National

Two Lupane toddlers die in inferno

Published

2 years ago

December 7, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Two toddlers from Lupane died on Monday when a thatched bedroom house they were sleeping in caught fire after their grandmother allegedly forgot to switch off a paraffin light.

According to Matabeleland North police memo, the two three year-old toddlers, both girls, died due suffocation and severe burns as their grandmother had gone to harvest some mangoes while they remained asleep in the family bedroom.

“On 5th of December 2022 at around 8am and at Evelyn Ndlovu’s homestead Dakiwe village, Matshiya ward 15, two female children, Silethemba and Silethokuhle Sibanda aged three years, passed on due to serious burns sustained during a fire incident,” the police memo read.

” On the 4th of December Ndlovu retired to bed with her two grandchildren in a thatched bedroom hut.

“(The following day) at around 6am Ndlovu together with a neighbour relative Sibusisiwe Sithole (40) of the same village went to the garden to harvest mangoes and left the two children asleep in the thatched bedroom hut.”

Police said that at around 7am, a neighbor Margaret Mudimba of Meluleki Ncube’s homestead discovered that the bedroom hut was on fire and advised his child to go and alert Ndlovu who was in the garden.

“On arrival at the scene Ndlovu found the bedroom hut already gutted down by fire and could not help the children who were inside the hut,”

“The bodies of the two minors were found under the mattress and were burnt beyond recognition,”

“Scene was attended and no foul suspected.

“It is suspected that a paraffin lamp used as a source of light in the bedroom hut might have caused the fire. ”

Police advised parents and guardians to take extra care and monitor the movements of young children so as to avoid such incidents.

National

Coal train in flames: NRZ locomotive damaged in fire incident

Published

6 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.