A 21-year-old British woman serving time at Zimbabwe's Chikurubi Prison has attracted widespread attention after her photo circulated online. Taylor Tamara Simone was convicted in August alongside another British citizen for smuggling more than 66 kilograms of cannabis through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. Authorities discovered the drugs in four suitcases after the women arrived on a flight from Thailand in May.
The court sentenced both women to nine years, with three years suspended for good behavior. Social media users have called for her release and offered to raise money for legal costs. Her case resembles that of Brazilian national Karoline Silver Mafra, who went viral from the same prison in 2023, after supporters...
Former All Black Sonny Bill Williams converted to Islam in 2009 after seeking a greater purpose beyond his rugby career. The athlete has faced criticism in New Zealand for openly practicing his faith, but continues to advocate for religious freedom and mutual respect. Williams posted on Instagram that people grow up hearing limited versions of history, while many untold stories could bring communities together rather than push them apart. He acknowledged carrying judgments himself before learning to embrace a broader perspective.
The rugby star believes his Muslim faith has brought discipline and peace to his life. Williams uses his public profile to promote understanding between different cultures and religions. Fans responded...
Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has given local hero Sirizani Butau a Toyota Fortuner and $50,000 for saving lives from a burning bus. Butau earned national recognition after he ran toward a fuel tanker fire on the Harare-Mutare highway in 2021 and rescued trapped passengers from the flames. The tanker carried more than 50,000 liters of petrol when it ignited, creating a massive blaze with the potential for a major explosion.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa presented Butau with the Gold Cross of Zimbabwe Award, one of the country's highest civilian honors for bravery. Chivayo praised Butau in a Facebook post and suggested he might consider launching his trucking business. The businessman said the scars Butau sustained serve as...
A 57-year-old Zimbabwean healthcare worker received a prison term of four years and nine months after admitting he sexually abused a mental health patient under his care. Nelson Ncube of Colchester entered guilty pleas to two charges at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday related to sexual activity with a person suffering from mental disorders between 2020 and 2023.
Prosecutors said Ncube exploited his position at a secure psychiatric facility where he monitored a patient detained under the Mental Health Act. He committed the offenses in areas without camera coverage, such as storage areas and restrooms. The conduct began with unwanted physical contact and progressed to sexual acts and explicit photo exchanges.
The victim confronted Ncube...
Zimbabwe's Quest Motor Manufacturing will start building JAC and Foton vehicles next month as the government reduces imports of automobiles. General manager Carl Fernandes said the factory expects to complete 180 units after the arrival of Chinese components in November. The company plans to construct JAC T9 trucks first before moving to Foton Tunland V9 production.
Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding said Beijing wants to expand cooperation beyond mining into manufacturing sectors that create employment. Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu announced on Thursday that all government agencies must prioritize domestic products starting next year. The directive aims to support factories operating in Mutare and other regions under Vision 2030...
A 14-year-old girl delivered her neighbor's baby after adult bystanders fled in panic at a Zimbabwe shopping center. Chiedza Mushunje, a seventh-grade student from Macheke, responded when 18-year-old Ruth went into unexpected labor at Mhiripiri Shopping Centre under Chief Makoni's jurisdiction.
Multiple older women, among them Mushunje's mother, abandoned the scene when they saw blood. The teenager remained alone, catching the infant while the adults tossed blankets from a distance. Ruth and her newborn were later transferred to Marondera Provincial Hospital for recovery care.
Teclar Mushumbi acknowledged leaving her daughter behind while searching for transport. Granny Esther Chinguruve, who severed the umbilical cord afterward...
Harare authorities plan to seize properties from residents who allow drug trafficking operations inside their homes. Mayor Jacob Mafume announced the enforcement measure at a marathon event, stating that dealers who target schoolchildren will lose their houses. He urged citizens to report suspicious activity because officials already know many traffickers by name.
Zimbabwe replaced minor fines with mandatory 15-year prison terms for drug possession. Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the previous 30-dollar penalty failed to stop repeat offenders who simply paid and resumed selling. Courts will handle all narcotics cases under the revised legal framework rather than accepting cash payments.
Presidential spokesperson George...
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah honored Zambia's support for her country's independence movement as the neighboring nation marked 61 years of freedom from British colonial rule on Friday. She said Zambian citizens provided shelter and assistance to Namibians fleeing apartheid oppression when other options did not exist.
Zambia broke away from Britain on Oct. 24, 1964, becoming one of southern Africa's earliest independent states. Nandi-Ndaitwah told President Hakainde Hichilema that his nation's early liberation inspired other territories fighting for self-determination.
The Namibian leader described Zambia as family rather than simply a geographic neighbor. She called for continued cooperation between the two countries to...
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah demanded immediate implementation of economic reforms after concluding a two-day public-private partnership summit in Windhoek on Friday. She told business leaders and government officials that discussions must yield concrete outcomes that benefit citizens across the country.
The administration has issued multiple directives targeting agriculture, migration policy, and airport infrastructure improvements at Hosea Kutako International Airport before the current budget cycle ends. The president also announced plans to grant five-year permits to serious investors and simplify visa requirements under revised regulations.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said her government will introduce tax reforms designed to...
