By A Correspondent- People who had COVID-19 before are vaccinated once, a senior official in the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.
Chief director curative services in the Ministry, Dr Maxwell Mareza Hove said the body of a person who has had COVID-19 has been put on alert by the natural infection and if they are not sick and are asymptomatic, they get a single jab which acts as as a second dose. Dr Hove said:
By vaccinating we are trying to sensitise the body to get alert that there is COVID-19 disease so it produces a certain type of antibodies.
For those who have already had the disease, the body has been put on alert by the natural infection and if they are not sick and are asymptomatic, we can give them but as a second dose because they are already sensitised by the previous infection.
If the person is stable we give the vaccine as a booster so that the immune system is stronger.
Dr Hove also urged citizens to open up about their conditions to health staff so that it can be ascertained if they are ready to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. He said:
Those above 60 years are also being vaccinated but after the screening, because the elderly tend to have other conditions like diabetes, hypertension or respiratory problems.
When they are not stable or blood sugar is out of control we wait until they have been cleared by their doctor.
HIV is equally a chronic disease. If the viral load is low and they are taking their medication with no sickness, they get vaccinated but if the viral loads are still high we wait until that is controlled.
By A Correspondent- Chaos characterised the reopening of schools for non-examination classes yesterday, with pupils not turning up at most schools possibly assuming that teachers heeded their unions’ call for a nationwide strike.
At most schools visited by NewsDay, teachers reported for duty in large numbers, but there were very few pupils.
Information ministry permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana confirmed the development on his Twitter handle, saying: “Surprisingly, it is the students who registered less than 100% turnout in some schools such as Munondo Primary, Daikieth and Windsor Primary School in Goromonzi.”
Mashonaland West provincial education director Gabriel Mhumha also said: “Today, we witnessed more teachers reporting for work than students reporting for school. The teachers’ percentage turnout was around 90%100%, while students’ turnout was around 70%-95%.”
But Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure claimed that over 90% of teachers had heeded the strike call.
“We have embarked on a nationwide protest under the banner #SaveOurEducation. We are demanding that government resolves the incapacitation of teachers as our salaries should be restored to pre-October 2018 levels, where we were earning salaries ranging between US$520 and US$550,” he said.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said: “We support Artuz and what we are calling for is a clear constructive dialogue between government and teachers as soon as possible.We want to believe that there is something positive that can be born if we put our heads together. Let us dialogue and possibly agree on a solution.”
Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union national co-ordinator Wonder Nyapokoto said: “Our stance regarding this issue is that our members are incapacitated and can only go once a day or once a week or fail to report for work at all considering the limited resources concerned.”
Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro, however, told NewsDay that there were no protests and the ministry was happy with the teachers’ and pupils’ turnout.-Newsday
7 months after the 7-year old Tapiwa Makore was murdered and his body severally dismembered, the government of Zimbabwe on Monday held a rushed meeting at the Murehwa district office, to address and demand from the late’s family that he be granted a state burial. The discussion was held at 2pm.
The development exclusively revealed by ZimEye 4 days before the burial which will happen this coming Saturday.
Below were the scenes (on audio).
Present were bosses from the Zim Prisons/ZRP/ZANU PF and Doves/Ecosure and other unnamed people.
Robert Sigauke, Political Commentator, Johannesburg
Analysis…Robert Sigauke
The Standard newspaper reported that Clifford Hlatswayo who is an MDC Alliance Spokesperson, communicated that the Alliance is mulling protests in response to the recalls of Tendai Biti and other MPs from parliament. Tendai Biti, Settlement Chikwinya and others were recalled from parliament, to the effect that they ceased to be members of the party PDP which seconded them to parliament after they identified themselves with the MDC Alliance. The PDP constitution provides that any member of parliament from their party may be recalled once they cross the floor to another party.
The Courts found on more than one occasion that the MDC Alliance is not a political party, but a loose coalition of opposition parties. The agreement document itself says so, that the MPs will retain their respective political parties but operate, coalesce and consult under the banner of the Alliance coalition.
There are pertinent questions therefore, did Tendai Biti cross over to an MDC Alliance which is not a political party? Secondly, does this mean there was never a party for Tendai Biti to cross over to, if there is no political party called the MDC Alliance? Thirdly, is ZANU-PF responsible for the illegal actions and outcomes of flawed MDC Alliance processes, sheepishly done by the MDC Alliance’s own members who are even lawyers of repute, which repute is now even questionable?
The case regarding if Biti and others never crossed over to any party as the MDC Alliance is a non-existent party is an academic argument for another day, what is important is that even if there was no party called MDC Alliance which Tendai Biti and others could cross over to, their objective conduct and subjective state of intent is informative and fundamental. The spirit and purpot of the provision in the PDP constitution (and constitutions of other parties) that any MP who ceases to be a member of the party may be recalled from parliament, was done because such member no longer represents the interests of the PDP but rather the interests of a different, opposing political party and therefore he must not be allowed to sit in the parliamentary seat of the PDP which seconded him as he is now publicly and expressly/tacitly disassociating himself with the PDP. This then effectively renders worthless the argument that the MDC Alliance is not a party, because it has its own distinct agenda, ethos, policies, and identity. In this instance, whether the Alliance is an actual or fictitious party, whoever recognises and associates themselves with the Alliance ceases to be a member of the PDP or any other party, and is now considered a member of that fictitious or actual party called the MDC Alliance. Therefore, the legality of the recalls is unquestionable and above board.
ZANU-PF therefore, does not need to meddle its hands to taint the already tainted and legally flawed MDC Alliance outcomes. The recalls are legal, and so were the findings of the Court that Chamisa’s rise to power was illegal too. ZANU-PF cannot be held responsible for the sheepish behaviour, political bankruptcy and illegal actions of the (questionably) clever Harare lawyers.
Of more interest is the response of the MDC Alliance to the latest recalls. They have advised they will organise protests to hold the government responsible. Is this a clever and effective strategy? Is this a strategy at all? Is it ZANU-PF which recalled MDC-T and PDP members of parliament, or was it the absence of convergence and infighting within those parties?
Will a regime holding a gun put back Biti into parliament because the youths of Mbare and some vendors have done toyi toyi, which is illegal even against COVID restrictions? Will the regime soil their pants and go against the PDP constitution and parliament rules because Mabvuku youths have protested in favour of illegality?
I think it holds much wisdom for the MDC Alliance to protest rather, if they will, for by-elections to be done so that the “much loved” members recalled by Khupe and PDP may return to parliament, legally. Surely if ZANU-PF is holding birthday parties and gatherings in the midst of COVID restrictions, it can be persuaded to save face and consider holding by-elections under those very same health protocols. ZANU-PF is desperate for legitimacy especially post the 2017 coup and the controversial 2018 elections, that is a bargaining chip for the MDC Alliance to invite the ruling party to prove its commitment to legitimacy and that it is not afraid of the ballot in the constituencies where MPs were recalled.
The current regime is an outcome of two revolutions, both born out of the barrel of a gun. Protests, against them, do not work!
Robert Sigauke is a Legal Manager and Political Commentator. He writes from Johannesburg. He can be reached on robert.carl@rocketmail.com
An enraged 88-year-old Mutoko woman last week struck her 99-year-old husband who later died due to the injury he sustained during the attack after he refused to help her with household chores.
99 year old Saidi Daiton was struck by bricks by Enesia Chivhinge after he reportedly refused to help her carry some cowpeas from their field. The incident occurred at Tamuka village in Mutoko on Thursday.
The Incident was confirmed by Mashonaland East Provincial Spokesperson Tendai Mwanza who said:
Police in Mutoko have arrested an 88-year-old woman after she allegedly hit her 99 year old husband with some pieces of bricks leading to his death a few days later.
The two reportedly had a misunderstanding after the now deceased allegedly refused to help the accused to ferry cow peas from their field to their home.
This is believed to have not gone down well with the accused who allegedly picked up some farm brick pieces and struck Saidi Daiton several times on the left hand and both legs.
An informant Tafadzwa Chivhinge told the police that when he got home that day, the now-deceased told him he had been attacked by his wife and Chivhinde after inspecting his injuries told him to seek medical attention. Dalton’s condition is said to have deteriorated 2 days later and when he was rushed to a nearby clinic he was pronounced dead on arrival according to Inspector Mwanza:
The informant hired a motor vehicle to ferry him to Nzira Clinic but Saidi Daiton unfortunately passed away on the way at around 1800 hours. The informant made a report at ZRP Mutoko on 21 March 2021 at around 0700 hours leading the police to attend. The accused was arrested and detained at ZRP Mutoko.
The body was ferried to Murewa Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem. It is saddening to note that the couple got involved in domestic violence at such ages. People should understand the need to maintain peace with each other even in times of misunderstandings. : ZTN
The company board must understand that it is not only their duty under law, but because they have a duty of care to their customers, shareholders and stakeholders. Cybersecurity is ever-increasing in the Covid-19 era. On one hand, businesses are going through a radical transformation while on the other hand the attack surface is rapidly expanding due to more people working from home and being online more than ever. There is increased pressure on executive teams to step-up and get a better handle on cybersecurity.
As board members, cybersecurity has grown so large that their consequences can significantly impact a company’s valuation. As a result, network security and data privacy are now boardroom governance concerns. Regulators like Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ), should respond by increasing oversight and highlighting the need for public companies to make disclosures related to the cybersecurity risks. Zimbabwe’s Boardrooms should not only devote more attention to this ever-increasing cybersecurity risks but also evaluate their company’s corporate readiness for such attacks.
In Zimbabwe and beyond, data breaches and cybersecurity attacks have proliferated over the past few years and incidents occurring at Zimbabwe’s large and reputable companies are further stressing the harsh reality that no company is safe from this modern day threat.
Zimbabwe is a cashless society and the realm of the fight against corporate cybersecurity hacks and the mishandling of confidential data are boards of directors and their management teams whose challenge is further exacerbated by tougher disclosure requirements as required by the now Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill and the speed at which the threats are evolving. As a cashless society, what constituted a valid preventive strategy five years ago is unlikely still appropriate today.
Social engineering is now the number one crime and cybersecurity now extends well beyond criminal organizations conducting targeted attacks on corporations to include personal data gathered from social media platforms like facebook, navigation systems and home security monitoring to personal health tracking devices.
The only companies that has CTO/CIO professionals on their board are telecommunications and mobile network operating (MNO) companies. The rest still have ICT security buried within the ICT department. The Chief Information officer (CIO) or the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is left to decide security levels in isolation from the actual business risks, he or she is trying to manage, with little access to decision-makers at board level or to adequate funding. Unaware of the risks, business units frequently perceive ICT security simply as a cost and an obstruction and ways to circumvent it. Similarly, they plan strategy and take business decisions with scant regard for the risk consequences. The lack of board involvement means the regime is not focused and board reporting is inaccurate.
With the COVID-19 out-break, companies must implement a new ICT corporated governance strategies and processes. Board members, senior managers and the CIO/CTO, must understand the severity of the cyber security threat landscape and how cybersecurity attacks could impact the company’s business model, customers and reputation.
Having the CIO/CTO on the company’s board, it makes it easier for the board to identify the damaging impacts and to be identify priorities for the business and the ICT security team. It is not enough to simply increase the security budget, the budget must be focused on the highest priority risks.
It is essential that the appropriate ICT governance is implemented within a structure that suits the individual organisation’s corporate governance model, risk appetite and culture, business activities and specific threat landscape.
As the organisation improves its ability to manage cybersecurity risk, the cyber ICT governance process will mature and become more embedded in wider risk ICT governance, integrating with related business processes e.g. resilience, business continuity, fraud management and crisis management. The increased maturity of ICT corporate governance will also enable the organisation to introduce more quantitative measurements and to exploit the use of software tools.
Cybersecurity is now critical aspect of boardroom oversight, but an overwhelming majority of directors rate their own and their board’s knowledge of ICT risk as ‘in need of improvement’. A lack of cyber-knowledge at board level can lead to overreliance on cyber experts and difficulty for directors in judging an appropriate level of involvement.
To help board members address this critical topic, the Institute of Directors of Zimbabwe (IODZ), along with Zimbabwe Information and Communication Technology (ZICT), the ICT division of Zimbabwe Institution Of Engineers (ZIE) will be organizing a series of roundtable discussions across the country, with the meetings focused on implications for the boardroom: how directors can effectively oversee cybersecurity risk; the necessary processes and policies to protect sensitive networks, systems and data from unauthorized access or attack; and the potential for financial and legal problems created by cyber-threats.
If you need any further information, do not hesitate to contact us on email chair@zict.org.zw or whatsapp/call +263772278161
If I were Secretary to God Secretly I would with pengold Write all statehouse unspeakables About the Statehouse president Or is it Statehouse resident! Him being her mirror collection Of her perennial correction Either him foolish Or her a maron fool A colossal colony of her neighbor’s slander tongue Who competes to complete To spit into the looking glass, And the parallel dry cheeks Provoke body’s backyard tears Enough to teargas A May Day Workers protest march . Will her brood ever hatch into scarffed crocodile? The curse of a incest underwear At the foot of Statehouse matrimonial riverbed! The river blooded Or liver flooded With political pimples guised as dimples, hi Make not a difference! **By COLLEN KAJOKOTO. The author is a persecuted Harare based Human Rights defender and protest poet.
166 days ago, President John Pombe Magufuli and I had dinner together at the State Residence in Dar es Salaam, but I did not know that it would be our last supper.
The following day, he saw me off the apron of Julius Nyerere International Airport, but I did not know that it would be our last goodbye.
Today, I join you all in a state of shock and grief at the passing of one of Africa’s finest sons because none of us saw it coming. This ability to let no one see his next move coming, which we find unsettling in his death, is also what we found inspiring about his life.
When they said laziness and sloth in public service cannot be cured, they did not see Magufuli coming.
When they said the cartels of corruption strangling Africa’s governments cannot be defeated, they did not see Magufuli coming. When they said African States cannot become middle-income economies within a single presidential term, they did not see Magufuli coming. When they said infrastructural projects in Africa cannot be completed on time and on budget, they did not see Magufuli coming. When they said the only way to pursue our development is to follow the failed.
prescriptions of foreign financial institutions that have left Africa more impoverished and in debt than they found it, they did not see Magufuli coming.
To us who had the privilege of knowing the unpredictable Magufuli, the example of his life of service shall forever be a launching pad for our own. To us who have the honour of going through this world as Africans, Magufuli’s love of country shall forever be a light on that pilgrimage. To us who have been entrusted with governing the nations of our beautiful and rich continent, Magufuli’s leadership shall forever move us out of complacency.
It is right for us to hold him in this regard. John Pombe Magufuli was not just an icon. He was a hero. May his name be preserved in every Capital of Africa as a symbol of the kind of resolve that will create the Africa we want.
May his work be venerated in every village as an example worthy of our imitation. And may his soul rest in eternal peace as he meets with his God, with whom we hope to one day see Magufuli coming.
HIGHLANDERS’ 2020 revenue increased by 58 percent despite inactivity caused by Covid-19.
According to the club’s audited financials, presented in local currency by club treasurer Donald Ndebele at Sunday’s annual general meeting, Highlanders’ income as at December 31, 2020, stood at $19 694 950 compared to $12 627 091 realised in 2019.
Highlanders’ revenue increased by $7 million despite not playing games due to a suspension of the country’s sport.
The biggest chunk of the revenue came from the sale of players and development fees.
Bosso sold Prince Dube to Azam FC of Tanzania and they paid US$50 000 which according to the audit report was equivalent to $4 104 545 using the official auction rate.
It was revealed in the financias that should Dube move from Azam, Highlanders are set to get 30 percent of the sale.
Michelle Katsvairo who moved to Botswana, bought himself out the Bosso contract for US$1 500 ($122 680).
Development fees paid to the Highlanders for Marvelous Nakamba and Teenage Hadebe earned the club $4 046 770.
The development fee for Nakamba’s move from Belgian side Club Brugge to English side Aston Villa was €44 171, with Bosso getting €35 326 (US$40 116) after the agent’s 20 percent commission.
According to the audit’s report, the balance paid to Highlanders was equal to $3 317 602 using the official exchange rate of 1:82.70.
The development fee for Hadebe’s move to Turkey’s Yeni Malatyspor was US$3 500 and after the agent’s fee, Highlanders received US$2 664 (an equivalent of $222 362 at an exchange rate of 83.50).
Highlanders indicated that they intend disposing some players to foreign leagues that are operational.
Bosso believe they have talent to attract foreign teams and will continue with their pursuit of selling players to generate revenue.
Having tasted the fruits of their development following compensation realised from Hadebe and Nakamba, Bosso will keep track of their junior products and seek compensation later…Chronicle
FRANCE-BASED Warriors forward, Tino Kadewere, is desperately eager to join his teammates and feature in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Botswana and Zambia.
However, the hopes for his appearance, appear to be fading.
There have always been doubt, over the availability of the Lyon striker, and his France-based colleague, Marshall Munetsi, who plays for Stade Reims, due to tough Covid-19 protocol, in that country.
However, Zimbabwe’s bid to have the duo got a significant boost, at the weekend, when French authorities, relaxed those tough conditions, and allowed African players to travel to their bases, for this week’s qualifiers.
This followed the intervention of FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, after some African countries, led by Senegal, accused the French clubs of discrimination.
But, the French sides came up with some strict conditions, demanding the players should use private, and not passenger jets, to minimise their chances of coming into contact with the Covid-19 virus.
This has now forced the African national associations to arrange special charter flights, for their players, to enable them to play in the final Nations Cup qualifiers.
ZIFA boss, Felton Kamambo, indicated on Sunday they had alerted Government, of the arrangements, to try and find ways of the Warriors duo being put on a plane, which was being arranged for Madagascar and Mozambican players.
The two players remained part of the 23-man squad, announced by coach Zdravko Logarusic, yesterday even though the chances of them, flying home for the two matches, were fading by late last night.
Kadewere’s brother, Prosper, yesterday told The Herald the striker was still hopeful an arrangement will be made for him to arrive in Botswana, ahead of the match on Thursday, in Francistown.
“He is still committed to come for the qualifiers. I am in constant touch with him (Tino) and just today (yesterday), he told me that he had packed his luggage ready to come,” said Prosper.
“He is very much keen and the fact is he is just waiting to hear the way forward from the authorities here.”
Kadewere would also be desperate, for a change of environment, to try and recharge his batteries, after Lyon were handed a lesson by champions Paris Saint Germain, in a French Ligue 1 match, on Sunday night.- The Herald
ZRP over the weekend reportedly arrested 182 border jumpers countrywide as they intensify patrols at various ports of entries to combat border jumping.
The arrests were confirmed by ZRP National Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner who told the publication that last weekend they arrested 275 border jumpers including 23 minors for attempting to cross into South Africa without valid documents :
Members of the public are warned from using unauthorised ports of entry or exits and failing to declare their goods.
Police have arrested 182 people for violating the Immigration Act on Operation “No to Cross Border Crimes/ Fhasi Ngamilandu Yamukanoni/ Mhosva Pamiganhu Ngadzipere/ Amacala Kawaphele Emingceleni Yelizwe.”
Since the onset of the operation on January 7, 2021, a total of 8 299 arrests have been made
Some of the people arrested were fined while some are expected to appear in court soon. ZRp revealed that have increased border patrols in a bid to curb rampant cases of smuggling between the 2 countries.
Zimbabwe is yet to open its borders after closing them in January following the country’s COVID-19 second wave that was experienced after the festive season.-The Herald
An enraged 88-year-old Mutoko woman last week struck her 99-year-old husband who later died due to the injury he sustained during the attack after he refused to help her with household chores.
99 year old Saidi Daiton was struck by bricks by Enesia Chivhinge after he reportedly refused to help her carry some cowpeas from their field. The incident occurred at Tamuka village in Mutoko on Thursday.
The Incident was confirmed by Mashonaland East Provincial Spokesperson Tendai Mwanza who said:
Police in Mutoko have arrested an 88-year-old woman after she allegedly hit her 99 year old husband with some pieces of bricks leading to his death a few days later.
The two reportedly had a misunderstanding after the now deceased allegedly refused to help the accused to ferry cow peas from their field to their home.
This is believed to have not gone down well with the accused who allegedly picked up some farm brick pieces and struck Saidi Daiton several times on the left hand and both legs.
An informant Tafadzwa Chivhinge told the police that when he got home that day, the now-deceased told him he had been attacked by his wife and Chivhinde after inspecting his injuries told him to seek medical attention. Dalton’s condition is said to have deteriorated 2 days later and when he was rushed to a nearby clinic he was pronounced dead on arrival according to Inspector Mwanza:
The informant hired a motor vehicle to ferry him to Nzira Clinic but Saidi Daiton unfortunately passed away on the way at around 1800 hours. The informant made a report at ZRP Mutoko on 21 March 2021 at around 0700 hours leading the police to attend. The accused was arrested and detained at ZRP Mutoko.
The body was ferried to Murewa Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem. It is saddening to note that the couple got involved in domestic violence at such ages. People should understand the need to maintain peace with each other even in times of misunderstandings. : ZTN
Two burglars raided Mukuru Send Money Home transfer agent offices in Bulawayo city centre and got away with more than US$17 000 and R100 000 in what is suspected to be an inside job.
The raid occurred at the agent offices at Zapalala Supermarket along Jason Moyo between 9th and 10th Avenue.
It is not clear what time the burglars broke into the shop but the raid was discovered when the money transfer agent employees reported for duty at about 6:45AM on Sunday.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abdenico Ncube confirmed the incident saying investigations were underway.
“We are investigating an unlawful entry and theft case which occurred at a retail shop on Sunday evening. I don’t have the total amount that was stolen off-hand but I understand that the money runs into thousands of US dollars and Rand. Investigations on the matter are ongoing. We also want to appeal to financial institutions that handle substantial amounts to employ reputable security companies to man their premises,” said Insp Ncube.
Mukuru Send Money Home manager only identified as Munashe declined to comment on the matter.
“The case is with the police who are still investigating what happened. For now, we don’t have a comment as we are waiting for the police to give us any further information,” said Munashe.
The supermarket which houses the money transfer agent is usually characterised by queues but yesterday there were only a few people visiting the shop. Some were being turned away after being informed of the crime.
Sources said the security guard informed employees that burglars had used an unknown object to break into the supermarket and shop. It is however, not clear where the security guard was when the crime was committed.
“They got away with US$17 140, R109 400 and $1 000. What we gather is that nothing else in the supermarket was stolen. The thieves went straight to where the Mukuru safe is located and it seems the suspects had knowledge of the security code to unlock the safe. The main safe was opened without any evidence of using force. The safe has four sections and from those, two were unlocked using a code only known by a few employees. The suspects only used force to open the other two compartments,” said a source close to the investigations.
The source said the burglars who were wearing face masks were captured on closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. Financial institutions handling mostly foreign currency have become targets for criminals.
Two week ago, six armed robbers raided Access Finance Bureau de Change, getting away with undisclosed amount of money at Parkade Centre.
The daring armed robbers disarmed a Safeguard security guard manning the Bureau de Change and even had the guts to attack the security company’s reaction team that had responded to the distress call and got away with the team’s vehicle which they later dumped in Malindela suburb.- Chronicle
A mound of sandy soil with a bunch of artificial flowers atop is what marks the grave of Gogo Eve Siwela (73) of Lower Gweru.
Shot dead….lower Gweru Gogo
On March 10, she was shot dead by two unknown men in a rare killing that has terrified the community as police investigations drag on. The killers are still at large.
While shooting victims are normally rich men or women, whose killings will be at the instance of a robbery and with their send-offs marked by an array of flowers and speeches, this was not the case with Gogo Siwela.
Hers is a “poor” countryside shallow grave that completes a sorry picture of the poverty that shrouds her petite homestead, comprising a one-roomed bedroom and a pole and dagga kitchen hut from where she was brazenly shot twice in the head.
The circumstances and motive behind the shooting of the elderly woman, who left behind two orphaned grandchildren aged 12 and 14 years, remains a mystery with the community still searching for answers.
Police are on the case 24/7 but there is still no breakthrough. The police have been revisiting the crime scene day in day out to gather more details where the two terrified minors remain chief witnesses to the gory incident.
The 12-year-old minor, who is a girl, has been taken to Gwanda by a distant relative who attended Gogo Siwela’s burial. Her sister is wandering around the village, reportedly still traumatised, as the children have not undergone trauma counselling.
Chronicle caught up with a relative who is still hanging around the homestead to attend to mourners and visitors still trickling in to enquire on the incident.
The relative was not aware of the teen’s whereabouts. “She is still traumatised, she witnessed the incident, her grandmother being shot in broad daylight and dying on the spot. What is even more heartbreaking is that after the incident, Gogo’s body spent almost five hours in a pool of blood as police waited for a van from Gweru to attend the scene.
“The incident occurred at around 9am and the police only removed Gogo from the scene at around 3pm and this traumatised the girl so much that she now wanders aimlessly. She rarely spends a day at home,” said the relative, Mr Pasca Mutero.
He said the other minor was no longer around after she was lucky to be taken by a distant relative who attended the burial.
“It’s a desperate situation for the girl. The other one was lucky as she is now in Gwanda. There is a relative who decided to take her because they have no one to look after them now. The one still around is in Form One at the nearby Lower Gweru Mission High so am a still around still pondering how to help her out,” he said.
Mr Mutero said he was a son to the late Gogo Siwela’s sister but was a poor villager who has no idea how to adopt the orphans left behind by Gogo Siwela.
“Even the local traditional leader is aware of the challenge which is staring at us so he promised to look for well-wishers to help in the upkeep of the girls,” he said. A neighbour, Mrs Jane Takavada, said the ruthless killing had scared everyone in the area.
“We are still in a shock, we are still wondering what the motive was, we are still waiting for police investigations and we hope they will come up with an answer to this mystery. She was one of the oldest women in the village, where everyone would go and tap some wisdom from, we are devastated,” she said.
Mrs Takavada, who is a plot holder at Insukamini Irrigation Scheme, said she would come to Gogo Siwela to ask for her two girls to assist her in the fields.
“I would in turn help Gogo with money to pay the girls’ fees and buy some books and now that she is gone, no one knows what will become of these two girls,” she said.
Chief Bunina, the local traditional leader, said the shooting had “turned the community upside-down” and could have destroyed the lives of the two girls. “It’s a shock which has continued to boggle the minds of many.
“We just hope the police will come up with something so that we have closure. Everyone is confused. We are still looking for answers, we know a person is shot when robbers are looking for cash or some valuables, but on this one, a poor villager of that age being shot from nowhere is something else, we are dumbfounded,” he said.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said investigations were still underway. -Chronicle
Tinashe Sambiri|Fifteen MDC Alliance members were arrested in Masvingo on Saturday for disturbing flyers to party members.
Mr Mnangagwa
Speaking to ZimEye.com on Monday, a senior MDC Alliance official said the flyers were distributed as part of a strategy to encourage party members to “remain vigilant on the ground.”
“Fifteen party members were arrested and briefly detained for distributing party flyers.
State Security agents accused the 15 members of distributing flyers for the purpose of inciting social unrest and violence.
The government agents also accused our members of plotting to overthrow a democratically elected government,” said the MDC Alliance official.
Can A Mere Flyer ‘Remove’ Mnangagwa ?
Tinashe Sambiri|Fifteen MDC Alliance members were arrested in Masvingo on Saturday for disturbing flyers to party members.
Speaking to ZimEye.com on Monday, a senior MDC Alliance official said the flyers were distributed as part of a strategy to encourage party members to “remain vigilant on the ground.”
“Fifteen party members were arrested and briefly detained for distributing party flyers.
State Security agents accused the 15 members of distributing flyers for the purpose of inciting social unrest and violence.
The government agents also accused our members of plotting to overthrow a democratically elected government,” said the MDC Alliance official.
Here’s What May Be Causing Your Digestive Gas Pain Worried about intestinal gas? It’s a normal part of digestion, but sometimes digestive problems like gas can signal more worrisome conditions.
Diana Rodriguez By Diana Rodriguez Medically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Last Updated: March 17, 2021 Here-Is-What-May-Be-Causing-Your-Digestive-Gas-Pain-00-1440×810 Painful gas can signal an underlying health condition.
Like it or not, everyone passes gas. “On average, an adult produces two pints of gas every day,” says Sari Acra, MD, MPH, a professor and director of the division of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. According to the National Institutes of Health, farting 13 to 21 times per day is normal.
Typically, gas in the digestive tract occurs as a result of swallowing air (aerophagia) and when bacteria in your large intestine break down certain foods.
A person can swallow large amounts of air by:
Chewing gum Smoking Drinking carbonated beverages Eating or drinking too quickly Wearing loose-fitting dentures Sucking on hard candy If the air isn’t burped back up, it will move down into your gastrointestinal tract and get released through the anus.
Food can also cause gas, although the type of food can vary from person to person. Known gas culprits include:
Certain vegetables, such as asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli Beans and lentils Milk products, like cheese, ice cream, and yogurt Drinks like apple juice, pear juice, and carbonated beverages with high-fructose corn syrup
Regular gas is a sign that you’re consuming adequate amounts of fiber and that you have healthy gut microbes.
But gas accompanied by other red flags — such as weight loss, anorexia, excessive diarrhea, vomiting, fever, prolonged bloating, and severe stomach pain — can be a sign of a digestive disorder or other gastrointestinal condition that needs attention. Problems include:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Lactose intolerance Pancreatitis Ulcers Celiac disease Gallstones Diverticulitis Trouble Passing Gas The flipside of excessive gas is the inability to pass gas, which can also be a symptom of an underlying problem, like an abdominal obstruction. An intestinal blockage is a serious condition and occurs as a result of a partial or total blockage of the small or large intestine.
According to the Mount Sinai Medical Center, a tumor, scar tissue (adhesions), or narrowing of the intestines are all likely causes of abdominal obstruction.
If you’re experiencing gas pain and you either can’t pass gas or have excessive flatulence, speak to your healthcare provider. They may be able to offer at-home solutions to your digestive woes. Or your doctor may schedule tests to determine if your gas pain is caused by another, more serious problem.
Is Your Gas Pain a Symptom of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Is Your Gas Pain a Symptom of Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Irina Strelnikova/iStock If your gas comes with severe stomach pain, persistent bouts of diarrhea or constipation and bloating that occurs at least three days a month, you might have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). If you have IBS, then the nerves in your gastrointestinal tract will be more sensitive to the gas produced there. Dr. Acra says that the increased awareness of gas could make people feel like they’re passing gas more than usual.
IBS is a chronic, uncomfortable condition, but it won’t cause any damage to your GI tract. Symptoms can be managed with medication and diet.
ulcerative-colitis-checkin-checkup-722×406 Check In on Your Ulcerative Colitis How much is ulcerative colitis impacting your life? Are your treatment and diet plans working for you? Here’s how to check in before your next checkup with your doctor. Gas Pain Could Be Caused by Lactose Intolerance or a Food Allergy
Gas Pain Could Be Caused by Lactose Intolerance or a Food Allergy
If you notice that your gas seems worse after eating certain foods, such as dairy products (which contain lactose), the problem may be a particular food, or lactose intolerance. The body’s inability to tolerate a food or substance can trigger stomach or gas pain as your body struggles to digest it. When bacteria in your colon can’t properly digest these foods, they break down and are fermented into gas.
“Some people can’t digest the sugar contained in milk [lactose] because their intestines lack the enzyme necessary to break it down, or they can’t absorb fructose, the sugar that is found in many foods, including corn syrup,” says Acra.
Gas Is a Very Common Symptom of Pancreatitis
Gas is a Very Common Symptom of Pancreatitis iStock Gas is normal. But flatulence that’s accompanied by swelling in the abdomen, fever, nausea, and vomiting is not. These symptoms can be warning signs of pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas, which assists in the digestive process. Gas is a very common symptom of pancreatitis. A Chinese case study published in April 2019 in the journal Medicine noted that intestinal gas frequently caused pain and bloating in patients with pancreatitis.
Source: Everyday Health
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has reversed the decision to evict thousands of Shangaan people from their ancestral land.
Government was pushing for the eviction of Chiredzi villagers to create space for a grass-growing project.
Pressure groups in Masvingo Province say government’s decision to reverse the eviction of Chiredzi villagers from their ancestral land is a victory for citizens.
Masvingo Center for Research Advocacy and Development (MACRAD) Director Ephraim Mtombeni said:
It’s a victory for the people of Chilonga and the Shangaan speaking people.
The people supported #savechilonga campaign and MACRAD launched a High Court application challenging the legality of the evictions.the government reversed the decision to evict the Shangaan speaking people to pave way for Dendairy to grow lucerne grass.
Despite the Zim government bureaucrats acknowledging their obligation to protect all citizens, they are yet to secure shelter for victims of forced displacements.
The absence of political will by the government in respecting the minority social groups is driving them to ignore the calls by constitution and international legislatives.
The government should properly plan the destination of the affected people prior to enforcement of evictions.”
By James Gwati- A high powered delation of the members of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) will this week fly to Victoria Falls to receive their first jabs of Mnangagwa will be accompanied by members of who will also receive their first jabs of the Chinese-developed Sinovac coronavirus vaccine.
The POLAD team will be joining President Emmerson Mnangagwa who will also be vaccinated.
Observers have however questioned the logic behind flying this high powered delegation just for a jab at a time the government is failing to increase the teachers’ salaries.
By James Gwati-The Makamba family has dedicated one week to remember their late son Zororo Makamba.
Zororo died on 23 March last year and was the first victim of COVID-19.
In fliers posted on social media by Zororo’s family and friends under #ZororoForever, they have urged people to either release a white or green balloon in memory of Zororo or plant a tree in memory of him between 21 and 28 March 2021.
2 Zimbabweans who were in jail in Kanye in Botswana reportedly escaped from prison yesterday with a Motswana mass murder convict, the Chronicle reports.
The 2 fugitives Anthony Hlanai (26) from Masvingo and Melodius Evans (28) from Bulawayo, escaped from Kanye Prison alongside Aobakwe Lehupu (27) who was serving a jail sentence for murder.
The matter was posted on Facebook on the official Botswana Government Facebook page where the Botswana government appealed to members of the public with information that might lead to their arrest to come forward. Public Relations Office, Botswana Prison Service Senior Superintendent Oagile Kojane released a statement on the matter that stated that:
Members of the public are requested to assist with information leading to the recapture of the below mentioned prisoners who escaped from Kanye Prison on Sunday, 21 March 2021 at 0145 hours.
Anthony Hlanai Age: 26 years Home Village: Tjibi (Masvingo District) Zimbabwean offence: Theft Common Sentence: 3 years.
Melodius Evans Age: 28 years Home Village: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Offence: Robbery Sentence: Remand
Anyone with information leading to the arrest of the three prisoners should contact Kanye Prison at 5440382/5440032 or report to the nearest Police Station or Prison.
Members of the Prison Service and other security organs are working around the clock to recapture the prisoners.
The Motswana mass murderer was reportedly convicted for murdering his grandparents, his aunt, his niece with an axe and a knife and injuring 2 other relatives in Ratsheru communal lands before burning all the huts they were living in, Lehupu when he committed the mass murders had been out of prison due to the Presidential amnesty while he had been serving time for stabbing a female relative three years earlier.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- The late Vice President, Joshua Nkomo’s son is tipped to be nominated to lead his father’s ZAPU.
According to Newsday Sibangilizwe Nkomo’s name was forwarded from the party’s Kezi branch in Matabeleland South.
“His name has been submitted by his district. They want him to lead the party and if the nomination is accepted, he will be one of the contestants for the presidency,” reports the private daily newspaper.
The publication said ZIPRA Veterans Trust spokesperson Baster Magwizi could be the party’s vice president but other party members are said to prefer the party’s spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa to become the party’s Vice President.
The opposition party will hold their elective congress on 30 April 2021.
By James Gwati-The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is still making frantic efforts to have the France-based duo of Tino Kadewere and Marshal Munetsi to be flown in for these two crucial AFCON ties against Botswana and Zambia.
Zimbabwe is taking on Botswana on Thursday away before hosting Zambia at the National Sports Stadium four days later in Group H.
Zimbabwe is second in the group with five points and any of the three nations can easily grab the remaining qualification slot depending on how many points they pick in the remaining two matches.
Warriors captain Knowledge Musona arrived in Harare this afternoon
The Belgium-based star touched down at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport just after midday and immediately joined the rest of the Warriors who are already in camp.
Orlando Pirates’ Terrence Dzvukamanja and Al Hilal’s Last Jesi also arrived today.
By James Gwati-The British Broadcasting Corporation has ignored President Mnangagwa at the memorial of the late Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli.
BBC’s Africa desk Monday acknowledged all the African head of states who were paying their last respects to the late leader President Magufuli, but did not mention Mnangagwa.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa has returned home from Tanzania and was welcomed at Robert Mugabe International Airport by his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, several Cabinet Ministers and senior Government officials.
In Tanzania, President Mnangagwa joined 10 heads of State and Government from Africa who converged in Dodoma, the capital city of Tanzania to bid farewell to the late leader who died of a heart ailment last Wednesday.
A Zimbabwean woman has been charged with infanticide after she allegedly killed her child by drowning her in a 20-litre bucket of boiling water, the Chronicle reports.
Wendy Tapiwa Chipo, from Rietfonten in Pretoria in South Africa, has already appeared at the Brits Magistrates’ Court facing murder charges and she has remanded in custody to 14 May 2021 pending further investigations.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson for Northern Gauteng Ms Lumka Mahanjana, Chipo first tried to abort her baby and failed before killing her with the help of her friend:
It is alleged that Wendy tried to abort her baby, when that failed and the baby came out alive, she dipped her in a 20-litre bucket of boiling water
Together with her friend, they went to bury the baby at a bush near where she stays in Sunnyway Village in Rietfontein.
She asked the friend not to tell anyone about what she had done.
The friend who could not keep the secret reported the matter to the police leading to Chipo’s arrest. A similar incident occurred last year in Mutare when a local woman drowned her baby in hot water by giving birth in a bucket of hot water for unknown reasons,
By A Correspondent-Warriors captain, Knowledge Musona has arrived in Harare ahead of two African Cup of Nations qualifying ties against Botswana and Zambia set for this Thursday and next Monday.
The Belgium-based star touched down at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport just after midday and immediately joined the rest of the Warriors who are already in camp.
Orlando Pirates’ Terrence Dzvukamanja and Al Hilal’s Last Jesi also arrived today. Spain-based goalkeeper Martin Mapisa is expected to fly in tomorrow afternoon.
Zimbabwe takes on Botswana on Thursday away before hosting Zambia at the National Sports Stadium four days later in Group H.
Zimbabwe is second in the group with five points and any of the three nations can easily grab the remaining qualification slot depending on how many points they pick in the remaining two matches.
Zambia currently anchors Group H with three points on their tally while Botswana is third with four points.
Defending African champions Algeria have already qualified for the AFCON finals after amassing 10 points.
CHIVI9 Remanded in custody for continuition of Bail hearing
As Citizens Convergence for Change atmosphere begins in rural areas…Zanu pf regime pannicks
The Chivi9 arrested on Friday at Mhandamhabwe appeared today at Masvingo Magistrate Court. Maverick Advocate Mureri represented the 9 Chivi activists. Among the 9 are MDCA Youth leaders and a Member of Parliament candidate for MDCA in 2018 Hon Dickson Mapipi. The nine are being charged for gathering for the purpose of causing public violence, a malicious crafted charge which they did not commit. They have been remanded in custody awaiting continuition of Bail hearing tomorrow. Justice delayed is Justice denied!!
The gathering was addressed by Youth leader Gilbert Mutubuki and it was in solidarity with the arrested actictivists and leaders Cecilia Chimbiri,Makuomborero Haruzivishe,Johanna Mamombe and Takudzwa Ngadziore. The gathering was peaceful before ,during and after the address hence the charges are an extention of an oppressive system.
Thumbs up to the legal team head by Advocate Mureri. The youth secretary for Legal affairs not to be spared as he stood up the rescue and immediately securing food to the arrested cadres who had been kept hungry in Police hands.
The gathering was attended by around 30 people from different pressure groups and movements among them the People Power and MDCA. As upon the arrests the police were believed to be searching all attendees but later made u turn and pointed the swords to the 9 in custody.
These arrests has poked the people of Masvingo who are now in mood to roll up sleeves against this oppression. The Citizens Convergence for Change atmosphere has kicked off through the rural areas a move that have shocked Zanu pf to the extent of doing this usual state apparatus abuse to thwart possible peaceful resistance.
Meanwhile Masvingo People and Chivi in general are encouraged to stay strong and brave to fight for our fellow comrades in custody. Let this become the beginning of the People’s Struggle for People’s common Agenda.
By A Correspondent- ZAPU has said Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo’s utterances in Gwanda on Saturday confirms that the ruling party is aware that the Unity Accord is dead.
The Unity Accord was an agreement between ZANU and ZAPU that was signed on 22 December in 1987 to end the Gukurahundi massacres.
Moyo, who was in Gwanda for a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC), told state media that it was the wish of late Vice President Joshua Nkomo for the 1987 unity accord between the parties to remain intact.
He said this following reports that Zanu PF Matabeleland South province on Saturday welcomed 28 ZAPU members who defected to the ruling party.
But speaking to NewZimbabwe.com over the weekend, ZAPU director of marketing and communications Patrick Ndlovu accused Zanu PF of engaging in cheap propaganda. He said:
The only positive to note in the story is the admission by Moyo that the unity agreement is dead and that ZAPU is no longer part of that accord.
It should settle the doubting Thomases and reassure the fence-sitters that Zapu is truly distinct from Zanu PF.
We would also remind Moyo that he should not speak on issues that are beyond his mandate.
Moyo was an Aide De Camp to the late Joshua Nkomo. He was not in the political structures. As such, he is not qualified to speak on the wishes of Nkomo.
What Nkomo in fact did say was ‘ngenani liphume lingela daka (go in and come out without being soiled).
Tinashe Sambiri|Fifteen MDC Alliance members were arrested in Masvingo on Saturday for disturbing flyers to party members.
Speaking to ZimEye.com on Monday, a senior MDC Alliance official said the flyers were distributed as part of a strategy to encourage party members to “remain vigilant on the ground.”
“Fifteen party members were arrested and briefly detained for distributing party flyers.
State Security agents accused the 15 members of distributing flyers for the purpose of inciting social unrest and violence.
The government agents also accused our members of plotting to overthrow a democratically elected government,” said the MDC Alliance official.
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has intensified efforts to disrupt MDC Alliance programmes across the country.
Mnangagwa has instructed secret agents to monitor MDC Alliance activities across the country.
However, the MDC Alliance Mashonaland West Province says Agenda 2021 is unstoppable:
The freedom train is not stopping neither is it procrastinating due to the exposure of wolves who have been masquerading in our midst as sheep.
We are not surprised at the unveiling of ED’s clansmen and girls who were aiding and abetting the regime all along.
As a Province we held our party Building meeting this weekend and resolved to keep the Revolutionary flame alight.we shall not betray the people’s struggle due to tribal politics or for the love of money. We are not in politics for money but for the emancipation of the people from the yoke of slavery.
We all resolved to take the regime to task and we would like to inform all and sundry that it is not a crime to converge for change neither is it a crime to call on the regime to respect our liberties and freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution.
As Mash West,we are ready to hold the regime accountable.we shall not rest until we are no longer treated as slaves in our own native land.
Zambia star forward Fashion Sakala will miss this week’s AFCON qualifiers against Algeria and Zimbabwe, it has emerged.
The KV Oostende man, who has scored 13 goals in the Belgian League this season, sustained an injury in his side’s match against Mouscron this past weekend.
He is a key member of Micho’s squad, which is still within touching distance of their Group H participants Zimbabwe and Botswana in the race for AFCON qualification.
Chipolopolo take on Algeria on Thursday before clashing with the Warriors in Harare on Monday- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance has called on government to intensify awareness campaigns as a strategy of demystifying conspiracy theories surrounding the low uptake of Covid-19 vaccination in the country.
The party’s National Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Henry Madzorera who is a former health minister urged president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to invest time and money and capacitate health professionals to educate the populace on why government chose the sinopharm vaccine, Russia’s Sputnik V and India’s Covaxin detailing the scientific reasons for this.
He said such a move would demystify myths surrounding the jabs and increase its uptake.
Said Madzorera:
“Government should double its efforts in vaccinating the population. This means spending time and money on educating health workers and the entire population on why the government chose sinopharm vaccine, how it has performed elsewhere, and giving clinical details of the scientific trial phases that have been done already.
Dealing with mistrust and conspiracy theories should preoccupy government at this point. Empty reassurances and threats won’t help our situation.
The people want scientific information. That’s not the job of politicians. Government should resource the public health and scientific communities to do that.”
Zimbabwe received its first 200,000 coronavirus vaccines, a donation by the Chinese government joining Egypt and Equatorial Guineas as the first few African countries to get the vaccine.
The country’s Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who doubles as the country’s health minister, was the first to receive the jab, at Harare’s Wilkins Hospital a few days later in a development where government aimed to vaccinate around 60,000 healthcare and other frontline workers in the first round of vaccinations.
Zimbabwe reported an estimated 36,665 COVID-19 cases and 1,512 deaths according to statistics from the health ministry.
VP Chiwenga told legislators last Tuesday that Zimbabwe’s free vaccination programme, was targeting at least 10 million people, roughly 60% of the population.
However, Zimbabwean doctors expressed concern over the worrisome statistics of those taking the jab where fewer than 36,000 people had received shots in the first three weeks of Zimbabwe’s campaign to vaccinate front line workers like doctors, nurses and journalists among others.
In its report titled “Factors Influencing Vaccine Hesitancy and Immunization Coverage in Zimbabwe: A Rapid Assessment, Version 1: DECEMBER 2016” the UNICEF recommended that there is need to design and implement a national social and behavior change communication (SBCC) or communication for development (C4D) strategy on immunization.
The organisation further emphasised the importance of “engagement and dialogue to address vaccine hesitancy and refusal.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is on record revealing that, like any vaccine, COVID-19 vaccines can cause mild side effects, such as a low-grade fever or pain or redness at the injection site.
“Most reactions to vaccines are mild and go away within a few days on their own. More serious or long-lasting side effects to vaccines are possible but extremely rare. Vaccines are continually monitored to detect rare adverse events.
Reported side effects to COVID-19 vaccines have mostly been mild to moderate and short-lasting. They include: fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, diarrhoea, and pain at the injection site. The chances of any of these side effects following vaccination differ according to the specific COVID-19 vaccine,” added the WHO.
See full text of the MDC Alliance statement below:
9th Edition
21 March 2021
Staring the third wave in the eye
Since the lifting of the last lockdown, we have already seen a modest increase in the number of daily infections recorded. We need to stay vigilant as the country opens up. Covid-19 safe practices ought to be applied consistently at all levels of our lives as Zimbabwean citizens, be it at the work places, in public transit, at churches, at school, or at funerals.
Wherever we interact with others outside of our household, it is critical that Covid-19 safe practices be instituted. Covid-19 can still run rampant as long as herd immunity hasn’t been achieved in our country.
By estimates, at least 60% of the Zimbabwean population has to be vaccinated and immune, to attain herd immunity, a state in which the virus no longer has room to keep spreading in our population. Until we reach that place when it will be difficult for the virus to spread like wildfire, we ought to do all we can to keep ourselves, our families, & friends, our neighbors & workmates, and all fellow Zimbabweans safe.
Other more well to do countries are already burning under the load of a third wave, and we must be warned. Countries like Germany & Italy are already seeing worrisome spikes in cases.
There are many ominous pointers to a possible third wave in Zimbabwe. With the Easter holidays coming, we get a chilling sense of déjà vu. Winter is also fast approaching, and that is the time when respiratory illnesses like the flu, Covid-19, etc hit us the most.
A third wave would be catastrophic. It may be more vicious in transmissibility with all the possible mutations that can happen, and the chances of a more aggressive and deadlier variant coming up always exists. The good news is that a third wave is completely preventable, if we as a people exercise the discipline necessary to prevent it for at least another year, while we ensure that our entire population gets vaccinated.
Lets focus on the positive aspects. What has worked for us in the past?
The lockdowns , if not politicised, work well to interrupt transmission. We don’t mean to imply that we should have more lockdowns, because these have their own nasty economic and social consequences, which as a nation we did not manage well and we can ill afford. We should work at preventing the necessity of any further lockdowns.
General preventive measures worked well when they were followed. These include hand washing, use of sanitisers, social distancing, avoiding super spreader events like funerals and parties, limiting unnecessary travel, masking up, and testing and isolation of the infected.
I must confess testing and contact tracing were a major challenge, but we still have opportunity to rise up and utilize that tool because the pandemic is still far from over. Free testing is a necessity. It’s a cheaper option than another lockdown.
How then can we avoid a third wave?
Government should double its efforts in vaccinating the population. This means spending time and money on educating health workers and the entire population on why the government chose sinopharm vaccine, how it has performed elsewhere, and giving clinical details of the scientific trial phases that have been done already.
Dealing with mistrust and conspiracy theories should preoccupy government at this point. Empty reassurances and threats won’t help our situation. The people want scientific information. That’s not the job of politicians. Government should resource the public health and scientific communities to do that.
The citizens demand more transparency on vaccine procurement by the government. That will instill more confidence in the people.
As MDC Alliance we urge all Zimbabweans to follow all the generally laid down rules of infection prevention so that we avoid any further lockdowns. This brief note serves to encourage every single one of us to take matters into our own hands to prevent a third wave from coming. It is completely doable.
Dr Henry Madzorera National Secretary for Health and Child Welfare
Zambia’s Patson Daka has reached the 20-goal mark after 18 games in the Austrian Bundesliga.
The Redbull Salzburg striker, who is expected to play a part against Zimbabwe on the coming Afcon Qualifiers, netted his latest goal in the 1-0 victory over LASK on Saturday.
Daka has now scored in six consecutive games in the league as continues to rake up phenomenal numbers with his goal scoring feat
Enock Mwepu, who is also in Chipolopolo team, put in a great performance an could have assisted Daka in the 26th minute but he failed to find the target.
The Group H Afcon qualifier will be played on 29 March at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
The French sports ministry has made a dramatic u-turn on the issue of African players in Ligue 1 and 2 being banned from travelling outside Europe during the international break, by announcing that they can now do so and won’t be quarantined upon return.
A decision made by the authorities in France to quarantine returnees from flagged countries for up to seven days had resulted in clubs agreeing to not release players for this week’s AFCON qualifiers.
The intervention on FIFA on the issue must have spearheaded the change, which was announced late last night.
“The Ministry of Sports confirms that international players returning from official competitions outside the EU with their national team, whether French or foreign, are exempt from the seven-day waiting period as long as they comply with a strict sanitary and medical protocol (bubble + daily PCR test on their return to their club),” the ministry said in a statement.
It’s not clear whether ZIFA are still in a position to fly the France-based duo of Tino Kadewere and Marshall Munetsi to Harare, considering the late announcement.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
A Zimbabwean clergyman has caused pandemonium on social media after claiming men who do not satisfy their wives in bed will go to hell.
Addressing men on marriage issues, Masvingo preacher, Isaac Makomichi claimed: “Vamwe varume munoita basa rekurara nema girlfriends asi kana masvika kumba motadza kugutsa amai…
Imimi varume vakadaro kana mafa munoinda kugehena,iwe haudi kuhurirwa asi iwe unohura,wobva watadza kuzogutsa mudzimai wako
Audio iyi musaitumire kuvana vadiki asi kunaana baba,munogona kushanyira facebook page rangu vese vane mubvunzo rinonzi Sir Isaac Makomichi Love Potion
Kana usingade kuhurirwa newewo usahurewo,uye ukagutsa girlfriend asi mukadzi wemumba ane nzara,chokwadi zvinotsamwisa Mwari uye unoinda kugehena” Said Makomichi.
Some ladies in Masvingo believe Makomichi is encouraging couples to create a strong bond.
However, one angry man fumed:
Makomichi has no right to teach us about partners we should satisfy during sex, a man must do whatever pleases his feelings.”
Tinashe Sambiri|Fifteen MDC Alliance members were arrested in Masvingo on Saturday for disturbing flyers to party members.
Speaking to ZimEye.com on Monday, a senior MDC Alliance official said the flyers were distributed as part of a strategy to encourage party members to “remain vigilant on the ground.”
“Fifteen party members were arrested and briefly detained for distributing party flyers.
State Security agents accused the 15 members of distributing flyers for the purpose of inciting social unrest and violence.
The government agents also accused our members of plotting to overthrow a democratically elected government,” said the MDC Alliance official.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has challenged the Zanu PF administration to address conspiracy theories associated with the COVID-19 vaccine.
Zimbabweans are sceptical of taking the vaccine.
In its weekly health update, the MDC Alliance described the intimidation of citizens by Zanu PF politicians- including Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa- as unfortunate.
See statement below:
9th Edition
21 March 2021
Staring the third wave in the eye
Since the lifting of the last lockdown, we have already seen a modest increase in the number of daily infections recorded. We need to stay vigilant as the country opens up. Covid-19 safe practices ought to be applied consistently at all levels of our lives as Zimbabwean citizens, be it at the work places, in public transit, at churches, at school, or at funerals. Wherever we interact with others outside of our household, it is critical that Covid-19 safe practices be instituted. Covid-19 can still run rampant as long as herd immunity hasn’t been achieved in our country. By estimates, at least 60% of the Zimbabwean population has to be vaccinated and immune, to attain herd immunity, a state in which the virus no longer has room to keep spreading in our population. Until we reach that place when it will be difficult for the virus to spread like wildfire, we ought to do all we can to keep ourselves, our families, & friends, our neighbors & workmates, and all fellow Zimbabweans safe. Other more well to do countries are already burning under the load of a third wave, and we must be warned. Countries like Germany & Italy are already seeing worrisome spikes in cases.
There are many ominous pointers to a possible third wave in Zimbabwe. With the Easter holidays coming, we get a chilling sense of déjà vu. Winter is also fast approaching, and that is the time when respiratory illnesses like the flu, Covid-19, etc hit us the most. A third wave would be catastrophic. It may be more vicious in transmissibility with all the possible mutations that can happen, and the chances of a more aggressive and deadlier variant coming up always exists. The good news is that a third wave is completely preventable, if we as a people exercise the discipline necessary to prevent it for at least another year, while we ensure that our entire population gets vaccinated.
Lets focus on the positive aspects. What has worked for us in the past?
The lockdowns , if not politicised, work well to interrupt transmission. We don’t mean to imply that we should have more lockdowns, because these have their own nasty economic and social consequences, which as a nation we did not manage well and we can ill afford. We should work at preventing the necessity of any further lockdowns.
General preventive measures worked well when they were followed. These include hand washing, use of sanitisers, social distancing, avoiding super spreader events like funerals and parties, limiting unnecessary travel, masking up, and testing and isolation of the infected. I must confess testing and contact tracing were a major challenge, but we still have opportunity to rise up and utilize that tool because the pandemic is still far from over. Free testing is a necessity. It’s a cheaper option than another lockdown.
How then can we avoid a third wave?
Government should double its efforts in vaccinating the population. This means spending time and money on educating health workers and the entire population on why the government chose sinopharm vaccine, how it has performed elsewhere, and giving clinical details of the scientific trial phases that have been done already. Dealing with mistrust and conspiracy theories should preoccupy government at this point. Empty reassurances and threats won’t help our situation. The people want scientific information. That’s not the job of politicians. Government should resource the public health and scientific communities to do that.
The citizens demand more transparency on vaccine procurement by the government. That will instill more confidence in the people.
As MDC Alliance we urge all Zimbabweans to follow all the generally laid down rules of infection prevention so that we avoid any further lockdowns. This brief note serves to encourage every single one of us to take matters into our own hands to prevent a third wave from coming. It is completely doable.
Dr Henry Madzorera National Secretary for Health and Child Welfare MDC Alliance
Since the lifting of the last lockdown, we have already seen a modest increase in the number of daily infections recorded. We need to stay vigilant as the country opens up. Covid-19 safe practices ought to be applied consistently at all levels of our lives as Zimbabwean citizens, be it at the work places, in public transit, at churches, at school, or at funerals. Wherever we interact with others outside of our household, it is critical that Covid-19 safe practices be instituted. Covid-19 can still run rampant as long as herd immunity hasn’t been achieved in our country. By estimates, at least 60% of the Zimbabwean population has to be vaccinated and immune, to attain herd immunity, a state in which the virus no longer has room to keep spreading in our population. Until we reach that place when it will be difficult for the virus to spread like wildfire, we ought to do all we can to keep ourselves, our families, & friends, our neighbors & workmates, and all fellow Zimbabweans safe. Other more well to do countries are already burning under the load of a third wave, and we must be warned. Countries like Germany & Italy are already seeing worrisome spikes in cases.
There are many ominous pointers to a possible third wave in Zimbabwe. With the Easter holidays coming, we get a chilling sense of déjà vu. Winter is also fast approaching, and that is the time when respiratory illnesses like the flu, Covid-19, etc hit us the most. A third wave would be catastrophic. It may be more vicious in transmissibility with all the possible mutations that can happen, and the chances of a more aggressive and deadlier variant coming up always exists. The good news is that a third wave is completely preventable, if we as a people exercise the discipline necessary to prevent it for at least another year, while we ensure that our entire population gets vaccinated.
Lets focus on the positive aspects. What has worked for us in the past?
The lockdowns , if not politicised, work well to interrupt transmission. We don’t mean to imply that we should have more lockdowns, because these have their own nasty economic and social consequences, which as a nation we did not manage well and we can ill afford. We should work at preventing the necessity of any further lockdowns.
General preventive measures worked well when they were followed. These include hand washing, use of sanitisers, social distancing, avoiding super spreader events like funerals and parties, limiting unnecessary travel, masking up, and testing and isolation of the infected. I must confess testing and contact tracing were a major challenge, but we still have opportunity to rise up and utilize that tool because the pandemic is still far from over. Free testing is a necessity. It’s a cheaper option than another lockdown.
How then can we avoid a third wave?
Government should double its efforts in vaccinating the population. This means spending time and money on educating health workers and the entire population on why the government chose sinopharm vaccine, how it has performed elsewhere, and giving clinical details of the scientific trial phases that have been done already. Dealing with mistrust and conspiracy theories should preoccupy government at this point. Empty reassurances and threats won’t help our situation. The people want scientific information. That’s not the job of politicians. Government should resource the public health and scientific communities to do that.
The citizens demand more transparency on vaccine procurement by the government. That will instill more confidence in the people.
As MDC Alliance we urge all Zimbabweans to follow all the generally laid down rules of infection prevention so that we avoid any further lockdowns. This brief note serves to encourage every single one of us to take matters into our own hands to prevent a third wave from coming. It is completely doable.
Dr Henry Madzorera National Secretary for Health and Child Welfare MDC Alliance
I knew no politics by 1980 because I was still too young. I remember well in the early 1980s we used to read about Mugabe and Nkomo but this history made little sense to our young apolitical minds by that time. However, what I remember very well is that Mugabe was a well-respected person, we knew him for his nice safari suits, goggles and his good speaking skills.
I would like to admit that apart from Gukurahundi, Mugabe’s rule in the 1980s was perfect. Mugabe built schools, clinics, roads, funded tertiary education, funded rural farmers through the Agricultural Finance Company (now Agribank), civil servants were well cared for, and our Zimdollar was very strong etcetera.
Nobody knows the real genesis of Zimbabwe’s challenges, but what we know is the introduction of ESAP in 1990, the introduction of repressive laws like AIPA and POSA, and the killing and persecution of political opponents in early 2000.
I remember one Sunday morning walking at Gokwe centre. I wasn’t aware that Tsvangirai had scheduled a rally that Sunday at Gokwe centre. Suddenly three Zanu-PF thugs demanded to see my “party” card. I haven’t bought a Zanu-PF card in my life and so I failed to produce the “party” card.
They went on to ask me to tell them, my branch chairperson. I wasn’t a Zanu-PF supporter and so I couldn’t name any chairperson of any branch. I was beaten all over my body by fists and one of them removed his healed shoe and used the shoe to beat me on my face and head.
After their departure, I felt pain in my left arm. I thought my arm was broken and so I rushed to Gokwe Hospital. I was shocked by what I saw there. I saw tens of MDC youths severely injured just lying down on hospital floors, some with their clothes soaked in blood and some of them were completely naked. Their wounds looked as if the Zanu-PF thugs were using axes, pangas and some sharp objects on them.
The biggest surprise was that medical personnel at Gokwe Hospital were not attending to the injured MDC supporters. They were just watching them dying on the hospital floors. The Gokwe police failed to prevent Zanu-PF thugs from disturbing Tsvangirai’s rally. They only reacted after cars had been burnt and after people had been beaten. They were driving in their Santana picking the injured to the hospital. Violence perpetrators were never arrested.
As the country’s political violence continued unabated and Zimbabwe’s human rights continued to deteriorate and so was the national economy not spared. Shops were closed in 2008. The Zimbabwe dollar became valueless. I remember in 2008 when I went to South Africa for the first time, I went to the toilet to relieve myself at Musina Border Post I found hordes of the worthless Zimdollars used as toilet paper there. I was shocked!
There has been a single Zanu-PF since the 1987 Unity Accord. Later we started to read in the press of Zanu-PF factions. In 2008 there was Simba Makoni backed by Solomon Mujuru (according to the press). We later read about the Gamatox, then G40 and Lacoste. I am made to believe that these Zanu-PF factions had contributed immensely to our current political and economic challenges.
The Lacoste faction outfoxed all Zanu-PF factions with the help of the army in 2017 through a military coup which was declared ‘not a coup’ by the High Court. Today Zimbabwe has a government that is struggling to identify itself. Despite the fact that the current government forced Mugabe out of power for alleged incompetence the Zanu-PF party failed to fire him from party membership lists.
The current government tries to associate itself with Mugabe’s legacy when it suits them but calls itself the ‘Second Republic’ the ‘New Dispensation’ when issues of corruption, human rights violation, economic instability and a number of social and developmental failures which started during the Mugabe era comes into question.
There is no new dispensation or second republic to talk about in Zimbabwe. Wasn’t Mugabe a Zanu-PF president? Wasn’t Ngwena elected at the Zanu-PF congress to replace Mugabe as both the party and state president? So is the current government new? Do we have in any way gained the ‘Second Republic’ status in 2017? Not all. We are being ruled by the same old faces of 2008. There is nothing new to talk about.
Maybe by using the terms ‘new’ and ‘second’ the current government is trying to tell the world that Ngwena will rule in a different manner than Mugabe but the biggest question remains, is he indeed ruling differently. If the answer is yes then why did the army kill innocent people on 2018 August 1 in Harare, why the same corrupt traffic officers of the Mugabe era back to their corrupt game? (the only difference being that now the corrupt traffic officers are backed by army personnel at roadblocks), why are our rural roads still impassable especially Gokwe, Sanyati and Binga roads?
Why is there no real devolution taking place (the current devolution development fund is just a cover-up, real devolution as spelt in our constitution hasn’t taken place or will never happen), why are our industries still closed, why are our civil servants still earning peanuts, why are Zimbabweans still flocking to South Africa if our beautiful country is full of milk and honey? Why were victims of 2018 August 01 army killings not compensated in terms of the Montlante Commission recommendation.
I was in Kadoma in January 2021 and suddenly our attention was drawn to the presidential motorcade sirens. I was told Ngwena travels from Harare to his farm in Sherwood every weekend using the Harare-Bulawayo road. I wondered if Ngwena can travel at 120km/hour by his presidential motorcade by road from Kadoma to Sanyati Arda or from Kadoma via Venice Mine, Empress Mine, Masoro then Gokwe centre.
I concluded that he won’t attempt to do that. ZINARA only services roads which the rich and powerful use. This government had completely forgotten remote villages in terms of the road network. Those areas are remembered during election time when they make trips to those areas using helicopters to go and make false promises which will be repeated after every five years but never fulfilled.
There was much debate when the current government indicated that it was ready to compensate white farmers or return the land back to whites. Progressive thinking Zimbabweans asked why compensate the ‘thief’. However, the greatest question was not asked. Why communal land is said to belong to the state while townland is privately owned.
Look! We are all Zimbabweans but urban dwellers can buy or sell land but rural dwellers cannot buy or sell their land. One of the stanzas in our National Anthem reads as follows “Ilizwe labo koko betu tina sonke”, how then can this land belong to our forefathers if we can’t privately own it in rural areas.
The state has appropriated the land of our forefathers’ thereby improvised rural communities but enriching the rich urban dwellers. Our constitution must be revisited. We want title deeds for our communal stands and farms, plots and gardens. There must not be inequalities in land ownership.
If urban dwellers can have title deeds to their pieces of land, the same must happen to rural landowners. The so-called ‘new’ or the ‘second’ republic must look into this issue including giving title deeds to new farm owners.
The ‘new’ government had ignored or neglected to improve school infrastructure. One wonder who exactly must build or maintain school infrastructure between the SDCs and the government. I believe it is the responsibility of the government to build and maintain school infrastructure. In South Africa we see parents demonstrating against the department of education if school facilities are in bad shape but in Zimbabwe we were cheated into believing that it’s us parents who must build schools for our kids and not the government.
The government must budget and give each school a developmental or capital budget. Our rural schools are in a mess. Some schools don’t have toilets, library buildings, classes don’t have doors (imagine a teaching in a classroom without a door or window panes), no water or electricity (not even a single solar panel to power the school head computer) it’s pathetic.
We were taught and we are always told that Zimbabwe is a rich country but one would wonder where this richness is amidst the miseries, poverty, sufferings, economic instability, poor roads and poor internet connectivity (especially in the rural areas).
In this paper, the author had pointed out where the current government had failed Zimbabweans. The article further points out inequalities between rural and urban dwellers in terms of land ownership and the reader will be left to think on his/her own whether there is light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the unending Zimbabwe’s political and economic challenges.
Etiwel Mutero is an archivist, political analyst and a Gokwe peasant farmer. Etiwelm02@gmail.com, +263773614293 SMSs only
— Etiwel Mutero Senior Archivist Ministry of Education,Arts & Culture Omusati Region Namibia 00264817871070 whatsapp/phoneSource – Etiwel Muter
Here are the 23 players to represent Zimbabwe against Botswana & Zambia on 25 & 29 March respectively.
The French Football Federation has agreed with the French government that Tinotenda Kadewere & Marshall Munetsi will be exempted from quarantine when they return to their clubs.
The two will use a private flight to return to France. The Association is engaging with its partners to ensure that the condition is met so that Zimbabwe can assemble the strongest possible team for the important matches
Warriors based in Zambia are already in camp, so is the SuperSport duo of Evans Rusike & Kuda Mahachi.
More players are expected to arrive today & tomorrow.
vs Botswana – 1800hours (Away) vs Zambia – 2100hours (NSS)
By Patrick Guramatunhu- A few days ago the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, announced that Tendai Biti and four other legislators elected under the MDC Alliance (MDC A) but from the People Democratic Party (PDP) had been recalled by the PDP.
The recall itself came as no surprise to anyone who has followed the mud-crab dance of Zimbabwe opposition politics.
MDC A is a coalition of six or so political parties including PDP, MDC-Ncube and MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai whose primary purpose was for the partners to maximise on the opposition vote by fielding one candidate in all the 2018 electoral races. For convenience, the candidates called themselves MDC A although they each belonged to their individual party, MDC A was not a political party.
To muddy the waters, MDC-T led by Nelson Chamisa following Tsvangirai death in February 2018 started calling itself MDC A whilst a break-away faction led by Thokozani Khupe retained the MDC-T name.
Chamisa called an MDC A congress in Gweru in May 2019 to which all MDC A members from other partners attended and were elected to key positions in the MDC A – the coalition had morphed into a political party.
One would have thought that Tendai Biti and his PDP crowd and Welshman Ncube and David Coltart and their MDC-Ncube, the three are all lawyers, would have had the common sense to convene their own party congress to formally dissolve the party or transplant it lock, stock and barrel to be MDC A. They did no such thing.
Tendai Biti was elected MDC A VP with Welshman Ncube as the other VP. David Coltart was elected MDC A Treasurer General. Other PDP and MDC-Ncube members were elected into key position in the MDC A party.
So Tendai Biti and all the other former PDP members who joined the MDC A after the May 2019 congress crossed the floor and could no longer call themselves PDP members and therefore were subject to recall by PDP. David Coltart and all the other MDC-Ncube legislators, can too be recalled by the old MDC-Ncube, if it still exists.
Tendai Biti’s reaction to the recall is to blame Zanu PF! Biti was the chair person of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and he is adamant the recall was a calculated move by Zanu PF to stop the corruption undercover by the committee coming out.
“We had those (PAC) reports ready and my recall is to make sure these issues to do with corruption are not brought before Parliament. We will convene as a party and make sure we come up with a collective decision. Remember, we contested elections not under the PDP, but under the MDC Alliance,” Biti said.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), they prevented me from moving a motion on Chilonga displacements in Parliament. Tomorrow (today), I was supposed to present a report on Zinara (Zimbabwe National Road Administration), and on Monday, we were supposed to cross-examine ZESA on (Kudakwashe) Tagwirei’s Dema deal and Wicknell Chivhayo’s Gwanda solar project. In a few weeks’ time, we were going to table the issue of land barons in Harare. So the cartels and Mnangagwa are responsible for this recall.”
An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb; so goes the old adage.
Yes the PAC reports Biti’s committee was going to release were going to embarrass Mnangagwa and company, old woman and dry bones, but we should not go over board on this. Zanu PF has a thick skin!
Over the years there have been numerous stories and reports from the Willowgate scandal, to Mugabe’s admission the country was being swindled out of US$ 15 billion dollars in diamond revenue, etc. Zanu PF has used its political dominance to take the sting out of all these adverse reports. No doubt it would have done the same in this case.
The bottom line is Zanu PF did not engineer the recall of these MDC A legislators. The sheer incompetence with which Tendai Biti and his fellow MDC A leaders have handled the transition from MDC A coalition to MDC A political party has created a lot of chaos and confusion. It is former colleagues in the old parties who are recalling the MDC A legislators. Zanu PF has taken advantage of the situation.
Tendai Biti is nothing but a noisy Chihuahua barking at a marauding elephant, to hear the bark one would think the Chihuahua going to eat the the elephant alive! Zanu PF is not going change because of what Biti says no more than the marauding elephant is going away because it fears being eaten alive with the Chihuahua.
If Zimbabweans are serious about ending corruption, we must demand democratic reforms leading to the holding of free, fair and credible elections. Free, fair and credible elections is more than just a basic human right; it is the alpha, omega and everything in between of good governance.
Tendai Biti and his MDC friends sold out on the golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. And since the GNU debacle they have participated in flawed elections giving legitimacy to Zanu PF for the sake of a few gravy train seats Zanu PF offered as bait. MDC leaders are hoping the nation will never notice the barking Chihuahua will never end the Zanu PF dictatorship, corruption and povo’s long suffering!
“Mnangagwa is responsible for my recall to stop PAC corruption reports coming out!” Yeah right! How about admitting, you shoot yourself in the foot!
Tinashe Sambiri|Fifteen MDC Alliance members were arrested in Masvingo on Saturday for disturbing flyers to party members.
Speaking to ZimEye.com on Monday, a senior MDC Alliance official said the flyers were distributed as part of a strategy to encourage party members to “remain vigilant on the ground.”
“Fifteen party members were arrested and briefly detained for distributing party flyers.
State Security agents accused the 15 members of distributing flyers for the purpose of inciting social unrest and violence.
The government agents also accused our members of plotting to overthrow a democratically elected government,” said the MDC Alliance official.
Procrastination is the thief of time. To Mr Douglas Mwonzora the wait was just too much and he made sure that the tables were turned to his favour. The only way was to hide under constitutionalism where he accused Nelson Chamisa of unconstitutionally grabbing power when Tsvangirayi died.
By Leonard Koni-He accused the leader of MDC -Alliance Chamisa of grabbing the political power and eating where he did not sow. Its a taboo culturally in Zimbabwe for a young person to start picking a piece of meat before an elder picks up it. They must wait.
Our society does not believe in preparing young people to be the leaders. Douglas Mwonzora was angry and bitter that he failed to take over when Morgan Tsvangirayi died. Surely the future of the young people in Zimbabwe shall remain doomed. They are always disadvantaged when it comes to getting leadership posts.
They are told that ‘they are leaders of tomorrow’ When tomorrow comes the older people are too reluctant to leave their positions and always come up with excuses.
The adage also goes on that a young person cannot have a seat whilst the elderly are standing in a bus. In this case Nelson Chamisa is paying the price of dipping a big mosel of sadza in the plate full of meat and simultaneously picking a big piece of meat.
It is now as clear as Chibuku that the leadership which was surrounding the late Morgan Richard Tsvangirayi were all after power and not serving the people.
The likes of Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora are a true testimony that they are just purely driven and oiled by monetary gains. Such kind of leadership is atrocious as they squarely fit into the shoes of today’s Tshombes who can easily sell the struggle for just a few pieces of silver.
They can do anything for it, hence they could not resist the carrot which was dangled by Zanu PF. They don’t know what they really want. Thokozani Khupe once contested as a President where she got a partly 45 000 votes but is now an MP so as Mr Douglas Mwonzora who wanted to be President of MDC-Alliance and ended up contesting as a Secretary General. When he lost he started canvassing through the captured judiciary and won the battle. He got all the assistance to from the security forces to take over Morgan Tsvangirayi House under a dubious court order.
Since when did the police assist another opposition party to take over? From that time Mr Mwonzora started getting more air space from the government controlled media like ZTV and The Herald getting much praise from these two media outlets.
That much alone meant a lot that Mwonzora had a very long hand controlling him and was wholly captured and brought under the armpits of Zanu PF. Thanks to Covid19 strict lock down regulations where all such things were happening without the people responding.
What Douglas Mwonzora is doing to keep his position as the MDC-T leader is too keep on (Kafadza mutengi wedoro) literally meaning to keep on entertaining his boss President Mnangagwa through always talking nice things to him. That is why he ordered his Member of Parliaments not to chant anti Emmerson Mnangagwa’s slogans.
Without that Mr Douglas Mwonzora’s political life will hang by a thread.He is protecting his master, he respects the hand that feeds him and cannot bite it. He must dance according to the tune or else he will leave the dancing floor.
He got everything on a silver platter including the MRT House and all the assets without sweating.
Will one day Mr Douglas Mwonzora lead a strong opposition party?
Zimbabwe’s underpaid teachers have dug in and refused to report for duty today as schools open for non-examination classes, saying they will only do so after their employer, government, has acceded to their demand for their salaries to be restored to the preOctober 2018 levels.
Then, teachers were earning between US$520 and US$550, but are now earning the equivalent of slightly above US$100.
Government, which has threatened to dock salaries for workers who absent themselves without official leave, has said it has no capacity to pay US dollar-indexed salaries demanded by its restive workers.
Teachers yesterday rejected the 75% salary increment offered to all civil servants, saying the adjustment was not a product of collective bargaining.
Cabinet last week approved a 75% pay increment offer for civil servants, which will be paid in a staggered format, with 25% being effected this month, followed by the remainder, 50%, to be paid in June.
The standoff between government and teachers will negatively impact learners, who last had face-to-face lessons in September last year before going on a long COVID-19-induced break.
Teachers unions said their members would not report for duty because they are financially incapacitated to travel to their various stations and pay their children’s school fees.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) last week gave notice of a nationwide strike starting today despite pronouncements by the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) that it would meet this week to review civil servants’ working conditions.
Last week’s NJNC negotiations ended in a stalemate after the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led administration dangled a 25% salary increase, which civil servants dismissed as a pittance.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said teachers under his union would not report for work despite the 75% increment announcement.
“It’s madness of the worst order. The same government gave police, soldiers, and Central Intelligence Organisation officers more than 100% salary increases with effect from February 2021. Now they want to give the rest of the civil service 25% with effect from April, and the other 50% from June,” he said.
“This double standard is unacceptable. Worse still, it is not a product of social dialogue, but unilateralism. What teachers want is restoration of the purchasing power parity of US$520 to US$550 or its equivalent.
“The incapacitation modus operandi will continue unabated until government takes teachers seriously.”
Zimbabwe National Teachers Union chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo described the 75% proposed increment as a mockery to the teaching profession given that the increment would be staggered, adding that by June, it would have been eroded by inflation.
“We are so much frustrated and disappointed by the proposed 75% increment which remains a drop in the ocean. The increment margin that is being offered ranges from $3 500 to $4 500. How is the little amount going to solve our incapacitation?” Nyawo asked.
“There is no reason for us not to demonstrate. We are incapacitated, hence we will join any other union that wants to demonstrate for our own good.”
Artuz president Obert Masaraure said the salary increment had not yet been officially agreed with civil servants as it was announced through the media, which was the root of the crisis in the civil service.
He said protocols pertaining to agreement and announcement of salary increments by government were not duly followed, which further complicated the problem.
“It was never a collective bargaining engagement between the government and its employees. Government still has powers to fix salaries of civil servants without going through a genuine process of collective bargaining. All the salaries we are earning were never a product of a genuine collective bargaining process and we don’t have a signed collective bargaining agreement,” Masaraure said.
“We reject the 75% increment, both the process and the amount. The amount itself is pathetic and unacceptable. What we need is a genuine reform of the laws governing the civil service. Labour laws governing the civil service should be aligned to the Constitution so that we also have collective bargaining agreements which can govern us.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said: “We have only seen the announcement in the Press. No communication has been made, but what we are looking forward to is a favourable outcome of negotiations whose results we have not received.
“We are looking forward to the second meeting and an improvement from the last offer and with a clear roadmap towards restoration of salary levels matching the pre-October 2018 US$550. Anything diverting from the roadmap will be unsatisfactory and unacceptable. Dialogue should demonstrate serious attention to this demand as promised in the NJNC agreement of November 2020.”
Moses Mhike, the Public Service Commission representative in the NJNC, said he was not aware of the proposed 75% increment.
“I was out of town and where I was, there was no access to the media. I haven’t come across such information, I am just getting into Harare now,” he said.-Newsday
Former Studio 263 actor Charles Kapfupi, who starred in the soap opera as Mr Wakanaka, described the late Anne Nhira as a well-mannered woman.
Mr Wakatama said this in reference to Nhira’s bold stance in stopping Zodwa Wabantu from coming to the Harare International Carnival.
“Anne Nhira was a God-fearing person, phenomenal actress and someone who believed in her culture.
“I will always remember her for her bold stance a er she stopped Zodwa Wabantu from coming to perform in Zimbabwe pantless.
“Her move divided opinions after she successfully lobbied Government.
“In life we need people who stand for what’s right like what she did on Zodwa Wabantu, who ended up aborting the trip to the capital.
“We need more people of her calibre who are bold enough to represent others,” he said.
Mr Wakatama said Nhira left an indelible mark as an actress.
“Judging by want she did and achieved in a short space of time, Nhira made watching television a must. It was through her leading role that Zimbabweans fell in love with Studio 263.
“I also feel proud to have worked with her and we would like to thank our Government for giving her this huge send-off .
“It’s a befitting farewell considering what she did for the film industry.
By Leonard Koni| Procrastination is the thief of time. To Mr Douglas Mwonzora the wait was just too much and he made sure that the tables were turned to his favour.
The only way was to hide under constitutionalism where he accused Nelson Chamisa of unconstitutionally grabbing power when Tsvangirayi died.
He accused the leader of MDC -Alliance Chamisa of grabbing the political power and eating where he did not sow.
Its a taboo culturally in Zimbabwe for a young person to start picking a piece of meat before an elder picks up it. They must wait.
Our society does not believe in preparing young people to be the leaders. Douglas Mwonzora was angry and bitter that he failed to take over when Morgan Tsvangirayi died.
Surely the future of the young people in Zimbabwe shall remain doomed. They are always disadvantaged when it comes to getting leadership posts.
They are told that ‘they are leaders of tomorrow’ When tomorrow comes the older people are too reluctant to leave their positions and always come up with excuses.
The adage also goes on that a young person cannot have a seat whilst the elderly are standing in a bus. In this case Nelson Chamisa is paying the price of dipping a big mosel of sadza in the plate full of meat and simultaneously picking a big piece of meat.
It is now as clear as Chibuku that the leadership which was surrounding the late Morgan Richard Tsvangirayi were all after power and not serving the people.
The likes of Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora are a true testimony that they are just purely driven and oiled by monetary gains. Such kind of leadership is atrocious as they squarely fit into the shoes of today’s Tshombes who can easily sell the struggle for just a few pieces of silver.
They can do anything for it, hence they could not resist the carrot which was dangled by Zanu PF.
They don’t know what they really want. Thokozani Khupe once contested as a President where she got a partly 45 000 votes but is now an MP so as Mr Douglas Mwonzora who wanted to be President of MDC-Alliance and ended up contesting as a Secretary General.
When he lost he started canvassing through the captured judiciary and won the battle. He got all the assistance to from the security forces to take over Morgan Tsvangirayi House under a dubious court order.
Since when did the police assist another opposition party to take over? From that time Mr Mwonzora started getting more air space from the government controlled media like ZTV and The Herald getting much praise from these two media outlets. That much alone meant a lot that Mwonzora had a very long hand controlling him and was wholly captured and brought under the armpits of Zanu PF. Thanks to Covid19 strict lock down regulations where all such things were happening without the people responding.
What Douglas Mwonzora is doing to keep his position as the MDC-T leader is too keep on (Kafadza mutengi wedoro) literally meaning to keep on entertaining his boss President Mnangagwa through always talking nice things to him. That is why he ordered his Member of Parliaments not to chant anti Emmerson Mnangagwa’s slogans.
Without that Mr Douglas Mwonzora’s political life will hang by a thread.He is protecting his master, he respects the hand that feeds him and cannot bite it. He must dance according to the tune or else he will leave the dancing floor.
He got everything on a silver platter including the MRT House and all the assets without sweating. Will one day Mr Douglas Mwonzora lead a strong opposition party? Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
ZimEye is getting updates from the family of the slain 7 year old Tapiwa Makore in Murehwa that the ruling party, ZANU PF has granted the murdered toddler a state burial. AUDIO LOADING BELOW…
Dear Editor. There is chaos after ZANU PF held a meeting to grant (the late 7y old) Tapiwa Makore a state funeral. This confirms what ZimEye revealed last year that this search is a scam in which someone senior in govt is involved.
ZimEye is getting updates from the family of the slain 7 year old Tapiwa Makore in Murehwa that the ruling party, ZANU PF has granted the murdered toddler a state burial. AUDIO LOADING BELOW…
Dear Editor. There is chaos after ZANU PF held a meeting to grant (the late 7y old) Tapiwa Makore a state funeral. This confirms what ZimEye revealed last year that this search is a scam in which someone senior in govt is involved.
By Nomusa Garikai- The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is being upgraded in line with President Mnangagwa vision of creating an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“We are working on installing modern electro systems that we saw in Indonesia and China so that we do away with the current system,” Advocate Martin Dinha, NRZ Board Chairman, told Sunday News.
“The new system will be a high voltage system that will operate on the railway line and it will be very dangerous for anyone who would want to tamper with it because the whole railway line will be live at any given time,”
NRZ’s 2020-2030 strategic plan will “transform NRZ into a modern railway system and move from the 2,8 million tonnes per year carrying capacity achieved last year and to 4,5 million tonnes by 2023, reach an apex of 6 million tonnes by 2025 and up to 12 million tonnes by 2030.”
The country spent millions of dollars on the overhead electrical system in the early 1980s and it was supposed to last 80 years, at least. The system was in service for less than 20 years and it started coughing blood. The vandals stole the copper conduct, delivering the coup de grace to the system.
A high-voltage third-rail system, NRZ is proposing, is all very well in countries where there is no unauthorised access on the rail track by humans or animals. Other than in marshalling yards like Dabuka, most of NRZ’s rail network is accessible to man and beast 24/7. The live third-rail will have to be carefully shielded to prevent electrocutions.
President Mnangagwa has said by 2023 Zimbabwe generating enough electrical power to meet the nation’s energy needs with surplus for export. So why is NRZ building solar farms to meet its own electricity power needs? It should focus on its core function of providing the nation with any efficiency and reliable rail transport service for goods and passengers – something it is clearly failing to do at present.
NRZ has 10 locomotives in service out of fleet of 67! This is wilfully inadequate for nation with a 4 313 km rail network!
In 2019 there was a big song and dance over the launch of joint venture between NRZ and a group of private investors to supply locomotives, wagons, coaches, etc. needed to kick start the railway service to its former pre-independence glory. The President officiated at the handover of the first batch of locomotives.
None of the new locomotives were ever used because the had the wrong rail gauge! How anyone missed something as obvious as that, beggars believe! The joint venture has since been dropped, the millions of dollars of public money spent has been written off and we move on – a very familiar tale in post-independence Zimbabwe.
Right now, Zimbabwe is in the middle of the corona virus pandemic with no exit strategy. The country needs to vaccinate 10 million people to reach head immunity and so far government has sourced enough vaccines for 500 000. Whereas other nations like SA are set achieve head immunity by the end of this years, Zimbabwe will be luck to do so by the end of 2022!
The country’s public education and health care services have all but collapsed after decades of being starved of funds.
So where is Zimbabwe getting the money to bankroll these ambitious NRZ project when the nation has no money to buy corona virus vaccines and failing to pay teachers and nurses a living wage, etc.?
IMF, WB and most other international financial institutions have long stopped giving Zimbabwe any financial assistance because Zanu PF government are known for being wasteful, corruption and for failing to repay the debts. Even the Chinese, “our all-weather friend” as Mugabe called them, have largely stopped loaning money to Zimbabwe for exactly the same reasons – wasteful, etc.
Ever since the Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, the country’s economy has been in decline because Zimbabwe is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs who have rigged elections to stay in power. And as long as the country remains a pariah state there will be no meaningful economic recovery. None!
But of course, Zanu PF has never acknowledge the country’s relentless economic decline and the ruins. As far as the party is concerned, it promised the nation “Mass prosperity!”, “Gutsva ruzhinji!” It has not delivered mass prosperity yet but it is on the right track!
Zimbabwe was a middle income nation in 1980 and is one of the poorest nation today. It is only the few ruling elite who are filthy rich and doing so at the expense of the millions of our people are now living in abject poverty. The party will insist mass prosperity for the majority is only round the corner.
We are going to have “a modern NRZ will be moving 4.5, 6.0 and 12.0 million tonnes by 2023, 2025 and 2030 respectively, up from the present tonnage of 2.8 million!” This is just one pixel of the Zanu PF’s cloud cuckoo land collage!
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will on Wednesday fly 900 kilometres to get his first Covid-19 jab in the resort town of Victoria Falls, his deputy Constantino Chiwenga has said.
Mnangagwa will be inoculated using the Sinovac vaccine, on a day government will be launching the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Victoria Falls.
Mnangagwa will also fly with him leaders of political parties who are also expected to get the jab.
“The second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination will be officially launched by His Excellency the President, ED Mnangagwa this week, Wednesday 24th March, 2021, in the City of Victoria Falls,” said Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care.
“On the day, His Excellency the President, will receive his first jab of Sinovac.”
Zimbabwe launched its Covid-19 vaccination programme mid-last month, with Chiwenga having been the first in the country to be inoculated, after taking the Chinese, Sinopharm vaccine.
The country has to date received a combined 600 000 doses of vaccines, split between Sinopharm, 400 00 doses and Sinovac, 200 000 doses.
Since the first launch, over 42 000 mainly frontline workers have been vaccinated.
Chiwenga said government will launch the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the resort city of Victoria Falls, where residents will get the chance to be inoculated on the same day.
“This vaccination exercise will pave way for the full resumption of unlimited tourism activities in the city which is a world attraction,” Chiwenga said.
So far, Covid-19 vaccination had not been made available for the public, save for critical frontline groups under Phase 1.
As more vaccines are availed, with some expected from Russia, India and the United Kingdom among others, ordinary citizens who are not in top priority groups will get inoculated.
Government is targeting to vaccinate at least 10 million people for the country to achieve herd immunity.
Chaotic scenes at Seke 7 Primary School in Chitungwiza, as parents demand audience with the authorities over class sitting arrangements and learning material requirements for ECD and Grade 1 pupils. Crowd reportedly denied entry into the school premises.
By A Correspondent| High enrolment in government schools is depriving learners as they are being asked to come to school once every week to allow social distancing in classes.
Government announced the re-opening of schools in a phased approach with examination classes having opened doors last week while the rest of classes have resumed today.
One of the schools in Harare has informed parents that their children will only attend face to face classes once a week.
In one of the messages seen by ZimEye, a teacher told parents that pupils who will come to school when its not their turn will be send back home.
The school said the move is meant is meant to implement social distancing following government’s announcement emphasizing strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.
“This group will come on Monday. Those who are not in this group should not come. If they do come, I will ask you to come and collect them as we are implementing social distancing. Thank you for your co- operation in advance,” reads one of the messages.
CHRA joins the world today in commemorating World Water Day under the theme valuing water. The theme comes at a time when water has become a scarce resource in Harare
Harare City Council failed to produce adequate clean and safe water for Harare residents. In suburbs such as Tafara Ward 46, the area has more than 20 years without a single drop of water.
Apparently the city council is producing 440megalitres per day against a demand of 1200mega megalitres.
In Harare 60% of treated water is being lost through water bursts and the responsiveness of council to such has not been good enough to preserve water as a valuable resource.
The shortage of this valuable resource has affected the productive time of women and young girls mostly as they are caregivers of the society.
In most cases they spent more than three hours at communal boreholes in an effort to access water. This has exposed them to all forms of abuse and harassment by water barons.
Water is the life blood of our economy and it is needed for life to exist. The shortage of water has crippled production of goods and services as it is essential.
CHRA will continue to call upon the government and the local authority to work together to end the water crisis through investing more resources to improve the water sources.
ZimEye is getting updates from the family of the slain 7 year old Tapiwa Makore in Murehwa that the ruling party has granted the murdered toddler a state burial. AUDIO LOADING BELOW…
Dear Editor. There is chaos after ZANU PF held a meeting to grant (the late 7y old) Tapiwa Makore a state funeral. This confirms what ZimEye revealed last year that this search is a scam in which someone senior in govt is involved.
The Ambassador of Russia to Zimbabwe and to Malawi
H.E. Mr. Nikolai Krasilnikov has the honour to draw your kind attention to XXIV St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) held on June 2-5, 2021.
Over the last 20 years the Forum has become a leading global platform for the international business community to meet and discuss the key socio-economic issues.
This year the organizing committee and the local authorities of St.Petersburg will ensure strict observance of the safety measures in compliance with WHO requirements. On-line participation in the virtual format will be available.
More information on SPIEF 2021 including registration and events – at the official website http://forumspb.com/en, the Forum’s social media accounts and the Roscongress Foundation’s Telegram Channel – http://t.me/RoscongressDirect.
Message issued by the Russian Federation in the Republic of Zimbabwe
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema said that schools reopened last week with no problems and he expects the return of all learners to classes this Monday to be incident-free as well.
Speaking to State media on Sunday, Mathema thanked stakeholders including teachers, parents and learners for adapting to the normal compulsory safety protocols. He said:
The education sector has adjusted to the new normal. Last week we resumed lessons for examination classes without any problem and we expect the same this week with the rest of the classes.
Teachers who were supposed to report for duty last week reported. I want to commend parents, learners and teachers for the way they have managed the resumption of classes under the circumstances.
The measures prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care for a safe resumption of classes are now in place and we are ready for the resumption of classes.
Everyone is ready and we expect a safe resumption of classes tomorrow (today) as some learners have started going to school, joining those who resumed their lessons last week
National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) president Arthur Maphosa also said schools opened last week without any major challenges and they expect the prevailing situation to continue.
National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) president Cynthia Khumalo said they are ready to welcome all pupils back to school though there are still challenges regarding social distancing protocols in some schools.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has confirmed the appointment of Dorothy Mabika as Manicaland Senator replacing Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba who passed away.
Dr Gwaradzimba was also Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
The electoral management body has also notified of the nomination by Zanu-PF of Frederick Metrine Mudau from Beitbridge, Matabeleland South to fill the vacancy of Proportional Representative Member of Parliament in the National Assembly left by Lisa Singo who died early this year.
ZEC has also accepted the nomination of Dr Fredrick Shava as Midlands Senator to fill in the vacancy left by Dr Sibusiso Moyo.
Dr Shava has since been sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The announcements were made by ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba in a Government Gazette published last Friday.-statemedia
ZimEye is getting updates from the family of the slain 7 year old Tapiwa Makore in Murehwa that the ruling party has granted the murdered toddler a state burial. AUDIO LOADING BELOW…
Dear Editor. There is chaos after ZANU PF held a meeting to grant (the late 7y old) Tapiwa Makore a state funeral. This confirms what ZimEye revealed last year that this search is a scam in which someone senior in govt is involved.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka fired the head of an Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda)-run agriculture scheme in Lupane on the spot and said the parastatal’s operations are not in sync with the Second Republic’s thrust of transforming the country’s economy through agriculture.
Dr Masuka was also riled by the fact that Government has had to write off a sorghum crop at the Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga as a result of “remote management”, leading to a wastage of resources.
He breathed fire during a tour of the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Project and the Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme on Friday, where he was accompanied by Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo.
The minister said a lackadaisical approach to work had no place in the Second Republic that was anchored on maximisation of resources and betterment of citizens’ lives through production.
Despite the ineptitude at the irrigation schemes, the country is on the verge of its largest harvest in 37 years with farmers expecting to reap between 2,5 and 2,8 million tonnes of maize and above 360 000 tonnes of traditional small grains following above normal rains that fell countrywide this year.
Dr Masuka was not impressed with the sorghum crop in Lupane and said it was unlikely that a meaningful yield would be realised. He instructed that it be removed. The crop was not properly planted leaving a lot of gaps in between, leading the minister to conclude that poor agronomic work was on display.
The Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Project is being revived and benefited from three centre pivots from Government. Arda is the project manager and works with the local community in planting of crops.
Dr Masuka fired on site, the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Project manager for alleged incompetence saying the same will befall officials who fail to meet Government’s expectations in the transformation of the agriculture sector. Chronicle could not establish the official’s name.
“I’m not happy with Arda’s performance, you are still in the past. Arda must wake up to the realities of the Second Republic and the President’s thrust of using agriculture as a vehicle for the attainment of vision 2030,” said Dr Masuka. He said Government has set minimum requirements for managing Arda irrigation sites.
Dr Masuka said going forward, Government wants Arda managers to be stationed on-site as opposed to visiting the farms.
“When you employ you must pay only a basic survival salary to that scheme manager. It must be a performance-based contract and 75 percent of the annual salary must come from a crop production bonus. The crop production bonus is predetermined. For wheat we want 4,5 to 5 tonnes per hectare they (farm managers) get their two percent on the net. If they are unable to do that then it means they will be a sunset clause in that contract which says the moment they harvest and it not happened (achieving the yield target) it means the contract automatically lapses,” said Dr Masuka.
“So, we don’t deal with this perennial problem of hiring mediocre people that do not want to grow this community. This scheme in the years ahead will be the envy of many districts. It is our intention with Minister Moyo to bring the Presidency here to launch the 200 hectares per district. This will be the first district to attain 200 hectares. We want that wheat to be a classic crop so that we can plan for launch of the 200 hectare per district by the President and I suggest that it takes place here. It has to happen.”
He said Government is moving towards having each district having 200 hectares of crop under irrigation as part of measures to ensure the country has food security.
“Government policy is that Zimbabwe is going to get drier in the decades ahead. So, we must climate proof our agriculture. Our population is increasing and vision 2030 beckons. Therefore, we must prepare and transform agriculture and through it transform rural livelihoods. That is why the President has indicated that he wants to see 200 hectares per district,” he said. He said the sorghum crop was a write-off and Arda should bear the cost.
“This crop is unlikely to yield anything due to poor agronomy. So, the intervention is that we convert this immediately into fodder and stop the irrigation. We plan for winter wheat for pivot number one and pivot number two with all the water now going to pivot number three where we have 60 hectares of sugar beans, where we are likely to salvage something if it’s not commercial then it’s for the communities that have already worked and we pay them for their labour and everything through that. You as Arda you will recoup your costs on the next wheat crop without burdening the community. The community’s investment is to make a living out of agriculture and agriculture as a business,” he said.
Dr Masuka said Arda should start preparing for winter wheat farming as it removes the sorghum.
“As you can see the planting itself was done poorly and it is our considered view that at this stage we must prepare better for the next crop. We must admit that we have failed on this crop and we must pledge and commit to do better on the next crop. We will be employing a professional scheme manager who will be assisting in the management of the scheme and we will replicate this,” said Dr Masuka.
At the Bulawayo Kraal, the minister did not mince his words as he read a riot act to the new Arda board and management to up its game and prove its worth. He said full-time managers must be stationed at Bulawayo Kraal and Bubi-Lupane Irrigation as one of the remedial measures.
“Today we were touring Arda estates in Matabeleland North. We started with Bubi-Lupane and now we are at Bulawayo-Kraal. At both schemes we learnt about how not to farm and clearly the two schemes at this stage are a write-off.
“We are disappointed that resources went down the drain but however, we are pleased that the new Arda board chairman and chief executive are with us to see why we have been talking about Arda needing a transformation. I look forward to this board and management transforming Arda and agriculture as well as the rural landscape in pursuit of the noble vision by the President for an upper and empowered middle-income society by 2030,” said Dr Masuka.
Minister Moyo said the scheme requires a hands-on approach. He said plans are underway to prepare for planting winter wheat and beans in the next few weeks.
The Bulawayo Kraal project has been failing to produce a successful crop due to a myriad of challenges including recurrent pipe leaks. The projects seek to create employment for locals and alleviate poverty through transforming the area into an economic hub.
Binga District is traditionally viewed as lagging in terms of development and the irrigation scheme is one of the many projects in the area to show the potential of the district to sustain itself and feed the province. The scheme will cover 15 000ha and will provide food and nutrition security in the country in the backdrop of climate change and recurrent drought.
Arda entered into partnership with a local investor to develop the 15 000ha piece of land into a food and export crops as well as crocodile farming zone. Irrigation equipment including three centre pivots and pipes to draw water from Zambezi River are already in place.
Newly-appointed Arda board chairman Mr Ivan Craig said a mammoth task lies ahead of the parastatal and this will include proper planning and having on-the-ground managers.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Illegal money changers in Harare and other parts of the country are now hanging around and even inside supermarkets that might have a reasonable number of shoppers using foreign currency offering to pay a premium.
They use their bank cards or Ecocash to pay for groceries and other items on behalf of shoppers and get the hard currency later.
The near ubiquitous CCTV systems that most supermarkets have installed to prevent shoplifting are just as good at catching currency deals on the premises, and the supermarkets dislike the practice.
Some even get to an extent of pushing trolleys for the customers in supermarkets, make payment and assist the shopper to pack the groceries in their vehicles.
In some shops, illegal money changers pose as genuine customers, picking some items and putting them into trolleys. They then sidle up to likely targets and ask if they are using US dollars. If the shopper is not the dealer breaks off and starts stalking another target.
Officially, US$1 is worth a whisker under $84, but the illegal foreign currency traders are offering higher rates ranging from $100 to $110 per US$1. Cash rates are lower, around $90.
Traditionally, illegal money changers in Harare hung around Patrice Lumumba Street near the intersection with Agostinho Neto Avenue opposite Meikles Hotel, around the south and west sides of Eastgate Mall, outside Roadport international bus station, in Kwame Nkrumah Avenue at the back of Holiday Inn and some shopping centres across the suburbs, both high and low density.
They are still there, but some, faced with the competition, are now trying the supermarkets.
Supermarkets like OK Zimbabwe, Pick n Pay, Mahomed Mussa, Spar and others that stick to the official auction rates in their transactions are mostly targeted by illegal money changers.
Smaller shops that illegally trade at exchange rates higher than the official rate do not attract illegal money changers. At one stage police did wonder if shop owners using official rates were working in cahoots with the illegal changers, and some shop owners were even questioned, but none have been charged and the police now accept that the shop owners are as against the practice as they are.
Zimbabwe Retailers Association president Mr Denford Mutashu confirmed the new business approaches of the “store dealers”.
“Illegal foreign currency traders operating on the entrances to major shops have become a menace. They are an ugly creature, not only to us, but to the entire economy. They are weighing down on positive policies introduced by the Government to revive the economy,” he said.
Much of the forex meant for formal shops, is being collected by illegal traders outside major shops, resulting in serious foreign currency shortages for certain imported consumer goods. While industry can go to the auctions, and store owners can buy local products without foreign currency, the commercial sector still has to find its own currency to import some of the luxury and semi-luxury consumer items that are not on the auction priority lists. They were relying on raising their own foreign currency by offering to take US dollars and other currencies at their tills, but using auction rates. Now, especially in the city centre, shops are seeing fewer foreign currency shoppers.
“It’s a huge problem for the sector. It is now difficult for established shops to raise forex for restocking. All forex is now being mopped and diverted to the black market.
“We are not an arresting authority, but we continue to engage the police in our quest to curb the rot. The police have tried their best, but they are also facing challenges. ” We need to work together with the law enforcement agents,” he said.
As part of an investigation, an investigative journalist visited a number of shops in Harare, including OK First Street, Pick n Pay Kavalamanja Battle Street and Mahomed Mussa Wholesalers in Guy Clutton Brock Avenue where money changers had slunk into the premises, pretending to be shoppers and sliding up to those who they thought might be using US dollars. At Pick n Pay Jason Moyo Avenue, illegal money changers could be seen pushing trolleys as if they wanted to buy, when they intended to negotiate with buyers.
“My brother, are you using US dollars? I can swipe for you at a good rate of US$1:$110. It’s cheaper for you because the shop uses a lesser rate of US$1:$83,” said a female money changer, who used to operate from Eastgate Mall.
Asked on the rate for EcoCash payment, the woman said: “For EcoCash transactions our rate is US$1: $100 because the charges of transacting are higher,” she said.
At OK First Street Mall, the rate for using bank cards was US$1: $105 when EcoCash rate was at US$1: $100. Illegal money changers at OK First Street offered to push the trolley for their “clients” in the shop assisting in picking groceries. They also offered to push the trolley to the vehicle where they would get their cash. They no longer accept to be paid their US dollars in the supermarkets for fear of being captured by cameras.
Beitbridge town is generally a rand economy due to the area’s location at the busiest inland border in Sadc. Many people transact in foreign currency which has resulted in some informal currency dealers camping near or at established wholesale shops including N. Richards and N & R, and other shops, where they target those people intending to buy goods using either South African rands or United States dollars. They offer lucrative rates which are slightly above the official auction rates.
In exchange for the foreign currency, they either buy goods on behalf of the clients using their credit cards or transfer money into the clients’ bank accounts. One dealer who preferred anonymity said their major clients were shop operators from the rural part of the district who use mainly rand to restock goods for their shops.
“You will note that because of network connectivity in rural parts of the district, many transactions are done in foreign currency and hence there is a huge amount of rands in circulation there.
“It’s cheaper for the shop owners to buy goods using local currency at the wholesales and hence we offer them lucrative deals,” said the dealer.
In Bindura The Herald visited Pick n Pay supermarket where money changers were openly touting for clients on the entrance. The illegal transactions were being done in full view of some police officers who turned a blind eye and chose to mind their own business.
A woman who was pacing around the Pick n Pay supermarket while displaying wards of notes approached The Herald reporter offering to buy for her using her bank card at the rate of US$1: $100.
The situation was the same at N. Richards where people illegally transacted without fear.-statemedia
Former MDC-T vice-president Obert Gutu, who defected to Zanu-PF last week, says he crossed the floor after realising that the main opposition party had long been buried together with its late founder Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018.
He told NewsDay that he decided to join Zanu-PF for its ideological clarity, adding that it took him two years to make the decision.
Gutu and former MDC Alliance senator James Makore joined the ruling party last week and were welcomed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior party officials during a ceremony held at State House.
“I took a decision to join Zanu-PF after a lengthy process. I have been in the MDC for over 20 years after starting from a low position as organising secretary for Harare North district. I think the party just lost direction. In 2002, there was unity and the vibe and solidarity, but I don’t know what happened over time. There was backbiting, camps, money exchanging hands and that happened around 2004,” he said.
“There was now a direct attack on Tsvangirai, being labelled a dictator, and it would appear he had his own intelligence, hence did what he did. Morgan would not openly show anger. Even if insulted, he would take it in and I think that was his strength and he would manage people. If Tsvangirai’s succession had been well-handled, the party would have been stronger.”
Gutu claimed that those that now assert to have liked Tsvangirai were the loudest in fighting him.
“Makore and a group of some elderly people stood with Tsvangirai at that time and they include Morgan Femai, the late Cephas Makuyana and others. (Elias) Mudzuri had a rural mobilising strategy that was vibrant. There was no Twitter that time and they really went on the ground just like what Zanu-PF is doing now.”
He claimed that the old guard in the MDC were now bitter as they worked for the party but remain as unsung heroes.
“The MDC has not healed since 2005. People say I hate (MDC Alliance leader Nelson) Chamisa), I don’t. Why should I? He is one of the few who know my village home, having been there with Tsvangirai and a few others and was here when my daughter graduated and even came with his wife,” Gutu said.
“I can tell you the MDC went with Tsvangirai. It was buried with Tsvangirai in Humanikwa village.”
Tsvangirai succumbed to colon cancer on February 14, 2018 and was buried at his rural home in Buhera.-Newsday
ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa flew to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday en-route to Dodoma, for the special funeral ceremony of the late Tanzanian leader John Magufuli.
Mnangagwa left RGM International Airport on Sunday afternoon accompanied by the president of the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira.
Mnangagwa’s entourage also included Foreign Affairs and International Trade Acting Minister Prof Amon Murwira, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet responsible for Communication George Charamba and senior Government officials.
They were seen off by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, Service Chiefs and senior Government officials.
According to a funeral programme announced by the Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzanians started paying their last respects on Saturday for five days. She said:
On Monday, March 22, Dodoma residents will mourn and pay their last respects before the body is transported to Mwanza.
Magufuli’s family and residents of Chato and neighbouring areas will mourn him and say farewell to their beloved leader on March 24. -Herald
By Nomusa Garikai | The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is being upgraded in line with President Mnangagwa vision of creating an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“We are working on installing modern electro systems that we saw in Indonesia and China so that we do away with the current system,” Advocate Martin Dinha, NRZ Board Chairman, told Sunday News.
“The new system will be a high voltage system that will operate on the railway line and it will be very dangerous for anyone who would want to tamper with it because the whole railway line will be live at any given time,”
NRZ’s 2020-2030 strategic plan will “transform NRZ into a modern railway system and move from the 2,8 million tonnes per year carrying capacity achieved last year and to 4,5 million tonnes by 2023, reach an apex of 6 million tonnes by 2025 and up to 12 million tonnes by 2030.”
The country spent millions of dollars on the overhead electrical system in the early 1980s and it was supposed to last 80 years, at least. The system was in service for less than 20 years and it started coughing blood. The vandals stole the copper conduct, delivering the coup de grace to the system.
A high-voltage third-rail system, NRZ is proposing, is all very well in countries where there is no unauthorised access on the rail track by humans or animals. Other than in marshalling yards like Dabuka, most of NRZ’s rail network is accessible to man and beast 24/7. The live third-rail will have to be carefully shielded to prevent electrocutions.
President Mnangagwa has said by 2023 Zimbabwe generating enough electrical power to meet the nation’s energy needs with surplus for export. So why is NRZ building solar farms to meet its own electricity power needs? It should focus on its core function of providing the nation with any efficiency and reliable rail transport service for goods and passengers – something it is clearly failing to do at present.
NRZ has 10 locomotives in service out of fleet of 67! This is wilfully inadequate for nation with a 4 313 km rail network!
In 2019 there was a big song and dance over the launch of joint venture between NRZ and a group of private investors to supply locomotives, wagons, coaches, etc. needed to kick start the railway service to its former pre-independence glory. The President officiated at the handover of the first batch of locomotives.
None of the new locomotives were ever used because the had the wrong rail gauge! How anyone missed something as obvious as that, beggars believe! The joint venture has since been dropped, the millions of dollars of public money spent has been written off and we move on – a very familiar tale in post-independence Zimbabwe.
Right now, Zimbabwe is in the middle of the corona virus pandemic with no exit strategy. The country needs to vaccinate 10 million people to reach head immunity and so far government has sourced enough vaccines for 500 000. Whereas other nations like SA are set achieve head immunity by the end of this years, Zimbabwe will be luck to do so by the end of 2022!
The country’s public education and health care services have all but collapsed after decades of being starved of funds.
So where is Zimbabwe getting the money to bankroll these ambitious NRZ project when the nation has no money to buy corona virus vaccines and failing to pay teachers and nurses a living wage, etc.?
IMF, WB and most other international financial institutions have long stopped giving Zimbabwe any financial assistance because Zanu PF government are known for being wasteful, corruption and for failing to repay the debts. Even the Chinese, “our all-weather friend” as Mugabe called them, have largely stopped loaning money to Zimbabwe for exactly the same reasons – wasteful, etc.
Ever since the Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, the country’s economy has been in decline because Zimbabwe is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs who have rigged elections to stay in power. And as long as the country remains a pariah state there will be no meaningful economic recovery. None!
But of course, Zanu PF has never acknowledge the country’s relentless economic decline and the ruins. As far as the party is concerned, it promised the nation “Mass prosperity!”, “Gutsva ruzhinji!” It has not delivered mass prosperity yet but it is on the right track!
Zimbabwe was a middle income nation in 1980 and is one of the poorest nation today. It is only the few ruling elite who are filthy rich and doing so at the expense of the millions of our people are now living in abject poverty. The party will insist mass prosperity for the majority is only round the corner.
We are going to have “a modern NRZ will be moving 4.5, 6.0 and 12.0 million tonnes by 2023, 2025 and 2030 respectively, up from the present tonnage of 2.8 million!” This is just one pixel of the Zanu PF’s cloud cuckoo land collage! – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com
Today (Saturday) the @mdczimbabwe president @nelsonchamisa mourned Rex Matova, a prominent businessman behind chambara businesses centre in Chikomba.- MDC Alliance
President Chamisa attends the burial of Chikomba business tycoon Rex Matova
Tinashe Sambiri|Leading human rights lawyer, Martin Mureri has said 30 MDC Alliance Youth Assembly members who were arrested in Chivi on Saturday are expected to appear in court on Monday.
The 30 MDC Alliance member were arrested for allegedly “gathering for the purpose of promoting violence.”
” The 30 MDC Alliance members are being accused of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry.
We expect them to appear in court on Monday,” said Mureri.
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly members arrested in Chivi on Saturday…
Warriors star Teenage Hadebe was given his marching orders in Yeni Malatyaspor’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Gaziantep in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday.
The gangly former Kaizer Chiefs defender started for his side in the heart of defence but was given a straight red card for a challenge in the 86th minute, leaving his side with ten man for the remaining minutes of the game.
He elbowed an opponent in an incident missed by the referee but was noticed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), leading to his sending off.
Hadebe will now miss Malatysapor’s next league clash against Instabul Basaksehir after the international break.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s underpaid teachers have dug in and refused to report for duty today as schools open for non-examination classes, saying they will only do so after their employer, government, has acceded to their demand for their salaries to be restored to the pre-October 2018 levels.
Then, teachers were earning between US$520 and US$550, but are now earning the equivalent of slightly above US$100.
Government, which has threatened to dock salaries for workers who absent themselves without official leave, has said it has no capacity to pay US dollar-indexed salaries demanded by its restive workers.
Teachers yesterday rejected the 75% salary increment offered to all civil servants, saying the adjustment was not a product of collective bargaining.
Cabinet last week approved a 75% pay increment offer for civil servants, which will be paid in a staggered format, with 25% being effected this month, followed by the remainder, 50%, to be paid in June.
The standoff between government and teachers will negatively impact learners, who last had face-to-face lessons in September last year before going on a long COVID-19-induced break.
Teachers unions said their members would not report for duty because they are financially incapacitated to travel to their various stations and pay their children’s school fees.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) last week gave notice of a nationwide strike starting today despite pronouncements by the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) that it would meet this week to review civil servants’ working conditions.
Last week’s NJNC negotiations ended in a stalemate after the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led administration dangled a 25% salary increase, which civil servants dismissed as a pittance.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said teachers under his union would not report for work despite the 75% increment announcement.
“It’s madness of the worst order. The same government gave police, soldiers, and Central Intelligence Organisation officers more than 100% salary increases with effect from February 2021. Now they want to give the rest of the civil service 25% with effect from April, and the other 50% from June,” he said.
“This double standard is unacceptable. Worse still, it is not a product of social dialogue, but unilateralism. What teachers want is restoration of the purchasing power parity of US$520 to US$550 or its equivalent.
“The incapacitation modus operandi will continue unabated until government takes teachers seriously.”
Zimbabwe National Teachers Union chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo described the 75% proposed increment as a mockery to the teaching profession given that the increment would be staggered, adding that by June, it would have been eroded by inflation.
“We are so much frustrated and disappointed by the proposed 75% increment which remains a drop in the ocean. The increment margin that is being offered ranges from $3 500 to
$4 500. How is the little amount going to solve our incapacitation?” Nyawo asked.
“There is no reason for us not to demonstrate. We are incapacitated, hence we will join any other union that wants to demonstrate for our own good.”
Artuz president Obert Masaraure said the salary increment had not yet been officially agreed with civil servants as it was announced through the media, which was the root of the crisis in the civil service.
He said protocols pertaining to agreement and announcement of salary increments by government were not duly followed, which further complicated the problem.
“It was never a collective bargaining engagement between the government and its employees. Government still has powers to fix salaries of civil servants without going through a genuine process of collective bargaining. All the salaries we are earning were never a product of a genuine collective bargaining process and we don’t have a signed collective bargaining agreement,” Masaraure said.
“We reject the 75% increment, both the process and the amount. The amount itself is pathetic and unacceptable. What we need is a genuine reform of the laws governing the civil service. Labour laws governing the civil service should be aligned to the Constitution so that we also have collective bargaining agreements which can govern us.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said: “We have only seen the announcement in the Press. No communication has been made, but what we are looking forward to is a favourable outcome of negotiations whose results we have not received.
“We are looking forward to the second meeting and an improvement from the last offer and with a clear roadmap towards restoration of salary levels matching the pre-October 2018 US$550. Anything diverting from the roadmap will be unsatisfactory and unacceptable. Dialogue should demonstrate serious attention to this demand as promised in the NJNC agreement of November 2020.”
Moses Mhike, the Public Service Commission representative in the NJNC, said he was not aware of the proposed 75% increment.
“I was out of town and where I was, there was no access to the media. I haven’t come across such information, I am just getting into Harare now,” he said. Newsday
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has reversed the decision to evict thousands of Shangaan people from their ancestral land.
Government was pushing for the eviction of Chiredzi villagers to create space for a grass-growing project.
Pressure groups in Masvingo Province say government’s decision to reverse the eviction of Chiredzi villagers from their ancestral land is a victory for citizens.
Masvingo Center for Research Advocacy and Development (MACRAD) Director Ephraim Mtombeni said:
It’s a victory for the people of Chilonga and the Shangaan speaking people.
The people supported #savechilonga campaign and MACRAD launched a High Court application challenging the legality of the evictions.the government reversed the decision to evict the Shangaan speaking people to pave way for Dendairy to grow lucerne grass.
Despite the Zim government bureaucrats acknowledging their obligation to protect all citizens, they are yet to secure shelter for victims of forced displacements.
The absence of political will by the government in respecting the minority social groups is driving them to ignore the calls by constitution and international legislatives.
The government should properly plan the destination of the affected people prior to enforcement of evictions.”
The country did not record any Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours, although 10 new cases recorded.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Child Care 523 front line workers were vaccinated yesterday, bringing the cumulative number to 42 210 countrywide.
The Ministry said all the 10 new cases are local transmissions. Five cases were reported in Bulawayo followed by Harare with two cases, Matabeleland South two cases while Mashonaland Central recorded one case.
“All 10 new cases are local transmissions. There are 51 hospitalised cases, 7 asymptomatic, 31 mild to moderate, nine severe cases and four intensive care unit,” read the statement.
So far, eight new recoveries were reported while the national recovery rate stands at 93,4 percent and active cases went up to 895 yesterday. A total of 744 tests were conducted yesterday and positivity was 1,3 percent.
“As of March, 20 2021, Zimbabwe, has now recorded 36 662 confirmed cases, 34 257 recoveries and 1 510 deaths,” read the statement. -Chronicle
Own Correspondent|Central Intelligence Organization agents raided MDC Alliance Councillor Gilbert Mutubuki’s house on Saturday night.
Mutubuki is the councillor for ward 18 in Chiredzi. He is also a member of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.
“CIO agents raided my house last night.They harassed my relatives demanding information about my movements.
I have since left Chiredzi because government agents are looking for me. Intimidation and harassment of political activists will not disrupt the convergence for change.
The regime is afraid of the people’s agenda.They are trying by all means to thwart the #Agenda 2021 programme,” said Mutubuki.
The Former Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Energy Mutodi was left counting losses at Beitbridge Border Post on Thursday evening when a bogus clearing agent he had engaged stole US$1 400 from him.
The Goromonzi West parliamentarian, who was travelling in a South African-registered Hummer had engaged the suspect, known as Simbarashe Zinyakati, to facilitate a smooth passage through the border.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge district, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo was not readily available for comment. However, an official within the Ferret team, which comprises the police and other security agents said Cde Mutodi hired the suspect on the South African border.
“The suspect managed to process the clearance formalities on the South African border and upon reaching Zimbabwe he demanded US$300 to process a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for the foreign registered Hummer, which he failed to do after hitting a brick wall at Zimra.
“The complainant then demanded back his money which he got back. He later discovered that the suspect had stolen US$1400 from his car when the man had left the border,” said the official.
The source said the matter was now under investigation and Zinyakati was yet to be accounted for.- State Media
Own Correspondent|Central Intelligence Organization agents raided MDC Alliance Councillor Gilbert Mutubuki’s house on Saturday night.
Mutubuki is the councillor for ward 18 in Chiredzi. He is also a member of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.
“CIO agents raided my house last night.They harassed my relatives demanding information about my movements.
I have since left Chiredzi because government agents are looking for me. Intimidation and harassment of political activists will not disrupt the convergence for change.
The regime is afraid of the people’s agenda.They are trying by all means to thwart the #Agenda 2021 programme,” said Mutubuki.
The census scheduled for later this year will yet again confirm that the youth as a demographic group constitute the majority of the country’s population. As we stand on the cusp of the decisive phase of our democratic struggle, this generation whose future has been squandered by the clueless and corrupt elite in government must stand up and play a more prominent role in positively shaping their lived circumstances and their future.
Throughout history and across jurisdictions, it is the youth that have stood up to the mediocrity of their time and engendered truly new dispensations that infused a renewed sense of hope about the future. Across the world, young people have always been the torch-bearers in the unstinting quest for freedom, democracy, decency and dignity.
It was the young people in Zimbabwe that took up arms and confronted the colonial Smith regime. But times have changed. Today’s youth may have to robustly use other arsenal such as the soft power of their twitter and blog universe to express their utmost revulsion against the deteriorating human rights and governance system in the country.
In Tunisia in 2011, it was 26-year old Mohamed Bouazizi who ignited the revolution that reaped a democratic dividend for an entire sub-region. On the 14th of January the same year, dictator Ben Ali had no choice but to flee to Saudi Arabia.
It was equally these young people that led similarly popular but morally legitimate protests in Yemen, Jordan, Algeria and Oman in what became popularly known as the Arab Spring.
On 25 January 2011, droves of mainly young people numbering about 50 000 poured into Tahrii Square in downtown Cairo in a huge mass protest against Hosni Mubarak.
It was similarly audacious young men and women who perished for a legitimate quest at Sharpeville in apartheid South Africa. It was the same revolutionary generation that tore down the Berlin Wall. It was young people that stoically stood before the armed taunt at Tiananmen Square in China in June 1989.
The youth have always been a revolutionary generation; a generation that neither accepts nor tolerates killer regimes such as the illegitimate lot in Harare. A regime dripping in the blood of innocent citizens. An autocracy that has captured all institutions of the State as part of a wicked, sinister and morally reprehensible plot to decimate the legitimate opposition in the country.
In Zimbabwe, the young generation of short skirts and sagging jeans must step up to the plate. The short skirts are reflective of the shortened life expectancy and the short-sightedness of their leaders, if not the abundant opportunities that have skirted the young generation. And it is not just their jeans that are sagging, but their hopes and aspirations as well!
For the youth of this country, the horizon has been misted by a clueless government that couped its way into office amid a false clamour of creating jobs under the equally false mantra of ” ZimbabweisOpenforBusiness .” Yet the country is shut for hope—with the only jobs created being those for Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Karanga tribesmen and tribeswomen from Masvingo and the Midlands provinces.
As I said last week, even the staggered, choreographed defections have a tribal and regional flavour to them. Only 48 hours ago, Obert Gutu, a Karanga of the Madyirapazhe totem who comes from the Gutu area of Masvingo and James Mzkore, of Mnangagwa’s ShumbaMurambwi totem and who like him also comes from Chivi, defected from Douglas Mwonzora’s surrogate and treacherous outfit to Zanu-PF. Mwonzora’s outfit is essentially Zanu PF and one wonders what the “defection” hype was all about. You don’t defect from Zanu-PF to Zanu-PF. Not so much of a defection there— in the same way that any shift from the lounge to the bedroom of the same house should never be misconstrued as a relocation!
Indeed, even the defections are tribalistic and nepotistic, further betraying the primitive and base instincts of the man who pilfered his way to State House.
The youth of this country must rise to the challenge. They must confront this dictatorship within the confines permissible under our national Constitution. As they say, the real problem in troubled countries such as ours has never been civil disobedience. The real problem that needs tackling has been civil obedience to autocracy, nay the acquiescence and sheepish succumbing to the murderous traits of this piranha, blood-soaked political elite that has murdered and repressed citizens since November 2017. Civil disobedience through a loud, deafening expression of revulsion channeled through peaceful protests is certainly permissible under section 59 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution.
It is not the aim of this treatise to be contemptuous of the effort and gallantry of today’s youth. This is an exhortation for them to do far much more. The youth of this country have bravely borne the brunt of this blood-soaked regime. Tawanda Muchehiwa, Obey Sithole, Gift Ostallos Siziba, Takudzwa Ngadziore, Stephen “Sakorzy” Tshuma, Makomborero Haruzivishe, Allan Moyo, the MDC Alliance trio of Joannah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova and several other youths throughout the country have been in the eye of the storm.
But they must certainly go bryond the puny effort of isolated individuals. It must be a monumental seismic shift spawned by an entire generation. The situation in Zimbabwe now demands a peaceful but sonorous expression by an entire demographic group. As a generation and not as scattered individuals, the youth of this country must rise to the level of—and even surpass the magnitude of—the grievous national challenges authored by the voluminous mediocrity and illegitimacy now engulfing the entire body politic.
The youth of this country must not listen to a lying regime that has captured all State institutions, uses paid surrogates to recall elected representatives and peddles the mistruth that it values the next generation and yet saddles that same generation with huge debts. In the case of Zimbabwe, the regime will bequeath to the next generation a ballooning but astounding external debt that currently stands in excess of US$11 billion.
An analogue regime of geriatrics will never understand the demands of the twitter and blog generation. They are too old to address the concerns of a generation still favoured with boundless energy and enthusiasm. A generation whose veins are copiously throbbing restless blood ( kutemwadzinobvaropa ) Zanu PF has always operated outside the orbit of this generation of boundless energy and hope. Towards the election of 2013, I joked with President Tsvangirai, then the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, when I intimated to him that had he been in Zanu PF, he would have been a member of the party’s youth league. I said this because when Morgan Tsvangirai contested the 2013 ejection as a 61-year old leader of his party, his age-mate, Absolom Sikhosana, was the leader of the Zanu-PF youth league and represented the digital generation’s interests in the party’s Politburo. A dinosaural party with such proclivities is certainly caught up in a time warp and can never understand the demands of today’s generation. Zanu PF is a party living outside its moment, like a typewriter in an Internet cafe’!
Indeed, and as the illustrious Morgan Tsvangirai used to say: Yesterday’s people cannot solve today’s problems. Today’s problems need today’s people and Zanu PF and its leaders are certainly yesterday’s people who can never muster enough knowledge to steer and manage a modern economy.
Two weeks ago, the people’s President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, himself a doyen of today’s crop of dynamic leaders, presented his party’s agenda for the year 2021 and set the tone for the major political business of this year. It was an address that spawned trepidation across the corridors of stolen power and invited all sorts of invective— including even laughable threats of arrest.
In that address, the people’s President said in the year 2021, all citizens will be converging for change. He spoke of a broad front of collective citizen-led effort to tackle the challenges of our time. He spoke of a robust but peaceful, Constitutional and legitimate programme in which the youth will play a decisive part. The people’s President said the youth have an important role to play in the Citizens’ Convergence for Change agenda item. President Chamisa even made reference to the late Father Zimbabwe, the iconic Joshua Nkomo’s speech in which the liberation stalwart said the youth will ultimately save Zimbabwe and will not allow it to die.
We have now reached the penultimate stage where, if need be, it must be us the people and not the country that must die.
After all, it is the youth that have become seriously prejudiced by the ineptitude of this our scarfed regime. It is the youth that have turned to drugs and other addictive substances to seek an “escape” from their tenuous lived circumstance. We have become a country of degreed vendors and graduate small-time traders. In return, the corrupt elite in government is nowhere to be seen when it comes to addressing the concerns and grievances of this victim generation, turning up only to shed crocodile tears when popular youths die as as they did at the funerals of dancehall musician Soul Jah Love and actress Anne Nhira. The purpose is always to score cheap political points.
For God’s sake, the youth of this country want State-assisted opportunities in their lifetime, not State-assisted funerals at their deaths!
Indeed, ours has become mortuary government—a wicked funeral home that turns up to shed crocodile tears at the funerals of its victims. The regime has presided over the collapse of basic social services such as health and education. Soul Jah Love needed a functioning health institution to attend to his diabetic condition when he was still alive while Anne Nhira had fled to South Africa to fend for opportunities in a foreign land. It is telling that she was murdered while coming from a prayer in the mountain in South Africa, having to seek divine intervention in her parlous lived circumstance.
And this piece is not meant to incite anyone. It is simply a proposition to give insight. In any case, it is not criminal to incite a repressed people to exercise their democratic right by seeking succour and sanatorium in section 59 of a people’s Constitution that they wrote themselves and affirmed in a referendum.
It does not help that sometimes the youth have collectively become lily-livered when it comes to confronting this regime, choosing only to turn up in their huge numbers and siege Harare central business district to mourn and view the coffin of my distant relative, Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure, my dear brother from my hood in Domboshava while dismally failing to crowd the cities in similar fashion to vent out their grievances against the scarfed regime of Mr Mnangagwa—a regime that has dismally failed their generation. A government that has made them hewers of wood and drawers of water both in their own motherland and in foreign lands where they are slugging it out to earn a living.
As a generation, the youth of this country must rise to the moment. Collectively, the despondent youths of my land must soar to the magnitude of the challenges impeding and blighting them from inheriting a bright future. The rest of the citizenry will support their patriotic effort to safeguard their future.
The responsibility to defend the future must mainly lie in those that are genuine stockholders in that future—the youth of this land.
At first glance, Bishop Cuthbert Nyaruvenda, the founder of Sangano Dzvene Revapostori Church, looks like an ordinary person next door.
Alighting from his car clad in a blue T-shirt and matching jean trousers, the tall and slim religious leader smiles and waves at his congregants as he leisurely walks into his “surgery” situated in Harare’s high-density suburb of Highfield.
But he is fast becoming one of the country’s most controversial religious figures.
The apostolic church leader recently caused a stir when he led his congregants to perform, in broad daylight, a religious ceremony where traditional beer and snuff openly flowed.
The locals, who knew the congregation to be Christian, watched in bewilderment as church members numbering more than 300 — in flagrant disregard of Covid-19 regulations — conducted African traditional religious rites, through which spirits of the dead were supposedly invoked to help the living.
During the ceremony, there were gourds filled with traditional beer, while snuff was generously passed from one willing hand to the other.
By practising both faith and traditional healing, the Mhondoro-born faith-healer said he is determined to prove that the “oil and water don’t mix” proverb is wrong after all.
Last week, The Sunday Mail Society caught up with Bishop Nyaruvenda.
Throughout the interview, he maintained that there is nothing wrong with practising both faith and traditional healing.
“It started as a suggestion. I noticed that many of my followers have problems that can only be solved through traditional healing. After a church service, I called upon those that would want to have their problems solved the traditional way to stay behind,” Bishop Nyaruvenda said.
“I was shocked by the response. The majority of the congregation stayed behind and what followed was a day in which evil spirits were cast away the traditional way.”
Asked if mixing faith and traditional healing was acceptable, a clearly unamused Bishop Nyaruvenda accused some of the Christians of being hypocrites.
“I said it before and I am going to say it again: Most people, among them well-known religious leaders, are hypocrites.
‘‘During the day, they will be busy castigating traditional healing yet these are people that come to seek our services during the night,” he added.
Waving a reed mat which he said is called “karondora”, the controversial healer claimed it possesses magical powers that he uses in his craft.
Two mysterious bottles with beaded sticks neatly tied inside are part of his paraphernalia.- The Sunday Mail
MASVINGO City Council has defended its rates arguing that the money was needed to cover for the costs to provide potable water, roads maintenance and for the smooth flow of refuse collection.
The local authority has been under siege from residents who are protesting the latest rates that have resulted in residents in high density suburbs being billed an average of $2 600 per month from $472 that was charged from last year.
In a statement to the ratepayers, acting Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said the rates were meant to ensure that the city provides services that meet minimum standards.
“Council wishes to reiterate that the spirit of the increases now as at the time of consultation remains the same and this is to ensure that residents enjoy clean water supply, have street lights, roads are good and well maintained, refuse is collected regularly, fire brigade is well equipped, council schools are well-equipped and the clinics have adequate medicine.
“Masvingo City Council like any other local authority is a non-profit making institution and charges for services are therefore based on cost-recovery model and every service charge is justified by a cost build-up. The intention of the increase is therefore to cover costs for provision of proper services to the residents.”
Eng Mukaratirwa said the budget was forwarded to Government for approval following consultations between council and the residents towards the end of last year and the objections that were received were attended to and recommendations were made to the Minister before the approval of the budget. The new rates were approved by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde July Moyo when he approved the city’s budget for this year.
Meanwhile, following the repair and commissioning of the transformers at Bushmead Water Works the local authority has lifted the water consumption reprieve to 2 864 residents with stuck meters.
“Council has seen it fit to reduce estimated water consumption volumes by 50 percent to consumers with stuck meters. This is in response to reduced production levels at Bushmead Water Works.- The Sunday News
Two people Jephat Manoti and Bruce Nzungu were arrested after they stabbed a Gokwe based Detective who later on died due to the injuries he sustained during the stabbing.
The late detective, 32-year-old Lloyd Muchachiona was walking with a friend in Gokwe CBD at Craft Center, as he was approaching Mupfungautsi Surburb, the suspects emerged and started shouting violently that ZRP officers were troubling them (” mapurisa munoda kutonetsa”).
The duo reportedly stabbed Muchachiona twice the thigh and they also stabbed his friend on the shoulder before he managed to escape the attack. Muchachiona reportedly collapsed and died after the incident.
Muchachiona’s body awaits postmortem and the matter is still being investigated.- Bulawayo24
Trouble seems to be brewing in paradise for Zaka Central legislator Davison Svuure whose councillors have pinned him down demanding accountability for the 2020 Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Svuure and his councillors share a WhatsApp group in which they discuss developments in the constituency and areas of cooperation.
The gasket blew when Svuure asked for reports from the councillors who then fired back at the legislator saying he should also report to them on how the 2020 CDF funds have been used.
Each constituency received a total of $200 000 in CDF in 2020 which was revised upwards in the 2021 national budget to $2 million per constituency.
TellZim News is in possession of the leaked chats and audios from the WhatsApp group where Svuure told the councillors that they had no right to ask him about CDF as it was his money and was not obligated to explain himself to them.
“Is there anything happening in Ward 8, 9 and 13. Councillor Tererai (Ward 8) Mada (Ward 13) and Mutandavari (Ward 9) I am not hearing anything from there but we said lets share information of what is happening on the group.
“I heard you councillor Mada saying you don’t know anything about CDF, I don’t know what you want to know because the fund is not yours.
“It’s not for councillors but for the MP. The only way you can know about the CDF is only if you are in the CDF committee.
“You cannot come asking to see the CDF budget, it’s not your duty, there are parliament auditors who are responsible for that,” said Svuure.
Ward 13 councillor Manfred Mada responded saying they were not sharing information from their wards because Svuure was not doing the same.
“The challenge is we are kept in the dark on parliamentary issues and CDF so let’s communicate from top to bottom so that we know where we stand in terms of development,” said Mada.
Svuure, who doubles as the Zaka District Coordinating Committee (DCC) deputy chairperson, warned that councillors should respect him singling out Ward 8 councillor Tererai Tererai whom he said was his critic.
Svuure told TellZim News that he had discussed the matter with the councillors and told them that those who want clarification should visit his office in Jerera saying he could not discuss internal matters through the media.
“I discussed the matter with the councillors and I told them to visit the office if they wanted clarification on how the CDF was used and their silence means they understood so I cannot say anything more to the media. If there is anyone else who want to know more should come to my office,” said Svuure.
Zimbabwe international Elvis Chipezeze was shown a straight red card in the second half of Baroka’s 1-1 draw with Bloemfontein Celtic in the DStv Premiership on Saturday.
The 31 year-old, who was returning to the Limpopo-based side’s starting eleven after siting on the bench in last week’s defeat to Stellenbosch, committed a foul in the 69th minute and was shown his marching orders.
Baroka had to play the final 20 minutes of the game with former CAPS United midfielder Gerald Phiri in goal after Chipezeze’s dismissal since they had used all their substitutes.
Chipezeze’s Warriors teammate Ronald Pfumbidzai was not in the Celtic match day squad.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Warriors star Teenage Hadebe was given his marching orders in Yeni Malatyaspor’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Gaziantep in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday.
The gangly former Kaizer Chiefs defender started for his side in the heart of defence but was given a straight red card for a challenge in the 86th minute, leaving his side with ten man for the remaining minutes of the game.
He elbowed an opponent in an incident missed by the referee but was noticed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), leading to his sending off.
Hadebe will now miss Malatysapor’s next league clash against Instabul Basaksehir after the international break.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Today (Saturday) the @mdczimbabwe president @nelsonchamisa mourned Rex Matova, a prominent businessman behind chambara businesses centre in Chikomba.- MDC Alliance
President Chamisa at the burial of Chikomba business tycoon Rex Matova
Tinashe Sambiri|Leading human rights lawyer, Martin Mureri has said 30 MDC Alliance Youth Assembly members who were arrested in Chivi on Saturday are expected to appear in court on Monday.
The 30 MDC Alliance member were arrested for allegedly “gathering for the purpose of promoting violence.”
” The 30 MDC Alliance members are being accused of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry.
We expect them to appear in court on Monday,” said Mureri.
Health Problems Linked to Not Getting Enough Sleep
Chronic sleep deprivation can have long-term consequences for your overall health and well-being.
Becky Upham By Becky Upham Medically Reviewed by Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD
March 17, 2021 Why-Not-Getting-Enough-Sleep-Is-Bad-for-Your-Health-1440×810 Consistently cutting short your sleep has been linked to worse heart health, brain health, gut health, and more.iStock Most of us would prefer a good night of sleep. We have more energy, we’re better able to focus, and we generally feel better the next day. But there’s growing evidence that sleep is really critical for maintaining good long-term health, too.
The body can usually cope with occasionally staying up late, but if you’re frequently or chronically depriving yourself of sleep, there will be health prices to pay, says Sigrid C. Veasey, MD, a researcher and professor of medicine at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia.
The strongest evidence may be in the fact that humans have not evolved to sleep any less than we did thousands of years ago, when people were sleeping outdoors and the dangers of being attacked by wild animals or the elements were much greater than they are now, Dr. Veasey says. If sleep really wasn’t that important, you could theorize that humans would have evolved to sleep less, she says.
“From an evolutionary perspective, that indicates sleep must be very important in some sense,” she says.
Getting too little or poor quality sleep can be the result of our personal choices: consuming too much alcohol or caffeine, spending lots of time before bed on our phones, or just not setting aside enough hours a night for sleep. Or it can result due to a another health issue (like undiagnosed sleep apnea, depression, or chronic pain) or a side effect of a medication we’re taking, explains Meena Khan, MD, a neurologist and sleep medicine specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
No matter the reason, however, poor sleep is bad for health, she adds.
According to guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, published in June 2015 in Sleep, adults should sleep at least seven or more hours per night for optimal health.
Here are some of the long-term health problems you might be at increased risk of if you’re not clocking those hours:
Depression and Anxiety Research shows that people who have chronic insomnia have a higher rate of depression and anxiety compared with people who haven’t been diagnosed with insomnia, says Dr. Khan. Estimates suggest 15 to 20 percent of people diagnosed with insomnia will develop major depression.
The relationship between mood and sleep is complex and bidirectional, which means that depression or anxiety can worsen sleep, and lack of sleep is can also negatively impact mood. And insomnia is considered an independent risk factor for developing depression in people of all ages, according to a review February 2019 in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.right up arrow Sometimes separate treatments are needed to help with the sleep problems and the anxiety or depression, but in some cases improving sleep can help mood, too, says Khan.
A meta-analysis of 23 studies, published in August 2018 in Depression and Anxiety, that looked at the effects of insomnia treatment on depression found that treating the insomnia had a positive effect on mood.right up arrow
Type 2 Diabetes Poor quality sleep or short sleep duration has been linked to poorer blood sugar control in people with and without diabetes, says Khan. It can increase risk of the development of diabetes as well, she says.
One recent study, published in September 2020 in Diabetologia, found that insomnia may increase risk for type 2 diabetes by as much as 17 percent.right up arrow
Weight Gain and Obesity
Laboratory research suggests that not getting enough sleep can lead to metabolic changes associated with obesity; and observational studies that look at duration of sleep and rates of obesity have found a link between the chronic metabolic disorder and not getting enough regular rest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).right up arrow The link is particularly strong in children.
In the Nurses’ Health Study, which followed 68,183 women over 16 years, those who slept an average of five hours or fewer per night had a 15 percent higher risk of developing obesity compared with women who slept five hours per night.right up arrow The women who slept less were also 30 percent more likely to have gained 30 pounds over the course of the study compared with women who slept longer.
Hypertension, Heart Disease, and Stroke Studies in large groups of people that have compared poor sleep and sleep problems with heart attacks and stroke have shown that worse sleep is linked to those heart problems, according to the Heart Foundation.right up arrow A study published in June 2020 in PLoS Biology identified a possible mechanism whereby worse sleep could be harmful to the heart; it showed that sleep fragmentation (repeated awakenings through the night that disrupt sleep) was associated with of the buildup of inflammation in the arteries (specifically white blood cells called monocytes and neutrophils), which leads to atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque on and inside the artery walls).right up arrow There is also evidence linking sleep disorders (which tend to result in poorer quality or shorter sleep) with heart problems. People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have higher risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke, says Khan.
Kidney Problems The link between sleep and kidney health hasn’t been as firmly established as the link between sleep and other chronic conditions, says Khan. “There have been a few preliminary studies, but the relationship needs to be further explored,” she says.
Chronic insomnia was associated with the development and progression of chronic kidney disease, but not end-stage renal disease or death from any cause, according to research published in 2018 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.right up arrow
Cognitive Problems, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Other Types of Dementia “What we’re finding is that injury due to poor sleep or not enough sleep doesn’t show up immediately, but it can result in changes that later on in life look like Alzheimer’s disease and injury in the hippocampus and some of the other brain regions,” says Veasey. Credit: Everyday Health
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