By A Correspondent-Zanu PF has hijacked the funeral of five Chagweda family members of Gutu who perished in a road accident along the Chivhu-Roy highway last Saturday morning.
The family members namely, Francis Chagweda (33) who was the driver, Lloyd Chagweda (31), Viola Chagweda (35), Mavis Chagweda (61) all of Chidyamakuni Village in Chiwara and Eneres Said of Chiweshe died on the spot after a Toyota Wish they were traveling in was involved in a head-on collision with an Inter Africa bus.
They were traveling to Chiwara from Harare for a family function when disaster struck.
Gutu Senator Lovemore Matuke and Gutu South National Assembly representative Pupurai Togarepi have since taken control of all the burial arrangement of the deceased.
By A Correspondent-Government, through the national Civil Protection Unit has granted state assistance for the burial of five Chagweda family members of Gutu who perished in a road accident along the Chivhu-Roy highway last Saturday morning.
The family members namely, Francis Chagweda (33) who was the driver, Lloyd Chagweda (31), Viola Chagweda (35), Mavis Chagweda (61) all of Chidyamakuni Village in Chiwara and Eneres Said of Chiweshe died on the spot after a Toyota Wish they were traveling in was involved in a head on collision with an Inter Africa bus.
They were traveling to Chiwara from Harare for a family function when disaster struck.
Gutu Civil Protection Unit chair and district development co-ordinator Ms Chiedza Tafirei said the deceased will get a state assisted burial. Ms Tafirei said all the deceased except Said would be buried at Chidyamakuni Village tomorrow while the latter would be buried in Chiweshe.
The Civil Protection Unit had chipped in with $50 000 towards meeting the funeral expenses of the five deceased.
Besides the cash, the State had also chipped in with rice and cooking oil among other foodstuffs for the funeral.
Gutu Senator Cde Lovemore Matuke and Gutu South National Assembly representative Cde Pupurai Togarepi also donated foodstuffs towards the funeral.
By A Correspondent | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signed a trade deal with Australia touted to boost the economy. The nation walked away from the European Union last year.
In an announcement, Johnson said: “Today’s deal will create incredible opportunities for British businesses and consumers, by: Removing all tariffs on British goods, making it cheaper to sell iconic products like cars, Scotch whisky and ceramics into Australia.
“Slashing red tape for thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses trading with Australia.Saving British shoppers money with lower prices and more choice.Making it easier to travel and work in Australia, especially for young people.Safeguarding British farmers whilst opening up new trading opportunities.
“And believe me Amanda, this is just the start of the world of opportunities we are grasping as an independent trading nation.
“We are already making excellent progress towards striking more tailored trade deals with like-minded allies across the globe. And today’s deal paves the way for us to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a £9 trillion free trade area of some of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies.
“Today’s deal will create incredible opportunities for British businesses and consumers, by:
“Removing all tariffs on British goods, making it cheaper to sell iconic products like cars, Scotch whisky and ceramics into Australia.
“Slashing red tape for thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses trading with Australia. Saving British shoppers money with lower prices and more choice.
“Making it easier to travel and work in Australia, especially for young people.
“Safeguarding British farmers whilst opening up new trading opportunities.
“And believe me Amanda, this is just the start of the world of opportunities we are grasping as an independent trading nation.
“We are already making excellent progress towards striking more tailored trade deals with like-minded allies across the globe.
“And today’s deal paves the way for us to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a £9 trillion free trade area of some of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies.”
By A Correspondent- Investigations into police Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, accused of corruptly abusing his post or concealing from the police the business dealings of his girlfriend on a police farm in Mashonaland East are almost complete and his trial has been set for next month.
The State led by Mrs Netsai Mushayabasa set July 27 as the trial date for Makodza.
Makodza today appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.
Dear Editor. Ward 26 Clr, Max Dutuma constructed this shelter for a widow popularly known as Gogo vaDiva at Gazaland, Highfields. She's been neglected by her kids. A well wisher offered his premises so that she can be accommodated and her house be erected in this chilly weather pic.twitter.com/lsYQ6tlQAy
By A Correspondent- The government through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has declared war against white-owned companies and accused them of abusing foreign currency.
The RBZ released a statement Tuesday and said the companies that were found out by its Financial Intelligence Unit will be fined.
The companies include National Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Georgia Petroleum (Pvt) Ltd, Tettola Investments (Pvt) Ltd, Africa Steel (Pvt) Ltd, Westville Investments (Pvt) Ltd (T/A Omni Africa), Flicknik Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, Duo Valley Commodity Brokers, Faircclot Investments, GlenuLas Trading, Natural Stone Export Company, Nuvert Trading, Phirebrook Investments, Classic Energy, Clorex Energy, Explochem, Mutare Mart & Exchange, Souzcre Fuels and Kimya Investments.
According to a recently gazetted anti-business investment law SI 127 of 2021, businesses that access foreign currency on the RBZ Foreign Exchange Auction System (introduced last year) and then proceed to peg prices using parallel market rates may face a maximum fine of ZW$50,000. Any business that puts a premium on goods and services in local currency to induce consumers to pay using foreign currency will face a penalty of ZW$50,000.
The RBZ said that the accused companies shall be dealt with under SI 127.
“The Bank has a duty of care to ensure that the significant progress that the economy made since the introduction of the foreign exchange auction system in June 2020 continues on an unabated positive trajectory whilst at the same time protecting consumers and fostering compliance to engender fair play in the economy. It is against these noble objectives that SI 127 was put in place to provide for penalties against errant entities that were at the forefront of abusing the foreign exchange auction system to the detriment of the stability of the economy.
Accordingly, after investigations by the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Bank’s Exchange Control Division, the entities listed hereunder which were abusing the foreign exchange auction system shall be dealt with in accordance with SI 127,” read the statement by RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya.
Cristiano Ronaldo removed bottles of Coca Cola from the table during a press conference on Monday ahead of Portugal’s game against Hungary.
The soft drink company is an official sponsor the competition and had the product on display during the presser.
After removing them, he took a bottle of water and shouted ‘drink water’ and looked at the Coke bottles he had moved away with disdain.
The 36-year-old is notoriously strict about his diet and fitness regime, and has previously spoken about his dislike of soft drinks and junk food.
UEFA are yet to respond to this incident which could attract a reaction from the sponsors.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo, who is the Portuguese captain, will become the first player to appear in five European Championships should he lead his country out as expected.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has written to the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) request for the late David ‘Yogi’ Mandigora to be accorded hero status.
Mandigora died in Harare yesterday after a long battle with diabetes.
The Felton Kamambo-led ZIFA board has revealed that it has communicated in writing to the sports regulatory board, for the former Warriors and Dynamos midfielder to be conferred hero status.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Q: How have the vaccines been developed so quickly? Does this mean that their safety and efficacy has been compromised?
A: The speed of development of COVID-19 vaccines has been unprecedented for several reasons, but the safety and efficacy requirements for vaccines have not been compromised, Vaccine development was facilitated by:
The massive financial investment by governments, industry and philanthropic organisations in vaccine development and the re-direction of much of the global research and commercial infrastructure for the development and manufacture of vaccines. Governments also enabled companies to take the commercial risk of manufacturing some vaccine stocks ahead of regulatory approvals.
New technologies adapted from the development of other vaccines – mRNA vaccines were developed for COVID-19 very rapidly after the sequence of the COVID-19 virus was determined, but the underlying technology had been under development since much longer and production could be scaled up very quickly. The adenovirus technology used for adenovirus vector vaccines was first tested with SARS, MERS and Ebola virus over the last 20 years, and so was able to be adapted quickly to COVID-19, which has several similarities to these viruses.
Clinical trial successes – it has been possible to rapidly recruit large numbers of volunteers into clinical trials and, with unfortunately high rates of infection in several countries, to complete trials with 10,000-50,000 people in a short period of time. Under normal circumstances, it may take many months or even a few years to carry out trials of this size to determine whether a vaccine is effective. Very close collaboration – between regulators, industry and clinical researchers enabled clear indications of regulatory requirements and early access to results.
Intensive and insightful research – researchers predicted that the “spike protein” on the virus would be a good target for vaccine development, and almost all vaccines have been designed to induce a response to this protein. So far, the spike protein has produced a strong immune response in those vaccinated, and for those vaccines that have reported clinical results are highly protective from COVID-19 disease. Q: Will mRNA vaccines affect the DNA of vaccine recipients?
A: No. The mRNA in the vaccine has not been shown to incorporate itself into the genes of vaccine recipients and breaks down in the weeks after vaccination. mRNA vaccines contain genetic instructions for our cells, which only read them and provide copies of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein. This enables the body’s natural immune systems to cause a response in vaccine recipients if they are later exposed to the virus.
Q: How long will COVID-19 vaccination provide protection for immunised people?
A: We do not yet know how long protection from any of these vaccines lasts. We will get better insights over the next 12 months.
The duration of protection provided by vaccines can vary. For example, the seasonal influenza vaccine is given annually, because the influenza virus mutates, and protection wanes over a number of months. Other vaccines, such as those for rubella or measles provide multi-year or even life-long protection from disease. Mutations in key viral proteins can mean that virus variants emerge. The SARS-CoV-2-coronavirus is prone to mutations that creates variants, some of which have become established in a number of regions of the world. The scientific community and regulators are very actively monitoring whether the current vaccines can continue protecting people from infection with new variants. A number of vaccine developers are currently developing vaccines against the range of variants, and it is likely that booster shots with these vaccines will increase protection against known variants. Regulators have agreed that review of data on vaccines against variants will be facilitated based on assessment of immune response to the variant, in the same way that new seasonal influenza vaccines are evaluated each year. Q: Why are there so many vaccine candidates?
A: As the global seriousness of the pandemic became rapidly apparent, development of effective vaccines for COVID-19 became the top priority of many pharmaceutical companies and medical research institutes. There was also unprecedented government and private sector investment in vaccine development. There is now a wide range of technologies for developing new vaccines – and many of the organisations developing COVID-19 vaccines have particular experience in one or more of these technologies. This has ensured that there would still be vaccines available if some were not approved for reasons of efficacy, safety or manufacturing challenges.
Q: What if many people start getting a reaction from a particular COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Short-term reactions, such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue or headache are common following any vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines. These reactions usually pass in a day or two. If new evidence becomes available that suggests that a specific serious adverse event may be linked to a particular COVID-19 vaccine then regulators will take action, working collaboratively on a global basis and liaise with public health authorities. The type of actions that can be taken depend on the nature of the adverse event, and could range from issuing safety warnings for patients, healthcare professionals and the community; updating the product information or consumer information for the vaccine to show contraindications for the use in particular patients (e.g. those with certain co-morbidities); to closely monitoring adverse events in certain groups of patients; preventing the release of a particular batch of vaccine through to temporary suspension of the use of the vaccine until more is known.
Q: How are regulators speeding up the time it takes to authorise a COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Many regulators globally have implemented faster access pathways for COVID-19 vaccines, without compromising on strict standards of safety, quality and efficacy.
Some countries have Emergency Use Authorisation pathways which assess the available data at the time of authorisation. Exercising these provisions is a matter for those countries, taking into account the benefits versus risks in the context of the prevailing domestic pandemic situation. Different countries may coin this pathway or authorisation routes differently but essentially, they follow the same principles. Other countries have implemented accelerated/priority, conditional or provisional approval schemes.
Under normal circumstances, regulatory assessment begins once all information to support registration is available. For COVID-19 vaccines, many regulators have agreed to accept data on a rolling basis to enable early evaluation of data as it becomes available. Regulators will only be in a position to make a provisional approval decision for a vaccine once there is sufficient data to support adequately the safety, quality and effectiveness of the vaccine for its intended use. If a decision is made to grant provisional or conditional approval, it will be based on the requirement for the sponsor to submit more comprehensive, longer term clinical data, stability data and other information with agreed timelines. Q: Did our country approve this COVID-19 vaccine, or are we relying on another country’s approval?
A: Most countries are carrying out independent regulatory evaluations on the submitted data for each vaccine. However, to ensure a more efficient use of resources and expertise, regulators in different countries are communicating closely on safety, efficacy and quality data and discussing technical issues as they may arise. In many cases principles of WHO Good Reliance Practices and collaborative mechanisms leverage the output of other regulators.
Q: Why weren’t very rare blood clots with low platelets with the AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccines picked up during clinical trials?
A: Thromboembolic events with concurrent thrombocytopenia are very rare – with estimates based on the number of spontaneous reports suggesting an overall incidence on the order of 10-15 cases per million doses. The clinical trials of these vaccines included large numbers of people, often with 10,000 to 20,000 individuals in the active vaccine arms, but even in trials of this size it was statistically unlikely that such very rare events would be detected. This shows the importance of continual safety monitoring during the use of these vaccines, to allow very rare events to be detected and investigated further.
Source:
Joint Statement from the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance says it will leave no stone unturned in a spirited attempt to push for electoral reforms before the 2023 elections.
The Zanu PF regime is deliberately slowing down the process of implementing reforms fearing the implications of free and fair polls.
The MDC Alliance Namibia has launched a new branch as part of efforts to recruit new members before the 2023 elections.
See statement below:
Mdc Alliance Namibia Northern Branch successfully launched in Ondangwa on Saturday.
On Saturday, 12 June 2021 all roads led to Ondangwa, in the Northern part of Namibia where social democrats gathered to launch another organic branch.
Constitutional fighters who converged at Oshikoto Lodge resolved to have more other other branches in the region since they are a lot of Zimbabweans who reside in the north.
It was quite exhilarating to meet an energetic and enthusiastic Youth Assembly ready to take up the revolutionary duty to fight for socio-economic transformation in the motherland.
The Youth Commander, Tapiwa Jaricha , Vice Tafadzwa ‘Buju’ Maguraushe, Organiser, Panashe (former Zinasu activist), Sec Gen Robert Vambe, Treasurer General, Givemore Makoni , Vice Mangende and the Youth Assembly Spokesperson, cde leader Valentine. The launch was greatly successful because the pragmatic youths displayed their great zeal to win Zimbabwe for complete change.
Tafadzwa ‘Buju’Maguraushe, the Youth Vice Commander reiterated that as the youths, they are prepared to embrace dangerous freedom against peaceful slavery.
He promised fireworks during this #CitizensConvergenceForChange and he encouraged unity in the branch so that all social democrats can concentrate on the tiresome journey to total emancipation.
Moreover, the Main Wing also unearthed their leadership prowess by organising a successful political meeting as part of the #Agenda2021. Apart from the Youth Assembly, the district was humbled by the great appetite unravelled by the main wing.
The newly elected democratic fighters reflected their capacity to recruit , mobilise and radicalise social transformers in the north and Namibia as a whole to Go and Register to Vote, Go and Vote in 2023 and defend the Vote against Zanupf shenanigans mainfesting in rigging of the People’s Vote. The leadership pledged peacefully and democratically defend the will of the people.
We were absolutely amazed with the revolutionary energy in the newly elected team led by the diligent Chairperson , Amos Chiraya, Vice Festus Suvo, Secretary General George Pfidze, Organiser James Chikwekwete, Treasurer General Obert Majoni, Vice Tawanda Nyamakura, Spokesperson Takesure Chavhunduka , Vice Treddy Mukumba , Director of Security Cde. Mhizha and the Elections Director , Respect Gweshe who concurred with participatory democracy to win Zimbabwe against arbitrary arrests, torture,illegal convictions, looting and gross abuse of human rights. It was made clear by social transformers in the North that #CitizensConvergenceForChange is the only panacea to socio-economic transfiguration in Zimbabwe. The leadership confessed their dedication to support all social liberation policies that are pro-poor.
Furthermore, the Elections Director, Respect Gweshe and Chairperson, Amos Chiraya, collectively pledged to put their heads on the block pushing for comprehensive political and electoral reforms before 2023.
They promised to undertake a massive recruitment and mobilisation drive ahead of 2023 general elections.
Mdc Alliance Namibia Northern Branch was sanitised through the physical presence of the District Chairperson, Elisha Chambara , Commander Tapshinda, Rundu Branch Sec Gen, Simbarashe Ndoda, Women’s Assembly Chairlady, Sec General Tarisai Nhira and other branch leaders. The Chairperson, instilled more revolutionary confidence in the energetic leadership. It was however, noted that although with excuses , the district leadership was expected to show solidarity especially the Director for Elections , Sec General and the Organising secretary so that they could strengthen and orient the structures.
In a nutshell, Rundu Branch Spokesperson challenged social democrats to prepare themselves to vote because voting is a civic mandate of all right thinking citizens.
The branch was inspired by the call electoral reforms that will guarantee free, fair and credible elections. We discovered that it was possible to mobilise 6 million voters by 2023. Advocate Nelson Chamisa Wamba Dia Wamba was the only person agreed to have the capacity to put the economy on a sounder footing. NaNero TiriWero.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s statistical agency has said marginalised parts of the country such as Tsholotsho will be treated as special areas during the population census to ensure every citizen is counted.
This was revealed by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) director-general Taguma Mahonde during a tour of Tsholotsho district on Sunday.
The main inhabitants of Tsholotsho district are the San, who are generally known as nomadic.
Mahonde said they had already begun preparations for the population census, starting with a field mapping exercise in Tsholotsho.
Government last week announced that the population census would commence in April 2022, with results expected in August the same year.
The population census is expected to pave way for delimitation of new constituencies.
A field mapping exercise is carried out at the pre-enumeration stage of the population and housing census.
“The San are nomadic and, therefore, such areas should be treated as special case areas to ensure that no one is left behind and everyone is enumerated. So we want to make sure that when it comes to census time, the San people are enumerated,” Mahonde told journalists.
“We want to make sure that every province has been allocated an enumeration area. An enumeration area is one which leads us to drawing an enumeration map. This is a systematic way we use to make sure there is no over-counting or undercounting.”
A field mapping exercise involves the subdivision of the country into small census geographic units called enumeration areas.
A population and housing census is undertaken every 10 years in terms of the Census and Statistics Act.
ZimStat said it would, for the first time, attempt to estimate the number of Zimbabweans in the diaspora to meet the data needs of policymakers.
Latest data shows that the country’s population is estimated to have grown to 15,8 million in 2019 from 13,4 million in 2012, and is projected to be around 17 million by the next census in 2022.
The 2022 survey will be the fifth since the country’s independence from Britain in 1980.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance says it will leave no stone unturned in a spirited attempt to push for electoral reforms before the 2023 elections.
The Zanu PF regime is deliberately slowing down the process of implementing reforms fearing the implications of free and fair polls.
The MDC Alliance Namibia has launched a new branch as part of efforts to recruit new members before the 2023 elections.
See statement below:
Mdc Alliance Namibia Northern Branch successfully launched in Ondangwa on Saturday.
On Saturday, 12 June 2021 all roads led to Ondangwa, in the Northern part of Namibia where social democrats gathered to launch another organic branch.
Constitutional fighters who converged at Oshikoto Lodge resolved to have more other other branches in the region since they are a lot of Zimbabweans who reside in the north.
It was quite exhilarating to meet an energetic and enthusiastic Youth Assembly ready to take up the revolutionary duty to fight for socio-economic transformation in the motherland.
The Youth Commander, Tapiwa Jaricha , Vice Tafadzwa ‘Buju’ Maguraushe, Organiser, Panashe (former Zinasu activist), Sec Gen Robert Vambe, Treasurer General, Givemore Makoni , Vice Mangende and the Youth Assembly Spokesperson, cde leader Valentine. The launch was greatly successful because the pragmatic youths displayed their great zeal to win Zimbabwe for complete change.
Tafadzwa ‘Buju’Maguraushe, the Youth Vice Commander reiterated that as the youths, they are prepared to embrace dangerous freedom against peaceful slavery.
He promised fireworks during this #CitizensConvergenceForChange and he encouraged unity in the branch so that all social democrats can concentrate on the tiresome journey to total emancipation.
Moreover, the Main Wing also unearthed their leadership prowess by organising a successful political meeting as part of the #Agenda2021. Apart from the Youth Assembly, the district was humbled by the great appetite unravelled by the main wing.
The newly elected democratic fighters reflected their capacity to recruit , mobilise and radicalise social transformers in the north and Namibia as a whole to Go and Register to Vote, Go and Vote in 2023 and defend the Vote against Zanupf shenanigans mainfesting in rigging of the People’s Vote. The leadership pledged peacefully and democratically defend the will of the people.
We were absolutely amazed with the revolutionary energy in the newly elected team led by the diligent Chairperson , Amos Chiraya, Vice Festus Suvo, Secretary General George Pfidze, Organiser James Chikwekwete, Treasurer General Obert Majoni, Vice Tawanda Nyamakura, Spokesperson Takesure Chavhunduka , Vice Treddy Mukumba , Director of Security Cde. Mhizha and the Elections Director , Respect Gweshe who concurred with participatory democracy to win Zimbabwe against arbitrary arrests, torture,illegal convictions, looting and gross abuse of human rights. It was made clear by social transformers in the North that #CitizensConvergenceForChange is the only panacea to socio-economic transfiguration in Zimbabwe. The leadership confessed their dedication to support all social liberation policies that are pro-poor.
Furthermore, the Elections Director, Respect Gweshe and Chairperson, Amos Chiraya, collectively pledged to put their heads on the block pushing for comprehensive political and electoral reforms before 2023.
They promised to undertake a massive recruitment and mobilisation drive ahead of 2023 general elections.
Mdc Alliance Namibia Northern Branch was sanitised through the physical presence of the District Chairperson, Elisha Chambara , Commander Tapshinda, Rundu Branch Sec Gen, Simbarashe Ndoda, Women’s Assembly Chairlady, Sec General Tarisai Nhira and other branch leaders. The Chairperson, instilled more revolutionary confidence in the energetic leadership. It was however, noted that although with excuses , the district leadership was expected to show solidarity especially the Director for Elections , Sec General and the Organising secretary so that they could strengthen and orient the structures.
In a nutshell, Rundu Branch Spokesperson challenged social democrats to prepare themselves to vote because voting is a civic mandate of all right thinking citizens.
The branch was inspired by the call electoral reforms that will guarantee free, fair and credible elections. We discovered that it was possible to mobilise 6 million voters by 2023. Advocate Nelson Chamisa Wamba Dia Wamba was the only person agreed to have the capacity to put the economy on a sounder footing. NaNero TiriWero.
By A Correspondent- The president of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM), Reverend Amon Madawo has approached the High Court seeking to bar Reverend Cossam Chiangwa from using the name AFM of Zimbabwe, its logo and symbols as it may mislead congregants.
Following a recent Supreme Court ruling on the AFM leadership crisis case, Chiangwa who rejected the ruling formed the AFM of Zimbabwe which has symbols that are slightly different from those of AFM in Zimbabwe.
The Supreme Court ordered Chiangwa to stop using the AFM name and to return all the properties that belong to the latter.
By A Correspondent- Bulawayo residents have called on the city fathers to urgently attend to burst sewers which have become a health time bomb in the city.
In Mzilikazi and Makokoba suburbs, there are areas where raw effluent has been flowing into houses for months.
Last year in October, about 100 people, mostly children, were treated for running tummies in Mzilikazi and surrounding suburbs.
Flushing toilets in the area results in a backflow of human waste that goes into homes.
In suburbs like Old Lobengula, Magwegwe, Old Pumula, Gwabalanda and Old Luveve there are places where recurrent sewer bursts are endangering residents’ lives as they have to literally cook, eat and sleep with untreated waste at their doorsteps.
In June last year, there was a diarrhoea outbreak in Luveve suburb, which killed 13 people and infected nearly 2 000. Raw sewerage had contaminated drinking water.
Currently, residents are battling another outbreak in Emganwini suburb.
Around S Square in Mzilikazi, the human waste has formed a stream, making it difficult for affected residents to access their homes, open windows or eat.
Residents said overflowing manholes had not been fixed since mid-December last year and they fear for their lives as some of them have little children who sometimes play in pools of effluent.
“The moment that you finish using the bathroom, everything comes out at the back and we have got used to the unpleasant smell that it produces,” said Mrs Mollyn Mapfunde.
She said the situation has caused disputes amongst neighbours because of the movement of raw sewer from household to household.
“When people use their toilets at the end of the day houses which are at the lower part of our area suffer more because the raw waste flows to their yards,” said Mrs Mapfunde.
An elderly couple, Amos and Rosemary Sithole, both over 70 years old, said the situation was traumatising.
“Since December, my husband and I have not used our bathroom and we had to liaise with our neighbours so that we could use theirs. You can imagine, as old as we are, we can’t afford to always go there every time we feel like emptying our bowels,” she said. Residents said they could no longer recall the number of times they have called council to attend to the issue.
“We are fed up. We have lost count on the number of times we have called them. Sometimes when they show up the sewer stops flowing for a few hours and resumes,” said a resident who preferred anonymity.
Another resident who identified herself as Mrs Phiri said: “My grandchild is in primary school and takes a bath in this bathroom that has sewer flowing. As a child, how will he grow psychologically, how will this also affect the friend or friends that he mixes and mingles with at school, is this healthy?
“The same backyard that we make fire for cooking, where we do the dishes at and where our children also play is the same backyard that has been overwhelmed by the sewer, putting our lives at risk.”
Mr Samuel Chikwiza, the chairperson for Mzilikazi S Square Residents Association, said council always tells residents it is cash strapped and cannot attend to sewers adequately.
“At some point, the community sent me to talk to the city council so that they could identify the problem and the residents would raise the money that was needed to fix the problem, but I was never given a clear response,” he said.
Mr Chikwiza said residents have bought brooms to sweep up human waste every day.
“We are pleading with the authorities to step in because this place is going to turn into a disease hotspot soon,” he said. Councillor Shadreck Sibanda, who oversees Wards 7 and 8, said the sewer reticulation system needed to be replaced.
“Initially the system was designed for a small number of people but because of the increase in the population, sewer plants have been overwhelmed resulting in bursts and blockages. The country has also been blessed with plenty of rains that have also overpowered the sewer system,” said Clr Sibanda.
Unmaintained sewer bursts in Bulawayo have become a problem in Bulawayo.
Last year the Environmental Management Agency dragged the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to court for failing to upgrade its water treatment plants and sewer systems, which has resulted in raw sewage flowing into the water bodies which provide potable water to residents.
Such actions have violated the rights of citizens of Bulawayo and put their lives at risk.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Australia Province donated cash to Tungamirai Madzokere and Last Maengahama on Monday.
Madzokere and Maengahama spent nearly 10 years in jail for a crime they did not commit.
MDC Alliance Secretary for Welfare, Maureen Kademaunga commended well-wishers in Zimbabwe and abroad for supporting Maengahama and Madzokere financially…
“Thank you Zimbabwe for the continued outpouring of love and solidarity to our Cdes @LastMaengahama and Clr Madzokere.
Today we say tinotenda to @mdczimbabwe Australia province for a cash donation towards their immediate needs as they reintegrate into society. God bless you.
I was delighted to see my brother back at his workplace where his wife Mrs Maingehama has managed to keep their family business going under very difficult circumstances.
Reintegration is a process and both Last Maengahama and Clr Madzokere are so thankful for all the support & solidarity they are receiving from Zimbabweans at large as they rebuild their lives,” Kademaunga said in a statement.
Maureen Kademaunga, MDC Alliance Social Welfare secretary
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Australia Province donated cash to Tungamirai Madzokere and Last Maengahama on Monday.
Madzokere and Maengahama spent nearly 10 years in jail for a crime they did not commit.
MDC Alliance Secretary for Welfare, Maureen Kademaunga commended well-wishers in Zimbabwe and abroad for supporting Maengahama and Madzokere financially…
“Thank you Zimbabwe for the continued outpouring of love and solidarity to our Cdes @LastMaengahama and Clr Madzokere.
Today we say tinotenda to @mdczimbabwe Australia province for a cash donation towards their immediate needs as they reintegrate into society. God bless you.
I was delighted to see my brother back at his workplace where his wife Mrs Maingehama has managed to keep their family business going under very difficult circumstances.
Reintegration is a process and both Last Maengahama and Clr Madzokere are so thankful for all the support & solidarity they are receiving from Zimbabweans at large as they rebuild their lives,” Kademaunga said in a statement.
No to postponement of harmonised elections and the creation of a fake Government of National Unity, Mdc Alliance Namibia slams Mwonzora.
16 June 2021
There is a clandestine nefarious plot by the desperate Zanupf regime and power-hungry Mwonzora to push the much awaited harmonised elections further than 2023 according to their mouthpiece,The Daily News. Rapacious Mwonzora Douglas Togarasei on Friday revealed to The Standard that he had gone to State House to pay a courtesy call on Mr Mnangagwa. Mdc Alliance Namibia believes that Zanupf is exploiting state institutions such as the State House , the courts ,the police, soldiers and state agents to aid Mdc -T in its bid to position itself as the main opposition party in Zimbabwe so that they can strengthen their sadist intention to forge an Anti-poor government that make it easy for Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to postpone elections.
The judicially-constructed MdcT leader said he would not take in the Polad meetings as he preferred a broader dialogue to resolve Zimbabwe’s multiple political and economic problems. What perturbes social democrats and few party officials is the lack of transparency especially when you are representing Constitutional Democracy. Mwonzora visited his Zanupf counterpart without the knowledge of the people he purports to represent. This unpacks the greedy nature of a stomach politicians in the leadership of this Zanupf backed political outfit. One of the anonymous member of their party said, “We are all asking ourselves what was really so important about this meeting , which was kept away from everyone”. This lack of transparency is not characteristic of a Social Democrat but a dictatorship and authoritarian masquerading as a democratic leader.
Moreover, “We suspect there is a holy alliance going on here and parallel arrangements are coming”, the official revealed. This is the incontrovertible evidence to prove that Mwonzora is now a certified Zanupf surrogate who is ready to do anything to derail the freedom train. The plot to sabotage the will of the people must be confronted with equal varlour, mettle and nerve. Trying to postpone elections through a counterfeit GNU is not only beyond nonsense but also devilish, evil and satanic. Social democrats should peacefully and democratically pent up their fury resisting the selfish interests of two monocrats who are planning to suspend our 2013 constitution. It has become visibly clear that Mwonzora is being condomised by the regime to perpetuate the toiling of the unsuspecting masses. There is no need to conceal a democratic fight from the owners of the struggle.
Furthermore, something could be really fishy here because social democracy exists publicly. Mwonzora tried his pathological lies saying he was directed by the MdcT National Executive Council to pursue dialogue for the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe. What mesmerized Social Transformers in was that the constitution of his party calls for transparency and accountability of leadership. No hidden agendas in a Constitutional Democracy. We shall work tirelessly to defend the Constitution that allows us to have elections after every five years. Mwonzora is a Zanupf puppet who is being manipulate the international community. That shall be resisted with equal measure.
Moreso, Mwonzora is the reason why Mr Mnangagwa declared our peace-loving party ,Mdc Alliance led by President Advocate Nelson Chamisa a terrorist organisation. This is a futile attempt by Zanupf to just the pre-trial detentions, arbitrary arrests, torture, abductions, forced disappearances and illegal convictions of the Mdc Alliance leaders and activists. We are quite cognisant of their ploy to postpone elections and push them further than 2023, a move that will be resisted by all Zimbabweans across the globe. Mwonzora and his masters must know voting is a civil responsibility. We shall fulfill our revolutionary mandate to vote for complete.
In a nutshell, Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Mwonzora intend to take people for granted. They are afraid of the #CitizensConvergenceForChange and the panic to contest with our brave astute leadership in 2023 is now a mammoth task since social democrats are now available for the #Agenda2021. Zimbweans are not victims of national consciousness, they are politically and economically conscious of what should be done. Ours is a fight for socio-economic transformation. We are not stomach politicians who pretend to be social democrats so that they can feed their anticipating bellies.
Mdc Alliance Namibia is geared to win Zimbabwe for complete change. Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Mwonzora must commence to respect the people of Zimbabwe through adhering to the People’s Constitution. #NoToPostponentOfHarmonisedElections.
Controversial Masvingo preacher and slayqueen godfather Isaac Makomichi has reportedly clashed with Mbuya Ndunge over supremacy of spiritual powers.
Unconfirmed reports say Mbuya Ndunge has threatened to visit Makomichi’s shrine and strike him with madness.
The two (mbuya Ndunge and Makomichi) have reportedly been fighting since last year over clients.
Sources say Mbuya Ndunge has declared she knows the source of Makomichi’s powers and she is ready to expose him.
Sekuru Gava a traditional healer based in Harare said Mbuya Ndunge will win but she has to make thorough preparations because she might be killed by the so called “ghana juju”.
“Only rivers make noise but deep oceans are silent,” Makomichi commented.
CHITREST director Alice Kuvheya who was arrested yesterday and charged with Incitement to Commit Public Violence has this morning been transferred from St Marys Police Station in Chitungwiza to Harare Central Police Station for the second time.
She was detained at St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza over night after being transferred back from Harare Central Police Station last night.
She is being represented by lawyers Job Sikhala and Freddy Masarirevhu.
Tinashe Sambiri|Well-placed government sources have pointed out that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa and Douglas Mwonzora are secretly planning to form a Government of National Unity and push elections to 2025.
This, according to the sources, is a gimmick calculated to frustrate voters assuming they would be tired of waiting for elections by 2025.
The MDC Alliance Namibia has released a statement on the plot by Mwonzora and Mnangagwa to form a “counterfeit” inclusive government.
Read full statement below:
No to postponement of harmonised elections and the creation of a fake Government of National Unity, Mdc Alliance Namibia slams Mwonzora.
16 June 2021
There is a clandestine nefarious plot by the desperate Zanupf regime and power-hungry Mwonzora to push the much awaited harmonised elections further than 2023 according to their mouthpiece,The Daily News.
Rapacious Mwonzora Douglas Togarasei on Friday revealed to The Standard that he had gone to State House to pay a courtesy call on Mr Mnangagwa. Mdc Alliance Namibia believes that Zanupf is exploiting State institutions such as the State House , the courts ,the police, soldiers and state agents to aid Mdc -T in its bid to position itself as the main opposition party in Zimbabwe so that they can strengthen their sadist intention to forge an Anti-poor government that make it easy for Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to postpone elections.
The judicially-constructed MdcT leader said he would not take in the Polad meetings as he preferred a broader dialogue to resolve Zimbabwe’s multiple political and economic problems. What perturbes social democrats and few party officials is the lack of transparency especially when you are representing Constitutional Democracy. Mwonzora visited his Zanupf counterpart without the knowledge of the people he purports to represent. This unpacks the greedy nature of a stomach politicians in the leadership of this Zanupf backed political outfit.
One of the anonymous member of their party said, “We are all asking ourselves what was really so important about this meeting , which was kept away from everyone”. This lack of transparency is not characteristic of a Social Democrat but a dictatorship and authoritarian masquerading as a democratic leader.
Moreover, “We suspect there is a holy alliance going on here and parallel arrangements are coming”, the official revealed.
This is the incontrovertible evidence to prove that Mwonzora is now a certified Zanupf surrogate who is ready to do anything to derail the freedom train. The plot to sabotage the will of the people must be confronted with equal varlour, mettle and nerve. Trying to postpone elections through a counterfeit GNU is not only beyond nonsense but also devilish, evil and satanic. Social democrats should peacefully and democratically pent up their fury resisting the selfish interests of two monocrats who are planning to suspend our 2013 constitution. It has become visibly clear that Mwonzora is being condomised by the regime to perpetuate the toiling of the unsuspecting masses. There is no need to conceal a democratic fight from the owners of the struggle.
Furthermore, something could be really fishy here because social democracy exists publicly. Mwonzora tried his pathological lies saying he was directed by the MdcT National Executive Council to pursue dialogue for the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe. What mesmerized Social Transformers in was that the constitution of his party calls for transparency and accountability of leadership. No hidden agendas in a Constitutional Democracy. We shall work tirelessly to defend the Constitution that allows us to have elections after every five years. Mwonzora is a Zanupf puppet who is being manipulate the international community. That shall be resisted with equal measure.
Moreso, Mwonzora is the reason why Mr Mnangagwa declared our peace-loving party ,Mdc Alliance led by President Advocate Nelson Chamisa a terrorist organisation. This is a futile attempt by Zanupf to just the pre-trial detentions, arbitrary arrests, torture, abductions, forced disappearances and illegal convictions of the Mdc Alliance leaders and activists. We are quite cognisant of their ploy to postpone elections and push them further than 2023, a move that will be resisted by all Zimbabweans across the globe. Mwonzora and his masters must know voting is a civil responsibility. We shall fulfill our revolutionary mandate to vote for complete.
In a nutshell, Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Mwonzora intend to take people for granted. They are afraid of the #CitizensConvergenceForChange and the panic to contest with our brave astute leadership in 2023 is now a mammoth task since social democrats are now available for the #Agenda2021. Zimbweans are not victims of national consciousness, they are politically and economically conscious of what should be done. Ours is a fight for socio-economic transformation. We are not stomach politicians who pretend to be social democrats so that they can feed their anticipating bellies.
Mdc Alliance Namibia is geared to win Zimbabwe for complete change. Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Mwonzora must commence to respect the people of Zimbabwe through adhering to the People’s Constitution. #NoToPostponentOfHarmonisedElections.
By A Correspondent | The notorious nine armed robbers who’ve been on a spate of armed robberies, have been found guilty. The nine who appeared before magistrate Mateko at Harare magistrates court in court 5 for judgment for illegally possessing firearm and ammunition have been found guilty and remanded for tomorrow for mitigation and sentencing.
Their lawyer Mrs Concillia Maheya was absent. The nine include: Mussa Taj Abudul, Tapiwa Mangoma, Liberty Mupamhanga and 6 others. Magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko in convicting the nine said it was clear that they acting in common purpose when they were arrested.
The nine were arrested in Beitbridge in August 2020 following a tip-off.
MDC Alliance Bulawayo youths have passed a vote of no confidence in the provincial chairperson of the party’s main wing, James Sithole, accusing him of hobnobbing with the rival MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora.
Party provincial youth chairperson Tinashe Kambarami claimed Sithole had facilitated the “unconstitutional” recall of elected party MPs and councillors by Mwonzora’s faction.
“As a provincial youth assembly, we came up with a position saying we can no longer be chaired by James Sithole in Bulawayo. The reason being we cannot spearhead the agenda of removing
Zanu-PF when we are not even clear if he is with us or with other people,” Kambarami said.
“You understand the dichotomy of the politics in our country. We all know the difference between Zanu-PF and MDC Alliance, not the other MDC that Zanu-PF has created which is the other extension branch which they call opposition. We are the genuine next alternative government as the MDC Alliance.
“Our duty as an assembly is to protect the party from internal and external forces that would want to fight our agenda. So, we are very clear that the issue we want the public to know is that we no longer want to be chaired by Sithole.”
He alleged that quite a number of other party members were conflicted and were working with Sithole.
“We had a meeting about three weeks ago, where Sithole tried to remove some of our leaders. All these issues show you that there is an agenda driven from somewhere,” Kambarami said.
Contacted for comment, Sithole said he was not aware of the allegations raised against him.
“I am not aware of that. Can you bear with me as I cannot comment on something I know nothing about it,” he said.
By A Correspondent | The notorious 9 armed robbers who’ve been on a spate of armed robberies, have been found guilty.
Rotten Row Magistrates Court
The 9 who appeared before magistrate Mateko at Harare magistrates court in court 5 for judgement for illegally possessing firearm and ammunition have been found guilty and remanded for tomorrow for mitigation and sentencing.
Their lawyer Mrs Concillia Maheya was absent.
The 9 include: Mussa Taj Abudul, Tapiwa Mangoma, Liberty Mupamhanga and 6 others.
Magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko in convicting the nine said it was clear that they acting in common purpose when they were arrested.
The 9 were arrested in Beitbridge in August 2020 following a tip-off.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has taken a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) company, Rusununguko Nkululeko (Pvt) Limited, to court demanding US$142 530 for use of its chalets by the latter since 2018.
This was revealed in summons filed at the High Court yesterday, where ZimParks leased its chalets to Rusununguko under a geographic lease agreement.
ZimParks claimed in court papers that in terms of the agreement, the army firm was supposed to pay US$60 000 in equal instalments over the first five years of the lease starting from January 2018.
In addition, annual lease fees in the sum of US$35 000 were also payable for the period January 2018 to December 2021.
It was also agreed that all amounts due each year were to attract interest at the rate of 12% per annum being the Zimbabwean banks market interest rate.
However, despite the demands, the ZNA company failed to pay the amounts.
ZimParks has also sued Landela Safaris (Private) Limited for US$45 000 under a similar deal in which it leased View Point Site in Victoria Falls to the company.
It was submitted that in 2018, ZimParks entered into a written agreement in terms of which Landela leased its View Point Site under a photographic safari lease agreement.
Landela was supposed to pay annual lease fees of US$45 000 starting from the second year of the agreement, or before January 1 each year.
However, Landela Safaris breached the contract in December 2020 when it failed to pay.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya has punished 18 companies accused of abusing the Foreign Currency auction system.
The 18 companies including National Foods, Africa Steel and Georgia Petroleum among others will be punished in accordance with the Statutory 127 of 2021 which sets fines of ZWL$1 Million for those caught flaunting rules.
Mangudya said the central bank will be ceased with fighting companies that abuse the auction system.
“Going forward and in line with the recommendations from the business community on the need to continue to enhance stability in the economy, the Bank’s efforts to foster compliance in terms of SI 127 shall be limited to outliers that wantonly abuse the foreign exchange auction system, exchange rate manipulation and non-compliance with anti-money laundering rules and regulations.” said Mangudya.
Below is the RBZ statement with the full list of punished companies…
The 27-year-old Gutu man, famed for wearing regalia that made him appear like a ghost before going on a robbery spree has been jailed for three years.
Norman Chagwiza of Mutsambiwa village under Chief Gutu, became an instant sensation for the wrong reasons after it emerged that he robbed people dressed in a white and black costume that made him appear like a ghost.
Chagwiza was last week jailed by Gutui Magistrate Mr Madhlenkosi Ndlovu on his own plea of guilty.
Mr Ndlovu initially caged him for four years before conditionally suspending 12 months for good behavior.
The agreed facts are that on May 13 this year, Chagwiza dressed in his ghost apparel went to Elizabeth Chipika’s homestead in the same village at around 1am.
Upon arrival, Chagwiza, who was armed with a machete threatened Chipika and cowed her before robbing her of wallet containing an undisclosed amount of money.
The State alleges Chipika submitted to Chagwiza’s demands after being retried by his scary apparel.
On Africa Day,Chagwiza went to Thomas Chivhura’s homesteader night and used a ladder to ascent to the roof of his bedroom house.
He was dressed in the same ghost constume and tried to remove a solar system that was there.
Lucky ran out for Chagwiza after Chivhura head some movements on his roof and came out to investigate.
Realizing that he had been discovered,Chagwiza disembarked from the roof and fled. Chivhura teamed up with neighbours and gave chase.
They apprehended him and upon further investigations established that he used the “ghost” suit to instil fear in his victims and hide his identity. He was handed over to police.
His Royal Highness King Mswati III c/o Your Excellency Themba Masuku Acting Prime Minister 715 Government Avenue Arcadia 0083 Pretoria South Africa
Your Royal Highness,
Petition: Deteriorating press freedom environment in Eswatini
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) wishes to proffer its greetings and compliments to you.
MISA is a regional body advocating for the improvement and enjoyment of media freedom, freedom of expression, access to information and the protection of privacy rights.
Your Royal Highness, by virtue of this letter, we write to register and express our concern at the deteriorating media freedom and freedom of expression environment in Eswatini.
As captured in the Southern Africa Press Freedom Report 2019 – 2020, media freedom violations are on the increase in Eswatini. The report highlights the lack of enjoyment of the right to media freedom in Eswatini.
The findings of the Southern Africa Report are echoed by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report for 2021 which reported that “harassment, intimidation and physical violence against journalists are all common and result in almost constant self-censorship”.
Your Royal Highness, as you may be aware, Zweli Dlamini, the editor of the Swazi News, has been forced into exile in South Africa. Eugene Dube, another journalist, has also been forced into exile in South Africa and is unable to practice his trade in Eswatini. Dlamini and Dube’s “crimes” have been to write articles deemed to be too critical of the King.
Your Royal Highness, we are also worried that the Monarchy has filed court papers in South Africa seeking to stop Eswatini publications from publishing stories on the King, his family and associates without their prior consent.
Such a lawsuit presents Eswatini and the King as intolerant to criticism and averse to being held to account.
As you are aware, Section 24 of the Eswatini Constitution promotes freedom of expression, but this right remains elusive for media workers in your country. In addition, the lawsuit filed in South Africa also flies in the face of this constitutionally guaranteed right.
With this petition, we remind you of the revised principles of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, which expressly calls on African governments to promote freedom of expression and of the media in their respective countries.
We urge the Eswatini authorities to demonstrate their commitment and adherence to constitutionally guaranteed rights by allowing the media to operate freely without any harassments, assaults, threats or reprisals for doing their work.
Your Royal Highness, we are therefore humbly requesting your esteemed offices to intervene in the cases against Dlamini and Dube and ensure that they are allowed back into the country to freely continue with their constitutionally guaranteed professional rights without hindrance.
Yours Sincerely,
Golden Maunganidze Regional Governing Council Chairperson
cc: Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairperson His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera cc: The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax cc: African Union Chairperson His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa cc: ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information- Commissioner Jamesina King cc: UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan
More than 1,000 fortune seekers have flocked to the village of KwaHlathi in KwaZulu-Natal in search of what they believed to be diamonds after a discovery of unidentified stones in the area.
The people travelled from across SA to join villagers who have been digging since Saturday, after a herd man who dug up the first stone on an open field, which some believe to be quartz crystals, put out the word.
The discovery was a life changer, said one digger Mendo Sabelo as he held a handful of tiny stones.
“This means our lives will change because no-one had a proper job, I do odd jobs. When I returned home with them, (the family was) really overjoyed,” said the 27-year old father of two.
Unemployed Skhumbuzo Mbhele concurred, adding: “I hadn’t seen or touched a diamond in my life. It’s my first time touching it here.”
The mines department said it was sending a team comprising of geological and mining experts to the site to collect samples and conduct an analysis.
A formal technical report will be issued in due course, the department said.
The lack of an analysis of the stones has not deterred the fortune seekers as long lines of parked cars on both sides of the gravel road could be seen just a few metres from the open field, where the young, old, female and male dug through the soil with picks, shovels and forks to find riches.
SA’s economy has long suffered from extremely high levels of unemployment, trapping millions in poverty and contributing to stark inequalities that persist nearly three decades after the end of apartheid in 1994. The coronavirus pandemic has made it worse.
Some people have started selling the stones, with the starting price ranging from R100 to R300.
The provincial government has since requested all those involved to leave the site to allow authorities to conduct a proper inspection, amid fears the people digging at the site could potentially be spreading the coronavirus.
By A Correspondent-A Tsholotsho man who used an okapi knife to fatally stab his girlfriend’s husband who had confronted him over the love affair has been sentenced to six years in jail for culpable homicide.
Nkosikhona Ngwenya (20) of Vala Line in Tsholotsho stabbed Blonde Ncube who was 32 last year as the two were walking home from a social soccer match in Nemane area.
The two were neighbours. Ncube confronted Ngwenya accusing him of having an affair with his wife resulting in a fight and Ngwenya stabbed Ncube.
Ngwenya who was represented by Mr Njabulo Ndlovu of Mhaka Attorneys pro deo, pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to a lesser charge of culpable homicide when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa who is on circuit in Hwange.
The judge slapped Ngwenya with six years in jail before suspending two years on condition of good behaviour.
Ngwenya will serve an effective four years. Prosecuting, Ms Memory Munsaka said Ngwenya fled from the scene after killing Ncube and the okapi knife he used was recovered from a blair toilet after his arrest.
“On September 9, 2020 at 7PM, the accused and deceased were on their way home from Godweni grounds where there was a soccer match. The two had a misunderstanding over the fact that the deceased accused Ngwenya of having an affair with his wife. The deceased assaulted the accused with a knobkerrie on the head and pushed him to the ground before sitting on him,” said the prosecutor.
The court was told that Ngwenya drew an okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed Ncube once on the chest.
Ncube’s body was found the following morning and villagers apprehended Ngwenya after they identified him by his footprints.
By A Correspondent- Morgenster Teacher’s College has ceased all learning activities and put under lockdown after 63 students at the institution tested positive for Covid-19.
The infected students are in quarantine at the institution amid fears more might be infected with the virus.
Masvingo Covid-19 provincial taskforce spokesperson Mr Rodgers Irimayi today disclosed that all learning activities had been suspended at Morgenster.
Mr Irimai said the teacher-training institution was now a quarantine facility noting that save for very few cases, the majority of the infected students were asymptomatic.
Morgenster becomes the second institution of higher learning in Masvingo to temporarily halt operations after Bondolfi Teacher’s College suffered the same fate last month.
The institution was put under localised lockdown with movements in and out of the precincts restricted.
All the students at Bondolfi who were infected have since recovered and gone to their homes.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF is said to have authorised the eviction of over 400 newly-resettled farmers in Maganga near Marondera, last week to pave way for the return of the farm’s original owner, Hunyani Estate.
The farmers were evicted by the Messenger of Court, who, armed with a court order, forcibly removed and dumped their property along the Harare-Mutare railway line.
One of the evicted farmers, Sphiwe Siyawamwaya, told NewsDay that they are now living in the open. He said: We woke up to realise that we were surrounded by riot police in the company of a Messenger of Court telling us to leave.
They ferried our goods including our crops and dumped us here. We do not have anywhere to go. We are told that this land belongs to Hunyani Estate. In 2017, officials from the Lands ministry told us that they will allocate 200 hectares of land to us, but today it is another story.
Life is hard for us here, considering that we are living in the open. ZANU PF Marondera district secretary for lands, Richmore Chikore said they were aware of the crisis.
Reports suggest that Zanu PF held a meeting on Sunday where the Marondera evictions were discussed.
NewsDay could not get a comment from Marondera district development co-coordinator Clement Masawi as his mobile phone went unanswered.
The Maganga area is in ward 23, about 20km east of Marondera town. The area is located in the tourism-rich area where the Benard Mizeki shrine and Tsindi Ruins are located.
By A Correspondent- Over 400 newly-resettled farmers in Maganga near Marondera, were last week evicted to pave way for the return of the farm’s original owner, Hunyani Estate.
The farmers were evicted by the Messenger of Court, who, armed with a court order, forcibly removed and dumped their property along the Harare-Mutare railway line.
One of the evicted farmers, Sphiwe Siyawamwaya, told NewsDay that they are now living in the open. He said: We woke up to realise that we were surrounded by riot police in the company of a Messenger of Court telling us to leave.
They ferried our goods including our crops and dumped us here. We do not have anywhere to go. We are told that this land belongs to Hunyani Estate. In 2017, officials from the Lands ministry told us that they will allocate 200 hectares of land to us, but today it is another story.
Life is hard for us here, considering that we are living in the open. ZANU PF Marondera district secretary for lands, Richmore Chikore said they were aware of the crisis.
Reports suggest that Zanu PF held a meeting on Sunday where the Marondera evictions were discussed. NewsDay could not get a comment from Marondera district development co-coordinator Clement Masawi as his mobile phone went unanswered.
The Maganga area is in ward 23, about 20km east of Marondera town. The area is located in the tourism-rich area where the Benard Mizeki shrine and Tsindi Ruins are located.
By A Correspondent- A 29-year-old-man from Nuli area in Beitbridge has been jailed for an effective three years for ripping open a fellow villager’s stomach with a knife.
Hardlife Phumani Mbedzi who resides under Chief Matibe is accused of trying to kill Promotion Ndou (27) as punishment for stopping him from fighting another man on New Year’s Day.
Mbedzi stabbed Ndou at Nuli Business Centre on the neck and stomach living his intestines protruding.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder on Friday, but Beitbridge Regional Magistrate Ms Sthembiso Ndebele convicted him on the strength of the State’s evidence.
The accused was left with three years effective to serve when the magistrate conditionally suspended one year from the 4-year-jail-term for five years.
Prosecuting, Ms Tsitsi Mtukwa said on New Year’s Day, Mbedzi got into a fight with another man at Nuli Business Centre and was restrained by Ndou.
She said at around 3 am on the following day, the accused approached the complainant and asked him to accompany him to the toilets behind one of the shops.
Upon getting to a secluded area behind the shops, Mbedzi pulled out a knife and told Ndou he was punishing him for being a Good Samaritan. He then stabbed the complainant on the neck and stomach leaving his intestines protruding and disappeared into the darkness leaving his victim unconscious.
Ndou was found by a passerby who rushed him to a local clinic, where he was further referred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for treatment.
The matter was reported to the police who arrested Mbedzi while hiding in a bushy area close to his homestead.
A man was found dead in a maize field in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb with stab wounds all over the body while another died at his home in Njube after being stabbed by unknown assailants.
The two unrelated cases come at a time when murder cases seem to be on the rise in Zimbabwe, particularly in Bulawayo.
In a tweet, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed for information that may lead to the arrest of the attackers.
“Police in Bulawayo are appealing for information that may assist investigations in two separate murder cases. On 12/6/21 a body of an unknown male adult was found in a maize field behind Plot 6 Pumula South Habek with several stab wounds on legs and shoulders,” tweeted the police.
“In another murder case, Police are investigating circumstances surrounding a case in which a Njube man (44) died after arriving home at night with a stab wound on the chest. Anyone with information should contact any nearest police station.- Chronicle
A man was found dead in a maize field in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb with stab wounds all over the body while another died at his home in Njube after being stabbed by unknown assailants.
The two unrelated cases come at a time when murder cases seem to be on the rise in Zimbabwe, particularly in Bulawayo.
In a tweet, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed for information that may lead to the arrest of the attackers.
“Police in Bulawayo are appealing for information that may assist investigations in two separate murder cases. On 12/6/21 a body of an unknown male adult was found in a maize field behind Plot 6 Pumula South Habek with several stab wounds on legs and shoulders,” tweeted the police.
“In another murder case, Police are investigating circumstances surrounding a case in which a Njube man (44) died after arriving home at night with a stab wound on the chest. Anyone with information should contact any nearest police station.- Chronicle
TWO illegal gold panners died in separate mine accidents in Matabeleland South Province, police have confirmed.
Acting Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thabani Mkhwananzi said the incidents occurred on Friday and Saturday at Bolo Mine and Bina Mine in Gwanda.
“I can confirm that we recorded two mine accidents that occurred at Bolo Mine and Bina Mine in Gwanda. In the first incident, Lenin Nyoni (42) was illegally panning at a disused mine shaft which is 20 metres deep. While he was inside the shaft collapsed trapping him inside.
“Nyoni called out for help and other panners who were in vicinity pulled him out. He was ferried to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” he said.
Asst Insp Mkhwananzi said in the second incident an illegal gold panner died after he was struck by rocks while working in a shaft in Bina Mine area in Gwanda.
He said the now deceased Cleopas Ndlovu (32) from Spitzkop North in Gwanda was working with two others when the shaft collapsed and rocks fell on him.
“I can confirm that we recorded a sudden death case which occurred in Bina Mine area. The now deceased was illegally panning for gold with his two counterparts. They went down into a three-metre deep and while they were working in it the shaft collapsed and some rocks fell on Ndlovu’s back and head.
“His colleagues managed to pull him out of the shaft and he was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” he said.
Asst Insp Mkhwananzi urged members of the public to desist from engaging in illegal gold panning activities as they were endangering their lives.
He said the province continued to record fatal mine accidents, most of them as a result of negligence.
“As police, we would like to urge people to desist from engaging in illegal mining activities, those who wish to engage in mining activities should regularise their operations. People should also stay away from disused and closed mines as they will be endangering their lives.
“We further urge mine owners and managers to ensure that their workers have safety clothing at all times. The equipment also needs to be frequently assessed to ensure that it’s in good condition. It’s imperative that miners operate in safe environments with the necessary precautionary measures,” he said.- Chronicle
By A Correspondent- A 42 year old woman from Rufaro Resettlement Area under Chief Zimuto allegedly collapsed and died soon after receiving a prophecy at a Madzibaba shrine.
Eustina Mudavanhu was pronounced dead on arrival at Masvingo Provincial Hospital after she had collapsed at Madzibaba Garai’s shrine in Zimuto.
Surprisingly, the man of the cloth had just predicted that Mudavanhu was in good health and that she was going to prosper in life.
Mudavanhu’s daughter, Lucky Mavenga, told TellZim that her mother was on her way to Masvingo town when she decided to pass through the shrine but collapsed and died after the church service. Mavenga said:
_My mother was fit and had even insisted that we walk to town but later decided to pass through the shrine._
_After we attended the church service she received a prophecy from Madzibaba Garai that she was ok and was going to prosper in life. After the church service, she asked for water and I gave her. I then went to fetch food and while I was away, she collapsed and died._
Mudavanhu was later rushed to the hospital where the doctor confirmed that she had died.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has requested the government, through the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), to confer hero status on the late Dynamos Football Club legend David Mandigora who died on Saturday.
In a statement this Monday, ZIFA said such an honour was befitting for “Yogi” considering the impact he made on local football during the colonial era. The statement read:
The Zimbabwe Football Association has written to the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) requesting government to confer hero status on the late football legend David ‘Yogi Mandigora.
Mandigora had a huge impact on the face of local football, from the colonial days when the sport was used to challenge colonial rule. It was fitting that he was crowned as the soccer star in 1980 when the country attained independence.
Yogi equally became a success story as a coach, leading his boyhood club Dynamos to league glory in 2007 and the Africa Champions League Semi-finals in 2008.
He also played for the national team on various occasions and put the country on the football map.
Mandigora’s transition from a devoted player into a successful coach epitomises the life story of a true hero for many young footballers and the generality of Zimbabweans.
David served the sporting fraternity and the nation at large with distinction and it is our humble request that he be bestowed with the greatest honour of being declared a national hero.- Pindula News
A recent press statement by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Paul Mavima, to the effect that “45% increment will be effected to salaries of public workers while negotiations with workers’ representatives continue”, is regrettable to starving teachers.
Fundamentally, this is the same Minister who in November 2020 claimed that a road map for the restoration of US$520-US$550 would have been reached by 31 January 2021, which never was.
Secondly, after the paltry 25% unilateral government offer to workers in April 2021, Prof Mavima claimed that negotiations with workers’ representatives would continue.
But since then, there has been no single meeting with workers’ representatives. What Minister Mavima has done is to render even the NJNC impotent or meetings between the government team and the moribund Apex Council, remote and a nullity. He has even become the chief government negotiator and spokesperson of Apex Council.
Sadly, there are some who still put hope in collective begging under Apex, rather than bargaining under section 65 of the constitution.
It is clear based on past history that the purported continued negotiations with workers’ representatives are a ruse or homiletic bellicose tailor-made to pacify government workers.
Worse still there has not been any salary increase for civil servants since October 2018. It is important to use English terms properly.
How does a person who was earning US$520-US$550, get a salary increase by earning a salary less than US$200?
With the current lowest-paid teacher getting $13 300, the 45% will take the teacher to $18 620, which is less than US$ 200 and far too short to meet the minimum expectations of the restoration of the purchasing power parity of teachers’ salaries pegged at US$520-US$550.
Worse still, the 45% is post-dated to July and by then prices of basic commodities would have adjusted by more than 45% thereby eroding the purported increment.
The has also done nothing to address the issue of salary discrepancies among government workers.
With the 45% award, the gap between teachers and other government workers currently earning double and treble the salaries of teachers despite having fewer qualifications and responsibilities would continue to grow or widen.
Indeed the most precipitous conditions faced by teachers have not only affected their morale but also psychologically, with suicide cases becoming the order of the day.
Even the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has recently ordered DSIs and school heads to assess the mental stability of teachers and ensure that mental retardation of teachers does not affect pupils.
This is not addressing the problem of starvation wages but symptoms. Both the government and Ministry must address the problem, viz, pay teachers a living wage.
However, should the government fail to do so as a matter of urgency, teachers must use their poverty to unite and liberate themselves. Our collective effort will guarantee our triumph.
By A Correspondent- The government has spoken on the alleged seizure of a farm that is allegedly co-owned by Siphosami Malunga (an international human rights lawyer), Zephaniah Dhlamini (the director of the National University of Science and Technology’s (Nust) Applied Genetics Testing Centre), and Charles Moyo.
The government said the repossessed farm in Matabeleland North does not belong to the Osisa director Malunga and his two partners but was compulsorily acquired under the Land Reform Programme in 2004 from a white farmer.
The Herald reports that Malunga and his partners later bought a shadowy company that claimed to own the farm but did not have exclusive ownership of the land in question since it had been acquired by the Government almost two decades before.
Matabeleland North Province Minister of State Hon Richard Moyo said told the state-run publication that there was no seizure of black-owned farms adding that Malunga and his partners can benefit from the largesse if they do not own land elsewhere. He said:
_The farm in question belonged to white farmers by the name of Swindells. When Government compulsorily acquired land in the 2000s we did not immediately resettle people because there was a black man by the name of Eddie Warambwa who claimed to have bought the farm from the white man. It was only after his death that we realised that he was a front of the white man and measures were taken to repossess the land, there is no victimisation here._
_Maybe Mr Malunga and his partners bought assets on the farm but certainly not the land as it belongs to Government. We are in the process of allocating the land and those who were on the farm will benefit just as any other Zimbabwean if they do not have another piece of land elsewhere._
This comes as This comes after Malunga had claimed that the farm belongs to him and his colleagues vowing to fight back.
A South African couple was electrocuted on Sunday just a day after they returned from their honeymoon.
The newlywed Johannesburg couple, Zaheer Sarang and Nabeelah Khan were found dead in their Crosby home at about 17:30 on Sunday.
It is believed that the woman collapsed after touching a tap in the shower and her husband was electrocuted when he tried to save her.
City Power CEO Mongezi Ntsokolo has ordered an urgent investigation into allegations that a fault, caused by illegal electricity connections led to the couple’s death.
Ntsokolo said a preliminary investigation was underway to establish what transpired. Details will be provided at a later stage. He added:
While we a busy with investigations, we urge the residents to desist from tampering with electricity infrastructure, vandalism and illegal connections which may lead to the circuit malfunctioning.
Reports suggest Khan, 24, was electrocuted after touching a tap while she was in the shower and that Sarang was electrocuted when he raced towards her to save her.
Johannesburg police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said an inquest docket was opened. Said Masondo:
It is suspected that the couple was electrocuted. Police are still waiting for the post-mortem results that will confirm the cause of death.
The couple’s neighbour Hassan Aalim, told the media that Sarang and Khan had returned from their honeymoon on Saturday.
He said he knew something terrible had happened when he heard cries coming from their house.-News24
Tinashe Sambiri|Every citizen has a role to play in exposing rigging of elections, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa was responding to award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s tweet on how elections are rigged by the Zanu PF regime.
“Thank you @daddyhope for the great work.
You are on point. We’re working 24/7 to address past mistakes and fix the gaps.
As citizens, we each must play a role to defeat cheating and rigging. Fellow Zimbabweans,Your country needs you. Change is in your hands. Play your part!”
Below is Hopewell Chin’ono’s tweet:
Listen to this video, and RETWEET it if you are interested in CHANGE coming to Zimbabwe!
Many people talk about rigging of elections and yet we have not explained how they are rigged and importantly how to stop the rigging!
Tinashe Sambiri|Every citizen has a role to play in exposing rigging of elections, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa was responding to award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s tweet on how elections are rigged by the Zanu PF regime.
“Thank you @daddyhope for the great work.
You are on point. We’re working 24/7 to address past mistakes and fix the gaps.
As citizens, we each must play a role to defeat cheating and rigging. Fellow Zimbabweans,Your country needs you. Change is in your hands. Play your part!”
Below is Hopewell Chin’ono’s tweet:
Listen to this video, and RETWEET it if you are interested in CHANGE coming to Zimbabwe!
Many people talk about rigging of elections and yet we have not explained how they are rigged and importantly how to stop the rigging!
Tinashe Sambiri| Police have released the names of five family members who were involved in a horrific Honda Fit- Bus collision in Gutu on Saturday.
The vehicle the five were travelling in collided head-on with an Inter-Africa Bus near Matizha Business Centre in Gutu.
Police have announced the names of the deceased family members as Francis Chagweda (33)the driver, Mavis Chagweda (61), Lloyd Chagweda (31), Viola Chagweda (35) and Keresensia Mapaaona (28).
According to a family source, the now deceased were travelling from Harare to Chiwara in Gutu for a family function.
MDC Alliance leader, President Chamisa described the accident as a terrible blow to the family and the nation:
I received very tragic news about the passing on of 5 of my relatives all being from one family and our village.
The Chagwedas, all 5 died on the spot. They were traveling from Harare to Gutu for a family function. Their car was involved in a head-on collision with a bus that encroached their lane as the bus was overtaking another one.
Life is so temporary. RIP my mother Mai Rorini, young brothers Franco, Lodza and sisters ana Vee.
By A Correspondent | The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly in Bulawayo held a press conference Monday afternoon where many in the leadership announced they a vote of no confidence in youth chairperson, James Sithole.
From left to right: Takunda Madzana, Pashor Sibanda, Tinashe Kambarami, Ben Hlatwayo and Garikai Mugova… Positions- from left to right: National Executive Committee, Provincial Secretary, Provincial Chairman, Provincial Spokesperson and Deputy Provincial Organizing Secretary
Sithole is accused of attending meetings, and below were some of the talking points in the speech by Deputy Mayor, Tinashe Kambarami:
In meeting, Youth Leaders speak
– We no longer want to be chaired by James Sithole
– He is acting illegally, outside the parameters of the Party constitution.
– He has presided over the unconstitutional removal of members from Party structures.
– He is in social media groups that are loyal to Douglas Mwonzora.
He found it difficult to stand firm with the Party when we needed him the most.
He has failed to stand with us.
The youth has come up with a position that we can not be chaired by James Sithole in Bulawayo
We want to be led by someone who is clear as to where he stands.
We are MDC-A the genuine and next alternative government of Zimbabwe and will not brook nonsense from the other MDC which has been formed by Zanu PF.
As a province we can no longer be chaired by James Sithole
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has taken a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) company, Rusununguko Nkululeko (Pvt) Limited, to court demanding US$142 530 for use of its chalets by the latter since 2018.
This was revealed in summons filed at the High Court yesterday, where ZimParks leased its chalets to Rusununguko under a geographic lease agreement.
ZimParks claimed in court papers that in terms of the agreement, the army firm was supposed to pay US$60 000 in equal instalments over the first five years of the lease starting from January 2018.
In addition, annual lease fees in the sum of US$35 000 were also payable for the period January 2018 to December 2021.
It was also agreed that all amounts due each year were to attract interest at the rate of 12% per annum being the Zimbabwean banks market interest rate.
However, despite the demands, the ZNA company failed to pay the amounts. ZimParks has also sued Landela Safaris (Private) Limited for US$45 000 under a similar deal in which it leased View Point Site in Victoria Falls to the company.
It was submitted that in 2018, ZimParks entered into a written agreement in terms of which Landela leased its View Point Site under a photographic safari lease agreement.
Landela was supposed to pay annual lease fees of US$45 000 starting from the second year of the agreement, or before January 1 each year. However, Landela Safaris breached the contract in December 2020 when it failed to pay.
A man was found dead in a maize field in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb with stab wounds all over the body while another died at his home in Njube after being stabbed by unknown assailants.
The two unrelated cases come at a time when murder cases seem to be on the rise in Zimbabwe, particularly in Bulawayo.
In a tweet, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed for information that may lead to the arrest of the attackers.
“Police in Bulawayo are appealing for information that may assist investigations in two separate murder cases. On 12/6/21 a body of an unknown male adult was found in a maize field behind Plot 6 Pumula South Habek with several stab wounds on legs and shoulders,” tweeted the police.
“In another murder case, Police are investigating circumstances surrounding a case in which a Njube man (44) died after arriving home at night with a stab wound on the chest. Anyone with information should contact any nearest police station.”-Chronicle
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has dismissed Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assertion that the popular movement is a terrorist group.
On the contrary, argues the MDC Alliance, Mr Mnangagwa is terrorising innocent citizens.
Below is MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma’s statement :
Mnangagwa: The Definition Of Terror In Zimbabwe
13-06-2021
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s naked lie of branding the People’s Movement, MDC Alliance as a terrorist group must never go unchallenged.
We all know that by branding the MDC Alliance as a terrorist group, Mnangagwa seeks to chlorinate arbitrary arrests, pre-trial detentions, abductions, rape, torture, murder and all sorts of evils his regime is committing against the people of Zimbabwe, particularly those opposed to his dictatorship.
As he was correctly described by ZANU PF Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo upon his dismissal from that party in 2017, Mnangagwa is a “dishonest” , “divisive” and “deceptive” character.
When he says the opposition is “anti-people” and “anti-democratic”, it is a classic case of a hyena accusing goats of devouring her cubs. The intention is to wipe out all the goats under the pretext of protecting her cubs!
Mnangagwa is the same man who lied to the whole nation that he is “as soft as wool” and the next thing he unleashes the military in broad daylight to butcher unarmed civilians on 01 August 2018.
Zimbabweans know the real merchants of terror in this country.
They know very well that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the face of genocidal terror attacks that threatened to wipe out the entire population of Matabeleland and parts of Midlands from 1983-87 when he was the Minister of State Security.
We, the MDC Alliance are the end receivers of the terror at hands of a terrorist ZANU PF government fronted by Mnangagwa.
We are not the ones who took over the country via a bloody coup. We are not the ones who murdered innocent people in the bloody 2002 and June 2008 elections.
We are not the ones who have been kidnapping, torturing and disappearing citizens like what happened to Itai Dzamara, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova etc.
We are not the ones who subverted the people’s will by rigging the 2018 elections.
We are not the ones who are violently destroying people’s livelihoods by destroying informal traders’ vending sites as is currently happening in Chitungwiza and Harare.
We are the ones fighting for people’s livelihoods by defending the rights of the people like we did in Chilonga.
We are the ones who are defending the rights of the poor vendors. We are the ones fighting for the defense of our constitution and rule of law.
We possess no guns nor knobkerries but our strength lies in the people.
FreeMako
DefyOrDie
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Q: How have the vaccines been developed so quickly? Does this mean that their safety and efficacy has been compromised?
A: The speed of development of COVID-19 vaccines has been unprecedented for several reasons, but the safety and efficacy requirements for vaccines have not been compromised, Vaccine development was facilitated by:
The massive financial investment by governments, industry and philanthropic organisations in vaccine development and the re-direction of much of the global research and commercial infrastructure for the development and manufacture of vaccines. Governments also enabled companies to take the commercial risk of manufacturing some vaccine stocks ahead of regulatory approvals.
New technologies adapted from the development of other vaccines – mRNA vaccines were developed for COVID-19 very rapidly after the sequence of the COVID-19 virus was determined, but the underlying technology had been under development since much longer and production could be scaled up very quickly. The adenovirus technology used for adenovirus vector vaccines was first tested with SARS, MERS and Ebola virus over the last 20 years, and so was able to be adapted quickly to COVID-19, which has several similarities to these viruses.
Clinical trial successes – it has been possible to rapidly recruit large numbers of volunteers into clinical trials and, with unfortunately high rates of infection in several countries, to complete trials with 10,000-50,000 people in a short period of time. Under normal circumstances, it may take many months or even a few years to carry out trials of this size to determine whether a vaccine is effective. Very close collaboration – between regulators, industry and clinical researchers enabled clear indications of regulatory requirements and early access to results.
Intensive and insightful research – researchers predicted that the “spike protein” on the virus would be a good target for vaccine development, and almost all vaccines have been designed to induce a response to this protein. So far, the spike protein has produced a strong immune response in those vaccinated, and for those vaccines that have reported clinical results are highly protective from COVID-19 disease. Q: Will mRNA vaccines affect the DNA of vaccine recipients?
A: No. The mRNA in the vaccine has not been shown to incorporate itself into the genes of vaccine recipients and breaks down in the weeks after vaccination. mRNA vaccines contain genetic instructions for our cells, which only read them and provide copies of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein. This enables the body’s natural immune systems to cause a response in vaccine recipients if they are later exposed to the virus.
Q: How long will COVID-19 vaccination provide protection for immunised people?
A: We do not yet know how long protection from any of these vaccines lasts. We will get better insights over the next 12 months.
The duration of protection provided by vaccines can vary. For example, the seasonal influenza vaccine is given annually, because the influenza virus mutates, and protection wanes over a number of months. Other vaccines, such as those for rubella or measles provide multi-year or even life-long protection from disease. Mutations in key viral proteins can mean that virus variants emerge. The SARS-CoV-2-coronavirus is prone to mutations that creates variants, some of which have become established in a number of regions of the world. The scientific community and regulators are very actively monitoring whether the current vaccines can continue protecting people from infection with new variants. A number of vaccine developers are currently developing vaccines against the range of variants, and it is likely that booster shots with these vaccines will increase protection against known variants. Regulators have agreed that review of data on vaccines against variants will be facilitated based on assessment of immune response to the variant, in the same way that new seasonal influenza vaccines are evaluated each year. Q: Why are there so many vaccine candidates?
A: As the global seriousness of the pandemic became rapidly apparent, development of effective vaccines for COVID-19 became the top priority of many pharmaceutical companies and medical research institutes. There was also unprecedented government and private sector investment in vaccine development. There is now a wide range of technologies for developing new vaccines – and many of the organisations developing COVID-19 vaccines have particular experience in one or more of these technologies. This has ensured that there would still be vaccines available if some were not approved for reasons of efficacy, safety or manufacturing challenges.
Q: What if many people start getting a reaction from a particular COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Short-term reactions, such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue or headache are common following any vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines. These reactions usually pass in a day or two. If new evidence becomes available that suggests that a specific serious adverse event may be linked to a particular COVID-19 vaccine then regulators will take action, working collaboratively on a global basis and liaise with public health authorities. The type of actions that can be taken depend on the nature of the adverse event, and could range from issuing safety warnings for patients, healthcare professionals and the community; updating the product information or consumer information for the vaccine to show contraindications for the use in particular patients (e.g. those with certain co-morbidities); to closely monitoring adverse events in certain groups of patients; preventing the release of a particular batch of vaccine through to temporary suspension of the use of the vaccine until more is known.
Q: How are regulators speeding up the time it takes to authorise a COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Many regulators globally have implemented faster access pathways for COVID-19 vaccines, without compromising on strict standards of safety, quality and efficacy.
Some countries have Emergency Use Authorisation pathways which assess the available data at the time of authorisation. Exercising these provisions is a matter for those countries, taking into account the benefits versus risks in the context of the prevailing domestic pandemic situation. Different countries may coin this pathway or authorisation routes differently but essentially, they follow the same principles. Other countries have implemented accelerated/priority, conditional or provisional approval schemes.
Under normal circumstances, regulatory assessment begins once all information to support registration is available. For COVID-19 vaccines, many regulators have agreed to accept data on a rolling basis to enable early evaluation of data as it becomes available. Regulators will only be in a position to make a provisional approval decision for a vaccine once there is sufficient data to support adequately the safety, quality and effectiveness of the vaccine for its intended use. If a decision is made to grant provisional or conditional approval, it will be based on the requirement for the sponsor to submit more comprehensive, longer term clinical data, stability data and other information with agreed timelines. Q: Did our country approve this COVID-19 vaccine, or are we relying on another country’s approval?
A: Most countries are carrying out independent regulatory evaluations on the submitted data for each vaccine. However, to ensure a more efficient use of resources and expertise, regulators in different countries are communicating closely on safety, efficacy and quality data and discussing technical issues as they may arise. In many cases principles of WHO Good Reliance Practices and collaborative mechanisms leverage the output of other regulators.
Q: Why weren’t very rare blood clots with low platelets with the AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccines picked up during clinical trials?
A: Thromboembolic events with concurrent thrombocytopenia are very rare – with estimates based on the number of spontaneous reports suggesting an overall incidence on the order of 10-15 cases per million doses. The clinical trials of these vaccines included large numbers of people, often with 10,000 to 20,000 individuals in the active vaccine arms, but even in trials of this size it was statistically unlikely that such very rare events would be detected. This shows the importance of continual safety monitoring during the use of these vaccines, to allow very rare events to be detected and investigated further.
Source:
Joint Statement from the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Sulumani Chimbetu is under fire from ZANU-PF youths who are demanding an explanation regarding the lyrics for his song "Chirwere" featuring Hwindi President.
Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is under pressure to implement key constitutional reforms before the 2023 Presidential Election…
The European Union has expressed concern at the violation of human rights in Zimbabwe.
This was discussed at a meeting held in Harare on Thursday. Zimbabwe was represented by Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Frederick Shava while EU head of delegation to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen was joined by ambassadors of EU Member States, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands, Spain and Romania.
In a brief statement The European Union said:
The EU and its membership expressed concern over a curtailed democratic space in Zimbabwe over the last year and reports of continued violations of human rights such as reported cases of enforced disappearances and lengthy unjustified detentions, arrests of journalists and other limitations to the freedom of expression and the media…
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police has declared war on beer halls and said that they will be making patrols to ensure that new lockdown measures which were put in place by the government at the weekend are being adhered to.
ZRP spokesperson, Paul Nyathi in a statement Monday gave the warning.
“We will conduct patrols and also monitor to ensure that beer halls, bars and nightclubs remain closed. Bottle store owners should strictly observe the given operational times of 10 am to 4 pm. In this regard, all those found drinking beer at bottle stores, inside cars and surrounding areas will be arrested,” he said.
Nyathi also said restaurants and fast-food outlets should observe the law and ensure that they only serve take-aways as pronounced by the Government. Only hotels and lodges are allowed to serve resident customers in their bars and restaurants until 10pm every day, he explained.
Nyathi urged members of the public to desist from boarding pirate taxis commonly known as mushika-shika to ensure smooth maintenance of law and order in the country.
“ZRP will ensure that the curfew order previously issued by the Government is complied with. The curfew order runs from 10pm to 5.30am the following day. We will ensure that the wearing of face masks, social distancing and hand sanitising is conducted in all public places, which include tobacco auction floors, supermarkets, public transport and marketplaces,” said Nyathi.
By A Correspondent- The government has added Kariba and Karoi as hot spot areas under the localised lockdown as the country has reported 107 more new Covid-19 cases in the last 24-hours.
The statistics include 23 cases from Masvingo whose samples were collected on Saturday and results reported yesterday.
However, no deaths were recorded in the last reporting cycle. Previously it was Kwekwe, which had been on localised lockdown following a surge in positive cases in the city with Indian variant having been detected in some of the new cases.
Last week Cabinet approved that the lockdown in Kwekwe be extended by a further two weeks.
So far, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country stands at 39 959 with 1 632 deaths while the national recovery rate is at 93 percent.
The vaccination programme is continuing countrywide with 1 107 058 having been vaccinated against Covid-19 as of yesterday. A total of 967 people received the first dose yesterday while 2 993 people got the second jab.
The seven-day rolling average for new cases rose to 110 yesterday from 97. All the 107 new cases are local transmissions. As of June 12, 2021, at 3 PM, 89 people were hospitalised of which two were admitted to intensive care units (ICU) while 54 had mild to moderate symptoms. Sixteen patients had severe symptoms while 17 were asymptomatic.
Masvingo had the highest number of 64 new cases followed by Bulawayo which had 22 new cases. Harare had 15 cases while Mashonaland West had two cases. Midlands recorded one case.
“As of June 13, 2021, Zimbabwe, has now recorded 39 959 confirmed cases, 37 004 recoveries and 1 632 deaths,” reads the statement. Vice-President and Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga at the weekend announced the lockdown regulations which come into effect today. Under the new regulations, all gatherings except funerals are banned. Companies have been directed to decongest their staff by 50 percent while workshops have been banned.
The new measures also stipulate that restaurants will no longer be able to sell food to sit in customers save for those appended to hotels and lodges.
Beer halls and nightclubs remain closed while bottle stores will operate from 10 am to 4 pm with retailers and shops operating from 8 am to 6 pm.
By A Correspondent- A 40 year old man from Siyamunza village under Chief Sinamusanga in Binga was last Wednesday trampled to death by an elephant while riding a bicycle along the Sinamusanga-Sengwe fishing camp road.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the incident.
“On June 9, Philemon Siampijo and his friend Abraham (55) were riding a bicycle when they came across a herd of elephants,” Banda said.
“They got off the bicycle and started running away and the elephant charged and went after Siampijo. The jumbo caught him and trampled him until he died.”
Abraham informed Siampijo’s relatives and other villagers about the attack before making a report to the police.
By A Correspondent-Two illegal gold, panners died in separate mine accidents in Matabeleland South Province, police have confirmed.
Acting Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Thabani Mkhwananzi said the incidents occurred on Friday and Saturday at Bolo Mine and Bina Mine in Gwanda.
“I can confirm that we recorded two mine accidents that occurred at Bolo Mine and Bina Mine in Gwanda. In the first incident, Lenin Nyoni (42) was illegally panning at a disused mine shaft which is 20 metres deep. While he was inside the shaft collapsed trapping him inside.
“Nyoni called out for help and other panners who were in vicinity pulled him out. He was ferried to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” he said.
Mkhwananzi said in the second incident an illegal gold panner died after he was struck by rocks while working in a shaft in Bina mine area in Gwanda.
He said the now deceased Cleopas Ndlovu (32) from Spitzkop North in Gwanda was working with two others when the shaft collapsed and rocks fell on him.
“I can confirm that we recorded a sudden death case which occurred in Bina Mine area. The now deceased was illegally panning for gold with his two counterparts. They went down into a three metre deep and while they were working in it the shaft collapsed and some rocks fell on Ndlovu’s back and head. “His colleagues managed to pull him out of the shaft and he was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” he said. Asst Insp Mkhwananzi urged members of the public to desist from engaging in illegal gold panning activities as they were endangering their lives.
He said the province continued to record fatal mine accidents, most of them as a result of negligence.
“As police, we would like to urge people to desist from engaging in illegal mining activities, those who wish to engage in mining activities should regularise their operations. People should also stay away from disused and closed mines as they will be endangering their lives.
“We further urge mine owners and managers to ensure that their workers have safety clothing at all times. The equipment also needs to be frequently assessed to ensure that it’s in good condition. Miners must operate in safe environments with the necessary precautionary measures,” he said.
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police on Monday launched a blitz on private cars seen picking and dropping passengers in Harare.
The raids came after ZRP spokesperson, Paul Nyathi issued a statement Monday saying that they would arrest any motorist seen picking passengers.
The most affected areas were Mabvuku and Tafara where the police were forcing people boarding private cars to drop out of the only available transport.
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police said it will be raiding all restaurants found breaching the new lockdown measures which were put in place by the government at the weekend.
ZRP spokesperson, Paul Nyathi in a statement Monday gave the warning.
Nyathi said restaurants and fast-food outlets should observe the law and ensure that they only serve take-aways as pronounced by the Government. Only hotels and lodges are allowed to serve resident customers in their bars and restaurants until 10pm every day, he explained.
Nyathi urged members of the public to desist from boarding pirate taxis commonly known as mushika-shika to ensure smooth maintenance of law and order in the country.
“ZRP will ensure that the curfew order previously issued by the Government is complied with. The curfew order runs from 10pm to 5.30am the following day. We will ensure that the wearing of face masks, social distancing and hand sanitising is conducted in all public places, which include tobacco auction floors, supermarkets, public transport and marketplaces,” said Nyathi.
By A Correspondent- One person died, while nine others were seriously injured after an overloaded Toyota Wish they were travelling in overturned along Mutare-Nyanga Road on Sunday.
Revai Maeka (30), who was driving the vehicle with eight passengers on board died, on the spot while the injured passengers were rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda confirmed the incident which happened at the 40km-peg along Mutare-Nyanga Road near Chidahuyo Business Centre.
“Maeka was driving a Toyota Wish vehicle along Mutare-Nyanga Road towards Mutare with eight passengers on board. Upon approaching the 40km peg near Chidahuyo Business Centre, he lost control of the vehicle which rolled several times,” said Insp Chananda.
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police said they will be invading funerals and make sure that new lockdown measures which were put in place by the government at the weekend are being adhered to.
ZRP spokesperson, Paul Nyathi in a statement Monday gave the warning.
“The public should take note that the police will ensure that all gatherings except funerals are banned and compliance is strictly adhered to. Zimbabwe Republic Police advises the public that the enforcement of the revised Covid-19 lockdown measures on health and security as announced on 12 June 2021 will be done without fear or favour,” said Nyathi in a statement.
“Mourners are implored to stick to the stipulated figure of 30 people and observe all Covid-19 protocols.”
Nyathi said they will launch blitz and patrols.
“We will conduct patrols and also monitor to ensure that beer halls, bars and nightclubs remain closed. Bottle store owners should strictly observe the given operational times of 10am to 4pm. In this regard, all those found drinking beer at bottle stores, inside cars and surrounding areas will be arrested,” he said.
Nyathi also said restaurants and fast-food outlets should observe the law and ensure that they only serve take-aways as pronounced by the Government. Only hotels and lodges are allowed to serve resident customers in their bars and restaurants until 10pm every day, he explained.
Nyathi urged members of the public to desist from boarding pirate taxis commonly known as mushika-shika to ensure smooth maintenance of law and order in the country.
“ZRP will ensure that the curfew order previously issued by the Government is complied with. The curfew order runs from 10pm to 5.30am the following day. We will ensure that the wearing of face masks, social distancing and hand sanitising is conducted in all public places, which include tobacco auction floors, supermarkets, public transport and marketplaces,” said Nyathi.
“ZRP will ensure that the curfew order previously issued by the Government is complied with…”
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police has been excited by the new lockdown measures which were put in place by the government at the weekend.
ZRP spokesperson, Paul Nyathi expressed their excitement on Monday where he announced that they will be clamping down on citizens seen breaching the new regulations.
“The public should take note that the police will ensure that all gatherings except funerals are banned and compliance is strictly adhered to. Zimbabwe Republic Police advises the public that the enforcement of the revised Covid-19 lockdown measures on health and security as announced on 12 June 2021 will be done without fear or favour,” said Nyathi in a statement.
“Mourners are implored to stick to the stipulated figure of 30 people and observe all Covid-19 protocols.”
Nyathi said they will launch blitz and patrols.
“We will conduct patrols and also monitor to ensure that beer halls, bars and nightclubs remain closed. Bottle store owners should strictly observe the given operational times of 10am to 4pm. In this regard, all those found drinking beer at bottle stores, inside cars and surrounding areas will be arrested,” he said.
Nyathi also said restaurants and fast-food outlets should observe the law and ensure that they only serve take-aways as pronounced by the Government. Only hotels and lodges are allowed to serve resident customers in their bars and restaurants until 10pm every day, he explained.
Nyathi urged members of the public to desist from boarding pirate taxis commonly known as mushika-shika to ensure smooth maintenance of law and order in the country.
“ZRP will ensure that the curfew order previously issued by the Government is complied with. The curfew order runs from 10pm to 5.30am the following day. We will ensure that the wearing of face masks, social distancing and hand sanitising is conducted in all public places, which include tobacco auction floors, supermarkets, public transport and marketplaces,” said Nyathi.
By A Correspondent- Zambia’s founding father and former president Kenneth Kaunda has been admitted to hospital, his office said Monday.
According to News24, Rodrick Ngolo, the administrative assistant said in a statement:
The Office and family of the First President wish to inform the general public that His Excellency Dr Kenneth D. Kaunda First President of the Republic of Zambia has been unwell and was admitted to hospital at Maina Soko Medical Centre.
His Excellency Dr Kaunda is requesting all Zambians and the international community to pray for him as the medical team is doing everything possible to ensure he recovers.
Kaunda ruled Zambia for 27 years, taking the helm after the country gained independence from Britain in October 1964.
The veteran nationalist was popular in the first decade after independence but became increasingly autocratic and banned all opposition parties.
Kaunda eventually ceded power in the first multi-party elections in 1991, losing to trade unionist Fredrick Chiluba.
Under his leadership, Zambia hosted many of the movements fighting for independence or black equality in other countries around the region, including Zimbabwe’s two liberation movements, ZAPU and ZANU.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has dismissed Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assertion that the popular movement is a terrorist group.
On the contrary, argues the MDC Alliance, Mr Mnangagwa is terrorising innocent citizens.
Below is MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma’s statement :
Mnangagwa: The Definition Of Terror In Zimbabwe
13-06-2021
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s naked lie of branding the People’s Movement, MDC Alliance as a terrorist group must never go unchallenged.
We all know that by branding the MDC Alliance as a terrorist group, Mnangagwa seeks to chlorinate arbitrary arrests, pre-trial detentions, abductions, rape, torture, murder and all sorts of evils his regime is committing against the people of Zimbabwe, particularly those opposed to his dictatorship.
As he was correctly described by ZANU PF Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo upon his dismissal from that party in 2017, Mnangagwa is a “dishonest” , “divisive” and “deceptive” character.
When he says the opposition is “anti-people” and “anti-democratic”, it is a classic case of a hyena accusing goats of devouring her cubs. The intention is to wipe out all the goats under the pretext of protecting her cubs!
Mnangagwa is the same man who lied to the whole nation that he is “as soft as wool” and the next thing he unleashes the military in broad daylight to butcher unarmed civilians on 01 August 2018.
Zimbabweans know the real merchants of terror in this country.
They know very well that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the face of genocidal terror attacks that threatened to wipe out the entire population of Matabeleland and parts of Midlands from 1983-87 when he was the Minister of State Security.
We, the MDC Alliance are the end receivers of the terror at hands of a terrorist ZANU PF government fronted by Mnangagwa.
We are not the ones who took over the country via a bloody coup. We are not the ones who murdered innocent people in the bloody 2002 and June 2008 elections.
We are not the ones who have been kidnapping, torturing and disappearing citizens like what happened to Itai Dzamara, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova etc.
We are not the ones who subverted the people’s will by rigging the 2018 elections.
We are not the ones who are violently destroying people’s livelihoods by destroying informal traders’ vending sites as is currently happening in Chitungwiza and Harare.
We are the ones fighting for people’s livelihoods by defending the rights of the people like we did in Chilonga.
We are the ones who are defending the rights of the poor vendors. We are the ones fighting for the defense of our constitution and rule of law.
We possess no guns nor knobkerries but our strength lies in the people.
FreeMako
DefyOrDie
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Destruction of vending sites: Zimbabwe Government’s demon of destruction is back!
By Elijah Mutemeri
Let me start by saying I am not surprised with the current wave of demolition of informal economy structures in Harare and Chitungwiza. We all know that it is a political move by the Zanu PF government. For me the question is not about whether it is illegal or legal to sell in the street.
During the Ian Smith regime it was always our cry and concern to say why are black people being pushed out of town to do their businesses? We were all agreed at that time that the by-laws of Rhodesia were against blacks. However, the same by-laws were not changed when we got our independence and up to this date because they promote the big fish businesses.
It is not that this country is running short of land to give to the people to do their business. We have land barons around not only the city, even in the farms. Everyone knows that there are no jobs in Zimbabwe but still families have to survive and sent their children to school. There is no doubt that we are dealing with leaders who are heartless. What worries me is that after every demolition that has taken place, the same spaces have been later parcelled out to Zanu PF youths.
Government and the city councils should and must give space to all vendors in and around the city without any discrimination. Vending is not only happening in Zimbabwe, even in Europe it is there and the only difference is that all other countries respects their citizenry.
Zambia as an example is one of the best country in dealing with vendors. The Government of Zambia believe that all people are same no matter what political party you support. In this country if you do not support the ruling party you are not a Zimbabwean. As this demolition is taking place there are some areas which are not going to be touched which belong to the ruling Zanu PF party.
The Zimbabwe government is surely possessed by the demon of destruction and this is the time for vendors to act. If they do not, they will always suffer. If the government was sincere with land allocation everyone was going to get space.
Vendors do not want a hectare for one individual, they need a space enough to put their wares and sell.
The City of Harare is also under tremendous instruction to destroy these stalls. Our councillors are powerless. Those appointed to run the affairs in Harare City Council or any other council have power to do what they want.
I bet for sure that after this destruction and as we move towards 2023 elections and campaign time, political correct vendors will be allocated the same sites to do their business and the blame will be shifted councillors. As I said, it is a political game. Zimbabweans let us open our eyes!
• Elijah Mutemeri is the project coordinator for the Informal Sector desk in the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
By A Correspondent | Soon after Zambia’s President, Edgar Lungu collapsed on Sunday, June 13, 2021, before a Defence Force Day function, the head of state, went on to continue his threats against the opposition party.
Lungu was forced to cut short his presence and return to the State House, with the secretary to the cabinet Dr Simon Miti announcing that he is well.
“The President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, this afternoon experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating at the 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration and Investiture Ceremony. His Excellency recovered immediately and walked to the official car and returned to his residence at State House,” said Dr Miti.
He continued saying:
“The President wishes to assure the general public and all concerned citizens and the international community that he is well and has continued to discharge his duties as Head of State, Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.”
5hrs later however, Lungu defied medical advice to rest, and bounced back at a fishing event where he announced: “Fellow Citizens,
I am inspecting fish ponds here at State House.”
Speaking on video, Lungu threatened the opposition in his country about pursuing a Malawian model of stopping his re-election, using the courts.
“But we will not allow this, Malawi is Malawi; this is Zambia” said President Lungu.
State House Zambia say earlier today President Edgar Lungu experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration. He recovered immediately & wishes to assure the public & Intl community that he is well. pic.twitter.com/1qBOubBARg
Destruction of vending sites: Zimbabwe Government’s demon of destruction is back!
By Elijah Mutemeri
Let me start by saying I am not surprised with the current wave of demolition of informal economy structures in Harare and Chitungwiza. We all know that it is a political move by the Zanu PF government. For me the question is not about whether it is illegal or legal to sell in the street.
During the Ian Smith regime it was always our cry and concern to say why are black people being pushed out of town to do their businesses? We were all agreed at that time that the by-laws of Rhodesia were against blacks. However, the same by-laws were not changed when we got our independence and up to this date because they promote the big fish businesses.
It is not that this country is running short of land to give to the people to do their business. We have land barons around not only the city, even in the farms. Everyone knows that there are no jobs in Zimbabwe but still families have to survive and sent their children to school. There is no doubt that we are dealing with leaders who are heartless. What worries me is that after every demolition that has taken place, the same spaces have been later parcelled out to Zanu PF youths.
Government and the city councils should and must give space to all vendors in and around the city without any discrimination. Vending is not only happening in Zimbabwe, even in Europe it is there and the only difference is that all other countries respects their citizenry.
Zambia as an example is one of the best country in dealing with vendors. The Government of Zambia believe that all people are same no matter what political party you support. In this country if you do not support the ruling party you are not a Zimbabwean. As this demolition is taking place there are some areas which are not going to be touched which belong to the ruling Zanu PF party.
The Zimbabwe government is surely possessed by the demon of destruction and this is the time for vendors to act. If they do not, they will always suffer. If the government was sincere with land allocation everyone was going to get space.
Vendors do not want a hectare for one individual, they need a space enough to put their wares and sell.
The City of Harare is also under tremendous instruction to destroy these stalls. Our councillors are powerless. Those appointed to run the affairs in Harare City Council or any other council have power to do what they want.
I bet for sure that after this destruction and as we move towards 2023 elections and campaign time, political correct vendors will be allocated the same sites to do their business and the blame will be shifted councillors. As I said, it is a political game. Zimbabweans let us open our eyes!
• Elijah Mutemeri is the project coordinator for the Informal Sector desk in the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
By A Correspondent | Soon after Zambia’s President, Edgar Lungu collapsed on Sunday, June 13, 2021, before a Defence Force Day function, the head of state, went on to continue his threats against the opposition party.
Lungu was forced to cut short his presence and return to the State House, with the secretary to the cabinet Dr Simon Miti announcing that he is well.
“The President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, this afternoon experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating at the 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration and Investiture Ceremony. His Excellency recovered immediately and walked to the official car and returned to his residence at State House,” said Dr Miti.
He continued saying:
“The President wishes to assure the general public and all concerned citizens and the international community that he is well and has continued to discharge his duties as Head of State, Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.”
5hrs later however, Lungu defied medical advice to rest, and bounced back at a fishing event where he announced: “Fellow Citizens,
I am inspecting fish ponds here at State House.”
Speaking on video, Lungu threatened the opposition in his country about pursuing a Malawian model of stopping his re-election, using the courts.
“But we will not allow this, Malawi is Malawi; this is Zambia” said President Lungu.
State House Zambia say earlier today President Edgar Lungu experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration. He recovered immediately & wishes to assure the public & Intl community that he is well. pic.twitter.com/1qBOubBARg
Football in the country, along with all other sporting disciplines have been suspended amid government’s efforts to keep in check surging Covid-19 cases in the country..
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care, announced yesterday that all public gatherings and sporting activities have been banned.
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) in a letter directed to all sports associations seen by this publication, confirmed that all disciplines have been suspended starting tomorrow.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
The Warriors duo of Thabani ‘Scara’ Kamusoko and Tafadzwa ‘Fire’ Rusike have won the 2020/21 MTN Super League title with ZESCO United.
ZESCO were confirmed champions after their 2-0 victory over Napsa Stars today, through goals from Jesse Ware just before half time and Mubanga Kampamba 10 minutes before full time.
Kamusoko started and played the entire match while Rusike was ruled out of the decisive clash through injury.
Rusike and Kamusoko were both in the Warriors squad which sealed qualification for AFCON last March.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Golden Arrows coach Mandla Ncikazi is hoping to retain the services of several first-team players who helped the team finish fourth last term.
A number of stars have been linked with top clubs and Zimbabwean fullback Divine Lunga is said to have attracted interest from the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
Striker Knox Mutizwa is said to be among the shortlisted players wanted by Kaizer Chiefs when their transfer ban comes to an end in August.
Other top performers from last term who could leave include Nkosinathi Sibisi, Ntsako Makhubela, Pule Mmodi, Michael Gumede, Sifiso Mlungwana, Thabani Zuke and Velemseni Ndwandwe.
Speaking to TimesLive, coach Ncikazi said: “For teams like Arrows, it’s going to be a struggle a bit if we sell players. My prayer is that we try to maintain the same squad or wait until December, where you know you’ve established yourself, and then sell in that transfer window.
“My wish, unfortunately is not in [my] control — the management will decide. But if we decide to sell, the process of replacing should be in place. If you sell a defender we must already be starting to look at a defender.”- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|Every citizen has a role to play in exposing rigging of elections, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa was responding to award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s tweet on how elections are rigged by the Zanu PF regime.
“Thank you @daddyhope for the great work.
You are on point. We’re working 24/7 to address past mistakes and fix the gaps.
As citizens, we each must play a role to defeat cheating and rigging. Fellow Zimbabweans,Your country needs you. Change is in your hands. Play your part!”
Below is Hopewell Chin’ono’s tweet:
Listen to this video, and RETWEET it if you are interested in CHANGE coming to Zimbabwe!
Many people talk about rigging of elections and yet we have not explained how they are rigged and importantly how to stop the rigging!
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic says he returned to his country, Croatia, soon after the last AFCON qualifier against Zambia in late March because there was nothing that was going to occupy him next as the local league season was yet to start.
The coach was criticised for taking another time away from work after spending a long holiday in his country at the end of last year year.
Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Logarusic clarified his decision to leave the country for the second time.
He said: “I wanted to come back to Harare a little earlier because I took only three weeks off after our last African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia in March, but the point is at that moment nothing was happening here in Zimbabwe.
“There was no league, no national team football, so I stayed put in my country.
“The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has now started with the Chibuku Super Cup and I am back here working as usual.”
Logarusic has also started preparations for the COSAFA Cup and is expected to name the squad for tournament that will happen from 7-18 July in South Africa.
The coach has already engaged a couple of local club coaches and will be in Bulawayo this week.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent | The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly in Bulawayo held a press conference Monday afternoon where many in the leadership announced they are rejecting James Sithole.
Sithole is accused of attending meetings, and below were some of the talking points in the speech by Deputy Mayor, Tinashe Kambarami:
In meeting, Youth Leaders speak
– We no longer want to be chaired by James Sithole
– He is acting illegally, outside the parameters of the Party constitution.
– He has presided over the unconstitutional removal of members from Party structures.
– He is in social media groups that are loyal to Douglas Mwonzora.
He found it difficult to stand firm with the Party when we needed him the most.
He has failed to stand with us.
The youth has come up with a position that we can not be chaired by James Sithole in Bulawayo
We want to be led by someone who is clear as to where he stands.
We are MDC-A the genuine and next alternative government of Zimbabwe and will not brook nonsense from the other MDC which has been formed by Zanu PF.
As a province we can no longer be chaired by James Sithole
Q: How have the vaccines been developed so quickly? Does this mean that their safety and efficacy has been compromised?
A: The speed of development of COVID-19 vaccines has been unprecedented for several reasons, but the safety and efficacy requirements for vaccines have not been compromised, Vaccine development was facilitated by:
The massive financial investment by governments, industry and philanthropic organisations in vaccine development and the re-direction of much of the global research and commercial infrastructure for the development and manufacture of vaccines. Governments also enabled companies to take the commercial risk of manufacturing some vaccine stocks ahead of regulatory approvals.
New technologies adapted from the development of other vaccines – mRNA vaccines were developed for COVID-19 very rapidly after the sequence of the COVID-19 virus was determined, but the underlying technology had been under development since much longer and production could be scaled up very quickly. The adenovirus technology used for adenovirus vector vaccines was first tested with SARS, MERS and Ebola virus over the last 20 years, and so was able to be adapted quickly to COVID-19, which has several similarities to these viruses.
Clinical trial successes – it has been possible to rapidly recruit large numbers of volunteers into clinical trials and, with unfortunately high rates of infection in several countries, to complete trials with 10,000-50,000 people in a short period of time. Under normal circumstances, it may take many months or even a few years to carry out trials of this size to determine whether a vaccine is effective. Very close collaboration – between regulators, industry and clinical researchers enabled clear indications of regulatory requirements and early access to results.
Intensive and insightful research – researchers predicted that the “spike protein” on the virus would be a good target for vaccine development, and almost all vaccines have been designed to induce a response to this protein. So far, the spike protein has produced a strong immune response in those vaccinated, and for those vaccines that have reported clinical results are highly protective from COVID-19 disease. Q: Will mRNA vaccines affect the DNA of vaccine recipients?
A: No. The mRNA in the vaccine has not been shown to incorporate itself into the genes of vaccine recipients and breaks down in the weeks after vaccination. mRNA vaccines contain genetic instructions for our cells, which only read them and provide copies of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein. This enables the body’s natural immune systems to cause a response in vaccine recipients if they are later exposed to the virus.
Q: How long will COVID-19 vaccination provide protection for immunised people?
A: We do not yet know how long protection from any of these vaccines lasts. We will get better insights over the next 12 months.
The duration of protection provided by vaccines can vary. For example, the seasonal influenza vaccine is given annually, because the influenza virus mutates, and protection wanes over a number of months. Other vaccines, such as those for rubella or measles provide multi-year or even life-long protection from disease. Mutations in key viral proteins can mean that virus variants emerge. The SARS-CoV-2-coronavirus is prone to mutations that creates variants, some of which have become established in a number of regions of the world. The scientific community and regulators are very actively monitoring whether the current vaccines can continue protecting people from infection with new variants. A number of vaccine developers are currently developing vaccines against the range of variants, and it is likely that booster shots with these vaccines will increase protection against known variants. Regulators have agreed that review of data on vaccines against variants will be facilitated based on assessment of immune response to the variant, in the same way that new seasonal influenza vaccines are evaluated each year. Q: Why are there so many vaccine candidates?
A: As the global seriousness of the pandemic became rapidly apparent, development of effective vaccines for COVID-19 became the top priority of many pharmaceutical companies and medical research institutes. There was also unprecedented government and private sector investment in vaccine development. There is now a wide range of technologies for developing new vaccines – and many of the organisations developing COVID-19 vaccines have particular experience in one or more of these technologies. This has ensured that there would still be vaccines available if some were not approved for reasons of efficacy, safety or manufacturing challenges.
Q: What if many people start getting a reaction from a particular COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Short-term reactions, such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue or headache are common following any vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines. These reactions usually pass in a day or two. If new evidence becomes available that suggests that a specific serious adverse event may be linked to a particular COVID-19 vaccine then regulators will take action, working collaboratively on a global basis and liaise with public health authorities. The type of actions that can be taken depend on the nature of the adverse event, and could range from issuing safety warnings for patients, healthcare professionals and the community; updating the product information or consumer information for the vaccine to show contraindications for the use in particular patients (e.g. those with certain co-morbidities); to closely monitoring adverse events in certain groups of patients; preventing the release of a particular batch of vaccine through to temporary suspension of the use of the vaccine until more is known.
Q: How are regulators speeding up the time it takes to authorise a COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Many regulators globally have implemented faster access pathways for COVID-19 vaccines, without compromising on strict standards of safety, quality and efficacy.
Some countries have Emergency Use Authorisation pathways which assess the available data at the time of authorisation. Exercising these provisions is a matter for those countries, taking into account the benefits versus risks in the context of the prevailing domestic pandemic situation. Different countries may coin this pathway or authorisation routes differently but essentially, they follow the same principles. Other countries have implemented accelerated/priority, conditional or provisional approval schemes.
Under normal circumstances, regulatory assessment begins once all information to support registration is available. For COVID-19 vaccines, many regulators have agreed to accept data on a rolling basis to enable early evaluation of data as it becomes available. Regulators will only be in a position to make a provisional approval decision for a vaccine once there is sufficient data to support adequately the safety, quality and effectiveness of the vaccine for its intended use. If a decision is made to grant provisional or conditional approval, it will be based on the requirement for the sponsor to submit more comprehensive, longer term clinical data, stability data and other information with agreed timelines. Q: Did our country approve this COVID-19 vaccine, or are we relying on another country’s approval?
A: Most countries are carrying out independent regulatory evaluations on the submitted data for each vaccine. However, to ensure a more efficient use of resources and expertise, regulators in different countries are communicating closely on safety, efficacy and quality data and discussing technical issues as they may arise. In many cases principles of WHO Good Reliance Practices and collaborative mechanisms leverage the output of other regulators.
Q: Why weren’t very rare blood clots with low platelets with the AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccines picked up during clinical trials?
A: Thromboembolic events with concurrent thrombocytopenia are very rare – with estimates based on the number of spontaneous reports suggesting an overall incidence on the order of 10-15 cases per million doses. The clinical trials of these vaccines included large numbers of people, often with 10,000 to 20,000 individuals in the active vaccine arms, but even in trials of this size it was statistically unlikely that such very rare events would be detected. This shows the importance of continual safety monitoring during the use of these vaccines, to allow very rare events to be detected and investigated further.
Source:
Joint Statement from the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
By Israel Dube | No amount concrete on Mugabe’s grave or temper proof installed on his coffin will stop ritualist Mnangagwa from digging up Mugabe’s remains.
According to Mugabe’s nephew Leo Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to harvest the late dictator’s finger nails, hair and teeth. He is also looking for the most valuable and miraculous tool in voodooland and Mashonaland, the sceptre.
The superstitious Shona people describe the sceptre as a must have ruling tool for the president of Zimbabwe.
They say it has supernatural powers to prevent the split of Zimbabwe into two states, that is The Republic of Matabeleland- ROM and Zimbabwe aka Mashonaland, turn around economic fortunes of the country and boost Emmerson Mnangagwa’s chances of winning 2023 elections and rule for many years like Mugabe.
Superstition also leads Shona people to believe that the stuff has special properties in it to drive away famine, bring about prosperity and maintain peace and stability.
But where is the sceptre? Rumour has it that it was given to Mugabe’s youngest son Bellarmine Chadunga Mugabe. Some people say it was handed over to Mugabe’s chosen successor, Saviour Kasukuwere others believe it is locked inside Grace Mugabe’s bedroom while others like Mnangagwa believe it was buried together with Mugabe in his grave hence the exhume and bury process proposed by Mnangagwa.
But the most hilarious of all beliefs came from Pardon Gambakwe of Gambakwe Media. He claims that it (sceptre) made a spiritual departure from Mugabe’s hands and flied back to its owners, the Ndzous Nyandoros and Moyos. According to him the above mentioned are king makers in Zimbabwe who gave Mugabe the sceptre before the Rodesian war known as tsvimbo yenyika (stuff of the nation).
Oh God have mercy! How can a stick made by human beings out of wood have so much power? Oh God help the people of Matabeleland liberate themselves from the dirty hands of witches!
Wooden sticks made by human beings and given names like sceptre or stuff possess no power to turn around the fortunes of the economy except in the mind of a too desperate paganist trying his luck in politics. It is only the power of the mind which can produce sound economic policies to resuscitate the spiraling Zimbabwe economy.
Corruption is the enemy of development. Mnangagwa, his wife and children, members of his party and cabinet all have a DNA of theft, corruption and witchcraft, a trait with which Shona people are identified.
The “first looters” as Zimbabwe’s first family is now known, leads government party members in looting,stealing over US$ 5 billion every year. Surely the sceptre will not bring back this huge amount of stolen money. But those with the DNA of theft, corruption and witchcraft must be arrested, their offshore accounts where they stash stolen money frozen and the money recovered and re- injected into the economy.
First to shed light on Mnangagwa’s witchcraft beliefs was late President Mugabe who was quoted as saying, “we have kicked him out for the same reasons that saw us chasing Mujuru,people were told that I will retire in March but I did not. Upon realizing that I wasn’t, he started consulting traditional healers on when I was going to die.” Little did Mugabe know that Mnangagwa was even interested in his body parts to make a sacrifice to the demons.
In November of 2018, when no one had an answer to mysterious fires that gutted business premises, hospitals, schools and properties worth millions of dollars and accidents that took place around the country killing more than 200 people, a long time political colleague of Mnangagwa, Jonathan Moyo shed light.
Moyo who previously revealed that Mnangagwa’s scarf was a “dictator s voodoo item” told Zimbabweans and Matabeles alike that the mysterious fires and bloodletting accidents came as a result of Mnangagwa’s visit to Guinea in that month where he performed rituals.
The american prophet Nathan Humbyrd of Nathan Humbyrt Miracle Ministries released a prophecy. He said “when I looked at Mnangagwa speaking during the Presidential Day of Prayer and Fasting, I saw the spirit of the serpent surrounding him”.
But it is a young social media activist from Mashonaland who nailed it. With a killer smile and golden voice, he sang in Shona, ” Eeee Deeee dzosera chikava cha Ndunge Zvinu zvaoma”.
He was telling Mnangagwa to take back Ndunge’ scarf because things were getting more and more tougher. Ndunge is a late witch doctor from Chipinge where Mnangagwa’s scarf is believed to have been produced.
We cannot agree more with the social activist. Take it back because it serves no purpose other than that of witchcraft and voodoo.
Worshiping of snakes, idols and all acts of witchcraft and voodoo will not stop the restoration of Matabeleland state. This is an idea who’s time has come.
One Shona supremacist one bullet, one sellout one necklace!
Tinashe Sambiri| Police have released the names of five family members who were involved in a horrific Honda Fit- Bus collision in Gutu on Saturday.
The vehicle the five were travelling in collided head-on with an Inter-Africa Bus near Matizha Business Centre in Gutu.
Police have announced the names of the deceased family members as Francis Chagweda (33)the driver, Mavis Chagweda (61), Lloyd Chagweda (31), Viola Chagweda (35) and Keresensia Mapaaona (28).
According to a family source, the now deceased were travelling from Harare to Chiwara in Gutu for a family function.
MDC Alliance leader, President Chamisa described the accident as a terrible blow to the family and the nation:
I received very tragic news about the passing on of 5 of my relatives all being from one family and our village.
The Chagwedas, all 5 died on the spot. They were traveling from Harare to Gutu for a family function. Their car was involved in a head-on collision with a bus that encroached their lane as the bus was overtaking another one.
Life is so temporary. RIP my mother Mai Rorini, young brothers Franco, Lodza and sisters ana Vee.
Tinashe Sambiri|Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) has launched a massive voter education programme…
The programme seeks to encourage young people to register to vote in numbers.
COTRAD is using online and offline platforms to reach out to youths in rural and urban areas.
See COTRAD statement below:
COTRAD Kickstarts Voter Registration Campaign in Masvingo Province
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) has launched a massive voter registration mobilization campaign in Masvingo Province through online and offline platforms.
The campaign which is mainly targeting young men and women especially those who are reaching voting age and therefore are facing their first opportunity to vote (First Time Voter).
Broadly, the campaign also targets aliens and the older people who, have not voted previously despite being eligible to do so to go and register at their local Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) district and provincial offices.
The campaign is being unrolled through go register to vote community meetings, online platforms, television and radio programs, bulk messages, circulation of jingles and electronic fliers on whatsApp groups and other social media platforms and servicing of information centres with printed IEC content containing voter education material.
While, COTRAD voter clubs members educate and mobilize their peers to register as voters through checking out if their eligible family members, neighbours, friends, workmates or even girlfriends and boyfriends have registered to vote.
The campaign also aims to explore voter registration requirements and procedures as stipulated by the Zimbabwe electoral laws.
Voter registration after the 2018 harmonised elections has been taking place at a sluggish pace, considering the fact that thousands of youths became eligible to vote after the previous plebiscite.
In Masvingo only six people registered to vote in May 2021.
Therefore, COTRAD has begun the campaign to educate young people about their role as citizens, their rights and responsibilities, the importance of voting, and how best to make voter choices and hold those they vote for accountable between elections.
COTRAD official Ishmael Kupfuwa said:
Section 17A of the Electoral Act states that voter registration shall be conducted on a continuous basis so as to keep the voters rolls up-to date. Therefore, every person claiming to be a voter shall be entitled, at any time while the voters roll is open, to lodge a claim for registration as a voter or for the transfer of registration as a voter. Aliens are also encouraged to register to vote in accordance with the electoral laws.
The ZEC has been open for voter registration since the end of the 2018 harmonised elections except during the hard lockdown period.
The level of participation of youth in electoral processes is worrying despite the fact that youth represent over 60% of the national population.
If too many young people neglect their right to vote, in turn, this can lead to them to becoming a marginalized group. COTRAD shall keep on imploring ZEC to intensifying voter mobilization and education programmes so that citizens especially the youth can develop more interest in registering as voters and also actively participate in electoral processes.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has dismissed Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assertion that the popular movement is a terrorist group.
On the contrary, argues the MDC Alliance, Mr Mnangagwa is terrorising innocent citizens.
Below is MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma’s statement :
Mnangagwa: The Definition Of Terror In Zimbabwe
13-06-2021
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s naked lie of branding the People’s Movement, MDC Alliance as a terrorist group must never go unchallenged.
We all know that by branding the MDC Alliance as a terrorist group, Mnangagwa seeks to chlorinate arbitrary arrests, pre-trial detentions, abductions, rape, torture, murder and all sorts of evils his regime is committing against the people of Zimbabwe, particularly those opposed to his dictatorship.
As he was correctly described by ZANU PF Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo upon his dismissal from that party in 2017, Mnangagwa is a “dishonest” , “divisive” and “deceptive” character.
When he says the opposition is “anti-people” and “anti-democratic”, it is a classic case of a hyena accusing goats of devouring her cubs. The intention is to wipe out all the goats under the pretext of protecting her cubs!
Mnangagwa is the same man who lied to the whole nation that he is “as soft as wool” and the next thing he unleashes the military in broad daylight to butcher unarmed civilians on 01 August 2018.
Zimbabweans know the real merchants of terror in this country.
They know very well that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the face of genocidal terror attacks that threatened to wipe out the entire population of Matabeleland and parts of Midlands from 1983-87 when he was the Minister of State Security.
We, the MDC Alliance are the end receivers of the terror at hands of a terrorist ZANU PF government fronted by Mnangagwa.
We are not the ones who took over the country via a bloody coup. We are not the ones who murdered innocent people in the bloody 2002 and June 2008 elections.
We are not the ones who have been kidnapping, torturing and disappearing citizens like what happened to Itai Dzamara, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova etc.
We are not the ones who subverted the people’s will by rigging the 2018 elections.
We are not the ones who are violently destroying people’s livelihoods by destroying informal traders’ vending sites as is currently happening in Chitungwiza and Harare.
We are the ones fighting for people’s livelihoods by defending the rights of the people like we did in Chilonga.
We are the ones who are defending the rights of the poor vendors. We are the ones fighting for the defense of our constitution and rule of law.
We possess no guns nor knobkerries but our strength lies in the people.
FreeMako
DefyOrDie
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Q: How have the vaccines been developed so quickly? Does this mean that their safety and efficacy has been compromised?
A: The speed of development of COVID-19 vaccines has been unprecedented for several reasons, but the safety and efficacy requirements for vaccines have not been compromised, Vaccine development was facilitated by:
The massive financial investment by governments, industry and philanthropic organisations in vaccine development and the re-direction of much of the global research and commercial infrastructure for the development and manufacture of vaccines. Governments also enabled companies to take the commercial risk of manufacturing some vaccine stocks ahead of regulatory approvals.
New technologies adapted from the development of other vaccines – mRNA vaccines were developed for COVID-19 very rapidly after the sequence of the COVID-19 virus was determined, but the underlying technology had been under development since much longer and production could be scaled up very quickly. The adenovirus technology used for adenovirus vector vaccines was first tested with SARS, MERS and Ebola virus over the last 20 years, and so was able to be adapted quickly to COVID-19, which has several similarities to these viruses.
Clinical trial successes – it has been possible to rapidly recruit large numbers of volunteers into clinical trials and, with unfortunately high rates of infection in several countries, to complete trials with 10,000-50,000 people in a short period of time. Under normal circumstances, it may take many months or even a few years to carry out trials of this size to determine whether a vaccine is effective. Very close collaboration – between regulators, industry and clinical researchers enabled clear indications of regulatory requirements and early access to results.
Intensive and insightful research – researchers predicted that the “spike protein” on the virus would be a good target for vaccine development, and almost all vaccines have been designed to induce a response to this protein. So far, the spike protein has produced a strong immune response in those vaccinated, and for those vaccines that have reported clinical results are highly protective from COVID-19 disease. Q: Will mRNA vaccines affect the DNA of vaccine recipients?
A: No. The mRNA in the vaccine has not been shown to incorporate itself into the genes of vaccine recipients and breaks down in the weeks after vaccination. mRNA vaccines contain genetic instructions for our cells, which only read them and provide copies of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein. This enables the body’s natural immune systems to cause a response in vaccine recipients if they are later exposed to the virus.
Q: How long will COVID-19 vaccination provide protection for immunised people?
A: We do not yet know how long protection from any of these vaccines lasts. We will get better insights over the next 12 months.
The duration of protection provided by vaccines can vary. For example, the seasonal influenza vaccine is given annually, because the influenza virus mutates, and protection wanes over a number of months. Other vaccines, such as those for rubella or measles provide multi-year or even life-long protection from disease. Mutations in key viral proteins can mean that virus variants emerge. The SARS-CoV-2-coronavirus is prone to mutations that creates variants, some of which have become established in a number of regions of the world. The scientific community and regulators are very actively monitoring whether the current vaccines can continue protecting people from infection with new variants. A number of vaccine developers are currently developing vaccines against the range of variants, and it is likely that booster shots with these vaccines will increase protection against known variants. Regulators have agreed that review of data on vaccines against variants will be facilitated based on assessment of immune response to the variant, in the same way that new seasonal influenza vaccines are evaluated each year. Q: Why are there so many vaccine candidates?
A: As the global seriousness of the pandemic became rapidly apparent, development of effective vaccines for COVID-19 became the top priority of many pharmaceutical companies and medical research institutes. There was also unprecedented government and private sector investment in vaccine development. There is now a wide range of technologies for developing new vaccines – and many of the organisations developing COVID-19 vaccines have particular experience in one or more of these technologies. This has ensured that there would still be vaccines available if some were not approved for reasons of efficacy, safety or manufacturing challenges.
Q: What if many people start getting a reaction from a particular COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Short-term reactions, such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue or headache are common following any vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines. These reactions usually pass in a day or two. If new evidence becomes available that suggests that a specific serious adverse event may be linked to a particular COVID-19 vaccine then regulators will take action, working collaboratively on a global basis and liaise with public health authorities. The type of actions that can be taken depend on the nature of the adverse event, and could range from issuing safety warnings for patients, healthcare professionals and the community; updating the product information or consumer information for the vaccine to show contraindications for the use in particular patients (e.g. those with certain co-morbidities); to closely monitoring adverse events in certain groups of patients; preventing the release of a particular batch of vaccine through to temporary suspension of the use of the vaccine until more is known.
Q: How are regulators speeding up the time it takes to authorise a COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Many regulators globally have implemented faster access pathways for COVID-19 vaccines, without compromising on strict standards of safety, quality and efficacy.
Some countries have Emergency Use Authorisation pathways which assess the available data at the time of authorisation. Exercising these provisions is a matter for those countries, taking into account the benefits versus risks in the context of the prevailing domestic pandemic situation. Different countries may coin this pathway or authorisation routes differently but essentially, they follow the same principles. Other countries have implemented accelerated/priority, conditional or provisional approval schemes.
Under normal circumstances, regulatory assessment begins once all information to support registration is available. For COVID-19 vaccines, many regulators have agreed to accept data on a rolling basis to enable early evaluation of data as it becomes available. Regulators will only be in a position to make a provisional approval decision for a vaccine once there is sufficient data to support adequately the safety, quality and effectiveness of the vaccine for its intended use. If a decision is made to grant provisional or conditional approval, it will be based on the requirement for the sponsor to submit more comprehensive, longer term clinical data, stability data and other information with agreed timelines. Q: Did our country approve this COVID-19 vaccine, or are we relying on another country’s approval?
A: Most countries are carrying out independent regulatory evaluations on the submitted data for each vaccine. However, to ensure a more efficient use of resources and expertise, regulators in different countries are communicating closely on safety, efficacy and quality data and discussing technical issues as they may arise. In many cases principles of WHO Good Reliance Practices and collaborative mechanisms leverage the output of other regulators.
Q: Why weren’t very rare blood clots with low platelets with the AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccines picked up during clinical trials?
A: Thromboembolic events with concurrent thrombocytopenia are very rare – with estimates based on the number of spontaneous reports suggesting an overall incidence on the order of 10-15 cases per million doses. The clinical trials of these vaccines included large numbers of people, often with 10,000 to 20,000 individuals in the active vaccine arms, but even in trials of this size it was statistically unlikely that such very rare events would be detected. This shows the importance of continual safety monitoring during the use of these vaccines, to allow very rare events to be detected and investigated further.
Source:
Joint Statement from the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|Every citizen has a role to play in exposing rigging of elections, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa was responding to award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s tweet on how elections are rigged by the Zanu PF regime.
“Thank you @daddyhope for the great work.
You are on point. We’re working 24/7 to address past mistakes and fix the gaps.
As citizens, we each must play a role to defeat cheating and rigging. Fellow Zimbabweans,Your country needs you. Change is in your hands. Play your part!”
Below is Hopewell Chin’ono’s tweet:
Listen to this video, and RETWEET it if you are interested in CHANGE coming to Zimbabwe!
Many people talk about rigging of elections and yet we have not explained how they are rigged and importantly how to stop the rigging!
Tinashe Sambiri| Police have released the names of five family members who were involved in a horrific Honda Fit- Bus collision in Gutu on Saturday.
The vehicle the five were travelling in collided head-on with an Inter-Africa Bus near Matizha Business Centre in Gutu.
Police have announced the names of the deceased family members as Francis Chagweda (33)the driver, Mavis Chagweda (61), Lloyd Chagweda (31), Viola Chagweda (35) and Keresensia Mapaaona (28).
According to a family source, the now deceased were travelling from Harare to Chiwara in Gutu for a family function.
MDC Alliance leader, President Chamisa described the accident as a terrible blow to the family and the nation:
I received very tragic news about the passing on of 5 of my relatives all being from one family and our village.
The Chagwedas, all 5 died on the spot. They were traveling from Harare to Gutu for a family function. Their car was involved in a head-on collision with a bus that encroached their lane as the bus was overtaking another one.
Life is so temporary. RIP my mother Mai Rorini, young brothers Franco, Lodza and sisters ana Vee.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has dismissed Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assertion that the popular movement is a terrorist group.
On the contrary, argues the MDC Alliance, Mr Mnangagwa is terrorising innocent citizens.
Below is MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma’s statement :
Mnangagwa: The Definition Of Terror In Zimbabwe
13-06-2021
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s naked lie of branding the People’s Movement, MDC Alliance as a terrorist group must never go unchallenged.
We all know that by branding the MDC Alliance as a terrorist group, Mnangagwa seeks to chlorinate arbitrary arrests, pre-trial detentions, abductions, rape, torture, murder and all sorts of evils his regime is committing against the people of Zimbabwe, particularly those opposed to his dictatorship.
As he was correctly described by ZANU PF Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo upon his dismissal from that party in 2017, Mnangagwa is a “dishonest” , “divisive” and “deceptive” character.
When he says the opposition is “anti-people” and “anti-democratic”, it is a classic case of a hyena accusing goats of devouring her cubs. The intention is to wipe out all the goats under the pretext of protecting her cubs!
Mnangagwa is the same man who lied to the whole nation that he is “as soft as wool” and the next thing he unleashes the military in broad daylight to butcher unarmed civilians on 01 August 2018.
Zimbabweans know the real merchants of terror in this country.
They know very well that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the face of genocidal terror attacks that threatened to wipe out the entire population of Matabeleland and parts of Midlands from 1983-87 when he was the Minister of State Security.
We, the MDC Alliance are the end receivers of the terror at hands of a terrorist ZANU PF government fronted by Mnangagwa.
We are not the ones who took over the country via a bloody coup. We are not the ones who murdered innocent people in the bloody 2002 and June 2008 elections.
We are not the ones who have been kidnapping, torturing and disappearing citizens like what happened to Itai Dzamara, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova etc.
We are not the ones who subverted the people’s will by rigging the 2018 elections.
We are not the ones who are violently destroying people’s livelihoods by destroying informal traders’ vending sites as is currently happening in Chitungwiza and Harare.
We are the ones fighting for people’s livelihoods by defending the rights of the people like we did in Chilonga.
We are the ones who are defending the rights of the poor vendors. We are the ones fighting for the defense of our constitution and rule of law.
We possess no guns nor knobkerries but our strength lies in the people.
FreeMako
DefyOrDie
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
COTRAD Kick-starts Voter Registration Campaign in Masvingo Province.
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) has launched a massive voter registration mobilization campaign in Masvingo Province through online and offline platforms.
The campaign which is mainly targeting young men and women especially those who are reaching voting age and therefore are facing their first opportunity to vote (First Time Voter).
Broadly, the campaign also targets aliens and the older people who, have not voted previously despite being eligible to do so to go and register at their local Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) district and provincial offices.
The campaign is being unrolled through go register to vote community meetings, online platforms, television and radio programs, bulk messages, circulation of jingles and electronic fliers on whatsApp groups and other social media platforms and servicing of information centres with printed IEC content containing voter education material.
While, COTRAD voter clubs members educate and mobilize their peers to register as voters through checking out if their eligible family members, neighbours, friends, workmates or even girlfriends and boyfriends have registered to vote.
The campaign also aims to explore voter registration requirements and procedures as stipulated by the Zimbabwe electoral laws.
Voter registration after the 2018 harmonised elections has been taking place at a sluggish pace, considering the fact that thousands of youths became eligible to vote after the previous plebiscite.
In Masvingo only six people registered to vote in May 2021.
Therefore, COTRAD has begun the campaign to educate young people about their role as citizens, their rights and responsibilities, the importance of voting, and how best to make voter choices and hold those they vote for accountable between elections.
COTRAD official Ishmael Kupfuwa said:
Section 17A of the Electoral Act states that voter registration shall be conducted on a continuous basis so as to keep the voters rolls up-to date. Therefore, every person claiming to be a voter shall be entitled, at any time while the voters roll is open, to lodge a claim for registration as a voter or for the transfer of registration as a voter. Aliens are also encouraged to register to vote in accordance with the electoral laws.
The ZEC has been open for voter registration since the end of the 2018 harmonised elections except during the hard lockdown period.
The level of participation of youth in electoral processes is worrying despite the fact that youth represent over 60% of the national population.
If too many young people neglect their right to vote, in turn, this can lead to them to becoming a marginalized group. COTRAD shall keep on imploring ZEC to intensifying voter mobilization and education programmes so that citizens especially the youth can develop more interest in registering as voters and also actively participate in electoral processes.
By Showbiz Reporter| Barely a year after marriage, the pole dancer Bev Sibanda has gone public to speak about her husband, Chambuka Mufudzi.
Chambuka Mufudzi, who last year claimed that he is a UK-based Zimbabwean doctor, was exposed by ZimEye as this paper revealed that he is a mental health nurse, instead.
Beverley Sibanda
Their union was solemnised at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts in June last year.
Speaking in various occasions last week, Bev alleged she is being neglected. She also laid several claims previously raised to her husband on ZimEye.
She also alleged that he has been sending out audio messages accusing her of witchcraft.
“He appears as if he cares for me, but it’s not true, and he has also been sending out audio messages saying that I bewitched him into loving him,” she said.
Celebrated Zimbabwean traditional healer Sekuru Banda has urged society to desist from making unnecessary theories and conclusions around the death of Nigerian televangelist Temitope Balogun Joshua popularly known as TB Joshua who died last week.
Speaking to ZimEye, Sekuru Banda dismissed circulating narratives about TB Joshua’s death saying those seeking publicity were drifting away from African values and culture.
He also lashed at a Ghanaian traditional healer Nana Kwaku Bonson who is claiming to have bewitched TB Joshua dismissing his remarks as only a publicity stunt.
“We should not seek answers when a person dies. Death is God’s time. Let’s not seek fame and publicity from someone’s death. God is the ultimate judge. Let’s abandon the culture of being judgmental when a prominent figure dies as in the case of this Ghanaian traditional healer” Sekuru Banda said.
“When God created us, each one of us was given a timeline, so death is God’s time lets not look for answers when a person dies, lets not talk too much about the deceased persons or seek to gain publicity, God is the final arbiter not us,” added Sekuru Banda.
The philantropist traditional healer expressed concern on the erosion of African cultural values saying instead of respecting the deceased, people were speaking ill of TB Joshua.
“I am not supporting TB Joshua but I am just concerned that people nowadays speak ill of a deceased person and this particular case, they never said those things when he was still alive,” said Sekuru Banda.
The influential Nigerian preacher died on 5 June at the age of 57. The cause of his death was not revealed.
ACTING Zanu-PF political commissar Patrick Chinamasa yesterday confirmed deep factionalism in Manicaland province, leading to an emergency meeting to address the problems.
Chinamasa made the remarks in Rusape yesterday while addressing a Makoni district development co-ordinating committee (DCC) meeting with various stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe economist John Mafararikwa, who was the guest of honour.
Makoni DCC chairperson Albert Nyakuedzwa chaired the meeting where Chinamasa decried divisions in Nyanga, Mutare and Chipinge districts.
He said they had since met with the warring factions in two districts.
“Unity is important in the party, we need unity to develop. Recently, we were in Nyanga and we met leaders there over factionalism and the meeting ended at 1am as we tried to get things right,” Chinamasa said.
“Last week, we were in Mutare to deal with divisions and we have since identified people who are involved and if they fail to reform, we will take action against them.
“We were supposed to be in Chipinge this weekend, but there were other pressing issues. We are going to speak to individuals who are causing divisions in these three districts,” he said.
Chinamasa hailed Makoni district for leading by example.
“I am happy that here in Makoni district, we are united and this is good for the party,” he said.
Mutare reportedly has two factions; one led by Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Mike Madiro, and the other by Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri.
Nyakuedzwa said the party was going to undertake several developmental projects in the area.
“I am happy with the unity in the district, we are going to hold such developmental meetings in the constituency in the future,” he said.
Vice President and Health and Childcare Minister Constantino Chiwenga has defended the continued defiance of COVID-19 protocols by cabinet ministers at a time when the government has put in place strict COVID-19 measures.
Recently, Industry and Commerce minister Sekai Nzenza and senior officials from her office posed for pictures with delegates from India, a COVID-19 hotspot, without wearing face masks and without observing social distancing.
But responding to questions from NewsDay on why some ministers are not observing COVID-19 protocols, Chiwenga attempted to justify the officials’ wayward behaviour. He said:
You have seen people without masks when we go for photoshoots. We take off masks during that time. I don’t think that is being irresponsible.
However, former Health minister Henry Madzorera (MDC), described the goverment as “hypocritical” for defending the reckless behaviour of senior government officials at a time when the country is staring at the third wave. Said Madzorera:
They are hypocrites. They don’t follow their own rules and you will see that at funerals. You noticed the complacency exhibited during the unveiling of the Mbuya Nehanda statue. We said people coming from India should be quarantined for 10 days, but the delegation just came in, there was no quarantine, they posed for pictures, there were no precautions taken.
Chiwenga on Saturday announced a ban on gatherings, churches, sports and music following an increase in COVID-19 cases in the last seven days.
596 new cases and 26 deaths were recorded last week and Chiwenga has accused ordinary Zimbabweans of being complacent.
Political turncoat Obert Gutu has been appointed as the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Spokesperson while he will also handle the Complaints handling, investigations and legal services.
Full list of NPRC Appointments…
Healing Reconciliation and Rehabilitation Chairperson Commissioner Reverend Dr Chiropafadzo Moyo
Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships Commissioner Dr Golden Chekenyere deputised by Commissioner Obert Gutu
Victim Support, Gender and Diversity- Commissioner Nomaqhawe Gwere deputised by Commissioner Lilian Chigwedere
Conflict Prevention and Non Recurrence Chairperson- Commissioner Dr Tinashe Rukuni deputised by Commissioner Nomaqhawe Gwere
Complaints Handling Investigations and Legal Services Chairperson Commissioner Obert Chaurura Gutu deputised by Commissioner Dr Josephine Shambare
Research and Knowledge Management Chairperson- Commissioner Dr Donwell Dube deputised by Commissionere Dr Tinashe Rukuni
Finance, Administration and Human Resources Chairperson- Commissioner Dr Josephine Shambare deputised by Commissioner Reverend Dr Chiropafadzo Moyo
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has banned disgruntled party officials and war veterans from speaking to the media and using social media to express their displeasure, a practice he said was tantamount to indiscipline.
“Each and every one of us must strengthen, promote and defend the party and its government and popularise its policies in the communities that you live in. Where members have views and inputs to make things better, the right channels and forums must be approached from the village to the central committee,” Mnangagwa said on Saturday while addressing war veterans.
“The trend of discussing party and sector issues in the media is totally unacceptable in the revolutionary party. If you differ with someone, why rush to social media? Why rush to the newspapers? Is there any newspaper that carried the gun? Did you have social media during the war?”
He said during the liberation struggle, the fighters used to heed calls by their commanders to instil discipline in them.
“These commanders like (Vice-President Constantino) Chiwenga during the war would discipline people and people would follow the party line. After a thorough discipline you would stand and chant a slogan. It is this discipline that has kept us going,” Mnangagwa said.
“Unity and loyalty to the party and its leadership are fundamental as we continue to build and modernise our colossal revolutionary mass party to meet the aspirations of present and future generations.”
By A Correspondent- A 35 year old soldier has been sentenced to an effective 18 months in prison for raping a 13-year-old girl at Drill Hall swimming pool in Bulawayo.
Ephraim Mbengo from Combat Brooke, Llewellin, Bulawayo, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Amanda Ndlovu last Thursday facing a rape charge.
He was convicted and sentenced to and effective 24 month in jail, six months of which were suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence.
The court was told that the soldier and the minor met on August 20, 2020 where Mbengo proposed love to the girl and she accepted.
They allegedly met at night the following day on August 21 at Drill Hall swimming pool where Mbengo became intimate with the girl.
The matter was discovered after the minor went for medical examination.
In his defence, Mbengo argued that the minor had another boyfriend who was a vendor. He tried to dodge imprisonment, saying the girl did not voluntarily implicate him, but was forced to do so by her father who assaulted her.
By A Correspondent | Zambia’s President, Edgar Lungu collapsed on Sunday, June 13, 2021, before a Defence Force Day event over “dizziness.”
Lungu was forced to cut short his presence and return to the State House, with the secretary to the cabinet Dr Simon Miti announcing that he is well.
“The President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, this afternoon experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating at the 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration and Investiture Ceremony. His Excellency recovered immediately and walked to the official car and returned to his residence at State House,” said Dr Miti.
He continued saying:
“The President wishes to assure the general public and all concerned citizens and the international community that he is well and has continued to discharge his duties as Head of State, Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.”
5hrs later however, Lungu defied medical advice to rest, and bounced back at a fishing event where he announced: “Fellow Citizens,
I am inspecting fish ponds here at State House.”
#PromotingAquaculture #BuildingZambiaTogether
State House Zambia say earlier today President Edgar Lungu experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration. He recovered immediately & wishes to assure the public & Intl community that he is well. pic.twitter.com/1qBOubBARg
By A Correspondent- Acting Zanu-PF political commissar Patrick Chinamasa yesterday confirmed deep factionalism in Manicaland province, leading to an emergency meeting to address the problems.
Chinamasa made the remarks in Rusape yesterday while addressing a Makoni district development co-ordinating committee (DCC) meeting with various stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe economist John Mafararikwa, who was the guest of honour.
Makoni DCC chairperson Albert Nyakuedzwa chaired the meeting where Chinamasa decried divisions in Nyanga, Mutare and Chipinge districts.
He said they had since met with the warring factions in two districts.
“Unity is important in the party, we need unity to develop. Recently, we were in Nyanga and we met leaders there over factionalism and the meeting ended at 1am as we tried to get things right,” Chinamasa said.
“Last week, we were in Mutare to deal with divisions and we have since identified people who are involved and if they fail to reform, we will take action against them.
“We were supposed to be in Chipinge this weekend, but there were other pressing issues. We are going to speak to individuals who are causing divisions in these three districts,” he said.
Chinamasa hailed Makoni district for leading by example.
“I am happy that here in Makoni district, we are united and this is good for the party,” he said.
Mutare reportedly has two factions; one led by Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Mike Madiro, and the other by Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri.
Nyakuedzwa said the party was going to undertake several developmental projects in the area.
“I am happy with the unity in the district, we are going to hold such developmental meetings in the constituency in the future,” he said.
By A Correspondent- Over 400 newly-resettled farmers in the Maganga near Marondera, were last week evicted to pave way for the return of the farm’s original owner, Hunyani Estate.
The farmers were evicted by the Messenger of Court, who, armed with a court order, forcibly removed and dumped their property along the Harare-Mutare railway line.
One of the evicted farmers, Sphiwe Siyawamwaya, who spoke to NewsDay said they are now living in the open.
He said:
We woke up to realise that we were surrounded by riot police in the company of a Messenger of Court telling us to leave.
They ferried our goods including our crops and dumped us here. We do not have anywhere to go. We are told that this land belongs to Hunyani Estate.
In 2017, officials from the Lands ministry told us that they will allocate 200 hectares of land to us, but today it is another story.
Life is hard for us here, considering that we are living in the open.
ZANU PF Marondera district secretary for lands, Richmore Chikore said they were aware of the crisis.
NewsDay could not get a comment from Marondera district development co-coordinator Clement Masawi as his mobile phone went unanswered.
The Maganga area is in ward 23, about 20km east of Marondera town.
The area is located in the tourism-rich area where the Benard Mizeki shrine and Tsindi Ruins are located.
By A Correspondent- A 37 year old man was found hanging near Gain Shop in the Gaza Suburb of Chipinge at 8am yesterday, the Police has confirmed.
Tichaona Ganda of number 1929 Gaza O allegedly had a squabble with his wife Ropafadzo Chakona and brother-in-law only identified as Chakona last night. Ganda was found hanging from a tree branch in a maize field. Wearing a red trousers, a white shirt and a tie, he used a white and blue rope to tie around his neck.
Officer Commanding Chipinge District Chief Sup Kennedy Nyaumwe confirmed the case and said he was waiting for further details.
Ganda’s nephew Zacharia Mufuka told Chipinge Times that the deceased tried to stop Ropafadzo from working at a second hand flea market owned by the latter’s brother in town and they had a disagreement.
Ropafadzo left the husband and stayed with the brother for the last four days. Last night the deceased visited her at the brother-in-law’s house and failed to resolve the issue. Ganda was last seen in public at around 6pm yesterday and his relatives were looking for him until they heard this morning that there was a man found hanging nearby.
