BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

A 38-year-old man known as “Spraga,” appeared in the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court last week to face murder charges following the death of a 17-year-old boy.

The accused, who formal name is Tinashe Wireless Nyarukokora appeared before the resident magistrate Linda Dzvene.

The allegations indicate that on 12 August, Nyarukokora was involved in an altercation with the deceased concerning water access at the Victoria Falls wastewater treatment ponds.

The situation escalated in the early hours of 13 August when the deceased, returning home from drinking in Chinotimba, encountered Nyarukokora again at the same location.

Reports allege that during this encounter, Nyarukokora assaulted the victim with a wooden log and an electric cable before strangling him to death.

After realizing the boy had died, Nyarukokora reportedly disposed of the body in a nearby sewer pond, approximately 15 meters from the site of the attack, and subsequently fled the scene.

On 16 August 2025, a worker conducting routine inspections at the treatment ponds found the victim’s body floating.

Police investigations linked Nyarukokora to the crime after a witness reported hearing the victim cry out in distress, specifically calling the accused’s name, “Spraga, Spraga, why are you strangling me?”

The court has remanded the case for further proceedings, scheduled for 3 September 2025.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Last week on Friday, the City of Victoria Falls convened a meeting with the junior council and youths at Chinotimba Clinic to gather input for the 2026 budget.

The event sparked lively discussions on various topics, ranging from health services to transparency in project allocations, reflecting the hopes and challenges faced by the city’s youth.

One of the prominent voices at the meeting was Naison Mbedane, who passionately advocated for the establishment of a youth corner within the health center.

“We need a youth corner the same way that you are serving women, where they have their safe spaces to get help on health issues,” Mbedane said.

He expressed frustration over the stigma surrounding health issues, particularly sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

“If there is a youth corner where I can talk to a young nurse in confidence, it will make a significant difference. Many of my peers suffer in silence and fail to seek treatment due to privacy concerns.”

The issue of transparency in council projects also surfaced, as Ndabiqondile Zwelinjani emphasized the necessity for clear communication in project allocations.

Zwelinjani challenged the council to engage with youths at the ward level when distributing project opportunities.

“Let’s say you want to give 200 youths stands. Why not come to the wards and collect our applications? Development must be transparent; everyone deserves a fair chance,” he stated, highlighting the potential for corruption if the process remains opaque.

Lyle Magama, the junior council finance director from Mosi Oa Tunya High School, brought attention to the challenges faced by junior councillors.

She noted the program’s noble intentions to foster future leaders but critiqued the lack of support and clarity regarding their roles. “While we conducted a few workshops, more guidance would have been beneficial. I believe future junior councillors should be provided with uniforms and mentorship to help them succeed,” Magama suggested.

“We faced setbacks due to limited knowledge and guidance, which led to frustration. We blamed the council for not being supportive, but maybe we weren’t transparent enough about our needs.”

A presentative from Youth Invest organisation suggested for council to incoporate programs that will be championed and fit into the youths needs on climate solutions after the city was granted a wetland city status as the just ended cop 15.

In response to some issues especially of projects of 2026, the council’s chamber secretary Kholwani Mangena said: “Before concluding the 2026 budget, I suggest we meet next week (this week) to break down our goals. Let’s discuss what we want to achieve in 2026 and what we didn’t accomplish in 2025. We can identify tasks that can be completed within two weeks. I’m open to scheduling a meeting to outline our objectives.

Additionally, I’d like to propose that council members who aren’t re-elected can serve as advisors to the current council. This way, we can leverage their expertise and experience.

There are many initiatives that don’t require funding, such as career days for young people. Let’s explore ways to utilize our resources and talent effectively.”

She said council wholeheartedly support youth initiatives, and is committed to ensuring that they growth as this is part of their mandate to nurture and support development.

BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

Police in Madlambuzi, Matabeleland South Province has are a suspected mental patient, Phamani Sibanda, following a violent rampage that left five people dead and two others injured on Wednesday.

According to the police statement, Sibanda (43) allegedly attacked seven people in the village using a Mopani log, a blunt object, and an unknown sharp weapon, targeting anyone who crossed his path.

The victims of this tragic attack have been identified by their next of kin:

Elliot Khupe, 101, a male adult from Bellas Village
Butho Tshuma, 97, a female adult from Bellas Village
Constance Sibanda, 66, a female adult from Bellas Village
Tiffan Surprise Ndlovu, 6, a female juvenile from Bellas Village
Catra Matsika, 72, from Central Village

In addition to the fatalities, two other women, aged 90 and 41, sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Madlambuzi Clinic and Plumtree District Hospital.

The ZRP has underscored the pressing need for community awareness regarding mental health issues. “We implore the public to promptly refer mental patients to medical institutions for treatment and to actively monitor their behavior to prevent such violent incidents,” the statement elaborated. It encouraged community members to report any concerns to the National Complaints Desk at (0242) 703631 or via WhatsApp at 0712 800197, or to approach the nearest police station.