Category: Features

Humans Age Faster at 2 Specific Times in Their Life, Study Finds

Michael Gwarisa

Getting older might seem like a slow, inevitable process — but new research suggests that aging can actually arrive in sudden, dramatic bursts. If you’ve ever looked in the mirror one morning and thought, “Did I age overnight?” — it turns out you might not be imagining it. A groundbreaking study published in Nature Aging in August 2024 reveals that humans undergo two significant biological shifts in the aging process: one around the age of 44, and another at approximately 60. “We’re not just changing gradually over time; there are…

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How Masvingo’s Health Facilities Are Giving Sex Workers a Lifeline Amid Donor Cuts

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Masvingo She is nine months pregnant and could give birth any day now, yet Melody Mhlanga* still sells sex to survive. The 25-year-old from Gutu, Masvingo Province, found herself thrust into the world of sex work three months ago after her marriage collapsed. With no income, no support, and a baby on the way, she saw no other path. “I joined sex work three months ago when my marriage crumbled,” she says, her voice trembling. “I didn’t have any source of income, and I needed to…

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Father first, miner Second: Why a Gwanda artisanal miner puts family before all

Michael Gwarisa

The now 44-year-old Zibusiso Ndlovu was only 19 when he came to Tshebetshebe, Gwanda in 2001 to explore the ‘golden’ opportunities offered in the gold mining sector in Zimbabwe. He was full of hope at a time Zimbabwe was experiencing serious economic challenges that led to high inflation and job losses. With the fear of losing his job and the little income he was getting at the end of each month weighing heavily on him, Zibusiso decided to leave his general hand job at one of the foreign-owned commercial gold…

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One Stitch at a Time: Zimbabwe’s Fight to End Obstetric Fistula

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Bikita, Mashoko In rural and underserved parts of Zimbabwe, a silent but devastating condition continues to rob women of their dignity, health, and hope: obstetric fistula. Often caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, this childbirth injury leaves women incontinent and frequently ostracised by their communities. But today, a growing movement of awareness, surgical intervention, and community support is changing the tide. One stitch at a time, medical teams and advocates are not only restoring bodies but also rebuilding lives. Twenty-nine-year-old Sandra Mugowo from…

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From Perpetrator to Advocate: A Bindura Man’s Journey to Break the Cycle of Gender-Based Violence

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere recently in Kadoma An often-overlooked consequence of gender-based violence (GBV), is the bitter aftertaste it leaves on future generations—a legacy stained by silence, shame, and isolation. Chadwick Mangwiro* (not his real name), a man rooted in African family values, takes pride in his totem, Shumba—a name held dear by his father, relatives, and community. Yet behind this proud identity lies a painful past. His father, once a perpetrator of GBV, eventually turned a corner, committing himself to love and support his wife. Following in those reformed footsteps,…

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Africa Accelerates Genomic Science to Tackle Epidemic Threats

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Addis Ababa Africa is increasingly becoming the frontline of global disease outbreaks. According to data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the continent recorded a 40% increase in outbreaks, from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024. In the past year alone, Africa has battled multiple health threats, including a deadly cholera outbreak in Southern Africa, escalating cases of Mpox in Central and East Africa, and Marburg and Ebola outbreaks in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda respectively. While many of these outbreaks…

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I Wasn’t Ready to Go Blind’: Zimbabwean Woman Shares Her Glaucoma Battle

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Sixteen years ago, these words shattered Barbara Manjonjo’s world: “I’m sorry, your condition can’t be corrected with eye spectacles. All you can do now is prepare yourself, you’re going to go blind.” This was her optician delivering the devastating news back in 2009. She was only 37 at the time. Today, she is approaching her 53rd birthday. Never in her life had Barbara imagined that she would one day lose her sight and have to rely on her adolescent daughter to hold her hand as she navigated…

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The Dark Psychology of Prophets: How Narcissistic Leaders Exploit Mental Health to Control Followers

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Have you ever wondered why a grown man, well-respected in his community, perhaps even holding a doctorate, would roll in the mud and eat grass at the instruction of a self-proclaimed prophet who never finished school? The answer often lies in the psychological forces at play — mental health issues that empower charismatic yet narcissistic religious leaders while disempowering and psychologically entrapping their followers. These leaders often display traits of narcissism, delusion, or sociopathy, while their congregants, whether through trauma bonding, spiritual manipulation, or Stockholm Syndrome, end…

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New Morning-After Pill in Zimbabwe Offers Protection Up to 120 Hours After Sex

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwean doctors are already calling it a game-changer. In his own words, Dr. Bernard Madzima, a leading family health expert and current Board Chairperson of Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ), said, “This pill is changing the game already. This pill can be taken up to 120 hours and still be safe.” He, however, emphasized the need to take the pill within the stipulated 72-hour window for emergency contraceptives. The Back-Up pill, an emergency contraceptive recently introduced by Population Services Zimbabwe—is poised to revolutionize the country’s Sexual and Reproductive…

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Raped at a Funeral: Chinhoyi Woman Battles Post-Traumatic Mental Health Episodes

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Sometimes she slams doors, shatters furniture, and shouts at anyone nearby. But she wasn’t always like this. Barbra Cullinan (42) of Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, now lives in perpetual fear of men, their presence a constant reminder of the horrific ordeal she endured on November 26, 2022, during the month of her birthday. On that fateful day, Barbra attended a funeral to pay her last respects to a close relative. Unbeknownst to her, a man she knew had sinister intentions. Amid the grief and mourning, he saw an…

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