communal lands and Sentinel Ranch, which is home to dinosaur fossils and footprints that are more than 200 million-years-old as well as grain bin shelters from the late Iron Age.
"This will no doubt market Zimbabwe as a tourism destination of choice.
Last year’s event received coverage on DSTV, Super Sport and in many tourism magazines at no cost at all", she said.
The event draws cyclists from across the globe to traverse participating countries and offers a unique marketing opportunity for the tourism sector.
published by, The Herald 21 July 2010
Zimbabwe will this year host about 600 cyclists from across the globe at the annual Tour de Tuli that also involves Botswana and South Africa.
In a statement yesterday, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the number of participants had doubled from last year’s 300 following the great success that the 2009 event was.
The tourism showpiece will be held in Zimbabwe for the second year running.
Previously, it was a preserve for Botswana, Mozambi-que and South Africa under the banner Tour de Kruger.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said the cycling/mountain bike expedition will take place under the theme "Using Adventure to Build a Better World".
"Our task teams are already working with other stakeholders in and around our component of the Greater Mapungubwe transfrontier conservation area in making sure that this tour will again be a resounding success.
"Because of the increased numbers of participants, this year’s event will be divided into two batches of about 300 cyclists each.
"The first batch is scheduled to enter Zimbabwe through Tuli Circle Safari Area on the 5th of August 2010 and the second group enters Zimbabwe the following day.
"Included in these groups will be journalists from various international media," she said.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said participants will ride through Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa; and three national parks, namely Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Tuli Circle and Mapungubwe National Park.
"In addition the route in Zimbabwe will include an area in Beitbridge to the west, through Maramani communal lands and Sentinel Ranch, which is home to dinosaur fossils and footprints that are more than 200 million-years-old as well as grain bin shelters from the late Iron Age.
"This will no doubt market Zimbabwe as a tourism destination of choice.
Last year’s event received coverage on DSTV, Super Sport and in many tourism magazines at no cost at all", she said.
The event draws cyclists from across the globe to traverse participating countries and offers a unique marketing opportunity for the tourism sector.
published by, The Herald 21 July 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
MDC-T members’ public violence trial postponed
By Thupeyo Muleya
THE trial of 60 MDC-T members who were arrested in February this year for public violence after a Beitbridge district meeting degenerated into fistfights was last Wednesday further postponed to September 28.
The 60 supporters were jointly charged with public violence and were not asked to plead when they appeared before local magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Mhene.
They were all remanded out of custody and ordered to reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses.
The duo of Moffat Ndou and Buhle Dube, who are the party’s western and eastern MDC-T branch chairpersons, were also jointly charged for convening the meeting, which led to the skirmishes without notifying the police.
Four other members; Tobias Sibanda (32), Sikhephula Moyo (42), Graham Nyoni (24) and Savious Singo (27) were further charged with criminal trespass for storming the house of Home Affairs co-Minister and Beitbridge East legislator Cde Kembo Mohadi.
All the six were also remanded out of custody.
The State, led by Mr Foster Abheki, said they were further postponing the case to a later date so that they could get enough time to screen the suspects against all aspects of evidence since they were arrested as a group.
He said they needed time to deal with the cases on an individual basis.
Mr Winston Tshakalisa of Tshakalisa Legal Practitioners and Mr Misheck Hogwe of Hogwe, Dzimirai and Partners represented the accused persons.
It is the State’s case that on February 6 at around 10 am, Ndou and Dube convened a public gathering at Caravan Park in the border town without notifying the police.
While at the Caravan Park, clashes ensued between the groups led by Enos Tshili and Eliot Maveza leading both groups to run wild and destroy property at the venue.
They also inflicted serious injuries to two people who have since been taken to Harare for special treatment, while six others were treated and discharged at Beitbridge District Hospital.
Those who were seriously injured are Nhlangano Zvambira and Paul Tadzembwa.
During the fight, the groups proceeded to the streets in the nearby low-density suburbs and town area where they stared disrupting the flow of traffic by throwing stones at motorists.
It was during that process that Tobias Sibanda (32), Sikhephula Moyo (42), Graham Nyoni (24) and Savious Singo (27) entered into Minister Mohadi’s premises where they were then apprehended by the police on guard.
Riot police were called in when delegates to the meeting at Caravan Park started exchanging blows in a tribal-based dispute.
Several people were seriously injured and 58 people were arrested. Police recovered 35 boulders and eight logs from Dube’s car while others were recovered from the scene.
published by, The Herald 19 July 2010
THE trial of 60 MDC-T members who were arrested in February this year for public violence after a Beitbridge district meeting degenerated into fistfights was last Wednesday further postponed to September 28.
The 60 supporters were jointly charged with public violence and were not asked to plead when they appeared before local magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Mhene.
They were all remanded out of custody and ordered to reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses.
The duo of Moffat Ndou and Buhle Dube, who are the party’s western and eastern MDC-T branch chairpersons, were also jointly charged for convening the meeting, which led to the skirmishes without notifying the police.
Four other members; Tobias Sibanda (32), Sikhephula Moyo (42), Graham Nyoni (24) and Savious Singo (27) were further charged with criminal trespass for storming the house of Home Affairs co-Minister and Beitbridge East legislator Cde Kembo Mohadi.
All the six were also remanded out of custody.
The State, led by Mr Foster Abheki, said they were further postponing the case to a later date so that they could get enough time to screen the suspects against all aspects of evidence since they were arrested as a group.
He said they needed time to deal with the cases on an individual basis.
Mr Winston Tshakalisa of Tshakalisa Legal Practitioners and Mr Misheck Hogwe of Hogwe, Dzimirai and Partners represented the accused persons.
It is the State’s case that on February 6 at around 10 am, Ndou and Dube convened a public gathering at Caravan Park in the border town without notifying the police.
While at the Caravan Park, clashes ensued between the groups led by Enos Tshili and Eliot Maveza leading both groups to run wild and destroy property at the venue.
They also inflicted serious injuries to two people who have since been taken to Harare for special treatment, while six others were treated and discharged at Beitbridge District Hospital.
Those who were seriously injured are Nhlangano Zvambira and Paul Tadzembwa.
During the fight, the groups proceeded to the streets in the nearby low-density suburbs and town area where they stared disrupting the flow of traffic by throwing stones at motorists.
It was during that process that Tobias Sibanda (32), Sikhephula Moyo (42), Graham Nyoni (24) and Savious Singo (27) entered into Minister Mohadi’s premises where they were then apprehended by the police on guard.
Riot police were called in when delegates to the meeting at Caravan Park started exchanging blows in a tribal-based dispute.
Several people were seriously injured and 58 people were arrested. Police recovered 35 boulders and eight logs from Dube’s car while others were recovered from the scene.
published by, The Herald 19 July 2010
Police impound 38 SA-registered buses
Beitbridge Bureau Chief
POLICE, in conjunction with the Vehicle Inspection Department, last Friday impounded 38 South African-registered cross border buses for operating without permits and breaching the country’s road traffic regulations.
Also caught up in the blitz were pirate taxi operators and some South African-registered vehicles used for transporting illegal immigrants between the two countries. Officer in charge of Police National Traffic section in Beitbridge, Inspector Tendai Nyambuya confirmed the arrests last Friday.
He said the buses were rounded up and were kept at VID depot in the border town.
He said the majority of the buses were operating on tourist permits while others were not registered.
Insp Nyambuya said under normal traffic regulations, the buses should be operating on cross border permits instead of the tourist permits, which they were now abusing.
"We rounded up over 38 buses and several cars used to ferry illegal immigrants between South Africa and Zimbabwe for violating our customs and road traffic regulations.
"You will realise that most of the buses were operating on tourist permits to carry cross-border passengers instead of acquiring the requisite permits.
"The tourist permit allows them to only carry travellers who will be coming here for tourism purposes not returning residents.
"We will continue rounding them up until they start complying with the laws of the land. As for the pirate taxis, we are descending heavily on them. As far as we are concerned there are no taxis in this town.
"All those found wanting will be brought to book. There is a crop of motorists who are in the habit of abusing the conditions of their Temporary Import Permits. Such people enter the country as genuine visitors but later divert from that and start touting for illegal immigrants on the guise of taking them to South Africa and later abuse and strip them of their valuables. We want to warn them that their days are numbered," said Insp Nyambuya.
published by The Herald 19 July 2010
POLICE, in conjunction with the Vehicle Inspection Department, last Friday impounded 38 South African-registered cross border buses for operating without permits and breaching the country’s road traffic regulations.
Also caught up in the blitz were pirate taxi operators and some South African-registered vehicles used for transporting illegal immigrants between the two countries. Officer in charge of Police National Traffic section in Beitbridge, Inspector Tendai Nyambuya confirmed the arrests last Friday.
He said the buses were rounded up and were kept at VID depot in the border town.
He said the majority of the buses were operating on tourist permits while others were not registered.
Insp Nyambuya said under normal traffic regulations, the buses should be operating on cross border permits instead of the tourist permits, which they were now abusing.
"We rounded up over 38 buses and several cars used to ferry illegal immigrants between South Africa and Zimbabwe for violating our customs and road traffic regulations.
"You will realise that most of the buses were operating on tourist permits to carry cross-border passengers instead of acquiring the requisite permits.
"The tourist permit allows them to only carry travellers who will be coming here for tourism purposes not returning residents.
"We will continue rounding them up until they start complying with the laws of the land. As for the pirate taxis, we are descending heavily on them. As far as we are concerned there are no taxis in this town.
"All those found wanting will be brought to book. There is a crop of motorists who are in the habit of abusing the conditions of their Temporary Import Permits. Such people enter the country as genuine visitors but later divert from that and start touting for illegal immigrants on the guise of taking them to South Africa and later abuse and strip them of their valuables. We want to warn them that their days are numbered," said Insp Nyambuya.
published by The Herald 19 July 2010
Beitbridge schools cry out for help
| By Thupeyo Muleya At the age of 19, Joel Kondo could neither read nor write, let alone spell his name correctly at the first attempt, a development that always left him embarrassed each time he was in the company of his peers. His father worked as a gardener for one white man, Mr Carl Bridges in Bulawayo and earned very little to provide for his family. All his five children had dropped out of school after Grade Three, which left them essentially illiterate. This was during the colonial era and most black children failed to get a decent education to allow them to be conversant literally. The system could not just allow that. But the advent of independence brought a new dimension to both the social and economic realities of free Zimbabweans. The Government adopted a free education for all system and built more primary and secondary school across the country, especially in those areas which had been marginalised during the colonial era with a view of creating a productive and literate nation. And this was the most-welcome development to the likes of Joel who returned to school regardless of his age. He was not alone in his jubilation as many people, even some that had been to the war front also returned to the classroom and started education in earnest. This period produced students who were very mature and had previously been watching from the sidelines as their counterparts from the "privileged" class went through their educational structures. Everything seemed to be going on very well. However, a few years down the line, with the economy gradually collapsing under a host of challenges, the education sector bore the brunt and most of these special services died a natural death in the process. A recent survey around most schools in Beitbridge District painted a gloomy picture in which the majority of the education facilities are literally in intensive care. In fact, many of the buildings which were constructed long before the country gained its independence are ticking time bombs as they can just collapse or crumble on top of students anytime. There are 55 primary and 13 secondary schools in Beitbridge district. At one school, children are attending classes under trees while some of them have to sit on floors. Furthermore, there are no adequate ablution facilities and even teachers’ accommodation. There is also a glaring shortage of the latest syllabuses for most subjects, a development that has seen some teachers relying on textbooks for lessons while there is also an acute water shortage among the host of woes. It has also emerged that unqualified teachers are manning most of the schools in the wake of the brain drain that came with the economic meltdown. The hardest hit schools are those situated in the remote areas from the border town such as Chikwalakwala, Chaswingo, Tshapfuche, Old Mutshutshuta, Limpopo, Hunga, Muthangamtshana, Lesanth, Joko, Madaulo, Penemene, Makombe and Swereki. One of the primary schools in intensive care is Chaswingo, some 65 kilometres east of Beitbridge under chief Matibe where the authorities have since appealed for funds to buy furniture for the school, which has virtually nothing. Kids sit on animal skin mats and bricks in the absence of real furniture at a school that has an enrolment of 629 pupils. Doors at the school are extensively damaged because of wear and tear since the school was established in 1978. There are three classroom blocks and 17 teachers. The classrooms’ floors have also not been spared and teachers have to make use of bricks in place of the damaged benches and tables. A teacher at the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the situation was a cause for concern and needed urgent intervention from well wishers. He said the situation was worse especially in winter when children have to sit on the floors during cold temperatures. He added that they were making efforts through the traditional leadership to raise funds to buy furniture for the school. The school head, Mr Godfrey Nyoni confirmed that the situation was terrible adding that it was killing both the teachers and pupils’ motivation. Last year, Beitbridge recorded pass rates of 32 percent for grades 7, 17 percent for ‘O’ Level and 74 percent for ‘A’ Level students. Chaswingo ward 3 councillor, Clara Zvenyika said they were in the midst of mobilising resources to buy furniture and stationery for the school. They were making frantic efforts to get the school electrified and mobilising villagers to repair some of the broken down equipment at the school. "We are aware of the problems at the school and we are making efforts as parents in conjunction with other stakeholders to address the plight of the children. "However, we still appeal to Government and other well-wishers to donate towards capacitating the school," said Zvenyika. Matabeleland South provincial education director, Mrs Tumisang Thabela said the situation in Beitbridge was a cause for concern. "We are really worried with the status quo in Beitbridge District and this has also been a demoralising factor to both the teachers and children. "However, as Government we are doing everything possible to get things back to normal. I want to urge all the stakeholders including school heads, school development committees and former students associations to join hands and help bring confidence in the education sector," she said. Additionally, she explained that in most schools in the district the child to textbook ratio stood at 1:35, a situation that must be urgently addressed to nurture a creative and innovative society, which is also able to give back to the community. "For instance, we have a number of luminaries and politicians who came from these schools but they haven’t done enough to help the future generation. "If you go to other provinces they have school development committees, branches in the Diaspora and they have been working with school authorities to breathe life into the education system. With that in mind, as education authorities here, we want to create a conducive working environment for staff and those who would want to assist us," she said. Mrs Thabela bemoaned the poor pass and retention rates of children from primary to secondary schools. She said in most cases this was caused by negligence on the part of both the students and parents or lack of financial resources to proceed to the next level. They had witnessed a very worrying retention rate of 68 percent for children proceeding from primary to secondary education between 2008 and 2009. The educationist appealed to the business community in the area to help in procuring furniture, textbooks and renovating some of the schools. "We are working on measures to save our education which is faced with a number of challenges, some of which include the production of 4 500 syllabi this year out of the required 10 000 in the province. We are in the midst of courting other partners apart from the Government to help reduce the child text book ratio to one is to 12," said Mrs Thabela. Incidentally, there are two big mines in Beitbridge, several commercial farms, two transfrontier parks, a number of tycoons who can help uplift the face of the education sector in the province if they cared. The district, on the other hand, boasts of one of the busiest ports of entry in Sub-Saharan Africa where the Government draws most of its funds, but with all these resources, the education facilities remain in the doldrums. It is understood that 30 percent of Government revenue comes from Zimra and of that percentage 70 percent comes from Beitbridge Border Post. Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart recently called on Government to allocate more funds to the education sector in the national budget for resuscitation of the sector. Only time will tell if there is anyone willing to do something about the state of affairs in Beitbridge. published by, The Herald 19 July 2010 |
SA-based robbery suspect nabbed
By Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
A South Africa-based 22-year-old man from Mberengwa had been arrested in connection with armed robbery after three weeks on the run.
Three weeks ago, Mpumelelo Moyo allegedly opened fire at eight detectives at Beitbridge Police Station and escaped.
It is believed that he smuggled the gun into Zimbabwe from South Africa over the Easter Holiday.
However, police caught up with him on Tuesday night when he reportedly tried to cash in on a gold rush at Vova Mine near Gwanda.
Matabeleland South police spokesman inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe yesterday said they had charged Moyo for illegally possessing a firearm, unlawfully discharging a firearm, pointing a firearm (13 counts) and escaping from lawful custody.
“We arrested the suspect at Vova Mine where we believe he had followed the wind of gold rush.
“The firearm has since been recovered and the suspect will soon appear in court.”
published by, The Herald 6 May 2010
www.herald.co.zw
A South Africa-based 22-year-old man from Mberengwa had been arrested in connection with armed robbery after three weeks on the run.
Three weeks ago, Mpumelelo Moyo allegedly opened fire at eight detectives at Beitbridge Police Station and escaped.
It is believed that he smuggled the gun into Zimbabwe from South Africa over the Easter Holiday.
However, police caught up with him on Tuesday night when he reportedly tried to cash in on a gold rush at Vova Mine near Gwanda.
Matabeleland South police spokesman inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe yesterday said they had charged Moyo for illegally possessing a firearm, unlawfully discharging a firearm, pointing a firearm (13 counts) and escaping from lawful custody.
“We arrested the suspect at Vova Mine where we believe he had followed the wind of gold rush.
“The firearm has since been recovered and the suspect will soon appear in court.”
published by, The Herald 6 May 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Govt to assist SA returnees
By Thupeyo Muleya
Government has set up a national committee to look into the plight of Zimbabweans fleeing South Africa in droves in fear of threats of xenophobic attacks.
The International Organisation for Migra-tion also immediately announced plans to work with the governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa to help repatriate Zimbabweans seeking assistance.
Civil Protection Unit director Mr Madzu-dzo Pawadyira last week said the Govern-ment was considering seriously rumours of xenophobic attacks hence the need to be fully prepared for any emergencies.
They were putting in place all necessary arrangements despite assurances from the South African government that the threats were just a hoax.
"We have come up with contingent plans in case of any xenophobic eventualities in South Africa.
"A national committee made up of the ministries of Local Government, Health, Home Affairs, Social Welfare and other stakeholders is on standby in the event there would be an unprecedented increase of people fleeing xenophobic attacks from our neighbour.
"We are here (in Beitbridge) to see how best we can transport people and offer moral and mutual support to our fellow countrymen," he said.
Mr Pawadyira said several NGOs — among them IOM, World Vision and Medicins Sans Frontieres — have also been helpful in assessing the situation on the ground and offering assistance in terms of accommodation food and transport.
He said the CPU had so far received 10 000 blankets, 1 000 water buckets, 20 boxes of green bar soap and three tents from UN agencies in order to deal with the situation.
They would soon engage the National Railways of Zimbabwe to transport people to their respective destinations.
IOM said following media reports about fears of xenophobic attacks in South Africa after the 2010 Fifa World Cup, it was prepared to work with either government to repatriate people to their homes.
"IOM has read about recent media reports about fears of xenophobic attacks on Zimbabweans (and other foreigners) after the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.
"In the event of either government seeking IOM assistance in the repatriation of Zimbabweans, IOM (in collaboration with the relevant government and aid agencies) would be in a position to assist," reads part of the statement.
Last year IOM, in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe and South African authorities, facilitated voluntary return of 169 Zimbabweans fleeing xenophobic attacks in SA.
It provided the returnees with medical screening, facilitation of travel documents, transport and food.
Should the need arise again, IOM with assistance from relevant authorities said it was ready to reactivate the mechanism that was used to assist returnees from De Doorns in SA.
At least 6 000 foreign nationals were displaced in South Africa, while 66 others were killed at the height of the xenophobia attacks in 2008.
published by, The Herald 19 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Government has set up a national committee to look into the plight of Zimbabweans fleeing South Africa in droves in fear of threats of xenophobic attacks.
The International Organisation for Migra-tion also immediately announced plans to work with the governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa to help repatriate Zimbabweans seeking assistance.
Civil Protection Unit director Mr Madzu-dzo Pawadyira last week said the Govern-ment was considering seriously rumours of xenophobic attacks hence the need to be fully prepared for any emergencies.
They were putting in place all necessary arrangements despite assurances from the South African government that the threats were just a hoax.
"We have come up with contingent plans in case of any xenophobic eventualities in South Africa.
"A national committee made up of the ministries of Local Government, Health, Home Affairs, Social Welfare and other stakeholders is on standby in the event there would be an unprecedented increase of people fleeing xenophobic attacks from our neighbour.
"We are here (in Beitbridge) to see how best we can transport people and offer moral and mutual support to our fellow countrymen," he said.
Mr Pawadyira said several NGOs — among them IOM, World Vision and Medicins Sans Frontieres — have also been helpful in assessing the situation on the ground and offering assistance in terms of accommodation food and transport.
He said the CPU had so far received 10 000 blankets, 1 000 water buckets, 20 boxes of green bar soap and three tents from UN agencies in order to deal with the situation.
They would soon engage the National Railways of Zimbabwe to transport people to their respective destinations.
IOM said following media reports about fears of xenophobic attacks in South Africa after the 2010 Fifa World Cup, it was prepared to work with either government to repatriate people to their homes.
"IOM has read about recent media reports about fears of xenophobic attacks on Zimbabweans (and other foreigners) after the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.
"In the event of either government seeking IOM assistance in the repatriation of Zimbabweans, IOM (in collaboration with the relevant government and aid agencies) would be in a position to assist," reads part of the statement.
Last year IOM, in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe and South African authorities, facilitated voluntary return of 169 Zimbabweans fleeing xenophobic attacks in SA.
It provided the returnees with medical screening, facilitation of travel documents, transport and food.
Should the need arise again, IOM with assistance from relevant authorities said it was ready to reactivate the mechanism that was used to assist returnees from De Doorns in SA.
At least 6 000 foreign nationals were displaced in South Africa, while 66 others were killed at the height of the xenophobia attacks in 2008.
published by, The Herald 19 July 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Friday, July 16, 2010
Businessman escapes jail term
| By Thupeyo Muleya Prominent Beitbridge businessman Hardson Mhlanga and his two friends, who were arrested last year for kidnapping and severely assaulting a man he suspected of courting his wife, were lucky to escape jail time after a magistrate wholly suspended their six-month custodial terms. The three were fined US$300 each on the assault charge and a default of payment would attract 20 days in prison in addition to the six months jail time that was conditionally suspended. Mhlanga (35), who operates Pogamo Heights and Pagomba nightclubs in the border town, was arrested with Kingston Muzvidziwa (36) and Clyton Zimbeva. They had pleaded not guilty before Mr Douglas Zvenyika but were convicted on the basis of overwhelming evidence against them. Their trial had its fair share of controversy as it sucked in Beitbridge area prosecutor Tarcicius Moyo and a law officer in the AG’s Office, Mr Sibanengi Ncube, who have since been arrested on charges of unprocedurally granting Mhlanga bail. That bail was revoked by a Beitbridge magistrate early this year. Mhlanga was charged with inciting his accomplices to kidnap and assault Cornelius Tinei. Muzvidziwa and Zimbeva were charged with kidnapping and assault. The State, led by Matabeleland South provincial prosecutor Mr Blessing Gundani, proved that on November 7 2009, Mhlanga summoned Muzvidziwa and Zimbeva to Pogamo Heights along with others who are still at large. He told them to kidnap Tinei and assault him as punishment for proposing love to his wife. At around 6pm that day, one of them called Tinei on his cellphone on the pretext that he wanted him to fix a television at Pogamo. When Tinei got to Pogamo they bundled him into a car and took him to a bushy area near an aerodrome. They severely assaulted him all over the body while Mhlanga watched from his car. Afterwards they dumped him at his house. Tinei sustained severe body injuries. A police report was made leading to the trio’s arrest. published by , The Herald 29 March 2010 www.herald.co.zw |
‘Prophet’ goes into hiding
By Thupeyo Muleya
ONE of the two self-styled prophets, Simbarashe Mapuranga (25), accused of stripping a critically ill traditional healer of two cars and R25 000 cash, has gone into hiding after he was released from custody on free bail.
His associate, Luckmore Pawandiwa (32), was convicted on one count of fraud and was ordered to perform 210 hours community service at the President’s Office in Beitbridge
A warrant of arrest has since been issued against Mapuranga.
Beitbridge magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Mhene had initially slapped Pawandiwa with nine months’ imprisonment but conditionally suspended three months.
He also commuted six months to community service on condition that the accused pays R5 125 restitution for damage caused to one of the vehicles.
The suspects, all of House 1204 in Dulibadzimu suburb who had initially been remanded out of custody pending judgement by Mr Mhene, were taken into custody last month following their arrest for interfering with witnesses.
They were later removed from remand prison a few weeks later to give them time to pay restitution for damage caused to the complainant’s vehicle leading to Mapuranga’s flight.
Mapuranga owed the complainant R60 000 in damages to the vehicle and part of the money he stole from her.
When their trial commenced, Mapuranga and Pawandiwa — who had all along denied the charges on two counts of fraud saying the cars were given to them as gifts for healing the complainant — were arrest after they approached the complainant asking for an out of court settlement.
Allegations against the duo arose on May 8 last year when the suspects went to complainant Sarah Sibanda’s homestead at Chigomele near Lutumba Business Centre.
They found a 15-year-old boy and misrepresented to him that they had been sent to collect a Datsun 120Y by her, which they needed to use in their faith healing ritual.
The accused were then given the car keys and also went on to ransack her bedroom hut and took away R25 000 cash and her traditional healing kit.
They proceeded to burn the traditional healing kit against the complainant’s will saying they had been instructed to do soby the "Holy Spirit".
The two suspects returned to the homestead a few days later and took the complainant and dumped her at a shack in Dulibadzimu, which they called "a clinic".
The woman was later rescued by a Good Samaritan who took her to Musina Hospital for treatment.
published by, The Herald 13 April 2010
ONE of the two self-styled prophets, Simbarashe Mapuranga (25), accused of stripping a critically ill traditional healer of two cars and R25 000 cash, has gone into hiding after he was released from custody on free bail.
His associate, Luckmore Pawandiwa (32), was convicted on one count of fraud and was ordered to perform 210 hours community service at the President’s Office in Beitbridge
A warrant of arrest has since been issued against Mapuranga.
Beitbridge magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Mhene had initially slapped Pawandiwa with nine months’ imprisonment but conditionally suspended three months.
He also commuted six months to community service on condition that the accused pays R5 125 restitution for damage caused to one of the vehicles.
The suspects, all of House 1204 in Dulibadzimu suburb who had initially been remanded out of custody pending judgement by Mr Mhene, were taken into custody last month following their arrest for interfering with witnesses.
They were later removed from remand prison a few weeks later to give them time to pay restitution for damage caused to the complainant’s vehicle leading to Mapuranga’s flight.
Mapuranga owed the complainant R60 000 in damages to the vehicle and part of the money he stole from her.
When their trial commenced, Mapuranga and Pawandiwa — who had all along denied the charges on two counts of fraud saying the cars were given to them as gifts for healing the complainant — were arrest after they approached the complainant asking for an out of court settlement.
Allegations against the duo arose on May 8 last year when the suspects went to complainant Sarah Sibanda’s homestead at Chigomele near Lutumba Business Centre.
They found a 15-year-old boy and misrepresented to him that they had been sent to collect a Datsun 120Y by her, which they needed to use in their faith healing ritual.
The accused were then given the car keys and also went on to ransack her bedroom hut and took away R25 000 cash and her traditional healing kit.
They proceeded to burn the traditional healing kit against the complainant’s will saying they had been instructed to do soby the "Holy Spirit".
The two suspects returned to the homestead a few days later and took the complainant and dumped her at a shack in Dulibadzimu, which they called "a clinic".
The woman was later rescued by a Good Samaritan who took her to Musina Hospital for treatment.
published by, The Herald 13 April 2010
SA bans multiple use of Zim ETDs
By Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau Chief
South Africa’s Home Affairs Depart-ment at Beitbridge Border Post is no longer accepting multiple use of Zimbabwean emergency travel documents with effect from January 1.
The latest development effectively gives Zimbabwean ETD holders single entry into South Africa.
This came after a meeting between officials from the Registrar-General’s Office and senior immigration officials from South Africa and Zimbabwe over the issue of altered ETDs.
In an interview on Monday, the assistant regional immigration manager-in-charge at Beitbridge Border Post Mr Charles Gwede said in December South Africa’s Home Affairs Department indicated they would from January only accept ETDs with a 21-day validity.
Mr Gwede said ETD holders were now being given 14-day residence permits and the document could only be used once.
"We had a meeting with the South African Home Affairs Department over the issue of altered ETDs and they indicated their Immigration Act prohibited the use of an altered travel document.
"It was then agreed that Zimbabweans using altered ETDs would only be allowed into South Africa until 31 December and that regulation is now being applied."
He said in line with the agreement with their South African counterparts, they were also barring travellers using altered ETDs.
"ETD holders can no longer repeatedly use their documents following the new regulation by the South African Home Affairs, which came into effect on January 1 and we therefore urge those using such documents to take note of that and avoid disappointment at the border," Mr Gwede said.
In December, scores of Zimbabweans travelling to South Africa using altered but genuine ETDs were turned away at the border. The RG’s office had altered ETD validity periods from 21 days to six months and authenticated this with an official stamp.
The alterations were made in line with the visa-free arrangement in which Zimbabwe-ans are now given a three-month visitor’s permit.
Zimbabweans, according to the arrangement, are allowed to seek temporary jobs during their stay in South Africa.
published by, The Herald 30 Jan 2010
South Africa’s Home Affairs Depart-ment at Beitbridge Border Post is no longer accepting multiple use of Zimbabwean emergency travel documents with effect from January 1.
The latest development effectively gives Zimbabwean ETD holders single entry into South Africa.
This came after a meeting between officials from the Registrar-General’s Office and senior immigration officials from South Africa and Zimbabwe over the issue of altered ETDs.
In an interview on Monday, the assistant regional immigration manager-in-charge at Beitbridge Border Post Mr Charles Gwede said in December South Africa’s Home Affairs Department indicated they would from January only accept ETDs with a 21-day validity.
Mr Gwede said ETD holders were now being given 14-day residence permits and the document could only be used once.
"We had a meeting with the South African Home Affairs Department over the issue of altered ETDs and they indicated their Immigration Act prohibited the use of an altered travel document.
"It was then agreed that Zimbabweans using altered ETDs would only be allowed into South Africa until 31 December and that regulation is now being applied."
He said in line with the agreement with their South African counterparts, they were also barring travellers using altered ETDs.
"ETD holders can no longer repeatedly use their documents following the new regulation by the South African Home Affairs, which came into effect on January 1 and we therefore urge those using such documents to take note of that and avoid disappointment at the border," Mr Gwede said.
In December, scores of Zimbabweans travelling to South Africa using altered but genuine ETDs were turned away at the border. The RG’s office had altered ETD validity periods from 21 days to six months and authenticated this with an official stamp.
The alterations were made in line with the visa-free arrangement in which Zimbabwe-ans are now given a three-month visitor’s permit.
Zimbabweans, according to the arrangement, are allowed to seek temporary jobs during their stay in South Africa.
published by, The Herald 30 Jan 2010
SA denies Zimbabweans entry
From Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
Scores of Zimbabweans wishing to travel to South Africa for Christmas shopping are stranded at Beitbridge Border Post as South African immigration officials are turning away everyone using Emergency Travel Documents.
The Home Affairs Department officials started turning away Zimbabweans on Tuesday night arguing that their travel documents were tampered with and needed to be authenticated by their counterparts in Zimbabwe.
The ETDs, some of them valid for 21 days, were altered and five more months added and signed for by Zimbabwean authorities.
However, hundreds of ETD holders were stranded at the border post by yesterday afternoon and had to be referred to the Beitbridge District Administrator for assistance.
Some travellers from as far as Hurungwe, Mutare, Kariba, Bulawayo and Marondera had to return to their respective homes disillusioned, while others waited patiently at the DA’s office for help.
In separate interviews yesterday, the affected travellers said before the scrapping of the visa requirement to visit SA, ETDs were validated for three weeks or three months and were adjusted in line with the new system.
South Africa scrapped visa requirements for Zimbabweans wishing to either visit or work in the country in May this year.
Prior to this, they were required to produce traveller’s cheques worth R2 000 and an invitation letter from their host in that country. The limit of 30 days for a visitor was increased to three months following the removal of visas.
In light of this, the Zimbabwean Government revalidated ETDs to a period of six months.
"It boggles the mind. All of a sudden we are being turned away at this border when we have been travelling using the same documents all along. We were turned away yesterday together with my sister on our way to Musina.
"The immigration officers in South Africa are saying ETDs from Zimbabwe should be adjusted using a computer, not by hand. Hundreds of people are still being turned away. We are now appealing to authorities to intervene otherwise this will spoil our holidays," said Miss Nyadzisai Shonhai of Rutenga in Masvingo Province.
She said they were saddened by this development as the Zimbabwe immigration officers had cleared them and said the documents were valid and recognised in the immigration statutory instruments.
Miss Shonhai said they were still waiting for the Zimbabwean Government to resolve the issue with its South African counterpart.
In an interview soon after meeting the travellers, Home Affairs Co-Minster Kembo Mohadi said Government was engaging South Africa over the issue.
"I have since tasked the Home Affairs Permanent Secretary to liaise with the South African government over the issue. We hope the issue will be addressed as soon as possible so that we don’t spoil our citizens’ holidays.
"You will realise that at the footnote of the ETD, we had indicated by print that it was valid for 21 days. However when the South Africans scrapped visa requirements for us and extended
the period of stay, we decided to adjust from 21 days to six months.
"We had already printed a number of batches in stock with the choice of altering the validity period by hand and authenticating them with the Registrar-General’s stamp.
"We are not sure why they decided to turn away people now yet they had been accepting them in that state since May this year?" he said. Cde Mohadi added that his ministry was working flat out to reduce the passport backlog.
"We hope to clear the passport backlog very soon to ensure that our people have proper travel documents," he said.
The delay in the processing of passport applications has resulted in the increased number of illegal migration by Zimbabweans to several countries, chief among them South Africa and Botswana.
The developments come hardly a few months after South Africa turned away Zimbabwean travellers with ETDs issued in Bulawayo and Gweru following reports that a number of them had been stolen from the Gweru Passport Office and found their way to Bulawayo. The ban was lifted after the Zimbabwean Government submitted specimens of authentic ETDs from the passport office.
published by , The herald 18 December 200o9
www.herald.co.zw
Scores of Zimbabweans wishing to travel to South Africa for Christmas shopping are stranded at Beitbridge Border Post as South African immigration officials are turning away everyone using Emergency Travel Documents.
The Home Affairs Department officials started turning away Zimbabweans on Tuesday night arguing that their travel documents were tampered with and needed to be authenticated by their counterparts in Zimbabwe.
The ETDs, some of them valid for 21 days, were altered and five more months added and signed for by Zimbabwean authorities.
However, hundreds of ETD holders were stranded at the border post by yesterday afternoon and had to be referred to the Beitbridge District Administrator for assistance.
Some travellers from as far as Hurungwe, Mutare, Kariba, Bulawayo and Marondera had to return to their respective homes disillusioned, while others waited patiently at the DA’s office for help.
In separate interviews yesterday, the affected travellers said before the scrapping of the visa requirement to visit SA, ETDs were validated for three weeks or three months and were adjusted in line with the new system.
South Africa scrapped visa requirements for Zimbabweans wishing to either visit or work in the country in May this year.
Prior to this, they were required to produce traveller’s cheques worth R2 000 and an invitation letter from their host in that country. The limit of 30 days for a visitor was increased to three months following the removal of visas.
In light of this, the Zimbabwean Government revalidated ETDs to a period of six months.
"It boggles the mind. All of a sudden we are being turned away at this border when we have been travelling using the same documents all along. We were turned away yesterday together with my sister on our way to Musina.
"The immigration officers in South Africa are saying ETDs from Zimbabwe should be adjusted using a computer, not by hand. Hundreds of people are still being turned away. We are now appealing to authorities to intervene otherwise this will spoil our holidays," said Miss Nyadzisai Shonhai of Rutenga in Masvingo Province.
She said they were saddened by this development as the Zimbabwe immigration officers had cleared them and said the documents were valid and recognised in the immigration statutory instruments.
Miss Shonhai said they were still waiting for the Zimbabwean Government to resolve the issue with its South African counterpart.
In an interview soon after meeting the travellers, Home Affairs Co-Minster Kembo Mohadi said Government was engaging South Africa over the issue.
"I have since tasked the Home Affairs Permanent Secretary to liaise with the South African government over the issue. We hope the issue will be addressed as soon as possible so that we don’t spoil our citizens’ holidays.
"You will realise that at the footnote of the ETD, we had indicated by print that it was valid for 21 days. However when the South Africans scrapped visa requirements for us and extended
the period of stay, we decided to adjust from 21 days to six months.
"We had already printed a number of batches in stock with the choice of altering the validity period by hand and authenticating them with the Registrar-General’s stamp.
"We are not sure why they decided to turn away people now yet they had been accepting them in that state since May this year?" he said. Cde Mohadi added that his ministry was working flat out to reduce the passport backlog.
"We hope to clear the passport backlog very soon to ensure that our people have proper travel documents," he said.
The delay in the processing of passport applications has resulted in the increased number of illegal migration by Zimbabweans to several countries, chief among them South Africa and Botswana.
The developments come hardly a few months after South Africa turned away Zimbabwean travellers with ETDs issued in Bulawayo and Gweru following reports that a number of them had been stolen from the Gweru Passport Office and found their way to Bulawayo. The ban was lifted after the Zimbabwean Government submitted specimens of authentic ETDs from the passport office.
published by , The herald 18 December 200o9
www.herald.co.zw
Detectives demand US$15000 bribe
By Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
TWO police detectives stationed here have been arrested for allegedly extorting US$15 000 from a Harare woman they found carrying US$280 000 cash in a haulage truck.
The duo, together with a third unknown accomplice who was still at large, allegedly threatened the complainant with arrest and seizure of the money if she refused to pay them.
Trisha Lenna Maunganidze is employed as a buyer by a local supermarket and was on her way to South Africa.
Honoured Ndleleni and Bernard Dzvene, both detective sergeants at Beitbridge Old Police Camp, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before resident magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Mhene yesterday.
They were remanded to March 23 on US$300 bail apiece and ordered to reside at their given addresses, report at Beitbridge Police Station every Friday and not to interfere with State witnesses.
Mr Wellington Muzenda of Muzenda and Partners represented Ndleleni and Dzvene.
It is the State’s case that on an undisclosed date this month at Beitbridge Border Post, Maunganidze was aboard a haulage truck that was being driven by Charles Wide.
After the complainant had undergone all the Customs and Excise formalities, including scanning of the truck, the trio approached them and Ndleleni produced his police identification card.
He introduced himself as a detective attached to the Border Control Unit and he and his colleague wanted to conduct a further search of the truck.
After conducting a thorough search of the truck, the trio found nothing amiss and allegedly told Maunganidze they had been looking for a firearm.
She reportedly offered Zimra officials to carry out another scan of the truck.
The accused, the State says, continued with their search and found US$280 000 in the truck.
Ndleleni and his associates threatened the woman with arrest, saying she was carrying more cash than was allowed by law to cross the border to which she responded she needed the money to purchase stock for their shop, it is alleged.
They allegedly said they would seize the money unless she co-operated with them.
It is alleged she offered them US$15 000 but they said it was too little.
The State says Maunganidze then said she would report to the police and at that point they accepted the US$15 000.
She gave them the money but went on to report the matter to the police leading to Ndleleni and Dzvene’s arrest at the border post that same day.
The money was not recovered.
published by; The Herald 27 February 2010
TWO police detectives stationed here have been arrested for allegedly extorting US$15 000 from a Harare woman they found carrying US$280 000 cash in a haulage truck.
The duo, together with a third unknown accomplice who was still at large, allegedly threatened the complainant with arrest and seizure of the money if she refused to pay them.
Trisha Lenna Maunganidze is employed as a buyer by a local supermarket and was on her way to South Africa.
Honoured Ndleleni and Bernard Dzvene, both detective sergeants at Beitbridge Old Police Camp, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before resident magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Mhene yesterday.
They were remanded to March 23 on US$300 bail apiece and ordered to reside at their given addresses, report at Beitbridge Police Station every Friday and not to interfere with State witnesses.
Mr Wellington Muzenda of Muzenda and Partners represented Ndleleni and Dzvene.
It is the State’s case that on an undisclosed date this month at Beitbridge Border Post, Maunganidze was aboard a haulage truck that was being driven by Charles Wide.
After the complainant had undergone all the Customs and Excise formalities, including scanning of the truck, the trio approached them and Ndleleni produced his police identification card.
He introduced himself as a detective attached to the Border Control Unit and he and his colleague wanted to conduct a further search of the truck.
After conducting a thorough search of the truck, the trio found nothing amiss and allegedly told Maunganidze they had been looking for a firearm.
She reportedly offered Zimra officials to carry out another scan of the truck.
The accused, the State says, continued with their search and found US$280 000 in the truck.
Ndleleni and his associates threatened the woman with arrest, saying she was carrying more cash than was allowed by law to cross the border to which she responded she needed the money to purchase stock for their shop, it is alleged.
They allegedly said they would seize the money unless she co-operated with them.
It is alleged she offered them US$15 000 but they said it was too little.
The State says Maunganidze then said she would report to the police and at that point they accepted the US$15 000.
She gave them the money but went on to report the matter to the police leading to Ndleleni and Dzvene’s arrest at the border post that same day.
The money was not recovered.
published by; The Herald 27 February 2010
Elmas Moses crowned Mr Ugly Beitbridge
By Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
Beitbridge perennial modelling contender Elmas Moses, aka Jah, was on Saturday night crowned Mr Ugly Beitbridge 2010 at a function held at Pagomo Leisure Centre.
A total of 35 men from across the country had initially expressed interest in taking part in the pageant, but some of them developed cold feet at the eleventh hour.
Nine contestants all from Beitbridge town were vying for the Mr Ugly throne where Jah romped to victory outclassing the highly fancied last year’s winner Chikomakoma.
Jah was the first runner-up in the inaugural edition of the pageant last year. For his efforts, Jah pocketed R1 500, while the first and second runners-up pocketed R750 and R500 respectively.
Little known James James and Hilary Maunga settled for second and third positions.
Last year the winner, known as Chikomakoma, walked away with R1 500 in cash, a big axe and a goat while the first and second runners-up Mdara Jah and Manhanha respectively got R1 200 and R900 each.
The other contestants were given R300 cash as appearance fees.
Despite the pageant being held a week later because of logistical issues between the organisers and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, it lived up to expectations. The contest was initially set for March 6.
It was the second time for the pageant to be held in Beitbridge after its inaugural edition was a success and attracted 30 men in July last year.
Harare-based dance group New Age put up an electric performance to liven up the event.
Judges were drawn from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Beitbridge business community.
In a post-contest interview, Jah was on cloud nine, saying he was proud of his natural being and indicated that he was ready to walk on the ramp against the most ugly men in the world.
He, however, bemoaned the prize money, saying the organisers should review it upward so as to draw more participants across the country.
"A man has to be proud of who he is and I am happy that I am the ugliest man around here. However, I want to urge the organisers to review the prize money as it is discouraging to some would-be contestants.
"I was disappointed when I came second last year, but this time I worked hard on my weakness to be crowned Mr Ugly Beitbridge 2010,"he said.
Jah boasts of being the ugliest person in his family.
The man behind the pageant, Mr Dominic Gwatirisa, said the event had been a success, adding that they were looking forward to another contest to be held in Bulawayo in the next few weeks.
He said the event was meant to ensure that people areproud of who they are just like any other contests of similar nature, such as Miss Big Matofotofo, Miss Tourism, Miss Legs, Miss Zimbabwe and Mr Muscle Man.
"We held the contest this year banking on the success of the inaugural show last year which attracted 30 men from across the country. However, this time the event was bigger and a success story. We want to make it a unique annual event and plans are afoot to make it a national event.
"You will realise that a number of pageants are centred on women and we as the Mr Ugly Crew want to shift that mindset and have fun with men from across the country. Initially we had 35 men who had shown interest in the pageant, but some developed cold feet," he said.
The event, he said, was back by public demand banking on the success of the last edition in 2009.
Gwatirisa said other shows would be held in Gwanda, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo and other provinces, adding that the national finals would be held in Harare at a date to be announced.
He said those making it into the top 10 in Beitbridge would compete with other top five winners from each town for the national finals in Harare.
published by; The Herald 17 March 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Beitbridge perennial modelling contender Elmas Moses, aka Jah, was on Saturday night crowned Mr Ugly Beitbridge 2010 at a function held at Pagomo Leisure Centre.
A total of 35 men from across the country had initially expressed interest in taking part in the pageant, but some of them developed cold feet at the eleventh hour.
Nine contestants all from Beitbridge town were vying for the Mr Ugly throne where Jah romped to victory outclassing the highly fancied last year’s winner Chikomakoma.
Jah was the first runner-up in the inaugural edition of the pageant last year. For his efforts, Jah pocketed R1 500, while the first and second runners-up pocketed R750 and R500 respectively.
Little known James James and Hilary Maunga settled for second and third positions.
Last year the winner, known as Chikomakoma, walked away with R1 500 in cash, a big axe and a goat while the first and second runners-up Mdara Jah and Manhanha respectively got R1 200 and R900 each.
The other contestants were given R300 cash as appearance fees.
Despite the pageant being held a week later because of logistical issues between the organisers and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, it lived up to expectations. The contest was initially set for March 6.
It was the second time for the pageant to be held in Beitbridge after its inaugural edition was a success and attracted 30 men in July last year.
Harare-based dance group New Age put up an electric performance to liven up the event.
Judges were drawn from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Beitbridge business community.
In a post-contest interview, Jah was on cloud nine, saying he was proud of his natural being and indicated that he was ready to walk on the ramp against the most ugly men in the world.
He, however, bemoaned the prize money, saying the organisers should review it upward so as to draw more participants across the country.
"A man has to be proud of who he is and I am happy that I am the ugliest man around here. However, I want to urge the organisers to review the prize money as it is discouraging to some would-be contestants.
"I was disappointed when I came second last year, but this time I worked hard on my weakness to be crowned Mr Ugly Beitbridge 2010,"he said.
Jah boasts of being the ugliest person in his family.
The man behind the pageant, Mr Dominic Gwatirisa, said the event had been a success, adding that they were looking forward to another contest to be held in Bulawayo in the next few weeks.
He said the event was meant to ensure that people areproud of who they are just like any other contests of similar nature, such as Miss Big Matofotofo, Miss Tourism, Miss Legs, Miss Zimbabwe and Mr Muscle Man.
"We held the contest this year banking on the success of the inaugural show last year which attracted 30 men from across the country. However, this time the event was bigger and a success story. We want to make it a unique annual event and plans are afoot to make it a national event.
"You will realise that a number of pageants are centred on women and we as the Mr Ugly Crew want to shift that mindset and have fun with men from across the country. Initially we had 35 men who had shown interest in the pageant, but some developed cold feet," he said.
The event, he said, was back by public demand banking on the success of the last edition in 2009.
Gwatirisa said other shows would be held in Gwanda, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo and other provinces, adding that the national finals would be held in Harare at a date to be announced.
He said those making it into the top 10 in Beitbridge would compete with other top five winners from each town for the national finals in Harare.
published by; The Herald 17 March 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Friday, July 9, 2010
Zimbabweans flee SA
By Paidamoyo Chipunza, Sydney Kawadza and Thupeyo Muleya
Zimbabweans who were living and working in South Africa are returning home in droves following threats of xenophobic attacks by South Africans soon after the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.
The returnees — mostly women and their children — started trekking back to this side of the Limpopo River last Saturday with many indicating that they did not want to stay and find out if the rumours of xenophobic violence would turn out to be true.
The 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup ends on Sunday.
South African Police Minister Nathi Mthetwa yesterday told journalists after an inter-ministerial committee meeting in Pretoria that security agencies were on alert.
Zimbabweans, fearing for their lives, had already started transporting their household property — including beds, wardrobes and fridges — amid reports that violence had been reported in Cape Town, Durban, East London, Bloemfontein and other areas.
Returnees interviewed at Roadport in Harare yesterday said even landlords had stopped accepting rentals from Zimbabwean tenants because they feared they could be targeted for providing shelter to foreigners.
"Soldiers have been deployed to monitor the situation, but we value our lives and that is why we decided to come back home," one woman said.
She said many Zimbabweans were stranded in South Africa due to the sudden spike in demand for transport back home.
"Many people are stranded at Huguenot N1 Engen Garage in Cape Town where we normally board transport to Johannesburg as people outnumber the available transport," she said.
Zimbabweans interviewed at the Beitbridge Border Post on Tuesday expressed similar fears.
"I thought the xenophobic attacks would start before I give birth. I am glad I delivered before the end of World Cup and I am going back home safely with my son," said new mother Mrs Leena
Mrs Masomere, who was travelling with her 13-day-old baby, said she had been left with no option but to use public transport with the baby.
Some Shona cultures forbid mothers from taking their babies to crowded places in their first month.
"Children are protected by God. It’s better to take him on the bus than wait for harassment come Monday," Mrs Masomere said.
Mrs Masomere was based in Johannesburg.
Johanne Masowe Apostolic Sect members said they were advised not to attend church services on Sunday.
"Our church elders advised us not to attend services on Sunday because no one knows where they’ll choose to start the attacks and what time.
"So we decided to come back to Zimbabwe because we have homes," one man said.
Others who had gone to South Africa for business opportunities related to the World Cup are also trekking back.
"I am a sculptor by profession. I started going to South Africa in the 1990s selling carved stones.
"These threats by South Africans are not new. I take them seriously because they have done that before, which is why I am going back home.
"There is no harm in me going back home because I will still continue with my work," Mr Mike Chigovera of Mvuma said.
Mr Tinei Sithole from Chipinge said: "We have heard numerous reports from the media in South Africa that there will be widespread attacks on foreigners in South Africa and I have decided to come back home before the attacks begin.
"I will assess the situation for the next three months before going back there."
Mr Sithole, who used to stay in Thembisa just outside Johannesburg, said he started sending his goods back home in Chipinge using cross-border couriers last month.
Mr Mgcini Tshuma from Tsholotsho said he survived the 2008 xenophobic attacks but was not prepared to go through the ordeal again.
"Everyone in South Africa is talking about the attacks on foreigners who are accused of snatching jobs from locals.
"Anyone in his right mind cannot take chances with his life."
Bus drivers and cross-border transporters are also mooting possible increases in fares to cash in on the influx of returning Zimbabweans.
Buses are charging a minimum of R300 from South Africa to Harare.
"We are making more money on luggage than passengers. On a normal day our luggage collections amount to about R8 000 but today I have cashed R25 000," Mr Nesbert Makunun’unu, a Harare-based transporter, said yesterday.
Another transporter servicing the Harare-Johannesburg route, Mr Owen Nehwangwa, added: "You can tell people are relocating by the luggage we are carrying these days.
"There’s lots of furniture like beds and wardrobes coming this way."
While fears of a repeat of the 2008 xenophobic attacks could be behind most relocations, some people said the improving economic situation in Zimbabwe also attracted repatriations.
"The money I was earning is not enough to cover for all that I need for my family in Zimbabwe and me in South Africa.
"If you get a job in Zimbabwe you can earn enough to look for your family," Mr Patrick Fulani, an engineer, said yesterday.
Assistant regional immigration officer for the Southern Region Mr Charles Gwede confirmed the increase in arrivals since Saturday but could not provide figures.
"We are currently assessing the situation but most cross-border transporters we have talked to indicate that they are fully booked for the rest of the month.
"Most of the buses are going to South Africa almost empty but come back loaded with household appliances, furniture and groceries.
"The movement has, however, coincided with our normal month-end increases."
Mr Gwede also confirmed receiving reports of xenophobic attack threats.
The South African government has said it is taking the threats seriously.
Speaking after yesterday’s inter-ministerial committee meeting in Pretoria, Police Minister Mthetwa said: "Our security agents are prepared to effectively deal with violence, including foreign nationals.
"We continue to monitor all and any other threats. Should anything be found to be credible, measures will be implemented immediately to prevent any outbreaks of violence."
Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba said the department was working flat-out to contain the situation.
"These rumours run the risk of eroding the victory we scored with the World Cup. We will not allow that."
He, however, denied that people leaving South Africa were fleeing possible violence.
State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele added that rumours of violence were instigated by a small group of people.
"Those who are planning on breaking our law will be dealt with by the law enforcement agencies."
published by; The Herald, 9 July 2010
website; www.herald.co.zw
Zimbabweans who were living and working in South Africa are returning home in droves following threats of xenophobic attacks by South Africans soon after the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.
The returnees — mostly women and their children — started trekking back to this side of the Limpopo River last Saturday with many indicating that they did not want to stay and find out if the rumours of xenophobic violence would turn out to be true.
The 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup ends on Sunday.
South African Police Minister Nathi Mthetwa yesterday told journalists after an inter-ministerial committee meeting in Pretoria that security agencies were on alert.
Zimbabweans, fearing for their lives, had already started transporting their household property — including beds, wardrobes and fridges — amid reports that violence had been reported in Cape Town, Durban, East London, Bloemfontein and other areas.
Returnees interviewed at Roadport in Harare yesterday said even landlords had stopped accepting rentals from Zimbabwean tenants because they feared they could be targeted for providing shelter to foreigners.
"Soldiers have been deployed to monitor the situation, but we value our lives and that is why we decided to come back home," one woman said.
She said many Zimbabweans were stranded in South Africa due to the sudden spike in demand for transport back home.
"Many people are stranded at Huguenot N1 Engen Garage in Cape Town where we normally board transport to Johannesburg as people outnumber the available transport," she said.
Zimbabweans interviewed at the Beitbridge Border Post on Tuesday expressed similar fears.
"I thought the xenophobic attacks would start before I give birth. I am glad I delivered before the end of World Cup and I am going back home safely with my son," said new mother Mrs Leena
Mrs Masomere, who was travelling with her 13-day-old baby, said she had been left with no option but to use public transport with the baby.
Some Shona cultures forbid mothers from taking their babies to crowded places in their first month.
"Children are protected by God. It’s better to take him on the bus than wait for harassment come Monday," Mrs Masomere said.
Mrs Masomere was based in Johannesburg.
Johanne Masowe Apostolic Sect members said they were advised not to attend church services on Sunday.
"Our church elders advised us not to attend services on Sunday because no one knows where they’ll choose to start the attacks and what time.
"So we decided to come back to Zimbabwe because we have homes," one man said.
Others who had gone to South Africa for business opportunities related to the World Cup are also trekking back.
"I am a sculptor by profession. I started going to South Africa in the 1990s selling carved stones.
"These threats by South Africans are not new. I take them seriously because they have done that before, which is why I am going back home.
"There is no harm in me going back home because I will still continue with my work," Mr Mike Chigovera of Mvuma said.
Mr Tinei Sithole from Chipinge said: "We have heard numerous reports from the media in South Africa that there will be widespread attacks on foreigners in South Africa and I have decided to come back home before the attacks begin.
"I will assess the situation for the next three months before going back there."
Mr Sithole, who used to stay in Thembisa just outside Johannesburg, said he started sending his goods back home in Chipinge using cross-border couriers last month.
Mr Mgcini Tshuma from Tsholotsho said he survived the 2008 xenophobic attacks but was not prepared to go through the ordeal again.
"Everyone in South Africa is talking about the attacks on foreigners who are accused of snatching jobs from locals.
"Anyone in his right mind cannot take chances with his life."
Bus drivers and cross-border transporters are also mooting possible increases in fares to cash in on the influx of returning Zimbabweans.
Buses are charging a minimum of R300 from South Africa to Harare.
"We are making more money on luggage than passengers. On a normal day our luggage collections amount to about R8 000 but today I have cashed R25 000," Mr Nesbert Makunun’unu, a Harare-based transporter, said yesterday.
Another transporter servicing the Harare-Johannesburg route, Mr Owen Nehwangwa, added: "You can tell people are relocating by the luggage we are carrying these days.
"There’s lots of furniture like beds and wardrobes coming this way."
While fears of a repeat of the 2008 xenophobic attacks could be behind most relocations, some people said the improving economic situation in Zimbabwe also attracted repatriations.
"The money I was earning is not enough to cover for all that I need for my family in Zimbabwe and me in South Africa.
"If you get a job in Zimbabwe you can earn enough to look for your family," Mr Patrick Fulani, an engineer, said yesterday.
Assistant regional immigration officer for the Southern Region Mr Charles Gwede confirmed the increase in arrivals since Saturday but could not provide figures.
"We are currently assessing the situation but most cross-border transporters we have talked to indicate that they are fully booked for the rest of the month.
"Most of the buses are going to South Africa almost empty but come back loaded with household appliances, furniture and groceries.
"The movement has, however, coincided with our normal month-end increases."
Mr Gwede also confirmed receiving reports of xenophobic attack threats.
The South African government has said it is taking the threats seriously.
Speaking after yesterday’s inter-ministerial committee meeting in Pretoria, Police Minister Mthetwa said: "Our security agents are prepared to effectively deal with violence, including foreign nationals.
"We continue to monitor all and any other threats. Should anything be found to be credible, measures will be implemented immediately to prevent any outbreaks of violence."
Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba said the department was working flat-out to contain the situation.
"These rumours run the risk of eroding the victory we scored with the World Cup. We will not allow that."
He, however, denied that people leaving South Africa were fleeing possible violence.
State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele added that rumours of violence were instigated by a small group of people.
"Those who are planning on breaking our law will be dealt with by the law enforcement agencies."
published by; The Herald, 9 July 2010
website; www.herald.co.zw
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Elephants Wreak Havoc At Shashe Irrigation Scheme
The Herald (Harare)
May 4, 2006
By Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge
A HERD of elephants suspected to have strayed from Botswana is causing havoc at the $50 billion Shashe Irrigation Scheme northwest of Beitbridge town.
In an interview yesterday, Shashe ward 8 councillor Luka Ndou said the elephants were putting this year's winter wheat cropping programme under threat. The Government, through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, sponsors Shashe Irrigation Scheme. "We are living in fear. The jumbos are really a threat to our crops and lives," said Cllr Ndou. He said the irrigation scheme was the major livelihood of the area and the residents would face a bleak future if it were to be destroyed. Cllr Ndou said they have since notified the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on the issue but nothing has materialised.
"We have notified all stakeholders involved in wildlife management but nothing has come up, much to the detriment of our lives," he said. He said some safari operators near the ward had promised to cull the elephants but the situation was getting worse with each passing day. Cllr Ndou said residents in the ward were living in fear since the elephants descended on the are a about 4 weeks ago resulting in some school children absconding lessons. "We are faced with a big problem and we have even approached the local Member of the House of Assembly Cde Kembo Mohadi and he promised to assist," said Cllr Ndou.
He said plans were afoot to erect an electric fence around the irrigation scheme to protect the wheat from further destruction. Cllr Ndou said elephants were becoming a regular problem to the area and there was need for urgent action to protect the community. He, however, said no human deaths have been reported so far but people are living in constant fear of possible attacks from the elephants. Efforts to get a comment from officials at the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority offices in Beitbridge were in vain as no one was answering the phone.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200605040356.html
May 4, 2006
By Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge
A HERD of elephants suspected to have strayed from Botswana is causing havoc at the $50 billion Shashe Irrigation Scheme northwest of Beitbridge town.
In an interview yesterday, Shashe ward 8 councillor Luka Ndou said the elephants were putting this year's winter wheat cropping programme under threat. The Government, through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, sponsors Shashe Irrigation Scheme. "We are living in fear. The jumbos are really a threat to our crops and lives," said Cllr Ndou. He said the irrigation scheme was the major livelihood of the area and the residents would face a bleak future if it were to be destroyed. Cllr Ndou said they have since notified the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on the issue but nothing has materialised.
"We have notified all stakeholders involved in wildlife management but nothing has come up, much to the detriment of our lives," he said. He said some safari operators near the ward had promised to cull the elephants but the situation was getting worse with each passing day. Cllr Ndou said residents in the ward were living in fear since the elephants descended on the are a about 4 weeks ago resulting in some school children absconding lessons. "We are faced with a big problem and we have even approached the local Member of the House of Assembly Cde Kembo Mohadi and he promised to assist," said Cllr Ndou.
He said plans were afoot to erect an electric fence around the irrigation scheme to protect the wheat from further destruction. Cllr Ndou said elephants were becoming a regular problem to the area and there was need for urgent action to protect the community. He, however, said no human deaths have been reported so far but people are living in constant fear of possible attacks from the elephants. Efforts to get a comment from officials at the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority offices in Beitbridge were in vain as no one was answering the phone.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200605040356.html
Zim: 180 vehicles are stuck at a BeitbridgeZim: 180 vehicles are stuck at a Beitbridge
Date Posted: Thursday 26-Apr-2007The Herald
April 24, 2007
Posted to the web April 24, 2007
Thupeyo Muleya and Alfred Chagonda
Harare
ABOUT 180 vehicles are stuck at a Beitbridge customs warehouse as their owners are unable to clear them following the introduction of new regulations that compel importers of cars and other luxury goods to pay duty in foreign currency.
Zimbabweans were spending an estimated US$400 000 importing an average of 80 used vehicles a day from Japan, Singapore, Dubai, the UK and the United States.
Under the new regulations, the State is expected to rake in an average of US$200 million a day in customs duty while vehicle assemblers are also expected to experience a boost in their businesses as buyers would have to switch to locally-assembled vehicles.
Before the new regulations, which came into effect on April 5, clearing cars took two days at most and between 1 200 and 1 500 imported used vehicles went through the border post every month.
Some of the cars were bought from Dubai, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore and the United States long before the implementation of the new regulations that require vehicle importers to pay duty ranging from 60 to 80 percent of the value of the vehicle.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority motor vehicle evaluation department, which used to handle an average of 80 cars destined for the Zimbabwean market a day, is now clearing an average of 30 cars daily and devoting more time to clearing vehicles in transit to Malawi, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Zimra commissioner of legal and corporate services Ms Florence Jambwa yesterday said if the importers fail to raise the required money within three months, the vehicles would be auctioned.
Normally the cars are kept in the customs yard for 21 days before they are towed to the warehouse where they are auctioned if the owners fail to pay customs duty after three months.
The warehouse charges $5 000 a day for storage.
Some car dealers interviewed said the new regulations had caught them unawares as they had purchased the vehicles some two to three months earlier.
They expressed concern that Zimra would soon auction the cars if they failed to clear them on time.
"The implementation of the new regulations was very harsh. The Government should have given us a window period of one month so that we could get used to the system.
"Most of us hoped to pay duty in local currency, but now we are left stranded.
"It is difficult for one to raise foreign currency, considering that it is not readily available in the country," said Mr Reuben Mandizha, who spent three days at the border post last week.
He said he had failed to raise US$5 000 duty required for his vehicle, which he claimed cost him US$3 000 but was revalued at US$11 000 by Zimra.
The dealers said most of them had paid huge amounts to have their vehicles ferried from Durban, South Africa, to Beitbridge.
South Africa has banned the driving of second-hand imported cars on its roads, compelling importers to pay between R3 000 and R10 000 for their cars to be ferried to Beitbridge Border Post.
However, while the dealers were willing to raise foreign currency to buy the huge amount of cars entering the country on a daily basis, they were not prepared to raise the same currency to pay for their imports.
Statutory Instrument 80A of 2007, published in an Extraordinary Government Gazette a week before the Easter holidays, stipulates that with effect from April 5 2007, importers of cars and other luxury goods will be required to pay duty and value added tax in foreign currency.
Under the requirements, the customs duty and VAT shall be payable in United States dollars, euros or any other currency denominated under the Exchange Control (General) Order 1006 (Statutory Instrument 110 of 1996).
However, duty in hard currency is paid by only those who use free funds and not foreign currency accessed from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Relevant Links
Southern Africa
Zimbabwe
Trade
Economy, Business and Finance
Transport and Shipping
Under the statutory instrument, vehicles such as single cab trucks, other trucks and minibuses do not attract duty in foreign currency.
Finance Minister Cde Samuel Mumbengegwi recently told journalists at a Press conference that the new law, mooted in 2005, was being used as an instrument to turn around the economy by encouraging those with free funds to import goods that have a bearing on the development of the economy or invest in more production oriented activities.
The Government argues that its decision was meant to channel investment into productive activities instead of non-essentials.
Source: All Africa
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/200704240266.htm...
April 24, 2007
Posted to the web April 24, 2007
Thupeyo Muleya and Alfred Chagonda
Harare
ABOUT 180 vehicles are stuck at a Beitbridge customs warehouse as their owners are unable to clear them following the introduction of new regulations that compel importers of cars and other luxury goods to pay duty in foreign currency.
Zimbabweans were spending an estimated US$400 000 importing an average of 80 used vehicles a day from Japan, Singapore, Dubai, the UK and the United States.
Under the new regulations, the State is expected to rake in an average of US$200 million a day in customs duty while vehicle assemblers are also expected to experience a boost in their businesses as buyers would have to switch to locally-assembled vehicles.
Before the new regulations, which came into effect on April 5, clearing cars took two days at most and between 1 200 and 1 500 imported used vehicles went through the border post every month.
Some of the cars were bought from Dubai, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore and the United States long before the implementation of the new regulations that require vehicle importers to pay duty ranging from 60 to 80 percent of the value of the vehicle.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority motor vehicle evaluation department, which used to handle an average of 80 cars destined for the Zimbabwean market a day, is now clearing an average of 30 cars daily and devoting more time to clearing vehicles in transit to Malawi, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Zimra commissioner of legal and corporate services Ms Florence Jambwa yesterday said if the importers fail to raise the required money within three months, the vehicles would be auctioned.
Normally the cars are kept in the customs yard for 21 days before they are towed to the warehouse where they are auctioned if the owners fail to pay customs duty after three months.
The warehouse charges $5 000 a day for storage.
Some car dealers interviewed said the new regulations had caught them unawares as they had purchased the vehicles some two to three months earlier.
They expressed concern that Zimra would soon auction the cars if they failed to clear them on time.
"The implementation of the new regulations was very harsh. The Government should have given us a window period of one month so that we could get used to the system.
"Most of us hoped to pay duty in local currency, but now we are left stranded.
"It is difficult for one to raise foreign currency, considering that it is not readily available in the country," said Mr Reuben Mandizha, who spent three days at the border post last week.
He said he had failed to raise US$5 000 duty required for his vehicle, which he claimed cost him US$3 000 but was revalued at US$11 000 by Zimra.
The dealers said most of them had paid huge amounts to have their vehicles ferried from Durban, South Africa, to Beitbridge.
South Africa has banned the driving of second-hand imported cars on its roads, compelling importers to pay between R3 000 and R10 000 for their cars to be ferried to Beitbridge Border Post.
However, while the dealers were willing to raise foreign currency to buy the huge amount of cars entering the country on a daily basis, they were not prepared to raise the same currency to pay for their imports.
Statutory Instrument 80A of 2007, published in an Extraordinary Government Gazette a week before the Easter holidays, stipulates that with effect from April 5 2007, importers of cars and other luxury goods will be required to pay duty and value added tax in foreign currency.
Under the requirements, the customs duty and VAT shall be payable in United States dollars, euros or any other currency denominated under the Exchange Control (General) Order 1006 (Statutory Instrument 110 of 1996).
However, duty in hard currency is paid by only those who use free funds and not foreign currency accessed from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Relevant Links
Southern Africa
Zimbabwe
Trade
Economy, Business and Finance
Transport and Shipping
Under the statutory instrument, vehicles such as single cab trucks, other trucks and minibuses do not attract duty in foreign currency.
Finance Minister Cde Samuel Mumbengegwi recently told journalists at a Press conference that the new law, mooted in 2005, was being used as an instrument to turn around the economy by encouraging those with free funds to import goods that have a bearing on the development of the economy or invest in more production oriented activities.
The Government argues that its decision was meant to channel investment into productive activities instead of non-essentials.
Source: All Africa
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/200704240266.htm...
Beitbridge Scales Up Anti-Poaching Drive
Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Beitbridge Scales Up Anti-Poaching Drive
Thupeyo Muleya
23 November 2009
The Beitbridge Rural District Council is working on measures to curb rampant poaching of wildlife and natural resources in the district, an official has said.
In an interview recently, chairperson of the natural resources management committee Mr Joseph Muleya, said they had mobilised a number of resources and would soon descend on the poachers as they were losing a lot of revenue to poachers across the district.
He added that the most affected areas were those in the far east of the district and those on the periphery of the River Ranch conservation area and Zhovhe Dam.
Mr Muleya said they would rope in the police and Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials in the fight against poaching.
He said in the case of Zhovhe Dam, most of the poachers came from Masera, Gwanda and Bulawayo.
He said apart from fish poaching, the killing of wild animals in the district, plundering of natural resources was on the increase.
He warned the villagers that the law would catch up with them. He said council were in the process of forming crime committees with several stakeholders including the police in a bid to bring sanity to wildlife conservation.
Meanwhile, some villagers in Beitbridge East have also raised concern over the increase of stocktheft cases in the area, saying it was negatively affecting their livelihood.
They said the suspects were now selling stolen livestock in Mozambique and to some unscrupulous dealers from Bulawayo and Masvingo. The most affected farmers are those in areas bordering with Masvingo province and Chiredzi District.
Ward councilor for Chituripasi Mr Enock Ndou said in an interview that hundreds of cattle had been lost since most farmers were resettled a few years ago. He said the villagers had resorted to constructing kraals very close to their homesteads to reduce such incidents of stocktheft.
Mr Ndou said they were now consulting with the police anti-stocktheft unit in a bid to find a lasting solution to the problem. Some villagers were even accusing former white commercial farmers who have moved to Mozambique of fuelling some of the thefts.
"The situation here is worrying, the villagers are loosing a number of livestock to a gang of rustlers who sell them to unscrupulous businesspeople in Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mozambique.
"We are consulting with the police and relevant stakeholders to put an end to this criminal vice.
"As the local authority, we banned private cattle sale in the district, but they are some people who are still involved in clandestine deals," he said.
Mr Ndou said they were planning on meeting all relevant government departments from Beitbridge and Chiredzi in a move to find lasting solution to the problem.
He said they would soon complete the formation of community crime committees in consultation with the security forces in the area.
Recently, seven men were arrested by Beitbridge police while driving a herd of 37 cattle on their way to Mozambique.
On several occasions, the police have rounded up rustlers in the area, but their efforts prove to be fruitless
Bonyongo The Destroyer
Sports — By admin on October 3, 2009 9:59 pm
From Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
SOMEWHERE in the rural area of Buhera, lies the Man Mountain — known to the world simply as Kilimanjaro — who boxed his way from Mbare to rule the African continent.
Proud Chinembiri, the late heavyweight boxing champion, took his sport to another level in this country in the category where the biggest and meanest boxers fight.
The big man turned himself into a fierce fighting machine and made his country proud by winning the African heavyweight championship and even getting into contention for a fight for the world heavyweight crown.
No Zimbabwean heavyweight boxer has scaled similar heights like Kilimanjaro.
Even those who lost in their duel against him are proud of the moment that they went into the ring with this fighting machine.
One of them is John “Bombaphani Bonyongo Destroyer” Mutema — the last man to fight the Man Mountain.
He was beaten in the fourth round of their contest and, this week, told The Herald Sport about his pride of having faced Kilimanjaro.
“I was the last man to fight Kilimanajaro and he beat me on technicality after I suffered a gash above the right eye,” said Bonyongo this week.
“It was the greatest fight of my life. I quit boxing in 1999 after the death of Kilimanjaro since there was no longer a heavyweight boxer to fight at that time.
“A lot of boxers had passed away by then while guys like Black Tiger, formerly based in Bulawayo, had found a new base in South Africa.”
We meet the Destroyer at his Peter’s Motel offices in this border town and we find a man – after all the years that have passed – who still remembers the moment he faced the Man Mountain.
Mutema has now ventured into hotel management full-time.
He is now a manager at Peter’s Motel – one of the oldest hotels here in Beitbridge.
He came here from Chipinge, where he was born in a family of three, and was the only son of the late chief Mutema.
Bonyongo then did primary education at St John’s school before completing his secondary education at Elam Mission in Katerere, Nyanga, before returning to Masvingo in 1971, where he got a job at Chevron Hotel.
This is where he met his wife.
“During my school days I would run into a lot of trouble with teachers who forced me to play soccer, but I was interested in weight lifting,” he said this week.
“After completing my secondary education, I got a job at Chevron Hotel in Masvingo as a barman.
“I met with a certain guy called Mathew who was also interested in weight lifting.
“After practicing for some time we then approached the Masvingo municipality for a hall to use. They offered us Sarudzai Hall, which was then a new outlet.
“We then teamed up with a number of guys who were interested in fighting and we would fight with open hands during weekends,” he said.
He fought a number of prominent boxers in Masvingo then — including Bibho and Offspring Killer.
In 1976, Mutema moved to Beitbridge where he was employed at Peters Motel as a barman.
But, being the boxer he was, he kept training alone and used home made weights, punching bags and made a makeshift gym for himself.
He was then spotted by a South Africa businessman Rex Denga who then bought boxing equipment for him.
He kept on fighting for fun with his old mates in Masvingo during his off-days.
In 1979 Mutema was promoted at Peter’s Motel and became the assistant manager.
“One morning in 1982 I saw an advert in Parade magazine, inserted by Dave Wellings, who wanted a professional heavyweight boxer to represent the country in international tournaments.
“I was weighing between 108 and 110 kg then.
“After retiring from boxing I now weigh 150kg though I keep myself fit by going to the gym three times a week.
“I then responded to the advert and was invited to go and fight for a trial match to turn me into a professional boxer.
“My first fight was against George Foreman at the Harare Show Grounds and it was a non-title bout since the promoters wanted to rank us as professionals.
“We were awarded boxing certificates after the judges were impressed. After turning into a professional boxer I was invited by the Zimbabwe National Army to fight their number one man Danger Masvingo at Chevron in the same year.
“I knocked him down in the second round. He then called for a rematch and I won again in the second round” said Bonyongo.
In the same year he had another non title bout at the same venue with Juke Box whom he knocked out in the second round again.
Excited by his punching prowess, the Beitbridge fans then nicknamed him “The Destroyer Bombamuphani.”
Bombamuphani is a Venda name derived from a black venomous snake which is normally found in the Lowveld.
Mutema was also named “Bonyongo” by his late father — which meant havoc.
“My father believed that I was a man bent on causing havoc and he then gave me the name Bonyongo. I then adopted all the names — Destroyer Bombamuphani Bonyongo.”
Between 1982 and 1991 the Destroyer had 11 fights and won eight and lost three.
In the late 1980s, Bonyongo was ranked Zimbabwe’s number one contender for the heavyweight crown after beating Black Tiger of Bulawayo.
In 1990 his South African friend Roxanne Masebe composed a song for him titled Bombamuphani in honour of his boxing career.
However, the Destroyer’s passion for boxing was against his mother’s wish as she believed that boxing was a barbaric and evil.
“I kept on advising him to quit fighting. I could weep during the fights to the extent that I stopped attending most of them,” she revealed.
“However I would be delighted when he ended up on a winning note, though I am not a fan of boxing. I am very happy that he has quit such a barbaric sport.”
His wife, Thandazile, a retired nurse, was different.
“There was nothing I could do rather than support him all the way since the sport ran in his veins,” she said.
“To him fighting is a hobby. It’s just unfortunate he quit when he still wanted to fight on. I am happy that he managed to raise his family well and has a descent job.
“We can now spend quality time as a family. During his boxing days he would spend most of the time at the gym preparing for fights.”
Like any sportsman, there were bad times for The Destroyer.
He remembers the fight against Black Tiger in 1991 for the Zimbabwe heavyweight title.
“The fight was at Colliery Stadium and I was up against Black Tiger, who was the champion by then,” said The Destroyer.
“I had promoted the match after the Zimbabwe Boxing authorities had indicated they had no money to sponsor such a fight.
“We punched each other until the 10th round when he started using unorthodox punches.
“I then sent in a powerful blow, which pushed him out of the ring, and then he decided to flee with the belt.
“To my surprise the judges said I had lost by a technical fault. I then queried the results and called for the establishment of the boxers union in the country.
“This prompted the Zimbabwe Boxing Board to withdraw my licence. I contested the decision through my lawyers until my reinstatement in 1993.
“By then we were a few heavyweight boxers in the country and Kilimanjaro was the champion. I challenged him but it took time for me to secure a fight because of the red tap in the board.”
The Destroyer was the last man to fight Kilimanjaro at Ascot in Gweru in 1994.
He lost the match when he developed a serious cut on the upper side of the left eye.
He maintained his ranking as the country’s number one contender and fought against Anderson Size and the match was stopped in the first round when he twisted his left knee.
By 1999 Kilimanjaro — the heart and soul of heavyweight boxing in the country — was dead and Black Tiger was in South Africa and The Destroyer was losing both his fight against age and opponents to remain in the ring.
So that year he quit, satisfied that he had played his part in a brutal game that was his passion.
His hero remains Muhammad Ali.
Now a father of four boys — Lemson (32), a businessman in Botswana, Bryn (30), who is running his gym here in Beitbridge, Cashord (28), a transport operator and Peace (27) — The Destroyer is living quietly away from the fast lane of the brutal game he has loved all his life.
He tried training boxers but quit when two of them died and the other one had both his feet amputated following a road accident.
The Destroyer is concerned with the state of boxing in this country and says he is willing to, one good day, play a part in its revival.
Age might have diluted the brutality that made him the fierce fighting machine who impressed a lot of people in his duel against the Man Mountain but he still loves his game.
As they say, you can take a genuine boxer from the ring but you can’t take the ring out of him.
Govt addresses KP recommendations
avi
Monday, July 13, 2009
From Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
Government is addressing recommendations made by the Kimberly Process review team that recently visited the country to appraise itself of Zimbabwe’s diamond mining industry.
Speaking after touring River Ranch Mine just outside Beitbridge last week, Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu called on mining companies to complement Government’s drive to ensure Zimbabweans reaped the maximum benefit from their natural resources.
"As Government, we are working on addressing the recommendations made by the Kimberly Process review team that visited the country recently.
"We have committed ourselves on meeting the standard requirements of the global protocol. We are still studying some of the recommendations though we have started making adjustments especially at Chiadzwa area, where we have since courted a foreign investor to come on board.
"We expect the investor to be on the ground any time soon. However, there is a lot of work to do in terms of beefing up security and handling of the diamonds," he said.
He said the State was looking at partnering with at least six investors for Chiadzwa’s diamond fields.
The fields cover an area of 77 000 hectares with over 3 000 families staying there.
Government is presently working on the modalities of relocating the families, with whom Minister Mpofu said they had already reached an agreement over the issue.
He said Government was carrying out an exercise to curb the rampant smuggling of minerals out of the country.
The minister said they had so far budgeted US$2 million for the project which had already seen the recovery of 50kg of gold from the illegal market in four days.
The Kimberly Process Protocol is a global agreement among diamond producers and traders that regulates the sale of the resource on the legal market. Minister Mpofu commended River Ranch for installing state-of-the-art security at the mine to curtail smuggling.
The mine uses a four-tier security system imported from the United Kingdom to monitor its 7 000-hectare area along the Limpopo river, which is 50km away from South Africa’s Venetian Diamond Mine.
Minister Mpofu also said Zimbabwe’s indigenisation laws should not scare investors from the country’s mining sector.
35 Zim men for Mr Ugly contest
Zim man drowns in SA
| By Thupeyo Muleya A 27-year-old Zimbabwean man drowned while fishing in South Africa’s Nandoni Dam near Thohoyandou in Limpopo Province. Anderson Muvuru from Masvingo is reported to have drowned while checking on his fishing nets in the early hours of last Thursday morning. Police in Thohoyandou have launched a search for his body. According to South African police statistics, Muvuru is the 29th person to drown in the dam since the beginning of this year. A senior police officer at Thohoyandou Police Station yesterday said: "Our search team is still positioned and we are yet to recover his body. "As police we are worried at the ever increasing rate at which people are drowning at this dam. "Since the beginning of the year we have recorded 29 cases of drowning including this one. "In this particular incident, preliminary investigations reveal that the victim left his home early in the morning and told his neighbours that he wanted to check on his nets in the dam. "He then went into the dam alone and during the process of checking his nets he drowned. "A report was later made by his friends after he failed to return after a whole day," the officer said. Muvuru’s friend and neighbour, Jonathan Chinamtera, was on Friday quoted by Limpopo’s weekly paper The Mirror as saying: "His disappearance is still a mystery to us. "He used to fish with others and never ventured into the water alone. No one will be able to explain what happened. "What we know is that he told us he was going fishing and we have not seen him since then." The incident comes a year after another Zimbabwean man drowned in the same dam after his homemade canoe capsized. People living near the dam have petitioned the South African government to tighten security around the area. Published by; The Herald, 6 July 2010 website; www.herald.co.zw |
Beitbridge Border Post – travellers’ nightmare
By Thupeyo Muleya and Obert Chifamba
Banners inscribed "We Are Here To Serve" greet the visitor at the reception desk of any Zimbabwe Revenue Authority office throughout the country.
Psychologically, this prepares the visitor for an on-the-dot type of service, which sadly, is yet to be witnessed since Zimra’s inception in 2001.
A lot of people, for instance business executives and importers have been left licking bruised egos over the revenue authority’s shoddy services.
It has become a nightmare for people to import goods into the country because of the treatment they get from Zimra, especially at Beitbridge Border Post.
Last month, the parastatal left vehicle importers fuming after it moved the clearances of all imported cars from their premises to a private company without even advising them.
Just recently, the organisation re-shuffled its officers at the border post and the ensuing service delivery style exposed that some of the officers were not even conversant with their new tasks.
The bulk of the parastatal’s departments are manned by arrogant officers who take their time to respond to enquiries, that is, if they do not refer the matter to the next officer who will in turn find a heap of excuses for not giving prompt service.
In the end, most people have left their businesses unfinished in frustration. The example of one gentleman who wanted to redeem part of the proceeds realised from the sale of his vehicle quickly comes into the picture.
"They advised me that they would process everything within two weeks after which they would get back to me. Now it is over a month and I have been referred from one officer to another- all professing to be doing ‘something’ about the matter.
"After going through three different officers, I was finally referred to the warehouse manager who then told me to wait for yet another two weeks. This will now make it two months and they say they are still trying to reconcile the two different schedules they used during the auctioning of the vehicles," the irate man commented.
The visibly irate man added that at one point one of the officers even sounded furious over the phone and was quick to say that the person who was supposed to do the job was away.
It is fast becoming apparent that there is lack of monitoring of officers in most departments where they seem to have been given free reign to frighten and frustrate clients. The motor vehicle valuations and the revenue officers top the list of these notorious officers.
At some point last year the Shipping and Forwarding Agents’ Association of Zimbabwe called for the establishment of a border control authority at Beitbridge border post in a move that it felt would help to improve efficiency at the country’s busiest port of entry
The SFAAZ chief executive, Joseph Musariri bemoaned the status quo where there is no lead agency running the affairs at the border post.
He said the Government should look into the issue as a matter of urgency.
He also called on the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to adopt the specialisation concept, which was formerly used, by the then customs and taxes units prior to its establishment.
"We are urging Zimra to have specialist officers to deal with certain areas of operations. This idea of moving officers from one department to another is only nurturing inefficiency. At some point you will come across a Zimra officer not even conversant with what is expected of him and this is causing unnecessary delays and confusion," he said.
They should classify them into revenue specialists, taxes, customs and excise, vehicles, administration and operations rather than operate as they are doing at the moment.
These officers’ functions should be clearly outlined and there is serious need for Zimra to re organise themselves and have carrier customs and taxes officers, he said.
Additionally, SFAAZ members were more than ready to support the creation of such an authority, he commented.
At the moment any department at the border can implement their programmes at will regardless of the effects on the other parties.
"We are really concerned by the current situation at Beitbridge border post where everyone thinks they can implement their programmes regardless of their effects on other members of society.
"As SFAAZ, we want a situation whereby we have an identified lead agent or have a port control authority which deals specifically with issues regarding the operations at this entry point," commented Musariri.
South Africa has this authority on their sides and it makes it easy to deal with some operational and administrative issues, he further explained.
He said such a port authority would deal with operations, administrative, security and health matters among other issues.
Musariri said some of the delays and inefficiencies in some departments at this entry point were a result of lack of monitoring; adding that with the establishment of the authority service delivery was bound to improve.
An average of 25 000 people and between 3 000 and 4 000 vehicles pass through the border post everyday.
Of late congestion had become the order of the day at the port with travellers and importers all putting the blame squarely on Zimra and other service providers at the border.
However, Zimra say some of the delays were a result of human resources shortages. Currently, they have a staff complement of 120 whereas they need 400 officers to operate at full strength.
This shortage of manpower has also given leeway to the current crop of Zimra officers who want "push money" to expedite their services.
Musariri’s association has also been urging the Government to re-open the Old Limpopo Bridge under the Beitbridge Efficiency Management Programme to reduce human and vehicular congestion.
They further argued that there was also need for the recapitalisation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe as that was going to ensure a faster and efficient movement of cargo.
The other issue Musariri decried was the proliferation of some government agencies at the border charging exorbitant prices for their services, which created enormous delays in the movement of cargo.
"Some functions and services duplicate each other and we believe there should be a review with some of the revenue collection tasks taken back to Zimra," he said.
He added that his association was also lobbying for local authorities at most ports of entry to avail land for office and house construction for their members. The unavailability of accommodation, he said was also affecting their discharging of duties.
On his recent familiarisation tour of the Beitbridge Border Post, Finance Minister Tendai Biti indicated that 30 percent of Government revenue came from Zimra and from that percentage, 70 percent came from Beitbridge.
In most cases, two or three officers are tasked with clearing travellers either on the green or red route zones. The green route is for those travellers without anything to declare while the red route is for those with something to declare.
Last year, Zimra even took its revenue collection to the country’s major highways and mounted roadblocks as many people sought to evade tedious clearing and customs process at the borders.
It was only after the intervention of the then Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office Gorden Moyo that the cross border traders were let off the noose.
Zimra had made it a priority to mount roadblocks to search all cross border buses along highways that lead to major cities from Beitbridge border post
This was despite the fact that all the buses would have undergone a thorough search at the border post and endured long hours of waiting to be attended to.
l tupeyo@operamail.com or obert.chifamba@zimpapers.co.zw
published by; The Herald, 6 July 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Beitbridge transmission upgrading underway
Beitbridge transmission upgrading underway
By Thupeyo Muleya
Transmedia Corporation has started installing state–of-the-art broadcasting equipment at Beitbridge as the company seeks to improve radio reception at the border town.
Workers were seen setting up the transmitting tower and the transmission room yesterday following the arrival of the equipment from South Africa last week.
The transmitter under construction at Beitbridge has the capacity to cover a radius of 80km and plans to install small transmitters for gray areas are reported to be in the pipeline.
Transmedia Corporation chief operations officer Mr Cloud Nyamundanda, who is also overseeing the setting up of the equipment, yesterday said they had since completed the installation of the transmission hardware and the necessary transmission cables. He said they embarked on the project following the availing of US$800 000 by the Government.
"We received the equipment for Beitbridge by mid last week and have since completed fitting the transmission hardware including the transmission cables. At the moment we are working on the transmitting antenna.
"After that we are going to work on the signal feed system, which we hope to complete by the end of this week. We are very positive that we will be testing the systems by the end of the week and also do tests run for a week after which we expect to start full time broadcasting by the first week of June.
"The new state-of-the-art radio transmitters use professional radios to receive signals," he said.
Mr Nyamundanda said they had installed two radio transmitters for Radio Zimbabwe and Power FM and were awaiting the arrival of television transmission equipment from Europe in 12 weeks.
"At the moment we have made it a priority that we start with two radio stations and a television system due to resource constraints. We expect television installation equipment to arrive in the country in 12 weeks.
"I am very confident that by the beginning of August, we will be setting up the television transmitters. For this year, we are setting up transmission for Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM and ZTV and we will look at other two radio stations that are Spot FM and National FM, " he said.
He said they had acquired TV reception equipment, which was digital compact in line with the Sadc deadline to degitalise broadcasting services by 2015.
He, however, said, at the moment they would use the analog TV transmission facility and switch to the digital system at the optima time.
During a recent visit to the site, Transmedia Corporation Board chairman, Dr Paul Chimedza, said they would need US$15 million for degitalising broadcasting services across the country.
Mr Nyamundanda added they were also waiting for the arrival of similar equipment for Plumtree, Mudzi, St Alberts and Victoria Falls in the next 10 weeks.
published by; The Herald, 10 May 2010
www.herald.co.zw
By Thupeyo Muleya
Transmedia Corporation has started installing state–of-the-art broadcasting equipment at Beitbridge as the company seeks to improve radio reception at the border town.
Workers were seen setting up the transmitting tower and the transmission room yesterday following the arrival of the equipment from South Africa last week.
The transmitter under construction at Beitbridge has the capacity to cover a radius of 80km and plans to install small transmitters for gray areas are reported to be in the pipeline.
Transmedia Corporation chief operations officer Mr Cloud Nyamundanda, who is also overseeing the setting up of the equipment, yesterday said they had since completed the installation of the transmission hardware and the necessary transmission cables. He said they embarked on the project following the availing of US$800 000 by the Government.
"We received the equipment for Beitbridge by mid last week and have since completed fitting the transmission hardware including the transmission cables. At the moment we are working on the transmitting antenna.
"After that we are going to work on the signal feed system, which we hope to complete by the end of this week. We are very positive that we will be testing the systems by the end of the week and also do tests run for a week after which we expect to start full time broadcasting by the first week of June.
"The new state-of-the-art radio transmitters use professional radios to receive signals," he said.
Mr Nyamundanda said they had installed two radio transmitters for Radio Zimbabwe and Power FM and were awaiting the arrival of television transmission equipment from Europe in 12 weeks.
"At the moment we have made it a priority that we start with two radio stations and a television system due to resource constraints. We expect television installation equipment to arrive in the country in 12 weeks.
"I am very confident that by the beginning of August, we will be setting up the television transmitters. For this year, we are setting up transmission for Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM and ZTV and we will look at other two radio stations that are Spot FM and National FM, " he said.
He said they had acquired TV reception equipment, which was digital compact in line with the Sadc deadline to degitalise broadcasting services by 2015.
He, however, said, at the moment they would use the analog TV transmission facility and switch to the digital system at the optima time.
During a recent visit to the site, Transmedia Corporation Board chairman, Dr Paul Chimedza, said they would need US$15 million for degitalising broadcasting services across the country.
Mr Nyamundanda added they were also waiting for the arrival of similar equipment for Plumtree, Mudzi, St Alberts and Victoria Falls in the next 10 weeks.
published by; The Herald, 10 May 2010
www.herald.co.zw
Terror suspect arrested at border
Terror suspect arrested at border
From Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
TWO Pakistani illegal immigrants, one of whom is believed to be an international terrorist, were on Sunday night intercepted by Zimbabwean security agents at Beitbridge Border Post as they tried to enter South Africa.
The names of the two are being withheld as investigations continue.
Immigration Department sources said neither was armed when the arrests were made.
"One of the suspects is believed to be a well-known terrorist who is usually based in Santiago," one official said.
Santiago is the capital city of Chile.
It is understood that the two flew from Saudi Arabia to Tanzania where they fraudulently acquired Kenyan passports before connecting to Zimbabwe by road.
Their luck, however, ran out on Sunday night when an alert immigration officer at Beitbridge who discovered that they were using fake passports intercepted them.
"The official alerted the Police Border Control Unit leading to the arrest of the duo.
"They were travelling on a bus that was coming from Harare," another source said.
The two were briefly held in Beitbridge before being transferred to Harare.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commi-ssioner Wayne Bvudzijena last night said he did not yet have information on the matter.
He advised The Herald to get back to him today for an update. However, senior immigration officers in both Harare and Beitbridge confirmed the arrest.
An official based in Harare said: "It is still a sensitive issue and is under investigation."
None of the officials would give indications as to what preliminary investigations pointed to or why the duo was going to South Africa.
They also would not say if an international arrest warrant had been issued or what particular acts of terror the suspected terrorist was wanted for and in which countries he was sought.
There had been fears that terrorists might target South Africa as it hosts the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.
However, South African police assured the world ahead of the event — which started on June 11 and ends on July 11 — that everything was under control and so far the fears have amounted to nothing.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police also said ahead of the global soccer showcase that they were on high alert to ensure no one used Zimbabwe as a transit route for any mischief in South Africa.
ZRP has also established a World Cup command centre and is liaising with South African police and Interpol on regional security issues.
published by; The Herald , 25 June 2010
www.herald.co.zw
From Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
TWO Pakistani illegal immigrants, one of whom is believed to be an international terrorist, were on Sunday night intercepted by Zimbabwean security agents at Beitbridge Border Post as they tried to enter South Africa.
The names of the two are being withheld as investigations continue.
Immigration Department sources said neither was armed when the arrests were made.
"One of the suspects is believed to be a well-known terrorist who is usually based in Santiago," one official said.
Santiago is the capital city of Chile.
It is understood that the two flew from Saudi Arabia to Tanzania where they fraudulently acquired Kenyan passports before connecting to Zimbabwe by road.
Their luck, however, ran out on Sunday night when an alert immigration officer at Beitbridge who discovered that they were using fake passports intercepted them.
"The official alerted the Police Border Control Unit leading to the arrest of the duo.
"They were travelling on a bus that was coming from Harare," another source said.
The two were briefly held in Beitbridge before being transferred to Harare.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commi-ssioner Wayne Bvudzijena last night said he did not yet have information on the matter.
He advised The Herald to get back to him today for an update. However, senior immigration officers in both Harare and Beitbridge confirmed the arrest.
An official based in Harare said: "It is still a sensitive issue and is under investigation."
None of the officials would give indications as to what preliminary investigations pointed to or why the duo was going to South Africa.
They also would not say if an international arrest warrant had been issued or what particular acts of terror the suspected terrorist was wanted for and in which countries he was sought.
There had been fears that terrorists might target South Africa as it hosts the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.
However, South African police assured the world ahead of the event — which started on June 11 and ends on July 11 — that everything was under control and so far the fears have amounted to nothing.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police also said ahead of the global soccer showcase that they were on high alert to ensure no one used Zimbabwe as a transit route for any mischief in South Africa.
ZRP has also established a World Cup command centre and is liaising with South African police and Interpol on regional security issues.
published by; The Herald , 25 June 2010
www.herald.co.zw
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