By Staff Reporter | Harare A Chinese national has been arrested in connection with an alleged syndicate that smuggled 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore out of Zimbabwe using fraudulent export documents. Ning Yaokun, also known as Tony, surrendered to authorities on September 10 and was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which is investigating the alleged smuggling operation. Yaokun is a co-director of Orequest (Pvt) Ltd and is facing charges under the Customs and Excise Act, including attempted smuggling and unlawful dealing. He was expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates' Court for an initial remand hearing. The allegations place Yaokun at the centre of a wider investigation into the alleged illegal movement of raw lithium ore out of Zimbabwe. According to investigators, Orequest allegedly operated an illicit mineral-processing and dispatch site at Plot 5, Cheltenham Park Drive, Ruwa, where lithium ore was stockpiled and processed before being prepared for export. The alleged operation reportedly used fraudulent documentation to move the mineral through Forbes Border Post in Mutare. ZACC said its investigations established that approximately 720 tonnes of unbeneficiated lithium ore had allegedly been successfully smuggled out of Zimbabwe in 23 trucks. The full financial prejudice to the State has not yet been established, with the value expected to be assessed by Ministry of Mines and Mining Development evaluators. Investigators have also recovered another 420 tonnes of lithium ore believed to be connected to the alleged operation. Of the recovered material, 300 tonnes were seized from the Ruwa site, while 60 tonnes were recovered from two containers abandoned at a truck stop in Harare's Lochinvar area. A further 60 tonnes were intercepted at Forbes Border Post, according to ZACC. Authorities also seized equipment allegedly used in the operation, including a jaw crusher, front-end loader, TLB machines, heavy-duty generator and 20 wheelbarrows. The investigation had already resulted in the arrest and court appearances of three other suspects. They are Chinese national Minmin Song, as well as Shuvai Muza and Charlene Tanyaradzwa Chivandire, who are on remand in connection with the allegations. Another suspect, identified only as Malvern, remains at large. The case follows a series of allegations surrounding the attempted illegal export of lithium from Zimbabwe at a time when the Government is tightening controls over the export of raw minerals. Zimbabwe has progressively strengthened its mineral beneficiation policy, arguing that the country should process more of its mineral resources locally rather than exporting raw material. In March, the Government reaffirmed an indefinite ban on the export of raw minerals, extending the restriction beyond lithium concentrates. The policy is intended to promote domestic value addition and retain more economic value from Zimbabwe's mineral resources. The alleged Orequest operation therefore comes amid a broader Government drive to increase local processing and curb mineral revenue leakages. Earlier court proceedings involving Minmin Song provided further details of the alleged operation. The State alleges that Song, Yaokun and another Chinese national identified as Andy established the Ruwa site and began stockpiling lithium ore before commencing operations. Investigators allege that fraudulent export documents bearing the name of Bikita Minerals were subsequently used in attempts to move the ore through Forbes Border Post. Two trucks were intercepted at Forbes on July 23, while another consignment allegedly crossed into Mozambique and was transported to the Port of Beira. The investigation is continuing, and prosecutors are expected to present further details as the accused persons appear before the courts. Yaokun remains presumed innocent unless convicted, and the allegations against him and the other accused have yet to be tested through trial. For Zimbabwe, however, the case highlights the growing enforcement challenge around strategic minerals as the country seeks to move from exporting raw resources towards domestic beneficiation and higher-value mineral processing. Zimbabwe lithium smuggling

By Staff Reporter | Marondera One person died and two others were injured early Saturday morning after a Toyota Platz collided with a goods train at a level crossing along the Harare-Mutare Highway near Marondera. The crash occurred at about 4.15am at Tarisira, between Marondera and Macheke, according to the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). The three occupants were reportedly travelling from Harare to Nyanga to attend a funeral when the vehicle collided with the train. NRZ confirmed the fatal crash and said the two injured occupants, a man and a woman, were taken to hospital for treatment. “The accident happened at 0415 hours at a level crossing at Tarisira between Marondera and Macheke. The injured have been rushed to hospital,” NRZ said. The railway operator expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished those injured a speedy recovery. It also urged motorists to exercise extreme caution when approaching railway level crossings. Driver blames brake failure According to the driver, Wiseman Hamakoma, the crash happened after the vehicle allegedly lost its brakes as he approached the railway crossing. Hamakoma told ZBC News that he was travelling with his younger brother and his brother's wife when he saw the goods train. He said he reduced speed and attempted to stop but was unable to bring the vehicle to a halt after the brakes allegedly failed. “We were coming from Harare, going to Nyanga to attend a funeral. While approaching Marondera railway crossing, I noticed there was a goods train, and I reduced speed and tried to stop, but my car lost its brakes,” he said. The collision killed Hamakoma's younger brother, who was reportedly seated in the front passenger seat. His brother's wife was seriously injured, while Hamakoma suffered injuries to his leg and hand. The driver's account has not been independently established as the official cause of the crash, and investigations are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision. A security guard working near the crossing told ZBC News that he heard the impact and rushed to the scene. He said police and an ambulance arrived shortly afterwards and found one person dead and the other two injured. Highway blocked for hours The collision also disrupted traffic along the busy Harare-Mutare Highway. The road was reportedly blocked for more than four hours while authorities dealt with the wreckage and the train. Some motorists were forced to use alternative routes, while others waited for the obstruction to be cleared. The deceased was taken to Marondera Hospital, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted. The latest crash has once again raised concerns about safety at railway level crossings, where motorists are required to exercise extreme caution when approaching tracks. NRZ has previously worked with the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe on initiatives aimed at reducing level-crossing accidents. The railway operator has repeatedly warned motorists that trains require significantly more distance to stop than road vehicles and that drivers should never attempt to beat an approaching train. NRZ safety campaigns have also urged motorists to remain vigilant around railway tracks and level crossings. The Tarisira crash comes at a particularly difficult moment for the families involved, with the three travellers reportedly on their way to attend a funeral when tragedy struck. Police are expected to investigate the circumstances of the crash, including the driver's account of brake failure and the events leading up to the collision. For now, NRZ has urged motorists using the Harare-Mutare route and other roads with railway crossings to exercise extreme caution and ensure they are able to stop safely before crossing the tracks. Marondera train accident

By Staff Reporter | Harare Zimbabwe is heading into a potentially difficult 2026/27 rainfall season, with the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) forecasting predominantly below-normal and erratic rainfall between October 2026 and March 2027. The national climate outlook points to an increased risk of prolonged dry spells, warmer-than-normal temperatures and an unreliable start to the rainy season, raising concerns for agriculture, water supplies and livestock. The forecast is being driven largely by the influence of El Niño, with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) also contributing to the expected weather pattern. The government has already begun preparations for the anticipated dry conditions, with authorities urging ministries, farmers and other stakeholders to strengthen contingency measures, conserve water and prepare for possible humanitarian and economic impacts. The MSD's outlook covers the two three-month periods of October-November-December 2026 and January-February-March 2027. For October to December, the country has a high probability of below-normal rainfall. The outlook becomes somewhat more mixed between January and March, with the southern and western parts of Zimbabwe expected to receive rainfall within the normal range but with a bias towards below-normal totals. Most of the remainder of the country is expected to remain biased towards below-normal rainfall. The department has stressed that the seasonal forecast should not be interpreted as meaning that every location will remain dry throughout the period. Actual rainfall will depend on shorter-term weather systems and local atmospheric conditions, meaning some areas could still experience periods of heavy rain despite the overall seasonal dry signal. Erratic start to rainy season One of the major concerns is the timing of the onset of the rainy season. The MSD said Zimbabwe's rainfall season normally begins between November and early December. However, the forthcoming season is expected to be highly erratic, with a significant part of the country potentially experiencing no effective start to the rainy season. Historical seasons used as analogues for the current outlook include 2023/24 and 2015/16, both of which were associated with widespread failures of the seasonal rainfall onset. The implications are significant for farmers who rely on rainfall to determine when to plant. An unreliable start could result in farmers planting after isolated rainfall events only for crops to face prolonged dry spells, increasing the risk of poor germination and crop failure. The government has therefore been urging farmers to strengthen climate-smart agricultural practices and prepare for possible water shortages. December brings some relief The outlook does not mean that every month will be uniformly dry. December is expected to produce a mixed rainfall pattern, with parts of Matabeleland South, southern Midlands and south-western Masvingo having increased chances of normal to above-normal rainfall. However, large parts of the country are expected to remain within normal-to-below-normal or below-normal rainfall categories. Harare Metropolitan, much of Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Manicaland are among areas facing an increased probability of below-normal rainfall during December. The northern parts of Midlands and Matabeleland North are also expected to face below-normal conditions. Heat and storms remain a threat Despite the dry outlook, the MSD has warned that Zimbabwe should not assume that a dry season means an absence of dangerous weather. Warmer-than-normal conditions are expected during the first three months of the season. The combination of high temperatures, atmospheric instability and erratic rainfall could increase the risk of violent thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds and flash flooding when rainfall does occur. This means communities may have to prepare for two seemingly contrasting risks: prolonged dry spells and sudden heavy storms. The MSD has recommended water harvesting, irrigation planning, maintenance of drainage systems and public-health preparedness. The department is also urging the public to continue following short-term weather forecasts rather than relying exclusively on the seasonal outlook. “A seasonal forecast is a long-term planning tool,” the MSD said, stressing that shorter-term forecasts are needed to determine the actual onset of the season and identify individual dry spells and severe weather events. The warning comes after the region's 33rd Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum concluded that most of Southern Africa is likely to experience below-normal rainfall during much of the 2026/27 season, with above-normal temperatures also expected across much of the region. For Zimbabwe, the message from forecasters is therefore not that rain will disappear, but that farmers, households, businesses and authorities should prepare for a season in which rainfall may arrive late, fall unevenly and be interrupted by prolonged dry spells. The MSD will continue monitoring climate indicators and issue further updates as the season develops. Zimbabwe 2026/27 rainfall season

By Staff Reporter | Johannesburg A Zimbabwean national has been arrested in Johannesburg after police allegedly uncovered an operation involved in the production of fraudulent South African smart identity cards and other forged documents. The arrest followed an intelligence-led operation in Hillbrow after police received information about a man allegedly recruiting people seeking South African smart identity cards, as well as forged bank statements and payslips. The South African Police Service (SAPS) said it received the information on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Officers first verified the information before conducting a search operation within the Hillbrow policing precinct. The operation resulted in the seizure of six South African smart identity cards and 22 blank smart cards, according to police. Investigators also seized a laptop and a smart-card printing machine, which police believe may be connected to the alleged document operation. A Zimbabwean national was subsequently arrested. Police said the suspect is expected to appear before a court, while investigations into the alleged document-fraud operation continue. The arrest comes amid intensified efforts by South African law-enforcement agencies to disrupt organised criminal activities involving fraudulent documentation. Fraudulent identity documents can be used to facilitate a range of other offences, including identity theft, financial fraud and unlawful access to services, making the production and distribution of counterfeit documents a significant concern for authorities. In this case, police allege that the suspect was not only involved in producing or facilitating access to South African smart identity cards but was also recruiting prospective clients who required forged financial documents. The alleged availability of bank statements and payslips could potentially enable individuals to misrepresent their financial circumstances when applying for services or conducting financial transactions. However, the exact intended use of the documents and whether any of the seized materials were successfully used for fraudulent purposes had not been established publicly at the time of publication. Police have not released the identity of the arrested Zimbabwean national. The seizure of 22 blank smart cards and a printing machine is expected to form part of the evidence presented as investigators establish the source and intended use of the equipment. Authorities will also seek to determine whether the suspect was operating alone or as part of a wider network. The case is likely to be investigated further before prosecutors decide on the charges to be brought before court. SAPS has urged members of the public to report suspected criminal activity in their communities. The police service continues to conduct high-density and intelligence-driven operations across Gauteng under broader crime-fighting initiatives. SAPS recently reported more than 900 arrests during coordinated Operation Shanela activities across Gauteng, demonstrating the scale of ongoing enforcement operations in the province. For Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa, the case is also a reminder of the serious legal consequences associated with fraudulent identity and financial documents. The allegations against the arrested man have not yet been tested in court, and he remains presumed innocent unless convicted. His expected court appearance should provide further details about the charges and the evidence gathered during the Hillbrow operation. Police investigations remain ongoing. Zimbabwean arrested fake SA IDs

By Staff Reporter | Harare Fresh details have emerged following the death of Roman Catholic priest Father Regis Chikuni, whose disappearance triggered a search by the Archdiocese of Harare before his body was discovered at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary. Father Chikuni, 58, was reported missing on September 5, prompting the Archdiocese to appeal to priests, religious communities and members of the public for information about his whereabouts. Four days later, on September 9, the church confirmed that he had been found dead at the Parirenyatwa mortuary. In a death notice issued through Archbishop Robert C. Ndlovu’s secretary, Father Ephraim Murwira, the Archdiocese described the death as a profound loss to the Catholic community. “It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we announce the passing on of our beloved brother, Father Regis Chikuni,” Murwira said in the notice. The church said Father Chikuni’s pastoral service and contribution to the community would remain remembered and urged Catholics to unite in prayer during the period of mourning. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced separately. Reports have since emerged suggesting that Father Chikuni may have been involved in a road accident shortly before his death. According to information attributed to police sources, the priest is believed to have been struck by a Honda Fit while attempting to cross the road near the intersection of Prince Edward Road and Samora Machel Avenue in Harare. The incident is being treated as a suspected hit-and-run, although police have not yet publicly released a detailed account establishing the circumstances of the collision. One of the reported difficulties in identifying the priest was that he allegedly had no identification documents on him when the incident occurred. His body was subsequently taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital, where it remained unidentified while family members, friends and church colleagues were searching for him. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Current reporting by NewsDay and other Zimbabwean outlets confirms that the Archdiocese had reported Father Chikuni missing and later confirmed that his body had been found at the hospital mortuary. However, the church's public statements have not disclosed how he died. The reported road accident therefore remains an important line of inquiry rather than an established account of his death. Father Chikuni was a senior priest in the Archdiocese of Harare and had served in different pastoral roles, including at Holy Rosary Parish in Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central. His disappearance had caused concern among members of the Catholic community, with the Archdiocese appealing for information and asking the faithful to pray for his safe return. The confirmation of his death brought the search to a tragic end. The case has also raised questions about the identification and tracking of accident victims who are admitted to hospitals without identity documents, particularly where relatives are unaware of an accident involving their loved ones. Police are expected to provide further information as investigations continue, including details of the alleged road accident and efforts to identify the vehicle reportedly involved. For now, the Archdiocese is mourning the loss of a priest it described as a dedicated servant whose pastoral work had left a lasting impression on the communities he served. The church has urged members of the faithful to support one another as funeral and burial arrangements are finalised. Father Regis Chikuni

By Staff Reporter | Harare A Dzivarasekwa woman has been remanded in custody after allegedly assaulting her husband during a domestic dispute over claims that he was having an affair with another woman. Sharline Rutendo Munenga, 29, appeared before a Harare magistrate on Friday facing a physical abuse charge following the alleged confrontation with her husband, Munyaradzi Pondi, 33. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday, September 9, in Dzivarasekwa 2. According to court proceedings reported by H-Metro, Munenga allegedly confronted Pondi after receiving information that he was involved in an extramarital relationship. The couple reportedly engaged in a heated argument after Munenga was allegedly dissatisfied with her husband's response to the accusations. The confrontation subsequently turned violent, with Munenga accused of biting Pondi in his private area. Pondi reportedly sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for medical treatment. Munenga was arrested following the incident and appeared before the Harare magistrates' court on Friday. The court remanded her in custody as the matter proceeds. The allegations have not been tested in court, and Munenga remains presumed innocent unless she is convicted. The case comes amid continued concerns over domestic violence in Zimbabwe, with police and courts regularly dealing with cases in which disputes between intimate partners escalate into physical violence. Domestic disputes involving allegations of infidelity can become particularly volatile when accusations lead to confrontation and physical retaliation. However, allegations of an affair do not in themselves justify violence, and the circumstances surrounding the Dzivarasekwa incident will have to be determined through the court process. The prosecution will be required to establish the circumstances of the alleged assault, including what happened during the confrontation and the injuries reportedly sustained by Pondi. The medical treatment received by Pondi is also likely to form part of the evidence surrounding the alleged assault. For now, Munenga remains in custody while the case proceeds through the courts. The matter illustrates how quickly relationship disputes can escalate into serious physical confrontations and potentially criminal proceedings. As with all criminal matters before the courts, the allegations against Munenga remain allegations until determined by a competent court. Dzivarasekwa domestic violence case

By Staff Reporter | Dar es Salaam A bizarre reported dispute in Tanzania has resurfaced after a man allegedly sued his friend for failing to impregnate his wife despite 77 attempts over a period of several months. According to multiple online reports, Darius Makambako, a Tanzanian police officer, and his wife Precious had been married for several years without having a child when they reportedly sought an unusual solution after doctors allegedly told Makambako that he was infertile. Makambako is said to have approached his neighbour and fellow police officer, Evans Mastano, and asked him to impregnate Precious. Reports published online say Mastano agreed to the arrangement and was paid 2 million Tanzanian shillings. He was allegedly expected to have sexual relations with Precious three times a week for about 10 months in 2016. Despite the reported arrangement, Precious did not become pregnant. According to the accounts, Mastano had sexual relations with Precious on 77 occasions but was unable to achieve the agreed outcome. The situation reportedly took another unexpected turn when Makambako insisted that Mastano undergo medical tests after Precious remained pregnant after months of trying. Reports claim that medical examinations subsequently indicated that Mastano was also infertile. The alleged revelation was particularly embarrassing because Mastano was reportedly married and believed to be the biological father of two children. His wife, however, allegedly disclosed that the children were not Mastano's biological offspring and claimed that she had conceived them after having a relationship with his cousin. The unusual chain of events reportedly led Makambako to demand his money back from Mastano. When Mastano refused, arguing that he had fulfilled his part of the arrangement by making the agreed effort and had never guaranteed that Precious would conceive, Makambako allegedly turned to the courts. The dispute was reportedly framed as a breach-of-contract claim, with Makambako seeking recovery of the 2 million Tanzanian shillings he had paid. The case has since been repeatedly republished by websites across Africa, often with slightly different ages, dates and descriptions of the alleged court proceedings. An earlier version published by Pulse Nigeria in 2019 carried substantially the same names, amount and account of 77 unsuccessful attempts. A 2026 version of the story similarly describes the dispute as a case before a Dar es Salaam court, but does not provide a court case number, judgment or independently verifiable court document. As a result, it remains unclear whether the reported lawsuit resulted in a substantive court judgment or whether the matter was ever formally determined by a Tanzanian court. The central question attributed to the dispute is nevertheless an extraordinary one: whether a person who accepts payment to attempt to impregnate another man's wife can be held legally responsible when pregnancy does not occur. Mastano's reported position is that he agreed to make an effort, rather than guaranteeing pregnancy an important distinction in any contractual dispute involving an inherently uncertain biological outcome. The story also raises broader questions about infertility and the lengths couples may go to in their efforts to have children. Modern fertility treatment provides medical options for couples experiencing infertility, but the reported case reflects a far more unconventional arrangement involving two friends, their spouses and an alleged financial agreement. For now, however, the most dramatic elements of the story remain claims repeated across secondary publications rather than independently verified findings from a Tanzanian court. Southerton Business Times could not independently establish a current court judgment or official Tanzanian court record confirming the outcome of the reported dispute. Tanzanian man sues friend 77 times

By Staff Reporter | Harare Fresh details have emerged about the domestic tragedy that claimed the lives of Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) Commissioner Dr Martin Muduva and his wife, nurse Lyliosa Chirara, amid reports that tensions over an alleged long-term extramarital relationship had troubled the couple for years. Muduva, 42, died at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Wednesday after sustaining serious injuries during an alleged attack at the couple’s home in Dzivarasekwa Extension, Harare. Chirara, 43, died after allegedly ingesting rat poison shortly after the attack. Police have confirmed that they are investigating the deaths. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were ongoing, while preliminary information indicated that the couple had a misunderstanding over alleged infidelity. According to ZBC, Chirara allegedly struck Muduva with an unidentified object, suspected to have been an axe, causing deep injuries to his head and right hand. She allegedly drank rat poison after realising the seriousness of his injuries. A neighbour was alerted and helped take the couple to a 24-hour medical facility, where Chirara was pronounced dead on admission. Muduva was transferred to Parirenyatwa for further treatment but later died. The circumstances surrounding the incident have since prompted reports about tensions within the couple’s marriage. According to Chirara’s friend Nancy Tembo, the couple had experienced difficulties over Muduva’s reported relationship with another woman, with whom he was said to have had a child. Tembo told local media that Chirara had spoken to her about the relationship and had struggled to accept the other woman. Reports have also emerged that Muduva had recently formalised his relationship with the woman through a lobola ceremony. A photograph from the ceremony was reportedly shared on WhatsApp before being removed. According to people close to Chirara, seeing the post caused her significant emotional distress. However, the reported lobola ceremony and WhatsApp post have not been established by police as the cause of the attack. The Herald reported that police investigations were focusing on the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack and subsequent death of both spouses. More disturbing details have emerged from relatives about the moments after the attack. One of the couple’s three children reportedly discovered Muduva seriously injured in the bedroom, with an axe allegedly found nearby. The child also reportedly saw Chirara writing in a book before she collapsed. A relative told local media that a sachet believed to contain rat poison was subsequently found. These accounts have not been independently verified by police and remain part of the emerging reports surrounding the tragedy. Muduva was a lecturer at Midlands State University and had been appointed a ZHRC commissioner on December 19, 2024. The commission described his death as a devastating loss, highlighting his contribution to human rights, technology and administrative justice. The deaths have left the couple’s children and relatives facing the loss of both parents within hours. The tragedy has also triggered wider discussion about domestic conflict, infidelity, unresolved marital disputes and the devastating consequences of violence within families. But with police investigations still under way, the precise sequence of events and the motive behind the attack remain to be established. The bodies of Muduva and Chirara were taken to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary for post-mortem examinations. Authorities are expected to rely on forensic evidence, witness statements and post-mortem findings to establish what happened inside the Dzivarasekwa home. For now, the reported affair, lobola ceremony and WhatsApp post provide context to the tragedy, but should not be treated as proven cause or motive until investigators establish the facts. Martin Muduva death

By Staff Reporter | Masvingo A 35-year-old Chivi man has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly beating and stoning his 70-year-old father during a dispute over accusations that the elderly man was bewitching him. Norman Gwanangara of Headman Madzivire village in Chivi, Masvingo, allegedly attacked his father, Funny Gwanangara, on September 3 at about 6.50pm following a dispute over unresolved family issues and witchcraft allegations. Masvingo acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Itayi Zivhave confirmed the incident. “On September 3 at around 6:50 pm, the accused went to the complainant over unresolved family issues, alleging that his father was bewitching him,” Zivhave said. The two allegedly began arguing before Norman assaulted his father several times with his bare hands, striking him across the body. Police further allege that the assault escalated when Norman struck his father on the head with a suspected okapi knife before sitting on his chest and repeatedly hitting him on the head with stones. Funny suffered a deep cut to the chin as well as injuries to the back of the head and forehead, according to police. The matter was reported at Ngundu Police Station, after which officers attended the scene and arrested the suspect. Funny was initially taken to Ngundu Clinic for treatment before being transferred to Chivi District Hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition. His condition later required specialist treatment and he was transferred to Masvingo General Hospital on September 5. However, he died at the hospital on the same day. His body was taken to the Masvingo General Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination. Norman is now facing a murder charge in connection with his father's death. The case highlights the potentially deadly consequences of disputes involving accusations of witchcraft, which continue to feature in some family and community conflicts in Zimbabwe. Accusations of witchcraft can have serious consequences when they escalate into violence, particularly where family disputes, longstanding grievances or allegations of supernatural harm are involved. However, the police account does not establish that Funny Gwanangara was involved in witchcraft or had actually harmed his son. The allegation was reportedly made by Norman during the dispute and forms part of the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack. Police investigations will now focus on establishing the circumstances leading to the assault and the events that resulted in Funny's death. The murder allegation will ultimately have to be determined through the courts, where the accused is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence unless convicted. The latest case comes as police continue to urge members of the public to resolve family and community disputes without resorting to violence. For communities dealing with allegations of witchcraft, traditional beliefs and family disagreements, authorities and community leaders have repeatedly stressed the importance of seeking mediation and lawful intervention rather than taking matters into one's own hands. In this case, what began as an alleged confrontation between father and son ended with the death of a 70-year-old man and his son facing a serious criminal charge. The investigation remains ongoing. A 35-year-old Chivi man is facing murder charges after allegedly beating and stoning his 70-year-old father during a dispute over witchcraft allegations. Chivi man murder charge

By Simbarashe Namusi Zimbabwe appears to have developed a peculiar fascination with cleaning up things that never seem to stay clean. Every few years, we embark on another grand campaign to restore order to our cities. Vendors are chased from pavements. Illegal structures are demolished. Informal settlements are cleared. Streets are emptied. Officials issue stern statements. Pictures of bulldozers doing their work circulate on social media. For a brief moment, it looks like something has been achieved. Then, months or years later, we are back where we started. The Cycle of Displacement Zimbabwe needs clean-ups. Of course our cities need order. Streets should be passable. Buildings should comply with planning regulations. Trading spaces should be properly designated. Waste should be collected. The real issue is what our clean-ups have actually achieved. Consider Operation Murambatsvina of 2005. It was presented as an exercise to restore order and eliminate illegal structures and informal trading. Yet the underlying pressures that produced informal settlements and informal economic activity did not disappear. People still needed somewhere to live. People still needed somewhere to trade. People still needed to earn an income. And so the informal economy, like water finding a crack in a wall, simply found another route. Mai Chiedza was one of the vendors swept off Julius Nyerere Way in 2005. She sold tomatoes and onions from a wooden table near the old bus terminus. The bulldozers came, the table was confiscated, and for a few weeks the pavement stayed empty. Then she found a spot two streets over, outside a hardware shop whose owner didn't mind. She was moved again ahead of the 2024 SADC Summit when Harare cleared its pavements to present a pristine image for visiting heads of state. Mai Chiedza relocated to a side street near a church, out of sight of the main delegation routes. She has been swept up again this year in the clean-up currently under way in the Harare CBD—framed around the government's Vision 2030 ambitions. And with Zimbabwe set to host the COMESA Summit on October 22, 2026, she will likely be moved a fourth time so Harare looks its best for another visiting delegation. Twenty-one years later, she is still selling the same tomatoes. Only the pavement, and the occasion for moving her off it, keeps changing. Twenty-one years later, we are still demolishing structures and chasing vendors. Symptoms vs. Systemic Solutions If the same problem keeps returning after every clean-up, the problem is unlikely to be the people being cleaned up. It is more likely the system. We seem particularly comfortable dealing with symptoms: Visible Symptoms: A vendor occupying a pavement, a house built on undesignated land, or a crowded market. Invisible Root Causes: Structural unemployment, affordable housing shortages, failing urban planning systems, unserviced land, and municipal failure to provide formal trading spaces. Fixing root causes takes considerably more effort than sending in a bulldozer. There is also something politically attractive about a clean-up. It produces photographs. It produces headlines. It allows authorities to demonstrate decisive action. A demolished structure is immediate evidence of work; a cleared pavement looks impressive on social media. Building affordable housing, reforming municipal governance, creating functioning markets, and expanding employment opportunities take years, patience, investment, and economic transformation. None of it photographs well. A Clean-Up Without an Alternative is Displacement Remove the vendor without providing a viable trading space and the vendor will eventually return, the way Mai Chiedza did, three times over. Demolish the informal house without providing affordable accommodation and the family will build somewhere else. Clear an informal settlement without addressing housing demand and another settlement will emerge. The location changes; the problem doesn't. There is nothing inherently wrong with enforcing planning laws—a functioning city depends on them. But enforcement must be accompanied by functioning systems: Accessible Trading Spaces: Affordable, serviced areas for vendors to operate legally. Serviced Residential Land: Affordable land for legitimate homebuilders. Formal Housing Supply: Adequate housing stock to eliminate the demand for informal settlements. Otherwise, we are simply playing an elaborate game of urban whack-a-mole. Zimbabwe should stop measuring the success of a clean-up by how many vendors were removed, how many structures were demolished, or how empty the streets looked the following morning. Success should be measured six months later: Whether Mai Chiedza is still trading illegally. Whether displaced families have decent alternative accommodation. Whether the underlying problem has actually disappeared. If the answer is no, then we need to stop congratulating ourselves for cleaning up. We may simply be getting better at moving the mess around. Simbarashe Namusi is a media, peace, and governance scholar writing in his personal capacity. Zimbabwe urban clean ups

By Staff Reporter | Harare The City of Harare has deployed at least 300 municipal police officers as authorities intensify a crackdown on illegal vending, pushcarts and other unauthorised activities in the capital’s central business district. The operation, code-named Operation Chenesa Harare, began on Wednesday, with enforcement initially focused around the intersection of E.D. Mnangagwa Road, formerly Enterprise Road, and Samora Machel Avenue. Authorities say the campaign will see informal traders operating from undesignated areas moved to approved trading sites as Government and council seek to restore cleanliness, order and ease of movement in the city. The deployment follows a seven-day Government directive giving vendors operating from unauthorised sites until September 9 to relocate. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the council was also moving towards 24-hour municipal police patrols to prevent traders and other unauthorised activities from returning after officers finish their normal shifts. “We have noticed that there is a lacuna where our police officers are finishing their work at 5 pm,” Mafume said. “We are going to institute 24-hour patrols and regular patrols around the city so that there will be continuous policing 24/7.” The mayor said municipal police could not continue operating only during daytime hours while illegal activities resumed after officers had left. Mafume previously said the number of officers deployed could be increased beyond 300 depending on conditions on the ground. The initial approach, he said, would focus on encouraging vendors to move to designated trading areas before stronger enforcement measures were applied. Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said Operation Chenesa Harare was part of a broader Government programme to improve cleanliness, public order and healthy living standards. He rejected suggestions that the operation was being conducted primarily to prepare Harare for an upcoming international event. “This programme is not targeted for any major event that is likely to come,” Garwe said. “This is the life that we must now be accustomed to, of cleanliness, of orderliness, of reorganising.” The minister said the operation would begin in the CBD before extending to other areas, including Samora Machel Avenue, Julius Nyerere Way, Leopold Takawira Street and the Avenues. Pushcarts are also being targeted, with Garwe arguing that they contribute to congestion and obstruct the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. “No to selling mangoes, oranges, clothes or shoes. No to plying trade in the central business district. And no to pushcarts in the central business district,” he said. The authorities' position has, however, been balanced by acknowledgement that informal trading provides livelihoods for thousands of Zimbabweans. Garwe said Government recognised the economic circumstances that had driven many people into vending and insisted that the operation was not intended as a “declaration of war” against vendors or formal traders. The Zimbabwe National Vendors Association has also urged its members to comply with the directive and operate from designated areas. Meanwhile, concerns remain over whether alternative trading locations have sufficient customer traffic and facilities to support traders who depend on busy CBD locations. ZBC reported that some designated vending areas remain underutilised, while its reporting also highlighted concerns from traders that moving away from established customer concentrations could affect their incomes. The council has pointed to existing markets, including Mbare, as evidence that designated trading infrastructure is available. Mafume has argued that vendors should make use of council-provided facilities rather than occupying pavements and roadways. The latest crackdown is therefore not simply about removing vendors from the streets but also about maintaining cleared areas once enforcement officers leave. The introduction of round-the-clock patrols is intended to close that enforcement gap and prevent vendors from returning to previously cleared locations. The government has indicated that the campaign will eventually extend beyond Harare as authorities seek to establish common standards of cleanliness and urban order across Zimbabwe. For Harare, the immediate challenge will be balancing the restoration of public spaces with the livelihoods of thousands of informal traders who rely on the city’s busiest areas for customers. The success of Operation Chenesa Harare will ultimately depend not only on enforcement, but also on whether designated markets can provide traders with accessible, viable, and properly serviced alternatives. Harare has deployed at least 300 municipal police officers and introduced 24-hour patrols to enforce a crackdown on illegal vending and pushcarts. Operation Chenesa Harare

y Staff Reporter | Harare Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has come under scrutiny after appearing to dismiss a motorist’s complaint over two council fines totalling US$70, including a penalty issued after an unauthorised car wash allegedly took place while the vehicle was parked in the central business district. The motorist, who raised the matter through Crime Watch, said he had parked his vehicle along Inez Terrace, facing the Ximex parking lot, and paid for three hours of parking. According to his account, he returned after about two hours and found two tickets attached to his vehicle, one imposing a US$20 penalty for car washing and another imposing a US$50 penalty for allegedly disposing of litter in a public place. The motorist said he was surprised by the car-washing charge because he had neither hired nor authorised anyone to wash his vehicle. “So, I parked along Inez Terrace, facing the Ximex parking lot, and paid for three hours of parking. I returned after about two hours, only to find two tickets on my car,” he said. He said a parking attendant told him that someone had been washing his vehicle and had subsequently been apprehended by council police. However, the motorist questioned why he should be held responsible for the alleged offence if he had not requested the service. He said he approached council police seeking clarification but was allegedly told that they could not provide him with the identity of the person who had been washing the vehicle. The motorist further complained that attempts to challenge the fines through senior officials at Trafalgar Parking were unsuccessful. He claimed he ultimately paid more than US$70 despite maintaining that he had neither committed nor authorised the alleged offences. He also questioned the payment arrangements, saying he was unable to settle the tickets at the location where they were issued and was instead directed to another payment point outside the central business district. “It is sad that vehicle owners are held responsible for the actions of someone they never hired or authorised to wash their car,” the motorist said. Mafume responded to the complaint in a social-media post, but rather than addressing the specific questions about how responsibility for the alleged car washing was established, his response appeared to dismiss the motorist’s explanation. “There was a time I used to reason like this with my wife. I now understand why she never believed me when I said I found passengers in my car without my consent,” Mafume wrote. The remark has the potential to fuel further debate about how motorists are treated when disputing municipal fines, particularly where an alleged offence was committed by another person. At the centre of the complaint is a basic question of accountability: whether the owner or driver of a parked vehicle can reasonably be held responsible for conduct allegedly carried out by a third party without the owner's knowledge or consent. The motorist's account, however, does not by itself establish whether the council's officers correctly issued the fines or whether the penalties were subsequently cancelled, upheld or paid under protest. Harare City Council has previously faced public pressure over enforcement measures in the CBD, including parking management, street trading, littering and other municipal offences. The controversy also comes amid wider efforts by the city to enforce municipal by-laws and improve cleanliness and order in central Harare. For motorists, however, the incident highlights the importance of transparent enforcement procedures, including identifying the alleged offender, recording the circumstances surrounding an offence and providing an accessible mechanism for appealing disputed penalties. Neither the motorist's account nor the mayor's response, on their own, establishes whether the US$20 and US$50 penalties were lawfully imposed. The City of Harare would need to clarify the legal basis for the fines and explain what evidence is required before a vehicle owner can be held responsible for an offence allegedly committed by another person. The matter has nevertheless triggered discussion online about municipal enforcement, motorists' rights and the relationship between city authorities and residents. Harare mayor US$70 fine