Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said God Almighty will deliver the nation from political oppression.

Citing the biblical illustration of Gideon who is chosen by God to lead the battle against the Midianites, President Chamisa urged the nation to depend on the Lord for total deliverance from oppression.

“IT’S NOT BY OWN POWER….

Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are too many people with you for Me to hand over Midian to them, otherwise Israel will boast [about themselves] against Me, saying, ‘My own power has rescued me.’
Judges 7:2 Blessed Sabbath. #Godisinit,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

“You see, the battles are spiritual- so we have to depend on the Lord for victory,” one church leader said.

I just reviewed a headline & simply noted that @DMwonzora's received idea of a responsible/loyal opposition, is one that doesn't do anti-ED chants. He's said to be not just an "opposition figure" but the "leader of the opposition". If he's not opposed to ED, who is he opposed to?

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) March 20, 2021

The Air Force of Zimbabwe has announced that it is recruiting suitably qualified candidates who are Zimbabwean citizens and physically fit to join the Force in various fields.

Trainee pilots, Trainee Aircraft Technicians, General Fitters, and Spray painters are some of the posts advertised. The advert reads in part:

HOW ABOUT A CHALLENGING AND REWARDING CAREER IN THE SERVICE OF YOUR COUNTRY?

The Air Force of Zimbabwe is looking for suitably qualified persons who are Zimbabwean citizens and physically fit to join the Force in the following trades:

• Trainee Pilots 

Aged between 18-22 years. 5 ‘0’ levels at grade C or better including English and Mathematics. Minimum 2 ‘A’ level passes in Mathematics and Physics, and any other Science subject. Must be single.

• Trainee Aircraft Technicians 

Aged between 18-22 years. 5 ‘0’ Levels at grade C or better including Mathematics, English Language and a Science subject. Advanced Level will be an added advantage.

• General Fitters 

Aged 30 years and below. National Certificate or Diploma or HND in Machine Shop Engineering. Class One Journeyman. Working experience is an added advantage.

• Spray Painters 

Aged 30 years and below. Journey person Class One. Working experience is an added advantage.

• Mechanical Transport Fitters

Aged 30 years and below. National Certificate or Diploma in one of the following: 1. Motor Mechanics 2. Diesel Plant Fitter 3. Auto-Electrician 4. Panel Beater Class One Journeyman. Working experience is an added advantage.

• Welders 

Aged 30 years and below National Certificate in Fabrication or Welding Class One Journeyman Working experience is an added advantage.

• Carpenters 

Aged 30 years and below. Class 1 Journeyman. Working experience is an added advantage.

More: AIR FORCE recruitment notice_

A Victoria Falls man who threatened to stab his wife with a kitchen knife forcing her to seek refuge at a police base on International Women’s Day has been sentenced to nine months in jail.

Chisola Jude Khumalo (35) of 4516 in Chinotimba picked up a kitchen knife which he sharpened on the wall before charging at his wife Zanele Ndlovu, aged 39, while threatening to stab her.

The cause of the fight was not stated in court.

Ndlovu said she had to gather all strength and ran for her dear life when her husband charged at her carrying a knife while threatening to stab her.

She said the sight of her husband sharpening the kitchen knife on the wall scared her to the bone and she ran to the police to file a report.

“I was at home with the accused who is my husband when he came out of the house carrying a knife saying he wanted to stab me with it. He sharpened the knife on the wall and came closer to me saying he was now coming to stab me. It seemed he wanted to throw the knife at me and that’s when I escaped and ran to the police,” said Ndlovu.

Khumalo pleaded guilty to threats of violence when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa.

The magistrate sentenced him to nine months in prison before suspending three months on condition that he does not commit a crime involving violence within the next five years.

The remaining six months were suspended on condition that Khumalo completes 210 hours of community service at Baobab Primary School in the resort town, thereby saving him jail time.

Prosecuting, Asher Chindedza told how Ndlovu ended up at Ezengeni, the common name for police post in Chinotimba.

“On the 8th of March 2021 at 1pm, the accused threatened to stab the complainant with a kitchen knife.

The accused went on to sharpen the knife on the wall and then he charged towards the complainant who managed to escape and reported the matter to the police,” said Chindedza.

March 8 is International Women’s Day, a day to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women globally. It is also a day that brings into focus women’s rights, gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women.

newsday

A Bulawayo man was stabbed to near death by his neighbour, who was accusing him of treating himself as a better person in their suburb.

Nqobile Ngulube (36) from Makokoba suburb, cheated death after he was stabbed twice on the upper left arm by Clifford Ncube (35) from the same suburb.

Ncube, however, ended up at court where he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Mjanja charged with assault as defined in section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9:23.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to 21 March 2021.

Allegations against Ncube are that on 20 February 2021 and along 2nd street in Makokoba suburb, Ncube approached the complainant and started accusing him of treating himself as a better person than other people in the suburb.

A misunderstanding reportedly arose and at the height of the altercation Ncube is alleged to have taken a knife from his back pocket and stabbed Ngulube twice on the upper left arm.

As a result of the frenzied knife attack, Ngulube reportedly sustained a deep cut on the upper left arm and was rushed to hospital for treatment.

The matter was reported to the police leading to Ncube’s arrest.-statemedia

This afternoon President @edmnangagwa donated a bus to Zvishavane Vocational Training Centre under the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation. The President visited the centre last year and promised to look into their transport problem. pic.twitter.com/3oXQKa3gY2

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 20, 2021

There was drama in Lupane’s Nono Village when a 15-year-old girl packed her belongings and left home after her uncle banned her from drinking beer.

Her uncle found her in the company of friends drinking beer at his homestead and spilled the beer, telling his niece that she should leave if she continued with her behaviour.

“This angered the teenager who confronted her uncle and went on to shower him with insults and then immediately left the homestead,” said a source.

She sought refuge at a friend’s house in a bid to show her uncle that she would not bow down to being refused beer.

Speaking to B-Metro, Sithembinkosi Kunene, who is the area’s councillor confirmed the incident.

“What the girl did was improper because at her age she shouldn’t be drinking and let alone sulking over beer.

“Alcohol is a very powerful, addictive drug that is damaging if taken in high doses.

“Many adults drink moderately and safely but for teenagers, alcohol can be very harmful and it’s illegal to take it at her age.

“I’ve dealt with so many cases of teenagers who abuse alcohol but it is quite difficult to convince most of them that drinking at such a young age carries great risk,” said Kunene.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Masvingo ma has approached his in-laws demanding back his lobola revealing that his wife assaults him accusing him of being weak and failing to impregnate her.

The man from Chademana Village in Zaka area, Masvingo province sued his in-laws demanding back his lobola claiming his wife was savagely beating him up over his inability to impregnate her.

Reports gathered by B-Metro are that Jethro Mundanga had been constantly assaulted by his wife Kudzai Mabhiza to an extent that he moved out of their matrimonial home to stay with his relatives.

The two, Mundanga and Mabhiza had been customarily married for 10 years and their marriage had not been blessed with a child, leading the latter to suspect that it was her husband who had a problem since she had a child from her previous marriage.

It was also gathered that the relatives tried to intervene in the matter to no avail.

The situation became worse when Mabhiza started bashing her husband each time they picked up a quarrel.

According to a source, Mundanga, who apparently felt his wife had lowered his dignity and could no longer live with her, approached Chief Ndanga’s traditional court where he narrated his sad love story while demanding that his lobola should be returned.

“He approached Chief Ndanga’s traditional court demanding that his in-laws should pay back his money and two beasts because his wife had turned him into a laughing stock by constantly assaulting him in front of neighbours and relatives while accusing him of being weak because he was unable to give her children.

“She was always shouting obscenities at him, something that makes Mundanga feel not good enough for her. At one time she even forcibly removed his pair of trousers after he came home drunk and in the process she was shouting at him saying he was wasting his energy on beer,” the source said.

Added the source: “That was actually very sad such that Mundanga moved out of the house to stay with a relative and later approached Chief Ndanga’s traditional court demanding that his in-laws should refund him his lobola since their daughter was always deriding him saying he was not man enough.”

Chief Ndanga could neither confirm nor deny the incident.

“There is nothing I can say at the moment and I will be at liberty to comment on the matter once I preside over it.

“This is because at the moment there are a lot of cases which accrued because of Covid-19 regulations which were prohibiting people from gathering and moving from one place to another,” said Chief Ndanga.-statemedia

Two pupils from How Mine Secondary School have been arrested after they allegedly raped a seven-year-old minor at a community hall.

A family member, who spoke to B-Metro on condition of anonymity, said the two suspects were aged 14 and 15 years old.

The family source said the 15-year-old teenager masterminded the rape ordeal by giving the grade two pupil sweets and after that inviting the minor to a community hall to play.

When they got there he played with the unsuspecting child and after some minutes they were joined by his 14-year-old friend, the source said.

A source close to investigations said one of the rape suspects undressed the minor and the two then took turns to rape her.

After the act the 15-year-old gave the minor more sweets so as to buy her silence, said the source.

The source said after the ghastly act, the minor bled and walked with difficulty. Her mother got suspicious when she saw her walking in that state and asked what happened to her, the source said.

She revealed to her mother that the two boys took her to a community hall to play and later raped her and gave her sweets so that she would not tell anyone.

The mother took the child to How Mine clinic, where she was referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), where the minor was examined and it was confirmed that the child was raped.

She reported the rape incident at How Mine police base leading to the arrest of the two suspects.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident: “ We would like to urge parents and guardians to always monitor their children and warn them not to agree to play at a secluded place. And they have to report to their parents any person who acts suspiciously to them.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A woman from Iminyela suburb stabbed her husband twice with a kitchen knife after he asked why she used $30 meant to buy vegetables to buy a candle.

When Thabisani Ndlovu (28), who is a security guard, came home after 7.30 pm last week on Friday, his wife Tholakele Nyathi asked for money to buy vegetables.

According to Ndlovu he told her to take the $30 he gave her to buy vegetables, but Tholakele told him that she bought a candle. After that an argument broke out.

“While I was questioning her why she bought a candle instead of buying vegetables she got angry and started to accuse me of ill- treating her. An argument ensued. She then ran to the kitchen and fetched a kitchen knife which she used to stab me once on the left armpit and once on the waist. I fell and bled,” he said.

His neighbour Mqondisi Sibanda had to phone Ndlovu’s brother who quickly came.

“His brother Mgcini Ndlovu swiftly came and bandaged him. After that he phoned an ambulance which ferried him to Mpilo Central Hospital. He was admitted to Ward A2 and has since been discharged as his condition is improving,” said Sibanda.

Ndlovu said despite what his wife did to him, he forgave her.

“I would have to forgive her for the sake of our children. I have three children with her aged one year, four years and the other one is eight years old. I would take that as a mistake because naturally she is ‘cheeky’ and she easily gets angry,” said Ndlovu.

Tholakele has been arrested and is expected to appear in court soon.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident: I would like to urge community members to desist from fighting over trivial matters and learn to live in harmony with each other.”

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF has moved to replace legislators who died recently due to different ailments, including the COVID-19 pandemic, with newly-appointed Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Fredrick Shava replacing the late Sibusiso Busi Moyo as Midlands senator.

Moyo succumbed to COVID-19 in January.

According to General Notice 400 of 2021 published in the Government Gazette yesterday, Zimbabwe Election Commission (Zec) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba announced that the ruling party had also nominated Dorothy Mabika to replace the late Chipinge senator and Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba, who also succumbed to the respiratory disease in January.

Former Beitbridge West legislator Metrine Mudau bounced back to replace Matabeleland South province proportional representative MP Lisa Singo, who collapsed and died last month.

“The public is hereby notified in terms of section 39(7)(a) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) that Fredrick Makamure Shava a registered voter in ward 2, Gweru municipality, of Plot 4 Umsungwe Road , Harben Park, Gweru who was nominated by the Zimbabwe African National Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party to fill the vacancy in the Senate that occurred following the death of Hon Sibusiso Busi Moyo has been appointed as Senator with effect from the publication of this notice,” a notice by Chigumba reads.

Similar notices were also issued regarding the appointments of Mabika and Mudau.

However, the major highlight of the replacement was the nomination of Shava, who comes from the same rural backyard as President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to replace Moyo, the face of the 2017 military coup which brought a systemic political transformation to the country.

Shava was sworn in on Wednesday as Midlands senator and took oath before Senate deputy president Mike Nyambuya.

He was recently appointed minister by Mnangagwa to replace the late Moyo, but had not formally assumed his new role as his appointment had to be regularised first in terms of the Constitution.

However, after a 14-day period given by Zec lapsed following the gazetting of his nomination as Zanu-PF senator for Midlands with no objections, he was then duly sworn-in as a senator.-newsday

By A Correspondent- The late Vice-President and iconic statesman Joshua Nkomo’s son, Sibangilizwe, has been nominated as one of the candidates to contest for the opposition Zapu presidency.

The party also wants the vice-presidency to be opened up for contestation, departing from its tradition whereby a president would appoint his/her deputy. The Zapu congress is set for April 30.

Sources said Sibangilizwe’s name was forwarded to the party’s leadership by his Kezi branch in Matabeleland South province.

“His name has been submitted by his district. They want him to lead the party and if the nomination is accepted, he will be one of the contestants for the presidency,” a Zapu official said.

The developments came after the party’s national people’s council sat on March 11, where it proposed that the people’s congress dates be shifted from April 15 to 30.

Party sources told Southern Eye that there were calls for the vice-president’s position to be contested despite the fact that the post has always been by appointment.

“There has been a norm that the VP post is by appointment and usually, it is given to members from Mashonaland provinces. But we feel that this is undemocratic, people should chose their leaders and there must be a change of approach on this because the way it has been all along done was tribal and discriminatory, so we lobby that this time, it must be contested for the first time,” said a party member who preferred not to be named.

Zipra Veterans Trust spokesperson Baster Magwizi is tipped for the vice-presidency, although other party members prefer the party’s spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa.

However, Zapu director of marketing and communications Patrick Ndlovu yesterday said the VP post would be filled through appointment, adding that positions that were up for grabs were the presidency, secretary-general and chairperson only.

“The VP post is by appointment. That is a policy position. Any change to that requires a constitutional amendment. So far no amendments to that effect have been proposed,” Ndlo-vu said.

“So there is no contest for VP.”

Ndlovu said the candidates were currently playing their cards close to their chests and names of the contestants would be unveiled as and when candidates openly declare their candidature.

“On the SG [secretary-general] position, I believe the eventual successful presidential candidate will determine the direction of its contest,” Ndlovu said.

“There are certain fundamentals that have been set by contesting political thoughts in this elective congress. In the presidential race so far Matthew Bhubesi Sibanda, Bernard Magugu and Strike Mkandla have come out in the open to contest. Sibangilizwe Nkomo’s name has come up from his branch in Kezi. Another dark horse is Mqondobanzi Magonya from the United Kingdom.”

Efforts to contact Nkomo were fruitless as he was not reachable on his mobile phone.

On March 11, the party’s NPC deliberated on the recommendations from the presidency and the national executive committee to extend and shift the dates of both provincial conferences and the people’s congress.

This was necessitated by delays in completing the provincial conferences owing to COVID-19 lockdowns and safety regulations that were imposed by the government. It was recommended that a shift in dates would allow adequate time for the completion of the processes. Maphosa said after deliberations, the NPC resolved that the provincial conferences deadline be moved to March 31.

“The people’s congress dates were shifted from April 15 to April 30, the venue remains unchanged at Bulawayo Amphitheatre and for the congress preparations as undertaken by the congress planning committee will continue, but adapting to the slight changes,” Maphosa said.-Newsday

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says former opposition allies who have ditched the party to join the rival Zanu-PF were pursuing personal interests at the expense of the masses.

The past few weeks have seen opposition officials Lillian Timveous, Blessing Chebundo, Tracy Mutinhiri, Obert Gutu and James Makore make a beeline for Zanu-PF ranks.

Last year, former Masvingo legislator Tongai Matutu also jumped ship to be part of Zanu-PF.

Following their defections, the once ardent drivers of the MDC cause have all been paraded ostentatiously by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House.

Speaking exclusively to NewZimbabwe.com Friday, Chamisa said his erstwhile colleagues were driven by selfish interests.

“The challenge with some politicians is that they choose to pursue individual interests over the people’s cause.

“Such is not good leadership. Public leadership is about service and sacrifice, being upright and principled,” he said.

The MDC politicians who have jumped ship have all condemned the main opposition for failing to reinvigorate itself and mount a formidable challenge for state authority.

Mutinhiri, once a Zanu-PF loyalist before her surprise move to MDC, said her departure was inspired by the realisation the main opposition was a “white man’s party”.

Gutu said she would want to be party to the Zanu-PF government’s Vision 2030 dream while Makore said he felt no longer wanted in MDC because of his advanced age.

Meanwhile, in his comments, Chamisa said the departure of the senior politicians who have anchored the opposition ranks for years granted the opportunity for younger leaders to emerge within his party.

“When an old dry leaf falls off, a new fresh shoot is there to replace it. There can never be any renewal without exfoliation or peeling off of the tired and the lifeless.

“This is a perfect opportunity to restart, reboot,” he said.-newsday

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a ZESA subsidiary, has advised that defaulting customers will with effect from 23 March be disconnected from power.

We present below the ZETDC notice.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would like to advise its valued customers in Harare Region that the power utility will be implementing its credit control measures and will disconnect electricity to defaulting customers with effect from Tuesday 23 March 2021. Clients are therefor3 advised to settle their bills to avoid being disconnected. Clients can make use of the following platforms to pay their bills:-

1. Visit ZETDC Wynne Street banking hall to make payment
2. Log on to our self service portal https://selfservice.zetdc.co.zw/ and pay your bills online using Ecocash
3. Pay online to your district’s bank account

By A Correspondent- Vice president and Health and Child Care minister Constantino Chiwenga has said government will soon rope in soldiers to speed up the second phase of the COVID-19 mass vaccination programme.

Government is targeting to vaccinate 60% of the country’s population before the end of the year as it seeks to expand the inoculation pro-gramme beyond frontline workers during the second phase.

So far, there has been a very low uptake of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine, with frontline workers, particularly nurses, questioning the efficacy of the vaccine.

Addressing journalists soon after receiving his second jab in Harare on Thursday, Chiwenga said government was engaging army personnel together with retired health workers to speed up the vaccination and hedge the population against the looming third wave of the virus.

The former Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces was the first Zimbabwean to be inoculated during the first phase which started last month.

“We are bringing in army medical personnel, local authorities and retired health workers to speed up vaccination across the country to achieve herd immunity,” Chiwenga said.

“This is a massive rollout and we have not had such in years, hence it is important that we train health workers, educate the nation about the importance of vaccination.” He urged sceptical citizens to get vaccinated so that the country achieves its targeted 60% herd immunity and returns to normalcy.

“Today (Thursday), my vaccination was just a matter of seconds and I was done. This improved speed is commendable and this will help us reach our targets. We have to do it faster and have the manpower to do it,” he said.

Zimbabwe has so far recorded 36 611 confirmed cases of COV-ID-19, with 34 226 recoveries and 1 509 deaths.

The southern African nation launched its vaccination programme last month after receiving a donation of 200 00 doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China.

On Tuesday, another donation of 200 00 doses of the vaccine arrived in the country together with an additional 200 000 doses of another Chinese-made Sinovac drug, procured by government to target education, religious sectors and people with underlying conditions. The rest of the population will be catered for in the third phase.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme is now in the second phase, with those who received their first jabs last month in the process of receiving their second one, while teachers have also started being vaccinated. However, the public has been sceptical about being vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine because of lack of information on its efficacy and the accompanying side effects.

On February 16, Chiwenga told Parliament that government planned to vaccinate about 54 000 health workers and an unspecified number of customs, immigration and ex-tension workers in the initial stage of the programme within 10 days, but only 40 000 have been vaccinated to date. However, Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Gu Shaochun, has de-fended the Sinopharm vaccine produced by the Asian giant, saying it is safe amid indications that the rollout is floundering due to public scepticism.-Newsday

 By A Correspondent- A 51 year old Guruve imbiber was found dead near a stream after taking too much of brand beer.

Oliver Kanda of Mumbamuchena village, Chief Chipuriro in Guruve was found dead with a bottle of scents beer on Friday after he went missing for two days.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.

“I can confirm a sudden death case in Guruve where Kanda was found dead after he had gone to fetch firewood but instead chose to go for a beer binge with his friend which subsequently took his life,” Mundembe said.

Allegations are that the now deceased Kanda left his homestead intending to fetch firewood.

He met his friend Beaulerland Gwaze who had brand beer the two started drinking and got highly intoxicated.

Gwaze fell asleep while Kanda tried to go home and fell near a stream where he was found dead two days later after a search.

Police warned people not to drink excessively and also avoid illicit beer spirits.

By A Correspondent- A Zaka man has divorced his wife for being beaten by his partner because of failing to impregnate her.

Jethro Mundanga from Chademana Village in Zaka area, Masvingo province sued his in-laws demanding back his lobola claiming his wife was savagely beating him up over his inability to impregnate her.

Reports gathered by the state media are that Jethro had been constantly assaulted by his wife Kudzai Mabhiza to an extent that he moved out of their matrimonial home to stay with his relatives.

The two, Mundanga and Mabhiza had been customarily married for 10 years and their marriage had not been blessed with a child, leading the latter to suspect that it was her husband who had a problem since she had a child from her previous marriage.

It was also gathered that the relatives tried to intervene in the matter to no avail.
The situation became worse when Mabhiza started bashing her husband each time they picked up a quarrel.
According to a source, Mundanga, who apparently felt his wife had lowered his dignity and could no longer live with her, approached Chief Ndanga’s traditional court where he narrated his sad love story while demanding that his lobola should be returned.

By A Correspondent-There are things or habits which we usually take for granted, but they say a lot about us. Have you ever analysed the way you sleep with your partner or you only get to read into it after a fight as you each sleep at the edge of the bed.

Your everyday pattern of sleep says a lot about your relationship. These are some of the things taken for granted in relationships, but they mean and say a lot.

If you sleep in a tangle position also known as hug position, it shows you cannot resist each other. Of course this position is common among newlyweds. They are in each other’s arms the whole night. This is the most intimate and close-knit position that suggests the couple has a passionate and vigorous sexual relationship.

Apart from newlyweds, couples often tend to sleep in this position if they are engrossed in an intensely erotic conversation or after they have made love. If you like sleeping in this position, keep it up! Then there is the spooning position where the man or woman is spooning her partner. For some, they even do the spooning with a slight distance between them. If the man is the one spooning his woman, it shows that he is dominant and likes to take charge of everything.

This is a very intimate position and quite sexual for a very apparent reason as his manhood touches your butt or rests on your thighs. This position speaks tons about the intimacy between the two of you. When it’s the woman spooning her man, it shows she is protective and slightly possessive. Still in the same position, with little distance between the two of you, it means that there is trust and reliability on each other, but of course not as much intimacy as there is in a touchy, clingy, spooning position.

Cradle position is all about caring and protecting. It is the woman who typically rests her head on the man’s chest while he is resting on his back. This position says that the woman is seeking a protector who understands her emotional needs.

Also, the man is receptive to her needs and gives her the support she is asking for. Some couples tend to sleep in a variant of this position called the “star gazing” position where the two of them face the ceiling, but the woman rests her head on the man’s shoulder. While this position is as intimate as cradling, it calls for a little more communication and understanding between the couple.

There are some who need their space when sleeping and therefore keep some distance between each other and then have their legs intertwined. Leg hugging position says that you matter to each other, but are not very expressive or open about this fact, at least while you are awake.

This also means that you want each other’s attention, but are not ready to openly acknowledge it. In spite of all this, there’s a sense of balance and faith in the relationship, which you subtly express by touching each other’s legs. This posture is also common to couples who don’t like too much physical contact yet have a strong emotional connection.

Moving down the intimacy meter, the freedom finder position scores very less. Couples who have just had a battle or are disagreeing about some issue at this point of their lives sleep in this position. Sleeping in this posture also means that the spouses need some space and freedom without intrusions even from their significant others. Unlike the huggers, the freedom finders are individual entities and can do without each other. They don’t emotionally depend on each other and express a clear need for liberty.

The worst being the distanced together position. It is the way couples who have nothing in common sleep. They are on different wavelengths and have opposite or different perspectives on things. Also, if one tends to sleep with their head higher than the other, then the one on the top is more dominating and boisterous while the other is certainly subdued and chooses to disagree more humbly.

Experts say that if you and your partner sleep on the same level, there’s unanimity in the thought process and even more so if your heads touch each other’s while asleep. People who sleep together, but with some distance between them and also a difference in the level of their heads score probably the least on the intimacy scale. Which sleeping position best describes your relationship?

Sleeping next to someone has tremendous benefits for your health, starting from reducing stress to boosting immune system. But psychologists are also sure that sleeping positions can reveal a lot about the relationship between the partners and point out the unspoken problems.

-Chronicle

By James Gwati- Police has arrested two boys aged 11 and 10, from Epworth on allegations of stealing telephone line cables.

The boys caught cutting off TelOne dropping wire in Hatfield and police managed to recover 5kgs of copper and other wires from their satchel.
According to the state media, preliminary investigations show that the boys have been committing the offence at different places only to be apprehended this week.

The third boy, suspected to be the mastermind, managed to escape when the pair was arrested along Kilwining Road in Hatfield.

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance yesterday demanded that government should lift the ban on by-elections, which it imposed citing COVID-19 prevention measures.

The opposition party said authorities should allow the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to hold by-elections after it lost over 50% of its parliamentary seats to recalls.

Parliament on Wednesday announced the recall of six MDC Alliance MPs, including Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Tendai Biti (Mt Pleasant), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Regai Tsunga (Mutasa South), Kucaca Phulu (Nkulumane) and Sichelesile Mahlangu (Pumula) at the behest of the People’s Democratic Party.

This has resulted in 48 recalls since last year. While 15 seats for proportional representation MPs have been filled, several other seats need to be filled through by-elections.

The MDC Alliance garnered 88 seats in the National Assembly in the 2018 elections and recalls have weakened the opposition party.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere yesterday said Zec should expedite the holding of by-elections.

“Zec has a constitutional obligation to hold elections and we have continuously stated that these should be held without delay. MPs have been selected by the people and the continued disregard for this social contract constitutes the greatest betrayal of the people. It undermines the democratic process and further weakens an already frail electoral system. Zimbabweans must not be shaken. We know worse is coming,” she said.

“We see clear connivance with Zanu PF surrogates to usurp the will of the people. The recall of Biti fully exposes the malicious intent of these recalls as he has been targeted for his role in outing corruption through PAC.

“The brazen capture of Parliament is a dangerous low by the regime. They have reduced Parliament to a circus, tainted it with Mnangagwa’s legitimacy crisis and deprived the people of legitimate representation.”

-State Media

The ZANU PF party has described the late President of Tanzania as a man who worked tirelessly for the emancipation of Africans.

In a statement, the Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said Zimbabwe mourns together with the people of Tanzania.

“The people’s Party ZANU PF has learnt with shock and sadness of the untimely passing on of His Excellency John Pombe Magufuli, the President of the Peoples Republic of Tanzania.

“A great statesman and loyal son of Africa, President Magufuli fits perfectly well in our Africa’s Hall of Fame, who loved our people and worked tirelessly towards the emancipation of Africans,” said Ambassador Moyo.

He described the late Tanzanian leader as a great friend of Zimbabwe and a Pan-Africanist.

“Indeed, President Magufuli won the affection of the people of Zimbabwe when he fearlessly and consistently called tor the removal of illegal sanctions on our people. It is not by mistake that the 25 October Anti-sanctions was adopted in Dar es Salaam at the SADC summit in 2019,” he added.

“A somber mood has engulfed Africa as we grieve the passing on of a dear friend. ZANU PF led by President and the First Secretary of the Party H.E Cde ED Mnangagwa sends its fraternal condolences to our Cdes and friends of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the fraternal people of Tanzania. We are with them and mourn together during this very difficult moment.”

-State Media

A married church bishop is under fire for impregnating one of his congregants and allegedly trying to terminate the pregnancy on four different occasions.

Bishop Nathan Tafadzwa Gwenyaya of Rock Foundation Tabernacle also stands accused of neglecting his 10 months old son.

The married father of three who stays in Penhalonga with his family found Rock Foundation Tabernacle in 2018.

Bishop Gwenyaya and his child’s mother, Ms Lince Siiwa (25)’s case had since spilled into court, with the latter demanding $25 000 monthly maintenance from the man of cloth.

However, the parties on Wednesday had an out of court settlement of $11 000 monthly maintenance.

Mrs Netsai Nyamwanza represented Ms Siiwa while Mr Stephen Chikamhi represented Bishop Gwenyaya.

Mutare magistrate, Mr Lazarus Musendo, endorsed the $11 000 maintenance when the parties later appeared before him.

In an unsolicited interview with The Manica Post, Ms Siiwa, said upon realising that he had impregnated her, Bishop Gwenyaya engaged and paid some people to facilitate the termination of her pregnancy on four different occasions.

Ms Siiwa said she almost died during one of the abortion attempts.

Upon realising that his mission to abort the pregnancy had failed, Bishop Gwenyaya is alleged to have ordered Ms Siiwa to lie to her family that she had been raped by unknown assailants.

Ms Siiwa followed the Bishop’s script and lied to her mother and sisters.

A police report was made but no one was arrested as there were no suspects.

Narrating how she became intimate with Bishop Gwenyaya, Ms Siiwa said the man of cloth sexually abused her.

“He came to collect me from our place on the pretext that we would visit other congregants. He drove me to Vumba, where he forcibly kissed and hugged me. He forced himself on me and a few weeks later I realised that I was pregnant.

“He engaged his colleague to abort the pregnancy but it failed. After a week, he sent the guy again and I almost died. It happened on four different occasions.

‘‘On the last attempt, the hired guy brought another person whom he said was an expert, but nothing worked. I had to tell my two elder sisters about my ordeal,” said Ms Siiwa.

She said when she delivered her baby, her elder sisters forced Bishop Gwenyaya to meet the hospital bills.

However, Bishop Gwenyaya allegedly stopped communicating with Ms Siiwa and her family.

“He also blocked my mother’s contacts when she told him that they were taking the issue to the police. This was after she had heard that Bishop Gwenyaya had also tried to molest my younger sister,” said Ms Siiwa.

One of Ms Siiwa’s sisters – Mrs Lynn Magume – is married to Pastor Jeremiah Magume, who was also a member of Bishop Gwenyaya’s church.- Manica Post

The late Vice-President and iconic statesman Joshua Nkomo’s son, Sibangilizwe, has been nominated as one of the candidates to contest for the opposition Zapu presidency.

The party also wants the vice-presidency to be opened up for contestation, departing from its tradition whereby a president would appoint his/her deputy.

The Zapu congress is set for April 30.

Sources said Sibangilizwe’s name was forwarded to the party’s leadership by his Kezi branch in Matabeleland South province.

“His name has been submitted by his district. They want him to lead the party and if the nomination is accepted, he will be one of the contestants for the presidency,” a Zapu official said.

The developments came after the party’s national people’s council sat on March 11, where it proposed that the people’s congress dates be shifted from April 15 to 30.

Party sources told Southern Eye that there were calls for the vice-president’s position to be contested despite the fact that the post has always been by appointment.

“There has been a norm that the VP post is by appointment and usually, it is given to members from Mashonaland provinces. But we feel that this is undemocratic, people should chose their leaders and there must be a change of approach on this because the way it has been all along done was tribal and discriminatory, so we lobby that this time, it must be contested for the first time,” said a party member who preferred not to be named.

Zipra Veterans Trust spokesperson Baster Magwizi is tipped for the vice-presidency, although other party members prefer the party’s spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa.

However, Zapu director of marketing and communications Patrick Ndlovu yesterday said the VP post would be filled through appointment, adding that positions that were up for grabs were the presidency, secretary-general and chairperson only.

“The VP post is by appointment. That is a policy position. Any change to that requires a constitutional amendment. So far no amendments to that effect have been proposed,” Ndlovu said.

“So there is no contest for VP.”

Ndlovu said the candidates were currently playing their cards close to their chests and names of the contestants would be unveiled as and when candidates openly declare their candidature.

“On the SG [secretary-general] position, I believe the eventual successful presidential candidate will determine the direction of its contest,” Ndlovu said.

“There are certain fundamentals that have been set by contesting political thoughts in this elective congress. In the presidential race so far Matthew Bhubesi Sibanda, Bernard Magugu and Strike Mkandla have come out in the open to contest. Sibangilizwe Nkomo’s name has come up from his branch in Kezi. Another dark horse is Mqondobanzi Magonya from the United Kingdom.”

Efforts to contact Nkomo were fruitless as he was not reachable on his mobile phone.

On March 11, the party’s NPC deliberated on the recommendations from the presidency and the national executive committee to extend and shift the dates of both provincial conferences and the people’s congress.

This was necessitated by delays in completing the provincial conferences owing to COVID-19 lockdowns and safety regulations that were imposed by the government.

It was recommended that a shift in dates would allow adequate time for the completion of the processes.

Maphosa said after deliberations, the NPC resolved that the provincial conferences deadline be moved to March 31.

“The people’s congress dates were shifted from April 15 to April 30, the venue remains unchanged at Bulawayo Amphitheatre and for the congress preparations as undertaken by the congress planning committee will continue, but adapting to the slight changes,” Maphosa said. Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has said God saved him from an assassination plot on March 18 2007.

Heavily armed State security agents attacked him at Robert Mugabe International airport. The government agents left him for dead.

A good Samaritan saved him from the wrath of the ruthless government agents.

See President Chamisa’s statement below:

THE GRACE FACTOR…

On this day 18 March 2007, enroute to ACP/EU parly business in Brussels I was attacked at the RGM Airport in an assassination plot.

The Assassins not arrested, fired gunshots into the air and fled movie style. They were heavily armed.

God saved me.I was helped by a yet to be identified woman who had just arrived from the UK on an AirZim flight.

This Samaritan woman saw me being attacked and screamed, calling on the assailants to stop the assault, gave me her handkerchief to help stop the bleeding. She called out for help.

A God sent angel! Wherever you are mom thank you. I’d love to meet you in person and thank you for your courage and for saving my life when all others chose to be spectators.

The road to a New Zimbabwe has not been easy but we will get there..This has been a tough and rough road.. a difficult journey.

Please understand when I say #Godisinit

MDC Alliance President

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said lack of political tolerance is a worrisome trend in politics.

President Chamisa blasted “political monsters” taking advantage of their positions of influence to persecute perceived opponents.

“It is clear that the individual who persecutes a man, his brother,
because he is not of the same opinion, is a monster.– Voltaire,”President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

He also wrote a brief statement on the death of Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli.

“With sadness, I note the passing on of H.E
@MagufuliJP
of Tanzania. My sincere condolences to the Magufuli family and the great people of Tanzania. Our prayers are with them all during this difficult time.Wishing Tanzania a democratic and peaceful transition. RIP Mzee.”

Discipline gone wrong? A Binga man was so angry when he discovered his teenage daughter was pregnant that he kicked her in the stomach leading to her death.

A court has since sentenced him to 10 years in jail.

Anderson Munkuli (47) of Lubu 4 in Chief Binga’s area went berserk when he discovered that his Form Four daughter Respect (17) was six months pregnant and wanted to get married to the person responsible for the pregnancy.

On April 24 last year, Munkuli summoned the man – who was not named in court – and he offered to marry the girl but Munkuli was opposed to the marriage, saying his daughter was still young and in school. A seething Munkuli armed himself with three spears and summoned his wife, Otilia and Respect. He ordered them to kneel before him and thrust a spear in front of each of them while he held the other, threatening to stab them.

Munkuli struck his wife three times with the handle of the spear before kicking the girl once on the stomach. Both fled in terror and sought refuge at a neighbour’s place where they stayed for 12 days as they were afraid to go home. The girl suffered abdominal pains after the assault but did not seek medical help.

She collapsed and died 12 days later on May 6. Munkuli was found not guilty of murder but guilty of a lesser charge of culpable homicide when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese who is on circuit in Hwange. He was also charged with physical abuse for the assault on his wife.

The judge implored parents and guardians to desist from using violence on children. He sentenced Munkuli to 10 years in jail but suspended two years for five years on condition of good behaviour. Prosecuting, Mrs Martha Cheda said Munkuli kicked Respect once in the stomach and punched her twice on the head on April 24, 2020.

“The accused entered a bedroom hut and came back armed with three spears. He shoved one spear near the deceased who was kneeling down and another closer to his wife and sat down on a stool holding the other which he used to hit his wife three times and the handle broke. He then kicked the deceased once on the stomach before punching her twice on the back of the head. The girl developed abdominal pains and died on May 6,” said Mrs Cheda.

Mrs Cheda said after the assault, Otilia and her daughter managed to escape and fled to a neighbour’s place. On May 6, Otilia decided to go back to her homestead leaving her daughter behind. Along the way, she discovered that the deceased was following her. The girl collapsed and died on the road.- Chronicle

By James Gwati-The late Studio 263 actress, Anne Nhira, died at a time she was planning for a white wedding with an unnamed man, her sister has revealed.

“She was my best friend, I knew everything about her, I knew her deep secrets and she knew mine as well.
“If I had a problem, I would call her anytime, even midnight, and she would respond.
“She told me in January that she wanted a wedding, and I was happy.
Said Anne’s South Africa based sister.
“I was pained, is this the wedding, ndiwo here muchato wacho munin’ina.
“Last week we were talking about gowns and I asked her if she had bought the gown which she had promised. But she said she was still raising the money.
“The day she died, I sent her a message, which she didn’t respond to, it had one tick and I thought she would respond since she normally does that late.
“I then got carried away, only to receive a message from my uncle that she had passed on. I am still to believe that she is gone.

Anne died in South Africa last week from injuries she sustained fro a robbery attack.

By James Gwati- A Macheke man, Fungai Bvunzawabaya, popularly known as Sekuru Makombe, was exposed for hiring married women, make them cheat and harvest sperms from their subjects for a fee.

Sekuru Makombe was exposed after his weird orders for a married Kadoma woman to spend three days in the house naked harvesting sperms from several men for ritual purposes wrecked a marriage of six years.

Sekuru Makombe told the state media that several people have been consulting him for ritual purposes since the commencement of the national lockdown in March last year.

A Kadoma woman exposed Sekuru Makombe saying her marriage collapsed over cheating with several men for his rituals. She also said he failed to pay her for the services.

“I am living in fear and I plead with you not to disclose my contacts because Sekuru Makombe is a witch doctor,” she said.

“My marriage collapsed when my husband discovered that I was bedding several men intending to get money quickly.

-H-Metro

By A Correspondent-Mutare City Council’s top management is reported to have gobbled more than $3 million in allowances, conference fees and fuel for a three-day strategic workshop in Masvingo.

The state media said the council had 49-members comprising of councillors, head of departments, union leaders, support staff and development partners.
The team travelled to the ancient city of Masvingo on Sunday and came back yesterday (Thursday).

The Masvingo junket comes at a time when the local authority which is struggling to provide basic services to residents has applied for borrowing powers to fund capital projects valued at $158 115 000.

In its special meeting held on January 22, the local authority resolved to apply borrowing powers to fund various projects, among them water supply augmentation ($16, 6m), water bowser ($8.3m), 3.5 tonne truck ($11.6m), fire tender ($8.3m), refuse truck ($16.6m), dump trailer ($1.2m), periodic road maintenance ($41.5m), excavator ($16.6m), new flea market ($8.3m), procurement of water bowser for roads ($8.3m) and $20.7m for the Dangamvura water project.

By A Correspondent-President Emerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF government has announced that it is in the process of deregistering at least 450 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for what it said being dormant.

The state media reports that it is Government’s position that there is no need to keep on the books organisations that are not carrying out any activities in line with the terms of their registration.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima told the state media that the Government had since published the names of the organisations in question.

The Zanu PF has a history of targeting NGOs which are critical of its governance. Previously, NGOs which are into human rights and peace promotion programming had been targeted and deregistered.

By James Gwati- Civil Society groups in South Africa under the banner of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum have voiced against gross human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

The grouping which is a network of progressive South African civil society organisations that include youth, women, labour, faith-based, human rights and student formations that are engaged in the promotion of democracy in Zimbabwe said President Emmerson Mnangagwa should observer the rule of law.

The grouping met with Zimbabwe CSO on Thursday, on the backdrop of the Covid 19 pandemic which has been used by the Zimbabwean government to stifle fundamental rights under the guise of enforcing lockdown regulations.

During the meeting, civic society organizations from Zimbabwe, including the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance briefed their regional counterparts on the prevailing situation in the country.

By A Correspondent- Swarms of several indigenous locust species have hit Chiredzi and Mwenezi damaging nearly 8 000 hectares of crops.

According to the state media, small grains have been the worst affected by these rare locusts.

Shingirai Nyamutukwa, head of the Plant Protection Research Institute said that the outbreak of three indigenous locust species locust which does not spread over long distances unlike the African migratory locust – had damaged 3 – 92 per cent of the crops, leaving scores of farmers at risk of food insecurity.

By James Gwati- Controversial preacher Uebert Angel has taken his fake degrees to the state-controlled daily newspaper for authentification.

“The Herald has in its possession a copy of Ambassador Angel’s intermediate transcript in a Professional Diploma in Education obtained from Bolton University in 2006”, reports the state-controlled daily on Friday.

The state media said “Just last year he completed a Masters of Science in Business Management (Entrepreneurship), at the University of Edinburgh Napier. His dissertation title was “Adoption and Use of Electronic Banking Services and Products in Zimbabwe”.

The state media claimed that Angel brought his “degrees” after the social media platforms were awash with stories claiming that the fake prophet had fake degrees.

Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  Good afternoon to all the esteemed Members of this august House.  

I thank you for affording me the opportunity to add my voice and debate the Presidential Speech as well as presenting my maiden speech.  

Madam Speaker Maam, please allow me to begin by notice that as a country we joined the international world to celebrate the International Women’s Day on 8^th March, 2021.  We remain dedicated to advocating for gender equality in all aspects of life in our society.

                   Madam Speaker Maam, I want to thank and pay tribute to some special women who are an inspiration and a true symbol of hope for the struggle of women issues.  

I would like to salute my own mentor, Dr. Thokozani Khupe, the leader of the opposition in Parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Hon. Paurina Mpariwa, MDC-T Chief Whip, Madam President of the Senate, Hon. Mabel Chinomona, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, South African Minister and Former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States of America and last but not least, Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation among others.

                   I want to challenge ourselves as women to introspect if we genuinely are committed to achieving the 50/50 gender equality.  If so, let us then desist from what we call the ‘pull her down (PHD) attitude or syndrome.  

Madam Speaker I stand today representing Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, the City of Kings and Queens, the second largest city of this country, with a population of 638 337 according to ZIMSTATS, 2012, while Bulawayo City Council claims the population to be about 1.2 million.  

It is my hope that the coming census will present a true picture of Bulawayo Province population density, so as to help in the planning, implementation of developmental programmes as well as in allocation of financial resources. 

                   In the SONA, His Excellency the President, E. D. Mnangagwa raised a number of issues and challenges affecting our country as well as Bulawayo Province.  These include among others, socio-economic challenges, environmental and ever changing climate conditions, sanctions as well as the recent global pandemic, COVID – 19.

                   Zimbabwe has been on national lockdown for over 12 months, with most severe period being the festive season which saw the country recording alarming increase of the COVID – 19 cases as well as deaths.  

The period of this lockdown had a serious impact of livelihoods because our economy is mostly informalised.  We hope that the recent opening of the economy will have a positive impact on the daily lives of our people and of recent note is the procurement of the Sinopharm Vaccine which has seen most frontline workers as well as Members of Parliament being vaccinated.  Also of note are the following positives on the SONA:-

·       The opening of the skies to boost both domestic and international flights which will boost our tourism industry;

·       The opening of schools and colleges which will stabilise our education system;

·       Export increase in the first half of 2020 by 4.9, that is about 1.96 billion as compared to 1.86 million in 2019;

·       The foreign receipts performing better than anticipated at 18% at the end of August, 2020, coupled by the diaspora remittances;

·       The Five Year National Development Strategy which answers the question of the dilapidated infrastructure that has been debated upon by many Hon. Members in this august House;

·       Road construction, modernisation and rehabilitation as an ongoing programme throughout all provinces as well answers need for Bulawayo roads that are in an appalling state;

·       The ongoing reforms in the health services sector which will improve accessibility and affordability of health and medicines for all Zimbabweans.

Before I go any further, there is a myth that I would want to correct.  It was being debated here about women who cook for children in school and the concern was may be the medical examination that had not been done for most of them. I would like to state that HIV/AIDS is not transmitted through cooking.  

When we ask people who cook to go for medical examinations, we are trying to avoid conditions that are caused by the bacteria and probably things like tuberculosis. They normally take swabs from the fingers in order to see that they do not have bacteria as they are going to handle food but HIV/AIDS is not transmitted through food.

Issues for Bulawayo – Madam Speaker, Bulawayo Province like many other provinces in Zimbabwe, has not been spared by socio-economic environmental challenges.  These include the issues of water, housing, economy, corruption, de-industrialisation and road infrastructure among other issues.

Water as a basic human right -Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) speaks to the issue of clean water and sanitation for all.  The City of Bulawayo has had perennial water shortages since time immemorial.  

The situation worsened in year 2020.  Three months into COVID -19 national lockdown, thus in June, 2020, the city embarked on a water rationing programme as a way of saving water, which saw residents going for long hours without water.  It is during this period that the residents experienced diarrhea outbreak that claimed 13 lives and affected 2000 residents.   

It is my hope that the Gwayi-Shangani project and pipeline will be completed as promised by His Excellency, the President E. D. Mnangagwa as it will go a long way in resolving the perennial water shortage for the City of Bulawayo and the province as a whole.  

Madam Speaker, please allow me to thank His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa for the official opening of the Epping Forest Acquifer in Nyamandlovu, following the expansion and rehabilitation programme which recently took place in the past weeks.  The project will go a long way in alleviating and addressing the prevailing water shortages for the province. 

Let me thank also the Almighty for the rains that we were graced with as a country.  By his grace, our dams which supply the City of Bulawayo have harvested a combined 65% of water that will improve the city’s water supplies.

          Economy

          Bulawayo Province, like the rest of the country, has not been spared of a plethora of challenges which include fuel shortages leading to transport problems.  The province and Bulawayo City council has been affected by such resulting to failure to collect refuse.

This has led to residents dumping refuse and garbage in undesignated areas around the city. This has been a serious cause for concern as it is a threat to our environment.  Hon. Members of Parliament have recommended to the Government to adopt a biogas strategy as a way of increasing our energy as well as addressing the environmental hazards that come with refuse. It is my hope that these recommendations will also form part of the NDS1 in dealing with electricity shortages in our country. 

The issue of de-industrialisation in Bulawayo province remains a serious cause for concern. Our industries have been turned into shells and now house most churches.  This development has stripped Bulawayo of her status of being “Intuthu Ziyathunga” because of the economic activities that were coming from Bulawayo.  It is my hope that as we thrive to implement devolution, we move to redress the economic challenges in the province. 

Corruption

Madam Speaker, corruption is a cancer which has had a negative bearing to our economy as well as revenue collection.  Let me commend the Government for empowering the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and giving them a constitutional mandate to deal with corruption activities besieging our country.  

I call upon the Central Government to increase financial support for ZACC activities to enable the Commission to decentralise their operations in the provinces and be able to discharge their mandate effectively and delinquently.  An act of Parliament must be put in place so as to protect the whistleblowers if the fight against corruption is to be taken seriously.

Shelter and Accommodation

Bulawayo is facing a housing backlog of over 100 000 units to address the issue of housing shortages.  Section 28 of our Constitution empowers our arms of Legislation and local authorities to enable every person to have access to good shelter.  SDG 11 also makes cities and human settlements inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

The Government should look at ways of providing affordable accommodation for all including the poor of our society.  These efforts have been curtailed by harsh economic conditions bedeviling our country, as well as, corrupt transactions involving land across the country.  Madam Speaker, I call upon this august House to critically look into these issues in fulfillment of SDG 11. 

Gender and Women

Our country joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day on 8^th March, 2021, yet women remain faced with serious health issues as a result of inaccessibility to health facilities and services.  May I applaud the Government for coming up with a policy of free maternal and child care.  

Whilst that is celebrated, the first port of call for antenatal booking is the local authority health care centre which still charges US$19 for the booking.  This remains a challenge to most pregnant women who cannot afford such.  It is therefore my sincere hope that the ongoing reforms in the health sector improve accessibility and affordability of the health and medicines for all Zimbabweans.

Whilst the national lockdown measures were a necessity and acceptable for the country to control the deadly pandemic, these had negative effects on the welfare of women who mostly irk a living through the informal sector.  Most households could not afford to get food for their families, pay rentals as well as other livelihood obligations. 

Let me call on the Central Government, working together with the local authorities through the devolution funds, to establish state working stations for the informal sector to allow them to carry out their businesses even during the times of crisis like this one.

According to Zimstat, the informal sector provides 94% of the country’s employment and it is the major contributor to the country’s economic activity, contributing to an estimate of at least 48% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

As the country implements NDS1, let us make it a point that women and youths are included in the manufacturing sector to drive our economy and return Zimbabwe to her rightful place, that of the bread basket of Africa.  Empowering women and closing the gender gap in the whole world is key to achieving the Vision 2030 Agenda.  Unemployment will be a thing of the past. 

Madam Speaker, may I conclude by saying that we have ourselves to correct all wrongs and leave a good legacy for generations to come.  Allow me to quote the Speaker, Hon. J.F. Mudenda.  In his opening remarks in the 2017 Budget in Bulawayo, he said, “Emancipation from mental slavery by Marcus Garvey / Bob Marley depending on when you were born.”  

God bless you all.

I thank you.

Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir.  I stand to move a motion from the report of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education.  This report is in connection with a petition that you have forwarded to the Committee.  The petition is one that is coming from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and as you would know Mr. Speaker Sir, in terms of Section 149, we are required as a Committee when you refer a petition to us to make sure that we deal with it.

          Section 149 of the Constitution on the Right to petition Parliament, provides that “every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to petition Parliament to consider any matter within its authority, including the enactment, amendment or repeal of legislation”.

          The Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education received a petition from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), on the School Feeding Programme (SPP) and the Petitioner (s) made the following prayers;

1.             The need for parliamentary oversight regarding best interests of the children as regards the SPP, to be studied and gaps in the policy identified;

2.             Engage the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) to fully implement the School Feeding Programme according to their strategic plan, constitutional provisions and regional treaties.  The Ministry to ensure that all associated costs are identified and all schools adhere to policy adopted;

3.             Enhance the nutritional value of meals through greater diversity and where possible, MoSPE must ensure there are alternative sources of food that do not require cooking ;

4.             Ensure a fully resourced feeding scheme, complete with grain and relish that come at no cost to the parents, ensuring children’s learning interest, became paramount;

5.             The SPP to be uniformly implemented in all school, urban and rural to encourage retention of learners and reduce the school dropout rate;

6.             Ensure holistic and multi stakeholder consultative approach, so as to make schools an important agricultural development nerve centre with water, food and agricultural innovations that bring food sovereignty to their community and;

7.             Ensure that MoPSE audits all school, to determine access to water and cause to be prepared a School Water Access Action Plan in coordination with the relevant Ministries.  The school Water Action Plan must provide sufficient access to water for the development of school Nutrition Gardens.  Dams and Irrigation systems are paramount if the New Competency Curriculum can facilitate the practical learning of agriculture as a subject.

OBJECTIVES

The Committee’s main goal was to respond to the petition on the basis of the demands made by the Petitioner and report back to the august House. Additional objectives were to;

Appreciate the challenges being faced in the implementation of the School Feeding Programme and to offer recommendations for policy improvements.

METHODOLOGY

          The Committee conducted field visit to purposively selected schools in Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North, in line with the dictates of the petitioners.

          The Committee had discussions with School Development Associations, parents and teachers.  In addition, the Committee also interacted with children and observed pupils as they go through the actual feeding processes.

          Although the petition made reference to SFP in Matabeleland and Metropolitan, the Committee took advantage of the field visits to schools to assess compliance and implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure for COVID 19 pandemic.

          The Committee split into two teams and the other team took the opportunity to investigate the SFP in Masvingo, Manicaland and Mashonaland.

Team A

SCHOOL	DISTRICT	PROVICNE
Sitez Primary	Gwanda	Matabeleland South
Mhali Primary	Magwegwe	Bulawayo Metropolitan
Zibungululu Primary	Tsholotsho	Matabeleland North
Fudu Primary	Nkayi	Matabeleland North
Nyongolo Primary	Hwange	Matabeleland North

 Team B

SCHOOL	DISTRICT	PROVINCE
Matriore Primary	Bikita	Masvingo
Mashonjowa Priamry	Chimanimani	Manicaland
Bosbury	Chegutu	Mashonaland West
Bondamakare Primary	Mutoko	Mashonaland East
Mupandira	Madziva	Mashonaland Central

Committee Findings

–         Contributions towards relish, foreign currency required and majority of parents cannot afford.

–         Sustainability and frequency of food distribution was cited as a huge challenge for most beneficiary schools.

–         Challenges to collect the food stuffs from Government offices

–         Government only providing maize and/or rice without any relish

–         Parents bearing the burden to meet procurement of relish and other ingredients.

–         In the Southern region, only Mashonjowe Primary School was implementing the school feeding programme

COMMITTEE FINDINGS

–         Water availability situation throughout the schools visited shows a dire situation.

–         At Mhali and Sitezi Primary, availability of water constrains the preparation of food and learners were requested to bring their own water to school

–         Firewood was the main source of energy for cooking and particularly women were tasked to bring the firewood,

–         At Bondamakare Primary School, the SFP was not functional because firewood and water was a challenge in addition to food.

FOOD PREPARATIONS AND UTENSILS USED

–         Committee noted that those who prepare food did not go through any medical examination, posing a serious health disaster to the pupils.

–         Learners bring their own utensils e.g. at Sitezi Primary while other schools have their own utensils e.g. at Mhali Primary in Bulawayo Metropolitan.

–         Some schools expressed ignorance of the SFP, like Mhali School where the school Administration did not have clarity on those who cook, and did not have an idea where the food comes from.

–         At Bosbury Primary School, the school authorities noted that there was no specific staff employed to cook the food hence they relied on parents from the community.

          Majority of the schools visited indicated that labour was a serious challenge that affected the smooth running of the SFP.

COMMITTEE OBSERVATIONS

Whilst the field visits were conducted during the pinnacle of COVID-19 pandemic, the SFP appeared to be implemented in a normal way.  A situation which confirms that the Standard Operating Procedures do not specify new means of implementing the SFP.

The SFP was placing an extra burden on women both in urban and rural areas who are being requested to cook for pupils on voluntary basis as well as providing firewood and relish.

The SFP is discriminatory on the basis of contributions.  Children with parents who were failing to contribute towards transportation costs, among others, were being denied food, thereby working against the principles of SFP.

Structural unavailability of portable and clean water within school premises affected the preparation and serving of food and in some cases schools were using water that is not safe for drinking and an example is Sitezi Primary School.

That food supply is inconsistent thereby affecting the full implementation of the programme.

Schools were facing the challenge of relish and this was affecting the provision of a balanced nutritious diet.

The SFP is currently being implemented for primary schools only and that secondary school learners are not benefitting which is inconsistent with the policy.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should commission a proper evaluation study of the SFP and report the findings to the august House before first term 2021 schools open.

The Standard Operating Procedures should be reviewed to take into account the SFP and outline clearly the process that should be followed in food preparation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic before first terms 2021 schools open.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should consider procuring instant and prepared food such as porridge and mahewu to eliminate vigorous challenges of preparing food, unpaid labour, and energy unavailability and ensure adherence to the COVID-19 regulations by 30 June 2021.

Going forward, the Ministry should run tenders for producing and delivering of food requirements to the schools to avoid burdening parents with transport costs and subsequent discriminations.

That for vulnerable communities, secondary schools should benefit from the programme to ensure that learners attend school and reduce structured poverty by 30 June 2021.

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare should reserve an allocation of food distribution to schools in vulnerable communities by 30 June 2021.

That the SFP in its current state was ineffective and unsustainable.

There is need for a comprehensive review of the SFP to take into account new developments including the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, as such, the following should be considered.

          Hon. Misihairabwi-Mushonga presented a sample of the instant porrige meant for the school feeding programme to the Hon. Speaker to taste.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said lack of political tolerance is a worrisome trend in politics.

President Chamisa blasted “political monsters” taking advantage of their positions of influence to persecute perceived opponents.

“It is clear that the individual who persecutes a man, his brother,
because he is not of the same opinion, is a monster.– Voltaire,”President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

He also wrote a brief statement on the death of Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli.

“With sadness, I note the passing on of H.E
@MagufuliJP
of Tanzania. My sincere condolences to the Magufuli family and the great people of Tanzania. Our prayers are with them all during this difficult time.Wishing Tanzania a democratic and peaceful transition. RIP Mzee.”

Quills of Malice

Nefarious vipers in the Nation’s bossom

Why cold blood to the holy nation?

Malice begets malice to the bottom,

Blood curdling rumble of sick ration, 

Quills Of Malice!!

You are harlotry stirring hornet’s nest

Brewing ghosts from embattled souls,

Barnish milestone of abhorrence jn your neck,

Seek abode in the warm soils,

Quills of Malice!!

Relinquish the bleak speck of euphoria

Of blatant malice gathering on stray scribes,

Corrosive intent acts  of volcanic phobia,

Inflammatory tongues licking the beauty of Liberty!   

Quills of Malice!!

Who painfully seize you by throatAnd soil menace the last vestiges

Of nationalistic pride minus thought?

And your putrid alliance with alien Vintages,  Quills of Malice!!

Why ruthlessly prick our nosesTo cut the throat to save the neck?

Gathering cold and disquieting noises

But with flawless infinitive grace

The excruciating journalistic thorn shall rot   

Quills of Malice!!

**Written by Collen Kajokoto, a protest poet and human Rights defender .
Quills Of Malice lashes out at State sponsored journalists who perpetuate despots grip on power through complicit propaganda.

Local banks are demanding personal assets, including houses as collateral to finance agriculture, amid the unresolved confusion over the bankability of 99-year leases.

Banks say the risk of financing farmers is too high since the land cannot be used as collateral due to tenure uncertainties.

A 99-year lease is a legally binding agreement between the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, on behalf of the government, and the farmer the lessee. Government issued 99-year leases from 2006 to resettled farmers after the land redistribution exercise that began in 2000. However, banks have refused to use leases as collateral, arguing they are not bankable, citing that land still belongs to the State.

Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube insists the government is looking at offering full and partial guarantees to banks for the acceptance of 99-year leases. But banks argue the process of redeeming land as collateral is shrouded in secrecy.

Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) president Ralph Watungwa said talks stalled due to lack of transferability mechanisms of the 99-year lease. Lack of investments on the farms is a sticking issue.

Last year the government embarked on a farm downsizing programme, while underutilised land was repossessed.

“The starting point is that we must get farmers to believe they own the land and they should invest on farms. We have farmers who don’t want to invest but want to borrow from banks. That’s the fundamental problem on the land issue,” he said.

“The problem is that there are certain sections of society who are not entitled to take over the land because they are not indigenous or don’t have the money. You can’t say you want to realise security and find another Zimbabwe to buy the land; there are very few people like that. It means the ability of banks to realise value in the event that the customer is unable to pay becomes limited.”

Watungwa said according to the law, when one transfers land, it has to be to the government.

“You don’t go to an auction to buy land like a house. With land, it has to be to certain people. It means the value of the land as security then becomes questionable and banks would need to get their money back from the asset in the quickest possible time,” he said.

“A lot of banks are now financing agriculture using houses or another asset as security instead of the land. So it means that the land has no value. again the process of making it bankable takes a long time because of the bureaucracy, as the process requires legislative changes. It’s not an overnight thing. It requires a lot of stakeholders’ approval. But should the relevant authorities apply their minds, it’s a process that should not take two years.”

Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) president Andrew Ivordale said full recovery of the agricultural sector is hampered by lack of a bankable tenure instrument.

“Hopefully the new National Land Policy will deal with this issue. The consultation process for this only ended in December 2020, so we need to allow time for the process to be completed. Banks lend depositors’ money. They have to have sufficiently secure collateral for those funds. a secure, tradable, transferable tenure instrument is what is required. While it is difficult to quantify, Zimbabwe has suffered substantial losses as a result,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s land tenure and title deeds system was disrupted and thrown into chaos by the fast-track land reform programme which started in 2000. The farm invasions violated property rights.

-Independent

The Bindura Registrar-General’s office has not been processing passports after the office failed to purchase pre-paid electricity tokens for several months.

Provincial registrar Tafadzwa Nyandoro confirmed the power crisis adding that he had been assured that the solution was on its way.

Nyandoro said:

Yes, it’s true, but I have received assurance that it is being attended to by our accounts department and we will soon be up and running.

NewsDay was told that residents were failing to access the documents since they were supposed to be processed electronically.

One resident, Donald Shungu:

Passports are only issued in Bindura and it is not acceptable that such a big office is failing to pay for electricity bills. What is the Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe doing when the whole province is crying over passports?

Zimbabwe has a huge passport backlog that is attributed to a shortage of resources at the Registrar-General’s office to process the documents.

This has happened when the citizenry has been applying for the documents in large numbers in an endeavour to escape from the biting economy.

-Newsday

HEALTH experts have warned that people receiving the second dose of the Chinese-manufactured COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccine might experience severe side effects, but said this should not be cause for alarm as the pain would subside with time.

At least 39 067 frontline workers who underwent the first vaccination programme, which started last month, are due to receive the second jab to complete the course.

Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga was the first person to be inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine on February 18 at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare, and yesterday got his second jab.

Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights secretary Norman Matara told NewsDay that it was normal for vaccines to trigger side effects in patients.

“Side effects after the second dose may be more intense than those experienced during the first dose. However, there is no need for citizens to panic, as this is actually a good sign. The side effects mean that your body is responding to the vaccine, and is triggering an immune response that will result in production of antibodies, exactly what the vaccine is designed to do,” he said. Matara cautioned people against spreading falsehoods once the side effects begin to manifest.

“Musazoti 666 yatanga (when you see that happening, don’t speculate that the number 666, which was mentioned in the book of Revelations in the Bible is being fulfilled).”

Matara said the side effects would include pain, redness and swelling of the injected site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain and ache, chills, fever and nausea.

“The side effects are self-limiting and resolve on their own usually within a few days. There is no danger to life anticipated. We advise the public to participate in the national vaccination programme as vaccination of individuals has been proved to be an effective way of eradicating pandemics. These vaccines go through various stages of clinical trials before approval and are safe and effective. We need to get vaccinated in order for us to return to normalcy,” he said.

Matara said roughly, 40% to 50% of the vaccinated people would experience side effects. Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association president Johannes Marisa said the public should not panic as there was no drug without side effects.

“It’s an international standard that you are supposed to list all possible side effects of that particular drug. You hear that paracetamol causes hepatitis, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes), nausea, diarrhoea, severe headaches, poor vision and so forth. However, have you ever developed poor vision or hepatitis from paracetamol? No,” Marisa said.

“So I don’t think it’s necessary to panic because it’s like any other drug. We don’t want people to be frightened.”

He called for concerted efforts to ensure increased uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines so that the country achieves its targeted herd immunity of 60% and return to normalcy.

The national vaccination pro-gramme, spearheaded by government to fight the highly infectious respiratory disease, has experienced low uptake, with mostly nurses doubting the efficacy of the Chinese-produced vaccine, Sinopharm. To date, the disease has claimed over 1500 lives in Zimbabwe, amid fears that a looming third wave
could cause more fatalities.

“From a simple survey I did a few days ago from those who got vaccinated, especially the front-liners, there is virtually nothing in terms of side effects. My family and members of staff, we were all vaccinated and we didn’t experience any serious or life-threatening side effects,” Marisa said.

Health deputy minister John Mangwiro said the side effects were not anything to be scared of.

“Information is also there about the vaccine (Sinopharm) in the medical journals. You find that these doctors just post these things on social media. I am a doctor, I have been vaccinated today and as I speak to you, I am attending to patients that have experienced no side effects,” he said.

Early this week, Zimbabwe took delivery of the second batch of a donation of 200 000 doses of Sinopharm and 200 000 doses of an-other Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine procured by government.

Chiwenga said the second roll-out programme would target the education and religious sectors, with the rest of the population expected to be catered for in the third phase.-Newsday

THE Presidential Farming Inputs Programme popularly known as Pfumvudza has been used to fleece unsuspecting farmers through a well-orchestrated scheme involving thousands of United States dollars.

A total of 1,8 million tonnes of cereal and 360 000 tonnes of oil seed have been delivered to a registered 1,8 million families for 290 000 hectares countrywide.

This translates to 72 000 deliveries made by 30-tonne trucks to various wards across rural Zimbabwe.

Investigations have revealed that a syndicate of Zanu-PF councillors conniving with Agritex officers and GMB staff have been demanding amounts ranging from US$1 to US$2 from each household to transport the inputs

This means they have realised at least US$1 200 per truck. The loads consist of 600 by 50kg bags fertilisers which were transported at a cost of US$2 each.

Some 5 kg bags of maize seed, 2 kg of sorghum, 50kg of gypsum were some of the several inputs delivered.

“We were told that the government only managed to transport inputs to GMB depots and it was our duty as villagers to mobilise transport to our wards.

“I have paid for all the inputs I received because I was afraid of losing out. At one point I failed to receive inputs because I didn’t have the money,” said Farai Nyanguwo of Matiengane village at Matondo Growth Point in Chigodora, Manicaland.

Contacted for comment, Grain Marketing Board (GMB) chief executive officer Rockie Mutenda referred questions to the parastatal’s corporate communications officer Joseph Katete who had not replied by time of going to print.

However, Mutenda is on record saying GMB was responsible for transportation of inputs to centres as the programme is fully funded by the government.

Investigations highlighted similar occurrences transpired on October 25, November 20 and 21 last year at Chiwere Business Centre in Ward 34 under Odzi where 5 kg bags of maize seed were delivered. The ward has a total of 14 villages.

Other delivery points in Odzi include Nyagundi and Chinota.

“The committee pockets the money and shares it. I checked with some drivers who indicated that everything was paid for,” said a Zanu-PF official monitoring the deliveries.

“In another incident I walked in on the committee sharing the spoils and they tried to bribe me.

“The transport costs are handled by a committee led by the councillor and subject to willful use of the committee. No audit or accountability measures are taken to ensure that the funds are used for intended purposes.

“Apart from purporting to pay for transport, the funds are used to pay community off-loaders, Agritex officers’ allowances as expenses incurred while arranging for the collection and distribution of goods from GMB. It’s not clear what happens to the remaining funds in the event there are balances.”

Apart from abuse of funds, there is also misappropriation of inputs as there is double dipping of farming inputs.

An intelligence source said rogue councillors will be blacklisted from contesting in the 2023 elections.

“There are growing fears that the abuse of the Presidential Inputs Programme can affect the performance of the party during the next polls. A lot of complaints were made,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Independent gathered that apart from intelligence officers, President Emmerson Mnangagwa also gave a green light to an organisation called In Defence of Zimbabwe Sovereignty Organisation (IDZSO) to investigate abuses of inputs distribution.

IDZSO wrote to Mnangagwa on November 25, 2020 asking for permission to investigate alleged abuses. The request was granted.

The team has already made headway in Harare but has been facing challenges in Manicaland.

IDZSO, has since written four complaint letters to the President accusing provincial police of failing to deal with alleged looters. The organisation’s Manicaland chairperson Landmine Madongonda wrote on February 2, 2021, advising Mnangagwa to push the police to act on evidence provided “as we (IDZSO) are investigating the corruption made on the Command and Pfumvudza inputs”.

Mutare Rural District Council (RDC) chief executive officer Shepherd Chinaka confirmed that some farmers paid for the delivery of free government inputs.

“We received reports at our offices that some members of the community are being asked to contribute some money to ensure that the aid gets to their distribution centres.

“This is why we have raised this concern because we had prior knowledge that the government delivers for free. People are complaining about exorbitant charges,” Chinaka said.-Independent

By A Correspondent- Harare businessman Freddy Chimbari of Fremus Enterprises yesterday appeared in court facing bribery charges after he bribed officials at the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) to win a US$20 million tender.

Chimbari appeared before magistrate Stanford Mambanje, who remanded him to May 7 on $50 000 bail.

It is alleged that from 2010 to 2013, Chimbari’s company was corruptly awarded a tender to carry out rehabilitation of rural roads in Buhera, Mhondoro, Ngezi, Gutu, Murehwa and Zaka without following due process.

Former Zinara chief executive Frank Chitukutuku allegedly instructed several rural district councils to award the tender to Fremus Enterprises.

The State further alleged that as a result of Chitukutuku’s order, Fremus Enterprises was offered the US$20 million tender.

On five different occasions after receiving the money, Chimbari allegedly deposited various amounts of money from his company to Chitukutuku’s personal account.

Investigations later revealed that Chimbari and Chitukutuku were friends and the payments constituted a gift or bribe.

Chimbari is alleged to have deposited US$114 000 to Chitukutuku’s personal bank account.

Chitukutuku is also on remand for the same matter.-newsday

 By A Correspondent- A tussle has erupted between medical practitioners in the private sector and medical aid societies, as doctors are accused of turning down policy holders without cash co-payments due to health funders’ failure to settle claims.

Medical practitioners who spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent had no kind words for medical aid executives, whom they said lived lavishly from clients’ premiums.

The doctors said patients could barely afford medical bills since the cost of living continued skyrocketing. Patients are left with no option, but to turn to private doctors because the public health system is in a shambles underpinned by an acute shortage of medical equipment and medicines.

Health funders, doctors added, were failing to meet the demand for cover despite clients religiously paying subscriptions. This has complicated the situation, as medical doctors are forced to demand cash upfront from patients.

Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association president Johannes Marisa said they preferred payments in foreign currency.

“Private doctors are charging co-payments in foreign currency to ensure they remain viable and sustain operations in the medical industry,” Marisa said.

“It is unfortunate that medical aid societies are not paying health covers yet they are collecting monthly contributions from their clients.”

He went on: “Almost half of health funders don’t want to own up to their obligations to pay service providers. Survival of the private medical practice is hanging by a thread because some doctors have to fund for their own personal protective equipment and meet other costs of running hospitals.”

He blasted medical aid societies managers for driving top-of-the-range cars at a time patients’ needs were not met.

“The medical aid managers are the ones benefiting from the scheme as they are misusing funds for personal benefits. It’s not the doctors’ fault. For those few that own up to cover their clients, they pay in local currency which does not match with black market exchange rates in the United States dollars.”

Patients, however, have complained about doctors’ demand for foreign currency.

Some patients have petitioned private doctors to meet medical aid societies and resolve the issue.

Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association president Shingai Nyaguse said the public must be educated on medical aid societies.

“Unfortunately the public tends to blame doctors on failed health insurances. Several medical aid societies are using clients’ monthly subscriptions for personal benefits like hefty packages. Medical aid generally pays well below the agreed tariffs, hence the shortfalls,” he said.

Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) tariff liaison committee chairperson Shingirirai Meki said doctors used best international practices to determine co-payments.

“I want to highlight the fact that medical aid payments and doctors failing to get their money on time has been happening for a longtime. However, over the years, we have been trying to solve the matter for the benefit of patients,” Meki said.

“If a medical aid has financial struggles, we might never know because it’s not declared publicly. On what is being charged by doctors versus medical aid reimbursements, there are tariffs that come from doctors (Zima), while health funders pay from collections. What then is paid by a patient is the difference we call a shortfall or co-payment.”

Meki said co-payment is charged to meet any outstanding amounts.

“As Zima, we stand guided by the Statutory Instrument that was gazetted by the government in 2014. The government then found a middle ground to set standard tariffs that we adhere to. It’s unfortunate that some medical aids have failed to pay tariffs set by the government. Patients are not being ripped off; it’s just that the medical aids sometimes fail to pay.”

No comment could be obtained from the Association for Healthcare Funders in Zimbabwe (AHFOZ) this week as officials were buck-passing.

AHFOZ has previously said medical aid societies were adjusting contributions to match healthcare service provider rates and narrow shortfall gaps.-Independent

Former MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu who recently joined the ruling party has been blasted on micro blogging Twitter after he told people to look forward to his opinion in Sunday Mail on why he joined ZANU PF.

“WHY I JOINED @ZANUPF Official

Don’t miss my opinion piece to be published in the country’s leading weekly @ SundayMailZim on Sunday,March 21,2021,” reads Gutu’s tweet.

Former Cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi said Gutu does not owe anyone an explanation since it is his choice.

“Chitova it’s your choice, you do not owe anyone an explanation,just like the beard you are grooming is a personal choice! tweeted Mzembi.

Alouis Zananhwe said Gutu is bothering himself in trying to explain himself.

“Akungozvinetsawo nekuda kutipa explanation uyo.”

“Do you need a whole article to say l was trapped, my handlers have my DMs and other compromising  materials,and l needed some money so l jumped onto the gravy train,” Gerald Nyoni said.

Several opposition officials have crossed the flow to ZANU PF and a number of opposition Members of Parliament have been recalled there by weakening MDC A.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi says he is fortunate to be alive after battling a Covid-19 related illness for several weeks and is using his near-death experience to urge adherence to regulations aimed at controlling the spread of the pandemic.

Minister Ziyambi tested positive for Covid-19 at the end of December 2020, before being admitted to hospital where a number of doctors, including those from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS), attended to him after his condition deteriorated.

During the period that he was ill, several Government ministers and high ranking Zanu-PF officials succumbed to the novel virus. Ziyambi, who is Zanu-PF provincial chair for Mashonaland West, recounted his experience to fellow party cadres during a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting in Chinhoyi last Saturday.

Ziyambi implored party officials to get vaccinated once the second and third vaccination phases were introduced, saying Covid-19 was real.

“I am a survivor of Covid-19 and the disease is painful and deadly. I lost a lot of colleagues and many cadres here in Mashonaland West province.

“We lost Minister Ellen Gwaradzimba, Foreign Affairs Minister, Sibusiso Moyo, former ZPCS Commissioner General, Paradzai Zimondi and my dear friend, (Joel Biggie) Matiza,” the visibly emotional, Ziyambi said.

The late Matiza was the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

“I become very emotional when I talk about these losses because the majority of the incidents happened when I was indisposed and in hospital.”

The minister recounted how ZPCS doctors who were treating him instructed the nursing staff to take away the television remote control unit and cellphones to cut outside communication and information. “The doctors were afraid I could get affected by the news of the deaths.”

He said Covid-19 was not only affecting urban communities, but ravaging rural areas as well.

“When I survived the pandemic, I was shocked to hear of a lot of people who had succumbed to the virus in Zvimba rural which shows how the disease has become even more deadly.”

-State Media

ZB Financial Holdings Limited group chief executive Mr Ron Mutandagayi has taken leave of absence from his duties, the board of directors has said.

This follows the leaking a video of him flooring his wife with clenched fists while his daughter watches. The footage got him arrested and he was charged in January this year. When ZimEye telephoned him, he responded saying his wife had poured hot water on him, an allegation his own daughter denies. The below video was recorded by his 16 year old daughter:

ZBBank CEO, Ronald Mutandagayi, assaulting his wife in front of daughter, 16. FULL INTERVIEW ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a pic.twitter.com/LPMtIOC0eg

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 8, 2021

In a statement, the ZB board said it had taken note of the social media communication relating to Mr Mutandagayi, which was first published on March 7.

“The matter in question is currently before the courts. In the meantime, Mr R Mutandagayi has taken leave of absence from his duties while the board of directors of the group considers appropriate action on the matter.

“Stakeholders will be advised on any new developments as they arise.”

-State Media

A self confessed CIO agent has written in claiming that Norton MP Temba Mliswa’s exlover, Susan Mutami who disappeared last month is safe, and is living at a house in Harare. They go on to allege that she has been separated from her child- her son is now staying at Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm in Kwekwe. ZimEye investigates into the mystery surrounding Miss Mutami’s whereabouts.

By A Correspondent | Today marks one month and one day after Norton MP, Temba Mliswa’s girlfriend, Susan Mutami was stopped from flying out of Zimbabwe, following her allegations that she possesses knowledge on the terrorists who bombed White City Stadium in June 2018. ZimEye launches a search for her whereabouts- is she in Zimbabwe or in Australia?

This is Brisbane, where Susan Mutami resides and we check today check on her at her usual addresses. This is St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Brisbane, where she could be employed and where her mother, Rabecca works.

Susan herself used to work here as a Care Assistant.

We are told, “she is not here; she has not been seen in several months.”

We cannot reveal the identity of interviewee at the hospital, per their request.

We now head to Princess Alexandra Hospital. Susan Mutami is not here. Sources tell ZimEye she is not here at all.

The Hospital was placed into lockdown after a positive #COVID19 case was detected 3 days ago. But we manage to speak to a source via phone who responds saying:

“For legal purposes. I cannot say much, but the person you are asking for no longer works here,” a female employee tells ZimEye.

It also turns out Susan cannot work there anymore as she was fired over continued absenteeism, the day before she travelled to Zimbabwe last year.

We now turn to Durack, the place where Susan can only come when she arrives into the country. This is where she lives.

Two of Susan’s closest friends tell ZimEye, they do not believe she is anywhere in Australia. “If she comes back into the country she will come here first, ” one of her colleagues says while asking not to be identified due to the political sensitivities around her case in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, as Susan’s mother Rabeccca does not appear willing to speak with journalists, we turn back to Susan herself.

We send her two messages, one becomes, blueticked, the other is still to be opened.

1st message: “Hello Susan. Are you okay? You’ve gone suddenly quiet. Strength to you!”

2nd message: “Many are worried over you. When are you traveling to Australia?”

There is no reply at all, and neither does she pick the phone up, which is not characteristic of her.

As her Zimbabwean phone sounds disconnected, her two Australian numbers all lead to her voicemail boxes. They have been in this state for nearly month.

Where is Susan then, and is she the one who is tweeting on her portal in the last month? A structured content audit of her tweets suggests someone else is publishing the posts. Terms like FDI, and economy do not form her known vocabulary.

When she was stopped from flying out of Zimbabwe on the 18th February, she quickly sought the help of lawyers and began referring journalists to them. Her solicitor last month told ZimEye, “she is alive, she is ok and she is safe.

“I can’t say much due to professional ethics; She will come back to you soon,” she said without revealing much detail.

ZimEye checked on the position of the Australian Embassy in Harare whose assistance she invoked last month, and found in their statement they have distanced themselves from Miss Mutami’s case saying her private conduct in Zimbabwe does not fall under the embassy’s interests.

“Ms Mutami’s behaviour in Zimbabwe are matters for the Zimbabweans authorities as they fall under Zimbabwean law,” the Australian embassy said in a statement responding to her affair with Norton MP Temba Mliswa.

ZimEye today returns to the Australian Embassy for further comment as we investigate Susan Mutami’s whereabouts.

WHERE DO YOU THINK SUSAN MUTAMI IS?