Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu and three fellow councillors accused of extortion have been granted US$500 bail each by the High Court. Ndlovu, who chairs the Bulawayo City Council’s business and stands allocation committees, was granted bail on Wednesday together with councillors Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, Mxolisi Mahlanga and Ashton Mhlanga. Justice Naison Chivhayo granted the four bail after a magistrate had earlier refused their applications. Former councillor Alderman Rodney Jele, who is jointly charged with the four councillors, remains in custody after his previous bail application was dismissed. The five are accused of soliciting a US$52,000 bribe from businessman Mthuli Thulani Matshazi, who secured a 59-year lease from the council in 2023 through his company, Mkhuze Global Investment, to develop a Hilton Hotel on land near the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. According to the State, the councillors allegedly told Matshazi that no development had taken place on the property and that another investor had offered US$52,000 to have his lease terminated. The councillors allegedly told Matshazi that he could retain the lease if he matched the purported US$52,000 offer. Matshazi subsequently reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which launched an investigation. The State alleges that ZACC investigators then set a trap for Jele, who was arrested after allegedly accepting US$5,000 in marked banknotes as part payment of the purported bribe. The allegations have not been tested to finality, and the accused remain entitled to the presumption of innocence. The four councillors are represented by Sithole Law Chambers. The case comes amid continued scrutiny of local authority land allocation, leases and development deals, with corruption allegations in such processes often attracting the attention of anti-graft authorities. The latest High Court ruling means the four councillors will now face criminal proceedings while out on bail, while Jele remains in custody pending further developments in his bail application. Bulawayo councillors bail

By Simbarashe Namusi Editor's Note: This is the second and final article in a two-part series on living and working with a disability in Zimbabwe. I have been qualified for jobs I never got. Not because I failed the interviews. Not because I failed the tests. Sometimes I suspect I failed something that was never written on the assessment form, the visual test of whether I looked like the person they had imagined doing the job. About ten years ago, I attended an interview with a local not-for-profit organisation involved in community broadcasting. The verbal interview went well. Broadcasting was my profession, and I knew what I was talking about. Then came a typing test. I was handed a laptop and asked to demonstrate my typing speed. I use one hand to type. I explained this and asked whether I could have some additional time. The request was granted. But then I heard the murmurs. I heard the gasps. And I knew. Nothing about the test had established that I could not do the job. I had merely demonstrated that I performed one particular task differently from the other candidates. Yet the atmosphere in the room changed. Sometimes an accommodation does not convince people that you can do the job. It convinces them that you are a problem they will have to manage. The Unspoken Visual Assessment There was another interview, much earlier in my life. I attended interviews with a local parastatal. I passed the psychometric tests and proceeded to the final interview. When I entered the boardroom, I was asked whether I was the same person who had written the psychometric tests. I said yes. I watched faces fall. I passed the interview. I know because someone in Human Resources called me afterwards to apologise. I was told that they had settled for the other candidate because they "looked better." I had passed the tests. I had passed the interview. Somewhere between competence and appointment, appearance had become part of the qualification. Then came another experience, much more recently. A government parastatal called me and invited me for an interview. I accepted. During the conversation, I was asked whether I was a person with a disability. I answered honestly. The caller told me they had made a mistake calling me. That was it. The interview disappeared because I had confirmed something that was already visible. There was no test to fail. No interview to perform badly in. No opportunity to demonstrate what I could do. My disability had become disqualifying before my qualifications could enter the room. Disability Is Not Inability I am not asking an employer to pretend that my disability does not exist. I am asking them not to mistake disability for inability. Those are not the same question, and the difference matters. Inclusion does not mean lowering the standard. It means applying the standard fairly. A reasonable accommodation does not make a candidate less qualified. Extra time on a typing test does not erase competence. A ramp does not lower the standard for entering a building it removes a barrier. Too often, disabled people are expected to prove themselves twice: once through the work, and again through the exhausting task of persuading someone that their body will not be an inconvenience. The High Cost of Exclusion Eventually, something gives. For me, it was the decision to stop applying for jobs. Not because I stopped being qualified, but because I became tired of volunteering for rooms in which my body might be assessed before my abilities. Stopping does not feel like peace. It feels like a door closing on work I know I can still do. The cost of this is not measured only in how many disabled people are unemployed. It is measured in how many qualified people eventually stop applying: People who stop explaining why they need an accommodation. People who stop believing the next panel will see the person before it sees the disability. I do not want the bar lowered for me. I have spent too much of my life proving I can clear it. I simply want the bar to remain in place when I walk into the room. I am not asking to be hired because I am disabled. I am asking for my disability to stop being the reason I am not hired. Simbarashe Namusi is a media expert writing in his personal capacity. Disability discrimination in hiring

By Anna Miti HARARE — As the government prepares the 2027 National Budget, the media has been urged to keep domestic resource mobilisation for health in the spotlight, with advocates warning that Zimbabwe has a narrowing window to lock in its own financing before donor support shrinks further. The call was made at a media advocacy dialogue held in Harare this week by the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN). Speaking at the dialogue, Mr Knowledge Mupembe, Programmes Manager at ZCLDN, said the global pool of HIV funding is shrinking, and with little or no cushion left over from previous funding cycles, it is now imperative for Zimbabwe to secure domestic financing for its HIV response before the 2027 Budget is finalised in late November. He noted that the Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment (GC8) fell roughly $5–6 billion short of its $18 billion target, raising just over $11 billion, and that Zimbabwe's own HIV allocation has already declined — from $437 million to $349 million between the Seventh and Eighth Replenishment cycles. Domestic resource mobilisation, he said, is not optional as access to 15% of the GC8 allocation is now conditional on Zimbabwe meeting its own domestic co-financing commitments. Mupembe pointed to mechanisms Zimbabwe already has in place. The AIDS Levy, a 3% tax on individual income and on corporate and trust profits, collected since 2000, raises an estimated $35–40 million a year for the National AIDS Council. A newer 3% mining levy, introduced under the 2024 Finance Act and designated by the Finance Ministry as a "Corporate Social Responsibility levy," is also now active, though how its proceeds are being used remains an open question. Other options on the table, he said, include a proposed levy on diaspora remittances and expanded public-private partnerships modelled on programmes in Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho. Mr Wilson Box, Executive Director of ZCLDN, said that while Zimbabwe has rolled out the new HIV prevention option Lenacapavir (LEN), there is a need to ensure that other key and vulnerable populations, such as people who use drugs, are not left behind. He added that domestic resource mobilisation, rather than continued dependence on donors, could be key to their inclusion. Zimbabwe began rolling out LEN earlier this year as part of efforts to expand HIV prevention options, with the initial programme targeting priority populations at substantial risk of HIV infection, including adolescent girls and young women, sex workers and pregnant women, among others. LEN is the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP product offering a highly effective, long-acting alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options. With just two doses a year, it is considered a transformative step forward in protecting people at risk of HIV, particularly those who face challenges with daily adherence, stigma, or access to healthcare. "Using our own resources in HIV prevention helps us to have our own frameworks and set our own priorities, not those set by donors," Box said. He added that people who use and inject drugs face multiple, overlapping vulnerabilities that place them at heightened risk of HIV infection, and that as the LEN programme expands, this population should be treated as a priority. The Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan already identifies people who use drugs as a key population, he noted, and LEN could be especially advantageous for them, since it removes the adherence challenges posed by daily oral pills. Zimbabwe's national budget has been tabled in late November for at least the past three years running. That gives advocates a window period of roughly four months between the government stating its budget priorities and those priorities being fixed into law. Within that cycle, two moments were flagged as points where civil society and the media have real access: the Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) consultation window, which sets out government priorities before they harden into the Budget Statement, and Parliament's Budget Office, a standing, non-date-bound body that provides independent technical analysis and monitors under Section 299 of the Constitution whether budgeted commitments are actually disbursed. Journalists at the dialogue were encouraged to use both entry points, and to track not just whether domestic financing commitments are made in the 2027 Budget Statement, but whether they are ultimately translated into disbursed funding reaching key and vulnerable populations. Domestic resource mobilization Zimbabwe health budget

Convicted kidnapper Simbarashe Emmanuel Martin Rondozai has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for abducting and assaulting a former workmate in an attempt to stop him from disclosing information about alleged fraud at a security company. Harare provincial magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai initially sentenced Rondozai to 48 months, but suspended six months for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. The court found overwhelming evidence linking Rondozai to the abduction and ruled that the offence was aggravated by the assault and the fact that the complainant was deprived of his freedom for about seven hours. The State alleged that Rondozai, together with four accomplices who remain at large, abducted David Matanda from his home in Chitungwiza in May 2025. According to prosecutor Monalisa Magwenzi, the abduction was intended to intimidate Matanda into withholding information about alleged fraudulent dealings and misappropriation of funds at Real Star Security, where the two had previously worked. Magwenzi told the court that Matanda had information concerning the alleged financial misconduct and that the accused and his accomplices sought to prevent him from disclosing it. The prosecution also presented forensic evidence extracted from Rondozai’s cellphone, which it said did not exonerate him. Rondozai denied the allegations during the trial and argued that the State had failed to establish the exact date on which the offence occurred. He said the uncertainty over the date made it impossible for him to raise an alibi. The State called Matanda’s 17-year-old brother and his wife, Catherine Satande, as witnesses during the trial. The court heard that Matanda fled to South Africa following the incident and returned to Zimbabwe on December 16, 2025. He subsequently reported the alleged abduction to the police on February 19, 2026. In mitigation, Rondozai appealed for a lighter sentence, telling the court that he was the sole breadwinner for his family. He said his wife was unemployed and that they had two children under the age of five. The court nevertheless imposed the custodial sentence, taking into account the seriousness of the offence, the assault, and the period during which Matanda was allegedly held against his will. Rondozai, a former corporate manager, is also facing a separate criminal case in which he is accused of defrauding Wellcash Debt Collectors of nearly US$11,000 in 2024. That matter has not yet been concluded and is scheduled to resume on October 10. The fraud allegations remain before the court, and Rondozai is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Simbarashe Rondozai kidnapping case

This has a strong public-health angle. I’d make the central news point the call for people who Civil society organisations are calling for people who use and inject drugs to be included in Zimbabwe's rollout of long-acting HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, arguing that vulnerable populations should not be left behind as the country expands access to new prevention technologies. Zimbabwe began rolling out lenacapavir earlier this year as part of efforts to broaden HIV prevention options, initially focusing on populations considered to face substantial HIV risk, including adolescent girls and young women, sex workers and pregnant women. Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drugs Network (ZCLDN) executive director Wilson Box said the expansion of the programme should be guided by equity and deliberately include communities that face barriers to accessing healthcare. Box was speaking during a media advocacy dialogue on equitable access, domestic financing and the inclusive rollout of lenacapavir among key and vulnerable populations. He said people who use and inject drugs should be considered as the programme expands, particularly amid Zimbabwe's growing drug and substance abuse challenge. “Scientific innovation only becomes a public health success when the people who need it most can actually access it,” Box said. “For key and vulnerable populations, including people who use and inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people and other communities that experience barriers to health services, the challenge has never simply been the absence of effective interventions. The challenge too often is whether services are accessible, affordable, acceptable and delivered without discrimination.” Drug Use and HIV Prevention Zimbabwe has been grappling with drug and substance abuse, which the Government has identified as both a public health and national security concern. The country's Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan 2024–2030 includes demand and supply reduction, harm reduction, treatment and rehabilitation, community reintegration, communication, legal enforcement and resource mobilisation among its areas of focus. The Government has also established the Zimbabwe National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse to coordinate responses involving ministries, law enforcement agencies and other sectors. Box said these interventions should be complemented by ensuring that people who use and inject drugs are not excluded from advances in HIV prevention. Lenacapavir is considered an important development in HIV prevention because its long-acting formulation could help address some of the adherence challenges associated with daily oral prevention. For civil society, however, introducing the technology is only the first step. Box said policymakers must also consider whether people at heightened risk can access the drug without stigma, discrimination or other barriers. “Equity must be at the centre of the rollout. No person should be excluded because of their identity, occupation, behaviour, social status or circumstances,” he said. Concerns Over HIV Financing The advocacy groups are also raising questions about the sustainability of the programme as donor funding for HIV responses comes under increasing pressure. Box questioned whether Zimbabwe would have sufficient domestic resources to maintain access to lenacapavir and other HIV prevention interventions beyond donor-supported programmes. “Will domestic financing be sufficient to sustain access beyond donor-supported programmes?” he asked. He urged affected communities to be meaningfully involved in decisions concerning the rollout, arguing that programmes should not simply be designed for vulnerable populations without their participation. Box also called on the media to scrutinise Government financing commitments, implementation plans and the extent to which communities are being included in national HIV programmes. For civil society, the success of lenacapavir should therefore not be measured solely by its introduction into Zimbabwe's HIV prevention programme. “Our success should be measured by whether those who need it most can access it safely, equitably, affordably, and without stigma or discrimination,” Box said. lenacapavir rollout Zimbabwe Civil society groups want people who use and inject drugs included in Zimbabwe's lenacapavir HIV prevention rollout.

Most of Zimbabwe is forecast to receive below-normal rainfall during the 2026/27 season. Zimbabwe is facing a potentially difficult 2026/27 rainy season, with most of the country expected to receive below-normal rainfall as a strong El Niño develops over the Pacific, according to the latest regional climate outlook. The forecast was issued at the 33rd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-33), held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from August 25 to 28. Climate experts from SADC national meteorological and hydrological services and the SADC Climate Services Centre developed the consensus forecast with input from international climate centres, including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the UK Met Office. The outlook covers the main October 2026 to March 2027 rainfall season and indicates an increased probability of below-normal rainfall across large parts of central and southern Southern Africa. Zimbabwe among high-risk areas For Zimbabwe, the outlook remains consistently dry across most of the country during the season. Between October and December 2026, most of Zimbabwe falls within an area with an increased chance of below-normal rainfall, with the forecast carrying high confidence. The dry signal continues from November 2026 to January 2027, with much of Zimbabwe again expected to experience below-normal rainfall. The outlook for December 2026 to February 2027 and January to March 2027 also places the bulk of Zimbabwe within the zone with increased chances of below-normal rainfall. Southern Zimbabwe is forecast to receive normal to below-normal rainfall during the January-to-March period. The forecast could have significant implications for agriculture, water supplies, livestock and rural livelihoods, particularly if rainfall deficits are accompanied by prolonged periods of high temperatures. El Niño is driving the outlook Scientists say El Niño conditions are already established in the tropical Pacific and are expected to strengthen, potentially reaching strong to very strong intensity during the October-November-December (OND) 2026 period. The El Niño conditions are expected to persist into early 2027. Strong El Niño events are generally associated with reduced rainfall across large parts of central and southern Southern Africa, although the effects vary between countries and within individual countries. A strong positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is also expected to develop by September and persist through the OND period. Climate scientists say the IOD could either strengthen or moderate the influence of El Niño at the local level, meaning actual rainfall may vary from the broader regional pattern. Dry conditions across SADC The forecast shows that the risk of below-normal rainfall extends beyond Zimbabwe. During OND, much of Angola, southern Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho are also expected to have increased chances of below-normal rainfall. The rainfall pattern is forecast to shift southward during November-January, while dry conditions are expected to persist across much of the central and southern parts of the region later in the season. The core dry zone from December to February includes most of Angola, the bulk of Zambia, central and southern Malawi, central Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, western South Africa and much of Zimbabwe. Northern parts of the region are expected to fare better. Eastern Tanzania and extreme northern Mozambique have consistently been forecast to receive above-normal rainfall through March 2027, while the Comoros, Seychelles and Mauritius are expected to receive normal to above-normal rainfall. Temperatures expected to rise The temperature outlook also points to a warmer season. Most of the SADC region has a high probability of experiencing above-normal temperatures between October 2026 and January 2027. Cooler-than-normal conditions are expected mainly over central to northeastern parts of the region. For Zimbabwe, the combination of below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures could increase pressure on water resources and agriculture during the coming season. The SARCOF outlook is a seasonal probability forecast rather than a prediction that every location will experience drought. Conditions can vary within the forecast zones, and rainfall distribution during the season will remain important. However, the high-confidence dry signal covering much of Zimbabwe provides an early warning for farmers, water managers, policymakers, and communities to prepare for a potentially challenging season. Zimbabwe 2026/27 rainy season

Mpundu Valerie When Sarah Msekiwa took over the reins of the Grassroots Empowerment Developmental Organisation following her grandmother’s passing, she did not just inherit a title. She inherited a calling. Her grandmother, the late Fanny Chirisa, was a respected feminist and community leader. Today, Sarah carries that torch forward as Executive Director of GEDO, an organisation built on the belief that real change starts at grassroots level. Registered under the Private Voluntary Organisations Act, GEDO’s mandate is fourfold: to economically and socially empower women in vulnerable communities; to provide material and educational support to children; to equip youth with life skills and to offer psychosocial support to both youth and children. “We are a grassroots organisation,” Sarah says. “We go to where the people are. We have only scratched the surface. What we are building is generational legacy.” Since January, GEDO’s footprint has grown across Harare’s high-density suburbs. In the first quarter of the year, the organisation provided food donations in Mbare. In August, through the support of Mike from Shanxi International and an anonymous SADC donor, GEDO rolled out a back-to-school campaign, distributing stationery and satchels to learners. Further support came from Chairman Fang of the Hubei Provincial Sino-Africa Business Council, Zimbabwe Branch, who donated two speakers to each of seven schools. The beneficiaries were five primary schools in Highfield and two high schools in Glen Norah. For Sarah, the satchel drive is about more than stationery. It is about dignity. “We are aligning with government initiatives,” she explains. “Some children under BEAM have lost interest because they don’t see the value. We are rewarding excellence to motivate vasina shungu. We want them to know that hard work pays.” Next week, GEDO will launch a sanitary wear drive in partnership with the Scott Foundation, led by Mrs Sakupwanya. The initiative aims to address period poverty and keep girls in school. Like many organisations, funding remains GEDO’s biggest challenge. “Resources are limited, but the needs are not,” Sarah notes. “We continue because the community is depending on us.” Looking ahead, GEDO is developing a farm project focused on traditional grain farming. The goal is to promote food security, create income opportunities, and transfer skills to the youth. “Our pride as Zimbabweans lies in our land, and what better way to prosper than to retain the bread basket status of our nation," she echoed proudly. From Fanny Chirisa’s vision to Sarah Msekiwa’s leadership, GEDO remains committed to service. For Sarah, the work is personal. It is unity, purpose, and commitment carving excellence, one community at a time. Grassroots Empowerment Developmental Organisation GEDO

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) will conduct door-to-door inspections of television and radio licences at Borrowdale Brooke Village in Harare from September 7 to September 18. The exercise was announced in a letter sent to the residential estate's management, with ZBC licensing inspectors expected to visit individual households to verify whether residents hold valid broadcasting licences. The inspections will target households with television and radio sets and check whether the required licences have been obtained and remain valid. Residents without licences, as well as those whose licences have expired, will reportedly be able to purchase or renew them during the exercise. “The Inspectors will be checking for valid ZBC licences and will also be issuing licences to households that have not yet purchased or renewed their licences,” the letter reads. The exercise forms part of efforts by ZBC to improve compliance with broadcasting licence requirements and increase revenue from licence fees. ZBC Seeks Estate Security Assistance ZBC has asked Borrowdale Brooke Village management and security personnel to assist its inspectors during the exercise. The broadcaster wants security staff to facilitate access to properties where necessary and ensure that inspectors can conduct their work without disruption. “We kindly request Management and Security to provide the necessary assistance and cooperation to the ZBC licensing Inspectors during the inspection exercise and to facilitate their access where required,” the letter reads. It was not immediately clear how many households are expected to be visited during the two-week exercise. Residents Question Licence Fees News of the planned inspections has generated debate on social media, with some Zimbabweans questioning the value they receive from paying ZBC licence fees. Some users argued that they rarely watch or listen to ZBC content, while others questioned why households accessing ZBC television channels through pay-TV platforms such as DStv should separately pay a broadcasting licence fee. One social-media user wrote: “Imagine paying US$24 for something you don’t even watch or listen to. ZBC, we need answers!” Another questioned why ZBC does not seek revenue from pay-TV platforms where its channels are available. The comments reflect a broader public debate over Zimbabwe's broadcasting licence system, particularly among households that consume television content primarily through satellite and streaming platforms. However, criticism on social media does not necessarily represent the views of all Borrowdale Brooke residents. The inspections are expected to test how effectively ZBC can enforce licensing requirements in a modern media environment where households increasingly access content through multiple platforms and devices. Residents in the estate are expected to cooperate with the inspectors during the exercise, with those without valid licences given an opportunity to regularise their position. ZBC licence inspections Borrowdale

The government has given informal traders operating outside designated areas in Harare until September 9 to relocate. Thousands of informal traders operating from undesignated areas in Harare have been given until September 9 to vacate their trading spots ahead of a government “zero-tolerance” clean-up operation. The directive was issued by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe on Wednesday, with enforcement expected to begin in Harare and the greater Harare metropolitan area before being extended to other urban centres. Authorities intend to remove vending stalls, structures and other trading activities operating outside legally designated marketplaces. Municipal police are also expected to be deployed to prevent traders from returning to areas that have been cleared. Garwe said traders had been given an opportunity to relocate voluntarily before enforcement begins. He acknowledged that informal trading provides an important source of income for many Zimbabweans but said traders must comply with local authority regulations. “Whilst the government acknowledges the existence of informal trading as a recognised avenue of livelihood, this, however, should be within the bounds of municipal by-laws and at legally designated marketplaces,” Garwe said. The minister described the current state of some urban areas as “disorderliness”, arguing that unregulated trading had created concerns around public health, security and the orderly use of public spaces. Government Plans Nationwide Operation The Harare operation is expected to form the first phase of a broader clean-up programme targeting cities, towns and urban settlements across Zimbabwe. Government says the campaign is intended to improve sanitation, reduce congestion and restore order in urban areas. Local authorities have been directed to facilitate the registration and relocation of compliant traders into designated vending facilities. However, the Government has not disclosed how many vending spaces are currently available or whether there is sufficient capacity to accommodate all traders affected by the directive. That could become a major challenge as the September 9 deadline approaches, particularly for traders who depend on high-traffic locations for their livelihoods. Traders Face Uncertainty Informal trading remains an important component of Zimbabwe's economy, providing income for households that may have limited access to formal employment. Harare's streets and pavements have consequently become important trading spaces for vendors selling food, clothing, household goods, agricultural produce and other products. The Government's position is that traders will not be prevented from earning a livelihood but must do so from approved locations. The immediate question, however, is whether designated markets can absorb the thousands of traders expected to be affected by the operation. Previous efforts to remove street vendors have often faced resistance, particularly where traders argue that designated markets are too far from customers or lack adequate infrastructure and services. The September 9 deadline therefore places pressure on both traders and local authorities to complete relocation arrangements before enforcement begins. Garwe has warned that traders who remain in undesignated areas after the deadline will face the planned enforcement operation. Harare will now provide the first major test of whether the Government can balance its objective of restoring order and improving urban sanitation with the need to protect livelihoods in an economy where informal activity plays a significant role. Harare vendors September 9 deadline Harare vendors operating from undesignated areas have until September 9 to leave before the Government launches a zero-tolerance clean-up operation.

Gospel singer Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave. Source: Facebook mpundu valerie Artist Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave has broken her silence over what she calls "blatant identity theft" and unfair co mpetition, surginglawmakers to protect musicians the same way other professionals are protected. In a post on social media, she revealed that individuals are impersonating her work note-for-note, word-for-word copying her music, stage mannerisms, dress and performance style + securing commercial bookings without her consent. “This is not a cover. This is a direct copy,” she stated. “Then respected institutions hire them for cheap labor and profit from my name, my music and my creativity. Not even a call was made to ask for permission.” Due to fear of victimization, she said she had remained silent to preserve peace and uphold Ubuntu. But she warned that silence should not be mistaken for consent. She drew a sharp comparison: “If I woke up tomorrow and opened a bank with the same name, colors, uniforms and services as an existing bank and started taking customers, I would be arrested immediately. So why is it acceptable when it’s an artist’s life work being used?” Citing The Law 1. The Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05] – for moral and economic rights 2. The Competition Act [Chapter 14:28] – against unfair market practices 3. The Tort of Passing Off – under Common Law, for misleading the public “Is the law failing us, or are those meant to enforce it looking the other way?” she asked. “Can being a Christian or choosing peace be used as a reason to deny legal protection?" “I am not asking for special treatment,” she concluded. “I am asking for the same protection everyone else gets at their workplace. I value peace and Ubuntu. But peace must not be used to justify injustice.” WHAT THE LAW SAYS Legal experts note that Zimbabwe’s Copyright Act does protect performers’ rights, while the Competition Act prohibits practices that distort fair trade. The Tort of Passing Off also protects a person’s goodwill and identity from being exploited. Zimbabwean gospel artist Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave speaks out against identity theft, music impersonation, and intellectual property infringement in Zimbabwe. Intellectual property rights in Zimbabwean music

An ATM at a bank in Govans Shopping Centre, Norton, was blown up by unidentified suspects in the early hours of Tuesday morning in an armed robbery that has prompted a police investigation. The incident occurred at around 2 am, with police yet to establish how much money, if any, was stolen from the ATM. No arrests had been made by Wednesday, as investigators continued efforts to identify and track down the suspects. Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying a safe at the shopping centre had been targeted. “We are investigating an armed robbery incident which occurred in Norton where a safe was blown at Govans Shopping Centre by suspects who are yet to be identified. We will be releasing more details in due course,” Nyathi said. Details surrounding the raid remain limited, including the number of suspects involved, the explosives allegedly used and whether the criminals managed to gain access to cash. The incident comes just over a week after another bank robbery in which suspects allegedly broke into a ZB Bank branch at Mpandawana Growth Point in Gutu through the roof. In that case, the robbers reportedly targeted an ATM inside the bank and allegedly used explosives to break it open before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money. The two incidents have renewed concerns over security at financial institutions and ATMs, particularly the use of explosives during robberies. Police have not indicated whether the Norton and Gutu incidents are connected. Investigations into the Norton robbery are continuing, and police are expected to release further details as more information becomes available. Authorities have appealed to anyone with information that could assist in identifying the suspects to contact the police. Norton ATM robbery

Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika has been denied bail in the US$9.3 million money-laundering case. Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, the second wife of Collins Mnangagwa, has been denied bail in a US$9.3 million money-laundering case after a Harare magistrate ruled that she was a flight risk. Regional magistrate Francis Mapfumo dismissed her bail application on Wednesday, saying Tafirenyika had sufficient financial resources to sustain herself outside Zimbabwe and could abscond if released. The State had opposed her release, with investigating officer Gift Machipisa telling the court that authorities were concerned about properties allegedly owned by Tafirenyika outside Zimbabwe, including assets in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Machipisa said police were engaging Interpol as part of efforts to trace and potentially recover assets linked to the investigation. The case centres on properties and other assets valued at about US$9.3 million, which prosecutors allege were acquired using proceeds from drug-related activities. Tafirenyika denies the allegations. Through her lawyers, she has maintained that the properties were gifts from her husband and constitute matrimonial assets. She has also denied that her arrest was connected to drug-related allegations, claiming that detractors of the First Family were behind the case. Her legal team comprises Admire Rubaya, Everson Chatambudza, Malvern Mapako and Kangai. Re-arrest After Drug Case Bail Tafirenyika was re-arrested last week shortly after being released on bail in a separate drug-related case. The High Court had earlier granted her and her co-accused, Isaac Arab Jessub, US$1,000 bail each in that matter, subject to conditions including surrendering their passports and reporting to police. The money-laundering investigation has since widened to include assets and companies that police allege may have been used to conceal or move suspected criminal proceeds. Investigators have indicated that they are seeking banking, company and property records and intend to seek assistance from authorities in South Africa and the UAE. Disputed Identity Document The proceedings have also raised questions over an identity document allegedly issued in the name of Gertrude Badza but bearing Tafirenyika's photograph. Her lawyers have challenged the document's authenticity, arguing that it may have been fabricated or manipulated using artificial intelligence. The disputed document has also featured in a separate allegation under the Civil Registry Act. Earlier court proceedings heard claims that two identity documents had been linked to Tafirenyika, with investigators alleging that the name Gertrude Badza did not appear in the Civil Registry's database. The latest bail ruling means Tafirenyika will remain in custody as the money-laundering case proceeds. She has not been convicted of any offence and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court. Kelsea Tafirenyika denied bail