The Harare City Council recently halted plans to demolish over 5,000 houses built illegally on council land. This decision followed a government directive requiring the council to provide affected homeowners with at least four months' notice before proceeding with demolitions.
Council officials engaged in consultations with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to determine the appropriate course of action. Mayor Jacob Mafume confirmed that demolitions were temporarily suspended, while acting chief development control officer James Mazvimba indicated that demolitions would eventually resume following ministerial guidance.
The council had initially issued 48-hour eviction notices to residents in affected areas, targeting...
The recent council meetings in Bulawayo have revealed significant tensions regarding leadership and governance. The situation centers on Deputy Mayor Ndlovu, who faces bribery charges but remains technically in office. This has created procedural and ethical challenges for council operations.
The key events can be broken down as follows:
During a recent council session, several councillors staged a protest walkout when Deputy Mayor Ndlovu attempted to chair an in-committee meeting. Nine councillors left immediately after the opening prayer, joining five others who had already declined to attend.
The timing of Ndlovu's participation is notable. He avoided the full council meeting but appeared specifically to chair the in-committee...
Armed robbers struck United Refineries in Bulawayo's Kelvin Industrial Area on Friday, December 6, 2024. The intruders entered the administration offices around 1:30 a.m. They immobilized security personnel, disabled surveillance cameras, and used cutting tools to access safes. The thieves stole US$11,069, ZAR20,481, and BWP80 before fleeing.
United Refineries confirmed the incident in a statement. The company reported the crime to the police, who are investigating. United Refineries assured stakeholders that efforts are underway to resume normal operations by Tuesday, December 10.
Bulawayo has seen a surge in armed robberies recently. Police statistics show a dramatic increase, with 13 cases in October 2024 compared to just two in...
Businessman Wicknell Chivayo donated $15,000 to assist with the medical needs of Geoff Nyarota, a veteran journalist and former Chronicle Editor. Chivayo acknowledged this donation in a statement, noting that Nyarota was an exception to his usual dislike of journalists, especially those who use unethical tactics.
Chivayo recognized Nyarota's significant contributions and remarkable career, despite their differences in opinion and political affiliation. He instructed Nyarota's wife to collect the funds from his lawyer to cover the medical expenses.
The businessman emphasized the importance of compassion during this time, rather than using Nyarota's health condition to attack the government or promote divisive opinions. He acknowledged...
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, overturned the suspension of Mr. Ronnie Dube, the Town Clerk of the City of Victoria Falls. Minister Garwe expressed concerns about the council's actions in a letter to the Mayor.
The Minister noted two main issues with the council's decision:
The council violated Section 139 (4) of the Urban Councils Act by creating two inquiry bodies. This could lead to unnecessary financial costs for the council.
The choice to pay allowances to the suspended Town Clerk lacked support from existing council policies.
Minister Garwe's decision aligns with his authority under Section 314 of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15].
The council had quickly held a special meeting...
A famous boxer must pay a bank manager US$18,000 for sleeping with his wife. Charles Manyuchi, who won many boxing titles, had an affair with Chengeto Viola Munyaka at his gym in Masvingo.
Tapiwa Munyaka found out about his wife's affair when he looked at her phone in 2021. He saw pictures of her with Manyuchi. The court papers say the wife got pregnant and had an abortion.
The story turns sad because Munyaka trusted Manyuchi. He took his wife to the boxer's gym to train. He even let her help advertise Manyuchi's boxing matches. The group went to nice places like Kariba to celebrate when Manyuchi won fights.
Munyaka told the court the affair hurt him badly. He says he lost his pride and worried about diseases since they did not have...
A singer got in big trouble over something she wrote online. Kikky Badass, who makes Zim hip-hop music, must pay US$18,000 to lawyer Rodney Makausi.
The problem started in March 2023. Kikky wrote on Instagram that Makausi asked her for sex. She told this to her 235,000 followers. Makausi said this was not true and asked for US$500,000 in court.
Kikky made things worse by not going to court when she needed to. She kept the post up even after people asked her to take it down. She tried to say the court couldn't make her pay in US dollars, but the judge disagreed.
Makausi later asked for less money—US$60,000 instead of US$500,000. The court said he should get US$18,000. He told the court that Kikky's words hurt him a lot. He is a church...
Gift Banda went to court about a fake school paper. The court let him go after he paid US$500. He must stay at his home and not bother anyone about the case until January 3.
The court day had funny parts. Banda came in looking happy in nice clothes. The judge got upset when she saw him in chains. She told guards to take them off since Banda came to the police by himself.
Banda used to help run soccer in Zimbabwe and was also a leader in Bulawayo. His lawyer, Everson Chatambudza, says Banda did nothing wrong. The lawyer told the court that Banda takes care of nine children and owns many things, so he won't run away.
The police say Banda made up fake test results from 1986. They say he used test numbers that belong to someone named...
Zimbabwe plans to buy new cancer machines fast. PRAZ, the group that checks buying plans, said yes to this quick purchase. The money comes from taxes on sugar, which has brought in US$18 million.
Health Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora shared good news. His team asked cancer doctors what machines they need most. They can now buy these machines in just five days instead of waiting long. They want to finish buying before this year ends.
Zimbabwe has two places that treat cancer right now. These are at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare and Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo. The old machines there kept breaking down. The government fixed them, but they need more machines.
The health team has big plans. They want to add more machines at the two main...
