BY STAFF REPORTER

A total of 104 inmates are living with HIV across eight correctional facilities in Matabeleland North, according to data from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.

The figures, which were first reported by the Chronicle, were presented by ZPCS Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Godknows Ncube during a National Aids Council stakeholder meeting in Bulawayo.

Of the inmates recorded as positive, 98 are aged 25 and older, while six are under the age of 25. The affected facilities include Victoria Falls Prison, Hwange Prison, Ntabazinduna Satellite Prison, Anju Farm Prison, Tsholotsho Prison, Lupane Prison, and Binga Prison .

During the most recent quarter, 144 inmates underwent testing for HIV, resulting in one positive diagnosis .

While correctional facilities received 900 male condoms, officials reported that no female condoms were provided. Ncube noted the need to address this gender bias and ensure that female protectors are available for inmates.

The prison service is also facing challenges with medication adherence. Ncube emphasized that there is a high number of defaulters, particularly among younger inmates who were aware of their HIV status before entering the system.

He called for the integration of HIV services with other health programs and stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring and reporting within the prisons. Currently, some facilities in the region are not yet accredited to provide antiretroviral therapy services, highlighting a need for further staff training and equipment

BY STAFF REPORTER

In a High Court circuit sitting in Hwange, a 23-year-old man from Gwelutshena was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder.

Mtabisi Ndimande was convicted of killing a 39-year-old man in a brutal axe attack that occurred on August 5, 2024, at DZ Sports Bar in Inyathi.

The court heard that Ndimande had been drinking beer with the deceased when an argument ensued.

Despite intervention from a security guard, Ndimande pulled out an axe and struck the deceased on the head.

The blow caused the deceased to collapse, while the axe remained embedded in his head. The offender then removed the axe and walked away.

The deceased bled profusely and was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on August 6, 2024.

The police responded to the scene and recovered the axe.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Sokumile ukwakhiwa kwedamu elikhulu leZiminya, eNkayi ebelisakhiwa nguhulumende ngenhloso yokwenqabela uhlupho lokusweleka kwamanzi esigabeni lesi.

Lokhu sokudanise izakhamizi ebezilethemba lokuba zizasebenzisa amanzi ekuthuthukiseni indawo le, obekuzasungulwa inhlelo ezitshiyeneyo.

Izakhamizi lezi zithi abakhi bedamu leli abeZimbabwe National Water Authority labasebenzisana labo o- contractor, baqala ukususa imitshina yokugebha, izimota kanye leminye imitshina ngenyanga kaLwezi kungelasizatho esatshelwa inkokheli yesigaba kanye lezisebenzi.

Sixoxe loMnumzana Jeffery Sibanda owake wasebenza eZiminya ngokwenzakalayo, othi kakucaci ukuba umsebenzi uzaqahubeka nini, njalo ngokuna kwezulu, imbundu yedamu leli eTshangane isiqala ukudilikela.

“Imitshina ababeyisebenzisa ayikho. Akulalutho eground kule foot roller eyodwa eyafayo.”

UMnumzana Lameck Dlamini isakhumuzi seMenda uthi ulokudana ngohlelo lweZiminya, ngesizatho sokuba amanzi aluhlupho eNkayi.

“Mina kimi kubuhlungu ngoba nginje ngikhangela izifuyo ezilapha ngendlela osekudilizwe ngayo amadlelo le eTshangane kuphinde kungasaphutsha okuyinto kwakhona khathesi lezulu kalikho labo sebefukue umhlabathi akuselandawo zamadlelo kithi sokuyi loss lokhu.”

Sixoxe njalo lokhansila kaWard 28, uMnumzana Norman Ndebele, laye othi basemnyameni ngokwenzakalayo ehlelweni lweZiminya.

“Abantu laba baphuvala bengasitshelanga saphungubona bethutha impahla behamba ukuthi basivalelise lathi sasesibuza izisebenzi bathi kuthiwe sikhangele mhlaka 29 December batshiya kunjalo.”

UNdebele uthi idamu leli belizaletha intuthuko kuzulu weNkayi.

“Idamu lelui ngalikhona indlala yonke le esiyibalayo, konke esikubalayo nga kakukho. Ama irrigation bavulile kuma ward so nxa ama irrigations la engasebenza ubuyanga bendlala obulapha bebuzaphela.”

Unobhala webhuku lako Liver Khumalo, eMenda, uNkosikazi Sitshengisiwe Sibanda, uthi labo basemnyameni ngokwenzakala eZiminya.

“Ithemba asiselalo ukuthi bazabuya beqhubekele phambili, kusiphatha kabuhlungu kakhulu izakhamizi bezisebenza edamu sezibuya zihlala. Sifisa ukuthi liphumelele idamu sithole ukusila bekuzasincedisa ngoba labantu abasasebenzi.”

Isiloyiso sika Dlamini yikuba idamu leli lakhiwe. “Nxa abantu bezafelwa zinkomo baphinde baswele umsebenzi kanti bazaphila ngani ngoba inkomo ziphelile ngamathambo wodwa.”

UMnumzana Richard Moyo, ohola isabelo seMatabeleland North, uthi uhulumende ubengaselamali yokuqhubekela phambili yokwakha idamu leli.

“Hanstho uyabona ukuthi even le Gwayi-Shangani dam bekumile but kuma disbursement of 2025 l think iZiminya bengayifaka u-contractor ngeke ahlale kungaselamali ngithemba ama project la azaphiwa kuphele.”

Ngokutsho kweziphathamandla zikahulumende ezikuhlangothi lweTransport and Infrastructure Development, idamu leli kanye lezinye inhlelo ezigoqela ukuphehlwa kwamagetsi le irrigation, lizakwakhiwa ngezigidi zamadola eMelika ezedlula kancane ikhulu lamatshumi amathathu amadollar – US$132 million.

Idamu leZiminya ngelesibili elakhiwa nguhulumende kusabelo seMatabelelend North ngemva kweGwayi-Shangani Dam yona layo ekhangelelwe ukwenqabela uhlupho lwamanzi kubahlali bakoBulawayo lezinye izagaba eMatabeleland.

Uhlelo lweGwayi-Shangani lwasungulwa ngomnyaka ka1912 lwaphinda lwathathelwa phezulu yiNational Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project.

SOURCE: VOA