By Southerton Business Times Reporter BULAWAYO – Hezy Motors Logistics director Hezel Silibaziso Mafu has appeared before a Bulawayo court facing 14 counts of fraud after allegedly defrauding clients of US$696,652 and ZiG1,313,670.16 in a botched vehicle import scheme. Mafu pleaded not guilty when she appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Lungile Ncube on Thursday. She was granted US$500 bail and ordered not to interfere with State witnesses. Mafu was also ordered to reside at the address she provided to the court and report to the Commercial Crimes Division in the Northern Region every Friday. The matter was postponed to September 7 for the commencement of trial. Mafu is represented by Editor Mavuto of Maphosa and Ndomene Legal Practitioners. State outlines alleged vehicle import scheme Prosecutor Siphiwe Mhlanga told the court that Hezy Motors Logistics, based at the corner of Fife Street and 11th Avenue in Bulawayo, allegedly misrepresented to 14 clients that it could procure, import and deliver vehicles from Japan. According to the State, clients were required to pay a 50 percent deposit, with the balance payable upon delivery of the vehicle. The prosecution alleges that the company failed to deliver the vehicles after receiving payments from the complainants. In one of the cases, the court heard that the first complainant paid US$3,940 to Hezy Motors Logistics for the purchase of a vehicle. The State alleges that the vehicle was never purchased and that the complainant later reported the matter to the police after attempts to contact Mafu proved unsuccessful. In another alleged incident in May 2026, a complainant seeking to purchase a Toyota Vitz valued at US$6,500 reportedly paid US$4,634 and ZiG37,791.81 towards the transaction. The State alleges that the vehicle was never purchased and that Mafu subsequently became unreachable. In a separate case, another complainant allegedly paid US$3,000 as a first instalment towards a US$9,000 vehicle before making a further payment of US$3,450. According to the prosecution, attempts to contact the accused later proved unsuccessful. Toyota Aqua buyer allegedly loses US$3,800 The court also heard that a woman seeking to purchase a Toyota Aqua allegedly paid US$3,800 after being informed that Hezy Motors Logistics imported vehicles from Japan. She was reportedly told to return after two weeks, but when she went back to the company's premises, she allegedly failed to locate the accused. The matter was subsequently reported to the Commercial Crimes Division in Bulawayo Southern Region, leading to an investigation and Mafu's arrest. Separate fraud allegations in Harare Meanwhile, Mafu is also facing 79 counts of fraud in Harare, where she is accused of allegedly duping several people seeking to purchase imported vehicles. High Court judge Justice Custom Kachambwa previously granted her US$500 bail, subject to conditions that include reporting every Friday to the Commercial Crimes Division in Harare's Northern Region. The State alleges that she defrauded scores of clients of more than US$624,000 and ZiG1,275,878.35 through an alleged bogus vehicle import scheme. Her Harare trial is scheduled to begin on September 2. Mafu is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. Hezy Motors vehicle import fraud

BEITBRIDGE – A 30-year-old Beitbridge man has appeared in court facing assault charges after allegedly attacking his wife during a domestic dispute over her association with unmarried women. Stanford Jacobs of New Medium Density in Beitbridge appeared before magistrate Gillian Padzakashamba on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to assault and was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The court heard that Jacobs had allegedly been denying his wife, Panashe Tagwirei, 24, conjugal relations because he disapproved of her friendship with single women and single mothers, whom he believed were a negative influence. According to the State, represented by prosecutor Reason Mutimba, the couple was at their home on August 24, 2026, at around 7pm when the dispute occurred. Jacobs allegedly refused to be served supper by Tagwirei and told her to serve “the people she was supposed to serve”. The court heard that Jacobs expressed dissatisfaction with his wife's association with unmarried women and single mothers. Tagwirei reportedly asked him whether this was the reason he had been denying her conjugal rights and suggested that they separate peacefully if he no longer loved her. An argument allegedly followed, during which Jacobs assaulted her. The State alleges that he slapped Tagwirei several times on the face before grabbing her by the collar and dragging her. He allegedly tore her blouse and removed her trousers, leaving her wearing tights and a bra. A passerby intervened and stopped the assault, the court heard. Jacobs pleaded guilty to the assault charge and was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The matter is expected to return to court for sentencing. Beitbridge man assaults wife

Mpundu Valerie Southerton is not short of water. It’s short of pipes that work. Every week, at least 2 burst pipes turn roads into rivers. Drive 500 meters and you’ll count 3 more. Fix one street today, the next one bursts tomorrow if not the next hour. This is not an occasional fault. This is daily. This is systemic. Residents have stopped complaining. They’ve adapted to flooding, to wasted water, to rusted infrastructure bleeding onto tar. But adaptation is not a solution. Authorities call it "aging infrastructure." Residents call it neglect. At this rate, Southerton isn’t a residential area. It’s a case study in water loss. Thousands of litres lost. Roads damaged. Bills unpaid. The streets are swimming. "Maybe Southerton is a mini Waterfalls" It’s a joke. But it’s also the truth. Until the pipes are replaced, not patched, the floods will continue....& so will the questions. Harare Water Infrastructure Failure

Illegal and unplanned settlements have become a major urban planning challenge in Epworth. EPWORTH – The Epworth Local Board has drawn up plans to relocate approximately 16,000 households currently settled on ecologically sensitive wetlands and other unplanned areas. Town secretary Wilton Mhanda said the local authority has begun an enumeration exercise targeting affected households as it awaits central government approval of its master plan, which is expected to create space for an orderly relocation programme. Speaking on the sidelines of a full council meeting held at the local authority's offices on Thursday, Mhanda said the board was also taking steps to prevent further illegal development on wetlands and unzoned land. “We have about plus or minus 16,000 households on wetlands or unplanned areas,” Mhanda said. “Currently, what we are doing is to discourage any further development on wetlands or on unplanned areas. “We have enumerated those people who have been settling on those wetlands for quite some time. “What we are looking forward to is the approval of our Master Plan so that we can create space to relocate them from wetlands or any other unplanned areas.” The proposed relocation comes amid growing concern over the environmental and public health risks associated with settlements on wetlands and unplanned land. Mhanda also warned prospective home-seekers against buying land from illegal developers, commonly known as land barons. He said such operators often prey on vulnerable residents through fraudulent and unauthorised land sales, leaving buyers at risk of losing their investments or facing displacement. The local authority is now pinning its hopes on the approval of its master plan to facilitate planned development and provide alternative areas for households currently living in unsuitable locations. The enumeration exercise is expected to help the Epworth Local Board establish the number of affected households and plan for their potential relocation once the necessary approvals are secured. Epworth households relocated from wetlands

I have said sorry more times than I can count for a body I did not choose. I say it to the conductor when I climb into a commuter omnibus and my legs will not move at his speed. I say it to the stranger on the pavement who watches my limp point one way while I go another, and decides I am drunk before he decides I am disabled. I say it in interview rooms, after I have answered every question correctly, and watched the panel's eyes drift toward the door, calculating how long it will take me to walk through it. Nobody asks me to apologise. I do it before they can ask. I am forty-six years old. For the first sixteen years of my life, the people around me never made me feel different. It is the thirty years since that taught me to say sorry first, so it feels like your idea before it becomes theirs. I have several degrees. I have applied for jobs that name people with disabilities in the advertisement, that quote the Disabled Persons Act. Silence comes back more often than a rejection letter does. The tests that fail me are not intelligence tests. I fail the ones nobody admits to giving: How fast can you cross this room? How do you look standing at the front of the office? I am not writing this for sympathy. Give a disabled man pity and you have discharged your obligation to him. You have not given him a job, a seat on the board, or a shortlist interview that isn't a formality. Real disability inclusion in Zimbabwe requires systemic change, not performative charity. I say this as a man who has been given a chance, and does not forget it. The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council gave me a chance. ZBC gave me a chance. Midlands State University gave me a chance. Great Zimbabwe University gave me a chance. Communities from Marondera to Mazowe trusted me with radio dreams that were theirs before they were mine. Those opportunities did not make me less disabled. They simply allowed my abilities to become more important than my disability. That is the difference opportunity makes. There are young people with disabilities right now watching how this country answers them. Some are finishing degrees. Some are standing at bus stops, working up the courage to board. Some are preparing for interviews knowing that, before they say a word, someone may already have decided what they cannot do. They do not need pity. They need equal opportunity, extended to them without a fight for it. They need employers to look beyond the limp. They need public transport that does not treat disability accessibility as an inconvenience. They need buildings designed for their presence, not modified reluctantly after they complain. They need institutions that understand that disability rights and inclusion are not charity. And perhaps most importantly, they need to stop learning the apology I learned. A disability is not an offence. I should not have to apologise because I walk differently. I should not have to apologise because I take longer to climb stairs. I should not have to apologise because the world was designed around bodies that move differently from mine. The burden should not always be on the disabled person to prove that they deserve to be included. Zimbabwe has laws, policies and institutions that speak the language of inclusion. But true inclusion in Zimbabwe cannot live in legislation alone. It has to be visible in the person hired, the building entered, the bus boarded, the meeting attended and the voice heard. We must stop congratulating ourselves for giving disabled people opportunities that should never have required exceptional courage to access in the first place. I have spent thirty years learning to say sorry. I think I have apologised enough. What I want now is a country where a child with a disability grows up knowing that their body may require accommodation, but their existence requires no apology. That is what I am asking Zimbabwe for. Not pity. Not sympathy. Not another promise. Will. Because sorry is not an accommodation. It is what we say when the accommodation never comes. Simbarashe Namusi is a media expert writing in his personal capacity. Disability Inclusion in Zimbabwe

MASVINGO – Contractors working on sections of the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway dualisation project have abandoned their sites, citing non-payment by the Government, a senior engineering consultant has said. The affected works include the construction of a bridge across the Mucheke River, an interchange near Masvingo Polytechnic and the tarring and expansion of sections of the highway. The developments were revealed by ProStruct Consulting Engineers representative Kudakwashe Dzimati during a tour of Government projects in Masvingo and Chivi districts on Thursday by senior officials. ProStruct Consulting Engineers is involved as a Government consultant on ongoing infrastructure development programmes. Dzimati said Masimba Construction, one of the major contractors involved in the project, had abandoned its site and sent workers home on July 2, 2026. He warned that unless completed and ongoing works were secured before the onset of the rainy season, the projects could suffer significant damage and delays. Among the projects identified as particularly vulnerable are Chimusana Bridge across the Mucheke River in Masvingo, an interchange near Masvingo Polytechnic and road construction works near Panyanda Lodge. “It is critical and our desire is that we protect these works before the rainy season. We had serious issues at Panyanda detour during the last rainy season,” Dzimati said. He said contractors had initially planned to complete their current assignments before the rainy season, but funding challenges had disrupted the programme. “The main challenge is funding, and that’s what is causing contractors to suspend works; otherwise, we were geared to complete works at Chimusana Bridge by December,” he said. The tour was attended by Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and National Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Secretary Fananai Madambi. Madambi said he would raise the funding concerns with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion. “It’s not a good story because when people talk of the Beitbridge-Harare Road, what we can talk of is the Harare-Chirundu Road because it’s supposed to be one project covering from Chirundu to Beitbridge,” Madambi said. “We will discuss with the relevant Ministry. We expect to be reading from the same page when we say Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.” The suspension of works threatens to delay progress on the strategic highway corridor, which forms part of the key road network linking Zimbabwe with regional markets. Authorities are now under pressure to secure funding and ensure that incomplete works are protected before heavy rains begin, following problems experienced at the Panyanda detour during the previous rainy season. Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway contractors

HARARE – Former ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Temba Mliswa has criticised businessman Wicknell Chivayo over the manner in which he announced proposed donations to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) following the conviction and jailing of 18 men who robbed his in-laws in Marondera. The robbery occurred at Alpha and Omega Farm in March 2025, shortly after Chivayo had paid lobola for his current wife. Chivayo recently announced plans to donate 10 bulletproof Toyota Fortuners, tactical equipment valued at US$250,000 and an iPhone 17 Pro Max to every officer in Harare's Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide division. In statements posted on X and Facebook, Chivayo praised the CID Homicide response team, investigating officers and commanders for their handling of the case. “This proposed donation and gesture, if approved, is simply my small way of saying thank you for a job well done,” Chivayo said. Mliswa Calls for Institutional Decorum However, Mliswa said he was not opposed to individuals or companies supporting public institutions but argued that such donations should be handled in a manner that protects the integrity and independence of the organisations receiving them. He said proper decorum and respect were essential when making public acknowledgements to law enforcement agencies. Mliswa warned that singling out a specific group of officers for high-value gifts could create the perception of undue influence and potentially undermine public confidence in the police force. “The entire police force deserves support rather than the favour of a select few. Thus, it is essential to contribute to the ZRP as an entire entity, rather than creating the impression of purchasing control,” Mliswa wrote on X. Debate Over Donations to Public Institutions The proposed donation has raised broader questions about how private individuals should support public institutions and whether high-value gifts to specific law enforcement units could affect perceptions of institutional independence. Chivayo maintained that the gesture was intended as an expression of appreciation for the officers involved in investigating and resolving the robbery case. The donations remain subject to approval. The 18 men convicted in connection with the robbery were jailed following the conclusion of the criminal case. Temba Mliswa Wicknell Chivayo ZRP donations

BULAWAYO – The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has condemned alleged corruption involving four serving Bulawayo City councillors and a former councillor, calling for immediate accountability and sweeping institutional reforms at City Hall. In a statement issued on August 26, 2026, the residents' association said it respected the ongoing court process but maintained that corruption in any form should not be tolerated. “Although the matter is still ongoing in the courts of law, BPRA categorically condemns all forms of corruption,” the association said. “The alleged involvement of the city’s highest public offices in bribery, extortion, and malpractice undermines public trust and desecrates the city’s foundational value of integrity.” BPRA said the City of Bulawayo had a responsibility to promote ethical leadership, transparency and accountability in order to rebuild public confidence among residents and the business community. The association said restoring integrity in local government was critical to Bulawayo's ambitions of reclaiming its position as Zimbabwe's industrial hub and developing into a smart city. Call for Internal Investigations BPRA called on the local authority to launch its own internal investigations into the allegations and follow procedures provided for under the Urban Councils Act. It also demanded stricter enforcement of asset declarations by councillors and other public officials, arguing that such measures could help identify unexplained wealth and potential conflicts of interest. The residents' body further called for stronger transparency requirements, including rigorous financial disclosures and tighter oversight of public land, leases and other municipal resources. “Relevant oversight institutions and political parties must immediately reinforce whistle-blower protections and institutional ethical standards,” BPRA said. Five Implicated in Allegations The calls follow the arrest and questioning of five current and former Bulawayo councillors in connection with allegations involving a US$52,000 bribe. Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu, Ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu and former Ward 22 councillor Rodney Jele were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) over the weekend. Councillors Mxolisi Mahlangu and Ashton Mhlanga later handed themselves over at ZACC offices in Bulawayo. The five are accused of soliciting a US$52,000 bribe allegedly intended to prevent the cancellation of a hotel development lease. The matter is expected to proceed through the courts, where the allegations will be tested. BPRA said the developments should serve as a catalyst for deeper reforms aimed at strengthening ethical governance, protecting whistle-blowers and ensuring greater accountability in the management of Bulawayo's public resources. Bulawayo councillors bribery allegations

HARARE – Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe says the City of Harare is sitting on approximately 5,000 house demolition orders as the Government explores ways to regularise some illegal settlements. Speaking at the Land Tenure High-Level Stakeholder Breakfast Meeting, Garwe said the rapid growth of illegal settlements in Harare had become a major concern, warning that unplanned developments posed serious environmental and public health risks. He urged prospective home seekers to avoid purchasing land from illegal dealers, commonly referred to as masabhuku and land barons, and warned against construction on wetlands. “Let us not encourage people to build on wetlands, buy from Masabhuku or land barons,” Garwe said. “Let me emphasise that Government does not demolish houses and we cannot interfere with court processes. “Currently, the City of Harare is sitting on 5,000 demolition orders and in some cases we have tried to delay the process and provide solutions.” The minister's remarks come amid continuing concerns over the proliferation of informal and unplanned settlements around the capital, where thousands of residents have built homes without approved layouts or proper infrastructure. Government Looks at Regularisation Options Garwe indicated that authorities were considering solutions for some affected settlements, although court-issued demolition orders remain subject to legal processes. The Government has increasingly faced pressure to address the growing housing demand in Harare while also protecting wetlands and enforcing urban planning regulations. Illegal settlements have often emerged as prospective homeowners seek affordable residential land, creating opportunities for land barons and other unauthorised land dealers. Rural Development Seen as Part of the Solution Garwe said Zimbabwe's rapid urbanisation could partly be addressed by creating stronger economic opportunities in rural areas and growth points. He said secure and bankable land tenure was critical to unlocking investment and stimulating economic activity outside major urban centres. According to Garwe, substantial economic activity is already taking place in rural communities and growth points, but uncertainty surrounding land tenure is limiting further investment and expansion. Strengthening land tenure systems could help attract capital, support businesses and create employment opportunities closer to where people live, potentially easing migration pressure on Harare and other major cities. The minister said addressing the country's housing and land challenges required a broader approach that combined proper urban planning, secure land tenure and increased economic development beyond major cities. Suggested Tags:Harare | Daniel Garwe | Local Government | Housing | Demolitions | Land Tenure | Urban Development | Zimbabwe News

HARARE – A senior ZANU PF official has called on Zimbabwean women to have more children and avoid using contraceptives, arguing that the country's declining birth rate is a cause for concern. ZANU PF Secretary for Women Affairs and Senate President Mabel Chinomona made the remarks at a recent Women's League event in Murehwa West constituency. “Women, please stop using family planning; please go and give birth,” Chinomona said. “Our soldiers are now few; we need farmers, doctors and nurses while you are busy swallowing those pills. “We are supposed to build this country, yet you find children of this generation saying a single child is enough. How many siblings do you have?” Zimbabwe's fertility rate has declined significantly over the past four decades. At independence in 1980, women in Zimbabwe had an average of close to seven children each. By 1990, the fertility rate had fallen to about 4.9 children per woman. By 2006, it had declined further to between 3.6 and 3.8 children per woman. Current estimates place Zimbabwe's fertility rate at between 3.2 and 3.6 children per woman, although this remains above the population replacement level of approximately 2.1 children per woman. The decline has largely been attributed to increased access to family planning services, the rising cost of raising children and higher levels of education among women. Chinomona's remarks come amid broader demographic shifts across Zimbabwe and other African countries, where changing economic conditions and greater access to reproductive health services have contributed to smaller family sizes. ZANU PF women contraceptives

Kylian Mbappé celebrating a goal for Real Madrid match victory against Real Sociedad Mpundu Valerie MADRID – The Bernabéu got its first taste of the new regime, and it was brutal as Real Madrid dominated Real Sociedad in a thrilling match. On his return, José oversaw a 4-1 Real Madrid match victory over Real Sociedad that felt less like a season opener and more like a warning to rival La Liga football clubs. Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid performances reached a new high as he led the destruction with a clinical treble on 40’, 60’, and 80’. The haul took the Frenchman to 101 goal contributions for the club. Vinícius Jr. chipped in with the other goal to solidify the win. The visitors only had Sučić’s 44th-minute reply to show for their efforts against a dominant home defense. From the press to the pace, José’s influence on the squad was immediate. Quick transitions, ruthless finishing, and a crowd that left believing made for an unforgettable Santiago Bernabéu match day. It was a milestone night for Mbappé with three goals and one century of goal contributions. At this rate, the record books won’t survive the season. One might say it’s early days on Matchday 1, and the La Liga standings table can wait. But if this performance is the standard, the rest of the league has a problem. Madrid are keeping it real. Real Madrid match

R RBZ Governor John Mushayavanhu has called on businesses to treat ZiG and US dollar payments equally. HARARE – Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor John Mushayavanhu has challenged businesses to be indifferent when pricing goods and services or accepting payment in either ZiG or US dollars. In a statement issued on Tuesday, 25 August, Mushayavanhu said annual ZiG inflation stood at 2.9 percent in August 2026, compared with domestic US dollar inflation of 3.1 percent. He said the figures showed that prices of locally produced goods and services had been rising at broadly the same pace in both currencies since August last year. “This entails that prices of domestic goods and services, since August 2025, have increased at relatively the same pace in both ZiG and US dollar,” Mushayavanhu said. “Importantly, the implication is that businesses should be indifferent in terms of pricing and accepting payment in either foreign currency or ZiG.” Mushayavanhu said the prevailing low and stable inflation environment should improve predictability and certainty for businesses, supporting planning and investment. He added that this was critical to encouraging wider use of the ZiG within Zimbabwe's multi-currency economy. The RBZ governor said the central bank was encouraged by the low single-digit inflation recorded from January through to August 2026. According to the central bank, annual ZiG inflation remained below five percent during the first eight months of the year, averaging 4 percent. Annual inflation rose from 4.1 percent in January to 4.8 percent in April, reflecting the impact of higher domestic fuel prices following a global oil price shock linked to conflict in the Middle East. The inflation rate subsequently moderated, reaching 2.9 percent in August. Mushayavanhu said sustained price stability was essential to strengthening confidence in the ZiG and promoting its wider use alongside foreign currencies. RBZ ZiG and US dollar