*MDC Alliance Weekly Health Alert *

*8th Edition *

14 March 2021

One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, how did Zimbabwe fare?

Executive Summary:

The government’s response to the covid-19 pandemic was characterized by failure to test the people, failure to manage immigration, failure to provide necessary resources like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), COVID-19 admission facilities, oxygen, ventilators, failure to support and appreciate healthcare workers, poor or non-existent messaging, abuse of the pandemic to score cheap political gains at the expense of the people, failure to provide social safety nets and failure to deal with corruption like the Drax scandal and others. Lately, the government has also shown that it has no vaccine plan and only depending on knee jerk reflexes. On a scale of “A” to “E”, with A being the best score, we give the government of Zimbabwe a score of “D” for its performance in the first year of this pandemic because of the aforementioned.

As we commemorate the first anniversary of the worst pandemic in a century, we need to introspect as a nation on what we could have done better. “An unexamined life is not worth living”, as someone has already said. The first cluster of cases of COVID-19 were reported on December 31 2019 in Wuhan, China, and on March 11 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 “a public health emergency of international concern”. All systems in Zimbabwe then should have gone into overdrive to avert a national disaster. Mortality in China and some European countries had already started showing sinister trends. The Government of Zimbabwe declared its preparedness for the pandemic, with Wilkins hospital completely kitted up and ready to admit patients, with ventilators and oxygen in place.

The first wake-up call was on March the 20th, 2020, when we had our first real case of COVID-19, a young promising journalist, who passed on three days later under deplorable conditions. The nakedness of both the government and the purported national isolation centre, Wilkins hospital, was exposed. Health workers did not have adequate PPE, they did not quite know what to do with the case, and there was no single ventilator available, though the patient could easily have afforded one. This was a chaotic and traumatic experience for both the family and all Zimbabweans. We all started weighing our chances of survival in the face of this new reality, with much trepidation, considering that this first fatality did not come from a family of meager means.

These are the lessons learnt from this experience:
• Government should never lie to the people that we are prepared when in fact we are not. Complete transparency and honesty have no substitute.
• A caring attitude is important, and cover-ups stink.
• All resources should have been channeled to life saving technologies and human resources in a pandemic of this magnitude.
• Government has no power to stop death, but government has the power to avail the best possible service to its citizens, so that at the end we can all say, “Well, all that could be done was done. This was now purely in the hands of The Maker”.

The failure of government to resolve a labour dispute with the doctors & nurses contributed much to our poor state of preparedness. Government should have dealt speedily with the health-workers’ industrial action and restored normalcy ahead of this pandemic. There was enough time to do that. The militarization of housemanship is not an answer to our human resources problem, and is bound to backfire with time. Government must reconsider.

Politicization of COVID-19 lockdowns was a serious miscalculation on the part of government, as this only served to spread the virus. The March 31 Supreme court ruling, now commonly known as the COVID-19 judgement, is a good example of the abuse of lockdown measures. The selective harassment, abuse and fining of citizens throughout this period is another example. These did not serve the interests of the nation in dealing with the pandemic. Instead, we saw Zanu PF functionaries holding parties and posting pictures on social media, supposedly to show that they were in power, without any legal repercussions. But COVID-19 did not understand that, and the events were unfortunately not without their own adverse consequences.

Institutionalized corruption and the looting of the covid-19 funds emasculated government’s response to the pandemic. Government continues to pay lip service to the fight against corruption as real looters of COVID-19 funds continue to roam the streets scot free and we have not heard about any recoveries, especially from the Drax scandal. Sadly, government has not been able to provide adequate free testing to the population, consequently no contact tracing was possible, and many cases went undiagnosed. Without testing, there is no isolation and containment of the pandemic. One year later, free testing is still not available to the majority of Zimbabweans. The result is that there has been no science in mapping the epidemic, and targeted lockdown measures and other data informed decisions could not be made. Blanket lockdown measures brought untold suffering to people who did not even need a lockdown in their locality. Government should take healthcare seriously, and make sure adequate resources are availed for the people’s healthcare, in keeping with section 76 of the constitution.

Failure to provide social safety nets in spite of pronouncements by the minister of finance was a monumental failure for this government. People were locked down into hunger and starvation, because the majority of our people live on hand to mouth budgets. We all watched with envy as other nations provided relief to their citizens in these trying times. Locking down the nation without providing food relief was the most cruel thing government did in response to this pandemic. The promised stimulus package to industry did not filter down to the intended recipients. One wonders who benefited.

There were many policy failures in the approach to this pandemic, chief of which was immigration control. Quarantine centres did not work as expected, they were porous and inmates were able to bribe their way out, use political influence to avoid quarantine, or simply escape from the centres through unknown channels. That is how we domesticated a disease that otherwise could have been kept out of Zimbabwe. It is important to move in tandem with international trends when dealing with a pandemic. The visit by the so-called Chinese COVID-19 specialist doctors was suspicious and certainly added no value to our response to the pandemic.

Failure to anticipate the second wave and prevent it was a monumental failure by the government. We all knew that the infection figures and deaths in our neighbouring South Africa were high. We also knew that a new more vicious strain in terms of transmissibility had been identified. It is common knowledge that we have a few million Zimbabweans in South Africa many of whom always want to come home for the festive season. The government took no thought of that to avert disaster, and we ended up with our worst two months, the nasty second wave which was both completely predictable and preventable.

Failure to set up COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities resulted in untold suffering and unnecessary mortality. Patients requiring moderate interventions like oxygen supplementation could not get it for there was no place to admit them. Until now, there are many towns without a single COVID-19 admission facility and patients are still turned away to go and die at home without any attempt to supportive therapy. But by far, the greatest looser was the ordinary non-COVID patient who could not be attended to because staff did not have PPE and had no capability to screen for COVID-19. Chronic disease patients were hardest hit, as many could not access their usual medication.

Communication and information dissemination has been very poor throughout this pandemic. The whole response was shrouded in mystery. This is now manifesting in the low vaccine uptake, which is largely caused by the people’s mistrust of government’s choices and failure to deal with conspiracy theories and other legitimate questions pertaining to vaccine safety and efficacy. The lack of transparency regarding the cost of the vaccine is a potential loophole for corruption and looting. The science behind choice of vaccine should be made plain, and full information should be disseminated, first to health care workers who have to deal with the public’s questions and doubts, and then to everybody in the country. No heavy-handed tactics like withholding social benefits from those who are vaccine hesitant should be used, as previously intimated by Mr Mnangagwa. The vaccine is our final weapon in the fight against COVID-19 and no effort should be spared in educating the public and allaying all related anxieties, to ensure that all eligible people receive the vaccine. Bringing in other vaccines as announced is a welcome move, but still information dissemination is key to dealing with mis-information and conspiracy theories, which remain rampant. We cannot just wish them away.

Bringing in private laboratory services as a substitute to free government testing sent the cost of all tests spiraling upwards. It was a serious abdication of duty by the government. We have always had private laboratory services in Zimbabwe, and they have their place, but they cannot become the mainstay of service delivery in such a massive public health emergency without a government subsidy. The poor are automatically excluded, and that is 90% of Zimbabweans. Contact tracing and routine surveillance died right there.

The rapid response teams were one of the weakest links in the government’s response strategy. They had a serious mandate without the necessary financing and equipment, notably PPE and diagnostic consumables like nasal swabs. They therefore failed dismally in their execution of duty. These are well-trained cadres by the way, but it is like a good soldier going to war without a gun and basic supplies.

How do we summarize government’s response to this pandemic? In a few words, government was not prepared to spend money on healthcare and on feeding the people during the very necessary lockdowns. Corruption was rife and crippled the response to COVID-19. The ruling party was the chief architect of super-spreader events, in the form of political party meetings and extravagant pleasure parties. Politicization of the lockdowns was rampant and led to much suffering, unnecessary arrests with consequent unnecessary exposure of citizens to COVID-19 in prisons. When it comes to pandemics of this nature, we admonish the government to put aside all partisan behavior, and all Zimbabweans should work together for the common good.

On the basis of this assessment, the government failed dismally in protecting Zimbabweans from this pandemic. We are all here today by a sovereign act of God. We give the government a score of “D”, with “A” being the best score and “E” the worst. The whole nation wants to help government get a score of “A” in this second year, so please, work with the people, and be completely transparent. All eyes are on the vaccine issue.

Going forward, here are our recommendations for the government to take Zimbabwe to a better place and avert a third wave as we open up the economy. Government should vigorously promote COVID-19 safe practices in all languages and on all media platforms. These include hand washing, sanitization, social distancing and avoiding close contact, avoiding supper spreader events, avoiding large gatherings, cough etiquette, and masking up as the new normal (not as a way of avoiding fines!), at least for the next one year as we measure progress. Health workers should be thoroughly equipped with knowledge so that they become the champions for vaccination and other interventions. Vaccine procurement is not the domain of private companies. Government must do its duty. As we move forward, government needs to concentrate on taking the people with it on all issues to do with vaccination and vaccine choice regarding safety, efficacy cost and other factors.

COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities should be set up in every town, and a generous supply of PPE should be delivered to all health institutions. Schools should be properly equipped, and liaison with teachers’ unions should be intense. Businesses should be appropriately equipped and empowered to prevent infection.

Government needs to ramp up vaccination, and take professional advice seriously, particularly from the national immunization technical advisory group. Educate health workers and the population, procure vaccines in a transparent manner, distribute and administer to all. Convince health workers first and everything else will fall into place.

Dr. Henry Madzorera.
Secretary for Health and Child Welfare.
MDC-Alliance

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, who is a man of faith has pointed out that those who are guided by God Almighty will always emerge victorious.

President Chamisa used the biblical illustration of David and Saul to describe the political events in the country.

Saul, being tormented by an evil spirit, tried in vain to kill David. In the Bible God describes David as a man after His own heart.

“STRONGER EVERYDAY..”Now there was a long war between the house of SAUL and the house of DAVID.

But David grew stronger and stronger,and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.” (2Sam 3:1) Blessed sabbath,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was behind the removal from office of former Vice-President Kembo Mohadi– broken by sex scandals – amid disputes which centred on competing business interests in Beitbridge and Penhalonga between the President’s family members and the ex-co-deputy.

The Mnangagwa family, involved in business in various sectors of the economy, particularly since his ascendancy through a military coup in 2017, later legitimised via a disputed 2018 election, clashed with Mohadi over a dry port project in Beitbridge and a gold mine in Penhalonga where politicians and their cronies have invaded the area, turning it into a vast artisanal mining field.

Mohadi was also unhappy that he had been left out of the US$300 million border renovation and modernisation project by Zimborders Consortium, fronted by its chairman Glynn Cohen, linked to the Mnangagwa family, the sources added.

Sources said the Mnangagwa family first clashed with Mohadi over his dry port project in Beitbridge in 2019. A dry port is an inland terminal directly connected to the seaport by high capacity transport such as rail.

“Mohadi two years ago set up a dry port project called Malindi Dry Port with some local business. He has vast tracts of land in Beitbridge,” a source said.

“A fight subsequently erupted among the Malindi partners and as a result some of them pulled out to set up their own project. They then invited some members of the Mnangagwa family, but Mohadi was unimpressed and upset by the move.

“He then protested to the Mnangagwas, who were themselves not happy with his bid to push them out of Beitbridge. The dispute deteriorated as Mohadi insisted that the Mnangagwa family members should not come to Beitbridge to seize opportunities from him – take bread from his mouth. That became a sore point between them.”

The sources said Mohadi is not under any illusions why he was forced out after his sex scandal. “He is aware of the real reasons why he was removed. Ask him, he will tell if you can convince him to talk,” another source said.

Efforts to interview Mohadi over the past two weeks have been unsuccessful.

However, sources said Mohadi knows that the dry port project had upset the Mnangagwa family.

Beitbridge, the busiest inland port of entry in sub-Saharan Africa, is ideal for a dry port.

It is located 585 kilometres away from Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare and 323 kilometres from Zimbabwe’s former industrial hub Bulawayo. It is approximately 1 117 kilometres from Africa’s largest seaport, Durban.

Hence, Beitbridge is the gateway for trade and cargo from South African ports with destinations in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and DRC.

The border, currently partially closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, operates for human and vehicular traffic around the clock.

In 2016, Mohadi publicly called for the setting up of a dry port in Beitbridge which has services such as customs clearance, export declaration, bonded warehousing and other facilities.

Since rail is critical to a dry port initiative, Beitbridge is linked to multiple seaports in South Africa and Mozambique by railway.

That is why Mohadi proposed a dry port, with the objective of minimising truck distances, reducing transport costs and circumventing other challenges prevalent under the current system.

This sparked clashes with his boss’s family.

Mohadi tendered his resignation on 1 March after beingexposed for having sexual relationships with various women — some married.

Well-placed sources told The NewsHawks Mohadi was hit by a CIO operation which recorded his calls and messages talking to a harem of women — some of them married — using spyware developed by Israeli technology company Circles.

The sources said the real reason for spying on Mohadi and then later using the recordings to oust him was the politics of business in the top echelons of power.

Sources told The NewsHawks that Mohadi had stepped on Mnangagwa’s toes over various business interests, resulting in the President okaying his downfall through a CIO operation.

“Mohadi’s phone was being monitored since 2019 and all his business dealings and political interactions, as well as personal indiscretions were known.

“This was because he had clashed with the First Family over the establishment of a dry port in Beitbridge. Mohadi has an interest in a cargo bonded warehouse facility at the border so he intended to expand his interests to dry port, but Mnangagwa’s sons also had the interest in the same venture. He
confronted the boys and that created serious problems,” said a source.

The sources said the Mnangagwas also clashed with Mohadi over Redwing Mine in Penhalonga, Manicaland province. Zimbabwe’s then largest gold mining group Metallon Gold, owned by South African tycoon Mzi Khumalo, suspended operations at its Redwing Mine in 2014 due to flooding.

Metallon owned five gold mines in Zimbabwe, namely How Mine, the most productive, Shamva Mine, Arcturas Mine, Mazowe Mine and Redwing Mine.

The problem in Penhalonga started with the placement of Redwing Mine under judicial management in 2018, due to viability challenges owing to foreign currency shortages.

Different consortiums positioned themselves for the mine and its claims. One was supported by Mohadi and the other had links to Mnangagwa.

Mohadi supported Patricia Mutombgwera and Grant Chitate through their company Probadeck Investments which has legal ownership of the mine.

Well-known gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya and his own consortium also wanted the mining asset, and they were supported by Mnangagwa’s family.

Cecil Madondo was appointed by the High Court as corporate rescue practitioner of Redwing Mine, but later sold the mining rights three times, creating confusion.

On October 15 last year, Madondo told Mutombgwera and Chitate that he had given their company Probadeck exclusive mining rights on the claims held by Redwing covering 132 gold mining blocks,
eight copper mining blocks and any other mining claims.

So 15 days later, Mutombgwera and Chitate signed a joint venture relationship agreement with the mining company represented by Madondo.

Probadeck paid US$60 000 corporate rescue fees to Madondo’s personal company, Tudor House Consultants, and made capital expenditure amounting to US$200 000.

In November last year, Madondo prepared another memorandum of tribute agreement with Prime Royal, giving it the same mining blocks which he had ceded to Probadeck.

On December 1, Madondo entered into yet another memorandum of tribute agreement with Betterbrands Mining, giving it the same mining blocks.

There is also a Chinese gold mining company, Zhong Jian, interested in the gold-rich Premier Estate area in Penhalonga involved in the gold rush mix.

“Mohadi, who is into a lot of gold mining, has an interest in the mine through his partners Patricia Mutombgwera and Grant Chitate. They formed a company called Probadeck which had entered into a joint venture deal with the judicial manager Madondo, before they fell out and the issue is currently
in the courts.

“However, Sakupwanya, who is linked to the Mnangagwa family, wanted the gold mine. Mohadi tried to no avail to have the matter resolved amicably, but it all failed. His partners caused the arrest of Madondo on allegations of fraud, but failed to deal with Sakupwanya.

A Chinese dealer in partnership with Sakupwanya was arrested, but rescued by the powers-that-be,” a source said.

“These are the real issues behind Mohadi’s downfall. The sex scandal only triggered his removal, but the underlying issues are to be found in the politics of business.”

A local environmental rights group, the Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG), says Redwing
Mine has now became a battlefront for politicians.

“The closure of Redwing Mine offered an opportunity to political elites, the politically connected and securocrats who, with the aid of the organised syndicates, are exploiting the mine’s claims dotted around Penhalonga and Tsvingwe for profit without due care for the environment.

“The conversion of Redwing Mine to a huge artisanal mining field has caused political and socio-environmental disputes within the Penhalonga and Tsvingwe communities. The politically connected have been displacing other artisanal miners from the mining field. There are reports that some artisanal miners have lost their gold-rich pits and ore to syndicate leaders fronting political and security figures.

“The involvement of politicians has undermined the rule of law, stability and livelihoods of affected communities. Corruption, sometimes coupled with intimidation and violence, has become common.

CNRG investigations have revealed that the haphazard mining in Penhalonga has now taken the form of organised crime as the syndicates are interlinked and use corruption and violence to secure mining
rights and resource rents.

“There is a clandestine secretive consortium which holds the strings of artisanal mining in Penhalonga. These networks tend to be transactional, determined and are controlled by a few individuals at key points in the artisanal gold supply chains.”

Efforts to get comment from presidential spokesperson George Charamba failed.

-Newshawks

Violence against women remains devastatingly pervasive and starts alarmingly young, shows new data from WHO and partners. Across their lifetime, 1 in 3 women, around 736 million, are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner – a number that has remained largely unchanged over the past decade.

This violence starts early: 1 in 4 young women (aged 15-24 years) who have been in a relationship will have already experienced violence by an intimate partner by the time they reach their mid-twenties.

“Violence against women is endemic in every country and culture, causing harm to millions of women and their families, and has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But unlike COVID-19, violence against women cannot be stopped with a vaccine. We can only fight it with deep-rooted and sustained efforts – by governments, communities and individuals – to change harmful attitudes, improve access to opportunities and services for women and girls, and foster healthy and mutually respectful relationships.”

Intimate partner violence is by far the most prevalent form of violence against women globally (affecting around 641 million). However, 6% of women globally report being sexually assaulted by someone other than their husband or partner. Given the high levels of stigma and under-reporting of sexual abuse, the true figure is likely to be significantly higher.

Emergencies exacerbate violence, increasing vulnerability and risks
This report presents data from the largest ever study of the prevalence of violence against women, conducted by WHO on behalf of a special working group of the United Nations. Based on data from 2000 to 2018, it updates previous estimates released in 2013.

While the numbers reveal already alarmingly high rates of violence against women and girls, they do not reflect the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO and partners warn that the COVID-19 pandemic has further increased women’s exposure to violence, as a result of measures such as lockdowns and disruptions to vital support services.

“It’s deeply disturbing that this pervasive violence by men against women not only persists unchanged, but is at its worst for young women aged 15-24 who may also be young mothers. And that was the situation before the pandemic stay-at home orders. We know that the multiple impacts of COVID-19 have triggered a “shadow pandemic” of increased reported violence of all kinds against women and girls,” said UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. “Every government should be taking strong, proactive steps to address this, and involving women in doing so”, she added.

Though many countries have seen increased reporting of intimate partner violence to helplines, police, health workers, teachers, and other service providers during lockdowns, the full impact of the pandemic on prevalence will only be established as surveys are resumed, the report notes.

Inequities are a leading risk factor for violence against women
Violence disproportionately affects women living in low- and lower-middle-income countries. An estimated 37% of women living in the poorest countries have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their life, with some of these countries having a prevalence as high as 1 in 2.

The regions of Oceania, Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest prevalence rates of intimate partner violence among women aged 15-49, ranging from 33% – 51%. The lowest rates are found in Europe (16–23%), Central Asia (18%), Eastern Asia (20%) and South-Eastern Asia (21%).

Younger women are at highest risk for recent violence. Among those who have been in a relationship, the highest rates (16%) of intimate partner violence in the past 12 months occurred among young women aged between 15 and 24.

Violence against women must be prevented
Violence – in all its forms – can have an impact on a woman’s health and well-being throughout the rest of her life – even long after the violence may have ended. It is associated with increased risk of injuries, depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, sexually-transmitted infections including HIV and many other health problems. It has impacts on society as a whole and comes with tremendous costs, impacting national budgets and overall development.

Preventing violence requires addressing systemic economic and social inequalities, ensuring access to education and safe work, and changing discriminatory gender norms and institutions. Successful interventions also include strategies that ensure essential services are available and accessible to survivors, that support women’s organisations, challenge inequitable social norms, reform discriminatory laws and strengthen legal responses, among others.

“To address violence against women, there’s an urgent need to reduce stigma around this issue, train health professionals to interview survivors with compassion, and dismantle the foundations of gender inequality,” said Dr Claudia Garcia-Moreno of WHO. “Interventions with adolescents and young people to foster gender equality and gender-equitable attitudes are also vital.”

Countries should honour their commitments to increased and strong political will and leadership to tackle violence against women in all its forms, through:

Sound gender transformative policies, from policies around childcare to equal pay, and laws that support gender equality,
A strengthened health system response that ensures access to survivor-centred care and referral to other services as needed,
School and educational interventions to challenge discriminatory attitudes and beliefs, including comprehensive sexuality education,
Targeted investment in sustainable and effective evidence-based prevention strategies at local, national, regional and global levels, and
Strengthening data collection and investing in high quality surveys on violence against women and improving measurement of the different forms of violence experienced by women, including those who are most marginalized.-
World Health Organization

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The Government has threatened to close schools that will bar pupils from attending classes over the issue of fees as it has emerged that most learning institutions are also demanding fees payment in foreign currency.

Schools open tomorrow for the first year for examination classes and the rest of the classes will open on 22 March.

However, parents have been scratching their heads over high demands from schools some that are pegged in foreign currency.

It has also been noted that some schools even if they allow parents to pay using local currency, are using rates higher than the official rates. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema told Sunday News yesterday that any school that will bar a pupil over the issue of fees risk being closed. He said the ministry was also concerned over the issue of fees as schools know the procedures that must be followed in coming up with the fees and levy structures.

“These schools are fully aware of the procedures to be followed when they want to increase fees, they know the consequences if they decide to increase without the consent of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry. What we are saying is that authorities should not be allowed to benefit from nothing.

It is also illegal for schools to then bar pupils from school owing to non-payment of fees, school heads know all this and they know that the ministry has the power to close them if they ignore these directives,” said Minister Mathema.

However, a survey by Sunday News has revealed that most boarding schools are pegging their fees in foreign currency, with authorities saying pupils will not be allowed within the school premises if they do not show proof of payment.

According to a circular from Embakwe Mission school in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South, the school head, a Mr M Ndlovu, said Forms One to Three boarders are expected to pay US$325, Form Four boarders; US$345, Upper Six boarders (without practicals); US$365 while Upper Six students with practicals are expected to pay US$380.
“Payments may be made in local currency, Rand or United States Dollars to the given bank accounts. The bank will give the rating of the day.

Proof of fees payment is to be produced on boarding the bus. It is our hope that the fees charged will cover the term’s expenses at the same time helping the school to settle fixed charges of the past year like ancillary staff salaries, insurance, Nssa, Zesa and Zinwa,” reads the circular.

Other schools such as Mzingwane High School is demanding $21 000, John Tallach Secondary School $30 000 while Thornhill High School in Gweru is charging $30 000. Speaking on the preparedness of schools to open Minister Mathema said all was in place, revealing that officials from the ministry have been going around the provinces to assess the preparedness well before Cabinet announced the school calendar.

“Remember that we already have the Standard Operation Procedures which school heads have been implementing since last year, therefore I can safely say that come Monday its all systems go, we are ready.

“As a ministry we have done our best in the provision of Personal Protective Equipment to the schools but also our schools have become industries where they are producing masks and sanitisers but parents and guardians must play their part by also ensuring their children always mask up as we fight to contain the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Last week, on Thursday, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs Tumisang Thabela, reiterated the ministry’s policy on school fees noting that school authorities should be guided by the set down ministry procedures on the collection of school fees. According to the new calendar the first term will end on 4 June, the second term will begin on 28 June ending on 10 September 10 while the third term will start on 4 October ending on 17 December.

-State Media

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has given contractors of the Beitbridge-Chirundu Road reconstruction a target of 364 kilometres to be completed before the end of the year as Government steps up efforts to expedite the reconstruction of the major highway.

Speaking after a familiarisation tour in Bulawayo on Friday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said the country’s road infrastructure was in a bad state and the dire situation was exacerbated by the heavy and incessant rains that the country received this season which left a trail of destruction.

He said the Government was also inviting more players to come on board in the road reconstruction so as to accelerate the project which will improve the country’s road network.

“In terms of road infrastructure, the Beitbridge-Chirundu highway resurfacing was an initiative of the new dispensation which decided that we have been looking for funds elsewhere and it has not been working so we need to resource mobilise domestically and resurface our roads from our domestic resources. So local players were then invited to tender for the Beitbridge-Chirundu Road.

As we speak, they have done 164km under phase one and two and we are expecting to do 200km this year which is something that is in the right trajectory,” said Minister Mhona.

He said all contractors were being paid in local currency as the project was being funded from the Government fiscus.

“We are paying from the fiscus and in local currency. This is an initiative that is very commendable. We still maintain the open-door policy where we want more players to come in and partner Government to expedite the exercise,” he said.

-State Media

By Jane Mlambo| Former Zanu PF politburo member Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has backed Tracy Mutinhiri’s decision to rejoin the ruling party saying had it not been for his dismissal by the late Robert Mugabe he would not have been out of the movement.

Posting on Twitter, Bhasikiti who also quit politics said politicians should retrace their footsteps the same way MDC Alliance dumped PDP and went back to his party.

“I support Tracy’s decision,in the way I support Biti’s move to dump PDP for MDC.Anekwake ngaaende.IF I WASN’T EXPELLED BY RGM 2015,I COULD HAVE BEEN IN ZPF TODAY AS WE SPEAK.Nothing to regret though, as Farming&Feeding the Nation beats both,” said Bhasikiti.

The former MDC Alliance member followed up with another tweet in which he called to order those who were puzzled by Mutinhiri’s return to Zanu PF while applauding Tendai Biti and Welsman Ncube for returning to MDC.

It’s extremely puzzling&ridiculous,to see people crying over Mutinhiri’s return to the base ZPFand applaud the return to MDC by Biti&Welsh.Tell me the difference between these two return scenarios?

Mutinhiri reportedly rejoined Zanu PF after quitting MDC Alliance a year ago.

She once contested for the position of MDC Alliaince vice president Post and lost to Linette Kore.

The director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Portia Manangazira has appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on allegations of misappropriating funds and fuel meant for training 800 community health workers who were to raise awareness on Covid-19 in the country.

Manangazira appeared before deputy chief magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande charged with four counts of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

The funds and fuel were part of the US$796 675 disbursed by the Health Ministry to train 800 health workers across the country, who were to raise Covid-19 awareness in various communities.

Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti and Mr Ephraim Zinyandu appeared for the State while Mr Harrison Nkomo represented Manangazira. Manangazira is expected to apply for bail.- The Sunday News

NEARLY 5 000 teenage girls got pregnant while close to 2 000 were married off in the first two months of the year, in what experts believe was a result of idleness and school closures caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Government imposed a Level Four lockdown at the beginning of the year resulting in the postponement of school opening. According to a report by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development which was presented in Parliament last week, the country recorded 4 959 cases of teenage pregnancies and 1 774 child marriages in January and February alone. The report also showed that 900 girls below the age of 17 were raped in October and November last year, indicating an average of 15 girls being raped per day.

Some of the rape cases were of girls below the age of seven.

Mashonaland Central tops the numbers with 4 475 teenage pregnancies and 1 436 child marriages while Matabeleland South is second with 290 teenage pregnancies and 65 child marriages. Harare did not record any teenage pregnancy nor child marriage while Bulawayo had only one teenage pregnancy case and zero child marriages.

Matabeleland North recorded 74 child marriages and no teenage pregnancies. Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni who presented the report said close male family members were identified as perpetrators of rape and other forms of child abuse.

She said it was clear that rural areas have issues around teenagers who are exposed to sex before the age of consent. Dr Nyoni said staying at home and being idle also contributed to the minors getting pregnant.

“We acknowledge that this is a time of great anxiety, uncertainty and stress for many as normal life routines are changed. Women and girls who constitute the greater percentage of gender-based violence survivors find themselves trapped in homes with abusive husbands, fathers, brothers and family members with limited access to protection and support services. With the report, we have indeed witnessed unprecedented incidents of rape during this period.”

On rape cases of underaged girls, the report showed that the Victim Friendly Unit of the Zimbabwe Republic Police received 1 222 cases of rape in the third quarter of 2020 and in the fourth quarter they received 1 274 cases countrywide. A total of 134 girls between the age of zero and seven years were raped in the fourth quarter, 239 girls between eight years and 12 years, 292 girls between 13 and 15 years and 235 girls between 16 and 17 years.

Educationists, experts in adolescent sexual reproduction and parents said there was need for an urgent intervention by the Government and local communities. National Association of Secondary Headmasters president Mr Arthur Maphosa said the solution lies in the opening of schools as most teenage girls were being exposed to abusers while at home.

“The number of teenagers falling pregnant is not only disturbing but detrimental to efforts made by the Government and its partners to protect and empower the girl child. Children have to be in school but that was not possible for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown that forced the closure of schools. Our young girls were exposed to the vagaries of society, made to engage in sex, forcibly in most cases.

“Parents no longer give strict supervision as they heavily rely on the school teacher to do the work. Hopefully as the Government finds a solution with communities, we hope to heal and mend the disaster through intense educational programmes.

We as educators cannot sit and leave the rot to spoil our children’s future. Men as fathers, brother and community leaders have to own up and stop this inhumane behaviour of raping our kids, marrying them off for money and status. It is disgusting.”- The Sunday News

Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 cases are rising again with 46 positive cases recorded yesterday while four died of the pandemic.

A few days ago, the country was recording single digit cases and on some days zero death cases.

Doctors have warned of a third wave which they anticipate to be deadly that the previous two waves.

The late actress, Anne Nhira called her brother, Juan, and told him that she was attacked and this was the last thing that she said before she was rushed to hospital in South Africa on Monday.

Nhira, who shot to prominence through her role on the hit soap opera, Studio 263, died on Wednesday from injuries sustained after a mugging in South Africa’s Belview Suburb on Monday.

Juan who is based in South Africa said when he spoke to his sister, the few words she said were her recollection of what happened.

“The only few words I heard from my sister were that men with guns came out of the bushes at the prayer mountain. When I found her (at the scene), I didn’t want her to talk too much as I wanted to get help,” Juan said.

He said although his sister said there were gunmen involved, he did not see any gunshot wounds on her.

“There were no bullet wounds that I saw, but there was physical damage on the chest area, stomach, rib cage and her back. We’re actually trying to get the surveillance of that area and see if we can come up with anything.

“There’re no witnesses so far and what we know is what she told us,” said Juan.

Asked about burial arrangements, Juan said they are waiting for pathology results so that they map a way forward.

“We signed all the forms that were required so we’re now just waiting for the pathologists to give us the results. It’s only then that we’ll have a solid plan. They’re saying it’ll take a bit of time,” said Juan.

— Chronicle

Nearly 5 000 teenage girls got pregnant while close to 2 000 were married off in the first two months of the year, in what experts believe was a result of idleness and school closures caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Government imposed a Level Four lockdown at the beginning of the year resulting in the postponement of school opening. According to a report by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development which was presented in Parliament last week, the country recorded 4 959 cases of teenage pregnancies and 1 774 child marriages in January and February alone. The report also showed that 900 girls below the age of 17 were raped in October and November last year, indicating an average of 15 girls being raped per day.

Some of the rape cases were of girls below the age of seven. Mashonaland Central tops the numbers with 4 475 teenage pregnancies and 1 436 child marriages while Matabeleland South is second with 290 teenage pregnancies and 65 child marriages. Harare did not record any teenage pregnancy nor child marriage while Bulawayo had only one teenage pregnancy case and zero child marriages.

Matabeleland North recorded 74 child marriages and no teenage pregnancies. Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni who presented the report said close male family members were identified as perpetrators of rape and other forms of child abuse.

She said it was clear that rural areas have issues around teenagers who are exposed to sex before the age of consent. Dr Nyoni said staying at home and being idle also contributed to the minors getting pregnant.

“We acknowledge that this is a time of great anxiety, uncertainty and stress for many as normal life routines are changed. Women and girls who constitute the greater percentage of gender-based violence survivors find themselves trapped in homes with abusive husbands, fathers, brothers and family members with limited access to protection and support services. With the report, we have indeed witnessed unprecedented incidents of rape during this period.”

On rape cases of underaged girls, the report showed that the Victim Friendly Unit of the Zimbabwe Republic Police received 1 222 cases of rape in the third quarter of 2020 and in the fourth quarter they received 1 274 cases countrywide. A total of 134 girls between the age of zero and seven years were raped in the fourth quarter, 239 girls between eight years and 12 years, 292 girls between 13 and 15 years and 235 girls between 16 and 17 years.

Educationists, experts in adolescent sexual reproduction and parents said there was need for an urgent intervention by the Government and local communities. National Association of Secondary Headmasters president Mr Arthur Maphosa said the solution lies in the opening of schools as most teenage girls were being exposed to abusers while at home.

“The number of teenagers falling pregnant is not only disturbing but detrimental to efforts made by the Government and its partners to protect and empower the girl child. Children have to be in school but that was not possible for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown that forced the closure of schools. Our young girls were exposed to the vagaries of society, made to engage in sex, forcibly in most cases.

“Parents no longer give strict supervision as they heavily rely on the school teacher to do the work. Hopefully as the Government finds a solution with communities, we hope to heal and mend the disaster through intense educational programmes.

We as educators cannot sit and leave the rot to spoil our children’s future. Men as fathers, brother and community leaders have to own up and stop this inhumane behaviour of raping our kids, marrying them off for money and status. It is disgusting.”

In a statement to Sunday News, the Farming Community Education Trust (FACET), said apart from rape, other drivers of teenage pregnancies were lack of appreciation of the value of keeping girls in school, poverty at family and community level.

“Most parents in these communities do not value education. The main reason being poverty because they cannot afford school fees and other requirements needed to send their children to school. Because of this, most girls then opt for marriage to escape poverty at home. Some are forced into these marriages by their parents so they can get a dollar from the arrangement. The trouble is that this becomes a cycle of poverty.”

The organisation said the solution was for communities to educate young girls and boys on the dangers of sex. Traditional leaders were identified as strategic in keeping the community in check.

Zimbabwe Council of Churches president Bishop Lazarus Khanye said in most cases, although not related to specific areas, the surge in teenage pregnancies was as a result of exploitation by those who have resources.

This year the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education committed to spend $123 million that will help pregnant girls to continue with their education. This is in line with the amended Education Act which now allows girls to attend school during and after the pregnancy. -Sunday Mail

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has expressed dissatisfaction with the state of affairs at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and challenged the parastatal’s board to come up with a feasible and pragmatic turnaround strategy to revive the company.

NRZ has 10 working locomotives out of 67 and has failed to attract business from mining companies moving heavy metals in and outside the country. The organisation requires at least US$400 million to get back on its feet in the short term.

Speaking after touring NRZ properties in Bulawayo on Friday, Minister Mhona said NRZ required fresh capital injection to totally revitalise the parastatal and while the ministry engages the Treasury to avail some of the required resources, the board should also look at other prospective suitors to revive the parastatal.

Minister Mhona said most of the machinery and locomotives at NRZ were obsolete and were not moving with changing technologies. He said NRZ must make itself competitive on the market to become the transporter of choice and attract business.

“What I saw today belongs to the scrapyard. Those machines and equipment are outdated. To capacitate NRZ from the fiscus, the cake is very small. We go each year as a ministry and sometimes you are given a third of what you are anticipating. Despite the cake being small as a nation we are endowed with mineral resources and we can turn around the organisation ourselves.

It is not about having the money but also the capacity to have the ideas of generating the money. We need the NRZ board to give us a turnaround strategy. The moment you go with a begging bowl to the Treasury you will be frustrated because the Treasury is incapacitated.

The board should also look at strategic partnership. The moment you become vibrant and robust we attract business,” he said.

Minister Mhona said Government was also seeking to transport all heavy goods and metals by rail to prolong the lifespan of the roads.

“It is noble to move our goods from road to rail. Our roads are in a sorry state because there are heavy metals and goods being transported by road. Moving heavy goods from the roads and have them transported by road is the way to go,” he said.

NRZ board chairman Advocate Martin Dinha said NRZ required at least 40 locomotives for it to be able to meet some of the service requirements. He said NRZ required 300 new and modern coaches and 300 wagons.

“We don’t have enough traction power as NRZ. The NRZ board has always been on record in appealing to the Government to assist in terms of capacitation.

“We need at least 40 locomotives, 300 wagons and 300 coaches and this request had been given to Government and for us to move forward and achieve what we want that is the capacity needed to turn around the organisation. In terms of figures it is difficult to give them in terms of how much it costs. One locomotive costs around US$3 million. For 40 it is around US$120 million,” he said. -Sunday News

The Government has threatened to close schools that will bar pupils from attending classes over the issue of fees as it has emerged that most learning institutions are also demanding fees payment in foreign currency.

Schools open tomorrow for the first year for examination classes and the rest of the classes will open on 22 March.

However, parents have been scratching their heads over high demands from schools some that are pegged in foreign currency.

It has also been noted that some schools even if they allow parents to pay using local currency, are using rates higher than the official rates. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema told Sunday News yesterday that any school that will bar a pupil over the issue of fees risk being closed. He said the ministry was also concerned over the issue of fees as schools know the procedures that must be followed in coming up with the fees and levy structures.

“These schools are fully aware of the procedures to be followed when they want to increase fees, they know the consequences if they decide to increase without the consent of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry. What we are saying is that authorities should not be allowed to benefit from nothing.

It is also illegal for schools to then bar pupils from school owing to non-payment of fees, school heads know all this and they know that the ministry has the power to close them if they ignore these directives,” said Minister Mathema.

However, a survey by Sunday News has revealed that most boarding schools are pegging their fees in foreign currency, with authorities saying pupils will not be allowed within the school premises if they do not show proof of payment.

According to a circular from Embakwe Mission school in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South, the school head, a Mr M Ndlovu, said Forms One to Three boarders are expected to pay US$325, Form Four boarders; US$345, Upper Six boarders (without practicals); US$365 while Upper Six students with practicals are expected to pay US$380.

“Payments may be made in local currency, Rand or United States Dollars to the given bank accounts. The bank will give the rating of the day.

Proof of fees payment is to be produced on boarding the bus. It is our hope that the fees charged will cover the term’s expenses at the same time helping the school to settle fixed charges of the past year like ancillary staff salaries, insurance, Nssa, Zesa and Zinwa,” reads the circular.

Other schools such as Mzingwane High School is demanding $21 000, John Tallach Secondary School $30 000 while Thornhill High School in Gweru is charging $30 000. Speaking on the preparedness of schools to open Minister Mathema said all was in place, revealing that officials from the ministry have been going around the provinces to assess the preparedness well before Cabinet announced the school calendar.

“Remember that we already have the Standard Operation Procedures which school heads have been implementing since last year, therefore I can safely say that come Monday its all systems go, we are ready.

“As a ministry we have done our best in the provision of Personal Protective Equipment to the schools but also our schools have become industries where they are producing masks and sanitisers but parents and guardians must play their part by also ensuring their children always mask up as we fight to contain the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Last week, on Thursday, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs Tumisang Thabela, reiterated the ministry’s policy on school fees noting that school authorities should be guided by the set down ministry procedures on the collection of school fees. According to the new calendar the first term will end on 4 June, the second term will begin on 28 June ending on 10 September 10 while the third term will start on 4 October ending on 17 December. Sunday News

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, who is a man of faith has pointed out that those who are guided by God Almighty will always emerge victorious.

President Chamisa used the biblical illustration of David and Saul to describe the political events in the country.

Saul, being tormented by an evil spirit, tried in vain to kill David. In the Bible God describes David as a man after His own heart.

“STRONGER EVERYDAY..”Now there was a long war between the house of SAUL and the house of DAVID.

But David grew stronger and stronger,and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.” (2Sam 3:1) Blessed sabbath,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri| Zanu PF is desperate to justify the killing and torture of innocent citizens, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.

The clueless and cruel regime is afraid of President Chamisa’s rising influence, according to the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.

On Friday, Zanu PF through its visibly jaded spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo feebly attempted to pour cold water on President Chamisa’s Agenda address.

In response, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly accused Zanu PF of using the press conference to justify the persecution of human rights activists in the country.

Read full statement below:

Resistance To Abuse Of Our Rights Is Not Subversion, ZANU PF In Panic Mode

By Stephen Sarkozy Chuma

13-03-2021

ZANU PF is running scared and cannot fathom the idea of citizens converging for change.

In a hollow presser issued by the debilitating former revolutionary party through its mouthpiece, Simon Khaya Moyo, ZANU PF accuses the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and MDC Alliance of threatening “to unseat a constitutionally elected Government”.

Such lies and unsubstantiated falsehoods on the alternative People’s Government can not go unchallenged.

It is important to note that whenever ZANU PF make those subversion allegations, the intention is to sanitize their intended bloodbath on innocent citizens.

When a hyena wants to devour its own cubs it first accuses them of smelling like goats.

The last time ZANU PF made those serious allegations against the people, they went on a rampage killing innocent civilians in January 2019. Last year following the July 31 call for demonstrations, the same regime drew a long list of “enemies of the government” and went on to arbitrarily arrest and imprison citizens without trial.

Remember Simon Khaya Moyo!

This is the same man who once described Emmerson Mnangagwa live on national television as “incompetent and inconsistent”. Now the same Khaya Moyo wants citizens not to question this “incompetent” dictator.

Anything from ZANU PF through Khaya Moyo is deception, lies and pretense. This is a man who always indicate right and turn left.

When ZANU PF tells you that they respect multi party democracy yet they go on to take over our party headquarters and recall the people’s elected representatives, they are lying with a straight face.

What sort of multi party democracy is propagated and irrigated by wanton arrests of alternative voices and closure of democratic space.

What democracy does ZANU PF parrot about when innocent alternative voices like Makomborero Haruzivishe, Takudzwa Ngadziore, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe and many others are languishing in prisons for demanding their rights as citizens.

Resistance to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s abuse of power must never be mistaken as subversion.

Mnangagwa was not elected but was selected by the military through the gun so ZANU PF must spare us the ‘constitutionally elected’ nonsense.

While there is nothing positive to take home from ZANU PF’s hollow presser for the hungry and angry citizens, the response itself to the People’s #Agenda2021 is a clear indication that the message reached home.

Our message to the dictator is simple and clear. We can no longer tolerate the dehumanizing abuse we have endured for so long from this rogue regime.

The People’s #Agenda2021 and Citizens Convergence for Change will never be stopped by a failed ZANU PF’s sideshows.

Our grievances are very clear and genuine.

We are fed up with arbitrary arrests, imprisonment pre-trial, unchecked looting and corruption, state capture and abductions.

Defiance and resistance to ZANU PF abuse of power is our new normal.

DefyOrDie

CitizensConvergence4Change

Agenda2021

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Tinashe Sambiri| Zanu PF is desperate to justify the killing and torture of innocent citizens, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.

The clueless and cruel regime is afraid of President Chamisa’s rising influence, according to the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.

On Friday, Zanu PF through its visibly jaded spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo feebly attempted to pour cold water on President Chamisa’s Agenda address.

In response, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly accused Zanu PF of using the press conference to justify the persecution of human rights activists in the country.

Read full statement below:

Resistance To Abuse Of Our Rights Is Not Subversion, ZANU PF In Panic Mode

By Stephen Sarkozy Chuma

13-03-2021

ZANU PF is running scared and cannot fathom the idea of citizens converging for change.

In a hollow presser issued by the debilitating former revolutionary party through its mouthpiece, Simon Khaya Moyo, ZANU PF accuses the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and MDC Alliance of threatening “to unseat a constitutionally elected Government”.

Such lies and unsubstantiated falsehoods on the alternative People’s Government can not go unchallenged.

It is important to note that whenever ZANU PF make those subversion allegations, the intention is to sanitize their intended bloodbath on innocent citizens.

When a hyena wants to devour its own cubs it first accuses them of smelling like goats.

The last time ZANU PF made those serious allegations against the people, they went on a rampage killing innocent civilians in January 2019. Last year following the July 31 call for demonstrations, the same regime drew a long list of “enemies of the government” and went on to arbitrarily arrest and imprison citizens without trial.

Remember Simon Khaya Moyo!

This is the same man who once described Emmerson Mnangagwa live on national television as “incompetent and inconsistent”. Now the same Khaya Moyo wants citizens not to question this “incompetent” dictator.

Anything from ZANU PF through Khaya Moyo is deception, lies and pretense. This is a man who always indicate right and turn left.

When ZANU PF tells you that they respect multi party democracy yet they go on to take over our party headquarters and recall the people’s elected representatives, they are lying with a straight face.

What sort of multi party democracy is propagated and irrigated by wanton arrests of alternative voices and closure of democratic space.

What democracy does ZANU PF parrot about when innocent alternative voices like Makomborero Haruzivishe, Takudzwa Ngadziore, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe and many others are languishing in prisons for demanding their rights as citizens.

Resistance to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s abuse of power must never be mistaken as subversion.

Mnangagwa was not elected but was selected by the military through the gun so ZANU PF must spare us the ‘constitutionally elected’ nonsense.

While there is nothing positive to take home from ZANU PF’s hollow presser for the hungry and angry citizens, the response itself to the People’s #Agenda2021 is a clear indication that the message reached home.

Our message to the dictator is simple and clear. We can no longer tolerate the dehumanizing abuse we have endured for so long from this rogue regime.

The People’s #Agenda2021 and Citizens Convergence for Change will never be stopped by a failed ZANU PF’s sideshows.

Our grievances are very clear and genuine.

We are fed up with arbitrary arrests, imprisonment pre-trial, unchecked looting and corruption, state capture and abductions.

Defiance and resistance to ZANU PF abuse of power is our new normal.

DefyOrDie

CitizensConvergence4Change

Agenda2021

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

The International Cross-Border Traders Association Temporarily Closed Beitbridge Border Post today 12 March 2021, Demanding the reopening of borders in Zimbabwe.

1. Why the top Zimbabwean government officials are sending trucks to buy goods in South Africa for resell in Zimbabwe?
2. Traders are dying in the bush when they try to cross borders through ungazetted points of entry.
3. Traders are loosing goods to robbers in the bush.
4. Airports must be closed not to close land borders only.
5. Borders must be opened since the vaccine is now available.

ICTA
+27 100 232 732
WhatsApp +27623966158

Tinashe Sambiri| Zanu PF is desperate to justify the killing and torture of innocent citizens, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.

The clueless and cruel regime is afraid of President Chamisa’s rising influence, according to the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.

On Friday, Zanu PF through its visibly jaded spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo feebly attempted to pour cold water on President Chamisa’s Agenda address.

In response, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly accused Zanu PF of using the press conference to justify the persecution of human rights activists in the country.

Read full statement below:

Resistance To Abuse Of Our Rights Is Not Subversion, ZANU PF In Panic Mode

By Stephen Sarkozy Chuma

13-03-2021

ZANU PF is running scared and cannot fathom the idea of citizens converging for change.

In a hollow presser issued by the debilitating former revolutionary party through its mouthpiece, Simon Khaya Moyo, ZANU PF accuses the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and MDC Alliance of threatening “to unseat a constitutionally elected Government”.

Such lies and unsubstantiated falsehoods on the alternative People’s Government can not go unchallenged.

It is important to note that whenever ZANU PF make those subversion allegations, the intention is to sanitize their intended bloodbath on innocent citizens.

When a hyena wants to devour its own cubs it first accuses them of smelling like goats.

The last time ZANU PF made those serious allegations against the people, they went on a rampage killing innocent civilians in January 2019. Last year following the July 31 call for demonstrations, the same regime drew a long list of “enemies of the government” and went on to arbitrarily arrest and imprison citizens without trial.

Remember Simon Khaya Moyo!

This is the same man who once described Emmerson Mnangagwa live on national television as “incompetent and inconsistent”. Now the same Khaya Moyo wants citizens not to question this “incompetent” dictator.

Anything from ZANU PF through Khaya Moyo is deception, lies and pretense. This is a man who always indicate right and turn left.

When ZANU PF tells you that they respect multi party democracy yet they go on to take over our party headquarters and recall the people’s elected representatives, they are lying with a straight face.

What sort of multi party democracy is propagated and irrigated by wanton arrests of alternative voices and closure of democratic space.

What democracy does ZANU PF parrot about when innocent alternative voices like Makomborero Haruzivishe, Takudzwa Ngadziore, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe and many others are languishing in prisons for demanding their rights as citizens.

Resistance to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s abuse of power must never be mistaken as subversion.

Mnangagwa was not elected but was selected by the military through the gun so ZANU PF must spare us the ‘constitutionally elected’ nonsense.

While there is nothing positive to take home from ZANU PF’s hollow presser for the hungry and angry citizens, the response itself to the People’s #Agenda2021 is a clear indication that the message reached home.

Our message to the dictator is simple and clear. We can no longer tolerate the dehumanizing abuse we have endured for so long from this rogue regime.

The People’s #Agenda2021 and Citizens Convergence for Change will never be stopped by a failed ZANU PF’s sideshows.

Our grievances are very clear and genuine.

We are fed up with arbitrary arrests, imprisonment pre-trial, unchecked looting and corruption, state capture and abductions.

Defiance and resistance to ZANU PF abuse of power is our new normal.

DefyOrDie

CitizensConvergence4Change

Agenda2021

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Tinashe Sambiri| The clueless Zanu PF regime is afraid of the people’s agenda, MDC Alliance has said.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo stunned all and sundry on Friday when he accused President Nelson Chamisa of inciting social unrest.

A perplexed Khaya Moyo even instructed the police to arrest President Chamisa.

Zanu PF has dismally failed to resolve the country’s deepening economic woes.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3736407166406917&id=307873449260323

MDC Alliance Response to threats by Simon Khaya-Moyo – ZANU PF is afraid of the People's Agenda: pic.twitter.com/bqPQfiwBD8

— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) March 12, 2021

Afro-contemporary musician Terry Afrika was yesterday involved in a head-on collision which claimed one life along Bindura Road.

Terry Afrika said his wife who was driving at a speed of between 60 and 70 kilometres per hour lost control of the car after hitting a pothole.

After losing control of the car Terry Afrika’s collided with an oncoming vehicle resulting in the death of one person who was in the other car.

Below are pictures of the accident….

Former MDC Alliance top official Tracy Mutinhiri is set for a sensational return to Zanu PF after handing in an application letter at the Mashonaland East provincial offices in Marondera declaring her intention to rejoin the ruling party.

This was revealed by the party’s provincial administration secretary Kudzai Majuru during a provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting held in Marondera on Saturday last week.

Mutinhiri, who joined the opposition party during the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s era after defecting from Zanu PF, quit the MDC Alliance in February last year citing “personal reasons” after having held influential positions for four years.

“We received applications from people who want to rejoin the party. We have Tracy Mutinhiri and three others. As a province, we recommended that they be readmitted into the party, However, according to the (party) constitution, they will become ordinary card-carrying members. We await for approval from our party leadership on the way forward,” Majuru said.

The other two who have applied to be readmitted into the Zanu PF party are Oswell Gwanzura from Goromonzi district and Joseph Kamwendo from Murewa.

Gwanzura was expelled after standing as an independent candidate during the 2018 elections as he protested against former Goromonzi South legislator Petronnela Kagonye’s alleged rigging of the party’s primaries, while Kamwendo had fallen out of favour with the late provincial chairmanship Joel Biggie Matiza.

Majuru added that Mutinhiri’s ex-husband and former minister Ambrose Mutinhiri had also applied to work with the Zanu PF provincial team.

“We all know that Mutinhiri was welcomed back through our top leadership. He, however, applied to the province notifying us at provincial level so that we work together,” Majuru said.

Zanu PF is currently luring expelled members and opposition party activists to join the party and beef up its support base ahead of the 2023 elections.

Recently, top MDC officials Lillian Timveos and Blessing Chebundo also defected to Zanu PF.

-Newsday

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says criticism from different quotas inspires him to provide leadership in Zimbabwe’s fight for political and economic emancipation.

He made the remarks while speaking at the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiCZ) press conference to remember the Save Zimbabwe Campaign prayer meeting that was heavily crushed by the police on 11 March 2007.

“Some are saying Chamisa is silent and some say Chamisa makes a lot of noise in Zanu PF depending where you are and I can understand because it’s also a source of inspiration because I realize that people have hope and they want us to do something and say something more and we will provide that.

“The greatest mistake any leader can ever make is to assume that the leader is the struggle and is to assume that the leader is the alpha and omega of what the people must do, let us take back the struggle to where it belongs in the hands of the people.

“The country we want to see is in our hearts and in our heads, we can only unleash it for our future generations and for ourselves when we begin to all act not as politicians not as trade unions, churches but as citizens but the bottom line is for us to go back to our common denominator that which unites us which is Zimbabwean,” said Chamisa.

Meanwhile, the MDC Alliance leader claimed he had reached out to President Emmerson Mnangagwa through letters and emissaries for dialogue but the latter has snubbed him.

“I have written so many letters to Mnangagwa, I have sent emissaries to Mnangagwa to say come let us reason together this problem of Zimbabwe is too big for you, you are incapable of solving it alone, it takes two to tango come let’s look at the problem together but he does not listen. He has refused to listen, he has refused to understand where we are coming from.

“You can’t say the country is normal when Makomborero is in jail, when the student leaders are in jail, when Hopewell Chin’ono has charges, when senior political leaders in the MDC Alliance have charges and when workers have charges that cannot be normal. You cannot be the only one who is normal when everyone is wrong, that is what has to be corrected but it starts with understanding that something is fundamentally broken and it needs to be fixed and can only be fixed by all of us,” he said.

-263Chat

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has followed up his recent meeting with Highlanders Football Club executive with another against rival Dynamos FC.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba through his Jamwanda2 Twitter account posted about the meeting saying the meeting was part of Mnangagwa’s support to the most followed sport which has not been active since COVID-19 started.

“This morning His Excellency the President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa met the Executive of Dynamos Football Club as part of his support for the national sport which has been frozen by COVID-19 pandemic.

“This inactivity has created financial challenges for most Clubs in the country, motivating the President to take a keen interest in their fate and how it can be improved. Football remains the leading sport in the country.

“The Club gave the President its iconic jersey bearing his initials. A few weeks back, His Excellency the President met with the hierarchy of Highlanders Football Club to listen to challenges they face in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic which has stymied contact sporting activities worldwide.

“Two key faces in Dynamos FC are former Minister of Information and Publicity, Hon Webster Shamu, and Cde Marechera, both war veterans. Cde Marechera who appears in the accompanying picture with Dynamos Chairman, participated in historic Zanla attack on Grand Reef Airbase, a mission which was led by late Paradzayi Zimondi, Augustine Chihuri,” said Jamwanda.

A Bulawayo woman is suing her former maid after she had an affair with her husband and she is demanding $2500 as compensation for impairing her dignity, B Metro reports.

Abigirl Ncube (Nee Mpofu) approached the Bulawayo civil court suing Nothando Sibindi for having an adulterous affair with her husband, Erick Ncube and siring a child in their relationship which reportedly started in 2017 when Sibindi was the couple’s maid.

In the court papers seen by the publication, Ncube also claimed Sibindi is running a flea market after getting financial assistance from her husband:

The plaintiff is married to Erick Ncube under a monogamous marriage in terms of the Marriage Act Chapter 5:11 which was entered in 2015. Ever since the period beginning 2017 the defendant has illicitly associated and engaged with the plaintiff’s husband in adulterous sexual relationship well knowing the marital status of the plaintiff’s husband.

One child has been born out of the illicit and adulterous relationship between the defendant and the plaintiff. This is despite several pleas from the plaintiff directed at the defendant to end her adulterous affair with the plaintiff’s husband, defendant is still continuing with the affair.

This after she had promised to end the affair in 2019. Plaintiff has been seriously hurt and her dignity impaired by the flagrant adultery and lack of remorse exhibited by the defendant.

…An order for the payment in the sum of US$2 500 being damages for loss of consortium, society, love, companionship and association her spouse was providing before the defendant’s unlawful malicious and illicit association with the plaintiff’s husband well knowing his marital status.

Sibindi is yet to respond to the lawsuit.-B Metro

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF heavyweights are sweating over the impact of President Nelson Chamisa’s Agenda 2021 address.

In his Agenda 2021 address on Tuesday, President Chamisa exposed Zanu PF’s failure to revive the country’s economy.He also pointed out that the MDC Alliance would not be forced by anyone to endorse Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Illegitimate administration.

On Friday, Zanu PF through its spokesperson, Simon Khaya -Moyo attempted to pour cold water on President Chamisa’s Agenda 2021 address.

Khaya-Moyo shocked all and sundry when he accused President Chamisa of inciting social unrest.

“We are ready to deal with attempts to cause social disharmony.We view the address as a clear attempt to incite civil unrest and violence,” claimed Khaya- Moyo.

Political analysts argue Mr Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party is desperate to dismantle the MDC Alliance and Khaya Moyo ‘s has literally confirmed the former revolutionary party is in panic mode.

South African taxi operators have blocked traffic at their component of the Beitbridge Border Post in protest of Zimbabwe’s delay in opening its land borders.

A source from South Africa said scores of taxi owners have parked their vehicles between the border entrance and the Shell filling station, blocking all outgoing and incoming traffic in that country.

The official said the protesters were claiming that the state of affairs was affecting their revenue inflows since few people are currently using their services.

“They are saying the rigid trucks (light commercial) and other Zimbabwean registered vehicles must not be allowed entry into that country until Zimbabwe fully reopens its borders.

” In addition, they are demanding that the cross border transporters known as Omalaitsha be allowed to transport goods into Zimbabwe,” said the source.

Another border official said the gates to the South African side had been closed to avoid a spillover of the protesters into the border.

-STATE MEDIA

Three Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution (ZETDC) senior managers from the southern region have been arrested for alleged criminal abuse of office as public officers.

ZETDC is a subsidiary of Zesa. he trio of ZETDC southern region manager, Engineer King Dube; finance manager Willard Kunaka and procurement officer Noel Manjoro were arrested by police working with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigation team.

Dube, in his separate case, is accused of allegedly taking a ZETDC contract worker and using him at his house when he was not entitled to have a gardener — a development that saw the company being prejudiced of US$17 568,25.

In his second case, Dube, charged together with Kunaka and Manjoro, allegedly defrauded the company of US$62 635,97 by showing favour to one company which had not won a tender for a required job.

First to appear before Gweru provincial magistrate Mr Edwin Marecha facing criminal abuse of duty as a public officer was Dube.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded out of custody on $20 000 bail to April 2 for trial.

It is the State’s case that from January 2013 to February 2017, Dube allegedly took a ZETDC contract worker Andrew Homa to work as a gardener at his residence in Gweru.

Homa, the court heard, had signed a contract with ZETDC as a line worker and on ZETDC pay roll before being made to work as a gardener.

During the period, Homa earned US$17 568, 25.

The court heard that Dube’s contract of employment did not allow him to have a domestic worker being paid by ZETDC, therefore, he unlawfully and intentionally did what was contrary to or inconsistent with his duty as a public officer by showing favour to himself.

Dube then appeared together with Kunaka and Manjoro before the same court where the trio faced one count of criminal abuse of duty as public officers. They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Mr Marecha remanded them out of custody on $20 000 bail each to April 2 for trial. It is the State’s case that on April 17, 2018, ZETDC allegedly intended to find a supplier to do supply and fitting of cabinets and partitioning of offices for general managers, human resources and administration manager, engineering manager and finance manager in Gweru.

The State heard that the nature of the job cost US$33 468 which exceeded the US$10 000 limit requiring to go through tender processes, a requirement under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.

Dube, Kunaka and Manjoro, allegedly acting in connivance, decided to split the job to avoid going to tender.

On April 17, 2018, the accused persons allegedly divided the scope of work as follows, general manager’s office US$9 938, human resources and administration manager’s office US$6 710, engineering manager’s office US$9 999, finance manager’s office US$6 830.

The court heard that the split was allegedly done to ensure that each of the original orders were below US$10 000. The original orders were done on the same date and works were allegedly done on the same premises meaning the splitting was intentional.

Dube, Kunaka and Manjoro, the court heard then allegedly called for quotations from Ndaftech Investments (Pvt) Limited, Premcraft (Pvt) Limited, Herbets Construction (Pvt) Limited and Creative Systems (Pvt) Limited.

On all the four occasions, the court heard that Ndaftech (Pvt) Limited won using a low bid but ZEDTC went on to amend orders of additional services which exceeded the original value by 50 percent of the original amounts.

After the amendments, the court heard that the cumulative cost of all the jobs was US$62 635,97.

Dube, Kunaka and Manjoro’s responsibility was allegedly to make sure that proper procedures were followed before awarding a contract unlawfully and intentionally which was contrary or inconsistent with their duties as public officers by showing favour to Ndaftech Investments (Pvt) Limited.

Ms Wadzanayi Shayanewako appeared for the State in both matters. -Chronicle

TWO Gimboki, Mutare goat thieves received a thorough hiding last week on Friday night when they were caught partying and braaing goat meat shortly after a goat had been reported stolen in Dora Pindo.

Gimboki residents had to be restrained by the police as they assaulted Langton and Nyasha Mapanga.

While some shouted profanities at the two, some claimed that the pair should be thoroughly dealt with as they were a menace to the society. After being rescued from the mob by the police, the duo had to spend the night in police cells at Dangamvura Police Station.

The owner of the goat, Manyara Musiwacho, had tracked the goat from Chisamba Village in Dora to Langton’s residence in Gimboki, where the thieves were found braaing the liver and partying with friends at around 2am.

Musiwacho approached Langton and then alerted his neighbours.

The people came out in their numbers to discipline the duo.

“Langton is my neighbour in Dora and I had talked with him that night. When I got home, my wife told me that the goats were making weird sounds and when I went into their pen to check, I discovered that one was missing. That was around midnight.

“I went to Langton’s homestead to enquire from him, but he was not there. I decided to make a follow-up to Gimboki and that is when I found him partying with his friends. Everyone there admitted that they were braaing goat meat,” said Musiwacho.

Langton and Nyasha have since appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Tamara Chibindi, facing livestock theft charges.

They were convicted on their own guilty plea and were remanded to a later date to allow the State to check on their previous convictions.

Mr Tiriwamambo Kangai prosecuted.- Manica Post

The country has reported three more Covid-19 related deaths and 36 new cases in the last 24-hours bringing the total number of cases to 36 377.

The two new deaths were recorded in Harare while Mashonaland Central had one death. The vaccination programme is continuing in static sites countrywide with 36 019 frontline workers having been vaccinated as of yesterday.

The seven-day rolling average for new cases rose to 24 from 23 on Wednesday. All the 36 new cases are local transmissions.

So far, the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Zimbabwe now stands at 1 492 while the national recovery rate stands at 93,4 percent. A total of 1 706 PCR tests were conducted yesterday and positivity was 2,1 percent.

As of March 9, 2021, at 3PM, there were 120 hospitalised people of which three patients were admitted in intensive care units (ICU) while 22 had mild to moderate symptoms. Twenty-two had severe symptoms while 76 were asymptomatic.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the highest number of 10 cases was recorded in Harare followed by Matabeleland North with nine cases.

Bulawayo recorded eight cases each while the Midlands and Masvingo East had three cases each. Mashonaland West recorded two cases with Mashonaland Central recording one case. Manicaland and Matabeleland South did not record any cases.

“As of March 11, 2021, Zimbabwe, has now recorded 36 377 confirmed cases, 33 972 recoveries and 1 492 deaths,” reads the statement.

“Nineteen new recoveries were reported and the national recovery rate stands at 93,4 percent and active case go up to 913 today.”

So far, Bulawayo province has recorded 5 321 cases 5 097 recoveries, 19 active cases and 205 deaths. -Herald

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said the people’s struggle will not be affected by the defection of Senator Lilian Timveos and Hon Blessing Chebundo to Zanu PF.

MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende, quoting President Chamisa’s remarks, said the MDC Alliance was going through a process of shedding off exhausted elements.

“The MDC Alliance does not regard those who have left the party as a loss but as an important process of shedding off those exhausted elements who impede and slow down our national democratic struggle.

Our struggle is not driven by those who have mercenary zeal but is moved by those who have missionary enthusiasm.

Those who want to eat have no place in the democratic train: AGENDA 2021,” Hwende wrote on Facebook.

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF heavyweights are sweating over the impact of President Nelson Chamisa’s Agenda 2021 address.

In his Agenda 2021 address on Tuesday, President Chamisa exposed Zanu PF’s failure to revive the country’s economy.He also pointed out that the MDC Alliance would not be forced by anyone to endorse Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Illegitimate administration.

On Friday, Zanu PF through its spokesperson, Simon Khaya -Moyo attempted to pour cold water on President Chamisa’s Agenda 2021 address.

Khaya-Moyo shocked all and sundry when he accused President Chamisa of inciting social unrest.

“We are ready to deal with attempts to cause social disharmony.We view the address as a clear attempt to incite civil unrest and violence,” claimed Khaya- Moyo.

Political analysts argue Mr Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party is desperate to dismantle the MDC Alliance and Khaya Moyo ‘s has literally confirmed the former revolutionary party is in panic mode.