WOMEN in Norton have agreed to stage a demonstration against businessman Livieson Pamuchigere accused of bashing his ex-wife.
Catherine
Livieson grabbed headlines when he beat Catherine Pamuchigere while at the Harare Magistrates court last year.
Last month, he was hauled to court for allegedly beating up his wife after she failed to answer his phone call while driving.
The pair divorced on September 10 this year.
Livieson, who still has a pending case was at it again on Monday, when he allegedly attacked Catherine using a beer bottle and further tried to run over her with his vehicle.H-Metro
Chibuku has attracted condemnation from Highlanders FC supporters of the use of a wrong logo in an advert for a match between Highlanders and ZPC Kariba to be played on the 10th of November.
Umahlekisa Comedy Club Director Ntandoyenkosi Moyo said, “So a whole Chibuku PR or Marketing Department didn’t see the error? Such butchering of a logo of the Biggest team in the land should get someone fired benza ngabomo , bet uzezwa sekuthiwa it was leaked yeah yeah khonapho this Cup is milking all the mileage it can from the Bosso Community.”
Veteran broadcaster Ezra Tshisa Sibanda said the mutilation of the logo by Chibuku was deliberate.
“Yikho ukudelela khonokho, kwenziwa ngabomu.
Chibuku has been in football for decades and Bosso has won this cup before and to act like a monkey and pretend that is a mistake is pure barbaric.” Sibanda added his voice on the matter.Credit:Bulawayo 24
Chibuku has attracted condemnation from Highlanders FC supporters of the use of a wrong logo in an advert for a match between Highlanders and ZPC Kariba to be played on the 10th of November.
Umahlekisa Comedy Club Director Ntandoyenkosi Moyo said, “So a whole Chibuku PR or Marketing Department didn’t see the error? Such butchering of a logo of the Biggest team in the land should get someone fired benza ngabomo , bet uzezwa sekuthiwa it was leaked yeah yeah khonapho this Cup is milking all the mileage it can from the Bosso Community.”
Veteran broadcaster Ezra Tshisa Sibanda said the mutilation of the logo by Chibuku was deliberate.
“Yikho ukudelela khonokho, kwenziwa ngabomu.
Chibuku has been in football for decades and Bosso has won this cup before and to act like a monkey and pretend that is a mistake is pure barbaric.” Sibanda added his voice on the matter.Credit:Bulawayo 24
By A Correspondent- Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivhayo has forked out $16K to help a Gwanda man who needs the cash to undergo a lifesaving surgery.
Wicknell posted the news on social media and accompanied the post with receipts for his generous donation.
Tweeted the businessman:
Thank you for all the tweets. Gwanda town is my second home , my work , my passion and my future so I had to also chip in. His CABS and POSB accounts could not accept the the payment so I located his Doctor . Wishing Mr Phiri a successful operation and may God bless him
The beneficiary of Wicknell’s generosity, Tamson Phiri is suffering from a rare form of cancer and needs surgery and subsequent facial reconstruction.
Farai Dziva|Pressure group ZIMUCU has described Emmerson Mnangagwa as a notorious human rights abuser.
Said ZIMUCU in a statement :
EMMERSON DAMBUDZO MNANGAGWA
has no regard for human lives and is a notorious human rights abuser. He doesn’t respect the rule of law but encourages constitutional violations.
Dambudzo must be rejected and ejected from the State house.
Farai Dziva|Pressure group ZIMUCU has described Emmerson Mnangagwa as a notorious human rights abuser.
Said ZIMUCU in a statement :
EMMERSON DAMBUDZO MNANGAGWA
has no regard for human lives and is a notorious human rights abuser. He doesn’t respect the rule of law but encourages constitutional violations.
Dambudzo must be rejected and ejected from the State house.
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Farai Dziva| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has condemned the firing of medical doctors by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
Chamisa described the move as “a silent genocide. “
“It surprises me that the Mnangagwa regime would fire medical doctors instead of simply paying them a living wage.
These are fruits of illegitimacy. There is a silent genocide taking place in Zimbabwe as our hospitals have been shut down for 2 months now. Pay doctors a living wage,” tweeted Chamisa.
Farai Dziva| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has condemned the firing of medical doctors by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
Chamisa described the move as “a silent genocide. “
“It surprises me that the Mnangagwa regime would fire medical doctors instead of simply paying them a living wage.
These are fruits of illegitimacy. There is a silent genocide taking place in Zimbabwe as our hospitals have been shut down for 2 months now. Pay doctors a living wage,” tweeted Chamisa.
Farai Dziva| Nelson Chamisa has won the lengthy legal battle against political rival Thokozani Khupe.
The full ConCourt bench chaired by Justice Luke Malaba has dismissed Khupe’s application against Chamisa.
Justice Malaba threw out Khupe’s application without giving further reasons.
“The application is hereby dismissed with no order as to costs,” Chief Justice Malaba said.
Khupe who deserted the party’s Harvest House 5 months before the death of the late leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was eventually fired from the party 2 months after the founder’s death.
She was involved in a scramble for leadership which saw not only her but also Elias Mudzuri, the latter who claimed he had received a letter of appointment from Tsvangirai at his hospital bedside in February last year.
Khupe claims she was prejudiced of her benefits when she was “unceremoniously” expelled.
Her lawyer Lovemore Madhuku argued:
“She lost her benefits in terms of salary and allowances. She can sue for damages against the second respondent (Parliament) if it is established that she was not constitutionally removed.”
But the bench has since released its verdict whose full print is expected in the coming days.
Farai Dziva| Nelson Chamisa has won the lengthy legal battle against political rival Thokozani Khupe.
The full ConCourt bench chaired by Justice Luke Malaba has dismissed Khupe’s application against Chamisa.
Justice Malaba threw out Khupe’s application without giving further reasons.
“The application is hereby dismissed with no order as to costs,” Chief Justice Malaba said.
Khupe who deserted the party’s Harvest House 5 months before the death of the late leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was eventually fired from the party 2 months after the founder’s death.
She was involved in a scramble for leadership which saw not only her but also Elias Mudzuri, the latter who claimed he had received a letter of appointment from Tsvangirai at his hospital bedside in February last year.
Khupe claims she was prejudiced of her benefits when she was “unceremoniously” expelled.
Her lawyer Lovemore Madhuku argued:
“She lost her benefits in terms of salary and allowances. She can sue for damages against the second respondent (Parliament) if it is established that she was not constitutionally removed.”
But the bench has since released its verdict whose full print is expected in the coming days.
By Farai D Hove| A full ConCourt bench chaired by Justice Luke Malaba has dismissed Thokozani Khupe’s application against Nelson Chamisa.
Justice Malaba threw out Khupe’s application without giving further reasons.
“The application is hereby dismissed with no order as to costs,” CJ Malaba said.
Khupe who deserted the party’s Harvest House 5 months before the death of the late leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was eventually fired from the party 2 months after the founder’s death.
She was involved in a scramble for leadership which saw not only her but also Elias Mudzuri, the latter who claimed he had received a letter of appointment from Tsvangirai at his hospital bedside in February last year.
Khupe claims she was prejudiced of her benefits when she was “unceremoniously” expelled.
Her lawyer Lovemore Madhuku argued saying:
“She lost her benefits in terms of salary and allowances. She can sue for damages against the second respondent (Parliament) if it is established that she was not constitutionally removed.”
But the bench has since released its verdict whose full print is expected in the coming days.
– LIVE SCENES IN HARARE DURING CIVIL SERVANTS DEMO –
Riot police have blocked demonstrating civil servants intending to march and present their perition to their employer. Below are the live scenes in Harare-
Riot police have blocked demonstrating civil servants intending to march and present their perition to their employer. Below are the live scenes in Harare-
By Own Correspondent| One of the incapacitated doctors fired from work, and is one of the 77, Dr Trevor Chivanzire gave the below responses while at a solidarity meeting at Parirenyatwa Hospital Wednesday morning-
“Yesterday at around 6:00 am I saw a letter which was slipped through beneath my door which was now telling me that I have been dismissed from my work because I failed to attend the disciplinary hearings, so I think that is where we are now.”
Qu: Do you have a copy of the letter with you?
“No I dont have”
Qu: But what are the reasons cited in the letter?
“The main reason they cited in the letter was absenteeism. They said that you have been absent from duty(work), surprisingly they were quoting 14 October as the first date that I had skipped work. They said from the 14th of October to the 1st November, I failed to present myself or the hearings. So those are the reasons to the cited in the letter.
There is one very pressing – not to mention, extremely embarrassing – question which Zimbabweans who travel throughout the world are always confronted with every time we encounter foreign nationals: “Why are you people so docile and placid, such that you hardly stand up against the suffering and oppression you endure at the hands of your government? Are you so cowardly?”
How can anyone answer that without appearing like a fool? We try to explain that what we are dealing with here is a regime with a grave history of brutality and tyranny, which does not tolerate any form of dissent – coupled by examples of the August 2018 and January 2019 killings, as well as intimidation and alleged abductions of opposition and labour activists. We do our best to make them understand that, it is not that we have never tried to stand up for ourselves, but each time we have been met by a gruesome and heinous response at the hands of a heavy-handed force, such that most people had finally decided to just quietly try to make ends meet – under such arduous and perilous conditions – without provoking the ire of the administration.
However, such a response never seems to invite much sympathy nor empathy from those in foreign lands – but, instead attracts biting scorn and ridicule – as they merely view these explanations as nothing more than lame excuses for our own cowardice.
They are quick to point to their own peaceful and non-violent, but fearless and gallant struggles, against similar – if not more vile and ruthless – regimes, as they firmly stood up against injustice and oppression, in the face of numerous precarious challenges, including brutal repression, most of which resulted in unfair imprisonments, barbarous crackdowns, beatings up, intimidations, and even the loss of lives.
Nonetheless, the people persevered and prospered, as their painful struggles were eventually rewarded by a better system of governance that truly had the desire for the ordinary person on the street at heart.
So, what is the Zimbabwean’s excuse?
However, what we find encouraging is that the winds of change are finally blowing across the nation, as witnessed by the pioneering and trailblazing bravery of doctors, who have categorically and outrightly refused to be intimidated – in spite of the recent alleged abduction of their leader Peter Magombeyi by people who have not been brought to book, as with all other similar cases, in addition to reports of threats from unknown individuals.
As the state president once ‘advised’ the South African government during the recent xenophobic violent riots – that all Pretoria needed to do was just fire one or two shots into the air, and these people will scurry in all directions.
Our leaders truly know us! Zimbabweans have been notorious for our lack of backbone, and gullibility.
However, our doctors – who have not been reporting for work for the past two months, citing incapacitation due to their paltry earnings – have proven to be a different breed, as they have refused to yield in the face of a recent labour court ruling declaring their collective job action illegal, and have also not been shaken by subsequent disciplinary hearings, and not so covert threats by the government to fire them.
They have stood boldly and firmly in their demand for a living wage – in fact, merely demanding today’s equivalent of their salaries as of October last year, when these were valued in United States dollars, before the government legislated that the ever-devaluing Zimbabwe dollar was now the only legal tender in the country.
Numerous insincere and deceptive ‘negotiations’ have been called for by the government – all of which have proven to be a sheer waste of time, as their employer has offered nothing near the real value of the doctors’ real salaries based on the prevailing interbank exchange rates.
Such an example by our doctors of what it truly means to boldly and valiantly stand up for one’s rights needs to be emulated by each and every Zimbabwean citizen who genuinely desires a better life for him or herself, and their families – contrary to what we have witnessed in the past whereby a simple threat to sack aggrieved employees, or imprison and beat up peaceful demonstrators clamouring for their rights, have worked wonders in filling the people with unparallelled fright and nightmares that they have cowardly put their tails between their legs, and surrendered their cause.
On top of that, other seemingly resolute employees – frothing at the mouth, and vowing not to return to work if their demands were not met – have meekly capitulated when another round of ‘talks’, in a stream of countless useless negotiations, has been called for by their employers – an obvious age-old ploy to disable their industrial action.
Nevertheless, we now have an enviable precedence to emulate, in the form of our doctors’ actions – as we have finally learnt as Zimbabweans that we need to stand together without an ounce of fear in this struggle for a just society – where there are no people, especially in the ruling elite, who should be regarded as most equal than the rest of us.
This country belongs to all of us, and we should make our message unequivocally clear to those in authority that the time for treating us as second-class citizens, and less human than they are, is over! We demand immediate recognition of all the people of this country as worthy of respect, honour, and dignified life.
We can not spend the precious lives that God Almighty gave us – due to His unending grace – trying to figure out where and how we will get money for our next meal, our children’s school fees, and rental for our dwellings; or standing in queues trying to fetch water from the suburb’s solitary borehole; or cutting down trees for firewood because there is no electricity; or worrying about the future of our small businesses as people do not have disposable cash to spend on our goods and services; or watching our loved ones perish due to the unavailability of medication in public health centres (and their unaffordability at private pharmacies).
Yet, our leaders – mislabelled as fathers and mothers of the nation – extravagantly waste the resources meant to benefit all of us, on chartering private jets on largely pointless trips, seek medical treatment at the most expensive hospitals overseas, reportedly blow over US$5 million staying in five star hotels, ostensibly attending a pre-budget meeting, waste another US$4 million on a useless anti-sanctions march, and loot billions more through systematic corruption.
What type of a father or mother does that? What manner of a father or mother goes out revelling – partying, drinking and eating – whilst, his or her family wallows in poverty – without food to eat, clothes to wear, going to school, dying for lack of medication, or without a roof over their heads?
Is this not abuse of the highest order? So, what can we say about our own leaders – for lack of a better word, for surely they are anything but leaders?
We now need to speak loudly and boldly in demanding our rights to be respected – without allowing fear to emasculate us…for bravery is not the lack of fear, but the ability to move ahead, in spite of the fear.
Doctors have already shown the way for us. Even if we are fired from our jobs – such is the cost we will have to pay as an investment and premium for a better future, where we will have a better economy and better jobs. So what if we are brutalised in the midst of our peaceful cause for a dignified life – for such is the sacrifice worthy of any future deserving of a God-created human being.
Even those who came before us knew that, in their fight against colonial Rhodesian injustices and oppression, there came a time to sacrifice everything for the sake of a better future – although, that gallant struggle was eventually hijacked by the power-hungry and corrupt caboodle we have today, who disingenuously and deceptively claim the glory.
Ours is a peaceful and non-violent, but highly effective, loud call for those in power to finally realize that they have an obligation towards the people of this country, which they can not afford to ignore any longer. This is a struggle that is far much larger than just you and me, as individuals, but requires solidarity and unitary effort as Zimbabweans – transcending any narrow and shallow political divides – for indeed, united we stand, divided we fall.
Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist, writer, author, and speaker. email: [email protected].
Own Correspondent|A deputy headmaster at Lower Gweru Mission School Jabulani Sibanda (51) has been arrested after he allegedly beat two boys on their privates, after accusing them of having love affairs with girls at the school.
The pupils, aged 17 and 16, are reportedly admitted at a private hospital in Gweru, with the 16-year-old said to be in a critical condition.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko yesterday said he was still to get details about the deputy head’s arrest.
“I am yet to get the details, but even if I get them, I will refer you to national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi because I am not at liberty to comment on Government officials,” he said.
Police sources close to investigations said Sibanda was tasked to discipline the two boys after it was discovered they were in love with some girls in their class.
Sibanda, they said, reportedly called the boys to his office and he lashed them on their private parts.
“The privates of one of the boys got swollen after the beating, and he has been failing to pass urine.
“Doctors had to put a tube to assist him. He is said to be in a serious condition.”
The sources said the other boy dislocated his spinal cord as he tried to resist the beating.
Charlton Athletic striker Macauley Bonne could be about to pause his international career as he sets his sights on a possible England call-up in the future.
Bonne has already played once for Zimbabwe but this was in a friendly fixture and he could still play for his country of birth, should he continue his current run of form.
Macauley Bonne in action for Charlton against Wigan
The Addicks ace has had an excellent spell in the side as a replacement for Lyle Taylor, scoring five goals in seven starts, and given his exceptional rise at 24-years-old there is a chance he could replicate the fortunes of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, who went from Stocksbridge Park Steels all the way to Euro 2016 with the Three Lions.
Bonne has not turned his back on Zimbabwe, the homeland of his parents, but is considering the options he has after frustrating complications as he attempted to get a passport ahead of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
He was ultimately unsuccessful and missed out on the opportunity to play in the competition.
Bonne told talkSPORT in a recent interview: “I’ve been trying to get it sorted for years and years now and the process seems to be getting longer and longer,” he said.
“It will happen one day but I’m gutted I didn’t get to go to the Africa Cup of Nations but I’m still young and have plenty of years ahead of me to go and play for them.”
Bonne has been in impressive form in front of goal since breaking into Lee Bowyer’s team
The striker hit 45 goals in 90 National League matches with Leyton Orient in the past two seasons, helping them earn promotion to League Two before earning a switch to Charlton.
Several top clubs continue to keep an eye on Bonne following his recent upturn in form, although he will soon face a battle with fellow forward Taylor for a starting berth in the team.
State Media|All is set for the two-day Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation (ZMF) annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled to start in Gweru today.
ZMF president Ms Henrietta Rushwaya said it was all systems go for the event, which is meant to tackle challenges faced by the mining sector.
She said the two-day AGM will be officially opened by President Mnangagwa and will be held at the Gweru Convention Centre along the Gweru-Mvuma Road.
Ms Rushwaya said various stakeholders including Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando and his Finance and Economic Development counterpart, Professor Mthuli Ncube, are expected to make presentations during the indaba.
“Preparations are well on course and I can safely say that we are ready to host the event. Above all, we are honoured and ready to host His Excellency President Mnangagwa, who is expected to have face-to-face deliberations with miners and stakeholders so that he is made aware of challenges they are facing,” she said.
Ms Rushwaya said the purpose of the meeting was to bring together stakeholders in the mining sector and give the first citizen an opportunity to be appraised on the challenges affecting the mining sector.
“As you are aware, the mining sector is one of the critical components of the economy. As such, we are giving the sector the recognition it deserves by bringing in the Head of State to listen to views coming from the miners and some stakeholders in the sector so that he hears the complaints first hand,” she said.
“Indeed, we have gold as our major foreign currency earner and ways to improve mining conditions in the gold mining sector will be discussed. Also of importance is the ‘lose it or lose it’ policy that will be tabled so that mines that are set aside for speculative purposes are released and utilised.”
Ms Rushwaya said under the gold section, the indaba will also look at Section 3 of the Gold Trade Act with the miners seeking to decriminalise gold possession as well as the gold retention system which is currently affecting gold production.
She said in the semi-precious minerals sector, the indaba was set to come up with a pricing regime to guide the sector to void losing revenue to agents who fleeced unsuspecting miners.
“It’s an issue of concern where we are saying we need a pricing regime in the semi-precious minerals sector so that we avoid being duped by agents due to lack of a proper pricing regime. We will also discuss the issue of weighbridges in the chrome sector, among other issues,” said Ms Rushwaya.
The indaba comes at a time when the country has shown indications it might fail to meet the 40 tonnes gold target owing to challenges faced by the miners.
Striking Zimbabwean doctors say “it defies all common sense” that some of their colleagues have been dismissed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government at a time when millions of people can no longer access state medical facilities.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association said the Health Service Board (HSB) which hires doctors on behalf of the government, misfired when it dismissed 77 striking doctors on Tuesday.
“HSB has succeeded in shooting themselves on the foot. Whilst the Zimbabwean citizens and the government of Zimbabwe have entrusted them with a simple mandate of resolving the crisis in our healthcare system, they have shaken the nation by firing the very few doctors in the country.
“This shocking decision … shows clearly that they don’t care about the suffering masses of our people and the ordinary citizens who rely on government hospitals for healthcare … Once again we reiterate that ZHDA and its entire membership will not be intimidated or deterred in asking for a livable wage and in doing so we maintain that we have not committee any crime by being broke.”
The doctors say they will hold a meeting at Parirenyatwa Hospital on Wednesday to discuss the dismissal of the doctors and related issues.
“We eagerly await to see how this move which defies all common sense will serve as a solution to the already strained health care system. Nothing has been done to improve the welfare of doctors and hospitals’ working environments therefore doctors nationwide remain incapacitated.”
The doctors went on strike September 3 calling for a review of their salaries and on-call allowances.
Dr. Paulinus Sikosana, chairperson of the Health Service Board, told VOA Zimbabwe Service that the firing of the doctors was done as per Zimbabwean labor laws.
Some striking junior, middle level and senior doctors refused to attend hearing convened by the ministry of health, which subsequently sent home some of the doctors who were supposed to appear before a disciplinary committee.
MINISTER of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring Joram McDonald Gumbo, who was picked up by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) investigators on Monday over criminal allegations involving abuse of US$37 million, has been released.
However, sources said President Mnangagwa intervened to save his close ally.
His lawyer Selby Hwacha said it was the media that had made a rush of things and blown a simple police inquiry into “something big.”
Hwacha said his client was already home during the time journalists were waiting for him to appear at the Harare Magistrates’ court.
“He is already home. He has been released. He has not been charged with any criminal case. Zacc was only conducting its investigations and we went to court in the morning but we were sent back to Zacc for further questions before he was released,” Hwacha said.
Gumbo was seen at the courts briefly in the morning before he was whisked away by Zacc officers.
Official information released revealed that charges preferred against Gumbo arise from four separate incidents during his tenure as Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister.
Zacc confirmed that Gumbo gave his warned and cautioned statement on Monday. But Hwacha claimed there had not been a statement from his client recorded.
“There was no statement at all,” the lawyer said.
On Monday, Zacc chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo confirmed to the media that indeed Gumbo had been arrested.
The Zacc boss had promised to give details later that day but had not issued a statement up to late Tuesday afternoon.
In the first of the allegations, Gumbo was accused of corruptly facilitating the awarding of a US$33,3 million tender to Indrastemas & Homt Espana of South Africa for air traffic control equipment without following the procurement procedure.
He allegedly authorised the company to supply the equipment to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) without going to tender.
Gumbo was also accused of showing favour with his relative and Zanu PF activist, Mavis Gumbo through awarding her a contract to rent out her house to Zimbabwe Airways.
It was alleged that as part of the deal, Gumbo directed the release of US$1 million for the refurbishment of Ms Gumbo’s property and customising it into the airline’s headquarters.
The house is located at 1436 Gletywin, Shawasha Hills,in one of Harare’s upmarket suburbs.
State prosecutors claim government lost US$1 million in refurbishing the property and Ms Gumbo received huge amounts of money in monthly rentals from a government investment.
Gumbo was also accused of corruptly reinstating CMED chief executive Davison Mhaka, despite a disciplinary tribunal finding him guilty of misconduct after the latter authorised payment of US$2,7 million to a fuel company for the supply of the product that was never delivered.
Pepsi prices hiked by almost 100%. The company’s sales agents on Monday began notifying retailers of the latest price increase which is likely to be passed on to the consumer. Indian soft drinks manufacturer, Varun Beverages, has increased soft drink wholesale prices from ZWL 89.76 for case of 24 to ZWL 170.
A snap-survey by this reporter reveals that in most retail outlets have no Pepsi stocks amid reports the retail prices will shoot up.
This comes after prices of basic commodities shot up significantly over the past months as retailers responded to rising inflationary pressures, stemming from a depreciating local currency and foreign currency shortages. Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Denford Mutashu said that the pricing environment now resembles a jungle as consumers bear the brunt against constantly eroding wages and salaries.
“The habit of speculative pricing has replaced sanity in most pricing models. The equivalent of the same unit prices of similar brands in other countries will tell you that, sometimes it’s not about costs but defiance.
“Some pricing trends by certain manufacturers, suppliers and retail players easily leaves trails of sabotaging President Mnangagwa administration and I implore him to take action and protect the public ,” he said.
Varun has operations in Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Morocco and Nigeria. Jaipuria, India’s cola king and PepsiCo’s second-biggest bottler.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been advised to replace his entire cabinet not merely organise a reshuffle as he was reportedly planning to do.
Addressing ruling party Zanu-PF youths at party headquarters in Harare recently, Mnangagwa commended youths in his current cabinet, complimenting them for doing a good job.
However, University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure, told the Daily News that a mere reshuffle will not be enough, because all the ministers have failed dismally, Pindula News reported on Monday.
“It is almost unfair for us to select certain individuals and say these ones are the bad apples because the whole cabinet needs to be removed and replaced with new people,” said Masunungure.
“He (the president) has to pick new apples and see how things will go. The current cabinet has been an absolute disaster.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to escape axe in Cabinet Reshuffle. President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week commended ZANU PF youths who are currently part of the cabinet and promised that he will add some of them “soon”, the clearest hint that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent.
While some political analysts have opined that the entire cabinet is inept and should be sacked in its entirety, Namibia-based scholar Admire Mare argued that there are some ministers who should be retained, among them Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube. Said Mare:
… Mthuli Ncube, I think he will survive because he has tried to ensure that there is fiscal consolidation and the country lives within its means.
I doubt the ministers of Industry (Ndlovu), Health (Moyo), Education (Paul Mavima) and ICT ( Kazembe Kazembe) will survive. The minister of Health has also failed to deal with the labour unrest and re-tooling of government hospitals. Even minister Chasi…
Even the Home Affairs portfolio has struggled to deal with the passport issue, which may force the president to bring a new set of hands to stabilise the precarious state of affairs there.
Ncube is probably the most unpopular minister in the current cabinet due to his austerity measures that have pushed millions into penury and his seeming arrogance.
1. State Enterprises Reform Programme:Forestry Performance Review and Turnaround Strategy.
Cabinet considered and approved a comprehensive turnaround strategy for the Forestry Commission, which the Minister of Finance and Economic Development presented as part of the ongoing State Enterprises Reform Programme.
The strategy is intended to address funding, governance and skills training needs and thereby enable the Forestry Commission to effectively discharge its mandate of preserving and growing the country’s rich forestry endowment.
Cabinet approved as follows: to restructure and realign the Forestry Commissionto perform its core function on the conservation and management of the country’s forestry reserve in contributing to the economic turnaround and the attainment of Vision 2030; that the Forestry Commission broadens community participation by setting up natural resource management committees in rural communities in collaboration with rural district councils; that, in line with the New Dispensation’s Devolution policy, each province develops a Natural Resources Development Plan, which entails sound management of forestry and wildlife resources for effective contribution to economic growth; and that the Forestry Commission undertakes effective marketing as well as competitive pricing of its tourism facilities in order to enhance its financial performance.
Cabinet further directed that the Forestry Commission urgently concludes its lease agreement with Allied Timbers and thereby expand its revenue base through lease fees. On its part, Government will institute and coordinate measures to deal with the challenges of illegal settlers who exacerbate the depletion of forests and thereby undermine the operations of the Forestry Commission.
2.Operationalisation of the Walvis Bay Dry Port Facility
Cabinet noted with satisfaction the progress report on the operationalisation of the Walvis Bay Dry Port Facility in Namibia as presented by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. The dry port facility, which was officially inaugurated by His Excellency the President on 26 July 2019, is set to commence operations mid November 2019.
The facility was established for purposes of cargo handling, storage and freight logistics.
Zimbabwe will derive tremendous benefits from the dry port through facilitation of the smooth flow of the country’s imports and exports.Cabinet has since directed ministries and their agencies to commence using the facility, especially in view of the need to de-congest traditional routes to the Mozambican and South African ports.
3.Update on Medical Doctors Illegal Job Action
Cabinet was informed by the Minister of Health and Child Care that the public hospitals medical doctors’ strike has now gone beyond 63 days.Medical services at most central hospitals, therefore, remain constrained. The situation is being exacerbated by City of Harare nurses who have since stopped reporting for duty citing incapacitation.
Disciplinary hearing for the doctors by the Health Service Board commenced on 1st November 2019. Of the 80 doctors charged, 77 were found guilty and discharged.
Cabinet, however, assures the public that necessary measures are being instituted to ensure that the situation in the health sector returns to normalcy in the shortest possible time.
4. The 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement
The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, who led a Government delegation to the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 25 to 26 October 2019 briefed Cabinet on proceedings and outcome of the summit. Cabinet noted the report with satisfaction amid indications that several countries spoke very strongly in solidarity with Zimbabwe and called for the removal of the sanctions that are stifling the country’s economic development.
Furthermore, the Republic of Azerbaijan extended offers for enhancing bilateral cooperation with Zimbabwe and, including through the provision of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships under the NAM framework.
In another boost for the country’s engagement and re-engagement strategy, Cabinet further noted other offers of cooperation from the Republic of Serbia, and looks forward to concrete actions in this regard. Generally, the summit highlighted the need to strengthen NAM’s role in global efforts to address challenges that include, inter alia, xenophobia, human trafficking and illicit financial flows.
5. Threat of Strike Action by Civil Servants
Following a statement issued by civil servants that they intend to go on strike to demand a review of their salaries, negotiations have been taking place between the Apex Council and the National Joint Negotiating Council.
In the latest meeting that took place this afternoon, it has been agreed as follows: Government does not dispute the need to give a cost of living adjustment to its workers, but was faced with various competing national demands. These include:
Payment of the annual bonus that will take a significant portion of resources and due to restricted revenue inflows, will be staggered between November and December 2019;
The need to import grain to supplement grain reserves;
The need to support the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme by providing vulnerable households with agricultural input;
Government was subsidising on transport through ZUPCO and the recent purchase of 15 additional Public Service buses;
• The budget cycle was coming to an end and that was difficult to get additional resources from the current budget and, therefore, a review in the cost of living was definite in 2020.
The Government team then indicated that Government would be able to provide cushion through the payment of the annual bonus which would be paid inclusive of allowances contrary to the previous years where it was paid based on basic salary alone.
In addition, Government was also putting measures to contain loss of the workers purchasing power and requested the Apex Council to provide three nominees to attend a Tripartite Negotiating Forum Technical Committee workshop in Kadoma from 10 to 15 November 2019.
The workshop is aimed at coming up with a social contract that is aimed at bringing the social partners to a common position. This may result in the freeze of incomes and prices.
Workers response
In response, the workers just advised the meeting that they had heard the Government’s position and gave no explanation on their next move.
The Government team discouraged the Apex Council from embarking on their intended demonstration set for the 6th of November. The workers again refused to respond.
IN a development that will anger Bulawayo football fans, Caf has ordered Zifa to shift the Warriors’ Total Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Botswana from Barbourfields Stadium to the National Sports Stadium in Harare due to uncertainty over the venue’s floodlight system.
The match, set for November 15, will be played at 6PM.
Pleas by Zifa to have the match played in the afternoon hit a brick wall, as Caf argued that all matches will be played simultaneously in the evening and therefore the Zimbabwe and Botswana encounter wouldn’t be an exception.
“The decision to move the match follows communication from the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) on the issue of floodlights at Barbourfields Stadium where they could not guarantee their good working order as they were last put to use in 2017 during the Cosafa Women’s Championship. In the absence of such a guarantee and in pursuit of conformance with their minimum requirements,
Caf has switched the match to the National Sports Stadium to avoid potential of floodlight failure during the match, a situation that could trigger security risk to the fans, players and officials. Zifa had pleaded with the continental mother body to move the match to 3PM on the same day, but Caf could not grant the request as all qualifiers across Africa will be played at 6PM,” said Zifa communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela.
He said the association remains fully committed to hosting future matches played in the afternoon in Bulawayo to allow fans an opportunity to watch their national team in action.
“The Zifa executive committee commits to host the next international match which is to be played during daylight at Barbourfields Stadium and that we remain committed to a rotation system that will allow all fans an opportunity to support their team in flesh and blood,” he said.
This is the second time this year that a last-minute decision has been made to move a match set for Barbourfields Stadium to the capital. The first being the Fifa World Cup preliminary match against Somalia.
The Somalia match had to be moved after the Somalis failed to get flights on time resulting in a situation where the match was supposed to have been moved by 24 hours, which would unfortunately have clashed with the Under-23s’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.
State Media|THE Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) yesterday rallied Zimbabweans across the political divide, colour and creed to stand together and fight illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West.
POLAD is an assembly of 17 political parties that participated in last year’s harmonised elections.
The political parties are gathered in Nyanga for a workshop on ZIDERA and sanctions.
They are also undergoing training on international relations, diplomacy and etiquette to enable them advocate for the removal of the two-decade economic embargo on foreign soil.
Addressing a Press conference here, POLAD co-convener and National Peace and Reconciliation Commission chairperson Justice Selo Nare said there was need to come up with a strategy to help the country rid itself of the illegal sanctions.
“The Political Actors Dialogue has convened a meeting to discuss the topical issue of ZIDERA and sanctions, which seems to have plagued the nation. In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the region and Africa, the political actors have resolved to deliberate on their position on the matter and churn out a strategy to help the nation rid itself of this malady called sanctions,” he said.
Justice Nare said citizens must be made aware of what sanctions are and their impact on Zimbabwe.
“Therefore, the political actors have decided that to properly articulate the matter of sanctions, the ordinary citizen should be aware of what sanctions mean and their impact on their lives. The political actors are gathered here to dialogue and proffer solution (s) on how to resolve the matter of sanctions regardless of their political differences. We urge all Zimbabweans to stand together, remain united and fight against sanctions,” he added.
In separate interviews, POLAD members said the issue of sanctions was no longer debatable as the embargo was affecting everyone.
“We have decided that we are joining the advocacy for campaigning against sanctions and the removal of sanctions. Once a person embarks on an advocacy, there is need to be clear about the issues for which you are advocating. So, this workshop seeks to capacitate us as political actors with the issues and facts about these sanctions so that when we do the advocacy campaign, we are clear, we are factual and we are able to change the narrative and have the people affected talking about them,” said People’s Rainbow Coalition leader Ms Lucia Matibenga.
She is also a former MDC bigwig and trade unionist.
“The economy is affected by these sanctions and we need to talk about them being removed so that there is a better life for all Zimbabweans,” said Ms Matibenga.
She dismissed the US embassy’s claim there were no American sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“It is typical. In any issue, when people are advocating, they are those for and those against. The Americans are actually propagating their own narrative, and one will forgive them for that,” said Ms Matibenga.
MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe said sanctions were strangling the economy and all facets of life.
“The major problem we have had is that there has not been enough advocacy on the issue of sanctions so that people understand the effects and impact of sanctions on individuals and on the country as a whole,” she said.
Dr Khupe said international capital was shunning Zimbabwe as a result of sanctions.
“People do not know that in 2000 or way back, many flights used come to Zimbabwe, but they have all stopped.
“People do not know that we were exporting horticultural produce to many countries but all that stopped. Where do you expect to get income from?
“As we speak right now, we cannot get any credit lines. When you look at 2001 when sanctions were imposed people had jobs, industry was operating, but look at where we are in 2019. Industry is closed, people do not have jobs. Is this what we want as a country? These are the effects of sanctions.
“We are saying as Zimbabweans, it is high time we speak with one voice because this thing is about life and death. It is affecting ordinary Zimbabweans,” she said.
Dr Khupe blasted selfish politicians.
“I think as politicians, it is high time we stand up and say let us put our country first. Zimbabwe must come first before anything else. Let us move away from politics of power and positions and try politics of a better life for every Zimbabwean. The major focus of many political parties is power and positions,” she said.
Independent presidential candidate Mr Brain Muteki said: “We need to be given a chance. Zimbabwe is a nation with potential and very ambitious people. Sanctions must be removed. Sanctions are impacting negatively on the populace of Zimbabwe.
“The country is locked, sanctions are there. We need to be freed from sanctions.”
CODE leader Mr Trust Chikohora said sanctions were real and it was ridiculous for anyone to deny their existence.
“Everybody can see the impact of sanctions. Everyone can feel the impact of sanctions. We have been under the embargo for almost 20 years. We cannot deny things that are self evident. It is now time to make sure that everybody knows the truth and make sure we highlight the impact on ordinary people’s lives,” he said.
State Media|Government has dismissed reports that Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo has retracted or renounced his statement released last week condemning the actions of US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Brian Nichols.
In his October 31 statement, Dr Moyo criticised Mr Nichols for over-stepping his mandate by dabbling in Zimbabwe’s internal politics in breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The minister said Ambassador Nichols was engaging in a campaign to discredit Zimbabwe by making counter arguments on the effects of the punitive sanctions on the country.
The timing of Mr Nichols’ campaign coincided with the preparations for the anti-sanctions day on October 25.
But on Monday, some online publications carried a story claiming that Dr Moyo had disowned the statement on Mr Nichols to some diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe.
This was disputed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr Shepherd Gwenzi yesterday, who described the reports as mischievous.
“There are Press reports that have come to the attention of the ministry suggesting that the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Lt Gen (Rtd) Dr SB Moyo disowned the statement he issued on 31 October 2019 on the recent conduct and statements of the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Zimbabwe His Excellency Brian A Nichols,” he said.
“For the record, the Honourable Minister has neither retracted nor renounced his statement.
“The said reports are mischievous and should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.”
Dr Moyo said the US Ambassador’s statements violated diplomatic etiquette, were grossly partisan in nature and reflected a worrying lack of respect for the host Government.
“Compounding these statements was the wholly unjustified imposition of US sanctions on the Honourable Owen Ncube, Minister of State Security,” he said.
Dr Moyo said while Zimbabweans are welcoming, tolerant and friendly people, it would be a mistake to misinterpret the qualities to mean weakness or that the Government would ignore or tolerate any form of insult and abuse.
“International law helps us to draw a line between the function which a diplomatic mission may exercise and those that it may not.
“Furthermore, it establishes that, as sovereign nations, all countries in the world enjoy equal rights and protection.
“Clearly, the convention does not permit embassies to conduct themselves like opposition citadels, pre-occupying themselves with the constant casting of aspersions, innuendo and even insults at the host Government,” said Dr Moyo.
“It follows, therefore, that the conduct of any diplomat which is openly inimical to the promotion of friendly relations is far removed from the core objectives of the convention and cannot simply be ignored.
“Any conduct that violates the generally accepted and legally recognised functions of diplomats, constitutes the abuse of diplomatic privilege.”
Dr Moyo said no diplomat should allow themselves to behave or conduct themselves like a member of the opposition, with complete disregard for diplomatic protocol.
He said it was unacceptable for the ambassador to portray as fact unsubstantiated allegations or rumours against the Government, some of which would still be under investigation by law enforcement or other Government agencies.
“Persistent behaviour of this nature will test the patience of even the most tolerant among us.
“It would be a very sad day if dialogue between the US Embassy and this ministry, and Government more broadly, were to collapse completely under its present leadership, such that we would end up just ignoring or even avoiding each other. We genuinely seek dialogue with all well-meaning countries as part of our re-engagement efforts. But our openness and innate generosity of spirit of all Zimbabweans should not be taken for granted and should certainly not be abused,” said Dr Moyo.
“We have means to bring this to an end, should we deem it necessary or should we be pushed too far.”
State Media|GOVERNMENT does not dispute the need to pay civil servants a cost of living adjustment hence its decision to provide them with annual bonuses inclusive of their allowances, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said yesterday.
She said during a Post-Cabinet meeting Press briefing held in Harare that while civil servants’ concerns were genuine, Government cannot at the moment accede to all their demands due to other national demands such as providing food relief to drought-hit communities.
The civil servants’ body Apex Council had earlier announced plans to stage a protest today over low salaries.
“Government does not dispute the need to give a cost of living adjustment to its workers but was facing various competing national demands. These include payment of annual bonus that will take a significant portion of resources and due to restricted revenue inflows would be staggered between November and December 2019. Also, the need to import grain to supplement grain reserves.
Those are some of the various competing national demands,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the Government was also providing several safety nets including the Presidential agricultural inputs for farmers as well as subsidised transport for commuters under the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) scheme.
The Minister said Government also bought additional buses to increase the fleet of Zupco buses.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Government would be able to review the cost of living in the next three months but employees should in the meantime take solace in that they will get bonuses with allowances.
“The budget cycle was coming to an end and that was difficult to get additional resources from the current budget and therefore a review in the cost of living was certainly going to happen in 2020. The Government indicated that it would be able to provide cushion through the payment of the annual bonus which will be paid inclusive of allowances, contrary to the previous year where it was paid based on basic salary alone,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said Government has also invited Apex Council to select three members to join a tripartite negotiating forum technical committee which will be meeting in Kadoma next week to try and to come up with a lasting social contract to arrest price increases among other pressing issues.
The Minister noted that yesterday’s National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting did not yield positive results as civil servants insisted on demonstrating.
In a statement, Apex Council said their demonstration would proceed as planned today describing yesterday’s indaba as fruitless.
“The much-anticipated Apex Council demonstration set for tomorrow Wednesday, 6 November 2019 will go ahead as scheduled following a fruitless NJNC meeting held today 5 November 2019.
According to the Government workers negotiating team, the employer brought nothing to the table, completely with zero offer, zero cushion and no interbank rate being applied,” reads Apex Council statement.
“To add insult to injury, Government has gone back on its earlier offer to pay all bonuses in November, confirming instead that they will pay over two months meaning some civil servants will get inflation blighted bonuses. Government workers are demanding inter-bank rate salaries. Accordingly, Apex Council protest will proceed as scheduled.”
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware of the civil servants planned demonstration.
“At the headquarters we are not aware maybe the concerned regulating authority should shed light,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
State Media|Government is working to normalise the situation at public hospitals following the dismissal of 77 doctors who went on an illegal strike recently. This was disclosed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa while addressing the media after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
“Cabinet was informed by the Minister of Health and Child Care (Dr Obadiah Moyo) that the public hospitals medical doctors’ strike has now gone beyond 63 days. Medical services at most central hospitals therefore remain constrained.
“The situation is being exacerbated by City of Harare nurses, who have since stopped reporting for duty, citing incapacitation,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said disciplinary hearings for the striking doctors by the Health Services Board (HSB) were held on November 1, resulting in the dismissal of 77 doctors.
She assured the public that measures were being taken to ensure normalcy returns in the shortest possible time.
Dr Moyo echoed similar sentiments, saying they were looking at ways to ensure that hospitals provide services to patients.
“We are looking at the possibilities of ensuring that we provide an appropriate service. That is all I can say at the moment. We should be able to provide a service as we proceed and know exactly who wants to work and who doesn’t want to work.
“But for now, the situation is that there are no doctors coming to work except for those, whom we are grateful for, who are providing emergency cover. So that’s the situation,” said Dr Moyo.
HSB chairman Dr Paulinus Sikosana also confirmed the dismissals in a statement yesterday.
He said the doctors were being charged in terms of Section 4 of the Labour (National Employment Code of Conduct), Regulations, Statutory Instrument 15 of 2006 (the Code).
“Seventy-seven of the 80 doctors were found guilty of absenting themselves from duty without leave or reasonable cause for days ranging from five or more and discharged from the health service,” said Dr Sikosana.
He said the HSB will continue with the hearings that are expected to be concluded by November 15, 2019.
The strike was declared illegal by the Labour Court early last month and the doctors were ordered to return to work within 48 hours, but they ignored the ruling.
The doctors also boycotted the disciplinary hearings.
State Media|Public Service Commission (PSC) paymaster Brighton Chiuzingo, who was last year suspended on allegations of abuse of office and mismanagement, has been fired.
Government suspended Chiuzingo in December last year following reports of abuse of office and mismanagement, pending investigations.
Chiuzingo was dismissed last Friday.
“He was discharged of his duties and he is no longer part of the SSB (Salary Service Bureau). He was given the letter of discharge from his duties last Friday,” said a source.
When contacted for comment, PSC chairman Dr Vincent Hungwe referred all the questions to the commission’s secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe.
“Can you get in touch with the secretary Ambassador Wutawunashe he would be the most appropriate person to talk to,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Ambassador Wutawunashe were fruitless.
Last year, sources within the commission said Chiuzingo was in the habit of transferring employees without the approval of the superiors.
Some senior officials in the commission warned him, but he didn’t take heed.
He was alleged to be in the habit of asking for kickbacks and unilaterally increasing his pay.
His net salary at one point was $1 595,46 but it was inflated to $6 575,11 and he was also accused of misusing pool vehicles.
In 2011, the Public Service Commission ceased the salaries of more than 4 000 employees after they failed to submit various requisite documents.
The then secretary to the PSC, Mrs Pretty Sunguro told a parliamentary portfolio committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, that the exercise was aimed at ensuring efficiency and compliance with regulations by all civil servants.
She also said the PSC had tightened controls to ensure that all those who receive salaries are indeed entitled to Government money. This, she said, meant that all heads of ministries should confirm every month the names of staff members before a salary is paid.
Paul Nyathi|Forty-four serving and former Cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, parastatal bosses and legislators are facing “imminent” arrest for corruption, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo has said. She said the commission was mainly focusing on criminal abuse of office, theft of funds, bribery and flouting of tender procedures, among other offences.
“We are working round-the-clock to ensure all the corrupt ones are brought to book. The fight against corruption is real and we will not rest until we arrest all the perpetrators of corruption,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed to deal decisively with corruption which he described as deep-seated in most State institutions.
Speaking in a special Independence Day interview with ZBC at State House this year, President Mnangagwa said the various hurdles in successfully uprooting the scourge meant “the fight is so wide and deep”.
“I now realise that corruption is deep-rooted. I thought that by pronouncing that let’s fight corruption, those who are corrupt will fear and stop; it’s not like that. It’s so rooted that you have to fight it from A to Z. (In) most systems, structures and institutions, there is an element of corruption,” said President Mnangagwa.
“To fight it, you need the police to unearth, investigate; but also within the police, there is corruption. The next stage, you need prosecution, that is the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“They need to prosecute the cases, so once the case passes the corruption in the police, it has to pass the corruption in the NPA; then it must go to the courts and there is an element of corruption in the courts. So the fight is so wide and deep.”
Fighting corruption, he said, was a collective responsibility.
The President said his office would not interfere with judicial processes.
“However, I am happy that you find people who support the fight against corruption in all these institutions. In the police, not everybody is corrupt; in prosecution institutions, not everybody is corrupt; in the Judiciary, not everybody is corrupt. So because of that we are gaining traction slowly, but not as speedily as I had expected. As you realise, there are so many cases of corruption now in the courts,” he said.
President Mnangagwa expressed frustration at the snail’s pace of some of the cases before the courts. A clean society, he added, would help the country to “develop faster” and lead to satisfactory service delivery.
President Mnangagwa committed to fight corruption by strengthening and restructuring key institutions such as the NPA, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
Paul Nyathi|After high profile revelations that Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring, Joram Gumbo had been expectedly arrested for corruption on the Zimbabwe Airways Saga, the Minister has not been delivered to the justice system for trial but set free, maybe just for now.
Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission chairperson Justice Matanda-Moyo indicated yesterday that Gumbo was removed from court roll amid reports that some whistle-blowers visited ZACC offices with more allegations against him.
Gumbo was being quizzed yesterday on further allegations after he and the ZACC team were recalled from court to the ZACC headquarters as whistle-blowers levelled more allegations against the former.
The minister will now be released, but be summoned for trial when investigations are complete.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said her office had received more information with the potential of generating three fresh charges against the minister.
“Following his arrest, certain informants rushed here with more evidence. We had to recall him from court in order for us to further investigate and verify the new allegations being raised.
“We are in the process of recording statements from the witnesses and we will then call him to give his side of the story later. He is likely to be charged with additional three charges,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
The ZACC boss said witnesses came from as far as Kariba and if the evidence is proved to be credible, Gumbo will face the extra charges.
“We will allow him to go home while we prepare the necessary papers for him to go to court,” she said.
Gumbo, was investigated for allegedly issuing corrupt directives during his tenure as Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister.
He is accused of reinstating fired Civil Aviation Authority (CAAZ) managing director David Chawota and Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) managing director Davison Mhaka after the two had been legally and separately fired for misconduct by disciplinary tribunals.
He is also accused of showing favour to his relative Mavis Gumbo by arranging for her to rent out her house to Zimbabwe Airways, with the Government paying US$1 million for alterations and renovations despite the fact that she received the full rent.
Explaining Gumbo’s release, Harare lawyer Mr Gwinyai Shumba said if one is allowed to go home, they can be summoned to court when the investigations are complete.
“The 48-hour period during which one is supposed to be taken to court upon arrest only applies to those in custody.
“If one is released after being charged, there is no specific time frame in which you should be taken to court,” he said.
Mr Shumba, who served as a prosecutor for a long time, said one is considered charged upon the recording of a warned and cautioned statement.
Government is working to normalise the situation at public hospitals following the dismissal of 77 doctors who went on a strike recently.
This was disclosed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa while addressing the media after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
“Cabinet was informed by the Minister of Health and Child Care (Dr Obadiah Moyo) that the public hospitals medical doctors’ strike has now gone beyond 63 days. Medical services at most central hospitals therefore remain constrained.
“The situation is being exacerbated by City of Harare nurses, who have since stopped reporting for duty, citing incapacitation,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said disciplinary hearings for the striking doctors by the Health Services Board (HSB) were held on November 1, resulting in the dismissal of 77 doctors.
She assured the public that measures were being taken to ensure normalcy returns in the shortest possible time.
Dr Moyo echoed similar sentiments, saying they were looking at ways to ensure that hospitals provide services to patients.
“We are looking at the possibilities of ensuring that we provide an appropriate service.
That is all I can say at the moment. We should be able to provide a service as we proceed and know exactly who wants to work and who doesn’t want to work.
“But for now, the situation is that there are no doctors coming to work except for those, whom we are grateful for, who are providing emergency cover. So that’s the situation,” said Dr Moyo.State media
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, has said her Ministry is not recruiting, contradicting a senior ministry official who said they were failing to get qualified people to recruit as ward development co-ordinators in Matabeleland North province.
The Ministry came under attack after the Chief Director in the Ministry, Retired Air Commodore Evan Dumba told legislators during the 2019 pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls last week that they advertised for the jobs in July and were failing to get qualified people from the province.
Said Rtd Air Commodore Dumba in his speech: “We are finding it difficult to employ ward development coordinators in Matabeleland North province after we advertised in July. It is a fact that we have staff at provincial and district level but we don’t have ward development coordinators because we cannot get them. We are not getting people for the position.”
However, Members of Parliament lambasted the ministry for failing to execute its mandate and being detached from reality.
In a statement yesterday, Minister Nyoni said there is a job freeze, hence her Ministry is not recruiting as claimed by the senior official.
She also said when the statements were made in Victoria Falls, she was out of the country on Government business. The Minister said her ministry is committed to fulfilling its mandate.
“The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development wishes to advice the public that there is currently a national recruitment freeze for the above posts.
“Treasury has not given concurrence to fill up the posts. The recruitment falls under the remit of the Public Service Commission (PSC) not the ministry. Until such concurrence has been given the posts remain frozen,” said Minister Nyoni.
She apologised for referencing Matabeleland North province as one of the provinces where the ministry failed to get qualified people to fill the posts.
“The reference to just Matabeleland North Province by the ministry official is regrettable,” said Minister Nyoni.- State Media
Bulawayo is set to have 76 more Zupco buses to ease transport problems in the province, with Emmerson Mnangagwa expected to commission them on Friday.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Judith Ncube said this during the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association’s official launch of the Dutch bakery in Entumbane suburb, Bulawayo yesterday.
The commissioning of the buses will bring the Zupco fleet in the city to 169. Zupco buses charge $1,50 per trip on routes that private operators charge $5. Zupco has also introduced 80 kombis in Bulawayo that charge $2 per trip.
The latest batch of buses to be commissioned by Mnangagwa are part of the 1 000 ordered from China with another 500 buses bought from Belarus.
Ncube said the commissioning of the buses will coincide with that of the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Innovation Hub and the institution’s graduation ceremony.
“On Friday the President will be officially commissioning 76 buses in Bulawayo. He will embark on two other key activities which include commissioning of the Nust Innovation Hub and capping of Nust graduates,” she said.
“I am happy that the President saw it fit to come to our rescue as Bulawayo residents. I was however expecting about 100 or more buses for Bulawayo but there is need for us to share the cake with our rural provinces and other provinces.
“We therefore appreciate the little that we have received as a city because the buses are going to make a huge difference in terms of access to affordable transport.”
Ncube commended Government for its commitment to ease transport challenges by availing reliable and affordable transport to the people. She said the increase in the number of buses is meant to bring relief to Bulawayo residents that are being ripped off by private operators.
“We really appreciate the introduction of these Zupco buses that have bought relief to our commuters. The transport woes will be a thing of the past now that members of the public have more access to affordable transportation that values safety of its commuters. We still need a lot of Zupco buses to serve a great purpose to our populace,” said Ncube.
The 76 buses are part of an overall Government drive to revamp the sector and introduce a mass transport system.
Meanwhile, Ncube said the commissioning of the Nust Innovation Hub reflects active participation of State universities in contributing towards industrialisation of the country.
She said it also reflects spirit of unity in the nation as we are moving towards achieving sustainable development.
“The commissioning of the Nust Innovation Hub reflects efforts made by the important university in Bulawayo in contributing to economic development. This development will automatically promote creation of employment.
“The participation of the Head of State in such projects also means a lot and it demonstrates the importance of us as a nation uniting for a purpose to achieve sustainable development using our own tools and machinery,” said Ncube.
Government has already commissioned the University of Zimbabwe and Midlands State University’s innovation hubs and the President has said that universities should drive the transformational trajectory towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Zupco acting chief executive officer, Mr Everisto Madangwa, said they want the fleet for Bulawayo to reach 295.
He said kombis are 80 and the parastatal is targeting 223. – State Media
When your body fluids contain too much acid, it’s known as acidosis.
Acidosis occurs when your kidneys and lungs can’t keep your body’s pH in balance. Many of the body’s processes produce acid.
Your
lungs and kidneys can usually compensate for slight pH imbalances, but problems with these organs can lead to excess acid accumulating in your body.
The acidity of your blood is measured by determining its pH. A lower pH means that your blood is more acidic, while a higher pH means that your blood is more basic. The pH of your blood should be around 7.4. According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), acidosis is characterized by a pH of 7.35 or lower. Alkalosis is characterized by a pH level of 7.45 or higher. While seemingly slight, these numerical differences can be serious.
Acidosis can lead to numerous health issues, and it can even be life-threatening.
There are two types of acidosis, each with various causes. The type of acidosis is categorized as either respiratory acidosis or metabolic acidosis, depending on the primary cause of your acidosis.
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory acidosis occurs when too much CO2 builds up in the body.
Normally, the lungs remove CO2 while you breathe. However, sometimes your body can’t get rid of enough CO2. This may happen due to:
chronic airway conditions, like asthma
injury to the chest
obesity , which can make breathing difficult
sedative misuse
overuse of alcohol
muscle weakness in the chest
problems with the nervous system
deformed chest structure.
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic acidosis starts in the kidneys instead of the lungs. It occurs when they can’t eliminate enough acid or when they get rid of too much base. There are three major forms of metabolic acidosis:
Diabetic acidosis occurs in people with
diabetes that’s poorly controlled. If your body lacks enough insulin , ketones build up in your body and acidify your blood.
Hyperchloremic acidosis results from a loss of sodium bicarbonate. This base helps to keep the blood neutral. Both
diarrhea and vomiting can cause this type of acidosis.
Lactic acidosis occurs when there’s too much lactic acid in your body. Causes can include chronic alcohol use, heart failure, cancer, seizures , liver failure,
prolonged lack of oxygen , and low blood sugar. Even prolonged exercise can lead to lactic acid buildup.
Renal tubular acidosis occurs when the kidneys are unable to excrete acids into the urine. This causes the blood to become acidic.Healthline
Zimbabwe Elephant Foundation is campaigning for the 32 young elephants that where bundled up in the middle of the night, early hours of October 24 onto an awaiting Saudi Airways Cargo flight from Victoria Falls to Shanghai, by picketing outside the Chinese embassy in London.
We are astounded at China’s arrogance and complete disregard for Zimbabwe’s Constitution. National laws in the country of origin should surpass any overseas regulating authorities. The CITES permits that were used in this latest snatch-and-go incident, are invalid. In effect, these elephants are now part of an international trafficking incident. We still haven’t heard from the Chinese authorities or the CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, on the illegal import of these elephants.
We have been actively supporting legal recourse in Zimbabwe, challenging the legal status of these captures and exports going back as far as February 2019 where we backed PESLawyers (Advocates4Earth) in their challenge of Zimbabwe Parks Authority for transparency and accountability.
Infuriated by an inadequate response, we joined forces with six Zimbabwean NGO’s represented by Lenin Chisaira (Advocate4Earth) lawyer. In March 2019, we petitioned the Zimbabwe Parliament to bring Zimbabwe Parks Wildlife Authorities in line with the constitution – a debate that had gathered momentum.
On 24 May 2019, we were joined at the Chinese Embassy by NGO’s and activists protesting against these inhumane exports and the lack of transparency on the Chinese Zoo Deals on the back of zero response from CITES to our complaints of unlawfulness of the trade.
Nomusa Dube, Founder of Zimbabwe Elephant Foundation stated: “I came back on the 16th of October 2019 where I was refused hand delivery of my letter. I posted my letter on the same day, so they are fully aware of the issue’s concerning these elephants.”
Advocates4Earth’s High Court application for an interdict in May 2019 had been instrumental in preventing a previous attempt back in June 2019 to move the elephants. The State lodged their own application to overturn the interdict, but were unsuccessful.
Cartels and corrupt officials are trading unlawfully while regulators CITES are not only looking away but are intentionally burying our complaints.
The exposed footage of the Cites Secretary-General’s secret visit to the elephants awaiting transportation in Zimbabwe in June 2019 and her categoric endorsement of the trade by telling us Chinese Zoos are ethical and meet the satisfactory standards for wild caught elephants clearly indicated we were in big trouble. How can this whole live trade issue be regulated by people with a clear agenda? It’s not good enough.
With the great work of Network For Animals going beyond to ensure that the legal case was represented at the COP18 meeting in Geneva. Lenin Chisarira and Linda Masudze attended the conference meeting with CITES officials and member country delegations to ensure that Zimbabwe’s national law infringement went on record.
The last couple of weeks have been a roller coaster ride. Tensions have been rising, alerts that arrangements were being made to transport the Elephants. ZNSPCA Inspectors responding to concerns from the public, traveled to Hwange and remained on the ground for 10 days attempting to gain access to the Umtshibi Capture Unit where these elephants were being kept. The inspectors were repeatedly denied access and deliberately obstructed. Police charges were lodged and another interdict application lodged in the High Court.
The ZNSPCA inspectors who are government-appointed custodians of the Animals Anti Cruelty Act have legal access to all property where the Cruelty Act is under threat. So now we have two High Court Interdicts in process. We have written to the Chinese Ambassador in Harare on numerous occasions with supporting documentary evidence of legal proceedings and we are disappointed by his lack of response or investigation into this matter. A diplomatic incident is on the cards since we are not going to cease with our endeavours. We will continue to come back to the Chinese Embassy. We will get louder and stronger. We want this whole sorry state of affairs investigated and those complicit exposed and ultimately dealt with.
Farai Dziva|Former ZBC radio and television presenter, Ezra Thsisa Sibanda has said Zimbabweans should not expect ZACC to eradicate corruption as the commission is useless.
Argued Subanda:
Former Transport Minister Joram Gumbo has been arrested by ZACC for criminal abuse of office.
For how long will these meaningless arrests go on?
It can’t be tackling corruption when non of the sharks have been tried and convicted in a court of law.
What happened to Chombo arrested in 2017, Kasukuwere, Mupfumira …
Zimbabweans have lost confidence in ZACC, it looks like this is just another game to make people believe they are doing their job.
Mnangagwa commissioning his giant granite madestatueMnangagwa at the handover ceremony
Emmerson Mnangagwa last week commissioned a statue of himself.
He received the five-star statue of himself that was carved in his honour by Masvingo artist Mr Silvester Mugari.
The statue, made from granite rock, was handed over to Mnangagwa by Minister Chadzamira at Masvingo Airport soon after Mnangagsa landed in the city to preside over the 13th Great Zimbabwe University graduation ceremony in his capacity as Chancellor.
Mr Mugari took two years to complete the statue, which weighs 2,4 tonnes and is 2,5 metres high. It also has a width of 1,2 metres. He began work soon after Mnangagwa assumed power in November 2017. – state media
The MDC MPs are representatives of the people and during the pre-budget consultation meeting in Victoria Falls, we adequately played the role of true envoys of ordinary Zimbabweans who want key issues reflected in the country’s national budget.
Parliament s a separate arm of government with a key mandate to play an oversight role on the executive It is in line with that mandate that we went to Victoria Falls to articulate the position of the people at a forum that was due to take place any way, even if we had chosen not to go. To abscond from such a key national event was to abdicate our responsibility to express the true position of ordinary Zimbabweans, most whom can hardly afford three meals a day.
Zimbabweans who voted for us wanted their views to be heard at that forum.
As the MDC parliamentary caucus, we are the servants of the people and at the pre-budget seminar, we raised key issues affecting the ordinary people. We raised to government the crisis in the health services sector and the legitimate concerns of the doctors and other medical staff, which concerns must be resolved as a matter of urgency. We raised the issues of fuel shortages, the low morale among teachers and other civil servants, the soaring cost of electricity on the few occasions that it is available as well as the proscription of the people’s democratic rights.
Our MPs told government that the executive would assist its re-engagement efforts internationally if it stopped the callous murders of innocent citizens, the human rights abuses and the abduction and persecution of dissenting voices, real or imagined.
We have remained focused and consistent as the people’s parliamentary caucus. We have stood tall on the side of the people who want us at every step to raise the issue of Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy, which has cost us our allowances for several months, putting paid to the false narrative that we are lured by cheap trinkets and luxury.
In the past one year, we have turned Parliament into a cogent arena of the people’s struggle. That is why we have effectively used that platform to showcase Mr. Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy, especially after the closure of other democratic spaces for the people to express themselves.
Indeed, we have used Parliament as a theatre of the full expression of the people’s collective conscience.
Our MPs who chair the various portfolio committees have done sterling work in playing Parliament’s oversight role. At the pre-budget consultation forum, we not only articulated the ordinary people’s concerns but our MPs who chair the various Parliamentary Portfolio Committees were brilliant in expressing the expectations of the ordinary Zimbabweans in this year’s national budget.
For the record, we are deployees of the people and we will continue to utilize every available space to express the feelings of ordinary Zimbabweans from Chirundu to Beitbridge and from Plumtree to Kanyemba.
This is exactly what we went to do in Victoria Falls. We are the people’s representatives. We do not why away from any platform to articulate their concerns. We will never abdicate our key national mandate of playing the oversight role on the executive.
Farai Dziva|Senior doctors have described as “outright lies ” claims that the situation at Mpilo Central Hospital is normal.
The senior doctors have also dismissed an article published by a state run publication claiming doctors are satisfied with government efforts to address their grievances.
See statement below :
The senior doctors are dismayed by a recently published newspaper article in the Sunday News of 03/11/2019 headlined “we won’t watch people die: Mpilo boss’.
We are surprised that this article portrays a normal functioning hospital with most doctors available at work. As senior doctors we feel it is only correct for the public to know the truth as follows:
Most junior doctors are still incapacitated and are not able to attend to their daily duties
from 03/09/2019.
Middle-level doctors remain incapacitated with some department HMOs formally
declaring incapacitation on 17/10/2019. Ward rounds are no longer consistent and calls are no longer 24-hour calls.
Senior-level doctors are also incapacitated although some have been attending to few
emergency cases.
The flexi-hours system was suggested by the ministry and allows nurses to work 2
days a week a situation which has made working in the hospital impossible as few nurses will be looking after patients at each given time.
Sometimes 2 nurses per shift in a ward. This flexi-hours system has caused disruption in continuity of care and has led to avoidable deaths in the wards.
Outpatient Department has been closed for the past 2 months and no patients are being attended to at the moment. All chronic conditions patients are thus prejudiced from proper care.
In the Department of Medicine, there is a poor supply of medications and most patients have to take samples to private laboratories at an inflated expense.
Currently, patients with chronic conditions are not able to access treatment due to closure of the outpatients’ department. Chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis rely on own funds to buy most of the consumables.
Casualty Department is open patients have to wait long hours before being attended
to as most casualty officers are incapacitated to come and attend to patients on time.
Some patients are admitted without a clear plan and only to be seen the next day. This has resulted in avoidable deaths as patients are falsely reassured that are doctors available to attend to them.
In the Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, theatres are only attending to emergency
cases and they remain under-equipped to carry out specialised procedures.
Only 4 out of 10 theatres are currently functional. Paediatric theatre is non-functional and maternity recovery rooms have no monitors.
In Neurosurgery the department is almost shut down due to lack of equipment. The equipment is outdated and is no longer recommended for use.
In Paediatrics the situation on the ground is dire as some departments are closed eg
Nutrition unit and outpatients department. The new-borns unit is short-staffed resulting in an increase in perinatal mortality and morbidity.
In Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the department is attending to emergency maternity
and gynaecology cases. However, no elective cases are being done and teaching has been affected.
The incapacitation has also disrupted proper learning for medical students and interns
who are supposed to work under supervision.
Conclusion
Contrary to peddled reports, the situation at Mpilo is critical and any attempt to view it as normal would be tantamount to propagating a silent genocide.
Lifesaving equipment is in a state of disrepair, essential drugs and sundries are unavailable, while hospital staff cannot afford to come to work.
We are incapacitated as highlighted by SHDA members across the country and we demand that the situation be treated with the urgency it deserves.
The veterinary service department director for Masvingo, Dr Earnest Dzimwasha has revealed that over 4 000 cattle died in October due to El Nino induced drought.
Dzimwasha said:
Chiredzi and Mwenezi are among the worst affected when it comes to cattle deaths.
If only the farmers could sell some of their livestock so that they can buy feed for the remaining beasts.
Reports also suggest that dozens of cattle are dying in Matebeleland as grazing lands and sources of livestock water have dried up.
The development is sad considering that most of the rural dwellers hinge their livelihoods of farming which includes the rearing of animals.
Drought coupled with power cuts also forced most farmers to snub this year’s winter wheat production resulting in low wheat production when the country already has a huge shortage of wheat.ZBC
Lest some forget. We already have a currency. It's called the Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWL). What's happening is just cash injection to help with transaction and effect a downward price movement pic.twitter.com/y8hhrLwAYQ
Lest some forget. We already have a currency. It's called the Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWL). What's happening is just cash injection to help with transaction and effect a downward price movement pic.twitter.com/y8hhrLwAYQ
Farai Dziva|Senior doctors have described as “outright lies ” claims that the situation at Mpilo Central Hospital is normal.
The senior doctors have also dismissed an article published by a state run publication claiming doctors are satisfied with government efforts to address their grievances.
See statement below :
The senior doctors are dismayed by a recently published newspaper article in the Sunday News of 03/11/2019 headlined “we won’t watch people die: Mpilo boss’.
We are surprised that this article portrays a normal functioning hospital with most doctors available at work. As senior doctors we feel it is only correct for the public to know the truth as follows:
Most junior doctors are still incapacitated and are not able to attend to their daily duties
from 03/09/2019.
Middle-level doctors remain incapacitated with some department HMOs formally
declaring incapacitation on 17/10/2019. Ward rounds are no longer consistent and calls are no longer 24-hour calls.
Senior-level doctors are also incapacitated although some have been attending to few
emergency cases.
The flexi-hours system was suggested by the ministry and allows nurses to work 2
days a week a situation which has made working in the hospital impossible as few nurses will be looking after patients at each given time.
Sometimes 2 nurses per shift in a ward. This flexi-hours system has caused disruption in continuity of care and has led to avoidable deaths in the wards.
Outpatient Department has been closed for the past 2 months and no patients are being attended to at the moment. All chronic conditions patients are thus prejudiced from proper care.
In the Department of Medicine, there is a poor supply of medications and most patients have to take samples to private laboratories at an inflated expense.
Currently, patients with chronic conditions are not able to access treatment due to closure of the outpatients’ department. Chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis rely on own funds to buy most of the consumables.
Casualty Department is open patients have to wait long hours before being attended
to as most casualty officers are incapacitated to come and attend to patients on time.
Some patients are admitted without a clear plan and only to be seen the next day. This has resulted in avoidable deaths as patients are falsely reassured that are doctors available to attend to them.
In the Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, theatres are only attending to emergency
cases and they remain under-equipped to carry out specialised procedures.
Only 4 out of 10 theatres are currently functional. Paediatric theatre is non-functional and maternity recovery rooms have no monitors.
In Neurosurgery the department is almost shut down due to lack of equipment. The equipment is outdated and is no longer recommended for use.
In Paediatrics the situation on the ground is dire as some departments are closed eg
Nutrition unit and outpatients department. The new-borns unit is short-staffed resulting in an increase in perinatal mortality and morbidity.
In Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the department is attending to emergency maternity
and gynaecology cases. However, no elective cases are being done and teaching has been affected.
The incapacitation has also disrupted proper learning for medical students and interns
who are supposed to work under supervision.
Conclusion
Contrary to peddled reports, the situation at Mpilo is critical and any attempt to view it as normal would be tantamount to propagating a silent genocide.
Lifesaving equipment is in a state of disrepair, essential drugs and sundries are unavailable, while hospital staff cannot afford to come to work.
We are incapacitated as highlighted by SHDA members across the country and we demand that the situation be treated with the urgency it deserves.
The senior doctors are dismayed by a recently published newspaper article in the Sunday News of 03/11/2019 headlined “we won’t watch people die: Mpilo boss’.
We are surprised that this article portrays a normal functioning hospital with most doctors available at work. As senior doctors we feel it is only correct for the public to know the truth as follows:
Most junior doctors are still incapacitated and are not able to attend to their daily duties
from 03/09/2019.
Middle-level doctors remain incapacitated with some department HMOs formally
declaring incapacitation on 17/10/2019. Ward rounds are no longer consistent and calls are no longer 24-hour calls.
Senior-level doctors are also incapacitated although some have been attending to few
emergency cases.
The flexi-hours system was suggested by the ministry and allows nurses to work 2
days a week a situation which has made working in the hospital impossible as few nurses will be looking after patients at each given time.
Sometimes 2 nurses per shift in a ward. This flexi-hours system has caused disruption in continuity of care and has led to avoidable deaths in the wards.
Outpatient Department has been closed for the past 2 months and no patients are being attended to at the moment. All chronic conditions patients are thus prejudiced from proper care.
In the Department of Medicine, there is a poor supply of medications and most patients have to take samples to private laboratories at an inflated expense.
Currently, patients with chronic conditions are not able to access treatment due to closure of the outpatients’ department. Chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis rely on own funds to buy most of the consumables.
Casualty Department is open patients have to wait long hours before being attended
to as most casualty officers are incapacitated to come and attend to patients on time.
Some patients are admitted without a clear plan and only to be seen the next day. This has resulted in avoidable deaths as patients are falsely reassured that are doctors available to attend to them.
In the Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, theatres are only attending to emergency
cases and they remain under-equipped to carry out specialised procedures.
Only 4 out of 10 theatres are currently functional. Paediatric theatre is non-functional and maternity recovery rooms have no monitors.
In Neurosurgery the department is almost shut down due to lack of equipment. The equipment is outdated and is no longer recommended for use.
In Paediatrics the situation on the ground is dire as some departments are closed eg
Nutrition unit and outpatients department. The new-borns unit is short-staffed resulting in an increase in perinatal mortality and morbidity.
In Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the department is attending to emergency maternity
and gynaecology cases. However, no elective cases are being done and teaching has been affected.
The incapacitation has also disrupted proper learning for medical students and interns
who are supposed to work under supervision.
Conclusion
Contrary to peddled reports, the situation at Mpilo is critical and any attempt to view it as normal would be tantamount to propagating a silent genocide.
Lifesaving equipment is in a state of disrepair, essential drugs and sundries are unavailable, while hospital staff cannot afford to come to work.
We are incapacitated as highlighted by SHDA members across the country and we demand that the situation be treated with the urgency it deserves.
Farai Dziva|MDC Parliamentary Caucus Chief Whip Prosper Mutseyami has said government should immediately resolve the crisis in the health sector.
See full statement :
MDC MPs are representatives of the people and during the pre-budget consultation meeting in Victoria Falls, we adequately played the role of true envoys of ordinary Zimbabweans who want key issues reflected in the country’s national budget.
Parliament s a separate arm of government with a key mandate to play an oversight role on the executive It is in line with that mandate that we went to Victoria Falls to articulate the position of the people at a forum that was due to take place any way, even if we had chosen not to go. To abscond from such a key national event was to abdicate our responsibility to express the true position of ordinary Zimbabweans, most whom can hardly afford three meals a day.
Zimbabweans who voted for us wanted their views to be heard at that forum.
As the MDC parliamentary caucus, we are the servants of the people and at the pre-budget seminar, we raised key issues affecting the ordinary people.
We raised to government the crisis in the health services sector and the legitimate concerns of the doctors and other medical staff, which concerns must be resolved as a matter of urgency. We raised the issues of fuel shortages, the low morale among teachers and other civil servants, the soaring cost of electricity on the few occasions that it is available as well as the proscription of the people’s democratic rights.
Our MPs told government that the executive would assist its re-engagement efforts internationally if it stopped the callous murders of innocent citizens, the human rights abuses and the abduction and persecution of dissenting voices, real or imagined.
We have remained focused and consistent as the people’s parliamentary caucus. We have stood tall on the side of the people who want us at every step to raise the issue of Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy, which has cost us our allowances for several months, putting paid to the false narrative that we are lured by cheap trinkets and luxury.
In the past one year, we have turned Parliament into a cogent arena of the people’s struggle. That is why we have effectively used that platform to showcase Mr. Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy, especially after the closure of other democratic spaces for the people to express themselves.
Indeed, we have used Parliament as a theatre of the full expression of the people’s collective conscience.
Our MPs who chair the various portfolio committees have done sterling work in playing Parliament’s oversight role. At the pre-budget consultation forum, we not only articulated the ordinary people’s concerns but our MPs who chair the various Parliamentary Portfolio Committees were brilliant in expressing the expectations of the ordinary Zimbabweans in this year’s national budget.
For the record, we are deployees of the people and we will continue to utilize every available space to express the feelings of ordinary Zimbabweans from Chirundu to Beitbridge and from Plumtree to Kanyemba.
This is exactly what we went to do in Victoria Falls. We are the people’s representatives. We do not why away from any platform to articulate their concerns. We will never abdicate our key national mandate of playing the oversight role on the executive.
Farai Dziva|MDC Parliamentary Caucus Chief Whip Prosper Mutseyami has pointed out that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy is the major impediment to economic recovery.
See full statement :
MDC MPs are representatives of the people and during the pre-budget consultation meeting in Victoria Falls, we adequately played the role of true envoys of ordinary Zimbabweans who want key issues reflected in the country’s national budget.
Parliament s a separate arm of government with a key mandate to play an oversight role on the executive It is in line with that mandate that we went to Victoria Falls to articulate the position of the people at a forum that was due to take place any way, even if we had chosen not to go. To abscond from such a key national event was to abdicate our responsibility to express the true position of ordinary Zimbabweans, most whom can hardly afford three meals a day.
Zimbabweans who voted for us wanted their views to be heard at that forum.
As the MDC parliamentary caucus, we are the servants of the people and at the pre-budget seminar, we raised key issues affecting the ordinary people.
We raised to government the crisis in the health services sector and the legitimate concerns of the doctors and other medical staff, which concerns must be resolved as a matter of urgency. We raised the issues of fuel shortages, the low morale among teachers and other civil servants, the soaring cost of electricity on the few occasions that it is available as well as the proscription of the people’s democratic rights.
Our MPs told government that the executive would assist its re-engagement efforts internationally if it stopped the callous murders of innocent citizens, the human rights abuses and the abduction and persecution of dissenting voices, real or imagined.
We have remained focused and consistent as the people’s parliamentary caucus. We have stood tall on the side of the people who want us at every step to raise the issue of Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy, which has cost us our allowances for several months, putting paid to the false narrative that we are lured by cheap trinkets and luxury.
In the past one year, we have turned Parliament into a cogent arena of the people’s struggle. That is why we have effectively used that platform to showcase Mr. Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy, especially after the closure of other democratic spaces for the people to express themselves.
Indeed, we have used Parliament as a theatre of the full expression of the people’s collective conscience.
Our MPs who chair the various portfolio committees have done sterling work in playing Parliament’s oversight role. At the pre-budget consultation forum, we not only articulated the ordinary people’s concerns but our MPs who chair the various Parliamentary Portfolio Committees were brilliant in expressing the expectations of the ordinary Zimbabweans in this year’s national budget.
For the record, we are deployees of the people and we will continue to utilize every available space to express the feelings of ordinary Zimbabweans from Chirundu to Beitbridge and from Plumtree to Kanyemba.
This is exactly what we went to do in Victoria Falls. We are the people’s representatives. We do not why away from any platform to articulate their concerns. We will never abdicate our key national mandate of playing the oversight role on the executive.
By A Correspondent| A suspected Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) officer was arrested in Masvingo after he attempted to rob a money changer at gunpoint.
Nkosiphile Sibanda, 30, was arrested on Friday, a day before President Emmerson Mnangagwa presided over the graduation ceremony at the Great Zimbabwe University.
Sibanda was in the company of his accomplice identified as Tsano when he pretended to be genuine travellers who wanted to exchange some US into South African Rands and were allowed to enter into their victim’s car.
Once in the car, they drew their service pistols and ordered the money changer to hand over all their money.
However, the victim reportedly bolted out of his car, and with the help of other money changers, seized Sibanda while Tsano fled.
Police arrested Sibanda and recovered a CZ pistol with a magazine of four live rounds of ammunition.
As 3 doctors chose to remain employed, with a total 77 fired by govt, medical students at UZ have told their Dean they will bunk exams in solidarity with their seniors who have been sacked. WHO ARE THESE 3 DOCTORS WHO'VE REMAINED & WHAT ARE THEIR GUTS? @ZHDAofficialpic.twitter.com/PD4VllPA1B
Chamisa is refusing to submit to the rule of law before he is the president; what will happen when he controls the apparatus of state power?
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA| I walked in the hospital ward in one of our main hospitals in Zimbabwe. The stench of death enveloped the corridors. There was no nurse in sight, no doctor insight either. I entered into one ward nobody asked me what I wanted. I saw and counted with tears running down my cheeks. I counted seven dead bodies in one ward. There was no one to remove the dead to the mortuary. Some patience could be seen walking slowly in corridors. They had discharged themselves. Those who could not walk were forced to share the ward with the dead bodies. The situation was dire nurses are working three days a week, doctors are all on strike the military medics drafted in hospitals look completely confused and are seated on work stations chatting to each other some were on their phones.
A strike of doctors in a large hospital required changes in prehospital and emergency department delivery of services.
Unfortunately there is no explanation of how the strike was handled by one emergency department as are comments on implications for emergency physicians and lessons for future strike situations.
The people of Zimbabwe were the biggest losers in this situation.
Besides the issue of salaries Doctors are saying there is no equipment to use in the hospitals and there is no medication. Those who have money will have to go and buy in the pharmacies were they are forced to buy in US dollars. Who can afford US dollars in this situation the country is in.
The Health Service is suffering among other areas in emergency departments; emergency theatres;in-patient and other wards, and planned obstetric procedures (based on maternal and foetal well-being).
The works planned in-patient and day-case surgery in hospitals has long been cancelled. all out-patient appointments have been long forgotten including adult, maternity and paediatric appointments. Local injury units are no longer operational.
Strikes by health workers are a global occurrence. Strikes are caused by many factors, such as suboptimum remuneration,unfavourable working hours,high malpractice insurance premiums,poor working conditions. There has been much debate about whether it is ethical to withdraw services deemed essential for survival and on the potential detrimental effect of such strikes on mortality.
Zimbabwe’s situation is the direct effects of the sanctions. The EU and the Americans have cited the Rule of law as reported by the opposition or the abuse of it.
Zimbabwe has no legitimacy issues. The issue of legitimacy was settled bu the Constitutional court. Those who are refusing to accept the ruling of the court are the ones who are abusing the rule of law. Chamisa is crying about legality he has told his handlers that there is no rule of law in Zimbabwe yet he is the one who approached the court to settle the dispute
The chief justice declared Mnangagwa president Chamisa is refusing to accept the ruling and he is asking for sanctions in order to force the government to capitulate and form a Government of National Unity. His policy of kudira jecha simply means if I can not get it no one else should. How does he talk about rule of law when he has failed to follow one simple judgement. The court made a judgement and Chamisa refuses to accept it because it was against him. He now goes to his handlers and tell them that there is no rule of law in Zimbabwe. As a result Zimbabweans are now dying in hospitals and in their own country, while Chamisa holds the trigger and smile as he fires poverty to the nation.
It is true that Power corrupts. So Chamisa is corrupt before he is in power. What more when he is in power. Chamisa is corrupt and he undermines the legitimacy of the court judgement now what will he do when he controls the state instruments. Will he not be worse? One of the pitfalls we do as people is to chose anyone just to be democratic. Unless ZANU PF is highly incompetent there is mo reason to remove it. Chamisa is refusing to submit to the rule of law before he is the president; what will happen when he controls the apparatus of state power? He will kill every judge who opposes him. The way he is killing the nation by advocating for sanctions shows a very heartless person. MDC A entered into elections which it lost emphatically.
Law is so technical and makes people pre occupied by the technicalities. Chamisa can recite all the law but he has not grasped the foundation of the law.
There is also the need to explain the genesis of the principle then move to explain the technical issues of law. Law is not methodical Law is not the issue of life it is a tool to resolve life. There is an issue of life the law wants to resolve. We must understand how the tool is working it must work to save the master. You must understand how the law law is conceived and how is it serving the master. The law is serving a purpose. It is meant to serve the Dynamics of life.
Chamisa has no principle he wants the law to save him and if it leans on the side of justice Chamisa disagrees with everything which does not agree with him. The sanctions are in place and they are using Chamisa’s report as a measure to the rule of law or the absence of it. Chamisa’s hands are dripping with the blood of the Zimbabweans he is literally killing through sanctions.
Mdc is not geared to have an awareness of their surroundings.
MDC is effectively saying personal interest must trump cardinal policies of democracy and enduring principles of democracy.
If your wife makes a half baked cake you do not destroy the pot. Courts are valuable insitutioms in our system. You do not destroy courts. Chamisa is burning the building to reach his selfishness. He is cutting down the branch where he is sitting hoping to kill the neighbour.
The behaviour of MDC begs the question of trust. If the opposition leader is exhibiting that level of immaturirity and insencierity even before they ascend the enticing thrown of power. How safe is our lives or that of our Children.
Anybody has a right to probe him how secure is the future of our lives if he is demonstrating flagrant disrespect of the institution of the judiciary even before he ascends to power. What will he do when he gets there. Where he is now he has no capacity to diminish our judiciary other than putting it into disrepue. When he gets in power he will
Have the means and that is when
Our terror begins.
We are talking about an advocate. He is is not disrespecting the supreme court out of ignorance. He is an officer of the court and he is doing it intetionally.
If you take any MDC activist who trained as a nurse with all the due respect you can forgive them for not understanding the rule of law. If you talk about an advocate who behaves like this he is inciting millions to behave with scorn towards our courts then the future of our children is at risk.
Tje institution of the court as a neutral arbiter it plays the part of a bulwark against excesies and abuse. We expect our leaders curent and intending leaders not to diminish that institution but to enhance it. Democracy is not measured by how much you praise the court system when it is finding in your favour. A democrat is one who respects the court even if it finds not in your favour. Democracy depends on what is in the interest of the country now and going forward.
MDC has refined democracy to suit what is in line with their objectives. What is in their personal interest. Democracy is much wider than that it is not in that narrow squick. Democracy will be a tricky and untrustworthy concept if it relies on personal feelings.
Democracy requires you to be consistent stick to principles.Do What you do in the best interest of the nation. There is no court that can follow petulant behaviour of a litigant
We should have compassion and sympathy with the supreme court judges. Their mistakes can not be reconsidered. We should not crucify them even if they made errors. If we keep hammering on their mistakes we are going to destroy the very institutions we created.
If Chamisa lakes the conception how can he be trusted with anything. We have a problem Chamisa is a spoiled and pertulant child who convinced himself and others around him that he has to be a president. When this did not happen all hell broke lose. He behaves like a spoiled child who takes the ball away when he loses. The problem with Chamisa is that the ball is not even his.
Chamisa is taking the ball no one is playing yet the ball is not his. Chamisa believes we should not be Zimbabweans until he wins. He does not understand that the constitutional court was not set for the elections. Chamisa believes that the court is meant to decide on his presidency. It is part of our social contract that we will not throw away the baby and the water together.
What Chamisa is doing is what we call a talk over the boundary. As neighbours gossiping. In MDC’s criticism there a very little technical analysis of the court. What is repugnant about it is this boundary talk which Chamisa is doing. They are not putting up legal argument except attacking judges and their means.
What happens to Malaba and what packs he has, does mot explain how the decision was faulty. Judges are allowed to negotiate for their salaries. Raising these arguments after the court decision generates that judges are obligated not to respond to you. This becomes abuse. We have a presidential candidate who is abusive to the system. The judgement imputes corruprltion to judges without proof. We are dealing with an abusive party which can not respect the dignity of the supreme court judge. They claim to be defenders but they abuse Judges. If these people get near state house can you imagine. If they can abuse the judges who can not respond to them what will happen if they get into power. What will happen to the poor people. In politics you sign up to the tumbles and rough and tumble of politics. Judges never sign to such. It is unfair it is unjust it is unethical to abuse them. If you call yourself an Advocate, if you can abuse judges what chance do the guys in Muzarabani have?
The position in Africa is so sad. There is a binary approach which says if you are in government you are bad. If you are in opposition you are good. This is unprofessional and unethical especially if it is spread by those who are meant to stand for fairness and justice.
The biggest test for the opposition is whether it is legitimacy holding the gvt to account on behalf of the people not to account on behalf of MDC is a selfish stant. On whose behalf is MDC holding to an account on whose behalf. This tantrum of demonising the supreme court is unfair and inhumane. Demonising the government duly elected by the people and confirmed by court at your instigation is witchcraft.
Chamisa is saying Zimbabwe has no government from one election to another until he is in power. 
This the narrative he has peddled to the EU and as a result Zimbabweans are suffering. Chamisa is simply undoing what Tsvangirai has done and employing students politics. His lickers who are heartless and cruel cause havoc with an idea of creating anarchy.
The very sad thing is that these guys are lawyers yet they have the audacity to attack the institution of justice. MDC A is putting the spirit of violence so that they provoke the state to action. When they are arrested they send a message that there is no rule of law. It is actually the MDC A which has refused to accept the ruling of the court.
If only Chamisa could visit our hospitals and see what the writer saw he will change his stance. People are suffering Zimbabwe. Sanctions must go.
The effects of sanctions are so serious. They are evil. The most painful thing is that there is a Zimbabwean who is urging the EU to press on on sanctions. Those who have a heart must never advocate for sanctions. MDC A is the outright enemy of the state. Zimbabwe needs those who are prepared to be patriotic and stand as one to plead for sanctions to go.
Shame on Chamisa and those who benefit through him.
ZimEye investigates the picture of Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga allegedly returning to Zimbabwe circulated this week. ZimEye reveals the exact dating for it.
By A Correspondent- The government on Tuesday sacked 77 doctors after disciplinary hearings held over their refusal to end a strike over a pay dispute.
The cabinet said that of the 80 doctors charged by the Health Service Board at hearings that began on November 1, “77 were found guilty and discharged”.
Doctors have been on strike for over two months citing incapacitation.
The Labour Court in October ruled that the strike action was illegal and gave the Health Services Board authority to take disciplinary action against the doctors.
The much anticipated Apex Council demonstration set for tomorrow Wednesday 06 November 2019 will go ahead as scheduled following a fruitless NUNC meeting held today 05 November 2019.
According to the government workers negotiating team, the employer brought nothing to the table, complete with zero offers, zero cushion and no interbank rate being applied.
To add insult to injury, the government has gone back on its earlier offer to pay all bonuses in November, confirming instead that they will pay over two months meaning some civil servants will get inflation blighted bonuses.
Government workers are demanding inter-bank rated salaries. Accordingly, Apex Council protest will proceed as scheduled.
The march will commence at 1100am starting from PSA Building at 9 Livingstone Avenue Cnr Third street into central Avenue (Kaguvi Building) and then to New Government Complex where a petition will be delivered to the concerned Ministers.
Apex Council leadership will take turns to address the marchers in the course of the demonstrations.
By Stanley Goreraza| Ian Smith and his racist white government had real sanctions slapped on them by their kith and kin.
Smith did not weep and wail so loudly like we hear from the current black oppressive regime. Smith rode out the sanctions with the Rhodesian economy getting shaken but remaining primarily strong.
The Zimbabwean economy began sliding downwards during the late eighties, getting worse in the nineties with the price of basic commodities sky rocketing and the shrinking economy resulting in redundancies and retrenchments with hundreds of thousands losing their jobs and factories closing down.
All this was way before the human rights violating Zanupf regime had sanctions placed on their individual selves. M
The economic situation in Zimbabwe was worsened by the disruptive and violent land reform which resulted in Zimbabwe unable to grow its own food.
Foreign businesses were threatened by Mr Mugabe, Mnangagwa and others in Zanupf which scared investors and saw the relocation of a lot of Zimbabwean companies to South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and Namibia which benefited from the chaos in Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent- Zion Christian Church (ZCC) leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi has busted MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s presidential bubble saying the young politician is a puppet of the West who are using him as a front to recolonize the country.
Mutendi, on the other hand showered praises to President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the rightful king send by God.
Speaking during the Chief Nhema senatorship festival recently, Mutendi said there is a difference between a king and a rightful king saying the latter comes from God.
Mutendi, whom many questioned whether his message was coming from the spiritual realm or his head, said that Chamisa still has a long road to travel to be the rightful king for the country as he lacks the merits of a true leader.
“The whites are still bitter that we took our country from them. They have for long tried to make their way back into the country but have failed so they have now devised a new strategy to retake our country using a puppet Chamisa.
“Do not be fooled with the opposition because they are being used by the whites who have a hidden agenda. They know they will not be able to have their way in this country with Zanu PF in power which is why they have chosen Chamisa.
“This is why we have sanctions and all these problems which are being caused by Chamisa. Do not blame the government because it is trying to better the lives of its people though it will not happen overnight,” said Mutendi.
He said the people of Zimbabwe have faith in the ruling Zanu PF party and have shut out Chamisa because they know he is not right for the country.
“The people of Zimbabwe know that MDC is a project of the West which is why they fail to win elections. The people do not want Chamisa to rule the country because they know the whites will come back and occupy our land. For person to be a right king, he should learn first the history of the country and appreciate it from those in power. Chamisa does not know the history of this country and cannot be the right king,” said Mutendi.
He said the reason why the opposition has failed to take over power from Zanu PF is because no man can fight what God has chosen and be successful.
The much anticipated Apex Council demonstration set for tomorrow Wednesday 06 November 2019 will go ahead as scheduled following a fruitless NUNC meeting held today 05 November 2019.
According to the government workers negotiating team, the employer brought nothing to the table, complete with zero offers, zero cushion and no interbank rate being applied.
To add insult to injury, the government has gone back on its earlier offer to pay all bonuses in November, confirming instead that they will pay over two months meaning some civil servants will get inflation blighted bonuses.
Government workers are demanding inter-bank rated salaries. Accordingly, Apex Council protest will proceed as scheduled.
The march will commence at 1100am starting from PSA Building at 9 Livingstone Avenue Cnr Third street into central Avenue (Kaguvi Building) and then to New Government Complex where a petition will be delivered to the concerned Ministers.
Apex Council leadership will take turns to address the marchers in the course of the demonstrations.
By A Correspondent- A Jerera based kombi operator Peter Chiware recently threatened to shoot the whole of TellZim News staff over a story in which his girlfriend almost killed his wife in a brawl over him.
The story was published last week saw Chiware calling the TellZim News staffers and threatening to come and shoot everyone claiming that he had brought the gun from South Africa.
He went on to send threatening massages on WhatsApp saying the reporter had to come and apologize or face the consequences.
“If you had lived in South Africa you would have known what I’m talking about. If you don’t come to apologize South Africa will come here. You have to choose between coming to apologize or get revenge,” said Chiware.
Chiware had an affair with a widow who lives about 50 meters from his home and was caught by his wife after she came across some suggestive massages.
When she confronted the widow (name supplied) she was attacked by the mistress who used a hoe handle and had to be rushed to Musiso Hospital where she was admitted for a few days.
Chiware’s mistress is said to be a member of a Madzibaba church sect led by popular prophet Madzibaba Jairai.
Fellow church mates said she was putting the name of their church into disrepute by her behavior which they say warranted her dismissal from the church.
People close to the family claim that Chiware is a womanizer who was sleeping with a number of married and widowed women in the area.
He is said to be in a relationship with a teacher’s wife at Murembwa Primary School among other women.
By Sports Reporter| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the government says has fully recovered in health, was nowhere to be seen as Zimbabwe made it to the finals at the 2019 ICF Dragonboat World Cup in Ningbo, China. Shockingly neither the Minister Of Sport Kirsty Coventry nor the Sports and Recreation Commission were aware.
ZimEye interviewed via phone one of the champions Tinotenda Makuza.
https://youtu.be/H45pk6jghRE
BREAKING: Zimbabwe has made to the finals at the 2019 ICF Dragonboat World Cup in Ningbo, China. Shockingly neither the Minister Of Sport @KirstyCoventry, nor the @ZimbabweSrc are aware. ZimEye is interviewing one of the champs, Tinotenda Makuza. @nickmangwana@InfoMinZW
By A Correspondent- The government on Tuesday sacked 77 doctors after disciplinary hearings held over their refusal to end a strike over a pay dispute.
The cabinet said that of the 80 doctors charged by the Health Service Board at hearings that began on November 1, “77 were found guilty and discharged”.
Doctors have been on strike for over two months citing incapacitation.
The Labour Court in October ruled that the strike action was illegal and gave the Health Services Board authority to take disciplinary action against the doctors.
The doctors’ strike has paralysed service delivery at public health institutions and the dismissal of the 77 doctors may worsen the situation.
Trial of pro-democracy campaigner Lynette Mudehwe represented by @ZLHRLawyers on charges of criminal nuisance for participating in anti-govt demo to protest against former VP Mphoko’s lengthy stay in a hotel, was off to a false start on Monday and will now commence on 19 November pic.twitter.com/qX7gMrU0fQ
By A Correspondent- Public Service Commission paymaster at the Salary Services Bureau (SSB), Brighton Chiuzingo, was recently issued with a dismissal letter.
Chiuzungo was suspended in December last year following reports of abuse of office and mismanagement, pending investigations.
He was accused of involvement in corrupt activities, among other shady deals before he was given a suspension letter.
By A Correspondent- Harare City council nurses have been ordered to return to work following their declaration of incapacitation on Monday.
In an internal memo dated November 4 2019, Harare City’s acting human capital director Retired Major Matthew Marara warned the nurses that failure to report for duty will result in disciplinary action being taken against them as their strike is illegal.
He said:
“It should be made known to the striking nurses that ZURCNWU (Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Nurses Workers Union) has no legal mandate to call for any job action.
Neither has the call for this job action met the legal requirements expected of lawful job action.”
The nurses yesterday issued a statement which we will publish below:
By A Correspondent- Selmor Mtukudzi has said she will remain committed to her husband Tendai Manatsa despite enjoying the fame and rave that comes with her career.
Selmor who shared the stage with Alick Macheso at Jongwe Corner last Sunday her husband understands her better since they both come from a strong music background.
“If you knew the kind of husband that I got married to, you wouldn’t ask that question.
“My husband understands the music business, we grew up in the music family.
“At one point his dad was greater than mine, so its nothing new to me,” she said.
Selmor who is no doubt the heiress to the Oliver Mtukudzi throne said she was not under pressure to emulate or surpass the departed national hero and icon.
He also said that she was now geared for the release of her first album after the death of her father.
Tuku died on January 23 aged 66 and was declared a national hero.
After his death, Selmor has never looked back and her much-anticipated album will now be released next year January.
She however remain mum on the title of the album even though she said the production work was now in progress.
“The album is ready and I can’t reveal it title.
“I simply did my best and I will not give myself a lot of pressure to emulate my father.
“Tuku was indeed a great man but I can’t beat him. I will simply continue doing my best and those who understand my music know better,” she added.
By A Correspondent- Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring Joram McDonald Gumbo has been summoned by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ZACC), before he appeared in court on Tuesday.
The former Transport Minister’s lawyer, Selby Hwacha said he didn’t know why his client has been called back by ZACC.
He said:
We have been recalled to ZACC head office and at the moment we are not sure why we are going back there.
We have not been charged also on an offence involving US$37 million. No warned and cautioned statement was recorded from my client with respect to that.
We are only aware of charges relating to CMED and CAAZ. I can’t comment further for now. I will be in a position to comment when I get to ZACC.
Gumbo was arrested by ZACC officials on Monday and is facing criminal abuse of charges and corruption involving millions of US dollars dating back to the time he was Transport Minister under the late former President Robert Mugabe.
Farai Dziva|ZRP officers had to intervene as Black Rhinos officials and supporters charged at a young ball-boy during the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash against ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium on Sunday.
According to VOA Studio 7, the ball-ball was accused of using juju after he urinated on the pitch so that Rhinos would lose the game.
The Police took the youngster but ZPC Kariba fans got involved also as they demanded his release.
The match ended 1-0 in favour of ZPC Kariba after substitute Samuel Makawa struck in the 68th minute.
Farai Dziva|Alarm bells are ringing in the Caps United Camp following their 0-2 loss to TelOne.
The Green Machine had literally one hand on the title but a controversial 1-0 loss to Chicken Inn at Babourfields, which was marred by violent reactions, and a 1-1 home draw with at home, Herentals blew the title race open.
But it was Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to TelOne which changed the entire complexion on the entralling title race, whose top spot has changed hands on more than 5 occasions in the last two months.
Makepekepe are now only two points ahead of defending champions FC Platinum, and should they fail to beat ZPC Kariba (their next league opponents), Darlington Dodo’s men risk surrendering top spot. Interestingly, ZPC are within touching distance of the Green Machine and still have a mathematical chance of winning the title.
The defeat on Sunday saw them blow the chance of going 5 points clear of the Platinum miners, meaning it’s now a must that they beat ZPC, and arch-rivals Dynamos, whom they play after bottom-placed Yadah, to entertain hopes of scooping the biggest club prize in the land.
The veterinary service department director for Masvingo, Dr Earnest Dzimwasha has revealed that over 4 000 cattle died in October due to El Nino induced drought.
Dzimwasha said:
Chiredzi and Mwenezi are among the worst affected when it comes to cattle deaths.
If only the farmers could sell some of their livestock so that they can buy feed for the remaining beasts.
Reports also suggest that dozens of cattle are dying in Matebeleland as grazing lands and sources of livestock water have dried up.
The development is sad considering that most of the rural dwellers hinge their livelihoods of farming which includes the rearing of animals.
Drought coupled with power cuts also forced most farmers to snub this year’s winter wheat production resulting in low wheat production when the country already has a huge shortage of wheat.ZBC
The 100 megawatt (MW) Gwanda solar project has received fresh impetus after a local infrastructure fund, African Transmission Corporation (ATC) Holdings, agreed to extend US$14 million to finance the first 10MW of the project under a phased construction model. ATC financed the 2,5MW Phase One of the 25MW Centragrid Photo Voltaic project in Nyabira, which entered commercial operations on August 1, 2019 while Phase Two of 22,5MW will commence shortly once funder’s due diligence is completed.
If it materialises, the funding provides an avenue and opportunity for Gwanda solar, dogged by controversy of alleged financial misuse, abuse and implementation delays, to contribute to reducing the country’s crippling power deficit.
The financing from ATC presents alternative source of funding for the Gwanda project, which has been delayed by financial resource constraints and also further weighed down by the contractual dispute between the parties, which has spilled into the courts.
This was after the Zimbabwe Power Company attempted to cancel the contract last year, citing breach of contract by contractor, Intratrek Zimbabwe with the latter approaching the High Court to contest the cancellation. This saw Justice Tawanda Chitapi ruling that the contract remained extant, valid and enforceable.
ZPC appealed against Justice Chitapi’s ruling at the Supreme Court, but Intratrek won an order at the High Court for execution pending appeal, which saw the court going the extra mile to prescribe timelines within which the parties should meet and map a way forward.
The Gwanda project developers, Intratrek Zimbabwe, said in a letter to project owners, Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), that progress on the Centragrid project attested to ATC’s capability to also progress Gwanda, which will be developed in phases.
“Further, the 10MW, upon commissioning, would act as successful precedent upon which financing for the balance of 90MW would be mobilised,” Intratrek said.
While Intratrek had hoped to secure funding for the Gwanda project, which was awarded at an EPC contract of US$172 million, before the contractor revised it down to US$139 million, the strategy fell apart because Sinosure, which guarantees Chinese public loans, cited arrears on earlier State guaranteed loans to Zimbabwe.
Intratrek also claims alternative funding proposals that included using Afreximbank and local pension funds, led by CBZ Bank, also received little favour and support from owners of the project, ZPC.
The fund raising has also lately been made more difficult due to perceptions of risk associated with monetary changes that saw Zimbabwe ditch the US dollar for its local currency, which has faced volatility due to exchange rate dynamics and inflation.
“In order to adequately present this financing proposal to ZPC, Intratrek has invested in a review of the project, which culminated in authorship of strategic review document by our consultants on what needs to be done to implement the project.
“A reading of this comprehensive report dovetails into a coherent strategy which, if embraced, will allow for the commencement of construction before the end of 2019 and have operating 10MW PV plant by the end of the second quarter of 2020.”
This comes amid indications that 90 percent of pre-commencement works for the Gwanda solar plant have since been completed and these include ground clearing, fencing, signage, geotech and topographical surveys, feasibility studies, roads, temporary offices and ablution facilities.
“The extent of capital outlay invested in the pre-commencement works makes the project a good candidate to proceed with commencement, especially in light of available offer on funding the first 10MW,” Intratek said.
ATC has proposed that Intratrek Zimbabwe must agree with the amendments to the engineering, procurement and construction contract with ZPC, finalise all licences and permits, contracts, power purchase agreements and leases by end of this month.
It has also recommended that all documentation be submitted to the ATC board by mid next month and that all conditions precedent be fully met by end of December 2019.
ATC indicated that if all is in place, the first draw down could be ready by beginning of February next year.
“This is a very tight timeframe, which leaves little room for errors. There is a need for a co-ordinated front between Intratrek and ZPC to accelerate the project, especially with regards to the application to ZERA and negotiations of the power purchase agreement with ZETDC.
“Recent experience on the Hwange expansion, Mutare peaking project and Gairezi hydro-electric projects, among others, has demonstrated that agreements can drag on without resolution.
“It is important that the implementation agreement should be presented as early as possible to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to get their buy in ahead of time in order to avoid protracted negotiations and possible delays,” ATC said.
Intratrek executive chairman Wilson Manase, confirmed the development and said after granting of the High Court order for execution pending appeal, all his company was awaiting are outstanding necessary approvals from ZPC.
“All things being equal, we expect to commission Phase 1 by the second quarter of 2020,” he said.
Intratrek technical partner, CHiNT Electric, Vice President Lin Bosheng, said regardless of the funding challenges and hurdles “we have faced, which are mainly associated with sovereign risk and the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, we remain committed to implementing the 100MW project and many more in the shortest possible time.”
However, the Gwanda project faces fresh hurdles in the form of ZPC’s indifference, after the State power utility registered reservations about progressing the project using the proposed funding from ATC, saying the issue of the Gwanda contract was a contested one, as there was a legal case before the courts.
“Please note that the implementation of Gwanda 100MW solar (power) project is in dispute with the case pending before the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe.
“The basis of this dispute emanates from the validity of the EPC contract executed between ZPC and Intratrek. We currently await determination of the matter by the Supreme Court, as the validity of the contract goes to the root of the project,” ZPC said.
ZPC said they would not consider any variations to the contract — to accommodate the ATC funding proposal — to the implementation of the project and that it would be considered as agreed in the initial EPC contact until a determination on its appeal is reached by the Supreme Court. – State Media
Farai Dziva|The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has highlighted the need for patners to help foot the bill when the Warriors are back in action this month for the two AFCON 2021 qualifiers.
ZIFA needs close to $US200 000 for the two fixtures against Botswana and Zambia slated for this month to be fulfilled and acting Vice President Phillemon Machana explained the possition the association is in.
“We have always stated that ZIFA need partners, be it in providing accommodation, transport, water, allowances for players or anything that helps lessen the burden on the association,’’ Machana told The Herald.
“We welcome anyone who wants to partner us. We are a very transparent organisation.In the past we have always held that sponsors can assist in kind or that they can deal directly with the service providers, remembering that this is a national project, not a ZIFA baby.’’ he said.
Of the 32 players called in by coach Joey Antipas, 13 need to be flawn from Europe, 11 will come from South Africa while one from Zambia and according to Machana, US$4700 is needed to fly in one player from Europe inclusive of accomodation.
The bill to fly the entire team to Zambia is US$80 000 hence the association’s need for partners.
ZETDC has reverted to load-shedding stage two as longer power cuts take effect following the breakdown of three generator units at Hwange Power Station yesterday.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC) announced the development at the back of the tariffs system changes that had seen some parts of the country having significant hours of power due to economical usage.
Writing on his Twitter handle yesterday, ZESA public relations manager Fullard Gwasira revealed details of the Hwange Power Station break down.
“Three Generator Units tripped at Hwange Power Station in the early hours of this morning (yesterday) leading to a loss of 251MW from the National Grid.
“Load shedding has increased significantly and we now implementing it at Stage 2.H-Metro
South Africans are being strongly urged to pray for former president Jacob Zuma who is reportedly now too ill such that he can’t even appear before the state capture inquiry next week.
The commission said on Tuesday it had been informed by Zuma’s the legal representatives that he was too ill and unable to attend the hearings scheduled for November 11 -15.
Dates for further hearings would be communicated in due course, it said.
Zuma was originally due to appear on October 21, but the commission was informed that the former president and his legal representatives were unavailable because of circumstances relating to his criminal trial.
Zuma appeared in the Pietermaritzberg high court in October on graft charges relating to the multibillion-rand arms deal. He informed the court that he would be appealing against the dismissal of his application for a permanent stay of prosecution.
Zuma’s application for leave to appeal is expected to be heard on November 22.
At his first appearance at the commission in July, Zuma described an almost 30-year plot to remove him from office and kill him. He claimed that some of his own ANC comrades were apartheid spies working with intelligence agencies to implement the plot.
Zuma was confident while making his statement, mapping out the plot against him, but his demeanour changed once the commission’s head of legal, Paul Pretorius, started questioning him. The former president was evasive, and times seemed irritated by the fact that he was even being questioned, complaining that it was more of a cross-examination.
The inquiry has now given the former president a document with “areas of interest” that he will need to address at his next appearance. This was as a result of an agreement reached between Zuma’s lawyers and the commission.
Zuma has yet to provide an affidavit detailing his response to these topics he has been asked to address. Key among them are his involvement in a proposed nuclear deal with Russia and his firing of former finance ministers Nhlanhla Nene and Pravin Gordhan.
The dismissal of the two sent the rand into free fall. The political climate at the time contributed to SA’s losing its investment-grade rating from two of the three major ratings agencies, raising borrowing costs across the economy.
Lest some forget. We already have a currency. It's called the Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWL). What's happening is just cash injection to help with transaction and effect a downward price movement pic.twitter.com/y8hhrLwAYQ
Lest some forget. We already have a currency. It's called the Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWL). What's happening is just cash injection to help with transaction and effect a downward price movement pic.twitter.com/y8hhrLwAYQ
By A Correspondent- Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring Joram McDonald Gumbo has been summoned by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ZACC), before he appeared in court on Tuesday.
The former Transport Minister’s lawyer, Selby Hwacha said he didn’t know why his client has been called back by ZACC. He said:
We have been recalled to ZACC head office and at the moment we are not sure why we are going back there.
We have not been charged also on an offence involving US$37 million. No warned and cautioned statement was recorded from my client with respect to that.
We are only aware of charges relating to CMED and CAAZ. I can’t comment further for now. I will be in a position to comment when I get to ZACC.
Gumbo was arrested by ZACC officials on Monday and is facing criminal abuse of charges and corruption involving millions of US dollars dating back to the time he was Transport Minister under the late former President Robert Mugabe.
