Deputy minister of Information Energy Mutodi has rubbished G40 stalwart and former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s presidential ambitions saying he is a mere former driver who serves no purpose.
Said Mutodi:
Mutodi dragged the late MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai and his predecessor Nelson Chamisa into his sarcastic description of Kasukuwere adding that it was baffling that he had presidential ambitions.
“Aspiring President Saviour Kasukuwere is a former driver at Gwaradzimba Express Motorways, his role model Morgan Tsvangirai was a tea boy and his potential ally Nelson a church pastor. Wonders will never end. Saviour serves no purpose.”
Today it is the World Mental Health Day, a very important occasion where we stop and reflect on how we would have spent the previous year looking after the most import part of the human body, the mind.
On the 10th of October every year, the world commemorates and acknowledges the importance of mental health across the world in metropolitan and rural communities.
The focus on this year’s World Mental Health Day is on suicide, because it has become a global public health crisis that is preventable, and yet it has become a mental health menace which has taken many of our people to the grave prematurely.
The World Health Organisation informs us that every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world takes their own life through suicide.
That is a frightening statistic, 2160 people dying daily through suicide, it translates to 788,400 people dying annually from suicide.
This prevalence makes suicide an immediate problem that requires urgent medical and social solutions within our communities, because not doing so is robbing the country of people who succumb to this menace at the prime of their lives.
Suicide is now believed to be the leading cause of death among young people aged between 16 and 28 in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately here in our country, it is not unusual anymore to read headlines in the local media related to suicide.
Our citizens are now so used to it, such that they simply shake their heads in disbelief whenever another suicide story is published in our media.
A society should NEVER be conditioned to something so dreadful that can be drastically reduced by public mental health interventions, failing to do so is an act of gross irresponsibility and social negligence.
This means that suicide has become a major public health priority that needs immediate attention in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately we currently have a broken public health delivery system that is struggling to treat the most basic of medical conditions due to years of underfunding and neglect.
According to the World Health Organisation, our country has one of the highest suicide rates in the region, this is not surprising anymore because a struggling economy puts unbearable pressure on the minds of its citizens.
Associated with suicide are also mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and many other mental health conditions that unfortunately due to our age old cultural taboos, they are not talked about sufficiently and openly in our communities.
These mental health disorders are easily treatable, but because of the huge treatment gap for such conditions in our country, 90 percent of those needing evidence-based care do not get it because we don’t have enough professionals to treat them.
Zimbabwe currently has only 15 practicing psychiatrists for a population of 15 million people that is one psychiatrist for every one million people.
Unfortunately almost all of them are restricted to tertiary health facilities in Harare, making it difficult for those at community and rural locations to access this pertinent service.
Task shifting is a concept that has been encouraged by the World Health Organisation as a way of addressing this treatment gap.
Making evidence-based care treatments accessible to many of our people who can’t afford to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist is extremely important.
By training community health volunteers as we have seen with the Friendship bench program, it is possible to provide immediate access in communities, schools, universities and the work place with the much-needed mental health care.
There is an urgent need for our mental health professionals to explore ways of scaling up task shifting models, particularly the ones that have been developed locally.
Mental health requires our communities to get together because Zimbabwe is going through one of the most difficult times, and the risk of mental ill health is high and probable in all segments of our country regardless of societal status, class or race.
As a political party concerned with the mental well-being of our citizens, the MDC values the importance of mental health because it is a key building block to a prosperous society and economy.
A prosperous and healthy economy by its very nature will reduce the pressures that afflict our people daily, resulting in disorders such as depression and anxiety or worse.
I therefore on this very important day encourage all Zimbabweans to take time out to show compassion towards each other, and remember that regardless of our various chosen political persuasions, we are one people.
Be your brother’s keeper, be the mother of the nation who will help heal the many traumatic wounds that we carry from a very difficult past and presently harsh economic environment. Under my new government, I make a commitment today to putting mental health amongst my first priorities in order to reduce the unacceptable mental treatment gap.
It is totally unacceptable that out of every 100 people that require access to mental health services in our country, only 10 people are able to get that much needed help that is 10 percent.
We will change all that and make mental health the most urgent priority in our health delivery system. For what are we without our minds?
Today let us create space and pay attention to citizens that need someone to talk to and share their stories, talking is an important therapy tool in healing the mind.
Let us all take time to listen to the broken hearted, and let us all remember to take good care of our mental health.
On behalf of the MDC and myself, I wish the whole country a happy World Mental Health day.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa President – Movement For Democratic Change
By A Correspondent- A recent report in the Daily News on the deliberations of and the goings-on within the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) caused Emmerson Mnangagwa to blow the gasket – in a development which left the high-profile counsellors stunned.
Well-placed sources told the newspaper that the normally laid back Mnangagwa tore into his advisors and angrily asked them to resign if they were not happy with him and his government’s response to the country’s myriad political and economic challenges.
Mnangagwa reportedly told his advisors to resign from their posts as advisers if they are unable to keep secrets.
His remarks come after reports suggesting that some PAC members leaked internal and confidential information to the Daily News on the discussions taking place in PAC.
Mr George Charamba who is the spokesperson of President Mnangagwa confirmed the development saying that the president was not happy with his advisers.
By A Correspondent- The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said that some parts of the country will from this Thursday start to experience heavy rains.
The rains will be violent, accompanied by lightning, strong winds and hail. In a statement on Wednesday, the MSD said:
The thundershowers may be very violent in some places and accompanied by lightning, strong winds and even hail.
The public is advised that it is safer to be indoors during thunderstorms and do not stay under trees as these tend to be natural lightning conductors.
The country has been experiencing very high temperatures over the past few days. High temperatures generate powerful convection currents and when the relative humidity is high, thunderstorms usually result during the late afternoon and early evening hours.
By A Correspondent- A Makokoba resident was on Monday defrauded of $26 612,97 by suspected cyber criminals after they allegedly hacked his bank account by sending text messages instructing him to punch a code which gave them access to his account.
Mzilikazi police received a report from Reuben Mpofu (54) of Makokoba, who said his CABS bank account had been hacked and cleaned of all the money, leaving only $3,30.
“Circumstances are that on October 2, the complainant’s CABS bank account was credited with a sum of $26 612,97 as his pension lump sum,” a police source said.
“On October 5 at around 12:16pm, the complainant received a short message service (SMS) on his Econet line purportedly to be from the Central Africa Building Society (CABS) Bank … The complainant had earlier ignored the first same message, which was sent at 12:13pm on the same day.”
The police source stated that soon after receiving the second message at 12:16pm, at exactly 12:17pm, Mpofu received an anonymous call asking him to respond to the short message service.
Mpofu then supplied the suspect with the code, 631220, which had been sent through SMS. The victim was thinking it was genuinely from CABS.
“At exactly 12:23pm, the complainant received a notification that a sum of $10 000 had been debited from his account. He then phoned the suspect’s phone number and he stated that he was fixing the account and promised that the money was to be credited back into complainant’s account,” the source said.
“At around 12:24pm, another $5 000 was debited from the complainant’s account. The complainant then phoned the suspect, who said they were about to finish fixing his account. The complainant then decided to wait for the bank to fix his account and never suspected any foul play since he had been banking with CABS for a long time.”
The police source said at 12:29pm on the same day, $750 was debited from Mpofu’s bank account and a series of deductions went on until the balance on the complainant’s bank balance was $3,20.
“Mpofu then decided to physically visit the bank to confirm the transactions and the same suspect phoned him while he was in the queue at the bank and promised that he was still fixing his bank account. He also identified himself as Tapera from CABS bank.
“The complainant then waited patiently for about 20 minutes, but nothing materialised. The complainant then proceeded to the banking hall and the branch manager at CABS Bulawayo Jason Moyo Branch advised him that his money has been stolen and urged him to report the matter to the police. The total value stolen is $26 612,97,” the police source said.
“The complainant then proceeded to Mzilikazi Police Station to file a report and investigations are underway.”
The alleged fraud was confirmed by the Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube, who yesterday issued a warning to citizens to avoid responding to text messages concerning their bank accounts following the fraud which befell Mpofu.
“We have discovered a new crime where people have lost substantial amounts of money to thugs. Though we have only received cases from CABS bank, however, those who use other financial institutions should take caution,” he said.
“What they do is, you receive a text message purporting to be from your bank. Then they will tell you to enter a code in your phone as acknowledgement. Believing that it will be genuine, you will respond, and in a few minutes to follow, all your account will be cleared of the money that you have.”
He added that citizens must ignore such messages or report to the police if they suspect they are about to be defrauded.
CABS managing director Simon Hammond said they were concerned about cases of fraud and would continue to warn CABS account holders of the risk of responding to messages requesting them to reveal their identities or PIN numbers over the phone or through SMSes.
“CABS will never ask you to confirm any personal banking information PIN, OTP (one-time passwords) over the phone. Do not honour such requests. Call CABS immediately on 0242-883822,” he said.
“In addition, OTPs (one-time passwords) sent to customers contain a similar warning. As we develop our services, systems and apps, we will embed further measures to combat fraudsters.
“We will look at the merits of this individual case (customers of all banks are at risk) and refund if appropriate, as we do for other cases of fraud.”
By A Correspondent- The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has pushed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government into a tight corner after saying teachers will withdraw labour on the 14th of October unless the government increases their salaries.
Writing on their Twitter handle, teachers said:
“We don’t have to risk the integrity of national examinations by deploying hungry and angry teachers as invigilators. Withdrawing labour on 14 October is in the best interest of our education sector.”
By A Correspondent- State Security minister Owen Ncube has been implicated in the often violent Mazowe illegal mining activities that have seen youth gangs popularly known as MaShurugwi, engage in machete wars over gold that have many people dead or injured.
Most of the MaShurugwi reportedly come from the Midlands province, where minister, a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, hails from.
NewsDay is reliably informed that villagers from Mazowe last Wednesday implicated Ncube, claiming the violent artisanal miners had been boasting that they were linked to the minister and were untouchable.
The villagers made the claims last week when an inter-ministerial task force visited the province to assess the scourge of illegal mining.
The delegation comprised four ministers — Winston Chitando (Mines), Kazembe Kazembe (Information and Technology Communication), Fortune Chasi (Energy) and Monica Mutsvangwa (Information and Publicity).
Police officers and Zanu PF officials also attended the meeting.
The villagers, who said they were now living in fear of the machete gangs, claimed that the MaShurugwi, who have been accused of wreaking havoc in the province, often brag about their links to the high offices, describe Ncube as their godfather.
The gangs have been said to be behind a series of crimes in Mazowe and some are already serving varying jail sentences for killings in the machete gold wars, despite claiming known as Jumbo Mine, where the MaShurugwis have been said to be terrorising villagers.
The ministers visited Eureka Mine, a defunct gold mine that Mnangagwa visited before last year’s election, promising to open it and create hundreds of jobs, but is still to make good of the promise.
Jumbo Mine has become a hub of illegal miners and is claiming life on a daily basis due to unsafe mining practices.
Three people are reported to have been killed this weekend in machete wars.
While the ministers were locked in a meeting, some irate villagers outside claimed the MaShurugwi had been bragging of their links to Ncube, who is also accused of running similar gangs in the Midlands province, in Mnangagwa’s backyard.
“We told the ministers that all the chaos in this province is being fuelled by top ranking people linked to the machete-wielding artisanal miners,” one Zanu PF youth told NewsDay.
“The panners are terrorising the province, raping, robbing and murdering people. As Zanu PF youth, we retaliated last month and the chaos resulted in the burning of two commuter omnibuses which wanted to transport the MaShurugwi out of the province.”
The MaShurugwi have lately clashed with Zanu PF youths who are miffed that the people from the Midlands province are coming to terrorise them on their home turf.
Last month, the clashes turned bloody, with the ruling party youths torching cars the artisanal miners were using as transport.
At the height of the clashes, Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial youth chairperson Lens Ruwizhi Farando indicated that the party youths wanted to drive out the artisanal miners because they were causing unrest in the province.
The MaShurugwi, however, hit back, claiming Ruwizhi was simply angry because the artisanal miners refused to give him money he was demanding.
Another villager added: “Some of the villagers told the taskforce that the MaShurugwi openly bragged that they have protection from Ncube and would be released even if they are arrested.”
Ncube was not picking calls yesterday, but Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana, who was also part of the inter-ministerial team, without confirming or denying the villagers’ claims, said most Zimbabweans now have a pernicious social practice of excessive use of authoritative names for both criminal and patronage purposes.
“But that does not mean the person doing the name-dropping would have been sent by the person they claim to be their principal. It is tragic that we are in this place where some are taken by such simple con jobs,” Mangwana said.
“The use of a name of someone in a position of influence seems to have the effect of immobilising and disempowering the victim. The police should not be fazed by the use of the senior official’s name. This is why we have the trendy charge of ‘abuse of public office’ against those who misuse their positions of public trust for personal gain.”
According to some sources, during the meeting, Kazembe is said to have called for the closure of the mine, claiming it was now a headache for the district.
This was after Police Officer Commanding Mashonaland Central Rangarirai Mushaurwa allegedly accused the Mines ministry of failing to run the mine and requiring about half of the police force in the district to control the chaos around it.
Mashaurwa suggested that people should be put in groups of 100 and then take turns to mine while responding to allegations that the police were giving different charges on artisanal miners, raising suspicion of corruption in the conduct of the law enforcement agents.
Asked for comment, Kazembe said:
“We can’t call for the closure of a mine that is already closed. The mine was closed a long time ago. We called for the normalisation of operations at the mine as people are suffering.
“The ex-employees are now destitute, and the mine is lying idle with no capitalisation for years. The country is losing and the people are losing while such an asset is lying idle.
We are saying, the mine must be brought back to its old days even if it means bringing in new investors, if the current owner has failed. Anyway, that issue is being handled by the Mines minister (Chitando).”
He said if sanity was restored at the mine, the youths would benefit more.
By A Correspondent- Total has hiked the price of gas from $15 to $20 per kg. This follows a similar move by Zuva Petroleum which raised the price for its gas from $18 to $22 last Friday.
According to Zim Price Check, Total has a model of selling gas different from other retailers.
The report says:
Total uses a somewhat old model of selling gas. They have their own containers for which you have to pay a deposit the first time you become a customer. You then take the container home and when it runs empty you have to bring it back.
However, the model has several advantages for Total’s customers in that they use the same containers when they return to buy more gas and the gas cylinders are safer, and leaking containers are repaired away from customers.
By A Correspondent- A gold panner died after he fell into a 20-metre-deep mine shaft in Umzingwane while illegally prospecting for the mineral.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday at around 6AM at Stancorn Farm.
She said Goodness Sibanda (25) of Dingile Village in Matobo slipped and fell into the shaft.
“I can confirm that we recorded a sudden death case which occurred in Umzingwane. Goodness Sibanda who was in the company of two others was illegally prospecting for gold at Stancorn Farm.
“While he was entering the shaft Sibanda slipped and fell into the shaft and sustained broken legs and head injuries. He was assisted by his mates who pulled him out of the shaft and he was ferried to Umzingwane District Hospital where he was confirmed dead upon arrival,” she said.
Insp Mangena urged people to desist from illegal mining.
“As police we continue to urge people to desist from engaging in illegal mining activities as by so doing they will be putting their lives at risk. Such people conduct their mining activities without protective clothing and necessary equipment which may result in injuries or death, like in this case. People have to regularise their mining operations and acquire the necessary equipment and clothing,” she said.
By A Correspondent- Passengers who survived Saturday’s Smart Express Vumba bus accident have blamed the driver for causing the mishap as they accused him of drinking beer before the journey to Mutare.
A man who identified himself as the owner of the bus, Ken Makosi, refused to comment on the accident. He begged the reporter to drop the story.
“Please don’t publish this story because it will tarnish the image of our company. We will definitely do something for you/”
The driver of the bus, who refused to divulge his name, however quickly dismissed the allegations and attributed the accident to a mechanical fault.
The accident occurred barely a year after another Smart Express bus killed over 50 people along the Harare-Mutare Highway in a horrific national disaster.
With over 40 people on board while descending the steep Vumba curves, the driver lost control of the bus at the 15km peg from Mutare at the Lower Vumba Gardens.
It landed on its right side, injuring several passengers who were quickly rushed to hospital by guests who were attending a wedding nearby.
When the Manica Post arrived at the scene moments later, most of the injured had been taken to hospital.
The visibly confused bus driver labored to explain what had happened.
“When I was negotiating a curve, I heard something breaking under the bus and I knew it was the U-bolt. I lost control of the vehicle but I managed to avoid hitting trees, otherwise people would have died,” he said.
When asked about his alleged braai and beer drinking binge at Chishakwe Business Centre before the journey to Mutare he said: “I didn’t drink beer. These are mere allegations.”
However, accident victims were singing from a different hymn book.
Precious Marigo who suffered head and body injuries said: “I boarded the bus at Tambawaguta bus stop after I had been told by a passerby that the bus was delaying because the bus driver was busy drinking beer and braaing at Chishakwe Business Centre. When I boarded the bus he (the driver) was shouting at passengers to move fast because he was behind time. He was also speeding, despite passengers discouraging him from doing so.”
The MDC rejected a proposal by churches for a seven-year moratorium on elections on Wednesday, but welcomed efforts by heads of Christian denominations to end Zimbabwe’s economic and political paralysis.
The pitch was made by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa on Tuesday.
The churches called for a “Sabbath on all political contestation for seven years to allow for the rebuilding of trust and confidence, reset our politics and chart a shared way forward towards a comprehensive economic recovery path in a non-competitive political environment.”
Zanu PF has yet to respond, although deputy information minister and Goromonzi MP Energy Mutodi put out a tweet on Wednesday saying the churches’ call was based on “visions from the devil”.
The MDC was more measured, saying it welcomed the church’s efforts at finding solutions to the country’s deepening economic crisis marked by triple digit inflation; fuel, bread and electricity shortages; a weak currency and declining salaries.
“Every interested key stakeholder in the country must look for a long-lasting solution, because the people are suffering,” MDC spokesman Daniel Molokele said.
“But as the MDC, we have been very clear in our position concerning the future of this country and the way forward, that unless and until we resolve the political issues, the economy is going to be affected.”
Key to solving Zimbabwe’s problems, Molokele said, was resolving what he called a “crisis of political legitimacy”. His party does not recognise President Emmerson Mnangagwa following his disputed election win last year.
Molokele added: “The MDC has come up with the RELOAD policy document that outlines the five steps that need to be taken to ensure we move forward as a country. These begin with addressing political and diplomatic issues; an all-inclusive national dialogue process; a national transitional mechanism; comprehensive reforms and a free and fair election that will restore us to political legitimacy and allow us to focus on the economic and social issues.
“As the MDC, we encourage citizens to present their own positions on the future of the country so that we finally come to a national convergence to resolve the political issues.”
Mnangagwa has invited the MDC to a political dialogue process along with two dozen other political party leaders who took part in last year’s elections, but the MDC says it will only take part in direct talks with the Zanu PF leader in a dialogue mediated by a neutral foreign convenor with an African Union and United Nations mandate.
The church leaders said Zimbabwe was in the grips of an economic and political paralysis which could not be solved by another election.
“Since 2000, election periods have been characterised by violence and paralysing polarisation… We foresee that whichever political party wins an election, the paralysis will remain if the opposing parties do not learn how to collaborate,” they said.
“The… current environment does not allow for meaningful political reforms nor is it conducive for an inclusive economic participation for ordinary citizens. Such an environment of toxic political relations also renders our international re-engagement process futile, which international isolation inhibits investor confidence.”
The suspension of elections in the constitution, the churches said, would be put to a national referendum following which discussions would begin about a detailed government structure.
“The assumption is that once the principle receives national acceptance through a referendum, a consultative process to design the operationalisation framework of the Sabbath season will be established through a broad-based and comprehensive national dialogue involving all levels of society.”
The churches said the Sabbath was a deep theological theme based on God’s command to his people to set the seventh day for a rest.
“Seven years were also considered as Sabbath years. Seven-year Sabbaths or 49 years constituted what was called the Jubilee season. In this Jubilee season, land would be left fallow so that it could recover its nutrients. Debts would be forgiven. New relationships would be built and God would bless his people.
“Zimbabwe reaches her Jubilee year in 2029. The nation could use this coming period to usher in a true Jubilee for the nation by removing all political contestation…”
Prominent Harare based clergyman Bishop CB Motondo of Grace Fellowship Ministries has revealed that there is a suspicious plot by a woman in this country and Zimbabweans must be on the lookout.
Speaking in an interview which touched the developments happening in Zimbabwe Motondo said he was going to give a Prophetic word for Zimbabwe during a Conference that he will be holding in Harare from the 18th to the 20th of this month.
Said Motondo, “There is a particular person God has shown me and that particular person is in and out of the country and his movement is suspicious but the issue involves a woman. I cannot reveal much now but I reveal more during the Conference from the 18th to the 20th of October. But I can only say that person is up to something.”
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Labour Court has reserved judgement in a matter where government through the Health ministry approached the courts seeking a determination regarding industrial action by local doctors who are demanding higher salaries and improved conditions of service.
The ministry of health last week issued an ultimatum to striking doctors to return to work or face disciplinary action before taking the matter to the Labour court seeking an order to declare the strike either legal or illegal in terms of the local labour laws.
A lawyer representing the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA), Doug Coltart however is on record claiming that contrary to government’s arguments seeking to declare the doctors’ strike as either legal or illegal, the doctors’ industrial action was a result of incapacitation hence could not be deemed not a strike.
Said Coltart:
“Doctors are saying we are not on strike and we are not unwilling to go to work but we are unable because we are incapacitated. That evidence was not laid before the court by the minister.
……With respect, once you make that concession that indeed doctors are incapacitated that’s the end of the matter. It’s not a strike, the doctors are simply unable to go to work.”
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest details.
Professor Jonathan Moyo has alleged that the members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation have infiltrated into all the newsrooms of media houses in the country except that of the South African owned Sunday Times.
Moyo was talking after the Daily News wrote a scathing letter to his Twitter statement that the Financial Gazette was owned by the CIO.
Said Moyo, “The CIO bought into the Financial Gazzette long before the latter’s association with Daily News. This is a fact. It stands to reason that the CIO is also in the newsroom of the DailyNews. Now the CIO is in the newsrooms of all major media houses in Zimbabwe except the Sunday Times.”
Read below the extract of the Daily News article:
“It is generally not our style to either engage with or respond to the mad rantings of deluded chaos mongers, pathological liars and social media retards. But there comes a point where some things cannot be ignored as remaining silent under such circumstances can, unfortunately, encourage shameless charlatans and other small minds in their malicious, wicked ways. Indeed, and as Richard Edelman said, to be silent is sometimes to be complicit.
“And so, it was with utter horror that we were alerted to a social media posting this week by the self-exiled former Cabinet minister, Jonathan Moyo, which suggested that our sister newspaper, The Financial Gazette, is allegedly owned by the country’s notorious Central Intelligence Organisation.
“Only dunderheads think CR6s & CR14s are the best evidence to expose shareholders or to pierce the corporate veil of a rogue media house in bed with an embattled predatory State. The CIO ownership of the Fingaz is not recorded in any CR6 or CR14, yet it is a fact!” this notorious author of the current dire state of Zimbabwe’s media wrote “authoritatively” as he had a go at a rival media house.
“As expected, his ever obliging poodles a good number of them thoroughly discredited former State media hacks supported this rank lunacy.
Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa has urged former Minister of Tourism Senator Prisca Mupfumira to resign from her senatorial position due to the alleged mounting cases against her.
Said Mliswa, “I don’t know why Mai Mupfumira continues to hang on to the Senatorial seat; she’s already been humiliated and should resign. More cases are already piling up against her.”
Mupfumira was released on bail last month after spending two months in jail over the disappearance of $94million from NSSA.
Mliswa was at the forefront of calling for her arrest.
Mupfumira is first sitting minister of the ruling Zanu-PF party to be arrested for corruption under the new administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Two weeks after her arrest Mnangagwa sacked her from his cabinet.
After several attempts to be released from jail while she faces the charges, she was freed on bail and ordered her to report to a police station twice a week
Mnangagwa has identified endemic corruption as a major contributor to the country’s economic woes and vowed to root it out.
By A Correspondent- Bakers Inn and Lobels, two of the biggest producers of bread in the country, have halted production following the shortage of flour.
Most outlets and supermarkets had empty bread shelves as of yesterday.
National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe president Dennis Wallah confirmed the development.
“Bread production is dwindling due to the unavailability of flour and bakeries are not able to supply in shops and supermarkets.
“Bread shortage is already taking place and this is not a deliberate move from the bread industry to create a shortage in order to increase prices.
“Remember, the price system has not been stable due to the market pressure, so I insist, the shortage is not about bakeries holding bread to find means to hike bread prices,” he said.
Wallah also dispelled social media speculation that they had proposed to hike wholesale bread price to RTGS$14 and retail price at RTGS $15.30.
“Production has not been halted to effect price increase but it is due to the unavailability of flour.
“We have engaged the Government, supplies and the Minister of Industry and Commerce are seized with the matter,” Wallah said.
Contacted for comment, Minister of Industry and Commerce Mangaliso Ndlovu confirmed the bread situation and allayed fears of bread shortages.
“I am aware of the situation and I can confirm everything is under control as we are working on it.
“It is not the issue of increasing bread prices, remember wheat is almost 100 percent imported so this situation involves foreign currency challenges along with delays in deliveries, but however, we are working on it to rectify the problem,” he said.
The president of the Grain Miller’s Association of Zimbabwe Tafadzwa Musarara said he is not in a position to comment on the issue as he was restricted by the Competition and Tariffs Commission.
However, he said:
“We wanted to control the situation and take charge of pricing our products but it did not happen.
“Things could have been better and we wanted to stabilise mealie, flour and bread prices, now look what is happening.”
By A Correspondent- A Bindura man who was arrested for saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed to revive the country’s comatose economy and politics has been acquitted.
This was disclosed by the man’s legal representatives, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on microblogging site, Twitter.
Said ZLHR in a statement:
“In Bindura Saymore Mashorokoto represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who had been on trial for disorderly conduct after he allegedly told fellow resident that President Mnangagwa had dismally failed to revive Zimbabwe’s political and economic fortunes, has been acquitted by Magistrate Langton Ndokera.
In April this year, MDC Alliance councillor for Ward 3 in Bindura, Brian Kembo, was dragged before a magistrate facing disorderly conduct charges after he allegedly said Mnangagwa is liable for causing stress and authoring the country’s economic problems.
Zimbabwe is expected to experience scattered thunder showers accompanied by lightning, strong winds and hail in some parts of the country, according to the Meteorological Services Department (MSD).
In a statement issued yesterday, the MSD said Manicaland, Matabeleland South, Masvingo, Midlands and parts of Mashonaland East were expected to start recording heavy rains starting today.
Elsewhere, scattered clouds are expected to develop with some isolated thundershowers.
“The thundershowers may be very violent in some places and accompanied by lightning, strong winds and even hail,” said the MSD. “The public is advised that it is safer to be indoors during thunderstorms and do not stay under trees as these tend to be natural lightning conductors.”
The country had been characterised by erratic weather, with very hot temperatures. The MSD said the current spate of isolated heat storms, light showers coupled with thunder and lightning in places far apart was normal during this transitory stage between winter and the main rain season which has not yet began.
By A Correspondent| Deputy minister of Information Energy Mutodi has rubbished G40 stalwart and former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s presidential ambitions saying he is a mere former driver who serves no purpose.
Said Mutodi:
Mutodi dragged the late MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai and his predecessor Nelson Chamisa into his sarcastic description of Kasukuwere adding that it was baffling that he had presidential ambitions.
“Aspiring President Saviour Kasukuwere is a former driver at Gwaradzimba Express Motorways, his role model Morgan Tsvangirai was a tea boy and his potential ally Nelson a church pastor. Wonders will never end. Saviour serves no purpose.”
Aspiring President Saviour Kasukuwere is a former driver @ Gwaradzimba Express Motorways; his role model Morgan Tsvangirai was a tea-boy & his potential ally Nelson a church pastor. Wonders will never end! Saviour serves no purpose.
Paul Nyathi|Constitutional Lawyer and political commentator Alex Magaisa on Twitter listed these 7 as the stages a person who supports President Mnangagwa and the ruling party goes through.
1. Euphoria following “victory”. They don’t care how he won. They won. That’s all that matters. They mock, berate & ridicule their opponents as sore losers
2. Blind optimism in the early days. The future looks bright. Obvious failings are ignored. It’s the “Give Him a Chance Stage”. Any voices of dissent are shut down as negative and unpatriotic. During this stage any tiny bit of news is amplified to make it look bigger. Zvichaita.
6. Damascene moment. Accept the decision was wrong. Do the right thing. Best to abandon ship. Seek and find atonement. The genuine ones with a moral constitution rediscover it and fight hard. Some are sceptical but others understand. It’s good to have allies.
7. Some, however, remain trapped in denialism and blame-shifting. For some, that is all they know. Or they are eating. They know leadership has failed but they still hope for crumbs. So they keep banging on the propaganda drum. But that too will become embarrassing.
Seven Stages of an ED supporter
1. Euphoria following “victory”. They don’t care how he won. They won. That’s all that matters. They mock, berate & ridicule their opponents as sore losers.
ZANU PF MP and Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs chairperson Kindness Paradza was forced to jump to government defence after an opposition lawmaker demanded information on reports a shadowy US public relations consultancy firm had been engaged without Treasury approval.
Foreign Affairs Ministry permanent secretary James Manzou was left scratching his head after MDC Mpopoma legislator Charles Moyo demanded explanation on the circumstances surrounding government’s hiring of the US lobbyist firm Ballard Partners in March this year.
The committee was receiving oral evidence from the Ministry on its 2020 budget proposal as well as explaining some outstanding issues as raised by the Auditor General’s report.
Moyo asked Manzou to confirm if it is true that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration in March this year hired the US firm to spruce up Zimbabwe’s image before the international community as the “Second Republic” battles to restore the country’s image.
“There are reports and speculation that say the government paid the US lobbyist firm called the Ballard Partners about US$500 000. Since we are discussing your budget, as a Ministry may you explain exactly what happened?” Moyo asked.
Manzou however requested that Moyo retake his question to which Paradza jumped in: “I don’t know, the question says there is some company hired to do re-engagement which I am not aware of.”
Referring to Moyo, Paradza added : “I think you should put your question in writing and refer it to the Minister and he is going to answer that lets deal with the budget.”
Moyo was however not to be pushed as he pleaded with Paradza to protect him arguing Parliament needed to know whether the Ministry used resources allocated to it in the previous budget to pay the public relations firm or not.
“I need your protection chairman. We are talking of a re-engagement process. We are talking of forking out money to pay a firm, that is clearly a budget chairman,” Moyo said.
Paradza remained firm advising Moyo to document his question so that Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo would respond.
Manzou later said: “Our expenditures are before you. If the honourable (Moyo) can zero in on the particular expenditure this will help the minister in his response.”
Ballard Partners is a US lobbyists firm connected to US President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign.
As if to confirm that indeed Mnangagwa had engaged the Ballard Partners, speaking to Bloomerg in March 2019, Information Ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangwana said lobbying is part of the strategy the new dispensation uses in its bid to end isolation from the international community.
“Over and above the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF), my government is developing a robust National Health Insurance Scheme and stepping up innovative domestic funding initiatives such as the traditional AIDS levy and the new Health Levy, to enable us to focus on the sustainability of our response,” said Mnangagwa.
The state owned ZBC says Emmerson Mnangagwa has paid out USD1 million to the Global AIDS Fund at the ongoing 6th Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund Forum in Lyon, France.
The ZBC alleged Zimbabwe has contributed the figure to the fund.
Mnangagwa however, only announced a pledge of the amount on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa appealed for support and sought partnerships to strengthen primary health care in the country.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
STATE MEDIA COPY: Mnangagwa during his speech at the conference, which is seeking to raise US$14 billion to fight HIV, tuberculosis and malaria expressed his gratitude towards the Global Fund for approving close to US$2 billion for Zimbabwe to fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
“Since 2002, the Global Fund has approved nearly US$1.7 billion to Zimbabwe, of which over US$1.3 has been disbursed,” he said.
“Let me express my profound gratitude for this invaluable support. As we build strong institutions, infrastructure and integrated services, we appeal for support and seek partnerships to strengthen primary health care, build and retain a competent health workforce to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Equally, early detection and surveillance systems of the three diseases remain paramount. Over and above the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF), my government is developing a robust National Health Insurance Scheme and stepping up innovative domestic funding initiatives such as the traditional AIDS levy and the new Health Levy, to enable us to focus on the sustainability of our response,” said Mnangagwa.
Over 710 000 people are currently supported by Global Fund in Zimbabwe out of a total of 1.2 million people on Anti-Retro Viral Therapy.
Government made a US$1 million contribution at the conference as the country strives towards ending AIDS by 2030.
“We remain committed to continue to contribute to this worthy effort, and hereby pledge US$1 million.”
French President Emmanuel Macron who is hosting the conference pointed the finger at several countries for not pledging enough funds for the fight against the three diseases.
In his speech, President Macron called specifically on Japan, Norway, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to “make more of an effort” in increasing their contributions for the fight.
The Global Fund Forum aims to save 16 million lives within the next four years as well as averting 234 million infections worldwide.
Mnangagwa is accompanied by the acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Amon Murwira and other senior government officials at the conference.
Paul Nyathi|Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has allegedly developed cold feet over his decision to engage in a live presidential debate ahead of the forthcoming general elections, APA learnt here Thursday.Botswana holds do or die general elections on 23 October.
Masisi in June told a ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) rally in Maun town in the north western part of the country that he was ready for a presidential debate with opposition leaders.
He said in the run-up to the 2019 general elections he would like to engage leaders in a live debate but he has since made an about-turn on his promise.
The debates were supposed to be organised by the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO).
In a letter seen by APA, BDP executive secretary Ame Makoba informed BOCONGO executive director Botho Seboko that Masisi would not be available for the debate scheduled for Friday.
“His Excellency the President has pre-arranged government business that he will be undertaking,” Makoba said.
Masisi was expected to face the leader of the opposition in parliament Duma Boko whose aggressive campaign trail has taken the nation by storm through their thematic message dubbed “Decent jobs, decent lives.”
A lawyer by profession and leader of the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Boko is taking advantage of the escalating unemployment figures to woo the youth to his party by promising to raise the minimum wage from less than US$100 to US$300 a month.
Botswana’s youth unemployment currently stands at more than 20 percent.
On the other hand, Masisi is currently traversing the length and breadth of the country in what government officials have termed “consultation with the nation”.
But the opposition parties have raised a red flag, accusing Masisi of using the public meetings disguised as consultation through the kgotla system (a traditional law court of a Botswana village) to campaign.
Botswana laws prohibit the use of the kgotla system to discuss partisan politics; only development issues, tribal affairs, among others, should be discussed.
Other presidential candidates who are expected to take part in the debate are Ndaba Gaolathe of the Alliance for Progressives, Sidney Pilane of Botswana Movement for Democracy and Biggie Butale of Botswana Patriotic Front.
But observers are of the view that the real competition is between the ruling BDP and the UDC.
While the BDP had in the past taken advantage of incumbency by using state resources to traverse some difficult terrain to campaign, the UDC has also secured international sponsors who have provided it with an aircraft and buses so that Boko and his team can reach rural communities.
The leaders of the parties were expected to explain their manifestos to potential voters and observers are of the view that because of the huge number of unemployed youth it was going to be a mammoth task for Masisi to counter Boko and his UDC’s “decent lives, decent jobs.”
A statement from BOCONGO states that the discussion was expected to be moderated by highly skilled and respected scholars in the field of economics, political science and development.
It states that the overall objective of the debate was to create a platform for discussions with presidential representatives under the theme “the future of Botswana, our offer.”
Paul Nyathi|Long-serving chief of protocol in the office of the president Munyaradzi Kajese last week retired from his post as part of an ongoing government restructuring exercise that is expected to bring in new faces in key portfolios.
Kajese has been the chief of protocol for more than three decades, working most of his career under the late former President Robert Mugabe.
He kept his role after President Emmerson Mnangagwa came to power in late 2017, despite initial claims he would be retired immediately together with chief secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda and other senior officials who had served under Mugabe.
The state owned ZBC says Emmerson Mnangagwa has paid out USD1 million to the Global AIDS Fund at the ongoing 6th Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund Forum in Lyon, France.
The ZBC alleged Zimbabwe has contributed the figure to the fund.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Mnangagwa however, only announced a pledge of the amount on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa appealed for support and sought partnerships to strengthen primary health care in the country.
STATE MEDIA COPY: Mnangagwa during his speech at the conference, which is seeking to raise US$14 billion to fight HIV, tuberculosis and malaria expressed his gratitude towards the Global Fund for approving close to US$2 billion for Zimbabwe to fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
“Since 2002, the Global Fund has approved nearly US$1.7 billion to Zimbabwe, of which over US$1.3 has been disbursed,” he said.
“Let me express my profound gratitude for this invaluable support. As we build strong institutions, infrastructure and integrated services, we appeal for support and seek partnerships to strengthen primary health care, build and retain a competent health workforce to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Equally, early detection and surveillance systems of the three diseases remain paramount. Over and above the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF), my government is developing a robust National Health Insurance Scheme and stepping up innovative domestic funding initiatives such as the traditional AIDS levy and the new Health Levy, to enable us to focus on the sustainability of our response,” said Mnangagwa.
Over 710 000 people are currently supported by Global Fund in Zimbabwe out of a total of 1.2 million people on Anti-Retro Viral Therapy.
Government made a US$1 million contribution at the conference as the country strives towards ending AIDS by 2030.
“We remain committed to continue to contribute to this worthy effort, and hereby pledge US$1 million.”
French President Emmanuel Macron who is hosting the conference pointed the finger at several countries for not pledging enough funds for the fight against the three diseases.
In his speech, President Macron called specifically on Japan, Norway, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to “make more of an effort” in increasing their contributions for the fight.
The Global Fund Forum aims to save 16 million lives within the next four years as well as averting 234 million infections worldwide.
Mnangagwa is accompanied by the acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Amon Murwira and other senior government officials at the conference.
An unidentified woman has claimed that the late former president of Zimbabwe, Rober Mugabe had no children. The woman further claims that the three children, Bona, Robert Jnr and Chatunga were fathered by Peter Pamire, a prominent Zimbabwean entrepreneur who died in a tragic car accident.
Her remarks are consistent with a purportedly leaked CIO document which also claims that in 1994 and 1995 Grace had two abortion which she claimed were a miscarriage but they were the kids of Peter Pamire”s.
According to the Daily News, Grace Mugabe nee Marufu who was working as secretary to then-president Mugabe, became his mistress and, while still married to Stanley Goreraza (air force pilot Stanley Goreraza), had two children with him, Bona born in 1988, named after Mugabe’s mother, and Robert Peter Jr.
The state owned ZBC says Emmerson Mnangagwa has paid out USD1 million to the Global AIDS Fund at the ongoing 6th Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund Forum in Lyon, France.
The ZBC alleged Zimbabwe has contributed the figure to the fund.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Mnangagwa however, only announced a pledge of the amount on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa appealed for support and sought partnerships to strengthen primary health care in the country.
STATE MEDIA COPY: Mnangagwa during his speech at the conference, which is seeking to raise US$14 billion to fight HIV, tuberculosis and malaria expressed his gratitude towards the Global Fund for approving close to US$2 billion for Zimbabwe to fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
“Since 2002, the Global Fund has approved nearly US$1.7 billion to Zimbabwe, of which over US$1.3 has been disbursed,” he said.
“Let me express my profound gratitude for this invaluable support. As we build strong institutions, infrastructure and integrated services, we appeal for support and seek partnerships to strengthen primary health care, build and retain a competent health workforce to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Equally, early detection and surveillance systems of the three diseases remain paramount. Over and above the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF), my government is developing a robust National Health Insurance Scheme and stepping up innovative domestic funding initiatives such as the traditional AIDS levy and the new Health Levy, to enable us to focus on the sustainability of our response,” said Mnangagwa.
Over 710 000 people are currently supported by Global Fund in Zimbabwe out of a total of 1.2 million people on Anti-Retro Viral Therapy.
Government made a US$1 million contribution at the conference as the country strives towards ending AIDS by 2030.
“We remain committed to continue to contribute to this worthy effort, and hereby pledge US$1 million.”
French President Emmanuel Macron who is hosting the conference pointed the finger at several countries for not pledging enough funds for the fight against the three diseases.
In his speech, President Macron called specifically on Japan, Norway, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to “make more of an effort” in increasing their contributions for the fight.
The Global Fund Forum aims to save 16 million lives within the next four years as well as averting 234 million infections worldwide.
Mnangagwa is accompanied by the acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Amon Murwira and other senior government officials at the conference.
Farai Dziva|The MDC has confirmed receipt of a proposal from church leaders to postpone elections for seven years.
“The MDC, through its President Advocate Nelson Chamisa, is in receipt of a proposal from the Church.
President Chamisa is seized with the issue and the party Presidency will appropriately comment on the matter at the appropriate time,” said Luke Tamborinyoka the party’s
Deputy National Spokesperson.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said the biting economic crisis in the country is the major cause of suicide cases.
Below is Chamisa’s statement on World Mental Health Day:
Today it is the World Mental Health Day, a very important occasion where we stop and reflect on how we would have spent the previous year looking after the most import part of the human body, the mind.
On the 10th of October every year, the world commemorates and acknowledges the importance of mental health across the world in metropolitan and rural communities.
The focus on this year’s World Mental Health Day is on suicide, because it has become a global public health crisis that is preventable, and yet it has become a mental health menace which has taken many of our people to the grave prematurely.
The World Health Organisation informs us that every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world takes their own life through suicide.
That is a frightening statistic, 2160 people dying daily through suicide, it translates to 788,400 people dying annually from suicide.
This prevalence makes suicide an immediate problem that requires urgent medical and social solutions within our communities, because not doing so is robbing the country of people who succumb to this menace at the prime of their lives.
Suicide is now believed to be the leading cause of death among young people aged between 16 and 28 in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately here in our country, it is not unusual anymore to read headlines in the local media related to suicide.
Our citizens are now so used to it, such that they simply shake their heads in disbelief whenever another suicide story is published in our media.
A society should NEVER be conditioned to something so dreadful that can be drastically reduced by public mental health interventions, failing to do so is an act of gross irresponsibility and social negligence.
This means that suicide has become a major public health priority that needs immediate attention in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately we currently have a broken public health delivery system that is struggling to treat the most basic of medical conditions due to years of underfunding and neglect.
According to the World Health Organisation, our country has one of the highest suicide rates in the region, this is not surprising anymore because a struggling economy puts unbearable pressure on the minds of its citizens.
Associated with suicide are also mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and many other mental health conditions that unfortunately due to our age old cultural taboos, they are not talked about sufficiently and openly in our communities.
These mental health disorders are easily treatable, but because of the huge treatment gap for such conditions in our country, 90 percent of those needing evidence-based care do not get it because we don’t have enough professionals to treat them.
Zimbabwe currently has only 15 practicing psychiatrists for a population of 15 million people that is one psychiatrist for every one million people.
Unfortunately almost all of them are restricted to tertiary health facilities in Harare, making it difficult for those at community and rural locations to access this pertinent service.
Task shifting is a concept that has been encouraged by the World Health Organisation as a way of addressing this treatment gap.
Making evidence-based care treatments accessible to many of our people who can’t afford to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist is extremely important.
By training community health volunteers as we have seen with the Friendship bench program, it is possible to provide immediate access in communities, schools, universities and the work place with the much-needed mental health care.
There is an urgent need for our mental health professionals to explore ways of scaling up task shifting models, particularly the ones that have been developed locally.
Mental health requires our communities to get together because Zimbabwe is going through one of the most difficult times, and the risk of mental ill health is high and probable in all segments of our country regardless of societal status, class or race.
As a political party concerned with the mental well-being of our citizens, the MDC values the importance of mental health because it is a key building block to a prosperous society and economy.
A prosperous and healthy economy by its very nature will reduce the pressures that afflict our people daily, resulting in disorders such as depression and anxiety or worse.
I therefore on this very important day encourage all Zimbabweans to take time out to show compassion towards each other, and remember that regardless of our various chosen political persuasions, we are one people.
Be your brother’s keeper, be the mother of the nation who will help heal the many traumatic wounds that we carry from a very difficult past and presently harsh economic environment.
Under my new government, I make a commitment today to putting mental health amongst my first priorities in order to reduce the unacceptable mental treatment gap.
It is totally unacceptable that out of every 100 people that require access to mental health services in our country, only 10 people are able to get that much needed help that is 10 percent.
We will change all that and make mental health the most urgent priority in our health delivery system. For what are we without our minds?
Today let us create space and pay attention to citizens that need someone to talk to and share their stories, talking is an important therapy tool in healing the mind.
Let us all take time to listen to the broken-hearted, and let us all remember to take good care of our mental health.
On behalf of the MDC and myself, I wish the whole country a happy World Mental Health day.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa – President
Movement For Democratic Change
Farai Dziva| Zimbabwe is among the countries that have high suicide cases in the SADC region, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said.
Below is Chamisa’s statement on World Mental Health Day:
Today it is the World Mental Health Day, a very important occasion where we stop and reflect on how we would have spent the previous year looking after the most import part of the human body, the mind.
On the 10th of October every year, the world commemorates and acknowledges the importance of mental health across the world in metropolitan and rural communities.
The focus on this year’s World Mental Health Day is on suicide, because it has become a global public health crisis that is preventable, and yet it has become a mental health menace which has taken many of our people to the grave prematurely.
The World Health Organisation informs us that every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world takes their own life through suicide.
That is a frightening statistic, 2160 people dying daily through suicide, it translates to 788,400 people dying annually from suicide.
This prevalence makes suicide an immediate problem that requires urgent medical and social solutions within our communities, because not doing so is robbing the country of people who succumb to this menace at the prime of their lives.
Suicide is now believed to be the leading cause of death among young people aged between 16 and 28 in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately here in our country, it is not unusual anymore to read headlines in the local media related to suicide.
Our citizens are now so used to it, such that they simply shake their heads in disbelief whenever another suicide story is published in our media.
A society should NEVER be conditioned to something so dreadful that can be drastically reduced by public mental health interventions, failing to do so is an act of gross irresponsibility and social negligence.
This means that suicide has become a major public health priority that needs immediate attention in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately we currently have a broken public health delivery system that is struggling to treat the most basic of medical conditions due to years of underfunding and neglect.
According to the World Health Organisation, our country has one of the highest suicide rates in the region, this is not surprising anymore because a struggling economy puts unbearable pressure on the minds of its citizens.
Associated with suicide are also mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and many other mental health conditions that unfortunately due to our age old cultural taboos, they are not talked about sufficiently and openly in our communities.
These mental health disorders are easily treatable, but because of the huge treatment gap for such conditions in our country, 90 percent of those needing evidence-based care do not get it because we don’t have enough professionals to treat them.
Zimbabwe currently has only 15 practicing psychiatrists for a population of 15 million people that is one psychiatrist for every one million people.
Unfortunately almost all of them are restricted to tertiary health facilities in Harare, making it difficult for those at community and rural locations to access this pertinent service.
Task shifting is a concept that has been encouraged by the World Health Organisation as a way of addressing this treatment gap.
Making evidence-based care treatments accessible to many of our people who can’t afford to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist is extremely important.
By training community health volunteers as we have seen with the Friendship bench program, it is possible to provide immediate access in communities, schools, universities and the work place with the much-needed mental health care.
There is an urgent need for our mental health professionals to explore ways of scaling up task shifting models, particularly the ones that have been developed locally.
Mental health requires our communities to get together because Zimbabwe is going through one of the most difficult times, and the risk of mental ill health is high and probable in all segments of our country regardless of societal status, class or race.
As a political party concerned with the mental well-being of our citizens, the MDC values the importance of mental health because it is a key building block to a prosperous society and economy.
A prosperous and healthy economy by its very nature will reduce the pressures that afflict our people daily, resulting in disorders such as depression and anxiety or worse.
I therefore on this very important day encourage all Zimbabweans to take time out to show compassion towards each other, and remember that regardless of our various chosen political persuasions, we are one people.
Be your brother’s keeper, be the mother of the nation who will help heal the many traumatic wounds that we carry from a very difficult past and presently harsh economic environment.
Under my new government, I make a commitment today to putting mental health amongst my first priorities in order to reduce the unacceptable mental treatment gap.
It is totally unacceptable that out of every 100 people that require access to mental health services in our country, only 10 people are able to get that much needed help that is 10 percent.
We will change all that and make mental health the most urgent priority in our health delivery system. For what are we without our minds?
Today let us create space and pay attention to citizens that need someone to talk to and share their stories, talking is an important therapy tool in healing the mind.
Let us all take time to listen to the broken-hearted, and let us all remember to take good care of our mental health.
On behalf of the MDC and myself, I wish the whole country a happy World Mental Health day.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa – President
Movement For Democratic Change
By A Correspondent- Total has hiked the price of gas from $15 to $20 per kg. This follows a similar move by Zuva Petroleum which raised the price for its gas from $18 to $22 last Friday.
According to Zim Price Check, Total has a model of selling gas different from other retailers.
The report says:
“Total uses a somewhat old model of selling gas. They have their own containers for which you have to pay a deposit the first time you become a customer. You then take the container home and when it runs empty you have to bring it back.
However, the model has several advantages for Total’s customers in that they use the same containers when they return to buy more gas and the gas cylinders are safer, and leaking containers are repaired away from customers.”
Farai Dziva|Former Zimbabwe national team captain Peter Ndlovu has joined the list of Africa’s greatest English Premier League players.
The list, which is being unveiled on Goal.com, was compiled for 2019 Best of Africa (BoA) awards which honour the outstanding members of the African diaspora living and working in the United Kingdom. This year’s edition took place in London on Sunday.
Ndlovu made history by becoming the first African footballer to play in the new English Premier League in 1992. He made over 100 appearances for each of Coventry City, Birmingham City and Sheffield United, and also spent time on loan with Huddersfield Town.
Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar could also join Ndlovu and Mwaruwari on the list as he featured prominently in the EPL during the early 90s.
Farai Dziva|FC Platinum and Triangle United discovered their opponents in the next rounds of the CAF inter-club competitions following a draw held in Egypt on Wednesday.
Triangle were drawn against FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania in the play-offs of the Confederation Cup.
Nouadhibou were relegated from the Champions League after losing 6-1 on aggregate to Wydad Casablanca.
The first leg of the tie will be played in Mauritania on the 27th of this month and the return fixture is scheduled for November 3 in Bulawayo.
The winner will progress through to the group stages.
In the Champions League draw, FC Platinum were handed tricky opponents in the group stages. There were placed in Group B along with North African giants Al- Hilal of Sudan, Etoile Du Sahel (Tunisia) and Al Ahly of Egypt.
CAF C.L Draw:
Group A
Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)
Zesco United (Zambia)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Win. Zamalek (Egypt)/ Generation Foot (Senegal)
Group B
FC Platinum (Zimbabwe)
Al Hilal (Sudan)
Etoile Du Sahel (Tunisia)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Group C
Petro de Luanda (Angola)
USM Alger (Algeria)
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
Group D
JS Kabylie (Algeria)
AS Vita Club (DR Congo)
Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
Esperance (Tunisia)
Farai Dziva| Norman Mapeza is says he will leave his fate in “God’s hands.”
The Zimbabwean gaffer joined the ABSA Premiership side Chippa United on a three-year contract and he was unveiled by club owner Siviwe Mpengesi on Tuesday.
Mapeza became Chippa’s third coach in two weeks following the sacking of Clinton Larsen and Duran Francis who was in charge of the team for two games as a caretaker coach.
Larsen had spent eight months at the helm, and his term ranks him as the club’s second longest-serving coach. Dan Malesela holds the record of 14 months.
“The two years‚ the three years‚ the five-year contracts and all that‚ you know‚ those things are just a number‚” Mapeza told TimesLive.
“Whatever will happen in the next weeks or in the next two months or three months is not for me to judge because we don’t know what the future holds for us.
“I will leave everything in God’s hands. I’m sure there is a reason why I am here today.
“If I was someone I could have just said‚ ‘No look‚ this team is struggling and they always have coaches sacked after a short while’‚ then I could have just stayed in Zimbabwe.
“Everything that happens in life happens for a reason.”
Should he see out his contract at Chippa‚ Mapeza will become the longest-serving coach at the club.
Meanwhile, his first game in charge will be in the Telkom Knockout first round on the weekend of October 19 to 22 at home against Bloemfontein Celtic‚ followed by an away league match to Highlands Park on October 26.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF and the opposition MDC have shot down proposal by churches that the country should suspend elections for seven years to pave way for political and economic reforms under a new structure of government to usher free and credible elections.
The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) made the proposal on Tuesday, arguing that a seven-year sabbatical from elections would address the current political paralysis and deepening mistrust and polarisation.
The churches claimed the period of reform would stabilise the fast deteriorating economy under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which has seen the country’s inflation figures rising at an unprecedented pace since the record-breaking 2008 hyperinflation.
But Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu said the country was coming from elections that produced winners and there was no need to suspend the Constitution.
He said economic hardships were not caused by elections and the proposals by the churches were misplaced.
“That is their proposal, that is their view. We go by the dictates of the Constitution,” Mpofu said.
“We have a Constitution that guides the conduct of elections and the mandate thereof. We have been reading about the view from the churches and it is their entitlement to have their own views. As Zanu PF, we feel there is need to constantly respect the Constitution.
“We have come out of an election that produced their leadership. What is motivating the view, I don’t know.”
Pressure has been mounting on both Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to engage in dialogue to solve the country’s plunging economy.
Mnangagwa this year entered into dialogue with presidential representatives of fringe political parties in last year’s elections.
Chamisa snubbed the talks, demanding a neutral mediator, instead of Mnangagwa, who he accused of lacking legitimacy after allegedly stealing last year’s polls.
The opposition leader has constantly claimed that the country was experiencing a legitimacy problem.
Chamisa’s deputy, Tendai Biti, also dismissed the proposal by the church, saying any solution on the country’s crisis was predicated on genuine talks between Zanu PF and the MDC, the main political actors, followed by social dialogue.
“The churches are putting the cart before the horse,” Biti said.
“The country is in serious structural crisis, we don’t want to put make up on the crisis. There has to be genuine dialogue in the country, supported by the international community. This dialogue is not about sharing positions or suspending the Constitution, but structural reforms, that is what is key.
“The problem is much deeper than elections, the country is in crisis. Any solution should be a product of dialogue. There are two major players in the country’s polity, Zanu PF and the MDC and the dialogue between these two actors is key, followed by social dialogue. The church should only facilitate their dialogue. And the solution should come from the process of dialogue.”
Farai Dziva|The MDC says while it respects church leaders, it does not agree with them on the call suspend elections for seven years.
Read full statement below :
The MDC Youth Assembly is highly appalled by the Zimbabwe Head of Christian Denominations’ suggestion to suspend all electoral process for a period of seven years.
While we agree that there is definitely a need to address the current crisis, it is also our strong belief that the current political and economic malaise cannot be solved by massaging egos of an illegitimate president through suspension of elections.
As an Assembly, we are very clear that suspension of elections is not the panacea to our problems but will only help to set a wrong precedence where dictators deliberately subvert the people’s will only to be rewarded by another negotiated stay in power.
Suspending elections for a period of seven years is not only a trample on the people’s constitutional right but is akin to rewarding sin by men of cloth.
It is true that Emmerson Mnangagwa stole the July 2018 plebiscite, killed on 01 August 2018 and presided over abductions and rape after January 2019 shutdown.
Surprisingly the church and men of cloth remained tight-lipped!
Ironically this is the same Mnangagwa who invited a curse to the nation by blasphemously saying his regime is better compared to the heavenly kingdom.
It defeats logic as to why would our clerics root for the deferment of elections if Mnangagwa’s regime is performing better than God’s kingdom.
If anything, it is time to give a blasphemous Emmerson Mnangagwa a political Sabbath and not the people’s constitutional rights to elect leaders of their choice.
Contrary to Mnangagwa’s Minister Energy Mutodi who termed Bishop Kenneth Mtata “a Baal prophet”, as a God fearing Assembly we are not going to tear apart the clergyman for expressing his right to opinion.
It is clear that if there are any “prophets of Baal” as the dishonorable Minister want us to believe, then Mutodi’s political godfather is the Archangel of such doomed prophets.
Clearly Mnangagwa is an old man who desperately needs deliverance and exorcism but definitely that is not going to come by caging our people for a good seven years!
As an Assembly we are very clear that the best way to solve our current crises is by completely dismantling the whole system that authored our misery.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|The MDC Youth Assembly has said the suspension of elections will only work in Zanu PF’s favour.
Read full statement below :
The MDC Youth Assembly is highly appalled by the Zimbabwe Head of Christian Denominations’ suggestion to suspend all electoral process for a period of seven years.
While we agree that there is definitely a need to address the current crisis, it is also our strong belief that the current political and economic malaise cannot be solved by massaging egos of an illegitimate president through suspension of elections.
As an Assembly, we are very clear that suspension of elections is not the panacea to our problems but will only help to set a wrong precedence where dictators deliberately subvert the people’s will only to be rewarded by another negotiated stay in power.
Suspending elections for a period of seven years is not only a trample on the people’s constitutional right but is akin to rewarding sin by men of cloth.
It is true that Emmerson Mnangagwa stole the July 2018 plebiscite, killed on 01 August 2018 and presided over abductions and rape after January 2019 shutdown.
Surprisingly the church and men of cloth remained tight-lipped!
Ironically this is the same Mnangagwa who invited a curse to the nation by blasphemously saying his regime is better compared to the heavenly kingdom.
It defeats logic as to why would our clerics root for the deferment of elections if Mnangagwa’s regime is performing better than God’s kingdom.
If anything, it is time to give a blasphemous Emmerson Mnangagwa a political Sabbath and not the people’s constitutional rights to elect leaders of their choice.
Contrary to Mnangagwa’s Minister Energy Mutodi who termed Bishop Kenneth Mtata “a Baal prophet”, as a God fearing Assembly we are not going to tear apart the clergyman for expressing his right to opinion.
It is clear that if there are any “prophets of Baal” as the dishonorable Minister want us to believe, then Mutodi’s political godfather is the Archangel of such doomed prophets.
Clearly Mnangagwa is an old man who desperately needs deliverance and exorcism but definitely that is not going to come by caging our people for a good seven years!
As an Assembly we are very clear that the best way to solve our current crises is by completely dismantling the whole system that authored our misery.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
The state owned ZBC says Emmerson Mnangagwa has paid out USD1 million to the Global AIDS Fund at the ongoing 6th Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund Forum in Lyon, France.
The ZBC alleged Zimbabwe has contributed the figure to the fund.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Mnangagwa however, only announced a pledge of the amount on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa appealed for support and sought partnerships to strengthen primary health care in the country.
STATE MEDIA COPY: Mnangagwa during his speech at the conference, which is seeking to raise US$14 billion to fight HIV, tuberculosis and malaria expressed his gratitude towards the Global Fund for approving close to US$2 billion for Zimbabwe to fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
“Since 2002, the Global Fund has approved nearly US$1.7 billion to Zimbabwe, of which over US$1.3 has been disbursed,” he said.
“Let me express my profound gratitude for this invaluable support. As we build strong institutions, infrastructure and integrated services, we appeal for support and seek partnerships to strengthen primary health care, build and retain a competent health workforce to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Equally, early detection and surveillance systems of the three diseases remain paramount. Over and above the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF), my government is developing a robust National Health Insurance Scheme and stepping up innovative domestic funding initiatives such as the traditional AIDS levy and the new Health Levy, to enable us to focus on the sustainability of our response,” said Mnangagwa.
Over 710 000 people are currently supported by Global Fund in Zimbabwe out of a total of 1.2 million people on Anti-Retro Viral Therapy.
Government made a US$1 million contribution at the conference as the country strives towards ending AIDS by 2030.
“We remain committed to continue to contribute to this worthy effort, and hereby pledge US$1 million.”
French President Emmanuel Macron who is hosting the conference pointed the finger at several countries for not pledging enough funds for the fight against the three diseases.
In his speech, President Macron called specifically on Japan, Norway, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to “make more of an effort” in increasing their contributions for the fight.
The Global Fund Forum aims to save 16 million lives within the next four years as well as averting 234 million infections worldwide.
Mnangagwa is accompanied by the acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Amon Murwira and other senior government officials at the conference.
Farai Dziva|
ZANU PF Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda came to cornered MP Killer Zivhu’s rescue when he warned the party’s Provincial Executive against suspending the Parliamentarian.
The Chivi South MP, Zivhu, was suspended for allegedly abusing social media platforms after he tweeted that
president Emmerson Mnangagwa and leader of opposition MDC, Nelson Chamisa must find each other and dialogue.
ZANU PF Masvingo Provincial leadership suspended him and were calling for his dismissal from the party.
When one firewood block produces smoke, you do not have to remove it. You must leave it in the fireplace so that it can be assisted by others to catch fire than removing it.
If you keep on removing firewood, you may end up without any in your fireplace.
So you should help each other to reform than dismissing those who are found violating the party rules and regulations,” said Matemadanda.
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF insiders have maintained Killer Zivhu will be fired from the party in spite of Political Commissar Victor Matemadanda’ s intervention in the matter.
Although Matemadanda came to Zivhu’s rescue when he warned the party’s Provincial Executive against suspending the Parliamentarian, party stalwarts have vowed Zivhu will be fired.
The Chivi South MP, Zivhu, was suspended for allegedly abusing social media platforms after he tweeted that
president Emmerson Mnangagwa and leader of opposition MDC, Nelson Chamisa must find each other and dialogue.
ZANU PF Masvingo Provincial leadership suspended him and were calling for his dismissal from the party.
When one firewood block produces smoke, you do not have to remove it. You must leave it in the fireplace so that it can be assisted by others to catch fire than removing it.
If you keep on removing firewood, you may end up without any in your fireplace.
So you should help each other to reform than dismissing those who are found violating the party rules and regulations,” said Matemadanda.
By A Correspondent- There was pandemonium along Angwa street opposite the former Ximex Mall in Harare this morning when a sacred snake was discovered raising speculation that it came out of the boot of a car belonging to one of the entrepreneurs who operates near the area.
The snake, which brought pedestrians in the city centre to a standstill was however reportedly killed and shoved down a drain along Angwa street.
While others said it had been killed, others alleged that the snake was shoved inside the drain alive considering that it is a sacred snake.
Said a man who refused to speak on camera:
“The snake is called “ngara” and it is sacred and a very rare snake which signals misfortune. It had so many colours and i am shocked that such a type of snake can be discovered in the central business district.”
Added a female vendor along Angwa street:
“While i did not see where it came from, what i know is that it was shoved down the drain alive. I think the owner is the one who pushed for it not to be killed. It is very strange that such a type of snake can be discovered here. But this is not the first time that we have witnessed such. Vanhu vepano vanoshandisa mushonga meaning the business people who operate from this area use juju.”
An elderly man confirmed that the type of snake that was discovered is a very rare species adding that besides misfortune, the snake signalled the death of a very big person within a community such as a King.
AUDIO LOADING BELOW (STORY CONTINUES)
“It was good that they did not kill it. Ngara is a very sacred snake which when you see it in any community, it signals sickness or even death. In most instances, the death of even a king.”
Watch the live video loading below for this story and more…….
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa pulled a shocker and pledged to donate USD$1 Million to the Global Fund during a Global Fund replenishment event held in France on Thursday.
The money is for fighting against, TB and Malaria.
In a statement on Thursday Finance and Economic development Minister Mthuli Ncube said, “His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa giving his speech at the Global Fund replenishment event in Lyon France. He acknowledged the critical role of the Global Fund in Zimbabwe’s flight against HIV, TB and Malaria. He pledged US$1 million towards the Global Fund.”
Today it is World Mental Health Day, a very important occasion where we stop and reflect on how we would have spent the previous year looking after the most import part of the human body, the mind.
On the 10th of October every year, the world commemorates and acknowledges the importance of mental health across the world in metropolitan and rural communities.
The focus on this year’s World Mental Health Day is on suicide, because it has become a global public health crisis that is preventable, and yet it has become a mental health menace which has taken many of our people to the grave prematurely.
The World Health Organisation informs us that every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world takes their own life through suicide.
That is a frightening statistic, 2160 people dying daily through suicide, it translates to 788,400 people dying annually from suicide.
This prevalence makes suicide an immediate problem that requires urgent medical and social solutions within our communities, because not doing so is robbing the country of people who succumb to this menace at the prime of their lives. Suicide is now believed to be the leading cause of death among young people aged between 16 and 28 in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately here in our country, it is not unusual anymore to read headlines in the local media related to suicide.
Our citizens are now so used to it, such that they simply shake their heads in disbelief whenever another suicide story is published in our media.
A society should NEVER be conditioned to something so dreadful that can be drastically reduced by public mental health interventions, failing to do so is an act of gross irresponsibility and social negligence. This means that suicide has become a major public health priority that needs immediate attention in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately we currently have a broken public health delivery system that is struggling to treat the most basic of medical conditions due to years of underfunding and neglect.
According to the World Health Organisation, our country has one of the highest suicide rates in the region, this is not surprising anymore because a struggling economy puts unbearable pressure on the minds of its citizens. Associated with suicide are also mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and many other mental health conditions that unfortunately due to our age old cultural taboos, they are not talked about sufficiently and openly in our communities.
These mental health disorders are easily treatable, but because of the huge treatment gap for such conditions in our country, 90 percent of those needing evidence-based care do not get it because we don’t have enough professionals to treat them. Zimbabwe currently has only 15 practicing psychiatrists for a population of 15 million people that is one psychiatrist for every one million people.
Unfortunately almost all of them are restricted to tertiary health facilities in Harare, making it difficult for those at community and rural locations to access this pertinent service.
Task shifting is a concept that has been encouraged by the World Health Organisation as a way of addressing this treatment gap.
Making evidence-based care treatments accessible to many of our people who can’t afford to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist is extremely important. By training community health volunteers as we have seen with the Friendship bench program, it is possible to provide immediate access in communities, schools, universities and the work place with the much-needed mental health care.
There is an urgent need for our mental health professionals to explore ways of scaling up task shifting models, particularly the ones that have been developed locally. Mental health requires our communities to get together because Zimbabwe is going through one of the most difficult times, and the risk of mental ill health is high and probable in all segments of our country regardless of societal status, class or race.
As a political party concerned with the mental well-being of our citizens, the MDC values the importance of mental health because it is a key building block to a prosperous society and economy. A prosperous and healthy economy by its very nature will reduce the pressures that afflict our people daily, resulting in disorders such as depression and anxiety or worse.
I therefore on this very important day encourage all Zimbabweans to take time out to show compassion towards each other, and remember that regardless of our various chosen political persuasions, we are one people.
Be your brother’s keeper, be the mother of the nation who will help heal the many traumatic wounds that we carry from a very difficult past and presently harsh economic environment. Under my new government, I make a commitment today to putting mental health amongst my first priorities in order to reduce the unacceptable mental treatment gap.
It is totally unacceptable that out of every 100 people that require access to mental health services in our country, only 10 people are able to get that much needed help that is 10 percent.
We will change all that and make mental health the most urgent priority in our health delivery system. For what are we without our minds?
Today let us create space and pay attention to citizens that need someone to talk to and share their stories, talking is an important therapy tool in healing the mind. Let us all take time to listen to the broken hearted, and let us all remember to take good care of our mental health.
On behalf of the MDC and myself, I wish the whole country a happy World Mental Health day.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa President – Movement For Democratic Change
By Advocate Nelson Chamisa| Today it is the World Mental Health Day, a very important occasion where we stop and reflect on how we would have spent the previous year looking after the most import part of the human body, the mind.
On the 10th of October every year, the world commemorates and acknowledges the importance of mental health across the world in metropolitan and rural communities.
The focus on this year’s World Mental Health Day is on suicide, because it has become a global public health crisis that is preventable, and yet it has become a mental health menace which has taken many of our people to the grave prematurely.
The World Health Organisation informs us that every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world takes their own life through suicide.
That is a frightening statistic, 2160 people dying daily through suicide, it translates to 788,400 people dying annually from suicide.
This prevalence makes suicide an immediate problem that requires urgent medical and social solutions within our communities, because not doing so is robbing the country of people who succumb to this menace at the prime of their lives.
Suicide is now believed to be the leading cause of death among young people aged between 16 and 28 in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately here in our country, it is not unusual anymore to read headlines in the local media related to suicide.
Our citizens are now so used to it, such that they simply shake their heads in disbelief whenever another suicide story is published in our media.
A society should NEVER be conditioned to something so dreadful that can be drastically reduced by public mental health interventions, failing to do so is an act of gross irresponsibility and social negligence.
This means that suicide has become a major public health priority that needs immediate attention in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately we currently have a broken public health delivery system that is struggling to treat the most basic of medical conditions due to years of underfunding and neglect.
According to the World Health Organisation, our country has one of the highest suicide rates in the region, this is not surprising anymore because a struggling economy puts unbearable pressure on the minds of its citizens.
Associated with suicide are also mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and many other mental health conditions that unfortunately due to our age old cultural taboos, they are not talked about sufficiently and openly in our communities.
These mental health disorders are easily treatable, but because of the huge treatment gap for such conditions in our country, 90 percent of those needing evidence-based care do not get it because we don’t have enough professionals to treat them.
Zimbabwe currently has only 15 practicing psychiatrists for a population of 15 million people, that is one psychiatrist for every one million people.
Unfortunately almost all of them are restricted to tertiary health facilities in Harare, making it difficult for those at community and rural locations to access this pertinent service.
Task shifting is a concept that has been encouraged by the World Health Organisation as a way of addressing this treatment gap.
Making evidence-based care treatments accessible to many of our people who can’t afford to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist is extremely important.
By training community health volunteers as we have seen with the Friendship bench program, it is possible to provide immediate access in communities, schools, universities and the work place with the much-needed mental health care.
There is an urgent need for our mental health professionals to explore ways of scaling up task shifting models, particularly the ones that have been developed locally.
Mental health requires our communities to get together because Zimbabwe is going through one of the most difficult times, and the risk of mental ill health is high and probable in all segments of our country regardless of societal status, class or race.
As a political party concerned with the mental well being of our citizens, the MDC values the importance of mental health because it is a key building block to a prosperous society and economy.
A prosperous and healthy economy by its very nature will reduce the pressures that afflict our people daily, resulting in disorders such as depression and anxiety or worse.
I therefore on this very important day encourage all Zimbabweans to take time out to show compassion towards each other, and remember that regardless of our various chosen political persuasions, we are one people.
Be your brother’s keeper, be the mother of the nation who will help heal the many traumatic wounds that we carry from a very difficult past and presently harsh economic environment.
Under my new government, I make a commitment today to putting mental health amongst my first priorities in order to reduce the unacceptable mental treatment gap.
It is totally unacceptable that out of every 100 people that require access to mental health services in our country, only 10 people are able to get that much needed help, that is 10 percent.
We will change all that and make mental health the most urgent priority in our health delivery system. For what are we without our minds?
Today let us create space and pay attention to citizens that need someone to talk to and share their stories, talking is an important therapy tool in healing the mind.
Let us all take time to listen to the broken hearted, and let us all remember to take good care of our mental health.
On behalf of the MDC and myself, I wish the whole country a happy World Mental Health day.
By A Correspondent- A police officer mistakenly shot and injured his colleague who had accompanied him on a raid on a licensed firearm owner in Rujeko C on Tuesday, October 08.
Police in Masvingo referred all questions to Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who confirmed the case but said he had not yet received full details of the case.
“I heard about it but have not yet received the full details. You may want to check with me later,” said Nyathi.
The incident happened along Ingwe Drive when the officers had collected the gun from its civilian owner.
Sources said off-duty police officers at Rujeko A shopping centre noticed that one Chengetai Musiyarira was carrying a firearm in his pocket. They trailed him as he walked towards Jazire shopping centre in Rujeko C.
They caught up with him in Ingwe Drive where they then asked to search him, to which Chengetai complied and handed over the gun to one Detective Constable Masendu.
Sources, however, said the pistol had a valid licence number (442956) which was due for expiry in 2022.
As Masendu began to unload the firearm, he accidentally discharged it and the bullet hit one Constable Nyambuwa just below the abdomen and the bullet went through his intestines.
The victim was rushed to Makurira Memorial Clinic from where he was referred to Masvingo Provincial Hospital where underwent a successful operation to remove the bullet.
Nyambuwa is currently admitted in the intensive care unit of the hospital.
An elderly man says the snake which crept into the public at Joina City at 1045 this morning is called a "ngara." He says "inoshura rufu and haiwanike pese pese." He adds saying "pane mukuru anodonha." WATCH LIVE VIDEO ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a
An elderly man says the snake which crept into the public at Joina City at 1045 this morning is called a "ngara." He says "inoshura rufu and haiwanike pese pese." He adds saying "pane mukuru anodonha." WATCH LIVE VIDEO ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a
By A Correspondent- A Victoria Falls man who broke into a church, stole an assortment of household goods and tried to blame the offence on someone who died before it was committed, has been sentenced to four years in jail.
William Chirimuuta (39) of 4212 Chinotimba suburb broke into the Anglican Church chapel in Chinotimba and stole a deep freezer before proceeding to the priest’s house on the same premises where he stole a 32-inch television screen, a mattress, bed sheets, blankets and four chickens.
He sold the stolen property to different people in the resort town.
Chirimuuta pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry and theft when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa. In his defence he claimed that he bought the property from one Brighton who he wanted as his witness.
He claimed that police forced him to admit to committing the crime.
Investigations by the State revealed that Brighton had actually died two weeks before commission of the offence prompting the magistrate to convict Chirimuuta after the State led evidence from four witnesses.
The magistrate slapped Chirimuuta with a four-year jail term.
Prosecuting Mr Bheki Tshabalala said Chirimuuta stole the property on August 13.
The Anglican priest Reverend Darlington Tembo said he had travelled to Bulawayo when Chirimuuta broke into the church premises.
Mr Gerald Dube, Ms Constance Moyo and Mrs Soneni Mlalazi all from Chinotimba told the court how Chirimuuta sold the stolen goods to them.
Chirimuuta ran out of luck after Rev Tembo got an anonymous tip-off directing him to where some of his property was.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Chirimuuta’s arrest.
PLUMTREE Town secretary Mr Davis Dumezweni Luthe has been suspended for allegedly issuing 61 residential stands unprocedurally.
In an interview Plumtree Town Council Chairperson, Mr Fanisani Dube said the local authority had resolved to suspend Mr Luthe pending further investigations on unclear land issues during a special full council meeting that was held on Monday.
He said an acting town secretary will be appointed today.
By Sports Reporter| Celebrating the World Karate Champion, Samson Muripo, Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry has complained saying her ministry has a messed up structure.
The Sports ministry’s commission has a bloated wage bill, as it is now run under the Mnangagwa family and the ZANU PF leader’s son in law, Gerald Mlotshwa was secretly appointed, allegedly imposed on her while she was away.
Coventry has complained before narratig how sports such as netball have become suffocated under a ballooned structure which has a pile of hangers ons- office holders. When she became minister last year, she swiftly fired the entire board of the Sports And Recreation Commission and then went on for several months without it.
As soon she signed off for her maternity leave however, Mnangagwa appointed his son in law and a group of other appointees to head a new commission.
Speaking to the ZBC, Coventry said she has once again complained about the ministry continuing under a bloated structure.
“We now need to put proper structures in place, so that we can identify our athletes early enough to support them early enough in the process….the success of the athletes is showing us that there needs to be a better support structure in place,” she said.
Samson Muripo was on Sunday crowned world champion at the sixth Kyokushin Karate World Cup in Moscow, Russia.
Muripo emerged tops in the Veterans Open category. This is the second time he has been crowned world champion at the Kyokushin Karate World Cup. Muripo was first crowned world champion at this tournament in 2009, in the middleweight division when it was held in Japan.
He returned to the same event in 2011, in Kazakhstan and got silver in the same weight division before his third appearance on Sunday in Russia.
Samson Muripo was on Sunday crowned world champion at the sixth Kyokushin Karate World Cup in Moscow, Russia.
Muripo emerged tops in the Veterans Open category. This is the second time he has been crowned world champion at the Kyokushin Karate World Cup. Muripo was first crowned world champion at this tournament in 2009, in the middleweight division when it was held in Japan.
He returned to the same event in 2011, in Kazakhstan and got silver in the same weight division before his third appearance on Sunday in Russia. – state media/additional reporting
DISGRUNTLED Bulawayo residents have criticised the selection process of 24 student nurses at Mpilo Central Hospital after 20 were selected from outside Matabeleland.
The 24 reportedly started their studies on Monday.
The Health and Child Care Ministry recently introduced an online nurses’ application forum after investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission concluded there were unacceptable levels of bribery in the old system.
In a letter to the hospital, disappointed applicants said there was need for responsible authorities to investigate the development. “The national advertisement came out a few months ago and we failed to access the website and if you did, you couldn’t know where to pay the RTGS$10 application fee. Internet is not accessible and affordable especially to our rural peers in and outside our region for example where will one get internet connection in Lupane, Bulilima, Nkayi, Tsholotsho?”
The letter also questioned why the selection and interviews were done “secretly” compared to the past years before online application system was adopted. “Some of us went and noticed that most of those coming for interviews are mostly from Harare and surrounding areas of Mashonaland East and Central. People from our region did not make it surprisingly but most if not all from other provinces came back to Bulawayo to start school on Monday at Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals.”
They also called on Health Ambassador First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, provincial ministers of state, MPs, councillors, and all activists to demonstrate against corruption.
The applicants claimed the health system was sidelining the Matabeleland region. “We should start fighting for the statistics in terms of allocation as we have hospitals in Matabeleland like Mpilo and UBH which are as big as Parirenyatwa. Mpilo School of Nursing enrols 25 students per intake, Gwanda 15, St Luke’s 10 while Harare hospital 50, Parirenyatwa 50, Chitungwiza 40, and looking at number it’s clear they don’t want us to learn. They keep lying that we are all quick to cross the border to South Africa but allocation of posts is not justifiable for starters,” reads the letter.
Some nurses at Mpilo Central Hospital said the students who came from other places were likely to be employed in their provinces of origin on completion of studies, leaving a gap in Matabeleland. Contacted for comment, Mpilo clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya who also heads the school of nursing said:
“I would like to confirm that this time around, the selection and interviews were done from Harare and none of us had a hand or were consulted. We have since received the 24 names of the student nurses who started on Monday and all these were a recommendation from the head office,” said Dr Ngwenya.
UBH clinical director Dr Narcissus Dzvanga could not be reached for comment. Another source from the hospital said what she described as “deliberate marginalisation” of Matabeleland prospective students would have far reaching effects on access to health.
“What they have simply done is declare that as a people from this region we do not deserve access to health care. From the list of 24, only four students are from this region and it is clear that they are not worried about our right to health,” she said.
She also said the online application though a noble idea, did not take into cognisance economic challenges.
Zimbabwe’s top karateka Samson Muripo who was on Sunday crowned world champion at the sixth Kyokushin Karate World Cup in Moscow, Russia, is heading back home.
Muripo emerged tops in the Veterans Open category. This is the second time he has been crowned world champion at the Kyokushin Karate World Cup. Muripo was first crowned world champion at this tournament in 2009, in the middleweight division when it was held in Japan.
Beautiful sound of my national anthem far away from home. ??????
Great feeling after winning gold ? at 6th Kyokushin Union World Cup in Russia.
By A Correspondent- The Zanu-PF Youth League executive left the country yesterday for Angola to attend the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) youth congress which kicks off today.
The party’s deputy secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu is the head of delegation.
Matutu said the congress was meant to discuss issues affecting youths.
“They invited us to observe and give solidarity to them as our colleagues,” he said.
“Remember MPLA is a former liberation movement and this follows the meeting we had in Victoria Falls.
“They extended an invitation to say, ‘please come and grace our congress so we discuss issues of youth leadership in the region and amongst former liberation movements’.
“We will also focus on issues affecting the youth and improve their welfare.”
The conference runs from October 10 to 12.
Matutu said they will exchange notes and ideas on youth participation in leadership.
“They are ahead of us in terms of economic development, youth participation in leadership and government so that is what we want to learn from them, that interaction is critical to us,” he said.
“We will also relay the issue of sanctions and update them on what we are doing as we move towards 25 October.”
CAPTAINS of industry and commerce yesterday asked Treasury to scrap or lower the controversial 2% intermediated money transfer tax (IMTT) imposed last year by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, saying it was an unsustainable additional cost to their already struggling companies.
The call came as various bodies representing industry and commerce appeared before the Felix Mhona-chaired Budget and Finance Portfolio Committee as part of the 2020 budget consultations.
The industrialists also urged government to stop funding the Command Agriculture programme because it was fuelling broad money supply and driving the economy into hyperinflation.
The US$2,8 billion that government used to support Command Agriculture has since been deemed as unauthorised expenditure after it was allocated without Parliament approval.
Ncube is yet to come before Parliament for condonation.
Command Agriculture has all along been supported by government through issuance of Treasury Bills (TBs), which is basically printing of money that government does not have.
Between 2017 and 2018, around US$2,8 billion was issued to Sakunda Holdings, owned by Kudakwashe Tagwirei to spearhead the Command Agriculture programme.
“The impact of the Command Agriculture programme has been to crowd out activities in the market, and we think that the Presidential Input Scheme should be the one funded through the budget,” Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer Christopher Mugaga said.
“Command Agriculture should be a specialised activity funded by banks. It is non-performing loans and at the end government incurred an expenditure and so Command Agriculture must not be on the budget figures,” Mugaga said.
Turning to the 2% tax, Mugaga said it has been a serious expenditure and so Command Agriculture must not be on the budget figures,” Mugaga said.
Turning to the 2% tax, Mugaga said it has been a serious cost to business.
“Running a budget surplus on the 2% transaction tax has always been high for us as business and we need to engage Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) and the Finance ministry so that they either remove it or reduce it to 1% because of its cost to business. If I send money to my mother today, it is taxed and it is too much. The 2% (tax) is a major cost to business and you cannot celebrate a budget surplus driven by this when business is being lost through it and there is no cost benefit to it,” Mugaga said.
Zimbabwe power utility, ZESA increased its average electricity tariffs by 320 percent on Wednesday in a bid to enhance power supply.
The increase comes when the country has a huge power deficit attributed to dwindling water levels at the Kariba dam and ageing equipment at Hwange Thermal Power Station.
ZESA has increased electricity tariffs for the second time within three months. The increase comes days after the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority also increased fuel prices.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of power utility ZESA, in consultation with ZERA raised the tariff to 162.16 cents (10.61 U.S. cents) from 38.61 cents.
New electricity tariffs will see domestic users paying an average of US$0.12 per kWh up from approximately US$0.02. The change will also see low power users (200kWh/month) forking out ZWL157 up from ZWL48.
Zimbabwe refuses to join the world's oldest customs union because it wants to continue 'enjoying' tarrifs. As a result Zim has lost out on 9,7 bln trade deal with UK.
IS IT WISE FOR ZIMBABWE TO REFUSE TO JOIN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION @MoFA_ZW ? @InfoMinZW
By Own Correspondent| Presidential Advisor and author Pettina Gappah has waded into the discussion on why Zimbabwe is not a member of the Southern African Union, SACU.
It is ZimEye’s position that there are millions of benefits in being a member of the world’s oldest customs union.
But Gappah said a policy decision was taken some years ago not to join SACU and one of reasons for not joining was that “customs unions require an external common tariff for all constituent members…”
She added saying, “Zimbabwe relies on tariffs for revenue. It was felt that joining SACU would prejudice revenue collection.”
Meanwhile, she also said Zimbabwe signed another trade deal on its own, with the UK.
The Zanu-PF youth league has blasted the University of Zimbabwe over the the sacking of two specialist doctors that sparked an uproar from their colleagues who also threatened to down tools.
The youth league secretary general Tendai Chirau said the move by the UZ was irrational.
He was responding to a statement by the tertiary institution that it had reinstated the two doctors.
“In the first place, such irrational pronouncements should not be made,” said Chirau.
Former Passenger Rail Agency of SA executive Daniel Mthimkhulu
Paul Nyathi|Former Passenger Rail Agency of SA executive Daniel Mthimkhulu said he has a diploma acquired from the Vaal University of Technology.
He acknowledged that he could have come clean about not having a PhD and said he did not realise the cost of creating a perception that he had one.
Mthimkhulu worked as chief engineer at Prasa for 63 months and got paid more than R15-million.
Under his watch locomotives were acquired that could not be used on South Africa’s railway infrastructure, costing Prasa billions of rand.
The court has now ordered Mthimkhulu to pay back some of the money.
“I would like to take this opportunity to admit that I do not have a PhD and I failed to correct the perception that I have it.
“I just became comfortable with the title, I did not foresee any suffering or damages as a result of this because I got to be known at the time after I was appointed in the position of the executive manager in 2010”, said Mthimkhulu.
Mthimkhulu, who joined the rail agency in 1998, said he was promoted to the executive position based on the work experience he had acquired over the years.
Zanu PF and the opposition MDC have shot down proposals by churches that the country should suspend elections for seven years to pave way for political and economic reforms under a new structure of government to usher free and credible elections.
The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) made the proposal on Tuesday, arguing that a seven-year sabbatical from elections would address the current political paralysis and deepening mistrust and polarisation.
The churches claimed the period of reform would stabilise the fast deteriorating economy under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which has seen the country’s inflation figures rising at an unprecedented pace since the record-breaking 2008 hyperinflation.
But Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu said the country was coming from elections that produced winners and there was no need to suspend the Constitution.
He said economic hardships were not caused by elections and the proposals by the churches were misplaced.
“That is their proposal, that is their view. We go by the dictates of the Constitution,” Mpofu said.
“We have a Constitution that guides the conduct of elections and the mandate thereof. We have been reading about the view from the churches and it is their entitlement to have their own views. As Zanu PF, we feel there is need to constantly respect the Constitution.
“We have come out of an election that produced their leadership. What is motivating the view, I don’t know.”
Pressure has been mounting on both Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to engage in dialogue to solve the country’s plunging economy.
Mnangagwa this year entered into dialogue with presidential representatives of fringe political parties in last year’s elections.
Chamisa snubbed the talks, demanding a neutral mediator, instead of Mnangagwa, who he accused of lacking legitimacy after allegedly stealing last year’s polls.
The opposition leader has constantly claimed that the country was experiencing a legitimacy problem.
Chamisa’s deputy, Tendai Biti, also dismissed the proposal by the church, saying any solution on the country’s crisis was predicated on genuine talks between Zanu PF and the MDC, the main political actors, followed by social dialogue.
“The churches are putting the cart before the horse,” Biti said.
“The country is in serious structural crisis, we don’t want to put make up on the crisis. There has to be genuine dialogue in the country, supported by the international community. This dialogue is not about sharing positions or suspending the Constitution, but structural reforms, that is what is key.
“The problem is much deeper than elections, the country is in crisis. Any solution should be a product of dialogue. There are two major players in the country’s polity, Zanu PF and the MDC and the dialogue between these two actors is key, followed by social dialogue. The church should only facilitate their dialogue. And the solution should come from the process of dialogue.”
The University of Zimbabwe has succumbed to pressure and rehired paediatric surgeon Dr Bothwell Mbuwayesango and senior cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr David Chimuka recently suspended for allegedly leading doctors’ demonstrations.
In a twist of events, the top academic learning institution in the country on Wednesday backtracked on its decision after other lecturers at its Medical School threatened to stop taking classes.
A joint statement signed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Paul Mapfumo and Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA) secretary-general Dr Sacrifice Chirisa said:
Following these deliberations and further submissions by representatives of the Surgical Department of the University of Zimbabwe, the parties resolved that… the university reconsiders its action in light of further information availed and submissions made during the discussions.
The suspension had been widely condemned by many within and beyond the medical fraternity. Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association had said that surgical training was going to suffer because of the suspensions.
Dr Mbuwayesango made headlines after leading a team that successfully separated conjoined twins in 2014 during an eight-hour operation at Harare Hospital.
Please publish my letter below in response to Mrs Chamisa’s letter published yesterday.
Dear Mrs Sithokozile Chamisa,
I was excited to read your letter yesterday dated October 8th 2019. My excitement comes not only from the content and dismay you highlighted but from the fact that we women are now finding our voice to talk issues affecting women in all classes in our societies in Zimbabwe. Please let’s keep talking and very loud about these female issues and painful problems of abuse against women and girl-children. The culture of patriarchy and misogyny must be defeated with all our collective strength.
However you are unhappy about the method of approach to your personal problem regarding your husband’s abuse in the public. You wish the organisation would have done first things first: to find out what actually transpired at that rally that was at Rufaro Stadium on the 28th of September. I agree with your argument that you should have been contacted first and be privately asked, what actually transpired. That was going to be a balanced knowledge and information; the two sides of the coin, you are a paid-up member of WCoZ as such.
Not very long ago, I wrote two letters regarding abuse of misogynistic nature: one was about Mrs Tambudzani Mohadi’s case and her deranged husband, the Vice President of Zimbabwe: Mr. Mohadi. The other was regarding the First Lady: Auxilia Mnangagwa and the Army Commander who appeared to be dubiously following her movements until she complained bitterly. This story about her abuse at the hands of her security details filtered into the social media; as Mrs Mnangagwa spoke to the General: the communication was recorded. I had hoped the WCoZ was going to pick this up and act on this as these two cases are classical cases of abuse on women. I admit painfully that I was let down by our women who did not pick these two issues in as much as in your case.
I wished women would have come together in a non partisan approach and give a statement on abuse of women irrespective of what political ladder Mnangagwa and Mohadi: Presidents of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Abuse on women is abuse on women! Having written those letters, but without any response from the WCoZ at least in the social media, I telephoned the Honourable Ms Priscilla Mishihairabwi openly complaining about the deafening and loud silence of women especially WCoZ regarding the plight of Senator Tambudzani Mohadi. I even appealed to her: “please, let’s put aside what divides us personally as women and come up with one voice and condemn the barbaric behaviour of Vice President Mohadi who almost shot Tambudzani at her home. Indeed this was a case whereby one of our own would have been murdered; femicide per se.
It has come to my realization that we African women need to do a lot regarding violence against women in our societies in Zimbabwe. We cannot achieve anything if we selectively pick-and-cherry where to engage and where not to engage. In the scheme of things, Tambudzani’s case was compelling for action at WCoZ level to shout loud that VP Mohadi should respect women, for goodness sake. If 52% of the population in Zimbabwe are women, it factually means women’s organisation have a lot of work in their hands. We read daily in our news-media about women being murdered by their spouses we wish our women’s organisations to act on our behalf.
There are some cases whereby women are battered in the presence of children in our societies. Surely it is understandable that the political and economic situation is such that these women’s organisations are challenged to act in some cases. How do they go for Chamisa’s misogynistic tendencies if they cannot tackle the President Mnangagwa’s insensitive undermining behaviour to his dear wife Auxilia? Auxilia Mnangagwa kicked and screamed and not a single voice came from WCoZ-women condemning the abuse of the whole President to his dear wife.
When all that said and done; dear Sithokozile, we do not cover up the misdeeds of our husbands. Your letter compels one to say that you are not happy that WCoZ has exposed your husband who was abusive to you at the glare of the social media cameras for all to see. We do not want to cover up the misdeeds and cruelty of our relatives who sexually abuse small girls in their care. To this day, young girls in Zimbabwe are out there in the red lights eking out a living in all towns, growth points and cities; curiously, some parents gain from such activities. Child marriages are still common practice condoned by the very relatives in Zimbabwe. Rape is prevalent in Zimbabwe and those relatives choose to be silent about it because the criminal in the home is the father, brother, uncle, and grandfather or any male relative.
The women’s work is made difficult by women themselves who try to cover up these misogynistic tendencies in men or their spouses and relatives. As a member of WCoZ you should know better. We need that single voice without having to tear each other to earn men acceptance: men do laugh at us when we contradict each other on such matters relating to women-abuse and misogyny. We can never win without a collective voice. We shoot each other on the foot when we come to defend those men again, they actually laugh at us literally. Dear Sithokozile, it came to my attention very late that men can actually tell women to dress down other women on social media. Men enjoy this scenario and this is what we should avoid at all cost, contradicting each other on social media. I can assure you Mrs Chamisa, if you are mistreated because you are a woman by any man including your husband, I will come to your side and defend you. I am not an MDC-Alliance member. I have defended Mrs Grace Mugabe who was abused by unscrupulous men who wanted to get power with her assistance; I am not a G-40 member. I have written a sketching letter when I thought the First Lady Mrs Auxilia Mnangagwa’s life was on the line and all the humiliations she had to go through with President Mnangagwa. I am not a Zanu PF member. I will do it again if I thought Auxilia’s life was in danger. The cause, the fight for the rights of women should go beyond political party affiliations, it should transcend beyond partisan thinking and religious affiliations. We women must not see each other as rivals, a thing of the past. I stopped writing articles attacking other women because I felt bad after that. I felt I had shot myself on the foot.
I am deeply convinced that WCoZ is doing its best in light of challenging political, social and economic situation prevailing in the country. Is our organisation WCoZ resourced to perform in the way we expect them to do? These are pertinent questions we should ask ourselves first before we jump into conclusions that they are incompetent. Indeed you are right if you say there are MDC women languishing in remand prisons with trumped-up charges and the WCoZ has not reacted as such or issued a statement in that regard about them regarding their incarceration. Here, they are indeed found wanting. The second question is how do we render assistance to this noble organisation in form of finance, logistics to be able to relatively execute their duties to our satisfaction? What expertise does the organisation have, are there lawyers, sociologists, pastoral workers, social workers, medical doctors, mothers and aunties? Again we should not always be talking about women in the higher social status who find their defence and their stories recognised in the form of articles on social media. Ordinary women out there need this organisation to assist them with day to day challenges they face in their lives: problems of domestic and sexual violence in homes and at work. Our lives as women and girl-children in Zimbabwe are on the line all the time. We need women with great courage who will still be able to talk loud about abuse in our communities especially at homes where the culture of silence is still intact. Our communities are violent to women and children to this day and we need young women who will do some thorough research: why this violence on women and children. We should find the root cause of any form of violence. Only then can we be able to tackle it better.
WCoZ should be resourced with some powerful platform whereby women are encouraged to come to the platform to give their voice. A radio station is the most powerful platform for women to air their grievances that are related to domestic violence and several other women and girl-child issues we know too well. The themes of gender-based violence are long enough. The culture of silence can be revoked by the presence of radios that will give women courage to collectively talk their problems and traditions that undermine them. The women’s radio in Zimbabwe should be our target dear Sithokozile. I hope I find you well dear sister
Paul Nyathi|One of Africa’s remaining dictators Yoweri Museveni and his new found friend Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa partied on Wednesday at Uganda’s Independence celebrations while main opposition leader Bobi Wine was placed on house arrest.
In a Twitter thread on Tuesday,Wine also a popular musician in the country, said Museveni wanted to frustrate a music concert organised by his party.
“Since 11:00pm, police and military surrounded my home and my private property, One Love Beach Busabala, in yet another move to place me under house arrest and block our Independence Day music concert. 156th concert so far! For singing truth to power, I can’t perform in my own country,” said Wine who posted pictures of the police camped outside his home.
Wine, an ally of Zimbabwe opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, said Museveni was afraid of critical voices.
Wine had to make a daring motorbike escape from security forces after they barricaded his home. He later shared a video of himself hopping onto a motorbike surrounded by dozens of cheering supporters while police remained around his house.
He captioned the video, “Busabala Final destination,” — the venue of his canceled concert.
The Ugandan police on Tuesday said the concert was not approved because they did not have the manpower to provide security for those attending the show.
“We are unable to provide adequate security as police officers will be at the Independence Day celebrations in Sironko and other authorized venues,” police spokesman Patrick Onyango said in a statement.
However, Wine disagreed with police saying security personnel deployed to his homes could have been sent to the show instead.
“These are the same people who claimed not to have enough security to secure our people at the show. Yet, they have enough manpower to instill fear, harass citizens and block the show!,” Wine said in a Facebook post.
The 37-year-old reggae star, who is leading a revolutionary campaign in Uganda, has thrown his hat in the 2021 presidential race and has vowed to end Museveni’s 33-year-rule over the nation.
Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube
State Media|THE Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube has pledged to engage responsible authorities to resolve the questionable recent recruitment of student nurses in Bulawayo.
She made the commitment after a number of people flooded her office demanding answers yesterday.
Last week, Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo recruited 24 trainee nurses and 20 were reportedly from Harare, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central.
At the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) it is claimed 23 out of the 27 trainees are from outside Matabeleland.
Ncube told state media that a number of delegations had approached her raising concern over the handful number of Matabeleland residents who were selected to study nursing in hospitals around the region.
She said she was happy because people exercised their right to question and was going to gladly take their concerns to higher authorities.
“I have been busy attending to more than five delegations who flocked my office this morning seeking answers on what really transpired in the selection of student nurses. Indeed, it’s a serious public concern that should be addressed as a matter of urgency,” said Ncube.
Ncube added that she failed to get hold of both chief executive officers from the hospitals for explanations.
“Now that this issue has been raised it is now my duty to engage higher and responsible authorities for a solution. I will therefore give you guys an update after engaging them,” she said.
Efforts to get a comment from the director of nursing services in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Mrs Cynthia Chasokela were fruitless as her phone was not reachable.
The Health and Child Care Ministry recently introduced an online nurses’ application forum after investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission concluded there were unacceptable levels of bribery in the old system. The Ministry’s public relations officer Mr Donald Mujiri said the recent selection was done by a digital system based on qualifications. He referred media to the permanent secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva who was unreachable.
One of the affected residents, Ms Musa Ndlovu said the unfair representation of people from Matabeleland is a reflection of the future challenges that people will have to brace up for.
“They can give all the excuses they want but we know there is no way student nurses at Parirenyatwa or any hospital in Mashonaland will be dominated by people from Matabeleland. Before this whole online policy was introduced, we tried applying in hospitals in the northern region and they bluntly told us to stick to our lanes in the southern region,” she said.
A letter circulating on social media also questioned why the selection and interviews were done “secretly” compared to the past years before online application system was adopted.
“Some of us went and noticed that most of those coming for interviews are mostly from Harare and surrounding areas of Mashonaland East and Central. People from our region did not make it surprisingly but most if not all from other provinces came back to Bulawayo to start school on Monday at Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals,” the letter alleges.
“We should start fighting for the statistics in terms of allocation as we have hospitals in Matabeleland like Mpilo and UBH which are as big as Parirenyatwa. Mpilo School of Nursing enrols 25 students per intake, Gwanda 15, St Luke’s 10 while Harare hospital 50, Parirenyatwa 50, Chitungwiza 40.”
They also called on Health Ambassador First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, provincial ministers of state, MPs, councillors, and all activists to demonstrate against corruption.
State Media|ALL political parties are expected to take part in an anti-sanction campaign scheduled for October 25, Zanu-PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda has said.
In an interview with state media, Matemadanda said preparations for the anti-sanctions campaign were underway.
“We have lined up a number of programmes to accommodate all political parties,” he said. “The anti-sanction campaign is not a political issue, but a national issue which requires the involvement of all stakeholders.”
“I want also to give credit to some political parties that are involved in POLAD,” said Matemadanda.
“They are doing quite a lot of work and a lot of ground has been covered in terms of political tolerance. Those who are yet to join POLAD should come on board.
“We expect all political players to join hands in calling for the removal of sanctions. I think our politics is developing to becoming national politics where people distinguished between petty political party issues and national issues and this is what makes a nation.
“You can only do your politics as a ruling party or as an opposition party when you have a country. A country is not just an open space, it needs to have people. It is the people that we should all care and worry about.”
Sanctions, said Matemadanda, were a crime against humanity.
“They are meant to destroy our people and once the people’s fibre of life is destroyed then there is lawlessness and mistrust,” he said. “The intention of sanctions is to cause the people to rise against their Government.”
Matemadanda called upon the youth to contribute immensely towards the fight against sanctions.
“I am happy because it seems that the fever has also gripped the young people at the moment,” he said.
“They understand the effects of sanctions and whether numbers are going to be many or not, the message has reached the right people.
“The young people are the future and they are the ones who are going to be affected by sanctions more that the elderly. It is important that they understand that our problems are being caused by sanctions.”
SADC has declared October 25 as the solidarity day against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
Paul Nyathi|Zimbabwe has inched closer to clamping down on citizens’ use of social media platforms and will likely fish out and penalize citizens who create and share what is deemed offensive material over outlets including WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cabinet yesterday hurriedly approved the Cyber Crime, Security and Data Protection Bill which will all but shrink the internet usage space for Zimbabweans who have described it as another Public Order and Security Act reincarnation this time on the internet.
The bill was first mulled under the late former leader, Robert Mugabe in 2016 and took hold in 2017 after major protests against Mugabe and economic decline broke out in Harare.
The Bill, which provides for an array of issues such as code of conduct and ethics, data protection authority and penalties for violations, will be gazetted soon representing an important step towards it becoming law. It still has to be debated and approved by parliament, in which Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu PF party has a majority.
This was said by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu while briefing journalists on the 35th Cabinet decision matrix in Harare yesterday.
Mnangagwa said last week the bill has to be fast-tracked to protect Zimbabwe’s “cyber-space”. However, there is wide-spread sentiment the law is being pushed through to deal with potential uprisings, especially as public anger against the government’s austerity measures mounts up.
Minister Ndlovu was standing in for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
“Cabinet considered and approved the Cyber Crime, Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (Ziyambi Ziyambi.) The Bill seeks to combat cyber crime and increase cyber security in order to build confidence and trust in the secure use of information communication technologies,” said Minister Ndlovu.
He said the Bill will also address issues to do with codes of conduct and ethics.
“More specifically, the Bill provides for the following: provision and approval of codes of conduct and ethics to be observed by all categories of data controllers, data protection with due regard to constitutional rights and public interest under (the) Postal, Telecommunication and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe,” said Minister Ndlovu.
The bill has been criticized for infringing on civil liberties if it becomes law and there are fears from rights and democracy campaigners it could also strengthen government bid to snoop on private communications of citizens. It sets out penalize people for generation and distribution of “data concerning an identifiable person knowing it to be false and intending to cause psychological or economic” harm.
“It will also seek to establish a data security centre and a Data Protection Authority, investigation and collection of evidence relating to Cyber Crime and unauthorised Data Collection and breaches thereof,” Ndlovu added.
He said the Bill will also seek to spell out the admissibility of electronic evidence for such offences and penalties for offences committed under the Act.
“The Bill will also provide penalties for the transmission of data messages inciting violence and damage to property, protection of citizens against cyber bullying and harassment, measures to address the production and dissemination of racist and xenophobic material using language that tends to lower the reputation or feelings of persons for the reason that they belong to a group of persons distinguished on the grounds set out in section 56 subsection 3 of the Constitution,” said Minister Ndlovu.
He said the Bill will provide for penalties to persons who generate, distribute or broadcast data concerning an identifiable person knowing it to be false and intending to cause psychological or economic harm; and curbing the transmission of pornographic material.
“In essence, the Bill advocates the use of ICTs for more constructive purpose,” said Minister Ndlovu.
Though there have been growing calls among citizens for Government to come up with mechanisms that control the abuse of the Internet insofar as it has been used to tarnish the images of other people and used to propagate lies and hurtful messages, some Zimbabweans are also worried Mnangagwa is pushing the bill to become law so he can use it to deal with potential uprisings fueled through social media.
WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook have become key platforms for spreading information about protests in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in Africa. WhatsApp in particular, is very well used in Zimbabwe, where it accounts for nearly 50% of all internet use in the country.
Zimbabwean government officials have long complained these platforms are being abused to spread false news, most of which is deemed by authorities to be offensive.
Mnangagwa’s government ordered a social media black-out in January this year after deadly protests rocked major urban centers following a massive fuel price hike.
The Cyber Crime and Cyber Security Bill “seeks to combat cyber-crime and increase cyber security” and to foster “data protection with due regard to constitutional rights and public interest” said justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in his presentation of the bill to cabinet.
The controversial bill has, however, been welcomed in some circles, especially on the principle of “curbing the transmission of pornographic material” in the Zimbabwean context where revenge pornography leaks have become common. The Human Rights Forum of Zimbabwe said earlier this year that revenge pornography was a form of gender-based violence, hence its call for laws to regulate the transmission of pornography.
“The technology will likely be Chinese and so will be the expertise for this project (social media regulation). And it’s probably to deal with protests and uprisings,” said Ruhanya.
State Media|Government has said economic reforms under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), including re-engagement and investment promotion efforts will put Zimbabwe on a firm pedestal for economic growth from next year onwards.
The economy is anticipated to grow by 4,6 percent next year, driven by improved foreign currency availability and a decent rainfall season in the 2019/2020 summer cropping season.
This was said by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in the 2020 Pre-Budget Strategy Paper released this week.
He said good rains will result in better agricultural yields and respectable dam levels for electricity generation, which would be channelled towards the productive sectors of the economy.
“Implementation of reforms outlined in the TSP is on course, with notable milestones on fiscal consolidation, monetary policy restoration, liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, structural and governance reforms, re-engagement, investment promotion and support for the productive sector,” he said.
“These reforms present a strong foundation for economic rebound in 2020 and beyond.”
Prof Ncube said next year, the economy is projected to “turn around building on the success of the ongoing reform initiatives” and premised on the broader assumptions, including a recovery in aggregate demand, improved foreign currency availability and improved macro-fiscal stability and business confidence.
“As a result, the economy is projected to grow by 4,6 percent in 2020,” he said.
Next year, global growth is projected to increase to 3,5 percent from an expected 3,2 growth this year.
The expected improvement is mainly spurred by accelerating growth in emerging markets and developing economies, which are off-setting an anticipated slowdown in advanced economies.
But the trade war between the United States and China, as well as Britain’s expected departure from the European Union (EU) bloc, commonly known as Brexit, remain major sources of uncertainty in advanced economies.
Prof Ncube said Zimbabwe’s economy has not been doing well this year because of “severe exogenous shocks related to climate change caused by drought and cyclone, which compromised agriculture activities and electricity generation with extended effects on other sectors, all forcing the economy into recession”.
Erratic rains in the previous cropping season have put pressure on Government to import more food for the population after a bad season, as it now has to balance foreign currency requirements with other critical sectors such as energy.
The 2020 Pre-Budget Strategy Paper is designed to facilitate discussions on policy direction for the 2020 National Budget, consistent with the objectives of the TSP and aspirations of Vision 2030 of achieving an upper middle income society.
Prof Ncube said the National Budget thrust was informed by progress made on implementation of various reforms under the TSP, including policy gaps that require attention during the forthcoming year.
In a development that could redefine the relationship between consumers and various service providers, Econet subscribers made an unprecedented uproar against unsolicited messages from the company advertising its newest product, the Sasai App.
Sasai is a chat and payments application seen by technology enthusiasts as a challenge to the dominance of WhatsApp in Africa.
Although Zimbabweans complained over the matter attacking Econet, the App was sending unsolicited messages to numbers all over the world.
It had always been assumed as part of terms and conditions (T&Cs) that mobile phone service providers send messages promoting products and services — and there were no complaints — at least not in a deluge, but yesterday customers rediscovered their voice.
Vincent Kahiya turned to Twitter and wrote: “Dear @econetzimbabwe @econet_support. Please don’t irritate me with this stuff. Who told you that these are my friends? I did not sign up for this”.
Another Twitter user, @Te_Madd said: “@econetzimbabwe and @econet_support, same. Pliz (please) stop clogging my inbox.”
Econet Customer Care responded to @Te_Madd saying, “thank you for contacting us and our apologies for the SMS influx. Please note that we are still investigating the issue. TBD.”
The company also directed @SASAiAfrica to “kindly investigate and assist”, the query raised by Kahiya.
But Magatshana Dingilizwe Ntuli fired back at Econet and Sasai saying: “There’s nothing to investigate here, this is deliberate and fatally annoying.”
Stephen Tsekea said the messages were “so irritating”.
“I am also receiving the stuff. So boring. I don’t even know what Sasai is. Why not explain first,” said Tsekea.
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe turned to Twitter to respond to subscriber concerns.
“We have taken note of the numerous complaints and views from consumers on the continuous receipt of the SASAI SMS,” it said.
“We are engaging the service provider and will communicate further developments.”
But Fred G. Sanford replied to the Potraz message saying: “I doubt if Potraz ever takes any action. Complaints about overcharging #Ecocash agents have gone on for years . . .”
Econet public relations manager Mr Fungai Mandiveyi didn’t answer his mobile phone last night when contacted for comment.
Econet has been under fire from concerned citizens in the recent past over the behaviour of EcoCash agents who have been selling physical notes and coins at 60 percent, in the process, ripping people of their hard-earned cash. – state media
Farai Dziva|Oral rehydration also known as salt and sugar solution is an effective way of assisting those suffering from diarrhoea.
Below are some useful health tips compiled by Sydney Mukonoweshuro.
It’s that time of the year again, diarrhoea is on the prowl.
Be careful of take aways, wash your hands with soap before handling any food, Boil water, treat it or drink mineral water.
Both Cholera and Typhoid are endemic to Zimbabwe, assume any food is contaminated, heat it first.
When you or your child has a runny tummy, quickly start giving Salt and Sugar Solution(Its the most important life saving tip) Then dont delay seeing your General Practitioner.
Boreholes, shallow wells get contaminated by all the free flowing sewage on our streets! Be extra careful!!!
Farai Dziva|The country’s main opposition party, MDC has described the state of health service delivery as pathetic.
Read full statement below:
MDC leadership of the National Standing Committee met for seven hours in Harare today and took stock of the deteriorating economic situation that has affected ordinary citizens, particularly with respect to weekly fuel price increases that have triggered further increments on the prices of basic commodities.
Of concern to the leadership was that the illegitimate government of Mr. Mnangagwa has failed to deal with the burgeoning national crisis and the party resolved to take robust action in the near future on the side of the suffering people of Zimbabwe.
In any case, the leadership noted that the Mnagagwa regime was the biggest threat to the safety of the citizenry, judging by the regime’s clampdown on ordinary citizens and the proscription of their basic rights.
The party noted that there has been State capture as evidenced by cartels comprising top State players and a politically connected business elite. It is these cartels that are stealing taxpayers’ money through illegal deals and other nefarious activities that have brought the economy to its knees. The leadership also took note of the recent court judgement which ruled that the Mnangagwa administration had stolen from suffering Zimbabweans by collecting a 2 percent transaction tax for over six months outside any legal framework. The Mnangagwa government must simply have the decency of reimbursing Zimbabweans the money that it illegally collected from them.
Of major concern was the deteriorating predicament of the ordinary citizen as characterized by 18-hour power cuts as well as declining social services particularly in the health and education sectors. Transacting platforms for ordinary citizens such as the ecocash platforms have been virtually banned, further affecting despondent citizens who now can barely afford public transport costs and other basics.
The party leadership resolved that it will soon embark on a robust programme to respond to the national crisis through peaceful and constitutional means.
Luke Tamborinyoka
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson
