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Victoria Falls smuggler faces new charges after ivory stash is found in seized car

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A Victoria Falls smuggler, who was convicted for smuggling in 2019, is back in court after his car that was forfeited by the State was found with three pieces of ivory stashed in the boot almost two years after he was initially arrested.

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Stanely Takavada (46) from Mkhosana suburb was arrested on June 10, 2019 at a police road block along the Kazungula-Victoria Falls road after he was found in possession of smuggled goods.

Takavada was convicted of smuggling and the smuggled goods as well as the vehicle were seized by the State..

He is now facing new charges of possession of ivory without a permit.

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On Tuesday, Takavada pleaded not guilty to the charges through his lawyer Charity Mandeya of Mhaka Attorneys, who appeared before resident magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa.

Prosecutor Audrey Mukanganya told the court that on June 10, 2019 at around 3PM, the accused, who was driving a Toyota Gaia was arrested at a police roadblock along the Kazungula-Victoria Falls road for carrying smuggled and restricted goods that he had brought into the country through the Kazungula border post, leading to the seizure of his car.

On October 5, last year Jephat Siziba from Beitbridge bought Takavada’s former car through a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority public auction held at the Victoria Falls border post

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Siziba could not immediately drive off the car because it had flat tyres and other faults.

He took it to a backyard garage to have it fixed.

Mukanganya said when Siziba opened the spare wheel compartment, he discovered a white sack containing two elephant tusks wrapped with a black jacket and filed a police report on the same day.

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Takavada was arrested the following day as he tried to collect the elephant tusks without any permission after a trap was laid by detectives.

Siziba told the court that Takavada tried to block him from buying the car, arguing that it was still his.

He said when he won the bid, Zimra officials asked Takavada to open the car in his presence.

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“I then drove the car to Tatenda Lodge and immediately took it to a mechanic near the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) following the accused’s promise to get me the contacts for a mechanic, which he had failed to fulfil,” Siziba said.

“I immediately opened the boot to check if it had a spare wheel and that’s when I discovered two elephant tusks and I went back to Zimra so that the could direct me to a police station to make a report.”

Sizaba said Takavada kept calling him saying he wanted to collect some tools that were in the car.

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“Investigating officers advised me to call him after we had brought back the tusks to the car and placed them exactly where they were, and when he gave me directions of where I was supposed to pick him at some shops I went with him to the vehicle and five police officers were present.

“They wore work suits pretending to be the mechanics,” he said.

“Upon disembarking, he went straight to the Gaia and he picked the spanners that were under the pedals and proceeded to the spare wheel compartment and took the white sack before proceeding to the front seat to collect another plastic bag that had one tusk.

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“This led to his arrest.”

Mayeza argued that her client had nothing to do with the ivory.

She said they were ready to prove in court that when her client surrendered the car in 2019, it was thoroughly searched by the police and there was no ivory.

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During cross examination, Mayeza told Siziba that he was trying to frame Takavada to cover his own tracks.

However, Siziba insisted that Takavada reached to the stash without any duress which was proof that he knew about the tusks.

The trial was adjourned to Thursday where police officers who arrested Takavada will give their testimony.

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National

“We are losing ground”: Counsellors’ demotivation threatens Zimbabwe’s HIV gains

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

The men and women who have been at the heart of Zimbabwe’s fight against HIV — the primary health counsellors — say their morale has hit rock bottom as they continue to work without job security, inconsistent pay, and uncertain futures.

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These counsellors, stationed across hospitals and clinics countrywide, form the backbone of the country’s HIV prevention and treatment programme. They handle testing, counselling, and patient follow-ups — ensuring those on antiretroviral therapy stay in care and that new infections are detected early.

But as Hwange West legislator Vusumuzi Moyo warned in Parliament, the system supporting these essential workers is “crumbling quietly.”

“Their salaries have been very erratic, sometimes going for months without pay,” Moyo told VicFallsLive after his parliamentary question to the Minister of Health and Child Care. “These people are the heartbeat of HIV management. They’re paid from the Global Fund, but payments have not been consistent, and the government has taken too long to incorporate them into the civil service.”

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Currently, the counsellors are funded under the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) — a donor mechanism that has kept thousands of Zimbabwean health posts afloat for years.

However, global aid shifts, including the ripple effects of the U.S. administration’s restrictions on foreign aid, have made their positions increasingly vulnerable.

Health Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora confirmed during a recent parliamentary session that staff bids had been submitted to Treasury for approval to absorb counsellors into the government payroll.

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He said that while donor funding has decreased, both the U.S. Government and Global Fund have continued to prioritise support for human resources at primary healthcare level.

Still, for many of the counsellors — and for communities relying on them — the wait has been too long.

Moyo painted a grim picture of what’s happening in hospitals.

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“If you go to referral hospitals like Forrester, you’ll find that about 90% of male ward patients are people who have defaulted on treatment,” he said. “It’s because counsellors are no longer motivated. They used to follow up with patients, call them if they missed visits, and make sure they stayed in care. But now, with no pay or recognition, there’s no incentive to keep doing that work.”

He warned that the country’s AIDS-related deaths are rising again, undoing the progress Zimbabwe had made in reducing HIV prevalence.

“Our statistics had been improving — even other countries were benchmarking our model. But now, it’s as if we’re back to the old days. You see people sick again, wards filling up, and that speaks to a system that’s failing quietly,” Moyo added.

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Zimbabwe has long been recognised as one of Africa’s HIV success stories, cutting its national prevalence from over 26% in the early 2000s to around 11% today, according to research studies. Much of that progress was driven by a strong network of community-based counsellors who ensured people were tested, treated, and supported.

 

 

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Bulawayo mourns Nkulumane MP and poet Desire “Moyoxide” Moyo

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

The City of Bulawayo has expressed deep sorrow following the death of Nkulumane MP and acclaimed poet Desire “Moyoxide” Moyo, who died in a car accident early Friday morning near Shangani.

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In a condolence message issued by Town Clerk Christopher Dube on behalf of the Mayor, Senator David Coltart, councillors, and residents, the city described Moyo as “an iconic leader, poet par excellence, and creative who strove to champion the arts in Bulawayo and beyond.”

Moyo, who was affectionately known as Moyoxide, was praised for his commitment to the city’s artistic and civic development. The statement highlighted his impact through his multiple roles — as a Member of Parliament for Ngulumane, a community leader, and a poet who spoke out against injustices while advocating for progress.

“He positively impacted the city through his roles as a leader and poet who challenged all for the development of Bulawayo and the country,” read part of the statement.

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The City of Bulawayo also extended its condolences to the Moyo family, the Bulawayo community, and the nation at large.

“May his soul rest in eternal peace,” the statement added.

The city further wished a speedy recovery to other CCC legislators who were injured in the same accident — Honourables Madalaboy Ndebele, Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Sethulo Ndebele, and Libion Sibanda.

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CCC legislators in road accident, Nkulumane MP dies

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BY STAFF REPORTER

One Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator has died while four others were seriously injured in a road accident that occurred early Friday morning near Shangani along Bulawayo-Harare highway.

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CCC spokesperson Promise Mkhwananzi confirmed the accident, saying it happened between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. when the vehicle carrying the members collided with an elephant.

“The vehicle hit an elephant along the Shangani area, and unfortunately Honourable Desire Moyo, the Member of Parliament for Ngulumane, died on the scene,” Nkwananzi said.

He added that the other occupants — Honourable Madalaboy Ndebele, Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Honourable Sethulo Ndebele, and Libion Sibanda — sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital in Bulawayo.

Nkwananzi said he was deeply shocked by Moyo’s death, as he had met him just yesterday in Harare.

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“I had seen Moyo yesterday and we spent about an hour chatting outside Jamieson Hotel about the party and our future plans for national development,” he said. “I’m gutted by his passing. It’s a huge loss for the party.”

He conveyed his condolences to the Moyo family and wished a speedy recovery and strength to the families of the other CCC members who remain in critical condition.

He said further details, including the name of the hospital where the injured are receiving treatment, would be released once confirmed.

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