In the community

Nkayi villagers demand justice after police brutality

Published

1 year ago

September 11, 2024

BY ZLHR

More than 10 Nkayi villagers have asked Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) authorities to take remedial action against some delinquent police officers, who ill-treated them by severely assaulting them and coercing them to sing some liberation songs.

The 11 villagers, who reside in Tshayane village in Ward 6 in Nkayi in Matabeleland North province, who, include three teenagers, namely Siphiwe Sibanda aged 18 years, Bekithemba Lunga aged 19 years and a 13 year-old minor and Philemon Ncube aged 21 years, Precious Nkiwane aged 25 years, Mxolisi Ncube aged 27 years, Sitshengisiwe Tshuma aged 38 years, Siphiwe Ncube aged 45 years, Douglas Lunga aged 46 years, Rueben Ncube aged 52 years and Chiedza Takaendesa aged 55 years, were left nursing some injuries after they were severely assaulted by seven ZRP officers from Manoti Police Station in Gokwe in Midlands province, who went on a rampage on 14 July 2024.

In a letter of complaint written to the Officer In Charge of Manoti Police Station by the Nkayi villagers’ lawyers Jabulani Mhlanga and Prisca Dube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the villagers protested against the conduct of the police officers for conducting a violent operation across three homesteads belonging to the Sibanda, Ncube, and Lunga families, under the pretext of investigating a case of alleged theft of diesel belonging to Oscar Mawarire, local entrepreneur.

Mhlanga and Dube stated that the ZRP officers, who were armed with a rifle, truncheons and whips, unlawfully assaulted the villagers including a minor, using excessive force and without just cause.

In addition, Mhlanga and Dube stated that the villagers were coerced into singing some liberation songs in Shona language and were further assaulted for allegedly failing to sing the songs correctly.

The ZRP officers, Mhlanga and Dube said, rummaged through the villagers’ homesteads even though they did not have search warrants authorising their actions and proceeded to seize various tools from the homesteads, alleging that they were weapons that were used by the villagers in committing some criminal activities.

The human rights lawyers said although Mawarire, who is the complainant in the matter, informed the ZRP officers that the villagers were not the people whom he suspected of stealing his diesel, the law enforcement agents insisted on arresting the villagers and subsequently, seven of them were arrested and taken to a police post located at Kana Mission.

The villagers, Mhlanga and Dube said, were not given an opportunity to wear their shoes or warm clothing and neither were they informed of their rights at the time of being apprehended.

The ZRP officers reportedly threatened to make an example of the villagers in order to deter “Ndebele thieves” from crossing into “Shona territory” and were once again subjected to further physical abuse and forced to sing more liberation songs.

At the police base, the villagers were made to sleep on concrete floors, without the provision of blankets and with no ablution facilities, with men being handcuffed to each other.

The villagers were all released on 15 July 2024 after being ordered to pay US$30 each per person by a police officer, who only identified himself as Dube but were not issued with any receipts acknowledging payment of what was supposed to be an admission of guilt fine and were also not furnished with some request for medical report forms in order for them to seek medical attention at government-run medical facilities.

The villagers only received medical treatment for their injuries at a private medical facility and afterwards engaged Mhlanga and Dube, who on 1 August 2024 wrote a letter of complaint to the Officer in Charge of Manoti Police Station demanding that the law enforcement agency conduct an investigation into the ill-treatment and assault of the Nkayi villagers and take remedial action against the perpetrators of such brutality.

The human rights lawyers protested against the violation of the villagers’ fundamental rights including the right to liberty, right to dignity, the right to bodily and psychological integrity, protection from cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and the right to equality and non-discrimination, all enshrined in the Constitution.

The conduct of the ZRP officers, Mhlanga and Dube said, amounts to a serious breach of their constitutional mandate and hence the perpetrators of the brutal assault of the villagers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

In the community

Painted Dog Conservation and Uncommon bring free coding school to Gwai Valley Primary

Published

3 days ago

October 2, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), in partnership with technology-driven organisation Uncommon, is set to establish a free coding school at Gwai Valley Primary in Lupane District, marking a new chapter in community empowerment and education.

Speaking during an interview with VicFallsLive, PDC operations director, David Kuvawoga said the initiative stems from the organisation’s long-term work with local schools through its children’s bush camps.

“In our quest to find solutions to the poaching crisis, and building on the work we’ve done with schools over the years, we identified Gwai Primary as a good location to start a coding school,” he explained. “We partnered with Uncommon, which already runs facilities in Harare and Victoria Falls, to bring this opportunity closer to rural communities.”

The school will be housed in container units equipped with computers and other necessary technology. According to PDC, the project will be led by youths from the Gwai community who underwent year-long training in Victoria Falls and are now prepared to teach children — and adults — the fundamentals of coding.

“This is not just for schoolchildren,” the operations director said. “Anyone in the community with the passion to learn can join. What matters is the interest and commitment, not formal qualifications.”

Importantly, the programme will be free of charge. Both organisations confirmed that tuition, equipment, and running costs are fully covered through fundraising efforts.

“No one is going to pay a cent,” he said. “Just like our bush camps, which host over a thousand children every year without charge, this coding school is fully funded. All the community needs to do is embrace it.”

PDC has previously supported communities through projects such as boreholes and gardens, but this marks its first major investment in technology. The director said the initiative has the potential to address unemployment, improve education, and give local youth world-class digital skills.

“Coding is a highly sought-after skill across the world,” he noted. “If young people here can learn it, they can secure jobs or even create employment for others. This is a brick in the foundation of uplifting Lupane, Hwange, and beyond.”

The coding school is expected to open in December at Gwai Valley Primary.

In the community

Lupane police officer sentenced for tampering with mbanje evidence

Published

1 week ago

September 26, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A 21-year-old constabulary officer in Lupane has been convicted after admitting he tampered with evidence in a drug possession case, effectively helping a suspect conceal part of the stash.

The officer, Nqobile Mutale, was on duty at Lupane Terminus Base on the 18th of September when he arrested Thulani Sibanda, who had been implicated in unlawful possession of dagga/imbanje. Instead of handing over the full exhibit, Mutale struck a deal with Sibanda and hid part of the recovered drugs behind the police base.

Detectives later uncovered the hidden dagga, with Mutale leading them to the site during investigations.

Standing before the Lupane Magistrates’ Court, Mutale pleaded guilty to obstructing the course of justice. He was handed a 24-month sentence, with nine months suspended. The balance of 15 months was also suspended, provided he completes 525 hours of community service.

In the community

Avoid nightime movement and stoning elephants, communities told

Published

3 weeks ago

September 17, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Following a recent spate of human-wildlife conflict incidents, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo has urged communities to exercise caution when encountering wild animals.

Farawo emphasized the importance of avoiding confrontations with elephants, particularly when they encroach into community areas. “We would like to urge members of the communities to avoid throwing stones at elephants,” he said. “This action agitates them, leading to attacks on people.”

In addition to avoiding confrontations, Farawo advised community members to minimize movement at night, as this is when wild animals are most active. “We would like to urge communities to avoid moving at night to minimize casualties,” he said.

Farawo’s comments come after a 79-year-old man from Hwange was killed by an elephant yesterday. The incident is still under investigation by rangers. This is the second fatal incident in the area, following the death of another man who was attacked by an elephant while on his way to work in Hwange town several weeks ago.