Nearly 10 years after the death of Zimbabwe’s mist powerful retired general Solomon Mujuru, his estate is still causing headaches.
Three companies which sought to be included in the general’s estate have successfully applied to be joined in the case, after the High Court ruled that they have a real and substantial interest in the matter.
The former commander died in August 2011 in an inferno at his farm in Beatrice, leaving behind an empire ranging from real estate, pharmaceutical, farming, to diamond mining sparking a legal confrontation battle between his widow Dr Joice Mujuru and some of the intended beneficiaries.
The ruling comes after one of the daughters Maidei Mujuru sought an order under case Number HC2370/20, declaring that the immovable properties, Kalmic Investments, Athienitis Properties and Rylance Farms were part of the estate on the grounds that they were the national hero’s alter egos.
Alter-ego refers to a legal principle preventing shareholders being treated as the owners of companies to prevent fraudulent activities.
The court applies alter-ego rule to ignore the corporate status of a group of stockholders, officers and directors of a corporation with respect to their limited liability. Under the alter-ego rule, a corporate veil of an individual is lifted and makes him or her personally liable for his/her unjustifiable activities.
In this case, the executor of the estate Mr Stern Mufara opposed the application for joinder by Kalmic Investments, Athienitis Properties and Rylance Farms, arguing that the persons purporting to represent the three companies had no right or capacity to do so. He argued that there was no CR14 appointing them as directors or shareholders of the companies attached to the founding affidavit.
It was argued that the decision of the Master of the High Court, which is in existence, that the three purported representatives of the companies in question failed to support their allegations that they were directors of the companies.
But in her ruling Justice Jester Charewa found that there was no legal requirement that in instituting proceedings a company should attach CR14 to its founding documents to prove that its representatives were duly authorised.
She said what was indispensable was a resolution by the company that it has resolved to institute or defend legal proceedings and identifying the person that has been tasked with being the mouth-piece.
The court also noted that it was not in dispute that the three companies were the registered and beneficial owners of the properties sought to be included in the estate.
In her ruling, Justice Charewa took into account the agreement on the business partnership between the deceased and businessman Mr James Makamba for the Thurlow Group of Companies.
“It follows that as registered and beneficial owners of the properties which are sought to be included in the deceased’s estate, applicants have real and substantial interests which, if they are able to show that they are not deceased’s alter egos, they are entitled to protect,” said Justice Charewa, finding that the applicants had proved on a balance of probabilities that they were entitled to the relief they prayed for.
“And to enable them to protect such interest, they must be joined to the proceedings seeking to include the properties in the deceased’s estate.”
After the dissolution of their partnership, Gen Mujuru and Mr Makamba entered into an agreement wherein they shared between themselves certain immovable properties registered in the companies under Thurlow Group.
To give effect to the agreement on the division of the immovable property, the business partners agreed to sign share transfer forms for the respective companies, as well as resignation letters as directors, secretaries and public officers for the respective companies which owned the properties allocated to each other.
By virtue of that agreement, the properties registered under Kalmic, Athienitis Properties and Rylance Farms were allocated to Gen Mujuru.
Mr Makamba surrendered his shareholding and resigned his directorship and public office positions in the three companies. Herald
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has urged the people of Zimbabwe to focus on positive developments instead of concentrating on mistakes and failures of the past.
President Chamisa also said negative criticism should not stop the people of Zimbabwe from pursuing set objectives:
“MOTION BREEDS SUCCESS…Be inspired and encouraged.
Don’t be discouraged by those people who are only negative, and seek to see and amplify your mistakes.
Mistakes and missteps are evidence of effort and motion. Keep learning, Keep leading!!!#StrongerandStronger
Godisinit,” wrote President Chamisa on his official Facebook page.
Parliament says it will intervene in a matter in which Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala (MDC Alliance) is accusing Zanu PF supporters and Chitungwiza Town Council officials of attempting to stop construction of a community marketplace in his constituency.
Sikhala, the MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson, wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda last month asking him to rein in ruling Zanu PF party supporters he alleged were stalling the project, which is funded by government through the Constituency Development Fund.
In response, Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda said the legislative body would engage the relevant authorities so that the project resumes without further delay.
In a letter dated April 21, 2021 written to Sikhala and seen by NewsDay, Chokuda said: “Parliament takes note of the efforts that you made in having the project approved by the relevant authorities and commencement of the project thereof.
“It is, therefore, regretted that the project has stalled as a result of the directive from Chitungwiza Town Council to halt construction.”
He added: “We take note of the fact that you have taken the matter to the courts to seek redress. In our view, the longer the matter stays in the courts, the longer it will take for Zengeza West constituency to benefit from this project. In that respect, Parliament proposes to engage the relevant authorities for dialogue to be given a chance in resolving the matter.”
Chitungwiza Town Council issued a prohibition and enforcement order stopping Sikhala from developing the market despite that the project has approved plans and land was allocated for its construction.
Sikhala then approached the High Court challenging the prohibition and enforcement order and won the matter. However, the council appealed to the Supreme Court. -Newsday
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has urged the people of Zimbabwe to focus on positive developments instead of concentrating on mistakes and failures of the past.
President Chamisa also said negative criticism should not stop the people of Zimbabwe from pursuing set objectives:
“MOTION BREEDS SUCCESS…Be inspired and encouraged.
Don’t be discouraged by those people who are only negative, and seek to see and amplify your mistakes.
Mistakes and missteps are evidence of effort and motion. Keep learning, Keep leading!!!#StrongerandStronger
Godisinit,” wrote President Chamisa on his official Facebook page.
By A Correspondent | The ZANU PF leader Emerson Mnangagwa is clearly capturing the judiciary in preparation of the 2023 elections, a lawyer during the ZimRights press conference yesterday concluded.
Mnangagwa is doing this by changing the constitution in order to handpick judges without interviews, it was debated, and below was the briefer-
All we have seen [is] the judiciary act as power brokers primarily because of our contested elections, in the last so many elections, elections have been going to court, particularly the presidential election 2018 is a fresh memory. It was the constitutional court that eventually decided who was to be the president.
Because in Zimbabwe elections have been contested, we are still too far from electoral reform. We are likely going to see another contestant election in 2023, where the constitutional court is called upon to determine who is to be the presidential winner.
In terms of our constitution, it is only the constitutional court that can decide a presidential election dispute, so in anticipation of that one would imagine why the president would want to ensure that there are judges that are beholden to him in that constitutional court, elected and promoted to that office by him…
So it’s a clear exercise to us of judicial capture, it’s a clear excercise of taping the judiciary.
Tinashe Sambiri| A Cotton Company of Zimbabwe official is in trouble for awarding a tender to an MDC Alliance official in Chiredzi.
ZimEye.com has gathered that the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira, Chiredzi North MP Roy Bhila and top Central Intelligence Organization officers have reprimanded Cotton Company of Zimbabwe official, Innocent Gukwe for awarding a transport tender to the MDC Alliance official.
The official’s company won a tender to ferry Cotton Company of Zimbabwe workers to and from work.
“Gukwe is in trouble.CIO officers acting on instructions from Ezra Chadzamira and Roy Bhila instructed Gukwe to cancel the tender awarded to a company reportedly belonging to an MDC Alliance official with immediate effect.
They also threatened to fire him,” a source told ZimEye.com.
However, Gukwe, quoted by a weekly publication said : “No, we did not even know that the omnibus belonged to an MDC Alliance member. We do not look into people’s political backgrounds when awarding tenders.
“We thought it was just another local business person. We are now following your decisions on the case because Dingane Ncube (CIO) once came to me with the issue and said he was going to advise me on how to handle the issue.”
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
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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A 57-YEAR-OLD Binga man has been arrested after he fatally axed his uncle who tried to stop him from selling a cow that was “old and thin.”
William Sibanga Muzamba of Twakachibona village under Chief Pashu reportedly surrendered himself to the police soon after killing his uncle Simati Mefias Mudimba (62) from the same area on Saturday.
The two had been drinking traditional beer at Mr Fanson Muleya (53)’s homestead when they argued over a cow which Muzamba wanted to sell.
Mudimba allegedly drew an axe and threatened to strike his nephew who, however, disarmed him and struck him twice on the head.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the murder and arrest of Muzamba who is expected to appear in court soon.
“We received a report of a man who was murdered by his nephew following a misunderstanding over sale of a beast. On 24 April around 5pm William Sibanga Muzamba and Simati Mefias Mudimba were drinking traditional beer at the informant, Mr Fanson Muleya’s homestead. Muzamba was discussing selling his beast with his uncle Mudimba who told him not to sell it and suggested that it be slaughtered because it was old and had lost weight,” said Insp Banda.
He said this did not go down well with Muzamba leading to an argument which degenerated into a misunderstanding.
Mudimba allegedly rained insults on Muzamba before pulling out a small axe from his trousers and threatened to kill his nephew.
Police said Muzamba grabbed the axe and disarmed his uncle before striking him twice on the head and he died on the spot.
Other villagers who were at the homestead drinking beer fled from the scene.
Mr Muleya rushed to police Pashu base and reported a case of murder while Muzamba later went to the same police base and surrendered himself.
Police attended the scene and took the body to St Patrick’s Hospital in Hwange for a post-mortem.- Chronicle
By A Correspondent-Former Dynamos Football Club legend, Itai Stanley Chirambadare has dragged to the courts for sodomising a 13-year-old boy who later developed some piles as a result of the sexual assault
The former soccer legend appeared in court yesterday and was represented by Knowledge Maeresera.
He was remanded in custody to May 13 pending trial.
The Dynamos legend was advised by magistrate Dennis Mangosi to apply for bail at the High Court.
Allegations are that sometime in March this year, the complainant who is 13 years went to Chirambadare’s house together with his friend to sweep as he always does and they would be given sweets.
It is alleged that on the day in question the complainant went to Chirambadare’s house alone to sweep.
The accused person allegedly asked the complainant to get into the house before he forced him into his bedroom and sexually assaulted him and told him not to reveal the abuse.
Chirambadare allegedly threatened to kill the complainant if he revealed the abuse to anyone.
He went on to abuse the complainant on several occasions.
The complainant allegedly developed some piles and he told his uncle. The complainant’s uncle led him to the police station to report the matter. -NewsDay
By A Correspondent- The High Court has quashed journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s charge of publishing falsehoods after the scribe shared a video of a woman accusing police of killing her baby.
High Court judge Justice Jester Charehwa ruled that the law used to charge Chin’ono was non-existent.
Chin’ono was charged under section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which deals with “publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State”.
His lawyer, Harrison Nkomo argued that the statute was struck off by the Constitutional Court in 2014 in a matter brought up by two Zimbabwe Independent journalists.
“We complained from the moment he got arrested that he was being charged on a non-existent law. That law was struck off long back so it was just persecution,” Nkomo said.
Chin’ono is now facing two charges of inciting the public to commit public violence and undermining the course of justice.
By A Correspondent-Former Dynamos Football Club legend, Itai Stanley Chirambadare appeared in court today facing sodomy charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted a student at his football academy.
Chirambadare who is represented by Knowledge Maeresera was remanded in custody to May 13 pending trial.
The Dynamos legend was advised by magistrate Dennis Mangosi to apply for bail at the High Court.
Allegations are that sometime in March this year, the complainant who is 13 years went to Chirambadare’s house together with his friend to sweep as he always does and they would be given sweets.
It is alleged that on the day in question the complainant went to Chirambadare’s house alone to sweep.
The accused person allegedly asked the complainant to get into the house before he forced him into his bedroom and sexually assaulted him and told him not to reveal the abuse.
Chirambadare allegedly threatened to kill the complainant if he revealed the abuse to anyone.
He went on to abuse the complainant on several occasions.
The complainant allegedly developed some piles and he told his uncle. The complainant’s uncle led him to the police station to report the matter. -NewsDay
By A Correspondent- Mr Surgent Chevo who was the registrar at the University of Zimbabwe during the period when the former First Lady Grace Mugabe attained her controversial PhD told the court that there were no irregularities in all the processes up until Mugabe graduated with the highest qualification.
Mr Chevo revealed that the examination panel did an oral examination on Mugabe at her children’s home and she passed.
“As she was being asked grilling questions by the examination panel during the oral examination, at first she was shivering but later calmed down and answered them satisfactorily,” he said.
Mr Chevo added that everything was done according to the rules and regulations of the University of Zimbabwe.
He further stated that there was nothing unusual in the processes and no signs of favouritism were exhibited.
“After the oral examination, the examination panel deliberated on Mugabe’s performance and all the members agreed unanimously that she had performed satisfactorily and that she be awarded a PhD.
He told the court that he did not receive any instructions from Nyagura which showed favour to Mugabe.
By A Correspondent- The High Court has quashed journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s charge of publishing falsehoods after the scribe shared a video of a woman accusing police of killing her baby.
High Court judge Justice Jester Charehwa ruled that the law used to charge Chin’ono was non-existent.
Chin’ono was charged under section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which deals with “publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State”.
His lawyer, Harrison Nkomo argued that the statute was struck off by the Constitutional Court in 2014 in a matter brought up by two Zimbabwe Independent journalists.
“We complained from the moment he got arrested that he was being charged on a non-existent law. That law was struck off long back so it was just persecution,” Nkomo said.
Chin’ono is now facing two charges of inciting the public to commit public violence and undermining the course of justice.
By A Correspondent- Harare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje has set May 26 as the trial date for former Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo.
Through his lawyer, the former minister has applied for a variation of his bail conditions.
Prosecutor Mr Garudzo Ziyadhuma told the court that he had agreed with the defence to put its application in writing and he would respond on it on May 5.
The former minister is being charged for his alleged involvement in NatPharm’s unprocedural contract with Drax International LLC to supply medicines and surgical sundries, and is consequently facing criminal abuse of office charges.
By A Correspondent- Harare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje has set May 26 as the trial date for former Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo. Through his lawyer, the former minister has applied for a variation of his bail conditions.
Prosecutor Mr Garudzo Ziyadhuma told the court that he had agreed with the defence to put its application in writing and he would respond on it on May 5.
The former minister is being charged for his alleged involvement in NatPharm’s unprocedural contract with Drax International LLC to supply medicines and surgical sundries, and is consequently facing criminal abuse of office charges.
By A Correspondent- Former First Lady Grace Mugabe is a genuine PhD holder as she followed all the University of Zimbabwe processes and was thoroughly examined by an examination panel before graduating, the court heard.
This was revealed by the third witness in the trial of suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice-Chancellor Levi Nyagura, accused of illegally awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe.
During cross-examination with Nyagura’s lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara Mr Surgent Chevo who was the registrar at the UZ during that period told the court that there were no irregularities in all the processes up until Mugabe graduated with a PhD.
Mr Chevo revealed that the examination panel did an oral examination on Mugabe at her children’s home and she passed.
“As she was being asked grilling questions by the examination panel during the oral examination, at first she was shivering but later calmed down and answered them satisfactorily,” he said.
Mr Chevo added that everything was done according to the rules and regulations of the University of Zimbabwe.
He further stated that there was nothing unusual in the processes and no signs of favouritism were exhibited.
“After the oral examination, the examination panel deliberated on Mugabe’s performance and all the members agreed unanimously that she had performed satisfactorily and that she be awarded a PhD.
He told the court that he did not receive any instructions from Nyagura which showed favour to Mugabe.
By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala | The State which wanted to start my trial on inciting Public Violence charges on the 15th of April and failed, produced some drama only familiar with Hollywood. The Magistrate Stanford Mambanje gave a ruling on 21st of April that the court will give the State the last chance to provide the date for the commencement of the trial on the 29th of April, meaning today. The matter was heard today in Court 15 before the same Magistrate who in terms of the law was obliged to enforce his ruling if the state fails to provide the date for the commencement of the trial.
We arrived at the Court at 9am waiting for the State to push its case. The Prosecutor to the matter Garudzo Siyadhuma was not present and the matter was stood down to 11:15am. Siyadhuma could not pitch up and we were advised to wait for him until 12pm. 12pm clocked and Siyadhuma was nowhere to be seen. He only emerged at 12:30pm carrying a huge but seemingly heavy bag. Whatever was in that bag, its courier knows its contents as it has no sign of law in it.
After his arrival he did not apologize to all of us who were made to wait for him without explanation including my legal team of Harrison Nkomo and Jeremiah Bamu. He was arrogant and went straight to make an application for the postponement of the commencement of the trial once more again as he claimed that, there was hitches after they realized that the evidence they wanted to rely upon was an audio which has three voices speaking to it. So they needed some expert to extract the portion of what he called my voice. So they were struggling to find an expert to identify and extract the portion of where my purported voice is.
This change of goalposts surprised all of us as the same Garudzo Siyadhuma claimed that he was waiting for the forensic evidence from the police that stalled the trial from kicking off on the 15th of April. On the 15th of April it was forensic evidence that is stalling the commencement of trial, today, it was the difficulty, the experts were experiencing to extract my voice from the 3 voices on the audio.
This is the behavior that is causing the public to lose confidence in the dispensary of justice in our country. After pressed on why I was in Court on his invitation for the trial date he asked for adjournment for him to phone the IO of the case. I saw him phoning allover the place seeking the way forward.
After resuming sitting at 14:30hrs, Siyadhuma came back and said he now has a trial date and it’s 30 June 2021. On how all of a sudden the trial date has emerged, without state papers available or docket and no witness we all wondered. He said he will be ready on the 30th of June for trial to kick off. The Court granted him his wish. We will see whether the State will carry out its undertaking.
By A Correspondent- Former First Lady Grace Mugabe followed all the University of Zimbabwe processes and was thoroughly examined by an examination panel before graduating, the court heard.
This was revealed by the third witness in the trial of suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice-Chancellor Levi Nyagura, accused of illegally awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe.
During cross-examination with Nyagura’s lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara Mr Surgent Chevo who was the registrar at the UZ during that period told the court that there were no irregularities in all the processes up until Mugabe graduated with a PhD.
Mr Chevo revealed that the examination panel did an oral examination on Mugabe at her children’s home and she passed.
“As she was being asked grilling questions by the examination panel during the oral examination, at first she was shivering but later calmed down and answered them satisfactorily,” he said.
Mr Chevo added that everything was done according to the rules and regulations of the University of Zimbabwe.
He further stated that there was nothing unusual in the processes and no signs of favouritism were exhibited.
“After the oral examination, the examination panel deliberated on Mugabe’s performance and all the members agreed unanimously that she had performed satisfactorily and that she be awarded a PhD.
He told the court that he did not receive any instructions from Nyagura which showed favour to Mugabe.
By A Correspondent | The Zimbabwe Republic Police reports that cops in Bulawayo have arrested Abednico Ndlovu (291 Altkins Mahinzwi (36)r Bruce Moyo (30), Zenzo Siziba (42), Kelvin Dzumbunu (29) and Gift Mwale (381 in connection with a spate of armed robbery cases committed between January 2021 and April 2021 in Bulawayo and surrounding areas.
Police nabbed one of the suspects after a tip-off from members of the public and he implicated the other accomplices leading to their arrest. The suspects mainly targeted service stations and homesteads before robbing the victims of their valuables. So far the gang is linked to fourteen (14) cases of robbery in which properties worth US $164 032-00r ZAR 890-00 and ZWL $500- 00 were stolen.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has recovered a 9mm calibre star pistol with a magazine of six rounds, masks, torches and the vehicle used by the suspects in committing crimes.
Police warns criminals that their day in court will surely come and members of the public are implored to keep on reporting all criminal activities in their communities.
(NYATHI P.) Assistant Commissioner Senior Staff Officer (Press, Public and Int. Relations) To the Commissioner General of Police Police General Headquarters.
By A Correspondent-Former Dynamos Football Club legend, Stanley Chirambadare was has been remanded in custody on allegations of sexually abusing a teenage boy from his Mufakose-based soccer academy in Harare after luring him to his house with sweets.
Chirambadare who is represented by Knowledge Maeresera was remanded in custody to May 13 pending trial.
An unidentified man, suspected to be an intelligence agent driving an unregistered vehicle is on video being told that he will be beaten up. The clip’s dating could not be established. DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN?
Church Service. There is going to be a Church Service for our departed Provincial Executive Member – Innocent Kurwa on Friday 17:30hrs at Sunninghill.
A Memorial service will take place at the Roman Catholic Cathedral (next to the Dominican Convent) on Saturday at 08:00am. MHDSRIP.
Burial. Our departed comrade will be laid to rest on Saturday at West Park Cemetry at 10:00am.
NB. We encourage MDC-Alliance members to attend the Church Service on Friday 17:30hrs in Sunninghill, Saturday 08:00 Memorial Service & Burial at 10:00am. MHDSRIP
Church Service. There is going to be a Church Service for our departed Provincial Executive Member – Innocent Kurwa on Friday 17:30hrs at Sunninghill.
A Memorial service will take place at the Roman Catholic Cathedral (next to the Dominican Convent) on Saturday at 08:00am. MHDSRIP.
Burial. Our departed comrade will be laid to rest on Saturday at West Park Cemetry at 10:00am.
NB. We encourage MDC-Alliance members to attend the Church Service on Friday 17:30hrs in Sunninghill, Saturday 08:00 Memorial Service & Burial at 10:00am. MHDSRIP
By A Correspondent- Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe today went undercover and joined the passports queue at Makombe in Harare where he ended up paying a bribe for a place.
Kazembe Kazembe
Kazembe revealed this before parliament where he said:
“Today I visited the passport offices and some guy sold me a place in the queue and I paid $30 but he is now in the police holding cells.”
Kazembe Kazembe
Kazembe’s revelations comes in the wake of government revealing that government would soon be producing 9 000 passports daily to clear the passports backlog.
Reported the state media:
Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage says it has put in place measures to clear a backlog in passport processing dating back to March 2019.
In response to the Portfolio Committee on Defence,Home Affairs and Security Services on policy decisions being taken to reduce the backlog on the provision of primary identity documents and travel documents Minister Kazembe said the 225 747 passport backlog has been accumulating due to lack of foreign currency.
Honourable Members, coming to Passports production, my Ministry is currently experiencing a backlog in the processing of passports. Currently we have a backlog of 225 747, dating back to March 2019. The backlog has been accumulating due to shortage of consumables which require foreign currency,he said.
As a means to counter the dire situation ,the Minister outlined a number of measures including an increase in operating hours.
To address the situation, my Ministry has put in place the following measures:- Introduction of Double Shift Working Programme with effect from 26 April 2021. The programme consists of the day and night shift.The night shift operates from 2000hrs to 0400hrs whilst the day shift operates from 0800hrs to 1600hrs. The strategy is aimed at clearing the passport backlog,he explained.
According to Minister Kazembe the move will facilitate an increase in the number of passports produced per day.
With the introduction of the double shift working programme, My Ministry will be in a position to produce between 4 000 and 4 500 passports a day. The expected daily output for the day shift will be between 2 000 and 2 500 whilst the expected output for the night shift will be 2 000,added Kazembe.
He also cited the procurement of equipment as key in clearing the current backlog.
Treasury made a commitment to avail funds for the procurement of additional equipment to complement the existing machinery. Procurement of additional equipment and consumables will increase the production capacity from 4 500 to 9 000 thereby reducing the turn-around time for the clearance of the backlog. These measures will see the Ministry being able to meet the current demand for passports while ensuring that the backlog does not occur,he noted.
The Ministry through the Civil Registry Department is also limiting the number of applicants for polythene-synthetic IDs and priority is being given to high school students and urgent cases.
The development has thus seen treasury committing to facilitating payment for consumables, licences and dongles in order to address the situation as soon as possible.
Former Warriors captain Willard ‘Salt and Vinegar’ Katsande has revealed that he is still open to one more Warriors appearance should he be needed.
The Kaizer Chiefs midfield linchpin (34), captained Zimbabwe at the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon but drew a close his international career just after the continental spectacle.
Katsande’s retirement was under unclear circumstances though, as there were indications that he was blacklisted by the Philip Chiyangwa-led ZIFA board from representing Zimbabwe, hence the decision to quit.
He however, still believes he still has something to offer to the Warriors fold, if given the chance.
“Obviously, I would like to play for the national team for one or two games before I call it quits,” said Katsande according to The Herald.
“I am not saying I should be included in the national team, no.The coaches select the players based on form.What I am simply saying is that, as someone who still feels he has what it takes, I would like to play for my country, for one last time, and retire.”
“I am the Warriors number one fan and I know I have contributed so much for the team’s cause,” he added.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
By Farai D Hove | The man who recalled Tendai Biti and five other MPs, Benjamin Rukanda has lost his High Court appeal against an order to reinstate the MDC Alliance legislators from the entity’s People’s Democratic Party wing.
Those called are: Tendai Biti, the MP for Harare East; William Madzimure of Kambuzuma; Chikwinya of Mbizo; Kucaca Phulu of Nkulumane; Sichelesile Mahlangu of Pumula and Regai Tsunga of Mutasa South.
Rukanda who claims that he holds the position of Secretary General, wrote a letter to recall the MPs on the grounds that they are no longer members of his party, and had lost having been sued at court.
Following a new application, High Court Justice Tawanda Chitapi yesterday dismissed Rukanda’s appeal for failing to comply with the court rules.
The development comes after last week, MDC Alliance Chairperson Job Sikhala demanded that the Speaker must explain why he has not reinstated the MPs. Said Sikhala:
You read a letter of recall but the letter however was recently set aside by an order of the High Court, where the Members have been asked to be reinstated to the House.
My understanding is that you were served with the court order.
This is what I obtained from the Members who have been recalled and that you have turned down their re-admission to this House. So, may I seek clarity from you Chair Sir
Below was the full discussion –
HON. SIKHALA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My point of clarity centres on the decision and the ruling which you Mr. Speaker made a few weeks ago. You read a notice in this House that you received a letter from the People’s Democratic Party that certain Members of Parliament have been recalled by the party of their deployment….
THE HON.SPEAKER: Order, order, did you say I made a ruling?
HON. SIKHALA: No, you read a notice. I said you read a notice Mr. Speaker. So on your notice, you announced to this House that you received a letter of recall to six Members of this House on the basis that their party has notified your office. Mr. Speaker Sir, Members received…
THE HON.SPEAKER: Order, order, I do not announce letters of recall, I read them.
HON. SIKHALA: You read a letter….
THE HON. SPEAKER: Withdraw your statement.
HON.SIKHALA: I withdraw Mr. Speaker Sir. You read a letter of recall but the letter however was recently set aside by an order of the High Court, where the Members have been asked to be reinstated to the House. My understanding is that you were served with the court order. This is what I obtained from the Members who have been recalled and that you have turned down their re-admission to this House. So, may I seek clarity from you Chair Sir…..
THE HON SPEAKER: You see as a lawyer Hon. Sikhala, you are relying on hearsay from a third party in which you are not involved. That is not admissible and I cannot entertain hearsay messages. What I can entertain is an approach by the affected party or parties to the issue, then I will respond to them accordingly –
Morgan Komichi is not with Mwonzora. Morgan Konichi is supporting MDC-A but doesn't know what exactly to do in order to come back to MDC-A. It's verified information from that friend of mine an MP who joined Mwonzora & she is trying her way back to MDC-A! Ma1kwa Mwonzora!
Real Madrid left back Marcelo can possibly miss Los Blancos’ Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea next week due to participation in the elections for the mayor of Madrid, it has emerged.
The Brazilian wore the captain’s armband in the absence of skipper Sergio Ramos when the 13-time champions drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the first leg at the Alfredo Di Stefano yesterday.
There is a possibility of him not being able to travel for the return leg at Stamford Bridge set for next Wednesday, as Spanish publication El Mundo is reporting that the 32-year old has been selected to be part of a polling station for the mayoral elections slated for May 4, the same day Zinedine Zidane’s charges are scheduled to travel to London.
Marcelo would also have to go out of the Madrid bubble to take part in the poll, which complicates everything.
The Florentino Perez-led Madrid hierarchy is however in the process of trying convince the electoral board to excuse Marcelo for him to travel for the decisive clash.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has urged the people of Zimbabwe to focus on positive developments instead of concentrating on mistakes and failures of the past.
President Chamisa also said negative criticism should not stop the people of Zimbabwe from pursuing set objectives:
“MOTION BREEDS SUCCESS…Be inspired and encouraged.
Don’t be discouraged by those people who are only negative, and seek to see and amplify your mistakes.
Mistakes and missteps are evidence of effort and motion. Keep learning, Keep leading!!!#StrongerandStronger
Godisinit,” wrote President Chamisa on his official Facebook page.
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
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri| A Cotton Company of Zimbabwe official is in trouble for awarding a tender to an MDC Alliance official in Chiredzi.
ZimEye.com has gathered that the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira, Chiredzi North MP Roy Bhila and top Central Intelligence Organization officers have reprimanded Cotton Company of Zimbabwe official, Innocent Gukwe for awarding a transport tender to the MDC Alliance official.
The official’s company won a tender to ferry Cotton Company of Zimbabwe workers to and from work.
“Gukwe is in trouble.CIO officers acting on instructions from Ezra Chadzamira and Roy Bhila instructed Gukwe to cancel the tender awarded to a company reportedly belonging to an MDC Alliance official with immediate effect.
They also threatened to fire him,” a source told ZimEye.com.
However, Gukwe, quoted by a weekly publication said : “No, we did not even know that the omnibus belonged to an MDC Alliance member. We do not look into people’s political backgrounds when awarding tenders.
“We thought it was just another local business person. We are now following your decisions on the case because Dingane Ncube (CIO) once came to me with the issue and said he was going to advise me on how to handle the issue.”
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has urged the people of Zimbabwe to focus on positive developments instead of concentrating on mistakes and failures of the past.
President Chamisa also said negative criticism should not stop the people of Zimbabwe from pursuing set objectives:
“MOTION BREEDS SUCCESS…Be inspired and encouraged.
Don’t be discouraged by those people who are only negative, and seek to see and amplify your mistakes.
Mistakes and missteps are evidence of effort and motion. Keep learning, Keep leading!!!#StrongerandStronger
Godisinit,” wrote President Chamisa on his official Facebook page.
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
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Church Service. There is going to be a Church Service for our departed Provincial Executive Member – Innocent Kurwa on Friday 17:30hrs at Sunninghill.
A Memorial service will take place at the Roman Catholic Cathedral (next to the Dominican Convent) on Saturday at 08:00am. MHDSRIP.
Burial. Our departed comrade will be laid to rest on Saturday at West Park Cemetry at 10:00am.
NB. We encourage MDC-Alliance members to attend the Church Service on Friday 17:30hrs in Sunninghill, Saturday 08:00 Memorial Service & Burial at 10:00am. MHDSRIP
Church Service. There is going to be a Church Service for our departed Provincial Executive Member – Innocent Kurwa on Friday 17:30hrs at Sunninghill.
A Memorial service will take place at the Roman Catholic Cathedral (next to the Dominican Convent) on Saturday at 08:00am. MHDSRIP.
Burial. Our departed comrade will be laid to rest on Saturday at West Park Cemetry at 10:00am.
NB. We encourage MDC-Alliance members to attend the Church Service on Friday 17:30hrs in Sunninghill, Saturday 08:00 Memorial Service & Burial at 10:00am. MHDSRIP
Tinashe Sambiri| A Cotton Company of Zimbabwe official is in trouble for awarding a tender to an MDC Alliance official in Chiredzi.
ZimEye.com has gathered that the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira, Chiredzi North MP Roy Bhila and top Central Intelligence Organization officers have reprimanded Cotton Company of Zimbabwe official, Innocent Gukwe for awarding a transport tender to the MDC Alliance official.
The official’s company won a tender to ferry Cotton Company of Zimbabwe workers to and from work.
“Gukwe is in trouble.CIO officers acting on instructions from Ezra Chadzamira and Roy Bhila instructed Gukwe to cancel the tender awarded to a company reportedly belonging to an MDC Alliance official with immediate effect.
They also threatened to fire him,” a source told ZimEye.com.
However, Gukwe, quoted by a weekly publication said : “No, we did not even know that the omnibus belonged to an MDC Alliance member. We do not look into people’s political backgrounds when awarding tenders.
“We thought it was just another local business person. We are now following your decisions on the case because Dingane Ncube (CIO) once came to me with the issue and said he was going to advise me on how to handle the issue.”
By A Correspondent- China has unveiled a scholarship programme that will benefit 33 scholars drawn from three of the country’s public universities to study in the Asian country.
This comes after Zimbabwe and China upgraded their “all-weather friendship” to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”.
The China-Zimbabwe Scholarship Programme will benefit 33 outstanding students from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Midlands State University (MSU) and National University of Science and Technology (Nust) to study at various learning institutions in China.
Held under the aegis of the Culture Exchange and Research Center (Caecerc) and the Chinese embassy, the initiative will benefit Zimbabwe’s excelling, but underprivileged students.
Caecerc chairperson Ke Zhao told NewsDay that the programme was aimed at cementing relations between the two countries in the field of education.
“Caecerc and the Chinese embassy initiated this programme as a means to help intelligent, responsible but underprivileged students in the tertiary education sector,” he said.
“Plans are already in place to obtain more funding from other Chinese and local companies in Zimbabwe so that it can cover many students and expand to other universities and tertiary institutions.”
Last week, the programme was officially launched at the MSU and Nust and will be launched at the UZ at a later date.
Apart from that programme, six students from Zimbabwe are sent to the Nanjing University to undertake post-graduate studies in Arts.
The programme was broadened to cover other fields of study.
“The initiative is a brainchild of the Chinese embassy, which aims to give a helping hand to the education sector in Zimbabwe. The objectives of the initiative include awarding scholarships to excelling but underprivileged students,” Zhao added.
“(We are implementing) the 20+20 Co-operation plan for Chinese and African institutions of higher education through empowering young academics.”-newsday
By A Correspondent- Gweru residents associations have slammed mayor Josiah Makombe’s plans to move into the mayoral mansion despite suggestions that the house be turned into a money-spinning venture.
Addressing journalists last week, Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association director Cornelia Selipiwe accused city fathers of “having appetite” for lavish lifestyles at the expense of ratepayers.
“It is unfortunate that we requested for a reduction in rates and council refused, yet we have a sweet-talking mayor who now wants to move into the mayoral mansion,” Selipiwe said.
“Besides driving in a Toyota Prado which was purchased for former town clerk (Elizabeth Gwatipedza), he now wants the mansion. The city fathers want to enjoy at our (residents) expense, yet they don’t want to slash rates.”
Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association director David Chikore weighed in, saying the mayor should address residents’ concerns and desist from leading an expensive life.
“We have reports that the mayor now intends to move into the mayoral mansion and we are surprised that he has suddenly developed this propensity for a lavish lifestyle,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Makombe was non-committal over the issue.
“I have no comment to that,” he said. “I will not comment on personal issues.”
Two years ago, council announced plans to turn the mayoral mansion into a lodge in a bid to boost revenue for the cash-strapped local authority.
To date, the proposal has not materialised amid reports that officials at Town House failed to reach consensus over the issue.
Council made the resolution to turn the mansion, which has been lying idle since the departure of then mayor Sesel Zvidzai in 2008, into a lodge a few years ago, but the project stalled after there were proposals for Gwatipedza to use it as her official residence.
The move to turn the upmarket property into the town clerk’s residence was, however, resisted by residents and council had to abandon it.
In 2016, the Judicial Service Commission approached council requesting to lease the building and use it as the seat for High Court sessions, but residents objected, arguing that council would not benefit from such a deal.
The mayoral mansion is one white elephant that Gweru has for years been urged to exploit, as the city’s coffers are running dry due to dwindling income streams.
At one point, council tried to lease out the property for US$3 000 per month, but found no takers.-newsday
By A Correspondent- A High Court sheriff on Monday broke into suspended judge Justice Erica Ndewere’s residence and attached two motor vehicles to recover legal fees won by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) against her.
Justice Ndewere’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said two men from the Office of the Sheriff of the High Court broke the gate and tried to break the kitchen door after she had directed them to deliver the court documents to her lawyers.
The Sheriff attached her husband’s truck and brother’s motor vehicle to recover the cost of suit after she had withdrawn a matter against the JSC.
The JSC is claiming $175 000 for legal fees awarded against the suspended judge.
“The officials from the sheriff of the High Court forcibly gained entry into Justice Ndewere’s premises and tried to physically break down her door, but they failed,” Mtetwa said.
“They then attached her husband’s truck and her brother’s car. JSC and its lawyers should have at least advised us of the intended visit so that all this drama could have been avoided.”
Earlier in 2020, JSC staff attempted to forcibly enter Justice Ndewere’s residence to seize vehicles following her suspension.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he had not received the report.
“I am not aware of such a report,” Nyathi said. “The sheriff works under the High Court and I would not be privy of legal matters under its jurisdiction.”
The judge was suspended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on November 5, 2020 for alleged incompetence.
She was accused of failing to complete 28 reviews and eight reserved judgments as well as failing to properly read a file of a convict.
Justice Ndewere has denied the allegations, claiming that Chief Justice Luke Malaba was victimising her after she ignored his “unlawful” directive to deny bail to former Labour minister Priscah Mupfumira on charges of abusing National Social Security Authority funds and MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Job Sikhala on inciting public violence charges.
She also accused Chief Justice Malaba of lying to Mnangagwa that she had 34 outstanding matters when she only had three.
She also submitted that the JSC failed to carry out an independent investigation into her alleged misconduct, but rather “rubber-stamped” the unlawful investigation done by Chief Justice Malaba without verifying the allegations.
Her case is being investigated by a tribunal headed by retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako.
By A Correspondent- A Shurugwi-based artisanal miner had his left leg amputated after rivals brutally axed him in a suspected love triangle.
Mr Simon Vingirayia, the court heard, lost consciousness as blood gushed from his left knee after his assailant axed him on a large vein and doctors had to amputate the leg above the knee to save his life.
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Brian Paketh from Gweru Provincial Hospital told the court that Mr Vingirayi, was dying slowly as he was losing 20 percent of his blood per hour.
This was heard during the appearance of three artisanal miners who include two brothers from Shurugwi, Charles (29) and Philbert Chingwaya (22) and Tafadzwa Rundora (31) before Gweru Regional magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa. They are facing a count each of attempted murder.
The trio pleaded not guilty. In his evidencein -chief, Dr Paketh said the accused persons intended to “kill” the patient (Vingirayi) slowly.
“An attack on the knee will kill you but you will die slower than an attack on the neck. I’m trained to safeguard life. An attack is not measured and we as human beings are not designed to receive attacks. They intended to kill the patient slowly. If you are attacked like that on the knee, you will bleed until you get to zero then you die,” he said.
Dr Paketh said they were forced to amputate the leg to save Vingirayi’s life.
“We had to amputate his left limb and now he has a permanent disability. His injury was a danger to his life, hence surgical amputation had to be done to save him from excessive bleeding that was putting his life at great risk. When Simon Vingirayi came to Gweru Provincial Hospital, he had lost more than 50 percent of blood that was gushing from two deep cuts on the left knee,” he said. Charles, under cross examination had the court in stitches when he said, “Dr I just injured him, I didn’t amputate his leg. It was you.” In response, Dr Paketh said,
“What we did was a formalisation of the amputation of the leg which was already dysfunctional.”
Dr Paketh said they had to repair the bleeding vessels which were deep adding that the injury was too extensive.
“So, we put him in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) because we were losing his life. His life was in danger and we then had to amputate above bleeding vessels and we closed up the vessels just above the injured side. The rest of the injuries, we repaired them successfully. We surgically removed an already dysfunctional leg. The injuries were consistent with a sharp object. Any attack of the body is risky to life.”
It is the State case as presented by Mr Talent Tadenyika that on May 20 last year at around 8PM and at Chief Ndanga bar, Adare Farm, Shurugwi, Vingirayi was playing a pool game with one Timothy Changunduma.
Vingirayi went outside the bar together with Changunduma and stood near a braai stand where they were having a conversation. The court heard that Charles, Philbert and Rundora arrived in a Toyota Noah vehicle. Charles who was driving the vehicle allegedly remained behind while Philbert and Rundora disembarked.
The court heard that Charles charged towards Vingirayi holding a big axe. Charles allegedly told Vingirayi he wanted to kill him because he was having an extra marital affair with his wife.
Charles allegedly felled Vingirayi with a blow to the head using the axe handle. He allegedly axed Vingirayi on the left knee three times. Philbert and Rundora, the court heard, allegedly stabbed Vingirayi on the head with a knife while Charles continued axing the left leg.
Vingirayi, the court heard, became unconscious and only regained consciousness after he had been admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital where his leg was amputated.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the two brothers and their friend.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo motorist was forced to fire warning shots to deter drunken university students who engaged in an orgy of violence — attacking motorists and passersby after attending an unsanctioned party, NewsDay reported.
Under COVID-19 regulations, parties remain banned.
According to police, a university student Michael Muza was arrested on Saturday after hosting an unsanctioned party which turned violent, resulting in a motorist pulling his gun and firing warning shots.
“The ZRP warns residents and university students against hosting parties late into the night and engaging in orgies of violence. On April 24, police in Bulawayo arrested Muza for breaching COVID-19 regulations,” police said.
“The suspect hosted a party for his fellow university students in Selbourne Park, Bulawayo, which resulted in violence and attack on motorists who were passing by. A cornered motorist had to fire warning shots to evade attack from marauding students.”
In a follow-up statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the law enforcement agency was worried over the holding of unsanctioned parties as he also warned bar and nigh-club operators against operating without authorisation.
“In this regard, all operators who continue to defy COVID-19 health and safety measures will face severe penalties as outlined by government and should not cry foul on arrest by police. People found drinking beer at bars, beerhalls and restaurants will also be arrested by the police and made to face due processes of the law,” he said.
Bars, beerhalls and nightclubs remain closed.
Bulawayo liquor traders have repeatedly petitioned government to lift the suspension while also appealing to authorities to declare a waiver on the rentals from March 2020, arguing that they were finding it difficult to pay rentals as they were closed and not getting any revenues.
According to the Liquor Traders Association, Bulawayo has 1 015 outlets registered with the liquor licensing board.
By A Correspondent- Government should admit that its mass public transporter, Zupco, is failing to cope with demand, a consumer watchdog and commuters said in response to the transport shortages bedevilling Bulawayo.
Commuters have been battling transport challenges since last week after Local Government minister July Moyo urged police and other security organs to be “ruthless” with private commuter omnibuses.
“We operate under pieces of legislation, so if enforcement requires you (police) to command the municipal police, please do so. If the law, as it does, allows you to say if you are overwhelmed, please bring the army, please do it,” Moyo told a Bulawayo provincial COVID-19 taskforce meeting.
This has seen police smashing kombi windows and engaging in high-speed chases with private commuter omnibuses even in the central business district.
Moyo even threatened to “bring the army” to ensure only Zupco-registered commuter operators provide transport services despite evidence that the latter is failing to cope with demand.
“The government must accept the fact that it does not have the capacity to provide for the comprehensive transport needs of commuters.
It must bring on board the private sector and only ensure that they abide by the COVID-19 control regulations,” National Consumer Rights Association co-ordinator Effie Ncube said.
“Commuters are consumers of transport services and they must be treated with dignity. It is important that whenever they need transport it must be there, so the State must not create a gridlock where it is impossible to get transport.”
Commuter omnibus owners under the Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Co-operative Company approached the High Court in July 2020 challenging the Zupco monopoly.
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association director Michael Ndiweni added: “There has been a serious challenge with transport for traders.”
Bulawayo resident Panashe Ndlovu said she feared being mugged after getting home late. “We are being exposed not only to muggings, but even rape,” she said.-newsday
By A Correspondent- Government has embarked on a nationwide drive to promote previously marginalised indigenous languages.
Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema yesterday told journalists at the launch of the indigenous languages radio lesson development workshop that his ministry was working towards revitalising local languages.
“It gives me great pleasure to take this opportunity to acknowledge the celebration of identity, diversity and heritage through the development of indigenous languages radio lesson scriptwriting workshop,” he said.
“The ministry supports the growth of indigenous languages in this 21st century era. The competency-based curriculum has a policy for indigenous languages as a medium of instruction in order to support Barwe, Chewa, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Kalanga, Sesotho, Shona, Tonga, Venda, Xangani and Xhosa at infant level. The role of indigenous language in sustainable development has to be emphasised from early childhood learning.”
Mathema said the beauty of different languages converging in one room was the foundation for future collaborations and partnerships which would eventually avail a multiplicity of opportunities.
“The airing of all languages revitalises and maintains the languages for everyday and future generations use. The capacity of indigenous languages or voice’s space in popular culture cannot be ignored and learners need to be made aware of opportunities that exist in social media, prose, poetry and film, among others,” he added.
There is a global drive on indigenous languages and multilingualism and the radio lessons will provide learners with a window to acquire the skill to speak more than one language and improve tolerance and peaceful living in the country.
By A Correspondent- Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe has issued a statement that addresses cement supply backlog and price hike by retailers. Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe, formerly Circle Cement, and a subsidiary of the Lafarge Group, said the company is equipped to supply the local demand at affordable price.
We present the statement in full below:
Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe Limited wishes to advise all valued customers that the cement supply backlog currently prevailing in the market is temporary and will ease out in the coming weeks.
The consumption spike being witnessed is a very positive economic growth indicator which may be attributed to a rise in mortgage finance as well as improved disposable income following a successful tobacco and maize farming season on the back of the Command Agriculture Programme.
As a company well-rooted in Zimbabwe with a presence of over seven decades of operations, Lafarge is excited by this development in the market. We are well equipped and committed to serve the Zimbabwean market for its future growth.
Whilst we employ all necessary measures to ensure that the market can be served optimally, we kindly urge our customers to bear with us and not to be lured to trade cement on the black market.
The prices of our cement have not been adjusted upwards, therefore any price hike by retailers is unjustifiable. The parallel market causes unnecessary panic and destabilises the market which burdens individual income and is ultimately regressive for national economic growth.
We would like to thank our valued customers for their patience and loyalty to Zimbabwe’s Tried and Trusted product
By A Correspondent- Dynamos legend, Stanley “Samora “ Chirambadare, will Thursday appear in court allegedly charged with sodomising a minor at his football academy.
Chirambadare who was popularly known for his overlapping runs during his playing days runs Revival Junior Football Academy in Mufakose, Harare, which nurtures junior football talent.
Reports suggest that the former Dynamos left-back was picked by Marimba police on Wednesday and is expected to appear before the court at Rotten Row.
It is further reported that the alleged sodomy came to light when a 13-year-old boy who was abused by Chirambadare tried to sodomise the other kids at the academy.
Chirambadare who was at some point an assistant coach at Dynamos is allegedly unmarried and is said to be staying alone in Mufakose, Harare.
Chirambadare is said to have started playing for DeMbare juniors in 1981 but was only able to take his football seriously when he had finished his advanced level studies in 1984.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- MDC leaders are corrupt, incompetent and sell-outs and, like all cowards, they love being portrayed as courageous fighters. They loved the News Day headline “Mwonzora’s senators reject Mnangagwa Bill”.
“Harare Metropolitan senator Elias Mudzuri warned other senators against betraying the will of the electorate by passing a defective constitutional amendment,” reported News Day.
Masvingo senator Tichinani Mavetera (MDC-T) said: “I do not want to be reminded of the most embarrassing situation in the previous dispensation where we had a Vice-President being embarrassed in public and being told by the First Lady: ‘you work at the mercy of the President’.”
The MDC leaders know Zanu PF has the constitutional power, 2/3 majority, to pass any amendments. They know their fight to stop the Bill is futile, they are just putting on a show to impress their naive and gullible supporters.
If MDC leaders were not so corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent then they should have implemented the democratic reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging elections. They had the golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU and they wasted it.
Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms.
Ever since GNU debacle, MDC leaders have completely given up on implementing reforms and have been participating in flawed and illegal elections giving the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy. Just to make sure the opposition participated, Zanu PF has dangled a few gravy train seats to entice them. As we can see, it has worked.
Senator Mudzuri and his fellow MDC leaders, be they from the Chamisa or Mwonzora led faction, are all gearing to participate in the 2023 elections with no reforms in place. As before, Zanu PF will rigged the elections and, as before, MDC participation will give the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy. And so Zanu PF will remain in power, the MDC leaders will stage more futile shows of defiance and meanwhile the country will continue to sink deeper and deeper into the abyss.
41 years of corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship has destroyed the country’s once promising economy, even basic services such as education and health care have collapsed and 49% of our people are living in abject poverty. The prospect of extending Zanu PF ’s corrupt and tyrannical rule in 2023 is unthinkable.
The challenge before us is make sure the reforms are implemented and the next elections are free, fair and credible. After 41 years of bad governance and the country in total economic meltdown, God knows we need the antidote, good governance.
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies have a vice-grip on the reins of power, thanks to the treasonous betrayal of the MDC leaders who failed to implement the reforms. They are not going to implement any reforms and will resist demands to do so, and for good reason. They know Zanu PF will never win a free, fair and credible elections, not with the party’s record of corruption, incompetence and tyrannical oppression.
Zanu PF will never ever reform itself out of office.
The 2008 to 2013 GNU was special in that SADC leaders had managed to force Zanu PF to agree to implementation of democratic reforms. The task of implementing the reforms were given to Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends. But, as state above, MDC leaders sold out!
We are where we are; we can we do to end this circus of rigged elections and bad governance?
Zanu PF will hold the 2023 elections with not even a token reform in place and determined to blatantly rig the election. The party will be banking on the MDC leaders and the usual suspects to participate in the flawed elections in droves and thus give the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy.
Both Zanu PF and MDC are banking on ordinary Zimbabweans participating in the flawed elections to give the process credibility and the results legitimacy. Zanu PF will be counting on the party’s coercive powers to force Zimbabweans to register as voters, to attend rallies and even frog-match them to the polling station, especially those in the rural areas.
MDC will claim to have Win In Rigged Elections (WIRE) strategies. All nonsense, of course. They always complain of Zanu PF “stealing the elections”, the very thing their strategies were supposed to stop.
Wining rigged elections is an MDC oxymoron. Why would one continue to take such a foolish and unnecessary gabble particularly given what is at stake here – the chance to end the curse of bad governance and return to peace, freedom and chance for the nation to live.
It is time for every thinking Zimbabwean out there to refuse to participate in these flawed and illegal elections and to demand the country implement the reforms and hold free, fair and credible elections.
Here are some of the reforms that must be implemented before the next elections:
3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora must be allowed to vote.
ZEC must produce a verified voters’ roll, it is an outrage that Zimbabwe has never ever produced a verified voters’ roll in 41 years of the country’s independence.
Public bodies like ZEC, Police, Army, Judiciary, etc. must be reformed to guarantee their independence and impartiality in carrying out their constitutional duties.
State assistance must not be politicised and the practise of turning traditional leaders into political party commissars must seize.
The wholesale looting of the nation’s resources such as diamonds and gold must be stamped out. The ill-got loot has been used to bankroll the vote rigging activities making it impossible to have free and fair election.
Just because both Zanu PF will never implement the reform and MDC failed to implement even when they had the golden opportunity to do so; does not mean the reforms are no longer required. The reforms are the key to ending Zimbabwe’s curse of rigged elections and bad governance. Both Zanu PF and MDC leaders are not up to the task and so we must find others who will implement the reforms.
Mudzuri et al damning criticism of Mnangagwa’s dictatorial tendencies are nothing more than quarrelsome hen’s shtick, cursing and swearing at the chick-snatching eagle. MDC belated criticism will not stop Mnangagwa enjoy the dictatorial powers accrued from Amendment Bill No 2 no more than the hen’s shtick stop the eagle enjoy its chicken meal!
Dr. G. S. Magombo, Permanent Secretary for Energy and Power Development attending Eco-Tourism and Renewable Energy Dialogue in Victoria Falls. Issues under discussion include topic on greening the Tourism sector. How to improve efficiency in the sector. pic.twitter.com/TksjNZrlTc
— Ministry Of Energy And Power Development (@official_MOEPD) April 29, 2021
Since Kembo Mohadi is on record saying Matabeleland genocide was necessary for nation building, we also put it on record that his sacking by Mnangagwa following his sexual romps was good for nation building even though he (President Mnangagwa) and 1st Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga are doing the same thing at a double scale than him. That is how Shona supremacists build a nation. We will never shed a single drop of tear for Kembo Mohadi.
We saw him at an Independence Day function held at Zimbabwe State House. He spent the whole day trying to cover his shameful face with a newspaper pretending to be reading. We say to him, follow on the foot steps of another sellout, Enos Nkala, who after discovering that Shona supremacists were using him, he resigned and left Zanupf, retreated back to Bulawayo to live amongst the people that he despised and sold out during Matabeleland genocide.
He was immediately forgotten by his Shona masters. They used and dumped him like a condom when his purpose was over.
Due to love of money Kembo Mohadi will rather hang in there and face more humiliation as long as bread crumbs are still falling from the master’s table. How can a whole individual in his right state of mind choose to exchange his dignity and image for a few pieces of silver? What a shame!
2nd Vice President A Dummy And Useless Office
While it took Mugabe a short 3 days to replace Joyce Mujuru when she was fired from her position as 1st Vice President of Zimbabwe in 2014, Mnangagwa is yet to fill the position of 2nd Vice President 2 months after Kembo Mohadi resigned. This confirms what MLO has been saying all along that the 2nd Vice President position is a dummy meant to hoodwink Matabeles and the world that Matabele and Shona people are united.
People of Matabeleland have since realised that this office is not a symbol of unity as the Shona supremacists would like us to believe. But it is a symbol of oppression, capture,mockery, tribal segregation, dehumanisation, demonization, and humiliation for Matabeles.
If Zimbabwe was a true democratic and genuine representative of both Matebeles and Shonas and the 2nd Vice President represented Matabeles in the Zimbabwe presidium, people of Matabeleland would be up in arms right now holding protests and calling for Mnangagwa to fill up the position left vacant by Kembo Mohadi.
But there is silence both in Matabeleland and Mashonaland concerning the issue. No one from both sides misses Mohadi because both Matabele and Shona people know that he represented no one except his greedy self and family. In fact Shonas are celebrating the humiliation and down fall of another Matabele and Matabeles are celebrating the fall of another dangerous traitor.
We see energetic young people staging protests in Matabeleland and foreign countries, not calling for Mnangagwa to appoint another blind fool to take up the useless position of 2nd Vice President, but demanding the restoration of Matabeleland state.
Matabeleland Is Not Zimbabwe
Matabeleland is not Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not Matabeleland. For the Zimbabwe government to continue pretending that Zimbabwe is a unitary state with Matabeleland as one of its regions at a time when we are demanding our independence from Zimbabwe is a clear political rape case and fantasy.
Matabeleland and Mashonaland were colonised on different dates using different methods by the BSA Company.
On 13 September Shona people led by many different chiefs, donated their country, Mashonaland, to the BSA Company. The white people were so excited with their priced gift that they mistook cowardice and lack of patriotism to peacefulness. Therefore Shona people were viewed as peaceful and cooperative .
We do not think the British and Rhodesians still hold the same view after Matabeleland genocide, violent grabbing of white farms and properties, gross human rights abuse that include torture, cutting hands and burning the buttocks of their own people with plastic, military coup and brazen corruption by the Shona supremacist government which they ably assisted to take political power in 1980.
Matabeleland was occupied through conquest on 3 November 1893 after a fierce war well known as the 1st Anglo – Matabele war.
Our cultures and languages are different. Shona people do not have a king but Matabele people have one. Stealing, corruption and witch craft form the DNA and culture of Shona people. This was confirmed and well articulated by late Herbert Ushewokunze former Minister of Home Affairs, late Kumbirai Kangai former Minister of Agriculture and Zanupf member of parliament, Killer Zivhu, who are on record saying that corruption and stealing is part of Shona culture and that stealing from the government or organization is self empowerment.
In Matabeleland the above is a forbidden societal abomination that should not be allowed to prevail.
Give Us Matabeleland or Death
Matabeleland is our motherland, the only special possession bequeathed to us by our ancestors and God. We shall leave no stone unturned, no mountain or building standing in pursuit of our independence.
If the situation demands, we are prepared to take up arms of war and shoot our way to independence. The means justifies the end!
It is not a crime to take up AKs and fight for our independence, if that was the case, all African countries including Zimbabwe would be still under white colonisation by now.
Disgruntled opposition MDC-T senators have accused their party leader Douglas Mwonzora of whipping them to vote for the passage of the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 2 while criticising it in public to manage public perception.
The senators, some of whom boycotted yesterday’s Committee Stage debate on the Bill, said they were ordered to shred the Bill during debate and secretly vote for it.
Mwonzora has become the butt of public criticism in the opposition camp where he has been labelled a “sellout” and Zanu-PF appendage after he publicly supported some of the ruling Zanu-PF party’s “undemocratic” policies.
Last week, his legislators in the Lower House joined forces with their Zanu-PF counterparts and voted for the passage of the Bill, before his senators on Tuesday sprang a surprise and poked holes on the proposed amendments, as ordered by their party chief whip Tichinani Mavetera.
“Opposing of the Bill is just a publicity stunt,” an MDC-T senator, who requested anonymity, said yesterday.
“The strategy is that senators will oppose the Bill publicly, but will then vote with Zanu-PF on the pretext that they were supporting amendment on issues to do with women representation and youth in Parliament.”
The senator added: “While other legislators can vote with their conscience, three have been ordered to vote for the Bill to help Zanu-PF achieve the twothirds majority required to pass it.”
MDC-T sources said Mavetera convened a caucus meeting at Parliament Building on Tuesday, where the opposition senators were ordered to publicly oppose the contentious amendments to the Bill to manage public perception of the party.
The party then identified three senators who would vote in favour of the Bill to allow it to sail through.
The party came under criticism last week after its legislators voted in favour of the amendments viewed by stakeholders as a reversal of the gains made in 2013 when the country adopted the new Constitution.
Yesterday, the Bill passed the Senate Committee Stage without any amendments.
The Senate had to vote after reaching a deadlock in adopting clause 13(4) which deals with the retirement age of judges.
The clause was endorsed after 45 voted in support while 19 were against.
The Bill seeks to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa the power to extend judges’ tenure of office beyond retirement age of 70.
Mavetera yesterday denied reports that he whipped MDC-T senators to publicly oppose the Bill and later vote for its passage.
“I can confirm that the party’s position on voting for the Bill is that they should vote for the issues with national interest,” he said.
“Party members will, however, vote guided by their personal conscience. Party spokesperson Witness Dube can respond to further questions.”
Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba denied that the party had whipped its senators to vote for the Bill, blaming their rivals in the MDC Alliance of spreading the falsehoods.
“There was no caucus meeting that was held,” Damba said.
“The president (Mwonzora) had been at the office from 10am up to 3pm when he attended the Senate meeting. I have evidence to prove that.
“Even if we might not want the Bill to pass, we cannot stop Zanu-PF because they have the majority in both the Senate and the National Assembly.”
Last week, Mwonzora defended his legislators, arguing that most of the amendments they voted for were in the public interest.
Contributing to the Second Reading of the Bill in Parliament on Wednesday, Mwonzora opposed the provision on the running mate, saying it promoted the appointment of incompetent vice-presidents, but supported the amendments on devolution.
“We have started a new philosophy that the youths are not leaders of tomorrow, they are leaders of today and introducing them into the Legislature is a right step in bringing that leadership. Of course, we have debated devolution, time without number and this is a very old story. We support devolution.”
He said the running mate clause was aimed at stopping presidents from appointing useless deputies.
Yesterday in the Senate while debating the same Bill, Mwonzora opposed clause 13 of the Bill, which gives Mnangagwa powers to handpick the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and the Judge President.
He said the Bill should be referred back to the National Assembly for further debate.
By A Correspondent- Gweru City Council workers have returned to work almost a week after they downed tools to press for better working conditions.
Zimbabwe Urban Council Workers Union national general-secretary Kudakwashe Munengiwa yesterday confirmed the latest development, saying workers had signed an agreement with council to periodically review their working conditions.
“We signed an agreement which we feel addresses most our concerns,” he said.
“Although the agreement is not necessarily perfect, we looked into it and agreed the need for workers to resume work while dialogue continues and at the same time not shortchanging ratepayers on service delivery.
“Council also agreed to lift suspensions on eight union leaders as part of the signed agreement.”
Munengiwa said the workers would return to work despite the $10 000 offered by council as basic pay for the lowest paid employee.
“That is what they offered and if allowances are included, the lowest grade worker will take home about $18 500, which we, however, said should be reviewed periodically,” he said.
Mayor Josiah Makombe confirmed signing the agreement and said his council had always had an “open door policy” to dialogue with workers over their welfare.
When the employees went on strike last week, acting town clerk Vakai Chikwekwe threatened to withdraw their salaries.
Over the years, workers have been proposing short working hours per week owing to inadequate transport allowances as well as low pay.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi accused a Senator of being a tribalist on Tuesday for claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was marginalising Matabeleland and women by failing to appoint a new vice president.
Zimbabwe has not had a second vice president since March 1 when Kembo Mohadi quit following a sex scandal.
Khaliphani Phugeni, an MDC-T Senator for Bulawayo, drew Ziyambi’s ire during a debate on the Constitutional Amendment No 2 Bill.
Phugeni argued that scrapping the “running mate” clause by which a president is elected on the same ticket as his two deputies would deny Zimbabweans principled vice presidents, as well as block the path for minorities and women to assume the presidency in the event of death or resignation of the incumbent.
“The issue of the running mate does speak to the issue of gender balance. You will recall we had a vice president in this country in the name of Joice Mujuru. She was unceremoniously removed from her position by a very powerful president who later lived to regret that action but it was too late,” Phugeni said in the Senate.
“It also speaks to the issue of the historically marginalised people of Matabeleland. We had a vice president here by the name of (Phelekezela) Mphoko. When the military intervention happened (in 2017), he had to run for his life and when he came back he was, like Mujuru, removed from power and we have never heard of him.
“The former vice president of the country (Kembo Mohadi) resigned after not so pleasing details emerged about him and his private affairs. We’re just over a month now and there is no replacement. The people of Matabeleland feel they’re underrepresented in the executive power of this country.”
Phugeni said the running mate clause “secures the position for women who are extremely vulnerable and the minorities – if not because of our democratic dispensation or dispossession, at least by an act of God, that women may one day rise to a level where we can address and say Her Excellency Madam so and so.”
He added: “With the running mate clause, we can at least have someone from the minorities become a president because gender and ethnicity must have no role in the leadership and participation in a political life of our people.”
Ziyambi, who is steering the Bill through both House, first denied that Mphoko was targeted by the military during the coup that ousted the late former President Robert Mugabe. According to Ziyambi, Mphoko was in Russia at the time.
The minister bristled: “I think let us not tribalise issues that are not necessarily tribal, like the people of Matabeleland are saying they need a president. Who told you that you are their spokesperson? I think it is an issue that the president when he sees fit, he appoints his assistant. He is not appointing assistants because of tribal lines; he is appointing assistants because they are Zimbabweans.
“If you look at our provinces, they’re not equal. I may probably say that the population in Mashonaland West may be times two the population in Matabeleland South. So those are issues that I believe as a nation we are all relative. Let us leave these issues of trying to tribalise things when we’re discussing a Constitutional Amendment.”
Zanu-PF’s constitution says the party will have “two vice presidents and second secretaries appointed in accordance with the Unity Accord by the president and first secretary for their skill, experience, probity, integrity and commitment to the party, its ideology, values, principles and policies.”
Mnangagwa is forced to replace Mohadi with a high-ranking member of the former PF Zapu liberation movement which unified with Zanu in a 1987 Unity Accord to form Zanu-PF.
Mnangagwa has kept Mohadi as second secretary of Zanu-PF alongside Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, prompting some to speculate that he feels he is not bound by the Unity Accord to name an ex-Zapu leader as Vice President of the country.
Zanu-PF’s women’s wing has been lobbying for a woman in the presidency, raising the possibility that Mnangagwa may name a woman as one of his two deputies in government.
By Israel Dube- Since Kembo Mohadi is on record saying Matabeleland genocide was necessary for nation building, we also put it on record that his sacking by Mnangagwa following his sexual romps was good for nation building even though he (President Mnangagwa) and 1st Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga are doing the same thing at a double scale than him. That is how Shona supremacists build a nation. We will never shed a single drop of tear for Kembo Mohadi.
We saw him at an Independence Day function held at Zimbabwe State House. He spent the whole day trying to cover his shameful face with a newspaper pretending to be reading. We say to him, follow on the foot steps of another sellout, Enos Nkala, who after discovering that Shona supremacists were using him, he resigned and left Zanupf, retreated back to Bulawayo to live amongst the people that he despised and sold out during Matabeleland genocide.
He was immediately forgotten by his Shona masters. They used and dumped him like a condom when his purpose was over.
Due to love of money Kembo Mohadi will rather hang in there and face more humiliation as long as bread crumbs are still falling from the master’s table. How can a whole individual in his right state of mind choose to exchange his dignity and image for a few pieces of silver? What a shame!
2nd Vice President A Dummy And Useless Office
While it took Mugabe a short 3 days to replace Joyce Mujuru when she was fired from her position as 1st Vice President of Zimbabwe in 2014, Mnangagwa is yet to fill the position of 2nd Vice President 2 months after Kembo Mohadi resigned. This confirms what MLO has been saying all along that the 2nd Vice President position is a dummy meant to hoodwink Matabeles and the world that Matabele and Shona people are united.
People of Matabeleland have since realised that this office is not a symbol of unity as the Shona supremacists would like us to believe. But it is a symbol of oppression, capture,mockery, tribal segregation, dehumanisation, demonization, and humiliation for Matabeles.
If Zimbabwe was a true democratic and genuine representative of both Matebeles and Shonas and the 2nd Vice President represented Matabeles in the Zimbabwe presidium, people of Matabeleland would be up in arms right now holding protests and calling for Mnangagwa to fill up the position left vacant by Kembo Mohadi.
But there is silence both in Matabeleland and Mashonaland concerning the issue. No one from both sides misses Mohadi because both Matabele and Shona people know that he represented no one except his greedy self and family. In fact Shonas are celebrating the humiliation and down fall of another Matabele and Matabeles are celebrating the fall of another dangerous traitor.
We see energetic young people staging protests in Matabeleland and foreign countries, not calling for Mnangagwa to appoint another blind fool to take up the useless position of 2nd Vice President, but demanding the restoration of Matabeleland state.
Matabeleland Is Not Zimbabwe
Matabeleland is not Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not Matabeleland. For the Zimbabwe government to continue pretending that Zimbabwe is a unitary state with Matabeleland as one of its regions at a time when we are demanding our independence from Zimbabwe is a clear political rape case and fantasy.
Matabeleland and Mashonaland were colonised on different dates using different methods by the BSA Company.
On 13 September Shona people led by many different chiefs, donated their country, Mashonaland, to the BSA Company. The white people were so excited with their priced gift that they mistook cowardice and lack of patriotism to peacefulness. Therefore Shona people were viewed as peaceful and cooperative .
We do not think the British and Rhodesians still hold the same view after Matabeleland genocide, violent grabbing of white farms and properties, gross human rights abuse that include torture, cutting hands and burning the buttocks of their own people with plastic, military coup and brazen corruption by the Shona supremacist government which they ably assisted to take political power in 1980.
Matabeleland was occupied through conquest on 3 November 1893 after a fierce war well known as the 1st Anglo – Matabele war.
Our cultures and languages are different. Shona people do not have a king but Matabele people have one. Stealing, corruption and witch craft form the DNA and culture of Shona people. This was confirmed and well articulated by late Herbert Ushewokunze former Minister of Home Affairs, late Kumbirai Kangai former Minister of Agriculture and Zanupf member of parliament, Killer Zivhu, who are on record saying that corruption and stealing is part of Shona culture and that stealing from the government or organization is self empowerment.
In Matabeleland the above is a forbidden societal abomination that should not be allowed to prevail.
Give Us Matabeleland or Death
Matabeleland is our motherland, the only special possession bequeathed to us by our ancestors and God. We shall leave no stone unturned, no mountain or building standing in pursuit of our independence.
If the situation demands, we are prepared to take up arms of war and shoot our way to independence. The means justifies the end!
It is not a crime to take up AKs and fight for our independence, if that was the case, all African countries including Zimbabwe would be still under white colonisation by now.
Malawi’s Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Steve Kayuni prosecutor, has been accused of “killing” Shepherd Bushiri’s daughter Israella by delaying her travel for medication abroad.
Sworn affidavits by Bushiri’s doctors suggest that Dr Steve Kayuni’s actions reduced the child’s chances of survival from a hopeful 90 per cent to just 5 per cent.
The late Israella Bushiri (8), was refused medical evacuation at Kamuzu International Airport in the country’s capital Lilongwe in February 2021 when a private medical ambulance chartered by the family was turned away.
Israella was only permitted to leave Malawi on the 25th of February after the family approached the courts and she died on the 29th of March, in Nairobi, Kenya.
During her funeral service, Shepherd Bushiri absolved the government of Malawi of any wrongdoing but said a single person was behind the block that led to the child’s death.
But Israella’s doctors, who tended to her until she died have now released documents and a scathing affidavit that implies Kayuni’s decision to delay the child’s treatment led to her death.
Reads part of the affidavit written by the doctors and submitted to Bushiri’s lawyers, and signed by Kenyan police:
The child reacted well initially to treatment, but required ventilators, and advanced medical care which was not availed in Malawi. Her condition was life-threatening but she had at least 95% chances of recovering if she had received immediate care. The delay allowed the infection to progress unmitigated, damaging the lining of her lungs and causing mucus build up.
By the time she was eventually released, she only had 5% chances of survival. Had she been allowed to travel when the evacuation was first ordered, she would have survived.
In an interview after the Bushiris appeared before a Lilongwe Magistrate, Steve Kayuni refused to comment saying it was a court decision and court process which is still underway adding “No comment.”
Kayuni who is the lead prosecutor in the extradition case between the Bushiri’s and South Africa also refused to confirm or deny the allegations by the Bushiri family that it was his decision to block the child’s travelling.
The Bushiris are reportedly intending to lay criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter (culpable homicide) against “whoever made that decision to stop the medical evacuation”.
By A Correspondent- Eight suspected robbers broke into the former Agriculture minister Joseph Made’s farmhouse and stole an assortment of goods worth thousands of dollars.
The eight on Tuesday, appeared before Marondera magistrate Patience Chirimo facing unlawful entry, theft and possession of dangerous drugs charges.
Fungai Jiri (34), Tafadzwa Masimo (33), Talent Mugandani (25), Genesis Matiza (30), Sylvester Masimo (20) Takudzwa Mukamba (19), Prudence Bata (21) and Tadia Shanganya (17) were remanded in custody to May 7 for trial.
Allegations are that on April 22, police detectives in Marondera were tipped that the suspected broke into a house and stole various goods in Macheke, a neighbouring small town.
The police detectives then went to a house in Mutamba, Macheke, where the accused persons were staying.
The detectives apprehended Jiri, Tafadzwa, Mugandani and Matiza leading to the discovery of various properties, including mattresses, gas tanks, fridges and microwaves, among other things.
Upon being quizzed, the accused persons implicated four others who were later arrested in Wedza.
The court heard that on April 15, Sylvester Masimo and Mukamba, who were employed at Made’s Tara Farm, and their accomplices used a claw bar to force open a locked door to the former minister’s house.
The accused went on to steal a six-plate gas and electric industrial stove, seven mattresses, a deep freezer, a microwave oven, 2×14-inch television sets, a 7kg gas tank, a 3kg gas tank, a Capri fridge, a 5,5 horsepower generator, a one-plate gas burner, various clothes, aluminium pipes, cutlery, a Motorola base station radio and five garden chairs.
On March 16 at Bronsburry Farm in Marondera, the accused allegedly cut the fence, got into the yard and stole one unregistered black and red Honda motorbike.
On March 30, the accused persons went to Matepe Farm, where they cut a perimeter fence, got into the yard and stole two unregistered Honda motorbikes, two mountain bicycles, helmets, three pairs of goggles and a car battery.
The value of the stolen property was around $800 000.
By James Gwati- The Premier Soccer League has announced the return of local football after a year of no games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenny Ndebele, the PSL chief executive, announced the return of the country’s most beautiful game to the state media Wednesday evening during Charlse Mabika’s Game Plan TV show.
Ndebele said the first match will be played on the 15thof May.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has closed doors for all opposition party members who are defecting to the ruthless party and said that they will not get any positions.
This was disclosed yesterday by Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, who said the conditions also applied to other Zanu PF party members.
“New members who join the party need training to be familiarised with Zanu PF structures, rules and other issues,” Mpofu said.
“It will be just like an orientation process where they would be taught of the party values so that they become full members who are aware of Zanu PF norms and values. It creates problems when members are not aware of their party’s guidelines,” he said.
Former top executive members of the opposition, among them Lillian Timveos (former MDC Alliance deputy treasurer-general), Obert Gutu (former MDC-T vice-president) and former senator James Makore (MDC Alliance) recently defected to Zanu PF.
By A Correspondent- A Kariba man believed to be a member of the apostolic sect on Wednesday escaped with injuries after an elephant attacked him.
State media report that the incident occurred along Mahombekombe Township’s main road in the Local Board area around 4 am when the elephant dragged him into a nearby thicket.
Neighbours heard screams as the panicking man, was crying out for help.
By a stroke of luck, the man managed to escape the elephant’s grip before running to the nearby Methodist Church.
He had sustained injuries on the right leg.
The injured man reportedly ran to find a vehicle that took him to seek medical attention at Kariba District Hospital.
Mr Costain Machingura who heard noises including the trumpeting of the enraged elephant woke up from his nearby bedroom to find the elephant still searching for the man.
“The elephant was in a combative mode when I arrived on the scene after hearing noises including the screams of a man,” he said.
“I went outside and found it still looking for him. He is lucky as it is quite unusual for the elephant to miss its target. I saw a man running some distance away before we saw the man coming back in a vehicle on his way to the hospital.”
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident saying that Zimparks rangers were currently looking for the problem animal.
“Our rangers are on the ground as always trying to account for the problem animal while efforts are underway to teach communities on animal behaviours so that we minimise human-wildlife conflict,” said Mr Farawo.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials in Kariba are hunting down an elephant that attacked a local man yesterday.
A Kariba man on Wednesday escaped with injuries after an elephant attacked him.
The incident occurred along Mahombekombe Township’s main road in the Local Board area around 4 am when the elephant dragged him into a nearby thicket.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident saying that Zimparks rangers were currently looking for the problem animal.
“Our rangers are on the ground as always trying to account for the problem animal while efforts are underway to teach communities on animal behaviours so that we minimise human-wildlife conflict,” said Mr Farawo.
A councillor from 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 said:
“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.”
He said the incident took place at Village Mutsekwa under Chief Samambwa in Zhombe on Sunday around 6pm. He said details of the murder were still trickling in adding he would update as they come in.
Zibagwe RDC Council Chair, Councillor Chamunogwa Zvishamira said Sibanda is son to one of their now-deceased’s daughters and had been taken in to stay with them a few days earlier.
“The late councillor had just taken his grandson in to stay with them. I am told that the grandson has a mental challenge.
Details are still sketchy but we heard that they had a misunderstanding which led to him drawing a log and hitting him several times in the head and he died on the spot,” said Cllr Zvishamira.
He said the wife died as she tried to intervene. “Seeing that her husband was being attacked the wife tried to restrain Sibanda, but he turned the log on 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 had been picked up by the police.- Chronicle
"No-one will be able to kill all these people, says @OfficialMukanya "these soldiers have their own relatives living among the masses who're suffering; if we remain silent we'll spend another 100ys struggling,there'll be no easy freedom, stop lying to yourselves.FULL INTERVIEW… pic.twitter.com/AHzhTJGg9c
By A Correspondent | Central Intelligence agents have boasted saying that they have confiscated over 20 million US dollars worth of goods at the country’s borders during the time of the ongoing lockdown (March to April). The state media report which ZimEye debunks, states as follows:
Fifty-four buses transporting smuggled goods worth over US$20 million have been intercepted since the beginning of March.
As a result of the smuggling, the country has been losing millions of dollars in potential import revenue.
An official within the national security cluster what’s quoted by the state owned Herald newspaper saying that between March 1 and April 28, they intercepted 54 buses carrying an assortment of smuggled goods worth over $20 million.
ZimEye has can however prove the operation
“We have been intercepting some of the buses at security checkpoints between Beitbridge and Harare and Bulawayo,” said the official.
“We have established that in most cases the smugglers are using illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River to bring in commercial goods which they then load in buses at Dulivhadzimu bus terminus for onward transmission to various towns and cities nationwide”.
Government deployed the National Security Taskforce on January 5 at the recommendation of the National Joint Operations Committee (JOC), following numerous reports of smuggling and other criminal activities at the country’s border with South Africa.
A survey by Chronicle revealed that most dealers are travel to the border town of Beitbridge and illegally cross into South Africa through various entry points, and then bring back hordes of goods for resale.
They then load in intercity buses at Dulivhadzimu bus terminus, which is handling an average of 10 buses daily down from 30 due to strict Covid-19 regulations being implemented by the Government.
Common goods that are being smuggled into the country include building material, vehicles, fuel, livestock, flea market wares, illicit medicines, groceries, fuel, tyres, genetically modified (GMOs) vegetables and fruits, electrical gadgets, and vehicles among others.
Minerals, cigarettes and stolen livestock are also being smuggled out of the country.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they had resorted to naming and shaming bus companies that are being used to smuggle goods and transport contrabands.
He said they were also engaging the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, to revoke or suspend operating licenses and permits for those bus operators found on the wrong side of the law.
“The rate at which we are intercepting buses which are being used to smuggle goods into the country or carry contrabands is alarming.
“Now we have resorted to naming and shaming those bus companies involved in such criminal activities,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said they had also established that the syndicates were working with bus crews who in some instances pretend to be transporting returnees from South Africa.
“Fortunately, these where criminals are being intercepted while or after smuggling goods of commercial nature into the country,” he added.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police will descend heavily on both the smugglers and the bus crews conniving to break the law.
Zimra spokesperson Mr Francis Chimanda said between March 21 and March 29 four buses were intercepted between Harare and Beitbridge and were referred for physical examination at the border post.
He said the authority collected additional import revenue of $1,917,684.00 which included $958,842.00 duty payable and an equal amount in fines.
Mr Chimanda said they had introduced the 100 percent searches on all cargo mostly being following an upsurge in a trend of false declarations by either the transporters or the importers.
But a ZimEye investigation involving LIVE video coverage at the borders during the same period, shows the operation was another Grace Mugabe style raid in which good are seized the borders and then later donated to selected people for Political reasons. One of these incidents was on the 29th March 2021 when piles of groceries meant for the suffering masses struggling due to the ongoing lockdown were taken away. The incident was filmed (below).
By A Correspondent | The respected Reporters Without Borders organisation has called on authorities to end all and any remaining accusations against award winning journo, Hopewell Chin’ono.
In a short brief just after the state lost the falsehoods-publishing case against Chin’ono, yesterday, RSF said, ” some of the charges against Hopewell Chin’ono Hopewell Chin’ono have been dropped today.
“The investigative journalist has spent 80 days in detention last year.
“@RSF_inter calls on the authorities to end all the baseless accusations & legal proceedings against him.”
Chin’ono was arrested last year and charged for sharing the video of a Harare woman whose child was assaulted by a police officer, according to eye witnesses. At the time, the police released two different identifies of the woman.
#Zimbabwe??: some of the charges against Hopewell Chin'ono @daddyhope have been dropped today. The investigative journalist has spent 80 days in detention last year. @RSF_inter calls on the authorities to end all the baseless accusations & legal proceedings against him. pic.twitter.com/3PCc6nJHkV
A councillor from 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 said:
“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.”
He said the incident took place at Village Mutsekwa under Chief Samambwa in Zhombe on Sunday around 6pm. He said details of the murder were still trickling in adding he would update as they come in.
Zibagwe RDC Council Chair, Councillor Chamunogwa Zvishamira said Sibanda is son to one of their now-deceased’s daughters and had been taken in to stay with them a few days earlier.
“The late councillor had just taken his grandson in to stay with them. I am told that the grandson has a mental challenge.
Details are still sketchy but we heard that they had a misunderstanding which led to him drawing a log and hitting him several times in the head and he died on the spot,” said Cllr Zvishamira.
He said the wife died as she tried to intervene. “Seeing that her husband was being attacked the wife tried to restrain Sibanda, but he turned the log on 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 had been picked up by the police.- Chronicle
By Patrick Guramatunhu | MDC leaders are corrupt, incompetent and sell-outs and, like all cowards, they love being portrayed as courageous fighters. They loved the News Day headline “Mwonzora’s senators reject Mnangagwa Bill.”
“Harare Metropolitan senator Elias Mudzuri warned other senators against betraying the will of the electorate by passing a defective constitutional amendment,” reported News Day.
Masvingo senator Tichinani Mavetera (MDC-T) said: “I do not want to be reminded of the most embarrassing situation in the previous dispensation where we had a Vice-President being embarrassed in public and being told by the First Lady: ‘you work at the mercy of the President’.”
The MDC leaders know Zanu PF has the constitutional power, 2/3 majority, to pass any amendments. They know their fight to stop the Bill is futile, they are just putting on a show to impress their naive and gullible supporters.
If MDC leaders were not so corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent then they should have implemented the democratic reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging elections. They had the golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU and they wasted it.
Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms.
Ever since GNU debacle, MDC leaders have completely given up on implementing reforms and have been participating in flawed and illegal elections giving the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy. Just to make sure the opposition participated, Zanu PF has dangled a few gravy train seats to entice them. As we can see, it has worked.
Senator Mudzuri and his fellow MDC leaders, be they from the Chamisa or Mwonzora led faction, are all gearing to participate in the 2023 elections with no reforms in place. As before, Zanu PF will rigged the elections and, as before, MDC participation will give the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy. And so Zanu PF will remain in power, the MDC leaders will stage more futile shows of defiance and meanwhile the country will continue to sink deeper and deeper into the abyss.
41 years of corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship has destroyed the country’s once promising economy, even basic services such as education and health care have collapsed and 49% of our people are living in abject poverty. The prospect of extending Zanu PF ’s corrupt and tyrannical rule in 2023 is unthinkable.
The challenge before us is make sure the reforms are implemented and the next elections are free, fair and credible. After 41 years of bad governance and the country in total economic meltdown, God knows we need the antidote, good governance.
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies have a vice-grip on the reins of power, thanks to the treasonous betrayal of the MDC leaders who failed to implement the reforms. They are not going to implement any reforms and will resist demands to do so, and for good reason. They know Zanu PF will never win a free, fair and credible elections, not with the party’s record of corruption, incompetence and tyrannical oppression.
Zanu PF will never ever reform itself out of office.
The 2008 to 2013 GNU was special in that SADC leaders had managed to force Zanu PF to agree to implementation of democratic reforms. The task of implementing the reforms were given to Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends. But, as state above, MDC leaders sold out!
We are where we are; we can we do to end this circus of rigged elections and bad governance?
Zanu PF will hold the 2023 elections with not even a token reform in place and determined to blatantly rig the election. The party will be banking on the MDC leaders and the usual suspects to participate in the flawed elections in droves and thus give the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy.
Both Zanu PF and MDC are banking on ordinary Zimbabweans participating in the flawed elections to give the process credibility and the results legitimacy. Zanu PF will be counting on the party’s coercive powers to force Zimbabweans to register as voters, to attend rallies and even frog-match them to the polling station, especially those in the rural areas.
MDC will claim to have Win In Rigged Elections (WIRE) strategies. All nonsense, of course. They always complain of Zanu PF “stealing the elections”, the very thing their strategies were supposed to stop.
Wining rigged elections is an MDC oxymoron. Why would one continue to take such a foolish and unnecessary gabble particularly given what is at stake here – the chance to end the curse of bad governance and return to peace, freedom and chance for the nation to live.
It is time for every thinking Zimbabwean out there to refuse to participate in these flawed and illegal elections and to demand the country implement the reforms and hold free, fair and credible elections.
Here are some of the reforms that must be implemented before the next elections:
3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora must be allowed to vote.
ZEC must produce a verified voters’ roll, it is an outrage that Zimbabwe has never ever produced a verified voters’ roll in 41 years of the country’s independence.
Public bodies like ZEC, Police, Army, Judiciary, etc. must be reformed to guarantee their independence and impartiality in carrying out their constitutional duties.
State assistance must not be politicised and the practise of turning traditional leaders into political party commissars must seize.
The wholesale looting of the nation’s resources such as diamonds and gold must be stamped out. The ill-got loot has been used to bankroll the vote rigging activities making it impossible to have free and fair election.
Just because both Zanu PF will never implement the reform and MDC failed to implement even when they had the golden opportunity to do so; does not mean the reforms are no longer required. The reforms are the key to ending Zimbabwe’s curse of rigged elections and bad governance. Both Zanu PF and MDC leaders are not up to the task and so we must find others who will implement the reforms.
Mudzuri et al damning criticism of Mnangagwa’s dictatorial tendencies are nothing more than quarrelsome hen’s shtick, cursing and swearing at the chick-snatching eagle. MDC belated criticism will not stop Mnangagwa enjoy the dictatorial powers accrued from Amendment Bill No 2 no more than the hen’s shtick stop the eagle enjoy its chicken meal! – SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com
A 57-YEAR-OLD Binga man has been arrested after he fatally axed his uncle who tried to stop him from selling a cow that was “old and thin.”
William Sibanga Muzamba of Twakachibona village under Chief Pashu reportedly surrendered himself to the police soon after killing his uncle Simati Mefias Mudimba (62) from the same area on Saturday.
The two had been drinking traditional beer at Mr Fanson Muleya (53)’s homestead when they argued over a cow which Muzamba wanted to sell.
Mudimba allegedly drew an axe and threatened to strike his nephew who, however, disarmed him and struck him twice on the head.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the murder and arrest of Muzamba who is expected to appear in court soon.
“We received a report of a man who was murdered by his nephew following a misunderstanding over sale of a beast. On 24 April around 5pm William Sibanga Muzamba and Simati Mefias Mudimba were drinking traditional beer at the informant, Mr Fanson Muleya’s homestead. Muzamba was discussing selling his beast with his uncle Mudimba who told him not to sell it and suggested that it be slaughtered because it was old and had lost weight,” said Insp Banda.
He said this did not go down well with Muzamba leading to an argument which degenerated into a misunderstanding.
Mudimba allegedly rained insults on Muzamba before pulling out a small axe from his trousers and threatened to kill his nephew.
Police said Muzamba grabbed the axe and disarmed his uncle before striking him twice on the head and he died on the spot.
Other villagers who were at the homestead drinking beer fled from the scene.
Mr Muleya rushed to police Pashu base and reported a case of murder while Muzamba later went to the same police base and surrendered himself.
Police attended the scene and took the body to St Patrick’s Hospital in Hwange for a post-mortem.- Chronicle
Talking Points to the governor Coumo for New York.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW
By Owen Chari | The Senate and Assembly have delivered a huge victory for workers who have been demanding protections for over a year.
Governor Cuomo must do more than call essential workers heroes–
He must sign the NY HERO act immediately NY has the opportunity to lead the nation and become the first state to take the lessons learned from Covid-19 and create an airborne infectious disease standard to fight this pandemic and whatever comes next Covid is still here. New York continues to be a Hotspot and thousands of people across the state have died just in the last month. frontline essential workers continue to be among the most vulnerable to new COVID infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Workers in New York have gotten all of us through this crisis. Whether it is through rapid response in hospitals during the different outbreaks, or steadily producing our food and caring for our families for the last year, all workers in New York have been essential for us to survive this crisis, they deserve protections.
With new variants spreading and vaccinations still months and months away from completion it is urgent that we prioritize the safety of frontline workers who continue to face high risk of infection.
We cannot wait for Vaccines.
As NY reopens in these dangerous conditions it is critical that we reopen safely by protecting workers with enforceable workplace safety rules.
Workers are the experts and must be empowered through health and safety committees to keep their workplaces safe Governor Cuomo must stand with workers and sign the bill immediately with no changes.
Well-orchestrated syndicates have this year been using buses to smuggle goods across Zimbabwe with the loss in import duties and other taxes prompting the National Security Taskforce to clampdown on such criminals.
An official within the national security cluster said between March 1 and April 29, 54 buses were caught carrying an assortment of smuggled goods worth over $20 million.
“We have been intercepting some of the buses at security checkpoints between Beitbridge, Harare and Bulawayo,” said the official.
“We have established that in most cases the smugglers are using illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River to bring in commercial goods which they then load in buses at Dulivhadzimu bus terminus for onward transmission to towns and cities nationwide”.
Government deployed the taskforce on January 5 at the recommendation of the National Joint Operations Committee, following numerous reports of smuggling and other criminal activities along the South African border.
A survey revealed that many dealers are illegally crossing into South Africa bringing back large quantities of goods for resale.
They then load intercity buses at Dulivhadzimu bus terminus, which is handling an average of 10 buses daily, down from 30 at its peak owing to strict Covid-19 regulations being implemented by the Government.
Common goods being smuggled into the country include building materials, vehicles, fuel, livestock, flea market wares, illicit medicines, groceries, fuel, tyres, genetically modified vegetables and fruits and electrical appliances.
On the export side, both small-time and well-established dealers are smuggling minerals, cigarettes, and stolen livestock into South Africa.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police had resorted to naming and shaming bus companies that are being used to smuggle goods and transport contrabands.
He said they were also engaging the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, to revoke or suspend operating licences and permits for those bus operators found on the wrong side of the law.
“The rate at which we are intercepting buses which are being used to smuggle goods into the country or carry contraband is alarming.- The Herald
Kanzuru ngainetsane nesu panyaya yemari chokwadi tinofanira kubhadara inga nyaya yedzimba iri ku Lawyer ravo Mai Piri ma paper avakatikandira painge pasina kunzi ndokutorerai imba pakanzi bhadarai dzimba mukarega tokutorerei matanho kana kutengesa midziyo ikozvino tiri kumanikidzwa ku sign ma less egore imba yokugara kunge tackshop kutedzera Z R A ne Z E S A makambani nokuoma kwakaita zvinhu vanedzimba dzisina vanhu vavo vebasa Saka vakaisa vanhu kuti imba idzodzo dzichengeteke kana zvinhu zvanaka vakanyora vanhu basa usazonetse kubvisa zvinon Local government ndiyo ine basa rokugadzirisa panogarwa nevanhu ikozvino vakuita zvekuvenganisa vanhu panemumwe arikurwadziwa zvikuru arikutotsvaga nganga zvanzi ndobata mushonga chete akaenda ku court ikamudya arikuti shamwari yangu chaiyo ndiyo ingadaro handifunge kuti kunekumwe kurikutorerwa vanhu dzimba sekuno.
Ndiwo ma Toilet atakavakirwa ne Dona tikashanda kwemwedzi yakawanda pasina kubadarwa.
Chicken Inn midfielder Brett Amidu (24) said he decided to stay at the club after he was invited for trials at Lusaka Dynamos of Zambia.
Amidu and striker Obriel Chirinda were invited for a 10-day trial period at the Zambian club.
While Chrinda took up the offer, Amidu revealed that he decided not to go to Zambia on advice from his employers. He said:
I decided to stay and not go to Zambia after I got advice from my bosses. I just listened to the advice after I was told that going to Zambia was not a good move.
Amidu revealed his ambition to play in Europe and also touched on his failed transfer to Egypt. He said:
It is every player’s dream to play outside the country if an opportunity arises. As for me, my ambition is to play in Europe and if it so happens that I go to a country like South Africa it would be a stepping stone.
I don’t know what really happened with the Egypt deal. I sorted everything including the visa, but I don’t know what really transpired.
Several Zimbabwean players in recent years have not found the grass greener on the other side of the Zambezi River.
The trio of Partson Jaure, Nqobizitha Masuku and Devon Chafa had short stints at Zambia side Buildcon before and mutually terminated their contracts in 2018.
Joel Ngodzo and Donald Teguru (Buildcon) and Winston Mhango (Kabwe Warriors) have all returned home after short stints in Zambia.
Ngodzo and Mhango have joined Highlanders while Teguru is at FC Platinum.-NewsDay
State Media- The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 2) Bill, which proposes a raft of amendments to the Constitution, went through its Second Reading and Committee stage in the Senate yesterday without any further amendment and will go to the Third Reading, the final stage, on Tuesday next week.
Since the amendment has already gone through the National Assembly with the required two-thirds majority, should it receive that same level of approval or better in the Senate at the Third Reading, it can then become part of the Constitution.
The only clause that caused a division, a vote where a split is recorded, was the clause on allowing judges of the High and Supreme Courts to be promoted to a higher court without having to go through another public hearing, as they would havegone through that process in their original appointment to the bench and it being felt undignified for judges to publicly compete for promotion.
But 45 senators voted in favour of retaining the new provision, while only 19 voted against. If, and this is not considered likely since the 19 joined the majority in approving the other 26 clauses, the same group votes against the Bill on the Third Reading it will still pass as the 19 are not a large enough group to be a blocking third.
In the Second Reading, where the principles of the Bill are debated, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi outlined for senators the main provisions of the Bill and the reasons why the proposed amendments weredesired.
A major proposal is to retain the present system whereby the President appoints the vice-presidents. In the Constitution, this was supposed to change in 2023 to have the President, First Vice-President and Second Vice-President stand for election as a team.
The present feeling is that the interim system should be made permanent to allow the President to make the choice.
A second major proposal, which has seen near universal support, was to retain for another 10 years a special provision to have an additional block of women MPs in the National Assembly, elected by party lists using proportional representation in each province.
It had been hoped that in the first decade of the present Constitution that societies would change sufficiently swiftly to make gender balance automatic. This has not been the case, hence the desire for another 10 years of an interim measure.
The National Assembly went further, and agreed that a similar provision, with an additional block of women councillors equal to a third of the council membership, should be chosen by party lists. The Senate agreed in the Committee Stage.
For judges, it was felt that sitting judges should not have to compete with each other in public interviews when being considered for promotion, this tending to be undignified.
This is the single point where there was a vote later on in the committee stage. Judges will also be able to serve until they are 75 if they are fit and willing once the amendment becomes law.
The Prosecutor General will still be appointed in way to guarantee independence, the President having to follow the advice of the Judicial Service Commission and with a tribunal appointed to recommend any dismissal. But the two processes will not be identical to those used for judges, as it was felt that a judge should retain a higher status.
The last major amendment was to sort out the provincial councils, with the MPs and senators from each province no longer able to sit on these councils since Parliament is supposed to oversee the provincial councils and legislators cannot be judges on themselves. This will also enhance devolution.- Herald
By A Correspondent | Central Intelligence agents have boasted saying that they have confiscated over 20 million US dollars worth of goods at the country’s borders during the time of the ongoing lockdown (March to April). The state media report which ZimEye debunks, states as follows:
Fifty-four buses transporting smuggled goods worth over US$20 million have been intercepted since the beginning of March.
As a result of the smuggling, the country has been losing millions of dollars in potential import revenue.
An official within the national security cluster what’s quoted by the state owned Herald newspaper saying that between March 1 and April 28, they intercepted 54 buses carrying an assortment of smuggled goods worth over $20 million.
ZimEye has can however prove the operation
“We have been intercepting some of the buses at security checkpoints between Beitbridge and Harare and Bulawayo,” said the official.
“We have established that in most cases the smugglers are using illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River to bring in commercial goods which they then load in buses at Dulivhadzimu bus terminus for onward transmission to various towns and cities nationwide”.
Government deployed the National Security Taskforce on January 5 at the recommendation of the National Joint Operations Committee (JOC), following numerous reports of smuggling and other criminal activities at the country’s border with South Africa.
A survey by Chronicle revealed that most dealers are travel to the border town of Beitbridge and illegally cross into South Africa through various entry points, and then bring back hordes of goods for resale.
They then load in intercity buses at Dulivhadzimu bus terminus, which is handling an average of 10 buses daily down from 30 due to strict Covid-19 regulations being implemented by the Government.
Common goods that are being smuggled into the country include building material, vehicles, fuel, livestock, flea market wares, illicit medicines, groceries, fuel, tyres, genetically modified (GMOs) vegetables and fruits, electrical gadgets, and vehicles among others.
Minerals, cigarettes and stolen livestock are also being smuggled out of the country.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they had resorted to naming and shaming bus companies that are being used to smuggle goods and transport contrabands.
He said they were also engaging the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, to revoke or suspend operating licenses and permits for those bus operators found on the wrong side of the law.
“The rate at which we are intercepting buses which are being used to smuggle goods into the country or carry contrabands is alarming.
“Now we have resorted to naming and shaming those bus companies involved in such criminal activities,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said they had also established that the syndicates were working with bus crews who in some instances pretend to be transporting returnees from South Africa.
“Fortunately, these where criminals are being intercepted while or after smuggling goods of commercial nature into the country,” he added.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police will descend heavily on both the smugglers and the bus crews conniving to break the law.
Zimra spokesperson Mr Francis Chimanda said between March 21 and March 29 four buses were intercepted between Harare and Beitbridge and were referred for physical examination at the border post.
He said the authority collected additional import revenue of $1,917,684.00 which included $958,842.00 duty payable and an equal amount in fines.
Mr Chimanda said they had introduced the 100 percent searches on all cargo mostly being following an upsurge in a trend of false declarations by either the transporters or the importers.
But a ZimEye investigation involving LIVE video coverage at the borders during the same period, shows the operation was another Grace Mugabe style raid in which good are seized the borders and then later donated to selected people for Political reasons. One of these incidents was on the 29th March 2021 when piles of groceries meant for the suffering masses struggling due to the ongoing lockdown were taken away. The incident was filmed (below).
Tinashe Sambiri|Two MDC Alliance members, Vongai Tome and Ngoni Mupfumba have been granted ZWL $ 5000 bail each.
Tome was sexually assaulted by an overzealous cop in central Harare at the beginning of the month.
“Vongai Tome, Ngoni Mupfumba and two others have been granted $5000 bail each by the High Court,” the MDC Alliance said in a statement.
The bail application for Hon Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri has been postponed to April 30.
“UPDATE ON THE DUO. 28-04-2021.
The duo, Joana Mamombe and Cecillia Chimbiri appeared today before Judge Tapiwa Chitapi at the High Court. The defense Council led by Alec Muchadehama submitted a bail application on changed circumstances.
Justice T Chitapi in the circumstances will give a RULING ON FRIDAY 30 -04-21,” a source told ZimEye.com.
"No-one will be able to kill all these people, says @OfficialMukanya "these soldiers have their own relatives living among the masses who're suffering; if we remain silent we'll spend another 100ys struggling,there'll be no easy freedom, stop lying to yourselves.FULL INTERVIEW… pic.twitter.com/AHzhTJGg9c
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
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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