Tinashe Sambiri|Recalled MDC Alliance MP for Mutasa South, Hon Regai Tsunga has vowed to continue serving the people in his constituency.

Hon Tsunga says he cannot abandon the electorate.

“After the recall I will continue to work with the people of Mutasa South.

It is my mandate to represent them,” Hon Tsunga told 263 Chat.

Political analysts say Zanu PF is using recalls to weaken the MDC Alliance.

“Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is afraid of MDC Alliance’s rising popularity and therefore he is keen to use all means at his disposal to dismantle the opposition party led by President Nelson Chamisa,” observed one political analyst.

The recent allegations of corruption levelled against former ZINARA Chief Executive Officer have exposed the unlawful practices by the Roads Authority of contracting companies to repair and maintain roads.

In terms of the Roads Act Section 7 the role and mandate of the Roads Authority is “to fix road user charges and to collect such charges or any other revenue of the Road Fund, allocate and disburse to road authorities.”

According to the Herald of 19 March 2021 , the ZINARA ex CEO offered  overpriced tenders for road rehabilitation with him getting kickbacks of US$144 000 and awarded Fremus Enterprise a total of US$20 million in contracts for rehabilitation of roads without following proper tender processes.

This comes at a time when the state of roads in Zimbabwe are in a poor state with the government declaring the state of roads a “national disaster” with ZINARA calling local authorities to find alternatives to fund road maintenance.

Harare has a road network of 4000 kilometers and due to lack of financing since the ZINARA takeover of vehicle licensing  in 2008 the other 2000 kilometers are no longer trafficable due to lack of funds to rehabilitate them.

On the 8th of March Combined Harare Residents Association wrote a letter to the CEO of ZINARA requesting total amounts of funds which the Roads Authority disbursed to the City of Harare and Chitungwiza Municipality of 2020   period but to no avail.

CHRA condemns the actions of the ZINARA of spending road funds as it is outside its mandate and calls on the government to retain vehicle licensing to local authorities in line with Chapter 14 of the constitution on devolution as this enhances transparency and accountability in the management of funds.

We therefore continue to advocate for road licensing fees to be taken back to Local Authorities for communities to be able to monitor how funds will be used and to get roads fixed with transparency and accountability. Devolution is the only solution to stop the misuse and looting of public funds for betterment and improvement of our road infrastructure.  

CHRAINFO

Human rights defenders have blasted the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) for its continued suspension of by-elections citing COVID-19 restrictions.

Zec chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana in a statement yesterday announced that the electoral body had lifted the suspension on voter registration processes, but would maintain the ban on byelections until further notice.

Around 48 parliamentary seats and over 80 council seats recently fell vacant after the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) recalled MPs and councillors who contested the 2018 polls on an MDC Alliance ticket.

Silaigwana said the voter registration process would resume on April 1, 2021.

“In view of the danger still posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to uphold some health provisions of Statutory Instrument (SI) 10 of 2021 which are still in force, the conduct of byelections remains suspended,”the Zec statement read.

“This position will be reviewed in due course and stakeholders will be advised accordingly. The commission is advising citizens who qualify to register as voters and those wishing to transfer their registrations to visit voter registration centres at Zec provincial and district centres.”

Government last month eased lockdown restrictions allowing the resumption of intercity travel and normal business operations, but under strict COVID-19 protocols.

Opposition leaders and rights activists said the continued ban on by-elections to replace recalled legislators was unjustified since countries that were hard-hit by COVID-19 were holding elections.

MDC Alliance vice-president Tendai Biti yesterday told NewsDay that following the relaxation of the lockdown measures, several activities had resumed and byelections should not be an exception.

“Zec is violating the Constitution by prolonging the suspension of by-elections because it is a basic human right for one to choose a representative of his or her own choice.

“Many countries around the globe are holding elections but still observing the COVID-19 regulations.

“America is one country most affected by the pandemic, but they still managed to hold a safe election. If schools have been reopened, what then stops by-elections where
adults are involved, to be carried out?” Biti asked.

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum executive director Musa Kika said the government should emulate other countries in upholding democratic governance through constitutionalism amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The continued suspension of by-elections is anti-democratic. Many constituencies representing thousands of people are unrepresented following the recalls. We cannot continue to hide behind COVID-19 when political parties continue to have political engagements.

“Other countries have done general elections successfully. Zec has produced guidelines on conducting elections under COVID-19, but it is not clear why those guidelines are not being followed to conduct elections.”

Human Rights Watch Southern Africa director Dewa Mavhinga said: “Zec seems complicit in the blatant attack on the will of the voters and other nefarious actions to undermine democracy. Zec must demonstrate that it is independent and committed to facilitating credible electoral processes in a COVID-19-safe environment as we have seen in several countries like Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda where the people were able to go to national elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with necessary protective measures.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- Four laboratory staffers at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital who were arrested for issuing fake Covid-19 certificates were denied bail when they appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate, Ms Gladmore Mushowe, last Thursday.

Kudzai Chishanyi (41), Gumisai Chirodza (31), Nelson Mashanga (51) and Wedzerai Manyere (39) were remanded in custody to April 1.

The four, including Mercy Banguza who is still at large, issued 48 fake certificates between August and November 2020.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A detective based at Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Gokwe, died on the spot when unknown assailants attacked him and a colleague while they were on their way home from work.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the assailants who stabbed Lloyd Muchaiona who later died from excessive bleeding.

Muchaiona’s friend, Fanuel Chirori, is battling for life after he was stabbed on the shoulder and thigh.

National Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“On 19 March 2021, in Gokwe a police officer who was in the company of a friend and was on his way home from work, was stabbed with a knife on the thigh for unspecified reason and he died on the spot,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.

Police are still looking for the attackers.

“The two suspects involved in the stabbings are still at large. Anyone with information on the case can contact any nearest police station or National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or 0712800107,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.

Meanwhile, in another incident police in Kwekwe shot dead a suspect linked to assault and robbery cases after he resisted arrested and attacked police officers with a homemade knife.

“On March 15, in Amaveni, Kwekwe, a 20-year-old man was shot by a police officer on duty. The police officer intended to arrest him in connection with cases of assault and robbery,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.

He said the suspect, whose name was not given, resisted arrest and attacked three police officers with a home-made knife after initially hiding in his bedroom.

He was shot once on the chest and he succumbed to the injuries.

Asst Comm Nyathi warned members of the public against resisting arrest.-statemedia

An illegal gold panner who was in 2018 sentenced to death for fatally stabbing his wife 27 times following a row with his in-laws over payment of lobola, has approached the Supreme Court challenging his sentence.

Dignity Masvimbo (28) of Winery Compound, Greenvale in Gweru, walked for about 20km to his wife, Oripa Gapare’s family home in Mkoba 14 where he fatally stabbed her 27 times.

Masvimbo stabbed Gapare (22) all over the body while she lay helplessly on the ground, leading to her death in April 2017. He was convicted of murder with actual intent by Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo on circuit in Gweru.

Masvimbo, through his lawyer Mr Tawanda Tavengwa of Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Legal Practitioners, filed an appeal against sentence at the Supreme Court citing the State as the respondent.

In his grounds of appeal, Masvimbo said Justice Moyo misdirected herself when she failed to consider and give due weight to the mitigatory factors before passing the death sentence.

“The lower court improperly exercised its sentencing discretion resulting in a sentence that induces a sense of shock. The judge gave more weight to factors in aggravation and overlooked the fact that I was a youthful offender who can be rehabilitated by a lengthy prison term,” he argued.

Mr Tavengwa argued that his client acted out of emotional stress and pleaded with the Supreme Court bench to set aside the judgment of the High Court and substitute it with a life imprisonment.

Appearing for the State, Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu opposed the application, arguing that Masvimbo was in full control of his faculties when committed the offence. He argued that there were no sufficient mitigatory factors warranting misdirection on the part of the lower court.

“It is submitted that the judge of the lower court, in my view, judiciously exercised her sentencing discretion when she imposed the death sentence on the appellant. The sentence is neither an irregularity nor misdirection,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He urged the court to dismiss Masvimbo’s appeal, saying it did not warrant consideration for a sentence other than the death penalty.

“The commission of the offence does not comport with youthfulness. The murder was so calculated and callous hence this factor of youthfulness on its own does not constitute a weighty circumstance of a mitigatory nature so as to reduce his moral blameworthiness,” said Mr Ndlovu.

Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza, sitting with Justices Nicholas Mathonsi and Samuel Kudya during a Supreme Court on circuit in Bulawayo yesterday, said the murder was well planned and executed with precision. She, however, reserved judgement.

According to court papers, Masvimbo and Gapare had separated in October 2016 following a domestic dispute which emanated from his failure to pay lobola. The now deceased moved out of their matrimonial house to stay with her parents in Mkoba 14.

Masvimbo followed her in a bid to make peace but was told by the deceased’s mother that he needed to pay lobola first if he wanted to take back his wife. He failed to pay the lobola and continued to stay at his house.

Six months later at around 5PM, Masvimbo proceeded to the deceased’s residence armed with an Okapi knife. He went inside the house using an unlocked main door and sat on a couch in the lounge. Masvimbo then called Gapare to the lounge and without notice dragged her outside the house and assaulted her.

Gapare called for help and her 91-year-old grandmother Mrs Hamundide Mashayamombe came to her rescue by grabbing her waist pulling her away from Masvimbo. It was stated that Masvimbo pushed Mrs Mashayamombe and she fell down. He then dragged Gapare to the veranda and went on to indiscriminately stab her 27 times all over the body.

The woman died on the spot and Masvimbo fled from the scene.

A report was made to the police leading to Masvimbo’s arrest.

ZIMBABWE remains one of top eight countries in Africa which is heavily burdened by tuberculosis (TB), the global TB report has revealed.

The report, which coincided with commemorations of World TB Day celebrated annually on March 24, also stated that the country is on the world’s top 30 list of nations heavily burdened by TB, TB/HIV and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).

The countries account for 85% to 89% cases of TB globally.

Zimbabwe was also said to be still grappling with the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis programming.

The country has an estimated 21 000 new cases of TB each year, and 3,1% of these are drug resistant.

About 6 300 Zimbabweans die of TB each year despite it being a preventable and curable disease.

The global TB report said treatment coverage was 72% in 2019, decreasing from 83% in 2018.

“An estimated 6,160 to 10,640 cases were missed in 2019. Males bear the brunt of disease burden, particularly the economically productive aged 25 to 44-years,” the report said.

Speaking on the eve of World TB Day running under the theme The Clock is Ticking, the deputy director for the global Aids and TB unit, Charles Sandy, said in the early 1990s there was a very steep surge in TB cases fuelled bytained decline in tandem with the increase in the coverage of antiretroviral treatment and adoption of innovative tools and best practices over time. He said TB programming was severely impacted by COVID-19 stigma as well as lack of access to health facilities.

Recently there were reports that TB tests had been scaled down as focus was now focused on the novel virus.

Sources said the GeneXpert machines used for diagnosing Tuberculosis were now overburdened as they were also being used for COVID-19 tests.

Sandy said cartridges for the machines ran out in December last year and were not replaced fast enough. There were also challenges with some TB medicines.

He said this had been due to supply chain challenges and distribution bottlenecks.

Community Working Group On Health executive director Itai Rusike called for accelerated action to eradicate the disease.

“The response to COVID-19 pushed aside tuberculosis outreach and services, resulting in a 20% drop in diagnosis and treatment worldwide,” Rusike said.-Newsday

The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART) notes a disturbing video circulating where bus operators, hwindis or conductors are abusing and insulting a woman passenger at a local bus station. This is very disturbing and as ZNOART we condemn this in the strongest terms.

As residents and passengers, we demand that police arrest these culprits immediately. In a modern society where passengers have freedom of choice and women carry the society’s future, such kind of behaviour has no place.

We have noticed these abuses happening at every bus station across all the cities countrywide. These abuses also include verbal abuses especially to defenceless women, resulting in vulgar language being thrown around the termini and in the process leading to cultural erosion. Such abuses must stop.

ZRP in collaboration with council police must act NOW towards making the bus termini user friendly. This can only be done through arresting touts thereby reducing touting within the vicinity of bus termini in order to promote sanity.

We also call upon local councils to be in full control of their bus termini. Further to that, the councils must refurbish bus terminuses which are largely in a dilapidated state.

WE CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR OUR PASSENGERS ESPECIALLY OUR WOMEN

By A Correspondent- Government yesterday said it would strengthen surveillance at the country’s border posts during the upcoming Easter holidays to minimise transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

This was said by Information and Publicity minister Monica Mutsvangwa during a postCabinet media briefing in Harare, where she stated that border posts were fertile ground for transmission of the respiratory disease.

Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 cases stood at 36 684 infections and 1 512 deaths as of yesterday morning.

“As the nation approaches the Easter holidays, Cabinet notes that there is a likelihood of increased internal and cross-border movement of people, which may provide fertile ground for increased transmission,” Mutsvangwa said.

“In that regard, the Ministry of Health and Child Care is strengthening surveillance, case management, and risk communication and community engagement in anticipation of the Easter holidays. Special attention will be accorded to ports of entry and exit.”

She said government had also given the greenlight to driving schools, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department to resume operations strictly adhering to approved standard operating procedures and World Health Organisation guidelines for the prevention of transmission of COVID-19.

Mutsvangwa said government was considering the reopening of casinos after a long period of closure.

On legislation, the Information minister said government had approved the Copper Control Amendment Bill, which seeks to impose 30-year jail sentences on copper cable thieves without the option of a fine.

She said the Bill sought to curb vandalism and theft of Zesa and TelOne infrastructure.

“Convicted copper thieves will now be liable to imprisonment for a period of not less than 30 years without the option of a fine. In addition, any vehicle or device used to illegally transport copper will now be forfeited to the State,” Mutsvangwa said.-newsday

By A Correspondent- National Foods is set to install a new state-of-the-art US$5 million flour milling plant at the firm’s factory in Bulawayo.

The new plant will replace the existing production line, but the company said the project has been carefully planned to ensure that the supply of flour in the southern region will not be disrupted during the installation phase.

In a statement accompanying financial results for the half-year ended December 31, 2020, the diversified agro-industrial concern, said:

The board has approved the purchase of a new state-of-the-art flour mill, which will be installed as a replacement for the existing mill at the Bulawayo Basch Street site, at an estimated cost of US$5 million.

This significant project has been carefully planned to ensure continuity of flour supply to the southern region during the installation phase and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

National Foods revealed that in the half-year period, its stockfeed division registered a 34 per cent increase in volumes when compared to the prior period.

In the groceries division, the company said volumes increased significantly by 98 per cent versus the comparative period.

On the cooking oil division, National Foods said volumes increased by 64 per cent compared to the same period last year.

-state media

Press Statement

24 March 2021

On the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) calls upon the state to take concrete measures designed to reveal the truth concerning gross human rights violations that have occurred in Zimbabwe. ZLHR also urges the state
actors to take steps to restore the dignity of the victims of gross human rights violations by initiating necessary processes to provide reparations to the victims, survivors and their relatives.

The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is celebrated every year on 24 March.

It aims to honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice. In addition, it seeks to pay tribute to the people who have devoted their lives to or lost their lives in the struggle to promote and protect the human rights of everyone. The day is also an opportunity to celebrate the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero. Archbishop Romero was assassinated after he denounced violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defended the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and the rejection of all forms of violence.

The right to the truth about gross human rights violations and serious violations of human rights law is an inalienable right. Such a right imposes an obligation on the state to protect and guarantee human rights through conducting investigations and the provision of
effective remedies and reparations to the victims of gross human rights violations. The right to the truth implies the knowledge of the complete truth as to the events that transpired, the specific circumstances in which the violations took place, who participated in them and the reasons for the violations. In addition, the relatives of the victims of torture, summary executions, and enforced disappearances are entitled to know what happened to the victims.

Although the Constitution of Zimbabwe established the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, ZLHR remains concerned that many victims and survivors of gross human rights violations have not yet been able to know the truth about what happened to them, their relatives, friends or neighbours.

The Gukurahundi massacres remain a sore point in the history of Zimbabwe and it is worrying that the state has not yet conducted thorough investigations into these gross human rights violations that qualify as genocide under international law. ZLHR has collaborated in the past with other like-minded organisations to compel the state
actors to release information to establish the truth. In the constitutional case of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights & Another v The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe & Another filed as case No. 311 of 1999, the applicants sought a court order for the release of
information to establish the truth about Gukurahundi. Although the case was dismissed, ZLHR joins all progressive people who continue to call on state actors to release information for the truth to be established and bring the perpetrators of the massacres to account and pay reparations to the families of the victims and survivors.

The right to the truth and dignity of victims requires that the state pay reparations for the state-sanctioned gross violations and apologise. Similarly, the state should promptly and thoroughly investigate all documented cases of human rights violations such as
disappearances of human rights defenders that have occurred in the past.

The August 1 2018 shootings must also be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators held accountable. The relatives of all those who were murdered in cold blood by state security agents on that day are entitled to full knowledge about what happened to the victims as well as reparations from the state.

On this International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, ZLHR urges state actors to:

o       Take concrete measures designed to reveal the truth concerning gross human rights violations that have occurred during different periods in Zimbabwe’s history,

o       Take steps to restore the dignity of the victims of gross human rights violations by making reparations,

o       Investigate the reported and documented cases of enforced disappearances,

o       Pay reparations to the relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances,

o       Urgently investigate all documented cases of gross violations and make the perpetrators accountable and pay reparations to the relatives of the victims.

By A Correspondent- A self proclaimed prophet from Jotsholo in Matabeleland north province has been slapped with an effective 20-year jail term for raping a 10-year-old girl who was taken to him for prayers by her mother.

Emmanuel Ncube (34) on Monday pleaded guilty to the rape charge when he appeared before Hwange regional magistrate Collet Ncube.

The magistrate convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him to 20 years in jail.

Prosecutor Vumizulu Mangena told the court that on October 9, 2020 at 3pm, the girl’s mother took her and her two siblings to Ncube’s homestead for prayers.

Ncube prayed for them and when they were about to leave, he asked their mother to leave the 10-year-old girl behind.

it is the state’s case that the mother agreed and left the child behind and at 8pm, the girl went to sleep with other children at Ncube’s place.

Ncube called the child to his bedroom hut on the pretext that he wanted to pray for her.

He raped her and threatened to unleash evil spirits on her if she told anyone about the incident.

The next day, the girl told her mother about the incident and a report was made to the police, leading to Ncube’s arrest.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Harare man yesterday appeared in court for swindling CABS Bank clients of $533 000 after taking advantage of a system malfunction at the financial institution.

The suspect, Israel Magate (31) of Dzivaresekwa, appeared before magistrate Tafadzwa Mhiti and was remanded in custody to today for bail ruling.

Allegations are that on September 7, 2020, the accused person connived with James Mtisi, who is still at large, to defraud a complainant, Simbarashe Charamba,
taking advantage of the fact that CABS Bank’s system was malfunctioning, resulting in it duplicating transactions.

They misrepresented to the bank that Magate had lost his bank card at a time he was scheduled to receive transfers in local currency from the sale of his wardrobe through his CABS Bank account.

His Econet SIM card was then matched to his bank account.

It is alleged that Magate then used the account to receive $270 000 from Caroline Zirata and on that same date, he transferred $260 000 into Charamba’s CABS Bank account, resulting in the complainant’s account having an overdraft of $270 589,96.

They used the same modus operandi to defraud other unsuspecting depositors, resulting in them incurring overdrafts of more than $200 000.

Their criminal activities came to light on January 18, 2021 when one of the complainants was called by a CABS Bank official and informed that his account had an overdraft of $272 699,21.

Investigations were carried out, leading to the arrest of the accused person.-Newsday

Tafadzwa Makandiwa, young brother to founder and leader of United Families International Church (UFIC) Emmanuel Makandiwa, was last week involved in a road accident that left his vehicle extensively damaged.

According to ZimCelebs, Tafadzwa, a pastor in his own right, was driving a Toyota Fortuner on his way from Shamva when the accident occurred on 19 March 2021.

The crash was allegedly caused by a suspicious Isuzu truck that followed Makandiwa and his two colleagues on their way to, and back from Shamva.

While driving to Shamva in the afternoon, the Isuzu truck reportedly forced Makandiwa to make a sudden stop and on his way back to Harare 5 hours later, the same unregistered vehicle showed up again on a stretch of road, changed lanes and drove directly towards the Toyota Fortuner.

In an attempt to avoid a head-on collision, the driver of the Toyota Fortuner swerved off the road and hit a huge tree and the car overturned and rolled twice before landing on its wheels again.

The accident was reported at Shamva police station.

All three occupants of the Toyota Fortuner were unhurt but went to the trauma centre for X-rays immediately after the accident.

It is alleged that days before the accident, suspicious people had been sending threats to Makandiwa family members.

Tinashe Sambiri|The country needs low cost technologies to enhance water quality and supply, President Chamisa has said.

Below is President Chamisa’s statement on World Water Day:

TODAY IS #WORLDWATERDAY.

We will deliver a SMART reconstruction and remodelling of the country’s water infrastructure and laws, harnessing and harvesting water for irrigation domestic use,using low-cost water technologies that can be availed at mass levels…

By A Correspondent- ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has politicised the favourable raining season the country did experience and mocked the opposition saying that he should be credited for the so-called anticipated bumper maize harvest this year.

Mnangagwa said this in a message on his Twitter handle this afternoon.
“In 2019/2020, Zimbabwe had a maize harvest of 908 000 tonnes. This year the maize harvest is predicted to triple to 2.8 million tonnes – a record harvest post-land reform.

Zimbabweans, don’t let the doubters dampen your spirit. Our country is on the path to prosperity,” he said.

The country received above normal rains this season that have spurred growth prospects for the economy.

By James Gwati- Self claimed prophet and the leader of Goodness and Mercy Ministries, Tapuwa Freddy has been caught trying to cheat in the Theology exam.

Freddy who made headlines last year after his Glen View church was demolished by the local authorities who had deemed it as an illegal structure, was writing a Theology exam at the Women’s University of Africa in the capital, last week when the embarrassing event happened.

According to a local online publication, Zim Morning Post, the self-proclaimed prophet smuggled a mobile phone into the exam room and mistakenly dropped it from his lap.

“He smuggled the phone and hid it on his lap but I don’t know how he dropped the phone.

” He left the exam room in huff before the invigilator confronted him.

“It was an embarrassing episode and classmates made fun of him, questioning why he failed to use the spiritual spectacles to spot the exams,” the paper quoted Freddy’s classmates.

By James Gwati- A Government minister has fired the senior manager with the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda) in front of journalists for “not following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s economic reform agenda”.

Anxious Masuka, the new Agriculture minister fired on-site the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Project manager for alleged incompetence saying the same would befall officials who fail to meet the Government’s expectations in the transformation of the agriculture sector.

The state media which was covering the tour could however not establish the official’s name.
Minister Masuka said the parastatal’s operations were not in sync with the Second Republic’s thrust of transforming the country’s economy through agriculture.

“I’m not happy with Arda’s performance, you are still in the past. Arda must wake up to the realities of the Second Republic and the President’s thrust of using agriculture as a vehicle for the attainment of vision 2030,” said Masuka giving the Arda official some marching orders.

He said Government had set minimum requirements for managing Arda irrigation sites.

By A Correspondent- The Health Ministry has said that Victoria Falls is sitting on a health time bomb as its health facilities are operating without oxygen tanks and negative pressure rooms for COVID-19 emergencies making the resort town unsafe for tourists.

This comes a day before President Emmerson Mnangagwa is visiting the resort town for the official launch of the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination.

Deputy Health Minister Dr John Mangwiro, who was leading Mnangagwa’s advance team toured the resort town to assess its preparedness to host President Mnangagwa and said that Victoria Falls was sitting on a health time bomb.

“We don’t have an ICU for Covid-19 here and we are creating one now where we are going to have six ICU beds. But for it to be functional we need negative pressure which is also not available and I hear the whole province doesn’t have it. Funds for Covid-19 are readily available and can be accessed through the taskforce.

“The ICU is a specialised ward and negative pressure sucks out any infected air and takes it out where the virus is burnt and released after being rendered sterile. Nurses will refuse to work in an ICU if there is no negative pressure because they will get infected,” said Dr Mangwiro.

Dr Mangwiro said it was disastrous not to have a Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Victoria Falls Hospital, whose oxygen is also stored in Hwange because of the lack of an oxygen tank.

The existing ICU has no oxygen outlets and a negative pressure room which Dr Mangwiro said was dangerous in the event of an emergency.

By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary education minister Cain Mathema has said every child has the right to education hence anyone experiencing challenges enrolling their children at school must engage ministry officers.

He was responding to a question raised by Zanu PF’s Roselyn Makoni who said:

HON. MAKONI: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. What is Government policy as parents are now facing problems in looking for places for Grade Ones and Form Ones?  When they get to the schools, headmasters tell them that the schools are full because of the COVID regulations.  Parents have no schools to take their children to.  What is going to be done to alleviate this problem?  I thank you. 

          THE HON. SPEAKER:  I think Hon. Minister, you got the gist of the story.  Grade Seven pupils are failing to get Form One places and Grade Ones as well. 

          THE MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (HON. MATHEMA):  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I thank the Hon. Member for asking the question.  There is no limit …

          THE HON. SPEAKER:  You are not connected Hon. Minister.

          HON. MATHEMA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I thank the Hon. Member for asking the question.  Every child in Zimbabwe must go to school and each school head – whether these are public or private schools, must make sure that every child goes to school.  If there is any situation where children are being turned away for whatever reasons; and we have COVID- 19 protocols, the parents, guardians and everybody else have to be in touch with my officers.  We are not allowing that.  Every child must go to school.  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

Former Zimbabwe Farmers’ Development Company (ZFDC) chairperson Edward Raradza and his son, Mathew, who were facing allegations of defrauding the institution of US$494 423 meant for farming implements, were today freed by a Harare magistrate.

The pair were freed after the State agreed to have them removed from further remand saying it would proceed by way of summons.

Edward and Mathew Raradza were freed by Harare regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.

Allegations against the duo were that on July 9, 2009, Finwood Investments received farming implements worth US$497 649 through a credit facility from ZFDC.

On June 11, 2012, Raradza and his son allegedly acting in common purpose and without the company’s resolution, reduced Finwood Investment debt to US$500 000 after it had ballooned to US$597 844 due to interest and penalties.

On June 16 of the same year, Raradza allegedly deposited the US$500 000 into ZFDC’s BancABC account

Further allegations were that on the same day, the two allegedly took US$494 423 and transferred it into Coachcard Investments’ account to clear their private company’s debt with BancABC.

Coachcard Investments is said to be owned by Raradza and his wife Julie.

The offence came to light in March 2014 after the Auditor-General’s report.

Investigations led to Raradza and Mathew’s arrest.

Raradza and his son were also freed on another charge in which they allegedly defrauded ZFDC of $10 million which was meant for farming implements from China for its members.

It was being alleged that sometime in 2005, ZFDC was tasked to source agricultural equipment from China on behalf of eligible farmers through a credit facility.

Each farmer was supposed to pay 10 percent deposit to the company.

Between 2005 and 2010, ZFDC received farming equipment on credit through China Export and Import Bank valued at $60 million.

Allegations against the pair were that after receiving the equipment, which was guaranteed by Government, they stole it from ZFDC.

After receiving the equipment, which was guaranteed by Government, they allegedly stole them from ZFDC.

Among the equipment stolen were tractors valued at $9,74 million.-statemedia

MDC Alliance co-vice-president Tendai Biti says his purported recall, together with several other MPs, at the behest of a “political nonentity” Benjamin Rukanda, who once belonged to his breakaway People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before leaving for other parties, is a political fraud.

Biti said Rukanda is being used by his political opponents in Zanu-PF and its allied opposition parties to destabilise the MDC Alliance as was the case with MDC-T, first under Thokozani Khupe and now Douglas Mwonzora, fighting them.

Rukanda wrote a letter to Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda purporting to recall Biti and other senior MDC Alliance MPs linked to PDP even though he has no political, hierarchical or legal basis to do.

“I don’t really know much about Rukanda. He was at provincial level before the party split ahead of the 2018 elections; with Lucia Matibenga and Gorden Moyo supporting Joice Mujuru and us going back to back Morgan Tsvangirai,” said Biti.

“He is not PDP secretary-general. We don’t know him. He is fake. So how can he recall MPs from other parties? In any case, this issue is still before the courts. So it’s not possible to recall anyone when you are not a member of a party and while the issue is still in the courts. So obviously, this fraud will be challenged.”

In 2015, Biti and his allies broke away from MDC-T then led by Tsvangirai, the original MDC founding leader, and formed PDP. However, towards the 2018 elections, PDP split over the issue of going back to support Tsvangirai or backing Mujuru who had been expelled from Zanu-PF in 2014.

Matibenga and Moyo – who was PDP secretary-general – supported Mujuru, while Biti and other MDC formations like the Welshman Ncube party backed Tsvangirai. Mujuru led the People’s Rainbow Coalition.

After Moyo left, PDP appointed Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya as secretary-general up to this day.

However, Rukanda, who purported to be PDP secretary-general, a position currently held by Chikwinya, this week wrote a letter to Mudenda recalling Biti who is Harare East MP, William Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Kucaca Phulu (Nkulumane), Sichelesile Mahlangu (Pumula), Regai Tsunga (Mutasa South) from parliament and Chikwinya.

Chikwinya, the real PDP secretary-general, said it was legally not possible for Rukanda to recall any PDP official from parliament as he was not a member of the party and, even then, before the split he was merely a provincial official.

“Rukanda was a provincial member for Masvingo when the PDP was still united. Ahead of the elections, the likes of Rukanda joined the PRC led by Mujuru, but we contested under the MDC Alliance. Those who joined PRC said they had fundamental differences with Tsvangirai and could not work with him, but we swallowed our pride and joined the alliance, which means legally they cannot recall us because we are not part of them and they never sponsored us to be MPs in the first place,” Chikwinya said.

“So legally it’s impossible for them to recall us, but politically we know they are being sponsored by Zanu-PF to destabilise our party. In this case, Zanu-PF looked for a willing tool and they found one in Rukanda. This is a Zanu-PF agenda, we know that.-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- A Harare man has been dragged to court after abandoning his family to live with a friend. This came out last Thursday when his wife, Ms Charmaine Chikwiso, dragged her husband Mr Brandon Chando before Harare Civil Court magistrate Mr Nyasha Miti, seeking $5 000 for the upkeep of their minor child.

Chikwiso told the court that Mr Chando deals in chemicals and is a supervisor at a company earning a lot of money, but was failing to take care of his child. She said they used to stay together with Chando, but he deserted her and the child to avoid his responsibilities as a father.

“I want $5 000 for our minor child aged one. I work in a tuck-shop earning $3 000. He is a supervisor at a certain company and he is also in the business of selling chemicals. I do not know his monthly income, but he earns a lot of money.

“We used to stay together but he ran away for fear of responsibilities because he was not taking care of us. He does not have another wife or children whom I know,” she said.

Chando offered $2 000 saying that he was not involved in any chemical business, but was a supervisor only.

“I can only give her $2 000 because I earn $6 700. I do not have any other form of income and I also take care of my mother. We do not stay together and I am not married and have no other children besides our child.”

Chando said most of his money is spent on rentals and food and can only afford $2 000. But Chikwiso said Chando has the capacity to pay the $5 000 she wants because he was living at a friend’s house where he does not pay rentals.

Magistrate Miti ordered Chando to bring his bank statement for the past three months before postponing the matter to March 25 for ruling.-statemedia

Pupils writing public examinations this year are required to attend classes daily so that they make up for the lost time as a result of Covid-19 induced schools closure last year and this year.

The other pupils can alternate to enable schools to enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) such as social distancing. Examination classes which are Grade Seven, Form Four and Six resumed classes last week while the rest of the pupils returned to school yesterday.

According to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Term One ends on June 4 with the Second Term commencing on June 28 and ending on September 10. The Third Term will start on October 4 and end on December 17.

Government has clarified that pupils not writing public examinations this year can alternate attending classes in order to limit the number of pupils per class.

According to the SOP, classes must not have more than 35 pupils. Schools will be expected to regularly conduct temperature tests on learners and sanitise hands as well as enforce mandatory wearing of masks.

In a telephone interview yesterday, the director of communications and advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro said examination classes should attend classes daily to enable them to make up for the lost time during schools closure.

“As a ministry we would like to clarify on information doing the rounds in the media and social media that two days schooling has been okayed.

“Firstly, the issue at hand is that examination classes do not alternate and they are expected to attend school every day with school authorities ensuring they meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) health protocols,” said Mr Ndoro.

He said for non-examination classes the pupils can alternate if the school has big classes to justify such a move.

Last week, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema told the National Assembly that schools must accommodate all pupils who want to learn and those that have problems of space as a result of the reduced class sizes have the option of hot sitting. He said parents and guardians facing challenges in securing Grade One and Form One places for their children should approach the ministry officials.

“Every child in Zimbabwe must go to school and each school head whether these are public or private, must make sure that every child goes to school. If there is any situation where children are being turned away for whatever reasons, the parents, guardians and everybody else have to be in touch with my officers. We are not allowing that. Every child must go to school,” said Minister Mathema.-state media

By A Correspondent- An engineering student at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has filed a $1 million lawsuit against police and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for unlawful arrest and prosecution.

Panashe Vongai Sivandani claims she was wrongly arrested on July 31 last year for allegedly inciting public violence after being found in possession of a placard inscribed “Free Hopewell Chin’ono, no to nepotism, no to corruption”.

Through her lawyer Bruce Masamvu, Sivandani filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court on March 12 citing police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe and NPA as defendants.

“On a date mentioned, plaintiff arrived at Bulawayo Central Police Station to file a report of the kidnapping of herself and her companion, one Abednigo Shakafuswa. The report is still pending under case CR105/07/20,” particulars of the claim read.

“Following the kidnapping report and recovery of the plaintiff’s car with the help of the police, which car had been taken by the kidnappers, the plaintiff was then informed to report to Khumalo Police Station.

“On arrival at Khumalo Police Station, her mobile phone was seized by the police and she was detained, unattended, in the charge office from 2pm to 8pm.”

Sivandani said her lawyers were then informed late into the night that she was being charged with inciting public violence.

She was detained overnight and taken to court on August 1 where she was placed on remand.

She said she was granted bail pending trial and had to appear in court four times before she applied for refusal of further remand which was granted after the court ruled that there was no evidence linking her to the alleged crime.

“As a result of defendants’ wrongful and malicious conduct which was politically motivated, they have together caused emotional trauma, pain and suffering to the plaintiff by preferring baseless charges, detaining and prosecuting the plaintiff,” the lawyer said.

“The plaintiff is accordingly claiming non-patrimonial damages for nervous shock, emotional trauma, pain and suffering.

“As a result of the defendant’s conduct, the plaintiff suffered damages in the sum of $1 million…”

The defendants are yet to respond to the claim.

–statemedia

The majority of schools have adopted the COVID-19 standard operating procedures such as temperature checks, sanitising, wearing of masks and social distancing.

Schools opened for examination classes last week, with non-examination classes also resuming lessons yesterday, nearly three months after escalating coronavirus cases forced premature school closures.

Some schools have resorted to hot-sitting and alternate learning days to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

In Harare, Borrowdale Primary School has halved classes, meaning half the school is in classrooms on Mondays and Tuesdays, with the remainder learning online.

The two groups then swop from Wednesday to Friday. Borrowdale Primary School Head Charles Chisekochevana told ZTN:

The term has started off very well and it is all because of the preparations that we made in terms of cleaning, provision of sanitisers and washing basins.

Overall, we are following the standard operating procedures outlined by (the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education).

Our children have now adapted and understand the (rationale) behind social-distancing and sanitisation.

In terms of social-distancing; each class is now using two classrooms so that we maintain the distance. We have infants who we have now put on staggered learning.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications and advocacy, Taungana Ndoro on Monday said examination classes are required to attend school daily as Government moves to catch up on lost time due to the closure of schools for the better part of the first term.

Ndoro added that for non-examination classes, they can alternate if only the school has a huge enrollment or they have a justifiable explanation.-statemedia

Gweru City Council’s director of housing services Shingirayi Tigere, who is being accused of selling a residential stand to mayor Josiah Makombe without government approval, was last Friday granted $20 000 bail.

Tigere (58) appeared before magistrate Edwin Marecha facing criminal abuse of office charges.

Allegations were that Tigere sold the stand to Makombe without following due process.

Marecha ordered Tigere to reside at his given residential address and not to interfere with investigations.

The complainant in the case is the State represented by acting town clerk Vakai Chikwekwe.

Allegations are that Tigere facilitated the sale of a reserved stand, which was the remainder of Lot 17 Bickford of the Umsungwe Block measuring 7 801 square metres.

The stand was sold to Makombe without approval of change of reservation by the Local Government minister, prejudicing council of $166 735.

The case was remanded to April 1.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- ZESA executive chairperson Sydney Gata yesterday urged government to revise its architecture of public enterprises as well as clip powers vested in Cabinet ministers to enable the country to successfully implement its national projects.

Gata made the call when he and other Zesa executives appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy to give oral evidence on the power utility’s operations after a 2019 forensic audit exposed rot at the parastatal.

Zesa officials admitted that the US$250 million Dema power plant deal was awarded to Sakunda Holdings by the Office of the President under unclear circumstances.

The committee heard that another dubious deal was the Gwanda solar project awarded to businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.

The PME deal for the supply of transformers to Zesa by the Indian company also came under scrutiny.

“Our nation will need to revisit the subject of ministerial directives to public enterprises. When we consider the number of cases that lead to white elephant projects that lead to failure to observe the provisions of the procurement Act, the Public Management Act, Corporate Management Act and others, it is this issue of directives,” Gata said.

“In most of the cases, what appears to have been happening was that there would be a businessman or business interest which is blocked politically for a particular project and then they bypass Zesa, they bypass a number of institutions and they make it to the minister.”

He said these directives might pass through the Cabinet to the project manager, making it difficult for those at the bottom of the pyramid to make any objections even if they knew there were discrepancies in a project.

“It eventually translates to a directive to do a particular project which may not be on the business plan of the government, and sometimes even when it is, the directive may specify a manner of its execution that is not consistent with our government,” Gata said.

The Zesa boss said it was highly unlikely for lower level managers to successfully overturn decisions around these projects, let alone write to express displeasure in the manner in which they are executed.

“I am yet to see a project manager or an accounting manager who has the courage to write back to the Auditor-General or Chief Secretary and say everybody above me was wrong. I am yet to see a project which was then stopped,” he said.

Gata said the country’s institutions should lessen the burden for lower level managers and carry out due diligence from the top.

He added that some lower level managers ended up being fired for executing such ill-considered directives.

Gata said he was aware that a number of people had been punished, demoted or even fired for failure to abide by such ministerial directives.

The 2019 forensic audit questioned the unclear circumstances under which the Dema deal was made.-newsday

POLICE in Mutoko have arrested a woman (88) who allegedly killed her 99-year-old husband by striking him with bricks after he refused to help her harvest cowpeas.

Enesia Chivhinge of Plot 35 Tamuka village in Hoyuyu is currently assisting police with investigations following the death of her husband, Saidi Daiton, who reportedly died a few days after the attack.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza yesterday confirmed the incident.

“Police in Mutoko have arrested an 88-year-old woman after she allegedly hit her 99-year-old husband with some pieces of bricks, leading to his death a few days later,” he said.

“It is saddening to note that the couple got involved in domestic violence at such an old age. People should understand the need to maintain peace with each other even in times of misunderstandings.”

It is alleged that on March 18 at around 5pm, the couple had a misunderstanding after the deceased had refused to accompany the suspect to the fields to harvest cowpeas.

In a fit of rage, the suspect hit her husband with bricks several times.

The suspect then left her husband lying on the ground as she proceeded to the fields.

It is further alleged that Chivhinge returned from the fields and found her husband still on the ground and helped him to get into their kitchen hut.

A relative, Tafadzwa Chivhinge (32), visited and was informed by the deceased that he had been assaulted by the wife with bricks.

Tafadzwa inspected the deceased’s body and discovered that he had bruises on his hands and legs. He suggested that Daiton be taken to a nearby clinic for treatment, but the deceased refused.

On March 20, Tafadzwa visited the couple again and discovered that Daiton’s condition was deteriorating.

He then took him to Nzira Clinic, where he died along the way.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the granny. Daiton’s body was taken to Mutoko Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

newsday

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has unleashed Zanu PF affiliated former council officials on 32 urban councils to conduct what it called an audit on the local authorities’ operations.

The team of Zanu PF affiliated former council officials were hired after July Moyo, the Local Government Minister had said that he was not happy with how MDC-Alliance led councils were managing cities and towns.

“I sent a team of ex-town clerks, ex-directors of works, treasurers, senior planners and human resources practitioners, but who know about local authorities.
“They started in Victoria Falls and I was telling the mayor that the team reported that they found the most uncooperating officers in that area. In a lot of cases they cooperated,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Trouble seems to be brewing in paradise for Zaka Central legislator Davison Svuure whose councillors have pinned him down demanding accountability for the 2020 Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Svuure and his councillors share a WhatsApp group in which they discuss developments in the constituency and areas of cooperation.

The gasket blew when Svuure asked for reports from the councillors who then fired back at the legislator saying he should also report to them on how the 2020 CDF funds have been used.

Each constituency received a total of $200 000 in CDF in 2020 which was revised upwards in the 2021 national budget to $2 million per constituency.

TellZim News is in possession of the leaked chats and audios from the WhatsApp group where Svuure told the councillors that they had no right to ask him about CDF as it was his money and was not obligated to explain himself to them.

“Is there anything happening in Ward 8, 9 and 13. Councillor Tererai (Ward 8) Mada (Ward 13) and Mutandavari (Ward 9) I am not hearing anything from there but we said lets share information of what is happening on the group.

“I heard you councillor Mada saying you don’t know anything about CDF, I don’t know what you want to know because the fund is not yours.

“It’s not for councillors but for the MP. The only way you can know about the CDF is only if you are in the CDF committee.

“You cannot come asking to see the CDF budget, it’s not your duty, there are parliament auditors who are responsible for that,” said Svuure.

Ward 13 councillor Manfred Mada responded saying they were not sharing information from their wards because Svuure was not doing the same.

“The challenge is we are kept in the dark on parliamentary issues and CDF so let’s communicate from top to bottom so that we know where we stand in terms of development,” said Mada.

Svuure, who doubles as the Zaka District Coordinating Committee (DCC) deputy chairperson, warned that councillors should respect him singling out Ward 8 councillor Tererai Tererai whom he said was his critic.

Svuure told TellZim News that he had discussed the matter with the councillors and told them that those who want clarification should visit his office in Jerera saying he could not discuss internal matters through the media.

“I discussed the matter with the councillors and I told them to visit the office if they wanted clarification on how the CDF was used and their silence means they understood so I cannot say anything more to the media. If there is anyone else who want to know more should come to my office,” said Svuure.-TellZim

By A Correspondent- About 60 000 vulnerable urban families hard hit by the ravaging effects of Covid-19 last received cushion allowances from government in September 2020 as Treasury has no resources to finance the social safety net.

Government, earlier this year, reviewed the payout from a measly ZW$300 to ZW$1 500 per household of five people.

In 2020, a social support cash transfer grant of ZW$600 million was announced but it had little to no effect due to the high cost of basic commodities.

In his food deficit mitigation programme and Covid-19 relief grants presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, on Monday this week, Labour minister Paul Mavima said his office last disbursed Covid-19 allowances in September 2020.

“We have not received funds for this programme in 2021. However, cash transfers for the 23 child protection supported districts continue. Allowances for cash transfers have been raised from $300 to $1 500 per month per household per five people,” he said.

Mavima said there was no Treasury authority to extend the Covid-19 allowances beyond December 2020.

Zimbabwe was plunged into a strict level four national lockdown in January 2021 as Covid-19 decimated lives, claiming three ministers, namely Sibusiso Busi Moyo (Foreign Affairs), Joel Biggie Matiza (Transport and Infrastructure Development) and Ellen Gwaradzimba (Manicaland provincial affairs minister). Agriculture minister Perrence Shiri succumbed to the coronavirus last year.

As business came to a grinding halt due to the national lockdown, 310 000 individuals drawn from the informal sector were badly affected.

The 60 000 families headed by children and the elderly largely relied on government Covid-19 allowances but the cash-strapped state has not been able to finance the programme.

There were widespread complaints over the paltry ZW$1 500 allowance which cannot feed a family of six. A consumer basket for low-income families in high-density suburbs costs around ZW$21 000, according to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe.

Comparatively, South Africa through its Social Security Agency (Sassa) disbursed R300 social relief, R440 child support grant and R500 per caregiver.

Mavima said Covid-19 cushion allowance beneficiaries were drawn from local authorities, vendors’ associations, informal sectors groups, women’s organisations and small to medium enterprises.

“All applicants were subjected to a means test and verification process by our ministry staff. Politicians and other interest groups referred potential applicants to our offices and these would also go through a means test and verification process,” he said.

“Legislators played an oversight role and we did not expect them to be involved in the direct implementation of government programmes.”

Apart from vulnerable groups who were supposed to receive cash transfers, there are about 3.5 million people who require food assistance from the government and donors such as the World Food Programme.

Mavima told Parliament that it was fundamentally the responsibility of the government to provide social protection to citizens to manage “vulnerability associated with exogenous shocks”.

Due to biting food insecurity as a result of poor agricultural seasons, the government and donors launched a food deficit mitigation strategy in 2011.

The programme is meant to avail free food assistance to people living with disabilities, chronically ill, older persons and child-headed families.

Mavima said a total of 735 455 households have been receiving free grain as part of efforts to avert food insecurity in both rural and urban communities.

“In line with the food deficit mitigation programme policy, cabinet has approved the retargeting exercise for 2021-2022 cycle.

“We will stop grain distribution end of April, which coincides with the peak of the hunger period. Distributions will only commence after the 2021 Zimvac (Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee) results are published and retargeting done. The ministry will, however, be on the lookout for distress calls even during the period of retargeting,” he said.

Last year, the government announced a ZW$18 billion economic recovery and stimulus package for formal businesses to recover from Covid-19, but there is no information on how the money was disbursed and impacted on industry.-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- Health experts yesterday warned that the current COVID-19 vaccination programme might not effectively deal with the new mutants of the coronavirus.

They said most of the vaccines currently in use were factory-made last year using a structure of the virus, before the emergence of new variants which are more resistant.

Zimbabwe is currently implementing its inoculation programme, where it is targeting to vaccinate approximately 60% of the population to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Currently being used are the Chinese-made Sinopharm and Sinovac, which were developed during the first strain of the virus.

The warning by the health experts comes at a time the South African government has halted the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after a study showed that it was not effective in dealing with the new coronavirus variant in the neighbouring country.

This was after recent data from a trial done in that country showed that AstraZeneca was not effective against mild and moderate symptoms of the more contagious South African variant, also known as 501.V2 or B.1.351.

The Zimbabwean government in February began COVID-19 vaccinations after receiving a donation of 200 000 doses from the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm).
Last week, the southern African nation took delivery of 400 000 doses, while more are expected.

Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive officer Solwayo Ngwenya said there could be devastating effects if the third wave of the coronavirus struck, especially given that the vaccines were manufactured during the first strain of the virus.

“The problem is after you have vaccinated, you were vaccinating against that variant from last year, and there is now a new variant. Can you go and order another 20 million doses?” he asked rhetorically.

“This is a terrible situation we found ourselves in. The vaccine which you are using was made using a structure of the virus which was there last year. If the virus is a new type, it can’t lock, so you are not protected, which means your all-weather person has to check what is favourable in Zimbabwe. Go back and create a new vaccine.”

Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association president Johannes Marisa concurred with Ngwenya, saying the current vaccines might not be very effective as the new variants were mutants.

“The third wave has various variants which are mutant and could be resistant to the already available vaccines because they were manufactured before the emergence of the new variants,” he said.

“Even those who do not have comorbidities will be affected. Locally, we can avoid being hard hit by the third wave if people follow the laid out World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols of social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitising.”

But Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights secretary Norman Matara said there could not be a conclusive claim that the manufactured vaccines would not be effective as there was no scientific evidence yet to prove that.

“The vaccines we are using might be very effective to the third wave variants. It all depends on the mutation on the new variants to judge the effectiveness of the vaccine after scientific studies, which include trial of the vaccine on COVID-19-related fevers,” he said.

“There is a need for such scientific researches to conclude whether or not the available vaccines are effective.”

Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said the public should be confident of the efficacy of the WHO-approved vaccines as there was a possibility that new variants would continue emerging.

“COVID-19 is not going away any time soon. There are going to be as many COVID-19 waves in future with new variants and scientists cannot manufacture vaccines for each new variant each day. Therefore, what is needed is trust of the certified vaccines by WHO, which have been tested and proved to be effective for the viruses,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from the Health ministry over the issue were fruitless as Health deputy minister John Mangwiro told NewsDay that he was very busy and could not take questions.

Chief co-ordinator of the national response to COVID-19, Agnes Mahomva, was not responding to calls.

Meanwhile, Ngwenya added that the decision to open schools in the middle of a pandemic could be disastrous.

“Why do you want to sacrifice children’s’ lives yet they can learn later? If Ngwenya lost four years of education, but here I am, they are now calling me a professor. Let’s not sacrifice our lives for something which we can wait for,” he said.

“So, as a hawk, I am against opening of schools in the middle of a pandemic. Let’s not sensationalise this thing as if we have found a cure, we have not found a cure. We are actually facing a better threat. As I said, the vaccines will be made redundant. The vaccine is against the spike, when the spike changes, the vaccine is useless.”

Ngwenya said a third wave would be more fatal.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has announced the resumption of some electoral activities following the relaxation of the level 4 COVID-19 lockdown by President Emmerson Mnangagwa early this month.

In a statement this Tuesday, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana said the electoral boy has lifted the suspension of voter registration and some field work it announced in January with effect from 1 April 2021.

However, the holding by-elections remain suspended due to the danger still posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Silaigwana said. Below is the statement in full:

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) would like to announce that following the relaxation of lockdown measures of Statutory Instrument 10 of 2021 on 01 March 2021, the Commission will lift the suspension of voter registration and some field work it announced on 08 January 2021. The resumption of those suspended activities will come into effect on 01 April 2021.

However, in view of the danger still posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to uphold some health provisions of Statutory Instrument 10 of 2021 which are still in force, the conduct of by-elections remains suspended. This position will be reviewed in due course and stakeholders will be advised accordingly.

The Commission is advising all citizens who qualify to register as voters and those wishing to transfer their registrations to visit voter registration centres at ZEC provincial and district centres.

Everyone involved in those electoral activities should strictly observe the Ministry of Health Covid-19 health measures and the Commission’s Covid-19 Policy on Electoral Activities.-statemedia