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Steven Gerrard might give Nakamba lifeline after huge blow

Published

4 years ago

September 22, 2022

BY JOHN TOWNLEY

Marvelous Nakmaba has quickly become the forgotten man in Aston Villa’s squad just nine months after being focal to Steven Gerrard’s bright start in Premier League management.

The Zimbabwean played back-to-back 90 minutes for the first time in over two years when he starred in Villa’s impressive wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace in Gerrard’s first two games in charge last year.

Playing a key role in Gerrard’s system, Nakamba stepped up and helped Villa escape a wretched five-match losing rut.

“For me it’s always about the collective, as a team, if we do well as a team then afterwards, personal (plaudits) as well,” the midfielder said after winning the man of the match award for his display in the 2-1 win at Selhurst Park. “It doesn’t matter like that to me, as long as the team does well, it’s more important for me.”

Nakamba started three more games under Gerrard: against Manchester City, Leicester City and Liverpool, before being handed a cruel injury blow at Anfield that would disrupt the best form he had shown in claret and blue since making the switch from Club Brugge in the summer of 2019.

He missed four months of action after recovering from knee surgery which is the longest injury absence of his career.

The 28-year-old said during his rehabilitation: “Injuries are frustrating at any time, but I’d just won the Player of the Month for the club and I was getting more game time.

Steven Gerrard and his new team came in and I’m grateful for the chance I got from them.

“I was enjoying the training and improving. Unfortunately, I got the injury and now I have to work hard on coming back stronger.”

Villa’s luck with injuries has not improved over the last month with new signing Diego Carlos ruled out for the majority of the season and Boubacar Kamara set to mis roughly two months of action after sustaining a knee injury of his own.

It could open the door for Nakamba to win his place back in Gerrard’s squad after being used sparingly since his return from injury back in April.

Nakamba has only been included in Villa’s match day squad for three of the club’s opening seven Premier League games, while he didn’t travel with the team to face Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

With Kamara set to miss Villa’s next eight games before the World Cup, Gerrard could turn to Luiz to play a holding midfield role, while Nakamba offers defensive stability too.

Speaking on the impact of Nakamba in the early stages of his tenure, Gerrard said: “He’s been fantastic, he’s trained extremely well.

“ He’s been really open, his two performances have been outstanding. We were aware of Marvelous before we came in, but he’s somebody who has really stood up and jumped out, he’s basically said in the two weeks, ‘’I’m here, I want to contribute, I want to be available’.

“He’s still young, he can get better. He’s around the right people for that to happen, he’s in the right environment for that. We’re really pleased to have him.”

And Nakamba was indeed a key component in the opening games of the Gerrard era.

In the first two games against Brighton and Crystal Palace Nakamba recorded seven tackles, two blocks, two interceptions and a 92 per cent pass accuracy.

In those two fixtures, Villa limited their opponents to seven shots per game, a 0.65 expected goals (xG) value and twelve shot creating actions.

Following his injury, Nakamba’s absence was felt as Luiz was forced to operate in a deeper role to the number eight position that he can flourish in.

When he did return to fitness, Gerrard was delighted to have him back in contention to play games.

“[I am] extremely happy because when we came into this job, we had the right boost and bounce, and we found a bit of consistency in the team early on. Marv was a really big part of that,” Gerrard said.

“He’s still got a bit to go in terms of where he’s at physically. But the part he played in how we wanted the team to look, he’s been missed. We can’t get him up to speed quick enough.

“This week, we’ve pushed him and he’s had extra training. He’s an important player for us.

“So, when we get him back capable of 90 minutes at this level, I’m sure he’ll be a big help to the team.” – BirminghamLive

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National

Zambia, Zimbabwe to ban heavy trucks from Victoria Falls Bridge

Published

13 hours ago

April 21, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY DUMANI MOYO

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that Zambia and Zimbabwe will restrict heavy trucks and trains from using the century-old Victoria Falls Bridge.

Speaking at an engineering conference in Livingstone, he said the two countries will instead build a new bridge and railway crossing to handle modern freight demands.

Hichilema made it clear that the 121-year-old structure can no longer safely or efficiently carry today’s heavy-duty traffic.

Engineers designed the bridge in the early 1900s for much lighter loads, not for fully laden 60-tonne mining trucks or long freight trains that now dominate regional trade routes.

Engineers completed the Victoria Falls Bridge in 1905 as a narrow arch crossing linking road, rail and pedestrian traffic.

While it remains an iconic piece of infrastructure, its design limits its ability to support modern logistics.

Authorities have already imposed restrictions over the years.

Trains often move at very low speeds, while trucks have faced weight limits that forced heavier vehicles to reroute through other crossings.

Although rehabilitation work in 2006 extended the bridge’s lifespan, it did not solve the fundamental structural limitations.

Experts now agree that upgrading the bridge to meet current freight standards would cost nearly as much as building a new one.

WHY A NEW CROSSING MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE

Officials from both countries now favour constructing a new dual-purpose rail and road bridge instead of attempting further upgrades.

A purpose-built crossing would accommodate higher traffic volumes and modern freight loads without compromising safety.

A new structure would also eliminate a major bottleneck along the North-South Corridor, which links the copper belts of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to southern markets such as South Africa.

By separating heavy commercial traffic from tourism and local travel, the new bridge would allow the Victoria Falls Bridge to serve lighter vehicles, pedestrians and tourists, preserving its heritage value.

REGIONAL TRADE AND RAIL INTEGRATION BOOST

The proposed crossing would complement major regional projects, including the Mosetse-Kazungula-Livingstone Railway.

A dual-track rail bridge would strengthen links between Zambia and Zimbabwe while supporting long-term plans to expand rail connectivity across Southern Africa.

It would also mirror the successful model of the Kazungula Bridge, which has significantly increased traffic flow since opening in 2021.

FINANCING AND NEXT STEPS

Despite strong political backing, key questions remain around funding, construction timelines and project ownership.

Zimbabwe’s debt constraints could complicate financing, although improved economic reforms may unlock support from international lenders.

If both governments secure funding and move quickly, the new bridge could become one of the most important infrastructure developments in the Southern African Development Community in recent years.

This could transform trade flows and ease congestion along a critical regional corridor.

SOURCE: THE SOUTH AFRICAN

National

Health ministry rolls out polio vaccination campaign

Published

14 hours ago

April 21, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY OWN CORRESPONDENT

Ministry of Health and Child Care has launched a targeted polio vaccination campaign in selected districts, with health workers going door-to-door and setting up outreach points to reach young children.

The campaign aims to vaccinate all children under the age of five against polio, a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis. Authorities say the initiative forms part of a wider regional effort to interrupt transmission, being conducted alongside neighbouring countries including Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.

In a message posted on X on Monday and circulated in official memos, the ministry said it was “embarking on a targeted polio vaccination campaign to interrupt the transmission of polioviruses”. It urged families in affected areas to ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated, regardless of their previous vaccination status.

The programme will be carried out in two rounds, from 20 to 23 April and from 2 to 5 June, covering both urban and rural communities.

In Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, vaccination teams are operating in Emakhandeni, the Northern Suburbs and Nkulumane. In Harare Metropolitan Province, the campaign covers Harare, Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa.

In Manicaland Province, teams are working in Mutare, Mutasa, Chimanimani and Chipinge. In Mashonaland Central, the campaign targets Mbire, Mt Darwin, Centenary and Rushinga, while in Mashonaland East it focuses on Mudzi. In Mashonaland West, Kariba and Hurungwe are included.

Further south, the drive extends to Chiredzi in Masvingo Province, as well as Binga, Hwange and Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North. In Matabeleland South, teams are operating in Bulilima, Mangwe, Matobo and Gwanda.

Health workers are using a combination of fixed vaccination sites, mobile units and door-to-door visits in neighbourhoods, markets, shops and clinics to reach eligible children, including those in remote and hard-to-access areas.

The ministry has called on parents and guardians to cooperate with vaccination teams, saying the campaign is critical to protecting children and preventing the spread of the disease.

SOURCE: CITE

In the community

Elephant kills villager in Nkayi, authorities launch investigation

Published

2 days ago

April 19, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

An elephant trampled a villager to death overnight in Mthoniselwa village in Ward 13 of Nkayi district, local authorities said on Sunday, in the latest human-wildlife conflict incident in the area.

The fatal attack occurred in the early hours of the morning, according to community leaders, who said the victim was attacked near the homestead.

“We have received a report from our Lupane Investigations Office regarding a tragic incident in Mthoniselwa village, Ward 13 of Nkayi, where a villager was trampled by an elephant,” said Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks spokesperson Luckmore Safuli.

“Further details regarding the identity and circumstances surrounding the deceased are still pending. ZimParks personnel are actively conducting assessments in the area to gather more information. Additionally, the Nkayi Rural District Council officers, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, are on site to investigate the incident and conduct community awareness initiatives,” Saffouli added.

A message circulated in local community groups earlier in the day alerted residents to the incident and urged caution.

“We received a sad report from police this morning of a person who was attacked and killed by an elephant at night in Mthoniselwa, Ward 13. ZimParks has been notified and a ranger is on the way to track the elephant,” the message read.

Community leaders also urged residents to report the presence of dangerous wildlife and to remain vigilant to avoid further tragedies.

Zimbabwe has in recent years recorded a rise in human-wildlife conflict cases, particularly involving elephants, as animals stray into villages in search of food and water.