By Ashleigh Jinjika|
As we are about to celebrate women’s day on the 8th of March, we may need to look at the key issues to do with gender equality as far as access to land is concerned and the need to call for equal distribution of land and property rights.

Gender differences in land tenure should be recognized if land objectives, such as increasing land productivity, providing affordable housing, or promoting sustainable resource management, are to be met. There is a need for land tenure policy frameworks that explicitly address gender inclusive access to land. Without specific attention to gender inclusiveness, important segments of society may be excluded from the benefits of land administration, management, and development schemes.
Human Rights Defender, Mr Prosper Tiringindi underscored that there are great gender inequities in access to land, housing and basic infrastructure and land rights discrimination is a violation of human rights.
“In many countries, there is still a lack of adequate provisions for women to hold land rights independently of their husbands or male relatives. Statutory law often does not provide for women’s independent rights and when such legislation does exist, mechanisms to enforce it are often absent. In traditional or “customary” societies, women’s direct access to land through purchase or inheritance is often limited, yet they may have greater management and use rights than men. Since women are frequently the major household food producers, there are usually customary provisions for indirect access to land in terms of use rights acquired through kinship relationships and their status as wives, mothers, sisters, or daughters”, he said.
Through labour mobility, divorce, separation, or death, an increasing number of women are becoming the heads of households. They are thus making many of the day-to-day decisions affecting shelter, food production, and household economics. Yet only a small proportion of these women hold secure land rights. Similarly, there are societies where access to land stems from the female line, and in this case male partners and children may be disadvantaged as societies change.
On the other hand, there are increasing numbers of men and children who are homeless. Such gender-related changes in household and community maintenance need to be addressed in housing and economic development projects which target groups, for example, through special credit or rental arrangements.
Migration to urban centres has resulted in a rapid rise in the number of rural families that have women as the heads of households. Many of these women are those with the least social power, and these include; single parents, widows, divorcees, wives of migrant workers and the aged. They are largely without effective decision-making powers, often without a voice in community governance, and increasingly without security as individuals under traditional law. Attempts to assert their rights can cause conflicts at the community or even national levels. Too often, women are left holding whatever rights they have at the will of male relatives. Single, divorced or widowed women can end up dependent on the goodwill of distant family members.
At the same time female-headed households are faced with the responsibility for food production for growing populations. Even in male-headed households, women often have prime responsibility for food production while men commonly concentrate on cash crops.
Making access to land more equitable does not mean addressing only the quantity of rights allocated. To make use of the rights and opportunities, access to land must also be enforceable or secure for example, against seizure by force or by law. Equitable access to land must also be effective, if more effective access to land is to be improved for men and women.
To create gender equity, whether on the basis of human rights or for reasons of economic efficiency, then the principal challenges for land administration are, to understand and acknowledge the complexity of property rights regimes as they relate to the dynamic roles of both men and women in today’s societies; and to provide effective institutional structures that can protect and strengthen equitable access to land within the framework of a society’s particular land policy goals.

The prospect of vaccine passports is getting closer in Europe — with more governments considering introducing them not only for travelers, but also to help reopen bars, restaurants and concert halls.

Asked whether the introduction of vaccine passports is likely, Britain’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, told reporters Monday some international travel likely would require proof of coronavirus inoculation.

 “Some countries, clearly, are going to be wanting to insist that people coming to their country have evidence of a vaccination — just as people have insisted in the past that you have evidence you are vaccinated against yellow fever or other diseases,” he said. 

European governments have been split about whether to endorse a system of vaccine passports, but the travel, tourist and hospitality sectors are desperate to get business going again and say they can’t afford another lost summer.

But civil libertarians worry the continent will be divided along a new haves and have-nots fault-line, and this week Britain’s foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, provoked a political uproar when he told a radio interviewer that Britons may have to present evidence of vaccination to enter bars and grocery stores.

 “It’s something that hasn’t been ruled out and it’s under consideration, but of course you’ve got to make it workable,” Raab said.

His comment earned a sharp rebuke not only from civil libertarians but from Conservative lawmakers.

“For everyday life, I don’t think you want to require people to have to have a particular medical procedure before they can go about their day-to-day life,” lawmaker Mark Harper said. “That is not how we do things in Britain.”

Elsewhere in Europe, more governments are exploring the idea of introducing vaccine passports — at least for travel. Denmark’s finance minister, Morten Bødskov, last week raised the prospect of inoculation passports being introduced by the end of the month, which would make the Scandinavian country the world’s first to do so. Denmark is currently under a strict pandemic lockdown.

“Denmark is still hard hit by the corona pandemic,” he said. “But there are parts of Danish society that need to move forward, and a business community that needs to be able to travel.” 

Estonia is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) on a project to create standardized electronic vaccination certification the country hopes could become the “gold standard” and attract global recognition.

Marten Kaevats, an adviser to the Estonian government on technology, told AFP the primary challenge for a globally endorsed system is to ensure that anyone checking the certificate can “trust the source.” The Estonian solution is looking at producing a digital version of the extant paper yellow-card used to prove yellow fever vaccination.

Estonia, a tech trailblazer that’s been a pioneer in government e-services, isn’t alone in exploring a possible a digital vaccine passport program that can command global respect. Britain, Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Lithuania and pharmaceutical companies have all announced initiatives. Some are looking at using QR codes, or even facial recognition technology.

The challenge is further complicated by the different data-systems countries have for keeping electronic health records that are not mutually recognized across borders. And most countries don’t even maintain digital health records.

Kaevats told AFP it is unlikely that a global digital ID will emerge in the coming months, and it is more likely there will be a muddling through in a messy and arbitrary way with a mix of paper and electronic certificates appearing.

Greece has urged the European Commission to shape a common understanding on how a vaccination certificate should be structured, so it could be accepted in all member states. But the EC is struggling — and officials say it becomes even more complicated when trying to fashion a framework for the recognition of certificates that might be developed by countries outside the European Union.

There also are disagreements over what rules should apply to travelers who received vaccines not approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Experts at the WHO have withheld recommending vaccination passports for travel, deterred by fears of a messy and dispute-filled implementation and worried by the insufficient guarantee that those who have been inoculated can’t spread the virus, if they still contract it themselves and are asymptomatic.

Some international airlines, including the Middle East’s Etihad, which has become the first airline to vaccinate all operational crew, say they already are planning to require passengers to produce pre-travel inoculation documentation. Some airlines are planning to add to their apps a requirement for passengers to add details of their vaccination before being able to book. 

But vaccine passports and the emerging idea of inoculation certification being needed to enter restaurants, bars, concert halls and sports stadiums also is prompting a backlash from rights and privacy campaigners. They say that would be unfair when there is not universal access to vaccines and that such plans would be a backdoor way to make vaccinations mandatory, infringing on the freedom of those who refuse vaccines.

In Britain, rights campaigners reacted with dismay Tuesday when the country’s vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, told the BBC the government would not forbid businesses from pressing ahead with their own inoculation certification standards for customers and even for employees. “It’s up to businesses what they do,” he said. Zahawi previously had rejected the idea of vaccine passports, saying that the use of them would be “wrong” and “discriminatory.”

British ministers appear to be in a quandary, with no firm agreement within the cabinet about the way forward. While Foreign Minister Rabb has openly touted the possibility of vaccine certificates being required for domestic in-country activities, other ministers have briefed against the idea, saying they are sure there will be no formal endorsement of vaccine passports for domestic use.

While Johnson said Monday that Britons should not be expected to present paperwork to enter a pub, he shied away from discussing whether care homes and other businesses should be able to insist employees be inoculated.

Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, who has been campaigning for a global coronavirus vaccine passport system, said this week, “We have the technology that enables us to do this securely and effectively. The need is obvious.” He added, “The arguments against it really don’t add up.”

But critics say the result will be to divide people, and countries, between vaccine haves and vaccine have-nots, affecting the developing and poor nations much more than rich ones. Some experts estimate that most African nations are unlikely to see mass vaccination programs until 2023 or even 2024.

Germany’s ethics council, an independent government-funded body, has urged that no special conditions be accorded to the inoculated. It has said much is still unknown about whether vaccinated people can still spread the virus, and that introducing privileges for the vaccinated could prompt civil unrest with the have-nots feeling they are being elbowed aside.

France’s European affairs minister, Clément Beaune, has firmly objected to vaccine passports. “We are very reluctant,” he said. “It would be shocking, while the campaign is still just starting across Europe, for there to be more important rights for some than for others.” 

-VOA

Tinashe Sambiri|Former Zanu PF MP for Chivi South Constituency, Killer Zivhu has accused the Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration of gross incompetence.

Zivhu also subtly blamed the Zanu PF administration for violating human rights.

“During Rhodesia time the problem was not the economy but utsinye, kubatirira , ruvengo pamwe nevhu.

Now Zimbabwe time the major problem is now the economy, corruption, elections, human rights zvichingoinda zvakawanda .

Are we not proving that whites are better than us?” Zivhu wrote on Twitter.

However, political observers are sceptical of Zivhu’s sincerity arguing the big politician is speaking out of bitterness.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has released a comprehensive list of names of opposition members who were brutally murdered by Zanu PF between 2008 and 2013.

The list of honour has been released as part of efforts by the popular movement to pay homage to the heroes and heroines of the struggle for democracy.

See statement below :
The regime has blood on its hands – we shall not forget the 2008 massacre of our cadres

We shall never forget, our bothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children and friends killed!

List of names of people killed by Zanu PF in 2008:
12 April 2008

1). Tapiwa Mubwanda (57) of Hurungwe was stabbed to death by Zanu PF supporters.he died leaving behind a wife and three children. Jawet Kazangarare and Private Peter Madamombe were identified as the murderers

15 April 2008

2). Murunde Tembo of Mudzi was attacked by Zanu PF supporters at his home in Vombofi village. They broke his legs and he died on his way to hospital.

17 April 2008

3). Tatenda Chibika died after Zanu PF supporter; Richard Makoni shot him at Chibeta Business Centre in Mutoko.

4). Moses Bashitwayo of Wedza died after receiving heavy assaults from Zanu PF supporters.

5). Zanu PF activists being led by Bvuka Chimbanzwa assaulted Solomon Bote of ward 22 in Musikavanhu in Makoni South to death.

6). Brighton Mabwera jnr, five years old from Manyika Viilage, Uzumba was burnt to death after the house he was sleeping in was set ablaze by Zanu PF activists in the middle of the night. His parents are strong supporters of the MDC.

24 April 2008

7). Zvidzai Mapurisa was murdered by suspected Zanu PF thugs who descended at his homestead in Village 21 in Gunikuni area in Masvingo south at around 1am.they are alleged to have taken him away and assaulted him severely with sticks and sjamboks, accusing him of mobilizing people to vote against Zanu PF.

25 April 2008

. Tabitha Marume of Makoni West in Manicaland was shot and killed by soldiers at Chiwetu Rest Camp.

9). Zanu PF militia in Mbire beat Tenos Manyimo to death.

10). Bigboy Zhuwawo of Mbire in Mashonaland Central died on Sunday when Zanu PF militia for being an MDC supporter seriously attacked him.

11). Zanu PF supporters beat Chrispen Chiutsi of Muzarabani in Mashonaland Central.

28 April 2008

12). In Poshayi Village, Shurugwi, Midlands province, Clemence Dube was murdered by Zanu PF supporters.He was the MDC polling agent for Ward 12 polling station during the 29 March elections. His body has since been ferried to Bulawayo for a post mortem. Dube is survived by a wife and two young children.

27 April 2008

13). In Kotwa, Mudzi, Gilbert Nyagupe, a well known activist from Nyagupe village was axed to death by Zanu PF youth militia and one of the assailants was identified as Jessie Nhau.

29 April

14). Catherine Makwenjere of Mwenezi died at Morgenster Hospital in Masvingo after Zanu PF supporters had assaulted her for voting and supporting the MDC.

5 May 2008

Zanu PF supporters and men in army uniform led by Major Cairo Mhandu and Major Maravadza in Chiweshe communal lands in Mashonaland Central province beat the following to death
15). Tapiwa Meda
16). Joseph Madzuramhende
17). Alex Chiriseri
18). David Tachiwa Mapuranga
19). Arthur Matombo
20). Patson Mudzuramhende
21). Jeff Jemedze

8 May 2008

22). Nelson Emmanuel of Harare south died at the Avenues Clinic after he had been assaulted by Zanu PF youths on 4th of May 2008.

23). Tonderai Zireni (3 years old) was burnt to death after Zanu PF youths set alight the house he was sleeping in Zimunya, Mutare.

24). Isaac Danda of Gokwe Nembudziya was stabbed to death by Zanu PF youths who were being led by Major Moyo.

10 May 2008

25). Musafare Mudimu of Manyika village in Uzumba was assaulted to death by Zanu PF youths.

26). Karombe Benson Chipungu of Manyika village in Uzumba, Mashonaland East was beaten to death by Zanu PF youths for being an MDC member.

27). R Gomwe, 75, was struck by an axe leading to his death in Gokwe Nembudziya by Zanu PF youths led by Major Moyo. It is also alleged that the youths also looted his property and burnt his house.

28). Ruth Mushayahembe of Chimbwanda village in Uzumba was assaulted to death by Zanu PF youths and her husband is reported to be in critical condition in Murewa Hospital.

29). Elias Madzivanzira a headman in ward 8 in Shamva North, Mashonaland Central was killed using an axe by war vets known as Muroyiwa and Joshua of Bata farm.

11 May 2008

30). Sam Kahari, from Chidembo village in Shamva North was dragged out of bed at his home while asleep by Zanu PF youths and purported war veterans who then assaulted him leading to his death that same night.

31). Remember Kayembe, 23, of Mazowe was abducted by Zanu PF supporters who poisoned him leading to his death.

13 May 2008

Zanu PF supporters murdered four MDC supporters at Chaparira village in Mt Darwin East. They are; 32). Abiya Nyakudya who is the headman for the area, 33). Bright Mafuriro, 34). Fischer Chirese and 35). Sairiro Kamufuto and 36). Chaparira also a headman

14 May 2008

37). Beta Chokururama, a member of the MDC national youth was found dead in Chikwaka village, Mashonaland East. State security agents had abducted him on Tuesday 13 May at Juru Growth Point.

14 May 2008

38). Ken Nyevhe was found dead in Goromonzi district after he had been abducted at Juru Growth point on Tuesday 13 May. His body had gunshot and stab wounds.

39). Godfrey Kauzani was found dead with gunshot and stab wounds after he had been abducted at Juru Growth Point on Tuesday 13 May.

17 May 2008

40). Edson Zaya, the MDC treasurer for Ward 9 in Shamva North was murdered by Zanu PF supporters in broad daylight at Chidembo business centre.

18 May 2008

41). Choukuse Nyoka Mubango, the MDC ward 27 chairman in Buhera West, Manicaland was axed to death by Zanu PF supporters at his hime in full view of his wife and five children. A truck used by Zanu PF’s losing MP, Joseph Chinotimba was used in the attack.

21 May 2008

42). The body of Tonderai Ndira, 32, MDC;s national secretary for security was discovered in a mortuary at Parirenyatwa Hospital. State security agents at his Mabvuku home had abducted Ndira on 13 May. His body was in a composing state and his private parts were missing. Indications show that Ndira was murdered in Goromonzi.

43). Tafirenyika Kapfudza, a headman for Sanzu village in Uzumba was murdered by Zanu PF militia Douglas Mutesa and Costan Musariri.

44). Zanu PF militia in Mutawatawa beat Rosemary Maramba, who was six months pregnant, to death. Her body was found dumped at Nhakiwa village.

23 May 2008

45). Manyuke Nyamukada, 40, of Manyika village in Uzumba passed on at Michael Gelfand hospital in Harare after he had been brutally assaulted by Zanu PF supporters two weeks earlier. His homestead was razed to the ground and property and livestock looted.

24 May 2008

46). The body of Shepherd Jani, the MDC provincial treasurer for Masonaland East was discovered in Goromonzi. He had been kidnapped at gunpoint at the MDC Murehwa district office on 22 May 2008.

47). Taurai Matanda was shot dead by a ZNA major, Svosve Mupindu at Murambinda in Buhera, Manicaland. On that day, the soldiers had gone on a rampage beating people.

27 May 2008

48). Kidwell Zvavamwe, 35, of Ward 28, Shamva South died after being assaulted by Zanu PF thugs at his home a week earlier. Zvavamwe was assaulted in front of his wife, Lucia Mukaru and three children and sustained life-threatening injuries.

3 June 2008

49). Washington Nyamwa, 50). Chrison Mbano, and 51). Edson Ngwerume, were on Tuesday 3 June 2008 killed after Zanu PF supporters in a truck came to MDC offices at Jerere growth point and torched the offices. Four other MDC supporters who were present during the attack were still missing a week after the attack.

5 June 2008

51). Zanu PF supporters locked Dadirai Chipiro, 45, of Chikowero village, Mhondoro Ngezi, into her hut before they set it alight. Before this brutal act, the thugs had slashed off both Chipiro’s legs and hands. Chipiro was the MDC district chairperson. A vehicle belonging to Bright Matongo, the MP of Mhondoro Ngezi was used in the attack.

5 June 2008

52). Six year-old, Nyasha Mashoko, was burnt in his parents’ home at Zengeza Waterworks, Harare South by a group of Zanu PF supporters at around 8 pm. His mother, Pamela Pasvanai, sustained 88 percent burns following the arson and was admitted at Harare Hospital. Mashoko’s father, Brian Mamhove, was the MDC council candidate for Ward 1, Harare South. Nyasha was a grade one pupil at Zengeza Main Primary.

6 June 2008

53). Pamela Pasvanai, 21, died after she sustained serious burns following an attack at her home by Zanu PF supporters. Pasvani was eight months pregnant. She and her son Nyasha Mashoko were locked inside their Zengeza Waterworks house by the Zanu PF thugs. Pasvanai’s husband, Brian Mamhove, was the MDC council candidate for Ward 1, Harare South.

8 June 2008

53). Sofia Chingozho, 65, died in hospital after she had been assaulted by Zanu PF supporters at a funeral in Buhera North.

9 June 2008

55). Dumisani Hapazari, Chiredzi Zesa area manager was found dead in Chikombedzi on Monday morning after two CIO operatives had abducted him from his workplace last Wednesday.

11 June 2008

56). Mabika Mudzinga and 57). Leonard Mhete of Chigumisirwa village in Bikita East, Masvingo were murdered by Zanu PF hooligans as they tried to defend attacks from these group and their homesteads.

58). Tiziro Moyo, a teacher, 59). Stanford Mapuranga, and 60). Mirai Zvidzai from Maranda in Mwenezi were murdered by a group of Zanu PF supporters during the night.

61). Chengerai Kahari, of Chireka village, Bindura South is shot dead at 7. pm by armed Zanu PF militia who had mistakenly taken him for his brother who is an MDC councillor in the area.

12 June 2008

62). Rodrick Mukova, of Chimbudzi village in Mwenezi died from injuries he sustained following an attack from Zanu PF thugs.

13 June 2008

63). Kennias Artwell Bvekerwa, of Ward 7 in Chipinge, Manicaland province was severely attacked by Zanu PF militia led by one Chikumba leading to his death at Mapfumise Secondary School in the Clearwater area.

Tinashe Sambiri|Former Zanu PF MP for Chivi South Constituency, Killer Zivhu has accused the Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration of gross incompetence.

Zivhu also subtly blamed the Zanu PF administration for violating human rights.

“During Rhodesia time the problem was not the economy but utsinye, kubatirira , ruvengo pamwe nevhu.

Now Zimbabwe time the major problem is now the economy, corruption, elections, human rights zvichingoinda zvakawanda .

Are we not proving that whites are better than us?” Zivhu wrote on Twitter.

However, political observers are sceptical of Zivhu’s sincerity arguing the big politician is speaking out of bitterness.

By Honest Makanyire |Masvingo Province has been hit again by a new wave of cattle deaths that has left many farmers with empty pens.

The local farmers who spoke to Community Tolerance and Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) expressed concern over the lack of commitment by Government’s Veterinary Services Department -towards the prevention of the persisting theileriosis, a tick-borne disease.

Theileriosis which is caused by uncontrolled ticks killed hundreds of cattle in Chatsworth and other parts of Gutu last year. The disease hit many districts of Masvingo Province in January 2021.

The famers say the government’s veterinary service department, which is responsible for the provision of animal and zoonotic diseases surveillance, animal health risk management, and animal health and protection has failed its mandate. The department is failing to frequently provide adequate dipping chemicals to dip tanks despite continuous outbreak of tick-borne disease. During the rainy season cattle are supposed to be dipped at least once every week so as to break the cycle of ticks. “As famers we call upon the Government and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to ensure the supply of quality dipping chemicals, livestock dosses and vaccinations to the Veterinary Service Departments and closely monitor the distribution of these chemicals to avoid corruption and diversion of use. The dipping chemicals which are rarely supplied to our local dip tanks do not remove all ticks, therefore we doubt the quality of such chemicals.” said one farmer.

Farmers are buying their own cattle dipping equipment, chemicals and vaccination despite paying cattle tax to the government to enjoy veterinary service. Long queues are seen at Veterinary and other shops which provides livestock health education and chemicals in Masvingo town with farmers from different districts even with COVID-19 lockdown restrictions that prohibits the movement of people. Exemption letters written by Chiefs and other traditional leaders are not being considered by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) at checkpoints. Therefore, some small holder and peasant farmers from rural areas are reportedly failing to access town to purchase cattle vaccinations due to lockdown restrictions.

“COTRAD encourages the famers and the dip tank committees to engage the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement and Veterinary Department when having such concerns.”, said Kupfuwa Ishmael, COTRAD official. The Veterinary Service Department is responsible of promoting bio-security, animal health and welfare for the benefit of the livestock industry through implementing risk management measures for prescribed animal diseases and pests control, and building and maintaining physical veterinary infrastructure such as dips, animal handling facilities.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is likely to jeopardize the crucial COVID-19 Vaccination Programme by threatening citizens.

Mr Mnangagwa said those who do not take the vaccine will (at some point) not be allowed to board ZUPCO Buses.He also said those who do not take the vaccine will find it difficult to secure employment.

Below is the MDC Alliance Weekly Health Update:

MDC Alliance Weekly Health Alert.

6th Edition

28 February 2022.

Welcome to yet another edition of the Weekly Health Alerts produced by MDC Alliance Health portfolio in conjunction with the Communications department.

This week we are looking at the lockdown and the way forward for Zimbabwe.

Covid-19 Lockdown-Whither to Zimbabwe?

WE have been on level 4 lockdown in this second covid-19 wave since January the 5th, initially for four weeks, but extended twice by two weeks at a time, to March 2021. With the strict lockdown comes many socio-economic challenges, which the government has up until now been unable to mitigate. Business is at a standstill, the cost of doing business has skyrocketed, especially with the current requirement that to reopen your small business you need covid-19 certificates for your workforce, at own expense.

The restrictions on informal traders has plunged many families into abject poverty and outright starvation in some cases, with no bailout from government.

We cannot be in perpetual lockdown, especially in a country where there are no social safety nets, but the decision to lift the lockdown must be based on data and science, not on political considerations.

Weaponisation of the lockdown is a tragedy, and many in Zimbabwe feel the lockdown is being used as a political weapon.

As President Chamisa said before, the government should be working with local authorities and health care departments to come out with a more scientific targeted approach based on numbers and hotspots.

Constant surveillance through testing and isolation throughout the country is necessary. Let’s remember the WHO’s admonition: “You can’t replace the lockdown with nothing”. Measures must be put in place to ensure a smooth transition to normalcy with adequate control measures. We need a well-informed and committed population, with persistent long-term behavior change as part of our new normal. Covid-19 safe behaviours must be observed at all times.

Vaccines bring with them a new hope of permanent relief, but only if we get it right, and we establish and maintain the highest levels of transparency regarding the vaccine attributes of efficacy, safety & cost, and procurement decisions. Arrogance on the part of government will derail the program. Every citizen has a right to be heard, and all concerns must be addressed with empathy, knowing that we are all born equal under the law of Zimbabwe, and in the eyes of God Almighty. Dissemination of correct information is key to the acceptance of any particular vaccine by the people, in our case the Sinopharm vaccine, at least for now. The current low uptake is due to lack of information, which buttresses all the conspiracy theories.

Coercion and intimidation will work against the program. The government must make it abundantly clear that taking the vaccine is a completely voluntary exercise, and informed consent is necessary for administration of the jab. As the people watch the early recipients of the vaccine, and as real time data on safety and efficacy is rolled out by the government, more people will volunteer to take the vaccine.

The recent command and control intimidatory diatribe we heard from high offices threatening to limit liberties to use Zupco buses and to bar people from getting employment if not vaccinated are both extremely unfortunate and mortally retrogressive to the program.

But is the vaccination program adequate on its own to ensure the safe lifting of lockdown measures? The answer for now is no, until we have vaccinated enough people to protect the whole population. There is no magical figure to achieve herd immunity, but if 60-80% of the population is vaccinated, we will enjoy reasonable protection as a nation. This is a medium to long-term aspiration, considering that all we have now is 200000 donated doses of Sinopharm vaccine, which will cover 100000 people out of the projected minimum target of ten million recipients. There is hard work and difficult decisions ahead of us. We implore the government to collect quality data that will inform future steps.

What shall we do now to be able to lift the lockdown without courting a third wave backlash? The WHO suggests six conditions that must be met before lifting the lockdown:

1. Disease transmission must be under control. We have seen a reduction in the number of new cases and of deaths over the past month. We are not there yet, but we are making progress. On this score alone, controlled relaxation of lockdown measures is feasible.
2. Health systems are able to “detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact”. This condition is the weakest link in our fight against covid-19. Government has never been able to supply enough testing kits to meet demand, and we continue to grope in the dark.
3. Hot spot risks are minimized in vulnerable places, such as nursing homes. In our case, its super-spreader events like ZUPCO buses, funerals, parties, shebeens, prisons and Zanu pf rallies. There is need to liberalise the transport sector to reduce unnecessary congestion. I do not consider church services to have super spreader potential if all things are done in an orderly manner and necessary precautions are taken, including social distancing, temperature checks, controlled numbers and masking up.
4. Schools, workplaces and other essential places have established preventive measures. We must at this stage take heed of what the teachers’ unions are saying about re-opening schools. To quote PTUZ, “…opening of schools is not an event, but a process that must be preceded by broad planning and engagement of teacher unions, parents, prioritization of health and safety of teachers, pupils, and ancillary staff”.
5. The risk of importing new cases “can be managed”. We need to manage our boarders and test all immigrants, with a view to isolating for an appropriate period those found positive. Remember, our nasty second wave was due to relaxation of the borders, failure to quarantine and test all immigrants, failure to follow up new comers in the community, and the presence of illegal crossing points. These must be remedied as a necessary precondition to lifting lockdown measures.
6. Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to live under a new normal.

A new culture must emerge. Social distancing, not shaking hands or hugging, masking up, limiting size of gatherings, banning cultural practices like to eat at funerals, frequent hand washing with soap and water, use of sanitisers, must become the new normal for the foreseeable future.

Health workers must continue to wear PPE as before until the epidemic is over. Investment in covid-19 clinical management infrastructure and PPE must continue. Health worker continuing professional education must intensify. The law must be applied evenly across the political divide, religious affiliation, race, colour & creed.

Lifting the lockdown situation has become a necessity to save the people from suffering and starvation, and a sector-by-sector consideration must be done, with the necessary stakeholder consultation and a targeted geographical approach. New and much cheaper vaccines like the J&J that has been used in South Africa must be procured and introduced in Zimbabwe. Measures as outlined above must be taken to ensure we do not gravitate into an even nastier third wave.

Now is the time to move to alleviate the people’s suffering, while keeping the epidemic under control.

May I extend thanks to the MDC-Alliance Health Portfolio Committee members for their input into our articles.

I remain

Dr Henry Madzorera
Secretary for Health and Child welfare
MDC Alliance

Former cabinet minister Walter Mzembi has announced that he is going on a Zwitterfast, a fasting period where he will not be posting anything Zimbabwean on Twitter to allow himself an uninterrupted period to talk to God about the country.

Posting on Twitter, Mzembi who is currently in self imposed exile following the November 2017 military coup that deposed former long time ruler, Robert Mugabe, said his Zwitterfast will last for one week.

“I am announcing Zwitterfast for a week , meaning no tweeting anything Zimbabwean , will be talking only to God about Zimbabwe, so Help me God,” said Mzembi.

Responding to Mzembi, one social media user, accused the former tourism minister had failed the country during her time in government.

“I dont judge you Mr Mzembi, but you had the chance to change the course of Zim when you were part of the destruction. God didnt matter then?,” said Dewah.

“This is what most of the ex-Zanu PF people are doing before rejoining Zanu PF. They reappear only to announce that they have rejoined Zanu PF- Kutamba zvangu kani Mzembi, usatsamwe,” another user Majaira Jairosi said.

.

By A Correspondent- A Harare man was on Saturday arraigned before a magistrate facing a fraud charge involving US$4 million after he allegedly manufactured fake documents to change the ownership of an industrial stand belonging to Shomet Industrial Holdings.

Washington Frera (40) appeared before magistrate Barbara Mateko and was remanded in custody to today over allegations that he changed ownership of the stand, which measured 25,1499 hectares.

The State alleges that between January and March 2018, Frera and his accomplices, who are still at large, signed a backdated agreement of sale of an immovable property, Lot 358 of Prospect, Waterfalls.

He is alleged to have misrepresented to the seller, Scholastic Muringai, to act upon a fake agreement of sale with the buyer, Maride Investment Trust, in order to cause the transfer of title from Shomet Industrial Holdings to Maride Investment Trust without presentation of the original title deeds.

However, the issuance of the title deeds was reversed by High Court judge Justice Jesta Helena Charewa on February 21 this year.

Frera is also being charged with perjury after he misrepresented to the High Court that he lost title deeds to the land when in actual fact the title deeds were not in the name of Shomet.

Meanwhile, a 16-year old Epworth “prophetess” has appeared in court on a murder charge after she allegedly killed a toddler during a “healing” session.

The “prophetess”, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, was accompanied by her mother when she appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro.

It is alleged that on February 25, the “prophetess” gave the toddler a mixture of milk, cooking oil, salt and lemon to drink during the “healing session”. The toddler lost consciousness and died.

The “prophetess” was released into the custody of her mother and remanded to April 9 pending indictment to the High Court for trial.-Newsday

Fungai Kwaramba of Herald lying for his supper:

By Hon Job Sikhala.
MDC Alliance Vice Chairman

It is pathetic for Mnangagwa’s desperate regime to use its spooks to get Fungai Kwaramba at the miserable Herald, the regime’s propaganda mouthpiece, to seek relevance by abusing his neighborhood with me here in Chitungwiza.

It is an outrageous lie that I confirmed his false and stupid claim that I was removed from any MDC-A WhatsApp group by anyone. It’s total hogwash.

For the record, Fungai Kwaramba phoned me late afternoon yesterday using a Whatsapp call and accused me of having dumped him as he was thirsty for beer. I told him that I long stopped drinking alcohol two years ago and that I spend most of my weekends at home with my family. He then asked me why I and others had allegedly been removed from some WhatsApp groups. I told him that I was not aware of any such removal and that in any event I had no time to answer his stupid question because I am in more than 1000 WhatsApp groups; and it did not make sense for him to ask me about my alleged removal from one WhatsApp group, that I was not even aware of. I further explained to him that I actually don’t read messages on many of the WhatsApp groups to which I belong.

Throughout my conversation with him, Fungai Kwaramba pretended to be at his home, chilling out but broke and looking for money from me to buy beer. There was not even a slight hint that he was calling me from Herald House or that he was interviewing me for a news story as a journalist.

For the record, I want to make two points very clear. Firstly, I was not removed from any WhatsApp group and the stories flying around are being created by Mnangagwa’s CIO, their enablers, MDC Alliance haters and enemies of the people who are bent on using intrigue and subterfuge to destroy the movement of the people.

Secondly, the infighting alleged in the Herald story at the behest of Mnangagwa’s CIO is a figment of their desperate imagination. There is no such rift in our ranks that will come their way for their barbaric feasting at State House, like was seen the other day. They must forget it.

These imaginary stories about infighting in the MDC-A are meant to make some of us to lose our focus on the elephant in the room; while demotivating the generality of the people and their resolve to reclaim their freedom from the jaws of Mnangagwa’s dictatorship.

The people are not fools. They know only too well that Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed the nation. His rule is a depiction of Satanism in motion. His only hope now is to brew conflict among ourselves in the MDC Alliance; a conflict which he will never get, even in his wildest dreams. Our focus is on making sure that Mnangagwa’s regime of cruelty comes to an end.

I don’t get moved by those who cross to the devil’s home. The business of the day is to obliterate Mnangagwa’s regime, to stop the suffering of the people. Our hearts and souls are committed to the cause of the people’s project to liberate Zimbabwe. We are one as a team; and our unquestionable faith in the leadership of Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the leadership elected at our Gweru Congress is solid like a rock. We know who our enemy is, and the enemy shall fall.

The Herald may cook a million meals of pathetic and desperate lies; the enemy can engineer desperate defections, but all that will serve to strengthen and embolden us to stand tall and press on with the agenda of the people.

Let it be known, some of us have taken the oath from our mother’s wombs that our daily business is to fight evil. ZANU PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa are today’s evil, and we shall fight that evil until it collapses. Don’t be misled by rifts that exist in the mind of our enemies. While the lunatics enjoy themselves in their self deception about the non existent rifts; one thing whose writing is on the wall is that their days are numbered. They better stop playing games, wake up and smell the coffee.

I thank you. God Bless Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans
Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala
1 March 2021

By Job Sikhala| It is pathetic for Mnangagwa’s desperate regime to use its spooks to get Fungai Kwaramba at the miserable Herald, the regime’s propaganda mouthpiece, to seek relevance by abusing his neighborhood with me here in Chitungwiza.

It is an outrageous lie that I confirmed his false and stupid claim that I was removed from any MDC-A WhatsApp group by anyone. It’s total hogwash.

For the record, Fungai Kwaramba phoned me late afternoon yesterday using a Whatsapp call and accused me of having dumped him as he was thirsty for beer. I told him that I long stopped drinking alcohol two years ago and that I spend most of my weekends at home with my family. He then asked me why I and others had allegedly been removed from some WhatsApp groups. I told him that I was not aware of any such removal and that in any event I had no time to answer his stupid question because I am in more than 1000 WhatsApp groups; and it did not make sense for him to ask me about my alleged removal from one WhatsApp group, that I was not even aware of. I further explained to him that I actually don’t read messages on many of the WhatsApp groups to which I belong.

Throughout my conversation with him, Fungai Kwaramba pretended to be at his home, chilling out but broke and looking for money from me to buy beer. There was not even a slight hint that he was calling me from Herald House or that he was interviewing me for a news story as a journalist.

For the record, I want to make two points very clear. Firstly, I was not removed from any WhatsApp group and the stories flying around are being created by Mnangagwa’s CIO, their enablers, MDC Alliance haters and enemies of the people who are bent on using intrigue and subterfuge to destroy the movement of the peoe. us.

Secondly, the infighting alleged in the Herald story at the best of Mnangagwa’s CIO is a figment of their desperate imagination. There is no such rift in our ranks that will come their way for their barbaric feasting at State House, like was seen the other day. They must forget it.

These imaginary stories about infighting in the MDC-A are meant to make some of us to lose our focus on the elephant in the room; while demotivating the generality of the people and their resolve to reclaim their freedom from the jaws of Mnangagwa’s dictatorship.

The people are not fools. They know only too well that Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed the nation. His rule is a depiction of Satanism in motion. His only hope now is to brew conflict among ourselves in the MDC Alliance; a conflict which he will never get, even in his wildest dreams. Our focus is on making sure that Mnangagwa’s regime of cruelty comes to an end.

I don’t get moved by those who cross to the devil’s home. The business of the day is to obliterate Mnangagwa’s regime, to stop the suffering of the people. Our hearts and souls are committed to the cause of the people’s project to liberate Zimbabwe. We are one as a team; and our unquestionable faith in the leadership of Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the leadership elected at our Gweru Congress is solid like a rock. We know who our enemy is, and the enemy shall fall.

The Herald may cook a million meals of pathetic and desperate lies; the enemy can engineer desperate defections, but all that will serve to strengthen and embolden us to stand tall and press on with the agenda of the people.

Let it be known, some of us have taken the oath from our mother’s wombs that our daily business is to fight evil. ZANU PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa are today’s evil, and we shall fight that evil until it collapses. Don’t be misled by rifts that exist in the mind of our enemies. While the lunatics enjoy themselves in their self deception about the non existent rifts; one thing whose writing is on the wall is that their days are numbered. They better stop playing games, wake up and smell the coffee.

I thank you. God Bless Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans
Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala
1 March 2021

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is likely to jeopardize the crucial COVID-19 Vaccination Programme by threatening citizens.

Mr Mnangagwa said those who do not take the vaccine will (at some point) not be allowed to board ZUPCO Buses.He also said those who do not take the vaccine will find it difficult to secure employment.

Below is the MDC Alliance Weekly Health Update:

MDC Alliance Weekly Health Alert.

6th Edition

28 February 2022.

Welcome to yet another edition of the Weekly Health Alerts produced by MDC Alliance Health portfolio in conjunction with the Communications department.

This week we are looking at the lockdown and the way forward for Zimbabwe.

Covid-19 Lockdown-Whither to Zimbabwe?

WE have been on level 4 lockdown in this second covid-19 wave since January the 5th, initially for four weeks, but extended twice by two weeks at a time, to March 2021. With the strict lockdown comes many socio-economic challenges, which the government has up until now been unable to mitigate. Business is at a standstill, the cost of doing business has skyrocketed, especially with the current requirement that to reopen your small business you need covid-19 certificates for your workforce, at own expense.

The restrictions on informal traders has plunged many families into abject poverty and outright starvation in some cases, with no bailout from government.

We cannot be in perpetual lockdown, especially in a country where there are no social safety nets, but the decision to lift the lockdown must be based on data and science, not on political considerations.

Weaponisation of the lockdown is a tragedy, and many in Zimbabwe feel the lockdown is being used as a political weapon.

As President Chamisa said before, the government should be working with local authorities and health care departments to come out with a more scientific targeted approach based on numbers and hotspots.

Constant surveillance through testing and isolation throughout the country is necessary. Let’s remember the WHO’s admonition: “You can’t replace the lockdown with nothing”. Measures must be put in place to ensure a smooth transition to normalcy with adequate control measures. We need a well-informed and committed population, with persistent long-term behavior change as part of our new normal. Covid-19 safe behaviours must be observed at all times.

Vaccines bring with them a new hope of permanent relief, but only if we get it right, and we establish and maintain the highest levels of transparency regarding the vaccine attributes of efficacy, safety & cost, and procurement decisions. Arrogance on the part of government will derail the program. Every citizen has a right to be heard, and all concerns must be addressed with empathy, knowing that we are all born equal under the law of Zimbabwe, and in the eyes of God Almighty. Dissemination of correct information is key to the acceptance of any particular vaccine by the people, in our case the Sinopharm vaccine, at least for now. The current low uptake is due to lack of information, which buttresses all the conspiracy theories.

Coercion and intimidation will work against the program. The government must make it abundantly clear that taking the vaccine is a completely voluntary exercise, and informed consent is necessary for administration of the jab. As the people watch the early recipients of the vaccine, and as real time data on safety and efficacy is rolled out by the government, more people will volunteer to take the vaccine.

The recent command and control intimidatory diatribe we heard from high offices threatening to limit liberties to use Zupco buses and to bar people from getting employment if not vaccinated are both extremely unfortunate and mortally retrogressive to the program.

But is the vaccination program adequate on its own to ensure the safe lifting of lockdown measures? The answer for now is no, until we have vaccinated enough people to protect the whole population. There is no magical figure to achieve herd immunity, but if 60-80% of the population is vaccinated, we will enjoy reasonable protection as a nation. This is a medium to long-term aspiration, considering that all we have now is 200000 donated doses of Sinopharm vaccine, which will cover 100000 people out of the projected minimum target of ten million recipients. There is hard work and difficult decisions ahead of us. We implore the government to collect quality data that will inform future steps.

What shall we do now to be able to lift the lockdown without courting a third wave backlash? The WHO suggests six conditions that must be met before lifting the lockdown:

1. Disease transmission must be under control. We have seen a reduction in the number of new cases and of deaths over the past month. We are not there yet, but we are making progress. On this score alone, controlled relaxation of lockdown measures is feasible.
2. Health systems are able to “detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact”. This condition is the weakest link in our fight against covid-19. Government has never been able to supply enough testing kits to meet demand, and we continue to grope in the dark.
3. Hot spot risks are minimized in vulnerable places, such as nursing homes. In our case, its super-spreader events like ZUPCO buses, funerals, parties, shebeens, prisons and Zanu pf rallies. There is need to liberalise the transport sector to reduce unnecessary congestion. I do not consider church services to have super spreader potential if all things are done in an orderly manner and necessary precautions are taken, including social distancing, temperature checks, controlled numbers and masking up.
4. Schools, workplaces and other essential places have established preventive measures. We must at this stage take heed of what the teachers’ unions are saying about re-opening schools. To quote PTUZ, “…opening of schools is not an event, but a process that must be preceded by broad planning and engagement of teacher unions, parents, prioritization of health and safety of teachers, pupils, and ancillary staff”.
5. The risk of importing new cases “can be managed”. We need to manage our boarders and test all immigrants, with a view to isolating for an appropriate period those found positive. Remember, our nasty second wave was due to relaxation of the borders, failure to quarantine and test all immigrants, failure to follow up new comers in the community, and the presence of illegal crossing points. These must be remedied as a necessary precondition to lifting lockdown measures.
6. Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to live under a new normal.

A new culture must emerge. Social distancing, not shaking hands or hugging, masking up, limiting size of gatherings, banning cultural practices like to eat at funerals, frequent hand washing with soap and water, use of sanitisers, must become the new normal for the foreseeable future.

Health workers must continue to wear PPE as before until the epidemic is over. Investment in covid-19 clinical management infrastructure and PPE must continue. Health worker continuing professional education must intensify. The law must be applied evenly across the political divide, religious affiliation, race, colour & creed.

Lifting the lockdown situation has become a necessity to save the people from suffering and starvation, and a sector-by-sector consideration must be done, with the necessary stakeholder consultation and a targeted geographical approach. New and much cheaper vaccines like the J&J that has been used in South Africa must be procured and introduced in Zimbabwe. Measures as outlined above must be taken to ensure we do not gravitate into an even nastier third wave.

Now is the time to move to alleviate the people’s suffering, while keeping the epidemic under control.

May I extend thanks to the MDC-Alliance Health Portfolio Committee members for their input into our articles.

I remain

Dr Henry Madzorera
Secretary for Health and Child welfare
MDC Alliance

Tinashe Sambiri|A Masvingo- based Non Governmental Organization, MACRAD Trust has challenged the proposed eviction of Chiredzi villagers by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Mr Mnangagwa’s administration is planning to evict Shangaan families from their ancestral land.

Below is MACRAD’s position paper on government’s proposed eviction of Chiredzi villagers:

MACRAD position paper on government’s proposed eviction of Shangaan families in Chiredzi District.

Introduction
Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD) embarked on a fact finding mission regarding government’s proposed eviction of thousands of Shangaan people to pave way for lucerne grass farming in Chiredzi District.

Focus group discussions were conducted with some of the community leaders within the affected district. In this position paper, MACRAD commence by giving a brief summary background of the issue at hand and goes on to outline the agricultural, religious and cultural set up within the affected area. The paper looks into relevant domestic and international legislation and concludes with some recommendations.

Summary background

1. On April 30, 2020, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing (Honourable July Moyo) who was acting on behalf of the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural settlement (Honourable Perence Shiri) convened a meeting in Chiredzi, a district in South-eastern Zimbabwe.
2. Present at the meeting was Chief Sengwe, Member of Parliament for Chiredzi South Constituency, Chiredzi District Administrator, Chiredzi District Education Officer, Chiredzi Rural District councilors. Headman Chilonga, Headman Masiwamele, the minister’s delegation and a few other stakeholders.
3. At the meeting, the Minister indicated that the government had identified about 6000ha of development land in Chiredzi. He added that a private company, Dendairy had an interest in growing lucerne grass in the identified area. The identified area covers part of Chiredzi East and Chiredzi South Constituencies.
4. The Minister hinted that that the growing of lucerne grass would boost livestock production in Chiredzi and at the same time earn the country vast amounts of foreign currency.
5. The minister told ZBC journalists who were present that the agenda of the meeting was to look into how the government and the private company were to engage the local community over the project.
6. It was also highlighted that the Government intends to evict hundreds of Xangani (Shangaan) families residing within the identified land to pave way for lucerne grass farming.
7. Dendairy, the purported investor is a private local milk processor based in Kwekwe. The company produces full cream milk, long life milk, powdered milk, ice cream and yoghurts among other dairy products. It exports some of its products to Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
8. Lucerne, also known as alfalfa is a deep rooted perennial legume primarily used as dairy cows forage. It is usually harvested as hay and can also be made into silage.

Agriculture

1. Chiredzi District lies in the South eastern part of Zimbabwe (and it boarders Mozambique and South Africa. It is in ecological region V and it receives minimal and uncertain rainfall. There are rich red soils and most crops can only be sustained through irrigation. It is on this background that the district has over decades been the sugar basket of Zimbabwe.
2. The Shangaan people mostly grow sorghum grains (xibedlani, xitishi
   and mutode) and millet grains (mahuvu and mpowo). They also cultivate some maize xifake, sweet reeds (matimba) sweet potatoes (muhlate), cotton, pumpkins mandunghu, groundnuts (timanga).
3. Small and large scale farmers in the district mostly rely on sorghum because it is a drought resistant crop. Over the past years Delta Corporation Limited, a local beverages and brewery company has been capacitating the Shangani people in growing sorghum through a scheme referred to as Beverages Sorghum Contract Farming Scheme (BSCFS).
4. Through the BSCFS, Delta contracts farmers and supply seeds and sometimes fertilizers. In return communities sell the sorghum to the Company and earn a living with the proceeds. Delta uses the crop to brew sorghum beer; the legendary Chibuku-Scud, Super and Eagle larger brands. Chibuku is no doubt the market leader in Zimbabwe’s traditional beer.
5. The Shangani tribe inherited their name from their then King Soshangane. They are agriculturalists and pastoralists. The main domestic animals reared are cattle, goat and sheep. Zebu and Senga breeds of cattle are mainly kept. Other farmers also have Brahman Red Sindhi and other crossbreeds. Almost every households own goats. Goats are more adaptive to the semi-arid climate conditions.
6. The south eastern lowveld is dominated by mopane tree (Colophospermum mopane) Cattle, goats and sheep mainly rely on dry mopane leaves for browsing during the dry season. It has been scientifically proven that the mopane leaves are highly nutritious.
7. Livestock is a symbol of wealth within the Shangaan people. Communities use livestock for food, payment of lobola, school fees payments and also to financing their medical and other daily needs and expenses.
   Culture and Religion
8. The Shangani people boasts of a unique and vibrant social culture which they are proud to preserve. They are proud of their hunter/gatherer culture which recognises the importance of respecting the environment. They depend on sustainably utilizing the natural resources within their communities.
9. A number of traditional and cultural ceremonies are still being conducted by the Shangaan people. During these ceremonies high-spirited dances such as Chinyambele Muchongoyo, Chokoto, Marula, and Chigubu are performed. Musical wind and string instruments such as Chizembe and Chitende are used. During the dances, men would be wearing grass, cowrie shell, armbands adorned with animal hides and porcupine quill headdresses.
10. The Shangani people perform rainmaking ceremonies at several sacred sites. Traditional beer is brewed and a black chicken is used to ask for the rains from ancestors. This is normally done at Chikhovo hill, Mapume hill and at the Dzinzela baobab tree. Other key tombs such as that of Mungoni, Hahlani and Kangale are also rainmaking sites.
11. Male initiation to adulthood ceremonies known as Ngomeni are still being conducted by the Shangaan people. Circumcision has been done during these ceremonies since time immemorial. Before the actual circumcision, young boys are isolated from their villages. They are normally taken to the sacred Chitiyo hill or at Chikulungu stream. No unauthorised persons are allowed at these sites. The boys are taught about manhood after which they are then circumcised. They receive further lessons before graduating into manhood.
12. Girls are also initiated into womanhood through a ceremony known as Khomba. Elders in Chilonga say female genital mutilation is no-longer part of Khomba but it used to be. Girls are isolated from their families for a month. They and they are taught about womanhood, cultural and traditional dancing and other cultural practices. After the Khomba ceremony the young women wear red caps with pins. Khomba is a sacred ceremony which is normally done annually between the month of July and August. The ceremonies are conducted at sacred sites along streams which includes Chigwejiva and Chipinda.
13. There is a traditional method of catching fish which the locals call Saila. It is organised by the Chief. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) allows the people to do Saila fishing. In 2011, ZimParks even assisted the Shangaan people with food and fuel to facilitate Saila fishing.
14. The Shangaan elders have vast experience in indigenous knowledge systems. They have unique understandings, skills and philosophies which have been developed over decades. These skills enables the Shangani people to sustainably interact with their natural surroundings.
15. They indigenous Shangaan people have developed exceptional traditional ways of weather forecasting that help them to fore-plan their activities some days in advance.
16. There are unique herbs and shrubs known by the Shangani elders. These herbs have medicinal properties for both the people and their livestock. The Zhombwe, a plant which produces a pumpkin like tuber is one such example. The tuber has medicinal properties used to cure cattle. They use a one pumpkin tuber to feed three cattle, a ratio developed by their forefathers. Other plants such as Chikalambutani are known to be highly poisonous.
17. There are several Shangani traditional healers recognised by the Zimbabwe National traditional healers Association (ZINATHA). The traditional healers have sacred sites where they perform rituals and ceremonies. The traditional healers obtain medicinal and spiritual resources from the forests and water bodies within their jurisdiction.
18. Christianity is one of the main religion within the Shangani community. There are a number of shrines within the communities. Some hills such as Chipfungwana, Chitiyo and Makwambe are sacred and members of apostolic sects such as Zion and Jeke Mission usually gather together in this mountains and pray for rains.
19. The Shangaan people believe that praying and fasting in sacred hills such as Chipfungwana is an effective solution to ravaging pests such as tsetse flies, army worm and locust swarms.
20. There are several other sacred hills, pools and ponds. Chigwejiva- Sala is one example of a site regard as highly sacred and spiritual. The Chigwejiva- Sala pool never runs dry even during years of the worst droughts. It is strictly visited for spiritual purposes or for watering cattle. The elders are allowed to bath in the waters but without soap.
21. Dances such as Kelekele are performed at Chigwejila-sala. Abortion is condemnable and young women who abort are spiritually exposed at Chigwejiva-Sala.

Communities’ concerns

1. The majority, if not all the Shangani people in South-eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe are aggrieved by government’s intended evictions. Some village heads under Headman Chilonga argued that this is not the first time the Shangaan tribe has been displaced.
2. The villagers argue that they were left homeless in the 1960s after the colonial government forcibly evicted them from their ancestral, part of which is the now Gonarezhou National Park. They say they were further evicted without any compensation to pave way for sugarcane farming.
3. The community argue that the Smith regime forced them to settle in the peripherals areas of the national park. Village head Mungoni recalls that he was 14 years old , the Smith regime relocated his family to the Chitanga area in Mwenezi, a place which was then Tsetse fly infested.
4. War veteran argues that it is the loggerheads with the colonial government that sparked the Chimurenga war which latter gave birth to an independent Zimbabwe. The villagers argue that the Land Reform Programme in the 2000s allowed the Shangaan people to regain some of their remaining ancestral land. They feel the government is now betraying them by grabbing the little that has been left for them.
5. The Shangaan community feel that tribalism is at play. The majority hold the view that the Shangaan speaking people are being discriminated by the Shona speaking people who dominate top government positions.
6. They argue that the government should identify alternative land for what they say is not a bona fide investor. They suggest that Dendairy be allocated land in Shona communities. They say there are large pieces of dormant fertile land in Mashonaland. One angry village head said the proposed displacements can cause an uprising and fuel an ethnic conflict in the country.
7. Villagers claim that they have developed symbiotic relations with their environment and further displacements will greatly affect them.
8. The Shangaan people claim that their ancestors were buried in the land which the government now wants to give away to a private investor. They say some of the graves have strong spiritual connections to the living. Headman Mungoni showed MACRAD one sacred grave where rain making rituals are annually performed. Several other Shangaan people share the same experience.
9. The Shangaan people have fears that if ever they will be evicted, their ancestral graves, sacred mountains, streams, pools and other cultural, religious and spiritual sites will not be preserved and protected if they are to be evicted. They also have fears that they will not have free access to these sacred sites.
10. One village head elaborates that the last time they were displaced and resettled to pave way for Sugarcane farming, they spent about 4 years without rains and he blames the displacements for the drought. The rationale being that the Shangaan elders no longer had access to their sacred places of worship and places of performing cultural ceremonies.
11. The communities argue that they were never consulted. They argue that sometime early this year they only saw some white touring their land driving Toyota Landcruizer vehicles and appeared to be surveying. They further aired out that in January 2020, they were made to gather and make declarations of their assets by some people whom they say had vehicles without number plates. They say they felt intimidated by these people who claimed to have been sent by the president.
12. Some village heads who opined that, if at all the government wants the community to benefit from lucerne grass farming , it should direct Dendairy to contract the communities so that they can themselves practice Lucerne farming. They say they are prepared to be taught by AREX officers and even Dendairy experts on how to farm lucerne.
13. The village heads argue that they have over the years been working very well with Delta Corporation Limited through BSCFS project. One village head who is also a farmer says him and other locals have been each producing up to 60 tonnes of sorghum per season. He says he personally owns two tractors and other hand farming equipment’s courtesy of Delta Corporation.
14. The complainants also fear that they may never be
    adequately compensated by the government or by Dendairy. They persistently cited Tugwi-Mukosi dame project and the Chisumbanje ethanol plant project as practical examples of non-payment of compensation.
15. The other concern raised by Shangaan communities is the fact that there is uncertainty on where they will be relocated to if they are to be evicted. They are not aware as to whether there are or would be schools, clinics, hospitals roads or other infrastructure at the places where they will relocated to, if they are to be evicted. They are worried about the proximity of the intended resettlement sites with their sacred religious and cultural shrines and sites. They do not even know if at all there will be able to access these sites.
    Legislative framework
16. Zimbabwean law is founded on in the value of the supremacy of the Constitution. It follows therefore that any decision that the government may make must be in all fours with the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment(No 20) Act 2013 (hereafter the Constitution)..
17. The nation’s diverse cultural, religious and traditional is one of the key values and principles, on the respect of which Zimbabwe is founded. As has been elaborated above, the Shangani people have a vibrant cultural, religious background. Equally relevant is section 3 of the Constitution which states that the principles of good governance, which binds the government includes the recognition of the rights of ethnic, racial, cultural, linguistic and religious groups.
18. The national objectives set out in Chapter 2 of Constitution are an important yardstick upon which upon which the government can be held accountable in terms of compliance with its human rights obligations towards the people.
19. National development is one of the country’s objectives. It is no doubt that the proposed lucerne grass farming is a national development programme. Section 13(2) of the Constitution provides that whenever the government put national development programmes in place (like Lucerne production in this case), such measures must involve the people in the
    formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes that affect them. It therefore goes without saying that the Shangaan people who are to be evicted must actively be involved in the lucerne project plans and project.
20. The constitution further imposes an obligation upon the state to ensure that local communities benefit from the resources in their areas. This means that the government must ensure the Shangaani people benefit from the land and other resources in the south –eastern lovield of Zimbabwe.
21. Another important national objective with a direct bearing on the Shangani people is the Preservation of traditional knowledge systems. Section 33 of the Constitution mandates the state to take measures to preserve, protect and promote indigenous knowledge systems, including knowledge of the medicinal and other properties of animal and plant life possessed by local communities and people, As has been elaborated above there is a vibrant traditional knowledge system within the Shangaan community that ought to be preserved protected and promoted.
22. Section 16 of the Constitution further imposes an obligation upon the government to promote , preserve cultural values and practices which enhances the dignity , well-being and equality in Zimbabwe.
23. The government’s proposed decision to displace the thousands of indigenous Shangani people to pave way for lucerne production by Dandairy may infringe fundamental rights and freedoms set out in the Constitution,
24. There is a likelihood that regional and international law will be violated through the intended evictions. There is potential violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) all of which Zimbabwe is a signatory.
25. Section 60 of the Constitution protects the right to freedom of conscience, which includes freedom of thought, opinion, religion or belief; and. The same right is protected in article 18 of the UDHR, article 18 of the ICCPR and article 8 of ACHPR. It is a fact that evicting the Shangani people from the their land will disconnect them from their religious and sacred spiritual sites within their land.
26. The Constitution also recognise culture rights in section 63. Correspondingly, article 27 of UDHR states that “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.” Article 27 ICCPR
    and article 17 ACHPR also protects cultural rights. As elaborated above, the cultural lives of the Shangaan people is depended upon sacred mountains, streams, pools other unique cultural sites within their ancestral land.
27. Section 71 of the Constitution recognises property rights. It states that every person has the right, in any part of Zimbabwe,
    to acquire, hold, occupy, use, transfer, hypothecate, lease or dispose of all forms of property. The Constitution however provides that. Section 71(3) provides no person may be compulsorily. A person cannot be deprived of their property except where the following conditions are satisfied.

“(a) the deprivation is in terms of a law of general application;
(b) the deprivation is necessary for any of the following reasons—
(i) in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public
morality, public health or town and country planning; or
(ii) in order to develop or use that or any other property for a purpose beneficial to the community;
(c) the law requires the acquiring authority—
(i) to give reasonable notice of the intention to acquire the property to everyone whose interest or right in the property would be affected by the acquisition;
(ii) to pay fair and adequate compensation for the acquisition
before acquiring the property or within a reasonable time after the
acquisition…”

Article 17 ICCPR also provides that everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others and that No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. Similarly, Article 14 ACHPR states that the right to property may only be encroached upon in the interest of public need or in the general interest of the community and in accordance with the provisions of appropriate laws.

13. That the thousands of people who are set to be evicted had constructed homes on the land is indubitable. Almost every household owns, cattle sheep, goats. It is not clear how the communities would be able to move and transport their livestock if they are to be evicted. Livestock is property and evicting the people boarders will likely violate the enjoyment of property rights
14. The right to agricultural land is protected in section 72 of the Constitution. The section also provides that the state can compulsorily acquire land is the agricultural land, or any right or interest in such land, is required for a public purpose including settlement for agricultural or other purposes. Section 72 also provides that compensation for improvements effected on land before acquisition is payable.
15. It is a fact that the Shangaan people have been in peaceful and undisturbed possession of agricultural land. They have been exercising rights to agricultural land for decades. There is a high likelihood that these rights will be violated if they are evicted and if no sustainable measures are put in place to protect and safeguard their rights.

Recommendation

1. The Government should properly give notice of the proposed acquisition of land by making a publication in the Government Gazette identifying the land in terms of Section 72(2) of the Constitution.
   2.

Lawyers for remanded director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Portia Manangazira, have filed an application at the High Court seeking the release of their client on bail.
Manangazira was last week remanded in custody pending trial on charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

She is being accused of paying facilitation fees to undeserving ministry staff, flouting tender rules when she bought US$280 529 of goods and services and allegedly diverted diesel coupons for 3 290 litres to private vehicles.

Mr Harrison Nkomo of Mhishi, Nkomo Legal Practitioners, said they were appealing against the decision of the remand court, claiming several misdirections on the part of the lower court.

“We have appealed and we await set down in the High Court,” he said.

In denying Manangazira bail, deputy chief magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande ruled that she was likely to interfere with investigations and witnesses, including her parents, who were part of the 28 family members she hired as community health workers to undertake the Covid-19 awareness programmes across the country.

Ms Makwande said Manangazira was still employed at the Ministry of Health and Child Care where there were some witnesses hence the court feared that was likely to jeopardise investigations.

The State also said Manangazira was a flight risk and remanded her in custody to March 8.

Africa Centre for Disease Control, through a non-governmental organisation — African Field Epidemiology Network — availed US$796 675 to fund training of 800 community health workers.

It is alleged that between July 16, 2020 and January 21 this year, Manangazira authorised the procurement of goods and services worth US$280 529 without going to tender. -Herald

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has denounced the persecution of human rights activist Makomborero Haruvizishe by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.

Writing on Twitter, Hon Biti called for the immediate release of Makomborero Haruvizishe.

“Makomborero Haruzivishe is a national treasure.A quite humble intelligent articulate and brave compatriot.

He has been brutalized by the regime throughout his life including multiple expulsions from University.He is not a criminal. Please do the right thing&let him go home #FreeMako.”

On the deepening economic crisis Hon Biti wrote:

“Zimbabwe has an unsustainable debt level that is putting huge premium on development Resolving debt crisis key in unlocking development funds in #IFIs. At least Chinamasa had his ill fated Lima Plan. Post coup regime has no desire or plan to tackle debt.Lacks any will for reforms.

Article IV Report was an effective write off for Zim.A pariah regime incapable of reform. Besides illegitimacy & toxic politics it is regime s inextricable symbiosis with corruption & capture that has killed any prospect of another #SMP & engagement with #IFIs.”

Chief Nematombo in Hurungwe, Mr Lovemore Karengesha has died. He was 67.

Chief Nematombo, who was the 17th chief in the Nematombo chieftainship died on Thursday evening after a short illness. Hurungwe District Development Coordinator Mr Andrew Tizora confirmed the death. “We received the news of his death today (yesterday). We are yet to establish the actual cause of his death,” said Mr Tizora.

Born on June 2, 1954, Chief Nematombo is survived by his wife and six children. Burial arrangements are still being finalised in terms of the Nematombo tradition and burial rites of chiefs. His death comes hardly a month after the death of chiefs Nyamweda and Mashayamombe in Mashonaland West province. – Herald

” …haafi akagara nemukadzi muhupenyu hwake since munhu akaurayiwa aive mujaya asati akamboroora…”

By Dorrothy Moyo | Norton MP Temba Mliswa’s ex girlfriend, Susan Mutami at the weekend forced a-Sunday-mystery down people’s throats when she tweeted for the second time since the day she was stopped from flying out of Zimbabwe.

Mutami has spent a whole week in Zimbabwe after she was blocked from flying back to Australia and told she will be a state witness in a terrorism case against her boyfriend.

The holder of two fake degrees who says she studied counter terrorism, and is also a nurse, last week bolted out of a ZimEye interview after being asked to reveal the universities which issued her certificates.

The case the state has put her as a witness relates to the White City bombing which happened on 23 June 2018 which killed two people on the spot and left Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his wife, Marry, nursing swelling boils on their bodies. At a time when the country has waited 2 years without clear details on who was behind it, Mutami earlier this month accused her 3 month-period boyfriend of possessing secret details on the incident.

She also accused Mliswa of attempted murder, saying he has planned to kill Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son, as well as presidential hopeful, Local Govt minister July Moyo.

Today, Mutami launched a tweet accusing an unnamed man of killing an unnamed man at a garage in Hurungwe. She went further to say the killer is now spending time making endless trips to Ghana so to heal the curse arising from that murder. Coincidentally, her boyfriend Mliswa who is from Hurungwe (his former Constituency) has been making several trips to Ghana.

Below was the full unedited text of her tweet:

Twimbos can you please educate me about Ngozi ini handinyatsoziva zvechivanhu. So In 2018 pane munhu akauraya mumwe mukomana in Hurungwe pa garage, since last year he’s been going to the family achida kuiripa but varikuramba.

Vakati iwe unoripa ngozi yemunhu wawakati hauna kuuraya here saka iri kumutambudza, akanzi achafa mafiro akaita mwana wavo and haafi akagara nemukadzi muhupenyu hwake since munhu akaurayiwa aive mujaya asati akamboroora. Anzwa nekuenda kuma prophet ku Ghana.

My question is does this affect the children vemhondi iyi and how can one protect vana vake. Ndinotenda kune vachabatsira.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is likely to jeopardize the crucial COVID-19 Vaccination Programme by threatening citizens.

Mr Mnangagwa said those who do not take the vaccine will (at some point) not be allowed to board ZUPCO Buses.He also said those who do not take the vaccine will find it difficult to secure employment.

Below is the MDC Alliance Weekly Health Update:

MDC Alliance Weekly Health Alert.

6th Edition

28 February 2022.

Welcome to yet another edition of the Weekly Health Alerts produced by MDC Alliance Health portfolio in conjunction with the Communications department.

This week we are looking at the lockdown and the way forward for Zimbabwe.

Covid-19 Lockdown-Whither to Zimbabwe?

WE have been on level 4 lockdown in this second covid-19 wave since January the 5th, initially for four weeks, but extended twice by two weeks at a time, to March 2021. With the strict lockdown comes many socio-economic challenges, which the government has up until now been unable to mitigate. Business is at a standstill, the cost of doing business has skyrocketed, especially with the current requirement that to reopen your small business you need covid-19 certificates for your workforce, at own expense.

The restrictions on informal traders has plunged many families into abject poverty and outright starvation in some cases, with no bailout from government.

We cannot be in perpetual lockdown, especially in a country where there are no social safety nets, but the decision to lift the lockdown must be based on data and science, not on political considerations.

Weaponisation of the lockdown is a tragedy, and many in Zimbabwe feel the lockdown is being used as a political weapon.

As President Chamisa said before, the government should be working with local authorities and health care departments to come out with a more scientific targeted approach based on numbers and hotspots.

Constant surveillance through testing and isolation throughout the country is necessary. Let’s remember the WHO’s admonition: “You can’t replace the lockdown with nothing”. Measures must be put in place to ensure a smooth transition to normalcy with adequate control measures. We need a well-informed and committed population, with persistent long-term behavior change as part of our new normal. Covid-19 safe behaviours must be observed at all times.

Vaccines bring with them a new hope of permanent relief, but only if we get it right, and we establish and maintain the highest levels of transparency regarding the vaccine attributes of efficacy, safety & cost, and procurement decisions. Arrogance on the part of government will derail the program. Every citizen has a right to be heard, and all concerns must be addressed with empathy, knowing that we are all born equal under the law of Zimbabwe, and in the eyes of God Almighty. Dissemination of correct information is key to the acceptance of any particular vaccine by the people, in our case the Sinopharm vaccine, at least for now. The current low uptake is due to lack of information, which buttresses all the conspiracy theories.

Coercion and intimidation will work against the program. The government must make it abundantly clear that taking the vaccine is a completely voluntary exercise, and informed consent is necessary for administration of the jab. As the people watch the early recipients of the vaccine, and as real time data on safety and efficacy is rolled out by the government, more people will volunteer to take the vaccine.

The recent command and control intimidatory diatribe we heard from high offices threatening to limit liberties to use Zupco buses and to bar people from getting employment if not vaccinated are both extremely unfortunate and mortally retrogressive to the program.

But is the vaccination program adequate on its own to ensure the safe lifting of lockdown measures? The answer for now is no, until we have vaccinated enough people to protect the whole population. There is no magical figure to achieve herd immunity, but if 60-80% of the population is vaccinated, we will enjoy reasonable protection as a nation. This is a medium to long-term aspiration, considering that all we have now is 200000 donated doses of Sinopharm vaccine, which will cover 100000 people out of the projected minimum target of ten million recipients. There is hard work and difficult decisions ahead of us. We implore the government to collect quality data that will inform future steps.

What shall we do now to be able to lift the lockdown without courting a third wave backlash? The WHO suggests six conditions that must be met before lifting the lockdown:

1. Disease transmission must be under control. We have seen a reduction in the number of new cases and of deaths over the past month. We are not there yet, but we are making progress. On this score alone, controlled relaxation of lockdown measures is feasible.
2. Health systems are able to “detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact”. This condition is the weakest link in our fight against covid-19. Government has never been able to supply enough testing kits to meet demand, and we continue to grope in the dark.
3. Hot spot risks are minimized in vulnerable places, such as nursing homes. In our case, its super-spreader events like ZUPCO buses, funerals, parties, shebeens, prisons and Zanu pf rallies. There is need to liberalise the transport sector to reduce unnecessary congestion. I do not consider church services to have super spreader potential if all things are done in an orderly manner and necessary precautions are taken, including social distancing, temperature checks, controlled numbers and masking up.
4. Schools, workplaces and other essential places have established preventive measures. We must at this stage take heed of what the teachers’ unions are saying about re-opening schools. To quote PTUZ, “…opening of schools is not an event, but a process that must be preceded by broad planning and engagement of teacher unions, parents, prioritization of health and safety of teachers, pupils, and ancillary staff”.
5. The risk of importing new cases “can be managed”. We need to manage our boarders and test all immigrants, with a view to isolating for an appropriate period those found positive. Remember, our nasty second wave was due to relaxation of the borders, failure to quarantine and test all immigrants, failure to follow up new comers in the community, and the presence of illegal crossing points. These must be remedied as a necessary precondition to lifting lockdown measures.
6. Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to live under a new normal.

A new culture must emerge. Social distancing, not shaking hands or hugging, masking up, limiting size of gatherings, banning cultural practices like to eat at funerals, frequent hand washing with soap and water, use of sanitisers, must become the new normal for the foreseeable future.

Health workers must continue to wear PPE as before until the epidemic is over. Investment in covid-19 clinical management infrastructure and PPE must continue. Health worker continuing professional education must intensify. The law must be applied evenly across the political divide, religious affiliation, race, colour & creed.

Lifting the lockdown situation has become a necessity to save the people from suffering and starvation, and a sector-by-sector consideration must be done, with the necessary stakeholder consultation and a targeted geographical approach. New and much cheaper vaccines like the J&J that has been used in South Africa must be procured and introduced in Zimbabwe. Measures as outlined above must be taken to ensure we do not gravitate into an even nastier third wave.

Now is the time to move to alleviate the people’s suffering, while keeping the epidemic under control.

May I extend thanks to the MDC-Alliance Health Portfolio Committee members for their input into our articles.

I remain

Dr Henry Madzorera
Secretary for Health and Child welfare
MDC Alliance

Tinashe Sambiri|A Masvingo- based Non Governmental Organization, MACRAD Trust has challenged the proposed eviction of Chiredzi villagers by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Mr Mnangagwa’s administration is planning to evict Shangaan families from their ancestral land.

Below is MACRAD’s position paper on government’s proposed eviction of Chiredzi villagers:

MACRAD position paper on government’s proposed eviction of Shangaan families in Chiredzi District.

Introduction
Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD) embarked on a fact finding mission regarding government’s proposed eviction of thousands of Shangaan people to pave way for lucerne grass farming in Chiredzi District.

Focus group discussions were conducted with some of the community leaders within the affected district. In this position paper, MACRAD commence by giving a brief summary background of the issue at hand and goes on to outline the agricultural, religious and cultural set up within the affected area. The paper looks into relevant domestic and international legislation and concludes with some recommendations.

Summary background

1. On April 30, 2020, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing (Honourable July Moyo) who was acting on behalf of the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural settlement (Honourable Perence Shiri) convened a meeting in Chiredzi, a district in South-eastern Zimbabwe.
2. Present at the meeting was Chief Sengwe, Member of Parliament for Chiredzi South Constituency, Chiredzi District Administrator, Chiredzi District Education Officer, Chiredzi Rural District councilors. Headman Chilonga, Headman Masiwamele, the minister’s delegation and a few other stakeholders.
3. At the meeting, the Minister indicated that the government had identified about 6000ha of development land in Chiredzi. He added that a private company, Dendairy had an interest in growing lucerne grass in the identified area. The identified area covers part of Chiredzi East and Chiredzi South Constituencies.
4. The Minister hinted that that the growing of lucerne grass would boost livestock production in Chiredzi and at the same time earn the country vast amounts of foreign currency.
5. The minister told ZBC journalists who were present that the agenda of the meeting was to look into how the government and the private company were to engage the local community over the project.
6. It was also highlighted that the Government intends to evict hundreds of Xangani (Shangaan) families residing within the identified land to pave way for lucerne grass farming.
7. Dendairy, the purported investor is a private local milk processor based in Kwekwe. The company produces full cream milk, long life milk, powdered milk, ice cream and yoghurts among other dairy products. It exports some of its products to Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
8. Lucerne, also known as alfalfa is a deep rooted perennial legume primarily used as dairy cows forage. It is usually harvested as hay and can also be made into silage.

Agriculture

1. Chiredzi District lies in the South eastern part of Zimbabwe (and it boarders Mozambique and South Africa. It is in ecological region V and it receives minimal and uncertain rainfall. There are rich red soils and most crops can only be sustained through irrigation. It is on this background that the district has over decades been the sugar basket of Zimbabwe.
2. The Shangaan people mostly grow sorghum grains (xibedlani, xitishi
   and mutode) and millet grains (mahuvu and mpowo). They also cultivate some maize xifake, sweet reeds (matimba) sweet potatoes (muhlate), cotton, pumpkins mandunghu, groundnuts (timanga).
3. Small and large scale farmers in the district mostly rely on sorghum because it is a drought resistant crop. Over the past years Delta Corporation Limited, a local beverages and brewery company has been capacitating the Shangani people in growing sorghum through a scheme referred to as Beverages Sorghum Contract Farming Scheme (BSCFS).
4. Through the BSCFS, Delta contracts farmers and supply seeds and sometimes fertilizers. In return communities sell the sorghum to the Company and earn a living with the proceeds. Delta uses the crop to brew sorghum beer; the legendary Chibuku-Scud, Super and Eagle larger brands. Chibuku is no doubt the market leader in Zimbabwe’s traditional beer.
5. The Shangani tribe inherited their name from their then King Soshangane. They are agriculturalists and pastoralists. The main domestic animals reared are cattle, goat and sheep. Zebu and Senga breeds of cattle are mainly kept. Other farmers also have Brahman Red Sindhi and other crossbreeds. Almost every households own goats. Goats are more adaptive to the semi-arid climate conditions.
6. The south eastern lowveld is dominated by mopane tree (Colophospermum mopane) Cattle, goats and sheep mainly rely on dry mopane leaves for browsing during the dry season. It has been scientifically proven that the mopane leaves are highly nutritious.
7. Livestock is a symbol of wealth within the Shangaan people. Communities use livestock for food, payment of lobola, school fees payments and also to financing their medical and other daily needs and expenses.
   Culture and Religion
8. The Shangani people boasts of a unique and vibrant social culture which they are proud to preserve. They are proud of their hunter/gatherer culture which recognises the importance of respecting the environment. They depend on sustainably utilizing the natural resources within their communities.
9. A number of traditional and cultural ceremonies are still being conducted by the Shangaan people. During these ceremonies high-spirited dances such as Chinyambele Muchongoyo, Chokoto, Marula, and Chigubu are performed. Musical wind and string instruments such as Chizembe and Chitende are used. During the dances, men would be wearing grass, cowrie shell, armbands adorned with animal hides and porcupine quill headdresses.
10. The Shangani people perform rainmaking ceremonies at several sacred sites. Traditional beer is brewed and a black chicken is used to ask for the rains from ancestors. This is normally done at Chikhovo hill, Mapume hill and at the Dzinzela baobab tree. Other key tombs such as that of Mungoni, Hahlani and Kangale are also rainmaking sites.
11. Male initiation to adulthood ceremonies known as Ngomeni are still being conducted by the Shangaan people. Circumcision has been done during these ceremonies since time immemorial. Before the actual circumcision, young boys are isolated from their villages. They are normally taken to the sacred Chitiyo hill or at Chikulungu stream. No unauthorised persons are allowed at these sites. The boys are taught about manhood after which they are then circumcised. They receive further lessons before graduating into manhood.
12. Girls are also initiated into womanhood through a ceremony known as Khomba. Elders in Chilonga say female genital mutilation is no-longer part of Khomba but it used to be. Girls are isolated from their families for a month. They and they are taught about womanhood, cultural and traditional dancing and other cultural practices. After the Khomba ceremony the young women wear red caps with pins. Khomba is a sacred ceremony which is normally done annually between the month of July and August. The ceremonies are conducted at sacred sites along streams which includes Chigwejiva and Chipinda.
13. There is a traditional method of catching fish which the locals call Saila. It is organised by the Chief. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) allows the people to do Saila fishing. In 2011, ZimParks even assisted the Shangaan people with food and fuel to facilitate Saila fishing.
14. The Shangaan elders have vast experience in indigenous knowledge systems. They have unique understandings, skills and philosophies which have been developed over decades. These skills enables the Shangani people to sustainably interact with their natural surroundings.
15. They indigenous Shangaan people have developed exceptional traditional ways of weather forecasting that help them to fore-plan their activities some days in advance.
16. There are unique herbs and shrubs known by the Shangani elders. These herbs have medicinal properties for both the people and their livestock. The Zhombwe, a plant which produces a pumpkin like tuber is one such example. The tuber has medicinal properties used to cure cattle. They use a one pumpkin tuber to feed three cattle, a ratio developed by their forefathers. Other plants such as Chikalambutani are known to be highly poisonous.
17. There are several Shangani traditional healers recognised by the Zimbabwe National traditional healers Association (ZINATHA). The traditional healers have sacred sites where they perform rituals and ceremonies. The traditional healers obtain medicinal and spiritual resources from the forests and water bodies within their jurisdiction.
18. Christianity is one of the main religion within the Shangani community. There are a number of shrines within the communities. Some hills such as Chipfungwana, Chitiyo and Makwambe are sacred and members of apostolic sects such as Zion and Jeke Mission usually gather together in this mountains and pray for rains.
19. The Shangaan people believe that praying and fasting in sacred hills such as Chipfungwana is an effective solution to ravaging pests such as tsetse flies, army worm and locust swarms.
20. There are several other sacred hills, pools and ponds. Chigwejiva- Sala is one example of a site regard as highly sacred and spiritual. The Chigwejiva- Sala pool never runs dry even during years of the worst droughts. It is strictly visited for spiritual purposes or for watering cattle. The elders are allowed to bath in the waters but without soap.
21. Dances such as Kelekele are performed at Chigwejila-sala. Abortion is condemnable and young women who abort are spiritually exposed at Chigwejiva-Sala.

Communities’ concerns

1. The majority, if not all the Shangani people in South-eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe are aggrieved by government’s intended evictions. Some village heads under Headman Chilonga argued that this is not the first time the Shangaan tribe has been displaced.
2. The villagers argue that they were left homeless in the 1960s after the colonial government forcibly evicted them from their ancestral, part of which is the now Gonarezhou National Park. They say they were further evicted without any compensation to pave way for sugarcane farming.
3. The community argue that the Smith regime forced them to settle in the peripherals areas of the national park. Village head Mungoni recalls that he was 14 years old , the Smith regime relocated his family to the Chitanga area in Mwenezi, a place which was then Tsetse fly infested.
4. War veteran argues that it is the loggerheads with the colonial government that sparked the Chimurenga war which latter gave birth to an independent Zimbabwe. The villagers argue that the Land Reform Programme in the 2000s allowed the Shangaan people to regain some of their remaining ancestral land. They feel the government is now betraying them by grabbing the little that has been left for them.
5. The Shangaan community feel that tribalism is at play. The majority hold the view that the Shangaan speaking people are being discriminated by the Shona speaking people who dominate top government positions.
6. They argue that the government should identify alternative land for what they say is not a bona fide investor. They suggest that Dendairy be allocated land in Shona communities. They say there are large pieces of dormant fertile land in Mashonaland. One angry village head said the proposed displacements can cause an uprising and fuel an ethnic conflict in the country.
7. Villagers claim that they have developed symbiotic relations with their environment and further displacements will greatly affect them.
8. The Shangaan people claim that their ancestors were buried in the land which the government now wants to give away to a private investor. They say some of the graves have strong spiritual connections to the living. Headman Mungoni showed MACRAD one sacred grave where rain making rituals are annually performed. Several other Shangaan people share the same experience.
9. The Shangaan people have fears that if ever they will be evicted, their ancestral graves, sacred mountains, streams, pools and other cultural, religious and spiritual sites will not be preserved and protected if they are to be evicted. They also have fears that they will not have free access to these sacred sites.
10. One village head elaborates that the last time they were displaced and resettled to pave way for Sugarcane farming, they spent about 4 years without rains and he blames the displacements for the drought. The rationale being that the Shangaan elders no longer had access to their sacred places of worship and places of performing cultural ceremonies.
11. The communities argue that they were never consulted. They argue that sometime early this year they only saw some white touring their land driving Toyota Landcruizer vehicles and appeared to be surveying. They further aired out that in January 2020, they were made to gather and make declarations of their assets by some people whom they say had vehicles without number plates. They say they felt intimidated by these people who claimed to have been sent by the president.
12. Some village heads who opined that, if at all the government wants the community to benefit from lucerne grass farming , it should direct Dendairy to contract the communities so that they can themselves practice Lucerne farming. They say they are prepared to be taught by AREX officers and even Dendairy experts on how to farm lucerne.
13. The village heads argue that they have over the years been working very well with Delta Corporation Limited through BSCFS project. One village head who is also a farmer says him and other locals have been each producing up to 60 tonnes of sorghum per season. He says he personally owns two tractors and other hand farming equipment’s courtesy of Delta Corporation.
14. The complainants also fear that they may never be
    adequately compensated by the government or by Dendairy. They persistently cited Tugwi-Mukosi dame project and the Chisumbanje ethanol plant project as practical examples of non-payment of compensation.
15. The other concern raised by Shangaan communities is the fact that there is uncertainty on where they will be relocated to if they are to be evicted. They are not aware as to whether there are or would be schools, clinics, hospitals roads or other infrastructure at the places where they will relocated to, if they are to be evicted. They are worried about the proximity of the intended resettlement sites with their sacred religious and cultural shrines and sites. They do not even know if at all there will be able to access these sites.
    Legislative framework
16. Zimbabwean law is founded on in the value of the supremacy of the Constitution. It follows therefore that any decision that the government may make must be in all fours with the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment(No 20) Act 2013 (hereafter the Constitution)..
17. The nation’s diverse cultural, religious and traditional is one of the key values and principles, on the respect of which Zimbabwe is founded. As has been elaborated above, the Shangani people have a vibrant cultural, religious background. Equally relevant is section 3 of the Constitution which states that the principles of good governance, which binds the government includes the recognition of the rights of ethnic, racial, cultural, linguistic and religious groups.
18. The national objectives set out in Chapter 2 of Constitution are an important yardstick upon which upon which the government can be held accountable in terms of compliance with its human rights obligations towards the people.
19. National development is one of the country’s objectives. It is no doubt that the proposed lucerne grass farming is a national development programme. Section 13(2) of the Constitution provides that whenever the government put national development programmes in place (like Lucerne production in this case), such measures must involve the people in the
    formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes that affect them. It therefore goes without saying that the Shangaan people who are to be evicted must actively be involved in the lucerne project plans and project.
20. The constitution further imposes an obligation upon the state to ensure that local communities benefit from the resources in their areas. This means that the government must ensure the Shangaani people benefit from the land and other resources in the south –eastern lovield of Zimbabwe.
21. Another important national objective with a direct bearing on the Shangani people is the Preservation of traditional knowledge systems. Section 33 of the Constitution mandates the state to take measures to preserve, protect and promote indigenous knowledge systems, including knowledge of the medicinal and other properties of animal and plant life possessed by local communities and people, As has been elaborated above there is a vibrant traditional knowledge system within the Shangaan community that ought to be preserved protected and promoted.
22. Section 16 of the Constitution further imposes an obligation upon the government to promote , preserve cultural values and practices which enhances the dignity , well-being and equality in Zimbabwe.
23. The government’s proposed decision to displace the thousands of indigenous Shangani people to pave way for lucerne production by Dandairy may infringe fundamental rights and freedoms set out in the Constitution,
24. There is a likelihood that regional and international law will be violated through the intended evictions. There is potential violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) all of which Zimbabwe is a signatory.
25. Section 60 of the Constitution protects the right to freedom of conscience, which includes freedom of thought, opinion, religion or belief; and. The same right is protected in article 18 of the UDHR, article 18 of the ICCPR and article 8 of ACHPR. It is a fact that evicting the Shangani people from the their land will disconnect them from their religious and sacred spiritual sites within their land.
26. The Constitution also recognise culture rights in section 63. Correspondingly, article 27 of UDHR states that “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.” Article 27 ICCPR
    and article 17 ACHPR also protects cultural rights. As elaborated above, the cultural lives of the Shangaan people is depended upon sacred mountains, streams, pools other unique cultural sites within their ancestral land.
27. Section 71 of the Constitution recognises property rights. It states that every person has the right, in any part of Zimbabwe,
    to acquire, hold, occupy, use, transfer, hypothecate, lease or dispose of all forms of property. The Constitution however provides that. Section 71(3) provides no person may be compulsorily. A person cannot be deprived of their property except where the following conditions are satisfied.

“(a) the deprivation is in terms of a law of general application;
(b) the deprivation is necessary for any of the following reasons—
(i) in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public
morality, public health or town and country planning; or
(ii) in order to develop or use that or any other property for a purpose beneficial to the community;
(c) the law requires the acquiring authority—
(i) to give reasonable notice of the intention to acquire the property to everyone whose interest or right in the property would be affected by the acquisition;
(ii) to pay fair and adequate compensation for the acquisition
before acquiring the property or within a reasonable time after the
acquisition…”

Article 17 ICCPR also provides that everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others and that No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. Similarly, Article 14 ACHPR states that the right to property may only be encroached upon in the interest of public need or in the general interest of the community and in accordance with the provisions of appropriate laws.

13. That the thousands of people who are set to be evicted had constructed homes on the land is indubitable. Almost every household owns, cattle sheep, goats. It is not clear how the communities would be able to move and transport their livestock if they are to be evicted. Livestock is property and evicting the people boarders will likely violate the enjoyment of property rights
14. The right to agricultural land is protected in section 72 of the Constitution. The section also provides that the state can compulsorily acquire land is the agricultural land, or any right or interest in such land, is required for a public purpose including settlement for agricultural or other purposes. Section 72 also provides that compensation for improvements effected on land before acquisition is payable.
15. It is a fact that the Shangaan people have been in peaceful and undisturbed possession of agricultural land. They have been exercising rights to agricultural land for decades. There is a high likelihood that these rights will be violated if they are evicted and if no sustainable measures are put in place to protect and safeguard their rights.

Recommendation

1. The Government should properly give notice of the proposed acquisition of land by making a publication in the Government Gazette identifying the land in terms of Section 72(2) of the Constitution.
   2.

Masvingo Province has been hit again by a new wave of cattle deaths that has left many farmers with empty pens. The local farmers who spoke to Community Tolerance and Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) expressed concern over the lack of commitment by Government’s Veterinary Services Department -towards the prevention of the persisting theileriosis, a tick-borne disease. Theileriosis which is caused by uncontrolled ticks killed hundreds of cattle in Chatsworth and other parts of Gutu last year. The disease hit many districts of Masvingo Province in January 2021.

The famers say the government’s veterinary service department, which is responsible for the provision of animal and zoonotic diseases surveillance, animal health risk management, and animal health and protection has failed its mandate. The department is failing to frequently provide adequate dipping chemicals to dip tanks despite continuous outbreak of tick-borne disease. During the rainy season cattle are supposed to be dipped at least once every week so as to break the cycle of ticks. “As famers we call upon the Government and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to ensure the supply of quality dipping chemicals, livestock dosses and vaccinations to the Veterinary Service Departments and closely monitor the distribution of these chemicals to avoid corruption and diversion of use. The dipping chemicals which are rarely supplied to our local dip tanks do not remove all ticks, therefore we doubt the quality of such chemicals.” said one farmer.

Farmers are buying their own cattle dipping equipment, chemicals and vaccination despite paying cattle tax to the government to enjoy veterinary service. Long queues are seen at Veterinary and other shops which provides livestock health education and chemicals in Masvingo town with farmers from different districts even with COVID-19 lockdown restrictions that prohibits the movement of people. Exemption letters written by Chiefs and other traditional leaders are not being considered by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) at checkpoints. Therefore, some small holder and peasant farmers from rural areas are reportedly failing to access town to purchase cattle vaccinations due to lockdown restrictions.

“COTRAD encourages the famers and the dip tank committees to engage the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement and Veterinary Department when having such concerns.”, said Kupfuwa Ishmael, COTRAD official. The Veterinary Service Department is responsible of promoting bio-security, animal health and welfare for the benefit of the livestock industry through implementing risk management measures for prescribed animal diseases and pests control, and building and maintaining physical veterinary infrastructure such as dips, animal handling facilities.-COTRAD

By Ashleigh Jinjika
Since 2000, Zimbabwe has faced serious challenges and threats to its peace and security as a result of deepening economic and political crisis. In the wake of the Zimbabwe Crisis, the last two decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold (ASGM) mining activities.

This development has also seen the rise of marauding machete wielding gangs (loosely referred to as mashurugwi) who have descended on the mining sector and society at large. Resultantly, the mining sector has become a no-go area for the weaker sex (women) since the masculine (men) now dominate the artisanal and small mining sector in Zimbabwe. Women and girls suffer higher incidences of this violence because of their subordinate status in the society.
In recent months, the gangs have terrorised communities with government seemingly doing nothing besides half-hearted statements that the culprits will be arrested. The lack of government intervention to address this national security issue has fuelled or resulted in Zimbabwe to enter into a new crisis whereby the natural resources which are meant to benefit everyone now benefit one gender. Men due to their masculinity in nature dominate the mining sector at the expense of women.

The mining environment itself is also often dangerous for women, as there are instances of sexual harassment and pressure to engage in sex work. Sexual harassment violates a woman’s integrity and oftentimes leaves victims emotionally scarred all their lives. Additionally, there are often high levels of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in mining communities.

Mining sites also often lack sanitation, health services, and regular access to clean water, if accessible at all, are often far away.
Each day, violence stops a girl or woman from taking a job, compromising their future and the economic and social development of their communities. Therefore, the government has to respond to the violence taking place to ensure the environment will fair for both men and women such that they all benefit from natural resources to eradicate poverty.

Own Correspondent|Controversial Masvingo- based preacher, Isaac Makomichi, has triggered social media war after literally suggesting that Zimbabwe should adopt a monarchical government and allow Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to rule forever.

Makomichi also said Harare should be renamed after the Zanu PF leader.

Irate Zimbabweans have accused the preacher of using cheap political tactics to please Mr Mnangagwa.

In a statement released on Saturday Makomichi said:

“The country must unite and abolish elections.The budget for 2023 elections must be used to renovate hospitals and purchsse drugs.

I want Mnangagwa to become a King.I also want Harare city to be renamed after Mnangagwa- just like our airport which was renamed after Robert Mugabe.

Team Mwonzora should be arrested and prosecuted for multiple crimes.

This is my proposal to the government and the people of Zimbabwe.

This must be done as a way of appreciating the new dispansation,every citizen is so excited to see Cde
Mnangagwa leading this nation”

The cleric is accused of destroying people’s marriages through his love charm- which he distributes to slay queens.