Radio Bukalanga, Plumtree (2025)

24/12/2025

Bulilima — Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Seven Rescued After Days Stranded on Thekwane River Island

Seven residents from Butshe and Dupute areas in Bulilima District were rescued on Wednesday after spending several days stranded on an island along the flooded Thekwane River, following heavy rains that made the river dangerous to cross.

Initial reports had indicated that four people were trapped; however, the District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) of Bulilima District later confirmed that the actual number was seven, five from Butshe and two from Dupute.

Among those rescued are Lethiwe Ncube, Wiseman Ncube, Merryline Nyathi, and Kudzani Ncube, who, together with three others, had travelled to Mbimba area on Saturday, December 20, 2025, to harvest mahonja (mopane worms), a seasonal livelihood activity common among Bulilima households.

According to police, the group crossed the first split of the Thekwane River early that morning using a donkey-drawn scotch cart. On their return later in the evening, they found the second split of the river, about 100 metres away, heavily flooded and impassable. Rising water levels soon cut off the first crossing as well, leaving all seven people trapped on a river island.

The group remained marooned from Saturday until Tuesday night, exposed to the elements as river levels continued to rise. Reports from the scene indicated that one of the women had become too weak to move, raising fears for the group’s safety.

Bulilima Rural District Council (RDC) Rangers, working together with members of the local community, first arrived at the scene on Tuesday evening, December 23, at around 19:00 hours, where they assessed and monitored the situation. Rescue efforts were delayed due to strong currents and dangerous river conditions.

The rescue was successfully carried out on Wednesday morning, December 24, when the Search,Rescue and Security Sub-committee together with community volunteers managed to bring all seven individuals to safety. No injuries were reported and all the rescued were ferried safely to their homes.

Following the incident, the District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) of Bulilima District issued a strong warning to all communities, urging residents to avoid crossing flooded rivers under any circumstances. In an advisory issued through Radio Bukalanga, the DCPC warned that flooded rivers are unpredictable and can rise suddenly, even when there is no rainfall in the immediate area.

“Community members are strongly advised not to attempt crossing flooded rivers on foot, using vehicles or donkey-drawn scotch carts,” the DCPC said. “No harvest, journey or economic activity is worth risking a human life.”

The DCPC further urged parents and guardians to closely supervise children during the rainy season and called on residents to wait for water levels to subside or use safer alternative routes, as Bulilima District continues to experience seasonal flooding.

For videos and updates, follow the Radio Bukalanga 100.9FM:Community Radio Station in Bukalanga. channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaTTc2W3WHTguJRbmh2x

20/12/2025

Nyabane Clinic yakahhugwa madekwe naVice President wehango ye Zimbabwe Tate Hon Kembo Mohadi...Tjakanaka Tjakanaka makamu,

10/12/2025

Girls and women deserve to be heard

10/12/2025

Nasi ihhuba lebu16. Toboka bose bakabhatika mundebo yegwisana neGBV. Bose banotukana mumaSocial Media ngabatjemeleke! End digital violence against woman and girls. Nabomme musituke bamwe!

04/12/2025

> Dzenhungamili dzezwidiyo muzwikwele

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), with support from the British Council and Higherlife Foundation, is rolling out the Leading Learning for Gender Equality (LL4GE) programme across Zimbabwe. The training is currently underway in districts such as Buhera, Shamva and Lupane, where school heads are being equipped with practical leadership skills to strengthen gender equality, improve teaching quality and enhance learner outcomes in line with Vision 2030 and Heritage-Based Education.

In Buhera, the Provincial Education Director for Manicaland, Mr. Richard Gabaza, highlighted the importance of strong instructional leadership and encouraged heads to put their training into action to raise provincial pass rates. Senior Ministry officials also underscored the need to protect the girl child from discrimination, early marriage and dropout, while promoting re-entry programmes for pregnant learners and young mothers. Participants also discussed the importance of providing sanitary pads consistently so girls attend school with confidence.

Similar progress is being recorded in Shamva and Lupane, where school leaders are engaging in sessions on building trust in schools, challenging gender stereotypes, supporting marginalized learners, and applying gender-responsive teaching methods that create safe and inclusive learning environments for both boys and girls. Facilitators have emphasized the need for school heads to design policies that promote equality and ensure every learner has an opportunity to excel.

The LL4GE programme is strengthening school leadership across all provinces and preparing heads to create more equitable, democratic and learner-centered schools. As trainings continue across the country’s 72 districts, MoPSE remains committed to building an education system where every child, regardless of gender, can thrive and reach their full potential.

Follow the Radio Bukalanga 100.9FM:Community Radio Station in Bukalanga. channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaTTc2W3WHTguJRbmh2x

04/12/2025

> ZBC LICENCE FEES REDUCED, NEW CHARGES EFFECTIVE 15 JANUARY 2026

The Government has announced major reductions in radio and television licence fees, a move expected to ease the financial burden on households and businesses while improving national compliance. The revised tariffs are contained in Statutory Instrument 203A of 2025, the Broadcasting (Listeners’ Licences) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (No. 5), and will take effect from 15 January 2026.

According to the SI, the changes were made in terms of section 38B(2) of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06], and replace the previous fee structure that had been in place since 2003. The new fees are as follows:

Rural home radio licence: US$5 per year

Urban home radio licence: US$10 per year

Radio and television combined licence: US$24 per year

Business premises radio licence: US$50 per year

Business premises television licence: US$100 per year

Private vehicle radio licence: US$28 per term (US$84 annually)

Employer-owned or TV-equipped vehicle licence: US$30 per term

The fees may also be paid in local currency at the prevailing market rate.

These reductions mark a significant drop from previous charges. For example, private vehicle radio licences have been brought down from US$92 to US$84 annually, while business vehicle licences have been cut from US$200 to US$90. Rural household radio licences drop from US$20 to US$5, and urban household licences from US$40 to US$10. The combined radio-and-television licence has been reduced from US$100 to US$24 per year.

Government says the decision is part of a wider national effort to streamline regulatory costs, simplify licensing processes, and remove bureaucratic barriers that have long affected both consumers and businesses. Similar reforms have already been implemented in agriculture, tourism, and transport.

Authorities hope the reduced broadcasting licence fees will encourage more Zimbabweans to comply with licensing requirements, strengthen the national public media system, and support the broader push to lower the cost of doing business in the country.

Follow the Radio Bukalanga 100.9FM:Community Radio Station in Bukalanga. channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaTTc2W3WHTguJRbmh2x

03/12/2025

World Vision Zimbabwe*Learners Raise Their Voices Against Gender-Based Violence on Air*

As part of the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, World Vision Tsh*tshi-Madabe AP and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises Development brought together a group of learners from Mangwe District for a powerful special edition of the 2025 16 Day of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on Radio Bukalanga on the 28th of November 2025. The young participants were drawn from Empandeni High School, Embakwe High School, St. Francis Tsh*tshi High School, Tahangana High School, Mqokolweni High School, Valukhalo Secondary School, and Ivimila High School. They unpacked this year’s campaign theme: "Ending Digital Violence Against Women and Girls ", reflecting on the evolving nature of violence, especially in digital spaces.

They spoke passionately about the need to protect oneself online, urging listeners to safeguard their digital information with strong passwords and avoid opening suspicious links an issue that has contributed to rising cases of blackmail and human trafficking, particularly targeting women and girls. Other speakers highlighted the dangers of cyberbullying by both strangers and fellow schoolmates, noting its growing link to teen depression and su***de.

However, the programme was not all doom and gloom. It served as a reminder that young people are not only vulnerable to digital violence but are also essential agents of change and awareness in their communities.

During the broadcast, learners also discussed the robust legal frameworks established to protect victims of digital abuse. These include the Cyber and Data Protection Act of Zimbabwe and Section 164B of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which criminalises cyberbullying and online harassment They also acknowledged local structures such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police Cyber Crime Unit and the Zimbabwe Child Online Protection Taskforce, which provide vital support at the community level.

While Zimbabwe joins the world in a more aggressive stance against online Gender-Based violence. Efforts continue to be implemented in fighting the physical forms of abuse mainly through encouraging behaviour change amongst communities to shun violence and fight to end all forms of abuse.

World Vision Zimbabwe

02/12/2025

Kwele tjeValukhalo tjakatogwa nemhepo,pa nna kwevula mahhuba apinda.

02/12/2025

Enhanced support is crucial in supporting child protection across communities.

Enhanced participation in child protection across communities has been highlighted as crucial for the impact of such services. These remarks were shared by various speakers who were part of the Road Show organised by the Bulilima District Department of Social Development held in Dombodema on the 25th of November 2025, aimed at enhancing child protection and reducing or ending violence against children.

The road show which was held at Dombodema Business Center drew an eager crowd of learners from Dombodema High School and community members in an effort to enhance child protection across the district.

A child rights awareness roadshow brought together key government departments and the Dombodema community to emphasize the vital role of parents and guardians in upholding the rights and welfare of children. Held at Dombodema High School, the event was attended by learners, parents, community, and school based child protection committees and community leaders to engage in enhancing child protection.

The Department of Social Development highlighted the various child protection services available through Community Child Workers (CCWs) at village level working with children at grassroots level, including support for orphaned and vulnerable children, assistance with birth registration, education assistance and referral mechanisms for cases of abuse. They also touched on AMTO a crucial medical assistance scheme offered to vulnerable communities aiding their access to healthcare.

Mr Withus Mpofu who spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Medium and Small enterprises Development stressed the importance of discouraging an unbecoming behaviour of old men sleeping with young girls, a trend which has been linked to a rise in new HIV infections and carries dier consequences for the young girls. He went on to lament on the high HIV prevalence and teen pregnancies rates in Bulilima District which he quoted from a baseline survey carried out in 2018 and has been consistently ranking high ever since, calling on young children to abstain from all sexual activities and remain focused on their academics. He also warned adults against preying on young girls for sexual activities, calling these behaviours detrimental to young futures, and that the long arm of the law will catch up with them." I warn you older men to stop engaging in sexual relations with children some of whom are age mates with your daughters, the law will deal with you"

Zimbabwe Republic Police Plumtree Victim Friendly Unit educated learners and elders on issues such as child abuse and how the VFU handles such cases in a safe space for the victims. Emphasis was also placed on the dual importance of parents and the community in raising an ideal child, which must be centred on letting children know both their rights and responsibilities and also moderate child disciplining practices. Lastly, the representative talked about the legal consequences of juvenile crime, saying no one is spared from jail time when they break the law. The ZRP emphasized the need for strong parent-child communication and community policing partnerships to keep children safe.

Representatives from The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Development and Vocational training, Mr N.Muswela as well as the Ministry of Sports Arts and Culture, Mr Mhlanga shared similar sentiments on improved youth empowerment initiatives meant to draw young people from delinquent behaviour to nation building through enrollment in Vocational training centers as well as. In addition, an unbecoming issue of illegal sports tournaments was raised, where cases of sexual exploitation and drug use are rife. The Ministry of Sports urged all sports tournament organisers to register with their ministry and also get clearance from law enforcement.

Some community members who spoke after the road show, including Tate Nleya who at the road show on behalf of traditional leadership said the campaign was welcome with some eye opening information but however raised some concerns, "while we they appreciate the campaign, there is a worrying trend of parents being tormented by their own children most of whom will be intoxicated, we need help in also addressing such."

The road show was part of a week long campaign which ran across Bulilima District and was taken to areas like Malalume, Dombodema, Bezu and Nyabane organised by the Department of Social Development funded by the Child Protection Fund under UNICEF.

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