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Zimbabwe athletes ready to shine at Paris 2024 games

Published

8 months ago

July 27, 2024

BY SPORTS WRITER

Team Zimbabwe is oozing with confidence as they gear up to take on the world’s best at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With a strong contingent of seven athletes, the team is eager to make a mark in athletics, rowing, and swimming.

According to Ringisai Mapondera, Team Zimbabwe’s chef de mission, “Oh yes, they have had four years to prepare and as an athlete you will know that the Olympics are the pinnacle of everything, so we are certain that they have been preparing.”

Mapondera expressed optimism about the team’s chances, saying “The chances are very high and we are very positive about and expecting that we should at least be getting a medal or two, but our happiness is that we have seven athletes here representing Zimbabwe.”

The team’s athletes have been busy fine-tuning their skills, with sprinters Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu set to compete in the 200m dash, while Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora will represent Zimbabwe in the marathon events. In the pool, Paige van der Westhuizen and Denilson Cyprianos will fly the flag, and Stephen Cox will make his mark in rowing.

Vice president Constantino Chiwenga, who arrived in Paris to attend the official opening ceremony, has also expressed his support for the team.

ADDITIONALS: SURBUBIAN

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

22 hours 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.

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.