By A Correspondent- It has, like South Africa’s taxis route wars, ugly history of being bloody. They say Zimbabweans are reneging on a 2012 agreement to carry only goods, leaving passengers to the South Africans who earn R20 a trip per passenger.

On the other hand, ZCTA members say to stay afloat, they now have to carry passengers because of low amounts of goods on the route as numbers of Zimbabwean shoppers to South Africa continue to dwindle.

ZCTA members have been taking more than their fair share, loading passengers on the Zimbabwean side and even inside the border post on their way to Musina, denying their South African colleagues business.

This has not gone down well with BTA members, who throughout the week mounted roadblocks on the once lucrative 15km stretch. The South Africans demanded amounts ranging between R1 000 and

R3 000 from any Zimbabwean vehicle belonging to ZCTA, in a punitive counter-measure. At times they forced passengers out and onto their vehicles.

Several Zimbabwean vehicles last week were stopped and cash demanded from drivers whose cars had passengers. Some innocent travellers were caught up in the fracas.

“We have that understanding, which is an agreement. We must only carry goods on the SA side and not passengers. “South Africans actually sold their trailers to some of our members when we sealed the deal.

“We must not carry any passengers on their soil, but some of our members are losing focus and becoming selfish,” chairman of ZCTA Takavingei Mahachi said.

“We have among us some people who are not our members and do not understand the consequences of such actions and South Africans could be justified in demanding money from people who carry passengers on their route.”

He advised cross-border shoppers to use BTA transport to avoid being caught up in a crossfire when the taxi operators in SA take the law into their own hands. A member of BTA who spoke to The Standard said members of his association were happy to carry passengers although carrying goods was more lucrative.

He said they applied for permission to demonstrate against the unfair treatment and they would search all cars carrying passengers and demand cash from them although it could get worse.

Mahachi condemned some members of his association for causing problems on the route, saying if managed professionally, there was enough share for everyone.-Standard

The new deal will see the least paid government worker taking home around ZWL$1 000, from the current ZWL$600, 

GOVERNMENT has fended off a potentially crippling industrial action in the civil service after President Emmerson Mnangagwa assented to a pay raise for the restive workers effective next month.

The new deal will see the least paid government worker taking home around ZWL$1 000, from the current ZWL$600, sources said.

Mnangagwa met civil servant leaders in the Apex Council at State House on Friday, where the workers pleaded incapacitation, telling him that they would be unable to report for duty because they could barely afford basics and make ends meet.

The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina), which had warned that its members would go on strike this week, said following the meeting with Mnangagwa, they had now shelved their planned job action.

“During the meeting, the (Zina) executive was given an opportunity to present the grievances of the nursing profession. Of the grievances discussed, the one which was dealt with at great length was the issue relating to remuneration, wherein the executive reiterated that due to incapacity, the nurses would not be attending work from
June 24 unless salaries are increased,” Zina said.

Mnangagwa, who was in the company of his Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, acting Labour minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Health minister Obadiah Moyo and chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Vincent Hungwe, promised to increase civil servants’ salaries and asked for the strike action to be shelved.

“The President and those in attendance understood the position of the nurses and gave an undertaking that salaries were going to be reviewed. More specifically, the undertaking was that salaries were going to be reviewed upwards from July 1 … As a result, a request was made that nurses withhold their intention to embark on a full-scale industrial action,” Zina said.

Mutsvangwa confirmed the meeting, saying Mnangagwa met with teachers, other civil servants and “listened” to their problems.

“We have a listening President and he spent the better part of the day listening and the government is going to act. What I can say is wait for the Minister of Finance to give an official statement on what was agreed,” she said.

Insiders said that civil servants would also be offered a hardship allowance in July, although the figures are yet to be fixed.

The deal will remain in place up until government introduces an official new currency which government sees as a panacea to the skyrocketing inflation, which has eroded salaries to the point that the lowest paid effectively earns US$36 per month on the current black market rate.

Government expects to have a new currency in place by the end of March next year.

MDC treasurer-general David Coltart said salary increases would not solve the current crisis because this would only serve to push up prices and inflation.

By Own Correspondent- War veterans on Sunday called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to reach out to the opposition to form a Government of National Unity (GNU).

The war veterans accused cabinet ministers of misleading President to corruptly benefit from the current economic crisis.

In an exclusive interview with a local publication in Mutare, Irvin Mbengo the Deputy Political Commissar for Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (Manicaland Chapter) said:

The problem is that President Mnangagwa is taking too much time concentrating and listening to useless people around him, these so-called ministers.

These are the wrong people giving him poisonous ideas. These people are not employable elsewhere so they hang around the President giving him wrong information and advice, thereby, taking advantage of their positions to thrive on massive corruption, enriching themselves in the process.

They have taken the situation to further satisfy their selfish egos and ends. They are heartless these people. The President must not listen to these people anymore because what they want is to benefit from the country’s economic situation.

We have too many thieves in the leadership of this country. There is corruption everywhere and our country’s leadership is protecting these corrupt officials.

… The only answer that solves the economy is the GNU. It will only take about nine months before we start talking about a better economy. We have tasted how life was good during the previous GNU.

Everything was dead in the country. But when the GNU came in everything came alive again. Everything went well smoothly.

Now we are back at it again, we have long queues and cashless banks. We should not be late again, GPA is the only solution.

In 2009, following the total collapse of the country’s economy, the then President Robert Mugabe and opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara came together to form an all-inclusive government.

The shortlived GNU brought stability to the country. At the end of the GNU in 2013, the economy again entered into a tailspin.-ZimMorningPost

“The cash crisis is a political crisis, so you cannot resolve this so-called cash crisis without resolving the fundamental governance issues and politics is the issue." 

NewsDay|ZIMBABWE has millions in foreign currency that is adequate to sustain its economy, ramp up failing industries and sustain a return to dollarisation, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said.

Calling for a return to dollarisation and abandonment of the local RTGS currency, Chamisa warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa not to introduce a new local currency until confidence returned to the banking sector and government.

“I know the question is where will you get the US$? The US$ is here in the country, nobody is going to put their money in a hole. The biggest hole is government, so they don’t want to invest in banks because they know there is no confidence. If you go to houses, particularly in those other suburbs, you will have the banks of Scotland, the bank of India, all sorts of currencies, but the people will never deposit them in the banking system because there is no confidence,” Chamisa told journalists in Harare yesterday.

He said the crisis in Zimbabwe, which has seen companies fold owing to a biting shortage of foreign currency, prices spiking as the local currency continues to lose value, both on the interbank and black market, was being caused by bad politics.

“The cash crisis is a political crisis, so you cannot resolve this so-called cash crisis without resolving the fundamental governance issues and politics is the issue. (Former United States) President Bill Clinton once said it is politics stupid and in our situation, it is the politics, stupid. What does it mean? Let’s resolve the politics and we will be able to unlock the economy,” Chamisa said.

“We have said it over and over again, in order for you to resolve the cash crisis, you need confidence and trust, look at our trust deficiency.”

High levels of corruption and policy inconsistencies have also made Zimbabwe an unattractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment, depriving the country of critical capital injection which could boost the economy.

“Cameroon, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Nigeria are on the list of the World Bank for the countries that have the highest political risk. We must eliminate that risk and then begin to have a currency that is stable and we have said, instead of just having a basket of currencies, let’s have an anchor currency, which is based on the USD and then we move progressively to then deal with the other issues,” the opposition leader said.

“You can’t have this fake currency and you want to report false surplus which, in real terms, is not there. So we need to deal with that issue; and if we are in government, we will deal with it.”

Mnangagwa’s government has said it will make it illegal to use foreign currency for local transactions.

“I have said that we would achieve that either before the end of the year or by the end of the first quarter of next year,” Mnangagwa told Bloomberg last week.

Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would not develop if it does not have its own currency, which will stabilise prices and restore value in salaries of the workers, which have been eroded to way below US$100 per month.

Zanu PF, through its youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu, has admitted that it is harbouring corrupt leaders in government and ministers whose children have become black-market kingpins.

Matutu has threatened to name and shame the corrupt, who he accused of sabotaging Mnangagwa’s economic turnaround plans.

Some girls have reportedly had to share the same piece of cloth with their mothers to stem menstrual flows as they cannot afford proper pads.

THE Government has noted that the price of sanitary wear has shot beyond the reach of many women who have resorted to using unhygienic materials exposing them to various diseases but only emphasised on the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) waiving  customs duty on imports of the feminine product instead of considering calls for these to be distributed for free especially to young school girls.

In a statement , ZIMRA said: “There is no customs duty on the importation of sanitary wear for women. The price of sanitary wear in Zimbabwe shot up beyond the reach of many women facing them to use unhygienic materials that expose them to infections and other health-related problems.

“In response to the plight of women, the Government scrapped duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary wear to make it available and to promote hygiene for women. Statutory Instrument 264 of 2018 provides for a suspension of duty on sanitary wear for women for imports done during the period December 1 2018 to November 30,2019.

“This means that no customs duty will be charged on importation of sanitary wear. In addition, the sanitary wear is exempted from paying import VAT, meaning that VAT is not charged in terms of Statutory Instrument 265 of 2018.

“Examples of sanitary wear covered under this exemption include products like sanitary towels and tampons. It should be noted that any products that is sanitary wear of any other chapter than 96 will attract the applicable duty,” read the statement.

In Zimbabwe, about 72 percent of menstruating rural primary school girls do not use sanitary pads.

Some girls have reportedly had to share the same piece of cloth with their mothers to stem menstrual flows as they cannot afford proper pads.

This has seen most girls missing school or using unhygienic material exposing themselves to urinary tract infections, rashes and bacterial build-ups.

Sanitary wear products will benefit from a suspension of customs duty, and an exemption from VAT for a period of 12 months.

While the move by government can be applauded women rights activists have continuously called on government to make the wear available for free from a lower level at primary education, because this is where girls start to be excluded as some miss school every month for the mere reason that they are girls.

A lot of girls miss school for a number of days each month when they menstruate, due to period poverty.

A study conducted in 2014 (when inflation averaged -0.2% that year) established that 72% of menstruating school girls did not use sanitary pads, while 62% of them missed school due to lack of sanitary wear.

How about now when inflation has risen to an all time dollarisation high of 20,85% with black market premiums for acquiring foreign currency as high as 250%? This can only point to worsening period poverty levels in Zimbabwe, much to the compromise of the health of disadvantaged girls and women.

While welcome the proposal by Treasury to suspend customs duty and VAT on imported sanitary wear for 12-months, many retailers who import stock are selling their ware in RTGS, and have to buy foreign currency each time they import.

Their ability to stock depends on foreign currency availability and many retailers have been complaining of inadequate foreign currency allocations, with some having to resort to the black market where usurious premiums are charged. In the rural areas, about 44 percent of rural shops do not sell any sanitary products at all.

While Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said the scrapping of duty and VAT on sanitary wear was “in order to cushion underpriviledged women and girls”, it should be noted that the underpriviledged are those who do not have any income at all to buy sanitary wear.

The underpriviledged are homeless girls and women, female prisoners, the disabled and rural girls who often miss school due to lack of sanitary pads, pain relievers and other sanitary needs. Therefore, none of the measures announced by the Minister will actually cushion the underpriviledged as they will still be unable to access sanitary wear.

Sanitary pads remain a luxury to the underprivileged, the majority of whom can barely afford a decent meal. Access of sanitary wear by the underprivileged can only happen when costs are totally removed out of the picture.

To help picture the context, imagine a 15-year-old girl who sleeps in Harare Gardens and survives on food from the bins.

She menstruates six days every month and she uses dirty rags that she picks from the bins. She experiences painful stomach cramps and has no pain relievers. To escape the period pain, she sniffs glue to intoxicate herself and she starts having hallucinations. Now she is addicted and is always sniffing glue.

In light of the above, women rights activists have been calling on government to ensure that there is a fund in place to distribute free sanitary wear and pain relievers to the underpriviledged.

It is discriminatory for government to only pronounce measures trying to address the issues of those who can afford while remaining quiet about the issue of providing free sanitary wear to the disadvantaged who cannot afford and are vulnerable to health consequenses of using unsafe means such as dirty rags, newspapers, socks and other unhygienic means. Human development and gender equality cannot be achieved if underprivileged girls and women are left behind for the mere reason that they do not afford.

The removal of duty and VAT on sanitary wear, while it is a step in the right direction, must therefore not be viewed as an end in itself, but just a means to an end as more still need to be done.

The meeting, however, agreed that because of incapacitation, nurses will continue with the two-day working shifts instead of the stipulated three days.

The Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association (ZINA) have agreed to suspend their mass industrial action set for today giving President Emmerson Mnangagwa a ten day ultimatum to sort out their salary grievances.

The move by the nurses comes after a gruelling two hour meeting with President Mnangagwa at State House on Friday where the President committed that he will personally look into their grievances and address them as early as the beginning of next month.

The meeting, however, agreed that because of incapacitation, nurses will continue with the two-day working shifts instead of the stipulated three days — a position that was also communicated to the President and Government officials attending the meeting.

The Friday meeting, which was attended by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo, Finance and Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Acting Labour and Social Welfare Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Labour and Social Welfare Secretary Mr Simon Masanga and Health Services Board chairperson Dr Paulinus Sikosana was centred on four critical issues — remuneration, non-monetary benefits, human resource issues in public health institutions and the availability, accessibility and affordability of medicines.

Below is the ZINA official communication to its members following the meeting with Mnangagwa.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA) assured the country that there are adequate sugar supplies and there is no need for panic buying.

State Media|Tongaat Hulett has gazetted recommended retail sugar prices for the commodity.

The prices for brown sugar are $4,99 for 1kg, $9,98 for 2kg, $24,95 for 5kg and $49,90 for 10kg.

White sugar recommended prices are $5,22 for 1kg, $10,44 for 2kg, $26,10 for 5kg and $52,20 for 10kg.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA) assured the country that there are adequate sugar supplies and there is no need for panic buying.

In a statement recently, ZSA chairperson Mr Muchadeyi Masunda said that the country had sufficient sugar stocks to meet national requirements.

“As ZSA we urge all retailers and wholesalers to continue behaving responsibly.

“We also advise our valued customers that the industry will continue to deliver sugar nationwide to meet normal domestic requirements,” he said.

A BULAWAYO-based traffic cop indecently assaulted his uniformed female boss when he grabbed her by the waist before squeezing up against her body in a sexually suggestive manner in full view of other police officers.

The incident occurred almost two years ago at the Bulawayo Central Traffic Police Station (Drill Hall).

Some of the police officers who witnessed the spectacle took pictures and circulated them on social media.
This emerged when sergeant Baliko Muhango (36) of Pumula South suburb approached the High Court last week challenging the outcome of an internal disciplinary hearing.

Sgt Muhango filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court challenging the decision by his bosses to convict him under the Police Act.State media

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

By Farai D Hove| The same Botswana leader who threw daggers at ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying his country is ‘better than country X where your money is not safe’, a direct swipe at the ZANU PF controlled nation, President Masisi, is flying into Zimbabwe tonight.

Masisi said he is coming over for the Wildlife Economy Summit.

Zimbabweans await what he will say this time as Zimbabwe’s wildlife economy has been rocked by rampant corruption that has seen the Tourism Minister fire a whole board, amid massive looting and smuggling of rhinos and elephants to China. A lot of this has included the selling of wildlife for the purpose of paying salaries, in what has seen questions being raised on the true stock numbers of endangered in wildlife in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile Masisi said, “The Summit is a new initiative aimed at forging “a new deal for tourism, rural communities and wildlife by 2030” with a view of securing new investments in tourism based sectors to ensure a sustainable future for the continent’s people & wildlife.”

Jane Mlambo| Exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has mapped scenarios that can help douse the free falling economy saying only a Government of National Unity can solve the disputed 2018 presidential polls.

Posting on Twitter, Moyo presented four scenarios that can help solve the Zimbabwean problem including a rotational presidency between MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and President Emmerson Mnangagwa, co-presidency or Chamisa taking over as the legitimate winner of the July 2018 elections.

Moyo however ruled out Chamisa being either Mnangagwa’s deputy or becoming a Prime Minister as is the case with the last GNU between Zanu PF and MDC in 2009.

We are meeting at a time when the economic is in the doldrums due to the deleterious nature of Emmerson Mnangagwa administration.

The Dambudzo-Chiwenga political combo that was installed by a military coup is a political disaster which as young people can not afford.

It is this taunting semi military political combo that has deeply sunk Zimbabwe into an economic quicksand.

Emmerson Mnangagwa has never won an election on the shores of this once great nation and such he remains unelectable.

No one was born a war veterans.

In fact we are all going to be war veterans because we have a political and democratic agenda to fight.

It is not a secret that our homes are empty therefore let’s brace ourselves for demonstrations to come.

We are going to occupy streets because our homes are inhabitable.

Prison walls shall be our roofs, but we are not afraid.

Our call for action is influenced by our nervous conditions.

It is those that nervous conditions like hunger that will incite you to take action.

As the commander of the Assembly I’m only giving you insight to our myriad of challenges confronting our generation.

It is Mnangagwa’s iron fist rule that will come to an end not this generation.

Today’s program was organized by the Bulawayo Provincial Youth Assembly led by the able leadership of Tinashe Kambarami.

The Youth Assembly commander was in company of National Youth Assembly leadership, Cecelia Chimbiri (Vice Chair), Gift Siziba (SG), Stephen Sarkozy Chuma (Spokesperson), Netsai Marova (deputy organizer), Judith Tobaiwa (deputy treasurer) and portfolio secretaries, Arthur Masiiwa, Descent Bajila, Mlandu Ncube, Tafadzwa Chirombe, Arnold Batirai, Rodney Jele and Max Dutuma.

Farai Dziva|Fiery MDC youth assembly leader, Obey Sithole has said “illegitimate” Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa must step down to avoid embarrassment.

Sithole made the remarks in Gweru yesterday.

See the MDC youth assembly statement below :

National Youth Chairman Obey Luther Sithole today made it clear that the time to confront Emmerson Mnangagwa regime is now.

Speaking at a Day of African Child gathering attended by the predominantly rural youths from Midlands at the party’s provincial offices, Cde Luther as Sithole is affectionately known declared that the time remove Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is now.

The maverick youth leader said the only way to save Zimbabwe from the jaws of extinction is by making sure Mnangagwa pack his belongings from Munhumutapa Offices and State House.

Sithole reiterated President Nelson Chamisa’s message that Emmerson Mnangagwa is not the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe.

He said the court of public opinion is the biggest court in Zimbabwe and not the Constitutional Court which installed Mnangagwa as President after a disputed presidential election result.

The fearless Sithole said as young leaders the Assembly will lead from the front in the struggle to reclaim the party’s stolen 2018 electoral victory.

Sithole also made it clear that the Assembly will not seek clearance from the police to demonstrate since it is a constitutional provision.

While the Youth Assembly has declared June a month of radicalization, Cde Luther declared July a month of action.

Speaking at the same event, Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Siziba said the Assembly has since shifted its lenses towards liberating rural areas from ZANU PF.

Responding to threats by rogue Mashonaland Central war veterans that the province is a no go area for MDC, Siziba said no one has ownership rights for Zimbabwe.

The Midlands belated June 16 Commemorations were also attended by the Youth Assembly Deputy Treasurer, Judith Tobaiwa and the National Spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma.

Other notable leaders who attended the event are National Organizer, Amos Chibaya, Deputy Legal Secretary Brian Dube and Women Provincial Secretary Violet Mutusva.

The Midlands program was organized by the provincial Youth Assembly leadership headed by Sekai ‘Muchaina’ Marasha.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
National Youth Assembly Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- The CIO operative reportedly fought the police officer’s husband after he had confronted him.

Wellington Chikaka (27) of Spitzkop Suburb was hauled before Gwanda magistrate, Lerato Nyathi and charged with indecent assault and disorderly conduct. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

State prosecutor, Ethel Mahachi narrated before the court the incident involving Chikaka and the female cop.

She said:

On 28 April at around 2 am, the complainant was in a taxi with her husband on their way home while Chikaka was in the same vehicle sitting next to her on the other side.

When they were at Gwanda Police Station residential area where she and her husband were dropping off, Chikaka extended his hand and fondled the complainant’s right breast.

The complainant confronted Chikaka over his actions and in response he uttered vulgar words at the complainant which resulted in a misunderstanding. The complainant reported the matter to the police.

While Chikaka pleaded not guilty to the disorderly charge conduct, the complainant’s husband pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $100 or face a two-month prison sentence.

Chikaka was placed off remand and both cases will proceed by way of summons.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent| Zanu PF youth league secretary Pupurai Togarepi on Saturday threw his weight behind his deputy, Lewis Matutu after he reportedly received death threats from corrupt ZANU PF officials.

Matutu made the stunning revelations in an interview with a local publication last week when he said that he had been receiving threatening calls from party bigwigs for his crusade against corruption.

His boss, Togarepi told The Standard that any further attack on Matutu will invite a firm response from the youth league.

Said Togarepi:

It has always been our position to name and shame corrupt individuals and saboteurs. Lewis Matutu is a messenger, don’t fight him.

Any further attack on him will invite a firm response from the youth league.

They crossed the Rubicon line by threatening the deputy secretary. We cannot allow them to vandalise the efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to rebuild Zimbabwe.

Togarepi went on as far as threatening a shut down of tuckshops in downtown Harare that are alleged to be involved in illegal foreign currency dealings. He said:

We also want to tell those involved in illegal forex dealings that their days are numbered together with foreign-owned tuck-shops in downtown Harare and other cities.

We are not afraid, it is time we dealt with this crisis.

We can’t be threatened by thieves who want to use non-existing factional fights to further their agenda. We are going to name and shame them.

By A Correspondent- Sex workers in Gweru are receiving HIV prevention education, with most of them being asked to come up with business ideas to ensure that they get a comprehensive package of services to mitigate the impact of HIV.

This was done through the DREAMS project through funding from the National Aids Council (Nac).

DREAMS, which stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, Aids-Free, Mentored and Safe, intends to address sexual reproductive health issues, counselling and prevention of gender-based violence among school-going girls and adult women between the ages of 15 and 24.

During the recent visit to the Midlands Province, one of the beneficiaries, Tendai (20) said she has plans to leave thigh vending work once her business starts to bring in some profits.

Tendai got pregnant at a very tender age and never got the chance to go back to school. Her parents died when she was 7 and her grandmother was taking care of her.

When she got pregnant she was taken to her boyfriend who did not accept responsibility and that saw Tendai moving from one house to the other until she gave birth.

A kind aunt then offered to take care of her daughter after delivery and advised Tendai to look for a job as a house maid. Through interactions with other girls her age, she was introduced to thigh vending work.

“I got pregnant at 13 and was forced out of school. I gave birth to my daughter soon after my 14th birthday.

“I then started thigh vending work 15 months after giving birth and was completely clueless. I got treated for a number of sexually transmitted infections because I was not using protection and I also did not know about other preventive methods such as pre-exposure prophylaxis which I now have access to,” narrated Tendai.

She added; “I then met other thigh vending workers as days went by and they introduced me to The Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Aids Research Zimbabwe (CeSHHAR-Zimbabwe) where I got to learn about all the preventive methods I now know.”

“I have access to information now, getting training on projects I can do to empower myself and hoping to retire from thigh vending work soon,” she said.

“My challenge however, is that things are really tough at the moment. My worry is that people may not buy enough firewood and the second hand clothes to sustain me, but I am willing to try hard.

Nac Gweru Urban District Aids Co-ordinator Mr Murari Hwingwiri said they are training and assisting sex workers to come up with their income generating projects that Nac will fund to empower them so that they can better take care of themselves without selling.

“This comes as a result of their lack of income generating projects which exposes them to abuse and other risks associated with their work hence we said we need to train them and assist them in coming up with business ideas that we can support.

“The long term vision is the reduction of these risky behaviours and equips these girls with life skills that can sustain them in the long run,” Hwingwiri said.-Standard

By A Correspondent- Popular musician, Jah Prayzah, has been accused of objectifying women in the song he dedicated to the warriors at AFCON.

The song, called Fambai Nebhora, has lyrics that some have felt are inappropriate.

Women and child rights activist, Nyari Mashayamombe told a local publication:

I was baffled yesterday when I listened to Jah Prayzah’s song for the Warriors Titled Fambai Nebhora. In the song Jah Prayzah says: ‘tovanzvenga sevarandakadzi [we dribble them like women slaves] and later says ‘tovapfekedza pitikoti, mapitikoti’ [we make them wear petticots].  How vile!

I didn’t finish the song as I was taken aback and thought how could such a respectable artist demean women and be so sexist like that in a national song? How could he embarrass women and seek to alienate us from the national pride, our Warriors?

Another child and women activist, Angela Machonesa commented on social media:

Warriors are for everyone — female and male. Our young sons woke up singing along that bad vibe, and they will finish this tournament and live their lives thinking women can be easily dribbled and if you are defeated you have worn a petticoat.-Standard

By A Correspondent- It has been established that there are eight countries without their own currencies besides Zimbabwe, indicating the President Emmerson Mnangagwa was misled.

This follows President Mnangagwa’s remarks that Zimbabwe will soon have its own currency since it is the only country on the face of this planet that does not have its own currency.

However, there are eight countries without own currencies namely:

1. Ecuador
2. East Timor
3. El Salvador
4. Marshall Islands
5. Micronesia
6. Palau
7. Turks and Caicos
8. The British Virgin Islands

Zanu PF youth league secretary Pupurai Togarepi on Saturday threw his weight behind his deputy, Lewis Matutu after he reportedly received death threats from corrupt ZANU PF officials.

Matutu made the stunning revelations in an interview with a local publication last week when he said that he had been receiving threatening calls from party bigwigs for his crusade against corruption.

His boss, Togarepi told The Standard that any further attack on Matutu will invite a firm response from the youth league.

Said Togarepi:

It has always been our position to name and shame corrupt individuals and saboteurs. Lewis Matutu is a messenger, don’t fight him.

Any further attack on him will invite a firm response from the youth league.

They crossed the Rubicon line by threatening the deputy secretary. We cannot allow them to vandalise the efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to rebuild Zimbabwe.

Togarepi went on as far as threatening a shut down of tuckshops in downtown Harare that are alleged to be involved in illegal foreign currency dealings. He said:

We also want to tell those involved in illegal forex dealings that their days are numbered together with foreign-owned tuck-shops in downtown Harare and other cities.

We are not afraid, it is time we dealt with this crisis.

We can’t be threatened by thieves who want to use non-existing factional fights to further their agenda. We are going to name and shame them.

The state owned Sunday Mail claimed that the ongoing misunderstanding was a result of so called “media reports”, although it was Magaya’s own church which first published the claim of healing the man.

The church report even went to the point of alleging that the hospital could not heal the patient. It further alleged that the tumour literally disappeared at the hands of the preacher, Magaya. 

By Own Correspondent- Forty-three-year-old Peter Manganda is not concerned much about the current furore over circumstances surrounding his cure from a 5,3 kilogramme debilitating tumour that had grown on his head.

All he is interested in is that he is now a relieved man — the huge burden has been lifted — literally — off him. Manganda lived with the tumour, which first manifested as a small lump, for many years.

The growth, however, progressively metastasised into a huge growth on his head, which largely made him physically weak and ill.

But over the past two weeks, he has been caught up in the middle of an abrasive publicity battle pitting the Prophet Walter Magaya-led PHD Ministries and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital.

First, PHD Ministries on their page posted a video clip claiming credit for the man’s healing.

Soon after the PHD video clip testimony, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital issued a statement claiming the supposed “miracle” was successful surgery undertaken at the medical institution.

The state owned Sunday Mail claimed that the ongoing misunderstanding was a result of so called “media reports”, although it was Magaya’s own church which first published the claim of healing the man.

The church report even went to the point of alleging that the hospital could not heal the patient. It further alleged that the tumour literally disappeared at the hands of the preacher, Magaya.

This is not the first time Magaya has been caught lying and misinforming the public since he pulled the same stunt 2 years ago when he claimed to have healed the singer Soul Jah Love. This is despite that the singer had been attended to by medical experts.

The father of four opened up on his two-year ordeal after the small lump on his head morphed into a cyst in 2017.

To his shock and horror, it later spread all over his head and swelled into a huge tumour. Gradually, it became difficult for him to either walk or talk.

After convincing himself that his problem wouldn’t just disappear on its own, Manganda appealed for assistance and his plea was aired on national television.

His cries for help attracted well-wishers who pooled resources for him to be admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Despite being scheduled to undergo an operation to remove his growth, there were inordinate delays, which saw his procedure being postponed thrice.

An anxious Manganda, who suspected he was stalked by bad omen, was then taken by his brother Shingirai Kamuruko to PHD Ministries, where he received prayers from Prophet Magaya.

“As people who had lost hope, after failing to get help from Parirenyatwa Hospital, we visited PHD on three occasions on April 17, 19 and 21. We managed to see Prophet Magaya on the third day and that’s when he prayed for my brother,” said Kamuruko, who is a teacher at Chivake Primary School in Mahusekwa.

“We received a call from Parirenyatwa Hospital on the April 19 to come for the operation. He was admitted from 22 to 26 April 2019 when the operation was successfully conducted.

“I can confirm that we only received prayers at PHD, but the operation was conducted successfully at Parirenyatwa Hospital.

“We passed through PHD when my brother was released from hospital on the 8th of June just to say thank you for the prayers, not because the tumour was removed by Prophet Magaya,” he added.

A short video clip was later reportedly compiled by PHD Ministries, which resulted in media reports alleging the man had been treated by the prophet after the hospital failed to assist him.

Parirenyatwa Hospital had to take the unprecedented move to set the record straight.

“We therefore, find claims that the hospital failed to treat this patient (Manganda), but was healed by a prophet, to be highly misleading and likely to derail efforts of encouraging health-seeking behaviours among fellow Zimbabweans,” said the hospital in a statement last week.

Manganda is, however, thankful to the hospital staff who facilitated the seven-hour medical procedure that healed him.

“I am grateful to the Parirenyatwa Hospital staff who conducted the successful operation, with special mention to team leader Dr Maximilian Dzowa, and all the staff members I cannot remember by name,” he said.

Mr Manganda’s brother was also equally elated.

“I am glad my brother has recovered. I was shocked to see him eating his meal few minutes after the operation. I thank all well-wishers who chipped in through his difficult moments,” said Kamuruko.

Mr Kamuruko said as a family they were grateful to Label Africa and Institute of Golf Africa that assisted the family with financial support before and after the operation.

He, however, said the family still needs more assistance as it is saddled with a $3 870 hospital bill.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- National Aids Council (NAC) is currently engaging commercial sex workers and artisanal miners in Shurugwi district — better known as “maShurugwi” — as it heightens efforts to combat the scourge in the mineral-rich area and its environs.

Speaking to health journalists during a recent NAC tour of the Midlands province, Shurugwi District Aids Coordinator (DAC) Mr Petros Mazengwa said they have decided to rope in the artisanal miners after rising incidences of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

“As NAC, we have now realised the need to involve the artisanal miners in our HIV programmes after we noticed an increase in STIs and HIV infections from the mining areas.

“There are stories of these machete-wielding artisanal miners demanding unprotected sex from commercial sex workers, so we saw it important to incorporate them in our HIV awareness campaigns to spread the message,” said Mr Mazengwa.

Shurugwi, he said, has arguably one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the country, at 17 percent.

This has prompted NAC to include “maShurugwi” in HIV prevention programmes.

“They are now our condom champions who help with the distribution of condoms in these mining sites as we want to prevent both STIs and HIV at the same time,” said Mr Mazengwa.

Some of the artisanal miners are now working as peer educators.

NAC is also deploying mobile clinics in the affected mining areas.

A senior nurse at Shurugwi District Hospital’s opportunistic infection clinic, Mr Robert Rusere, said there had been an increase in people testing HIV positive in the area, but most of them disappear before they are put on antiretroviral therapy (Art).

He said official statistics from the last quarter of 2018 to the first three months of this year show a worrying trend of HIV patients who are reluctant to seek treatment.

“In the last quarter of 2018, we tested 858 and 77 people were HIV positive, but only 64 percent were put on Art,” Mr Rusere said.

“In the first quarter of 2019, we tested 727 and 51 were HIV positive, but only 74 percent were put on ART. Most of them went back to the mines, declining medication,” said Mr Rusere.

Mr Tichaona Kwashira (47), an artisanal miner, said he has volunteered for NAC’s outreach programmes for the greater good of his peers.

“It is true that some of our members demand free sex and they end up getting HIV. So we are helping NAC with condom distribution and health education at the mines,” he said.

We distribute about 12 000 condoms per month and help those on ART to take their drugs,” he said.

Mokopane police spokesperson Constable Mienkie Ramakgoakgoa said the trio passed on in an accident that occurred on 22 April. She said they were travelling in a BMW from Musina to Gauteng.

“According to the information, police received a report about a culpable homicide that occurred on 2019-04-22 at about 9pm along the N1 in the Mokopane Policing area.

“It is alleged the driver of a BMW Sedan which was travelling from North to South direction with six occupants inside, lost control and collided with a truck travelling from South to North direction. The truck driver was alone,” she said.

Const Ramakgoakgoa said during the accident, three people died on the scene, (two men and one woman) while the other two occupants were critically injured.

She said they were then taken to the nearest hospitals at Mokopane and Polokwane to receive medical attention.

“The truck driver was not injured. The three deceased are still unknown but it is believed that they might be Zimbabwean nationals and the cause of the accident is still being investigated by the police,” said Const Ramakgoakgoa.

She said efforts to locate the three deceased’s families have been fruitless.

Const Ramakgoakgoa said investigations were still underway adding that anyone with information that may assist to locate their families for identification, should contact Detective Sergeant Moshe Maubane on +2776 037 8145 or Mokopane Police Station at +2715 409 1400.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF youth league secretary Pupurai Togarepi on Saturday threw his weight behind his deputy, Lewis Matutu after he reportedly received death threats from corrupt ZANU PF officials.

Matutu made the stunning revelations in an interview with a local publication last week when he said that he had been receiving threatening calls from party bigwigs for his crusade against corruption.

His boss, Togarepi told The Standard that any further attack on Matutu will invite a firm response from the youth league.

Said Togarepi:

It has always been our position to name and shame corrupt individuals and saboteurs. Lewis Matutu is a messenger, don’t fight him.

Any further attack on him will invite a firm response from the youth league.

They crossed the Rubicon line by threatening the deputy secretary. We cannot allow them to vandalise the efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to rebuild Zimbabwe.

Togarepi went on as far as threatening a shut down of tuckshops in downtown Harare that are alleged to be involved in illegal foreign currency dealings. He said:

We also want to tell those involved in illegal forex dealings that their days are numbered together with foreign-owned tuck-shops in downtown Harare and other cities.

We are not afraid, it is time we dealt with this crisis.

We can’t be threatened by thieves who want to use non-existing factional fights to further their agenda. We are going to name and shame them.

By A Correspondent- It has been established that there are eight countries without their own currencies besides Zimbabwe, indicating the President Emmerson Mnangagwa was misled.

This follows President Mnangagwa’s remarks that Zimbabwe will soon have its own currency since it is the only country on the face of this planet that does not have its own currency.

However, there are eight countries without own currencies namely:

1. Ecuador
2. East Timor
3. El Salvador
4. Marshall Islands
5. Micronesia
6. Palau
7. Turks and Caicos
8. The British Virgin Islands

By A Correspondent- At least 720 000 metric tonnes of maize is being imported by Government to alleviate hunger in drought- stricken areas following high incidence of crop failure during the 2018-2019 agricultural season, the state media has reported.

The country’s strategic grain reserve currently holds about 420 00 metric tonnes of maize with the harvest from last season projected to be slightly above 700 00 metric tonnes. Zimbabwe requires at least I,4 million metric tonnes of maize annually for both human and animal consumption.

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Douglas Karoro, told Senators in Parliament last week that Government had devised a plan to mitigate the effects of the drought.

“The ministry is importing over 720 000 metric tonnes metric tonnes of maize to quickly alleviate the effects of the drought as a short term plan,” he said.

“We have also gone further to prepare so that famine cannot occur. Again, we are developing irrigation schemes in each and every constituency so that we have sufficient food supplies from irrigation.

‘‘On a monthly basis, as a nation, we consume close to 120 000 metric tonnes, inclusive of human and livestock.

“We are also expecting some deliveries from farmers and that 720 000 metric tonnes will be augmented by the deliveries that we are expecting) from imports).”-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Ayanda Ndlovu said on Friday, she served the patron – who wished to remain anonymous – two weeks ago.

“She asked me what I wanted to do [as a profession] and I told her I’ve always wanted to be a paramedic. I still do, I’ve just been hampered by the fact that I had to stop school at an early age because of financial reasons.

“I’m still in conversation with the patron,” said Ndlovu. The initial bill came to R1 320 and the woman decided to make a R20 000 payment.

“I have no want to reverse this, no second thoughts about it and I was of sound mind when deciding to leave this tip,” the mystery benefactor said in a private WhatsApp message to Randolf Jorberg, the owner of Beerhouse.

Ndlovu, in disbelief, “called the duty manager immediately to try and talk the patron out of it, but the patron refused saying that Ayanda’s service was amazing and that she deserved every last bit of that money,” the post read.

Ndlovu said the money would kickstart her dream of becoming a paramedic. She hopes the patron’s good deed will inspire others to help her fulfill this dream.

“I’ve told my boss that I do want to go back to school.”-News24

By A Correspondent- Forty-three-year-old Peter Manganda is not concerned much about the current furore over circumstances surrounding his cure from a 5,3 kilogramme debilitating tumour that had grown on his head.

All he is interested in is that he is now a relieved man — the huge burden has been lifted — literally — off him.

Manganda lived with the tumour, which first manifested as a small lump, for many years.

The growth, however, progressively metastasised into a huge growth on his head, which largely made him physically weak and ill.

But over the past two weeks, he has been caught up in the middle of an abrasive publicity battle pitting the Prophet Walter Magaya-led PHD Ministries and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital.

First, PHD Ministries posted a video clip taking credit for the man’s healing.

Soon after the PHD video clip testimony, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital issued a statement claiming the supposed “miracle” was successful surgery undertaken at the medical institution.

But amid the fuss on who did what, where, when and how, the Nyanga man is happy to have gotten “another chance” to move on with his life.

“I am now a relieved person and I thank the people of Zimbabwe who extended their hand for my miraculous healing,” said Mr Manganda in an interview with The Sunday Mail in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East, where he is currently recovering before moving to his rural home in Nyanga.

“This gave me a new lease of life and I feel a burden has been lifted from me.”

The father of four opened up on his two-year ordeal after the small lump on his head morphed into a cyst in 2017.

To his shock and horror, it later spread all over his head and swelled into a huge tumour.

Gradually, it became difficult for him to either walk or talk.

After convincing himself that his problem wouldn’t just disappear on its own, Mr Manganda appealed for assistance and his plea was aired on national television.

His cries for help attracted well-wishers who pooled resources for him to be admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Despite being scheduled to undergo an operation to remove his growth, there were inordinate delays, which saw his procedure being postponed thrice.

An anxious Mr Manganda, who suspected he was stalked by bad omen, was then taken by his brother Shingirai Kamuruko to PHD Ministries, where he received prayers from Prophet Magaya.

“As people who had lost hope, after failing to get help from Parirenyatwa Hospital, we visited PHD on three occasions on April 17, 19 and 21. We managed to see Prophet Magaya on the third day and that’s when he prayed for my brother,” said Kamuruko, who is a teacher at Chivake Primary School in Mahusekwa.

“We received a call from Parirenyatwa Hospital on the April 19 to come for the operation. He was admitted from 22 to 26 April 2019 when the operation was successfully conducted.

“I can confirm that we only received prayers at PHD, but the operation was conducted successfully at Parirenyatwa Hospital.

“We passed through PHD when my brother was released from hospital on the 8th of June just to say thank you for the prayers, not because the tumour was removed by Prophet Magaya,” he added.

A short video clip was later reportedly compiled by PHD Ministries, which resulted in media reports alleging the man had been treated by the prophet after the hospital failed to assist him.

Parirenyatwa Hospital had to take the unprecedented move to set the record straight.

“We therefore, find claims that the hospital failed to treat this patient (Manganda), but was healed by a prophet, to be highly misleading and likely to derail efforts of encouraging health-seeking behaviours among fellow Zimbabweans,” said the hospital in a statement last week.

Manganda is, however, thankful to the hospital staff who facilitated the seven-hour medical procedure that healed him.

“I am grateful to the Parirenyatwa Hospital staff who conducted the successful operation, with special mention to team leader Dr Maximilian Dzowa, and all the staff members I cannot remember by name,” he said.

Mr Manganda’s brother was also equally elated.

“I am glad my brother has recovered. I was shocked to see him eating his meal few minutes after the operation. I thank all well-wishers who chipped in through his difficult moments,” said Kamuruko.

Mr Kamuruko said as a family they were grateful to Label Africa and Institute of Golf Africa that assisted the family with financial support before and after the operation.

He, however, said the family still needs more assistance as it is saddled with a $3 870 hospital bill.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Outspoken Harare lawyer, Fadzayi Mahere, who recently joined the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC outlined her reasons for joining the party she competed against in last year’s harmonised elections.

Asked to explain what persuaded her to join the MDC by a local publication, the Independent, Mahere said:

I have consistently stated my belief in a strong, united position: this is our best shot at fighting tyranny and building a nation that we can be proud of.

From the start, I made it very clear that I was opposed to Zanu PF because the current government does not have what it takes to make Zimbabwe free and prosperous.

The model upon which the ruling party is built — where patronage and ageism are rife — would never appeal to me.

The lesson we learnt during the last election is that the electorate places a high premium on a candidate’s ability to collaborate with a team that can answer the national question.

There is a strong sentiment that the opposition must speak with one voice in opposing the government and I am happy to take that sentiment on board.

The country, not individuals or personalities, must always come first.

Political involvement, in my view, boils down to values and an ability to place the people, democracy and competence back into our politics.

The MDC offers a model that aligns most closely to this and what I wish to see in Zimbabwe’s future, hence my decision to join the party.

Important conversations happened after the election and it was decided that teamwork is the only way to make the dream work.-The Standard