Tout falls from bus carrier, dies

Wednesday, 20 April 2011 21:32

Beitbridge Bureau Chief A-30-YEAR-OLD tout from Esigodini died last Friday afternoon after falling headlong from the carrier of a bus while loading passengers' luggage. The incident occurred at Ntunjambila Business Centre in Matopo District at around 4.30pm. It is understood that Given Mpunzi who was employed by Majaha Bus Company, was busy loading luggage on top of the bus and during the process, the driver started the engine of the bus unaware that he was still on the carrier. His body was discovered by a passerby along the Old Gwanda Road who then informed the police. Acting police spokesman for Matabeleland South province, Sergeant Thabani Mkhwananzi, confirmed the incident yesterday, adding that investigations were in progress. He said in a related incident that occurred in the same area on Thursday afternoon last week, a four year-old boy was fatally hit by a speeding vehicle while trying to cross the road. "On the fateful day, the boy was in the company of a 37 year-old neighbour at Ntunjambila Business Centre and while they were walking, the boy tried to cross the road in front of an oncoming car, a Datsun pick up resulting in the driver failing to stop on time and hit the boy and he died on the spot," he said. Sgt Mkhwananzi identified the boy as Awakhe Moyo of Ntunjambila area. He said his body was also taken to the UBH. He said the driver was arrested on charges of culpable homicide and would appear in court soon, adding that they were still investigating the matter. www.herald.co.zw

25 years jail for rape

Beitbridge Bureau Chief

Monday, 18 April 2011 22:39

A Beitbridge tout was recently jailed 25 years effective for raping and robbing a woman he waylaid along the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway. Thulani Sibanda (27) of Dulibadzimu suburb in the border town had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges of robbery and rape when he appeared before Matabeleland South regional magistrate Mr Owen Tagu. He was, however, convicted on the strength of overwhelming evidence. Prosecutor Mr Johannes Tlou, told the court that on April 9 this year, the 34-year-old woman disembarked from a truck which was coming from Masvingo at the Masvingo-Bulawayo turn off in Beitbridge at around 9 pm. She met Sibanda along a bushy path near Red Quinn garage who then grabbed her from behind, threatening to assault her if she screamed. He then dragged her to a secluded area in the bush where he raped her once. After that he stole the woman's cell phone and ordered her to go and leave her bags at a security guard near Red Quinn garage. The woman complied and the two went to the garage on the guise that they were going to attend a musical show at a local nightclub. They then started moving towards the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway. However, along the way two vehicles approached from behind. The woman then grabbed Sibanda from behind and screamed for help. A group of men in the vehicles rescued the woman. They apprehended Sibanda and recovered the cell phone. Sibanda was handed over to the police. Meanwhile, appearing before the same magistrate was a 28-year-old man who was accused of raping an eight-year-old girl after dragging her to a bushy area. Tinashe Ngwenya of Chamutewa area in Madaulo area was convicted on one count of rape following a fully contested trial. He was left with 12 years effective to serve after Mr Tagu conditionally suspended six years of his sentence for five years. Charges were that on December 9 last year, he went to the borehole in the same village where he met the girl who was busy pumping water into a bucket. He asked her to accompany him to the bush to look for Mopani worms but the girl refused. Ngwenya grabbed her by the hand and dragged her into the bush where he raped her once. Soon after committing the offense he promised to give girl some money. However, the girl went home and informed her father who reported the matter to the police.

www.herald.co.zw

Woman covicted for smuggling copper

Thursday, 14 April 2011 20:41

Beitbridge Bureau A 35-YEAR-OLD Harare woman has been jailed for six months or US$200 fine for attempting to smuggle 600kg of scrap copper worth $6 000 out of the country through the Beitbridge Border Post. Lindiwe Chipayi of 522 Engineering in Highfield was convicted on her own plea of guilty on Tuesday to charges of dealing with copper without a licence when she appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mrs Auxillia Chiumburu. She was given an option to pay US$200 fine, failure of which she will be sent to jail. Charges are that on January 28 this year, Chipayi went to Beitbridge Border Post aboard a SRY Coaches bus travelling from Harare to Johannesburg, South Africa. The copper, which was packed in six sacks was been hidden in the boot of the bus. At the border, she completed all the immigration formalities without declaring the scrap copper. The copper was discovered when the bus was searched by detectives from the Border Control Unit on routine patrol. She was asked to produce the customs clearance documents and a licence authorising her to deal in copper and she failed. She was arrested and the scrap copper comprising mainly of radiators was in turn forfeited to the State. www.herald.co.zw

‘One-stop border post missing link at Beitbridge’

Sunday, 10 April 2011 21:32

Beitbridge Bureau Chief THERE is urgent need for a one-stop border post at Beitbridge to quicken traffic movement, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mike Bimha said last week on Thursday. Deputy Minister Bimha was visiting the border post. He said: "It is a learning experience for me and you will realise that most of the challenges facing the stakeholders manning this border post are of a similar nature and are cross cutting on all arms of Government. "This therefore calls for a well-coordinated inter-ministerial approach in dealing with most of these challenges. "We have to put our house in order as we move towards implementing the one-stop border post between Zimbabwe and South Africa." Under the one-stop post travellers only have to go to one counter, will ensure a speedy flow of traffic between the two countries. "We will exchange notes with our counterparts in Government on how best we can improve the situation at Beitbridge and speed up the movement of both human traffic and cargo," he said. "It is of paramount importance that all arms of Government read on the same page so that we successfully implement most of the stipulated policies around this area." The problems at Beitbridge included the unavailability of accommodation, human resources, poor infrastructure, non compliance with immigration or customs regulations, an increase in transit fraud cases and the shortage of funds to complete some of the capital projects. "Because of the type of activity at Beitbridge which is one of the busiest ports of entry in the region, there is a strong need to ensure compliance. "At the same time the service providers here must cultivate a degree of customer care. "We have had numerous reports from industrialists, businesspeople, travellers and other importers and exporters on the lack of client care here. "Apart from that we also noted with concern that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is keeping a lot of goods in their warehouses which can easily be disposed to those who are in dire need. "For instance they are keeping a lot of blankets which can be given to state hospitals, charity institutions and the prison rather than filling the warehouses with goods of no benefit. We need to get cargo moving. "This scenario calls for us as Government to review some of the policies that are leading to some of these challenges. "As much as we want revenue, our rates should be affordable so as to ensure compliance and the payment of customs duty and various levies collected at this border," he said. He said the Government would also work on modalities aimed at easing the burden car importers face and at the same time dealing with influx of second hand cars from countries in Asia. Deputy Minister Bimha said there was need for Government to formulate long term strategies that addressed the needs of people, while trying to avoid the flooding of second hand vehicles into the country. On average Zimra clears around 130 vehicles per day with official figures indicating that vehicle imports have surged by 36 percent following the review of excise duty by Government in January this year. It is understood that at Beitbridge Border Post, 3 150 vehicle submissions were made for the month of January 2011 compared to 2 310 vehicles imported in January 2010. www.herald.co.zw

Immigration ready for holiday influx

Wednesday, 06 April 2011 21:32

By Thupeyo Muleya The Immigration Department is geared to handle the expected influx of human and vehicular traffic expected to pass through Beitbridge Border Post during the Easter Holiday. In an interview yesterday, immigration Officer-in-Charge (operations) at Beitbridge, Mrs Tamari Shadaya, said they would employ some of the clearance systems they used during Christmas last year to deal with the traffic surge. Mrs Shadaya said they had agreed in principal with their South African counterparts to align clearance of people and vehicles. "At the moment, we are operating on four shifts and with effect from April 18 until the end of Easter we will suspend all off and leave days. "We have staff complement of 55 and we need an extra 15 to operate at full strength. "Immigration officials from Zimbabwe and South Africa have agreed to implement a similar clearance programme to ensure the speedy flow of traffic. "The police and other stakeholders will also be engaged to ensure maintenance of order and providing marshals at all clearing points. "More immigration clearing points will be opened outside the main immigration hall if the need arises." She said more security guards would be deployed at all entry and exit points to ensure travellers' safety. Mrs Shadaya said they would separate traffic into pedestrians, buses, commercial, tourists and private motorists. Presently, all are cleared at the same counters. Mrs Shadaya said they had devised a tagging system of clearing passengers in buses in their order of arrival to decongest the border post. "On average, we clear between 1 500 and 2 000 people per day and about 15 000 during holidays. "We anticipate the number to drastically increase this time around taking into account that a lot of people did not come back home during the festive season. "Many were still regularising their stay in South Africa and most of them were successful. These people would probably want to visit their relatives during Easter." Mrs Shadaya said that they had recorded a decline in people enter-ing the country through Beitbridge in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the same period last year. "During the period under review, last year we had a total of 1 039 594 people who used Beitbridge Border Post as compared to 661 572 this year." www.herald.co.zw

All set for 'Mr Ugly' 2011 contest

Monday, 04 April 2011 21:13 By Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," is one statement that usually settles differences in opinion as to who and what constitutes "beauty".Suffice to say, there are a number of differentials in defining this ideal, many of which cannot be agreed upon among people.Yet one can argue that the person who coined that statement in question probably forgot the flip side of beauty - ugliness. In all fairness, the same rule could be applied to the not-so-fair products of nature, the ones whose faces could easily send children scampering for cover under a pillow. This could be the reason why the hitherto unheralded idea is gaining currency, in its grotesqueness and guess what? In yonder Beitbridge of all places.All is set for this year's edition of the "Mr Ugly" contest with a total of 15 men from across the country expected to take part. The modelling contest is scheduled to take place next month at Pagomo Heights Leisure Centre in Beitbridge.The contest - now in its third year - previously attracted an average of 30 contestants who volunteered to take part in the Zimbabwe's ugliest man pageant. Show organiser Lovemore Chonzi of Aerowise Entertainment said preparations had gathered momentum adding that this year's edition would be unique from the previous two events. He said they were going to hold road shows to lure contestants from all parts of Beitbridge district.Chonzi added that so far six contestants - two from Bulawayo, two from Masvingo, one from Kwekwe and the other one from Zaka - had since confirmed their participation. He said entry was free and they were looking at men who were very confident about their ugly looks. "Basically the competition is meant for people to have fun and celebrate who they are just like any other contest in the world. "We are holding another contest this year banking on the success of the last two editions and we are working towards making the contest a national event. "At the moment six contestants from across the country have confirmed their participation and we will hold roadshows in all parts of Beitbridge district to select others. The date for the show will be announced soon as we are still waiting for some dignitaries from Bulawayo and Harare to confirm their attendance. "The pageant will be unique this time around and we will have four categories - casual, smart casual, safari and sports."We have also got enough sponsorship and the prize money this year will be much higher and we are calling on those interested to get in touch with us," he said. Chonzi said the roadshows were earmarked for Chaswingo, Lutumba, Tshapfuche, Matshiloni, Joko, Bishopstone Estate and River Ranch Mine.Last year's winner, Elmas Moses, popularly known as VaChiganda, walked away with R1 500, while the first prince got R1 200 and the second prince received R1 000 cash. Chonzi said they were still working towards making the pageant a national event with a number of contests already been lined up for other provinces to choose those who will battle it out for the national crown in Harare. www.herald.co.zw

PM drivers further remanded

Sunday, 03 April 2011 19:38 Beitbridge Bureau Chief THE case in which Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's drivers are being charged with driving vehicles mounted with blue beacon lights without permission from the Head of State has been further remanded to April 14 for continuation of trial. Joshua Mhuriyengwe (44) of 1057 Off-Fraser Road, Parktown and Clifford Sanyika (38) of GB21 Samuriwo Rugare, Kambuzuma in Harare were not asked to plead when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate Miss Gloria Takundwa last Fri- day. They are being charged with contravening Section 29 (3) of Statutory Instrument 154/2010, that is, the use of motor vehicle fitted with a bluebeacon light when the motor vehicle is not for the police or national army or has been authorised by the President. The duo, who are being represented by Mr Kudzai Havzvidi of Masawi and Partners, are out of custody on $100 bail each. They have been ordered to reside at given addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses until the matter is finalised as part of their bail conditions. Prosecutor Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that on February 9 this year, the two accused persons passed through Beitbridge Border Post driving two Toyota Prados. Whilst in South Africa, they had their cars fitted with blue beaconlights and siren systems, after which they proceeded to Beitbridge border post en-route to Harare. Their cars were stopped for a routine search by security agents manningthe border post resulting in the discovery of the blue beacon lights connected to cigarette lighters concealed under the rear seat foot rests. The accused persons were then asked to produce authorisations to such fittings, which they failed resulting in their arrest. The blue light beacons were recovered by the police. www.herald.co.zw