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Vic Falls landlord removes tenant’s eye over US$3

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A Victoria Falls tenant lost an eye after he was attacked by his landlord with a log following a dispute over US$3 in rent arrears

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Brian Karemba (40) said he was attacked by Gift Kazembe (44) at his Mkhosana high density suburb lodgings after he told him that he was not able to pay the outstanding rentals.

Kazembe appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa recently facing attempted murder charges over the incident that happened on June 5.

Karemba said trouble started at 11 PM when he got back home from Shoestrings night club.

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“My landlord came to my room and asked for his outstanding rentals and l told him that l did not have enough money,” Karemba said in a sworn statement.

“This did not go well with him and he started assaulting me on my face and head using a wooden log and fists.

“I sustained a deep cut on my left eye.”

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Karemba was taken to Victoria Falls Hospital by his brother Misheck Muponda where he was immediately transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).

Doctors removed his eye on June 17 due to the severity of the injuries he had suffered.

Prosecutors said they were waiting for a report from the UBH before referring the case to the Hwange regional court for trial.

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Kazembe, who was not asked to plead to attempted murder charges, will be back in court on August 27 for further remand.

He was released on $ 5000 bail. Some of the bail conditions include that he must reside house number 8134, Mkhosana Township, not visit Karemba’s current residency, not interfere with state witnesses, surrender his travel documents and report at the Victoria Falls police station every Friday.

Kazembe is represented by Nomusa Khumalo of Ncube and Partners Legal Practitioners.

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In the community

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

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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.

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Lupane police officer sentenced for tampering with mbanje evidence

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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.

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In the community

Avoid nightime movement and stoning elephants, communities told

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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.

 

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