BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

For many young athletes from Matabeleland North, the road to national competitions begins with makeshift tools—stones in place of shot puts and sticks standing in for hurdles.

Despite a commendable showing at the just-ended National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) athletics championships in Kadoma, the province’s progress continues to be hampered by a critical shortage of proper equipment.

Speaking after the event, Matabeleland North NAPH vice secretary Edward Mudimba of Binga said the lack of standard implements at grassroots level is affecting athletes’ development and performance.

“In some cases, learners are using stones for throwing events and sticks for hurdles at school level. By the time they reach national competitions, they are not familiar with standard equipment,” said Mudimba.

Matabeleland North sent a delegation of 121 participants drawn from all seven districts and showed encouraging improvement at the national meet. However, Mudimba said the province’s potential is being held back by resource constraints.

“We are improving and we are going somewhere, but we need proper support. From school level up to provincial level, we are largely using substandard implements,” he said.

The challenge is most evident in field events such as shot put, discus and javelin, where proper technique depends on consistent use of correct equipment.

“You find that learners are improvising with stones or other objects. When they get to national level and are given standard equipment, it becomes difficult for them to adjust,” he added.

Other disciplines such as high jump are also affected, with many schools lacking basic equipment like landing mats, uprights and crossbars.

Despite these setbacks, Matabeleland North athletes still managed to compete against better-resourced provinces—highlighting the depth of raw talent in the region.

“There is talent in our children, but without proper equipment and financial support, it becomes difficult to fully develop that potential,” said Mudimba.

He urged schools and stakeholders to prioritise investment in standard athletics equipment, acknowledging that while costs are high, they are necessary for long-term development.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Member of Parliament Fanuel Cumanzala has formally challenged the government to explain why the Binga District, which now has a population exceeding 160 000 people, has not been divided into two separate administrative zones .

In a series of questions submitted to the National Assembly on Tuesday, the legislator argued that the current geographical boundaries, established during the colonial era, are hindering modern governance.

Cumanzala stated that his inquiry “seeks to understand the rationale behind the decision, especially considering the need to enhance administration, improve governance, resource allocation, and service delivery by creating smaller, more manageable units,” particularly as the area sees an influx of migrants from Gokwe and Lupane.

The MP also raised alarms over the “dire” state of local healthcare infrastructure. He specifically pressed the Minister of Health and Child Care for concrete plans to “permanently resolve the challenges faced by Binga District, particularly regarding the mortuary, which has not been fully operational for a long time”.

Further queries from Cumanzala addressed the economic transparency of the region, demanding to know “how much revenue is being generated from mining operations in Binga District”and how those funds are being reinvested into the Zambezi Valley.

He also sought updates on whether the government still intends to rehabilitate the district hospital to facilitate the establishment of a nursing school.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

A Hwange court has sentenced a 31-year-old man to 18 years in prison for the rape of his 12-year-old niece following a New Year’s Eve assault, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said.

The Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentence after hearing how the man lured the child to his residence in Dingani Village, Dete, on the 31st of December, last year.

The court heard that at approximately 12:00 hours, the offender used a false pretext to get the victim into his room, instructing her to bring her mother’s mobile phone to help him with a WhatsApp application. Once inside, he forcibly pushed the girl onto a bed and raped her.

Following the assault, the man ordered the child into silence, but the crime was discovered immediately when the girl returned home in tears and narrated the ordeal to her mother. The victim’s family confronted the man and reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.

In a statement regarding the conviction, the NPAZ described the case as a profound betrayal of trust within a family unit.

The authority noted that the 18-year term was intended to send a clear message that the law would serve as a shield for our children, particularly against those responsible for their protection [1]. Prosecutors also commended the family for their swift action in reporting the crime to authorities.