By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare An 18-year-old automotive engineering graduate has drawn attention at St Peter’s Kubatana Industrial Training College after building a mini tractor in just two months, demonstrating how technical and vocational education can translate into practical innovations. Alexander Paguti said he developed the tractor as part of his coursework, using skills acquired at the Harare-based institution. He designed the project with farmers in mind, hoping to make agricultural work easier. “I made this mini tractor in two months from the skills I acquired at this institution. This innovation was part of my coursework. It was my project, and it will be used by farmers to make their work easier. I made it with farmers in mind,” he said. Paguti was among 556 students who graduated from the college on Thursday, completing training in technical, vocational and business-related disciplines. The graduating class comprised 353 males and 203 females, representing 63 percent and 37 percent of the total, respectively. Students graduated in fields including Industrial Clothing, Cosmetology, Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology, Hospitality and Business Studies, reflecting the range of practical skills offered by the institution. College principal Thomas Gatsi said the institution’s goal was to produce graduates capable of creating employment, providing services and contributing to national development rather than relying solely on formal job opportunities. “We are not producing graduates who will carry certificates looking for employment. We are producing graduates who will produce goods, offer services, and create employment for others. Heritage-based education means using our own resources to build our own nation,” he said. Gatsi’s remarks reflect the emphasis on innovation, industrialisation and entrepreneurship under Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 model, which seeks to connect education with practical solutions and economic development. The graduation ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Simelisizwe Sibanda, who was the guest of honour. Sibanda urged institutions and graduates to ensure that artificial intelligence is used responsibly and in line with Zimbabwe’s national AI strategy. “I encourage you all to use AI ethically, following Zimbabwe’s AI strategy. AI without ethics is a dangerous weapon,” he said. Paguti’s mini tractor offered a practical illustration of the type of innovation technical colleges seek to encourage, particularly in agriculture, where appropriate machinery can help farmers carry out tasks more efficiently. However, the tractor’s eventual usefulness will depend on factors such as its performance, safety, durability, maintenance requirements and affordability for farmers. As Zimbabwe continues to emphasise skills development and locally driven innovation, projects such as Paguti’s highlight the potential for vocational training to equip young people with the ability to develop practical solutions to everyday challenges. The college’s latest graduating class also underscores the importance of technical education in preparing young people for careers across manufacturing, agriculture, services and entrepreneurship. 18-year-old builds mini tractor in Zimbabwe

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare The importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment of childhood cancer took centre stage at the 14th annual Husqvarna Mud Run fundraiser in Harare on Saturday, as participants gathered to raise funds for children battling the disease. Held at the 4×4 Club in Donnybrook, the event brought together thousands of participants and supporters in aid of KidzCan Zimbabwe, an organisation providing clinical care, advocacy and support for children living with cancer. KidzCan Zimbabwe chairperson Gary Cross said the organisation attends to between 200 and 300 children with cancer annually, but many more could be affected, with some reaching healthcare providers when the disease is already at an advanced stage. “The problem of childhood cancer is huge. We see 200 to 300 patients a year, but there are more children out there who have it. Some are brought to us when the cancer has already advanced,” he said. “Early detection saves lives. We have drugs to treat it if it is found early. We have all we need; we just need the children to come early.” Cross said improving awareness and encouraging parents and guardians to seek medical attention when they notice worrying symptoms were important steps towards improving outcomes for affected children. Event founder and organiser Grant Mitchell said the fundraiser, now in its 14th year, continued to attract support from Zimbabweans committed to helping children access cancer treatment. “We fundraise to provide treatment for children with cancer. This is year 14, and we are proud of Zimbabweans for supporting this cause. Almost 3 000 people are here to participate in the Mud Run. Through this event, we have managed to raise awareness of childhood cancer,” he said. KidzCan Zimbabwe health and awareness coordinator and oncology nurse Charity Kawadza urged parents and guardians to remain alert to symptoms that could indicate childhood cancer. She identified warning signs including unexplained lumps or swelling, unusual paleness, persistent fatigue, changes in vision or the eyes, unexplained weight loss, recurring fevers and persistent pain. “Many childhood cancers are curable if detected early, but lack of awareness and late diagnosis remain major challenges,” Kawadza said. While these symptoms can also be caused by illnesses other than cancer, persistent, unexplained or worsening changes in a child's health should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional. The annual fundraiser provides financial support for KidzCan Zimbabwe’s work with children affected by cancer, helping sustain its clinical care and support activities. The event also highlights the role community initiatives can play in bringing childhood cancer into public conversation and encouraging families to seek medical attention when concerns arise. For organisers and KidzCan Zimbabwe, the message was clear: greater awareness, timely medical assessment and access to treatment are essential in improving the outlook for children diagnosed with cancer. childhood cancer awareness Zimbabwe

By Southerton Business Times Reporter American rapper and music executive Sean “Diddy” Combs has been transferred from a federal prison in New Jersey to a facility in Pennsylvania, days after reports that he sustained a head injury while serving his sentence. The 56-year-old was moved from the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fort Dix to FCI Allenwood Low on Friday, 16 October 2026, according to the US Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The bureau confirmed the transfer but declined to explain the reasons for the move, citing privacy, safety and security considerations. Both institutions are classified as low-security federal prisons. Representative welcomes transfer Combs’ representative, Juda Engelmayer, welcomed the move, saying the rapper’s safety and security remained important. “We appreciate the Bureau of Prisons taking the safety and security of Sean and everyone involved seriously,” Engelmayer said. He described the transfer between two low-security facilities as significant but stressed that the legal team could not confirm the bureau’s specific reasons for relocating his client. The BOP has not publicly linked the transfer to any particular incident or disciplinary matter. Bureau denies reports of prison fight The transfer followed reports that Combs had been taken for medical treatment after sustaining a non-life-threatening head injury while incarcerated at Fort Dix. Some media reports alleged that the injury occurred during an altercation with fellow inmate Christopher “Dudus” Coke, the convicted former leader of Jamaica’s Shower Posse gang. However, the Bureau of Prisons rejected reports of a fight involving Combs and Coke. “The story you are referring to is false and did not happen,” the agency said, according to published reports. Other accounts suggested that Combs may have injured himself by striking his head against a bunk bed. The precise circumstances surrounding the reported injury have not been officially established. The reported injury also came amid scrutiny over allegations that Combs had received prohibited privileges while at Fort Dix. Reports cited claims of access to contraband, including a mobile phone and alcohol, as well as services from other inmates. These allegations are separate from the circumstances of his reported injury. Projected release date moves to March 2028 Combs’ projected release date has been revised to 2 March 2028, according to reports citing Bureau of Prisons records. His release had previously been projected for 21 January 2028. The later date reportedly followed the loss of 41 days of good-conduct credit linked to disciplinary issues. The bureau has not publicly provided a detailed explanation of the adjustment. Combs is serving a 50-month federal prison sentence imposed in October 2025 after a jury convicted him on two counts of transporting people across state lines to engage in prostitution. The jury acquitted him of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. His legal team has challenged the conviction and sentence, arguing that the punishment was excessive. The appeal is part of the continuing legal proceedings in the case. For now, the reason for Combs’ transfer remains undisclosed, while questions surrounding his reported injury and the revision to his projected release date continue to attract attention. Sean Diddy Combs prison transfer

By Mpundu Valerie PLEASE NOTE: Persistent headaches, particularly in the morning, repeated vomiting, blurred vision, clumsiness, changes in behaviour, or seizures in a child should never be ignored. Seek prompt medical assessment, especially when symptoms occur together or worsen. These symptoms can have several causes, but a healthcare professional can determine whether further investigations or brain imaging are needed. Shona was 9. It started small. Headaches that wouldn't go away after school. She would hold her head and say, "Mama, my head is heavy." Then her vision blurred in class. She started bumping into the door frame. She was vomiting in the morning, even when she had not eaten anything. We thought it was her eyes. Or stress. Or too much screen time. Until the symptoms persisted. Scans found it to be a low-grade meningioma. Slow-growing. Grade 1. That word "tumor" broke me. But the neurosurgeon explained what many people don't know: 1. Low-Grade Tumors are often curable. Tumors like Grade 1 meningiomas grow slowly. They don't spread like high-grade cancers. When found early, they are among the most treatable brain tumors. 2. Complete Removal can mean a full life. If a neurosurgeon can safely remove the tumor completely, many patients achieve long-term remission or even a full cure. No chemo. No radiation. Just surgery and follow-up. 3. High treatability in younger patients. Certain diagnoses, especially low-grade ones in children, have very high survival rates when caught early and fully removed. They caught hers early because we paid attention. Surgery was done. The tumor was on the surface, not deep inside. The team removed it completely. She woke up. Headache gone. Vision clear. Today she is 16. She is in Form 3. She plays netball. She has no deficits. She goes for an MRI once a year just to check, and every year, it is clear. She lived fully afterward. Meningiomas in children are rare, but when they are low-grade and removed completely and early, the story can end like hers not with loss, but with life. Looking back, I think about those early signs we nearly explained away. We thought it was her eyes. We thought it was stress. We did not immediately understand what her body was telling us. The lesson is not to panic every time a child complains of a headache. It is to pay attention when symptoms persist, recur, or appear alongside changes in vision, balance, or behaviour. Listen when a child says something is wrong. Seek medical advice. Do not allow persistent symptoms to become the new normal. Shona’s story is her happily ever after and a reminder that, even in frightening moments, there can be room for hope. Have a story to share? Send it to 263774778179. childhood brain tumour awareness

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare Zimbabwean television drama Raising of a Giant is set to enter international film markets, with its producers planning promotional engagements in South Africa, Spain and Malta to attract distribution opportunities, production partnerships and investment. The six-part drama is a collaboration between Black Lips Film Production and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), with financial backing from Prevail International Group of Companies, founded by Dr Paul Tungwarara, the Special Presidential Investment Advisor. Black Lips Film Production, led by Sibusisiwe Busie Mzinja, plans to present the project at MIP Africa 2026 in Cape Town from 28 to 30 October before travelling to Spain and Malta from 1 to 6 November. MIP Africa brings together content producers, broadcasters, buyers, distributors and financiers, providing a platform for television and film projects seeking international partnerships and market access. Mzinja said the production team intends to use the marketplace to introduce Raising of a Giant to potential international partners. “The annual content marketplace brings together producers, broadcasters, content buyers and financiers,” she said, adding that the team hoped to use the opportunity to promote the series beyond Zimbabwe. The subsequent European visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Known Associates Spain, which has partnered with Black Lips on production services. According to Mzinja, the programme will include tours of production and post-production facilities, alongside meetings with creative professionals and potential financial partners. Known Associates Group provides production services to international film companies working in locations including South Africa, Spain and Malta. The planned engagements are intended to explore how the Zimbabwean production could benefit from established facilities, technical expertise and international industry networks. A key consideration is the potential to reduce production costs through film incentives available in the two European countries. Spain provides tax deductions for qualifying foreign film and audiovisual productions, generally offering 30 percent on the first €1 million of eligible expenditure and 25 percent on the excess, subject to applicable requirements. Malta’s film incentive programme offers a cash rebate of up to 40 percent on eligible expenditure, depending on the production and qualifying conditions. Mzinja said Black Lips intended to film most of the series’ interior scenes in Spain and Malta, subject to the arrangements and incentives available. She said the proposed approach could give the production access to professional studios and post-production facilities while creating opportunities for Zimbabwean filmmakers and ZBC personnel to gain international experience. The producers also hope the project will open pathways to international distribution, streaming platforms and film festivals. Beyond its commercial ambitions, the series is being positioned as a platform to showcase Zimbabwe’s cultures, communities, heritage and landscapes to international audiences. Mzinja said the planned cooperation with Spanish and Maltese industry partners could strengthen cultural and diplomatic connections while creating work opportunities in film production, hospitality and transport. The project’s international expansion comes amid efforts to build the capacity and visibility of Zimbabwe’s creative industries. However, its longer-term impact will depend on whether the planned engagements translate into financing, distribution agreements, local skills development and sustained employment. For Raising of a Giant, the immediate objective is to move from a locally developed television production to a project capable of attracting international audiences and industry partners, while retaining its Zimbabwean identity. Raising of a Giant Zimbabwe drama

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare Two men have been sentenced to a combined 41 years in prison for the murder of a woman whose body was dumped near Manyame Water Works, while another man has received a 20-year sentence for murder and attempted murder, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has announced. In a statement dated 15 October 2026, police said Brian Chanachimwe, 34, of Murehwa, was sentenced to an effective 25 years in prison, while Jonah Nekati, 40, of Seke, received 16 years. The two were sentenced on 5 October 2026 at the High Court in Harare before Justice Muchawa after being found guilty of murder. The court heard that the victim’s body was discovered near Manyame Water Works on 13 January 2026. According to the police statement, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Homicide unit in Harare received information on 19 January linking Chanachimwe to the killing. He was subsequently arrested along Kenneth Kaunda Street in Harare. Investigations established that Chanachimwe was the deceased’s former husband and that the two had been involved in a dispute over the maintenance of their three children. Police said Chanachimwe lured the woman to his residence in Crowhill, Borrowdale, on 12 January 2026 under the pretext of collecting school fees. He allegedly strangled her inside a cabin and took her mobile phone, which he concealed behind his room. The statement further indicated that Chanachimwe sought assistance from Nekati to remove the body from the house and conceal the crime. The two allegedly transported it to the Eye Court turn-off, opposite Manyame Water Works, where it was dumped. Detectives later recovered the deceased’s Itel mobile phone, containing an Econet line, wrapped in plastic behind Chanachimwe’s room after he reportedly made indications leading to its discovery. Nekati subsequently went on the run but was arrested by Mutare Rural police officers on 27 January 2026 after being located in the area under Chief Zimunya, Mutare. The police statement also reported the conviction of Tinotenda Zambara, 32, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of murder and attempted murder by the High Court. The court heard that the incident occurred on 14 September 2025 at around 5.30pm in the Pamashedhi area of Stoneridge, where the accused, the deceased and another man had gone to an unnamed bottle store to buy beer. A misunderstanding reportedly developed after complaints that the group was making noise. An altercation followed, during which Zambara allegedly stabbed the other man on the left cheek with a screwdriver before turning on the deceased and stabbing him on the left side of the head. The deceased fell with the screwdriver still lodged in his head. Zambara allegedly removed the weapon and fled the scene. He was arrested on 20 December 2025 by CID Homicide detectives in Chitungwiza and subsequently appeared before the courts, where he was convicted. In its statement, the ZRP urged members of the public to resolve disputes peacefully and seek counselling early to prevent disagreements from escalating into violence. The statement was issued by Detective Inspector Muteweri, Provincial Community Relations and Liaison Officer, Criminal Investigation Department. Zimbabwe murder convictions

By Simbarashe Namusi I was going through the government's e-recruitment portal when I reached a section I did not expect. Applicants with disabilities are asked to describe their condition in brief detail. It is a small field, but it tells me something. Whoever designed that form knew persons with disabilities apply for jobs. Most local portals, public or private, are built for one default applicant, and everyone else is left to fit. I have been hard on corporates over how they treat persons with disabilities. This does not soften that criticism. It sharpens it. Government carries the constitutional duty. Section 22 of the Constitution commits the State to the dignity and participation of persons with disabilities. The Disabled Persons Act has been on the books for decades. If a public portal can make room for these applicants, a private employer with a different obligation has no excuse for silence. Credit is due, then. But credit for visibility is not credit for practice. The portal says nothing about what happens to the answer. It does not say who reads it. It does not say whether the information is used to arrange an accessible venue, a sign language interpreter or a readable format for a blind candidate. It does not say whether disclosure is voluntary, or whether it will be held against the applicant. A field with no stated purpose can be a doorway or a filter. From the outside, the two look identical. The wording matters too. Asking for a condition is the weaker question. The better one asks what support the person needs to compete fairly. A condition is medical detail. A support need is a practical fact. An employer entitled to the second is not entitled to the first. Where the form asks for the condition, it invites a panel to judge the diagnosis instead of the candidate. Then there is the portal itself. A screen reader user must be able to complete it. A deaf applicant needs a way to ask questions that does not depend on a phone call. Where they cannot, the field is decoration. A box on a form costs nothing. A ramp, an interpreter, and a panel trained to ask the right question cost something. That is the difference that counts. The test is a shortlisted applicant arriving at a venue. The ramp is in place. The interpreter is seated. The panel asks what the candidate needs, not what is wrong with them. Until that happens, the field is only a field. Simbarashe Namusi is a media expert writing in his personal capacity disability inclusion in recruitment

By Mpundu Valerie We all watched a child being abused on ZTV in 2004 and thought it was a love song. That's the sin. Black shirt. No lights. No effects. Just a little girl in a red top, holding a doll, looking down, lost, and a man with his eyes closed singing "Maidarirei" like his heart was breaking. We sang along in the kombi. We requested it on Power FM. We thought Victor Kunonga was heartbroken over a woman. He wasn't. He was singing about that girl. Maidarirei was never about love. It was about child sexual abuse how it happens inside the house, how the family knows and says nothing, how that doll becomes the only friend a traumatized child has left. Victor put it on national TV at the peak of Urban Grooves, and we were too young, too naive, too distracted to get it. That video produced by Marian "Chihera" Kunonga had no gimmicks. No fake rain. The rain you see now on Facebook reposts is an edit added by Zim Rewind pages. The original was raw. Dark background. Victor singing. A woman in a headwrap. That child in red. That was enough. That is Victor's whole career in one shot: telling us the ugliest truth in the most beautiful melody, and us missing it because it was too well sung. His debut album "Such Is Life: Ndanyengetedzwa (2004) blew up on that truth "Maidarirei", Ndanyengetedzwa namai, Tigere selling big and topping ZTV charts. Victor had come from nothing denied entry to Bulawayo College of Music in 1999 because he didn't own an instrument, worked as a graphic designer in Harare, taught himself guitar at workshops at Harare College of Music in 2001. It was then he used that guitar to sing what no one wanted to say. The man never went silent. We just stopped listening where truth lives. While Urban Grooves chased club bangers, Victor formed his live band Peace in 2004. Peace became his church, a regular at every major festival that mattered: HIFA, Zimbabwe Jazz Festival, premium jazz clubs, sharing stages with Oliver Mtukudzi, Hugh Masekela, Chiwoniso Maraire, Louis Mhlanga, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Judith Sephuma. For his second album "Uyo" (2006), he called in an Afro-jazz dream team celebrated drummer Sam Mataure, vocalist Prudence Katomeni, bassist Kelly Rusike, keyboardist Manasa Mujawo, guitarist Zivanai Masango, percussionist Adam Chisvo, and Richie Lopez on sax. That album is still popular today because it was built by masters. While everyone chased endorsement deals, Victor walked into NGOs and community halls to fight gender-based violence and drug abuse not as a celebrity for photos, but as a man who had already written "Maidarirei" and meant it. So yes, he disappeared from TV. Because TV couldn't hold him. I found him again where he was always meant to be found at Bira reMbira. No LED screens. No hype man. Just a giant mbira named "Zvavahera" and a man in a red-black-white patterned shirt. He touched that guitar and the whole bira went quiet. Solid? That's an understatement. Eloquent? No. The man was "anointed". Every chord clean, every Shona word placed like a stone. When he sang "Maidarirei" again, now as a grown man with nieces at home, I finally heard the line I missed as a kid. I had to ask for more. Everyone did. Victor Kunonga is not underrated because he lacks talent. He is underrated because he never insulted his talent to stay relevant. The man is not done. After "Handinete" (2010), after years of live stages, Victor & Peace are back with a brand new album, "Double Identity," Launching 23 October 2026, 6 pm at Zimbabwe German Society, 51 Lawson Ave, Milton Park, Harare, with Daniel Ngwira and Mwenje Mathole. That title fits him perfectly. One identity is the soft-spoken graphic designer who was once turned away for not owning a guitar. The other identity is the prophet who has been singing about our daughters since 2004, hoping we would finally hear. You need to see Victor. Not on a Reel. Live. Before the guitar goes quiet. Carry your sister. Carry your daughter. Let her hear a Zimbabwean man sing that her body is not to be touched. Let them experience a Zimbabwean musician who understands that art can do more than entertain. It can question, challenge, educate, and give a voice to those society would rather silence. And let the message of Maidarirei travel beyond the concert hall. Children deserve protection. Abuse must never be hidden to preserve a family's reputation. A child who speaks about abuse deserves to be heard, believed, and connected to appropriate protection and support. We cannot sing along to a song about suffering and then remain silent when suffering happens in our own communities. Victor gave us the song in 2004. Perhaps it is time we finally understood it. Victor is gold. Let's give him his flowers and his strums while he can still hear them. We all need to see Victor. Victor Kunonga

By Mpundu Valerie Disclaimer: This is a personal family story shared for awareness only, not medical advice. If you notice blood in your urine, persistent back pain, swelling or unexplained weight loss, please see a qualified doctor promptly. Salt of the earth My father was a chain smoker. He would down 2 boxes of Madison Toasted in a space of three hours. I had heard the myths that heavy smokers emit smoke from their fontanelle. Many a time I tried to catch the mystery, but it always evaded me. He was a spirit man. Not that he prayed hard, no. He drank spirits as his preferred beverage and a good cup of black coffee on a bad day. He never took water. Whenever he added uncooked salt to his food, he would say, "I am the salt of the earth," hence fulfilling the scriptures. Huge in stature, no one ever believed he was a swimming coach. Well, oil does float in water, probably why Dad was a good swimmer. He had established himself and always said he was in shape "I am in shape, round is a shape." Probably there was a glitch in the matrix. How could Dad have been an excellent athlete yet weight never seemed to favour him? The science never matched up. Years went by. The silent cancer was ravaging the man. We didn't know and had never anticipated the man had anything, yet it was crippling him inside. One evening I woke up in the middle of the night to find my parents arguing. Mom thought Dad was cheating. She was calling it an STI. "Matangaka kutandara munhanga dzevanasikana." Dad had a hard time trying to explain why there was blood in his urine. Mom couldn't give him time of day. "Mangwana ndotoenda kwa doctor... otherwise ungandizadze. Ba Nathan!! Shuwa here ndiwe here?? Iihhh murume wangu kani, makore mangani tiri tese? wondidai nhasi." I didn't know what to make of it. Mom was being dramatic. She came into my room, woke me up, "Pack up sonny, we are leaving. Your father has found another." Just as we got to the door, she started screaming, threatening to call her brothers. "Yoweee kani Charles, after all these years.. Charles why. Nathan, your new mother will be here... love her and treat her like your real mother, I am no longer your mother." Eehh, my mom had drama!!! Then she went back to the bedroom. Dad was all this while trying to explain he had no idea how the blood got into his urine. One thing he kept saying, "Violah, I am not cheating on you, my wife." The more he said it, the more Mom became dramatic. It went on till the next morning. Dad never went to get checked. I'm assuming the blood had disappeared. It then escalated when Mom again started monitoring Dad's bathroom movements. Saying he had changed his visitations there or hardly went. Dad just stopped taking classes. He said his body was refusing him and complained of pain on one side just below the ribs. The pain never seemed to go away. Mom had a thing for Dad despite the drama. We all thought probably age was catching up, hence the fatigue. His legs just started swelling, sometimes his ankles. We all thought it was lack of exercise, but he was losing weight and appetite at the same time. Started selecting his meals and had feverish episodes. At night he would sweat, we had to condition the air. We just thought it was a transition from the previous lifestyle, yet his kidneys had been damaged already. One day at the table, he coughed blood. Mom broke down, composed herself, "Charles, it's time, we need to go." You could tell whatever was going on was serious, Mom was scared. Dad was trying to calm her down, claiming he had swallowed a fish bone, but this time Mom would have none of it. It was as if Dad was afraid. I had never seen Dad scared. It was like he knew what lay in the doctor's report. When we got there, urine samples were taken, bloods done, then the scan. The doctor called us into his office. He didn't rush. He put the scan on the light. "Mr. Charles, the cancer started in the kidney renal cell carcinoma. But I'm sorry, it has metastasized." Mom said, "Metasta what? Doctor speak in Shona." He turned to us. "It means it has spread. It is no longer just in the kidney. It has moved through the blood." He pointed. "See here, this big mass is the primary tumour in the kidney, and these small spots here in the lungs that's why he is coughing blood- and here in the spine that's why his legs are swelling and his back hurts under the ribs. Stage 4." Silence. Mom's drama was gone. For the first time, she had no words. She just held Dad's hand so tight. Dad just nodded, like he already knew. He asked only one question, "How long do we have, Doc?" The doctor said, "We will do dialysis to support the kidneys, we can try treatment to slow it down, but at this stage we are managing, not curing. We need to keep him comfortable and keep him without pain." That word "metastasized" is the word that changed our family. It means we caught it late. If we had come when the blood first appeared in the urine that night, Mom thought it was cheating, maybe the story would be different. The time had a toll on us. I had just turned 16 and would be driving Dad for his dialysis. You could see Mom wasn't taking it so well and I had to start being the man. Dad always told me to take care of Mum.. make sure she was happy and well provided for. Despite being born with a silver spoon in my mouth, Dad always wanted me to work hard. Kept reminding me that everything was for his wife, and I had to earn my own lifestyle despite the privileges. Then one day he asked for oxtail. He was feeling all hungry as he made us believe, "The doctor said this was the last, and with my appetite back, I will be back in the pool again." He used that to chase us away. He couldn't say goodbye properly, so we left to get the oxtail. Mom was raving about how she wanted to outdo herself and give Dad a hearty meal. She went all out. We even went to get her hair done. Dad kept calling, checking in on us. Shame on you, Dad for fooling us. He called me and said, "Fuel up the car, you are going to be needing to travel pretty soon. All the other cars are full. There's going to be a trip, Natty boy!" It was at those words my heart just skipped so fast, I just felt heavy. Mom looked at me and asked, all I could say was "Ma1". We got home to some loud Jim Reeves "This world is not my home." Mom smiled and said Your dad is back. What she didn't know was Dad had left. The rest, as they say, are just memories locked in. It's been 8 years since he left. It's never felt the same. I share our family's story not to frighten anyone, but to encourage people to take warning signs seriously. Do not wait for symptoms to become unbearable before seeking help. Do not assume that a symptom has become harmless simply because it has stopped. And please, if someone you love tells you that something is wrong with their body, listen. Sometimes, beneath the arguments, the jokes and the explanations, there is a person who needs help. Dad was the salt of our earth. His absence has left a taste we have never quite been able to wash away. Rest well, Dad. Eight years later, we still miss you. To share your story, kindly reach out on 263 774 778 179. kidney cancer awareness

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dismissed social media reports claiming that a Glen View 2 High School student died by suicide after missing an examination on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The reports circulated widely online within the past 24 hours, prompting concern and inquiries into the alleged incident. However, the Ministry confirmed that the student is alive and that neither a suicide nor a suicide attempt occurred. Ministry Communications Director Taungana Ndoro said the incident involved a candidate who arrived late for an examination and was consequently unable to sit the paper. “The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to assure the nation that there was no major incident that happened at Glen View 2 High School on the 14th of October. It was just a case of a candidate who arrived late for an examination and unfortunately could not sit for the exam. There was no death or any suicide. Actually, the candidate was back at the centre and managed to sit for his other exams today,” Ndoro said. According to the Ministry, the student returned to the examination centre on Thursday, October 15, and was able to sit other papers. Further details surrounding the missed examination, including claims that the student may have received conflicting information about examination times, could not be independently established. The Ministry’s clarification seeks to dispel the rumours and reassure the public about the student’s wellbeing. The incident also highlights the potential harm caused by circulating unverified information, particularly claims involving the death or alleged suicide of a student. Members of the public are urged to verify information with credible sources before sharing sensitive claims on social media, especially when the reports concern children and young people. Glen View 2 student suicide rumours

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare Zimbabwe’s efforts to expand specialised healthcare are gathering momentum, with construction of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Quinary Hospital progressing towards the development of a facility expected to strengthen specialist treatment, medical training and research. The hospital is expected to improve access to advanced healthcare locally, reduce the number of patients travelling abroad for complex treatment and build Zimbabwe’s capacity to train and retain highly specialised medical professionals. Once completed and fully equipped, the facility is expected to provide treatment for complex conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and kidney disorders, as well as services for high-risk pregnancies. UZ Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo said the hospital would help medical personnel acquire super-specialist qualifications while creating opportunities for research and revenue generation through specialised healthcare services. “What this hospital will do is train our medical personnel to the super-specialist level, equipping them with advanced medical skills to deliver health solutions. Super-specialisation enables research and also attracts revenue through the provision of specialised services,” he said. Professor Mapfumo said the facility would provide a public healthcare platform where specialists could deliver advanced services, potentially reducing the need for Zimbabweans to seek treatment outside the country. “This hospital will facilitate the movement of patients and specialists, allowing specialists to provide services from this public facility. If this works as intended, the number of people seeking treatment outside the country will be reduced. We will also be exporting skills, as we say,” he said. He added that the UZ Specialist Medical Centre, which forms part of the wider development, was already operational and offering oral and eye healthcare services. Hospital to be developed in two phases UZ Director of Engineering Infrastructure and Estates, Engineer Tinotenda Dzadagu, said the Quinary Hospital project was being implemented in two phases, with the first expected to be completed by mid-2027. Phase One comprises seven blocks covering administration, outpatient services, pharmacy, cardiology, oncology, laundry and maintenance. Supporting infrastructure, including a laboratory, is also part of the development. Procurement of specialised medical equipment is underway, with some installations expected to begin before construction is completed to help prepare the facility for service delivery. “Under Phase One, we have seven blocks: the administration block, the outpatient department block, the pharmacy, cardiology, oncology, laundry and maintenance blocks,” Dzadagu said. Phase Two is expected to broaden the hospital’s capacity by introducing renal services, foetal and maternal medicine, and public and environmental health facilities. “We expect Phase One to be completed by the middle of next year, while Phase Two is expected to be completed by the end of 2028,” he said. Focus on specialist skills and research The Quinary Hospital is expected to complement the UZ Specialist Medical Centre by expanding the range of specialist services available in Zimbabwe. Beyond patient care, the project is intended to strengthen medical research, improve specialist training and develop advanced clinical expertise within the country. The planned expansion could also create opportunities for Zimbabwean medical professionals to acquire advanced qualifications and practise their specialist skills locally, while improving access to services that may otherwise require patients to travel abroad. However, the hospital’s ability to deliver on these objectives will depend on the timely completion of construction, installation of specialised equipment and recruitment or availability of appropriately trained personnel. If successfully implemented, the project could become an important addition to Zimbabwe’s specialist healthcare infrastructure, supporting efforts to improve access to complex medical treatment while strengthening the country’s medical education and research capacity. UZ Quinary Hospital

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare A truck transporting sodium cyanide spilled 90 drums of the highly poisonous chemical at the Chivhu roundabout on Wednesday afternoon, prompting an emergency response from police and environmental authorities. The incident occurred at around 3 pm when panels on the trailer of a Liflink Logistics truck reportedly opened as the vehicle negotiated the roundabout. The truck was transporting 540 metal containers of sodium cyanide from Harare to Filabusi. Each drum weighed 55 kilogrammes, with around 20 of the 90 drums that fell reportedly having open lids, resulting in chemical leakage onto the ground. Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Mashonaland East publicity officer Astas Mabwe confirmed the incident, saying the spillage was cleaned up later that evening with assistance from specialists in hazardous-material management. Police officers from Chivhu responded immediately, directing traffic away from the roundabout and barricading the affected area to protect the public while clean-up operations were underway. Mabwe warned that sodium cyanide is highly poisonous and can interfere with the body’s ability to use oxygen following exposure. He also cautioned that the chemical poses serious risks to people, fish and wildlife if it contaminates surface water or groundwater. The EMA said the spillage had been contained and the affected area treated. However, the incident highlights the potential dangers associated with transporting hazardous chemicals through public roads and busy intersections. Authorities urged the public to exercise caution around chemical spills and avoid approaching or handling containers suspected of carrying dangerous substances. Sodium cyanide requires specialist handling because exposure can be life-threatening. Any suspected contact with the chemical should be treated as an emergency, with affected individuals seeking immediate professional assistance. Chivhu cyanide spillage