National

Tailor hired to write Ó’ Level maths paper jailed eight months

Published

2 years ago

October 26, 2022

BY AWAKHIWE KHUMALO

A Bulawayo tailor travelled to Victoria Falls to write a Zimbabwe School Examination Council O’ Level maths examination after he was hired by the candidate and was only caught while writing the final paper.

Osmund Sibanda (26) from Cowdray Park in Bulawayo will now serve eight months jail together with Jeffrey Mumpande, who hired him to write the Zimbabwe Examinations Council maths after they were convicted of impersonation charges by Victoria Falls resident magistrate Godswill Mavenge on Tuesday.

Sibanda and Mumpande pleaded guilty to the offence.

Prosecutors had said an unknown date, Sibanda, who was employed as a tailor, travelled to Victoria Falls from Bulawayo where he was hired by Mumpande to write maths examinations for him.

On October 20 around 9AM, Mumpande gave his national identity card and a statement of entry to Sibanda so that he could sit for the maths paper 2 on his behalf.

The matter came to light when the invigilator Simelokuhle Zvavanjanja was doing the verification process on all candidates and discovered that Sibanda was using Mumpande’s identity card.

“Investigations were carried out and it was discovered that the accused connived with Jeffery Mumpande to sit for his Mathematics examination using his candidate number 3088 and centre number 04377,” court records read in part.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to the duo’s arrest.

It was discovered that they had used the same modus operandi to write the first paper on October 19 and were not caught.

Mavenge handed them a 12 month jail term before suspending four months for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence.

National

Coal train in flames: NRZ locomotive damaged in fire incident

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) locomotive suffered significant damage after catching fire while transporting export coal to Zambi. The incident occurred between Kalala and Matetsi sidings, resulting in the explosion of the locomotive’s fuel tanks.

According to the NRZ press statement on Monday, “A National Railways of Zimbabwe locomotive suffered some damages after it caught fire this afternoon while transporting export coal to Zambia.” Fortunately, the crew members on board managed to escape unharmed.

The NRZ responded swiftly to the incident, dispatching a rescue train with crews to the site. The team successfully extinguished the fire, preventing further damage. However, the locomotive itself sustained considerable damage.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, with investigations currently underway. “Investigations are already underway to establish the cause of the fire and the amount of damage to the locomotive,” the NRZ statement read.

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A 62-year-old ranger, Josphat Mandishara, was tragically killed by an elephant in Kariba yesterday.

Mandishara, who worked for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), was on patrol in the Gatche-gatche area with fellow rangers and police officers.

At around 10 pm, Mandishara returned to the harbor where their boat was docked, and that’s when he encountered the elephant. The elephant charged at him, causing fatal injuries. His colleagues were nearby, resupplying at the Gatche-gatche Irrigation Scheme.

Mandishara’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital for a post-mortem, and the incident was reported to the police.

ZimParks has sent a team to manage the problem elephant and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Director General of ZimParks, Prof. Edson Gandiwa, and his team have sent condolences to Mandishara’s family, friends, and colleagues. Mandishara will be remembered for his dedication to wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.

National

ZIMRA customs officer appears in court for criminal abuse of office

Published

3 months ago

February 3, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) customs officer, Phillip Kuvenga, has been accused of criminal abuse of office for allegedly assisting in the importation of banned motor vehicles.

Kuvenga, 28, who is stationed at Victoria Falls, allegedly received documents from clients, completed valuation sheets, and carried out the valuation process. However, he is accused of endorsing different chassis numbers to deceive his supervisors during the validation and approval process.

After obtaining approval, Kuvenga would capture the correct chassis numbers in the ASYCUDA World System. He would then alter or replace the documents submitted earlier to his supervisors.

The offense came to light when a motor vehicle that had not yet arrived in Zimbabwe was found to have been already registered. A thorough check by ZIMRA led to Kuvenga’s arrest.

Kuvenga appeared in court on February 1, where he was denied bail by Magistrate Gift Manyka. He is expected to appear in court again today for another bail hearing.