AM NEWS BULLETIN 07 FEBRUARY 2025 • Silos to the Rescue: Zimbabwe Tackles Grain Losses One Silo at a Time! • Zanu-PF Spokesperson Responds to Criticism of Mnangagwa, Party Divided • Mberengwa Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Fatal Stabbing at Local Night Club • South Korea Mandates Bird Detection Cameras at Airports After December Crash ----------------------------------------------- M.I.S Borehole Drilling Company is your trusted solution for drilling, flushing, deepening, and surveying installations. Visit us at Shop Number 19, Robert Mugabe Street, Zvishavane, or call 0773 514 103 or 0715 397 320. MIS Borehole Drilling – drilling solutions you can trust! --------------------- Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, has highlighted the significant challenge of post-harvest losses in Zimbabwe, attributing it to inadequate storage facilities. To address this issue, the government is working on decentralizing silos across the country's districts to improve grain storage and reduce waste. Dr. Muswere emphasized that the construction of new silos is a crucial step towards ensuring that Zimbabwe’s grain is properly stored and preserved for future use, particularly during times of need. Owen Ncube, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the Midlands Province, provided an update on the progress of the new Grain Marketing Board (GMB) silos in Kwekwe. He confirmed that the construction project is now nearing completion, with around 80-85% of the work finished. Once complete, the Kwekwe GMB silos will play a pivotal role in improving storage capacity in the region and enhancing food security. ---------------------- Zanu-PF Public Relations Officer, Mr. Farai Marapira, has responded to recent comments made by party member Mr. Blessed Geza, who called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign, accusing him of failure. Marapira emphasized that Zanu-PF is not a party that seeks to cause division and confusion, and firmly reiterated the party’s united support for President Mnangagwa. Speaking Marapira expressed that Zanu-PF is focused on maintaining unity and delivering on its mandates, rejecting any efforts to undermine the party’s leadership. His statement came after party spokesperson Mr. Chris Mutsvangwa criticized Mr. Geza, a freedom fighter and Central Committee member, for publicly challenging the president’s leadership. Mutsvangwa warned that such disrespect would not be tolerated and that Geza would face consequences for his actions. ---------------------- We Turn to Crime & Courts - In a case that has gripped the local community, Charles Sibanda, a 40-year-old resident of Chigigwa Village, Mberengwa, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the High Court in Gweru for the murder of Tracy Ncube, aged 31. The sentencing marks a somber conclusion to a tragic incident that unfolded over a year ago. According to court documents, the fatal event occurred on the night of August 13, 2024, around 2200 hours at the Kalahari Night Club, located in the Yorks Business Centre, Mberengwa. A misunderstanding among patrons escalated into a physical altercation, during which Sibanda briefly left the bar. Upon his return, armed with an Okapi knife, he stabbed Sheron Zvandasara. Amidst the chaos, Sibanda also attacked Tracy Ncube, delivering a fatal stab to her chest. Ncube was immediately rushed to the local hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival, turning a night of revelry into one of mourning. The prosecution highlighted the senseless nature of the violence, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice in such cases. ---------------------- We Conclude with Regional News Where – South Korea will require all airports to install bird detection cameras and thermal imaging radars by 2026, following a deadly air crash in December that killed 179 people. Investigators found evidence of a bird strike on the Boeing 737-800, which led to an emergency landing and crash into a concrete structure at the runway's end. The bird detection system will help air traffic controllers identify and respond to bird threats early, while thermal cameras will improve safety. Additionally, bird-attracting sites near airports must be relocated. The investigation into the cause of the crash continues, with experts suggesting the death toll could have been lower if not for the runway structure. ///////////////////////////////