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By Southerton Business Times Reporter | BULAWAYO Bulawayo Ward 1 Councillor Josiah Mutangi of ZANU PF has been removed from office after an independent tribunal found him guilty of misconduct, creating a vacancy that will be filled through a by-election. The decision was announced by Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe in a letter dated 14 July 2026, following the tribunal's determination after hearings held on 8 and 9 July. "I wish to inform you that I am in receipt of a determination from the independent tribunal which was held on 8-9 July 2026. Councillor Josiah Mutangi was found guilty of misconduct, and by operation of the law, he is hereby removed from office," Garwe wrote. Mutangi had been suspended from office on 28 May 2026 after his conviction on 14 counts of fraud earlier this year. A Bulawayo magistrate found Mutangi and his co-accused, Janet Zhou, guilty of defrauding 13 street vendors by falsely promising to allocate them vending bays in Bulawayo's central business district in exchange for money. The court ordered both accused to perform 490 hours of community service. Mutangi was also ordered to pay US$200 in restitution to each of the 13 complainants. According to court findings, the allocations were made contrary to Bulawayo City Council procedures and existing regulations governing the allocation of vending bays. In his decision, Garwe said the tribunal found that Mutangi had abused the public trust placed in him. The minister said the councillor had demonstrated "a recurring pattern of fraudulent behaviour" by exploiting his public office for personal benefit. The tribunal also found that Mutangi: Failed to follow established procedures for allocating vending bays. Failed to declare conflicts of interest. Breached the councillors' code of conduct. Acted contrary to the responsibilities expected of a public office bearer. His removal takes immediate effect in terms of the applicable local government legislation. Mutangi's removal creates a vacancy in Ward 1, requiring the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to conduct a by-election once the electoral process is proclaimed. The councillor was elected during the December 2023 by-elections, which followed the recall of several opposition councillors. He won the seat after defeating Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate Shepherd Sithole, polling 952 votes against Sithole's 655 votes. The by-election followed the recall of Sithole and seven other CCC councillors by self-styled party secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu. While five recalled councillors regained their seats, ZANU PF captured three wards in Bulawayo, including Ward 1, which has a significant population of informal traders. Mutangi's removal means Bulawayo voters in Ward 1 will once again return to the polls to elect a new councillor. Josiah Mutangi

Government has warned beneficiaries of Urban State Land to regularise their obligations within three months or risk losing their allocations. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE The Government has given individuals, companies and other beneficiaries allocated Urban State Land a final three-month deadline to regularise their obligations or face cancellation of their land allocations and possible repossession. The directive is contained in a notice dated 22 July 2026, signed by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Secretary John Basera, warning defaulting allottees to comply with the conditions of their land allocations. According to the ministry, a significant number of beneficiaries have failed to meet contractual and statutory obligations attached to their allocations, affecting orderly urban development and delaying the delivery of essential public infrastructure. In the notice, the Ministry said it had noted with concern the continued failure by some beneficiaries to honour the terms and conditions governing Urban State Land allocations. Among the outstanding obligations identified are: Failure to pay the full purchase price or outstanding balances for allocated land. Non-payment of statutory charges owed to Government. Failure to surrender and transfer commonage stands and other land due to Government in accordance with allocation conditions, development permits and agreements. Failure to comply with other contractual and legal obligations contained in allocation documents. The Ministry said these conditions are legally binding and form an integral part of every Urban State Land allocation. Government warned that non-compliance undermines planned urban development, prejudices the State's interests and delays the provision of public infrastructure such as roads, schools, health facilities, recreational spaces and other essential services. As a result, all defaulting beneficiaries have been granted three months from the publication of the notice to regularise their obligations. During the compliance period, affected allottees are required to: Settle all outstanding payments due to Government. Surrender commonage stands and any other land due to the State in terms of their allocation agreements. Comply with all remaining contractual and statutory obligations. The Ministry warned that failure to comply before the deadline expires will trigger legal and administrative action. According to the notice, Government may impose several penalties on defaulting beneficiaries, including: Cancellation of Urban State Land allocations. Repossession of allocated land, subject to applicable law. Recovery of all outstanding debts owed to Government. Any other remedies available under Zimbabwean law. The Ministry urged all affected beneficiaries to immediately engage the Department of Urban State Land Management to facilitate the regularisation of their obligations within the stipulated timeframe. Government said the exercise forms part of broader efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and the efficient administration of Urban State Land while ensuring land is utilised in accordance with approved development plans and the national interest. Urban State Land Zimbabwe

A fire allegedly started by a four-year-old playing with matches destroyed a bedroom and household property at Chief Wenondo's homestead in Bubi District. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | BUBI A thatched bedroom at Chief Wenondo's homestead in Tame Village, Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province, was destroyed by fire on Monday afternoon after a four-year-old boy allegedly started the blaze while playing with matches. No injuries were reported, but the fire destroyed household property, food supplies, school materials and important personal documents worth thousands of United States dollars. According to the family, the incident occurred shortly after 4 pm while several children were playing amatope (mahumbwe) behind the bedroom hut. The children's grandmother was asleep in another hut, while other adults were away from the homestead. Preliminary accounts indicate that the four-year-old allegedly struck a match and threw it onto the thatched roof, which caught fire. The flames spread rapidly through the dry grass roof before the structure collapsed. Chief Wenondo said the destroyed bedroom was shared by six children, most of whom were at school when the fire broke out. "We lost important personal documents, including a national identity card, birth certificate and passport belonging to the boy's mother," he said. He said the speed at which the fire spread left the family with no opportunity to salvage their belongings. Among the property destroyed were: Two double beds Two mobile phones Clothing and school uniforms School textbooks Ten 50kg bags of maize One 50kg bag of millet Twenty-five metres of barbed wire Inverters and amplifiers Other household valuables Chief Wenondo appealed to well-wishers, government agencies and members of the community to assist the family in replacing essential household items and food supplies. "We lost many important things in the fire, including identification documents, food supplies, children's school uniforms and textbooks," he said. "We are appealing for assistance so that we can replace some of the items that were destroyed." He also urged parents and guardians to keep matches and other flammable materials out of the reach of young children to prevent similar incidents. Bubi District Development Coordinator Mgcini Vellah said local authorities were coordinating assistance for the affected family. He confirmed that the district administration would facilitate the replacement of the mother's lost identity documents through the Civil Registry Department at no cost. Fire safety experts have repeatedly urged families living in thatched houses to keep ignition sources, including matches, lighters and candles, away from children, as thatched roofs can ignite and spread flames rapidly, particularly during the dry season. The cause of the fire is being treated as accidental. Bubi house fire

By Simbarashe Namusi Thursday, July 23, 2026 Every Sunday, teams from GeoPomona Waste Management move through Harare's streets with shovels and disinfectant. They are not collecting rubbish. They are cleaning up human waste, left on open ground, because the public toilets meant to receive it either do not work or do not exist. The Invisible Crisis of Infrastructure Maintenance in Zimbabwe This is what happens when maintenance stops being a priority. It does not announce itself as a crisis. It arrives quietly, block by block, until a street becomes a toilet and a private company has to do the work a public facility was built for. The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road tells the same story on a larger scale. It is now undergoing refurbishment, at a cost far higher than routine upkeep would ever have demanded, because the road was left to deteriorate until deterioration became the only thing left to talk about. A newly tarred road is one of the most satisfying sights in Zimbabwe. It signals progress, inspires confidence and promises easier journeys. But almost from the day the ribbon is cut, the countdown to its decline begins, and Bulawayo-Vic Falls shows where that countdown ends: not with a repair, but with a reconstruction. Not because the engineers failed. Not because the road had reached the end of its lifespan. More often, it is because maintenance was never embedded in the culture that followed construction. The Economic Impact of Neglected Infrastructure in Harare and Bulawayo Zimbabwe has become remarkably adept at building. New roads, schools, clinics, dams and marketplaces stand as visible symbols of development and national ambition. They deserve to be celebrated. But somewhere between commissioning and daily use, our attention shifts. Maintenance slips down the list of priorities until neglect becomes too obvious and too expensive to ignore. This is one of the quiet contradictions of our development story: we celebrate what we build, but seldom what we preserve. The evidence is all around us. A classroom block with broken windowpanes that remain unrepaired for years. Streetlights that fail one by one until entire neighbourhoods are left in darkness. Small potholes that become crater-like hazards because no one acted when the repair was simple and affordable. Each tells the same story: neglected maintenance eventually becomes stalled development. Preventive Maintenance as a National Economic Strategy Maintenance is often viewed as an engineering function. In reality, it is an economic strategy. Every dollar spent on preventive maintenance saves many more in future reconstruction. Every public asset that reaches its intended lifespan delivers greater value to taxpayers. Every bridge, water system, clinic or school kept in good condition reduces the need for costly replacement. The countries admired for efficient infrastructure are not necessarily those that build the most; they are the ones that protect what they have already built. Yet maintenance suffers from a public relations problem. There are no ribbon-cutting ceremonies for repaired drainage systems. Cameras seldom gather when municipal workers repaint road markings, service water pumps, or replace damaged streetlights. Preventive maintenance rarely makes headlines because its greatest achievement is that nothing goes wrong. Perhaps that is precisely why it is so often neglected. Policy Reforms and Civic Duty: Building a Sustainable Future Government bears the primary responsibility for safeguarding public infrastructure. Maintenance budgets should be protected rather than treated as discretionary spending whenever resources become constrained. Local authorities should publish maintenance schedules alongside development plans, allowing citizens to judge success not only by new projects but also by the condition of existing ones. But government cannot build a maintenance culture on its own. Public infrastructure belongs to all of us. Yet too often it is treated as if it belongs to no one. The bus shelters at the Charge Office terminus in Harare are a case in point. Commuters no longer stand under them. The shelters are filled with litter and reek of urine, a facility built to serve the public now avoided by the very public it was meant to serve. Every act of vandalism or neglect like this imposes a hidden tax on society, diverting scarce resources from new investment to unnecessary repairs. A mature society understands that stewardship is a civic duty. Citizens report faults before they become disasters. Communities protect shared infrastructure. Schools teach respect for public property as part of responsible citizenship. Businesses recognise that well-maintained infrastructure is not merely a public good it is an economic necessity. Perhaps it is also time to rethink how we measure development. We are quick to count kilometres of newly built roads, classrooms completed and clinics commissioned. Those figures matter. But an equally important question is whether those same roads remain smooth, those classrooms remain functional, and those clinics continue serving communities a decade later. Development is not measured only by what a nation builds. It is measured by what it chooses to sustain. Zimbabwe's future will not be secured solely by constructing new infrastructure. It will be secured by cultivating a national habit of looking after what already exists. On Sunday morning, the GeoPomona teams will be out again, with their shovels and disinfectant, doing work that a functioning toilet block would have made unnecessary. They will do it again the Sunday after that. The ribbon was cut once. The cleanup never stops. Simbarashe Namusi is a media expert, peace, leadership, and governance scholar writing in his personal capacity. Zimbabwe infrastructure maintenance culture

Nelson Chamisa's UK tour forms part of his Agenda 2026 consultations with Zimbabweans living in the diaspora. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa is set to begin a Diaspora Citizens Consultation, Engagement and Listening Tour in the United Kingdom this week as he expands consultations on his proposed political movement, Agenda 2026. The tour will take Chamisa to London on Thursday, Manchester on Friday and Corby on Sunday, where he is expected to meet Zimbabweans living in the UK to gather views on the country's political and economic future. Chamisa resigned as CCC leader in January 2024, alleging that the opposition party had been infiltrated. Since then, he has been consulting citizens inside and outside Zimbabwe on what he describes as a new political platform under the banner Agenda 2026. In a statement issued on 22 July, Chamisa said the UK engagement is part of a broader consultation process aimed at ensuring Zimbabweans play a central role in shaping the country's future. "The tour is intended to listen, engage and hear directly from Zimbabweans in the diaspora on the challenges, opportunities and future of our nation," the statement said. His office said the proposed movement would be built through extensive public consultations rather than being imposed from the top down. "The New must be, and is, the product of broad-based citizen consultation. Born out of listening. Born out of engagement. Born out of the conviction that citizens define the future of their nation." Chamisa's office said the consultations recognise the important contribution made by Zimbabweans living abroad. "With close to five million citizens living beyond our borders, the diaspora is not a peripheral constituency. It is an integral part of our nation." The statement also renewed calls for Zimbabweans in the diaspora to be granted the right to vote in national elections. "For too long, the old order has welcomed billions in diaspora remittances while denying those same citizens the fundamental democratic right to vote." It added: "The New rejects that contradiction. It affirms the diaspora's rightful place in shaping Zimbabwe's future. Every citizen matters. Every citizen has a voice. No border should bar any citizen from The New." The UK meetings form part of Chamisa's ongoing consultations with Zimbabweans both at home and abroad following his departure from the CCC. He has not yet formally launched a new political party but has repeatedly said the consultation process will determine the structure, values and direction of the proposed movement. Political analysts say engaging the Zimbabwean diaspora could strengthen support for any future political formation, given the community's significant economic contribution through remittances and its continued interest in Zimbabwe's governance and development. Nelson Chamisa UK tour

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged licensed firearm holders to handle their weapons responsibly after a man was arrested over an alleged shooting incident in Stonebridge, Harare. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE A 49-year-old Harare man has been arrested after allegedly discharging a licensed firearm during a dispute at a shop in Stonebridge, leaving another man injured when the bullet ricocheted off the floor. The incident occurred on Sunday, 19 July 2026, prompting the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to warn licensed firearm holders against the negligent and irresponsible handling of guns. Police identified the suspect as Evans Peter Marozva (49). According to the ZRP, Marozva allegedly fired his licensed pistol during an altercation at a shop in Stonebridge. The bullet reportedly struck the floor before ricocheting and hitting a 31-year-old man on the leg. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that the suspect had been arrested and that the firearm had been seized as investigations continue. "The ZRP warns firearm holders against the negligent and irresponsible conduct of handling of firearms. Firearms should not be brandished, discharged to intimidate others, or used to settle disputes," Commissioner Nyathi said. He added: "This follows the arrest of Evans Peter Marozva (49) after he allegedly discharged a licensed pistol during a dispute at a shop in Stonebridge, Harare on 19/07/2026. The bullet reportedly ricocheted off the floor and struck a 31-year-old man on the leg." Police said the licensed pistol has since been confiscated. The ZRP said Marozva is facing criminal charges arising from the incident, although police have not disclosed the specific offences. Authorities reiterated that firearm licences do not permit owners to use guns to threaten, intimidate or resolve personal disputes. "The firearm has been confiscated while the suspect is now facing criminal charges. The ZRP reminds all licensed firearm holders that firearms should only be used in strict compliance with the law," Commissioner Nyathi said. Police urged all firearm licence holders to exercise caution and comply with Zimbabwe's firearms legislation to prevent avoidable injuries and loss of life. The allegations against Marozva have not yet been tested in court, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty before a competent court. Stonebridge shooting

NRZ says expanding rail infrastructure will reduce mineral transport costs, ease pressure on roads and improve Zimbabwe's mining export competitiveness. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has unveiled an ambitious long-term strategy to develop a nationwide network of mineral logistics hubs and new railway lines aimed at improving the movement of minerals, lowering transport costs and strengthening Zimbabwe's mining export competitiveness. The plan comes as Zimbabwe seeks to expand value chains in the lithium, iron and coal mining sectors, while shifting bulk cargo from roads to rail to reduce infrastructure damage and improve logistics efficiency. NRZ spokesperson Andrew Kunambura said the railway operator intends to extend rail infrastructure closer to major mining operations across the country. "NRZ has plans to bring rail heads closer to major mines to cut down transport costs and improve competitiveness," Kunambura said. According to NRZ, proposed projects include constructing a rail link from Mutoko to Moatize in Mozambique and another connecting Inthundla to Redcliff. Kunambura said the recently commissioned West Nicholson lithium rail siding represents the first phase of a broader mineral logistics programme. "The West Nicholson initiative is just the beginning. More such hubs will be set up so that lithium is transported by rail," he said. NRZ plans to establish additional mineral logistics hubs at: Zvishavane (serving Sandawana Lithium and Bikita Minerals) Dete (Kamativi Lithium Mine) Shangani (Zulu Lithium Mine) Goromonzi (Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe) The hubs are expected to improve the movement of lithium concentrate from mining sites to export corridors. Kunambura said increasing rail transport would reduce heavy truck traffic on Zimbabwe's highways. "It is also a major milestone because it will help preserve roads from damage by haulage trucks carrying heavy cargo. By moving 1,000 tonnes of lithium by rail, an equivalent of 33 haulage trucks have been removed from our roads," he said. He added that the initiative has generated additional freight business for Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railway (BBR), NRZ and Mozambique's CFM (Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique). NRZ said rehabilitation work is already in progress on the Machipanda-Harare railway line, while preparations are underway to modernise the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls railway corridor with support from the Mutapa Investment Fund and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development. The upgrades are intended to encourage bulk commodities, particularly coal and coke, to shift from road transport to rail. The railway operator also confirmed it is engaging Dinson Iron and Steel Company over plans to extend the railway line from Mvuma to the Manhize Steel Plant, one of Zimbabwe's largest industrial investments. The announcement follows the launch of a new rail export corridor linking Gwanda Lithium Mine to the Port of Maputo through Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Under the arrangement, Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railway transports lithium concentrate from the US$1.5 million West Nicholson rail siding to Beitbridge before handing the cargo to NRZ for movement to Chicualacuala, where it is transferred to CFM for onward transport to the Port of Maputo via the Maputo Development Corridor. The corridor forms part of Zimbabwe's broader strategy to improve mineral export logistics, reduce transport costs and support the revival of the country's rail transport system. NRZ mineral logistics hubs

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has appealed for public assistance in locating Emmanuel Makazi, who is wanted in connection with the alleged murder of his younger brother. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a manhunt for a 30-year-old Harare man wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of his younger brother following an alleged dispute over a missing US$50. Police identified the suspect as Emmanuel Makazi (30), who is being sought in connection with the death of Munashe Makazi (22). According to the ZRP, the incident occurred at around 6:30 pm on 20 July 2026 at the family's home in Sunningdale 2, Harare. In a statement issued on 22 July, police appealed to members of the public for information that could lead to the suspect's arrest. "The ZRP is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Emmanuel Makazi (30) who is being sought in connection with the murder of his younger brother, Munashe Makazi (22)," police said. Preliminary police investigations indicate that the fatal altercation allegedly arose after a disagreement over a missing US$50. According to investigators, Emmanuel Makazi allegedly stabbed his younger brother once in the chest with a sharp object before fleeing the scene. "Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim once on the chest with a sharp object following a dispute over a missing US$50 before fleeing from the scene," the ZRP said. Police have not disclosed what type of weapon was allegedly used or whether any other people witnessed the incident. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged anyone with information about Emmanuel Makazi's whereabouts to report to the nearest police station immediately. Members of the public can also contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or send information via WhatsApp to 0712 800197. Authorities said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing are continuing. The police urged members of the public not to attempt to apprehend the suspect themselves but to report any sightings or information through official law enforcement channels. The latest incident adds to a series of homicide investigations currently being handled by police, who continue to urge families and communities to resolve disputes peacefully and seek lawful means of settling disagreements rather than resorting to violence. Emmanuel Makazi

A South African court has postponed the firearm and extradition proceedings involving Ndodana Tshuma pending further ballistic investigations. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | JOHANNESBURG Court proceedings involving a British-Zimbabwean man wanted in the United Kingdom over the alleged murder of his wife and two daughters have been postponed to allow further ballistic investigations. Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma (45) appeared before a court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, where he waived his right to apply for bail on a charge of possessing an unlicensed firearm. The court remanded him in custody until 27 August 2026, when both the firearm matter and extradition proceedings are expected to resume. British authorities have authorised three murder charges against Tshuma following the deaths of his wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma (42), and their daughters, Natalie (15) and Nala (5). The three were found dead inside a house in Great Denham, Bedford, on 6 July 2026. According to investigators, a forensic post-mortem examination determined that all three died from blunt force trauma. The murder allegations have not yet been heard by a UK court. According to South African police, Tshuma travelled from London Heathrow Airport to Johannesburg before the bodies were discovered. Investigators say he later travelled to Zimbabwe before returning to South Africa. He was subsequently arrested in the Kensington area of Johannesburg after police allegedly found him in possession of an unlicensed firearm, leading to the criminal case currently before the South African courts. Prosecutors requested additional time to complete ballistic examinations related to the firearm, prompting the postponement. The court also postponed Tshuma's extradition hearing to 27 August to allow authorities to finalise documentation supporting the United Kingdom's extradition request. South African courts will determine whether the British application satisfies the legal requirements under the country's extradition laws before any transfer can take place. If the extradition request is granted, Tshuma would be returned to the United Kingdom to face the three murder charges. The firearm charge will continue separately in South Africa. As with all criminal proceedings, Tshuma remains presumed innocent of the murder allegations unless proven guilty in a court of law. Ndodana Tshuma extradition

More than 100 pensioners have filed a High Court application seeking a review of NSSA pension payments, saying they no longer reflect their contributions or the cost of living. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE More than 100 Zimbabwean pensioners have filed a High Court application against the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), arguing that the pensions they receive are too low to meet basic living costs and no longer reflect the contributions they made during their working lives. The application, led by pensioner Gideon Shoko, seeks a court order compelling NSSA to review its pension payment system to ensure benefits are linked to members' contributions and the current cost of living. According to court papers reported by The Herald, the average monthly NSSA pension is about US$55, while widows and widowers reportedly receive around US$20 per month. "Even though we diligently contributed to NSSA's Pension and Other Benefits Scheme throughout our working lives, what we now receive is completely out of sync with the cost of basic survival in Zimbabwe," Shoko said in his affidavit. "We cannot afford food, shelter, clothing, medication or transportation." The applicants argue that current pension payments have failed to keep pace with inflation and Zimbabwe's changing economic conditions. "NSSA's payments do not reflect the value of what pensioners contributed during their working years. Forcing people into poverty after a lifetime of work goes against both constitutional protections and basic human decency," Shoko added. Former NetOne chief executive Reward Kangai has publicly supported the lawsuit, saying it highlights broader concerns affecting pensioners across Zimbabwe's pension industry. Writing on X, Kangai argued that similar challenges exist in other occupational pension schemes and suggested further legal action could follow if concerns remain unresolved. He cited the case of former PTC Postmaster General Raymond Mutambirwa, claiming the retired executive reportedly receives a monthly pension of about US$80 despite the former PTC Pension Fund having owned significant property assets. Kangai questioned how pension funds could continue paying retirees modest benefits while fund managers remained well remunerated. "Surely, this sad state of affairs of such low pensions cannot be allowed to continue unabated whilst the fund managers remain unaffected," he wrote. Kangai also claimed that pensioners had previously submitted proposals to the Communications and Allied Industries Pension Fund (CAIPF) and the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) but had not received a response. He said affected pensioners were considering legal action against both institutions if the issues remained unresolved. According to The Herald, the applicants argue that the current pension structure infringes constitutional rights relating to property and social security, and are seeking a declaratory order requiring NSSA to review its pension formula. The High Court is yet to determine the matter. If successful, the case could have significant implications for Zimbabwe's pension sector by prompting broader reviews of pension calculations and benefit structures across both statutory and occupational pension funds. NSSA had not publicly responded to the court application at the time of publication. NSSA pension court case

A Lupane State University student has pleaded not guilty to allegations of attempting to bribe a lecturer, with the trial set to continue on 31 July. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | BULAWAYO A Lupane State University (LSU) student has appeared before the Bulawayo Regional Court on allegations of attempting to bribe a lecturer to obtain a passing grade in a module she allegedly failed. Sibonokuhle Khumalo appeared before Regional Magistrate Taurai Manwere on Tuesday, where she pleaded not guilty to a charge of bribery. The case has been remanded to 31 July 2026 for the continuation of the trial. Khumalo, who is represented by Simbarashe Innocent Madzivire of Mashayamombe Law Firm, denied attempting to influence the lecturer's academic assessment. The defence told the court that Khumalo and the complainant, Bekezela Chirisa, had known each other for more than five years and had an established business relationship. According to the defence, Khumalo, who is also involved in farming, regularly supplied Chirisa with agricultural produce. Counsel submitted that in June 2025, the lecturer paid US$50 for tomatoes, but adverse weather conditions prevented Khumalo from fulfilling the order. The defence said Khumalo later refunded US$30 via EcoCash after repeated requests from the lecturer. Lawyers argued that the mobile money transfer was solely a refund for the undelivered tomatoes and had no connection to university examinations or grading. The prosecution presented a different account of events. Prosecutor Veronica Danai Manyuka alleged that Khumalo visited the lecturer's office and handed her US$20, allegedly suggesting she use the money to buy lunch. According to the State, the lecturer declined to accept the cash. Prosecutors further allege that shortly afterwards, Khumalo transferred US$30 to the lecturer via EcoCash. The court heard that before making the transfer, Khumalo allegedly sent the lecturer a WhatsApp message indicating that she "had no choice" and was pleading her case. The prosecution said the lecturer questioned why the money had been sent but received no response before asking Khumalo to collect the transferred funds the following day in the presence of a colleague. According to the State, the dispute intensified after university examination results showed that Khumalo had failed one of her modules. Prosecutors said the university scheduled supplementary examinations for affected students, but Khumalo allegedly did not sit for the supplementary examination scheduled for 19 August 2025. Instead, the State alleges she approached the department chairperson seeking permission to write a separate examination outside the normal university procedures. The chairperson reportedly instructed the lecturer to prepare the examination, but the lecturer declined. Following the ensuing administrative dispute, the matter was reported to police, resulting in Khumalo's arrest. The allegations against Khumalo have not been proven in court, and she remains presumed innocent unless found guilty. LSU student bribery case

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has appealed for information on the whereabouts of opposition activist Godfrey Karembera, also known as Madzibaba Veshanduko. By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a manhunt for opposition activist Godfrey Karembera, popularly known as Madzibaba Veshanduko, over allegations of undermining police authority. In a statement issued on Wednesday, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed to members of the public for information that could lead to Karembera's arrest. "The Zimbabwe Republic Police is seeking information on the location and whereabouts of Madzibaba 'Veshanduko' – Godfrey Karembera in connection with reports of undermining police authority," Commissioner Nyathi said. Police urged anyone with information to report to the nearest police station or contact the National Complaints Desk. The ZRP did not disclose the specific circumstances surrounding the allegation, including where or when the alleged offence was committed, and no further details were provided in the statement. The latest police appeal comes only weeks after Karembera was acquitted in a separate criminal case linked to anti-government demonstrations allegedly organised by the late war veteran Blessed Geza, also known as Comrade Bombshell. On 3 June 2026, Harare Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki acquitted and discharged Karembera at the close of the State's case after ruling that prosecutors had failed to establish a prima facie case. The court found that the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence linking Karembera to the offences for which he had been charged. His lawyer, Paida Saurombe of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), said the acquittal brought to an end approximately eight months of pre-trial detention. Karembera, 47, is a well-known supporter of former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa and is recognised for wearing distinctive yellow clothing during opposition activities and satirical public performances. In October 2025, police launched a separate manhunt for Karembera and another activist, Kudzai Weston Saruwaka, after they allegedly fled from officers during an attempted arrest in Machipisa, Glen View and Budiriro. Prosecutors alleged that Karembera had printed and distributed thousands of fliers promoting the planned "One Million Men March", which had been called by Geza to protest against President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration over allegations of corruption and poor governance. The State alleged that approximately 7,200 fliers bearing anti-government messages were recovered after police intercepted a vehicle in Glen View. Karembera was subsequently charged with incitement to commit public violence under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and offences under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, before later being acquitted. The latest allegation of undermining police authority has not yet been tested in court, and Karembera remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty before a competent court. Godfrey Karembera