By Dorrothy Moyo | The government has threatened to totally suffocate striking teachers disconnecting them from their legal right to protest.
The development comes as teachers are being paid less than USD100 per month amid other employment constraints.
Announcing during a cabinet briefing, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said:
“Government reiterates that it will strictly apply the no-work no-pay labour principle to all cases of teacher absenteeism, and the responsible ministry (Primary and Secondary Education) has compiled and submitted a list of teachers who did not conduct lessons in March to the Public Service Commission.
“The April list is being compiled. Meanwhile, learner attendance across the country remained the same as recorded last week,” Mutsvangwa announced.
Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime is on a dangerous warpath, MDC Alliance vice president Hon Lynette Karenyi-Kore has said.
VP Karenyi-Kore condemned the arrest of Youth Assembly leader Obey Sithole.
Sithole was arrested in central Harare on Monday.
“Zanu PF is on a Dangerous War Path- Arresting MDC Alliance Leaders. Yesterday the Arrested MDC Alliance Youth Chair, Obey Sithole.
While we Won Colonial independence we are far From True Independence. But they will never break our will, we will keep fighting for a better Zimbabwe,” said VP Karenyi-Kore.
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora’s political formation is a cosmetic party that dines with the oppressor, MDC Alliance Assembly of Women spokesperson, Barbara Gwangwara- Tanyanyiwa has said.
Responding to Tapiwa Mashakada’s article on the political situation in Zimbabwe, Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa described the Mwonzora political formation as a direct extension of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF.
Mashakada’s feeble attempt to portray Mwonzora as a political saint has angered social media users.
“Mwonzora is fake, President Chamisa is genuine.
Keep on dreaming, your party is a sweetheart opposition that dines with the oppressor.
We are genuine trade unionists and we will stand with President Chamisa,” said Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa.
A 16-year-old boy from Beitbridge East allegedly attacked a 53-year-old woman from his village on Friday with a log, then raped her while she lay dying, bleeding from the head, and then stole R1 700.
Maria Gumbo later died and her remains were discovered lying in a pool of blood by her elder sister who then informed other villagers and the matter was reported to the police who took him into custody with help from villagers.
The boy allegedly committed the crime at around 7am.
Police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said the teenager was arrested on Sunday by villagers who handed him over to police.
“We managed to arrest him with the assistance of community members and from the stolen money, we recovered R1 540. The matter is now under investigation,” said Chief Supt Nyongo.
Ms Gumbo’s body has since been taken to Beitbridge District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
A source close to the case said Ms Gumbo had four deep cuts in the head and her body was found lying face down, some 500 metres from her homestead.
“The deceased was discovered lying in a pool of blood by her elder sister around 2pm along a footpath. The elder sister had left Gumbo around 7am when she proceeded to Dite dip tank with her herd of cattle and came back home at around 2pm,” said the source.
Police recovered two blood-stained logs next to Ms Gumbo’s body and there was evidence of some struggle 50 metres away from where the body was lying.
The incident comes a few weeks after a 75-year-old man from the Whunga area in Beitbridge West under Chief Tshitaudze reportedly went berserk at the height of an unknown dispute with his live-in partner Violet Ncube (57), and chopped her to death using a machete and an axe.
Sitoboli Maluko is said to have killed the woman, while his 16-year-old step son watched in shock.
After committing the murder, Maluko hanged himself using a rope on a tree near the crime scene.- The Herald
By A Corresponded- Zimbabwe is sitting on an ivory stockpile of one hundred and thirty tonnes, and losing millions of dollars as it fails to sell the ivory owing to sanctions imposed on Harare by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The state media reports that because of this ban revenue to support conservation programmes was depleting.
“We have 130 tonnes of ivory locked up while there are also two thousand rhino horns that we cannot sell because of the ban effected through Cites. Our revenues are severely affected and this obviously will impact on our abilities to conduct conservation programmes,” Dr Fulton Mangwanya, Director-General Zimparks told the state media.
The sanctions were imposed after serious corruption was reported within the management of rhinos and elephants by the ruling party.
By A Correspondent- MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is giving Zanu PF sleepless nights as evidenced by the clueless ruling party mentioning of his name on its every meeting.
Every time Zanu PF meets or discusses any issues with the media, the party throws in Chamisa’s name.
On Monday the panicking political grouping, through its Chief Executive, Obert Mpofu lied to the nation that the entire opposition was pleading with them for salvation.
“In fact, people must be ready for a massive exodus from the opposition,” he told the state media.
“We have been approached by individuals from all sections of the opposition who are disgruntled. In no time, you will be shocked with the numbers of many who will come to the altar of the revolution,” said Mpofu.
By A Correspondent- Munashe Chikomba (22) appeared at York Crown Court via video link on Monday when he admitted attempted robbery, possessing an offensive weapon, and carrying a knife.
The raid occurred at Summerbridge Stores, a village outlet on Main Street, on March 27.
Chikomba’s lawyer, Khadmin Al’Hassan said it was “very bizarre” that his “softly-spoken” client should commit such an act and asked for the case to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, said: “He’s never been in trouble before – it’s a bizarre thing to do.”
The judge agreed to adjourn sentence for a probation report but warned Chikomba “not to read (anything) into this adjournment” because “this is a serious matter”.
Chikomba, of Cardigan Road, Headingley, Leeds, was remanded in custody until sentence on June 2 after pleading guilty to attempting to rob a named male shop worker, two counts of carrying an offensive weapon and one count of having a bladed article in a public place.
By A Correspondent- The country has reported three more Covid-19 related deaths and 16 new cases in the last 24-hours bringing the total number of cases to 38 102.
The vaccination programme is continuing countrywide with 428 844 people having been vaccinated against Covid-19 as of yesterday. A total of 353 834 people received the first dose while 57 776 got the second jab.
The seven-day rolling average for new cases fell to 34 yesterday from 48.
All the 16 new cases are local transmissions.
So far, the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Zimbabwe now stands at 1 560 while the national recovery rate stands at 92,2 percent.
A total of 1 495 PCR tests were conducted yesterday and positivity was 1,07 percent.
As of April 25, 2021 at 3PM, there were 36 people who were hospitalised of which three were admitted in intensive care units (ICU) while 13 had mild to moderate symptoms. Seven patients had severe symptoms while 13 was asymptomatic.
Midlands, Masvingo, Mashonaland West, United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), Wilkins, St Annes and Arundel did not report yesterday.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the highest number of seven cases was recorded in Matabeleland North followed by Bulawayo with three cases. Harare and Mashonaland East had two cases each. Midlands and Mashonaland Central each recorded one case.
“As of April 26, 2021, Zimbabwe, has now recorded 38 102 confirmed cases, 35 149 recoveries and 1 560 deaths,” reads the statement.
“Twenty-six new recoveries were reported and the national recovery rate stands at 92,2 percent and active case go down to 1 393 today.”
So far, Bulawayo province has recorded 5 629 cases 5 279 recoveries, 127 active cases and 223 deaths.
By A Correspondent- This is what he posted on his twitter account
This AirForce of Zimbabwe Lady helicopter pilot is Flight-Lieutenant Mapiye. She flew us to Karanda yesterday. We celebrate this Officer who is the first Lady helicopter pilot of AFZ. Yes, they can.
By A Correspondent- Three children under the age of 12 were killed in separate road traffic accidents which occurred on the same day in Zvishavane and Kwekwe.
Two children coming from school died after being hit by a vehicle while on their way from school.
“It is confirmed that three children, two aged 11 years and the other aged 4 years died in two separate road accidents which occurred on Monday in Zvishavane and Kwekwe respectively,” he said.
Insp Mahoko said in the first incident one Fundile Moyo (28) of Luveve, Bulawayo was driving a Honda Fit motor vehicle along Harare – Bulawayo road with four passengers on board.
“On approaching 196km peg he lost control and the motor vehicle veered off the road and overturned. Blessing Moyo a girl aged 4 years who was among the passengers was thrown out of the motor vehicle through the window. She sustained head injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kwekwe District Hospital. Two other passengers also sustained injuries and are admitted in Kwekwe District Hospital,” he said.
The second incident – Insp Mahoko said occurred along Masvingo – Mbalabala road in Zvishavane.
He said Phillip Dube (21) of Izayi Park in Zvishavane was driving a Toyota Fun cargo motor vehicle with no passengers.
“On approaching the 94 km peg, he attempted to overtake another vehicle which was in front. In the process he struck two children who were on their way from school, Tinotenda Anderson and Definate Chikava both aged 11 years. They both sustained head injuries and were rushed to Zvishavane District Hospital where they were pronounced dead upon arrival,” said Insp Mahoko.
He said both accidents are suspected to have been due to over speeding and a possible failure to keep proper look out on the road and its environs on the part of the drivers.
” It is sad that lives of children were lost in these circumstances. Drivers are reminded to always bear in mind that it is their duty to guard against accidents of any nature and promote safety on the roads,” said Insp Mahoko.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- The proprietor of Bensam Flats in Gweru CBD — where a local businessman Peter Dube allegedly shot four people, killing two of them instantly last Friday — has kicked out the victims’ families.
Dube (35), a car dealer, has been in hiding since he allegedly shot and killed his second wife’s alleged lover, Shelton Chinhango, also a car dealer based in Kwekwe and Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30) of Gweru.
He also allegedly shot and injured his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Nyaradzo (34).
One of the tenants at the flats told Chronicle on condition of anonymity that the landlord visited the premises on Sunday night and ordered Nyasha and her family to move out. Said the tenant:
The landlord came last night and ordered Nyasha’s family out. He was in a no-nonsense mood. Nyasha, remember was planning to vacate the flat which Peter Dube was renting for her. We don’t know where they went but it was bad.
Nyasha is admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital where her condition is said to be stable as she is out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is recuperating in a female surgical ward.
Her sister was supposed to be operated on last night to remove a bullet lodged in her head.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa Mawere has hit hard times with his R2 million luxury apartment in Sandton set to go under the hammer over his failure to service his bond with a local bank.
Mawere left for South Africa after corruption investigations started against him when his former company, Shabanie Mashava Mines, came under Government scrutiny and he was accused of prejudicing the State of over Z$300 billion.
His mining assets were eventually frozen and the authorities took over the running of his mining firm.
By A Correspondent- Beitbridge town is battling with raw sewerage with the border town now requiring US$382 000 to fix the problem.
Beitbridge town clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola, told the state media that they were mobilising resources to address service delivery deficiencies.
“We have long-term plans to improve issues of service delivery and so far we need a total of US$382 000 so that we can be able to upgrade the current sewer reticulation facilities,” he said.
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Chairman, Obey Tererai Sithole will spend another night in police custody following a stern order from ZANU PF headquarters that police must cook more charges to nail him.
Cde Luther as Sithole is widely known was picked up yesterday by police as he was coming out of Rotten Row Magistrate Courts in Harare.
Initially the police had intended to hand him a trumped up criminal nuisance charge which was dismissed by ZANU PF authorities as a soft charge.
As the police were about to present him in court today, they received a strange call from ZANU PF headquarters to return Sithole to Harare Central Police station.
The police were ordered to come up with a better cooked up charge to nail Chairman Luther.
ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa is on record boasting that they are everything, “… the police, judiciary, the army…”.
This new low by the regime only proves that ZRP is now an extension of ZANU PF that further interests of that political party.
As the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly, we would like to warn Mnangagwa that he risks suffering the same fate of past dictators like Idi Amin Dada and Mobutu Sese Seko if he continues on this senseless onslaught on young people.
Forewarned its forearmed!
Our commander can not be held at ransom under the whims of a political party.
DefyOrDie
Agenda2021
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
By A Correspondent- The former Vice President Kembo Mohadi’ s Beitbridge home town is struggling with the overwhelmed sewerage system.
Beitbridge town clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola, told the state media that they were mobilising resources to address this service delivery deficiency.
“We have long-term plans to improve issues of service delivery and so far we need a total of US$382 000 so that we can be able to upgrade the current sewer reticulation facilities,” he said.
By James Gwati-Zanu-PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa is regretting the November 2017 military coup which placed in power.
Mnangagwa in 2017 betrayed and booted out his long time ally the late former President Mugabe’s administration from power through a military coup.
Mnangagwa’s regrets were expressed by his party’s secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu yesterday when he invited back to the party the displaced Mugabe’s G-40 members.
“We have not shut the door for anyone interested in being part of the revolutionary train. The party just requires our deportees from the political oblivion to stand the test of loyalty and discipline to be welcome back to the mother party, Zanu PF.
“His Excellency President Mnangagwa who is the First The Secretary of the party has made it clear that Zanu PF is too big, a pocket with the capacity to “pocket us” all as long as we are loyal to the creed of the struggle and it’s a true meaning to our patriotic existentialism. The door is wide open,” said Mpofu.
By James, Gwati-The panicking Zanu-PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reached out to the former President Robert Mugabe’s allies and said that they were welcome to join him.
Mnangagwa in 2017 betrayed and booted out his long time ally the late former President Mugabe’s administration through a military coup.
His party’s secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu yesterday said they wanted Mugabe’s G-40 members back.
“We have not shut the door for anyone interested in being part of the revolutionary train. The party just requires our deportees from the political oblivion to stand the test of loyalty and discipline to be welcome back to the mother party, Zanu PF.
“His Excellency President Mnangagwa who is the First The Secretary of the party has made it clear that Zanu PF is too big, a pocket with the capacity to “pocket us” all as long as we are loyal to the creed of the struggle and it’s a true meaning to our patriotic existentialism. The door is wide open,” said Mpofu.
Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime is on a dangerous warpath, MDC Alliance vice president Hon Lynette Karenyi-Kore has said.
VP Karenyi-Kore condemned the arrest of Youth Assembly leader Obey Sithole.
Sithole was arrested in central Harare on Monday.
“Zanu PF is on a Dangerous War Path- Arresting MDC Alliance Leaders. Yesterday the Arrested MDC Alliance Youth Chair, Obey Sithole.
While we Won Colonial independence we are far From True Independence. But they will never break our will, we will keep fighting for a better Zimbabwe,” said VP Karenyi-Kore.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that he is working tirelessly to unite the people of Zimbabwe.
Speaking during an interview with CITE News at the weekend, President Chamisa said:
Zanu PF is in panic mode, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa himself has created his own opposition in a bid to decimate the MDC Alliance but the truth is that we are unstoppable.
Let me say Mr Mnangagwa has done a lot to help us rebuild the party.He thinks he is destroying us yet he is strengthening us.
My focus is on uniting the nation.Mr Mnangagwa knows we are the alternative and he is having nightmares because of our rising influence.
Lets be ready to fight for our rights, let’s be ready to fight for our freedom.
We represent light and they (Zanu PF bigwigs) represent darkness.
We are our own liberators, there is darkness before dawn..
Let’s be ready to celebrate our victory,” said President Chamisa.
He added:” We have realized that there are people who think that the struggle is about seeking to satisfy personal desires.
We will revisit our candidate selection processes.”
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that he is working tirelessly to unite the people of Zimbabwe.
Speaking during an interview with CITE News at the weekend, President Chamisa said:
Zanu PF is in panic mode, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa himself has created his own opposition in a bid to decimate the MDC Alliance but the truth is that we are unstoppable.
Let me say Mr Mnangagwa has done a lot to help us rebuild the party.He thinks he is destroying us yet he is strengthening us.
My focus is on uniting the nation.Mr Mnangagwa knows we are the alternative and he is having nightmares because of our rising influence.
Lets be ready to fight for our rights, let’s be ready to fight for our freedom.
We represent light and they (Zanu PF bigwigs) represent darkness.
We are our own liberators, there is darkness before dawn..
Let’s be ready to celebrate our victory,” said President Chamisa.
He added:” We have realized that there are people who think that the struggle is about seeking to satisfy personal desires.
We will revisit our candidate selection processes.”
Bayern Munich have confirmed that RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann will join the club in July to replace Hansi Flick.
33-year old Nagelsmann, who is regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the world, signed a five-year contract with the German giants.
A statement by the Bavarians reads: “FC Bayern have appointed Julian Nagelsmann as their new head coach. The Bavarian-born 33-year-old will move to Munich from RB Leipzig on 1 July 2021 ahead of the new season, signing a five-year-contract with the German record champions until 30 June 2026.
“This comes after FC Bayern agreed to current head coach Hansi Flick’s request to have his contract terminated on 30 June 2021, two years earlier than its original expiry date.”
Meanwhile, Flick is set to take over the reins at the Germany national team from Joachim Low after the Euro 2020 tournament set for June.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent | The notorious so called preacher, Panganai Java has shot a video of himself purportedly prophesying in tongues saying Emmerson Mnangagwa will make money with baobab trees.
Over 3 years ago, scientists predicted that Southern Africa’s baobabs could generate USD1 billion in annual revenue.
Teko Modise says it’s sad to see Khama Billiat picking another injury at the time he is trying to reach his full potential.
Billiat suffered an ankle knock during Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday. The setback came a few weeks after he recovered from a leg fracture which kept him out for three months since January.
Speaking on SuperSport TV, as cited by Goal, Modise explained how Khama’s absence will weigh heavy on Chiefs squad if the midfielder is confined on the sidelines for a long period.
”It’s sad to see a player of his quality come from an injury, and get [another injury], knowing exactly that the team needs him so much,” Modise, who is now retired from playing football, said in his role as a SuperSport TV analyst.
“And I think when he is on the pitch, there’s that level of energy within the Kaizer Chiefs team.
“Because one, so much attention comes to [Billiat], it frees other players as well. Two, he shares the responsibility with [Samir] Nurkovic and [Leonardo] Castro and Lebogang Manyama.
“His understanding with Lebo Manyama as well, he brings a different dimension into the Kaizer Chiefs side and I’m sure Gavin Hunt is very disappointed.”- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Hardlife Zvirekwi says he hasn’t retired from playing football and is hoping to remain active for few more years.
The midfielder is currently a free agent after CAPS United offloaded him last year.
The 33-year old had spent almost seven years at the Green Machine and lifted the Championship in 2016 as well as finishing in the group stages of the CAF Champions League in 2017.
He was also named the Soccer Star of the Year for the 2016 season.
However, his career suffered a knock when he was involved in a car crash in March 2019 and got his left hand amputated from the wrist.
He returned to action during that same year but his time at CAPS United didn’t last long.
Speaking to The Herald, Zvirekwi said he is also looking to start acquiring his coaching bedges.
“I haven’t retired yet but I am not attached to any club at the moment,” he said.
“The position hasn’t changed as yet, I still want to play football, probably for a few more seasons.
“While playing the game, I would also want to supplement my coaching badges, as well.”- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Al Ahly have confirmed that Pitso Mosimane will remain their coach, dismissing reports linking the gaffer with a return to South Africa.
Mosimane is said to be among the shortlisted candidates for the post of head coach of Bafana Bafana.
But according to the Egyptian side’s director of football Sayed Abdel-Hafiz, they haven’t received any formal communication from SAFA regarding the coach’s future with the national team.
“Al Ahly haven’t received anything official regarding Pitso Mosimane,” Abdel-Hafiz was quoted as saying by Kingfut.
“Mosimane has settled his future and confirmed that he will continue with Al Ahly in the upcoming period.”
The other candidates vying for the Bafana Bafana post are Frenchman Herve Renard, Portuguese national Carlos Queiroz and Belgian Hugo Broos.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Gavin Hunt, Manqoba Mngqithi, Benni McCarthy and Eric Tinkler have also been linked with the job but SAFA is said to be interested in a foreign coach.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that he is working tirelessly to unite the people of Zimbabwe.
Speaking during an interview with CITE News at the weekend, President Chamisa said:
Zanu PF is in panic mode, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa himself has created his own opposition in a bid to decimate the MDC Alliance but the truth is that we are unstoppable.
Let me say Mr Mnangagwa has done a lot to help us rebuild the party.He thinks he is destroying us yet he is strengthening us.
My focus is on uniting the nation.Mr Mnangagwa knows we are the alternative and he is having nightmares because of our rising influence.
Lets be ready to fight for our rights, let’s be ready to fight for our freedom.
We represent light and they (Zanu PF bigwigs) represent darkness.
We are our own liberators, there is darkness before dawn..
Let’s be ready to celebrate our victory,” said President Chamisa.
He added:” We have realized that there are people who think that the struggle is about seeking to satisfy personal desires.
We will revisit our candidate selection processes.”
COVID-19 continues to disrupt essential health services in 90% of countries
COVID-19 continues to disrupt essential health services in 90% of countries
Some signs of recovery emerging but major efforts required to restore and strengthen health services
The second round of a World Health Organization “pulse survey“ reveals that over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, substantial disruptions persist, with about 90% of countries still reporting one or more disruptions to essential health services, marking no substantial global change since the first survey conducted in the summer of 2020.
Within countries, however, the magnitude and extent of disruptions has generally decreased. In 2020, countries reported that, on average, about half of essential health services were disrupted. In the first 3 months of 2021, however, they reported progress, with just over one third of services now being disrupted.
Overcoming disruptions
Countries have been working to mitigate disruptions. Many have now stepped up communications efforts to inform the public about changes to service delivery and provide advice about ways to safely seek health care. They are also triaging to identify and better meet the most urgent patient needs.
More than half the countries consulted say they have recruited additional staff to boost the health workforce; redirected patients to other care facilities; and switched to alternative methods to delivering care, such as providing more home-based services, multi-month prescriptions for treatments, and increasing the use of telemedicine.
In addition, WHO and its partners have been helping countries to adapt their processes so they can better respond to the challenges being placed on their health systems; strengthen primary health care, and advance universal health coverage.
“It is encouraging to see that countries are beginning to build back their essential health services, but much remains to be done,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO. “The survey highlights the need to intensify efforts and take additional steps to close gaps and strengthen services. It will be especially important to monitor the situation in countries that were struggling to provide health services before the pandemic.“
Persisting causes of disruptions
Countries are still having to make important decisions when responding to COVID-19 that may negatively affect access to care for other health issues. Redeployment of staff to provide COVID-19 relief and temporary closures of health facilities and services continue.
Although they may have taken on new staff, 66% of countries continue to report health workforce-related reasons as the most common causes of service disruptions.
Supply chains are also still disrupted in nearly one third of countries, affecting the availability of essential medicines, diagnostics, and the PPE needed to safely and effectively provide care.
Communications efforts need to be further scaled up: more than half of countries report service disruptions due to patients not seeking care and because of community mistrust and fears of becoming infected.
Meanwhile, 43% of countries cite financial challenges as major causes for disruptions in service utilization.
As a result, millions of people are still missing out on vital health care. In terms of services, the biggest impact reported by nearly half of countries is on provision of day-to-day primary care to prevent and manage some of the most common health problems. Long-term care for chronic conditions, rehabilitation, and palliative end-of-life care, is also still badly disrupted – severely affecting older people and people living with disabilities.
Potentially life-saving emergency, critical and surgical care interventions are still disrupted in about 20% of countries, reflecting the most immediate indirect consequences of the pandemic. Two thirds of countries also report disruptions in elective surgeries, with accumulating consequences as the pandemic is prolonged.
Among the most extensively affected health services (i.e. those for which more than 40% of countries are reporting disruptions) are those for mental, neurological and substance use disorders; neglected tropical diseases; tuberculosis; HIV and hepatitis B and C; cancer screening, and services for other noncommunicable diseases including hypertension and diabetes; family planning and contraception; urgent dental care; and malnutrition.
Issued ahead of World Immunization Week (which starts 24 April) and World Malaria Day (25 April) the survey reveals that serious gaps also remain in addressing disruptions to services in both these areas.More than one third of countries are still reporting disruptions to immunization services, despite progress in countries reducing disruptions to immunization services in health facilities and “outreach” immunization services by about 20% and 30% respectively compared to 2020. This highlights the need for new and sustained approaches to improving immunization coverage and uptake.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose serious challenges to global health beyond the impact of the disease itself,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “For children, disruptions to immunization services have serious consequences. As we scale up delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, we have to ensure that this does not come at the cost of essential childhood vaccinations. We cannot allow today’s fight against COVID-19 to undermine our fight against measles, polio or other vaccine preventable illnesses. Prolonged immunization disruptions will have long-term consequences for children’s health. The time to catch up is now.”
Meanwhile, nearly 40% of countries are also reporting disruptions to one or more malaria services. While progress compared to 2020 – with about 10% fewer countries reporting disruptions to malaria diagnosis and treatment and 25-33% fewer countries reporting disruptions to malaria prevention campaigns (including distribution of long-lasting insecticide impregnated bed nets, indoor spraying and seasonal malaria chemoprevention), the reported level of disruption is still significant and needs to be urgently addressed.
WHO will continue to support countries so they can respond to increased strains on health systems and rapidly evolving priorities and needs throughout the course of the pandemic, and to ensure that COVID-19 control strategies are in balance strategies to tackle other health priorities and secure continued access to comprehensive care for everyone, including the most vulnerable.
Key support mechanisms include the ACT-Accelerator, which works to speed up equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments, and the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which guides actions taken at national, regional, and global levels to tackle COVID-19.
The Organization also remains focused on the delivery of the work it has committed to before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Internally, through the “Boost initiative” and the UHC Partnership, which covers 115 countries, WHO has strengthened its capacity to provide additional support to countries so they can maintain essential health services during the pandemic, and advance progress towards universal health coverage.
Source: World Health Organization
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Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime has conjured up a subtle ploy calculated to discourage citizens from registering to vote.
This was said by MDC Alliance Namibia in a statement on the current political crisis in Zimbabwe.
According to the MDC Alliance Namibia, Zanu PF has devised sinister ways meant to block urban voters from participating in the 2023 polls.
Read full statement below:
“Voting is your civic duty”,Mdc Alliance Namibia urges all social democrats across the globe to REGISTER to VOTE and CONSTITUTIONALLY DEFEND the VOTE.
27 April 2021
The arbitrary arrests, torture, gross misgovernance, intimidation, pre-trial detentions, illegal convictions and all forms of injustices are an attempt to suppress the vote and bring cynicism and disillusionment in the voters ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.
The arrest of our pragmatic Youth Assembly Commander Obey ‘Luther’ Sithole yesterday outside the Magistrates Court is a clear sign of Zanupf’s panic ahead of the impending elections. Mdc Alliance Namibia is quite aware that the incessant illegal torture and imprisonment of our Youths and other leaders is a futile trial to discourage our people from fighting for comprehensive political and electoral reforms as a fulfilment of our smart #ReformAgenda aimed at creating an even political arena for credible, free and fair elections in 2023.
It is clear that the future of this nation is in the hands of Constitutional Democrats and the Youths through their revolutionary mandate to Register to vote in huge numbers to avert rigging. We encourage Mdc Alliance leaders and membership in and outside the country to work extraordinarily hard to recruit more supporters who will vote ninefold than in 2018 elections to decimate Zanupf electoral Shenanigans, and outcompete their rigging antics by having millions of the novel, enthusiastic voters hence defeating voter fatigue and apathy. We must register first, and then fight for political and electoral reforms. The banning of by-elections by Zanupf morons is a clear testimony that the clueless Zanupf has grown scared of a massive voter registration campaign because it will make rigging a mammoth task for these perpetual electoral fraudsters.
Our appeal to fellow Zimbabweans is for them to ‘please’,Go and Register to vote in order to halt senseless looting and corruption. Despite our diaspora vote being a non-negotiable right! We advise our membership to Go and Register in Zimbabwe whilst we are fighting for the Diaspora Vote. What Zimbabweans should know is that participating in elections is one of the key freedoms obtained from the liberation struggle therefore citizens must participate in the national discourse. Through the recently launched #OneMillionCampaign which targets more than one million virgin voters, we shall overcome voter suppression. Voter suppression is a strategy to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging or preventing people from exercising their right to vote through intimidation and torture.
Moreover, it must be crystal clear to social democrats that elections require considerable involvement by the sensitive and sane population,and it takes some time to develop the cultural habit of voting ,and the associated understanding of and confidence in the electoral process. Issues of class, ethnicity and race should not be allowed to negatively affect our voting patterns. Lets register in our astonishing numbers to win Zimbabwe for complete change. Mdc Alliance Namibia comprehends that there are cultural factors that affect us as voters such as : lack of trust in the satanic Zanupf government, the varied degrees of partisanship among the population, interest in politics and one’s belief in the efficacy of voting. We should trust our potential to defend the vote if rigged as usual. Social democrats must be dedicated and committed to democratically defend the will of the people.
Furthermore, genuine revolutionaries in Namibia are also cognisant of the reason why the Harare regime has targeted the vibrant youthful leaders such as Cde Makomborero Haruzivishe, Hon Joana Mamombe, Cde Cecilia ‘Chauya Chauya’ Chimbiri(Youth Vice-Chairperson), Youth Assembly Commander Obey’Luther’Sithole, Ngonidzashe Mafumba and many others who are languishing in prison for speaking truth to power. This is because of the demographic effect on the voter turnout. Older people tend to vote more than youths , so Zanupf wants to butcher, jail, intimidate, corrupt and instil fear in the youths to rig by suppressing the vote of the youths. They have already pressed the panic button upon seeing our #Agenda2021 which calls for more than one-million youths as virgin voters in 2023. It is a public secret that Zanupf had never won elections freely,fairly and credibly against the political behemoth (Mdc) since its inception in 1999.
Moreso, nationally conscious Zimbabweans should know that voting is often inconvenient, time-consuming and may even seem void however, it must be noted that voting is a very fundamental and integral part of any Constitutional Democracy. Citizens should show their appetite to vote for leaders to represent them, their ideas,and the leaders support the citizens’ social,political, religious and economic interests.
Here are our burning reasons why every Zimbabwean should Register to Vote in 2023: 1)Elections belong to the people- be part of the national discourse 2)Voting is a part of independence 3)Choosing not to vote is not rebellion, it’s surrender 4)If you don’t vote , you lose the right to complain 5)The world is run by those who show up 6)Talk is cheap, voting is free. In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia urges all Zimbabweans to GO and REGISTER NOW! Voting is our civic right! Lets work to avoid voter fatigue which by definition is the apathy that the electorate can experience under certain circumstances, one being that they are required to vote too often without positive results.
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora’s political formation is a cosmetic party that dines with the oppressor, MDC Alliance Assembly of Women spokesperson, Barbara Gwangwara- Tanyanyiwa has said.
Responding to Tapiwa Mashakada’s article on the political situation in Zimbabwe, Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa described the Mwonzora political formation as a direct extension of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF.
Mashakada’s feeble attempt to portray Mwonzora as a political saint has angered social media users.
“Mwonzora is fake, President Chamisa is genuine.
Keep on dreaming, your party is a sweetheart opposition that dines with the oppressor.
We are genuine trade unionists and we will stand with President Chamisa,” said Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa.
Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime has conjured up a subtle ploy calculated to discourage citizens from registering to vote.
This was said by MDC Alliance Namibia in a statement on the current political crisis in Zimbabwe.
According to the MDC Alliance Namibia, Zanu PF has devised sinister ways meant to block urban voters from participating in the 2023 polls.
Read full statement below:
“Voting is your civic duty”,Mdc Alliance Namibia urges all social democrats across the globe to REGISTER to VOTE and CONSTITUTIONALLY DEFEND the VOTE.
27 April 2021
The arbitrary arrests, torture, gross misgovernance, intimidation, pre-trial detentions, illegal convictions and all forms of injustices are an attempt to suppress the vote and bring cynicism and disillusionment in the voters ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.
The arrest of our pragmatic Youth Assembly Commander Obey ‘Luther’ Sithole yesterday outside the Magistrates Court is a clear sign of Zanupf’s panic ahead of the impending elections. Mdc Alliance Namibia is quite aware that the incessant illegal torture and imprisonment of our Youths and other leaders is a futile trial to discourage our people from fighting for comprehensive political and electoral reforms as a fulfilment of our smart #ReformAgenda aimed at creating an even political arena for credible, free and fair elections in 2023.
It is clear that the future of this nation is in the hands of Constitutional Democrats and the Youths through their revolutionary mandate to Register to vote in huge numbers to avert rigging. We encourage Mdc Alliance leaders and membership in and outside the country to work extraordinarily hard to recruit more supporters who will vote ninefold than in 2018 elections to decimate Zanupf electoral Shenanigans, and outcompete their rigging antics by having millions of the novel, enthusiastic voters hence defeating voter fatigue and apathy. We must register first, and then fight for political and electoral reforms. The banning of by-elections by Zanupf morons is a clear testimony that the clueless Zanupf has grown scared of a massive voter registration campaign because it will make rigging a mammoth task for these perpetual electoral fraudsters.
Our appeal to fellow Zimbabweans is for them to ‘please’,Go and Register to vote in order to halt senseless looting and corruption. Despite our diaspora vote being a non-negotiable right! We advise our membership to Go and Register in Zimbabwe whilst we are fighting for the Diaspora Vote. What Zimbabweans should know is that participating in elections is one of the key freedoms obtained from the liberation struggle therefore citizens must participate in the national discourse. Through the recently launched #OneMillionCampaign which targets more than one million virgin voters, we shall overcome voter suppression. Voter suppression is a strategy to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging or preventing people from exercising their right to vote through intimidation and torture.
Moreover, it must be crystal clear to social democrats that elections require considerable involvement by the sensitive and sane population,and it takes some time to develop the cultural habit of voting ,and the associated understanding of and confidence in the electoral process. Issues of class, ethnicity and race should not be allowed to negatively affect our voting patterns. Lets register in our astonishing numbers to win Zimbabwe for complete change. Mdc Alliance Namibia comprehends that there are cultural factors that affect us as voters such as : lack of trust in the satanic Zanupf government, the varied degrees of partisanship among the population, interest in politics and one’s belief in the efficacy of voting. We should trust our potential to defend the vote if rigged as usual. Social democrats must be dedicated and committed to democratically defend the will of the people.
Furthermore, genuine revolutionaries in Namibia are also cognisant of the reason why the Harare regime has targeted the vibrant youthful leaders such as Cde Makomborero Haruzivishe, Hon Joana Mamombe, Cde Cecilia ‘Chauya Chauya’ Chimbiri(Youth Vice-Chairperson), Youth Assembly Commander Obey’Luther’Sithole, Ngonidzashe Mafumba and many others who are languishing in prison for speaking truth to power. This is because of the demographic effect on the voter turnout. Older people tend to vote more than youths , so Zanupf wants to butcher, jail, intimidate, corrupt and instil fear in the youths to rig by suppressing the vote of the youths. They have already pressed the panic button upon seeing our #Agenda2021 which calls for more than one-million youths as virgin voters in 2023. It is a public secret that Zanupf had never won elections freely,fairly and credibly against the political behemoth (Mdc) since its inception in 1999.
Moreso, nationally conscious Zimbabweans should know that voting is often inconvenient, time-consuming and may even seem void however, it must be noted that voting is a very fundamental and integral part of any Constitutional Democracy. Citizens should show their appetite to vote for leaders to represent them, their ideas,and the leaders support the citizens’ social,political, religious and economic interests.
Here are our burning reasons why every Zimbabwean should Register to Vote in 2023: 1)Elections belong to the people- be part of the national discourse 2)Voting is a part of independence 3)Choosing not to vote is not rebellion, it’s surrender 4)If you don’t vote , you lose the right to complain 5)The world is run by those who show up 6)Talk is cheap, voting is free. In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia urges all Zimbabweans to GO and REGISTER NOW! Voting is our civic right! Lets work to avoid voter fatigue which by definition is the apathy that the electorate can experience under certain circumstances, one being that they are required to vote too often without positive results.
By A Correspondent- A councillor from the Zibagwe Rural District Council and his wife died after they were assaulted with a log by their mentally challenged grandson on Sunday evening.
Ward 8 Councillor, Ambrose Ncube (74), died on the spot after the attack by Victor Sibanda (24).
His wife, Thandi Khumalo (68) also died after she was assaulted as she tried to intervene.
National Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
“We can confirm that police are investigating a murder case of an elderly couple, a man aged 74 and his wife aged 68. The couple is believed to have been murdered by their grandson believed to be mentally challenged,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.
He said the incident took place at Village Mutsekwa under Chief Samambwa area in Zhombe on Sunday around 6pm.
Zibagwe RDC Council Chair, Councilor Chamunogwa Zvishamira said Sibanda is the deceased couple’s grandson.
“The late councillor had just taken his grandson to stay with him. I am told that the grandson has a mental challenge. While details are still sketchy, we know that they had a misunderstanding and he drew a log and hit his grandfather several times on the head and he died,” said Cllr Zvishamira.
He said the wife died as she tried to intervene.
“Seeing that her husband was being assaulted, the wife tried to restrain Sibanda, but he turned the log onto her and assaulted her and she also died on the spot. Their bodies have since been taken to Kwekwe General Hospital where they await postmortem,” he said.
He said Sibanda has been picked up by the police.-statemedia
Some students have been injured and others lost their gadgets (cell phones) , ZRP could've approached the College's Admin first before harassing the students coz it was the Admin's fault. Now they've collected few innocent students in their Toyota Hillux. @PoliceZimbabwe STop! https://t.co/guoVIfsfoU
Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime is on a dangerous warpath, MDC Alliance vice president Hon Lynette Karenyi-Kore has said.
VP Karenyi-Kore condemned the arrest of Youth Assembly leader Obey Sithole.
Sithole was arrested in central Harare on Monday.
“Zanu PF is on a Dangerous War Path- Arresting MDC Alliance Leaders. Yesterday the Arrested MDC Alliance Youth Chair, Obey Sithole.
While we Won Colonial independence we are far From True Independence. But they will never break our will, we will keep fighting for a better Zimbabwe,” said VP Karenyi-Kore.
By A Correspondent- The late former Vice-President Joshua Nkomo’s son Sibangilizwe Nkomo has resigned from the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Restoration Project Trust and the Joshua Nkomo Cultural Movement to pursue politics full-time.
The development comes amid reports that Sibangilizwe was interested in contesting the Zapu party presidency.
Nkomo’s name recently featured among candidates forwarded by branches to the party’s national executive to contest the presidency during the Zapu elective congress slated for August.
Yesterday, the two organisations pushing for the maintenance of Nkomo’s legacy, announced Sibangilizwe’s resignation.
“The two institutions welcomed Nkomo’s resignation and withdrawal from the activities of the trusts with immediate effect,” the organisations’ joint statement read.
“It is our solemn belief as institutions, that every person has his or her constitutional right and freedom to associate or belong to any organisation of his choice. It is this right that Nkomo has rightfully decided to pursue and exercise.”
The organisations advised all stakeholders, partners, groups and Zimbabweans based locally and abroad that Nkomo, who had been chairperson and founding trustee of the two institutions, had resigned with immediate effect to pursue an interest in active politics.
The Joshua Nkomo Legacy Restoration Project seeks to unite people through cultivating a culture of love, unity, peace and tolerance which was part of the late VP Nkomo’s vision.
It also enjoys good relations with government.
“Following this development, the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Restoration Project Trust will continue with its work as usual under the capable leadership of its chairperson, Mehluli Moyo and the two organisations shall, from time-to time, consult him on matters that require the Nkomo family’s attention given that he was a representative of the family of our icon whose legacy the two trusts seek to help preserve for future generations,” the statement read.
Sibangilizwe yesterday confirmed his resignation.
“It’s true that I have resigned to pursue politics,” he said without further revealing the political outfit that he will join.
Recently, Nkomo told Southern Eye that if the people deployed him for the Zapu presidency, he would accept the offer.-newsday
By Patrick Guramatunhu- There is no limit to the antics Zimbabwe’s fallen corrupt and incompetent leaders will go to impress in a vain hope to be re-elected and secure the converted gravy train seat. They conveniently overlook that all the time they were in power, they accomplished nothing of note!
“Recalled MDC Alliance Chikanga Dangamvura Member of Parliament Prosper Mutseyami, Ward 17 Councillor John Nyamhoka and other party members harvest Beauty Chinobeta’s field who is not feeling well yesterday,” reported Bulawayo 24.
“Beauty is an MDC Alliance Chairperson of a branch in Hobhouse 2 which is in ward 17 where Nyamhoka was a Councillor.”
MDC leaders are becoming more and more like Zanu PF thugs – adapt at doing for the people what the people can do for themselves, just to draw attention away from their repeated failures and betrayal of the people to restore their freedoms and rights and to economic empowerment.
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders into power on the understanding the party will bring about the democratic changes to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, the end the nation has been dying. After 21 years, 5 of which in the GNU, MDC leaders have failed to bring about even one change! Not one!
MDC leaders have instead been doing all manner of things, condemning Zanu PF corruption, reminding the people how miserable they are, launching scholarship for poor students (a token number) and now helping with the harvest. Anything to steal some limelight and keep their name in the public eye in preparation for the next elections.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude of appreciation to the team from ward 17 who spared all their personal responsibilities to come and help our branch chairperson Mai Sai to harvest her field,” said Mutseyami.
“This was heart warming extension of solidarity. I wish you grace of the Living Lord . May our Chairperson heal in the name of the lord. She is not well. I wish good in all the medical attention being rendered to her.”
No doubt, he was very pleased to help and thrilled to bits of the publicity he has received.
MDC leaders betrayed the nation by failing to implement the democratic reforms even when they had the golden opportunity to do so during the GNU. Worse still, they are the ones giving legitimacy to the vote rigging Zanu PF by participating in flawed and illegal elections.
MDC leaders are corrupt, incompetent and hypocrites preying on the ordinary people’s suffering and naivety just as the Zanu PF thugs are doing! The sooner the people of Zimbabwe wake-up to the duplicity of MDC leaders the sooner this nation can start the important task of looking for quality leaders and a way out of this hell-hole we find ourselves in.
One is reminded of Joice Mujuru, Simba Makoni, Professor Jonathan Moyo, Savour Kasukuwere and many, many other Zanu PF leaders’ scathing criticism of Zanu PF corruption and tyrannical rule. The scathing attacks were all made after the individual was booted out of the party and was desperate to relaunch their floundering political career.
“A pup does not open its eyes the day it is born!” was Joice Mujuru’s answer when asked why she had never criticised Zanu PF all the years she was in Cabinet and thus had the power and authority to make a difference.
It was all nonsense of course; how has ever heard of a pup that too 34 years to open its eye! If the pup does not open its eyes in 7 days or so, it is blind. Period!
It is intolerable that the only time Zanu PF and MDC leaders have said or done anything remotely useful or relevant is when they vying for public office but once elected they have pursued their own selfish interests at odds with those of the people had risked life and limb elect them!
It is high time the Zimbabwean people themselves opened their eyes and saw the country politicians on both side of the political divide for what they really are – corrupt, incompetent and, in the case of Zanu PF, vote rigging and murderous thugs (MDC leaders have the potential and have lacked the opportunity, so far).
By A Correspondent- A funeral parade to honour two Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) pilots and a technician who died in a helicopter crash in Goromonzi on Friday last week will be held this Friday.
The pilots are Wing Commander Thomas Tinashe Manyowa and Flight Lieutenant Anita Mapiye while the aircraft technician is Flight Sergeant Tinodiwanashe Chikamhi.
An 18 month old toddler, Jade Fenyere, who was sleeping with her twin sister, Jada, was also killed when the Agusta Bell 412 (AB 412) helicopter crashed into their house.
The AFZ on Monday said Wing Commander Manyowa will be buried in Chinhoyi, while Flight Lieutenant Mapiye will be interred at Glen Forest Memorial Park in Harare.
Flight Sergeant Chikamhi will be buried at Mucheke Cemetery in Masvingo.
Jade Fenyere will be buried today in Bocha, Manicaland Province.-statemedia
By Nomusa Garikai- Much has been said about the endless factional wars in the country’s main opposition MDC ever since the party’s launch in 1999.
Zanu PF has suffered similar factional war with the booting out of the VP Joice Mujuru and her Gatamox faction in 2014. This was followed by the November 2017 military coup that forced Robert Mugabe to step down and many of the G40 leaders were lucky to get away with their lives.
Now there is talk of President Mnangagwa inviting both Gamatox and G40 members to rejoin Zanu PF. Why?
“The ruling party now feels it is in a strong position having essentially marginalised the opposition as a unified force, and hence it wishes to consolidate its position as the dominant political force in the country,” answered University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, Professor Stephen Chan.
“Reaching out to the G40 must not be misconstrued as an act of desperation, but one of confidence.
“What we see emerging is not just a dominant party state, but a hegemonic party state.
“The question is, however, for what does this hegemonic party stand? It seems sometimes like a gigantic patronage and enrichment network.
“However, this can still work if the oligarchic elite can ensure that economic benefits trickle down to those who are poor. A politically strong party in a fraying economy is in a difficult position.”
For once, Professor Chan is right, what good will come from having a strong party when the economy is in free fall! Mnangagwa has failed to revive the Zimbabwe economy and as long as the country remains a pariah state ruled by thugs there will be no meaningful economic recovery. The corona virus pandemic is set to drag the economy into even greater depths of poverty and despair.
Come 2023 elections, the voters will be concerned about their economic situation and will not care that Mnangagwa and his former G40 and Gamatox Zanu PF colleagues have kissed and made-up.
Many of the G40 and Gamatox members are as keen as mustard to rejoin Zanu PF to escape the economic hardships brought on by the economic meltdown. They will soon discover that Mnangagwa wanted their vote but has no jobs and/or looted wealth to give them. Nothing!
There is no denying there is total chaos and confusion in the MDC camp, the recalls of elected MDC A officials in the last year have left many members divided and bitter. MDC has imploded.
Still, if there were free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe; the people would rather vote for divided and confused opposition if only to be rid of the corrupt and oppressive Zanu PF. Mnangagwa knows that and hence the reason he will never ever implement the democratic reforms and hold free, fair and credible elections.
The dog-eat-dog fighting in the MDC has worked to Mnangagwa’s advantage in making the MDC weak to exploit Zanu PF’s weaknesses but the pendulum has swung too far; a weak MDC has lost political credibility.
In 2013 SADC leaders advised Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends not to participate in the elections until reforms were implemented. “If you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done!” SADC leaders warned.
MDC leaders did not heed the warning. Zanu PF won the elections with a landslide. SADC leaders’ warning was equally valid in 2018, but again MDC leaders paid no heed and Zanu PF blatantly rigged the election again.
MDC leaders ignored the SADC leaders’ warnings because they were content with the few gravy train seats Zanu PF gave away as bait, they did not care that the elections were flawed and illegal. Zanu PF enticed MDC leaders to participate so the flawed process would have some credibility and the result have legitimacy for that Zanu PF did not mind sharing of the spoils of power with MDC leaders. A cosy win, win arrangement for both Zanu PF and MDC but one that has left people questioning the political credibility of MDC as the opposition.
A credible opposition parties should aim to win power, especially free and fair elections in 2023 are guaranteed to deliver and opposition landslide victory. MDC leaders are once again gearing to participate in the 2023 elections with no reforms. They are, once again, content to win the few gravy train seats.
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies are used to having their cake and eat it too; they rigged the elections and bribed the MDC to participate to guarantee legitimacy. 2023 elections are set to be Zanu PF’s worst nightmare. If Zanu PF dares to implement the reforms and hold free, fair and credible elections; the party is certain to lose. The economy is in a real mess and the electorate will jump at the chance to finally get rid of the corrupt and tyrannical regime.
If Zanu PF does not implement any reforms and blatantly rig the elections only the opposition parties with no political credibility would participate in flawed elections for the now obvious reason of greed. Like it or not a now totally discredited opposition will never give the vote rigging Zanu PF any legitimacy.
For the first time in since independence; HEADS Zanu PF lose and TAIL the povo win!
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa was misled into believing that Victoria Falls City has achieved herd immunity against COVID-19, it has been established.
In a post on Twitter on Monday morning, President Mnangagwa claimed that 77% of the Victoria Falls’ adult population got vaccinated.
He said:
Victoria Falls has now achieved herd immunity!??
Last month, I received my first COVID-19 vaccine in Victoria Falls. I am immensely proud that over 77% of the city’s inhabitants have received their second jab.
Thank you to all the health officials who have made this possible.
However, according to Zim Fact, President Mnangagwa’s claim is not backed by empirical data.
It said:
Official data shows that by April 25, when Mnangagwa made the claim, 77% of Victoria Falls’ targeted adult population had only received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Given the double-dose vaccines currently in use by Zimbabwe, persons are only considered to be fully vaccinated after receiving their second shot.
Further, the threshold for herd immunity against COVID-19, a new disease that emerged in late 2019, is yet to be established.
The World Health Organisation defines herd immunity as the protection from an infectious disease that a population gets from a previous infection or vaccination.
WHO says it only supports the attainment of herd immunity through vaccination and not through allowing infections to spread unchecked through populations.-Zimfact
The High Court is today expected to decide whether or not Benjamin Rukanda’s recall of Harare East MP Tendai Biti and five others should stand after his membership of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was questioned.
This came after Rukanda successfully filed for the MPs’ recall after he presented himself as a bona fide PDP secretary-general at the time of its split.
But High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga set aside Rukanda’s recall of the MPs saying he was not the bonafide secretary-general of the PDP.
Instead, the court heard that Settlement Chikwinya was party secretary-general before its split ahead of the 2018 polls.
Rukanda has, however, appealed against the ruling and the matter is set to be heard today.
Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda told NewsDay yesterday that it was not the responsibility of Parliament to recall MPs, adding that the matter was before the courts hence his hands remained tied to further comment on the issue.
“MPs are not recalled by Parliament, they are recalled by their parties. Go back to the courts again and be updated on what has transpired after that,” Mudenda said.
Biti’s lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara said they were in the process of filing opposing papers ahead of today’s hearing.
“They filed an urgent chamber application for stay of execution so it is being heard (today). We are opposing it obviously,” Bhatasara said.
“They want to have a rescission of the order that we got. If the stay is granted, it means we will wait (from going back to Parliament) until the application of the rescission is decided,” Bhatasara said.
The six were recalled after High Court judge Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba ruled that the PDP faction led by Lucia Matibenga had the capacity at law to recall PDP MPs and councillors sponsored by the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.
However, the Biti camp argues that Matibenga and her team ceased to be members of the PDP after joining the Rainbow Alliance led by Joice Mujuru ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections.
The six MPs joined a long list of MPs recalled from Parliament for aligning with the MDC Alliance.
A happy Freedom Day to our brothers & sisters in South Africa. Freedom came at a huge cost & We pay tribute to all who paid the ultimate price in the heroic struggle.The long walk to freedom has no end as it must be nurtured and guarded vigilantly.Let freedom engulf all Africa!
By A Correspondent- Villagers in the Dema area of Seke district have renewed their efforts to have the Dema tollgate relocated as it is economically affecting their lives.
The tollgate, located along Chitungwiza-Wedza Highway near Ziko Shopping Centre, is set to be moved to Kandava after disgruntled villagers protested over its location.
Seke legislator Munyaradzi Kashambe (Zanu-PF) yesterday said the relocation of the tollgate had since been approved, adding that erection of a new tollgate would be done once funds have been released.
“The Dema tollgate will be relocated to Kandava area near the Econet booster. They were waiting for the new toll plaza design and the design is out and approved. We are now waiting for the disbursement of the funds from the Finance ministry, otherwise all is good to go.
“We hope we won’t be delayed this time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, most of the funds are likely to be channelled towards road rehabilitation because roads have been declared a national disaster,” he said.
The Dema tollgate has been reported as one of the worst revenue collection points as motorists use feeder roads to evade paying toll fees.
Seke Rural Development Platform secretary-general Givemore Chipere said: “We handed over a petition last year to the then (Transport) minister Joel Biggie Matiza. Unfortunately, he passed on before responding to our issues. We are basically saying this tollgate should be moved further up. The tollgate is inconveniencing the villagers especially those who rely on farming and travel to markets in Chitungwiza.
“It is unfair for us to pay toll fees within our area almost everyday. Moreover, our schoolgoing children, especially at Besa Primary are at risk of being hit by vehicles that use a feeder road to evade paying toll fees,” he said.
The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration in 2018 admitted that the toll plaza was wrongly located.-newsday
By A Correspondent- Financial services giant CBZ Holdings Limited has resolved to slash its workforce in response to rapid sector changes that have been precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and fresh inroads made by digitalisation since the global scourge rattled the markets last year.
COVID-19 only amplified a crisis that had haunted unions since banks scaled up a well-meant financial inclusion strategy about five years ago, which meant they switched to digital platforms to serve clients, eliminating a decades-old physical contact tradition.
Yet as governments rolled out hard lockdowns to fight the pandemic, which forced banks to make staff work from home, it provided them with a chance to rationalise costs by pursuing digitalisation in the post-lockdown era.
In his letter to staff on Friday, CBZ chief executive officer Blessing Mudavanhu did not disclose the extent to which COVID-19 and digitalisation had reshaped the bank’s operations.
But he invited them to take up a voluntary retrenchment package. Should there be a lukewarm response to the offer, Zimbabwe’s biggest banking group will then roll out compulsory job cuts from June, in one of the most shocking banking sector developments since COVID-19 hit Zimbabwe. He said CBZ had discovered that as the pandemic forced its way through, new skills had become crucial to move the banking group forward.
But those who were unwilling to embrace new business models being implemented were free to leave, he said.
The Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union told NewsDay Business yesterday that CBZ’s move could only be a tip of the iceberg as a number of banks were already implementing the same strategy.
“It has been essential to us as an organisation to ensure the preservation of jobs and earnings and we have committed to that for the duration of this crisis and furthermore, provided a range of additional measures to ensure that we support all of our staff and your families,” Mudavanhu told staff.
“The manner in which we reach, serve and provide solutions to our customers and clients has changed significantly. Most of our work has transitioned to digital platforms and automation has become key. This is an area which will continue to change and with this comes the need for new business models and different skill-sets.”
“As we venture into a new and changing business model and new ways of work, we will inevitably need to review our current structure and operations. We acknowledge that there are some colleagues among us who may not be willing or able to undertake this journey of change and will want to take the opportunity to pursue other interests. We are, therefore, pleased to announce the offer of a voluntary severance package for any employee who willingly, freely and voluntarily wishes to consider pursuing opportunities outside the organisation. Following the voluntary severance exercise, should it be found that we do, indeed, need to consider retrenchment, our retrenchment exercise will commence in June 2021,” he said.
Telecommunications giant TelOne has announced plans to axe about 200 workers.
“The TelOne digital transformation journey which has special focus on client experience enhancement and provision of new products and services entails the digitalisation of the company’s operations and systems through network upgrade and modernisation,” TelOne said.
“For this drive to succeed, relevant skills and qualifications emerged as one of the main priorities. Consequently, the company has taken a position to embark on a realignment programme to terminate the contracts of 184 individuals whose skills-set has been rendered redundant.”
By A Correspondent- Nkayi South MP Stars Mathe (Zanu-PF) is under fire from Matabeleland activists for bootlicking President Emmerson Mnangagwa, notwithstanding that the Zanu-PF leader was allegedly involved in the execution of Gukurahundi massacres in the early 1980s.
Mnangagwa is said to be one of the brains behind the Gukurahundi genocide in the Matabeleland and Midlands regions, which resulted in an estimated 20 000 civilians being killed and tens of thousands displaced. Mathe got herself in trouble after she praised Mnangagwa for ensuring political stability in the country.
“I am happy that this country is still run by blacks and has attained 41 years of independence. Some countries are still fighting for their independence and others have attained it, but they still have problems,” she said.
“We got our independence long back but we still live in unity, peace and harmony and we have not experienced any spilling of blood,” Mathe said in the National Assembly.
Her remarks sparked outrage from the secessionist Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) which described her as someone who does not deserve a position in Parliament.
“Honestly, there is nothing honourable in Mathe. The title honourable is too smart for her. Let her say and do honourable things and we will address her by that title.
“The people here are disgusted by parliamentary debates and the contributions attributed to the Nkayi South MP Mathe,” said the MRP in a statement.
“The controversial Mathe shamelessly exonerated her party Zanu-PF from the genocide which took place in Matabeleland.
“Mathe, who is also from Matabeleland, has guts to speak glowingly of Mnangagwa forgetting his involvement in the killing of thousands of people in the region.
“This kind of bootlicking should be criminalised. How on earth would Mathe hail Mnangagwa for things that do not exist in this country? How can she try to sweep under the carpet crimes involving bloodshed in which the very people she is praising are implicated?”
The MRP claimed that Mathe was a witness to the genocide, which the late former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa and the Zanu-PF government masterminded soon after independence in 1980.
“She is a witness to the more than 20 000 innocent civilians who fell to the unjustified sword of the same people and party to which she is expressing her blind loyalty.
“Her own relatives and villagers in Nkayi were equally affected. They are in emotional pain to this day. Some still suffer physical agony to this day, but here Mathe is pretending that nothing of the sort ever happened.”-newsday
By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo have arrested a 30-year-old man from Cowdray Park suburb who allegedly stabbed his neighbour with an okapi knife following a beer brawl.
The incident occurred yesterday when Njabulo Ncube and three accomplices who are still at large kicked and spilled complainant’s beer around 4PM while they were all drinking at a place called Caravan in Cowdray Park.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico confirmed the incident saying the complainant is in critical condition at hospital as he sustained three serious stab wounds on the back, one under the left eye and one on the right-hand palm.
He warned residents against taking the law into their own hands and to seek redress when there is a misunderstanding.
“Police have arrested Njabulo Msebele, a male adult aged 30 years from Cowdray Park, for attempted murder which occurred yesterday at around 4PM. The other accused persons are Shalom Ncube, Bhizo and Adolf whose other details are not known and all the three are still at large,” said Insp Ncube.
“The complainant was drinking beer at Caravan, Cowdray Park, Bulawayo together with the accused persons when Bhizo kicked and spilled the complainant’s half-full calabash. A misunderstanding arose between the complainant and Bhizo and the two started exchanging blows.
At that moment, the other three accused persons joined in and Njabulo Msebele produced an okapi knife, stabbed the complainant three times in the back, once under the left eye and once on the right-hand palm,” he said.
Insp Ncube said 30 minutes later, the complainant made a report at ZRP Cowdray Park Caravan base and the scene was attended to.
Police arrested Msebele who was searched and an okapi knife was recovered from his right trousers’ pocket.
“The other accused persons Shalom Ncube, Bhizo and Adolf were not located and are still at large. The okapi knife was booked as an exhibit at ZRP Cowdray Park. An ambulance was summoned which ferried the complainant to Mpilo hospital and his condition is serious,” he said.
Insp Ncube added: “Bulawayo police would like to warn members of the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands and to seek redress when there is a misunderstanding. We are also appealing to anyone with information which can lead to the apprehension of the other accused persons to report at any nearest police station.”-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema has directed school authorities to submit names of teachers who have not been reporting for duty since the reopening of schools last month as Government moves to enforce the “no work, no pay” principle.
The number of teachers reporting for duty has decreased since schools reopened last month as they are citing incapacitation.
According to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the situation is more pronounced in Bulawayo and Harare as some teachers elsewhere have ignored the call for strike by their unions. In Bulawayo, only 50 percent of teachers have turned up for duty with pupil attendance pegged at 68 percent.
Speaking in Parliament during a question-and-answer session, Minister Mathema said his ministry is working with school heads to gather attendance information including names of teachers at all the schools not reporting for duty.
The information will then be forwarded to the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Minister Mathema warned that there will be consequences for teachers who are not attending lessons.
“I have heard that there are some schools where teachers are not going to work. What we are saying is that no work, no pay to those teachers who are not at work. We are working with school heads to have registers so that I pass on that information to the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare,” he said.
The minister said he has not received any representation from teachers’ unions pertaining to their grievances.
“We cannot have a situation where teachers just decide not to go to work. As the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, I have not received any representation from any of the teachers’ unions in the country. So, no work, no pay,” he said.
Speaking during a Covid-19 Taskforce meeting in Bulawayo last Tuesday, Provincial Deputy Education Director Mr Thabani Sibanda said two weeks ago, the ministry sampled 75 schools for teacher and learner attendance.
From that sampling, statistics showed that the teacher attendance drastically dropped due to incapacitation notices forwarded to schools, districts and the province. Cabinet last week reiterated that negotiations for improved conditions of service remain open under the National Joint Negotiating Council and that the ‘no work, no pay policy’ will be strictly enforced.
Government offered a 25 percent salary increment to civil servants from this month while a further 50 percent would be effected in June.
Three weeks ago, Government met its employees and outlined constraints being faced, emanating from a prolonged economic shutdown owing to the lockdown measures instituted to manage the Covid-19 pandemic, during which revenue generation was reduced to virtual insignificance.
Further, Government coffers are stretched since it is paying for vaccines, with the aim of administering doses to at least 10 million people to achieve herd immunity.
Government has set aside US$100 million to buy Covid-19 vaccines. However, Government has remained committed to fulfilling the payment of salaries and benefits to all civil servants, including those who were at home during the long periods of national lockdown.
Main opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says his party has tightened the criteria used to select parliamentary and local authority candidates to avoid infiltration by “fortune seekers” who defect to the ruling Zanu PF party once they win elections.
In an interview with online news agency, CITE, at the weekend, Chamisa said the recent defection of elected MDC Alliance representatives, among them top party executives, to Zanu PF had taught them hard lessons and forced them to tighten screws in the selection process.
Chamisa, who narrowly lost to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zanu PF leader, in the disputed 2018 harmonised elections, said the MDC Alliance would now settle for “change agents committed to the struggle” ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.
“What has happened is that a lot of our MPs and a lot of our councillors are people who are looking for opportunities,” he said.
“In fact, I have learnt from what has happened that instead of having people coming across as change seekers, change agents and change makers, they are actually job seekers, and so the preoccupation is to preserve a job as an MP or councillor,” said the youthful opposition leader, who has lost over 40 MPs and about 80 councillors in recalls orchestrated by the rival MDC-T party led by Douglas Mwonzora and Lucia Matibenga of the People’s Democratic Party.
Following the mass recalls, several other MDC Alliance legislators and councillors also crossed the floor to the ruling party to safeguard their jobs.
Chamisa described the defections as “a survival strategy” as well as a great betrayal of the struggle for democracy.
He accused Zanu PF and the MDC-T of conniving to decimate his party by dangling trinkets to elected MDC Alliance representatives.
“That is why I am now apologising to the people of Zimbabwe to say that we had not thought through the processes of our candidate selection, and that is why we have to go back to the drawing board to say we don’t have a party candidate, but a community candidate, a collective ethic and converged process run by community and opinion-makers as opposed to a political party because these processes produce candidates who do not have their loyalty in communities and to the people,” Chamisa said.
“Most of the MPs and councillors who have remained in Parliament on account of allegiance to a counter party formed by Mnangagwa have not shown loyalty to the people and we are going back to the drawing board.”
The MDC Alliance leader said communities and stakeholders would now lead the candidate selection process as opposed to using party structures.
“There will be a radical shift and change to the current candidate selection process in this organisation to allow the community to lead the process,” he said.
But MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube scoffed at Chamisa’s claims, saying the MPs had dumped him after realising that the MDC Alliance had low regard of constitutionalism.
“There were no defections and the MPs only decided to stand on the side of their party constitution and the country’s Constitution. It is misleading for long-time comrades like Chamisa to believe in the lie he started himself that there is money involved or buying of people involved. He cannot be the only paragon of political correctness,” he said.
“He must not trivialise issues to that extent. It is very regrettable and insulting to people who made this party to be what it is.”
Chamisa also accused the Zanu PF government of engineering the arbitrary arrests of MDC Alliance activists, but the State has denied the charge.
“All the elected people were elected on the MDC Alliance ticket, but what we have seen is lawfare, the abuse of the courts in this case by Mr Mnangagwa to recall by his created surrogates whom you know, to then say all MDC Alliance MPs now belong to the MDC-T,” he said.
The MDC Alliance leader said the takeover of the party headquarters by Mwonzora’s MDC-T was a temporary setback, adding that his party would soon reclaim the property.
“What we have seen is authoritarian consolidation, an escalation of tyranny and we have seen the panic mode by Zanu PF and Mr Mnangagwa on account of our strength. We have remained steadfast, we have remained very strong and that’s why you have seen that they are in sixes and sevens. If we were such a non-factor in the politics of this country, they would have simply ignored us, but they can’t ignore us. They have discovered that we are too strong on the ground and want to weaken us, decimate our structures but they will not succeed,” Chamisa said.
Recently, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told NewsDay that his party was not involved in opposition party fights.
Outspoken Norton MP Temba Mliswa, who is being accused of violating COVID-19 regulations, yesterday successfully applied for the release of his passport to enable him to travel to Portugal and South Africa.
The Norton legislator applied for the release of his passport last week, but the magistrate delivered the ruling yesterday.
Mliswa allegedly violated COVID-19 regulations when he convened a Press conference at his Borrowdale residence in Harare, which was attended by nearly 20 journalists.
The legislator denied the charge, saying he was an essential services provider allowed to do business during the COVID-19 lockdown.
He also unsuccessfully filed an application to have his matter heard at the Constitutional Court saying the arrest violated his rights.
Meanwhile, suspended director of health in the Health ministry, Portia Manangazira, who is being accused of employing more than 27 relatives, including her father, who is in his late 70s, as health workers in December last year also successfully applied for the release of her passport.
Manangazira appeared before magistrate Stanford Mambanje, who released the passport to enable her to go to Zambia on a business trip.
Meanwhile, embattled wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga had numerous attempts to get her passport back to enable her to seek medical attention outside the country, hitting a brickwall.
By A Correspondent| Suspended City of Harare Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Abraham Chisango, three other municipality officials and two employees of Pokugara Properties had their case of malicious damage to property postponed to the 19th of May by the Harare Magistrates Court.
According to court papers seen by ZimEye, sometime between July 2018 and October 2018, at lot 9 of 21 on consolidated number 19559 of 19828 on Harare Township corner Teviotdale and Whitwell in Borrowdale, the six Michael Van Blerk, Mandla Marlone Ndebele, Hosiah Chisango, Isiah Zvenyika Chawatama, Samuel Nyabezi, Lasten Taonezvi and Ken Sharpe, who is still at large destroyed a show house constructed by Katsimberis, one or more of them, knowing that Georgios Katsimberis is entitled to own, possess or control any property or realizing that there was a real risk or possibility that another person may be so entitled, damaged or destroyed the property intending to cause such damage or destruction,” reads the summons.
The accused allegedly acted in common purpose and demolished Georgios Katsimberis’ Show house which had an approved plan without advising the complainant.
Van Blerk, Ndebele and Sharpe are also in trouble for failing or refusing to disclose that the stand in question was built with approved plans and for failing to caution Katsimberis of the demolition before undertaking such a drastic measure.
By A Correspondent- The High Court is today expected to decide whether or not Benjamin Rukanda’s recall of Harare East MP Tendai Biti and five others should stand after his membership of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was questioned.
This came after Rukanda successfully filed for the MPs’ recall after he presented himself as a bona fide PDP secretary-general at the time of its split.
But High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga set aside Rukanda’s recall of the MPs saying he was not the bonafide secretary-general of the PDP.
Instead, the court heard that Settlement Chikwinya was party secretary-general before its split ahead of the 2018 polls.
Rukanda has, however, appealed against the ruling and the matter is set to be heard today.
Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda told NewsDay yesterday that it was not the responsibility of Parliament to recall MPs, adding that the matter was before the courts hence his hands remained tied to further comment on the issue.
MPs are not recalled by Parliament, they are recalled by their parties. Go back to the courts again and be updated on what has transpired after that,” Mudenda said.
Biti’s lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara said they were in the process of filing opposing papers ahead of today’s hearing.
“They filed an urgent chamber application for stay of execution so it is being heard (today). We are opposing it obviously,” Bhatasara said.
“They want to have a rescission of the order that we got. If the stay is granted, it means we will wait (from going back to Parliament) until the application of the rescission is decided,” Bhatasara said.
The six were recalled after High Court judge Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba ruled that the PDP faction led by Lucia Matibenga had the capacity at law to recall PDP MPs and councillors sponsored by the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.
However, the Biti camp argues that Matibenga and her team ceased to be members of the PDP after joining the Rainbow Alliance led by Joice Mujuru ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections.
The six MPs joined a long list of MPs recalled from Parliament for aligning with the MDC Alliance.
By A Correspondent- Warren Park, Harare, Child senator Mike Zinyoni, has scored 23 ‘A’ Level points in the 2020 Zimbabwe School Examination Council examinations held last November.
Zinyoni, who was at Marlborough High School, studied Pure Mathematics, where he got an A, Statistics (B), Software Engineering and Computer Science (A) and Business Studies (B) which are classified as technical sciences.
He told NewsDay that initially, it was hard for him to choose which subject to study between Physics or Statistics since their timetables clashed, but he ended up choosing Statistics since he felt it was more applicable in the real world.
Zinyoni is now looking for sponsorship to further his studies.-newsday
By A Correspondent- Two ladies who survived the Thursday Gweru love triangle shooting involving a Gweru businessman, Peter Dube are battling for their lives.
Gweru businessman, Peter Dube (35), last week Thursday allegedly shot his girlfriend and socialite Nyasha Nharingo (31), her sister Nyaradzo (34), his girlfriend’s alleged lover identified as Mr Shelton Chinhango and Nyasha’s friend Ms Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30).
Nyasha and Nyaradzo are admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital where they are battling for life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Dube allegedly fled from the scene after the cold-blooded shooting and police have launched a manhunt for him.
By A Correspondent-A 32-year-old woman from Sika village in Bindura has been arrested for concealing the death of her two-year-old daughter and secretly burying the body in a garden.
Portia Chovani was turned in by a neighbour who suspected that something bad had happened to the girl and reported to the police that the toddler was missing.
Mashonaland Central acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Dhliwayo said they are treating the case as murder pending investigations. He said on April 17 at around 5pm, Shamva police received a tip off that a child was missing in unclear circumstances.
“A police officer went to Sika village under Chief Musana and interviewed Chovani on the whereabouts of her child. In response Chovani said the child was with relatives in Guha village,” he said.
“Police went to Guha village, 10km away and failed to locate the minor. They came back and questioned Chovani who changed the story and said the child had died. She said the child had fallen sick at the end of January and become serious in March before passing away on March 8.
“She told the police that she had dumped the body in the garden because she had no money to meet expenses of a proper burial.” Asst Insp Dhliwayo said Chovani told the police that her neighbours had warned her that there was no place to bury her child because she is a foreigner.
She led police to a garden about 400 metres from her home, where she had dug a 60-centimetre-deep grave and buried the child. Her neighbour, Sarudzai Kafireni (52) alleged that the child was malnourished.
On April 18 this year, an application for the exhumation of the body was granted and the body was retrieved in the presence of village head Mr Bernard Sika (67).
The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition and it was sent to Bindura Hospital for a post-mortem.
Asst Insp Dhliwayo said parents and guardians need to understand that children need love and care.
“Take your children to the clinic when they fall sick and when you are struggling to look after them approach the Department of Social Welfare for assistance. Nothing justifies killing a child,” he said.
Police have warned members of the public and university students against hosting parties late at night in violation of the curfew order and also engaging in orgies of violence.
This follows the arrest of a 30-year-old university student, Michael Muza after he hosted a party for his fellow university students in Bulawayo.
Muza was arrested on Saturday for breaching COVID-19 regulations.
The students, who were apparently drunk, started to randomly attack innocent people and passers-by resulting in one cornered motorist drawing out a pistol and firing warning shots to avoid being assaulted by the group. Police said in a statement:
The ZRP warns residents and university students against hosting parties late into the night and engaging in orgies of violence. On 24/04/21, police in [Bulawayo] arrested Michael Muza (30) for breaching COVID-19 regulations.
The suspect hosted a party for his fellow university students in Selborne Park, [Bulawayo] which resulted in violence and attack on innocent motorists who were passing by.
A cornered motorist had to fire warning shots to evade attack from marauding students.
The party organiser clearly contravened COVID-19 regulations which include a curfew order.
Under the relaxed COVID-19 regulations announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in early March, a curfew is to be observed from 10 PM to 5 AM as part of the measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
However, some unruly elements flagrantly flout the restrictions raising fears of a third wave as winter approaches.- Pindula News
By James Gwati- Vice President Constantine Chiwenga’s wife Mary’s court case seems to be crumbling following failure by the state to find any incriminating evidence.
Mary has been on remand for 15 months now with the court failing to put her on trial.
Through her lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, Mary on Monday challenged and applied for refusal for further remand arguing that the courts were now persecuting her client.
Mary is on remand on a case in which she is being accused of attempting to kill the Vice President when he was in hospital in South Africa. She is also facing allegations of money laundering.
Ms Mtetwa told the court that the State had promised to complete investigations a month into her arrest, but has failed.
Ms Mtetwa also told the court that the State was aware of the complexity of extra-territorial investigations when they made a one month promise.
She made the application after the State led by Mrs Mushayabasa applied for a postponement of the matter to allow police to complete investigations into the matter.
Mrs Mushayabasa told the court that there were extra-territorial investigations that need to be carried out in South Africa.
She appeared before regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.
A 16-year-old boy from Beitbridge East allegedly attacked a 53-year-old woman from his village on Friday with a log, then raped her while she lay dying, bleeding from the head, and then stole R1 700.
Maria Gumbo later died and her remains were discovered lying in a pool of blood by her elder sister who then informed other villagers and the matter was reported to the police who took him into custody with help from villagers.
The boy allegedly committed the crime at around 7am.
Police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said the teenager was arrested on Sunday by villagers who handed him over to police.
“We managed to arrest him with the assistance of community members and from the stolen money, we recovered R1 540. The matter is now under investigation,” said Chief Supt Nyongo.
Ms Gumbo’s body has since been taken to Beitbridge District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
A source close to the case said Ms Gumbo had four deep cuts in the head and her body was found lying face down, some 500 metres from her homestead.
“The deceased was discovered lying in a pool of blood by her elder sister around 2pm along a footpath. The elder sister had left Gumbo around 7am when she proceeded to Dite dip tank with her herd of cattle and came back home at around 2pm,” said the source.
Police recovered two blood-stained logs next to Ms Gumbo’s body and there was evidence of some struggle 50 metres away from where the body was lying.
The incident comes a few weeks after a 75-year-old man from the Whunga area in Beitbridge West under Chief Tshitaudze reportedly went berserk at the height of an unknown dispute with his live-in partner Violet Ncube (57), and chopped her to death using a machete and an axe.
Sitoboli Maluko is said to have killed the woman, while his 16-year-old step son watched in shock.
After committing the murder, Maluko hanged himself using a rope on a tree near the crime scene.- The Herald
WARRIORS striker Prince Dube’s scintillating form in the Tanzanian league where he tops the scorers’ chart with 12 goals has reportedly caught the interest of champions Simba SC.
Dube struck an 86th minute wonder-goal against Young Africans on Sunday night to power Azam to a 1-0 win.
The victory continued Azam’s dominance over Young Africans since their promotion into the topflight.
Azam first played in the Tanzanian Premiership in 2010, and Sunday’s clash was their 23 Premiership encounter with Young Africans.
Azam have now won nine of those duels, losing seven and drawing seven times.
What made the victory sweet for Azam, and Dube in particular, is that the Zimbabwean forward broke an ulna bone in his left arm when the two sides met in November last year, resulting in the pacey forward being flown to South Africa for specialist treatment.
Azam lost that match 1-0 and Dube, who had been in fine form, only returning to fitness towards the end of January.
Dube missed two weeks of action in March, including the Warriors’ crucial Afcon qualifiers against Botswana and Zambia due to injury.
But the striker is proving too hot to handle for Tanzanian defenders, as he did on put Sunday, scoring a long range shot that deservedly won Azam the encounter.
After the match, Dube was swamped by journalists, who asked him about the Simba interest.
“There are rumours that Simba are watching you, they want to make you their player next season, what do you say about that?” an unnamed reporter asked Dube.
In response, Dube said: “I think all I can say is that I’m an Azam player, I can’t talk about Simba. Now I’m focused on playing for Azam. I’m not that player who will play for another team in Tanzania except Azam.”
Simba have had a fairytale run in the Caf Champions League, storming into the quarter-finals of the premier continental club competition.
“This is not about me, but my teammates, so I dedicate this win to everyone around Azam because this (victory) is a team effort. It was a good goal. I’m focused on helping the team win more games. I’m grateful that I helped the team win.”
The former Highlanders striker said he is now used to the Tanzanian Premiership.
“I now know the Tanzanian league, it’s hard and I have to pick myself whenever they kick me. I just have to continue doing my best for the team.”
With 12 goals and six games remaining before the season ends, Dube will be hoping to score more goals and win the golden boot in his debut season in East Africa.-Chronicle
An earth tremor with a magnitude of 4.2 on the Richter scale shook Chipinge and Chimanimani in eastern Zimbabwe again at around 6:53 pm on Saturday.
This is barely two months after another quake was reported in the same area in February this year.
Online sources define an earth tremor as an earthquake, especially of low or moderate intensity.
Chipinge district meteorological officer, Lydia Masengu confirmed the quake to Masvingo Mirror saying there were no damages or injuries reported. She said:
I talked to a number of people over the phone (WhatsApp groups) who felt the earthquake. I have not received any reports of damages but we however will make more enquiries to determine its intensity and the exact areas that it was felt.
Masengu said the eastern border areas have high earthquake activities and these are caused by natural plate tectonics attributed to the East African Rift System (EARS) which extends into Mozambique.
Memory Moyo of Kopa, Chimanimani, told the publication that she was at home when she felt the vibrations at around 6 PM which lasted some 10 seconds.
Jairos Sithole of Gaza high-density suburb said at first he thought there was a haulage truck passing along a nearby road but he later realised that it could have been a tremor after his neighbours also wondered about the vibrations- Masvingo Mirror
Police have warned members of the public and university students against hosting parties late at night in violation of the curfew order and also engaging in orgies of violence.
This follows the arrest of a 30-year-old university student, Michael Muza after he hosted a party for his fellow university students in Bulawayo.
Muza was arrested on Saturday for breaching COVID-19 regulations.
The students, who were apparently drunk, started to randomly attack innocent people and passers-by resulting in one cornered motorist drawing out a pistol and firing warning shots to avoid being assaulted by the group. Police said in a statement:
The ZRP warns residents and university students against hosting parties late into the night and engaging in orgies of violence. On 24/04/21, police in [Bulawayo] arrested Michael Muza (30) for breaching COVID-19 regulations.
The suspect hosted a party for his fellow university students in Selborne Park, [Bulawayo] which resulted in violence and attack on innocent motorists who were passing by.
A cornered motorist had to fire warning shots to evade attack from marauding students.
The party organiser clearly contravened COVID-19 regulations which include a curfew order.
Under the relaxed COVID-19 regulations announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in early March, a curfew is to be observed from 10 PM to 5 AM as part of the measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
However, some unruly elements flagrantly flout the restrictions raising fears of a third wave as winter approaches.- Pindula News
Britain has imposed sanctions on 22 individuals, 14 of them Russians, involved in notorious corruption cases under a new anti-corruption regime.
Individuals across South Africa, South Sudan and Latin America were also targeted with the asset freezes and travel bans.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs the UK had an important role to play in combating corruption.
He also described the country as a “honey pot” for “corrupt actors”.
The new regime means individuals “involved in some of the world’s most serious cases of corruption” will no longer be able to channel their money through UK banks or enter the country, a statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said.
Sanctions were imposed on people from six countries, including:
Three businessmen – the brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta – accused of serious corruption in South Africa
Sudanese businessman Ashraf Seed Ahmed Hussein Ali – dubbed Al Cardinal – accused of misappropriating state assets in South Sudan
And three individuals accused of serious corruption in Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala
This is the first time the UK has imposed sanctions for international corruption.
Announcing the sanctions in the House of Commons, Mr Raab said: “Corruption has an immensely corrosive effect on the rule of law, on trust in institutions, it slows development, it drains the wealth of poorer nations, it keeps their people trapped in poverty. It poisons the well of democracy around the world.”
He added: “Our status as a global financial centre makes us an attractive location for investment… but it also makes us a honey pot, a lightning rod for corrupt actors who seek to launder their dirty money through British banks or through British businesses.”
Mr Raab said the new sanctions regime, taken partly in tandem with measures in the US, would provide “an additional powerful tool to hold the corrupt to account”.
‘Cosy relationships’
Labour welcomed the announcement, but said law enforcement needed the resources to support investigations, describing the current rate of prosecutions for economic crime as “woefully low”.
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said: “If he’s serious about what he’s saying today he needs to put his money where his mouth is.”
She also criticised a “tangled network of financial interests and cosy relationships in the heart of government”.
“We need to know that this announcement isn’t just a gloss on the surface of a grubby system which underneath signals business as usual,” she said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken backed the new regime, as the country also introduced its own corruption sanctions.
He said: “Together, along with other allies and partners, we will seek to promote our shared values with similar tools. Corrupt actors, and their facilitators, will not have access to our financial systems.”
More than 2% of global GDP is lost to corruption every year, and corruption increases the cost of doing business for individual companies by as much as 10%, according to government figures.
“Corruption also threatens our national security by exacerbating conflict and facilitating serious and organised crime, creating space for terrorist and criminal groups like Daesh and Boko Haram to operate,” a Foreign Office statement said.
It added: “This new regime will allow the UK to combat serious corruption, in particular bribery and misappropriation. It will promote effective governance, robust democratic institutions and the rule of law – demonstrating our power as a force for good around the world.” – BBC
Employees of a Gweru-based businessman, wanted by the police for allegedly shooting four people resulting in the death of two last Friday, are removing vehicles from his car sale in the city centre.
Peter Dube’s Mixed Blend Car Sale in Gweru is one of the few car sales in the city that are stocked with top of the range vehicles. A few vehicles were left when a Chronicle news crew visited the car sale that is situated at corner Seventh Street and Lobengula Avenue.
Chronicle witnessed Dube’s employees, who appeared to be in a hurry to move the vehicles to an unknown destination, looking over their shoulders like they were expecting some people to come and stop them.
One of the employees said they had received information from someone in Harare for them to move the vehicles.
“We were asked to move the vehicles to a safer location. That’s all I can say. About what kind of a person Dube was or is, that I cannot tell you because we don’t know each other. So, if you may excuse us, we have a job to do,” said one of the employees.
Police are appealing to members of the public that might have information leading to the arrest of Dube (35) who is on the run after allegedly shooting and killing his second wife’s alleged lover, Mr Shelton Chinhango, also a car dealer based in Kwekwe and Ms Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30).
He also allegedly shot and injured his second wife, Ms Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Ms Nyaradzo (34).
Nyaradzo’s 16-year-old daughter, who witnessed the horrific incident said she and her cousin, a toddler, who is Dube’s son with Nyasha, survived death by a whisker after he attempted to fire the gun at them only to be restrained by Ms Mudungwe.
Dube allegedly committed the ruthless crime as his first wife watched in horror. The shooting at Bensam Flats in the early hours of Friday has been the talk of the City of Progress.
At the same time, tenants at Bensam Flats told this publication that Ms Nyasha Nharingo’s family has allegedly been kicked out of the flat.
She is admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital where her condition is said to be stable as she is out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is recuperating in a female surgical ward. Her sister was supposed to be operated on last night to remove a bullet lodged in her head.
“The landlord came last night and ordered Nyasha’s family out. He was in no nonsense mood. Nyasha remember was planning to vacate the flat which Peter Dube was renting for her. We don’t know where they went but it was bad,” said a fellow tenant on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile Ms Mudungwe is supposed to be buried at Senga cemetery in Gweru this morning according to family spokesperson Mr Percy Dzuka.
“We are expecting Gamu’s body today from Bulawayo where it had been taken for post-mortem after which we will take it to Nyaradzo for burial preparations tomorrow (today) at Senga cemetery,” he said. -Chronicle
The International Commission Jurists has called on the Zimbabwean authorities to allow for detained Member of Parliament, Joana Mamombe to be returned to hospital in order to for her to receive essential medical care.
On Thursday 22 April, MP Mamombe, who is a Member of the main opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, was rushed to hospital from prison after complaining of serious illness. The following day, against a doctor’s advice that she remain under medical care at Parktown Hospital, prison officials forced her to leave by prison officials who returned her to prison. A video shared widely on social media shows an ailing and frustrated Mamombe, stating that she was in pain and would not leave the hospital as she just received injections.
This was just before the Zimbabwe Prison Service pulled out MDCA MP @JoanaMamombe out of Park Town Hospital/Waterfalls against her doctor’s advice.
She is in prison for violating Covid-19 regulations after speaking outside court.
“The Zimbabwean prison officials have abandoned their primary obligation to ensure the humane treatment of a person in its custody. They have failed Joana Mamombe in refusing to provide her access to medical care and treatment, and placed her life and well-being in jeopardy,” said Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, ICJ Africa director.
The ICJ has previously expressed concern about the lawfulness of Joana’s Mamombe arrest and detention (see background below).
Background
The ICJ has been monitoring the situation around the “weaponization” of criminal law in Zimbabwe, as well as the treatment of remand detainees and convicted persons. In May 2020, Mamombe along with opposition activists Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri were arrested and detained for attending a protest during Covid-19 lockdown. They alleged that they were subsequently abducted from police custody by State agents, sexually assaulted, and forced to drink each other’s urine. They were missing for two days following this abduction before they were discovered on a roadside 90km away from Harare. They were subsequently arrested for allegedly having lied about their treatment in custody and for “faking” their abduction. Since May 2020, the three women have been arrested and detained several more times. Despite Mamombe appearing in court 129 times over the last 12 months, she has been repeatedly denied bail.
Under Article 50(d) of the Zimbabwean Constitution, any person who is detained, including a sentenced prisoner, has the right to receive medical treatment. This requirement is provided for under several international treaties to which Zimbabwe is a party, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – (Articles 6, 7 and 10), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 12), the UN Convention against Torture (Article 16), and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The revised UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoner (Mandela Rules) provides in Rule 27 that “All prisons shall ensure prompt access to medical attention in urgent cases. Prisoners who require specialized treatment or surgery shall be transferred to specialized institutions or to civil hospitals” and that “Clinical decisions may only be taken by the responsible health-care professionals and may not be overruled or ignored by non-medical prison staff.”
The ICJ has observed with concern ongoing violations of the right to health of prisoners and remand detainees by the Zimbabwean authorities. For instance, despite the risks that are posed by COVID-19 in prisons, detainees were not allowed to sanitize their prison cells or wear adequate PPE in prison.
Tinashe Sambiri|Intelligence sources in Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration have claimed the Zanu PF leader himself is personally directing the persecution of perceived Zanu PF opponents.
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader, Obey Sithole was arrested in central Harare on Monday morning.
Mr Mnangagwa wants to make sure that there is literally no movement within the MDC Alliance, it has emerged.
“I have just been arrested on my way out of court. I remain unshaken, till freedom. Zimbabwe shall be free,” said Sithole.
“MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Chairman Tererai Obey Sithole has been arrested at the courts. This follows an earlier arrest of student leader Alan Moyo,” MDC Alliance said in a statement.
“These Zanupf thugocrats must be stopped before the finish us one-by-one,” said MDC Alliance Namibia spokesperson Robson Ruhanya.
COVID-19 continues to disrupt essential health services in 90% of countries
COVID-19 continues to disrupt essential health services in 90% of countries
Some signs of recovery emerging but major efforts required to restore and strengthen health services
The second round of a World Health Organization “pulse survey“ reveals that over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, substantial disruptions persist, with about 90% of countries still reporting one or more disruptions to essential health services, marking no substantial global change since the first survey conducted in the summer of 2020.
Within countries, however, the magnitude and extent of disruptions has generally decreased. In 2020, countries reported that, on average, about half of essential health services were disrupted. In the first 3 months of 2021, however, they reported progress, with just over one third of services now being disrupted.
Overcoming disruptions
Countries have been working to mitigate disruptions. Many have now stepped up communications efforts to inform the public about changes to service delivery and provide advice about ways to safely seek health care. They are also triaging to identify and better meet the most urgent patient needs.
More than half the countries consulted say they have recruited additional staff to boost the health workforce; redirected patients to other care facilities; and switched to alternative methods to delivering care, such as providing more home-based services, multi-month prescriptions for treatments, and increasing the use of telemedicine.
In addition, WHO and its partners have been helping countries to adapt their processes so they can better respond to the challenges being placed on their health systems; strengthen primary health care, and advance universal health coverage.
“It is encouraging to see that countries are beginning to build back their essential health services, but much remains to be done,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO. “The survey highlights the need to intensify efforts and take additional steps to close gaps and strengthen services. It will be especially important to monitor the situation in countries that were struggling to provide health services before the pandemic.“
Persisting causes of disruptions
Countries are still having to make important decisions when responding to COVID-19 that may negatively affect access to care for other health issues. Redeployment of staff to provide COVID-19 relief and temporary closures of health facilities and services continue.
Although they may have taken on new staff, 66% of countries continue to report health workforce-related reasons as the most common causes of service disruptions. Supply chains are also still disrupted in nearly one third of countries, affecting the availability of essential medicines, diagnostics, and the PPE needed to safely and effectively provide care.
Communications efforts need to be further scaled up: more than half of countries report service disruptions due to patients not seeking care and because of community mistrust and fears of becoming infected.
Meanwhile, 43% of countries cite financial challenges as major causes for disruptions in service utilization.
As a result, millions of people are still missing out on vital health care. In terms of services, the biggest impact reported by nearly half of countries is on provision of day-to-day primary care to prevent and manage some of the most common health problems. Long-term care for chronic conditions, rehabilitation, and palliative end-of-life care, is also still badly disrupted – severely affecting older people and people living with disabilities.
Potentially life-saving emergency, critical and surgical care interventions are still disrupted in about 20% of countries, reflecting the most immediate indirect consequences of the pandemic. Two thirds of countries also report disruptions in elective surgeries, with accumulating consequences as the pandemic is prolonged.
Among the most extensively affected health services (i.e. those for which more than 40% of countries are reporting disruptions) are those for mental, neurological and substance use disorders; neglected tropical diseases; tuberculosis; HIV and hepatitis B and C; cancer screening, and services for other noncommunicable diseases including hypertension and diabetes; family planning and contraception; urgent dental care; and malnutrition.
Issued ahead of World Immunization Week (which starts 24 April) and World Malaria Day (25 April) the survey reveals that serious gaps also remain in addressing disruptions to services in both these areas.More than one third of countries are still reporting disruptions to immunization services, despite progress in countries reducing disruptions to immunization services in health facilities and “outreach” immunization services by about 20% and 30% respectively compared to 2020. This highlights the need for new and sustained approaches to improving immunization coverage and uptake.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose serious challenges to global health beyond the impact of the disease itself,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “For children, disruptions to immunization services have serious consequences. As we scale up delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, we have to ensure that this does not come at the cost of essential childhood vaccinations. We cannot allow today’s fight against COVID-19 to undermine our fight against measles, polio or other vaccine preventable illnesses. Prolonged immunization disruptions will have long-term consequences for children’s health. The time to catch up is now.”
Meanwhile, nearly 40% of countries are also reporting disruptions to one or more malaria services. While progress compared to 2020 – with about 10% fewer countries reporting disruptions to malaria diagnosis and treatment and 25-33% fewer countries reporting disruptions to malaria prevention campaigns (including distribution of long-lasting insecticide impregnated bed nets, indoor spraying and seasonal malaria chemoprevention), the reported level of disruption is still significant and needs to be urgently addressed.
WHO will continue to support countries so they can respond to increased strains on health systems and rapidly evolving priorities and needs throughout the course of the pandemic, and to ensure that COVID-19 control strategies are in balance strategies to tackle other health priorities and secure continued access to comprehensive care for everyone, including the most vulnerable.
Key support mechanisms include the ACT-Accelerator, which works to speed up equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments, and the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which guides actions taken at national, regional, and global levels to tackle COVID-19.
The Organization also remains focused on the delivery of the work it has committed to before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Internally, through the “Boost initiative” and the UHC Partnership, which covers 115 countries, WHO has strengthened its capacity to provide additional support to countries so they can maintain essential health services during the pandemic, and advance progress towards universal health coverage.
Source: World Health Organization
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The twelve clubs that attempted to set up the breakaway European Super League will face sanctions for their actions, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has insisted.
Six sides from England namely Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal plus three teams from Spain – Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona and Italian trio Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan were involved in the proposed tournament.
However, the controversial £4.6 billion competition suffered a stillbirth after several teams pulled out due to huge backlash from their fans and worldwide condemnation, including politicians.
Only Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona still believe the European Super League can happen.
According to the Mail, as cited by SkySports, Ceferin admitted sanctions for the six English clubs would be the most lenient for leaving first, with Juve, Barca and Real set to be given strong punishment.
“Let’s see. Everyone has to take consequences for what they did and we cannot pretend nothing happened,” Ceferin said. “You cannot do something like that and just say ‘I’ve been punished because everybody hates me’.
“They don’t have problems because of anyone else but themselves. It’s not OK what they did and we will see in the next few days what we have to do.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent- The Gweru businessman, Peter Dube who killed two people including a boyfriend of his second wife, had been ditched, it has emerged.
Gweru businessman, Peter Dube (35), last week Thursday allegedly shot his girlfriend and socialite Nyasha Nharingo (31), her sister Nyaradzo (34), his girlfriend’s alleged lover identified as Mr Shelton Chinhango and Nyasha’s friend Ms Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30).
He allegedly shot the four while his wife Justina Nomatter Chawama (30) and his brother Advance Dube watched. According to the state media Dube, could not stomach being ditched by Nyasha, a popular Gweru socialite who was now going out with Mr Chinhango, his friend who is a known gold dealer based in Kwekwe.
Dube, could not stomach being ditched by Nyasha, a popular Gweru socialite who was now going out with Mr Chinhango, his friend who is a known gold dealer based in Kwekwe.
The car dealer was allegedly incensed after Mr Chinhango drove Nyasha, Nyaradzo and Ms Mudungwe to Masvingo to collect Nyaradzo’s passport without his knowledge leading to the fatal confrontation.
By A Correspondent- Police have warned members of the public and university students against hosting parties late at night in violation of the curfew order and also engaging in orgies of violence.
This follows the arrest of a 30-year-old university student, Michael Muza after he hosted a party for his fellow university students in Bulawayo.
Muza was arrested on Saturday for breaching COVID-19 regulations.
The students, who were apparently drunk, started to randomly attack innocent people and passers-by resulting in one cornered motorist drawing out a pistol and firing warning shots to avoid being assaulted by the group. Police said in a statement:
The ZRP warns residents and university students against hosting parties late into the night and engaging in orgies of violence.
On 24/04/21, police in [Bulawayo] arrested Michael Muza (30) for breaching COVID-19 regulations.
The suspect hosted a party for his fellow university students in Selborne Park, [Bulawayo] which resulted in violence and attack on innocent motorists who were passing by.
A cornered motorist had to fire warning shots to evade attack from marauding students.
The party organiser clearly contravened COVID-19 regulations which include a curfew order.
Under the relaxed COVID-19 regulations announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in early March, a curfew is to be observed from 10 PM to 5 AM as part of the measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
However, some unruly elements flagrantly flout the restrictions raising fears of a third wave as winter approaches.
By A correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife Mary, has been on remand for 15 months now with the court failing to put her on trial.
This came out today when she applied for refusal for further remand arguing that the courts were now persecuting her.
Mary is on remand on a case in which she is being accused of attempting to kill the Vice President when he was in hospital in South Africa. She is also facing allegations of money laundering.
Through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Mrs Chiwenga told the court that the State had promised to complete investigations a month into her arrest, but has failed.
Ms Mtetwa also told the court that the State was aware of the complexity of extra-territorial investigations when they made a one month promise.
She made the application after the State led by Mrs Mushayabasa applied for a postponement of the matter to allow police to complete investigations into the matter.
Mrs Mushayabasa told the court that there were extra-territorial investigations that need to be carried out in South Africa.
She appeared before regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.
By A Correspondent- MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora says his efforts to reach out to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa have been rejected by the latter.
Speaking during an interview with Daily News on Sunday Senior Staff Writer Blessings Mashaya, Mwonzora accused the vanquished ZANU PF G40 faction of influencing the MDC Alliance leadership to engage in “hate politics”.
Said Mwonzora:
I have tried to talk peace with my brother Chamisa with a view to unite the Zimbabwean people and solve the national problems, but these efforts have been rebuffed by his team and himself.
They have resorted to denigrate and humiliate me on social media.
Unfortunately, they are under the influence of the G40s who specialise in hate politics.
Mwonzora also denied allegations that he stole over $6 million from the MDC-T before the party’s chaotic 27 December extraordinary congress.
He accused his colleagues within the MDC-T of using Patson Murimoga to report the alleged theft of funds to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in a bid to achieve their political objectives.
Mwonzora said:
This is the work of internal opponents who were irked by my victory at the extraordinary congress on December 27th last year. They have teamed up with some members of the opposition and the G40.
They are sponsoring and exploiting this desperate youth to try to achieve their political objectives. They hope that I would be arrested so that I will be out of the political scene.
Our unique political style and strategy have confounded them.
The allegations are totally preposterous, false and malicious. They wanted to secure my arrest before congress so that I would not assume leadership of the MDC-T.
They reported the matter to the police and even tried to buy my arrest. But law officers work on evidence and this is what these people don’t have.
Some of them tried to accuse me of theft last year only for acting president Thokozani Khupe to write a letter exonerating me.
It is totally impossible for one person to take money as much as $6 million from a party with as elaborate accounting and signing procedures as the MDC-T. But their sordid efforts will simply be defeated by the truth.
By A Correspondent- Sunday Makore (47) of Sizinda suburb in Bulawayo and three accomplices allegedly stormed a Meteorological Services Department (MSD) office and stole a generator before fleeing in a getaway car on 16 March this year.
Makore and his three accomplices who are all still at large, reportedly struck at Goetz Observatory in Khumalo suburb travelling in unregistered Toyota Runx on 16 March at around 8 PM.
Prosecuting, Ashley Dube said Makore dropped from the motor vehicle and he walked straight to the generator room.
Two of the suspects and Makore allegedly took a Kipor Diesel Operator, loaded it into the car and the gang drove away at high speed.
Makore last Friday pleaded not guilty to one count of theft when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Rachel Mukanga.
Mukanga granted him $10 000 bail and he will be back in court on 5 May. The State did not oppose bail.
Meanwhile, the total value of the generator is $102 000 and nothing was recovered.-statemedia
By A Correspondent -Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said police were still looking for the man who shot dead his second wife, friend and her boyfriend and dismissed social media reports claiming that the man had a shoot-out with the police in Bulawayo.
Social media reports are circulating and claiming that the Gweru polygamous businessman Peter Dube was spotted in Bulawayo and exchanged gunshots with the police in Pumula.
On the fateful day on Thursday last week, Dube allegedly approached the wife, Nyasha and suspected lover, Shelton, as they were parked outside a flat where the wife resides.
Dube is said to have shot Shelton, who was on the driver’s seat, at close range and he died on the spot.
The wife’s best friend, Gamuchirai, was shot in the chest and also died on the spot while the wife and her sister Nyaradzo, were shot in the neck and head, respectively.
Nyasha’s father, Mr Nharingo said after committing the crime, Dube phoned and told him about the incident.
By A Correspondent- An earth tremor with a magnitude of 4.2 on the Richter scale shook Chipinge and Chimanimani in eastern Zimbabwe again at around 6:53 pm on Saturday.
This is barely two months after another quake was reported in the same area in February this year.
Online sources define an earth tremor as an earthquake, especially of low or moderate intensity.
Chipinge district meteorological officer, Lydia Masengu confirmed the quake to Masvingo Mirror saying there were no damages or injuries reported.
She said:
I talked to a number of people over the phone (WhatsApp groups) who felt the earthquake. I have not received any reports of damages but we however will make more enquiries to determine its intensity and the exact areas that it was felt.
Masengu said the eastern border areas have high earthquake activities and these are caused by natural plate tectonics attributed to the East African Rift System (EARS) which extends into Mozambique.
Memory Moyo of Kopa, Chimanimani, told the publication that she was at home when she felt the vibrations at around 6 PM which lasted some 10 seconds.
Jairos Sithole of Gaza high-density suburb said at first he thought there was a haulage truck passing along a nearby road but he later realised that it could have been a tremor after his neighbours also wondered about the vibrations.
By A Correspondent-Gweru polygamous businessman Peter Dube who brutally shot four people last Friday, two of them fatally, after confronting his second wife on suspected infidelity, also attempted to shoot his five-year-old son, the only child born out of that relationship.
He only turned the gun off his son Nyasha Brendon Dube (5) to shoot at his wife’s best friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe after she wailed and intervened, trying to stop him from shooting the child, it has emerged.
His wife’s young sister Tadiwanashe Nharingo (16), said she held the child firmly on her lap and against her chest on a car seat as Dube pointed the gun at them and later escaped with the child, as Dube changed focus to an intervening Gamuchirai.
“As he pointed the gun at his son and me because the boy was on my lap, my sister’s friend, Gamuchirai, shouted and screamed at him asking why he wanted to kill his own son and me, and that is when he turned the gun on Gamuchiraai and shot her.
“Thereafter, he pursued my sisters, Nyasha and Nyaradzo inside the flat while I ran away with the boy. I then heard two gunshots inside the flat and I knew my sisters had been shot at,” she said.
Tadiwanashe said she was still traumatised by the incident.
By A correspondent- An attorney representing Vice President Constantine Chiwenga’s wife Mary, Ms Biatrice Mtetwa has challenged the courts for taking more than a year to establish a case against her client.
Mary has been on remand for 15 months now with the court failing to put her on trial.
Mtetwa challenged the court today when she applied for refusal for further remand of Maru where she argued that the courts were now persecuting her client.
Mary is on remand on a case in which she is being accused of attempting to kill the Vice President when he was in hospital in South Africa. She is also facing allegations of money laundering.
Ms Mtetwa told the court that the State had promised to complete investigations a month into her arrest, but has failed.
Ms Mtetwa also told the court that the State was aware of the complexity of extra-territorial investigations when they made a one month promise.
She made the application after the State led by Mrs Mushayabasa applied for a postponement of the matter to allow police to complete investigations into the matter.
Mrs Mushayabasa told the court that there were extra-territorial investigations that need to be carried out in South Africa.
She appeared before regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.
By A Correspondent- The burial of the two people who died on spot following a love triangle murder in Gweru has been set for this weekend.
Gweru businessman, Peter Dube (35), Dube allegedly shot his girlfriend and socialite Nyasha Nharingo (31), her sister Nyaradzo (34), his girlfriend’s alleged lover identified as Mr Shelton Chinhango and Nyasha’s friend Ms Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30) last Thursday.
His junior wife Nyasha Nharingo and her young sister Nyaradzo are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Gweru Central Hospital after sustaining life-threatening gunshot wounds, while the suspected boyfriend Shelton Chinhango and Gamuchirai (30) died on the spot.
The state media reported that Nyaradzo was still in critical condition in the ICU where she is set to be operated on to remove the bullet lodged in her skull.
Nyasha is, however, out of danger and is now admitted to the female surgical ward according to her father, Mr Bothwell Nharingo.
By A correspondent- Vice President Constantine Chiwenga, Mary, has challenged the courts for continuously placing her on remand.
Mary today applied for refusal for further remand arguing that it is now 15 months of her attending court with the State failing to complete investigations into her matter in which she is accused of attempting to kill the Vice President when he was in hospital in South Africa.
She is also facing allegations of money laundering. Through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Mrs Chiwenga told the court that the State had promised to complete investigations a month into her arrest, but has failed.
Ms Mtetwa also told the court that the State was aware of the complexity of extra-territorial investigations when they made a one month promise.
She made the application after the State led by Mrs Mushayabasa applied for a postponement of the matter to allow police to complete investigations into the matter.
Mrs Mushayabasa told the court that there were extra-territorial investigations that need to be carried out in South Africa. She appeared before regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.
By A correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Mary, today applied for refusal for further remand arguing that it is now 15 months of her attending court with the state failing to complete investigations into her matter in which she is accused of attempting to kill the Vice President when he was in hospital in South Africa.
She is also facing allegations of money laundering. Through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Mrs Chiwenga told the court that the State had promised to complete investigations a month into her arrest, but has failed.
Ms Mtetwa also told the court that the State was aware of the complexity of extra-territorial investigations when they made a one month promise.
She made the application after the State led by Mrs Mushayabasa applied for a postponement of the matter to allow police to complete investigations into the matter.
Mrs Mushayabasa told the court that there were extra-territorial investigations that need to be carried out in South Africa. She appeared before regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.
By A Correspondent| Corruption accused and suspended City of Harare Town Clerk, Hosiah Abraham Chisango will tomorrow 27 April 2021 appear before the Harare Magistrates court for routine remand in a case in which he is accused of perjury.
According to the state, Chisango in his capacity and representing the City of Harare reportedly filed a false written statement claiming that land developer George Katsimberis built a show house without approved plans when in fact those plans were approved by the City of Harare.
Suspended City of Harare Town Clerk, Hosiah Abraham Chisango
The state led by Zivanai Macharaga further allege that on the 2nd of October 2018 at the High Court of Zimbabwe Civil Division, Harare, Chisango, in his personal capacity and as well as the Town Clerk of City of Harare, jointly filed a sworn affidavit under High Court case number HC 8943/18 and lied in that affidavit that there was no payment that was made to the City of Harare for the approval of building plans which were attached to Georgios Katsimberis’ founding affidavit in High Court case number HC 8943/18 when in fact a payment of US$3,707 had been done for such approval.
Chisango and other City of Harare officials namely Priscila Charumbira, Isaiah Zvenyika Chawatama, Samuel Nyabezi and Laston Taonezvi are also accused of acting inconsistent with their duties by showing disfavour to Katsimberis by claiming that he had built a show house on stand 9 of 21 on consolidated stand number 19559 of 1 828 Harare Township corner Teviotdale and Whitwell Borrowdale Harare without approved plan while favouring Pokugara Properties (Pvt) Ltd in a dispute between complainant in this case and Pokugara Properties (Pvt) Ltd.
By A Correspondent -Harare magistrate Mrs Tafadzwa Mhiti has eased Monday Norton legislator Temba Mliswa’s bail conditions and returned his passport to allow him to travel to Portugal and South Africa to conduct business.
Mliswa is facing allegations of violating Covid 19 regulations through convening a press conference attended by nearly 20 journalists.
As part of his bail conditions, Mliswa was ordered to report to police once a week every Friday, continue residing at his Borrowdale home in Harare, surrender his passport with the Clerk of Court and not address press conferences until his matter has been finalised.
By A Correspondent -Harare magistrate Mrs Tafadzwa Mhiti on Monday temporarily released Norton legislator Temba Mliswa’s passport to allow him to travel to Portugal and South Africa to conduct business.
Mliswa is facing allegations of violating Covid 19 regulations through convening a press conference attended by nearly 20 journalists.
As part of his bail conditions, Mliswa was ordered to report to police once a week every Friday, continue residing at his Borrowdale home in Harare, surrender his passport with the Clerk of Court and not address press conferences until his matter has been finalised.
By A Correspondent| An employee of justice fugitive Kenneth Raydon Sharpe, Michael John Van Blerk has been remanded to 11 May in a case in which he answering to charges of perjury.
Van Blerk who was last week slapped with a warrant of arrest last week after he failed to appear before the Harare magistrates court for routine remand is accused of destroying land developer George Katsimberis’ show house.
He is jointly charged together with City of Harare officials Hosiah Chisango, Engineer Zvenyika Chawatama, Samuel Nyabezi and Last Chaitezvi as well as his colleague from Pokugara Properties Mandla Marlone Ndebele.
Sharpe is reportedly at large.
Van Blerk (brown jacket) and his boss Ken Sharpe (black jacket)
According to the state, Van Blerk lied in an affidavit that the show house in question was built without approved building plans by the City of Harare.
“In that on the 2nd of October 2018 and at High Court of Zimbabwe Civil Division, Harare, MICHAEL JOHN VAN BLERK in his personal capacity and as well as the Managing Director representative of 2nd accused jointly filed a false written statement in case HC8943/18 knowingly or realizing that there was a real risk or possibility that the statement was false that is to say one or both of accused persons tendered an affidavit sworn to by 1st accused in case HC8943/18 and lied in that affidavit that the show house in question was built without approved building plan by City of Harare yet in actual fact the copy of the said plan shows that it was approved by City of Harare,” reads part of the state papers.
“And further one or both of accused person filed a false written statement in case HC 8943/18 knowingly or realizing that there was a real risk or possibility that the statement was false that is to say the two accused persons tendered an affidavit sworn to by 1st accused in case HC 8943/18 and lied that complainant Georgious Katsimberis had constructed a show house on stand 10 instead of stand 9 yet in fact the show house was built on stand 9 and also lied in the same affidavit that complainant applied for a building plan under plan MP6813/17 for approval of building plan for stand 9 when in actual fact it was one or both of accused person who made such an application for approval of building plan for stand 8,” further reads the state outline.
Court remand and Chikurubi Female and maximum is being made our 2nd home, because we are determined to fight for all injustices in the judiciary system to defend a better Zimbabwe for all and that strengthens our resolve.
Today I was back in court on 2 different allegations, one which we’re 7 youth leaders, myself, Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe Cecillia R Chimbiri Makomborero Haruzivishe Tererai Obey Sithole Stanley Manyenga Lovejoy Chitengu and being alleged to have broken covid regulations by participating in an anti-govt protest against hunger during May 2020 national lockdown period. Sadly as usual the trial could not commence as the state applied for postponement since they will never be ready and the matter has been postpond to 13 May 2021 for start of trial.
2nd one is one which they claim I assaulted a police officer inside charge office when am the one who was assulted for seeking clarity on why the targeted victimisation and arrest of Joana and Cecilia on a press wch we read in solidarity with Makomborero Haruzivishe. And again no trial commenced and the matter remanded to 10 May 2021.
On the other hand Joana and Cecilia had another matter in court 6 for remand and at high court for bail hearing which has been postpond to Wednesday 28th.
In the fullness of this persecution by prosecution. We remain resolute to the cause and continue to demand justice in our lifetime. One day the people shall govern and Zimbabwe shall be free!
Court remand and Chikurubi Female and maximum is being made our 2nd home, because we are determined to fight for all injustices in the judiciary system to defend a better Zimbabwe for all and that strengthens our resolve.
Today I was back in court on 2 different allegations, one which we’re 7 youth leaders, myself, Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe Cecillia R Chimbiri Makomborero Haruzivishe Tererai Obey Sithole Stanley Manyenga Lovejoy Chitengu and being alleged to have broken covid regulations by participating in an anti-govt protest against hunger during May 2020 national lockdown period. Sadly as usual the trial could not commence as the state applied for postponement since they will never be ready and the matter has been postpond to 13 May 2021 for start of trial.
2nd one is one which they claim I assaulted a police officer inside charge office when am the one who was assulted for seeking clarity on why the targeted victimisation and arrest of Joana and Cecilia on a press wch we read in solidarity with Makomborero Haruzivishe. And again no trial commenced and the matter remanded to 10 May 2021.
On the other hand Joana and Cecilia had another matter in court 6 for remand and at high court for bail hearing which has been postpond to Wednesday 28th.
In the fullness of this persecution by prosecution. We remain resolute to the cause and continue to demand justice in our lifetime. One day the people shall govern and Zimbabwe shall be free!
Thierry Henry says he no longer recognises Arsenal anymore after the club’s involvement in the Super League fiasco.
The Gunners were among the twelve European clubs, who sought to join the breakaway competition, but withdrew their intention after 48 hours due to massive backlash from the fans and the UK government.
Arsene Wenger, who coached the London-based side for over two decades, also criticised club owner Stan Kroenke’s move to join the Super League.
Speaking to the Telegraph newspaper, Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer Henry said: “I do not recognise my club and what happened just now, with them trying to join a league that would have been closed, makes no sense to me.
“They have been running the club like a company, not a football club, and they showed their hand.
“Maybe it’s a lack of understanding of the core football values and maybe the money was too big of a temptation. Whatever it was, they got it wrong. Badly wrong.”
The Gunners legend added: “I was genuinely shocked like most people and couldn’t believe what was unfolding. I have never talked before, but what happened recently made me realise fans, this is your club. It is your club and I’m an Arsenal fan too.
“I’m proud of what the fans achieved. Not just Arsenal fans, all the fans. The result was a victory for football.”
Meanwhile, fans have been calling for Kroenke to sell his shares after the failed Super League move.
And Swedish billionaire Daniel Ek, co-founder and chief executive of music streaming service Spotify, has declared his interest in buying Arsenal if the current owner decides to heed the calls.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance youth assembly president Tererai Sithole was on Monday arrested at the Harare Magistrates Court.
Sithole was arrested in the morning after he appeared in court where he was answering charges of holding an illegal demonstration in Warren Park last year.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Sithole is now facing criminal nuisance charges. Police said that Sithole committed the offence on 1 April.
The MDC said in a tweet:
Our Youth Assembly Chairperson, @TereraiSithole has been arrested while leaving court this morning where he was answering to flimsy charges of holding an illegal demo. He has not been advised of the charges against him. #FreeObey.
At some point during the season, Warriors striker Prince Dube was out injured for six weeks.
The soft-spoken former Bosso striker had to be flown to Cape Town, South Africa, for a surgery on his left arm, which he fractured during during Azam’s league match against Young Africans.
Just before the Warriors’ decisive AFCON qualifiers against Botswana and Zambia, the gifted forward suffered a thigh injury which would keep him out of action for two weeks.
Put simply, Mgadafi, as Bosso fans refer to him affectionately, missed a lot of games in the Tanzanian Premier League.
Incredibly though, the 24-year old is leading the race for the 2020/21 golden boot in an injury punctuated debut season.
The Zimbabwe international has simply been impressive for Azam and the cracker he scored last night against Yanga, which sealed three points for his side, was a clear testimony of a gunslinger on a mission.
He has scored 12 goals and provided six assists and showing no signs of stopping.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
High-flying Mamelodi Sundowns’ unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership came to and after they were beat at home 1-2 by Kaizer Chiefs.
The Brazilians had last lost a game in the league when they were beaten 0-1 by Baroka last season and were threatening to go the entire campaign unbeaten.
They started well, dominating the early exchanges but the first chance fell to Amakhosi, Khama Billiat setting up Leonardo Castro with a brilliant chest pass but the Colombian blazed his effort over the bar.
Billiat was in the thick of things again minutes later, this time setting up Lebagang Manyama but the former Cape Town City man failed to convert.
Against the run of play, Sundowns surged ahead in the 31st minute.
A through ball was threaded in for Gaston Sirino, who rounded off Itumeleng Khune to slot home the opener.
Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt had to make an injury-inspired change on the stroke of half time, when Khama Billiat limped off after a challenge from Anjile Jali.
The Zimbabwean was replaced by Dumisani Zuma just before the referee blew to end the first half.
Amakhosi came back for the second half playing with more urgency but Sundowns almost put the final nail on their coffin when Sirino danced his way past a number of defenders before setting up Maboe, whose indecisiveness cost him dearly.
Chiefs levelled matters in the 71st minute when an Samir Nurkovic forced Lebusa to beat Denis Onyango.
Barely a minute later, Chiefs took the lead when a defence-splitting pass found Zuma, who poked the ball past Onyango.
Hunt’s men held on for crucial three points and subjected Masandawana to their first defeat of the season.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
