By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has appointed Ms Adelaide Chikunguru as the substantive Chief Executive Officer with effect from today.
Ms Chikunguru’s appointment was announced by the ZBC board chairperson, Dr Josaya Tayi, at Pockets Hill Studios in Highlands, Harare. Ms Chikunguru was the Group Corporate Communications Executive at Tongaat Hulett.
She takes over from Ms Helliate Rushwaya, who has been acting in the position for the past 13 months.
Ms Chikunguru is a holder of a Bachelor of Science Honours degree and a Masters in Media and Society Studies.
Should women who are breastfeeding infants get vaccinated? How about women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant? Or women who are menstruating? Hello and welcome to Science in 5, I’m Vismita Gupta-Smith and we are going to get these answers for you from WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan today. Welcome, Soumya.
Dr Soumya Swaminathan
Hello, Vismita.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
Soumya, my first question to you is women who are breast feeding infants, what is the advice for them? Should they get vaccinated?
Dr Soumya Swaminathan
Yes, the answer is yes. So, women who have given birth and who are breastfeeding their babies can take the vaccine, should take the vaccine when it becomes available to them. There is no risk at all because all the vaccines that are being used presently, none of them have the live virus in it. And so there’s no risk of transmission through the breast milk. In fact, the antibodies that the mother has can go through the breast milk to the baby and may only serve maybe to protect the baby a little bit. But there’s absolutely no harm. It’s very safe. And so women who are breastfeeding can definitely take the vaccines that are currently available.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
Soumya, what about women who are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant?
Dr Soumya Swaminathan
Yeah, that’s really important because pregnancy, of course, is a very special situation because we are concerned about the health of the mother, but also about the health of the foetus, the unborn child. And so any drug or vaccine that is administered during pregnancy, we always take special care to make sure that, you know, there is no potential safety concern or any adverse event. In the case of COVID, we know that pregnant women are at higher risk of getting severe COVID and also at higher risk of delivering a baby prematurely. So, in situations where there is a lot of COVID transmission in the country and a woman is exposed to it, or if she’s in a profession like a health care worker or a frontline worker where she’s at especially high risk of acquiring the infection, the benefits of getting the vaccine definitely outweigh the risks, particularly since the platforms that we used currently for vaccines are the mRNA platform, inactivated viruses or the viral vectored platforms or subunit proteins. None of them have a live virus that can multiply within the body and that could potentially create a problem. So, I think it’s important that pregnant women in every country be explained the benefits versus the risks and be offered the vaccine if they would like to take it. And it’s probably the right thing to do in many situations, as I said, where the pregnant woman is at higher risk of getting the infection and where the vaccines would bring more benefits.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
Soumya, should women get vaccinated when they’re menstruating?
Dr Soumya Swaminathan
So, there is nothing scientifically to really come in the way of a menstruating woman taking the vaccine, apart from the fact that, you know, she may feel a bit tired, but if that’s the date on which you have a vaccine appointment and you happen to have your periods, there’s absolutely no problem in going ahead and getting the vaccine.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
Soumya, we hear a lot of misinformation about vaccines and fertility and infertility. Could you please explain the science behind this?
Dr Soumya Swaminathan
Yes, it’s a common myth. And I should start by saying that there is absolutely no scientific evidence or truth behind this concern that vaccines somehow interfere with fertility, either in men or in women, because what vaccines do is they stimulate an immune response against that particular protein or antigen of that virus or bacteria. So in this case, the COVID vaccine stimulates both antibody response and a cell mediated immune response against the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. So, there is no way in which they could interfere with the functioning of the reproductive organs in either men or women. So, I think people can rest assured that these vaccines in no way interfere with fertility.
Vismita Gupta-Smith
Thank you, Soumya. That was Dr. Soumya Swaminathan in Science in 5 today.
Selmor Mtukudzi’s social media posts at the weekend about the hardships faced by artists have rattled the ruling ZANU PF party.
Selmor, the heiress to the Tuku Music legacy, expressed her displeasure with the government’s apparent lack of care for struggling artists during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Selmor took to Twitter to express concern over Zimbabwean authorities’ silence while artistes are languishing in poverty.
The post came after her live shows dubbed Remembering Tuku held on May 29 and 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in honour of her late father and national hero, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi. Selmor wrote:
This is the first time in the years I have been performing outside Zimbabwe that I have felt sad to be coming back home.
Please Mr President ED Mnangagwa, don’t let us artistes be destitute in our own land.
Let’s copy what South Africa is doing and allow us to work for our families.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the showbiz sector has remained closed, throwing most artists into abject poverty.
In a bid to stave off poverty, a number of local artistes have been flocking to South Africa for live performances.
ZANU PF director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi felt Selmor was being disrespectful to Mnangagwa. He said:
We have taken note of concerns by music artistes who have registered their plea for a waiver in the arts sector to ensure they are cushioned in these COVID-19 measures. We will be engaging leaders about the issue of a waiver.
However, we opine that our colleagues in the arts sector must learn to engage with authorities and express themselves respectfully rather than through insults.
Football authorities set an example and signed themselves to strict conditions in light of this pandemic. Now they are on.
Hazvidi kutukana kusina maturo (we should not needlessly insult each other). This is a new dispensation.
The Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe recently met with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire and deliberated on issues affecting them and the sector at large in the COVID-19 environment.
After the meeting, Machakaire gave assurances that he would forward their proposals to the relevant authorities, but is yet to give feedback.- NewsDay
Selmor Mtukudzi’s social media posts at the weekend about the hardships faced by artists have rattled the ruling ZANU PF party.
Selmor, the heiress to the Tuku Music legacy, expressed her displeasure with the government’s apparent lack of care for struggling artists during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Selmor took to Twitter to express concern over Zimbabwean authorities’ silence while artistes are languishing in poverty.
The post came after her live shows dubbed Remembering Tuku held on May 29 and 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in honour of her late father and national hero, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi. Selmor wrote:
This is the first time in the years I have been performing outside Zimbabwe that I have felt sad to be coming back home.
Please Mr President ED Mnangagwa, don’t let us artistes be destitute in our own land.
Let’s copy what South Africa is doing and allow us to work for our families.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the showbiz sector has remained closed, throwing most artists into abject poverty.
In a bid to stave off poverty, a number of local artistes have been flocking to South Africa for live performances.
ZANU PF director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi felt Selmor was being disrespectful to Mnangagwa. He said:
We have taken note of concerns by music artistes who have registered their plea for a waiver in the arts sector to ensure they are cushioned in these COVID-19 measures. We will be engaging leaders about the issue of a waiver.
However, we opine that our colleagues in the arts sector must learn to engage with authorities and express themselves respectfully rather than through insults.
Football authorities set an example and signed themselves to strict conditions in light of this pandemic. Now they are on.
Hazvidi kutukana kusina maturo (we should not needlessly insult each other). This is a new dispensation.
The Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe recently met with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire and deliberated on issues affecting them and the sector at large in the COVID-19 environment.
After the meeting, Machakaire gave assurances that he would forward their proposals to the relevant authorities, but is yet to give feedback.- NewsDay
From 5pm UK time tonight, ZimEye begins to hear from complainants of the late Nigerian preacher, TB Joshua. This follows years of investigations by this news network which include the preacher’s own direct hand in stopping a police investigation on his mentee, Walter Magaya’s case involving a Zimbabwe woman, also sexually abused in 2016. The latter was a story investigated by ZimEye as well as the state owned Chronicle paper, which resulted in a successful lawsuit against Magaya who was aided by TB Joshua.
The program will be aired here on the ZimEye news website.
Zimbabwean striker Nyasha Mushekwi scored again for Zhejiang Greetown in their 4-1 demolition of Xinjiang Tianshan in the Chinese League One yesterday.
The big striker converted a first half penalty to thrust his side ahead, taking his tally for the season to eight in just 10 games.
As a result, Greentown are now top of the table in Group A, with 21 points.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
The president of Cameroon Football Association (Fecafoot) Seidou Mbombo Njoya has dismissed reports suggesting that the Afcon 2021 will no longer be held in January next year.
The rumours followed after the draw ceremony for the tournament and the World Cup qualifiers were postponed to later date due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, Njoya cleared the air on the rumours, declaring that the competition will go on as scheduled in Cameroon.
He said on Twitter: “Our country will host the Afcon 2021 in January 2022. Fecafoot is committed to working alongside the Government to produce a football jamboree that will be the first of its kind in Africa as desired by Dr Patrice Motsepe.”
Zimbabwe are among the twenty-three teams that qualified for the competition set for January next year in Cameroon. The other place will be taken up by the winner in the postponed match between Benin or Sierra Leone.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
DIGESTIVE HEALTH 3 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress When You Have IBS Managing stress and anxiety is key to managing your IBS symptoms.
Jordan M. Davidson By Jordan M. Davidson Medically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Last Updated: June 2, 2021 Medically Reviewed
woman meditating and exercising Exercise is a great stress reliever.
If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and you feel an urgent need to go every time your boss pings you, your mother-in-law texts, or your friends change plans at the last minute, it’s time to focus on the stress that could be triggering your symptoms. After all, IBS is a breakdown in the signals the brain sends to the gut and the gut sends back to the brain — and this bodily response can be caused by stress, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).
“Stress increases the hormone cortisol, and it can impact our digestive system,” says Megan Riehl, PsyD, a gastrointestinal psychologist at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.
“People with IBS have trouble down-regulating digestive distress. For example, a person with IBS may feel the digestive process with some gurgling or discomfort and that sets off stress signals and a fear that they will need the bathroom urgently.”
A study published in April 2021 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that participants living with IBS who reported experiencing anxiety and stress were more likely to report more severe symptoms, cycle through more treatments, and say their symptoms negatively impacted their daily life than patients who did not report psychological distress.
“Behavioral treatments for IBS are needed as a complement to medicine to get patients over the finish line,” says Brennan Spiegel, MD a gastroenterologist and the director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “Patients need to develop skills and train their brain to overcome the symptoms of IBS, and that means combating stress.”
So if you’re living with IBS, make sure you’re not neglecting to manage your stress levels, as they can significantly impact your gastrointestinal symptoms. Here are three ways to reduce IBS-related stress.
5 Exercises for IBS Symptom Relief The Ultimate Expert-Approved Diet Plan for a Happier, Less-Stressed You
Get Physical You don’t have to throw down loads of cash at a CrossFit box or jab-jab-cross until you’re sore at a boxing class. Moderate exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and yoga are enough to reduce stress and improve IBS symptoms. A review published in December 2019 in Digestive Diseases and Sciences found that yoga and walking at a brisk pace were equally effective in improving IBS symptoms, and both were more effective than medicine alone.
“Exercise helps boost our endorphins and lower cortisol levels, which means we feel happier and less stressed,” says Dr. Riehl. “That’s when the brain and gut send much more favorable signals to each other.”
The American Psychological Association points out that an exercise habit increases levels of norepinephrine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that helps decrease stress. Exercise also trains the mind to cope with anxiety and panic.
Breathe Deeply Deep breathing is one of Riehl’s go-to techniques when teaching her patients to reduce stress.
“Stress makes for shallow, short breaths,” she says. “When we slow our breathing down, we kick-start the parasympathetic system that calms us down and gives a nice massage to the digestive organs. That reduces spasming and urgency.”
One technique she is particularly fond of is diaphragmatic breathing, which involves slow and deep breathing that affects the brain as well as the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems.
A study published in June 2017 in Frontiers in Psychology divided 40 people into two groups; one control group and one group who received training in diaphragmatic breathing. After eight weeks, the group who received breathing training had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and were less prone to negative emotions.
Gut-Directed Hypnosis Gastrointestinal psychologists have found that gut-directed hypnosis is extremely effective at reducing stress and improving IBS symptoms. In this technique, a trained therapist guides a patient into a focused state of awareness and deep relaxation. Through suggestions and imagery, gut-related hypnosis aims to calm the digestive tract and steer attention away from physical discomfort.
In a study published in the September 2016 issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 72 percent of participants found that their symptoms improved after they followed gut-directed hypnotherapy, and they maintained the improvement for at least six months.
“We need to standardize holistic treatments like gut-directed hypnosis that specifically target the communication of the gut-brain axis,” says Dr. Spiegel.
“When patients have failed everything else, they succeed at this as long as they’re open to trying it,” notes Riehl. “We can develop the skills to stop the brain from perseverating on GI-specific worries. For example, we can start to retrain the mind when someone is always imagining that they will have a bowel accident in public.
“It’s how we identify and think about IBS in our day-to-day life that can make [our symptoms] better or worse,” she adds.-
Credit :Everyday Health
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Below is the unedited appeal report by a concerned relative following a death of a mother of one, Alice Munanairi who passed on, on the 11th May 2021. The deceased is still to be buried as her pastor is refusing with the body (the clergywoman allegedly wants Alice buried in UK not Zimbabwe).
Contacted by ZimEye on Wednesday, her daughter, Tanaka declined commenting saying the matter will be kept confined to the family circle. Before the pastor had replied queries, scores of family members had however resorted to social media over the matter against the pastor, as others approached journalists for coverage.
It is alleged that the pastor is the one advising the daughter to defy her late mother’s wishes to be buried in Zimbabwe.
The daughter, Tanaka would not allow for the pastor to be immediately interviewed over the case, when asked on Wednesday morning.
– This is a developing story.
READERS NOTE: THIS ACCOUNT IS RAW AND UNEDITED
Goodmorning Fellow Citizens.
We have solved so many different issues on this platform and today I am here with a heavy heart because my family in middle of nowhere.
I believe in solving family issues behind closed doors but today semhuri tapererwa,I don’t air my family matters on social media but today I don’t have an option.
On the 11th of May my Aunt Alice Munanairi who was based in the UK was promoted to glory,when we received the news as a family takabatikana tikarwadziwa.Semhuri takagara pasi tikaisa musoro pamwe chete kuti tironge kuti Gogo Alice vauye kuzoradzikwa kuno kuZimbabwe sezvo hama dzavo dzese zhinji dzirikuno.
Gogo Alice vainamata kuchurch inonzi Masowe echishanu UK vakazobuda pakasplitter church vachienda kuchurch yamadzimai Mirriam popularly known as Bishop Mirriam (born Maina Tsoriyo ne Tarugarira).When Gogo Alice was promoted to glory on the 11th of May 2021.Mother Bishop Mirriam Maina Tsoriyo was consequently representing as the next of kin in all correspondences filed at Southend Hospital where gogo Alice was admitted.Gogo Alice had a daughter called Tanaka Mpanduki aged 26 who was absent in her mother’s life ,Tanaka was not aware of her mother’s sickness until the 7th of May 2021 when she was told.Family members here in Zimbabwe were notified on Sunday afternoon the 9th Of May later Alice Munanairi died on the 11 of May.We tried to call but noone managed to hear a word from her.
Mother Bishop Mirriam Maina Tsoriyo and Grace Simbanegavi (Gogo Alice’s Bestfriend) her right hand boldly challenged all family members and said they were burying Gogo Alice kuUK ,and hapana zvatinokwanisa kuvaita ,They also shunned all other family representatives that we had appointed there in the UK,Grace Simbanegavi even wrote a letter insulting everyone in the family from the late’s biological mother Gogo Munanairi and siblings.
Bishop Mirriam Maina Tsoriyo and Grace Simbanegavi are now coercing Tanaka Mpanduki (Alice’s daughter ) to refuse communication with anyone of the family members,So that they bury her mom without the consent of the relatives in Zimbabwe.Back here in Zimbabwe Alice Munanairis mother, Gogo Munanairi is seriously ill and upon receiving the death message and all these issues she is now mentally disturbed.
As a family we have tried to seek justice,but it didn’t work ,I even resorted to Aunty Jenny and Uncle Ged to help me semuzukuru to negotiate but zvakaramba. I spoke to Bishop Mirriam’s Sister but zvakaramba. We are seeking intervention as a family to have Alice body released into the custody of the appointed representatives as per the family agreement. Alice’s bank cards,car,investment pin numbers are with Bishop Mirriam Maina Tsoriyo. She also instructed one of her church members here in Zimbabwe Makhosini Hlongwani to sell Gogo Alice’s properties which was a house here in Zimbabwe 4467-75 close Budiriro 5,the house hasn’t been bought yet.
As a family we want Alice’s body to be repatriated back home ,so that we give a decent burial bcz hatina hama yakambovigwa kunze kwenyika.Gogo Alice had a Nyaradzo SIPS plan and I personally called Nyaradzo because Bishop Mirriam Maina Tsoriyo vairamba neFuneral Police Number . Nyaradzo confirmed the policy is there,Yesterday Tanaka called family members and said I am burying my mother tomorrow on Thursday..We had appointed Rabbie Munanairi ,Alice’s eldest sister to go the UK and sort out the issue only for Tanaka to call her mother’s brother saying ndiri kuviga mhamha mangwana.
I will be going live later in the day with Gogo Munanairi ,Alice’s mother’s and all other family members.
We need help as a family Tibatsireiwo, Alice Munanairi mwana we hanzvadzi yaGogo Ngarande vakabereka baba vangu; And when my dad died she was given gumbeze raamai vemunhu. Hausi hukama hweroad or kubatira zvinhu padenga.
Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens convergence is the key to victory, the MDC Alliance has said.
In a statement, MDC Alliance Namibia emphasizes the need for unity among progessive forces as the Citizens Convergence Programme gathers momentum.
The Citizens Convergence initiative calls for unity among alternative voices in the country.Community leaders are also part of the Citizens Convergence Programme.
See statement below:
The power in the people is superior than people in power: Mdc Alliance Namibia calls for unity, cohesion and loyalty in the fight against poverty.
09 June 2021
Mdc Alliance Namibia reiterates the dire need for Zimbabweans to come together beyond their varied life stations of life to win Zimbabwe for complete change under the #CitizensConvergenceForChange as part of our smart #Agenda2021. As a district, we are inspired by a gripping chronicle of how a fear-frozen society finally topples its long time oppressors with the aid of digital technology specifically social media.
Wael Ghonim was a little-known, infamous , thirty-year-old Google executive in the summer of 2010 when he anonymously launched a Facebook page to protest the death of one Egyptian man at the hands of the thugocratic security forces led by Mubarak. The page’s discipleship boomed instantly and transformed from online protests to a non-confrontational and democratic movement. On 25 January, 2011, Tahrir Square resounded with powerful clarion calls for the complete change of the totalitarian nature of governance. Yet just as the revolution commenced in earnest, Ghonim was captured and held hostage for 12 days of incarceration, torture and all sorts of brutal interrogation.
After he was released , he delivered a tearful melodramatic speech on national televison , and the protests escalated. Four days later, the authoritarian president of the Egypt was gone.
Mubarak was unseated during the tensest time of the revolution- Ghonim has become an iconic figure and a paragon of virtue in the Egyptian revolution. In 2020, those who are sympathetic to the Zimbabwean question also launched the #ZimbabweLivesMatter, a social media movement meant to protest against gross abuse of the basic human rights defenders and political activists especially those who belong to political behemoth (Mdc Alliance).
Ghonim’s astute revolutionary trajectory should inspire all social democrats in Zimbabwe and the Diaspora to claim a fair share of the national cake from Zanupf terrorists and looters who are using state apparatus as springboards for primitive accumulation of our national resources like gold which is being smuggled day and night.
The defeat of Mubarak is a clear reflection of his generation’s unanticipated involvement in their country’s political providence. It is now imperative for long purported, born-free and those who are suspected to be spoiled by Westernised brats, liberal middle class, labour unions, civic organizations, students unions and poverty-stricken peasants in Zimbabwe to converge and accomplish the unfinished business of the liberation struggle.
Moreover, in Social Science and politics , power is the capacity of an individual to influence the actions , beliefs, or conduct (behaviour) of others. The term authority is often used for power that is perceived as legitimate by social structure ,not to be confused with authoritarianism. This background explains the significant role of the downtrodden masses to actively participate in the socio-economic liberation policies of the country.
The people have the power to vote out political leaders in a Constitutional Democracy but what Zimbabweans need is a concerted effort from all right thinking citizens against artificial poverty manifesting in arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances and corruption.
We must converge to win Zimbabwe from a monocratic regime that has dismally failed to revamp the sinking titanic.
Furthermore, Mdc Alliance Namibia urgently and audibly calls for positive interdependence as an effective element of cooperative and collaborative efforts where members of a converged group share common social, political and economic goals concurring that the #CitizensConvergenceForChange is a double-edged sword that is beneficial both to an individual and the society as whole. Our victory against Zanupf shenanigans depends on the active participation of all members in the national democratic discourse. All poor and oppressed Zimbabweans must brace for dangerous freedom against peaceful slavery.
Social democrats should realise that by registering to vote, they will be fulfilling their civic duty to determine who should lead. Citizens must be reminded that defending the vote core formula in winning Zimbabwe for complete change.
In addition to the above political opinions, Social Transformers in Namibia encourage Positive Role Interdependence which obviously imparts a sense of ownership for each group by assigning an interconnected revolutionary role for each individual that is vital in completing the democratic struggle in the motherland.
We advocate for positive identity of democratic revolutionaries who are custodians of unity, intellectual coordination, cohesion , inspiration and loyalty by way of a shared identity in the citizens convergence for complete change through a mutual logo, slogan and name. This People’s Agenda will be led by none other than the astute leadership President Advocate Nelson Chamisa Wamba Dia Wamba.
In a nutshell, united stronger, divided weaker. Lets all brace for the #CitizensConvergenceForChange. #PeoplePower
By Problem Masau| Traditional singer Luckson Chikutu popularly known as Manluckerz says artistes should adopt to the new normal and find ways to survive during these trying times of the pandemic.
Local musicians have not staged outdoor performances to the public in the last year making it difficult for most of them to survive.
Artistes have pleaded with the government to ease the lockdown which had seen gigs being banned.
However, the veteran singer Manluckerz who has been connecting with his fans at home and abroad through digital means said artistes should use their social media handles to stay relevant and in touch with their fans.
The Swedish based artiste said musicians should provide each other with a shoulder to lean on through collaborations.
“It is not easy for us to survive nowadays! As artists, we need to collaborate/cooperate and help one another in this struggle for survival. We should think of giving a way and open the doors for those who cannot get the access or afford to book of live streaming gigs. Artists should spread/share their work during pandemic through Facebook or YouTube,” he said.
While acknowledging that the Coronavirus outbreak has slowed his work a bit, Manluckerz has refused to let the pandemic ground him.
He has been one of the musicians who has constantly quenched fans’ thirsty through live streaming performances on Facebook and you tube.
The musician was the toast of fans on May 29 when he serenaded fans with a gig dubbed “Calming and Relaxing Night with Manluckerz”
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance KwaZulu-Natal District, Branch Treasurer of Pietermaritzburg, Reginald Mutumwa has died.
This was announced by the MDC Alliance Namibia…
See statement below:
08 June 2021
It is with deep sadness that we announce the untimely passing on of our diligent leader Reginald Mutumwa, the Mdc Alliance KwaZulu-Natal District, Branch Treasurer of Pietermaritzburg. Mdc Alliance Namibia expresses its sadness, disappointment and absolute sense of unspeakable loss to the bereaved Mutumwa family, KwaZulu-Natal District and Pietermaritzburg Branch not forgetting Mdc Alliance family as a whole. We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences.
Leader Reginald Mutumwa survived by a wife Rozetta Kawondera and parted with his dearest two children; Gamuchirai and the only beloved son Ryan who are based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Our committed and dedicated leader was an organic and pragmatic member of the national democratic revolution who worked tirelessly to mobilise and recruit social democrats in the district according to the Secretary General of KwaZulu-Natal District, George Mukudu. The man who shared with us this painful loss. The deceased shall be remembered by social democrats for his revolutionary trajectory and participatory democracy.
Mdc Alliance Namibia urges KwaZulu-Natal District and Pietermaritzburg Branch to offer the much needed solidarity to the deceased since there are no other close family around him. We would like to remind each other that solidarity is a core value in Social Democracy. Machinja anerudo must be around the bereaved providing the love and comfort that we learned from our late icon of Constitutional Democracy Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, may his dear soul rest in power.
Rest in power leader Reginald Mutumwa. Zororora murugare cde #ZanupfMustGo
DIGESTIVE HEALTH 3 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress When You Have IBS Managing stress and anxiety is key to managing your IBS symptoms.
Jordan M. Davidson By Jordan M. Davidson Medically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Last Updated: June 2, 2021 Medically Reviewed
woman meditating and exercising Exercise is a great stress reliever.
If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and you feel an urgent need to go every time your boss pings you, your mother-in-law texts, or your friends change plans at the last minute, it’s time to focus on the stress that could be triggering your symptoms. After all, IBS is a breakdown in the signals the brain sends to the gut and the gut sends back to the brain — and this bodily response can be caused by stress, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).
“Stress increases the hormone cortisol, and it can impact our digestive system,” says Megan Riehl, PsyD, a gastrointestinal psychologist at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.
“People with IBS have trouble down-regulating digestive distress. For example, a person with IBS may feel the digestive process with some gurgling or discomfort and that sets off stress signals and a fear that they will need the bathroom urgently.”
A study published in April 2021 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that participants living with IBS who reported experiencing anxiety and stress were more likely to report more severe symptoms, cycle through more treatments, and say their symptoms negatively impacted their daily life than patients who did not report psychological distress.
“Behavioral treatments for IBS are needed as a complement to medicine to get patients over the finish line,” says Brennan Spiegel, MD a gastroenterologist and the director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “Patients need to develop skills and train their brain to overcome the symptoms of IBS, and that means combating stress.”
So if you’re living with IBS, make sure you’re not neglecting to manage your stress levels, as they can significantly impact your gastrointestinal symptoms. Here are three ways to reduce IBS-related stress.
5 Exercises for IBS Symptom Relief The Ultimate Expert-Approved Diet Plan for a Happier, Less-Stressed You
Get Physical You don’t have to throw down loads of cash at a CrossFit box or jab-jab-cross until you’re sore at a boxing class. Moderate exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and yoga are enough to reduce stress and improve IBS symptoms. A review published in December 2019 in Digestive Diseases and Sciences found that yoga and walking at a brisk pace were equally effective in improving IBS symptoms, and both were more effective than medicine alone.
“Exercise helps boost our endorphins and lower cortisol levels, which means we feel happier and less stressed,” says Dr. Riehl. “That’s when the brain and gut send much more favorable signals to each other.”
The American Psychological Association points out that an exercise habit increases levels of norepinephrine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that helps decrease stress. Exercise also trains the mind to cope with anxiety and panic.
Breathe Deeply Deep breathing is one of Riehl’s go-to techniques when teaching her patients to reduce stress.
“Stress makes for shallow, short breaths,” she says. “When we slow our breathing down, we kick-start the parasympathetic system that calms us down and gives a nice massage to the digestive organs. That reduces spasming and urgency.”
One technique she is particularly fond of is diaphragmatic breathing, which involves slow and deep breathing that affects the brain as well as the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems.
A study published in June 2017 in Frontiers in Psychology divided 40 people into two groups; one control group and one group who received training in diaphragmatic breathing. After eight weeks, the group who received breathing training had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and were less prone to negative emotions.
Gut-Directed Hypnosis Gastrointestinal psychologists have found that gut-directed hypnosis is extremely effective at reducing stress and improving IBS symptoms. In this technique, a trained therapist guides a patient into a focused state of awareness and deep relaxation. Through suggestions and imagery, gut-related hypnosis aims to calm the digestive tract and steer attention away from physical discomfort.
In a study published in the September 2016 issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 72 percent of participants found that their symptoms improved after they followed gut-directed hypnotherapy, and they maintained the improvement for at least six months.
“We need to standardize holistic treatments like gut-directed hypnosis that specifically target the communication of the gut-brain axis,” says Dr. Spiegel.
“When patients have failed everything else, they succeed at this as long as they’re open to trying it,” notes Riehl. “We can develop the skills to stop the brain from perseverating on GI-specific worries. For example, we can start to retrain the mind when someone is always imagining that they will have a bowel accident in public.
“It’s how we identify and think about IBS in our day-to-day life that can make [our symptoms] better or worse,” she adds.-
Credit :Everyday Health
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens convergence is the key to victory, the MDC Alliance has said.
In a statement, MDC Alliance Namibia emphasizes the need for unity among progessive forces as the Citizens Convergence Programme gathers momentum.
The Citizens Convergence initiative calls for unity among alternative voices in the country.Community leaders are also part of the Citizens Convergence Programme.
See statement below:
The power in the people is superior than people in power: Mdc Alliance Namibia calls for unity, cohesion and loyalty in the fight against poverty.
09 June 2021
Mdc Alliance Namibia reiterates the dire need for Zimbabweans to come together beyond their varied life stations of life to win Zimbabwe for complete change under the #CitizensConvergenceForChange as part of our smart #Agenda2021. As a district, we are inspired by a gripping chronicle of how a fear-frozen society finally topples its long time oppressors with the aid of digital technology specifically social media.
Wael Ghonim was a little-known, infamous , thirty-year-old Google executive in the summer of 2010 when he anonymously launched a Facebook page to protest the death of one Egyptian man at the hands of the thugocratic security forces led by Mubarak. The page’s discipleship boomed instantly and transformed from online protests to a non-confrontational and democratic movement. On 25 January, 2011, Tahrir Square resounded with powerful clarion calls for the complete change of the totalitarian nature of governance. Yet just as the revolution commenced in earnest, Ghonim was captured and held hostage for 12 days of incarceration, torture and all sorts of brutal interrogation.
After he was released , he delivered a tearful melodramatic speech on national televison , and the protests escalated. Four days later, the authoritarian president of the Egypt was gone.
Mubarak was unseated during the tensest time of the revolution- Ghonim has become an iconic figure and a paragon of virtue in the Egyptian revolution. In 2020, those who are sympathetic to the Zimbabwean question also launched the #ZimbabweLivesMatter, a social media movement meant to protest against gross abuse of the basic human rights defenders and political activists especially those who belong to political behemoth (Mdc Alliance).
Ghonim’s astute revolutionary trajectory should inspire all social democrats in Zimbabwe and the Diaspora to claim a fair share of the national cake from Zanupf terrorists and looters who are using state apparatus as springboards for primitive accumulation of our national resources like gold which is being smuggled day and night.
The defeat of Mubarak is a clear reflection of his generation’s unanticipated involvement in their country’s political providence. It is now imperative for long purported, born-free and those who are suspected to be spoiled by Westernised brats, liberal middle class, labour unions, civic organizations, students unions and poverty-stricken peasants in Zimbabwe to converge and accomplish the unfinished business of the liberation struggle.
Moreover, in Social Science and politics , power is the capacity of an individual to influence the actions , beliefs, or conduct (behaviour) of others. The term authority is often used for power that is perceived as legitimate by social structure ,not to be confused with authoritarianism. This background explains the significant role of the downtrodden masses to actively participate in the socio-economic liberation policies of the country.
The people have the power to vote out political leaders in a Constitutional Democracy but what Zimbabweans need is a concerted effort from all right thinking citizens against artificial poverty manifesting in arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances and corruption.
We must converge to win Zimbabwe from a monocratic regime that has dismally failed to revamp the sinking titanic.
Furthermore, Mdc Alliance Namibia urgently and audibly calls for positive interdependence as an effective element of cooperative and collaborative efforts where members of a converged group share common social, political and economic goals concurring that the #CitizensConvergenceForChange is a double-edged sword that is beneficial both to an individual and the society as whole. Our victory against Zanupf shenanigans depends on the active participation of all members in the national democratic discourse. All poor and oppressed Zimbabweans must brace for dangerous freedom against peaceful slavery.
Social democrats should realise that by registering to vote, they will be fulfilling their civic duty to determine who should lead. Citizens must be reminded that defending the vote core formula in winning Zimbabwe for complete change.
In addition to the above political opinions, Social Transformers in Namibia encourage Positive Role Interdependence which obviously imparts a sense of ownership for each group by assigning an interconnected revolutionary role for each individual that is vital in completing the democratic struggle in the motherland.
We advocate for positive identity of democratic revolutionaries who are custodians of unity, intellectual coordination, cohesion , inspiration and loyalty by way of a shared identity in the citizens convergence for complete change through a mutual logo, slogan and name. This People’s Agenda will be led by none other than the astute leadership President Advocate Nelson Chamisa Wamba Dia Wamba.
In a nutshell, united stronger, divided weaker. Lets all brace for the #CitizensConvergenceForChange. #PeoplePower
The MDC ALLIANCE Mashonaland East Province noted in a newspaper article dated 06 June 2021 where the Minister of Finance who totally does fit to be a public servant, he is claiming that Zimbabwe has a surplus budget of $9.8 billion and the government has continued efforts in ensuring stabilityand the restoration of market confidence, at a time if not all most civil servants are earning peanuts and low standards of living have been normalised.
Prices of basic commodities and services are beyond the reach of ordinary the majority. And Zimbabwe as a country is relying on handouts on everything imagine a whole president celebrating donations from the USA, UK and other nations on the cyclone idai which they behind the doors looted up today we still have victims of cyclone idai the rightful receptions of the celebrated donations are still living in sharks, covid 19 vaccines we are relying on donations too, we have been reduced to nothing a country whose 90% population is between the jobs, roads and hospitals have become death traps, schools turned into brothels then a ZANU PF appointee claims that r such an insane budget surplus has been recorded, inflation has been arrested.
It stipulates the level of dishonestness this man called Mtuli Ncube is,just as his party ZANU PF is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg. The same party that can not account for billions of dollars, the party that recently left jobless throughout the country.
At least Zimbabweans can see for themselves how evil and shameless ZANU PF leaders are worse more Mnangagwa. That’s why we as a party, we are urging people to register and vote for a people centred government in waiting, the MDC Alliance, come 2023 everyone must be counted.
Let us all speak with one voice against poverty,corruption,looting,slave wages, poor service delivery, selective application of the law, monopolistic evictions and ban on private commuters through deranged statutory instruments.
The police’s reluctance to arrest Zanu PF affiliated perpetrators of crime and human rights violations continued with one of the major cases being that of the assault of an MDC Alliance supporter by Zanu PF activists at Jairos Jiri Shopping Centre in Rimuka, Kadoma.
Zanu PF activists assaulted the victim because he had allegedly commented about the country’s economic meltdown.
The victim, who suffered a damaged ear drum during the assault, made a report to the police, but no arrests were made.
In addition to using harassment, intimidation and threats, suspected Zanu PF activists have also employed more brute methods and this month, an MDC Alliance Secretary in Mashonaland West, Tawanda Bvuma escaped an abduction attempt after two offroad vehicles blocked his car and he had to flee on foot.
The assailants are believed to be state agents working with the ruling Zanu PF to intimidate opposition activists ahead of the 2023 elections. Bvuma is one of the opposition activists from Banket who were abducted in October 2008 and spent weeks incommunicado detention before being handed to the police in December 2008.
In essence, two years before the election, the human rights violations are already escalating and this only proves that once again, the gun is in charge.
This month, we also focus on the social inequalities in the education sector and the general social gaps that have resulted in young people engaging in crime and drugs.
These inequalities and the resultant crime, drug abuse and problems in the education sector are on their own a human rights issue as they are a direct product of the government’s inability to honour its socio economic obligations.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition notes with great concern the continued clampdown on livelihoods by the government.
Since June 7, 2021, the government has roped in the security services as part of an operation to destroy structures built by informal traders who are seeking to eke a living in a failed economy.
The operation has targeted the Harare Metropolitan province.
The operation is reminiscent of ‘Operation Murambatsvina’ of 2005 which was condemned by the United Nations. As a result of ‘Operation Murambatsvina’, an estimated 700 000 people were forcefully evicted from their homes and lost their livelihoods.
Zimbabwe’s economy is highly informalized (with an unemployment rate of over 90 percent) and factors leading to the continued free fall of the economy include failure to instill investor confidence, a legitimacy crisis on the part of the ruling party, Zanu PF, corruption, plunder of national resources by the political elite and illicit financial outflows among other vices.
It is unfortunate that the government would seek to clampdown on informal traders at a time they have apparently failed to revive the economy.
The Harare Provincial Development Coordinator, Tafadzwa Muguti has applauded the security services for ‘a successful operation’ in Harare Metropolitan province following the destruction of structures built by informal traders.
It is our firm view that the continued clampdown on livelihoods amounts to a serious crime against humanity.
Instead of formalizing informal trading, the government has chosen to clampdown on livelihoods at a time the majority of Zimbabweans are relying on informal trading for a living.
We call upon the government to prioritize the welfare of citizens and desist from clamping down on livelihoods.
Informal trading should not be seen as an act of defiance but rather, an act of desperation following the failure by the government to create employment opportunities for the jobless.
It is quite clear that the move to clampdown on livelihoods, as was the case with ‘Operation Murambatsvina’ is punishment to the urban electorate who have often voted against the ruling party in elections
When the government uses demolitions as a tool to punish the electorate, calls for the electorate to act likewise are justified.
We urge citizens to remain resolute in light of the insensitive nature of the government and we also applaud residents’ associations who have stood up against the clampdown on livelihoods in urban areas.
We also condemn in the strongest of terms, threats issued by the Harare Provincial Development Coordinator, Tafadzwa Muguti against residents’ associations resisting the demolitions.
Selmor Mtukudzi’s social media posts at the weekend about the hardships faced by artists have rattled the ruling ZANU PF party.
Selmor, the heiress to the Tuku Music legacy, expressed her displeasure with the government’s apparent lack of care for struggling artists during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Selmor took to Twitter to express concern over Zimbabwean authorities’ silence while artistes are languishing in poverty.
The post came after her live shows dubbed Remembering Tuku held on May 29 and 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in honour of her late father and national hero, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi. Selmor wrote:
This is the first time in the years I have been performing outside Zimbabwe that I have felt sad to be coming back home.
Please Mr President ED Mnangagwa, don’t let us artistes be destitute in our own land.
Let’s copy what South Africa is doing and allow us to work for our families.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the showbiz sector has remained closed, throwing most artists into abject poverty.
In a bid to stave off poverty, a number of local artistes have been flocking to South Africa for live performances.
ZANU PF director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi felt Selmor was being disrespectful to Mnangagwa. He said:
We have taken note of concerns by music artistes who have registered their plea for a waiver in the arts sector to ensure they are cushioned in these COVID-19 measures. We will be engaging leaders about the issue of a waiver.
However, we opine that our colleagues in the arts sector must learn to engage with authorities and express themselves respectfully rather than through insults.
Football authorities set an example and signed themselves to strict conditions in light of this pandemic. Now they are on.
Hazvidi kutukana kusina maturo (we should not needlessly insult each other). This is a new dispensation.
The Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe recently met with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire and deliberated on issues affecting them and the sector at large in the COVID-19 environment.
After the meeting, Machakaire gave assurances that he would forward their proposals to the relevant authorities, but is yet to give feedback.- NewsDay
TERRENCE Manjengwa, an acquaintance of Zengeza West legislator Hon. Job Sikhala is having the proverbial “last laugh” after two Harare Magistrates recently set him free by removing him from remand on charges of disorderly conduct and dealing or possession of prohibited knives.
Manjengwa and Tanyaradzwa Ziwaira, who were represented by Webster Jiti of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), were arrested on 24 August 2020 at Harare Magistrates Court and charged with disorderly conduct as defined in section 41(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act while attending the court session for Hon Sikhala and were accused of singing a protest song denouncing the incarceration of the opposition party legislator.
In court, prosecutors claimed that Manjengwa and Ziwaira acted unlawfully by singing a song with the lyrics “siyanai naye Sikhala munomuvengerei” which if translated literally means “leave Sikhala alone” and uttering the words “Sikhala ngaabube” which if translated literally means “free Job Sikhala now”.
However, Harare Magistrate Tendai Muchini recently removed the two from remand after the State failed to avail witnesses for trial to commence.
Manjengwa has also been removed from remand on charges of dealing or possession of prohibited knives as defined in section 39 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors had claimed that he had been searched on 24 August 2020 while at Harare Magistrates Court and found in possession of a knife.
But Harare Magistrate Charity Maunga set him free after a State witness, who is a police officer failed appear in court to testify against Manjengwa.
Recently, Harare Magistrate Barbara Mateko exonerated Manjengwa, Blessed Changara and Barnabas Gura, who are also acquaintances of Hon. Sikhala by quashing charges of breaching national lockdown regulations pressed against them last year.
Manjengwa, Changara and Gura, who all reside in Harare were arrested on 3 September 2020 outside Harare Magistrates Court while following proceedings for Hon. Sikhala, who had been arrested and detained on charges of inciting public violence by urging people to participate during the 31 July 2020 protests.
The trio was charged with unnecessary movement during the national lockdown as defined in section 4(1)(a) of the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order Statutory Instrument 77/2020.
But on Wednesday 2 June 2021, Magistrate Mateko upheld the trio’s application for exception and quashed the charge of violating national lockdown regulations.
Manjengwa, Changara and Gura, who are represented by Kossam Ncube of ZLHR, return to court on Friday 25 June 2021, where their trial on charges of possession of offensive weapons at a public gathering as defined in section 43(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act emanating from their arrest on 3 September 2020 is scheduled to commence.
By A Correspondent- A Guruve man is on the run after poisoning his girlfriend’s well and bucket of maize-meal after she greeted her ex-boyfriend.
Seven family members – five minors and two adults- ate the meal prepared by the poisoned mealie-meal and fortunately, survived.
Mashonaland Central Province police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Ndliwayo confirmed the incident, which happened in Ng’andu village under Chief Bepura in Guruve.
The complainant is Ms Nyarai Simbadaka (31) of Makumbe village in Guruve and the accused is her boyfriend, Tawanda Kupara.
Asst Insp Ndliwayo said on May 28 at around 7am, the couple was at Simbadaka’s homestead when her ex-boyfriend passed-by and she greeted him.
“This did not go down well with Kupara who threatened to kill his girlfriend. He went away and returned at around 5pm holding temic poison which he threatened to use to kill the complainant within three days,” said Ass Insp Ndliwayo.
“The following day at around 6am, one of complainant’s family members, Fungai Zhakata went to fetch water in a shallow well and she smelled poison. She alerted Simbadaka, who emptied the well.
“On May 30, she went to sell sugarcane at Chigonera village leaving her homestead unattended. When she returned, she saw locks broken but nothing was stolen and she did not take it seriously. She prepared sadza and vegetables which she ate with all her family members.
“They vomited afterwards and experienced severe stomach pain. They discovered granules of rat poison in the bucket of mealie-meal and they went to Nyamhondoro Clinic.”
A report was then made to the police and the 10kg mealie-meal with suspected rat poison was taken to the police.
Asst Insp Ndliwayo said the police failed to locate Kupara and they are appealing to anyone with information that can lead to his arrest to come forward.
“As police we strongly condemn the barbaric behaviour shown by the accused. Killing people is not the solution to problems; we encourage people to dialogue peacefully,” he said.
By A Correspondent- 72 year old *Gratious Bhema* fainted when she was told that her 14 year old grand daughter was pregnant.
The minor was in her custody.
Making matters worse was that her son’s daughter had been raped by her daughter’s 23 year old son.
She did not know what to do when she woke up hours later. Thanks to technology, she shared her woes on the family whatsapp group and within minutes, there were over a 100 replies.
The development divided the family.
The perpetrator was family and so was the victim
While others called for an urgent family meeting to map the way forward, others urged those on the ground to urgently make a police report as the matter was no longer within the family’s jurisdiction..
Hours of deliberations translated into days but still there was no consensus on the way forward.
A police report was made by a few of the relatives without the knowledge of the rest of the family and the matter is yet to be heard at Rusape magistrates court.
Delayed Justice
Such is the dilemma that violated minors face at the hands of their guardians where social norms and values hinder and delay justice.
The minor’s rape case is not only a breach of the basic fundamental rights of the child, but failure for those responsible for her welfare to report such cases to the police are perpetrating the abuse and lack of justice.
Under Zimbabwean law, if a girl or boy is below 16 consents to engage in the sexual act, the other person is still guilty of the separate crime of statutory rape and it is no defence to this offence that the girl or boy consented.
The maximum sentence for statutory rape is imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Under traditional and customary law, a sexual relationship between close relatives is also punishable as it falls into the category of incest.
Article 34 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child confirm that the government should protect children from sexual exploitation (being taken advantage of) and sexual abuse, including by people forcing children to have sex for money, or making sexual pictures or films of them.
It states that “all children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what language they speak, what their religion is, what they think or what they look like.”
It says the rights also exist regardless of their gender, disability, rich or poor, and no matter who their parents or families are or what their parents or families believe or do.
The Convention states that “no child should be treated unfairly for any reason and it recognises that parents are the main people responsible for bringing up a child.
“When the child does not have any parents, another adult will have this responsibility and they are called a “guardian”.
However, parents and guardians should always consider what is best for that child with the assistance of the governments.
Speak Out When Rape Happens
Addressing delegates at the International Women’s Day commemorations event in Bindura, the Women’s Action Group (WAG) Executive Director, Edinah Masiyiwa is on record saying women and girls who fall pregnant after rape have a right to access safe abortion services as well as post abortal services from health institutions.
“Children should be allowed to be children, let them grow up and pursue their dreams. Looking at Sexual Gender Based Violence, minor girls and women are being raped and we are not saying anything about it. Let’s speak up and speak out when rape happens.
“Looking at Zimbabwe’s Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP), it allows termination of pregnancy if the pregnancy is as a result of rape. We are encouraging women and girls to go to health facilities and get assistance in the event that they are sexually abused because it is allowed by law.”
Social commentator Grace Dziva adds that the girl child must be protected at all costs and families must ensure that their best interests come first.
“There is need to do away with harmful cultural practices that deprive the girl child their basic fundamental rights because child sexual abuse has completely devastating effects.
Victims often feel significant distress and display a wide range of psychological symptoms, both short- and long-term some of which include feelings of powerlessness, shame, and distrust.”
She added that abuse may disrupt victims’ development and can result in HIV infection and other medical problems.
Health Risks
Gynaecologists note that when young girls are impregnated, they are prone to health risks arising from early pregnancy.
The World Health Organisation reported that approximately 12 million girls aged 15–19 years and at least 777,000 girls under 15 years give birth each year in developing regions while at least 10 million unintended pregnancies occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years in the developing world.
Says the WHO:
“Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for 15–19-year-old girls globally.
Of the estimated 5.6 million abortions that occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years, 3.9 million are unsafe, contributing to maternal mortality, morbidity and lasting health problems.
Adolescent mothers (ages 10–19 years) face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis, and systemic infections than women aged 20 to 24 years, and babies of adolescent mothers face higher risks of low birth weight, preterm delivery and severe neonatal conditions.”
Eclampsia refers to a serious condition where high blood pressure results in seizures or coma in a pregnant woman with preeclampsia. These seizures are not related to an existing brain condition.
Seizures are periods of disturbed brain activity that can cause episodes of staring, decreased alertness, and convulsions (violent shaking).
By A Correspondent- Underfire Chief Justice (CJ) Luke Malaba has reportedly ordered an investigation into circumstances leading to a private meeting between Judicial Service Commission (JSC) head of secretariat Walter Chikwana and Supreme Court judge, Justice Webster Chinamhora ahead of a hearing that could impact his stay at the apex of the Judiciary.
Justice Chinamhora recused himself from the three-judge panel before it heard an application seeking the arrest of Malaba for defying a High Court ruling that he was no longer CJ.
Critics say the meeting between Justice Chinamhora and Chikwana was meant to put pressure on the judges ahead of the hearing, potentially compromising the judges.
Defence lawyers felt that his recusal compromised Malaba’s case. The remaining two Justices Amy Tsanga and Sylvia ChirawuMugomba heard the case and reserved judgment to this week.
Top human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa on Monday demanded a probe into Chikwana’s conduct, but in response Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza indicated that Malaba had already ordered a similar probe.
“Thank you for the letter of June 4, 2021, concerning the above-captioned matter and whose contents have been noted. Kindly note, however, that the letter erroneously refers to me as “The chairperson – Acting Chief Justice,” Gwaunza wrote in part.
“On the instructions of the honourable Chief Justice L Malaba, please be advised that the JSC has commenced investigations into the matter concerning the meeting you referred to, as well as the concerned judges’ recusal from the case in question. This is being done in accordance with the relevant regulations and procedures. Kindly also note that the issue of the JSC secretary Mr Chikwana, deposing to affidavits on behalf of the JSC in various litigation, is currently the subject of an appeal before the Supreme Court.”
In her letter on Monday, Mtetwa said the allegations that Chikwana met Chinamhora prior to the court sitting raised questions about the independence of the Judiciary.
By A Correspondent- A 45 year old Bindura man was trapped to death in a 15 metre deep mine shaft while illegally prospecting for gold on Saturday.
Mashonaland Central Police Spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe told a local publication that Bigboy Vengesai of Makusha area died on the spot at Kitsi Yatota.
“He was panning for gold in a shaft which is approximately 15m deep when a massive lump of soil fell on him.
Other illegal panners escaped unhurt and Pachanewe Mwiwe (49) the deceased’s wife made a report at Bindura Central,” he said.
Members of the public are urged to respect the country’s laws and formalise their mining operations in order to work in safe environments.
By A Correspondent- Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has been placed on special leave to enable him “to attend to allegations and investigations concerning contracts between the Department of Health and a service provider, Digital Vibes”, the Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday.
Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane will act in his place, according to the statement.
Mkhize told journalists, a short while earlier, that he had discussed with President Cyril Ramaphosa the possibility of taking special leave, but added that resignation was not on the table.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is currently investigating the R150 million contract, which an internal probe in the department found was irregularly awarded.
Digital Vibes is run by two of Mkhize’s close associates – and the Daily Maverick reported that the company had made payments for repairs to a house owned by a trust in Mkhize’s name.
There was also a cash payment from Digital Vibes to his son, Dedani, as well as a car bought in his name.
Mkhize said work had started to recover R37 million of that money, which was found to have been fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Mkhize also apologised, saying “it has affected me, and my family, and tainted the teamwork of our government led by the president” on the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although he said he had received legal advice not to talk about the details of the matter – and therefore did not attend a meeting of Parliament’s portfolio committee on health on Friday – he is set to appear before the ANC’s integrity commission soon.
Commission head George Mashamba confirmed he had received a letter from Mkhize, in which he requested an audience with the commission, which meets every Saturday.
ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte said the party’s national working committee, at its meeting on Monday, “welcomed” Mkhize’s decision to present himself to the integrity commission.
The party resolved at its 2017 conference at Nasrec that leaders, who are under a cloud, should subject themselves to the commission.
Social media users have reacted to a report of a Pretoria woman who allegedly gave birth to 10 children, offering to throw a “national baby shower”.
The Pretoria News reported on Tuesday that Gosiame Thamara Sithole gave birth to the children at an unnamed Pretoria hospital, breaking a world record.
The publication claimed it interviewed the couple at their Tembisa home last month, but delayed publishing the interview “at the request of the couple for safety and cultural reasons”.
“It is seven boys and three girls. She was seven months and seven days preg_nant. I am happy. I am emotional. I can’t talk much. Let’s talk again in the morning please,” the woman’s husband, Teboho Tsotetsi, was quoted as saying.
However the director-general of government communications Phumla Williams said government could not verify the report
“The posts attribute the birth of the babies to Gosiame Thamara Sithole from Gauteng. Government has been unable to verify the authenticity of this birth at our facilities. We need to verify this story and provide assistance where needed,” said Williams.
Social media was in a celebratory mood and flooded Twitter with ideas for a “national baby shower” to provide support for the couple.
After Lucky Star offered the couple a year’s supply of pilchards, social media users called on other brands to also help.
Here’s a years supply of @LuckyStarSA Pilchards to help bring some omega power into your growing family. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/r06wtWdiS6 — Lucky Star (@LuckyStarSA) June 8, 2021
By A Correspondent- Tempers flared yesterday during the Independent Complaints Commission Bill public consultations in Bulawayo after residents accused the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs chairperson retired Brigadier-General Levy Mayihlome of intimidating participants.
The commotion resulted in the premature ending of the consultations.
Mayihlome lamented failure by participants to co-operate, adding that he had no choice except to end the meeting.
“It does not help us to be making noise, we just want to have a meeting and go to other places to talk to those who want to listen to us,” he said much to the displeasure of the participants.
One of the participants shouted that soldiers, in reference to Mayihlome, should be barred from conducting the consultations.
“Soldiers and brigadiers should be barred from these committees. The way they conduct and run these meetings is military-like and is meant to intimidate us,” said the unidentified participant.
“How do we even feel safe to report to these committees? They should not be allowed in these seating’s,” he said.
Earlier on, when asked why parliamentarians had no sign language interpreters, Mayihlome said they did not have such people and he was not the owner of Parliament, prompting a barrage of attacks from the floor.
Another participant, who only identified herself as Busi, said they were not comfortable seeing soldiers roaming the streets in the city as if there is a war.
“Soldiers should not be seen in public places. We grew up not seeing them and it should be like that,” she said.
“We no longer feel safe in our country, we are now foreigners. Parliament should also not be a place to retire for soldiers.
“We are tired of seeing 80-yearolds, retired people falling sleep in Parliament,” she said.
Social Justice Ambassador Yollanda Millin said President Emmerson Mnangagwa should not be given power to interfere with commissions.
“The Act shall be administered by the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa ) unless he assigns a minister, he shall appoint a chairperson.
“The President shall appoint two people in a given list, meaning the President is being given so much power,” said Millin.
“If it is an independent commission, let it be independent. Let it be something for the people, by the people. If you look at the clemency order of 2 000, clemency order of 2008, these allowed the President to pardon as per the Constitution, but he pardoned perpetrators of gross human rights violations.”
She said these violators were mostly members of the security services.
“We are talking of murder, torture, and gross inhuman violation of rights which were a direct violation of the Constitution.
“Let the independent commission be independent. Let us not treat it at par with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc). Zacc can be appointed by the President because it has nothing to do with independence,” said Millin.
Another participant Tatenda Gumbura said the commission should ensure that there is gender equality in every way possible.
Elliot Kupfuma said the Bill should be presented in the 16 official languages. Residents said the commission should be given powers to arrest perpetrators and that the Bill should be able to deal with crimes dating back to the Chimurenga and Gukurahundi eras.
By Nomusa Garikai- Two MDC activists, Tungamirai Madzokere and Last Maengahama, have just been freed after spending eight years in prison on a murder charge of a Police Officer. The two were not saving a jail sentence because they were never convicted of the crime, at least not of the murder.
In Zimbabwe, being a political activist opposed to the Zanu PF regime is a serious crime for which many have been charged and punished and even summarily executed! This case was one such case.
“They beat him up to such an extent that they fractured a bone on his arm,” argued Beatrice Mtetwa, a human rights lawyer. When the Police arrest Madzokere they assaulted him and broke his wrist – assault a common occurrence.
“The court ordered that there be an investigation on that, but we all know that nothing came out of those investigations. We know that not even a single sentence was written by the trial judge to deal with that.
“The time that these political activists spent in custody is a time that was unnecessary.
“The trial judge refused them bail on the basis that they had a strong case as the state had eye-witnesses, but during trial, the eyewitnesses disappeared and the Inspector who had been claiming that they had eye-witnesses started talking about informers who had no names, no identities and were never called.
“So, it’s obvious that there never were any eye-witnesses in the first instance.”
She had her crosswire on the individual Police Officer whom she wanted to be sued in their own individual capacity.
“Why should he (Police Officer) not be personally liable for lying in court for whatever personal reasons if he was put up to it, let him then go and claim those damages from those other people…”
Eight years in jail for a crime you never committed!
The real reason the two MDC activists were locked up is because they had dared to exercise their right to think freely and to demand a meaningful say in the governance of the country. As far as Zanu PF is concerned anyone who does that is a Ventriloquist Dummy vocalising the regime change agenda of their foreign masters. They are guilty of high treason and of all trumped up charges brought up against them to facilitate the arrest and punishment!
Political activists and critics of the Zanu PF regime are criminals, period. The Zanu PF ruling elite are the highest court in the land and their judgement is final; there is no appeal!
Former Police Commissioner, Augustine Chihuru’s PhD thesis was on the challenges of policing in a country awash with regime change criminals. His orders to his men and women were clear, they must harass, beat and even kill these regime change puppets at every turn.
Suing the individual Police Officer for what we all acknowledge is institutionalised rot in the Police, judiciary and in every facet of Zimbabwe society is better than doing nothing, I would readily admit that. Will it change anything? Not really, particularly when the captured judiciary will kick most of such lawsuits into the prickly pear thicket to rot.
Suing the individual Police Officer will make as much difference as a child emptying the sea into the pit scooped in the sand! The solution to Zanu PF misrule is simple but not that simple!
There have been many, many golden opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship and we, the people of Zimbabwe, have wasted them. One such golden opportunity was during the 2008 to 2013 GNU when MDC leaders had the opportunity to implement the democratic reforms that would have freed the Police to do their work without fear or favour. Of course, MDC leaders sold-out but where was civic society in all this? Why did we all say nothing?
I think suing the individual MDC leaders for selling out during GNU on the court of public opinion would go a long way to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. For one thing, it will shed the light on what the GNU was about and, most important of all, why Zimbabweans must stop following these corrupt, incompetent and sell-out MDC leaders blindly like sheep to the slaughter!
Right now, the country is being stampeded into yet another utterly pointless 2023 elections. It is a well-documented fact that Zanu PF rigged the 2018 elections and that by participating Zimbabweans gave the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy. Nothing, absolutely nothing, has been done to stop Zanu PF rigging the coming elections. And the corrupt, incompetent and sell-out opposition opportunists are the ones leading the stampede on the false promise they will win the rigged elections!
One feels sorry for the ordinary people who are helpless to put an end to this madness of rigged elections. The rural voters especially have been reduced into nothing short of medieval serfs beholden to the overbearing Zanu PF thugs, they will be corralled to attend party rallies, to vote and thus once again give legitimacy to the vote rigging Zanu PF.
Zanu PF has already rigged the 2023 elections. The party has, once again, denied the 3 million or so Zimbabweans in the diaspora the vote for example. 5 million voted in the July 2018 elections. How can an election in which 3 out of 8 are summarily denied the vote be anything but a farce! Why are we, as a society, tolerating such nonsense?
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown and political paralysis; we are stuck with a corrupt, incompetent and murderous ruling party and an equally corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless opposition as the alternative; is decades of bad governance.
Bad governance is, per se, a man-made problem and therefore within our power as the citizens to solve. So far Zimbabweans have been as helpless as child in stopping the rot in our country. All they need is to be educated on what their rights are and how to hold those in positions of power and authority to account.
Suing the individual Police Officer for zealous lawlessness will not empty the sea of Zanu PF injustice. Sue the regime for denying 3 million Zimbabweans the vote, for failing to produce a verified voters’ roll, etc., etc. and you will end the curse of rigged elections and deliver a sea change of freedom, justice and hope in Zimbabwe!
By A Correspondent- Trade unions yesterday blasted the move by Harare and Chitungwiza councils to demolish structures used by informal traders to sell their wares, saying it was going to severely affect their livelihoods.
Zimbabwe has been adjudged to be operating a 65% informal economy, with women constituting the bigger number of informal traders.
On Monday, the Harare City Council and Chitungwiza Council in a joint operation with the Zimbabwe Republic Police razed down informal traders’ structures saying they were disturbing flow of traffic.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Japhet Moyo (pictured) said his union was against the demolitions.
“At the moment we are in discussions with the government on strategies to formalise the informal economy. Government should have allowed this process to be completed so that we turn this informality into real small business enterprises,” he said.
Moyo added that even if they were viewed as illegal structures, it was important for authorities to note that they were responsible for their existence due to failure to run the economy.
“Government through the Small-to-Medium Enterprises ministry promotes this informal economy and encourages lawlessness when they want votes and once they have the votes they no longer want the same constituency. There are many causes of informality besides political patronage.”
Moyo said the majority of citizens in the country were surviving through informal trade, adding that government should have courted partners to assist the informal traders with proper structures.
“The International Labour Organisation has contracted a consultant to work with social partners on strategies to formalise the informal economy. Most countries in the world with poor economic planning policies have similar illegal settlements and these are not in urban areas only, these so-called illegal activities are found in mining, farming and the entire country is dominated by so many unco-ordinated economic activities.”
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy secretary-general Wisborn Malaya said: “The council should have set up legal structures first before resorting to demolitions. Most people resort to vending because there are no jobs in the industry and they use the money they get from vending to pay council skills.
By A Correspondent- The disputed Zanu-PF district coordinating committee (DCC) election held in Gwanda last year have divided the party ahead of the 2023 elections.
In December last year, Gwanda South legislator Abednico Ncube called for a re-run of the disputed DCC polls after several ruling party members failed to vote in the internal polls due to logistical challenges.
Ncube, who is also a Zanu-PF politburo member, argued that the outcome of the DCC elections were not a true reflection of the wishes of party members in Gwanda.
Six months after the election, Southern Eye is reliably informed that factionalism is rearing its ugly head and has disabled mobilisation of voters ahead of the 2023 elections.
Zanu-PF won all the 13 legislative seats in the province during the 2018 elections.
“Feuding factions have been pulling in different directions since the DCC polls. At the same time, there is spirited effort by some people in the DCC to undermine those that won in the December DCC polls; undermining even legislators in their constituencies,” a party insider told Southern Eye.
However, Omphile Marupi, the Gwanda Zanu-PF DCC spokesperson brushed aside the factionalism claims.
“The claims are not a true reflection of the whole Zanu-PF Gwanda district. Those making factionalism claims are out to achieve something. They are misinformed,” Marupi said.
In the 2018 Zanu-PF primary election, Marupi defeated Ncube.
However, his victory was reversed in favour of Ncube, who went on to represent Zanu-PF in Gwanda South.
Chaos then rocked Zanu-PF’s DCC elections countrywide as contestants accused each other of rigging. The DCCs were disbanded in 2012 but were resuscitated last year as a means to consolidate structures and boost the party’s support base.
New York Times Zimbabwean correspondent, Jeffrey Moyo, was denied bail on the basis that he “poses a flight risk and is a threat to national security”.
He is back at the High Court tomorrow for his bail appeal.
Moyo who has been in jail since his arrest was remanded in custody to 10 June at Bulawayo Prison.
Zimbabwe authorities should not contest journalist Jeffrey Moyo’s appeal of a recent ruling denying him bail and should drop the criminal case against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Doug Coltart, the journalist’s lawyer, told CPJ that Magistrate Rachel Mukanga agreed with prosecutors that Moyo was a flight risk, and “threat to national security” and that the country’s “sovereignty was undermined because foreign journalists interviewed Zimbabweans.”
Authorities arrested Moyo in the capital, Harare, on May 26 and charged him with violating Section 36 of Zimbabwe’s Immigration Act by allegedly helping two New York Times journalists, Christina Goldbaum and Joao Silva, obtain false media accreditations.
If convicted, Moyo could face up to 10 years in jail, according to those reports.
Coltart said Moyo’s defense team planned to appeal to the High Court in Harare. said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, in New York.
Angela Quintal, Committee to Protect Journalists’ Africa program coordinator, said in New York:
_Zimbabwean authorities should recognize that New York Times freelancer Jeffrey Moyo has not threatened the country’s national security, and should not contest his appeal for bail._
_It is only because of Zimbabwean authorities’ paranoia about international media coverage that Moyo is facing up to a decade in jail on spurious charges._
In an emailed statement to CPJ, New York Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha said the paper was deeply disappointed by the magistrate’s decision and urged the High Court to grant Moyo bail
By A Correspondent- Kwekwe’s intensified localised lockdown, which came into full swing on May 24 has been extended by Government for a further two weeks following a surge in active Covid-19 cases in the city and its surroundings, with the Indian variant B.1.617 being detected in some instances.
This extension comes as vaccinations continue with the next delivery of 500 000 doses now expected by Tuesday next week and schools will be barred from using premises for holiday lessons during the holidays so that all buildings can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Under the intensified lockdown, Kwekwe has recorded 74 cases in total with 70 cases still active and only three recoveries although there has been just a single death.
The district under localised lockdown comprises Kwekwe, Redcliff and surrounding areas, with a 7pm to 6am curfew being enforced.
Social and religious gatherings are banned.
The extension of the higher level lockdown comes as a total of 27 people, including children and members of staff at Mary Ward Children’s Home in the town have tested positive for Covid-19.
Mary Ward, Ruvimbo and Chiedza primary schools have recorded positive cases among pupils.
Announcing the extension of the lockdown after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe was not yet out of the woods.
“As of June 7, a total of 688 696 people had received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines and 385 275 their second dose across the country.
“The public is advised that efforts to ensure the availability of doses continue as a matter of priority,” she said.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care is redistributing existing stocks to ensure availability of the second dose. A batch of 500 000 doses of vaccine is expected in the country by June 15.”
On schools, Minister Mutsvangwa said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had banned the use of school premises for holiday lessons during the three-week break.
“It is envisaged that the ban will allow thorough cleaning and disinfection of the school environment, and
this reduces the spread of Covid-19,” said the Minister.
The learning process will continue through other platforms like self-study guides which will allow pupils to continue their schooling at home.
The ministry will take the opportunity availed by the break to continue training staff on curbing the spread of the pandemic.
Four teachers at Embakwe High School in the Mangwe District of Matabeleland South Province tested positive to Covid-19, while all the 400 pupils at the school tested negative.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the Health and Child Care Ministry invoked the Public Health Act to quarantine pupils and staff at the school.
By A Correspondent- Government yesterday called for more vigilance amid rising cases of COVID-19, with health experts expressing concern over government priorities after it spurned a single dose vaccine manufactured by United States pharmaceutical company, Johnson & Johnson, at a time when the Midlands city of Kwekwe has recorded more cases of the Indian variant .
In a post-Cabinet briefifing, Information minister Monica Mutsvanga said citizens should continue to observe the COVID-19 stipulated guidelines as the country was not out of the woods.
This comes as the country has been recording a surge in infections in the past days.
A Health and Child Care ministry COVID-19 situational report last night showed that Zimbabwe had recorded six new deaths and 83 new infections since Monday night.
Counting from last Wednesday, Zimbabwe has been recording 33, 61, 52, 24, 21, 49 and 83 new infections respectively.
“Under case management, the nation is advised that the Health ministry continues to work tirelessly in managing cases of COVID-19 detected in different parts of the country, including in colleges and schools,” she said.
Mutsvangwa said government had also approved the extension of the Kwekwe lockdown by another two to contain the Indian strain of the disease recorded in the Midlands city last month. “Cabinet has approved that the lockdown in Kwekwe be extended by a further two weeks. This comes in the wake of a surge in positive cases in the city. The Indian variant has been detected in some of the new cases,” Mutsvangwa said.
On Monday, 27 people, including children and members of staff at Mary Ward Children’s home in Kwekwe tested positive to COVID-19. The country also recorded five coronavirus-related deaths on the same day, bringing the total of cumulative infections to 39 238 and 1 611 deaths.
Last month, Bondolfi Teachers’ College in Masvingo also recorded 94 cases of COVID-19.
Citizen Health Watch executive director Fungisai Dube said Zimbabweans were worried about the shortage of vaccines.
“We are concerned that Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines are running short, which will leave millions of people exposed to the virus,” Dube said.
Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said: “The mounting deaths from COVID-19 and a rise in new cases show us that the third wave is already upon us. It seems that there has not been enough attention on the procurement and equitable distribution of vaccines, especially now that we are in the winter season with a high risk of exacerbating the COVID-19 infections.”
He said communities were questioning why the vaccines had not been delivered to vaccination centres experiencing stock-outs.
“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is generally safe as it is being used in many countries and a person is far more likely to be harmed by COVID-19 than by the vaccine. It’s important to note that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires a cold chain of between nine degrees and 25 degrees, something that our existing cold chain is able to maintain.”
Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association president Johannes Marisa said: “It’s unfortunate that we only vaccinated around 600 000 people and we ran short of the vaccines. Considering that five people have already been reported dead, the gravity of the matter can even be worse considering that we are not doing much testing.”
COVID-19 Cabinet taskforce chief co-ordinator Agnes Mahomva refused to be drawn into commenting on the possibility of the third wave of the virus having already hit the country.
But Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association president Shingai Nyaguse said there was need for authorities to be on high alert and not lower the guard.
“Maintaining our border security is also crucial to controlling numbers locally. We are hoping the government will give further explanation as to why they turned down the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. If it is an issue of efficacy, they should say so because storage should not be a problem. Training and capacitation of frontline workers should continue before numbers become too high,” Nyaguse said.
By A correspondent- MDC Alliance MP Joanah Mamombe and six other party activists including Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova yesterday successfully applied for postponement of their matter where they are accused of violating COVID-19 regulations.
Their case was further postponed to July 5 by Harare magistrate Stanely Mambanje, after they requested for more time from the courts to compile the necessary papers for their trial.
The other activists are Obey Sithole, Makomborero Haruziviishe, Lovejoy Chitengu, Obey Shava and Stanley Manyenga.
Their lawyer, Alec Muchadehama told NewsDay that he needed to be served with all the necessary papers before the trial.
“Today we have applied for the postponement of the matter in which Mamombe, Chimbiri, Marova and four others are accused of violating COVID-19 regulations during a demonstration in Warren Park last year,” Muchadehama said.
“July 5 is a good date for us as we hope that we will be well prepared for the case,” he said.
The MDC activists are being accused of holding a demonstration in March 2020 during a time when President Emmerson Mnangagwa had announced stiff COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
Muchadehama said the seven would be tried together.
Selmor Mtukudzi’s social media posts at the weekend about the hardships faced by artists have rattled the ruling ZANU PF party.
Selmor, the heiress to the Tuku Music legacy, expressed her displeasure with the government’s apparent lack of care for struggling artists during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Selmor took to Twitter to express concern over Zimbabwean authorities’ silence while artistes are languishing in poverty.
The post came after her live shows dubbed Remembering Tuku held on May 29 and 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in honour of her late father and national hero, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi. Selmor wrote:
This is the first time in the years I have been performing outside Zimbabwe that I have felt sad to be coming back home.
Please Mr President ED Mnangagwa, don’t let us artistes be destitute in our own land.
Let’s copy what South Africa is doing and allow us to work for our families.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the showbiz sector has remained closed, throwing most artists into abject poverty.
In a bid to stave off poverty, a number of local artistes have been flocking to South Africa for live performances.
ZANU PF director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi felt Selmor was being disrespectful to Mnangagwa. He said:
We have taken note of concerns by music artistes who have registered their plea for a waiver in the arts sector to ensure they are cushioned in these COVID-19 measures. We will be engaging leaders about the issue of a waiver.
However, we opine that our colleagues in the arts sector must learn to engage with authorities and express themselves respectfully rather than through insults.
Football authorities set an example and signed themselves to strict conditions in light of this pandemic. Now they are on.
Hazvidi kutukana kusina maturo (we should not needlessly insult each other). This is a new dispensation.
The Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe recently met with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire and deliberated on issues affecting them and the sector at large in the COVID-19 environment.
After the meeting, Machakaire gave assurances that he would forward their proposals to the relevant authorities, but is yet to give feedback.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s fringe political parties have bemoaned unequal media coverage during elections, saying this had dented the country’s democracy records and must not happen during the forthcoming 2023 elections.
New Patriotic Front party president Welcome Shumba made the call on behalf of other fringe parties on the sidelines of a workshop on gender issues organised by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission with members of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) in Kariba on Sunday.
In the past, opposition political parties have complained of being denied access to State media.
Shumba told NewsDay that during elections, opposition parties were often denied access to both State print and electronic media.
“The country’s main political parties, Zanu-PF and the opposition MDC, got more coverage during the 2018 elections as they are perceived to be the biggest parties, while other smaller political parties were ignored,” he said.
“I feel that the media is neglecting important issues raised by the smaller political parties, and this has a negative bearing on national development. The media must advance the interests of all contesting political parties during elections. This is not good for democracy.”
Shumba said while Polad was made up of smaller political parties, they were the ones that were actually working with government to contribute to economic development and were engaging in dialogue in a bid to solve the country’s problems.
“Right now, Sadc and the United States have started to recognise that Polad is a very good initiative in trying to resolve our differences in the country,”he said.
“I think the media must take a step towards promoting equality with regards to coverage of all political parties during elections.”
A 2018 report by Media Monitors noted that political polarisation affected the media’s capacity to be fair and balanced.
By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday demanded that government should compensate party activists Last Maengahama and Tungamirai Madzokere, who clocked eight years at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for a murder charge which was quashed by the Supreme Court last week.
Maengahama and Madzokere were arrested in Glen View, Harare, in 2011 on a charge of killing a police officer Petros Mutedza.
Chamisa yesterday visited the pair, where he said government should also compensate victims of Gukurahundi massacres and the 2005 Operation Murambatsvina that rendered thousands homeless.
“There is a need for them to be compensated. If it was a normal country, the government should just come and compensate them. If this government can’t do that, the MDC Alliance government will compensate and apologise to them.
“We must apologise to the victims and compensate for the victims of Gukurahundi. I apologised in Matabeleland when I went there because that’s what leaders do. A lot of people were harmed by Operation Murambatsvina and people’s pensions were eroded. A lot of people died in June 2008 and a country with angry people cannot prosper,” Chamisa said.
Commenting on the Mbuya Nehanda statue erected in central Harare last month, Chamisa said: “Some said I attacked Mbuya Nehanda. Those who worked for our liberation are our heroes and national heroines. We respect them, but we don’t idolise them. We respect them and it ends there, we pray only to God.”
He lamented that most youth in the country were turning to drugs.
“We have a condemned generation because of these drugs. The biggest drug is the government that does not respect its people.”
He blasted government for demolishing vendors’ structures, saying “its demon of destruction must be exorcised”.
By A Correspondent- Former First Lady Grace Mugabe has broken her silence over a ruling by a traditional court that ordered that the remains of her late husband and former President Robert Mugabe should be exhumed and reburied at the national shrine.
Grace, through her lawyers from Chimwamurombe Legal Practice, wrote to Chief Zimba, born Stanley Wurayayi Mhondoro on June 2, challenging his order for Mugabe’s remains to be exhumed from his rural Zvimba home and be properly buried at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare by July 1 this year. The chief found her guilty of breaching customary procedures and fined her six beasts.
In her application filed at the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court on June 4, Grace argued that the manner in which the matter was handled by Chief Zvimba’s traditional court was defective.
“The above subject refers and we act on Mrs Grace Mugabe, kindly note our interest herein,” they argued, adding: “Further to the plethora of identified legal restrictions that Chief Zvimba faced, the summonses were not even served in the required manner by the rules of the court.”
“… that a summons must only be served on a defendant or responsible person at their residence or place of work within the physical boundary of the court’s jurisdiction. The summons that formulated the basis of this correspondence were served at our client’s residential home in Borrowdale in Harare.”
“The judgment has several penalties or orders which expect compliance by July 1, 2021. Having had sight of the referenced judgment, we have identified critical procedural and substantive law defects that must be corrected by this court to attain real and substantial justice in the judicial process and additionally rein in the community court presiding officer from overstretching their lawful operation as a judicial officer,” the lawyers said.
Grace said the complainant, Tinos Manongovere did not sufficiently identify himself to appropriately be placed as a suitable plaintiff in the local court.
“There is no information that has been provided to show the substantial legal interest that fits with the plaintiff, thereby, prompting him to approach the court vis-à-vis the aforementioned choice of law process.”
“The summons issued on April 29 by the chief already carried a sentence of five cattle and one goat. This was made before the attendance and later on conviction of Grace Mugabe. The ultimate hearing was, therefore, manifestly biased since the sentence was already predetermined,” they submitted.
The lawyers further claimed that Chief Zvimba failed to observe one of the cardinal principles of natural justice by making an order directing the disposal of property that belonged to the estate of the late Mugabe in the absence of the lawful custodian of such property.
Mugabe is believed to have properties in Harare, Bulawayo, Chinhoyi and Singapore.
Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao recently sensationally claimed on South African broadcaster, Sabc that the former strongman’s ex-right handman believed that Mugabe was buried with a mystical sceptre that would give him commanding authority as a leader.
Two days ago, Mugabe’s three children, Bona Mutsahuni Mugabe (executor of the estate of the late Mugabe), Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and Tinotenda Robert Mugabe argued that Chief Zvimba acted outside his jurisdiction when he approached the village court to summon their mother over allegations that she broke traditional norms when she buried the former President.
In their court application, they stated that they felt that Chief Zvimba should not have heard the case in the first place as it was outside his jurisdiction, adding that government was also involved during Mugabe’s burial in Zvimba in September 2019.
By A Correspondent- Police yesterday named the three people who died in a road accident at the 237km peg along the Harare-Mutare Road on Monday.
Nine others were injured and were taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare.
In a statement yesterday, National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi identified the three victims as Enerita Jongwe, a female adult aged 25 of Mutadza village in Marange, Hazvinei Mawadzi, a female adult aged 31 of Mutadza village in Marange and Blessing Mutudza, a male toddler aged three of Madzengwa village in Marange.
He said the accident happened when the driver of a Toyota Hiace vehicle heading towards Harare with 12 passengers on-board lost control of the vehicle, before it veered off the road and overturned several times before landing on its roof.
By A Correspondent-Kwekwe General Hospital doctors and staff members escaped unharmed after their quarters caught fire in the early hours of yesterday.
Nine families, including doctors, physiotherapist, nurses and an administrator, lost property worth thousands of dollars after the fire razed down their residence at around 3 am.
The fire came almost a week after another fire destroyed a Mpilo Central Hospital hostel block in Bulawayo.
Kwekwe General Hospital medical superintendent, Dr Patricia Mapanda said: “I can confirm that a fire broke out and razed one of the staff residences and it destroyed property. The staff members, including doctors, lost almost everything as they did not get time to remove their property.”
Dr Mapanda said no one was injured, adding that the quarters were meant for trainee doctors, but due to shortage of accommodation at the institution, had been converted into makeshift doctors’ residence.
“Some of our doctors have been staying there since we do not have enough accommodation at the facility,” he said. “Some have been staying there with their families, but we are grateful to God that there were no casualties and no injuries recorded.”
By A Correspondent- The High Court yesterday refused to hear an urgent application by the Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe (YLAZ) and war veteran Frederick Mutanda seeking an order that Chief Justice Luke Malaba remains disqualified as Chief Justice of Zimbabwe despite the noting of an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Justice Amy Tsanga removed from the matter from urgent roll the issues being raised were argued in the CJ contempt of court case last week.
“The matter is not urgent and is removed from the urgent roll for the reasons that the issue raised was also part of HC2513/21 heard on 03/06/21 and which awaits judgment,” wrote Justice Tsanga commenting on the matter.
The YLAZ and Mutanda were arguing that the High Court order disqualifying CJ Malaba from serving as CJ for another five years should be upheld, despite noting an appeal at Supreme Court against the High Court decision last month.
Selmor Mtukudzi’s social media posts at the weekend about the hardships faced by artists have rattled the ruling ZANU PF party.
Selmor, the heiress to the Tuku Music legacy, expressed her displeasure with the government’s apparent lack of care for struggling artists during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Selmor took to Twitter to express concern over Zimbabwean authorities’ silence while artistes are languishing in poverty.
The post came after her live shows dubbed Remembering Tuku held on May 29 and 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in honour of her late father and national hero, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi. Selmor wrote:
This is the first time in the years I have been performing outside Zimbabwe that I have felt sad to be coming back home.
Please Mr President ED Mnangagwa, don’t let us artistes be destitute in our own land.
Let’s copy what South Africa is doing and allow us to work for our families.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the showbiz sector has remained closed, throwing most artists into abject poverty.
In a bid to stave off poverty, a number of local artistes have been flocking to South Africa for live performances.
ZANU PF director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi felt Selmor was being disrespectful to Mnangagwa. He said:
We have taken note of concerns by music artistes who have registered their plea for a waiver in the arts sector to ensure they are cushioned in these COVID-19 measures. We will be engaging leaders about the issue of a waiver.
However, we opine that our colleagues in the arts sector must learn to engage with authorities and express themselves respectfully rather than through insults.
Football authorities set an example and signed themselves to strict conditions in light of this pandemic. Now they are on.
Hazvidi kutukana kusina maturo (we should not needlessly insult each other). This is a new dispensation.
The Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe recently met with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire and deliberated on issues affecting them and the sector at large in the COVID-19 environment.
After the meeting, Machakaire gave assurances that he would forward their proposals to the relevant authorities, but is yet to give feedback.- NewsDay
Selmor Mtukudzi’s social media posts at the weekend about the hardships faced by artists have rattled the ruling ZANU PF party.
Selmor, the heiress to the Tuku Music legacy, expressed her displeasure with the government’s apparent lack of care for struggling artists during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Selmor took to Twitter to express concern over Zimbabwean authorities’ silence while artistes are languishing in poverty.
The post came after her live shows dubbed Remembering Tuku held on May 29 and 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in honour of her late father and national hero, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi. Selmor wrote:
This is the first time in the years I have been performing outside Zimbabwe that I have felt sad to be coming back home.
Please Mr President ED Mnangagwa, don’t let us artistes be destitute in our own land.
Let’s copy what South Africa is doing and allow us to work for our families.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the showbiz sector has remained closed, throwing most artists into abject poverty.
In a bid to stave off poverty, a number of local artistes have been flocking to South Africa for live performances.
ZANU PF director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi felt Selmor was being disrespectful to Mnangagwa. He said:
We have taken note of concerns by music artistes who have registered their plea for a waiver in the arts sector to ensure they are cushioned in these COVID-19 measures. We will be engaging leaders about the issue of a waiver.
However, we opine that our colleagues in the arts sector must learn to engage with authorities and express themselves respectfully rather than through insults.
Football authorities set an example and signed themselves to strict conditions in light of this pandemic. Now they are on.
Hazvidi kutukana kusina maturo (we should not needlessly insult each other). This is a new dispensation.
The Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe recently met with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire and deliberated on issues affecting them and the sector at large in the COVID-19 environment.
After the meeting, Machakaire gave assurances that he would forward their proposals to the relevant authorities, but is yet to give feedback.- NewsDay
A former Highlanders Football Club fringe player died during a social football match at Esilwane Youth Centre in Pumula suburb on Sunday.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed that Mbuso Mandiopera (35) of Pumula North died after chesting the ball.
Mandiopera was featuring for his side Santos against a Cowdray Park side when he chested the ball, knelt and died shortly afterwards on the soccer pitch. Said Inspector Ncube:
We are investigating a case of sudden death. We received a report that a 35-year-old male adult Mbuso Mandiopera of Pumula North died while playing social soccer at Esilwane Youth Centre on Sunday, June 6.
After controlling the ball with his chest, he knelt down while holding his chest, showing that he was in pain.
Play stopped and when they attended to him, he was moving his hands like a person with fits.
A report was made to the police (and) an ambulance was summoned and the crew confirmed Mandiopera’s death upon arrival.
His body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for postmortem.
According to Chronicle, Mandiopera made his mark at Bosso as a key member of the Under-19 squad that had the likes of Patrick ‘Mboma’ Mpofu, Graham Ncube, Nhlanhla ‘Mookie’ Dube, Innocent Nyoni (former Black Mambas goalkeeper and midfielder), the late Sifiso Nketha, Obidiah Tarumbwa, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Marshall Machazane, Brighton Dube, Brighton Choto and Thomas Muketiwa, two decades ago.
The incident was not the first time when a football died during a social game in Zimbabwe.
In 2015, former Highlanders, Masvingo United and Njube Sundowns midfielder Maphias Webb collapsed and died during a social game at Bango grounds in Mpopoma suburb.- Chronicle
Chitungwiza Police Camp has reportedly been without power for two weeks after power utility ZESA switched it off over non-payment of bills.
Sources at the residential flats for police officers, most of whom work in Harare, say residents have gone for days without water as the boreholes that supply water to households are not functioning.
The police officers said they were not happy with their superiors for failing to act and with ZESA for disconnecting them. A police officer is quoted as saying:
There are now political connotations to it. It is reportedly said that police are blocking demos and the people are saying they should also suffer and feel what everyone is going through.
This is the first time in all these years and we now wonder whether it is not to embarrass the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa).
Police have reportedly threatened to impound unroadworthy ZESA vehicles in retaliation.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he would check with the relevant authorities.- NewsDay
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has said Luke Malaba is too old to remain in the esteemed office of Chief Justice.
Speaking in an interview with an online publication on Monday, Hon Biti said Malaba should” go home and play with his grandchildren.”
Zanu PF leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa wants Malaba( 70) to remain in office for the next five years.
This, according to Hon Biti, is a gimmick calculated to tilt the 2023 Presidential Election in favour of Mr Mnangagwa.
Malaba and ZEC boss Priscilla Chigumba are accused of influencing the outcome of the 2018 Presidential plebiscite.
“We are ready to defend the Constitution.The reappointment of Luke Malaba by Mr Mnangagwa is unconstitutional.
Malaba cannot continue to occupy such a position at 70. Our message to Malaba is simple, he must simply go home and rest. He should find time to play with his grandchildren,” declared Hon Biti.
” We know their plans- They want to use Malaba to influence the 2023 Presidential Election results.We will not allow that to happen.We will use all the available constitutional avenues to challenge Malaba’s reappointment,” added Hon Biti.
President Chamisa with Maengahama and visiting crew
Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday demanded that government should compensate party activists Last Maengahama and Tungamirai Madzokere, who clocked eight years at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for a murder charge which was quashed by the Supreme Court last week.
Maengahama and Madzokere were arrested in Glen View, Harare, in 2011 on a charge of killing a police officer Petros Mutedza.
Chamisa yesterday visited the pair, where he said government should also compensate victims of Gukurahundi massacres and the 2005 Operation Murambatsvina that rendered thousands homeless. “There is a need for them to be compensated. If it was a normal country, the government should just come and compensate them. If this government can’t do that, the MDC Alliance government will compensate and apologise to them.
“We must apologise to the victims and compensate for the victims of Gukurahundi. I apologised in Matabeleland when I went there because that’s what leaders do. A lot of people were harmed by Operation Murambatsvina and people’s pensions were eroded. A lot of people died in June 2008 and a country with angry people cannot prosper,” Chamisa said.
Commenting on the Mbuya Nehanda statue erected in central Harare last month, Chamisa said: “Some said I attacked Mbuya Nehanda. Those who worked for our liberation are our heroes and national heroines. We respect them, but we don’t idolise them. We respect them and it ends there, we pray only to God.” He lamented that most youth in the country were turning to drugs.
“We have a condemned generation because of these drugs. The biggest drug is the government that does not respect its people.”
He blasted government for demolishing vendors’ structures, saying “its demon of destruction must be exorcised”.- Newsday
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has said Luke Malaba is too old to remain in the esteemed office of Chief Justice.
Speaking in an interview with an online publication on Monday, Hon Biti said Malaba should” go home and play with his grandchildren.”
Zanu PF leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa wants Malaba( 70) to remain in office for the next five years.
This, according to Hon Biti, is a gimmick calculated to tilt the 2023 Presidential Election in favour of Mr Mnangagwa.
Malaba and ZEC boss Priscilla Chigumba are accused of influencing the outcome of the 2018 Presidential plebiscite.
“We are ready to defend the Constitution.The reappointment of Luke Malaba by Mr Mnangagwa is unconstitutional.
Malaba cannot continue to occupy such a position at 70. Our message to Malaba is simple, he must simply go home and rest. He should find time to play with his grandchildren,” declared Hon Biti.
” We know their plans- They want to use Malaba to influence the 2023 Presidential Election results.We will not allow that to happen.We will use all the available constitutional avenues to challenge Malaba’s reappointment,” added Hon Biti.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown, Kwekwe has suffered an intensified localised lockdown extension, which came into full swing on May 24.
Government went against contemporary opinion, to put the town under for a further two weeks following a surge in active Covid-19 cases in the city and its surroundings, with the Indian variant B.1.617 being detected in some instances.
This extension comes as vaccinations continue with the next delivery of 500 000 doses now expected by Tuesday next week and schools will be barred from using premises for holiday lessons during the holidays so that all buildings can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Under the intensified lockdown, Kwekwe has recorded 74 cases in total with 70 cases still active and only three recoveries although there has been just a single death.
The district under localised lockdown comprises Kwekwe, Redcliff and surrounding areas, with a 7pm to 6am curfew being enforced.
Social and religious gatherings are banned. The extension of the higher level lockdown comes as a total of 27 people, including children and members of staff at Mary Ward Children’s Home in the town have tested positive for Covid-19.
Mary Ward, Ruvimbo and Chiedza primary schools have recorded positive cases among pupils. Announcing the extension of the lockdown after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe was not yet out of the woods.
“As of June 7, a total of 688 696 people had received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines and 385 275 their second dose across the country.
“The public is advised that efforts to ensure the availability of doses continue as a matter of priority,” she said.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care is redistributing existing stocks to ensure availability of the second dose. A batch of 500 000 doses of vaccine is expected in the country by June 15.”
On schools, Minister Mutsvangwa said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had banned the use of school premises for holiday lessons during the three-week break.
“It is envisaged that the ban will allow thorough cleaning and disinfection of the school environment, and this reduces the spread of Covid-19,” said the Minister.
The learning process will continue through other platforms like self-study guides which will allow pupils to continue their schooling at home.
The ministry will take the opportunity availed by the break to continue training staff on curbing the spread of the pandemic.
Four teachers at Embakwe High School in the Mangwe District of Matabeleland South Province tested positive to Covid-19, while all the 400 pupils at the school tested negative.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the Health and Child Care Ministry invoked the Public Health Act to quarantine pupils and staff at the school. Herald
Police have launched a manhunt for a Chisuma man who allegedly axed his elder sister following a domestic dispute over payment for dipping chemicals.
The incident occurred on Monday evening in Chisuma under Chief Mvuthu and Ms Henrietta Tshuma (44) was rushed to Victoria Falls Hospital on Monday evening with the axe still stuck in her head.
She was yesterday transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo and was said to be in a critical condition battling for her life.
Members of the community told police that Godknows Tshuma (32) is a known mentally challenged patient who sometimes sleeps in the bush. Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the incident.
He urged members of the public to closely monitor relatives who may have mental challenges to prevent violence.
“We received a report about a woman who was rushed to hospital after being struck with an axe by her brother.
“The accused is still at large and investigations are in progress,” said Insp Banda. He said Tshuma is wanted for attempted murder.
Tshuma allegedly fled from the scene after committing the offence and his whereabouts were not known yesterday.
Police were looking for him at all his relatives’ homes and his own home in Gondwa where his wife and two kids stay.
Tshuma reportedly visits all his relatives in Chisuma but does not stay for long as he is always moving from one place to the other, sometimes sleeping in the bush
“On 7 June 2021 around 6:30pm, the accused person in the company of his mother Mrs Tshambanja Tshuma (60) visited the complainant.
“Upon reaching the complainant’s homestead, the accused person had a misunderstanding with the complainant over non-payment of dip tank fees. Mrs Tshuma intervened and stopped them from quarrelling.
“The accused person and his mother left the complainant’s homestead and went to their place of residence leaving complainant having supper with her daughter Ms Tania Ncube aged 25 and two granddaughters aged 8 and 3 years,” said Insp Banda.
He said Tshuma returned to his sister’s home 20 minutes later armed with an axe and confronted her.
He allegedly advanced towards the complainant and struck her once on the back of the head with the axe. Tshuma fled from the scene leaving the complainant unconscious, with the axe stuck in her head.
Police attended the scene and a profusely bleeding Ms Tshuma was rushed to Victoria Falls Hospital.Insp Banda urged members of the public to closely monitor mentally ill persons.
“People who stay with mentally challenged persons should closely monitor them and ensure that they get proper medication that will stop them from being violent.
“Those on medication should be monitored to ensure that they take their medication properly without absconding so that they don’t become violent. In fact, people should refer mentally challenged relatives to respective institutions for better management,” he said.
Hwange Rural District councillor for Chidobe, Shakani Mukoma who assisted in reporting the matter to the police before facilitating that Ms Tshuma be rushed to hospital, said the suspect was seen walking towards Jabula in the same area on Tuesday morning.
“He is known for being mentally ill and had tried to commit suicide on several occasions. At some point he tried to cut his throat and was treated in Harare.
“Yesterday I received a call from his family after he had struck his sister and when I got there the axe was still stuck on the head. She went to hospital with the axe still stuck,” said Cllr Mukoma. -Chronicle
DIGESTIVE HEALTH 3 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress When You Have IBS Managing stress and anxiety is key to managing your IBS symptoms.
Jordan M. Davidson By Jordan M. Davidson Medically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Last Updated: June 2, 2021 Medically Reviewed
woman meditating and exercising Exercise is a great stress reliever.
If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and you feel an urgent need to go every time your boss pings you, your mother-in-law texts, or your friends change plans at the last minute, it’s time to focus on the stress that could be triggering your symptoms. After all, IBS is a breakdown in the signals the brain sends to the gut and the gut sends back to the brain — and this bodily response can be caused by stress, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).
“Stress increases the hormone cortisol, and it can impact our digestive system,” says Megan Riehl, PsyD, a gastrointestinal psychologist at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.
“People with IBS have trouble down-regulating digestive distress. For example, a person with IBS may feel the digestive process with some gurgling or discomfort and that sets off stress signals and a fear that they will need the bathroom urgently.”
A study published in April 2021 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that participants living with IBS who reported experiencing anxiety and stress were more likely to report more severe symptoms, cycle through more treatments, and say their symptoms negatively impacted their daily life than patients who did not report psychological distress.
“Behavioral treatments for IBS are needed as a complement to medicine to get patients over the finish line,” says Brennan Spiegel, MD a gastroenterologist and the director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “Patients need to develop skills and train their brain to overcome the symptoms of IBS, and that means combating stress.”
So if you’re living with IBS, make sure you’re not neglecting to manage your stress levels, as they can significantly impact your gastrointestinal symptoms. Here are three ways to reduce IBS-related stress.
5 Exercises for IBS Symptom Relief The Ultimate Expert-Approved Diet Plan for a Happier, Less-Stressed You
Get Physical You don’t have to throw down loads of cash at a CrossFit box or jab-jab-cross until you’re sore at a boxing class. Moderate exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and yoga are enough to reduce stress and improve IBS symptoms. A review published in December 2019 in Digestive Diseases and Sciences found that yoga and walking at a brisk pace were equally effective in improving IBS symptoms, and both were more effective than medicine alone.
“Exercise helps boost our endorphins and lower cortisol levels, which means we feel happier and less stressed,” says Dr. Riehl. “That’s when the brain and gut send much more favorable signals to each other.”
The American Psychological Association points out that an exercise habit increases levels of norepinephrine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that helps decrease stress. Exercise also trains the mind to cope with anxiety and panic.
Breathe Deeply Deep breathing is one of Riehl’s go-to techniques when teaching her patients to reduce stress.
“Stress makes for shallow, short breaths,” she says. “When we slow our breathing down, we kick-start the parasympathetic system that calms us down and gives a nice massage to the digestive organs. That reduces spasming and urgency.”
One technique she is particularly fond of is diaphragmatic breathing, which involves slow and deep breathing that affects the brain as well as the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems.
A study published in June 2017 in Frontiers in Psychology divided 40 people into two groups; one control group and one group who received training in diaphragmatic breathing. After eight weeks, the group who received breathing training had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and were less prone to negative emotions.
Gut-Directed Hypnosis Gastrointestinal psychologists have found that gut-directed hypnosis is extremely effective at reducing stress and improving IBS symptoms. In this technique, a trained therapist guides a patient into a focused state of awareness and deep relaxation. Through suggestions and imagery, gut-related hypnosis aims to calm the digestive tract and steer attention away from physical discomfort.
In a study published in the September 2016 issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 72 percent of participants found that their symptoms improved after they followed gut-directed hypnotherapy, and they maintained the improvement for at least six months.
“We need to standardize holistic treatments like gut-directed hypnosis that specifically target the communication of the gut-brain axis,” says Dr. Spiegel.
“When patients have failed everything else, they succeed at this as long as they’re open to trying it,” notes Riehl. “We can develop the skills to stop the brain from perseverating on GI-specific worries. For example, we can start to retrain the mind when someone is always imagining that they will have a bowel accident in public.
“It’s how we identify and think about IBS in our day-to-day life that can make [our symptoms] better or worse,” she adds.-
Credit :Everyday Health
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The High Court has refused to hear an urgent application by the Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe (YLAZ) and war veteran Frederick Mutanda seeking an order that Chief Justice Luke Malaba remains disqualified as Chief Justice of Zimbabwe despite the noting of an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Justice Amy Tsanga removed from the matter from urgent roll the issues being raised were argued in the CJ contempt of court case last week.
“The matter is not urgent and is removed from the urgent roll for the reasons that the issue raised was also part of HC2513/21 heard on 03/06/21 and which awaits judgment,” wrote Justice Tsanga commenting on the matter.
The YLAZ and Mutanda were arguing that the High Court order disqualifying CJ Malaba from serving as CJ for another five years should be upheld, despite the noting an appeal at Supreme Court against High Court decision last month. -Herald
A Bulawayo man was found dead in Makokoba Suburb on Saturday.
Neighbours said the man, whose name is being withheld until his next of kin have been notified, was found lying lifeless along 8th Street in the suburb around 6am and passersby called an ambulance.
“We saw the man lying down in the morning as we were sweeping the yard. We thought the man was drunk as we knew him as someone who drinks excessively. One of the neighbours suggested that we call an ambulance as he was unconscious, when the ambulance arrived the man was declared dead. Police attended the scene,’’ said a witness.
Residents said police questioned the man’s landlord over the death.
“The man’s landlord was taken for questioning and was released. The deceased was always drinking beer. He might have been involved in a fight where he could have been injured,’’ said a neighbour.
The news crew could not talk to the landlord as he was not at home.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday said he had not received a report about the death.- Chronicle
By A Correspondent- Former war veterans minister and Zanu- PF Politburo member, Tshinga Dube, and Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister, Judith Ncube have challenged President Emmerson Mnangagwa for awarding Matabeleland empowerment projects to the Shona People.
The misunderstanding started after some people in Harare received a contract to clear the bushes along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway road, defying a policy that locals must be the ones contracted to do such jobs.
This was revealed by former war veterans minister and Zanu- PF Politburo member, Tshinga Dube, at a press conference with Bulawayo journalists on the occasion of Africa Day, Tuesday, CITE reports. Said, Dube:
Just four days ago, Cde Judith Ncube, the minister phoned me and said some people received a contract in Harare to clear the bushes along the roads, the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls and they are coming here.
I was in Harare myself. They are coming, carrying their people, with choppers to come and cut trees here.
Dube said he advised the provincial and devolution minister to put a stop to that as that defied the devolution policy. He said:
I said, ‘No, no but you are a minister of devolution yourself, so you stop them and say no. You have people here who can do that.’
I don’t think you need to go for training just to chop wood anyone can chop wood.
Let people there discuss with people in Matabeleland North because that’s where they live.
Hire boys along the road just from Bulawayo and then they can chop wood
Dube also criticised some people who committed offences and hid behind the president’s name.
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has dived Matabeleland bigwigs over awarding of tenders to non-Ndebeles.
Former war veterans minister and Zanu- PF Politburo member, Tshinga Dube, and Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister, Judith Ncube have revealed that Mnangagwa was awarding Bulawayo empowerment projects to his relatives.
This was revealed by former war veterans minister and Zanu- PF Politburo member, Tshinga Dube, at a press conference with Bulawayo journalists on the occasion of Africa Day, Tuesday, CITE reports. Said, Dube:
Just four days ago, Cde Judith Ncube, the minister phoned me and said some people received a contract in Harare to clear the bushes along the roads, the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls and they are coming here.
I was in Harare myself. They are coming, carrying their people, with choppers to come and cut trees here.
Dube said he advised the provincial and devolution minister to put a stop to that as that defied the devolution policy. He said:
I said, ‘No, no but you are a minister of devolution yourself, so you stop them and say no. You have people here who can do that.’
I don’t think you need to go for training just to chop wood anyone can chop wood.
Let people there discuss with people in Matabeleland North because that’s where they live.
Hire boys along the road just from Bulawayo and then they can chop wood
Dube also criticised some people who committed offences and hid behind the president’s name.
By A Correspondent-Barely a week after Mpilo hospital hotels were gutted by fire, another fire has destroyed Kwekwe General Hospital doctors and staff members’ quarters.
Nine families, including doctors, physiotherapist, nurses and an administrator, lost property worth thousands of dollars after the fire razed down their residence at around 3 am today.
The fire came almost a week after another fire destroyed a Mpilo Central Hospital hostel block in Bulawayo.
Kwekwe General Hospital medical superintendent, Dr Patricia Mapanda said: “I can confirm that a fire broke out and razed one of the staff residences and it destroyed property. The staff members, including doctors, lost almost everything as they did not get time to remove their property.”
Dr Mapanda said no one was injured, adding that the quarters were meant for trainee doctors, but due to shortage of accommodation at the institution, had been converted into makeshift doctors’ residence.
“Some of our doctors have been staying there since we do not have enough accommodation at the facility,” he said. “Some have been staying there with their families, but we are grateful to God that there were no casualties and no injuries recorded.”
By A Correspondent- Government officials in Bulawayo have expressed concern over the marginalisation of local contractors when it comes to the awarding of contracts that involve menial jobs in the Matabeleland region.
This comes after some people in Harare received a contract to clear the bushes along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway road, defying a policy that locals must be the ones contracted to do such jobs.
This was revealed by former war veterans minister and Zanu- PF Politburo member, Tshinga Dube, at a press conference with Bulawayo journalists on the occasion of Africa Day, Tuesday, CITE reports. Said, Dube:
Just four days ago, Cde Judith Ncube, the minister phoned me and said some people received a contract in Harare to clear the bushes along the roads, the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls and they are coming here.
I was in Harare myself. They are coming, carrying their people, with choppers to come and cut trees here.
Dube said he advised the provincial and devolution minister to put a stop to that as that defied the devolution policy. He said:
I said, ‘No, no but you are a minister of devolution yourself, so you stop them and say no. You have people here who can do that.’
I don’t think you need to go for training just to chop wood anyone can chop wood.
Let people there discuss with people in Matabeleland North because that’s where they live.
Hire boys along the road just from Bulawayo and then they can chop wood
Dube also criticised some people who committed offences and hid behind the president’s name.
By A Correspondent- The government has continued demolishing poor people’s shacky homes in Harare Metropolitan road servitudes without giving them alternative spaces to relocate.
Local authorities, embarked on the evil exercise yesterday amid calls by human rights activists for government to allocate alternative accommodation to the affected.
The same is happening in Chitungwiza with the Zimbabwe Republic Police leading the municipal police in the exercise.
By A Correspondent- POlice in Harare has shot a notorious armed robber, who is part of a gang led by Musa Taj Abdul.
The suspect is nursing wounds at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare after being shot by cops while attempting to flee.
Musafare Mupamhanga, who was on bail was arrested along with other suspected armed robbers, Spicer Takawira, Leo Mandaza, Chamunorwa Takawira, Joseph Chinhema, Newman Watsikwa and James Nyakutsikwa.
His suspected colleagues, Spicer Takawira, Mandaza, Chamunorwa Takawira, Chinhema, Watsikwa and Nyakutsikwa appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday charged with robbery, unlawful entry into premises in aggravated circumstances and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Mupamhanga who was shot on the left leg during his arrest is under police guard in hospital.
By A Correspondent-Kwekwe General Hospital doctors and staff members escaped unharmed after their quarters caught fire in the early hours of today.
Nine families, including doctors, physiotherapist, nurses and an administrator, lost property worth thousands of dollars after the fire razed down their residence at around 3 am.
The fire came almost a week after another fire destroyed a Mpilo Central Hospital hostel block in Bulawayo.
Kwekwe General Hospital medical superintendent, Dr Patricia Mapanda said: “I can confirm that a fire broke out and razed one of the staff residences and it destroyed property. The staff members, including doctors, lost almost everything as they did not get time to remove their property.”
Dr Mapanda said no one was injured, adding that the quarters were meant for trainee doctors, but due to shortage of accommodation at the institution, had been converted into makeshift doctors’ residence.
“Some of our doctors have been staying there since we do not have enough accommodation at the facility,” he said. “Some have been staying there with their families, but we are grateful to God that there were no casualties and no injuries recorded.”
The High Court has refused to hear an urgent application by the Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe (YLAZ) and war veteran Frederick Mutanda seeking an order that Chief Justice Luke Malaba remains disqualified as Chief Justice of Zimbabwe despite the noting of an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Justice Amy Tsanga removed from the matter from urgent roll the issues being raised were argued in the CJ contempt of court case last week.
“The matter is not urgent and is removed from the urgent roll for the reasons that the issue raised was also part of HC2513/21 heard on 03/06/21 and which awaits judgment,” wrote Justice Tsanga commenting on the matter.
The YLAZ and Mutanda were arguing that the High Court order disqualifying CJ Malaba from serving as CJ for another five years should be upheld, despite noting an appeal at Supreme Court against the High Court decision last month. -State media
It is with deep sadness that we announce the untimely passing on of our diligent leader Reginald Mutumwa, the Mdc Alliance KwaZulu-Natal District, Branch Treasurer of Pietermaritzburg. Mdc Alliance Namibia expresses its sadness, disappointment and absolute sense of unspeakable loss to the bereaved Mutumwa family, KwaZulu-Natal District and Pietermaritzburg Branch not forgetting Mdc Alliance family as a whole. We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences.
Leader Reginald Mutumwa survived by a wife Rozetta Kawondera and parted with his dearest two children; Gamuchirai and the only beloved son Ryan who are based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Our committed and dedicated leader was an organic and pragmatic member of the national democratic revolution who worked tirelessly to mobilise and recruit social democrats in the district according to the Secretary General of KwaZulu-Natal District, George Mukudu. The man who shared with us this painful loss. The deceased shall be remembered by social democrats for his revolutionary trajectory and participatory democracy.
Mdc Alliance Namibia urges KwaZulu-Natal District and Pietermaritzburg Branch to offer the much needed solidarity to the deceased since there are no other close family around him. We would like to remind each other that solidarity is a core value in Social Democracy. Machinja anerudo must be around the bereaved providing the love and comfort that we learned from our late icon of Constitutional Democracy Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, may his dear soul rest in power.
Rest in power leader Reginald Mutumwa. Zororora murugare cde #ZanupfMustGo
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance Veterans Activists Association(VAA) has castigated the captured justice system in the country.
VAA secretary-general Charles Musimiki, quoted by NewsDay said as a result of the flawed justice system in the country, several political activists were resorting to taking refuge in neighbouring South Africa fearing persecution.
“How can a verdict take over a year to be read out? Our justice system is very much compromised. For a verdict to be passed only after eight years, worse still acquitting the accused, is not injustice alone, but it is incarceration and persecution of innocent civilians which is something never expected in this modern world,” Musimiki told the publication.
“For the record, we are not yet independent as a country because the oppression we fought against what was perpetrated by a few white men is exactly what we see being practised today by our own kith and kin. The draconian laws during the Rhodesian Ian Smith regime are now back but are camouflaged with new titles.
We need a Zimbabwe that treats all Zimbabweans equally irrespective of political, religious or social affiliation,” he added.
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance Veterans Activists Association(VAA) has castigated the captured justice system in the country.
VAA secretary-general Charles Musimiki, quoted by NewsDay said as a result of the flawed justice system in the country, several political activists were resorting to taking refuge in neighbouring South Africa fearing persecution.
“How can a verdict take over a year to be read out? Our justice system is very much compromised. For a verdict to be passed only after eight years, worse still acquitting the accused, is not injustice alone, but it is incarceration and persecution of innocent civilians which is something never expected in this modern world,” Musimiki told the publication.
“For the record, we are not yet independent as a country because the oppression we fought against what was perpetrated by a few white men is exactly what we see being practised today by our own kith and kin. The draconian laws during the Rhodesian Ian Smith regime are now back but are camouflaged with new titles.
We need a Zimbabwe that treats all Zimbabweans equally irrespective of political, religious or social affiliation,” he added.
Arsenal star midfielder Thomas Partey has been sacked from Ghana national team camp for indiscipline.
The Black Stars are preparing for an international friendly against Morocco on Tuesday, and the 27-year old arrived in camp days late despite arriving in Ghana from his base in London, early.
This irked coach “CK” Akonnor, to the point of wielding the axe on the former Atletico Madrid man.
Partey has been heavily-criticised in Ghana, with fans questioning his commitment by taking to social media to back the coach’s decision.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Georginio Wijnaldum has reportedly signed a contract with French giants Paris Saint-Germain after he snubbed Barcelona on the last minute.
The Dutchman had made a verbal agreement with the Catalan giants following the end of his contract with Liverpool and was set to complete his transfer this week.
However, PSG jumped in and made a better offer which changed the mind of the midfielder. It’s believed the French club offered almost double what Barca had tabled and the Liga side had no intention to raise their bid.
According to reports, Gini has now signed a three-year-deal and a confirmation of his signing will be announced soon.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe international Prince Dube has finally broken silence on talks questioning the quality of the Tanzanian Premier League.
Mgadafi, as the Bulawayo-born gunslinger is fondly-known, has had a dream debut season for Dar es Salaam-based Azam, for who he has scored 14 league goals and is on course for the golden boot.
His impressive form in front of goal has been queried by suggestions that the Tanzanian top-flight is weak league, an assertion Dube respectfully-disagrees with.
“For me its (the Tanzanian Premier League) is one of the best leagues in Africa” he said.
“Its a competitive league you know and I’m grateful to have come here to play my football. This league is way too up,” Dube added.
The Prince’s exploits at Azam have earned him a new contract extension. – Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Thank you for your letter of 4 June, 2021, concerning the above captioned matter, and whose contents have been noted.
Kindly note. however, that the letter erroneously refers to me as “The Chairperson – Acting Chief Justice”.
On the instructions of the Honourable Chief Justice L. Malaba, please be advised that the Judicial Service Commission has commenced investigations into the matter concerning the meeting you referred to, as well as the concerned judge’s recusal from the case in question. This is being done in accordance with the relevant regulations and procedures.
Kindly also note that the issue of the JSC Secretary Mr Chikwana, deposing to affidavits on behalf of the JSC in various litigation, is currently the subject of an appeal before the Supreme Court.
DIGESTIVE HEALTH 3 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress When You Have IBS Managing stress and anxiety is key to managing your IBS symptoms.
Jordan M. Davidson By Jordan M. Davidson Medically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Last Updated: June 2, 2021 Medically Reviewed
woman meditating and exercising Exercise is a great stress reliever.
If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and you feel an urgent need to go every time your boss pings you, your mother-in-law texts, or your friends change plans at the last minute, it’s time to focus on the stress that could be triggering your symptoms. After all, IBS is a breakdown in the signals the brain sends to the gut and the gut sends back to the brain — and this bodily response can be caused by stress, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).
“Stress increases the hormone cortisol, and it can impact our digestive system,” says Megan Riehl, PsyD, a gastrointestinal psychologist at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.
“People with IBS have trouble down-regulating digestive distress. For example, a person with IBS may feel the digestive process with some gurgling or discomfort and that sets off stress signals and a fear that they will need the bathroom urgently.”
A study published in April 2021 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that participants living with IBS who reported experiencing anxiety and stress were more likely to report more severe symptoms, cycle through more treatments, and say their symptoms negatively impacted their daily life than patients who did not report psychological distress.
“Behavioral treatments for IBS are needed as a complement to medicine to get patients over the finish line,” says Brennan Spiegel, MD a gastroenterologist and the director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “Patients need to develop skills and train their brain to overcome the symptoms of IBS, and that means combating stress.”
So if you’re living with IBS, make sure you’re not neglecting to manage your stress levels, as they can significantly impact your gastrointestinal symptoms. Here are three ways to reduce IBS-related stress.
5 Exercises for IBS Symptom Relief The Ultimate Expert-Approved Diet Plan for a Happier, Less-Stressed You
Get Physical You don’t have to throw down loads of cash at a CrossFit box or jab-jab-cross until you’re sore at a boxing class. Moderate exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and yoga are enough to reduce stress and improve IBS symptoms. A review published in December 2019 in Digestive Diseases and Sciences found that yoga and walking at a brisk pace were equally effective in improving IBS symptoms, and both were more effective than medicine alone.
“Exercise helps boost our endorphins and lower cortisol levels, which means we feel happier and less stressed,” says Dr. Riehl. “That’s when the brain and gut send much more favorable signals to each other.”
The American Psychological Association points out that an exercise habit increases levels of norepinephrine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that helps decrease stress. Exercise also trains the mind to cope with anxiety and panic.
Breathe Deeply Deep breathing is one of Riehl’s go-to techniques when teaching her patients to reduce stress.
“Stress makes for shallow, short breaths,” she says. “When we slow our breathing down, we kick-start the parasympathetic system that calms us down and gives a nice massage to the digestive organs. That reduces spasming and urgency.”
One technique she is particularly fond of is diaphragmatic breathing, which involves slow and deep breathing that affects the brain as well as the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems.
A study published in June 2017 in Frontiers in Psychology divided 40 people into two groups; one control group and one group who received training in diaphragmatic breathing. After eight weeks, the group who received breathing training had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and were less prone to negative emotions.
Gut-Directed Hypnosis Gastrointestinal psychologists have found that gut-directed hypnosis is extremely effective at reducing stress and improving IBS symptoms. In this technique, a trained therapist guides a patient into a focused state of awareness and deep relaxation. Through suggestions and imagery, gut-related hypnosis aims to calm the digestive tract and steer attention away from physical discomfort.
In a study published in the September 2016 issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 72 percent of participants found that their symptoms improved after they followed gut-directed hypnotherapy, and they maintained the improvement for at least six months.
“We need to standardize holistic treatments like gut-directed hypnosis that specifically target the communication of the gut-brain axis,” says Dr. Spiegel.
“When patients have failed everything else, they succeed at this as long as they’re open to trying it,” notes Riehl. “We can develop the skills to stop the brain from perseverating on GI-specific worries. For example, we can start to retrain the mind when someone is always imagining that they will have a bowel accident in public.
“It’s how we identify and think about IBS in our day-to-day life that can make [our symptoms] better or worse,” she adds.-
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Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance Veterans Activists Association(VAA) has castigated the captured justice system in the country.
VAA secretary-general Charles Musimiki, quoted by NewsDay said as a result of the flawed justice system in the country, several political activists were resorting to taking refuge in neighbouring South Africa fearing persecution.
“How can a verdict take over a year to be read out? Our justice system is very much compromised. For a verdict to be passed only after eight years, worse still acquitting the accused, is not injustice alone, but it is incarceration and persecution of innocent civilians which is something never expected in this modern world,” Musimiki told the publication.
“For the record, we are not yet independent as a country because the oppression we fought against what was perpetrated by a few white men is exactly what we see being practised today by our own kith and kin. The draconian laws during the Rhodesian Ian Smith regime are now back but are camouflaged with new titles.
We need a Zimbabwe that treats all Zimbabweans equally irrespective of political, religious or social affiliation,” he added.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has said Luke Malaba is too old to remain in the esteemed office of Chief Justice.
Speaking in an interview with an online publication on Monday, Hon Biti said Malaba should” go home and play with his grandchildren.”
Zanu PF leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa wants Malaba( 70) to remain in office for the next five years.
This, according to Hon Biti, is a gimmick calculated to tilt the 2023 Presidential Election in favour of Mr Mnangagwa.
Malaba and ZEC boss Priscilla Chigumba are accused of influencing the outcome of the 2018 Presidential plebiscite.
“We are ready to defend the Constitution.The reappointment of Luke Malaba by Mr Mnangagwa is unconstitutional.
Malaba cannot continue to occupy such a position at 70. Our message to Malaba is simple, he must simply go home and rest. He should find time to play with his grandchildren,” declared Hon Biti.
” We know their plans- They want to use Malaba to influence the 2023 Presidential Election results.We will not allow that to happen.We will use all the available constitutional avenues to challenge Malaba’s reappointment,” added Hon Biti.
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance Veterans Activists Association(VAA) has castigated the captured justice system in the country.
VAA secretary-general Charles Musimiki, quoted by NewsDay said as a result of the flawed justice system in the country, several political activists were resorting to taking refuge in neighbouring South Africa fearing persecution.
“How can a verdict take over a year to be read out? Our justice system is very much compromised. For a verdict to be passed only after eight years, worse still acquitting the accused, is not injustice alone, but it is incarceration and persecution of innocent civilians which is something never expected in this modern world,” Musimiki told the publication.
“For the record, we are not yet independent as a country because the oppression we fought against what was perpetrated by a few white men is exactly what we see being practised today by our own kith and kin. The draconian laws during the Rhodesian Ian Smith regime are now back but are camouflaged with new titles.
We need a Zimbabwe that treats all Zimbabweans equally irrespective of political, religious or social affiliation,” he added.
By A Correspondent- Freed MDC activist Tungamirai Madzokere carried a broken figure as he narrated how he only got to know his wife had abandoned their matrimonial home eight months ago.
Dejected and seemingly out of sorts, Madzokere who alongside colleague Last Maengahama spent eight years in prison, showed journalists pictures of happier moments with his wife including those taken during his time in prison.
The two were acquitted by the Supreme Court last Friday and were released from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison the same afternoon.
They were serving a 20-year prison term each, on charges of murdering a police officer Petros Mutedza in 2011.
Addressing journalists at Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) offices in Harare, Monday Madzokere said he was hurt as he had not committed any crime.
“When I was convicted, I was hurt because I knew I had not committed this crime, but I just told myself I was not the first one to be jailed especially considering the regime we are under,” Madzokere told the media.
“I accepted my fate and found solace in the solidarity I was given by party members, friends and family. However, my joy was short-lived when I got home after my release and found my wife had gone. She left home eight months ago. Those are some of the consequences of unlawful detention.
“She stood by me for a long time. We loved each other, we even considered having a white wedding while I was in prison, but we later suspended that. I do not blame her. She was a young wife, maybe she lost hope and probably wanted a happier marriage. When I got home she was not around, and she took all the household property. I do not even know where to start. As you can see I am very down.
“I am yet to get access to my children. I expected to get home and at least be happy again, but family members said they could not tell me while I was still incarcerated as they felt it could affect me,’ he added.
Meanwhile, Madzokere and Maengahama said they were yet to decide on their next move following their release from prison last Friday.
However, according to their lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, indications are that the duo is likely to sue the state, arresting and investigating police officers for lying under oath in court.
Added Madzokere:
“I was very happy to know we had been acquitted and I would like to express my gratitude to our lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Charles Kwaramba, Gift Mtisi, and Jeremiah Bamu. If they had been around during the First Chimurenga War, Mbuya Nehanda would not have been hanged.”
While in prison, Madzokere managed to further his studies and now holds a diploma in public relations, and is in his final semester, studying for an honors degree in development studies.
He is also set to publish three books he wrote while in unlawful detention, and during the time he served as a voluntary ‘O’ Level sociology teacher to prison inmates and was the Chikurubi Prison Football Association’s chairperson.
By A Correspondent- A South African woman has given birth to 10 babies, breaking the Guinness World Record held by Malian Halima Cissé who gave birth to nine children in Morocco last month.
Gosiame Thamara Sithole (37) from Gauteng Province gave birth to her decuplets at a hospital in Pretoria on Monday night, her husband Teboho Tsotetsi confirmed.
The doctors had earlier detected 8 babies during the medical scans and were surprised when the woman delivered 10.
Tsotetsi said Sithole, who hails from Tembisa Township in Ekurhuleni, delivered her seven boys and three girls by Caesarean section.
Sithole, who has six-year-old twins, previously told the Pretoria News that her pregnancy was natural as she was not on fertility treatment.
Speaking to the Pretoria News last night, Tsotetsi said Sithole gave birth to their bundles of joy 29 weeks into her pregnancy.
In an interview at their family home in Tembisa last month, Sithole said doctors told her earlier this year that she was expecting six children (sextuplets).
Further scans showed that it was in fact octuplets as two others could not be detected initially because they were inside the wrong tube. Sithole said:
I am shocked by my pregnancy. It was tough at the beginning. I was sick. It was hard for me. It’s still tough but I am used to it now. I don’t feel the pain anymore, but it’s still a bit tough.
I just pray for God to help me deliver all my children in a healthy condition, and for me and my children to come out alive. I would be pleased about it.
… Initially, there were six children. Only to find that the other two were in the wrong tube. My legs were painful.
The doctors did further scans and they found the children were in the wrong tube. That was sorted and I have been okay since then.
I can’t wait for my children. We have already given them names.
Sithole is employed as a retail store manager while her husband Tsotetsi, is unemployed.
By A Correspondent- A 16-year-old boy died on the spot when he was hit by a car while pulling sugarcane from a moving haulage truck along Ngundu-Tanganda Road.
Vincent Pepukai, who suffered multiple head injuries and was declared dead on the spot was hit by a Toyota Dyna near the 104km-peg towards Chiredzi on May 29.
Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa has confirmed the incident and said the deceased was knocked down after pulling sugar cane from a moving haulage truck that was headed towards west.
“Pepukai was hit by a Toyota Dyna that was approaching 104km peg towards Chiredzi. The driver lost control and swerved to the left and stopped but the boy had already died on the spot due to continuous bleeding and multiple head injuries.
“Pedestrians should always be careful on the road and be cautious to avoid fatalities,”said Dhewa.
The deceased was taken to Chiredzi General Hospital for post mortem and the vehicle was taken to Chiredzi VID for inspection since it had damages and deformed on the right front.
By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Monday officially reopened St Anne’s Hospital in Avondale, Harare.
St Anne’s Hospital was closed in February 2016 for repairs and maintenance and in 2020 it was converted into a COVID-19 treatment facility.
Speaking during the ceremony, VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe’s health challenges require homegrown solutions. He said:
I am very much aware of the contribution of St Anne’s Hospital to the Health Care System in Zimbabwe.
I say this because it is our responsibility as a Ministry to ensure that our people: fathers, mothers, our sons and daughters have access to quality Health Care services.
I want to acknowledge the services that have been rendered by this Medical institution for the past eighty years, and most recently at the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, it was providential that repairs and maintenance at the hospital were near completion, and as Government was grappling with the global pandemic, St Anne’s joined in sharing the burden with other Health Care Institutions in the country.
VO Chiwenga added that the hospital has given birth to several hospitals which include Mt. St. Marys in Hwedza, St Peters Mission hospital at Checheche, Murambinda Mission Hospital in Buhera and Mashambanzou Care Trust in Waterfalls among others.
Meanwhile, Sister Mary Mugodzeri, Little Company of Mary representative said they were grateful for the Vice President’s immense contribution in the Health sector and in their institution.
Byy A Correspondent- Scores of prospective drivers in Marondera and other stations countrywide are stranded after the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) ran out stationery to produce the licences.
The crisis has reportedly gone for more than a month with a number of depots having stopped conducting provisional driver’s licence tests due to non-availability of the yellow paper.
VID director Joseph Pedzapasi yesterday confirmed the stationery challenges, but said the issue would be rectified next week.
“It is true that we have that challenge. Our printers, Printflow, did not deliver the stationery due to a payment issue. We have since paid them and the problem will be rectified this week and the stationery will be made available,” Pedzapasi said.
A visit by NewsDay to the VID Marondera depot revealed that there was no stationery for provisional driver’s licences, with driving school instructors advising their clients to travel to Harare for the service.
One of Marondera’s leading driving school owners, who refused to be named, said VID had not been issuing the provisional driver’s licences for more than a month.
“It is a crisis, there is no stationery, that yellow paper is not there. It is now one-and-a-half months without them issuing provisional driver’s licences. We are urging our students to go and book in Harare where there is a computerised system. However, most are yet to be acquainted with the new technology, which is a challenge,” the official said.
NewsDay gathered that other VID depots that have run out of paper included Mutare, Rusape and Chinhoyi and were not conducting provisional driver’s licence examinations.
The VID has adopted a computerised system for provisional driver’s licence tests in some of its depots to curb corruption.
Some of the depots are, however, still conducting the examinations manually.
By A Correpondent- Selmor Mtukudzi’s social media posts at the weekend about the hardships faced by artists have rattled the ruling ZANU PF party.
Selmor, the heiress to the Tuku Music legacy, expressed her displeasure with the government’s apparent lack of care for struggling artists during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Selmor took to Twitter to express concern over Zimbabwean authorities’ silence while artistes are languishing in poverty.
The post came after her live shows dubbed Remembering Tuku held on May 29 and 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in honour of her late father and national hero, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi.
Selmor wrote:
This is the first time in the years I have been performing outside Zimbabwe that I have felt sad to be coming back home.
Please Mr President ED Mnangagwa, don’t let us artistes be destitute in our own land.
Let’s copy what South Africa is doing and allow us to work for our families.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the showbiz sector has remained closed, throwing most artists into abject poverty.
In a bid to stave off poverty, a number of local artistes have been flocking to South Africa for live performances.
ZANU PF director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi felt Selmor was being disrespectful to Mnangagwa.
He said:
We have taken note of concerns by music artistes who have registered their plea for a waiver in the arts sector to ensure they are cushioned in these COVID-19 measures. We will be engaging leaders about the issue of a waiver.
However, we opine that our colleagues in the arts sector must learn to engage with authorities and express themselves respectfully rather than through insults.
Football authorities set an example and signed themselves to strict conditions in light of this pandemic. Now they are on.
Hazvidi kutukana kusina maturo (we should not needlessly insult each other). This is a new dispensation.
The Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe recently met with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire and deliberated on issues affecting them and the sector at large in the COVID-19 environment.
After the meeting, Machakaire gave assurances that he would forward their proposals to the relevant authorities, but is yet to give feedback.
By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza Police Camp has reportedly been without power for two weeks after power utility ZESA switched it off over non-payment of bills.
Sources at the residential flats for police officers, most of whom work in Harare, saying residents have gone for days without water as the boreholes that supply water to households are not functioning.
The police officers said they were not happy with their superiors for failing to act and with ZESA for disconnecting them. A police officer is quoted as saying:
There are now political connotations to it. It is reportedly said that police are blocking demos and the people are saying they should also suffer and feel what everyone is going through.
This is the first time in all these years and we now wonder whether it is not to embarrass the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa).
Police have reportedly threatened to impound unroadworthy ZESA vehicles in retaliation.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he would check with the relevant authorities.
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo based Zanu PF youth league member has filed a Constitutional Court application seeking an order nullifying a ruling by three High Court judges that sought to disqualify Chief Justice Luke Malaba from office.
Marx Mupungu (30) is the applicant and Professor Lovemore Madhuku’s Law firm is representing him.
He filed the application on Friday and in terms of Section 175(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013, as read with Rule 31(5) of Constitutional Court Rules, 20I6.
Mupungu listed Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Judicial Service Commission, Musa Kika, Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe, Fredrick Charles Moses Mutanda, Attorney General Mr Prince Machaya and President Mnangagwa as 1st to 7th respondents respectively.
