Tuesday 25 February 2025 *EVENING NEWS UPDATES* _• USD: ZiG Official Exchange – Z$25.69_ • _Black Market Rate - Zig 30:USD1_ • _Innscor in-store – Z$35_ • _KFC, Slice, Eat'n'Lick – Z$35_ New members who wish to receive detailed local, regional and international news from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should "follow" our channel on the link below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaASRLX6mYPM2XphWy2n *For advertising inquiries call, text or Whatsapp us on +263 778 242 692* *THE HEADLINES* *Zim politics to change very soon, ED is now history- says Kasukuwere* *Zimbabwe firms brace for hyperinflation accounting under ZiG..* *…As Zimbabwe’s Market Regulator Seeks Clarity on ZiG Reporting Rules* *Journalist Blessed Mhlanga to spend two more nights in jail as bail ruling is deferred to February 27* *HSTv’s Mhlanga complains about inhumane treatment by police officers; state opposes bail says he will interfere with witnesses who are his juniors at work* *State cornered as journalist Blessed Mhlanga’s lawyer Mhike cross examines Chief Detective* *Blessed Mhlanga’s arrest an attack on press freedom – MAZ* *NSSA Chairman And Ex-RTG Executive Accused of Plotting Underhand RTG Takeover Bid* *Govt washes hands on Harare Drive rehabilitation as murakashi hits* *Zimbabwe Government Urges Coal Mining Firms To Build Power Plants* *Serious crisis hits Zimbabwe as Netherlands government follows Trump’s footsteps and cuts Dutch funding of €2.4 billion* *Zimbabwe police arrest prominent prophet and woman (45) for faking a miracle: She was hired to pretend to be a witch* *Harare woman hires bouncers to thoroughly beat up her husband on his birthday after he discovered wife’s used condoms* *60 men take turns to rape a 13-year-old girl from a poor family* *Bhejane Trust Slams Mining Push In Sinamatella, Warns Of Irreparable Damage* *THE DETAILS WITH IGNITE MEDIA ZIMBABWE* _*Zim politics to change very soon, ED is now history- says Kasukuwere*_ Former ZANU PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere says Zimbabwean politics will change soon and called President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (ED) history. Kasukuwere who is one of Generation 40 faction leaders was responding to a statement by one Murakashi indentified as Dambudzo Murakashi. “After spending a night behind bars @bbmhlanga, reality had sunk in that crime does not pay…..his family was out there alone! “Kumwe kufarisa nerukuda mari so kkkk….. “Tskidzidi dzotamba naye apovafurira are enjoying the comfort of their homes. “@Hon_Kasukuwere,” said Murakashi. Kasukuwere responded: “You are excited for nothing youngman. Politics will change very soon and don’t rely on a spent force. “ED is history and don’t rely on him. Just some advice from me to you.” _*Zimbabwe firms brace for hyperinflation accounting under ZiG..*_ Zimbabwe’s market regulator is seeking clarity from the central bank on new rules that would require companies to report their financial statements in the nation’s gold-backed currency, forcing them to adopt hyperinflationary accounting and increase the cost of doing business. The Securities and Exchange Commission, is “engaged” with the relevant authorities on the way forward, Justin Bgoni, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange ’s chief executive officer, said Monday. Governor John Mushayavanhu earlier this month ordered companies listed on the exchange to adopt the ZiG, short for Zimbabwe Gold, for reporting purposes with “immediate effect” including for the 2024 audited financial statements. “This requirement is consistent with the increase in the number and value of transactions settled in ZiG since its introduction on April 5,” he said. The ZiG is used in 30% of all transactions in the economy with the remainder done in US dollars. Since 2023 companies listed on the exchange have been allowed to report their results in US dollars because of the currency’s dominance in the economy and frequent collapse of the Zimbabwean dollar, which was replaced by the ZiG. Many companies, including blue-chip beverage manufacturer Delta Corp, have switched. ZSE-listed FBC Holdings warned the move could have several negative consequences. It may introduce “accounting complexities, inflation translation risks, investor concerns and regulatory challenges,” the Harare-based lender said in a recent client note. It will also require companies to adjust accounting software, financial models and auditing procedures and “the application of IAS 29 — financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies — guidelines, leading to frequent revaluations,” it said. It urged authorities to rethink their position. “Given that” the ZiG “has demonstrated instabilities in the past, a hybrid approach where businesses can choose the most relevant currency would be more practical,” FBCH said. The ZiG is the nation’s sixth attempt at a functioning local currency since 2009. It has shed 95% of its value since its debut, amid exchange-rate volatility that forced authorities to devalue the currency in September. The southern African nation’s difficult operating environment recently led to the exit of global accounting firms Deloitte LLP and PwC LLP. _*…As Zimbabwe’s Market Regulator Seeks Clarity on ZiG Reporting Rules*_ See story above… _*Journalist Blessed Mhlanga to spend two more nights in jail as bail ruling is deferred to February 27*_ Alpha Media Holdings (AMH ) journalist Blessed Mhlanga who is being accused of transmission of information that incites violence or causes damage to property will spend two more nights in custody after his bail ruling was deferred to this Thursday. Mhlanga was arrested on Monday after he presented himself at Harare Central Police Station in the company of his lawyer Chris Mhike. He is charged under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. The charges relate to him granting an interview to Blessed Geza, a war veteran and a staunch opponent of the Mnangagwa 2030 agenda. Geza had issued press briefings through AMH broadcaster, HSTv calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign from office immediately. The state represented by Ruvimbo Matyatya opposed his bail submitting that Mhlanga was likely to interfere with witnesses who include his junior subordinates. - HSTv’s Mhlanga complains about inhumane treatment by police officers; state opposes bail says he will interfere with witnesses who are his juniors at work - Journalist Blessed Mhlanga arrested over Geza interview; accused of transmitting information that incites violence Mhlanga’s lawyer urged the court to grant him bail arguing that journalism is not a crime. “If practicing journalism is deemed to be dangerous then we have a problem that must be rectified by the justice delivery system and those who wield power in this nation. “Zimbabwe defines itself as a democratic Republic under section 1 of the Constitution. “My client wants his day in court to prove his innocence although the investigating officer has promised fire and trouble for HSTV the accused is ready to exonerate himself through trial,” said Mhike. _*HSTv’s Mhlanga complains about inhumane treatment by police officers; state opposes bail says he will interfere with witnesses who are his juniors at work*_ The lawyer representing Alpha Media Holdings (AMH ) journalist, Blessed Mhlanga who is being accused of transmission of information that incites violence or causes damage to property complained that the police have been unprofessional in the manner in which they handled his client’s matter. Mhlanga was arrested on Monday after he presented himself at Harare Central Police Station in the company of his lawyer Chris Mhike. He is charged under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. The charges relate to him granting an interview to Blessed Geza, a war veteran and a staunch opponent of the Mnangagwa 2030 agenda. Geza had issued press briefings through AMH broadcaster, HSTv calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign from office immediately. Mhlanga is the head of HSTv. “My client was invited to the police station thrice over the past four weeks with the police indicating that they wanted to have talks with him and on each occasion ,they released him indicating that they did not have any case against him. “When we knew through the police about the police’s intention my client walked in freely to the police and police read out the whole process of interviewing him and other relevant paperwork. “By lunchtime they were complete they should have taken the accused to court but alas, police decided to detain him till today,” said Chris Mhike representing Mhlanga. “The cells at Harare Central Police Station are in a sorry state with ceilings hanging down. “Our police does not provide inmates with food or water and inmates have normalised sleeping on a dry floor in this jurisdiction. “That is inhumane treatment. This conduct by the police has been sanitised by the NPA, every police report should be vetted properly.” The State said they need 72 hours to investigate the alleged complaints. The court ordered it to investigate the complaints and revert with its findings within 72 hours. Prosecutors said its witnesses are his junior colleagues. “Some of them are yet to be recorded statements by the police “Investigations are still ongoing If the accused is granted bail, he will interfere with witnesses.” The prosecutor further said, “There is a likelihood that he will commit similar offences, the same machinery which he used in the present case before the court are yet to be recovered by the police, procedures to recover same have commenced.” Mhike shot back saying “The state has failed to make a valid legal point against the granting of bail. “If the prosecution had established that the accused person was previously on remand that would constitute compelling reasons. “The reasons are unfounded and groundless. “My sister (prosecutor) made a strange comparison that because he is a political reporter he therefore is a politician. We now see the politicisation of journalism.” Mhike also said, “Silencing journalists is not part of law. “May the court be told that the so-called juniors have been visiting the accused in solidarity. “If the state thought they are dangerous they would have taken measures to reduce the visits. “Accused is a journalist whose job is to gather news and disseminate the news. “Section 61 of our Constitution speaks to freedom of expression and freedom of the media. “What happened to press freedom in this country? I am pained that I am standing in court defending a journalist’s right to freedom of expression. “The last point is that the accused did not do this once but twice, yes he didn’t do it twice but many times. It is his job.” “Whether you agree with what Geza said, the public is entitled to hear it. It’s not my client who put these statements to the public. “I pray that the court makes a finding that on the law the state has failed to find compelling reasons to detain my clients.” The hearing is ongoing, Josphat Chitambira arresting detail attached to CID Counter Terrorism Unit now testifying opposing bail “Firstly, the witnesses we have lined up are the accused’s workmates, he is senior to them out of fear is that he will influence them and it is prejudicial. “We have 10 witnesses whom we intend to interview,” he said. _*State cornered as journalist Blessed Mhlanga’s lawyer Mhike cross examines Chief Detective*_ The State says if bail is granted, the accused Blessed Mhlanga may interfere with investigations due to their proximity to witnesses, including junior colleagues still employed with them. His lawyer Chris Mhike said Zimbabweans have the right to choose their professions, including journalism adding that Mhlanga holds a valid press card and is lawfully a journalist. The lawyer it was alarming to hear the state argue that his release could mean a return to his profession. Key points: Mhike in cross examination has asked Counter Terrorism Unit Detective chief inspector why he is treating journalism as terrorism. The police chief says he is not treating it as so. He is asked why t he is involved in a journalism case. He says these are just administrative assignments. Asked if he believes the journalist is a terrorist. He says he can’t answer the question. Pressed to respond He says belief has nothing to do with facts. Once again he is asked, is my client a terrorist as a matter of fact. He responds I don’t know if he is a terrorist. Lawyer asks why deploy a counter terrorism expect on a harmless journalist. He responds nothing is wrong. Asked how long he has served, he says I have served for 26 years. Do. You realize that this is an allegation against journalism What is his crime He says he transmitted data, that was his crime Asked what vehicle was used to transmit Officer says YouTube Lawyer: does my client own YouTube Officer: I don’t think so What is the name that was used on YouTube for transmission of data Officer : HSTV Lawyer : is my client name called HSTV Officer’ I may not know his full names Lawyer: so why is Blessed Mhlanga being arrested for HSTV case and activities Officer HSTV is not a natural persons but are natural persona’s acting on its behalf. _*Blessed Mhlanga’s arrest an attack on press freedom – MAZ*_ The arrest by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) of journalist, Blessed Mhlanga on 24 February 2025 on account of using an online platform, HSTV owned by Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) to allegedly spread falsehoods and incite public violence is an act of cowardice, unacceptable in a democracy that permits the practice of journalism as a constitutional right to free expression and as a professional enterprise of mirroring society in its diverse manifestation. The incident, which follows a series of unfortunate reports of irregular visits to Mhlanga's place by armed individuals, a public statement by the police in search of the journalist and alleged questioning of the privately owned media organization's Chief Executive Officer Kenias Mafukidze, is condemnable and should be called out for what it is - an affront to journalism with a chilling effect on the exercise of freedom of expression. As a network of journalistic professional associations and media support organizations, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) calls for the release of Mhlanga and withdrawal of all charges that relate to his work as a journalist. Journalism is not a crime and should never be treated as such. The parameters of journalism are predetermined at law and within the professional standards and codes of conduct. If any person is aggrieved by the work of journalists and broadly the media is free to utilize the existing mechanisms within the media organization, the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) - where AMH subscribes to the code of conduct or the constitutional regulatory body, the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC). The move by the state security arm to arrest Mhlanga therefore exposes insincerity to the commitment to engage media stakeholders on media freedom and the safety of journalists. Acts of criminalizing journalism jeopardize the police and media action plan - which represents a commitment between media stakeholders and the police to guarantee a conducive working environment for the media. In the same vein such actions are parallel to the commitment by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a meeting with editors on the 18th of February, augmented by his Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere at a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) convened media indaba a day later. MAZ demands respect for constitutional rights to free expression and the media and is strongly opposed to policies and practices that offend the same. MAZ calls on all journalists to stand in solidarity with Mhlanga on the pretext that an injury to one is an injury to all. We urge for unity of purpose across all media and for journalists to sustain to our vocation of truth telling without fear or favor. The clarion call remains - journalism is not a crime. - The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) _*NSSA Chairman And Ex-RTG Executive Accused of Plotting Underhand RTG Takeover Bid*_ Emmanuel Fundira, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) chairman, and former Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) executive Paula January are accused of plotting to devalue RTG’s shares to buy them at a lower price. As reported by The NewsHawks, NSSA, which holds a 91.6% stake in RTG, plans to sell 56% of its shares, and Fundira is believed to be creating negative market sentiment to drive down the stock price. Fundira, also involved in hospitality through African Sun and other ventures, is said to be in conflict due to his interests in both Nssa and RTG. Despite an agreement not to engage in hospitality affairs, he is allegedly influencing events at RTG to support his personal interests. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched an investigation into RTG’s executives, focusing on payments in salaries, gratuities, allowances and bonuses, and the agency has issued a warrant to seize documents. RTG denies any wrongdoing, claiming the investigation is politically motivated. Fundira, appointed NSSA chairman in 2023, is accused of manipulating the situation to lower RTG’s share price, allowing him and his allies to purchase shares at a discounted rate. He is also accused of leaking information to Paula January, which she allegedly passed on to ZACC to settle personal scores. ZACC investigators have reportedly kept Paula January informed about their probe, including sending her updates via WhatsApp during meetings with RTG board members. However, Fundira denied the allegations when speaking to The NewsHawks, saying he has no working relationship with Paula January and dismissing claims of manipulating RTG’s share price for personal gain. He said: The true position is that I do not have any working relationship with so-called Paula January (whoever she is) nor do I have access to RTG financial information in as much as RTG is a subsidiary of NSSA of which I am a NED (non-executive director) and chairman. It is however common cause that RTG have a reporting line to the executive at NSSA as a subsidiary and that as a public-listed entity they have their own board chaired by Mr Douglas Hoto. Paula January also denied knowing Fundira and claimed that the audio leaks, which allegedly showed frequent contact between them, were doctored. She said: Unfortunately, I don’t do voice notes after my past experiences with RTG. We are living in the times of technology and things can be doctored. I moved on with my life and I have been here in Malawi for four years. I actually wish RTG well and by the way, who is Fundira and what does he do at RTG? In response to The NewsHawks‘ questions, RTG acknowledged the role of ZACC in fighting corruption but said it was challenging the search and seizure warrant. The company argued that seizing payroll and employee contracts could not prove the charge of money laundering. RTG argued that stock exchanges worldwide are designed to be secure investment platforms, regularly audited and overseen by multiple regulatory bodies to ensure transparency and compliance. RTG pointed out that during the period of interest, its activities had been reviewed by several entities, including the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and the National Economic Conduct Inspectorate (NECI), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and external auditors. _*Govt washes hands on Harare Drive rehabilitation as murakashi hits*_ The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has washed its hands on a shoddy job along Harare Drive. This comes after one ZANU PF foot-soldier murakashi Matigary raised the issue blaming the ministry of transport over the matter. “The contractor who resurfaced Harare Drive from Arcturus Road to E D Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise) cheated the people of Zimbabwe @MinistryofTID. “The road surface moves and creates ridges and contours on the entire stretch adjacent to Oriel School at the intersection with Pringle Road. “It’s a big crooked mess. “We can’t surface roads and then need to redo them 2-3 years later. Tingavake Nyika yacho sei manje?” Noted Matigary. In response, the ministry wrote: “Please be advised that the section of Harare Drive, stretching from Arcturus Road to ED Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise Road), was rehabilitated by the City of Harare. “This project was not undertaken by the Ministry of Transport & Infrastructural Development. Thank you.” Apparently, former NetOne Chief Executive Officer Reward Kangai called on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission ZACC to probe the matter. “You should have stated: “…was supposed to have been rehabilitated by the City of Harare”, as the contractor did such a shoddy job that he made it even worse @cityofharare2 “@JMafume would say that he wasn’t the Mayor of Harare at the time but he can still cause an investigation and hold the company to restitute at own cost or be banned forever from undertaking similar works for the City of Harare and with the concurrency of @MinistryofTID, impose a National ban on all public road construction works. “To think that the company, Tarcon was paid for it and there have been no consequences on such blatant abuse of public funds, simply escapes me. “These are the kind of crimes that @ZACConline should be seized with and not be occupied with victimizing of whistleblowers, who in fact, assist them to execute their duties, unless of course, if they are part of the corruption syndicates. “How on earth does @ZACConline arrest whistleblowers as they did to me, unless if their consciences have been seared with a hot iron?” _*Zimbabwe Government Urges Coal Mining Firms To Build Power Plants*_ Zimbabwe’s Energy and Power Development Minister, July Moyo, has urged coal mining companies in Hwange to build power plants to use their large thermal coal stockpiles. Thermal coal is collected during the process of mining for coking coal, which is found deeper underground. Extracting coking coal involves removing an upper layer of earth, followed by a thick layer of thermal coal, which makes up about 70% of the total deposits. Minister Moyo is worried that these large piles of thermal coal could become a fire hazard. He suggested that the companies use this coal to produce electricity and reduce the risk. Addressing delegates at the National Competitiveness Commission summit in Bulawayo last week, Minister Moyo said (via The Herald): (The companies) have piled a number of tonnes and tonnes of thermal coal. And we are now, as Government, urging them to say, you already have thermal coal, and it will become a hazard. It will start causing fires. Why don’t you turn it and bring plants so that you can produce power. Because you already have sunk your money in the production of this coal, which was at the top. And what we are calling upon them is (to say), why don’t you go the last step and produce thermal power from your coal? Minister Moyo also encouraged companies and households to generate their own electricity to ease the pressure on the national grid, as Zimbabwe is currently facing electricity shortages. _*Serious crisis hits Zimbabwe as Netherlands government follows Trump’s footsteps and cuts Dutch funding of €2.4 billion*_ Zimbabwe’s non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are bracing for a severe blow as the Netherlands government implements a new policy to slash €2.4 billion from its development aid budget, following a similar move by the United States under former President Donald Trump. The cuts, slated to take effect in 2027, are expected to result in significant job losses and the termination or reduction of funding for crucial programmes. The Dutch decision replicates the abrupt foreign aid slash witnessed under the Trump administration, which has already had a devastating impact on Zimbabwe’s HIV response. The new policy will affect funding for areas such as gender equality, vocational and higher education, sport, and culture. Funding for climate action, civil society, and UN organisations will also be reduced. Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Reinette Klever, stated that her country’s interests would take precedence in the development policy. “All the programmes we fund must contribute directly to our own interests: promoting trade, enhancing security and reducing migration,” Klever said. The Netherlands, through its embassy in Harare, provides aid to Zimbabwe, focusing primarily on supporting human rights defenders, promoting gender equality, addressing climate change, and fostering economic development. Beneficiaries of this aid include Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Green Impact Centre, The Bioskop! Short Film Competition, Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, My Trees Trust, HeForShe, and Birdlife Zimbabwe. “The government will also use development aid as a way to boost security in various conflict regions surrounding Europe: West Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and North Africa. This should help avoid disruption to trade, combat the rise of terrorist or criminal organisations and prevent people applying for asylum in the Netherlands. Food shortages, for example, are a cause of conflict,” Klever explained. “Giving people future prospects in those regions will enable them to build livelihoods, meaning they won’t have to make the journey to Europe. The government wants to make agreements with migration countries, aimed at combating migration and encouraging return,” she added. The impending cuts have left thousands of employees in Zimbabwe’s NGO and civil society organisation (CSO) sectors in a state of uncertainty. The earlier freeze on foreign aid by former US President Donald Trump forced many organisations to send workers home, leaving them unsure about their future employment and livelihoods. Zimbabwe is home to thousands of NGOs and CSOs, many of which rely heavily on funding from the US and other international donors. These organisations operate across various sectors, including humanitarian aid, service delivery, and political governance. According to the 2019 Labour Force and Child Labour Survey by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, the NGO sector employs 17,643 people, accounting for 1.2% of the country’s formal workforce. However, some estimates suggest the sector could be the second-largest employer in Zimbabwe after the government. Employees who spoke to the news crew on condition of anonymity expressed their anxiety over the sudden freeze. “We are in a difficult position. We don’t know what will happen after the 90 days,” one worker said. Another added, “I also do not know where I will get money for rentals since our salaries were also frozen.” Many workers have been instructed to surrender vehicles and gadgets belonging to their organisations, further compounding their distress. The freeze has not only affected employees but also the communities they serve, particularly in the health sector. Zimbabwe Nurses Association secretary-general Enock Dongo revealed that nurses working under the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) programme have been told not to report for duty. “We have members who have been working at local clinics who have been told not to report to duty today (yesterday). Those people are under emotional stress, and the patients who were waiting for them are affected,” he said. The abrupt cessation of USAID funding, a direct consequence of the implementation of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, has already plunged Zimbabwe’s HIV response into a state of crisis. The temporary closure of truck-stop clinics and the scaling back of services at crucial health centres across the country have triggered widespread alarm, raising the spectre of a resurgence in HIV infections, particularly among high-risk populations such as long-distance truck drivers, sex workers, and other vulnerable communities. For years, these clinics have served as a vital lifeline, providing essential HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services in border towns, high-traffic areas, and underserved communities. They have been instrumental in reaching individuals who might otherwise lack access to critical healthcare, offering a range of services including HIV testing and counselling, antiretroviral therapy (ART), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condom distribution, and screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The “America First” policy, which prioritises domestic developments and emphasises “reasonable use of taxpayer’s money,” has resulted in a significant reduction in US foreign aid, impacting billions of dollars in funding for local civil society organisations (CSOs) and development programs worldwide. The impact on Zimbabwe has been particularly devastating, given the country’s heavy reliance on US funding to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The immediate consequences of the funding cuts have been stark. Truck-stop clinics, strategically located along major transport routes, have been forced to shut their doors, leaving long-distance truck drivers without access to vital HIV prevention and treatment services. Similarly, Population Solutions for Health (PSH) New Start Centres, which have long been at the forefront of Zimbabwe’s HIV response, have been forced to scale back their services, temporarily halting ART and PrEP refills for patients. The impact of these service disruptions is already being felt by vulnerable communities across the country. Rumbidzai, a sex worker from Epworth in Harare, has been taking antiretroviral drugs since 2017 and has relied on mobile clinics for over two years to access her medication and other essential services. Now, with the mobile clinics vanished, she fears for her life. “I don’t want to die — my children are still young. Who will take care of them?” she says, requesting only her middle name be used due to concerns about stigma. Chipo, an outreach worker who has served sex worker communities since 2015, echoes Rumbidzai’s concerns. “The sex workers are crying; they are afraid of dying,” she says. She estimates that mobile clinics in Harare alone serve nearly 6,000 sex workers, all of whom are now left scrambling for basic health care. The combined impact of the Dutch funding cuts and the earlier US policy changes threatens to undermine Zimbabwe’s progress in various sectors, including health, human rights, and economic development, leaving vulnerable populations at greater risk. _*Zimbabwe police arrest prominent prophet and woman (45) for faking a miracle: She was hired to pretend to be a witch*_ A Kwekwe-based prominent prophet and a 45-year-old woman are in police custody after allegedly staging a witchcraft incident in a bid to boost the prophet’s popularity. The pair are accused of causing a public nuisance after the woman was allegedly paid to pretend to be a witch at the prophet’s shrine. The accused have been identified as Madzibaba Heavynisher, whose real name is Brighton Muroyi, a 19-year-old self-styled prophet, and Revai Kweza, a 45-year-old woman from Mkoba 18 in Gweru, who is alleged to have played the role of the witch in their faked miracle. The fake miracle unfolded on February 17th, when Kweza was discovered inside a locked house in Mbizo Phase 3, Kwekwe. Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, the Midlands police spokesperson, provided details of the arrest. “The house where the woman was found is near the shrine of Madzibaba Heavynisher’s Johane Masowe eChishanu church. The woman was wearing black skin-tight clothing, a black vest, and a black headscarf. A crowd gathered after hearing that a witch had been spotted at the location, and ZRP Mbizo police were called to investigate and disperse the crowd,” Insp Mahoko explained. Police investigations revealed that Kweza had allegedly conspired with Madzibaba Heavynisher to feign witchcraft in order to attract more followers to his shrine. “During the investigation, police seized Revai Kweza’s phone and found WhatsApp messages between her and the prophet Madzibaba Heavynisher discussing the arrangement and payment,” Insp Mahoko confirmed. The messages reportedly detailed the plan for Kweza to pretend to be a witch, and the financial compensation she would receive for her role. Both Madzibaba Heavynisher and Revai Kweza are now awaiting trial on charges of causing public nuisance. Inspector Mahoko issued a strong warning to the public, urging them to be cautious of such schemes. “We urge the public to use their hands and work hard to earn money, not to engage in trickery and scams. We also encourage the public, if they wish to seek services from prophets, to first seek thorough information about their practices from others or organisations representing traditional healers because many of them use fraud and deception in their work, defrauding people of money and other things,” he cautioned. The police spokesperson also raised concerns about the potential for exploitation within some religious gatherings. “Our main message is that people should be careful when rushing to the shrines of various prophets because much of what they find there is false. Women and girls are being raped there. We hear some are said to throw snakes, goblins, and fake horns into people’s homes and give false prophecies, so let’s be wary of these prophets,” Insp Mahoko added, highlighting the need for vigilance and discernment when seeking spiritual guidance. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Zimbabwe. A similar case took place some years ago in Budiriro, Harare, where two women were arrested and prosecuted for pretending to be witches at a local shrine. The recurrence of such incidents raises concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and the manipulation of religious beliefs for personal gain. The police are urging the public to report any suspicious activities and to exercise caution when engaging with religious figures and organisations. _*Harare woman hires bouncers to thoroughly beat up her husband on his birthday after he discovered wife’s used condoms*_ A Harare man’s birthday took a violent turn when he was allegedly attacked by two bouncers hired by his wife, after he discovered used condoms in their bedroom. Kenias Zimbwa told the Harare Civil Court that the bouncers were hired by his wife, Chipiwa Taruona. He also claimed that he was kicked out of their house while naked. “I came home on my birthday to find used condoms under my bed and when I confronted her she hired bouncers to attack me,” Kenias told the court. “One of the bouncers was her brother, who is a soldier. They attacked me, leaving me with bruises, and threw me out of the house while I was naked.” Kenias further alleged that his wife had previously attacked him with a screwdriver on four separate occasions. “I was hurt to know that my wife has been having extramarital affairs after starving me of sex for months,” he said. “She does not cook for me and I am forced to sleep without a blanket or rather on the floor. I am scared that she will end up killing me, I wish the court could protect me.” In response to the allegations, Chipiwa admitted to hiring the bouncers, but claimed that her husband had been sexually abusing her for years. “My husband is in the habit of sexually abusing me for years. I hired people to attack him,” she said. Magistrate Meenal Naratom granted Chipiwa a protection order. She advised Kenias to apply for his own protection order. _*60 men take turns to rape a 13-year-old girl from a poor family*_ A harrowing case of alleged sexual abuse and exploitation has emerged from Kerala, India, where 58 men and boys have been arrested in connection with the rape and gang rape of a Dalit girl, who was allegedly abused for five years, starting when she was just 13 years old. Two of the 60 men who sexually violated the girl have since fled the country to evade arrest. The case has ignited a debate about the vulnerability of Dalit women in India and the systemic issues that contribute to their marginalisation. The allegations came to light after the now 18-year-old girl confided in a counsellor visiting her college in Kerala state, detailing years of horrific abuse. Police say the alleged abuse began five years ago when a neighbour allegedly sexually abused the girl, who is the daughter of poor wage labourers from one of India’s most marginalised communities. It is alleged that the abuser filmed the initial assault and police are investigating whether he used these images to blackmail and manipulate the girl into being raped and sexually abused by dozens of other men and boys over the next five years. Kerala Police Deputy Inspector General Ajeetha Begum told CNN that another two men wanted in connection with the case have fled the country. The accused include her schoolmates, relatives, neighbours — men from all corners of her life, ranging from minors to men in their mid-40s, according to case documents reviewed by CNN and interviews with local police. Charges have not yet been filed and the 58 men remain in detention. None of the accused has spoken publicly about the allegations. Under Indian rape laws, the girl has not been identified. The allegations have sent ripples through the girl’s village in the green hills of Kerala, where many work as wage labourers in low-paid jobs like construction and farming. Police say the girl’s parents worked long hours and did not know about the alleged abuse of their daughter. When the allegations emerged last month, some women in the community were sympathetic towards the accused and angry at the survivor, according to local media outlet The News Minute. The women criticised the girl’s clothing and lifestyle and blamed her mother for not watching over her more closely, The News Minute reported. One mother, whose son was among the accused, said he was innocent. She said he had known the girl since she was a baby and “had raised the girl in his arms,” according to the outlet. The case has not sparked the same level of outrage seen in other instances of violence against women in India, such as the rape and murder of a trainee medic in Kolkata last August, which led to nationwide protests. Experts and activists attribute this disparity to the victim’s Dalit identity. Dalits traditionally carry out occupations viewed as ritually “unclean” by Hindu scripture, such as manual scavenging, waste picking and street sweeping. They are often banned from visiting temples and forced to live apart from higher-caste communities, often in squalor and farther from access to services. Despite legislation banning discrimination based on caste, activists say the stigma leaves India’s more than 260 million Dalits vulnerable to abuse and less able to seek redress for crimes committed against them. “When it’s Dalit women, in general the outrage is less across the country,” said Cynthia Stephen, a Dalit rights activist and social policy researcher. There is a sense that “this girl is not ‘one of us,’” she said. The alleged abuse began when the young man from the village molested the girl and took sexually explicit videos and photos, police told CNN. At least three of her abusers promised to marry her, according to police. One threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse. Some of the men acted alone, police said. But others are accused of gang rape. “It’s not that all the cases are connected. But in one case, there might be four or five accused,” said Begum, from Kerala Police. Many of the men contacted the young girl on her father’s phone, through social media apps such as Instagram and WhatsApp, late at night after he went to sleep, police said. The alleged abuse took place in private and public spaces, in homes and in cars, at bus stops and in fields. Some of the cases allegedly involved men who were strangers, living in towns dozens of miles away. Some of the cases involve allegations of human trafficking, because the men forced the girl to travel outside her village, police said. More than half of Dalits in Kerala live in designated areas called “colonies,” known for cramped and harsh living conditions, after years of being denied land ownership under historical laws. Many women and girls living in these colonies lack resources and privacy, making them more vulnerable to abuse, Rekha Raj, a Dalit feminist activist from Kerala, told CNN. Madhumita Pandey, a professor in criminology and gender justice at Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom, said the tight-knit nature of communities such as these colonies could explain why the alleged abuse of the teenage girl was not reported until recently. “They could sometimes be your friend, uncle or neighbour,” she said. It can be harder to report abuse when “the so-called monsters are in our own backyard,” she said. Official statistics support her point: the alleged perpetrator is known to the victim in more than 98% of reported rape cases in Kerala, according to government data. There were 4,241 reported cases of rape against women from oppressed castes in India, including Dalit women, in 2022, the most recent year for which data exists, according to India’s National Crime Records Bureau. That’s equivalent to more than 10 rapes per day. There were more than 31,500 rapes reported overall in 2022, according to the NCRB. The case has highlighted the urgent need to address the systemic issues that make Dalit women particularly vulnerable to violence and abuse in India. _*Bhejane Trust Slams Mining Push In Sinamatella, Warns Of Irreparable Damage*_ Bhejane Trust, a Rhino and wildlife non-profit conservation organisation based out of Victoria Falls, has raised alarm over a new threat to Sinamatella, which is once again under pressure from Chinese coal mining interests. Sunny Yi Feng, a Chinese firm, has applied for permission to mine deep within the park, claiming it needs 16,000 hectares. However, maps suggest the area they want to mine could actually span 22,000 hectares. This development comes despite previous assurances from the Zimbabwean government and the Chinese embassy that they would not support any future mining activities in national parks following earlier attempts to mine in Sinamatella. According to Bhejane Trust, the proposed mining area falls within the Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), a critical area set up to protect the park’s remaining black rhinos. If mining proceeds, these rhinos would have to be relocated, as their survival would be incompatible with the mining operations. The Trust argued that the impacts would extend beyond wildlife: tourism in Sinamatella would suffer, leading to the closure of tourist camps, loss of business, and damage to the park’s infrastructure. Sinamatella would effectively need to be de-proclaimed as a park due to the environmental degradation that mining would cause. The influx of workers and heavy machinery would also expose the area to increased poaching, both for bush meat and commercial purposes. In addition, mining operations would likely lead to severe pollution of water sources, destruction of infrastructure, and social issues such as prostitution, with little to no benefit for the country as a whole. Bhejane Trust asserted that the environmental consequences of coal mining in Sinamatella would be devastating. It would destroy the park’s ecosystem, endanger biodiversity, and significantly harm wildlife habitats, particularly for the black rhinos. Mining would also negatively affect tourism, deterring visitors not just from Sinamatella but from the broader Victoria Falls region, resulting in major losses for Zimbabwe’s tourism industry. Furthermore, the contamination of water sources would not only threaten the park’s animals but also local communities who rely on these waters. Allowing coal mining in Sinamatella would undermine Zimbabwe’s conservation efforts and its commitment to protecting the nation’s natural resources.