MWOS FC head coach Lloyd Mutasa described his team’s 1-0 win over arch-rivals Scottland as a “sweet victory” in an emotionally charged Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash at Ngoni Stadium on Saturday.
The match carried extra significance for Mutasa, who revealed he had considered quitting coaching after last season’s bitter encounters between the two sides during their Northern Region Division One campaign.
Billy Vheremu’s 51st-minute strike proved decisive, not only securing three crucial points but also extending his impressive season tally to nine goals.
The victory maintains MWOS’s unbeaten run to 14 matches, with the league leaders now sitting comfortably on 30 points.
“This win is so sweet,” an elated Mutasa told reporters. “There was a time I wanted to give up coaching because of what happened last year. This was a massive game – losing here could have undone all our hard work from the first match to game thirteen.”
The coach emphasised the importance of making the Norton community proud: “I’m extremely pleased we have managed to bring joy to the people of Norton, if not the entire country.”
Music In The Snow returns to the mystical Hogsback mountain from 18-20 July 2025. This highly anticipated event promises to surpass its previous successes, with an exciting new format that showcases the best of Hogsback’s natural beauty and attractions.
Singer Nathi Mankayi, the soulful music sensation behind the uplifting hit ‘Silwa Nemimoya’ is set to make his debut at the festival as this years headliner.
Nathi will be joined by Langa Mavuso, Zuko SA, Lwah Ndlunkulu, and Dumza Maswana who are also on the line up.
Now in its fourth year, Music In The Snow has consistently sold out its shows, attracting visitors from across the country. Founder Mlindi Ntloko attributes this success to the event’s unique blend of music, nature, and adventure.
“We’re thrilled to build on this momentum in 2025, with an expanded program that offers something for everyone,” says Ntloko.
This year’s event kicks off on Friday with a cocktail party and whiskey tasting experience at a separate venue, offering attendees a range of styles to enjoy.
The popular hiking excursions will also be expanded to include mountain biking trails, led by experienced guides.
“We’re committed to making Music In The Snow an inclusive and immersive experience that showcases the full range of Hogsback’s offerings,” says Ntloko.
“From music and nature to adventure and relaxation, we invite visitors to join us for an unforgettable weekend in one of South Africa’s most breathtaking destinations.”
As part of the Mandela 67 Minutes initiative, the festival will host a range of community-focused activities, including, painting of local schools, career expos to inspire and empower the youth, as well as distribution of food parcels to those in need within the community.
Celebrated Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o, who championed African languages in literature, has died at 87.
The author’s daughter Wanjiku wa Ngugi said in a statement on Facebook on Wednesday that her father “lived a full life, fought a good fight.”
Wanjiku confirmed that Ngugi wa Thiong’o died on Wednesday morning, urging his fans worldwide to “celebrate his life and his work.”
Wanjiku, who did not disclose Ngugi’s cause of death or place of death, said the family spokesperson, Nducu wa Ngugi, “will announce details of his celebration of life soon.”
Ngugi wa Thiong’o died at the age of 87.
In recent years, the literary giant struggled with kidney problems.
Since the 1970s, Ngugi mostly lived overseas, emigrating to England and eventually settling in California, the United States.
In the US, he was a Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine.
Ngugi published several literary works over the past decade, including the novel “The Perfect Nine” and the prison memoir “Wrestling with the Devil.”
He was nominated several times for Nobel Prize in Literature, but fell short of winning.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially launched the Zimbabwe Media Policy, a framework designed to guide the country’s media sector in an era of rapid technological change.
Speaking at State House in Harare on May 28, the President said the policy comes at a critical time when “Artificial Intelligence has reshaped information gathering, analysis, production, and dissemination,” noting that the media must now navigate new challenges of accuracy, ethics, and information overload.
Emphasising the policy’s role in upholding national values, President Mnangagwa stated, “Through the promulgation of the National Media Policy, my Government is strengthening and guaranteeing that our citizens will have access to factual, verified, accurate, and reliable information.”
He highlighted the importance of this initiative in countering the threats posed by global tech infrastructure, misinformation, and the erosion of cultural diversity.
The President added, “There must be ripple benefits from regulating Big-Tech services, including through taxation and fair payment.”
In his address, the President also reaffirmed the media’s role in national development and unity. “We are the custodians of our own stories and narratives,” he said.
“The time has come for the world to hear the authentic story of who we are and what we stand for, from our own eyes, from our own mouths and from our own media.”
He urged content creators to leverage digital platforms to promote Zimbabwe’s identity and attract investment, declaring the policy a bold step towards empowering a responsible and accountable media landscape.
Here is a summary of the Zimbabwe Media Policy document:
Policy Vision and Mission
Vision: A vibrant, diverse, and inclusive media sector that shapes national narratives, empowers citizens, and supports Zimbabwe’s goal of becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
Mission: To foster a modern media industry that promotes national consciousness, upholds Zimbabwe’s interests globally, and showcases the country’s cultural heritage.
Core Objectives
Defend Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and national image.
Promote professionalism and ethics in journalism.
Develop and modernize media infrastructure.
Foster inclusive and multilingual access to information.
Ensure media viability, independence, and sustainability.
Advance national values, digital transformation, and media sovereignty.
Guiding Principles
Freedom of Expression & Media Pluralism
National Interest & Public Good
Access to Information
Media Ethics & Professionalism
Digital Transformation
Diversity & Inclusion
Whistleblower Protection
Stakeholder Engagement
Accountability & Transparency
Six Strategic Pillars
Economic Sustainability
Establishes a Media Fund financed by annual levies.
Encourages alternative revenue models and strategic partnerships.
Supports content monetization and incentivizes digital migration.
Digital Transformation & Innovation
Promotes digital migration, AI, 5G, and blockchain adoption.
Advocates for ICT training and reduction of data costs.
Supports co-regulation for combating misinformation.
Media Development & Capacity Building
Strengthens community radio and freelance producers.
Supports skills development in business, content, and tech.
Updates copyright laws and increases ZBC’s national coverage capacity.
Media Sovereignty & Regulation
Promotes local ownership and content control.
Enhances oversight of online broadcasters.
Supports ethical journalism through training and partnerships.
Access to Information
Expands rural access to internet and information centers.
Introduces mobile-based information platforms.
Enhances media literacy across marginalised communities.
Local Content Promotion
Enforces 75% local content quotas.
Incentivizes cultural storytelling and IP protection.
Counters foreign content dominance through regulation.
Implementation Framework
Led by Ministry of Information and supported by MCS-IMC and Media Sector Steering Committee.
Thematic Working Groups formed per strategic pillar.
Multi-stakeholder approach includes government, media bodies, academia, and civil society.
General Policy Issues
Codes of Conduct & Ethics: Enforced by ZMC; professional standards prioritized.
Sexual Harassment Policies: Mandatory in all media houses.
Penalties for Misconduct: Includes loss of license, legal actions, and fines.
Foreign Journalists: Must obtain local accreditation and clearances.
Regulatory Harmonization: Aligns media laws with telecoms and ICT sectors.
Gemma might have cooked a project that defies the cliché that she has been associated with for the longest, “just a white girl who sings Shona.”
For the longest, Gemma has managed to live up to this unfair judgement that no serious music pundit would rate her among the heavyweights.
From the time she did that piano version of Musarova Bigman (well that introduced her to fans in Zimbabwe and maybe she just felt she owed the Zimbabweans music fans Shona songs) to Maita Basa Baba, Gemma had not fully shown what a glamorous vocal powerhouse she is.
Off course, it will be totally unfair to downplay her collaborative involvement with Winky D on the banger Mugadheni.
Well, the first notion that would come mind is that this smash-hit only helped amplify the afore mentioned cliché.
BUT, this new Gemma project has certainly demystified and probably will put to rest the assertion that Gemma is a mid-card artist, she might actually be a powerhouse disguised in those stereotypical and generic Shona lyrics.
What is special about this new album is that Gemma’s vocal prowess is undeniably showcased.
Let’s first deal with the Shona thing, after listening to the collaborations with Nutty-O on Wandinoda and Feli Nandi on Tariro, the spark was very low that the prediction that immediately came to mind was that this was going to be just another overhyped underwhelming release.
For obvious reasons (with basic comprehension abilities, the assumption is that there is clarity) Ndichatarisa is being overlooked in this review.
The Eureka moment came through when Mjolo and MuHarare played, immediately this highly opinionated writer was frustrated by how this voice was getting wasted in generic Shona songs and screamed at the audio device, “She should stay away from those Shona songs and collaborations.”
Unbeknownst to the writer that the next song on his playlist would totally humble him. Usanetseke! What a jam! Then came Ndimi Mwari.
Then there was Alone, Holy and Thank God I know You (great song this!) and suddenly, the whole album has been played.
All the 16 tracks listened to, that is, from the intro to the last song.
The verdict passed is that Gemma Griffiths can sing. Her solo delivery of the songs Grace, Ndimi Mwari, Usanetseke and Yahweh will certainly establish her in many households this 2025.
Hopefully, the project will do well also on the charts. And also (this could be very unpopular), Gemma doesn’t owe Zimbabwe Shona songs, her Afro beat songs in English with sporadic Shona lyric sprinkles are absolute bangers.
She has to be her own self now that this project is set to properly establish her (this is just a mere prophetic rant.)
The album is a complete gem. But it would not be fair if Voltz JT and Cleo Arie are spared of strays in this story of absolute bangers. Medzayi Fridge and Andondida are such good songs that they can easily dominate playlists in hip hop and gospel music respectively.
One day, we will talk about how a hugely unknown Cleo Arie is a potential gospel great.
Back to Gem-ma, now want to watch her live. She could be really energetic. Until next time, Thank God I know You!
Simba Bhora head coach Joel Luphahla has declared his ambition to defend their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title this season, emphasising the high expectations that come with leading the reigning champions.
The Shamva-based side made a commanding 3-1 victory over CAPS United on Sunday, moving within two points of early league leaders MWOS.
First-half strikes from Barnabas Mtuwa and Donald Mudadi put Simba in control before Emmanuel Ziocha sealed the win after the break, while CAPS United’s lone reply came from Alois Bunjira Junior with a well-placed consolation effort.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Luphahla—who is navigating his debut season as a top-flight head coach—acknowledged the pressure of managing the defending champions but embraced the challenge of staying at the summit.
“We are the defending champions. When I came here, of course, it’s my first season in the PSL as a head coach, but the pressure was there,” Luphahla said.
“They said, ‘Coach, when you are number one, where do you want to go?’ And I said, ‘Number one.’ Because you cannot say from number one you want to go to number two.”
Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope scored timely centuries after Ben Duckett smoked a ton of his own as England dominated a wayward Zimbabwe on day one of the four-day Test at Trent Bridge.
Those hundreds for the top-three batters saw the hosts reach 498-3 from 88 overs by stumps after losing the toss, with much of the intrigue towards the end of the day hinging on whether England would declare, a decision Ben Stokes ultimately opted against.
Zimbabwe, playing their first Test in England in 22 years, allowed the home side far too many easy runs on a belting batting surface.
The Chevrons were hampered by an injury to seamer Richard Ngarava as their opponents rattled along at 5.65 an over and Joe Root (34) became the fifth batter in history to pass 13,000 Test runs.
Richard Ngarava left the field ten minutes into the second session with what was later confirmed to be a back spasm.
He returned an hour and five minutes into the third, with a ginger step. He fielded for a few minutes but was soon back in the dressing room, which limited his day’s work to nine overs in the morning.
Seamer Blessing Muzarabani, who was also the most threatening of the quicks, bowled 20 overs while Sikandar Raza delivered 24 overs but little Zimbabwe tried hurt England.
The hosts’ top-order batted with exactly the right mix of caution and aggression, though the scoring rate of 5.66 would suggest only the latter.
Councillor Alice Mpofu-Coles has been officially elected as the Mayor of Reading for the 2025/26 term.
The Bulawayo-born Mpofu made history as the first black female mayor of Reading, UK, appointed on May 21, 2025.
The announcement was made earlier today by the Office of the Mayor of Reading, accompanied by a photo of the new Mayor alongside her Deputy, Councillor Paul Gittings.
Councillor Mpofu-Coles, a respected community leader and humanitarian, takes over the ceremonial reins of the town, becoming one of the few Black women to hold the prestigious civic role in Reading’s history.
Known for her advocacy on issues such as refugee support, social justice, and integration, Mpofu-Coles brings a wealth of experience and dedication to public service.
Miss Zimbabwe Courtney Jongwe is captivating global attention at the 72nd Miss World pageant in India.
During today’s World Designer Award fashion shoot, she stunned in an exquisite Emerald Fire gown — a striking creation by @zarguesia, one of Zimbabwe’s premier luxury fashion designers.
The “Emerald Fire Dress” is a tribute to the inner strength, resilience, and passion of a woman with purpose.
This sweeping floor-length mermaid gown features long sleeves and an inbuilt corset, enhanced by asymmetrical draped Swiss tulle and meticulously placed emerald gemstone embellishments along the neckline, bodice, and sleeve hems.
Miss Zimbabwe Courtney Jongwe
Crafted with over 600 hours of dedicated work, it is a masterpiece of exquisite detail and impeccable craftsmanship—an embodiment of power wrapped in elegance.
We wish Courtney all the best as she prepares to take to the stage at the finals to be held at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, on 31 May 2025.
In a bold and symbolic move aimed at restoring the spirit and identity of the club, CAPS United have appointed their former striker, Limited Chikafa, as the new team manager.
The decision follows closely on the heels of another strategic appointment—former midfield maestro Ian Bakala, who has taken over as head coach.
Bakala, who replaces Lloyd Chitembwe, brings both tactical insight and emotional resonance to the job.
His appointment, like Chikafa’s, is being viewed not just as a technical decision, but as part of a larger strategy by the club to revive the “CAPS United DNA” — a culture rooted in pride, unity, and on-field excellence.
The Green Machine, as they are affectionately known, have struggled this season.
But these recent moves signal a deliberate shift — a return to the club’s values and legacy by bringing back those who understand what it truly means to wear the green and white jersey.
In football and sports in general appointing former players to leadership roles is more than a nostalgic gesture.
It’s a proven cultural blueprint. These are individuals who have walked the walk, bled for the badge, and carry with them the ethos of the institution.
For players currently in the squad, having leaders who are also club legends can be a powerful motivator.
They don’t just bring experience; they bring a lived history and an emotional connection that can’t be manufactured.
Clubs around the world, from FC Barcelona to Ajax Amsterdam, have used this model with great success. It fosters continuity, builds loyalty, and ensures that traditions and philosophies are passed on to new generations.
CAPS United’s current leadership clearly sees this as a way to restore pride and performance at a time when results have faltered.
