Zimbabwean policemen screen delegates before participating at the All Stakeholders meeting to draft a new constitution at the Harare international conference center, July 14, 2009. Zimbabwe resumed a convention to draw up a new constitution on Tuesday after it was halted on the first day following clashes between rival political parties that exposed tensions within a new unity government.
A Zimbabwean policeman stands guard as delegates participate at the All Stakeholders meeting to draft a new constitution at the Harare international conference center, July 14, 2009. Zimbabwe resumed a convention to draw up a new constitution on Tuesday after it was halted on the first day following clashes between rival political parties that exposed tensions within a new unity government.
Mystery Baby's Leg Lands Pair in Court
Harare — Two self-styled prophets stunned Glenda-le villagers when they mysteriously retrieved a baby's leg still dripping blood from a woman's hut and accused her of practising witchcraft and causing the death of the minor.
However, the duo ran out of luck when they ordered the villagers to illegally exhume the body of the child, who had died a few days back, only to find the decomposing body intact.
The two escaped from the scene, but were later arrested and have since appea-red in court charged with employing "non-natural" means to resolve crimes.
Princess Munjodzi and Taurai Nsiku allegedly claimed the leg belonged to a baby that had recently died in the area and challenged the villagers to dig up the grave.
The two were not asked to plead when they appeared before Bindura magistrate Ms Miriam Banda yesterday.
The State, represented by prosecutor Mr Guni Guni, told the court the incident occurred at a farm in Glendale on June 24 this year when the duo went to Ms Everess Chazika's home.
Ms Chazika had sought the duo's services after her husband continued to suffer from hallucinations.
The prophets allegedly summoned villagers and the head at the farm to witness them cleansing the home of evil spirits.
During the session, the self-styled prophets entered the woman's bedroom and emerged with a baby's leg dripping with blood.
Munjodzi and Nsiku then pointed a finger at Ms Chazika, accusing her of using the baby's leg during her witchcraft errands.
The mother of the baby that had died three weeks earlier was among the villagers who witnessed the exorcism and allegedly identified the leg as belonging to her late baby.
Ms Chazika denied any knowledge of the leg and the prophet asked her to hold a hen claiming if she denied the truth the chicken would die.
The villagers allegedly quickly brought the chicken, which was handed over to Ms Chazika.
The prophet then asked her if she used the human leg in witchcraft, which she denied.
The chicken reportedly nodded three times and died instantly.
Munjodzi and Nsiku then challenged the villagers to dig up the baby's grave claiming it was empty while Ms Chazika insisted she never used witchcraft.
The prophets claimed that Ms Chazika and other witches had feasted on the baby's body.
The villagers, with the blessing of the headmen, dug up the grave only to discover the baby's body still intact despite being in an advanced state of decomposition.
Munjodzi and Nsiku disappeared from the scene only to be arrested early this month.
Police are still keen to find out how Munjodzi and Nsiku came to possess the baby's leg. It was also not clear how the leg was disposed of.
The two are expected back in court tomorrow.
Zhombe Cult group arrested
Zhombe Cult members of the Davidic Kingdom Garden of Eden sect have been arrested and charged with public indecency.
Zhombe Cult members of the Davidic Kingdom Garden of Eden sect have been arrested and charged with public indecency.
According to police the two will appear in court soon .The two women are members of a cult group which does its day to day activities naked including their religious gathering saying they are restoring what was in the Garden of Eden.
The cult members were picked up by the police on Monday morning following a story that was flighted on ZBC News bulletin on Sunday evening. They were arrested at their rural home in Ndlalambi village in Zhombe.
The Chief Inspector at Zhombe Police station Charles Pwangwaungana who arrested the two said they were very cooperative and did not resist arrest.
He however highlighted that when they were arresting the women who are believed to be above 40 years of age the father was weeping pleading with the police not to arrest the two.
According to Chief Inspector Pwangwaungana the father said, he needs the women to take care of him as he was all alone at home. His wife was said to have gone to Gokwe for a church conference.
When our news crew arrived at Zhombe police station the twins who were now dressed were preaching and justifying their religion to the police who had gathered at the station. Memory King David as she is known of citing verses trying maybe to convert one or two officers.
The police however had a difficult time in trying to get information from the Ndlalambi twins who were only prepared to answer biblical questions and not personal questions.
The two were charged with public indecency under Section 77 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Chapter 9.23.
Under this charge they are liable to a fine or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or both.
The two admitted to their charge which was read out to them by simple nodding their heads.
They were finger printed and before they were taken to their cells they also signed their warned and cautioned statement.
The two now await for their court appearance which is likely to be within a period of two days.
The cults initially started as a 22 member group which broke away from the Seventh day Adventist .The cult later disintegrated after they were arrested and thrown into Khami prison for a month .The women say their nakedness is a way of restoring what was in the Garden of Eden.
IYASA Scoops Two Awards at TIBA Festival
The energetic, drama filled and comical on-stage antics of the award winning IYASA have not only moved the audiences at home in Zimbabwe but have similarly captivated audiences the world over. Last month the theatrical dance troupe received two awards at the prestigious Theatre International Belgrade Adventure (TIBA) Festival held in the capital city of Serbia, Belgrade from 6th to 12th June 2009.
IYASA won the Grand Prix Award for the Best Overall Performance at the festival as well as the Award for the Most Significant Artistic Achievement which they shared with the Trickster Theatre Company from Switzerland. Both awards were for the production African Marchen; a musical, dance and theatre production heralding how children grow up in Zimbabwe, the games they play, the adventures, school days and their general livelihood.
The play, a Dschungel Wien Theatre production was Iyasa's first ever production to be performed in German [Deustch]. However in Serbia it was presented in English. The play was co-written and directed by Nkululeko Innocent Dube of IYASA and Stephan Rabl of DWT, a Vienna, Austria based Theatre Company. It is the play's striking uniqueness in its fusion of European and African styles of performance that probably won them the most significant artistic achievement award. All the awards are decided upon by an international jury.
The TIBA festival is held annually in Serbia and brings together worldwide productions identified in theatres and at festivals by the organisers with particular interest in productions that reflect new trends in theatre and dance for a cause. At the end of the festival four awards are given to productions at the jurisdiction of an international jury comprising renowned theatre practitioners and choreographers. Several countries were represented at the festival including Iran, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Denmark and the hosts Serbia.
The group continues to be awed by the world's response for their performances. “We feel honoured that the world recognizes Zimbabwean talent,” said Nkululeko Dube of IYASA. “We were presenting this production alongside better equipped productions fusing theatre with sophisticated technology. There surely can be no better way to send an early Christmas present to all Zimbabweans and those that support us. We feel proud to be Zimbabwe's cultural ambassadors. I think the Zimbabwean community and international community have believed in these young people. We can not take that for granted. They must share credit in such achievements.”
- By Shepherd Chabata
Operation Hakudzokwi coming back stronger
Operation Hakudzokwi which was jointly carried by security personnel to restore sanity at Chiadzwa diamond fields is bouncing back bigger and more re-invigorated to deal once and for all with illegal diamond dealers and panners at Chiadzwa, says the Governor and Resident Minister for Manicaland province, Cde Chris Mushohwe.
Operation Hakudzokwi which was jointly carried by security personnel to restore sanity at Chiadzwa diamond fields is bouncing back bigger and more re-invigorated to deal once and for all with illegal diamond dealers and panners at Chiadzwa, says the Governor and Resident Minister for Manicaland province, Cde Chris Mushohwe.
Cde Mushowe said this to the community which thronged Mukwada primary school to witness the installation of Hondo Mukwada as the fifteenth Headman Mukwada under chief Marange.
Governor Mushohwe expressed concern over the resurfacing of illegal diamond dealing and panning activities but was quick to point out that this will be over soon, as the government will not rest until the menace is stopped.
In his address Governor Mushohwe gave a strong warning to illegal diamond dealers and panners to stop forthwith their unlawful activities as they will have no one but themselves to blame when operation Hakudzokwi is re-energized and reinvigorated.
He challenged newly installed Headman Mukwada to take a leading role in spearheading development and conservation programmes, and implored those in leadership positions to ensure that government programmes benefit the targeted people.
Cde Mushohwe urged people in the diamond rich area to accept the government’s relocation exercise to ARDA Transau, where the government is giving land, housing, and setting up irrigation schemes for those to be relocated.
He said government machinery is already in motion to start the demarcation of plots at ARDA Transau while properties in Chiadzwa will be evaluated and compensated.
The governor urged headman Mukwada to guard against abusing his position, and reminded him of the need to execute his duties in a fair and transparent manner.
Headman Hondo Mukwada aged, 82 was born in 1927 in Mukwada village. The Mukwada headmanship follows patrilineal system of succession, and only two houses namely Mugwinji and Mupfumbamwe are eligible for appointment, and the 15th headman Mukwada comes from the Mupfumbamwe house.
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