A nine-month-old child tragically died in Waterfalls on Christmas Eve after falling from the bed and becoming trapped between the wall and the bed.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the incident, saying the baby had been left on the bed by her mother while she attended to household chores. Police said:
<blockquote>
ZRP confirms a sad incident which occurred in Waterfalls, Harare on 24/12/24 in which a 9-month-old minor died after she fell from the bed and was trapped in between the wall and the bed. The victim had been left on the bed by her mother who was doing her household chores.
</blockquote>
In an unrelated but equally tragic incident also confirmed by the ZRP, Trymore Hora (41) was arrested for the murder of his 14-year-old son, Chalton Hora, at Matemazondo Village, Nembudziya, in Gokwe North on December 23.
It is alleged that Trymore accused Chalton of raping his 2-year-old daughter, who is also Chalton’s sister.
In a fit of rage, he reportedly assaulted his son with a sjambok, striking him indiscriminately across his body.
Chalton began vomiting and tragically passed away on Christmas Eve.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A baby in Harare died after falling from bed on Christmas Eve. In a separate incident, a man in Gokwe was arrested for killing his 14-year-old son. The man said his son had raped his 2-year-old daughter. He hit his son with a whip, and the son died on Christmas Eve. Both incidents are very sad and tragic. The police are investigating both cases. It is important to be careful and kind to others to prevent such terrible things from happening.

Baby Dies After Falling from Bed In Harare; Gokwe Man Arrested for Killing Son (14) Over Alleged Rape Of Daughter (2)

Some ZANU PF candidates for the upcoming general elections in Midlands Province are reportedly now resorting to commandeering traditional leaders to force their subjects to attend meetings due to poor attendance caused by disputed primary elections held in March.
Reports indicate that ZANU PF members have been snubbing meetings protesting the manner the party held its primary elections.
Thousands of bonafide members failed to vote after their names went missing from the voters’ roll giving an unfair advantage to some candidates.
ZANU PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke will be in Gweru on Tuesday for a crisis meeting to deal with the simmering tensions.
<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200011574/zanu-pf-bigwigs-sweat-over-poor-rally-attendances">NewsDay</a> reported that on Friday, only 17 people attended a meeting organised by Gokwe-Nembudziya parliamentary candidate Flora Buka that was addressed by provincial political commissar Maud Ngwenya.
The meeting was held at the Nembudziya Rural District Council offices (Gokwe North) to mobilise support for the forthcoming elections.
According to a WhatsApp message that was circulated on Sunday, Buka has now called another meeting this Monday at the same venue.
She ordered chiefs and to order village heads to bring their subjects to meeting. Reads the message:
<blockquote>
Mamuka sei nhasi, muudze masabhuku vauye nevanhu vavo vose kumusangano mangwana pa council pari kuuya national PC (good morning, can you tell the kraal heads to bring all their subjects for a meeting at the council offices which will be attended by the national PC).
</blockquote>
Buka beat sitting MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena twice in an election the latter claimed was rigged.
ZANU PF ordered that re-runs be conducted in only five constituencies yet the party had received complaints of voter malpractices from over 150 of the 210 constituencies across the country.
ZANU PF primaries were run by Forever Associate Zimbabwe (FAZ), controlled by the Central Intelligence Organisation and Heritage, which is linked to the army, according to a report by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/news/article/200011541/trouble-brewing-in-ed-backyard">The Standard</a>.
A ZANU PF internal document titled Talking Points dated 27 March 2023 revealed that FAZ, led by CIO deputy director-general Walter Tapfumaneyi had the major say in the elections.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZANU PF Candidate Orders Traditional Leaders To Bring Subjects To Meetings

ZANU PF has expressed concern over the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC)’s activities in Gokwe North, Midlands Province which necessitated the deployment of senior party officials to the district.
Documents obtained by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/news/article/200011541/trouble-brewing-in-ed-backyard">The Standard</a> show that ZANU Midlands provincial commissar Maud Gwenya was set to address members in Gokwe North.
A notice addressed to Wadyajena, the DCC chairperson and senior provincial member, Edson Chiherenge, reads:
<blockquote>
Please be advised that after noting the activities of the opposition party (CCC) in Gokwe North the province saw it fit to deploy the provincial commissar (Maud Gwenya) and her entourage to address meetings in the troubled areas you are to identify.
The provincial commissar will be at your disposal from the afternoon of (Thursday) May 11, 2023, to (Saturday) May 13, 2023.
</blockquote>
Party members are reportedly avoiding meetings called by some party candidates raising fears within ZANU PF circles of a “bhora musango” scenario in the general elections scheduled to be held in August this year.
Former Cabinet minister Flora Buka, who beat sitting Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena on Friday called for a meeting that was attended by 17 party supporters.
ZANU PF supporters who spoke to The Standard said that most people were snubbing the party because they felt the primary elections were rigged.
Gokwe is considered a ZANU PF bastion as it is largely rural but last year CCC embarked on a nationwide rural mobilisation exercise code-named Mugwazo, in a bid to make inroads in areas considered ZANU PF strongholds.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Activities In Gokwe Worry ZANU PF

A bolt of lightning struck and killed 18 cattle worth US$7 000 on Sunday in Chief Chireya’s area in Gokwe North District.
One of the two herders who were tending the cattle in the veld was struck by lightning and thrown several metres away but survived.
The other one almost suffocated after one of the animals, which was struck by lightning fell on top of him.
Gokwe North district development co-ordinator (DDC) Martin Musakanda confirmed the incident.
He said the cattle belonged to Nyasha Chivaviro, Richard Kapfumo and his brother, Svorai Kapfumo.
Chivaviro lost 10 cattle, Kapfumo lost 5, while all of Svorai Kapfumo’s three cattle were fatally struck by the lightning. Said Musakanda:
<blockquote>
I can confirm that we received a report pertaining to a disaster that hit three farmers in Madzivazvido Ward 3 under Chief Chireya in Gokwe North District.
The farmers lost a total of 18 cattle after they were struck by a bolt of lightning.
Madzivazvido is a farming area under Chief Chireya. The area was hit by severe thunderstorms which caused the death of the 18 cattle.
One of the herd boys had to be pulled from under the cow, which had been struck by lightning while the other one was thrown several metres away.
Both herd boys did not sustain any injuries.
</blockquote>
Musakanda said the District Civil Protection Unit (CPU) committee visited the farmers for assessment and consolation.
He said the Veterinary Services Department also advised the farmers on the proper disposal methods of the carcasses, which entailed burning and burying them.
Gokwe-Kabuyuni MP, Spencer Tshuma (ZANU PF) said in total, 20 cattle were struck by lightning and only two survived. He said:
<blockquote>
This unfortunate incident happened as the two herd boys were about to cross the river.
They were coming from the pastures when it started raining, and they decided to drive the cattle home.
</blockquote>
Last week, the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) forecasted violent thunderstorms and localised hail in some parts of the country. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/lightning-bolt-kills-18-cattle/">Chronicle</a>

Lightning Bolt Kills 18 Cattle In Gokwe

The Roman Catholic Church was forced to intervene and stop teachers at St Joseph Primary School from demanding US$2.00 from every pupil so that they will be allowed to sit for end-of-year tests.
Parents who spoke to Pindula News alleged that the Roman Catholic Church-run school, which has a reported enrolment of over 1 000 learners, asked parents and guardians to pay the money so that their children would be allowed to write end-of-term examinations.
The pupils were also made to pay ZWL$300 for Visual &amp; Performing Arts (VPA) and Physical Education (PE).
However, following an uproar by parents, Father Christopher Wusiku, who is the Local Responsible Authority for the school, directed that the learners should be given back their money, that is, the US$2 and the ZWL$300.
When contacted for comment, Father Wusiku refused to confirm or deny the reports but insisted that the parents are aware of the school’s position on the matter.
A source told Pindula News that it was never the school’s policy to request pupils to make payments towards their end-of-term tests but was an arrangement made by some teachers and their pupils.
St Joseph Primary School is situated at Mutora Growth Point In Gokwe North and is one of the largest and most prestigious schools in the district.

Parents Force Gokwe School To Back Down On End Of Year Exam "Fees"

A woman from Gokwe North District was seen playing “nhodo“, a traditional game using gold ore resulting in a gold rush in the area about two weeks ago.
More than 8 000 people from all walks of life have since descended on the Tongogara community to illegally extract the mineral.
Law enforcement agencies have been deployed to deal with crime, and clamp down on disregard of COVID-19 regulations and serious land degradation and pollution in the area.
Addressing a meeting comprising traditional leaders, legislators and government officials at Gokwe Nembudziya growth point on Monday to discuss the new discovery and the rush by illegal miners, Gokwe North District development coordinator, Martin Musakanda said:
<blockquote>It is confirmed that a woman picked up a piece of gold ore from the place in question.
The gold ore was then discovered by knowledgeable community members after noticing that the woman was using the ore to play a traditional game called nhodo.
She eventually led the community to the place, which subsequently led to a massive movement of people from all walks of life to the place.</blockquote>
Musakanda urged the government to deal with the social vices that have sprouted in the area, which is located about 50 kilometres from the Nembudziya growth point. He said:
<blockquote>We recommended that the illegal activities be stopped forthwith and allow formal processes to take place, that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development takes the lead, holders of prospecting licences register with the local rural district council, security areas to take charge and that a community share ownership be mooted.
In line with Government’s devolution agenda, we recommended that a community share ownership scheme be created.</blockquote>
Speaking at the same occasion, Gokwe Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena expressed concern that traditional leaders were stopped by some police officers from carrying out traditional rituals at the site.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/woman-sparks-gold-rush-in-gokwe/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

Gokwe Woman Found Playing 'Nhodo' Using Gold Ore

Traditional norms and values play a role in curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS, an official has revealed.
Midlands Provincial Aids Coordinator Mambewu Shumba said that the traditional sex-locking method – runyoka or rukawo in Shona, though it is a myth, instils fear into people so that they avoid cheating on their spouses.
Shumba was commenting on reports that there is a low HIV prevalence rate in Gokwe North and South districts, areas that are renowned for witchcraft. He said:
<blockquote>The first programme that we have is that of HIV testing and counselling, as you know, that’s the entry point in the fight against the spread of HIV.
But also the traditional norms and values have also played a great part in the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS as people here respect and follow their culture.
The sex locking issues is just a myth, but these people respect their cultural values and norms.
Tonga and the Shangwe people there stick to one man and even if they are in the polygamous marriages.
So the issues of runyoka (sex locking) are just a myth which has been said over and over again hence men and women are just afraid of cheating with married partners.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/traditional-sex-locking-myth-seen-as-good-fight-against-new-hiv-infections-in-gokwe/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Zimbabwe</a></h4>

Low HIV Prevalence In Gokwe Attributed To Fear Of Traditional Sex-locking Method

The destruction of wetlands in Gokwe North has contributed to the district’s perennial water woes, a senior official has revealed.
Out of Gokwe North’s 11 wetlands, at least 7 have been completely depleted. This was revealed by Gokwe North district environmental officer, Allan Machenjedze while speaking on the sidelines of the World Water Day commemorations recently. He said:
<blockquote>Out of the 11 wetlands in the district, only four are flourishing as a result of good wetland management practices.
The depleted ones were because of poor wetland management practices emanating from human activities including farming on wetlands, streambank cultivation as well as other developmental projects on wetlands.
However, the remaining, owing to the observance of good wetland management practices which include the indigenous knowledge system (chivanhu), wetlands such as Dewe in ward 25 copper queen area, where no modern material is allowed to harvest the water, have remained undisturbed.</blockquote>
<h4>Related:</h4>
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<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/04/gokwe-north-wetlands-face-extinction/">Newsday</a></h4>

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