National

Victoria Falls villager savages neighbour for calling wife’s name

Published

3 years ago

September 20, 2022

Staff Writer

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Victoria Falls villager heavily assaulted his neighbour with a log for calling his wife to sell him tradition beer.

Gerald Sibanda (29) from Mazhanga Village under Chief Shana left Enock Mubita with a bruised face after the vicious attack.

Sibanda appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Godswill Mavenge on Monday charged with assaulting Mubita.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence, prompting Mavenge to open a full trial which has been set for September 22.

Prosecutor Portia Moyo said on August 9 and at around 5PM, Mubita went to Victor Sibanda’s homestead, who is the accused’s uncle, to buy homemade beer.

On arrival, he called Tambudzai Sibanda’s name who is the accused’s wife.

Sibanda stormed out of his bedroom armed with a log and started assaulting Mubita on the face.

A medical report signed by Victoria Falls district medical officer Fungai Musinami on August 11 says Mubita sustained “sutured laceration on the upper lip with swelling, injury on the upper incisors and wound on the nose.”

In denying the charges levelled against him, Sibanda said he assaulted his neighbour for calling his wife’s name and for refusing to leave his uncle’s homestead as he was drunk.

“We then got into a fight and the accused assaulted me as well,” Sibanda told the court.

“I lost my temper when he continuously called my wife who I was with in the house to come outside.

“I had tried to chase him away and he kept coming back to provoke my emotions and that’s when we ended up getting violent.”

Mubita challenged Sibanda’s version of events saying he was not drunk when he was attacked.

He said the fact that his attacker did not sustain any injuries or seek treatment after the incident that he was lying that they were involved in a fight.

Mubita said he also did not refuse to leave the homestead and insisted that his only intention was to buy beer that Sibanda’s wife was selling.

Sibanda is out of custody.

National

Coal train in flames: NRZ locomotive damaged in fire incident

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) locomotive suffered significant damage after catching fire while transporting export coal to Zambi. The incident occurred between Kalala and Matetsi sidings, resulting in the explosion of the locomotive’s fuel tanks.

According to the NRZ press statement on Monday, “A National Railways of Zimbabwe locomotive suffered some damages after it caught fire this afternoon while transporting export coal to Zambia.” Fortunately, the crew members on board managed to escape unharmed.

The NRZ responded swiftly to the incident, dispatching a rescue train with crews to the site. The team successfully extinguished the fire, preventing further damage. However, the locomotive itself sustained considerable damage.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, with investigations currently underway. “Investigations are already underway to establish the cause of the fire and the amount of damage to the locomotive,” the NRZ statement read.

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A 62-year-old ranger, Josphat Mandishara, was tragically killed by an elephant in Kariba yesterday.

Mandishara, who worked for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), was on patrol in the Gatche-gatche area with fellow rangers and police officers.

At around 10 pm, Mandishara returned to the harbor where their boat was docked, and that’s when he encountered the elephant. The elephant charged at him, causing fatal injuries. His colleagues were nearby, resupplying at the Gatche-gatche Irrigation Scheme.

Mandishara’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital for a post-mortem, and the incident was reported to the police.

ZimParks has sent a team to manage the problem elephant and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Director General of ZimParks, Prof. Edson Gandiwa, and his team have sent condolences to Mandishara’s family, friends, and colleagues. Mandishara will be remembered for his dedication to wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.

National

ZIMRA customs officer appears in court for criminal abuse of office

Published

3 months ago

February 3, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) customs officer, Phillip Kuvenga, has been accused of criminal abuse of office for allegedly assisting in the importation of banned motor vehicles.

Kuvenga, 28, who is stationed at Victoria Falls, allegedly received documents from clients, completed valuation sheets, and carried out the valuation process. However, he is accused of endorsing different chassis numbers to deceive his supervisors during the validation and approval process.

After obtaining approval, Kuvenga would capture the correct chassis numbers in the ASYCUDA World System. He would then alter or replace the documents submitted earlier to his supervisors.

The offense came to light when a motor vehicle that had not yet arrived in Zimbabwe was found to have been already registered. A thorough check by ZIMRA led to Kuvenga’s arrest.

Kuvenga appeared in court on February 1, where he was denied bail by Magistrate Gift Manyka. He is expected to appear in court again today for another bail hearing.