Wednesday 18 June 2025 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaatWAaBadmi3bUGfI3K *THE HEADLINES* *Mawarire Accuses ED Of “Monetizing Problems” With Untendered and highly scandalous US$437 Million Contract….* *….As Chivayo-Linked Firm Gets US$52.5 Million Advance Payment In Massive Cancer Deal* *Too many areas requiring urgent attention – presidential spokesperson says following Mnangagwa’s controversial visit to public referral hospitals* *Zimbabwe Holds Interest Rates at 35% as Mushayavanhu Cites Global Tensions* *There is enough ZWG supply – RBZ says as traders flag banknotes shortages* *Zimbabwe suffocates from cheap imports* *Active Social Media Participation Sinks Mzembi* *After Harare City Council probe, government hints at Commission of Inquiry into Bulawayo’s operations* *Zimbabwe embraces smart city technology to tame traffic offences* *Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana sign treaty to boost cross-border conservation, livelihoods* *Persecuted AMH journalist Blessed Mhlanga’s trial in false start again* *Last Witness Of Air India Crash Is Now Traumatized: Every time Aryan Asari hears the sound of an airplane, he darts out of the house to look for it* *Epworth Local Authority to construct an advanced water treatment plant to ease water challenges* *Prophet Jailed For Raping Young Woman During “Cleansing Rituals”* *Pit bulls owner in custody* *Uganda leader signs new law allowing military trials for civilians* *Three Saudi clubs chasing Son* *Bayern Munich will target Brighton and Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma, 28, and Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo, 26, if they miss out on Spain and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, 22* *Manchester United have agreed a one-year contract with English goalkeeper Tom Heaton to keep the 39-year-old at Old Trafford* *Napoli are attempting to sign Manchester United and England winger Jadon Sancho, 25, after his unsuccessful loan spell at Chelsea* *THE DETAILS* _*Mawarire Accuses ED Of “Monetizing Problems” With Untendered and highly scandalous US$437 Million Contract….*_ President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent visit to Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe Hospitals, along with the NatPharm warehouse, on Monday, June 16, has ignited a fresh controversy, with Jealousy Mawarire accusing the tour of being a “poor window dressing gimmick” to justify a massive, untendered cancer treatment equipment contract. Mawarire is a former spokesperson for the National Patriotic Front (NPF) and a former close associate of the late former President Robert Mugabe. President Mnangagwa had said on X (formerly Twitter) that his hospital visits were aimed at gaining a clearer understanding of the current state of public health services. However, Mawarire scoffed at the explanation, alleging the tour was designed to “justify, as usual, the monetisation of our problems.” Mawarire linked the visit to a US$437,282,400.00 contract for cancer treatment equipment. He claims this deal was signed between the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and TTM Global Medical Exports (PTY) Limited, a South African company reportedly linked Wicknell Chivayo, without going to tender. Wrote Mawarire: We know you have already, through your office, signed a $439m dollar contract with a South African company, TTM Global Medical Exports without going to tender. He further alleged an abuse of the recently introduced “sugar tax” being collected by the government. Mawarire pointed fingers at Chivayo, referring to him as Mnangagwa’s “obese proxy,” and claiming Chivayo originated a “silly ‘presidential scheme for the provision of cancer treatment equipment’ proposal” that the OPC subsequently approved. Commenting on the procurement contract, Mawarire labelled the entire arrangement a “scam.” Mawarire criticised the timing of President Mnangagwa’s hospital tour, coming two months after the contract was allegedly signed. He called it a “poor retrospective gimmick meant to sanitise the more than $400m heist that Rushwaya & ED pulled with the TTM Global scandal.” He also singled out Martin Rushwaya, who accompanied President Mnangagwa on the tour, as “the most scandalous & corrupt govt official that Zimbabwe has ever had since 1980.” _*…As Chivayo-Linked Firm Gets US$52.5 Million Advance Payment In Massive Cancer Deal*_ Questions are being raised regarding a recently awarded US$412 million contract for the supply of cancer treatment equipment to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), particularly concerning the terms of payment and the background of the company involved. The contract, which is linked to businessman Wicknell Chivayo, has drawn sharp criticism from former CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere. According to Mahere, a key term of the contract stipulates an advance payment of US$52.5 million to the supplying company, TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Ltd, before any equipment is delivered..The payment is designated for the “mobilisation of the supplier’s obligations under the agreement.” Mahere argues that this advance effectively represents the “true value of the equipment,” suggesting the remaining sum is an inflated figure, a practice she claims was also observed in past ballot printing contracts. Mahere highlighted a pattern in state contracts awarded to Chivayo, citing previous deals that she alleges yielded questionable results despite huge payments. She pointed to a US$5.6 million payment for a solar farm that reportedly resulted in a “shack,” and a US$40 million contract for ballot papers that she claims were delivered late and caused confusion for both CCC and ZANU PF parties.Wrote Mahere: They want to give him US$412 million for cancer treatment equipment. What do you think he will do? In a direct address to Chivayo on social media, Mahere posed a series of pointed questions about the contract. She demanded to know the date on which his South African company, TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Ltd, tendered for the supply of the equipment, and whether a copy of the call for public tenders exists. Furthermore, Mahere pressed Chivayo to explain the basis for the nearly half a billion US dollar value of the contract. She particularly questioned how his company was awarded such a substantial contract given that TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Ltd reportedly “came into existence in November 2024, meaning that it is less than a year old.” Mahere also raised concerns about the company’s physical address being listed as a hotel, asking if it is a “briefcase company” and if it “manufacture[s] cancer treatment equipment at Da Vinci Hotel and Suites.” _*Too many areas requiring urgent attention – presidential spokesperson says following Mnangagwa’s controversial visit to public referral hospitals*_ PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba, has acknowledged the dire state of Zimbabwe’s public hospitals, highlighting infrastructure decay, policy gaps and systematic overload. Charamba was speaking following Mnangagwa’s visit to Zimbabwe’s main referral hospitals, Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe, on Monday. The visits follow public outcry over the dysfunctional state of public hospitals. Mnangagwa’s government has long neglected general hospitals, which now face crumbling infrastructure, medicine shortages, costly patient care and poor wages that have led to low staff morale and a massive brain drain. “Our role as Presidential staffers was to note areas requiring immediate, medium and long-term interventions, and they were just too many, in order to help shape effective health delivery policy. “It was clear from the visit that the whole health delivery hierarchy needed attention. “Failures at basic primary levels like clinics, municipal clinics and district hospitals transmitted themselves all the way to referral hospitals, leading to a system which is creaking from an overload, disrepair and fresh investments. “Interventions have got to be systemic, a lack which in fact explains the rise of top-notch private care-givers who are a ringing antipode to massive failures in the public health system,” Charamba wrote on his X account. Zimbabwe’s referral hospitals are overloaded and overwhelmed, as most primary care clinics are incapacitated and unable to handle even basic health issues. The presidential spokesman also said Mnangagwa witnessed the Parirenyatwa Hospital’s Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Wing operating without curtains or heating, compromising patient privacy and comfort. Many wards do not have enough blankets, and most have broken windows. Charamba added that there are serious administrative inefficiencies across the Ministries of Finance, Local Government, and Health that urgently require a more hands-on approach. _*Zimbabwe Holds Interest Rates at 35% as Mushayavanhu Cites Global Tensions*_ Zimbabwe, wary of a rise in global tensions, resolved to leave its bank policy rate unchanged at 35%, according to John Mushayavanhu, the central bank governor. “The MPC noted the broad-based deceleration of global growth occasioned by escalating trade tensions, geo-economic fragmentation, regional and international conflicts and policy uncertainty,” Mushayavanhu said in a statement Monday after a surprise meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee. “Considering the challenging and rapidly evolving risks to the global growth outlook, the MPC advised the Reserve Bank to maintain a sufficiently tight monetary policy stance.” The central bank was set to hold a rate setting meeting only later this month on June 27, according to a schedule available on its website. Despite, the current uncertain global environment, the bank said it still sees 6% growth in the domestic economy as achievable this year. The strong performance of agriculture is expected to help spur the expansion after improved output from key crops including corn, tobacco and cotton. “Other sectors are also expected to record positive growth performance, benefiting from the prevailing price and exchange rate stability,” Mushayavanhu added. The southern African nation has kept rates unchanged since it lifted them last September in response to a sharp devaluation of its gold-backed currency, the ZiG. Businesses have repeatedly asked the central bank to reconsider its tight monetary policy stance, which is causing a severe liquidity crunch in the The bank maintains that its policy has helped stabilize the ZiG, short for Zimbabwe Gold, and is seeing increased usage in the economy. It is now used in 43% of transactions in the economy up from 26% last April, according to the governor. The foreign currency reserves backing the ZiG stood at $701 million as of last Friday. The International Monetary Fund last week also voiced support for the ZiG to become the sole currency in the economy. The ZiG is the nation’s sixth attempt at establishing a functioning local currency since 2009. _*There is enough ZWG supply – RBZ says as traders flag banknotes shortages*_ The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says adequate stocks of ZWG notes are available to meet the current trade demands across the key economic sectors. The announcements come at a time when the majority of citizens outside the capital of Harare have never felt the texture of the ZWG notes. In provinces such as Bulawayo and the Midlands, up to Beitbridge, traders have resorted to the use of US$ and the South African Rand as change due to the scarcity of ZWG notes. Even in Harare, citizens continue to struggle to access the local unit in hard cash for transactional purposes. As a result, the ZWG accessibility problems, which characterised the local unit since its launch on April 5 2024 have persisted for more than a year, prompting analysts to blame such a tight grip for the eroding confidence in the currency. In a recent statement, RBZ governor Dr John Mushayavanhu said he had noted concerns coming from the transacting public relating to the availability of ZWG cash and its usage, particularly from areas outside Harare. “The RBZ wishes to advise that usage of the local currency, ZWG, has improved significantly in the economy. Precisely, the proportion of local currency settlements on the National Payment System from ZWG7,86 billion in April 2024 to ZWG56,8 billion (43%) as at May 30 2025. In tandem, the Reserve Bank has been disbursing adequate cash to banks in line with demand. “As at June 12 2025, the total ZWG deposits in the economy amounted to about ZWG16 billion, of which over ZWG207 million was cash held by banks, which meets optimal requirements and is sufficient to support daily deposits and withdrawals by the public,” he said. Mushayavanhu said the central bank is currently working with banking institutions to ensure the wider availability and distribution of ZWG cash through banking halls and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). “The prevailing currency and exchange rate stability , coupled with measures being taken by the government to increase the usage of ZWG in the economy is expected to result in increased usage of the local currency in both electronic and physical form,” he added. _*Zimbabwe suffocates from cheap imports*_ The concerted efforts are aimed at protecting consumers while ensuring fair competition on the market place, deterring illegal activities and upholding the integrity of legitimate businesses. More to follow… _*Active Social Media Participation Sinks Mzembi*_ Former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi has been denied bail and remanded in custody until July 1, when his long-delayed trial is expected to commence. Harare magistrate Don Ndirowei made the ruling on Monday, citing Mzembi’s continued presence on social media while in self-imposed exile as a key reason for rejecting his bail application. Mzembi was arrested last Friday by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), shortly after quietly returning to Zimbabwe and meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House. He is accused of defaulting on court appearances dating back to 2019 and failing to comply with three outstanding warrants of arrest. His lawyer, Mr. Killian Mandiki, submitted that Mzembi had not willfully absconded, arguing that his client had received court permission to temporarily retain his passport in late 2018 to seek emergency medical treatment in South Africa. Diagnosed with advanced rectal cancer, Mzembi reportedly underwent surgery there before relocating to Zambia in early 2024 due to travel document complications. Mandiki told the court that upon arriving in Zambia, Mzembi’s condition deteriorated sharply, requiring urgent hospitalization, oxygen support, and close medical monitoring for over 10 days. Medical records were tendered to support his claim. However, the State—represented by Acting Deputy Prosecutor-General Ms. Tendai Shonhayi—argued that Mzembi failed to make any effort to return and cancel his arrest warrants after his alleged recovery in Zambia in 2024. The prosecution further noted that despite his medical claims, Mzembi actively campaigned on social media for Saviour Kasukuwere during the 2023 presidential elections. In his ruling, Magistrate Ndirowei said, “There is a gap as to what transpired with his medical condition. The attached reports could have been useful had he presented himself in 2019, not in 2025.” He further noted that after his reported discharge in 2024, Mzembi made no effort to regularize his legal status or surrender to the courts. “He was not sick to the extent he wants the court to believe. He was active on social media and politically involved,” Ndirowei stated. He concluded that the State had proven, on a balance of probabilities, that Mzembi had defaulted willfully. Consequently, Ndirowei confirmed the warrants of arrest, revoked bail, and committed Mzembi to remand prison pending trial. Apart from the issue of absconding, Mzembi also faces charges of criminal abuse of office. Prosecutors allege that as Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, he misappropriated television sets worth US$2 million that were procured for fan parks during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He is also accused of failing to return his passport by November 19, 2018, and missing a scheduled court appearance on January 18, 2019. _*After Harare City Council probe, government hints at Commission of Inquiry into Bulawayo’s operations*_ AS the Commission of Inquiry probing the operations of the Harare City Council wrapped up and submitted its findings, the government has hinted that a similar approach could be replicated for other local authorities, with Bulawayo identified as being riddled with maladministration. The Commission, which was chaired by retired judge Justice Maphios Cheda, on Tuesday submitted its report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa after a year-long investigation into the Harare City Council. The Commission uncovered the shortcomings of the Harare City Council, which is dogged by corruption, resulting in poor service delivery in the capital. Speaking after the presentation of the report at State House on Tuesday, the Minister of Local Government, Daniel Garwe, said local authorities are plagued by decay stemming from poor governance. “That is why the President has put in place a Commission of Inquiry, it is born out of the decay in the way our local authorities, especially our urban authorities, are being run. Harare City Council is number one, and Bulawayo City Council is number two going forward. “I do not know yet, but we have made the recommendation that we need to have a thorough investigation of all our urban local authorities because there is a lot of decay,” said Garwe. During the hearings, which were conducted over a period of nine months, the Jacob Mafume-led council was exposed for its extravagance, with officials taking home hefty perks. This is despite the council bemoaning a shortage of funds in its operations, which has seen it failing to provide basics to residents. A clean-up is expected to be conducted at Town House once President Mnangagwa has reviewed the report and its recommendations. With the findings remaining confidential for now, Garwe said his ministry now awaits further instructions from President Mnangagwa. “They have finished the report. The chairman and myself, as the Minister of Local Government, have come to present the report. “The details of the report cannot be disclosed today because the President has to go through the report, sit down, finalise it, and give us the way forward,” he said. _*Zimbabwe embraces smart city technology to tame traffic offences*_ THE government has approved the implementation of the Smart City concept, which aims to curb traffic offences and reduce road accidents. The Smart City initiative will be rolled out by telecommunications company TelOne. The system will incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI), including components such as cameras with automatic number plate and facial recognition capabilities. Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing, Tuesday, the Minister of Information said the home-grown system would address traffic violations using modern technology. “The government is set to accelerate the implementation of a Home-Grown Smart Traffic Management System, after Cabinet approved the rollout of a proof of concept in 2020, which was subsequently utilised during the COVID-19 period and thereafter. “This is meant to address unwarranted traffic congestion, road accidents, and traffic law violations. This innovative system utilises advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and big data analytics to enhance traffic flow, road safety, and transparency,” said Muswere. Zimbabwe has lagged behind in addressing traffic violations, with offenders often escaping punishment due to an archaic ticketing system. However, given Zimbabwe’s ongoing power and internet challenges, there is scepticism over the feasibility of the system’s success in the country.. Muswere added that the system would be implemented in phases, starting with Harare and Bulawayo. “The Home-Grown Traffic Management System will be rolled out in phases, commencing with Harare and Bulawayo, followed by other major towns. To support effective implementation, several key enablers will be monitored, including a robust project governance framework, reliable power sources, stable internet connectivity, and strategic system integration with supporting platforms and institutions. “Specialised courts will assist in expediting justice delivery as the system operates. This localised approach is expected to foster knowledge transfer, skills development, and national pride while promoting self-reliance and sustainability,” he said. _*Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana sign treaty to boost cross-border conservation, livelihoods*_ BOTSWANA, South Africa, and Zimbabwe have signed a treaty to establish the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, aiming at promoting cross-border environmental conservation, cultural heritage protection, and sustainable socio-economic development. The countries will work together to protect nature and cultural heritage in the Greater Mapungubwe area, while also improving people’s lives through conservation and sustainable development. Speaking during a post-cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said the people in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area share common values, interests, and cultural ties and are therefore working together to create strategies that support both community well-being and environmental conservation. “The objective of the Treaty is to establish the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area for the promotion of collaborative conservation of the environment and shared natural and cultural heritage resources for the benefit of people in the Transfrontier Conservation Area. “Owing to shared values, interests and cultures among the people in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, the governments of Botswana,News South Africa and Zimbabwe are coming together to develop models for enhancing livelihoods and conservation efforts. “The Treaty will promote ecosystem integrity, biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage resource management and sustainable socio-economic development across international boundaries. “The Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area will comprise the following areas: the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, in Botswana; the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site in South Africa; and the Tuli Circle Safari Area, Maramani and other surrounding Wildlife Management Areas in Zimbabwe. Communities in the Greater Mapungubwe area face major problems like human-wildlife conflicts, climate change effects, and limited job or income options for locals. Meanwhile, according to authorities, in Zimbabwe, 300 people were killed in human-wildlife conflicts nationwide between 2019 and 2023, with recent reports indicating that 18 people were killed in this year’s first quarter alone. _*Persecuted AMH journalist Blessed Mhlanga’s trial in false start again*_ The trial of Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist Blessed Mhlanga, accused of transmitting data messages inciting violence, failed to start again on Tuesday after the presiding magistrate failed to show up due to poor health. Magistrate Learnmore Mapiye is presiding over the hearing with Mhlanga now jointly charged with his employer, Heart & Soul TV (HSTv), a subsidiary of AMH. Trial is now expected to begin on July 17. Mhlanga and his employer are being charged under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, but were arrested separately. The journalist was arrested in February this year and spent 72 days in pretrial detention. He was granted US$500 bail by High Court Judge Justice Gibson Mandaza on his third freedom bid. Mhlanga landed in the dock after HSTV published a press conference by Zanu PF war veteran Blessed Geza, who was calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation. Geza is currently in hiding. _*Every time Aryan Asari heard the sound of an airplane, he would go darting out of the house to look for it.*_ AHMEDABAD. – Every time Aryan Asari heard the sound of an airplane, he would go darting out of the house to look for it. Spotting planes was something of a hobby for him, his father Maganbhai Asari said. Aryan loved the roaring sound of the engine fill the air and then grow louder as the plane cruised above him, leaving behind chalky threads of contrail in the sky. But now, the very thought of it makes him sick. Last Thursday, the 17-year-old had been on the terrace of Mr Asari’s house in Ahmedabad, making videos of airplanes, when an Air India Dreamliner 787-8 crashed right before his eyes and burst into flames, killing 241 on board. Nearly 30 people were also killed on the ground. The moment was captured by Aryan on his phone. “I saw the plane. It was going down and down. Then it wobbled and crashed right before my eyes,” he told BBC Gujarati in an interview earlier this week. The video, now a crucial clue for investigators trying to find the cause of the crash, has sent ripples through the news media and put Aryan – a high school student – at the centre of one of the worst aviation disasters in the country’s history. “We have been swamped by interview requests. Reporters have been milling around my house day and night asking to speak to him,” Mr Asari told the BBC. The incident – and what has followed since – has had a “devastating impact” on Aryan, who is traumatised by what he saw. “My son is so scared that he has stopped using his phone,” Mr Asari said. The family ate lunch together, after which Mr Asari left for work, leaving the children at home. Aryan stepped out on the terrace and started making videos of the house to show to his friends. That’s when he spotted the Air India plane and began filming it, he told BBC Gujarati. As the plane went on a downward spiral, he kept filming it, unable to grasp what was about to happen. But when thick smoke filled the air and fire spewed out of the buildings, he finally realised what he had just witnessed. He sent the video to his father and called him up. Mr Asari also asked his son to not share the video further. However, too scared and shocked, Aryan sent it to a few of his friends. “The next thing we knew, the clip was everywhere.” The next few days were a nightmare for the family. Neighbours, reporters and camera persons flooded Mr Asari’s small house day and night, requesting to speak to Aryan. The family also received a visit from the police, who took Aryan to the station and recorded his statement. Mr Asari clarified, that contrary to reports, Aryan was not detained, but that police questioned him for a few hours about what he saw. – BBC _*Epworth Local Authority to construct an advanced water treatment plant to ease water challenges*_ The Epworth Local Board plans to build a massive water plant at Lyndhurst Dam, the main source of water for the dormitory suburb. Lyndhurst Dam produces close to 45 mega litres of clean and safe drinking water on a daily basis and construction of the treatment plant will improve supplies and ensure residents will access adequate safe water. Plans for the ambitious project are part of the comprehensive Epworth masterplan recently presented to the Harare Minister of State for Provincial and Devolution affairs, Charles Tawengwa. The Epworth Local Authority stressed the importance of the water plant to improve water supply since only 57% of its units have improved access to water supply. The Epworth Local Board is engaging other partners, namely the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and the Upper Manyame Sub Catchment Council to embark on this immense project. The Epworth Local Board Town Secretary Dr Wilton Mhanda confirmed the development, saying the Local Authority is currently facing challenges to reach the community’s daily water needs. “Only 57% of our formal units have access to improved water supply which is way below our required target. Our thrust as the local Authority is to improve water supply thus ensuring every citizen has access to clean and safe drinking water,” said Dr Mhanda. In presenting its Master Plan to the Harare Minister of State for Provincial and Devolution Affairs last week the Epworth Local, the Local Board emphasized its objective was to develop a water treatment plant, identifying Lyndhurst Dam as the location for the project. “We are going to develop a water treatment plant at Lyndhurst Dam, establishing the dam as the holding dam for the water treatment plant,” reads the presentation. The Local Board made public its intentions to develop 45 mega litres capacity reservoirs at Ventersburg water reservoirs and installing trunk water lines at Lyndhurst Dam to the reservoirs. “We are going to develop dedicated trunk water lines to Lyndhurst Dam, the treatment plant and to the reservoirs,” reads the presentation. The Epworth Local Board plans to partner major stakeholders who are experienced in water supply and sanitation so as to come up with an effectual water treatment plant. “We will also work with Harare Sunway City and the Goromonzi Rural District Council,” Dr Mhanda said. The Epworth Local Board is a local planning authority tasked with overseeing the development of the Epworth Local Government Area. Its primary objective is to promote the well-being of the local community through considerations of health, safety, amenity, convenience, efficiency, and economic progress.New members who wish to receive daily news upda from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012.To fulfil this mandate, the Local Board prepared a major forward plan called the Epworth Master Plan which guides land use activities in its area. The national development context for the preparation of the Epworth Master Plan was driven by the Zimbabwean Constitution and the country’s Vision 2030 economic plan which further aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The preparation of the Epworth Master Plan responds to the current challenges in Epworth. Among the top priority areas that the proposed Epworth Master Plan seeks to contain and address is the structural challenge of informality. The Master Plan will be used as the basis for crafting tools and other frameworks for development planning and management in the area. Furthermore, the Master Plan identifies the spatial development problems and opportunities in the Epworth study area and goes further to proffer clear-cut spatial development solutions for and in Epworth _*Prophet Jailed For Raping Young Woman During “Cleansing Rituals”*_ A 46-year-old self-proclaimed prophet from Kapfumba Village under Chief Musana in Bindura has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of rape by the Bindura Regional Magistrates’ Court. Tichaona Usayi was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman who had sought spiritual healing from him. The crime occurred in December 2024 after the victim’s family approached Usayi to help her recover from an undisclosed illness. During what he described as “cleansing rituals,” Usayi exploited the woman over several days at his shrine. Despite the victim’s attempts to resist, he overpowered her and went on to commit the offence. The situation was further aggravated when Usayi threatened to harm the woman if she spoke out about the ordeal. The matter came to light in January 2025 when the survivor disclosed the traumatic experience to her mother. Police were subsequently alerted, leading to the arrest and prosecution of the accused. _*Pit bulls owner in custody*_ A HARARE man whose pit bulls fatally attacked a passerby in Bluffhill last month remains in custody, but has informed the court of his intention to apply for bail. Previously, the accused, Mike Mapinga, through his former lawyer, Mr Stephen Chikotora, opted not to pursue a bail application, citing the need to first address an outstanding warrant of arrest. The warrant stemmed from allegations that he raped his maid. The warrant was later cancelled by regional magistrate Ms Sandra Mupindu after a medical doctor testified that Mapinga’s failure to appear in court was due to illness. With this matter now cleared, the trial for the rape case is scheduled to begin on June 26. Regarding the culpable homicide case, Mapinga has hired a new lawyer and plans to submit a fresh bail application on June 27 before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa. The State alleges that Mapinga, the owner of three pit bulls and a Rottweiler, acted negligently by leaving his unmuzzled dogs unsupervised in the yard of his rented property. The yard was only secured by a low brick-and-mortar perimeter It is alleged that after releasing the dogs into the yard, Mapinga went into his bedroom, leaving them unattended. The dogs reportedly scaled the low wall and attacked Samuel Machara, a passerby walking along a nearby street. Machara reportedly sustained severe injuries to his neck, hands, legs, stomach, and other parts of his body, which ultimately led to his death. _*Uganda leader signs new law allowing military trials for civilians*_ Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law an amendment that will allow, once again, civilians to be tried in a military court under certain circumstances. A previous law permitting such trials was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in January. Before that ruling, civilians could be taken to a military tribunal if they had been found with military equipment like guns or army uniforms. Activists had complained that the law was used to persecute government critics. Parliamentarians passed the amendment last month amid a heavy police presence and a boycott by opposition lawmakers, who argued that it violated the ruling by the country's highest court. _*Three Saudi clubs chasing Son*_ Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah have expressed interest in Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea forward Son Heung-min, 32, with the trio each prepared to pay £34m for him *Bayern Munich will target Brighton and Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma, 28, and Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo, 26, if they miss out on Spain and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, 22* *Manchester United have agreed a one-year contract with English goalkeeper Tom Heaton to keep the 39-year-old at Old Trafford* *Napoli are attempting to sign Manchester United and England winger Jadon Sancho, 25, after his unsuccessful loan spell at Chelsea*