BY STAFF REPORTER

Eunice Ngwenya, a 32-year-old woman from Makwika Village, has appeared in the Hwange Regional Court, facing charges of attempted murder following a domestic dispute that left her boyfriend, Mbekezeli Sibanda, in serious condition.

The incident, which occurred on the 18th of August, began when Ngwenya, Sibanda, and Ngwenya’s sister were walking together. According to reports, the disagreement erupted over Sibanda’s inner garment, which Ngwenya allegedly refused to return despite his repeated requests.

Following a brief separation, Ngwenya returned to the scene with the garment in hand. However, she had concealed a kitchen knife within it.

As Sibanda reached to reclaim his clothing, Ngwenya allegedly pulled out the knife and stabbed him twice—once in the right arm and once in the right side of his chest.

Witness accounts indicated that Sibanda sustained serious bleeding injuries as a result of the stabbings.

In a state of distress, he attempted to seek help from a workmate but was unsuccessful. Despite his injuries, he managed to return home, where a friend assisted him in reporting the matter to the police and obtaining medical treatment.

A medical report confirming the wounds has been compiled and will serve as evidence in this case.

Following the incident, Ngwenya was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

She was remanded in custody today, with the court setting her next appearance for on the 5th of September, pending the finalization of investigations.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Last week, the City of Victoria Falls held an important stakeholder consultation at Chinotimba Clinic, gathering insights from the junior council and youth representatives. The meeting aimed to discuss the progress made in the city over the past year and identify key areas for improvement as the council prepares for the 2026 budget.

Progress Reports: Successes and Challenges

The council highlighted several community service projects in progress. Mosi Oa Tunya School’s hall construction is currently at 25% completion, with work hampered by late disbursements of Devolution funds.

Similarly, the construction of Mosi 2 Secondary School has seen minimal progress, aligning with other initiatives that encountered budgetary delays.

Significant achievements in public health included the completion of a Drug Rehabilitation Center, established in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Additionally, the Chinotimba Stadium upgrade continues, with newly trenched dressing rooms and extended toilet facilities now accommodating persons living with disabilities.

In water management, the council reported substantial advancements, such as the completion of a 0.75 million-litre elevated tank and significant progress on a 5 million-litre ground reservoir, which is now 94% complete. Other water systems upgrades include an 810-meter access road to a new helipad site, enhancing both emergency response capabilities and community services.

Key Statistics and Observations

The council shared key performance statistics showing improvements in several areas:

• Employee satisfaction increased from 52% to 65%.

• Per capita water supply improved from 100 to 120 liters.

• Refuse collection efficiency rose significantly from 65% to 90%.

However, several challenges were also noted, including:

• Limited disbursements from Devolution funds.

• Economic constraints affecting suppliers and procurement processes.

• A liquidity crunch that has limited the council’s borrowing capabilities.

During the meeting, youth representatives expressed concerns about equitable access to project opportunities. Ndabiqondile Zwelinjani urged the council to engage directly with communities when distributing resources, suggesting an open application process to ensure transparency and fairness.

Moving Forward

Kholwani Mangena, the council’s chamber secretary, responded to these concerns by emphasizing the commitment to detailed discussions ahead of finalizing the 2026 budget. He suggested scheduling another meeting to clarify goals and resolve outstanding issues from previous years.

BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

A 38-year-old man known as “Spraga,” appeared in the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court last week to face murder charges following the death of a 17-year-old boy.

The accused, who formal name is Tinashe Wireless Nyarukokora appeared before the resident magistrate Linda Dzvene.

The allegations indicate that on 12 August, Nyarukokora was involved in an altercation with the deceased concerning water access at the Victoria Falls wastewater treatment ponds.

The situation escalated in the early hours of 13 August when the deceased, returning home from drinking in Chinotimba, encountered Nyarukokora again at the same location.

Reports allege that during this encounter, Nyarukokora assaulted the victim with a wooden log and an electric cable before strangling him to death.

After realizing the boy had died, Nyarukokora reportedly disposed of the body in a nearby sewer pond, approximately 15 meters from the site of the attack, and subsequently fled the scene.

On 16 August 2025, a worker conducting routine inspections at the treatment ponds found the victim’s body floating.

Police investigations linked Nyarukokora to the crime after a witness reported hearing the victim cry out in distress, specifically calling the accused’s name, “Spraga, Spraga, why are you strangling me?”

The court has remanded the case for further proceedings, scheduled for 3 September 2025.