BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

A Hwange court has sentenced a 31-year-old man to 18 years in prison for the rape of his 12-year-old niece following a New Year’s Eve assault, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said.

The Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentence after hearing how the man lured the child to his residence in Dingani Village, Dete, on the 31st of December, last year.

The court heard that at approximately 12:00 hours, the offender used a false pretext to get the victim into his room, instructing her to bring her mother’s mobile phone to help him with a WhatsApp application. Once inside, he forcibly pushed the girl onto a bed and raped her.

Following the assault, the man ordered the child into silence, but the crime was discovered immediately when the girl returned home in tears and narrated the ordeal to her mother. The victim’s family confronted the man and reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.

In a statement regarding the conviction, the NPAZ described the case as a profound betrayal of trust within a family unit.

The authority noted that the 18-year term was intended to send a clear message that the law would serve as a shield for our children, particularly against those responsible for their protection [1]. Prosecutors also commended the family for their swift action in reporting the crime to authorities.

BY STAFF REPORTER

A total of 104 inmates are living with HIV across eight correctional facilities in Matabeleland North, according to data from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.

The figures, which were first reported by the Chronicle, were presented by ZPCS Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Godknows Ncube during a National Aids Council stakeholder meeting in Bulawayo.

Of the inmates recorded as positive, 98 are aged 25 and older, while six are under the age of 25. The affected facilities include Victoria Falls Prison, Hwange Prison, Ntabazinduna Satellite Prison, Anju Farm Prison, Tsholotsho Prison, Lupane Prison, and Binga Prison .

During the most recent quarter, 144 inmates underwent testing for HIV, resulting in one positive diagnosis .

While correctional facilities received 900 male condoms, officials reported that no female condoms were provided. Ncube noted the need to address this gender bias and ensure that female protectors are available for inmates.

The prison service is also facing challenges with medication adherence. Ncube emphasized that there is a high number of defaulters, particularly among younger inmates who were aware of their HIV status before entering the system.

He called for the integration of HIV services with other health programs and stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring and reporting within the prisons. Currently, some facilities in the region are not yet accredited to provide antiretroviral therapy services, highlighting a need for further staff training and equipment

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe’s Parliament has resolved to prioritise the fight against diabetes, warning that the condition is rapidly becoming a public health emergency, particularly for children and young people living with Type 1 diabetes.

The motion, tabled in the National Assembly by Concilia Chinanzvavana and seconded by Edwin Mushoriwa, highlights critical gaps in access to life-saving treatment. Lawmakers noted that people with Type 1 diabetes require uninterrupted access to insulin, diagnostics and specialised care, without which they face preventable disability and death.

Despite existing Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) policies and fiscal measures such as the sugar tax, Parliament expressed concern that diabetes remains underfunded and insufficiently prioritised. This has resulted in inequitable access to treatment and persistent weaknesses in care systems across the country.

Legislators also stressed that policy alone is not enough, pointing to frameworks developed by the World Health Organization, including the Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN) and PEN-Plus, which require strong political commitment and implementation.

As part of the resolution, Parliament pledged to champion equitable diabetes care within national development frameworks and to strengthen oversight of health budgets, policies and programme delivery. Lawmakers also called for sustainable financing mechanisms, including the possible ring-fencing of sugar tax revenues to support diabetes care.

The House further urged the integration of diabetes prevention and treatment into primary healthcare systems, alongside improved referral pathways to ensure timely and effective care.

In addition, Parliament emphasised the need for inclusive, people-centred governance, calling for structured engagement between lawmakers, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, civil society, development partners and people living with diabetes.