Thursday, July 16

Socialite Renyu Rasungwa Rabatwa Nezvinodhaka

BULAWAYO’S flashy party king Gary Bell has been jailed for drug dealing following a dramatic Valentine’s Day bust that shocked the city’s elite. The 42-year-old Burnside resident, known for his lavish lifestyle and nightlife connections, was sentenced to an effective one year behind bars after being found guilty of dealing cocaine and ecstasy.

Bell was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza, who handed him an 18-month sentence, with six months suspended on condition of good behaviour.

 

 

 

 

The high-profile case drew intense public attention after detectives from the Harare CID Drugs and Narcotics swooped on Bell following a tip-off that he was peddling cocaine at The Smokehouse, one of Bulawayo’s most exclusive nightspots.

On 14 February, at around 6AM, officers received intelligence that Bell was set to deliver a stash. A covert surveillance mission kicked off, culminating in his arrest shortly after midnight on 15 February as he arrived at the venue in a silver Toyota double cab.

A search at his Burnside home unearthed damning evidence. Hidden in a blue jewellery box inside a bedroom wardrobe was a sachet of white powder, later confirmed to be cocaine. Officers also seized two digital scales and several razor blades laced with residue—classic tools of the drug trade.

 

 

 

 

 

Preliminary tests pegged the cocaine at about six grams with a street value of US$480. Ecstasy tablets worth US$60 were also recovered.

Bell, who had been free on bail, was represented by lawyer Shepherd Chamunorwa. He denied the charges and claimed the drugs were planted. He further alleged that police violated his rights and illegally searched his property.

 

 

 

 

Prosecutor Dominic Moyo said the evidence was overwhelming and procedures had been followed. The court ruled that the State had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Bell now swaps club lights for cell bars, ending his glamorous nightlife in the most sobering way possible.

  • Share:

Info News

Best Credit Card for Travel Rewards

A travel rewards credit card can be a smart choice if you spend regularly on flights, hotels, and everyday purchases. The right card can help you earn points or miles that reduce the cost of future trips.
Not every travel card is worth the annual fee, so it is important to compare the full value of the rewards. Some cards offer strong sign-up bonuses, while others are better for long-term spending. The best option depends on how often you travel and how you usually spend money.
You should also look at redemption options. Some cards are flexible and let you use points for flights, hotel stays, cash back, or statement credits. Others limit how you can use rewards, which can reduce their value if you do not travel in the right way.
Another thing to review is the foreign transaction fee. If you travel internationally, a card with no foreign transaction fees can save you money. Travel insurance, baggage protection, and airport lounge access may also add value if you use those benefits.
If you rarely travel, a simpler cash back card may be a better fit. But if you take several trips each year, a travel rewards card can become a useful tool for lowering your travel costs.
The best travel rewards credit card is the one that matches your spending habits, fits your travel style, and gives you benefits you will actually use.

Business VoIP Phone Systems: Buyer Checklist

Business phone systems have changed. Many companies are replacing traditional phone lines with Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. A business VoIP system uses an internet connection to make and receive calls. It can support desk phones, mobile apps, desktop apps, voicemail-to-email, call routing, video meetings, texting, and reporting. But not every VoIP system is equal, and the cheapest monthly price may not deliver the reliability a business needs.

Start with call quality and internet readiness. VoIP depends on bandwidth, latency, jitter, packet loss, firewall configuration, and network design. A business with unreliable internet should not move phones to VoIP without backup connectivity. Some companies use dual internet providers, cellular backup, quality of service settings, and network monitoring to protect voice traffic.

Hosted PBX systems are popular because the phone platform is managed in the cloud. The provider handles much of the infrastructure, updates, and call routing. Businesses usually pay per user per month. This can reduce the need for onsite phone equipment and make remote work easier.

Important features include auto attendants, ring groups, call queues, call recording, voicemail transcription, business texting, mobile apps, call forwarding, conference calling, direct inward dialing numbers, eFax, paging, emergency calling, and analytics. Not every business needs every feature. A medical office, bank, law firm, school, restaurant, and sales team may have very different call flows.

Reliability should be a top priority. Ask vendors about uptime history, data centers, failover, disaster recovery, emergency routing, and what happens if the internet goes down. Can calls automatically forward to cell phones? Can staff use a mobile app? Does the system support backup internet? How fast can support reroute numbers during an outage?

Pricing can include more than the advertised user rate. Watch for charges for desk phones, installation, number porting, taxes, regulatory fees, call recording storage, contact center features, toll-free minutes, international calling, SMS, integrations, training, and onsite support. Ask for a full first-year and recurring cost estimate.

Number porting is another important step. Moving phone numbers from the old carrier to the new provider can take time. Do not cancel old service until porting is complete. Verify all numbers, including fax lines, alarm lines, elevator lines, credit card terminals, and backup lines. Some non-voice lines may not be suitable for VoIP without special planning.

Security matters. VoIP accounts can be targeted for toll fraud, voicemail attacks, phishing, and unauthorized access. Use strong passwords, multifactor authentication where available, role-based permissions, call restrictions, international dialing controls, and account alerts. Ask how the vendor protects admin portals and detects unusual call patterns.

Integrations can add value. Some VoIP systems connect with customer relationship management software, help desk platforms, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, call center tools, and analytics dashboards. Integrations are useful only if they match real workflows. Avoid paying for features employees will not use.

Before selecting a system, map your call flow. Write down main numbers, departments, extensions, after-hours routing, holiday schedules, emergency contacts, voicemail boxes, fax needs, call recording requirements, and reporting needs. This makes vendor demos more productive.

Ask each vendor: What is included per user? What costs extra? Are phones leased or purchased? Is support domestic or offshore? What is the contract term? What happens if we cancel? How are emergency calls handled? How do you support remote users? Can we test call quality before signing? Do you provide training?

A business VoIP system should improve communication, not create confusion. The right choice balances cost, reliability, support, security, and features. A careful buyer checklist can prevent surprises after the phones go live.