The Skyline Asphalt Processing Plant was commissioned Monday, marking a significant step in Zimbabwe’s infrastructure modernisation.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Hon. Felix Mhona declared the project crucial for achieving universal road rehabilitation nationwide.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Mhona stated that the plant supports a national drive to surface, widen or repair all roads under National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).

He emphasized the Second Republic’s commitment to transforming Zimbabwe’s road network for economic growth and improved mobility.

“This is not just about infrastructure. It is about fulfilling our national vision. Under NDS2, we are modernising transport systems and ensuring that every province benefits from quality, durable roads,” said Hon. Mhona.

Engineer Joy Makumbe, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, confirmed the plant’s inauguration signals sustained momentum in road rehabilitation.“

“The momentum has begun in earnest. It will not stop until all roads are tarred. This plant strengthens our capacity to produce asphalt locally, ensuring that rehabilitation projects move at the required speed,” she said.

Eng Makumbe noted localized asphalt production reduces costs, improves efficiency and guarantees consistent supply.

Engineer Jaravani Kangara highlighted the plant’s direct impact on addressing potholes, particularly in Harare.

“Asphalt, or tar, is the key ingredient in road maintenance. With this plant operational, we expect that potholes in Harare will be patched within a short space of time. This facility ensures that we have ready access to high-quality asphalt whenever needed,” Engineer Kangara said.

Honourable Godwin Tavaziva, MP for Marondera West and a Member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport applauded the development as evidence the government is “walking the talk.”

He added the plant demonstrates progress towards Vision 2030, with plans to acquire eight more similar plants for decentralised asphalt production.

“This infrastructure shows that development is happening. Most of our roads will be resurfaced very soon,” he affirmed.

Honourable Tichaona Karimazondo, MP for Maramba Pfungwe, called it a “great investment” for Zimbabwe’s road network. He noted the plant’s capacity to produce up to 15 truckloads of approximately eight tonnes of asphalt per hour, accelerating rehabilitation in Harare and beyond.“

With such production levels, we are confident that within a short time, we will see major improvements, especially in urban areas,” he predicted.

Godwills Masimirembwa, ZANU PF Chairman for Harare Metropolitan Province framed the commissioning within President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 infrastructure agenda. referencing projects like the Trabablas Interchange, he stated the plant complements ongoing construction.

“We are witnessing the excellent works of His Excellency. Rehabilitation, new construction and now maintenance infrastructure are all being put in place. Any road that gets damaged will now be repaired swiftly,” Mr Masimirembwa said.

He concluded that Harare Metropolitan Province, among the first to receive such a plant will benefit immensely due to its extensive road network and heavy traffic.

The Skyline Asphalt Processing Plant is expected to reduce maintenance turnaround times, improve road safety and boost economic productivity serving as a show of the government’s resolve to modernise infrastructure and achieve Vision 2030 goals.

By Anthony Chawagarira

Across Zimbabwe’s diverse communities, traditional ways of confirming parentage persist alongside modern science.

While contemporary Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing now provides definitive answers about biological relationships, age-old customs still carry emotional weight and social meaning. This feature examines those practices—what they are, why they matter, and how they interact with scientific methods of establishing parenthood.

Tradition as a Social Framework

Customs shape how families understand relationships. In many rural areas, traditional practices help maintain social order by affirming fatherhood, parental rights, and a child’s place within the family. These practices are rooted in deep communal values and express trust, belonging, and identity.

Common Traditional Signs Used to Judge Paternity

Elders and family members often point to certain behaviours and events as evidence that a child belongs to a particular man. Some widely reported indicators include:

• The child stirs or wakes when the father first enters the homestead:
  It is said that when a father arrives at his village compound with his child for the first time, the baby will react—an act interpreted as recognition.

• The child opens their eyes when the father holds them:
  There is a belief that if a man truly is the father, the baby’s eyes will open and focus when held by him. If not, the baby may not display that response.

• Cattle behaviour at the kraal:
  A ritual sometimes involves taking the baby to the cattle kraal. If the cattle come out and rub against the child, it is taken as a sign that the child belongs to that family. If the cattle refuse to approach or only a few come out, some interpret that as a sign the child does not belong to them.

• Placing the child in the father’s shoes:
  If a baby is placed in the father’s shoes and begins to cry, some interpret that as evidence the child is not his. Conversely, a child who remains calm is considered likely to be his.

• The direction the crawling child chooses:
  If a crawling child moves toward and between a man’s legs—reaching for his trousers or coming directly to him—this is often seen as a sign of paternity. If the child crawls elsewhere or shies away, some conclude he is not the father.

What Modern Science Offers: DNA Testing

DNA testing is the scientifically reliable method for establishing biological parentage. It provides objective evidence that courts use in inheritance cases, custody disputes, and legal recognition.

DNA results are not influenced by emotions or social interpretations. They offer a level of certainty that traditional signs cannot provide.

Where Tradition and Science Meet

Although traditional signs lack the precision of DNA testing, they remain meaningful social tools. Some observations—such as a child’s calmness with a particular adult—may reflect emotional bonding or familiarity rather than biology.

In communities where laboratory testing is inaccessible or culturally sensitive, these practices can shape family decisions and relationships.

However, relying exclusively on unproven signs can lead to harm, including stigma, wrongful exclusion, or unjust family breakdown. For example, interpreting cattle behaviour or a child’s reaction as definitive proof may wrongly ostracise a mother or deny a child access to parental support.

Environmental or practical factors—such as illness, herd management practices, or a child’s temperament—can influence these signs independently of biological parentage.

Building Dialogue and Education

A constructive approach is to combine respect for cultural practices with accessible scientific information. Useful steps include:

• Community education about how DNA testing works, what it can and cannot determine, and when it may be appropriate.

• Preserving cultural practices that foster bonding and social cohesion while discouraging those that cause harm or discrimination.

• Facilitating conversations among community leaders, traditional authorities, and legal or health professionals to agree on fair procedures when parentage is disputed.

Respect, Truth, and Protecting Families

Traditional signs of paternity reflect a community’s history and values. They help people make sense of relationships in culturally meaningful ways. However, where certainty is required, science offers a dependable answer.

Rather than forcing a choice between tradition and DNA testing, the goal should be to allow them to complement each other—using culture to preserve dignity and cohesion, and science to provide fairness and clarity when needed.

Together, they can help protect children’s rights and strengthen family bonds.

A vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a water-filled disused mine shaft in Shurugwi on Wednesday, resulting in the death of two passengers,, while a third remains missing, feared dead.

The driver of the Isuzu double cab miraculously escaped unhurt after the vehicle became completely submerged in the deep, abandoned pit along Coronation Mine Road.

The incident occurred at around 1500 hours, turning an afternoon drive into a nightmare.

According to police reports, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then swerved off the asphalt and crashed into the old mine workings.

As the car sank rapidly into the dark water, the driver managed to get out, but the three passengers were trapped inside as the vehicle was swallowed by the shaft.

Two of the passengers died instantly at the scene, and their bodies were recovered from the submerged wreck.

A desperate search is underway for the third occupant, who is still unaccounted for.

National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the grim details, saying rescue teams will soon be deployed.

“The driver lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a disused mine shaft, which was filled with water.

“The vehicle was submerged, and all three passengers were trapped inside. The driver escaped unhurt. Tragically, two of the passengers died on the spot, and one passenger is still missing,” said Commissioner Nyathi.

The harrowing incident has once again brought the deadly legacy of neglected mine shafts in mining towns into sharp focus.

Emergency services and police divers are currently at the scene, battling treacherous conditions to locate the missing person.

Police have implored motorists to exercise extreme caution on the country’s roads.