BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A Masvingo man and his three daughters, including a juvenile have been arrested over a brutal murder of a 77-year-old and 92-year-old relatives rooted in witchcraft allegations.

The incident occurred on Friday, at around 7AM in Chorupanga Village, Nyajena,, where Rameck Chidinhika (53) and his three daughters, Constancia Chidinhika (28), Vimbai Chidinhika (19), and a juvenile (15), were arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for the murder of Tizirai Chidinhika (77) and Miriam Polisiri (92).

The motive behind the killing was allegedly related to witchcraft and casting misfortune on the first suspect’s family.

In a separate case, Police is seeking information regarding the murder of Jabson Bunukwa Kwangwari (35), who was found dead in Village 1 Runhare, Chiredzi, on the same day.

The body was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition with deep cuts on the head and arm, and a blood-stained axe was recovered at the scene.

The police are urging anyone with information to contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 70 3631 or WhatsApp on 0712 800 197, or report at the nearest Police Station.

BY COLUMBUS MAVHUNGA

The international human rights organization Amnesty International says three sub-Saharan African countries considering ending the death penalty should do it now and pave the way for others around the world to follow in their footsteps.

There hasn’t been an execution in Gambia, Kenya or Zimbabwe in over a decade, Amnesty has said, and all three nations have commuted multiple death sentences during that time.

Lucia Masuka, head of Amnesty in Zimbabwe, said most countries in the world are moving away from the death penalty, and she urged African countries to follow suit.

“It’s time for all countries to move away from this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment once and for all,” Masuka said. “Zimbabwe’s president himself was sentenced to death for terrorism, as a young man, due to his involvement in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. He narrowly avoided execution. He was below the age of 21 at the time, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison instead.

“The president knows what it is like to be facing the death penalty, and he now has the opportunity to ensure that no one else goes through that.”

Addressing Parliament this month, President Emmerson Mnangagwa stuck to his 2017 promise that he would not allow the death penalty to stand in Zimbabwe.

“Parliament has an obligation to expedite the enactment of all bills that, for one reason or another, are outstanding from previous sessions,” he said. “You can carry the burden.” Bills relating to death penalty abolition “should be passed.”

BY BAYANDA NKATHA

Stakeholders from Nkayi District have gathered in Bulawayo for the inaugural Nkayi Diaspora Investment Indaba, which kicked off this Thursday morning at the Zimbabwe Art Gallery.

The event has drawn various stakeholders, including heads of government departments, traditional leaders, Diaspora-based business people, humanitarian organizations such as Amalima Loko and others.

The district is seeking to court investors for various projects and service delivery, with the aim of addressing the area’s marginalization and development challenges.

Nkayi is one of the districts that has lagged behind in terms of development, with its two major connecting roads – Bulawayo-Nkayi and Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane – deteriorating to an extent that driving has become a nightmare.

However, the district has huge potential, boasting vast natural resources, including rich agricultural soils, water, the upcoming Ziminya Dam, sand abstraction, timber, beekeeping, and more.

Its proximity to Gokwe, Lupane, Binga, and Kwekwe makes Nkayi a strategic market district.