Four men from Cowdray Park in Bulawayo were each fined US$150 for assaulting their brother-in-law over a delayed lobola payment. The incident occurred on October 19 near the Cowdray Park signpost, where the group had gathered to play snooker.
According to court records, Silence Maboda, Motion Maboda, Gerald Mupatsi, and Pardon Manzvidza confronted Cosmas Utete, 27, about the outstanding bride price for their sister. They then slapped, punched, and dragged him to the ground in front of bystanders. Utete suffered a swollen eye and bruises and was treated at a local hospital before reporting the attack to the police.
Western Commonage magistrate Jeconia Prince Ncube found the men guilty of assault and ordered them to pay the fines by...
Women in civil partnerships have no inheritance rights when their male partner dies, legal experts say. At a Harare event on October 25, 2025, lawyer Fadzai Ruzive explained that while civil partnerships may allow property sharing upon separation, those rights end at death. All assets revert to the legally married spouse.
Property used by a partner in an extramarital relationship becomes part of the deceased’s estate and must be reported to the Master of the High Court for distribution under the Administration of Estates Act. Lawyer Dorothy Mutungura confirmed that only the lawful wife is recognized as the surviving spouse. However, children from such relationships can inherit, and in rare cases, the partner may claim a share if they...
A married man from Mutare fatally stabbed a soldier after allegedly finding him in bed with his girlfriend early Thursday, October 30, 2025. Kumbirai Mugona, known as Gweja, turned himself in to Chikanga Police Station following the attack that left Abbiton Mangena, a soldier from Masvingo, dead.
Mugona reportedly discovered Mangena naked in the room of Lucy Saunyama, his longtime partner, shortly after midnight. A neighbor said a fight erupted, and Mugona stabbed Mangena multiple times in the head and stomach. Mangena was taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital but died on arrival. Witnesses described blood covering the room and corridor.
Residents said Mugona had financially supported Saunyama, paying her rent and furnishing...
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has warned motorists and transport operators against overloading vehicles, calling it a leading cause of road damage nationwide. It announced strict enforcement of axle load regulations on all major highways, including the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road.
Overloaded trucks will face heavy fines under existing laws. The ministry stated that regular checkpoints and weighbridges will be operational across Zimbabwe to monitor compliance. The move aims to protect major infrastructure investments, such as the ongoing Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road Rehabilitation and Upgrading Project.
Officials emphasized that overloading accelerates road deterioration, leading to potholes, structural...
About 800 families in Harare’s Msasa Park suburb face eviction after courts confirmed the land is owned by Msasa Park (Private) Limited. The company holds title to Stand 560 Chadcombe Township, a 280-hectare property where residents had built homes, believing the land was given to them. Fifty families have already been removed.
The dispute began years ago and escalated in 2023 when the company offered residents the chance to buy their plots at US$15 per square meter. Some refused, insisting the land was donated. Led by Paina Machidza, about 800 people challenged the evictions in court. Multiple rulings, including a July 2025 summary judgment and an October 2025 Supreme Court dismissal, upheld the company’s ownership.
Police oversaw...
The High Court has postponed sentencing for convicted businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe to November 17 after they were found guilty of defrauding the government of more than US$7 million through the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme. A pre-sentencing hearing was scheduled for October 14.
The court determined that Mpofu and Chimombe manipulated the government tender process by using their company, Blackdeck Private Limited, which prosecutors described as a front. They submitted forged tax clearance documents from ZIMRA and false NSSA compliance certificates, both of which are required for tender eligibility. The State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the pair secured the contract through these fraudulent actions.
Justice Sonia Akinbiyi issued a ruling that narrowed a lawsuit filed by Kanifing Municipal Council against eight defendants, allowing only one claim to proceed to trial. The case originally sought five reliefs but has now been reduced to a single issue concerning trespass and damages.
The defendants had moved on May 23, 2025, to dismiss the entire suit, arguing the Supreme Court of The Gambia had already resolved all claims in the case SCCS/02/2023. Justice Akinbiyi agreed that reliefs one through four were conclusively settled by the apex court, citing the doctrine of stare decisis. She stated that revisiting those issues would amount to an unnecessary use of judicial resources.
However, she found that the fifth relief on trespass...
The National Council for Civic Education has launched a nationwide advocacy training program to strengthen citizen engagement across The Gambia. Titled “Advocacy Playbook: Demand Rights and Influence Policy,” the two-week initiative began Monday and will hold two-day sessions in all seven regions, reaching about 150 participants per location.
The program targets members of community organizations, civil society groups, media outlets, marginalized populations and local agencies. Rather than focusing on theory, it emphasizes practical skills such as strategic advocacy planning, lobbying, coalition building and respectful policy engagement. Officials say this approach addresses long-standing exclusion faced by women, youth, persons with...
At the III Financing Summit for Africa’s Infrastructure Development in Luanda, South African official Mataboge highlighted aviation as a key driver of continental integration and economic transformation. Speaking at a high-level session on modernizing African civil aviation infrastructure, he stressed that the success of the Single African Air Transport Market depends on building safe, efficient and modern systems aligned with Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Citing a Continental Aviation Infrastructure Gap Analysis conducted with the African Civil Aviation Commission, International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Bank, Mataboge said Africa requires $25 billion to $30 billion over the next 10 years. Of...
