By A Correspondent-The Auditor-General (AG) has exposed a Covid-19 funding scandal in which senior government officials are reportedly diverted donations meant for the management of the pandemic.
This was revealed in the latest special audit report by AG, Mildred Chiri, on the financial management and utilisation of public resources in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the country by ministries, government departments and agencies.
The report was tabled in the National Assembly recently by Speaker Jacob Mudenda. In the report, Chiri revealed shocking details on how fake names, identity documents and mobile phone numbers were used as part of a broader scheme to siphon part of the over $890 million from the government.
The audit was undertaken with the aid of the World Bank in the country’s six out of 10 provinces, focusing on disbursement of COVID-19 relief funds, management of quarantine centres and isolation centres, among others.
“The easing of some controls and the streamlining of processes and procedures to facilitate emergency responses and quick actions to the crisis exposed the government to the possible risks of misuse or abuse of public resources,” Chiri said.
“Inadequate record-keeping was a common feature as the ministries, departments and agencies did not always have updated or reliable information on the donations received and distributed, goods and services delivered and reports on the implementation status of the government initiatives to fight the pandemic.”
She said incorrect and outdated information was used across government departments.
“This resulted in some beneficiaries, including the government officials, receiving COVID-19 relief disbursements they might not have been entitled to. This defeated the purpose for which the disbursements were made as the intended beneficiaries could have been deprived of the assistance.”
COVID-19 allowances were supposed to be paid to small-to-medium enterprises whose incomes were affected by lockdowns, food-insecure households, people with disabilities, the elderly, chronically ill persons and child-headed households.
Information on the would-be beneficiaries was forwarded to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry through the provincial social welfare offices.
Investigations by NewsDay exposed how some Zanu PF and government officials manipulated the system for personal benefit.
On the disbursement of over $89 022 103, Chiri said: “The main reasons that caused the failure were that the processes of identification and assessment of intended beneficiaries were not properly co-ordinated, resulting in unreliable databases of beneficiaries, processing of payments to duplicate beneficiary names and beneficiaries who had similar identity numbers, but of different gender and dates of birth.”
There was also processing of payments to beneficiaries with fictitious identity numbers and suspicious names, incorrect and insufficient contact addresses as well as use of similar contact addresses for beneficiaries in districts.
“No follow-up mechanism was developed to verify the existence of the beneficiaries and whether the allowances had reached the intended beneficiaries.
“No feedback in the form of paysheets were provided by the Public Service ministry head office to provincial and district offices regarding the names of beneficiaries who had qualified and had been paid the COVID-19 relief allowances to facilitate confirmation of receipt and reconciliations.”
On COVID-19 relief allowances for youths, sportspersons and artists, the AG raised the red flag on the criteria used for the selection and registration of beneficiaries.
The red flag was also raised on allowances paid to government employees without “competent authority”.
“COVID-19 allowances and airtime paid to government employees. Seven ministries, departments and agencies in Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South paid COVID-19 allowances totalling $2 654 089 and airtime worth $22 165 to members of staff reporting for duty during the lockdown period covering April to July 2020 without competent authority.”
Management of quarantine centres was also marred in controversy as the cost of food provisions, accommodation, daily upkeep and transport of the inmates at the quarantine centres was not properly handled.
“There were no clear and documented guidelines on the process of determining the amount of bus fare to be given to discharge inmates. In some instances, there was no evidence that the discharged inmates had received the indicated amounts as they did not sign on the payment schedule.”
On money meant for the drilling of boreholes, she said: “Out of the 48 boreholes that DDF had planned to drill in the six provinces I visited, 31 boreholes were drilled, but were not functional as water pumps had not been installed. Eight boreholes were not drilled, three boreholes were drilled and water pumps installed, six were dry holes as at December 12, 2020.”
“An estimated total amount of $6 650 000 was spent on the 38 non-functional boreholes. The pumps were not installed due to inadequate planning and prioritisation to ensure that each borehole is worked on to completion rather than partly working on many boreholes, exhausting the available resources.”
Chiri said the objective for which the boreholes were drilled was not fully achieved as a result.
In some cases, she said there was an inadequate capacity assessment of contractors and there were cases of awarding of several contracts to one contractor. Newsday
By A correspondent- The Midlands province’s longest-serving traditional leader Chief Maziofa has died.
Chief Maziofa of Mberengwa in the Midlands Province, died of Covid-19 related complications yesterday.
He was 79.
Tamuka Hove, the chief’s son said his father, who was born Joshua Koda, succumbed to COVID-19 complications while on his way to the hospital on Wednesday at around 4 pm.
“He tested positive to COVID-19 some few weeks back and nurses at Mnene District Hospital administered some medication but allowed him to recuperate while home. His health, however, deteriorated yesterday afternoon and we rushed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead upon admission,” said the late Chief’s son.
Hove said the long-serving traditional leader, who was considered a fountain of wisdom in the entire Mberengwa District, will be dearly missed by the family.
“We are devastated. We will miss him, not only as a family but the whole district,” he said.
Chief Maziofa is survived by his wife Ruvamirai, 11 children and 22 grandchildren.
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance Harare West lawmaker, Joana Mamombe, has been profiled by one of the prestigious local women entrepreneurship movements.
The movement, GoGettermovement profiled Mamombe as one of the most outstanding young Zimbabwean women.
BY ZLHR | RUSAPE Magistrate Rufaro Mangwiro has acquitted a 27 year-old woman who had been on trial for allegedly assaulting or resisting a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer, in a case of spiteful vengeance after the law enforcement agent’s sexual advances towards her were rebuffed.
Nomatter Chikunguru, who resides in Rusape in Manicaland province was arrested on 9 April 2021 by some ZRP officers at around 11: PM and charged with assaulting or resisting a peace officer as defined in section 176 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Chukunguru was accused of refusing to be apprehended by shouting and throwing stones at Constable Brian Kasu and assaulting him when police officers who included Assistant Inspector Chisenye, Assistant Inspector Dhambu, Constable Muza, Constable Makwarimba and Constable Masuka among others, were deployed to enforce some regulations to curb the spread of coronavirus.
During trial, prosecutors told Magistrate Mangwiro that Chikunguru acted unlawfully by refusing to be arrested and shouting and throwing stones at Constable Kasu and assaulting him when police officers who were on night patrol raided a bottle store at Mabvazuva Shopping Centre.
Chikunguru, prosecutors said, was caught by a police dog as ZRP officers were reportedly trying to disperse a riotous “mob”.
However, Magistrate Mangwiro recently acquitted Chikunguru after a full trial.
In her defence, Chikunguru, who was represented by Peggy Tavagadza of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, argued that the charges levelled against her were a fabrication to cover up for abuse of power and brutality by Kasu and that she was a victim of police brutality who required the protection of the law.
The 27 year-old woman told Magistrate Mangwiro that she was arrested while she was going home from her work place at Rusape General Hospital, where she is employed as a mortician by Heritage Funeral Parlour.
Chikunguru charged that she was ill-treated by Kasu after she spurned his sexual advances and that some police officers had refused to assist her to report a case against the police officer and had to engage Tavagadza to file a complaint against ZRP officers.
By Dorrothy Moyo | Below are pictures of former Prime Minister Ian Smith and a group of his own poorlads, members of his own Polad (political actors dialogue) type in 1978, just before they were rewarded with Datsun 120y vehicles, the whole deal however falling apart in less than 4 months’ time.
Last week, ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa dished out Isuzu pick up trucks to 17 losers of the 2018 elections and on of them Prof Lovemore Madhuku has come under fire.
By A Correspondent- In a suspected case of incest and sexual abuse, a 15-year-old girl has refused to breastfeed the child she sired after being raped by her biological father.
The traumatized young mother (name concealed to protect her identity) was allegedly raped and impregnated by her biological father last year in October.
According to The Mirror, following the traumatic experience, the young mother left her baby and went to join her mother’s family in Gutu.
The baby is reportedly now under the care of a well-known orphanage in Shurugwi.
The accused father who stays in Shurugwi Sebanga Extension recently appeared before Shurugwi Magistrate Percy Mukumba facing rape charges.
Magistrate Mukumba denied him bail and remanded him in prison to August 11, 2021.
Allegations are that on October 9, 2020, the accused father went with the complainant to Chrome Mine Site, Lundi Bridge, Shurugwi.
Whilst there, the accused father raped the complainant on several occasions after telling her that he was fulfilling certain rituals.
The court heard that the complainant then got pregnant after being raped by the accused.
The matter only came to light when the complainant narrated her harrowing ordeal to her maternal grandmother. A police report was made leading to the arrest of the accused father.
After giving birth the young mother refused to breastfeed the baby, arguing that she was not going to breastfeed a child born out of incestuous engagement with her father.
Seeing that she didn’t want anything to do with the baby her maternal grandmother called the Department of Social Welfare which took the child to an orphanage.
Shurugwi Magistrate court is currently waiting for DNA results to prove the paternity of the innocent child.
Inter Milan have confirmed that Christian Eriksen is in “excellent physical and mental shape”, after he visited his team-mates on Wednesday morning for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
The midfielder also met Inter’s directors and staff, as well the club’s new manager, Simone Inzaghi.
A statement released by Inter reads: “The Danish midfielder met the club directors, the coach, teammates and all of the staff present. Eriksen is doing well and is in excellent physical and mental shape.
“He will now follow the recovery programme put forward by Danish doctors in Copenhagen, who will also co-ordinate the clinical follow-up. The Inter medical staff will naturally be kept informed and up to date throughout the process.”
Eriksen collapsed on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 game against Finland on June 12.
He spent six days in hospital, where he was fitted with a defibrillator (ICD).
However, this put his future at Inter in the balance as footballers with pacemakers fitted cannot play in Italy, unlike in some other countries.
The tests he is undergoing will eventually determine whether or not he can have it removed, allowing him to stay at Inter. – Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Luton Town striker Harry Cornick has been impressed by new signing Admiral Muskwe and expects more from the striker.
Muskwe signed with the English Championship side on a permanent transfer from Leicester City for an undisclosed fee last month.
The Zimbabwean featured in the team’s pre-season games andcame on as a second half substitute in the final warm-up match against Brighton last weekend.
Reflecting on the striker’s performance thus far, Cornick said: “Admiral’s (Muskwe) came in and it’s the first glimpse of what he’s done.
“He looks strong, he looks quick, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with as well, so we’ve got so many attacking options that any three out there, or two, whatever the gaffer wants to play is going to be an attacking threat.”
Meanwhile, the transfer to Luton marked Muskwe’s return to the English Championship after spending a six-month loan spell with the now-relegated side Wycombe Wanderers last season.
The 2021-22 campaign will start this weekend with Luton facing Peterborough at home.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent- The late Masvingo Deputy Provincial Intelligence Officer and provincial liberation hero Norman Kujoka was buried on Tuesday at his East Range Farm in Makonde district where he was described as a true gallant son of the soil.
He was 58.
Kujoka, who died after a short illness, joined the liberation struggle at age 14 in 1977 and after independence, he was to join the President’s Department in 1986 and rose through the ranks to become a deputy provincial intelligence officer.
Speaking at his burial, Deputy Director in the President’s Office Responsible for Internal Affairs, Mr Ishmael Mada, described Kujoka as a true patriot who served his nation diligently before and after independence.
“He left us a legacy. He was consistent and persistent and he remained loyal and patriotic. Other officers in the department should emulate Kujoka who never accepted bribes.”
A war veterans’ representative, Noah Kasikai, spoke glowingly about Kujoka.
Mashonaland West Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr Josphat Jaji, said the department and the Masvingo and Mashonaland West provinces will be poorer without Kujoka.
Kujoka is survived by his wife, Constance, and three children.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has dismissed the new rhumba released by Roki in collaboration with Koffi Olomide and Panganai Java as a fluke.
In the song the Congolese rhumba musician chants: “ED Mnangagwa Number 1 …”
Irate Zimbabweans have accused Java, Roki and Koffi Olomide of endorsing Mr Mnangagwa who is “presiding over a stolen mandate.”
The Congolese singer also makes suggestive dances that denegrate Mr Mnangagwa’s character .
Advocate Mahere accused Mnangagwa of attempting to capture artists to magnify his brand.
“So your “plan” is to capture artists, make them sing your praise and then you will suddenly become popular?
It will not work! The people can see from their pockets that the country is going in the wrong direction. Rhumba propaganda won’t change this.
We need new leaders!Flag of Zimbabwe,” argued Advocate Mahere.
“We don’t need a rhumba song.We need functioning hospitals. We need good schools. We need clean water. We need jobs.
We need reliable public transport. We need food on the table.We need decent wages. We need modern infrastructure. We beed freedom. We need new leaders,” added Advocate Mahere.
There has been a lot of transfer activity among Zimbabwean players based in foreign leagues across the globe in this pre-season window.
About thirty-five players have either completed their transfers or signed new deals.
Leading the list is Warriors captain Knowledge Musona who switched to Saudi Arabia after leaving Anderlecht in Belgium. Teenage Hadebe and Alec Mudimu are no longer based in Turkey, with the former now playing in USA.
Admiral Muskwe left Leicester City and completed a permanent transfer to the English Championship while Brendan Galloway and Macauley Bonne will be playing in the English League One in the 2021-22 campaign.
Costa Nhamoinesu ended his Indian stint and returned to Europe to join Polish second-tier team TS Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała.
In South Africa, top-flight side Sekhukhune United has been heavily involved with Zimbabwean players and recently signed Willard Katsande, Talent Chawapiwa, Charlton Mashumba, among others.
Katsande joined the club after his stay was not extended at Kaizer Chiefs.
Khama Billiat will remain with Amakhosi following his contract extension.
More deals are expected come on during this window but for now, here are the completed transfers and deals so far.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean champions FC Platinum have entered into a partnership deal with Spanish side Real Betis which might see some players from the Zvishavane based side playing in the La Liga.
Real Betis which opened an academy in Zimbabwe last year through a partnership with Athletes Sports Management is exploring more partnerships with Zimbabwean football with FC Platinum being the latest entity.
FC Platinum officials are in Seville Spain on a tour of Real Betis and the partnership deal is set to be announced in the coming days where the finer details will be unpacked.
La Liga remains one of the two major European league where no Zimbabwean player has ever featured in.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has dismissed the new rhumba released by Roki in collaboration with Koffi Olomide and Panganai Java as a fluke.
In the song the Congolese rhumba musician chants: “ED Mnangagwa Number 1 …”
Irate Zimbabweans have accused Java, Roki and Koffi Olomide of endorsing Mr Mnangagwa who is “presiding over a stolen mandate.”
The Congolese singer also makes suggestive dances that denegrate Mr Mnangagwa’s character .
Advocate Mahere accused Mnangagwa of attempting to capture artists to magnify his brand.
“So your “plan” is to capture artists, make them sing your praise and then you will suddenly become popular?
It will not work! The people can see from their pockets that the country is going in the wrong direction. Rhumba propaganda won’t change this.
We need new leaders!Flag of Zimbabwe,” argued Advocate Mahere.
“We don’t need a rhumba song.We need functioning hospitals. We need good schools. We need clean water. We need jobs.
We need reliable public transport. We need food on the table.We need decent wages. We need modern infrastructure. We beed freedom. We need new leaders,” added Advocate Mahere.
Tinashe Sambiri|The way Zimbabweans have reacted to Koffi Olomide’s chant “ED Mnangagwa, Number One” in the song Patati Patata is a reflection of how unpopular Zanu PF has become, political observers have said.
The line that praises Mnangagwa has ruined the exciting project according to analysts.Panganai Java, Roki and Tanzanian artist Rayvany are part of the ambitious project.
Below are some of the the responses from angry Zimbabweans:
Annalise Keating: And to think of it ,Mari yakashandiswa for everything ndeyenyika,because hapana paangati ED on a project that wasn’t funded by the gvt ,they are no needles to sew wounds in hospitals even women in labour,and you are using state money to fund Koffi Olomide and Rocky …zvinorwadza izvi…what kind of Tomfoolery is this,Java is the worst charlatan veduweeeeee
Jay J Mwenesane: Did Kofi make a ZANU song or? The way I love his music …. But just like all the other ZANU music puppets – I’ll never ever support him again if that is true!
Thatt Guy: It’s not a secret that everyone hates Zanu-PF so if what you’re doing includes Zanu-PF then it’s automatically rejected artists be wise.
Martha Savanhu Gororo: What’s sad is that Passion Java ari kupihwa mari svinu to enroll these artists and kill their careers in the process for Zanu PF’s campaign and all they ever get are the crumbs that fall off his table.
Sakala Ashani: You just don’t come from Congo to endorse number 1 public enemy…. I feel for rocky his image has been tainted.
This year, for WBW 2021, WABA has selected the theme: Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility. The theme is aligned with thematic area 2 of the WBW-SDG 2030 campaign which highlights the links between breastfeeding and survival, health and wellbeing of women, children and nations.
WABA states that this year’s objectives are to:
Inform people about the importance of protecting breastfeeding. Anchor breastfeeding support as a vital public health responsibility. Engage with individuals and organizations for greater impact. Galvanize action on protecting breastfeeding to improve public health.
Pregnancy and lactation are an especially vulnerable time for working women and their families. Expectant and nursing mothers require special protection to prevent harm to their or their infants’ health, and they need adequate time to give birth, to recover, and to nurse their children. At the same time, they also require protection to ensure that their jobs are not jeopardized because of pregnancy or maternity leave.
Maternity Protection is key to enable breastfeeding and empower parents for a successful implementation of recommended breastfeeding practices. PAHO/WHO recommends that countries must implement and reenforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes at all levels. It is vital to ensure that breastfeeding mothers do not get targeted by the industry, marketing or public health professional who want to jeopardize their breastfeeding by promoting formula-feeding
BREASTFEEDING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
PAHO/WHO continue to recommend that standard infant feeding guidelines be adhered to during the COVID-19 pandemic. The standard infant feeding guidelines are:
Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, Exclusive breastfeeding until babies are six months old, and Continued breastfeeding along with nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, until age two years old or beyond.
The benefits of breastfeeding and nurturing mother-infant interaction to prevent infection and promote health and development are especially important when health and other community services are themselves disrupted or limited
Mothers and infants should be supported to remain together, and practice skin-to-skin contact and/or kangaroo care whether or not they or their infants have suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 virus infection.
Breastfeeding counseling, basic psychosocial support, and practical feeding support should be provided to all pregnant women and mothers with infants and young children…
Source : WHO/ PAHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with murder cases which are emanating from petty family, friends, and beer drinking disputes in the country.
In some of the cases, people will be contravening the Government’s COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions and safety measures.
On 31st July 2021, a 38-year-old man was fatally assaulted by a suspect only known as Mosquito after a misunderstanding during a beer drinking spree, at an open space in Unit L, Seke, Chitungwiza.
On 2nd August 2021, a Chikuti man (42) was fatally struck once on the head with a brick by his friend after a quarrel over US$60 he borrowed from the suspect. The victim was referred to Mtala Clinic where he was pronounced dead on admission.
On the same date, and at a certain bottle store in Zaka, a 35-year-old man struck a male adult aged 72 with a wooden chair once on the head, after his token of appreciation request, for assisting the victim to rescue his trapped cow, was turned down by the victim.
On 28 July 2021, at around 0900 hours, a 92-year-old man was attacked by a suspected mentally challenged man (29) who wrestled him and took away his walking stick before striking him once on the head for unknown reasons. The victim was referred to Shamva Hospital where he died on 1st August 2021.
The suspect was arrested and has since appeared before Bindura Magistrate Court where he was remanded in custody.
In a related case, Police are investigating an attempted murder case which occurred on 1st August 2021, in Dete, where a 20-year-old man struck the complainant once on the head with an axe over allegations that the complainant and her husband were denying him groceries bought by his mother who is in South Africa. The suspect has since been arrested.
Meanwhile, Police have arrested Duncan Xolani Hadebe (35) in connection with a case of attempted murder that occurred on 31st July 2021, in which the suspect fired two live rounds with an EN rifle towards the complainant after a land dispute.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges Zimbabweans to value human life and resolve differences through peaceful means.
Tinashe Sambiri|The way Zimbabweans have reacted to Koffi Olomide’s chant “ED Mnangagwa, Number One” in the song Patati Patata is a reflection of how unpopular Zanu PF has become, political observers have said.
The line that praises Mnangagwa has ruined the exciting project according to analysts.Panganai Java, Roki and Tanzanian artist Rayvany are part of the ambitious project.
Below are some of the the responses from angry Zimbabweans:
Annalise Keating: And to think of it ,Mari yakashandiswa for everything ndeyenyika,because hapana paangati ED on a project that wasn’t funded by the gvt ,they are no needles to sew wounds in hospitals even women in labour,and you are using state money to fund Koffi Olomide and Rocky …zvinorwadza izvi…what kind of Tomfoolery is this,Java is the worst charlatan veduweeeeee
Jay J Mwenesane: Did Kofi make a ZANU song or? The way I love his music …. But just like all the other ZANU music puppets – I’ll never ever support him again if that is true!
Thatt Guy: It’s not a secret that everyone hates Zanu-PF so if what you’re doing includes Zanu-PF then it’s automatically rejected artists be wise.
Martha Savanhu Gororo: What’s sad is that Passion Java ari kupihwa mari svinu to enroll these artists and kill their careers in the process for Zanu PF’s campaign and all they ever get are the crumbs that fall off his table.
Sakala Ashani: You just don’t come from Congo to endorse number 1 public enemy…. I feel for rocky his image has been tainted.
THE Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) president Enoch Dongo has appealed for pregnant nurses to be exempted from working as COVID-19 frontline workers following increased deaths of expecting nurses at health institutions.
His statement came amid reports that eight pregnant nurses at the United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) succumbed to COVID-19 on Monday.
Dongo said COVID-19 was causing havoc in hospitals, adding that expecting mothers should not be frontliners and should be exempted from duty at toxic places like hospitals.
“When one is pregnant, their system is somehow compromised and the worst part is they are working without enough personal protective equipment, which is putting their lives and the baby’s life at risk,” he said.
Last week, more than 100 pregnant women were quarantined in Matabeleland North after they tested positive to COVID-19.
By A Correspondent- The Rushinga community has blasted its traditional leadership, Forestry Commission and Rural District Council for corruptly awarding an obscure company known as Vira Vika a tender to harvest timber in the local.
An insider who spoke to Bulawayo24.com said the local people were not even addressed but alleged that it was a shady deal between Chief Makuni and Chief Rusambo, the Acting CEO for Rushinga Rural District Council (RDC) Kudakwashe Jonasi, the legislator Tendai Nyabani as well as the local Forestry Commission representative identified as Shava.
The company is said to be harvesting five indigenous commercial timber species in eight wards of Rushinga which are ward one to four and twenty one to twenty four.
“It is said that the timber is being exported to China but the exit point is not yet known.
Nobody knows where the company is based but some think that it is not locally based since it does not employ the local residents, but Mozambicans,” said the anonymous source.
The shady deal has been allegedly going on for about a year now and the local residents are afraid that they may lose all of their indigenous timber without them benefitting.
Indigenous trees are protected species and it is alleged that the deal was done ‘above board’, but destroying the border line and the ecosystem at large.
Four of the company members were introduced to a few Rushinga individuals by Nyabani to whom he said the Chief, Forestry Commission and Council are aware.
“Forestry Commission is said to be the one which gave authority for the timber to be ravaged.
It is said that there is a Memorandum of Understanding which says Vira Vika will do reforestation and afforestation, but with no proof on the ground,” the source said.
Responding to concerns by furious local residents in a WhatsApp group, Shava said that Vira Vika went through all the right procedures.
“The company that is harvesting timber is called Vira Vika resources, Forestry Commission, Rushinga RDC and Vira Vika resources have signed a Memorandum of Agreement which expires in 2022.
The operations have the full blessings of the Environment Committee of Rushinga RDC, traditional leaders and the local communities involved,” read part of the message Shava sent.
Shava also said that Vira Vika pays monthly royalty fees to Rushinga RDC and supervisory fees to Forestry Commission at USD33/cubic metre of timber they harvest.
“47.5% of the money goes to the ward where the trees are being harvested to fund approved projects, 47,5% goes to RDC Account and 5% goes to Forestry Commission.
The projects for the community involves reforestation and afforestation. It’s only that some of the money for the Community is still stake in the Campfire account,” Shava added.
However, the local people are not even sure if the Campfire account exists since there are a number of projects that are still pending, with some of them above a year, such as the Katoni Clinic.
Contacted for commenting severally, Shava’s phone rang unanswered while Mashonaland Central Council Chair Spencer Chivarange and Jonasi’s phones were not going through up to the time of publication.
By A Correspondent| Opposition MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has clashed with exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo after the former praised Professor Lovemore Madhuku for the speech he made while addressing a press conference recently.
The full video was posted on twitter by The Zimbabwe Sentinel and Mwonzora could not hide his appreciation of what he said was Madhuku’s clarity and intelligence.
This did not go down well with Professor Jonathan Moyo who fired back saying Madhuku’s intelligence was similar to the late Bishop Abel Muzorewa.
Below is the full transcript of Mwonzora, Jonathan Moyo exchanges….
MWONZORA: Haa Prof Madhuku has clarity. He is intelligent. A true academic
PROF JONATHAN MOYO: Politically, he is as intelligent as Bishop Abel Muzorewa!
MWONZORA: He never wrote POSA or AIPPA
PROF JONATHAN MOYO: By the way thanks for the tag. As a lawyer you know the ZanuPF lawyers who actually wrote POSA & AIPPA, as you’re in bed with them under your Commissar, Patrick Chinamasa, chief ZanuPF lawyer who supervised the actual legal drafting of POSA & AIPPA & steered them in Parliament!
MWONZORA: We all know who was behind POSA and AIPPA. We also all know who gave out community radio licences to Zanu PF people only. That person can not teach us democracy.
PROF JONATHAN MOYO: Crap. Your ZANUPF HOMEGIRL, Monica Mutsvangwa, gave community radio stations only to your party ZanuPF. I didn’t give a single radio license to anyone. And your ZANUPF HOMEBOY, Patrick Chinamasa, wrote POSA & AIPPA. Go ahead & defend your other ZanuPF HOMEBOY, Lovemore Madhuku!
MWONZORA: Prof Madhuku is intelligent and hate free. He is also not tribalistic. He has been fighting for a good constitutional order in the country. He was beaten and left for dead near the National Sports stadium. Like most Democrats he fought against AIPPA and POSA
By A Correspondent| Exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has dashed to the defence of urban grooves star Roki who came under fire on social media over controversial lines on his newly released song where Rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide mentions President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Posting on Twitter, Jonathan Moyo said people tearing into Koffi Olomide over his ‘ED Mnangagwa Number One’ line needed moral compass as the chant is not offensive.
He appealed to Zimbabweans to give Roki a break saying he deserves it.
“If anyone is offended by the insipid Kofi Olomide lyric, “ED Munangagwa, Number One”, which he chants only once in his “Patati Patata” collabo with Roki & Tanzania’s Rayvany, then they need a moral compass. The chant is dumb, but not offensive. Give #Roki a break, he deserves it!” said Jonathan Moyo.
If anyone is offended by the insipid Kofi Olomide lyric, "ED Munangagwa, Number One", which he chants only once in his "Patati Patata" collabo with Roki & Tanzania's Rayvany, then they need a moral compass. The chant is dumb, but not offensive. Give #Roki a break, he deserves it! pic.twitter.com/MY4p4ZreW6
Harare City Council is struggling to service its ZWL 1.9 million ballooning electricity debt largely emanating from water purification from Morton Jaffray Water Works. This was revealed during a Virtual Budget Performance Review Meeting held today which was attended by various stakeholders and City Officials from various departments.
Mrs. Musere, the Budgets Manager at the City of Harare explained that the City of Harare owes the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority ZWL1.9 million debt and that the City’s monthly electricity bill is now hovering around ZWL1.15 million with Morton Jaffrey water treatment plant contributing a larger chunk of the electricity costs.
“The City must come up with a strategy to curtail the electricity costs and in view of devolution, the local authority needs to consider providing its own electricity” , said Mr Matumbike the Director of Local Government Trust during the meeting.
In a bid to reduce the amounts the City owes its suppliers on goods and services, the City has come up with a wider range of tactics which include unleashing debt collectors, water disconnections, litigation, blacklisting, evictions and customer engagement.
On the engagement of debt collectors and water disconnections, Mr Hardlife Mudzingwa, the National Coordinator for Community Water Alliance encouraged the local authority to act lawfully and consider the implications of water disconnections during the COVID pandemic.
Some residents who participated in the Budget Performance Review Meeting called on Council to fix its billing system and increase efficiency in its banking halls as this boosted resident’s confidence to pay rates.
The City of Harare is now owed ZWL10 billion as of June 2021 from ZWL2 billion as at January 2021.
CHRA calls upon stakeholders and the City of Harare to join hands in improving revenue inflows, and the government to disburse “devolution” funds as this will go a long way in financing capital projects for the City thereby improving service delivery.
By Luke Tamborinyoka- We gather here today having listened to your solemn plea for unity amongst the democratic forces in the country.
While all the democratic voices are not represented, our diversity here stands as a testament to the encouraging fact that Zimbabweans are converging on the one important idea of putting the people’s collective interests at the fulcrum of our national politics.
Faced with a failed leadership that has abandoned the people, we gather here in this political mixture that can only give hope and confidence to a despondent nation. It is you, the people who demanded this unity and today, we have come here to publicly testify that we heeded your call.
We have not closed the door to anyone and more will join this huge people’s train to stability, peace and growth. Today, we show that we have graduated from a dark past of needless fragmentation.
That needless fragmentation not only deflated hopes and punctured national confidence but it slowly led to people staying away from national processes and losing faith in elections. In the end, apathy and despondency stood out as the winners.
The fight against violence, for political reforms and an even playing field became weaker as our politics became scattered and personalized. We had to reverse those negative developments that bred apathy and dimmed all prospects of change in this country. The kaleidoscopic mix of our political identities today is meant to infuse hope and to underline the theme of the alliance that we launch here today; and that underlying theme is that Alone , we can go fast but together we go far .
Fellow Zimbabweans, we gather here with the sole aim of going far in meeting the national expectation of bringing positive change in the lives of the people. Far defined as hope, confidence and the honest pursuit of the happiness of the people of this great country.
We have no other country except this one and we come to you today united in our diversity to show that we listened to you; to your sonorous cry that together we can only be stronger. An alliance beyond political parties We gather here as more than just the seven political parties.
As you have seen and heard from the solidarity messages, our alliance goes beyond just political parties to include students, women’s movements, vendors, war veterans, the church, labour, transport operators and touts, the civic movement and other social networks.
It is simply a broad church of diverse Zimbabweans brought together by a common desire to bring about positive change in the lives of the people. Our broad mass shall be stronger and will complete the tortuous journey towards democracy that saw the murder of more than 600 opposition activists in the past 17 years , not to mention the over 20 000 innocent Zimbabweans callously murdered during the Gukurahundi genocide.
This arduous and painful journey includes the thousands of sons and daughters of this land who died in the liberation struggle so that our national dream could live again. So today, we gather here united beyond the parochial banner of party slogans and symbols.
We gather here as a broad alliance of Zimbabweans fighting for a new, competent national leadership and the pursuit of a new governance culture in line with a progressive national Constitution that we made ourselves and loudly affirmed in a referendum.
Our common policy agenda I have said it before and I will repeat it here that this alliance is not just about seats, titles and posts. It is far much greater than that. It goes beyond the narrow and petty interests to include a common and credible policy agenda that will serve as a key signpost to the positive change that we seek as a country.
In the coming months, we will be presenting to you our comprehensive policy agenda for Zimbabwe that we are now polishing up as an alliance. Our coming together is substantively more than just an election pact about seats and a post-election governance structure. It is an Alliance that will see us present to you a robust policy agenda that we will embark upon after the next watershed election.
Given the comatose state of our industry, our dilapidated infrastructure and the country’s despicable and tenuous predicament, it has become imperative that we embark on a transformative and not a simple recovery agenda.
As I have said before, recovery is an understatement of what we need to do. We simply need to start afresh. Indeed, our national predicament in all facets is now well beyond any patchwork. It simply demands a robust transformative agenda.
All alliance partners are converging on that transformative policy programme that will yield a people’s manifesto with minute details on the key tenets for transformation, not recovery.
Fellow Zimbabweans, I assure you we will not commit the same grievous mistake made by our colleagues when they came into office in 1980, with the mistaken belief that independence was the destination when in fact 1980 actually marked the beginning of a critical phase of the struggle.
They came in without a cogent programme and we must not travel the same ruinous path of simply seeking change without a prudent plan. Our alliance goes beyond simply consigning Mugabe and Zanu PF to the dustbins of history.
We are very clear that the real work and purpose of our alliance begins the day after the defeat of the strongman and his clueless colleagues. Put simply, ladies and gentlemen, our alliance is sprucing up a common policy agenda that we are certain will drive the country out of the current doldrums and put the smiles back on the face of the people of Zimbabwe.
Conclusion
I wish to conclude that today is not a day of speeches but an occasion of celebrating our coming together as you the people demanded.
Today, I have reunited with my former colleagues in the MDC as well as with the leaders of other political parties and social movements that are with us here today. We have not allowed ourselves to be prisoners of the past.
Instead, we are determined to be drivers of the future. Personal egos and petty differences cannot stand in the way of the fulfillment of a hope whose hour has come.
In the same spirit of our unity here today, I urge the nation to rally together and to encourage each other to be active participants in national processes especially as we brace for the impending voter registration period.
Indeed, alliances, slogans and our endless complaints in the townships and in the villages will not help us if we do not register to vote. In our various political parties and in all our social networks, let us register to vote because our future is literally in our hands.
We stand on the cusp of a new country and only a huge turn out on the polling day will make a palpable difference. Students, vendors, traditional leaders, women’s groups, war veterans and other social movements must all turn out in their huge numbers to register to vote.
As a coalition and as an alliance, we will traverse the country, reinforcing the same message of encouraging everyone to participate in the bringing about of positive change in our country.
We need to restate publicly the gospel of unity. In bars, in churches, in the villages and in the urban areas where we stay, let us remind each other that future generations will not forgive us if we allow next year’s chance to slip away. It is a glorious chance that comes to us the ordinary people once in five years.
We must make the most of it. Let us embolden this huge coalition for change, underpinned by the knowledge that we cannot do this alone in our exclusive social spaces.
Let us reunite and join the MDC Alliance in voting for one Presidential candidate, one parliamentary candidate and one ward representative under the banner of the MDC Alliance. Zimbabweans remember the positive change that we brought into this country between 2009 and 2013, even though we were tethered to clueless partners.
With an exclusive mandate to govern this country in 2018 under the united banner of the MDC Alliance, we can only do more and go far in fulfilling the collective aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe.
Make no mistake about it; you the people under the banner of the MDC Alliance will resoundingly win the next election. We appeal to the region and to the world to stand by the people of this country as they navigate these dicey moments under a brutal regime.
The world must stand with the country’s people and not with the country’s leaders. Today we begin the march to victory and indeed, together we will go far.
Congratulations Zimbabwe for endorsing this huge alliance as it marches to a resounding victory. We heard you and we have heeded your call. In my case, I spent one and half months traversing all the country’s districts and the people’s message was clear and unambiguous that there is no substitute for the unity of all democratic forces.
As our colleagues in Zanu PF disintegrate into factional smithereens–and as they foist on us a clueless 94 year old as a Presidential candidate—let us galvanize the nation for the huge lesson we will teach them in 2018.
That lesson is never to take the people for granted. August is that great month when we celebrate Heroes Day in Zimbabwe. It is befitting that we have chosen the month of August to showcase this one huge heroic act of togetherness through this massive crowd of many political colours that is gathered here in the Zimbabwe Grounds.
It could only happen at no other venue but the Zimbabwe grounds, that citadel of the national spirit. On the eve of every new dispensation in the history of this country, this venue has always proved to be an unshackled bastion and a ceremonial home of people power. Today, we send a message to the world that together we are stronger.
Indeed, together we can. And together, we will go far. Together. Tose . Sonke . Today, we put the regime on notice.
Thank You Zimbabwe
Luke Tamborinyoka is the Deputy Secretary for Presidential Affairs in the MDC Alliance led by the people’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa . Tamborinyoka , a multiple award-winning journalist and former secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists , was Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson until the latter’s death in February 2018 .
By A Correspondent- A Mhangura family on Friday buried a wrong corpse after a mix-up occurred during collection of the body at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital.
Sources at the hospital told a local publication that the unfortunate incident has led to the suspension of the mortuary attendant.
The Mhangura family collected the body of Samson Mazivisa, 80, who died on July 25 in Alaska instead of Eriya Banda of Mhangura.
Mazivisa was buried in Mhangura on July 28 before he was exhumed last week.
Mazivisa was supposed to have been buried at Glane State farm in Alaska on Friday.
His body was later exhumed the following day.
A close relative told H-Metro that they were shocked when his body could not be found at the mortuary.
“We were supposed to have buried him here in Alaska on Friday but there was a mix-up of bodies at the mortuary. We had already dug the grave in anticipation of his burial,” said the relative.
An eyewitness who attended the burial in Mhangura told H-Metro that the man, Eraya Banda, succumbed to Covid-19 and his body was taken to the provincial mortuary as the family prepared for his burial.
However, on Friday, the Banda family went to collect the wrong body and the mix up was discovered when the other family went to collect the body of their relative when they discovered that it was the wrong body.
A source at the hospital told H-Metro that the mortuary attendant was to blame as he did not take part in the identification process as he remained in his office instead of accompanying both the funeral parlour driver and the relatives to identify the body.
“I understand the mortuary attendant did not help as he remained seated in his office, leaving the driver and the relatives to identify the body on their own. There was an element of negligence by him,” said the source.
Banda’s relative told H-Metro that the family was devastated and shocked by the mix-up.
“We are yet to come to terms with what happened. The driver of the funeral parlour told us that it was the body of our relative and due to Covid-19 restrictions, the parlour collected the body.”
He said they took the body for burial in Mhangura and buried it.
“We were shocked when we got a call from Chinhoyi that we had buried the wrong body. Takaudzwa kuti Covid-19 bodies hadziitwe body viewing and there was no way we could have known that, it was not our fault,” he said.
The relative said the Mazivisa family came around 6pm and they had to go to the graveyard with a team from the health and funeral parlour to exhume the body.
“They came and exhumed the body and took it away.
“Just imagine what we went through? Zvakaoma chose,” he said.
The relative said that they went and correctly identified their father and took him for burial.
“We dug another grave and buried him yesterday.”
A source at the hospital said the medical superintendent Dr Mawire and the manager of the funeral parlour was there and went to Chemagamba police to rectify the anomaly.
An official from the private parlour who agreed to talk on condition of anonymity told H-Metro that they were not at fault of what had transpired at the hospital.
“Once the deceased was positively identified to us by the relative and mortuary attended, we then proceeded to place of burial as per family instructions.
It was later discovered that there had been an error in the process,” he said.
He added:
“The police, hospital and family were involved in establishing what transpired and was found that we were not at fault. Yes exhumation was carried out and corrective measures since taken,” said the official
He said it was important that, the deceased was identified at the hospital mortuary by a relative.
By A Correspondent- A 29 year old Epworth man was yesterday dragged to court to answer to charges of having se_xual intercourse with a minor after he reportedly slept with his teenage girlfriend.
The suspect White Jack, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga.
Allegations are that Jack proposed love to the 15 year old girl who is currently in form two in March and she accepted his proposal.
The two reportedly started dating and seeing each other occasionally.
The court heard that on one occasion, the two met along Delport Road and they drove to Muza area and parked in a bushy area and while they were there, Jack caressed the minor and removed her clothes before having se_xual intercourse with her.
From then, the two started having se_xual intercourse on different occasions.
On June 14, Jack called the minor on her cell phone intending to talk to her but the phone was answered by her mother who then quizzed her daughter about Jack prompting her to confess about her relationship with Jack and that they had had se_xual intercourse on several occasions.
Jack was arrested subsequently after the confession.
Memory is a site of the struggle. Today marks the 4th anniversary of the MDC Alliance that was launched in Highfield, Harare, at the ceremonial citadel of people power, the Zimbabwe Grounds, exactly four years ago to the day.
As his spokesman, I spent a whole afternoon early August 2017 with the MDC Alliance leader Dr Morgan Tsvangirai cobbling his launch speech at the big event of the 5th of August 2017. Today, the MDC Alliance still stands tall, despite a wickedly huge effort by the regime and its paid surrogates to decimate the people’s project. Those of us who were Tsvangirai’s trusted lieutenants know that the MDC Alliance is Morgan Tsvangirai’s true legacy, a living testament of his valedictory wish to leave a united opposition in this country.
Ironically, the paid regime surrogates had other ideas, including those that formed dubious and treacherous outfits such as DefendingMorganTsvangiraiLegacy (DMTL), when in fact they were tenaciously fighting and undermining the man’s legacy. The MDC Alliance that is led by the people’s President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, is the true legacy of Morgan Tsvangirai, from whom we learnt the value of selfless service and aacrifice and the credence of never selling out the people’s cause. One cannot purport to be defending Tsvangirai’s legacy when they are stridently fighting the very political outfit that the doyen of our time bequeathed as a lasting political treasure for the people of Zimbabwe. Morgan Tsvangirai was the leader and key signatory to the MDC Alliance agreement and one cannot recall the elected representatives of the same entity and claim they are doing so in furtherance of Tsvangirai’s legacy.
It can’t!
I had the privilege as his spokesman to drive in the same car across the country with Morgan Tsvangirai on a nationwide one-and-a-half-months consultative tour where Zimbabweans in their huge numbers demanded that Tsvangirai must form and lead a broad, united political front. The MDC Alliance was Morgan Tsvangirai’s response to that national call; the same Alliance that is being tenaciously fought by Zanu-PF and those who have chosen to sell out the people’s struggle for a measly 30 pieces of silver.
Under the able leadership of President Chamisa, we have restated the same value of a united citizen front by exhorting the Citizens’ Convergence for Change (CCC). The aim is to restate the cardinal principle that in the politics that we transact, the people, nay the citizens in their broad and united sense, must always be the drivers of our democratic struggle.
Today, on the 4th anniversary of the launch of the MDC Alliance, I republish Morgan Tsvangirai’s speech at the occasion so that readers can glean the mind and thoughts of this great man; what he thought was the mission, vision, agenda and purpose of the MDC Alliance, the political behemoth of our time that Zanu PF and its paid surrogates have sought in vain to decimate in their desperate bid to unscramble the egg.
We gather here today having listened to your solemn plea for unity amongst the democratic forces in the country. While all the democratic voices are not represented, our diversity here stands as a testament to the encouraging fact that Zimbabweans are converging on the one important idea of putting the people’s collective interests at the fulcrum of our national politics.
Faced with a failed leadership that has abandoned the people, we gather here in this political mixture that can only give hope and confidence to a despondent nation.
It is you, the people who demanded this unity and today, we have come here to publicly testify that we heeded your call. We have not closed the door to anyone and more will join this huge people’s train to stability, peace and growth.
Today, we show that we have graduated from a dark past of needless fragmentation. That needless fragmentation not only deflated hopes and punctured national confidence but it slowly led to people staying away from national processes and losing faith in elections. In the end, apathy and despondency stood out as the winners.
The fight against violence, for political reforms and an even playing field became weaker as our politics became scattered and personalized.
We had to reverse those negative developments that bred apathy and dimmed all prospects of change in this country. The kaleidoscopic mix of our political identities today is meant to infuse hope and to underline the theme of the alliance that we launch here today; and that underlying theme is that Alone , wecangofastbuttogetherwegofar .
Fellow Zimbabweans, we gather here with the sole aim of going far in meeting the national expectation of bringing positive change in the lives of the people. Far defined as hope, confidence and the honest pursuit of the happiness of the people of this great country. We have no other country except this one and we come to you today united in our diversity to show that we listened to you; to your sonorous cry that together we can only be stronger.
Analliancebeyondpoliticalparties
We gather here as more than just the seven political parties. As you have seen and heard from the solidarity messages, our alliance goes beyond just political parties to include students, women’s movements, vendors, war veterans, the church, labour, transport operators and touts, the civic movement and other social networks. It is simply a broad church of diverse Zimbabweans brought together by a common desire to bring about positive change in the lives of the people.
Our broad mass shall be stronger and will complete the tortuous journey towards democracy that saw the murder of more than 600 opposition activists in the past 17 years , not to mention the over 20 000 innocent Zimbabweans callously murdered during the Gukurahundi genocide. This arduous and painful journey includes the thousands of sons and daughters of this land who died in the liberation struggle so that our national dream could live again.
So today, we gather here united beyond the parochial banner of party slogans and symbols. We gather here as a broad alliance of Zimbabweans fighting for a new, competent national leadership and the pursuit of a new governance culture in line with a progressive national Constitution that we made ourselves and loudly affirmed in a referendum.
Ourcommonpolicyagenda
I have said it before and I will repeat it here that this alliance is not just about seats, titles and posts. It is far much greater than that. It goes beyond the narrow and petty interests to include a common and credible policy agenda that will serve as a key signpost to the positive change that we seek as a country.
In the coming months, we will be presenting to you our comprehensive policy agenda for Zimbabwe that we are now polishing up as an alliance. Our coming together is substantively more than just an election pact about seats and a post-election governance structure. It is an Alliance that will see us present to you a robust policy agenda that we will embark upon after the next watershed election.
Given the comatose state of our industry, our dilapidated infrastructure and the country’s despicable and tenuous predicament, it has become imperative that we embark on a transformative and not a simple recovery agenda. As I have said before, recovery is an understatement of what we need to do. We simply need to start afresh.
Indeed, our national predicament in all facets is now well beyond any patchwork. It simply demands a robust transformative agenda. All alliance partners are converging on that transformative policy programme that will yield a people’s manifesto with minute details on the key tenets for transformation, not recovery.
Fellow Zimbabweans, I assure you we will not commit the same grievous mistake made by our colleagues when they came into office in 1980, with the mistaken belief that independence was the destination when in fact 1980 actually marked the beginning of a critical phase of the struggle. They came in without a cogent programme and we must not travel the same ruinous path of simply seeking change without a prudent plan.
Our alliance goes beyond simply consigning Mugabe and Zanu PF to the dustbins of history. We are very clear that the real work and purpose of our alliance begins the day after the defeat of the strongman and his clueless colleagues.
Put simply, ladies and gentlemen, our alliance is sprucing up a common policy agenda that we are certain will drive the country out of the current doldrums and put the smiles back on the face of the people of Zimbabwe.
Conclusion
I wish to conclude that today is not a day of speeches but an occasion of celebrating our coming together as you the people demanded.
Today, I have reunited with my former colleagues in the MDC as well as with the leaders of other political parties and social movements that are with us here today. We have not allowed ourselves to be prisoners of the past. Instead, we are determined to be drivers of the future. Personal egos and petty differences cannot stand in the way of the fulfillment of a hope whose hour has come.
In the same spirit of our unity here today, I urge the nation to rally together and to encourage each other to be active participants in national processes especially as we brace for the impending voter registration period.
Indeed, alliances, slogans and our endless complaints in the townships and in the villages will not help us if we do not register to vote. In our various political parties and in all our social networks, let us register to vote because our future is literally in our hands. We stand on the cusp of a new country and only a huge turn out on the polling day will make a palpable difference.
Students, vendors, traditional leaders, women’s groups, war veterans and other social movements must all turn out in their huge numbers to register to vote.
As a coalition and as an alliance, we will traverse the country, reinforcing the same message of encouraging everyone to participate in the bringing about of positive change in our country.
We need to restate publicly the gospel of unity. In bars, in churches, in the villages and in the urban areas where we stay, let us remind each other that future generations will not forgive us if we allow next year’s chance to slip away. It is a glorious chance that comes to us the ordinary people once in five years. We must make the most of it.
Let us embolden this huge coalition for change, underpinned by the knowledge that we cannot do this alone in our exclusive social spaces. Let us reunite and join the MDC Alliance in voting for one Presidential candidate, one parliamentary candidate and one ward representative under the banner of the MDC Alliance.
Zimbabweans remember the positive change that we brought into this country between 2009 and 2013, even though we were tethered to clueless partners. With an exclusive mandate to govern this country in 2018 under the united banner of the MDC Alliance, we can only do more and go far in fulfilling the collective aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe.
Make no mistake about it; you the people under the banner of the MDC Alliance will resoundingly win the next election.
We appeal to the region and to the world to stand by the people of this country as they navigate these dicey moments under a brutal regime. The world must stand with the country’s people and not with the country’s leaders.
Today we begin the march to victory and indeed, together we will go far.
Congratulations Zimbabwe for endorsing this huge alliance as it marches to a resounding victory.
We heard you and we have heeded your call. In my case, I spent one and half months traversing all the country’s districts and the people’s message was clear and unambiguous that there is no substitute for the unity of all democratic forces.
As our colleagues in Zanu PF disintegrate into factional smithereens–and as they foist on us a clueless 94 year old as a Presidential candidate—let us galvanize the nation for the huge lesson we will teach them in 2018.
That lesson is never to take the people for granted.
August is that great month when we celebrate Heroes Day in Zimbabwe. It is befitting that we have chosen the month of August to showcase this one huge heroic act of togetherness through this massive crowd of many political colours that is gathered here in the Zimbabwe Grounds.
It could only happen at no other venue but the Zimbabwe grounds, that citadel of the national spirit. On the eve of every new dispensation in the history of this country, this venue has always proved to be an unshackled bastion and a ceremonial home of people power.
Today, we send a message to the world that together we are stronger.
Indeed, together we can. And together, we will go far.
By A Correspondent- The City of Harare has urged members of the public to desist from giving food to street children, saying this does more harm than good.
In a statement on Twitter on Wednesday morning, Harare City Council said giving street kids money and food items entices the homeless children to the streets thereby compromising the city fathers’ efforts to rehabilitate the minors.
Council said rather than dishing out cash and food items to street kids, members of the public should channel money and foodstuffs to rehabilitation centres and children’s homes.
The statement read:
Council urges residents to support efforts to rehabilitate street children. Often residents continue to give foodstuffs to children on the streets. This entices the children to the streets.
Residents can support these centres and help our children off the streets. Let’s not support a culture of street begging.
Rehabilitation centres empower the children with life skills and prepare them for a better future.
By Luke Tamborinyoka- We gather here today having listened to your solemn plea for unity amongst the democratic forces in the country.
While all the democratic voices are not represented, our diversity here stands as a testament to the encouraging fact that Zimbabweans are converging on the one important idea of putting the people’s collective interests at the fulcrum of our national politics.
Faced with a failed leadership that has abandoned the people, we gather here in this political mixture that can only give hope and confidence to a despondent nation. It is you, the people who demanded this unity and today, we have come here to publicly testify that we heeded your call.
We have not closed the door to anyone and more will join this huge people’s train to stability, peace and growth. Today, we show that we have graduated from a dark past of needless fragmentation.
That needless fragmentation not only deflated hopes and punctured national confidence but it slowly led to people staying away from national processes and losing faith in elections. In the end, apathy and despondency stood out as the winners.
The fight against violence, for political reforms and an even playing field became weaker as our politics became scattered and personalized. We had to reverse those negative developments that bred apathy and dimmed all prospects of change in this country. The kaleidoscopic mix of our political identities today is meant to infuse hope and to underline the theme of the alliance that we launch here today; and that underlying theme is that Alone , we can go fast but together we go far .
Fellow Zimbabweans, we gather here with the sole aim of going far in meeting the national expectation of bringing positive change in the lives of the people. Far defined as hope, confidence and the honest pursuit of the happiness of the people of this great country.
We have no other country except this one and we come to you today united in our diversity to show that we listened to you; to your sonorous cry that together we can only be stronger. An alliance beyond political parties We gather here as more than just the seven political parties.
As you have seen and heard from the solidarity messages, our alliance goes beyond just political parties to include students, women’s movements, vendors, war veterans, the church, labour, transport operators and touts, the civic movement and other social networks.
It is simply a broad church of diverse Zimbabweans brought together by a common desire to bring about positive change in the lives of the people. Our broad mass shall be stronger and will complete the tortuous journey towards democracy that saw the murder of more than 600 opposition activists in the past 17 years , not to mention the over 20 000 innocent Zimbabweans callously murdered during the Gukurahundi genocide.
This arduous and painful journey includes the thousands of sons and daughters of this land who died in the liberation struggle so that our national dream could live again. So today, we gather here united beyond the parochial banner of party slogans and symbols.
We gather here as a broad alliance of Zimbabweans fighting for a new, competent national leadership and the pursuit of a new governance culture in line with a progressive national Constitution that we made ourselves and loudly affirmed in a referendum.
Our common policy agenda I have said it before and I will repeat it here that this alliance is not just about seats, titles and posts. It is far much greater than that. It goes beyond the narrow and petty interests to include a common and credible policy agenda that will serve as a key signpost to the positive change that we seek as a country.
In the coming months, we will be presenting to you our comprehensive policy agenda for Zimbabwe that we are now polishing up as an alliance. Our coming together is substantively more than just an election pact about seats and a post-election governance structure. It is an Alliance that will see us present to you a robust policy agenda that we will embark upon after the next watershed election.
Given the comatose state of our industry, our dilapidated infrastructure and the country’s despicable and tenuous predicament, it has become imperative that we embark on a transformative and not a simple recovery agenda.
As I have said before, recovery is an understatement of what we need to do. We simply need to start afresh. Indeed, our national predicament in all facets is now well beyond any patchwork. It simply demands a robust transformative agenda.
All alliance partners are converging on that transformative policy programme that will yield a people’s manifesto with minute details on the key tenets for transformation, not recovery.
Fellow Zimbabweans, I assure you we will not commit the same grievous mistake made by our colleagues when they came into office in 1980, with the mistaken belief that independence was the destination when in fact 1980 actually marked the beginning of a critical phase of the struggle.
They came in without a cogent programme and we must not travel the same ruinous path of simply seeking change without a prudent plan. Our alliance goes beyond simply consigning Mugabe and Zanu PF to the dustbins of history.
We are very clear that the real work and purpose of our alliance begins the day after the defeat of the strongman and his clueless colleagues. Put simply, ladies and gentlemen, our alliance is sprucing up a common policy agenda that we are certain will drive the country out of the current doldrums and put the smiles back on the face of the people of Zimbabwe.
Conclusion
I wish to conclude that today is not a day of speeches but an occasion of celebrating our coming together as you the people demanded.
Today, I have reunited with my former colleagues in the MDC as well as with the leaders of other political parties and social movements that are with us here today. We have not allowed ourselves to be prisoners of the past.
Instead, we are determined to be drivers of the future. Personal egos and petty differences cannot stand in the way of the fulfillment of a hope whose hour has come.
In the same spirit of our unity here today, I urge the nation to rally together and to encourage each other to be active participants in national processes especially as we brace for the impending voter registration period.
Indeed, alliances, slogans and our endless complaints in the townships and in the villages will not help us if we do not register to vote. In our various political parties and in all our social networks, let us register to vote because our future is literally in our hands.
We stand on the cusp of a new country and only a huge turn out on the polling day will make a palpable difference. Students, vendors, traditional leaders, women’s groups, war veterans and other social movements must all turn out in their huge numbers to register to vote.
As a coalition and as an alliance, we will traverse the country, reinforcing the same message of encouraging everyone to participate in the bringing about of positive change in our country.
We need to restate publicly the gospel of unity. In bars, in churches, in the villages and in the urban areas where we stay, let us remind each other that future generations will not forgive us if we allow next year’s chance to slip away. It is a glorious chance that comes to us the ordinary people once in five years.
We must make the most of it. Let us embolden this huge coalition for change, underpinned by the knowledge that we cannot do this alone in our exclusive social spaces.
Let us reunite and join the MDC Alliance in voting for one Presidential candidate, one parliamentary candidate and one ward representative under the banner of the MDC Alliance. Zimbabweans remember the positive change that we brought into this country between 2009 and 2013, even though we were tethered to clueless partners.
With an exclusive mandate to govern this country in 2018 under the united banner of the MDC Alliance, we can only do more and go far in fulfilling the collective aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe.
Make no mistake about it; you the people under the banner of the MDC Alliance will resoundingly win the next election. We appeal to the region and to the world to stand by the people of this country as they navigate these dicey moments under a brutal regime.
The world must stand with the country’s people and not with the country’s leaders. Today we begin the march to victory and indeed, together we will go far.
Congratulations Zimbabwe for endorsing this huge alliance as it marches to a resounding victory. We heard you and we have heeded your call. In my case, I spent one and half months traversing all the country’s districts and the people’s message was clear and unambiguous that there is no substitute for the unity of all democratic forces.
As our colleagues in Zanu PF disintegrate into factional smithereens–and as they foist on us a clueless 94 year old as a Presidential candidate—let us galvanize the nation for the huge lesson we will teach them in 2018.
That lesson is never to take the people for granted. August is that great month when we celebrate Heroes Day in Zimbabwe. It is befitting that we have chosen the month of August to showcase this one huge heroic act of togetherness through this massive crowd of many political colours that is gathered here in the Zimbabwe Grounds.
It could only happen at no other venue but the Zimbabwe grounds, that citadel of the national spirit. On the eve of every new dispensation in the history of this country, this venue has always proved to be an unshackled bastion and a ceremonial home of people power. Today, we send a message to the world that together we are stronger.
Indeed, together we can. And together, we will go far. Together. Tose . Sonke . Today, we put the regime on notice.
Thank You Zimbabwe
Luke Tamborinyoka is the Deputy Secretary for Presidential Affairs in the MDC Alliance led by the people’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa . Tamborinyoka , a multiple award-winning journalist and former secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists , was Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson until the latter’s death in February 2018 .
Teacher’s unions yesterday revealed that a majority of their members were yet to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and were psychologically unprepared for schools reopening which government hinted on last week.
Government last week gazetted Statutory Instrument (SI) 210 of 2021, stating that schools will remain closed until August 10, 2021, but preparing to reopen.
But teachers’ unions said there was lack of preparedness on the part of their members, the majority of whom were not vaccinated, adding that it would endanger learners.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) acting national secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said government should be guided by science on issues of opening of schools for the second term as the third wave of the pandemic was currently taking its toll.
On Tuesday, the country recorded 41 deaths and 1 580 new infections.
Out of the 10 million the country aims to vaccinate, only 1 707 671 had got their first jab, while 832 884 got their second jab.
“If we compare statistics this time around to last year’s lockdown figures, they have more than doubled,” Taderera said.
“There has been a serious scourge. The majority of teachers have not been vaccinated. Our encouragement is that the government must look at the graph. It must be informed by scientific evidence, and then we can talk about schools opening.”
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said: “Teachers are incapacitated and we are losing a lot of our fellow workers almost on a daily basis now. If the government is sincere and honest, it should roll out a vaccination programme for teachers just like what it did for nurses. ’’
Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said: “There are important issues that need to be attended to before schools open, such as teachers’ incapacitation. Teachers are at the centre of the standard operation in education.’’
The teachers unions suggested that government should focus on the implementation of the national e-learning strategy during the COVID-19 era.
Government, through Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa on Tuesday announced that at least 400 schools will be provided with free internet for nine months, and extension of the bandwidth to 180 rural schools.
Taderera said teachers were struggling economically and should have access to free data, while learners still did not have access to free internet.
Masaraure said the e-learning strategy was donor motivated and government does not have a clear plan on how to get all schools connected.
PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said: “If this e-learning is internet based, then it is as good as useless because 80% of students have no internet connectivity, and there are constant power cuts.”
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) president Enoch Dongo has implored the government to exempt pregnant nurses from working as COVID-19 frontline workers following increased deaths of expecting nurses at health institutions.
Dongo said expecting mothers should not be front liners and should be exempted from duty at toxic places like hospitals.
He said:
When one is pregnant, their system is somehow compromised and the worst part is they are working without enough personal protective equipment, which is putting their lives and the baby’s life at risk.
His call came amid reports that eight pregnant nurses at the United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) succumbed to COVID-19 on Monday.
Last week, more than 100 pregnant women were quarantined in Matabeleland North after they tested positive for COVID-19.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Mazowe district has gone digital after the District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara donated eight laptops to easie the current cell registration exercise by the revolutionary party.
DCC secretary for information Kushinga Dutiro confirmed the development.
“I can confirm that chairman Musarara has donated eight laptops for party use starting with cell data capturing the computers are doing good work in Mazowe and the registration is almost through,” Dutiro said.
Dutiro further highlighted that since their district has gone digital they will be in a position to know the exact number of electorate by 2023 as their party targets the five million votes.
“With these computers Mazowe will be in a position to know the exact number of voters in the coming 2023 harmonised elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, the district has since employed a number of people to work on party registration and the move has been welcomed by majority supporters as that will be a motivational tool since there is remuneration to that effect.
By A Correspondent- Teachers’ unions yesterday revealed that a majority of their members were yet to be vaccinated against the COViD-19 virus and were psychologically unprepared for schools reopening which government hinted on last week.
Government last week gazetted Statutory instrument (Si) 210 of 2021, stating that schools will remain closed until august 10, 2021, but preparing to reopen.
but teachers’ unions said there was lack of preparedness on the part of their members, the majority of whom were not vaccinated, adding that it would endanger learners.
Zimbabwe Teachers association (Zimta) acting national secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said government should be guided by science on issues of opening of schools for the second term as the third wave of the pandemic was currently taking its toll.
On Tuesday, the country recorded 41 deaths and 1 580 new infections.
Out of the 10 million the country aims to vaccinate, only 1 707 671 had got their first jab, while 832 884 got their second jab.
“if we compare statistics this time around to last year’s lockdown figures, they have more than doubled,”Taderera said.
“There has been a serious scourge. The majority of teachers have not been vaccinated. Our encouragement is that the government must look at the graph. it must be informed by scientific evidence, and then we can talk about schools opening.”
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond majongwe said: “Teachers are incapacitated and we are losing a lot of our fellow workers almost on a daily basis now. if the government is sincere and honest, it should roll out a vaccination programme for teachers just like what it did for nurses. ”
amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Obert masaraure said: “There are important issues that need to be attended to before schools open, such as teachers’ incapacitation. Teachers are at the centre of the standard operation in education.”
The teachers unions suggested that government should focus on the implementation of the national e-learning strategy during the COViD-19 era.
Government, through information minister monica mutsvangwa on Tuesday announced that at least 400 schools will be provided with free internet for nine months, and extension of the bandwidth to 180 rural schools.
Taderera said teachers were struggling economically and should have access to free data, while learners still did not have access to free internet.
masaraure said the e-learning strategy was donor motivated and government does not have a clear plan on how to get all schools connected.
PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said: “if this elearning is internet based, then it is as good as useless because 80% of students have no internet connectivity, and there are constant power cuts.”
By A Correspondent- The Auditor-General (AG) Mildred Chiri has exposed gross irregularities and deliberate manipulation of figures to facilitate theft of donations meant for COVID-19 relief allowances and projects that saw undeserving government officials and individuals benefiting.
This was revealed in a latest special audit report on the financial management and utilisation of public resources in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the country by ministries, government departments and agencies.
The report was tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday by Speaker Jacob Mudenda.
In the report, Chiri revealed shocking details on how fake names, identity documents and mobile phone numbers were used as part of a broader scheme to siphon part of the over $890 million from government. The audit was undertaken with the aid of the World Bank in the country’s six out of 10 provinces, focusing on disbursement of COVID-19 relief funds, management of quarantine centres and isolation centres, among others.
“The easing of some controls and the streamlining of processes and procedures to facilitate emergency responses and quick actions to the crisis, exposed the government to the possible risks of misuse or abuse of public resources,” Chiri said.
“Inadequate record-keeping was a com-mon feature as the ministries, departments and agencies did not always have updated or reliable information on the donations received and distributed, goods and services delivered and reports on the implementation status of the government initiatives to fight the pandemic.”
She said incorrect and out-dat-ed information was used across government departments.
“This resulted in some beneficiaries, including the government officials, receiving COVID-19 relief disbursements they might not have been entitled to. This defeated the purpose for which the disbursements were made as the intended beneficiaries could have been deprived of the assistance.”
COVID-19 allowances were supposed to be paid to small-to-medium enterprises whose in-comes were affected by lockdowns, food insecure households, people with disabilities, the elderly, chronically-ill persons and child-headed households.
Information on the would-be beneficiaries was forwarded to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry through the provincial social welfare offices.
Investigations by NewsDay exposed how some Zanu-PF and government officials manipulated the system for personal benefit.
On the disbursement of over $89 022 103, Chiri said: “The main reasons that caused the failure were that the processes of identification and assessment of intended beneficiaries was not properly co-ordinated, resulting in unreliable databases of beneficiaries, processing of payments to duplicate beneficiary names and beneficiaries who had similar identity numbers, but of different gender and dates of birth.”
There was also processing of payments to beneficiaries with fictitious identity numbers and suspicious names, incorrect and insufficient contact addresses as well as use of similar contact addresses for beneficiaries in districts.
“No follow-up mechanism was developed to verify the existence of the beneficiaries and whether the allowances had reached the intended beneficiaries.
“No feedback in the form of paysheets were provided by the Public Service ministry head office to provincial and district offices regarding the names of beneficiaries who had qualified and had been paid the COVID-19 relief allowances to facilitate confirmation of receipt and reconciliations.”
On COVID-19 relief allowances for youths, sportspersons and artists, the AG raised the red flag on the criteria used for selection and registration of beneficiaries.
The red flag was also raised on allowances paid to government employees without “competent authority”.
“COVID-19 allowances and airtime paid to government employees. Seven ministries, departments and agencies in Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South paid COVID-19 allowances totalling $2 654 089 and airtime worth $22 165 to members of staff reporting for duty during the lockdown period covering April to July 2020 without competent authority.”
Management of quarantine centres was also marred in controversy as the cost of food provisions, accommodation, daily upkeep and transport of the inmates at the quarantine centres was not properly handled.
“There were no clear and documented guidelines on the process of determining the amount of bus fare to be given to discharge inmates. In some instances, there was no evidence that the discharged inmates had received the indicated amounts as they did not sign on the payment schedule.”
On money meant for the drilling of boreholes, she said: “Out of the 48 boreholes that DDF had planned to drill in the six provinces I visited, 31 boreholes were drilled, but were not functional as water pumps had not been installed. Eight boreholes were not drilled, three boreholes were drilled and water pumps installed, six were dry holes as at December 12, 2020.”
“An estimated total amount of $6 650 000 was spent on the 38 non-functional boreholes. The pumps were not installed due to inadequate planning and prioritisation to ensure that each borehole is worked on to completion rather than partly working on many boreholes, exhausting the available resources.”
Chiri said the objective for which the boreholes were drilled was not fully achieved as a result.
In some cases, she said there was inadequate capacity assessment of contractors and there were cases of awarding of several contracts to one contractor.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- ZANU PF legislator for Buhera Central Constituency Matthew Gijima Nyashanu and some of his District Coordinating Committes(DCCs) and a provincial youth leader for Manicaland Province have been accused of conducting party meetings by villagers in defiance of president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s lockdown measures.
The MP who has been missing in action since 2018 has been accused of coming back at the Eleventh hour with the help of some handpicked DCC members from his Constituency namely Anxious Murizikazi and Douglas Musakaruka both serving members in the civil service as teachers,notwithstanding it is against the party directive.
Another Provincial Youth Member is Taurai Muzondori.
The legislator and his blu-eyed boys are reportedly on a whirlwind tour of the constiuency convening meetings meant to canvass votes for certain party members believed to be aligned to him ahead of the impending district and provincial restructuring exercises.
The meetings are in blatant disregard of lockdown regulations, social distancing and mask-wearing. On his eleventh hour re-mergece the legislator reportedly attributed it to the “pressing commitments” that President Munangagwa continuously heap on him. Pressed to explain what he really meant during one of his infamous meetings at Gwama Business Centre, in Chirozva District Ward 23 held recently, the cocky and abrasive legislator had the temerity to protest with a straight face.
“Your complains about me having taken a long time before coming to meet you is an old-fashioned way of doing politics,” much to the charging of the people in attendance.
Having been brought up to speed on these alleged meetings with the inevitable potential of being super-spreaders, the Acting Buhera District Environmental Health Officer Mr Shepherd Makombe noted that on account of the national lockdown, their movement across the whole district to get first hand information has become a mammoth task.
“Our Office is not aware of these meetings since it is located in Buhera West Constituency so Buhera Central is a tad too far for us to superitend flawlessly add to this the national lockdown which has quite naturally rendered the movement around the length and breadth of the district as per our norm a challenge.It is in light of the aforementioned that we will be waiting to react to reports brought from the communities,” he said.
Upon reaching out to the the legislator Matthew Gijima Nyashanu to get his side of the story, he had to cut short the phone call before fielding the questions pertaining the allegations being levelled against him.
Repeated efforts to call and text him was an exercise in futility as there was no response up to the time of going to print.
Contacted for comment, Mr Felix Nangatidza, a Zanu PF Councilor for Ward 20 expressed dismay that the legislator was nicodemously conducting meetings in a Ward under his jurisdiction in defiance of the national lockdown regulations,only to get to know it through the grapevine yet the two must be working hand in glove on both developmental and party issues.
Since the announcement of the Level 4 lockdown, the MP and his team have convened meetings at Zivhu Business Center(Ward 20), Matsvai Business Centre(Ward32, Makuvise District) and Charambira Primary School (Ward 22, Chitezwa District).
THE Auditor-General (AG) Mildred Chiri has exposed gross irregularities and deliberate manipulation of figures to facilitate theft of donations meant for COVID-19 relief allowances and projects that saw undeserving government officials and individuals benefiting.
This was revealed in a latest special audit report on the financial management and utilisation of public resources in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the country by ministries, government departments and agencies.
The report was tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday by Speaker Jacob Mudenda.
In the report, Chiri revealed shocking details on how fake names, identity documents and mobile phone numbers were used as part of a broader scheme to siphon part of the over $890 million from government. The audit was undertaken with the aid of the World Bank in the country’s six out of 10 provinces, focusing on disbursement of COVID-19 relief funds, management of quarantine centres and isolation centres, among others.
“The easing of some controls and the streamlining of processes and procedures to facilitate emergency responses and quick actions to the crisis, exposed the government to the possible risks of misuse or abuse of public resources,” Chiri said.
“Inadequate record-keeping was a com-mon feature as the ministries, departments and agencies did not always have updated or reliable information on the donations received and distributed, goods and services delivered and reports on the implementation status of the government initiatives to fight the pandemic.”
She said incorrect and out-dat-ed information was used across government departments.
“This resulted in some beneficiaries, including the government officials, receiving COVID-19 relief disbursements they might not have been entitled to. This defeated the purpose for which the disbursements were made as the intended beneficiaries could have been deprived of the assistance.”
COVID-19 allowances were supposed to be paid to small-to-medium enterprises whose in-comes were affected by lockdowns, food insecure households, people with disabilities, the elderly, chronically-ill persons and child-headed households.
Information on the would-be beneficiaries was forwarded to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry through the provincial social welfare offices.
Investigations by NewsDay exposed how some Zanu-PF and government officials manipulated the system for personal benefit.
On the disbursement of over $89 022 103, Chiri said: “The main reasons that caused the failure were that the processes of identification and assessment of intended beneficiaries was not properly co-ordinated, resulting in unreliable databases of beneficiaries, processing of payments to duplicate beneficiary names and beneficiaries who had similar identity numbers, but of different gender and dates of birth.”
There was also processing of payments to beneficiaries with fictitious identity numbers and suspicious names, incorrect and insufficient contact addresses as well as use of similar contact addresses for beneficiaries in districts.
“No follow-up mechanism was developed to verify the existence of the beneficiaries and whether the allowances had reached the intended beneficiaries.
“No feedback in the form of paysheets were provided by the Public Service ministry head office to provincial and district offices regarding the names of beneficiaries who had qualified and had been paid the COVID-19 relief allowances to facilitate confirmation of receipt and reconciliations.”
On COVID-19 relief allowances for youths, sportspersons and artists, the AG raised the red flag on the criteria used for selection and registration of beneficiaries.
The red flag was also raised on allowances paid to government employees without “competent authority”.
“COVID-19 allowances and airtime paid to government employees. Seven ministries, departments and agencies in Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South paid COVID-19 allowances totalling $2 654 089 and airtime worth $22 165 to members of staff reporting for duty during the lockdown period covering April to July 2020 without competent authority.”
Management of quarantine centres was also marred in controversy as the cost of food provisions, accommodation, daily upkeep and transport of the inmates at the quarantine centres was not properly handled.
“There were no clear and documented guidelines on the process of determining the amount of bus fare to be given to discharge inmates. In some instances, there was no evidence that the discharged inmates had received the indicated amounts as they did not sign on the payment schedule.”
On money meant for the drilling of boreholes, she said: “Out of the 48 boreholes that DDF had planned to drill in the six provinces I visited, 31 boreholes were drilled, but were not functional as water pumps had not been installed. Eight boreholes were not drilled, three boreholes were drilled and water pumps installed, six were dry holes as at December 12, 2020.”
“An estimated total amount of $6 650 000 was spent on the 38 non-functional boreholes. The pumps were not installed due to inadequate planning and prioritisation to ensure that each borehole is worked on to completion rather than partly working on many boreholes, exhausting the available resources.”
Chiri said the objective for which the boreholes were drilled was not fully achieved as a result.
In some cases, she said there was inadequate capacity assessment of contractors and there were cases of awarding of several contracts to one contractor.
By A Correspondent| Top constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku who is currently dominating headlines following his defence of government move to dish out vehicles to POLAD principals has successfully pulled convicted rapist Munyaradzi Kereke out of prison where he was serving a 10 year jail term.
Kereke celebrating after being released from prison
Madhuku who was being assisted by Advocate Tawanda Nyamakura proposed tough bail conditions to strengthen their case for bail.
The decorated lawyer has courted controversy lately over his decision to join the President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s POLAD which is seen by many as a waste of taxpayers money.
The noise deafened when the POLAD principals received Isuzu double cabs from the government with many feeling that the money could have been used to buy ambulances and medical supplies.
Others felt Mnangagwa was buying favour from the POLAD members just to deal with opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa who has refused to have anything to do with the dialogue platform.
Forget about the false prophet narrative : Java making inroads
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo
Mike Chimombe and Passion Java
We are getting closer to 2023, everyday, some will always laugh and point out, false prophet narrative on Java, and he is busy mobilizing for Mnangagwa’ s camp. Remember, Presidential vote is all about numbers. Some are busy making him popular, and admiring him, and he is dismantling the other camp.
We always warn you, opposition, instead of opposing everything, particularly on social media, be vigilant, be creative, and be an alternative to subjectivity and objectivity. Yes, there could be one or two narratives on Java’ s social life, as a socialite, but he is making huge tremendous inroads in politics.
Mnangagwa, may not be good on Economics, but he is literary a schemer, and he is always under ground, he is different from Mugabe’s antics, Mnangagwa bargains for receptive and big tent idea. Mnangagwa looks at the potential, and he strikes an opportunity on the gifted, and talented.
It’s not about popular brands in POLITICS, you need to be practical on the ground. You need to do tangible projects, tangible ideas, vigilant, and politics is all about numbers. Forget about the hunger narrative, even with the few coins, many people are going to follow him during or towards elections. For now he has good numbers, which he will carry with him to Mnangagwa’ s camp.
Few nuggets of success for anyone who want State House seat ;
1. Winning elections, is a process, not an event. Many people think elections are won in the ballot only, it’s a gradual process, where you have to prepare people’s minds
2. Politics of the belly is on the lead. Be practical.
3. Student politics must be done away with, and transform movements into Statesmanship
4. Politics is about practicality on the ground
5. Grassroots connectivity is critical for any Candidate to go to State House
6. Don’t relax and say I have won, I have people
7. Turn BRANDS INTO POLITICAL DIVIDENDS
8. slogans alone, will never take you to State House. People want food, shelter, groceries etc.
9. Politics is first come, first serve.
10. Rural populace, is huge than urban population
11. Never underestimate anyone in politics
12. Don’t shout victory before result announcement
13. Once results are announced, it’s beyond anything
14. Complement each other’s potential in POLITICS, to get to State House
15. Go to the people, visit them, be with them
16. Leave out Press conferences in urban areas, avoid briefcase politics, and go their gardens in rural areas, spent a night there with them
17. Resource Mobilization is key
18. Stop fighting for space on social media, and get to the ground
19. English manifesto have lost its taste in POLITICS. People want practicality. Who reads manifestos?
20. Labour movement politics, is slowly ERODING OR EVAPORATING or FADING, TURN OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS INTO SOCIALISM OR SOCIALISTS
21. Huge crowds , are deceptive. Apply door to door concept, outreach community projects, effective strategy on grassroots.
22. People are fed up, with rigging claims, they want effective strategy on grassroots connectivity & politics
23. Informative systematic benevolence in politics is key.
24. Keep cards close to your chest. Why do you love posting images after your engagements? Have you seen Zanu PF doing that?
25. Politics is for the hard hearted, it’s not a church were you hold a Bible. If you want State House, you have to be strong !
Ane nzewe dzekunzwa anzwa !
Asante Sana !
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking -! ZIST, and he can be contacted at [email protected]
By A Correspondent- At least 21 immigrants have been missing after they were swept away along the Limpopo River
The 21 were trying to cross the Zimbabwean border into South Africa.
This was revealed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in a report titled Families of Missing Migrants: Their Search for Answers, the Impact of Loss and Recommendations for Improved Support which was released yesterday.
The IOM has since 2014 documented deaths and disappearances of more than 42 000 migrants worldwide.
“Tens of thousands of people worldwide live with the pain and uncertainty of not knowing the fate of their relatives and loved ones who went missing or died during migration around the world. Besides the emotional toll, their lives may be forever marked by the many psychosocial, legal and financial impacts related to the disappearance of their relatives,” the report read.
“Many may have gone missing on these journeys, but the exact numbers are not known, as there is a lack of systematic and reliable data on the number of people who go missing on migration journeys from Zimbabwe to South Africa. It is likely that there are many unreported and unrecorded cases of migrants who have gone missing or lost their lives during the journey or thereafter”.
The organisation called on member States to make an effort to identify people that would have gone missing and facilitate communication with the affected families.
The report further said most Zimbabweans left the country due to the deteriorating socio-economic situation, with the majority crossing to South Africa.
“While complete data on the number of people who died attempting to cross from Zimbabwe to South Africa do not exist, IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded 21 cases of people who drowned in the Limpopo River while attempting to cross the border between the two countries irregularly between 2014 and 2020. “In the absence of State-funded tools and services to address their needs, families of missing migrants develop their own strategies to search for information, through informal channels.”
Biggest ever prize money and unprecedented recognition up for grabs…
In its 10th year of recognizing great app development, this year the MTN Business App of the Year competition will be giving away R1 million in prize money to entrepreneurs and app developers with creative ideas and solution driven apps.
The annual MTN Business App of the Year Awards play a vital role in elevating local entrepreneurs and showcasing exciting new innovations within the ICT industry in South Africa. “To mark the milestone of ten years since the launch of the competition, this year’s prize money of R 1million, awarded to the overall best app for 2021, is by far the highest ever,” says Kholo Magagane, Head of Marketing, MTN Business.
The competition has seen a notable increase in the number of entries this year, but all those with great app ideas are urged to enter soon as the deadline for entries submissions is 9 August 2021.
Categories include Best Consumer Solution; Best Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Solution; Best Enterprise Solution; Most Innovative Solution; Best Gaming Solution; Best Health Solution; Best Agricultural Solution; Best Educational Solution; Best Financial Solution; Best Hackathon Solution; Best “South African” Solution; Best Campus Cup Solution; Best African Solution and Huawei Category 15.
“We have seen phenomenal growth for those apps like Sixty60 and EasyEquities that have won in previous years and this year’s prize could help the next game-changing app make a real impact in our country,” Magagane concludes.
Submissions close on 9 August 2021, after which a judging panel of leading tech experts will start the shortlisting process.
Category winners as well as the overall winner will be announced at the MTN Business App of the Year Awards being held virtually on 16 September 2021.
To enter go to https://www.appoftheyear.co.za/submit/
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed the arrest of a notorious Kadoma thief which specialises in stealing Honda Fit vehicles.
On its Twitter handle Tuesday ZRP said they have arrested Tatenda Mazivei aged 20 in connection with seven cases of theft of Honda Fit motor vehicles.
” The suspect mainly targeted to steal parked Honda Fit motor vehicles at the complainants place of residence. The arrest cleared 7 cases of theft of motor vehicles and led to the recovery of 4 stolen vehicles. Investigations are in progress,” the ZRP posted.
2/2 The suspect mainly targeted to steal parked Honda Fit motor vehicles at the complainants place of residence. The arrest cleared 7 cases of theft of motor vehicles and led to the recovery of 4 stolen vehicles. Investigations are in progress. #nototheftofmotorvehicles.
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) August 4, 2021
Wednesday, 28th July, 2021
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of clarity Hon. Speake online, wait to be recognised. We have the last supplementary, so there is no room for any further supplementary questions.
Hon Minister, will you clarify, there appears there is confusion between trauma and mental health.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Mr. Speaker Sir, it is very difficult in terms of semantics because what I tried to say is whatever happens which disturbs your mind, I am defining it as mental health – whatever might have caused it. In this case, we are talking about stress that might have been caused by the issue of COVID. As I said, we have enough policy – we do not want our people to be stressed. Issues to cater with psychological services are also with clinical psychology, it is there in our ministry. In terms of policy presence, it is there. The issue on whether we are doing enough given the amount of stress we are having is what we should be positively working on. In terms of legal instrument, we have enough legal instruments. We are not short of them.
r. I want to thank you for the response. You made a detailed response pertaining to the issue in terms of the welfare of Members of Parliament. Mr. Speaker Sir, you clearly hit the nail on the head.
The truth of the matter is really beyond you but it is the Minister of Finance and Economic Development who, for many times has not been able to do what is expected of him by passing the budget. We are guided by the budget. When we ask for these figures, it is not coming from our heads. It is the budget that we pass in this House and for as long as we pass a budget and there is no seriousness in the execution of the budget, then it renders the budget useless and not only that, it is incumbent upon him to review the figures according to inflation. We hear him talking about the inflation coming down but we do not also see the results on the ground.
The Information Centres were a result of the budget and for me to also talk about offices that are not there and Information Centres, I then commend that in the next budget, Hon. Members, there is no point in applying for Information Centres because the structures are not there. Unless you actually turn your cars into Information Centres but with what was given by the Hon. Speaker, we must also review our demands. You cannot have an Information Centre if you have no structure, so we need to review how we present.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in terms of the medical aspect, you were right to say that, yes PSMAS does help and you have reviewed that. How great it is to review other sectors but the welfare of the Hon. Members is never reviewed. The Hon. Minister has not come to tell us the review of that and as a result, people will default in payment because our remuneration has not been reviewed – I have not heard him. It goes hand in glove, you cannot be increasing things and then at the same time you are not giving people what is supposed to be done in terms of review. So may the Minister of Finance and Economic Development review everything? You cannot review things piece-meal. The National Budget requires him and I am pretty serious about this because I have put my mind to it, that a review of the National Budget requires him to come here and tell us that I have failed to do A, B, C, D because of this and that but he does not respect this House. When it comes to issues of monies which he then comes to seek condonation to, if that money is available. When it comes to the Drax money for the drugs and everything, the money is available. This money, through the Auditor-General’s office, has also been attacked that due diligence is not followed. The Auditor-General has been very clear on how Government is supposed to handle its funds–
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, are you seeking clarification or you are debating.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker, as you can see, each point is seeking clarity.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, you are debating.
HON. T. MLISWA: I will stop debating and just say finally, it is the same as the devolution funds. The Hon. Minister J.D. Moyo is the only Minister who gets devolution funds and determines where it should go. He can take it to Vungu or wherever, devolution funds are for everyone. He cannot decide who to give it to. At times you give it to ZANU PF aligned councils then leave out the opposition. Devolution funds come in once and must be disbursed at once. Unfortunately, he is not here. It is a matter that I have asked him that why are you disbursing funds without following the Constitution in terms of how the structure should be?
So, he is never here and like I said, he behaves like a Prime Minister and maybe he is a de facto Prime Minister, I do not know but him being a senior Minister must lead by example. Even the former Minister Chombo, one thing you can give to him is that he would come and answer questions despite whatever. This becomes the worst Cabinet ever, some of them in terms of their performance, the Auditor General’s office and from the people point of view; from the constitutional view, they have let the President down and the people and they have let the Constitution down, shame on you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Right Hon. Member, next time, learn to ask questions for clarification – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] – No, you were debating. I was very indulgent in future, I shall not be indulgent. The first part of your question on review, I thought you were following newspaper narratives that the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development is going to give us a review tomorrow. You might have missed that in the newspaper but he is doing that tomorrow and you will have the opportunity to ask questions accordingly, some of which are quite pertinent –
Hon. Togarepi having stood up
Hon. Member, I am speaking. Be procedural – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Mliswa, I thought you were expecting my response and therefore, you should be silent. Some of the issues that you raise will be, I think, clarified tomorrow when the Hon. Minister gives us his budgetary review statement. The question of the amounts allocated to the PCICs, the responsibility is ours here in the National Assembly in terms of ensuring that the figures that may meet the requirements of the construction of such information centres and constituency offices are also met. It is a matter that can also be raised tomorrow to see to what extent the Hon. Minister is thinking ahead along those lines.
The question of assigning funds to the health sector, I think everybody must believe that our health is a number one priority and from what has been said by the African Centre for Disease Management, Zimbabwe is number one in dealing with COVID-19 and Government must be appreciated for that – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Some of the developed countries cannot match what Zimbabwe has achieved in terms of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines. So, chakanaka chakanaka mukaka haurungwi. Yes, we have done much better than some of the developed countries in Africa and outside Africa for that matter. Thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: I am happy this is a Parliament of records. This question was asked to the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement before harvesting time on how well prepared they were logistically. He said they were prepared and now I am shocked to know that they are not prepared. Why are you not following your plan in calling Grain Marketing Board?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member, you did not listen carefully to the Hon. Deputy Minister’s response. The Hon. Deputy Minister indicated that as you are the representative of the people, if you have specific areas where there is a problem, please bring that information to the attention of the Ministry. As far as the Ministry is concerned, payments are done within 72 hours.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I totally agree with him but the onus is for them to check with GMB if that is being done because it is a national issue. The issue of payment, I have discussed with the Minister….
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa take your seat. If you have got farmers who have been affected according to what Hon. Kwaramba is saying, please bring that issue to the attention of the Minister – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection] – Order Hon. Member, bring the list and we will know. You are politicking in reverse gear, just bring that list Hon. Mliswa and say here is what I have been talking about, Minister can you explain and then from there if there is any prevarication you will raise the issue of politicking. I thank you.
HON. T. MLISWA: Before I ask my supplementary question, let me appreciate the role played by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, led by the capable Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Hon. Rtd. General Dr. Chiwenga; his Deputy Minister, Hon Dr. Mangwiro and Permanent Secretary Rtd. Air Commodore Chimedza. I say this because in Norton, the programme was excellent. The PED, DMO, the District Nursing Officer at Norton itself in no time when I communicated with the Permanent Secretary that we needed more vaccines, I am proud to say in the rural of Norton, there were vaccines put there and the health staff of these institutions in Norton…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, whilst the commendation is good, you can only do so as a matter of national importance. Please ask your question.
HON. T. MLISWA: My supplementary question is: what policy do you have for those people who have suffered COVID post COVID, because there is a lot of trauma that they go through and I think that is the biggest problem we have. What mechanism have you put in place for the people who suffered COVID and now are off it because even my own personal assistant has suffered a lot mentally. What have you done to try and rehabilitate those?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I wish to thank Hon Mliswa for the supplementary question on post traumatic stress that might result from having COVID. We have our Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare who are mainly responsible for that welfare but we are also responsible for mental health. Our mental health statutes are very clear on what we can do with people that have problems mentally as a result of some trauma that might have happened to them. In terms of the presence of policy – whether it was caused by COVID or by something else, we have enough legal backing.
We are saying that we have enough policy on mental health. Government policy on mental health is very clear and in terms of looking after people who have post traumatic stress, maybe as a result of COVID or anything else, we have a mental health policy as a country. That is what I just wanted to say.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of clarity. Mental health and post traumatic stress are different –[HON MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]- The professor is good at that but his explanation was not that of a professor. He is a man I admire but today vanzvenga. Mental health, is it going to Ingutsheni or not? If there are no such centres, may you start telling us so that people can get counseled?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Members
HON. T. MLISWA: My point of order is: can the Minister furnish us with the dams which are increasing and what you have done. Can you give us documentation showing statistics of dams that you have rehabilitated and the letters you refer to? Can we get that because it is a point on oversight and dam rehabilitation. Can we get statistics, constituency by constituency?
*HON. E. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Mliswa. We can bring the statistics to Parliament. The letters are coming from the people in appreciation of what we will have done but we can also bring and read them here in Parliament.
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, as requested by Hon. Mliswa, you can make available the detailed statistics or documentation showing which dams have been rehabilitated.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please may you unmute your gadget Hon. Ndebele.
HON. TOGAREPI: Madam Speaker, point of order.
HON. T. MLISWA: Point of order chief whip. You are not the Speaker. The Speaker is there. You have been standing there attacking the Speaker. You cannot. I am protecting the Speaker. Sit down and she will recognise you. I am now going to whip you because your party cannot. You were not elected by the party to be a chief whip, you were appointed. That is where your problem is. You sit down and the Speaker will choose who she wants. Thank you very much.
You belonged to G40 and you moved around with Mrs. Mugabe. You were G40 original.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Togarepi, you cannot raise a point of order on top of another point of order – [HON. T MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.]- Order Hon. Members!
HON. NDEBELE: I am on the floor Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Ndebele, please may you approach the Chair.
*HON. T. MLISWA: Hon. Togarepi you were a member of G40 while I was working with Hon. Mutsvangwa and Chriss Mutsvangwa. I know the history. We are the original Lacoste from 2004. You came in going to Mrs. Mugabe and moving around in Mazowe. You used to move around with Mazowe orange crush saying we will crush you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 67.
On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. MPARIWA, the House adjourned at Seventeen Minutes past Five o’clock p.m.
By Dorrothy Moyo | The renegade Zanu-PF youth leader, Godfrey Tsenengamu, has instructed MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa saying he must join the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) platform immediately, or suffer resource exclusion.
The advisory comes at a time when nearly 20 brand new pickup trucks were dished out by ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa to losers of the 2018 elections as an apparent reward for participating.
Last Friday, Mnangagwa dished out 19 Isuzu D-Max cars to the losers who participated in the 2018 presidential election.
Tsenengamu is the nation’s traditional face of coup transitions and his pronouncements have over the last 4 years usually been sanctioned by the top ZANU PF stranglers.
The statements also come a year after Chamisa was stripped of party assets and currently faces threats to take over his own party name by the controversial ZANU supported, Douglas Mwonzora.
Said Tsenengamu:
“I would personally equate Polad and the (MDC Alliance-driven) Citizens Convergence for Change (CCC) initiatives to join Polad as his options are now limited.”
Responding to the statements, the MDC Alliance has said it will not join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Tuesday said nothing will change on her party’s position. She said:
“The MDC Alliance will never join POLAD. It’s not the function of a legitimate opposition party to take trinkets in exchange for cheerleading autocracy. We continue to hold the regime accountable, demand better lives for the people and push for reforms in all areas of governance.”
POLAD was introduced by Mnangagwa soon after his disputed victory in the 2018 elections in which
Chamisa has stood his ground against Mnangagwa, indicating his Constitutional court challenge is still live.
Former Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke serving an effective 10-year jail term for raping a juvenile relative at gunpoint was yesterday granted $500 000 bail, coupled with stiff conditions by the Supreme Court, pending his appeal against both the conviction and the sentence.
Kereke, who was convicted of rape in July 2016, had 20 months to go before he was due for release after time off for good behaviour when he got the greenlight to prosecute his appeal out of custody.
His first appeal against conviction and sentence by a regional magistrate was dismissed on 29 May 2019 by the High Court which declined to grant him an automatic leave to appeal from the first appeal to the Supreme Court.Kereke then applied to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal and last month he was granted leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. He then filed his appeal and so returned to the Supreme Court yesterday now seeking bail pending that appeal.
After hearing arguments from his legal counsel and the private prosecutor for almost three hours, Justice Mwayera found merit in Kereke’s application and granted him bail, with the reasons for her decision to follow later.
Professor Lovemore Madhuku and Advocate Tawona Nyamakura appeared for Kereke while private prosecutor Mr Charles Warara acted for the guardian of the relative he was convicted of raping.
The defence lawyers proposed tough bail conditions to strengthen their case for bail. The defence team also noted that Kereke had served the bulk of his sentence and has only 20 months to go. They implored Justice Mwayera to weigh Kereke’s prospects of success on appeal against the time already served.- The Herald
By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo at the weekend rounded up 300 people at different shebeens and arrested them for defying lockdown regulations.
Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrests.
“During the weekend, a total of 274 people were arrested in connection with alcohol-related cases. That is operating shebeens, bottle stores and public drinking, contravening Covid-19 regulations. Quite several people were arrested for improper use of facemasks, but of note was the raids of shebeens in Nkulumane and other suburbs,” said Inspector Ncube.
“What we do is confiscate the beer and the equipment that is used. Repeat offenders are taken to court. We are foreseeing shortly that there will be custodial sentences for those who are continuously breaking the law,” said Inspector Ncube.
He said the public must report to the police, any shebeens and nightspots that are operating against lockdown regulations.
“We still urge people to comply with the law and desist from operating shebeens. Apart from contravening Covid-19 regulations, the operation of shebeens is illegal in terms of the law. They are also seen as a hive of activity where criminals thrive, where they waylay their victims. We also ask the members of the public to continue to report these people who operate illegally,” said Inspector Ncube.
HALF a million dollars worth of property was destroyed by fire on Tuesday when a couple at a house in Hillside in Bulawayo had a heated quarrel, culminating in the wife setting the property alight.
This was confirmed by Bulawayo Fire Brigade acting chief fire officer Linos Phiri yesterday, who told Southern Eye that when the fire fighters arrived at the scene, the fire was raging and the roof of the house had already collapsed.
“The fire could be seen from as far as Matopo Road. It was spreading from the front of the building to the back and the roof structure had collapsed and almost all rooms were on fire,” Phiri said.
Phiri said a 5kg gas cylinder was recovered at the scene.
He said there were no injuries, adding that the estimated property loss was valued at $500 000.
Witnesses said the couple, only identified as Chirisas, had a long standing dispute which resulted in the wife torching the husband’s clothes and other valuables.
The husband (Chirisa) confirmed that he had a dispute with his wife identified as Mildred Goba, saying this led her to burn valuables, among them clothes and sofas.
He said it was suspected that the fire was ignited when Chirisa left for the police station.
Phiri said a witness, Bongani Ngwenya, who lived in the same house told them that she saw Chirisa and Goba fighting, with the latter burning valuables.- NewsDay
THE Auditor-General (AG) Mildred Chiri has exposed gross irregularities and deliberate manipulation of figures to facilitate theft of donations meant for COVID-19 relief allowances and projects that saw undeserving government officials and individuals benefiting.
This was revealed in a latest special audit report on the financial management and utilisation of public resources in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the country by ministries, government departments and agencies.
The report was tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday by Speaker Jacob Mudenda. In the report, Chiri revealed shocking details on how fake names, identity documents and mobile phone numbers were used as part of a broader scheme to siphon part of the over $890 million from government.
The audit was undertaken with the aid of the World Bank in the country’s six out of 10 provinces, focusing on disbursement of COVID-19 relief funds, management of quarantine centres and isolation centres, among others.
“The easing of some controls and the streamlining of processes and procedures to facilitate emergency responses and quick actions to the crisis, exposed the government to the possible risks of misuse or abuse of public resources,” Chiri said.
“Inadequate record-keeping was a common feature as the ministries, departments and agencies did not always have updated or reliable information on the donations received and distributed, goods and services delivered and reports on the implementation status of the government initiatives to fight the pandemic.”
She said incorrect and out-dated information was used across government departments.
“This resulted in some beneficiaries, including the government officials, receiving COVID-19 relief disbursements they might not have been entitled to. This defeated the purpose for which the disbursements were made as the intended beneficiaries could have been deprived of the assistance.”
COVID-19 allowances were supposed to be paid to small-to-medium enterprises whose incomes were affected by lockdowns, food insecure households, people with disabilities, the elderly, chronically-ill persons and child-headed households.
Information on the would-be beneficiaries was forwarded to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry through the provincial social welfare offices.
Investigations by NewsDay exposed how some Zanu PF and government officials manipulated the system for personal benefit.
On the disbursement of over $89 022 103, Chiri said: “The main reasons that caused the failure were that the processes of identification and assessment of intended beneficiaries was not properly co-ordinated, resulting in unreliable databases of beneficiaries, processing of payments to duplicate beneficiary names and beneficiaries who had similar identity numbers, but of different gender and dates of birth.”
There was also processing of payments to beneficiaries with fictitious identity numbers and suspicious names, incorrect and insufficient contact addresses as well as use of similar contact addresses for beneficiaries in districts.
“No follow-up mechanism was developed to verify the existence of the beneficiaries and whether the allowances had reached the intended beneficiaries.
“No feedback in the form of paysheets were provided by the Public Service ministry head office to provincial and district offices regarding the names of beneficiaries who had qualified and had been paid the COVID-19 relief allowances to facilitate confirmation of receipt and reconciliations.”
On COVID-19 relief allowances for youths, sportspersons and artists, the AG raised the red flag on the criteria used for selection and registration of beneficiaries.
The red flag was also raised on allowances paid to government employees without “competent authority”.
“COVID-19 allowances and airtime paid to government employees. Seven ministries, departments and agencies in Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South paid COVID-19 allowances totalling $2 654 089 and airtime worth $22 165 to members of staff reporting for duty during the lockdown period covering April to July 2020 without competent authority.”
Management of quarantine centres was also marred in controversy as the cost of food provisions, accommodation, daily upkeep and transport of the inmates at the quarantine centres was not properly handled.
“There were no clear and documented guidelines on the process of determining the amount of bus fare to be given to discharge inmates. In some instances, there was no evidence that the discharged inmates had received the indicated amounts as they did not sign on the payment schedule.”
On money meant for the drilling of boreholes, she said: “Out of the 48 boreholes that DDF had planned to drill in the six provinces I visited, 31 boreholes were drilled, but were not functional as water pumps had not been installed. Eight boreholes were not drilled, three boreholes were drilled and water pumps installed, six were dry holes as at December 12, 2020.”
“An estimated total amount of $6 650 000 was spent on the 38 non-functional boreholes. The pumps were not installed due to inadequate planning and prioritisation to ensure that each borehole is worked on to completion rather than partly working on many boreholes, exhausting the available resources.”
Chiri said the objective for which the boreholes were drilled was not fully achieved as a result.
In some cases, she said there was inadequate capacity assessment of contractors and there were cases of awarding of several contracts to one contractor. -Newsday
As we speak General Chiwenga is in China receiving medical attention. This guy is Zimbabwe's Minister of Health but has to fly to China for medical check ups because he does not have confidence in the same healthcare system that he is in charge of. Clearly we are on our own! pic.twitter.com/Eu5nL6ilgB
— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) August 3, 2021
Half a million dollars worth of property was destroyed by fire on Tuesday when a couple at a house in Hillside in Bulawayo had a heated quarrel, culminating in the wife setting the property alight.
This was confirmed by Bulawayo Fire Brigade acting chief fire officer Linos Phiri yesterday, who told Southern Eye that when the fire fighters arrived at the scene, the fire was raging and the roof of the house had already collapsed.
“The fire could be seen from as far as Matopo Road. It was spreading from the front of the building to the back and the roof structure had collapsed and almost all rooms were on fire,” Phiri said.
Phiri said a 5kg gas cylinder was recovered at the scene. He said there were no injuries, adding that the estimated property loss was valued at $500 000.
Witnesses said the couple, only identified as Chirisas, had a long standing dispute which resulted in the wife torching the husband’s clothes and other valuables.
The husband (Chirisa) confirmed that he had a dispute with his wife identified as Mildred Goba, saying this led her to burn valuables, among them clothes and sofas.
He said it was suspected that the fire was ignited when Chirisa left for the police station.
Phiri said a witness, Bongani Ngwenya, who lived in the same house told them that she saw Chirisa and Goba fighting, with the latter burning valuables. -NewsDay
By A Correspondent- At least 21 immigrants have been missing after they were swept away along the Limpopo River
The 21 were trying to cross the Zimbabwean border into South Africa.
This was revealed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in a report titled Families of Missing Migrants: Their Search for Answers, the Impact of Loss and Recommendations for Improved Support which was released yesterday.
The IOM has since 2014 documented deaths and disappearances of more than 42 000 migrants worldwide.
“Tens of thousands of people worldwide live with the pain and uncertainty of not knowing the fate of their relatives and loved ones who went missing or died during migration around the world. Besides the emotional toll, their lives may be forever marked by the many psychosocial, legal and financial impacts related to the disappearance of their relatives,” the report read.
“Many may have gone missing on these journeys, but the exact numbers are not known, as there is a lack of systematic and reliable data on the number of people who go missing on migration journeys from Zimbabwe to South Africa. It is likely that there are many unreported and unrecorded cases of migrants who have gone missing or lost their lives during the journey or thereafter”.
The organisation called on member States to make an effort to identify people that would have gone missing and facilitate communication with the affected families.
The report further said most Zimbabweans left the country due to the deteriorating socio-economic situation, with the majority crossing to South Africa.
“While complete data on the number of people who died attempting to cross from Zimbabwe to South Africa do not exist, IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded 21 cases of people who drowned in the Limpopo River while attempting to cross the border between the two countries irregularly between 2014 and 2020. “In the absence of State-funded tools and services to address their needs, families of missing migrants develop their own strategies to search for information, through informal channels.”
By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland East province have launched an operation against pirate taxis, popularly known as mushikashika,
Under the operation code-named Wipe Out Mushikashika , Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii said 255 cars have been impounded.
He said 78 pirate taxis were impounded in Marondera, 119 in Murewa while another 48 were impounded in Chivhu district.
The operation is set to spill into COVID-19 hotspot districts such as Wedza and Goromonzi.
“The operational environment of pirate taxis fuels the spread of COVID-19. There is no social distancing, no sanitising and no monitoring of masking up among other safety measures.
“Secondly, there are issues of overloading as well as robbery cases that involve these vehicles. There are also issues of stocktheft whereby some carcasses are being found in these vehicles. They are being hired by cattle rustlers to transport stolen stock,” Chazovachii said.
By Mazvita Masaraure | In general myself enjoyed the song except the part were there was mentioned a name that is not familiar in the kingdom of happiness. A name that has pulled down the whole nation of Zimbabwe in disgrace and poverty.
This might be the most expensive project ever done in Zimbabwe. So for the Arts industry we give you the credit Passion Java but for the sake of these musicians and their careers if you want to raise them please do stay out of politics. One name has ruined a good project.
Roki Josphats your future is bright brother but don’t be a puppet, control your needs. A signed paper doesn’t force you to be involved in things that can ruin your career. The whole nation was behind you all along but after this there is a huge fall not because you did anything wrong but your association in wrong doings made you an accomplice.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with murder cases which are emanating from petty family, friends, and beer drinking disputes in the country.
In some of the cases, people will be contravening the Government’s COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions and safety measures.
On 31st July 2021, a 38-year-old man was fatally assaulted by a suspect only known as Mosquito after a misunderstanding during a beer drinking spree, at an open space in Unit L, Seke, Chitungwiza.
On 2nd August 2021, a Chikuti man (42) was fatally struck once on the head with a brick by his friend after a quarrel over US$60 he borrowed from the suspect. The victim was referred to Mtala Clinic where he was pronounced dead on admission.
On the same date, and at a certain bottle store in Zaka, a 35-year-old man struck a male adult aged 72 with a wooden chair once on the head, after his token of appreciation request, for assisting the victim to rescue his trapped cow, was turned down by the victim.
On 28 July 2021, at around 0900 hours, a 92-year-old man was attacked by a suspected mentally challenged man (29) who wrestled him and took away his walking stick before striking him once on the head for unknown reasons. The victim was referred to Shamva Hospital where he died on 1st August 2021.
The suspect was arrested and has since appeared before Bindura Magistrate Court where he was remanded in custody.
In a related case, Police are investigating an attempted murder case which occurred on 1st August 2021, in Dete, where a 20-year-old man struck the complainant once on the head with an axe over allegations that the complainant and her husband were denying him groceries bought by his mother who is in South Africa. The suspect has since been arrested.
Meanwhile, Police have arrested Duncan Xolani Hadebe (35) in connection with a case of attempted murder that occurred on 31st July 2021, in which the suspect fired two live rounds with an EN rifle towards the complainant after a land dispute.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges Zimbabweans to value human life and resolve differences through peaceful means.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | The MDC Alliance in the UK and a two man group calling itself the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe organised a poorly attended demonstration in London at the Zimbabwe High Commission. They were demonstrating against deportations of Zimbabweans from the United Kingdom to Harare.
Reasons for the deportation included involvement in criminal activity, the end of a prison sentence, overstaying of a visa, or actions which cause the loss of legal right to remain.The Zimbabwean Embassy offered non-judgemental and practical support in such situations, and seek to ease the bureaucratic burden for the individual concerned and their family. The embassy does not make representations on the individual’s behalf for a deportation order to be overturned, and Zimbabweans should be aware that decisions by immigration authorities are generally final and they have nothing to do with the embassy. Zimbabwe is horrified by the MDC and those organisations demonstrating at the embassy against deportations. This shows the mentality of some opposition who just want to vilify Zimbabwe. One wonders how is Zimbabwe involved in the deportation of criminals from United Kingdom. Demonstration at the embassy do not help. It is not the embassy which depots people. The embassy only verifies nationality of the deportees. The ambassador does not have any power to decide who should be deported.
When these people are deported their crimes are not disclosed to the embassy or to anyone for that matter. The British have an embassy in Zimbabwe so they know the situation on the ground. Deportation is not meant by nature to be rewarded.
We can not reward criminals for committing crimes.
It is curious that the demonstrations are funded by John Burke. This John Burke is a white an who solicit funds purporting to be fighting a cause for Human Rights. He simply led few Zimbabweans to soil the good name of Zimbabwe, leading 15 people through ZHRO ZIMBABWE.
Deportation is the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. The term expulsion is often used as a synonym for deportation, though expulsion is more often used in the context of international law,
According to the UK immigration Act 1971 sections 3(5) and (6), the secretary of state has the power to give an order for deportation against any criminal action of a foreign national.
By the term deportation, it refers that the individual needs to leave the country and sanction their detention as well till their removal.
All countries reserve the right to deport persons without right of abode even those who are longtime residents or possess permanent residency. Contrary to the utterances by the demonstrators If the Home Office wants you to leave the UK, they’ll tell you in writing. You can challenge their decision by explaining why you should be able to stay in the UK. Your letter will tell you how to challenge the decision.
You should get help from an immigration specialist if you want to challenge the Home Office’s decision. An immigration specialist will discuss your situation and help you challenge the decision. For example, you might be able to stay if leaving would go against your human rights or if you can apply for asylum.
If the you finish all the given rights you become all rights exhausted. The only thing left will be your deportation.
One of the striking aspects of the issue of deportation is that it is the state’s ultimate and most naked form of immigration control. The omission is curious, as deportation goes directly to the heart of concerns raised by liberalism, democracy and human rights.
Deportation, as a concept and as a policy, embodies what one might call the liberal democratic paradox. On the one hand, deportation – or, more generally, the capacity to exercise border control – is fundamental to liberal democracy in two senses. And fundamental to the sovereignty of the state is the capacity to control borders.Second, policy in a liberal democracy must in some measure reflect the aggregated preferences of its citizens. And nowhere does a majority of the citizenry support open borders; Despite a growing normative literature hoping to problematize the ethical status of borders immigration control remains a central and, arguably, a necessary feature in the maintenance of the liberal democratic state.Immigration control implies two capacities: to block the entry of individuals to a state, and to secure the return of those who have entered.
What MDC and it’s supporting rogues do not know is that the Embassy represents its country and head of station, along with its policies, to a foreign host country of which they retain a governmental residence and their own sovereign territory. An Embassy is headed by an ambassador, who directly represents their countries own head of state
who carries and sees out business on their behalf.
A president or prime minister appoints their ambassadors who they see fit to properly represent their country, this selection of personnel has a huge role on the position of a country and its embassy’s image. The ambassador has the responsibility to maintain and increase relations with its host country while acquiring key information and reporting back to the country it represents. Ambassadors also have the responsibility of protecting and offering information and help to its country’s citizens abroad. But they do not interfere with the due process. The MDC is trying to force the ambassador to interfere in the internal issues of the United Kingdom.
In this new dispensation there are no reasons for Zimbabweans abroad to seek asylum. The government of Zimbabwe does not persecute opposition members.
Zimbabwe has mayors who are from the opposition camp. A large percentage of the members of parliament are from the opposition camp. Those demonstrators in the UK can not claim to be more MSC than Chamisa who is freely roaming the streets of Zimbabwe. It is therefore laughable that we have people led by John Burke who claim that their lives will be in danger if they are returned to Zimbabwe.
Those demonstrating and Afraid to go back to Zimbabwe are afraid of crimes they have committed in Zimbabwe and are now hiding behind politics so that they can not be brought to justice.
The demonstrators are trying to hold the UK at ransom by demanding a stop to deportations. The embassy only assists with travel documents after they are satisfied that you are a Zimbabwean.
The fact that one has worked in the UK for many years does not mean that he has a right to say. There are procedures to be followed in order to gain legality in your stay in the UK.
The question John Burke and his lunatics is why demonstrating at the embassy? What do they want the embassy to do?
If we are to consider seriously the demonstrators who claim to be MDC must be willing to go to Zimbabwe. They are actually useful to the their party if they are in Zimbabwe. They are needed by the MDC to vote. They must go and vote for their country.
Zimbabwe is doing what is expected it is accepting and welcoming its citizens. Like a parent who welcomes his or her prodigal son back Zimbabwe welcomes its errant children back.
The demonstrations have nothing to do with deportations. It is a well calculated ploy to soil the image of Zimbabwe.
This nonsense disguised as demonstrations should be stopped.
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has slammed the ZUPCO monopoly because the buses are failing to cope with the number of urban commuters.
Thousands of commuters across the country are struggling to travel to and from work because ZUPCO buses are inefficient and insufficient.
Commenting on the transport chaos in urban areas Advocate Mahere said:
“Red circle -The ZUPCO monopoly must fall.
Red circle -ZUPCO buses have become super spreaders.
Red circle- The buses can’t meet public demand for transport.”
She also pointed out that the party would not be pushed by Zanu PF elements to lose focus and direction.
“We are a party that uses all platforms, media spaces, towns, villages, Parliament, the courts and all other tools available to us to hold the authorities accountable and articulate our alternative Zimbabwean dream.
We’ve tabled an alternative Electoral Amendment Bill. We’ve engaged ZEC with a proposal to establish an all stakeholder platform to drive the electoral reform agenda.
. We have had to cover the voter education gap in various communities where ZEC had failed to do its job.”
“We have started already. We are implementing our rural mobilization campaign which is being led by Hon.
@BvondoChidziva . We have earmarked every province for this program and we have covered significant ground.”
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has slammed the ZUPCO monopoly because the buses are failing to cope with the number of urban commuters.
Thousands of commuters across the country are struggling to travel to and from work because ZUPCO buses are inefficient and insufficient.
Commenting on the transport chaos in urban areas Advocate Mahere said:
“Red circle -The ZUPCO monopoly must fall.
Red circle -ZUPCO buses have become super spreaders.
Red circle- The buses can’t meet public demand for transport.”
She also pointed out that the party would not be pushed by Zanu PF elements to lose focus and direction.
“We are a party that uses all platforms, media spaces, towns, villages, Parliament, the courts and all other tools available to us to hold the authorities accountable and articulate our alternative Zimbabwean dream.
We’ve tabled an alternative Electoral Amendment Bill. We’ve engaged ZEC with a proposal to establish an all stakeholder platform to drive the electoral reform agenda.
. We have had to cover the voter education gap in various communities where ZEC had failed to do its job.”
“We have started already. We are implementing our rural mobilization campaign which is being led by Hon.
@BvondoChidziva . We have earmarked every province for this program and we have covered significant ground.”
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has challenged Professor Lovemore Madhuku and his POLAD compatriots to quit or risk ruining their reputation.
POLAD members have been pampered with motor vehicles by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On Tuesday Madhuku defended his decision to join POLAD.
Hon Sikhala accused Mnangagwa of using taxpayers’ money to please his political allies.
“As a nation we want 2 know where the money that bought the POLAD vehicles was drawn from.
There ws no such appropriation in the last national budget. So can Mnangagwa tell us where he got the money he used 2 buy those vehicles.
We want full answers otherwise we will raise dust…
I totally agree with @daddyhope that men and women of integrity must quit the thing called POLAD.
Not leaving POLAD only but those in the so called Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) must quit as soon as possible.
Murume anonzi Mnangagwa anosvibisa to be anywhere near him,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.
Tinashe Sambiri|Popular Zimbabwean musician, Rockford Roki Josphat has literally ruined his illustrious career as his collaboration with Congolese rhumba music giant Koffi Olomide and Panganai Java is crumbling.
In a new song featuring Roki and Koffi Olomide the latter chants “ED Mnangagwa is Number One” much to the chagrin of citizens who feel the two are glorifying the Zanu PF leader who is responsible for their suffering.
Angry Zimbabweans have accused Java of smuggling political ambitions into a noble project.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono observed:
The song died before it was even heard. It is probably the most expensive music production in Zimbabwe, but because one name was mentioned in this song, yatofa yakarodha.
More importantly, it shows you how citizens hate tyranny and Corruption.
Folks are suffering As for Rockford and his career, it might be the real because you can’t take part in a song that praises a man who has caused so much pain to citizens and expect those same citizens to embrace that song.
This year, for WBW 2021, WABA has selected the theme: Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility. The theme is aligned with thematic area 2 of the WBW-SDG 2030 campaign which highlights the links between breastfeeding and survival, health and wellbeing of women, children and nations.
WABA states that this year’s objectives are to:
Inform people about the importance of protecting breastfeeding. Anchor breastfeeding support as a vital public health responsibility. Engage with individuals and organizations for greater impact. Galvanize action on protecting breastfeeding to improve public health.
Pregnancy and lactation are an especially vulnerable time for working women and their families. Expectant and nursing mothers require special protection to prevent harm to their or their infants’ health, and they need adequate time to give birth, to recover, and to nurse their children. At the same time, they also require protection to ensure that their jobs are not jeopardized because of pregnancy or maternity leave.
Maternity Protection is key to enable breastfeeding and empower parents for a successful implementation of recommended breastfeeding practices. PAHO/WHO recommends that countries must implement and reenforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes at all levels. It is vital to ensure that breastfeeding mothers do not get targeted by the industry, marketing or public health professional who want to jeopardize their breastfeeding by promoting formula-feeding
BREASTFEEDING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
PAHO/WHO continues to recommend that standard infant feeding guidelines be adhered to during the COVID-19 pandemic. The standard infant feeding guidelines are:
Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, Exclusive breastfeeding until babies are six months old, and Continued breastfeeding along with nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, until age two years old or beyond.
The benefits of breastfeeding and nurturing mother-infant interaction to prevent infection and promote health and development are especially important when health and other community services are themselves disrupted or limited
Mothers and infants should be supported to remain together, and practice skin-to-skin contact and/or kangaroo care whether or not they or their infants have suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 virus infection. Breastfeeding counseling, basic psychosocial support, and practical feeding support should be provided to all pregnant women and mothers with infants and young children…
Source : WHO/ PAHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
HALF a million dollars worth of property was destroyed by fire on Tuesday when a couple at a house in Hillside in Bulawayo had a heated quarrel, culminating in the wife setting the property alight.
This was confirmed by Bulawayo Fire Brigade acting chief fire officer Linos Phiri yesterday, who told Southern Eye that when the fire fighters arrived at the scene, the fire was raging and the roof of the house had already collapsed.
“The fire could be seen from as far as Matopo Road. It was spreading from the front of the building to the back and the roof structure had collapsed and almost all rooms were on fire,” Phiri said.
Phiri said a 5kg gas cylinder was recovered at the scene.
He said there were no injuries, adding that the estimated property loss was valued at $500 000.
Witnesses said the couple, only identified as Chirisas, had a long standing dispute which resulted in the wife torching the husband’s clothes and other valuables.
The husband (Chirisa) confirmed that he had a dispute with his wife identified as Mildred Goba, saying this led her to burn valuables, among them clothes and sofas.
He said it was suspected that the fire was ignited when Chirisa left for the police station.
Phiri said a witness, Bongani Ngwenya, who lived in the same house told them that she saw Chirisa and Goba fighting, with the latter burning valuables.- NewsDay
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE ON THE PASSING ON OF VETERAN JOURNALIST MR CONWAY TUTANI
Information Ministry
It is with a deep sense of grief that I learnt this afternoon of the passing on of veteran journalist, Mr Conway Tutani, who collapsed yesterday evening at his home in Houghton Park. On behalf of the Ministry of Information. Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the media fraternity, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the Tutani family on this very sad loss.
At the time of his death. Mr Tutani was working for Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) newspaper stable. Ile held strong- opinions on current affairs, and he ignited the media landscape with his Saturday column that added to the diversity of opinion. characteristic of a media landscape with a plurality of voices.
Mr Tutani’s death is particularly saddening as it conics In a year where we have lost a number of journalists including Saul Ciwaktiha Ndlovu. Tawanda Gudhlanga, Sandra Nyaira and Samuel Mkithika Thebe, among others, the ranks of the more experienced senior journalists are diminishing, and the nation is poorer without them.
Mr Tutani boasts of an illustrious career in the media industry spanning 4 decades, beginning in 1981. Throughout this period, he distinguished himself as a meticulous proofreader, who would later evoke into a columnist of note. Before joining AMR where he ended up, he had worked for Zimpapers for 2 decades and later for ANZ.
Mr Tutani’s strong opinions should, however, never be mistaken for lack of patriotism, as he was a stout patriot who dedicated his sharp intellect to the enrichment of national discourse. There is much to glean and learn from his professional conduct, particularly for the new and upcoming journalists who are buffeted on all sides with compromise and prevarication. To the very end, he remained true to the values and ethos of pan-Africanism. He was indeed a rare breed of patriotic journalist.
His voice will be sadly missed. May his soul rest in eternal peace
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police said it was concerned with high cases of murder cases emanating from petty family, friends, and beer drinking disputes.
In some of the cases, the police said people would be contravening the Government’s COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions and safety measures.
On 31st July 2021, the police said a 38-year-old man was fatally assaulted by a suspect only known as Mosquito after a misunderstanding during a beer drinking spree, at an open space in Unit L, Seke, Chitungwiza.
On 2nd August 2021, the authorities said Chikuti man (42) was fatally struck once on the head with a brick by his friend after a quarrel over US$60 he borrowed from the suspect. The victim was referred to Mtala Clinic where he was pronounced dead on admission.
On the same date, the police said at a certain bottle store in Zaka, a 35-year-old man struck a male adult aged 72 with a wooden chair once on the head, after his token of appreciation request, for assisting the victim to rescue his trapped cow, was turned down by the victim.
“On 28 July 2021, at around 0900 hours, a 92-year-old man was attacked by a suspected mentally challenged man (29) who wrestled him and took away his walking stick before striking him once on the head for unknown reasons. The victim was referred to Shamva Hospital where he died on 1st August 2021,” said the police said.
“In a related case, Police are investigating an attempted murder case which occurred on 1st August 2021, in Dete, where a 20-year-old man struck the complainant once on the head with an axe over allegations that the complainant and her husband were denying him groceries bought by his mother who is in South Africa. The suspect has since been arrested,” posted the police.
By Correspondent- Parents with children attending the Roman Catholic-run Shungu High School in Kwekwe have petitioned education authorities over alleged sexual abuse of pupils. The priest in charge at the school, father Msindo is accused of sexually abusing five students as well as hailing insults, hate speech and victimising teachers at the school in front of the learners.
In a bid to cover up the abuses, the school has reportedly fired the boarding master George Matanga who stood against children’s abuses.
Matanga had vowed to sleep outside with eight pupils who had been flushed out of hostels at night for non-payment of school fees. Reports indicate that a complaint was lodged at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s midlands offices where the District Schools Inspector undertook to investigate the matter. The petition reads: As parents we have raised concerns during term 1 of 2021 through a petition to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s District Schools Inspector (DSI) in Kwekwe about the ill-treatment, abuse of school kids, suppression of parents’ views in regards to school operations, hate speech and staff victimisation by Fr Msindo. We note the Kwekwe DSI responded to the issues that were also reported in a local newspaper, visited the school to investigate and regretted that the matter was not dealt with thoroughly. Further concerns by the disgruntled parents have also questioned why Father Msindo’s alleged actions haven’t been addressed. The petition also claims that the priest in charge had turned hostile to fellow staff before causing their dismissal.
The parents also accuse the priest in charge of damaging the school’s reputation. They wrote: To avoid further damage to the institution, we implore that the diocese restores sanity at Shungu High School by halting the dismissal of much-loved members of staff, this has to be done to avoid public shame comes the opening of schools. To that effect, the hearings to dismiss key staff dealing with learners should only be left to the incoming priest in charge to avoid victimisation, hence illegal, unfair and not in the spirit of justice.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe power utility Zesa holdings said they will be power cuts in some parts of the capital tonight.
In a statement Tuesday evening Zesa said the power cuts will be caused by maintenance they will be carrying out on a number of high and medium density areas.
By A Correspondent- At least 100 Congolese migrants have escaped from the Tongogara refugee camp in Chipinge.
The refugee among them children have been captured in Bulawayo after they were discovered at a house in one of Bulawayo’s low-density suburbs.
The Congolese were en route to Botswana after allegedly escaping from the country’s Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge.
It is not clear how they managed to travel from Chipinge to Bulawayo, a distance of over 500km, during the COVID-19 lockdown period when intercity travel has been banned.
Sources said the Congolese migrants were discovered at a Bulawayo house on Monday following a tip-off, leading to their detention at Hillside Police Station while alternative accommodation was being sought by the Social Welfare Department.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima confirmed the detention, saying the ministry would launch investigations into how the migrants left Tongogara.
“I don’t have details, but our position as a ministry is that they are supposed to be at Tongogara Refugee Camp. However, for now, they have to be processed by the police and their case will have to be reviewed by immigration authorities to see if there is any law that has been broken,” Mavima told Newsday.
“If any law has been broken, then justice will take its course. From our perspective as a ministry which is responsible for administration and welfare of the migrants, there has to be a review of how they got there (Bulawayo); and address the gaps and lapses.”
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that 104 Congolese refugees escaped from Tongogara camp.
“What is clear is that these are refugees from DRC who were coming from Tongogara Refugee Camp. Some of them have got their papers and currently, they are going through COVID-19 processes and also vetting by relevant government departments,” Nyathi said.
By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland East have impounded 255 pirate taxis, popularly known as mushikashika, for contravening Covid-19 regulations.
Mashonaland East Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii said 78 pirate taxis were impounded in Marondera, 119 in Murewa while another 48 were impounded in Chivhu district.
“The operational environment of pirate taxis fuels the spread of COVID-19. There is no social distancing, no sanitising and no monitoring of masking up among other safety measures.
“Secondly, there are issues of overloading as well as robbery cases that involve these vehicles. There are also issues of stocktheft whereby some carcasses are being found in these vehicles. They are being hired by cattle rustlers to transport stolen stock,” Chazovachii said.
By A Correspondent- Harare has been red-flagged for registering high numbers of missing immigrants.
The missing immigrants include 21 who were swept away by the Limpopo River between 2014 and January 2021.
The 21 were trying to cross the Zimbabwean border into South Africa.
This was revealed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in a report titled Families of Missing Migrants: Their Search for Answers, the Impact of Loss and Recommendations for Improved Support which was released yesterday.
The IOM has since 2014 documented deaths and disappearances of more than 42 000 migrants worldwide.
“Tens of thousands of people worldwide live with the pain and uncertainty of not knowing the fate of their relatives and loved ones who went missing or died during migration around the world. Besides the emotional toll, their lives may be forever marked by the many psychosocial, legal and financial impacts related to the disappearance of their relatives,” the report read.
“Many may have gone missing on these journeys, but the exact numbers are not known, as there is a lack of systematic and reliable data on the number of people who go missing on migration journeys from Zimbabwe to South Africa. It is likely that there are many unreported and unrecorded cases of migrants who have gone missing or lost their lives during the journey or thereafter”.
The organisation called on member States to make an effort to identify people that would have gone missing and facilitate communication with the affected families.
The report further said most Zimbabweans left the country due to the deteriorating socio-economic situation, with the majority crossing to South Africa.
“While complete data on the number of people who died attempting to cross from Zimbabwe to South Africa do not exist, IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded 21 cases of people who drowned in the Limpopo River while attempting to cross the border between the two countries irregularly between 2014 and 2020. “In the absence of State-funded tools and services to address their needs, families of missing migrants develop their own strategies to search for information, through informal channels.”
By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo have raided shebeens and arrested at over 300 people for defying lockdown curfew lockdown regulations.
The country is under level 4 lockdown and bars are not allowed to operate.
Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrrests.
“During the weekend, a total of 274 people were arrested in connection with alcohol-related cases. That is operating shebeens, bottle stores and public drinking, contravening Covid-19 regulations. Quite several people were arrested for improper use of facemasks, but of note was the raids of shebeens in Nkulumane and other suburbs,” said Inspector Ncube.
“What we do is confiscate the beer and the equipment that is used. Repeat offenders are taken to court. We are foreseeing shortly that there will be custodial sentences for those who are continuously breaking the law,” said Inspector Ncube.
He said the public must report to the police, any shebeens and nightspots that are operating against lockdown regulations.
“We still urge people to comply with the law and desist from operating shebeens. Apart from contravening Covid-19 regulations, the operation of shebeens is illegal in terms of the law. They are also seen as a hive of activity where criminals thrive, where they waylay their victims. We also ask the members of the public to continue to report these people who operate illegally,” said Inspector Ncube.
Tinashe Sambiri|Popular Zimbabwean musician, Rockford Roki Josphat has literally ruined his illustrious career as his collaboration with Congolese rhumba music giant Koffi Olomide and Panganai Java is crumbling.
In a new song featuring Roki and Koffi Olomide the latter chants “ED Mnangagwa is Number One” much to the chagrin of citizens who feel the two are glorifying the Zanu PF leader who is responsible for their suffering.
Angry Zimbabweans have accused Java of smuggling political ambitions into a noble project.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono observed:
The song died before it was even heard. It is probably the most expensive music production in Zimbabwe, but because one name was mentioned in this song, yatofa yakarodha.
More importantly, it shows you how citizens hate tyranny and Corruption.
Folks are suffering As for Rockford and his career, it might be the real because you can’t take part in a song that praises a man who has caused so much pain to citizens and expect those same citizens to embrace that song.
Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa hates everything that empowers young people, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.
According to Chuma, Mnangagwa is planning to embark on a massive campaign and mobilization programme under the guise of Heroes Day celebrations.
Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party is accused of violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Read full statement below:
04-08-2021
With Covid-19 causing havoc across the country, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime is hatching a plan to hold its rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
The announcement that only vaccinated citizens will be allowed to attend next week’s proposed Heroes Day celebrations stinks with deception and insincerity of the highest order.
Only some few weeks ago, the same regime banned all sporting disciplines on the pretext of Covid-19 regulations.
Despite following all the Covid-19 protocols including vaccination of players, the Premier Soccer League’s attempts to resume football was quashed by the government.
Juxtapose a football match of only 22 players with hundreds if not thousands of ZANU PF supporters that are going to converge at their upcoming rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
We know very that these so-called Heroes Day events have been reduced to ZANU PF rallies over the years. There is nothing national about those partisan events that are used as platforms to mock political opponents.
What is clear though is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime does not value sport.
This adds value to our already held view that Mnangagwa hates everything that benefits young people.
We demand for the resumption of sport under strict Covid-19 regulations and not some useless ZANU PF rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
FreeMako
DefyOrDie
RegisterToVoteZw
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa hates everything that empowers young people, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.
According to Chuma, Mnangagwa is planning to embark on a massive campaign and mobilization programme under the guise of Heroes Day celebrations.
Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party is accused of violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Read full statement below:
04-08-2021
With Covid-19 causing havoc across the country, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime is hatching a plan to hold its rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
The announcement that only vaccinated citizens will be allowed to attend next week’s proposed Heroes Day celebrations stinks with deception and insincerity of the highest order.
Only some few weeks ago, the same regime banned all sporting disciplines on the pretext of Covid-19 regulations.
Despite following all the Covid-19 protocols including vaccination of players, the Premier Soccer League’s attempts to resume football was quashed by the government.
Juxtapose a football match of only 22 players with hundreds if not thousands of ZANU PF supporters that are going to converge at their upcoming rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
We know very that these so-called Heroes Day events have been reduced to ZANU PF rallies over the years. There is nothing national about those partisan events that are used as platforms to mock political opponents.
What is clear though is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime does not value sport.
This adds value to our already held view that Mnangagwa hates everything that benefits young people.
We demand for the resumption of sport under strict Covid-19 regulations and not some useless ZANU PF rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
FreeMako
DefyOrDie
RegisterToVoteZw
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
By Farai D Hove | ED, Mnangagwa, number One!, convicted musician Kofi Olomide screams in a 2023 election campaign song for the ZANU PF leader, while with a group of other artists.
A child quickly interjects in a mock clip saying, haha, futseke. The musicians continue in dance and song, and the baby decides to walk away, clapping them all off with a louder: pfutseke!
The offensive song is a declaration that the coup leader has already won the 2023 elections 2 years before the time.
The below stitch up is of socialites Mai Titi, Madam Boss, and Passion Java performing a stager following their unity campaign for their 2023 election hit sponsored by Youth Minister Tino Machakaire.
The Zambian FA (FAZ) has unveiled the new technical for their national team following the sacking of Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic last month.
Beston Chambeshi will take over the reins on an initial three-month contract with Aljosa Asanovic coming in as the technical advisor.
Karol Prazencia and Stefan Carevic will serve as the two assistants in the technical team.
A statement by FAZ confirmed the news saying: “Coach Beston Chambeshi and Technical Advisor Aljosa Asanovic were officially welcomed at Football House this morning.
“The duo conferred with FAZ president Andrew Kamanga, his deputy Dr Justin Mumba, Technical Committee chairperson Mwansa Kapyanga and General Secretary Adrian Kashala.
“Chambeshi and Asanovic will be assisted by Karol Prazencia as assistant coach and Stefan Carevic who will serve as video assistant.
“The bench has been given a three-month contract that will see them oversee the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that commence on September 1.”
Meanwhile, Micho has already joined the Uganda national team as their new head coach following his departure at Chipolopolo.
The Serbian returned for his second spell with the Cranes, signing a three-year contract with the East Africans.
The gaffer’s first spell with Uganda ended soon after the 2017 Afcon finals following a payment dispute.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has admitted that he wouldn’t mind having Brighton and Hove star Percy Tay on his roaster at the Egyptian giants.
Mosimane, who ‘polished the diamond’ when he transformed Tau to a big star at Mamelodi Sundowns, says he wouldn’t mind bringing back the England-based striker to Africa.
“I have a very good relationship with Percy. And if he is available, why not? And also, does he want to come back to Africa?” he opened up to South African publication Soccer Laduma.
“Can we afford the transfer fee Brighton would demand? And also, would we satisfy his personal terms? If all those boxes can be ticked, then I will have a huge interest on this one,” he added.
Tau recently scored his first goal for Brighton in a pre-season friendly, but faces stiff competition for a place in the team, regardless.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent| Harare businessman George Katsimberis has torn into Pokugara Properties Chief Operations Officer Tatiana Aleshina saying she is a dark individual with a record of state capture.
Katsimberis is embroiled in a number of court battles with Pokugara Properties owner Kenneth Raydon Sharpe followed a botched deal in which he lost over US$1 Million dollars.
In his High Court application against provincial magistrate Letwin Rwodzi’s ruling in which she dismissed Katsimberis appeal to have his alleged ‘fraud’ case referred to the Constitutional Court.
“The aforesaid Tatiana Aleshina is a dark individual who has literally openly admitted in other proceedings to various forms of state capture.
“I attach hereto marked Annexure K2 the opposing affidavit that was filed by this woman Tatiana Aleshina in which she essentially admits state capture. I attach hereto marked Annexure H3 the answering affidavit filed by Rusty Markham in respect of which he bemoans the corrosive State capture by Tatiana Aleshina,” said Katsimberis.
Katsimberis filed cases of malicious damage to property and perjury against Sharpe and City of Harare officials after they connived to destroy a show house built as part of a joint venture agreement.
According to Katsimberis, the joint venture agreement was expected to develop over 160 housing units at Pokugara Estate in Borrowdale.
Sharpe later developed cold feet despite the fact that Katsimberis had invested over US$1 Million into the deal.
Sekhukhune United have offloaded Mcclive Phiri as the club seek to refresh its foreign quota ahead of the new season.
Phiri joined the side in National First Division in 2020 following his departure at Bidvest Wits after its disbandment. He helped the team win promotion to the top-flight and was an integral part of the squad .
The former Highlanders fullback’s release comes at a time Sekhukhune have signed several Zimbabwean players.
The have signed Talent Chawapiwa, Charlton Mashumba and veteran midfield workhorse Willard Katsande while Blessing Sarupinda became the latest arrival at the club after completing his move on Tuesday.
Babina Noko is also home to veteran goalkeeper Tapuwa ‘Campos’ Kapini, and Walter Musona.
They are also linked with club-less Warriors vice captain Ovidy Karuuru, who left relegated Black Leopards after the expiration of his contract at the end of last season.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Willard Katsande has confirmed that Kaizer Chiefs’ offer is still standing despite joining Sekhukhune United.
The midfielder’s contract with Amakhosi expired in June but the deal was not renewed, ending his decade-long stay as a player. Instead, the club offered him a technical role and was engaged in talks with the Soweto giants for the past week.
However, the player said he wasn’t ready to hang up his boots so soon and decided move to Sekhukhune United.
The 35-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Premier Soccer League side.
Speaking on Star FM, Katsande revealed that he will return to Chiefs once he retires from playing football.
He explained: “I did what I had to for my family and I also felt I still had the legs (to play). It was also important to secure my long term future and they promised me a position with the club when I do retire.”
Katsande will link up with several fellow countrymen including Tapuwa Kapini, McClive Phiri, Walter Musona, Charlton Mashumba and Talent Chawapiwa.
The club is also assessing King Nadolo and are said to be interested in Warriors’ vice-captain Ovidy Karuru.
Meanwhile, Katsande will be registered as local player as he is holder of a South African permanent residence permit. – Soccer24 Zimbabwe
By Farai D Hove | ED, Mnangagwa, number One!, convicted musician Kofi Olomide screams in a 2023 election campaign song for the ZANU PF leader, while with a group of other artists.
A child quickly interjects in a quick clip saying, haha, futseke. The musicians continue in dance and song, and the baby decides to walk away, clapping them all off with a louder: pfutseke!
The offensive song is a declaration that the coup leader has already won the 2023 elections 2 years before the time.
The below stitch up is of socialites Mai Titi, Madam Boss, and Passion Java performing a stager following their unity campaign for their 2023 election hit sponsored by Youth Minister Tino Machakaire.
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has slammed the ZUPCO monopoly because the buses are failing to cope with the number of urban commuters.
Thousands of commuters across the country are struggling to travel to and from work because ZUPCO buses are inefficient and insufficient.
Commenting on the transport chaos in urban areas Advocate Mahere said:
“Red circle -The ZUPCO monopoly must fall.
Red circle -ZUPCO buses have become super spreaders.
Red circle- The buses can’t meet public demand for transport.”
She also pointed out that the party would not be pushed by Zanu PF elements to lose focus and direction.
“We are a party that uses all platforms, media spaces, towns, villages, Parliament, the courts and all other tools available to us to hold the authorities accountable and articulate our alternative Zimbabwean dream.
We’ve tabled an alternative Electoral Amendment Bill. We’ve engaged ZEC with a proposal to establish an all stakeholder platform to drive the electoral reform agenda.
. We have had to cover the voter education gap in various communities where ZEC had failed to do its job.”
“We have started already. We are implementing our rural mobilization campaign which is being led by Hon.
@BvondoChidziva . We have earmarked every province for this program and we have covered significant ground.”
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has challenged Professor Lovemore Madhuku and his POLAD compatriots to quit or risk ruining their reputation.
POLAD members have been pampered with motor vehicles by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On Tuesday Madhuku defended his decision to join POLAD.
Hon Sikhala accused Mnangagwa of using taxpayers’ money to please his political allies.
“As a nation we want 2 know where the money that bought the POLAD vehicles was drawn from.
There ws no such appropriation in the last national budget. So can Mnangagwa tell us where he got the money he used 2 buy those vehicles.
We want full answers otherwise we will raise dust…
I totally agree with @daddyhope that men and women of integrity must quit the thing called POLAD.
Not leaving POLAD only but those in the so called Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) must quit as soon as possible.
Murume anonzi Mnangagwa anosvibisa to be anywhere near him,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.
Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa hates everything that empowers young people, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.
According to Chuma, Mnangagwa is planning to embark on a massive campaign and mobilization programme under the guise of Heroes Day celebrations.
Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party is accused of violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Read full statement below:
04-08-2021
With Covid-19 causing havoc across the country, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime is hatching a plan to hold its rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
The announcement that only vaccinated citizens will be allowed to attend next week’s proposed Heroes Day celebrations stinks with deception and insincerity of the highest order.
Only some few weeks ago, the same regime banned all sporting disciplines on the pretext of Covid-19 regulations.
Despite following all the Covid-19 protocols including vaccination of players, the Premier Soccer League’s attempts to resume football was quashed by the government.
Juxtapose a football match of only 22 players with hundreds if not thousands of ZANU PF supporters that are going to converge at their upcoming rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
We know very that these so-called Heroes Day events have been reduced to ZANU PF rallies over the years. There is nothing national about those partisan events that are used as platforms to mock political opponents.
What is clear though is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime does not value sport.
This adds value to our already held view that Mnangagwa hates everything that benefits young people.
We demand for the resumption of sport under strict Covid-19 regulations and not some useless ZANU PF rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
FreeMako
DefyOrDie
RegisterToVoteZw
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
This year, for WBW 2021, WABA has selected the theme: Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility. The theme is aligned with thematic area 2 of the WBW-SDG 2030 campaign which highlights the links between breastfeeding and survival, health and wellbeing of women, children and nations.
WABA states that this year’s objectives are to:
Inform people about the importance of protecting breastfeeding. Anchor breastfeeding support as a vital public health responsibility. Engage with individuals and organizations for greater impact. Galvanize action on protecting breastfeeding to improve public health.
Pregnancy and lactation are an especially vulnerable time for working women and their families. Expectant and nursing mothers require special protection to prevent harm to their or their infants’ health, and they need adequate time to give birth, to recover, and to nurse their children. At the same time, they also require protection to ensure that their jobs are not jeopardized because of pregnancy or maternity leave.
Maternity Protection is key to enable breastfeeding and empower parents for a successful implementation of recommended breastfeeding practices. PAHO/WHO recommends that countries must implement and reenforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes at all levels. It is vital to ensure that breastfeeding mothers do not get targeted by the industry, marketing or public health professional who want to jeopardize their breastfeeding by promoting formula-feeding
BREASTFEEDING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
PAHO/WHO continues to recommend that standard infant feeding guidelines be adhered to during the COVID-19 pandemic. The standard infant feeding guidelines are:
Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, Exclusive breastfeeding until babies are six months old, and Continued breastfeeding along with nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, until age two years old or beyond.
The benefits of breastfeeding and nurturing mother-infant interaction to prevent infection and promote health and development are especially important when health and other community services are themselves disrupted or limited
Mothers and infants should be supported to remain together, and practice skin-to-skin contact and/or kangaroo care whether or not they or their infants have suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 virus infection. Breastfeeding counseling, basic psychosocial support, and practical feeding support should be provided to all pregnant women and mothers with infants and young children…
Source : WHO/ PAHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has challenged Professor Lovemore Madhuku and his POLAD compatriots to quit or risk ruining their reputation.
POLAD members have been pampered with motor vehicles by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On Tuesday Madhuku defended his decision to join POLAD.
Hon Sikhala accused Mnangagwa of using taxpayers’ money to please his political allies.
“As a nation we want 2 know where the money that bought the POLAD vehicles was drawn from.
There ws no such appropriation in the last national budget. So can Mnangagwa tell us where he got the money he used 2 buy those vehicles.
We want full answers otherwise we will raise dust…
I totally agree with @daddyhope that men and women of integrity must quit the thing called POLAD.
Not leaving POLAD only but those in the so called Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) must quit as soon as possible.
Murume anonzi Mnangagwa anosvibisa to be anywhere near him,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.
I think you're making such a big deal out of nothing.
Kofi's songs are not suddenly going to be boring to Zimbo ears because he's chanted "Mnangagwa" on a record. And Roki came up playing at state galas anyway, that's how Zimboz came to love him.
So , Kofi Olomide just came all the way from DRC to say "ed number 1, passion Java and Aaaaagh" till the song ends. Does he really know what that means to Roki and his resurrecting career? pic.twitter.com/FriEfu7V9m
— Munashe O'brian Gutu?? (@barrister_gutu) August 4, 2021
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has slammed the ZUPCO monopoly because the buses are failing to cope with the number of urban commuters.
Thousands of commuters across the country are struggling to travel to and from work because ZUPCO buses are inefficient and insufficient.
Commenting on the transport chaos in urban areas Advocate Mahere said:
“Red circle -The ZUPCO monopoly must fall.
Red circle -ZUPCO buses have become super spreaders.
Red circle- The buses can’t meet public demand for transport.”
She also pointed out that the party would not be pushed by Zanu PF elements to lose focus and direction.
“We are a party that uses all platforms, media spaces, towns, villages, Parliament, the courts and all other tools available to us to hold the authorities accountable and articulate our alternative Zimbabwean dream.
We’ve tabled an alternative Electoral Amendment Bill. We’ve engaged ZEC with a proposal to establish an all stakeholder platform to drive the electoral reform agenda.
. We have had to cover the voter education gap in various communities where ZEC had failed to do its job.”
“We have started already. We are implementing our rural mobilization campaign which is being led by Hon.
@BvondoChidziva . We have earmarked every province for this program and we have covered significant ground.”
Tinashe Sambiri|Popular Zimbabwean musician, Rockford Roki Josphat has literally ruined his illustrious career as his collaboration with Congolese rhumba music giant Koffi Olomide and Panganai Java is crumbling.
In a new song featuring Roki and Koffi Olomide the latter chants “ED Mnangagwa is Number One” much to the chagrin of citizens who feel the two are glorifying the Zanu PF leader who is responsible for their suffering.
Angry Zimbabweans have accused Java of smuggling political ambitions into a noble project.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono observed:
The song died before it was even heard. It is probably the most expensive music production in Zimbabwe, but because one name was mentioned in this song, yatofa yakarodha.
More importantly, it shows you how citizens hate tyranny and Corruption.
Folks are suffering As for Rockford and his career, it might be the real because you can’t take part in a song that praises a man who has caused so much pain to citizens and expect those same citizens to embrace that song.
With Covid-19 wrecking havoc across the country, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime is hatching a plan to hold its rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
The announcement that only vaccinated citizens will be allowed to attend next week’s proposed Heroes Day celebrations stinks with deception and insincerity of the highest order.
Only some few weeks ago, the same regime banned all sporting disciplines on the pretext of Covid-19 regulations.
Despite following all the Covid-19 protocols including vaccination of players, the Premier Soccer League’s attempts to resume football was quashed by the government.
Juxtapose a football match of only 22 players with hundreds if not thousands of ZANU PF supporters that are going to converge at their upcoming rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
We know very that these so-called Heroes Day events have been reduced to ZANU PF rallies over the years. There is nothing national about those partisan events that are used as platforms to mock political opponents.
What is clear though is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime neither value sport nor view it a profession that benefits thousands of citizens particularly young people.
This adds value to our already held view that Mnangagwa hates everything that benefit young people.
We demand for the resumption of sport under strict Covid-19 regulations and not some useless ZANU PF rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.
FreeMako
DefyOrDie
RegisterToVoteZw
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
THE Supreme Court has granted jailed former Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke $500 000 bail pending appeal against both conviction and 14-year jail term for raping his then 11-year-old relative at gunpoint.
By A Correspondent- A daring Shamva man on Tuesday visited State House in Harare demanding to see President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The man becomes the third in two weeks to visit the highly-protected place.
Isaac Tsuro (27) yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court after he was arrested at the gate by State security agents.
It is the State’s case that on July 27, at around 1620hrs, the accused was walking along Chancellor Road near the State House.
While at the place, Tsuro approached the security personnel manning the entrance and demanded to see Mnangagwa, indicating that he wanted to tell the President his dream.
It is alleged that Tsuro persisted on his demands to be allowed in, which resulted in his arrest.
Last week, Nigel Rutsito (37) was arrested at the State House gate after he lied that he was a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), while another trespasser Dylan Kanyungwe (24) stormed into the premises on the same day and demanded to see Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.
Rutsito went to State House on July 17 at around 4am and told security personnel at the main gate that he was a CIO member and had come for duty.
He allegedly insisted on entering the State residence, but the security personnel asked for his identity document, which he failed to produce, leading to his arrest. Kanyungwe is alleged to have approached members of the Presidential Guard at around 1pm on the same day and demanded to see Chiwenga.
He allegedly became violent and tried to force his way into State House after being told that Chiwenga did not stay there.
By A Correspondent- Renowned Zimbabwean poet Obert Dube is suing five Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers for damages after they assaulted him in January 2021 in the resort town of Victoria Falls for allegedly violating a government imposed curfew meant to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Dube was assaulted by five ZRP officers namely Constable Munashe Chikoto, Constable Samson Moyo, Constable Njabulo Ngwenya, Constable Nkosilathi Moyo and Constable Shelton Mathe on 20 January 2021 at about 10: PM, who used truncheons, open palms and booted feet after accusing him of loitering in Mkosana suburb in Victoria Falls in violation of a dusk to dawn curfew.
The award winning poet, who is represented by Nosimilo Chanayiwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, sustained injuries on his body and suffered physical and emotional pain as well as financial loss while seeking medical attention.
In a notice of intention to sue served on the five police officers based at Mkosana ZRP base, Dube said he will soon institute legal proceedings to claim damages against the individual police officers,the Officer in Charge, ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Hon. Kazembe Kazembe.
The damages, Dube said, will be for medical expenses which he incurred in treating some injuries which he sustained, pain and suffering and other delictual damages arising as a result of the unlawful conduct of ZRP officers.
By A Correspondent| Renowned Zimbabwean poet Obert Dube is suing five Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers for damages after they assaulted him in January 2021 in the resort town of Victoria Falls for allegedly violating a government imposed curfew meant to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Dube was assaulted by five ZRP officers namely Constable Munashe Chikoto, Constable Samson Moyo, Constable Njabulo Ngwenya, Constable Nkosilathi Moyo and Constable Shelton Mathe on 20 January 2021 at about 10: PM, who used truncheons, open palms and booted feet after accusing him of loitering in Mkosana suburb in Victoria Falls in violation of a dusk to dawn curfew.
The award winning poet, who is represented by Nosimilo Chanayiwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, sustained injuries on his body and suffered physical and emotional pain as well as financial loss while seeking medical attention.
In a notice of intention to sue served on the five police officers based at Mkosana ZRP base, Dube said he will soon institute legal proceedings to claim damages against the individual police officers, the Officer in Charge, ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Hon. Kazembe Kazembe.
The damages, Dube said, will be for medical expenses which he incurred in treating some injuries which he sustained, pain and suffering and other delictual damages arising as a result of the unlawful conduct of ZRP officers.
By A Correspondent- Residents of Chinhoyi were on Sunday left seething with anger after police indiscriminately deployed tear-smoke in the populous Chikonohono township, forcing a group of mourners to desert a funeral in a hurry.
The mourners were gathered near a block of tuck shops at Pfungwa Dzakanaka shopping centre.
A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) patrol team aboard an unidentified white Honda Fit vehicle threw teargas canisters in a bid to disperse residents allegedly breaching the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown and curfew regulations.
The mobile patrol officers never bothered to enquire why people were gathering at the house and neither did they give a prior warning for the crowd to disperse before throwing teargas.
Under the enhanced Level 4 lockdown measures, funeral gatherings are limited to just 30 people and also curfew rules in place prohibit the movement of people between 6.30 pm and 6 am.
A resident, Tanaka Mururi reported his family had been affected by the “reckless” police conduct.
He said:
Guys, I have noted with concern police are randomly spraying teargas at Pfungwa Dzakanaka shopping centre. My concern is the gas is affecting innocent people who are indoors.
It’s true, my cousin sister just called me asking what help she could render children who were blinded and were choking as a result of the teargas. These kids were in the house watching TV.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Margaret Chitove professed ignorance over the incident, before promising to investigate the matter and issue a statement.
Chinhoyi mayor, Councillor Garikai Dendera, who witnessed the incident, deplored the police action, describing it as unprofessional.
