The Government is overhauling local governance laws and digitising title deed processing as part of efforts to curb land scams, double sales and bureaucratic delays, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has said. Garwe made the remarks during a panel discussion at the Zimbabwe Diaspora Business Summit in Birmingham on Friday, where he outlined measures aimed at protecting property investors, including Zimbabweans living abroad, and accelerating housing delivery. He said the Government was reviewing local governance legislation and using technology to improve transparency in land and property transactions. Garwe acknowledged concerns over high land prices and irregular land deals in urban areas, including cases involving officials and councillors. “In urban local authorities, I think that is where we have irregular land deals by officials and councillors to a certain extent,” he said. He said Government was tightening legal instruments and municipal by-laws to ensure that land prices were reasonable and buyers were protected from fraudulent transactions. “We have now tightened the legal instruments, including by-laws, to ensure that, one, the cost of land is realistic; two, that when you pay for that land, you will not suffer from the consequences of double sales and illegal transactions,” Garwe said. Local Government Laws Under Review Zimbabwe has 92 local authorities, comprising 32 urban councils and 60 rural district councils. Garwe said his ministry's legal team was working with the Attorney General's Office to consolidate the legislation governing local authorities. The Urban Councils Act, Rural District Councils Act and Regional, Town and Country Planning Act, together with more than 145 local authority by-laws, are being reviewed as part of the process. According to Garwe, the objective is to establish a unified parent law governing local authorities and reduce inconsistencies in the existing regulatory framework. The reforms are also intended to make local government administration more efficient and easier for investors to navigate. Title Deeds Go Digital Garwe said the Government had also moved to modernise the processing of title deeds. He described the previous system as cumbersome and heavily dependent on paper-based processes, saying the Deeds Office, working with the Ministries of Justice and Local Government, had digitised the process. “The process that we inherited was cumbersome and paper-based. Now the Deeds Office, supported by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Local Government, has digitised the whole process,” he said. “It is now a digital system.” The move is expected to reduce delays associated with manual processing while improving the tracking and management of property documentation. Garwe also linked the digitisation drive to Zimbabwe's wider adoption of technology in public administration. Diaspora Offices Not Necessary Some delegates called for dedicated local government offices to be established at Zimbabwean embassies to assist diaspora investors dealing with local authorities. Garwe, however, said creating additional offices could introduce another layer of bureaucracy and potentially interfere with existing diplomatic mandates. Instead, he encouraged diaspora investors to engage directly with officials from local authorities attending the summit. He also urged Zimbabweans abroad experiencing specific land-related problems to submit properly documented cases for investigation and intervention. “If there are issues that you are experiencing with our local authorities, please feel free to share with us, and we can share contacts so that we can deal with that,” he said. The proposed legal and digital reforms are expected to have implications for property buyers, developers and Zimbabweans in the diaspora seeking to invest in land and housing. For investors, the key issue will be whether the reforms translate into faster title processing, clearer land records and stronger safeguards against multiple sales and fraudulent transactions. Zimbabwe title deeds digitisation

By Mpundu Valerie Small tables. Big ideas. Confident pitches. That was the scene at a recent outdoor business expo in Harare, where children traded perfumes, juices, peanut butter, cakes, lotions and motivational T-shirts while learning some of the lessons of entrepreneurship along the way. The expo was organised by Young Kid Entrepreneurship Zim, a club founded in 2024 by Aunty Shalom to nurture children's interest in business and help them develop entrepreneurial skills from an early age. "Initially I didn't read much into this, not until my daughter mentioned her proceeds would go to charity. As a parent, I felt moved and challenged to do better, hence reaching out to other children who shared the same idea," she said. What started as a small club has grown into a mentorship space where children meet once or twice a month, virtually and in person, to learn how to run their small businesses. Over the years, the club has also travelled to different countries to learn and exchange ideas on how junior business programs operate. We caught up with a few of the kids exhibiting on the day, boy, were we taken to school. Tamar Kunashe Muchineuta, 13, who runs Tamar Fragrance, said she sells perfumes driven by a passion to help the less privileged. Joyline Mazemo, 11, CEO of Joluxe Brands, sells baobab juice, pine gel and peanut butter. "I aim for my proceeds to go to the less privileged," she said. Nicole Makaranga, 11, was selling motivationally branded T-shirts. "My t-shirts inspire us to always be kind and confident. I want to help my peers to be confident so they are not bullied," she said. For Havillah Timire, 11, it was her first time selling. She was showcasing hand lotions, saying she believes a woman's beauty is defined by her skin and the need to take care of it. Kupakwashe Murandah, 13, trading as Cake Dynamite, described himself as a professional cake engineer specializing in birthday, wedding, and anytime cakes. The young entrepreneurs at the expo were only a few of the children taking part in the programme. What stood out was not simply the range of products on display, but the confidence with which the children presented them. They were answering questions, explaining their products, discussing their motivations and learning how to interact with potential customers. For Young Kid Entrepreneurship Zim, that appears to be part of the bigger lesson. Entrepreneurship at a young age can provide children with opportunities to develop communication, creativity, confidence, responsibility, and problem-solving skills while learning the basics of running a business. And as the young exhibitors demonstrated in Harare, sometimes the biggest business ideas can come from the smallest tables. For these little CEOs, the hustle is already underway, and so are the dreams. Young entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe

Questions have been raised over the deployment and supervision of a prisoner who allegedly escaped while working at a CUT facility. A Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) student was allegedly raped and robbed by a prisoner who escaped while working at a university accommodation facility, according to a police memo cited in local media. Takudzwa Makunda, 24, of Mbona in Murombedzi, was serving a prison sentence at Chinhoyi Prison after being convicted of stealing a mobile phone. He was also facing pending charges of rape and robbery in Mhondoro at the time of the incident, according to the report. On September 29, 2026, Makunda was assigned to work at CUT's 34-room hotel under a prison labour programme in which prisoners perform work outside the correctional facility. According to the police memo, Makunda escaped while on duty. “He went on to commit robbery and rape on a CUT student the same day,” the memo reportedly stated. The circumstances surrounding the alleged attack, including how Makunda gained access to the student and the exact sequence of events after his escape, were not immediately clear from the information available. The case has also raised questions about the circumstances under which a prisoner with pending rape and robbery charges was assigned to work at a university facility where students were present. Zimbabwean law allows convicted prisoners to undertake labour within or outside prison under specified conditions. However, it remains unclear what risk assessment or supervision arrangements were in place when Makunda was deployed to the university. The allegations have not been tested in court, and Makunda remains presumed innocent of the newly reported offences unless and until convicted. The incident is likely to renew questions about the supervision of prisoners undertaking external work, particularly at locations where members of the public, including students, may have direct contact with them. Further information from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service and CUT would be required to establish how the deployment was authorised and what security measures were in place. CUT student allegedly raped by escaped prisoner

When cancer enters a family, attention naturally turns to the person diagnosed with the disease. But behind many patients is another person quietly carrying fear, exhaustion and uncertainty the carer. Speaking to Southerton Business Times (SBT) as part of our Cancer Awareness Series, Every Story Is Unique, renowned psychologist D. Tarisai highlighted the often-overlooked psychological burden experienced by family members caring for cancer patients. “What about the person who is taking care of you? What is going through their mind? Have they received the same counselling? Does the carer know you will survive? Have they accepted it? Under such circumstances, the carer tends to be more affected than the patient,” he said. When we talk about cancer, we talk about the patient. We rarely talk about the one standing behind the patient. Yet, there is nothing more psychologically traumatic than looking after a sick relative. Psychologically, you become sick too. Caring for a cancer patient is more of a calling than a duty. In health facilities, nurses and doctors are trained. They have the expertise, the know-how, and the knowledge to handle pain and suffering. But what about the mother, husband, daughter, or son at home who has never been trained, yet suddenly has to assume the role of a trained professional? So psychologically, it affects them deeply. What many carers go through clinically is called Secondary Traumatic Stress and Compassion Fatigue. The patient is experiencing primary trauma - the diagnosis, the surgery, the pain. The carer absorbs that trauma second-hand. They witness suffering daily, they live with fear, death, and uncertainty in their head. Over time, that secondary trauma becomes their own trauma. This is why one ends up with care fatigue, emotional and psychological fatigue. You end up giving up. It is not just tiredness. It is compassion fatigue. You have given so much care that you have nothing left for yourself. Carers need to also be prepared psychologically through counseling. They also need to be counselled. Even trained personnel go through psychological self-care and debriefing. What more of an untrained carer who isn't receiving any of that support? Just imagine what will be going on in their head: fear, death, uncertainty. That, in turn, affects the carer's psychological state. Hence, they end up needing counseling services also. Take, for example, a woman who has gone through a mastectomy. A part of her has been removed, and she is in deep grief. In this case, the one who has had the surgery done has received counseling and has possibly accepted the turn of events. But what about the carer? Remember, everything is halted for the carer. They suspend their normal lifestyle and adapt to the patient's. This, in turn, affects their mental state and their cycle of life. They are in anticipatory grief, mourning someone who is still alive because they don't know if that person will survive. That is why we must not care alone. We must create a care roster and share duties. We must seek counseling early, before we break down. We must allow ourselves respite and grief. Caring for yourself is not abandoning the patient. Cancer affects more than the person whose name appears on the medical record. It can change the routines, relationships, finances, and emotional lives of entire families. That is why conversations about cancer awareness should also include the people standing beside patients. Every story is unique, and every family responds differently to a cancer diagnosis. Professional psychological support may be helpful for patients and carers experiencing significant emotional distress. Cancer screening and medical examinations can also play an important role in detecting certain cancers earlier, although screening recommendations differ according to the type of cancer, age, risk factors and individual circumstances. This Cancer Awareness Month, the message is therefore twofold: look after the patient, but remember the person providing the care. Because sometimes, when one person is fighting cancer, another person is quietly fighting the fear, exhaustion and uncertainty alongside them. If you have a unique cancer story to share with SBT, contact 0774778179. Health disclaimer: This article is for general health education and awareness. It is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice. Anyone experiencing significant emotional or psychological distress should consider speaking to a qualified healthcare professional cancer carers mental health

Zimbabwean musician Tatu Maluba and the Rhinos Band will host an Afro Fusion Night at The Usual Place Bar, Cresta Jameson Hotel, Harare, on 9 October 2026, offering audiences a first taste of songs from his forthcoming album, Hondo Haina Dura (HHD). The seven-track project is more than a collection of songs. It is a musical reflection on conflict, migration, separation, resilience and faith themes that have shaped the lives of many Zimbabweans over the years. Bringing the album to life was not easy. Maluba had to keep together a full live band, blend traditional percussion with contemporary Afro-fusion guitars and carry songs whose emotional depth demanded more than technical perfection. Some tracks required repeated recordings, not because of mistakes, but because the feeling behind the music was not yet honest enough. Limited resources, tight studio schedules and periods of uncertainty also slowed production, forcing the band back into writing and rearranging until the songs truly reflected lived experiences. Although the album contains seven songs, four tracks stand out as powerful windows into its central themes. The title track, “Hondo Haina Dura” (War Does Not Last Forever), forms the heart of the album. It speaks not only about war itself, but about what conflict does to people’s hopes and dreams. In times of uncertainty, survival becomes the immediate goal and long-term plans disappear. Fields are left untilled, investments stop and infrastructure becomes vulnerable. The song paints a sobering picture of interrupted futures — where some who plant may never harvest and some who harvest may never enjoy the fruits of their labour. The second track, “Misha Yave Matongo” (Homes Have Become Ruins), reflects on migration and the empty spaces left behind. It tells the story of rural homes abandoned as families move to towns, neighbouring countries, and distant continents in search of better opportunities. Once-vibrant homesteads fall silent, carrying only memories of those who once lived there. Migration takes a more personal turn in “Mwaka Misere” (Eight Seasons), a song about separation and endurance. It follows the story of a wife waiting at home while her husband works across the border in search of economic survival. The song captures the loneliness, uncertainty, and emotional strain that distance places on families, while asking how long hope can endure. The album concludes with “Rudo Rwenyu Changamire” (Your Love, Lord), a song of comfort and faith. After stories of conflict, migration, and waiting, the track offers reassurance that divine love remains constant, even when human systems fail. It speaks of care for the vulnerable, hope for the broken, and grace that persists through hardship. In the end, Hondo Haina Dura is more than music. It is a chronicle of a people of Zimbabweans who have endured hardship, left home, waited for loved ones, rebuilt their lives, and continued to believe in tomorrow. Tatu Maluba Hondo Haina Dura

Senegal has appealed CAF’s decision over the disputed 2025 AFCON final against Morocco. LAUSANNE — The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision to overturn the result of the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco. The hearing is scheduled for October 8 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Senegal’s Football Federation is challenging CAF’s decision to declare Senegal the loser by forfeit and award Morocco a 3-0 victory following events during the final in Rabat on January 18. Senegal’s players left the pitch for more than 15 minutes after Morocco were awarded a penalty during the match. The Senegalese team later returned to the field and went on to win the match 1-0 after extra time. CAF subsequently overturned the result after considering a complaint from Morocco, awarding the match to Morocco by a 3-0 forfeit. Senegal has appealed the decision to CAS, football’s highest sports arbitration body. The October 8 hearing will be conducted in French and held behind closed doors. A three-member CAS panel chaired by Frenchman Gérald Simon will consider the arguments presented by both sides before issuing its ruling. The case could determine whether CAF’s decision to award Morocco the final by forfeit remains in force or whether Senegal’s 1-0 victory after extra time is restored. The dispute has drawn significant attention because the original final result was determined on the field before CAF later imposed the forfeit decision. CAS is expected to consider the circumstances surrounding the interruption, the conduct of the Senegalese players, and the applicable CAF regulations in reaching its decision. The ruling will bring a major legal chapter of the 2025 AFCON final to a close, although the timing of the decision will depend on the CAS panel’s proceedings. Senegal CAS appeal AFCON final

Zimbabwean teenagers representing the country at an international moot court competition in Câmpulung Muscel, Romania. By Southerton Business Times | Harare A team of Zimbabwean teenagers aged between 13 and 15 is representing the country at an international moot court competition in Câmpulung Muscel, Romania, taking complex questions of international law from the classroom to the global stage. The Zimbabwe National Moot Court Team is part of a wider educational programme run by Ideas Matter Academy, founded and led by Advocate Nqobile Dube, which introduces young people to legal education and advocacy before they reach university. Moot court is a simulated court proceeding in which students research a complex legal problem, prepare written submissions and present arguments before a panel of judges. For Ideas Matter Academy, however, the programme is about more than preparing future lawyers. It seeks to develop research, critical thinking, strategic analysis, problem-solving, communication and advocacy skills that can benefit young people regardless of the careers they eventually choose. From 200 Students to a National Team Approximately 200 students from across Zimbabwe took part in the 2026 national selection process. Before the trials, students completed about two months of online training covering the fundamentals of moot court, legal research, argument construction, advocacy and international humanitarian law. The online format allowed students outside Harare to participate, while schools that provided internet facilities helped make the training accessible to their learners. The selection process included physical trials at Dominican Convent in Harare and a separate virtual process for students outside the capital. Practising lawyers and law students, including members of the Zimbabwe Moot Court Society, also participated in assessing candidates. The approach was intended to widen access and allow students from different schools and geographical backgrounds to compete on the basis of their performance. Tackling International Law The moot problem used during the selection process was written by the University of Bucharest Law School and drew partly on circumstances surrounding the conflict in the Middle East, including issues connected to the Strait of Hormuz. For the students, the exercise provided exposure to the type of complex international-law questions they would encounter at an international competition. Their preparation has included legal research, written and oral advocacy, strategy, critical analysis and the construction of structured legal arguments. A Tradition Begun in 2022 Ideas Matter Academy introduced high-school moot court in Zimbabwe in 2022. According to the Academy, the inaugural Zimbabwe National Moot Court Team went on to win the World Championships that year and became the first African team invited to and win the European Moot Court Competition. The campaign received support from the President of Zimbabwe and CBZ Bank. The current team now carries that experience forward, with students seeking to compete internationally while gaining exposure to different legal systems, cultures and approaches to advocacy. Zimbabwe in Romania The Zimbabwean delegation is competing alongside students from other countries in Câmpulung Muscel, where the opening of the competition brought together legal academics, retired international judges, diplomats and local officials. The students have an opportunity to interact with legal professionals and their international peers while testing their arguments before judges. For Ideas Matter Academy, those interactions form an important part of the educational experience. The students are learning not only how to argue a case, but also how people from different jurisdictions approach complex legal questions. Zimbabwe is reportedly the only African country represented at the competition this year. That gives the delegation significance beyond the competition itself, as the teenagers carry the country's name onto an international platform while representing their schools, families and communities. Support Behind the Team The team's participation in Romania has been supported by NetOne, which sponsored the Zimbabwe National Moot Court Team. Ideas Matter Academy has also acknowledged the contribution of participating schools, parents, lawyers and law students who supported the students during training and selection. For the Academy, the wider objective extends beyond winning a trophy. The programme seeks to demonstrate what young people can achieve when they receive access to rigorous intellectual training early in life and are given opportunities to test their abilities internationally. A future lawyer may use those skills in court, but the same abilities can benefit an engineer, entrepreneur, scientist, diplomat, journalist or business leader. For the teenagers in Romania, the immediate task is competition. But the experience also offers something less measurable: exposure to the world, confidence in their abilities, and an understanding that Zimbabwean students can engage with demanding international questions. They have gone to Romania to compete. They have also gone to learn, connect and represent Zimbabwe on the world stage. The Bigger Purpose Behind the Team Ideas Matter Academy says the team's journey to Romania would not have been possible without the support of NetOne, which sponsored the Zimbabwe National Moot Court Team. The Academy has also expressed gratitude to the schools that supported students throughout the selection and training process, the parents who invested in their children's development, and the practising lawyers and law students who contributed to the selection process. The students, meanwhile, have worked hard to reach the international stage. As they compete in Romania, they carry with them not only the knowledge and preparation provided by their coaches, but also the support and expectations of their families, schools and fellow Zimbabweans at home. For Ideas Matter Academy, however, the ultimate objective goes beyond producing a successful moot court team. It is about creating opportunities for young Zimbabweans to develop the confidence, discipline and intellectual skills to engage with complex issues from an early age. The hope is that the experience in Romania will remain with the students long after the competition ends, shaping not only aspiring lawyers, but a generation of young people capable of researching deeply, thinking critically, communicating effectively and confidently taking their place on the international stage. Zimbabwe National Moot Court Team

By Southerton Business Times | Harare Wicknell Chivayo’s former wife, Sonja Madzikanda, has joined mourners at the late businessman’s Gletwin home, weeks after a bitter family dispute between the two. Madzikanda arrived at the family home on Friday accompanied by her mother, Tabitha Madzikanda, Chivayo’s former mother-in-law, as relatives and friends gathered following his death in a helicopter crash. The development comes as forensic examinations and DNA testing are being conducted to formally identify the remains of Chivayo, his wife Lucy Rujeko Muteke, and three other people who died in Wednesday’s crash at Kudenga Farm near Marondera. ZBC reported that the five bodies were collected by the Criminal Investigations Department for forensic procedures, with family representatives assisting with the identification process. The two children Chivayo shared with Sonja have reportedly been receiving counselling following their father's death. A Difficult History Sonja and her mother had a public dispute with Chivayo earlier this year, culminating in their arrest in May following complaints made by the businessman. Police confirmed at the time that Sonja and Tabitha had been arrested in connection with criminal allegations. The cases included allegations surrounding the circulation of content involving Chivayo and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, while separate allegations concerned an investment account established for Chivayo's children. The women spent several days in custody while the matter was being dealt with by the courts. Chivayo subsequently withdrew his complaint, bringing the case to an end before trial. He said at the time that he had reconsidered the matter because of the impact on his children, who were asking about their mother. However, Chivayo maintained that he did not regret the arrests and publicly criticised his former mother-in-law over the alleged circulation of manipulated images involving him and Ramaphosa. He also alleged that an attempt had been made to use US$1.4 million from an investment arrangement for his children to purchase land and develop cluster houses. Those allegations were made by Chivayo and did not result in a trial establishing the claims. Family Ties Remained Despite the dispute, Chivayo had said in May that his relationship with Sonja could not completely end because they shared children. “She’s the mother of my children, so I have forgiven her,” he said at the time. He added that his children remained his priority. The former couple's children were not aboard the helicopter when it crashed, according to earlier reports. Crash Investigation Continues Chivayo, Muteke, her aide Saneliswe Magagula, pilot Calvin Tafirei Soda and co-pilot Courage Mutavirwa died when the helicopter came down at Kudenga Farm on Wednesday evening. Police and aviation experts are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. The identification process is expected to assist families with funeral arrangements, while authorities continue working to establish what caused the aircraft to crash. For Sonja and her mother, their presence at Chivayo's home marks a striking moment in a complicated family story now overshadowed by grief and the loss of the father of Sonja's two children. Sonja Madzikanda

By Mpundu Valerie DISCLAIMER: Views expressed herein are not those of SBT. The following information was shared by Naturopathic Doctor P. Nduva during an educational health talk on breast cancer. Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in breast tissue grow uncontrollably and form a tumour. While it primarily affects women, men can also develop the disease. As part of its cancer-awareness programme, Southerton Business Times (SBT) is sharing educational information provided during a health talk by naturopathic doctor P. Nduva, with the aim of encouraging informed conversations about breast cancer and the importance of seeking appropriate medical care. In Zimbabwe, it is the second most common malignancy affecting women. There is a 1 in 9 lifetime risk for women. RISK FACTORS According to Dr Nduva, several factors may increase a person's risk of developing breast cancer. However, having a risk factor does not mean that a person will necessarily develop the disease, while some people diagnosed with breast cancer may have no obvious risk factors. 1. Age Carcinomas of the breast are extremely rare in women below the age of 20. Thereafter, the incidence rises steadily so that by age 90, nearly 20% of women are affected. Peak age of incidence in Western countries is in the 60s. However, in our population, the peak age is lower, and this has been attributed to our life expectancy. 2. Gender Less than 0.5% of breast cancer patients are male. 3. Race It is more common in white women. It is also more common among Ashkenazi Jews. 4. Genetic Factors Breast cancer occurs more in women who have a family history of breast cancer, particularly if the family member developed cancer at a young age. Nonetheless, breast cancer attributable to a specific gene mutation accounts for only 5% of cases. These include mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Other associated conditions include HNPCC (Lynch II syndrome) and Li-Fraumeni syndrome (inherited p53 mutation). Risk also increases in women with a positive family history for other malignancies, particularly ovarian, endometrial and colorectal carcinoma. A previous history of breast cancer also increases the risk of a tumour spreading to the other breast. A previous biopsy showing DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) or LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ) also increases risk. 5. Diet Dietary factors are believed to play a part, as breast cancer affects women in developed countries more than in developing countries. There is believed to be a link between breast cancer and diets low in phyto-oestrogens. A high alcohol intake is also related to an increased risk, while Vitamin C is believed to reduce risk. 6. Increased Exposure to Oestrogen Increased exposure to oestrogen predisposes women to breast cancer, due to both exogenous and endogenous causes. - Exogenous causes include women who take oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and those who take synthetic oestrogen for cosmetic purposes. - Endogenous causes include early menarche and late menopause, nulliparity, old age at first live birth, and not breastfeeding. It has also been noted that in post-menopausal women, breast cancer is more common in obese women because there is increased peripheral conversion of androgens to oestradiol, which occurs in adipose tissue. 7. Radiation Women who have been exposed to mantle radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Know Your Risk Understanding personal and family medical history can help people have informed conversations with healthcare professionals about their individual risk. Breast changes such as a new lump, changes in breast size or shape, skin changes, nipple changes or unusual nipple discharge should be medically assessed. Importantly, many breast changes are not cancerous. A healthcare professional can determine whether further examination or testing is necessary. Breast cancer can affect people differently, and every cancer story is unique. SBT encourages readers to seek information from qualified healthcare professionals and to avoid delaying medical attention because of fear, stigma, or misinformation. If you have a cancer-awareness story to share, contact SBT on 0774 778 179. Your story might help someone seek information or medical care. Breast cancer risk factors

Fellow Zimbabweans, ladies and gentlemen, As we continue our commitment to community health, education and public awareness, I wish to take a moment to address an issue that touches many families across our nation: cancer. Cancer is not a distant problem affecting other parts of the world. It is a growing health challenge in Zimbabwe and across sub-Saharan Africa, affecting individuals, families and communities in profound ways. Breast cancer, in particular, remains an important public health concern among women in Zimbabwe. This makes awareness, access to appropriate screening and timely medical attention especially important. At Southerton Business Times (SBT), we believe that informed communities are better equipped to make decisions about their health. Information can encourage people to recognise warning signs, seek appropriate medical attention and support loved ones facing cancer. That is why SBT is making concerted efforts to provide platforms for qualified medical and health practitioners to share information on cancer risk factors, prevention, screening and early detection. However, our campaign goes beyond breast cancer. Under the theme “Every Story Is Unique,” we recognise that every cancer journey is different. Our coverage and health-awareness initiatives will therefore look at cancer more broadly, including the experiences of patients, survivors, families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. Early detection can be important in improving outcomes for some cancers, but screening recommendations vary depending on the type of cancer, age, personal and family history, and other risk factors. I therefore encourage our members, families and the wider community to: Seek appropriate medical screening and regular health check-ups as advised by qualified healthcare professionals. Know your family medical history and discuss relevant concerns with your healthcare provider. Adopt healthy lifestyle practices that can reduce the risk of some cancers and contribute to overall wellbeing. Support people living with cancer and cancer survivors with compassion, dignity and understanding. Most importantly, let us break the silence and stigma surrounding cancer. Let us talk about it in our homes, churches, schools, workplaces and communities. Let us create spaces where people can seek information and medical assistance without fear, shame or discrimination. SBT and our partners stand in solidarity with cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and families who have lost loved ones to the disease. We reaffirm our commitment to providing responsible health-information platforms that connect communities with credible voices and encourage informed conversations. Together, we can contribute to the fight against cancer through knowledge, timely action, compassion and unity. Thank you. Hon. A. MakahamadzeChairmanSoutherton Business Times (SBT) DISCLAIMER: The health information shared through SBT's cancer-awareness initiatives is intended for general education and does not necessarily represent the views of SBT or replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Cancer screening and treatment recommendations should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. cancer awareness in Zimbabwe

By Southerton Business Times | Harare Music legend Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo says the late businessman Wicknell Chivayo had paid him in full for two performances linked to Chivayo’s birthday and Jah Prayzah’s wedding. Mapfumo was reportedly contracted under a US$1 million deal to perform at Jah Prayzah’s wedding and at Chivayo’s birthday celebration. Jah Prayzah and his fiancée Rufaro have since postponed their wedding indefinitely following Chivayo’s death in a helicopter crash on Wednesday. Speaking to H-Metro on Wednesday night, Mapfumo said he was still struggling to process the businessman’s death but confirmed that he had received his payment. “I can confirm that I was paid in full for the work I was supposed to do and I will honour my contract,” Mapfumo said. “At the moment I don’t have much to say as I am still in shock at the death of Wicknell. May the Lord comfort his family and his loved ones.” Mapfumo to Return for Rescheduled Show Mapfumo said he would return to Zimbabwe from the United States once a new date for the performance had been agreed. “I will go back to America and will definitely be back for the show,” he said. “My team is making new arrangements with all the involved stakeholders, and I think we will have a clear picture after the burials.” His publicist, Cuthbert Chiromo, also confirmed that Mapfumo had been paid in full and said discussions were already underway with Jah Prayzah’s management. “Mukanya was paid in full, and right now I am in touch with Jah Prayzah’s management for new dates, and definitely, Mukanya will perform,” Chiromo said. The new performance dates have not yet been announced. Wedding Postponed After Chivayo's Death Jah Prayzah, whose real name is Mukudzeyi Mukombe, announced on Thursday that his wedding to Rufaro, which had been scheduled for October 3 in Glen Lorne, Harare, had been postponed. The musician described Chivayo as more than a friend, saying he was “family” and had walked closely with the couple through different stages of their lives. The postponement followed Wednesday's helicopter crash at Kudenga Farm near Marondera, which claimed the lives of Chivayo, his wife Lucy Rujeko Muteke, her aide Senelisiwe Magagula, pilot Captain Kelvin T. Soda and co-pilot Captain Courage Mutavirwa. The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation. For Mapfumo, however, the reported payment means the planned performance remains on the table, with the legendary musician expected to return to Zimbabwe once the new arrangements are finalised. Thomas Mapfumo paid in full

Tendai drives a school omnibus along Samora Machel Avenue. He stops at red lights. Most mornings he is the only one who does. Last week a black SUV with tinted windows, no siren and no escort, went through the junction. Two motorbikes followed. Then a taxi. Then Tendai's conductor asked, in Shona, who would catch them. Tendai did not need an answer. Everyone at that junction already had one. We are told we have become undisciplined. Pitch invasions. Stampedes at stadium gates. Vandalised bus shelters. Litter in every drain. The sermon is familiar, and it lands on the wrong people. Discipline is not a personality trait. It is a response to consequence. People obey where they expect to be caught and ignore where they expect to be excused. Take Gate 2 at the National Sports Stadium. Ahead of the AFCON qualifier between Zimbabwe and the DRC, a crowd surged, a stampede followed, and one person died. After the match, fans breached the perimeter and poured onto the pitch. The easy word for it was hooliganism. A stampede is rarely a crowd deciding to get hurt. It is usually a gate that cannot hold the numbers sent to it, a ticket count that does not match the turnstiles, and a security plan nobody owns. A perimeter is rarely breached by enthusiasm alone. It gives way where it is thin. Who answers for the gate is the part that tends to go quiet. The citizen watches upward. The law says traffic gives way to emergency vehicles and motorcades. A rule that grants precedence to some is only as good as its policing, and at the junction nobody can tell the entitled from the merely connected. The privilege is lawful. Abusing it is not, and abuse is rarely tested. Reports are tabled and too often shelved. Resignations are rare. Explanations are rarer. The citizen concludes that enforcement is a tax on people without contacts. Vandalism follows the same logic. A person who believes the bus shelter belongs to nobody will treat it that way, and public property looks abandoned when officials treat it as abandoned. None of this excuses the man who runs the red light. Individuals still choose. But a country cannot lecture its way to order while exempting its leaders from the same rules. Accountability that only travels downward is not accountability. It is control. Inquiry findings would be public. Officials would be charged as quickly as vendors. Road precedence would belong only to those the law names, and everyone else would stop. Tendai still stops at red lights. Last Friday he stopped alone. He says he is running out of reasons. Simbarashe Namusi is a media expert writing in his personal capacity. Accountability in Zimbabwe