Own Correspondent | Temba Mliswa’s ex-lover
Susan Mutami is attracting headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Several social media users claim Susan relys on love juju to entice rich guys.

According to an audio clip circulating on WhatsApp one lady is heard accusing Susan of using love muti.

“Susan usade kushamisira,siyana naMP vedu wanzwa,munhu wepi anoshandisa mushonga achitora varume vevanhu,pasina ma love charms hauna zvauri iwewe.

Ziva zvekuinda kuna Makomichi n’anga yako,uchiba varume vevanhu,ukataurisa uchaguma wanyara and yu know me very well,”said the lady.

Susan is yet to respond to the allegations.

Makomichi is a Masvingo -based preacher who is reportedly working with slay queens to destroy people’s marriages through love charms.

POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested a 21-year-old domestic worker from Bradfield suburb for allegedly sexually abusing her employer’s 10-year-old son.

In a Twitter statement, the police urged parents and guardians to be wary of people they are leaving their children with as some of them are abusive.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) encourages parents to always monitor their children whilst playing and avoid leaving them with irresponsible persons as they might end up being abused. This follows a case of aggravated indecent assault which occurred on Saturday in Bradfield, Bulawayo where a male juvenile (10) was sexually abused by a housemaid (21),” read the statement.

Meanwhile, a teenager from Harare was raped by a 33-year-old after being told by a self-proclaimed prophet that the rapist would be her husband.

“Harare woman (19) was raped on several occasions between January and February 2021 by a suspect (33) after receiving a prophetic message from an alleged prophet who indicated to her that the man will be her future husband. The spiritualist concealed the offence when it was reported to him by the victim,” read the police statement.

“The ZRP encourages members of the public to report all cases of sexual abuse promptly and avoid trusting strange prophetic utterances from pastors and prophets.”- Chronicle

TWO brothers who were fighting each other at a shrine after the elder brother accused his sibling of having an affair with his wife allegedly turned on a Good Samaritan who had tried to stop the fight and killed him.

One of the two brothers allegedly held the Good Samaritan upside down with his feet up and head down while the other one stabbed him several times all over the body with a knife.

Pardon Guzhumura (22) was allegedly killed by Emmanuel Matura (21) and Felix (25) while his mother known as Madzimai Nancy – a self-proclaimed prophet- and some sect members watched helplessly.

The incident happened around 11pm on Monday at a shrine belonging to Madzimai Nancy in Greenvale, Gweru.

Madzimai Nancy’s shrine is popular with artisanal miners and people who want to be cleansed of evil spirits.

Sources said Felix and Emmanuel worked together as artisanal miners and would consult Madzimai Nancy together so that she could assist them to get gold when panning.

“On Monday morning, Felix and Emmanuel visited Madzimai Nancy’s shrine in Greenvale for prayers so that they get gold when panning. Madzimai Nancy told them to return at night since she consulted for people spiritually only at night,” said the source.

The source said the brothers spent the day drinking beer before making their way to Madzimai Nancy’s shrine around 10pm.

When they got to the shrine, Felix’s pregnant wife was allegedly being prayed for by Madzimai Nancy.

The source said Felix allegedly ordered Madzimai Nancy to consult and confirm if the pregnancy was indeed his or Emmanuel’s.

“Felix and Emmanuel started fighting each other with Felix accusing his brother of being in love with his wife,” said the source.

It is at this stage, the source said, that Madzimai Nancy’s son intervened.

“The brothers turned on him with Emmanuel holding him upside down Undertaker (WWE Wrestling superstar) style while Felix stabbed him before they ran away from the shrine,” said the source.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the alleged murder of Guzhumura at his mothers’ shrine by the two brothers.

“I can confirm that two brothers Felix and Emmanuel Matura who had gone for spiritual cleansing at a shrine in Greenvale, Gweru, allegedly killed Pardon Guzhumura following a misunderstanding. Guzhumura was assaulted first before he was stabbed several times all over his body,” he said.

Insp Mahoko said the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene before Guzhumura was rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The two suspects were arrested and they are assisting police with investigations.

“As the police, we appeal to members of the public to desist from using violence to solve their problems. The police are there to solve problems and so are community leaders because violence leads to loss of property and lives,” he said.- Chronicle

A 32-YEAR-OLD Lupane man has been arrested after he allegedly attempted to rape a 78-year-old woman in a bush.

Bright Bhukanana Moyo (32) of Gudubhu village allegedly pounced on the elderly woman last Thursday as she walked through a bush.

He allegedly pinned her to the ground in an attempt to rape her but when she screamed a neighbour rushed to the scene and he fled.

The woman whose identity cannot be mentioned for ethical reasons was reportedly walking along a path in a bush near Gudubhu village when the incident occurred.

Both women managed to identify Moyo and reported the matter to the police leading to his arrest last Friday.

Moyo was not asked to plead to attempted rape when he appeared before Lupane resident magistrate Mr Ndumo Masuku.

He was remanded in custody to Thursday for plea recording.

Prosecuting, Mr Derick Nkosilathi Ndlovu said Moyo wrestled the woman to the ground.

“On 18 February, the accused met the complainant in a bushy area in Gudubhu. He grabbed her by the body and wrestled her to the ground,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said Moyo pinned the elderly woman down as he attempted to rape her.

The complainant screamed and a neighbour whose name has also been concealed, rushed to the scene.

Moyo fled from the scene when he saw her approaching.

The two women reported the matter to the police leading to Moyo’s arrest.- Chronicle

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance (MDC-A) will only take party in dialogue that is genuine and whose agenda is the implementation of far-reaching political and electoral reforms, a senior party official has said.

Responding to a headline by a daily publication that has been pushing the dialogue agenda for some time now, MDC-A party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said that the implementation of deep reforms is the only way to return the country to legitimacy. She wrote on Twitter:

The MDC Alliance will not participate in sham “dialogue” engineered by a Zanu PF proxy who usurped the will of the people.

No amount of crude propaganda will change our position as a matter of principle. Yes to reforms. No to elite pacts. Political power lies in the people.

Any political dialogue must be sincere and have as its main agenda the implementation of deep reforms.

This is the only way to return the country to legitimacy and democracy.

How can those with no mandate and a sinister agenda lead the way? How’s this different from POLAD?

Mwonzora succeeded Khupe who was a keen participant of POLAD under their MDCT outfit. When did the MDC T leave POLAD?

What “new” dialogue push is being referred to? The citizens deserve sincere root & branch reform. We can’t have a repeat of the “Muzorewa-style” sham talks.

The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora has been pushing for dialogue outside the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) framework but the ruling ZANU PF party has ruled that out.

On its party, the MDC-A has insisted on one-on-one dialogue with ZANU PF outside POLAD but the latter has always reiterated its stance that dialogue will only take place within the POLAD framework.- Pindula News

In the past week, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) and Women and Law in Southern Africa – Zimbabwe (WLSA) have noted with increased concern, allegations of sexual misconduct against various public officials on mainstream and social media platforms.

Most notably, Vice President, Kembo Mohadi has in the past few days faced allegations of engaging in sexual intercourse with a married subordinate, in addition to purportedly engaging in sexual trysts at his government office. In defence of the Vice President, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana took to his social media platforms to assert that the allegations against the Vice President were spurred by insecure men and people who failed to mind the business of two consenting adults. 

In Bulawayo, High Court judge, Justice Mabhikwa, has been embroiled in an embarrassing sex scandal that involves an affair with a young subordinate. The young lady allegedly leaked nude images of the judge and sexually explicit WhatsApp messages from his phone to family, friends and professional colleagues after she became suspicious that he was involved in an affair with another lady. 

The Forum and WLSA are deeply troubled with the allegations as they involve engagements of a sexual nature by persons in positions of power with subordinate personnel. The allegations evidently implicate a culture of abuse of office and power by public officials for sexual advantage. Public officials are held to the highest standard of professional ethics and conduct which they are obliged to promote and maintain. This is premised on the fact that public officials carry out their duties on a premise of public trust and are vested with power that cannot be abused for personal gain or sexual exploitation. 

In view of this, the remarks by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, on his social media platforms are particularly unsettling as they uphold a culture that is inconsistent with the legal, moral and ethical code that binds public officials. The act of engaging a subordinate for sexual benefit directly flies in the face of the tenets upon which public officials exercise their mandate and the position of power that they are imbued with. 

The Forum and WLSA join all progressive Zimbabweans and calls for the immediate investigation into the alleged acts of misconduct and a call to account. A failure to make a stand and ensure that there is accountability would be to severely undermine the fundamental values and principles that public officials stand upon, and that which the public draws on for confidence in its government.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance Secretary General Hon Charlton Hwende has ruled out dialogue with “captured” Douglas Mwonzora and Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

According to Hon Hwende, Mwonzora and Mnangagwa must review their failed attempt to destroy the MDC Alliance.

“Mwonzora and ED must dialogue and assess their failed project of killing the MDC Alliance.

They have failed to dislodge President @nelsonchamisa. They have failed to kill the People’s resolve for a People’s Government.

How can you dialogue with thieves? One stole the 2018 Presidential Election and helped his puppet to steal our MPs, Money and Head Office.

Tatamba zvakwana!!! We are busy mobilizing and educating our people so that they can be ready to engage in a People’s Dialogue and reclaim their stolen vote, Presidency, MPs and our Buildings.

That dialogue will be held in the streets soon,” said Hon Mwonzora.

An alleged intimate affair between Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa and a member of the support staff in Bulawayo, Ms Oratile Nare, is being investigated by the Judicial Service Commission after nude pictures and raunchy

WhatsApp messages, allegedly from the judge’s phone, circulated at the weekend.
Allegations are that Justice Mabhikwa and Ms Nare, an assistant of fellow Bulawayo judge Justice Maxwell Takuva have been in an intimate relationship and that Ms Nare, jealous over what she allegedly believes is another girlfriend of the judge, reportedly forwarded what are described as the judge’s exchanges with the other woman to almost all his contacts, including a judges’ group.

“The Judicial Service Commission has taken note of the offensive material circulating on various media platforms and the alleged relationship between a member of the Judiciary and a member of the support staff,” said the JSC in a statement.

“The Commission wishes to advise that investigations into the matter are underway and the public will be advised of the results thereof in due course.”

Ms Nare had reportedly went through Justice Mabhikwa’s phone sometime during the night and discovered that the judge had sent pictures of his body to another woman only identified as Petty or Patie.

The indecent package comprised the judge’s raunchy messages exchanged with Patie or Petty, who also sent the judge pictures of her body. – Herald

Tinashe Sambiri|An MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official has urged Zimbabweans in the diaspora to fight for their democratic right to participate in the 2023 polls.

MDC Alliance UK and Ireland Province Youth Assembly Organization Secretary, Valeria Karimakwenda challenged the Zanu PF government to allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora to participate in the 2023 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

See Valerie’s statement below:

By Valerie Karimakwenda MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Organising Secretary
UK and Ireland Province

ZANU PF, remittances and the vote denied diaspora…

It doesn’t matter where you are, be it Ottawa, Sell, Mombasa or Sydney, ZANU PF perpetual violation of your fundamental constitutional liberties is will always haunt you.

Your right to vote, is violated on the grounds that you are in the diaspora.

ZANU PF can’t stomach a diaspora vote, which is pro-opposition, a constituency that is politically informed, a divorce from the usual native political apathy.

Shamefully, for ZANU PF, remittances from the same diasporans are more than welcome, for one, they don’t threaten ZANU PF entrenched hold on power, on the other, they bolster its stay by providing an avenue for rent seeking and subsequent patronage.

One would almost say, ZANU PF deliberately forces its own citizens into the diaspora so that the foreign currency it cannot generate at home is generated elsewhere, where it thus is expropriated by ZANU PF. 

If the diaspora vote had been realized in the last election, and added, thus to the two million votes garnered by the charismatic, vibrant and people’s choice leader, President Nelson Chamisa, ZANU PF would have missed goodbye the power it desperately has held on for at least three decades. Consequently, restoration of rule of law, equality before the law, transparency and accountability would have seen corrupt, self serving and enriching politicians rotting in jail, while loosing all they had illegally gained. This was a situation ZANU PF wanted to avoid at all costs. 

To insulate itself, against the combined power of the opposition, propped by both local and diaspora votes, ZANU PF, on grounds of technicalities such as security, funding, ruled out involvement of the potentially game changing diaspora.

This is regardless of the fact that international funders, interested in seeing a morphing of Zimbabwe into a fully fledged democratic space had indicated a reliably dependable interest in funding the crucial diaspora vote.  The sidelining of the diaspora in this regard thus served to illustrate the insecurities of ZANU PF and the accompanying fears. 

Remittances expose ZANU PF hypocrisy, incompetence and failure. This is the same ZANU PF that recently said it wants total control of all of elective  offices lost 2023 elections. Remittances expose ZANU PF by illustrating that the remittances are a symptom of a dysfunctional economy.

Immigrants, from Zimbabwe, leave Zimbabwe in desperation, which can only be relieved through usually an exploitative modus vivendi with some of the destinations, such as South Africa, where the exploitation is premised on the lack of proper and legal documentation of the migrants, and more stable but high living standards countries in the West, such as Sweden.

Remittances send home, on the individual basis, are also indicative of a dependent native population, counting on the remittances from abroad, worked for by people frustrated by ZANU PF’s politics of marginalization, exclusion, rent seeking and inconsistent economic policies which have attacked the industry, especially private sector, for example, through rule by law and active violations of sanctity of property, which consequently, discourages investments which would have created opportunities for the diasporas’.

Since this is a politically frustrated constituency, politically informed on issues like the need for civilian engagement and participation in governance, the primacy of accountability and transparency among other crucial issues, Zanu Pf has an existential fear of this diaspora force to contend with. In its attempt to seek change, which the opposition seeks to usher in, Zanu Pf finds, despite its existential need for the remittances, a survival and security guaranteed blocking of the diaspora vote.

But how does the remittances benefit Zanu Pf? In a political economy characterized by run away inflation, a ridiculously, profiteering motivated high cost of living, Zanu Pf enjoys a pacified population, which is the recipient of the remittances, which conveniently is in more stable hard currencies, among them, Rands, US dollars, pounds and Euros. With a pacified population in political apathy mode, constantly put in check by the ever present threat of unleashing the repressive, brutal state apparatus, Zanu Pf can thus continue to pillage and plunder the country’s natural and man made resources, preserving its power in the process.

In addition, Zanu Pf tentacles in so many sectors, among them, public transport in the form of Zupco, fuel industry among others, sell their services and products in foreign currency, in any economy in which helicopter money and apparent collusion between private sector and politically exposed persons with interests and active involvement in cartels for instance listed above, it becomes crucial for Zanu Pf to mop up the little foreign currency trickling in the form of remittances. With the little foreign currency taken away by Zanu Pf in this manner, the money is then used to buy, illegally,  gold, which is smuggled for more foreign currency which will be used for further political financing which will see a secured cartel flourishing. The political financing keeps Zanu Pf in power, enhancing it’s chances of survival.

The diaspora, although largely unaware of the impact their remittances have on ZANU PF stay on power, can change how ZANU PF gets to benefit.

They can make use of decentralized finance, such as digital money and digital money platforms such as cryptocurrencies, which can circumvent ZANU PF access to the little precious foreign currencies in remittances. In addition, the diaspora ought to encourage financial literacy, and development of self sufficient systems, to limit the influence cartels have on Zimbabweans, for instance the Mielie-meal l cartel, which can be circumvented by investments by the diaspora in small grains for subsistence consumption, cartels like fuel sector, can be paralyzed if the diaspora invested in nee, green sustainably electric and it solar vehicles, denying the cartels access to foreign currency, among other innovative solutions and responses to an exploitative ZANU PF. In the process, without diaspora vote, but diaspora strategic initiatives, ZANU PF is weakened by a strategy of attrition.

The article is meant to show that either way, ZANU PF benefits from the diaspora, be it through exodus of politically informed people, dangerous to its hold on power or through insulation of the native population against conflict petri dishes such as inflation, giving ZANU PF, in the process, a free hand for more plunder and looting.

However, the diaspora, can play a strategic role, in ensuring a strategic culmination of ZANU PF and its subsequent loss of power, ushering in alternative government focused on change

Tinashe Sambiri|An MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official has urged Zimbabweans in the diaspora to fight for their democratic right to participate in the 2023 polls.

MDC Alliance UK and Ireland Province Youth Assembly Organization Secretary, Valeria Karimakwenda challenged the Zanu PF government to allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora to participate in the 2023 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

See Valerie’s statement below:

By Valerie Karimakwenda MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Organising Secretary
UK and Ireland Province

ZANU PF, remittances and the vote denied diaspora…

It doesn’t matter where you are, be it Ottawa, Sell, Mombasa or Sydney, ZANU PF perpetual violation of your fundamental constitutional liberties is will always haunt you.

Your right to vote, is violated on the grounds that you are in the diaspora.

ZANU PF can’t stomach a diaspora vote, which is pro-opposition, a constituency that is politically informed, a divorce from the usual native political apathy.

Shamefully, for ZANU PF, remittances from the same diasporans are more than welcome, for one, they don’t threaten ZANU PF entrenched hold on power, on the other, they bolster its stay by providing an avenue for rent seeking and subsequent patronage.

One would almost say, ZANU PF deliberately forces its own citizens into the diaspora so that the foreign currency it cannot generate at home is generated elsewhere, where it thus is expropriated by ZANU PF. 

If the diaspora vote had been realized in the last election, and added, thus to the two million votes garnered by the charismatic, vibrant and people’s choice leader, President Nelson Chamisa, ZANU PF would have missed goodbye the power it desperately has held on for at least three decades. Consequently, restoration of rule of law, equality before the law, transparency and accountability would have seen corrupt, self serving and enriching politicians rotting in jail, while loosing all they had illegally gained. This was a situation ZANU PF wanted to avoid at all costs. 

To insulate itself, against the combined power of the opposition, propped by both local and diaspora votes, ZANU PF, on grounds of technicalities such as security, funding, ruled out involvement of the potentially game changing diaspora.

This is regardless of the fact that international funders, interested in seeing a morphing of Zimbabwe into a fully fledged democratic space had indicated a reliably dependable interest in funding the crucial diaspora vote.  The sidelining of the diaspora in this regard thus served to illustrate the insecurities of ZANU PF and the accompanying fears. 

Remittances expose ZANU PF hypocrisy, incompetence and failure. This is the same ZANU PF that recently said it wants total control of all of elective  offices lost 2023 elections. Remittances expose ZANU PF by illustrating that the remittances are a symptom of a dysfunctional economy.

Immigrants, from Zimbabwe, leave Zimbabwe in desperation, which can only be relieved through usually an exploitative modus vivendi with some of the destinations, such as South Africa, where the exploitation is premised on the lack of proper and legal documentation of the migrants, and more stable but high living standards countries in the West, such as Sweden.

Remittances send home, on the individual basis, are also indicative of a dependent native population, counting on the remittances from abroad, worked for by people frustrated by ZANU PF’s politics of marginalization, exclusion, rent seeking and inconsistent economic policies which have attacked the industry, especially private sector, for example, through rule by law and active violations of sanctity of property, which consequently, discourages investments which would have created opportunities for the diasporas’.

Since this is a politically frustrated constituency, politically informed on issues like the need for civilian engagement and participation in governance, the primacy of accountability and transparency among other crucial issues, Zanu Pf has an existential fear of this diaspora force to contend with. In its attempt to seek change, which the opposition seeks to usher in, Zanu Pf finds, despite its existential need for the remittances, a survival and security guaranteed blocking of the diaspora vote.

But how does the remittances benefit Zanu Pf? In a political economy characterized by run away inflation, a ridiculously, profiteering motivated high cost of living, Zanu Pf enjoys a pacified population, which is the recipient of the remittances, which conveniently is in more stable hard currencies, among them, Rands, US dollars, pounds and Euros. With a pacified population in political apathy mode, constantly put in check by the ever present threat of unleashing the repressive, brutal state apparatus, Zanu Pf can thus continue to pillage and plunder the country’s natural and man made resources, preserving its power in the process.

In addition, Zanu Pf tentacles in so many sectors, among them, public transport in the form of Zupco, fuel industry among others, sell their services and products in foreign currency, in any economy in which helicopter money and apparent collusion between private sector and politically exposed persons with interests and active involvement in cartels for instance listed above, it becomes crucial for Zanu Pf to mop up the little foreign currency trickling in the form of remittances. With the little foreign currency taken away by Zanu Pf in this manner, the money is then used to buy, illegally,  gold, which is smuggled for more foreign currency which will be used for further political financing which will see a secured cartel flourishing. The political financing keeps Zanu Pf in power, enhancing it’s chances of survival.

The diaspora, although largely unaware of the impact their remittances have on ZANU PF stay on power, can change how ZANU PF gets to benefit.

They can make use of decentralized finance, such as digital money and digital money platforms such as cryptocurrencies, which can circumvent ZANU PF access to the little precious foreign currencies in remittances. In addition, the diaspora ought to encourage financial literacy, and development of self sufficient systems, to limit the influence cartels have on Zimbabweans, for instance the Mielie-meal l cartel, which can be circumvented by investments by the diaspora in small grains for subsistence consumption, cartels like fuel sector, can be paralyzed if the diaspora invested in nee, green sustainably electric and it solar vehicles, denying the cartels access to foreign currency, among other innovative solutions and responses to an exploitative ZANU PF. In the process, without diaspora vote, but diaspora strategic initiatives, ZANU PF is weakened by a strategy of attrition.

The article is meant to show that either way, ZANU PF benefits from the diaspora, be it through exodus of politically informed people, dangerous to its hold on power or through insulation of the native population against conflict petri dishes such as inflation, giving ZANU PF, in the process, a free hand for more plunder and looting.

However, the diaspora, can play a strategic role, in ensuring a strategic culmination of ZANU PF and its subsequent loss of power, ushering in alternative government focused on change

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance Secretary General Hon Charlton Hwende has ruled out dialogue with “captured” Douglas Mwonzora and Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

According to Hon Hwende, Mwonzora and Mnangagwa must review their failed attempt to destroy the MDC Alliance.

“Mwonzora and ED must dialogue and assess their failed project of killing the MDC Alliance.

They have failed to dislodge President @nelsonchamisa. They have failed to kill the People’s resolve for a People’s Government.

How can you dialogue with thieves? One stole the 2018 Presidential Election and helped his puppet to steal our MPs, Money and Head Office.

Tatamba zvakwana!!! We are busy mobilizing and educating our people so that they can be ready to engage in a People’s Dialogue and reclaim their stolen vote, Presidency, MPs and our Buildings.

That dialogue will be held in the streets soon,” said Hon Mwonzora.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance Secretary General Hon Charlton Hwende has ruled out dialogue with “captured” Douglas Mwonzora and Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

According to Hon Hwende, Mwonzora and Mnangagwa must review their failed attempt to destroy the MDC Alliance.

“Mwonzora and ED must dialogue and assess their failed project of killing the MDC Alliance.

They have failed to dislodge President @nelsonchamisa. They have failed to kill the People’s resolve for a People’s Government.

How can you dialogue with thieves? One stole the 2018 Presidential Election and helped his puppet to steal our MPs, Money and Head Office.

Tatamba zvakwana!!! We are busy mobilizing and educating our people so that they can be ready to engage in a People’s Dialogue and reclaim their stolen vote, Presidency, MPs and our Buildings.

That dialogue will be held in the streets soon,” said Hon Mwonzora.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has described self-declarad opposition leader, Tinashe Jonasi as a drama king who needs to undergo a thorough psychiatric examination.

Jonasi threatened to harm MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa in an interview with an online publication.

Below is the MDC Alliance response to Jonasi’s utterances:

TINASHE JONASI MUST BE JAILED FOR TREASON AFTER THREATENING THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT ADVOCATE NELSON CHAMISA WITH DEATH, MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA ECHOES.

23 FEBRUARY 2021

Mdc Alliance Namibia is cognisant of the devilish and sadist efforts by Zanupf and their surrogates to decimate the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa, our leader in the Mdc Alliance. Our message to Tinashe Jonasi is very clear. His attempt to deter and intimidate the People’s President will be resisted with equal measure. The Zanupf surrogate party Ideal Zimbabwe obviously epitomises an attempt by the regime to hoodwink the rest of the world pretending as if there is multi-party democracy in Zimbabwe whilst these are Zanupf-sponsored parties mend to deceive the international community.

Mdc Alliance Namibia is convinced that the ‘drama king’, Jonasi deserves a serious psychiatric examination so that he can sober up and regain his consciousness to comprehend the source of economic meltdown in the Motherland. It is foolhardy to believe that Mdc Alliance is perfecting sanctions which he said were brought by our late Icon of Constitutional Democracy Morgan Richard Tsvangirai may his dear soul rest in power. This politically inept Jonasi must face the reality and confront corruption and daylight looting of state resources practised by his greedy Zanupf enablers. We are quite aware that Jonasi is being condomised by Zanupf terrorists to derail the freedom train led by our political dynamo.

Moreover, the greatest sanction that we have in Zimbabwe is Zanupf and their proxies. Mdc Alliance Namibia is absolutely sure that Jonasi is an agent of the Zanupf thugocratic regime send to threaten our leader so that he ignores the gross misgovernance and abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe. As Mdc Alliance Namibia, we maintain that sanctions should go with great changes in the way political , economic and social issues are dealt with in the country. He must advice his Zanupf enablers to stop human butchery and senseless looting and corruption. Jonasi must kill the cartels who are busy looting billions and billions of dollars from our precious minerals.

Jonasi must kill Henrietta Rushwaya and her thieving racket who smuggle our minerals timeously for personal aggrandisement. Our VP Biti’s message to the World Bank was clear to say don’t give Covid-19 to Zanupf officials because of #demloot. He must butcher Obadiah Moyo who robbed us of our US$60 million dollars donated funds. Hands off our President and his people. We are tired of bootlickers of a clueless regime that has dismally failed to resuscitate the livelihoods of the Zimbabwean citizens. Let him face those who are looting not our diligent President Advocate Nelson Chamisa who is committed and dedicated to revamp the sunken economy.

In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia demands the immediate arrest of the thugocratic Ideal Zimbabwe President who confessed his appetite to murder our President. In a Constitutional Democracy, death threats are treasonous and unethical in the political arena. Lets the rule of law and Constitutionalism must their course.

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

By A Correspondent| Former MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has opened up on her absence at today’s press conference called by Douglas Mwonzora at the party headquarters, harvest house.

This followed Mwonzora’s claims that Khupe had missed the press conference as she was driving from Bulawayo.

But Khupe said she met with Mwonzora to try and iron out issues emanating from the December extra ordinary congress.

“I can confirm that I met with Sen. Douglas Mwonzora in Harare on 18 February 2021 for the first time since 27 December 2020 Extraordinary Congress. The following issues were discussed:1. Violence, Illegitimate voters roll as well as inquorate EOC among..” said Khupe.

Tinashe Sambiri|An MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official has urged Zimbabweans in the diaspora to fight for their democratic right to participate in the 2023 polls.

MDC Alliance UK and Ireland Province Youth Assembly Organization Secretary, Valerie Karimakwenda challenged the Zanu PF government to allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora to participate in the 2023 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

See Valerie’s statement below:

By Valerie Karimakwenda MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Organising Secretary
UK and Ireland Province

ZANU PF, remittances and the vote denied diaspora…

It doesn’t matter where you are, be it Ottawa, Sell, Mombasa or Sydney, ZANU PF perpetual violation of your fundamental constitutional liberties is will always haunt you.

Your right to vote, is violated on the grounds that you are in the diaspora.

ZANU PF can’t stomach a diaspora vote, which is pro-opposition, a constituency that is politically informed, a divorce from the usual native political apathy.

Shamefully, for ZANU PF, remittances from the same diasporans are more than welcome, for one, they don’t threaten ZANU PF entrenched hold on power, on the other, they bolster its stay by providing an avenue for rent seeking and subsequent patronage.

One would almost say, ZANU PF deliberately forces its own citizens into the diaspora so that the foreign currency it cannot generate at home is generated elsewhere, where it thus is expropriated by ZANU PF. 

If the diaspora vote had been realized in the last election, and added, thus to the two million votes garnered by the charismatic, vibrant and people’s choice leader, President Nelson Chamisa, ZANU PF would have missed goodbye the power it desperately has held on for at least three decades. Consequently, restoration of rule of law, equality before the law, transparency and accountability would have seen corrupt, self serving and enriching politicians rotting in jail, while loosing all they had illegally gained. This was a situation ZANU PF wanted to avoid at all costs. 

To insulate itself, against the combined power of the opposition, propped by both local and diaspora votes, ZANU PF, on grounds of technicalities such as security, funding, ruled out involvement of the potentially game changing diaspora.

This is regardless of the fact that international funders, interested in seeing a morphing of Zimbabwe into a fully fledged democratic space had indicated a reliably dependable interest in funding the crucial diaspora vote.  The sidelining of the diaspora in this regard thus served to illustrate the insecurities of ZANU PF and the accompanying fears. 

Remittances expose ZANU PF hypocrisy, incompetence and failure. This is the same ZANU PF that recently said it wants total control of all of elective  offices lost 2023 elections. Remittances expose ZANU PF by illustrating that the remittances are a symptom of a dysfunctional economy.

Immigrants, from Zimbabwe, leave Zimbabwe in desperation, which can only be relieved through usually an exploitative modus vivendi with some of the destinations, such as South Africa, where the exploitation is premised on the lack of proper and legal documentation of the migrants, and more stable but high living standards countries in the West, such as Sweden.

Remittances send home, on the individual basis, are also indicative of a dependent native population, counting on the remittances from abroad, worked for by people frustrated by ZANU PF’s politics of marginalization, exclusion, rent seeking and inconsistent economic policies which have attacked the industry, especially private sector, for example, through rule by law and active violations of sanctity of property, which consequently, discourages investments which would have created opportunities for the diasporas’.

Since this is a politically frustrated constituency, politically informed on issues like the need for civilian engagement and participation in governance, the primacy of accountability and transparency among other crucial issues, Zanu Pf has an existential fear of this diaspora force to contend with. In its attempt to seek change, which the opposition seeks to usher in, Zanu Pf finds, despite its existential need for the remittances, a survival and security guaranteed blocking of the diaspora vote.

But how does the remittances benefit Zanu Pf? In a political economy characterized by run away inflation, a ridiculously, profiteering motivated high cost of living, Zanu Pf enjoys a pacified population, which is the recipient of the remittances, which conveniently is in more stable hard currencies, among them, Rands, US dollars, pounds and Euros. With a pacified population in political apathy mode, constantly put in check by the ever present threat of unleashing the repressive, brutal state apparatus, Zanu Pf can thus continue to pillage and plunder the country’s natural and man made resources, preserving its power in the process.

In addition, Zanu Pf tentacles in so many sectors, among them, public transport in the form of Zupco, fuel industry among others, sell their services and products in foreign currency, in any economy in which helicopter money and apparent collusion between private sector and politically exposed persons with interests and active involvement in cartels for instance listed above, it becomes crucial for Zanu Pf to mop up the little foreign currency trickling in the form of remittances. With the little foreign currency taken away by Zanu Pf in this manner, the money is then used to buy, illegally,  gold, which is smuggled for more foreign currency which will be used for further political financing which will see a secured cartel flourishing. The political financing keeps Zanu Pf in power, enhancing it’s chances of survival.

The diaspora, although largely unaware of the impact their remittances have on ZANU PF stay on power, can change how ZANU PF gets to benefit.

They can make use of decentralized finance, such as digital money and digital money platforms such as cryptocurrencies, which can circumvent ZANU PF access to the little precious foreign currencies in remittances. In addition, the diaspora ought to encourage financial literacy, and development of self sufficient systems, to limit the influence cartels have on Zimbabweans, for instance the Mielie-meal l cartel, which can be circumvented by investments by the diaspora in small grains for subsistence consumption, cartels like fuel sector, can be paralyzed if the diaspora invested in nee, green sustainably electric and it solar vehicles, denying the cartels access to foreign currency, among other innovative solutions and responses to an exploitative ZANU PF. In the process, without diaspora vote, but diaspora strategic initiatives, ZANU PF is weakened by a strategy of attrition.

The article is meant to show that either way, ZANU PF benefits from the diaspora, be it through exodus of politically informed people, dangerous to its hold on power or through insulation of the native population against conflict petri dishes such as inflation, giving ZANU PF, in the process, a free hand for more plunder and looting.

However, the diaspora, can play a strategic role, in ensuring a strategic culmination of ZANU PF and its subsequent loss of power, ushering in alternative government focused on change

Own Correspondent | Temba Mliswa’s ex-lover
Susan Mutami is attracting headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Several social media users claim Susan relys on love juju to entice rich guys.

According to an audio clip circulating on WhatsApp one lady is heard accusing Susan of using love muti.

“Susan usade kushamisira,siyana naMP vedu wanzwa,munhu wepi anoshandisa mushonga achitora varume vevanhu,pasina ma love charms hauna zvauri iwewe.

Ziva zvekuinda kuna Makomichi n’anga yako,uchiba varume vevanhu,ukataurisa uchaguma wanyara and yu know me very well,”said the lady.

Susan is yet to respond to the allegations.

Makomichi is a Masvingo -based preacher who is reportedly working with slay queens to destroy people’s marriages through love charms.

Police in Bulawayo have arrested 33 youths from Pelandaba West suburb for hosting an illegal birthday party in violation of national Level Four lockdown regulations.

Under Level Four National Lockdown all social gatherings are banned as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The 33 youths who are between 16 and 25 years of age were arrested on Saturday at about 10.30PM by police officers who were on patrol.

Thirteen of them were females and sources allege that the party to celebrate the host, Makhosini Sibanda’s birthday, was organised through WhatsApp.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrests yesterday.

He said it was worrying that police continue to arrest young people for hosting illegal parties.

“This is a matter of concern as we are repeatedly arresting young people for hosting parties during the lockdown regulations. This is the third time within a short space of time that we have arrested young people including minors for holding illegal parties. These parties are hosted in homes where adults are not at home as in this case, the home owner is someone who is based in Botswana,” he said.

Insp Ncube urged parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children as some of them were engaging in anti-social activities such as alcohol and drug abuse.

“We are arresting young people, some who are 17 years of age and it worries us as the police that people of such age groups will not be home in the middle of the night. What is worrying about the parties is that they expose the girl child to abuse and often teaches youths substance abuse that leads to serious addictions. As police we have recorded several cases where the girl child is raped during such parties,” said Insp Ncube.

Sources said cops who were on patrol discovered that there was unusual activity at the house where the youths wee merry-making.

“This was already after the curfew hours and when the police officers arrived at the house, the suspects entered the house and started making noise while inside. The police officers called for backup and when the revellers realised that they had nowhere to hide, they opened the door leading to their arrest. There were empty alcohol bottles at the scene,” said the source.

Meanwhile, the suspects yesterday briefly appeared before West Commonage Magistrate Courts facing charges of flouting Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

Two weeks, ago police arrested 10 youths aged between 18 and 19 years for holding a vuzu party in Emganwini suburb.

The youths took advantage of the fact that the house owner is based in South Africa.

Three weeks ago, police also arrested 12 people, including eight minors for holding an illegal party in Pumula South suburb.

The party host was a 23-year-old man who escaped as police raided his home.

He also lived alone as both his parents are late.

-State Media

The Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (Zupco) has not been remitting fees for the use of designated urban bus terminuses thereby depriving cash-strapped urban councils of revenue.

Inquiries involving the country’s five biggest local authorities revealed that Zupco had not remitted a cent into the council coffers since it started on a joint venture with private bus operators last year as required by law.

This comes at a time the state enterprise is at loggerheads with bus owners it is in partnership with following revelations they have not been paid their dues despite Zupco bosses spoiling themselves with luxury vehicles and using money realised from the partnership to refurbish depots.

According to the Urban Councils Act, Part XIV, local authorities are in charge of all urban routes and terminal points of services where they charge monthly or annual fees per bus.

This has been the arrangement with private commuter omnibuses — but similar efforts have failed Zupco.
Local authorities told the Zimbabwe Independent that the reintroduction of Zupco in 2019, came as a pilot project and councils hoped to start to recover revenues once the project had scaled up.

By late 2019, Zupco only had 237 buses in five major cities, broken down as follows: Harare, 145 buses; Bulawayo, 40; Mutare, 3 2; while Masvingo and Gweru had 10 buses each.

However, according to Zupco’s website, the figure recently increased to 770 buses and 1 000 minibuses.

“We have since tasked our administration team to approach Zupco over this issue because they have not remitted anything since they started operating. When they started, they said it was a pilot project and we hoped that we would recoup our monies once they were fully operational but this has not been the case,” said Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi.

However, recently axed deputy mayor Kudakwashe Chisango said several unsuccessful approaches had been made to both Zupco and Local Government Minister July Moyo.

Gweru Mayor and president of the Urban Council of Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) Josiah Makombe said while no formal complaint has been brought before UCAZ, Zupco had not remitted terminal fees since it was re-introduced.

“As a council we considered that Zupco has been out of service for years and they have just started operating. But we are looking into this issue because, yes, they have not been paying (terminal fees),” said Makombe.

He added that they had reached an understanding with the bus operator to renovate their main terminal — Kudzanai Rank.
Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke also confirmed that Zupco had not been remitting terminal fees but hastened to point out that it was because the city had no terminals.

“The reason why Zupco has not been paying is because there is no rank for them to pay for. We are currently constructing one and only then would we be able to tax them,” said Maboke.

Surprisingly, Maboke said they were taxing private kombis before they were restricted from operating.

Harare spokesperson Mike Chideme referred questions to UCAZ while Bulawayo city spokesperson Nesisa Mpofu asked for written questions but had not responded at the time of going to print.

However, sources at the two big local authorities said nothing had been coming from the parastatal bus managers and they feared a backlash from central government over the matter.

Zupco acting chief executive officer Evaristo Madangwa did not respond to questions emailed to him.
Investigations indicated that annual terminal fees were pegged between ZWL$200 to ZWL$500 per 18 seater minibuses while 75-seater buses were charged a single passengers fee per every trip.

It could not be immediately established how much is being charged under the newly approved budgets.
The revenue generated from terminal fees would be ploughed back to renovate and maintain the bus terminuses.

A survey highlighted that most commuters had to endure the rains while queuing for Zupco buses as most terminals were either dilapidated or were open spaces.

“We have the interest of our city dwellers at heart and we are aware that most of them are being inconvenienced by the rains while queuing for buses. But we cannot fund the renovation of our rank (Mudzviti Bus Terminus) because Zupco is not remitting terminal fees,” said an official at the local authority.

-Zim Independent

Daring thieves last year broke into a car being driven by one of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s security aides and stole the President’s speech and a laptop from the vehicle.

Three of the four suspected thieves were arrested in Kwekwe and it was discovered they were on Masvingo CID’s most wanted list for a swathe of robberies.

The robbers reportedly broke into Mnangagwa’s unnamed aide’s car and stole various goods including the independence speech and a laptop.

They were arrested in Kwekwe after they had robbed another motorist and as they were attempting to rob yet another victim. ZRP in a memo seen by the publication said the gang tried to run over a ZRP officer who was trying to arrest them when they were caught at a service station in Kwekwe.

The three that were arrested are, Tinashe Matete Dube (27) of house number 188 Glen View 3 in Harare, Trymore Jakarasi (35) of house number 6692 Pumula North in Bulawayo, and Shepherd Madaka (29) of 4820 Budiriro 3, Harare and one gang member is said to have escaped when the trio was arrested.

On Friday, ZRP officers shot and killed 4 armed robbers who had pounced on a Harare shop owner during a shootout with the robbers.- NewsDay

Police in Bulawayo have arrested 33 youths from Pelandaba West suburb for hosting an illegal birthday party in violation of national Level Four lockdown regulations.

Under Level Four National Lockdown all social gatherings are banned as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The 33 youths who are between 16 and 25 years of age were arrested on Saturday at about 10.30PM by police officers who were on patrol.

Thirteen of them were females and sources allege that the party to celebrate the host, Makhosini Sibanda’s birthday, was organised through WhatsApp.  Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrests yesterday.

He said it was worrying that police continue to arrest young people for hosting illegal parties.

“This is a matter of concern as we are repeatedly arresting young people for hosting parties during the lockdown regulations. This is the third time within a short space of time that we have arrested young people including minors for holding illegal parties. These parties are hosted in homes where adults are not at home as in this case, the home owner is someone who is based in Botswana,” he said.

Insp Ncube urged parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children as some of them were engaging in anti-social activities such as alcohol and drug abuse.

“We are arresting young people, some who are 17 years of age and it worries us as the police that people of such age groups will not be home in the middle of the night. What is worrying about the parties is that they expose the girl child to abuse and often teaches youths substance abuse that leads to serious addictions. As police we have recorded several cases where the girl child is raped during such parties,” said Insp Ncube.

Sources said cops who were on patrol discovered that there was unusual activity at the house where the youths wee merry-making.

“This was already after the curfew hours and when the police officers arrived at the house, the suspects entered the house and started making noise while inside. The police officers called for backup and when the revellers realised that they had nowhere to hide, they opened the door leading to their arrest. There were empty alcohol bottles at the scene,” said the source.

Meanwhile, the suspects yesterday briefly appeared before West Commonage Magistrate Courts facing charges of flouting Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

Two weeks, ago police arrested 10 youths aged between 18 and 19 years for holding a vuzu party in Emganwini suburb. The youths took advantage of the fact that the house owner is based in South Africa.

Three weeks ago, police also arrested 12 people, including eight minors for holding an illegal party in Pumula South suburb. The party host was a 23-year-old man who escaped as police raided his home.

He also lived alone as both his parents are late. -Chronicle

A Gwanda family is reportedly living in fear after an invisible creature attacked them with stones.

Miss Portia Zhou narrated her ordeal to ZBC News and said her family is gripped by fear as the attacks sometimes become rampant and violent. She said:

It has been happening for a while now, stones are thrown on the roof. At first, we thought it was thieves or someone making fun of us until now when the stones have become rampant that we even get these attacks during the day.

We called our neighbors and they searched where the stones were coming from, they did not see anyone but stones kept coming, we are worried.

Neighbours confirmed to have also received their fair share of attacks for providing the tormented family with refuge.

When our neighbor came to tell us, we thought it’s a joke until a huge pebble missed my leg. I am in a state of shock. I am leaving the house to sleep at my sister-in-law’s place.

Another resident also claimed to have seen the stones and is convinced it is the work of dark and invisible forces. Said the resident:

I came to look for whoever was attacking them, but I and my other guys we just saw stones being thrown, but we didn’t see the person throwing them. These are goblins I tell you.

Last year, the Gwanda community roped in a popular prophet in a bid to address the issue of an invisible creature that was reportedly killing men at Mtshabezi River.

Nevertheless, stories of mysterious creatures tormenting families have throughout history been dismissed as mere superstition.

• ZBC News

Tinashe Sambiri|A return to legitimacy is the only solution to the deepening economic crisis in Zimbabwe, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

According to President Chamisa, voters and elections can change the direction of the nation.

“VOTERS & ELECTIONS can change the direction of a nation..

This week alone, the US pivoted sharply away from Trump’s go-it-alone foreign policy posture, officially re-joining the Paris Climate Accords & signaling desire to resume discussions about returning to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. We need a people’s government and a return to legitimacy.

We need jobs, Smart policies, spaghetti roads and Bullet trains. Zimbabwe must be born again,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|12 MDC Alliance Mash West Members who were arrested on Saturday have been granted RTGS $ 5000 each.

The 12 were violently arrested by armed soldiers and police details.They were accused of violating COVID-19 regulations.

Zanu PF members are holding meetings at will countrywide and no arrests have been made.

“Our Mash West members have granted 5000rtgs bail each.

They spent two nights in police cells- Aluta Continua,” MDC Alliance said in a brief statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Youth Assembly members embarked on a social responsibility programme meant to curb the spread of malaria.

On Sunday members of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly in Mkoba participated in a clean up exercise as part of efforts to maintain a safe environment.

See statement below:

MDC Alliance Mkoba Youths In Clean Up Campaign

22-02-2021

MDC Alliance Mkoba Youth Assembly members yesterday took part in a clean up campaign cutting tall grass in the neighbourhood.

Mkoba Constituency Coordinating Committee (CCC) Chairman, John Kuka who led the campaign said the grass cutting initiative is meant to curb the spread of malaria in this rain season as mosquitoes usually breed in tall grasses.

The program is part of Mkoba Youth Assembly’s long list of social responsibility programs.

The youth leadership of the constituency also heaped praise on Mkoba Member of Parliament, Hon Amos Chibaya for supporting the clean up campaign initiative.

MDC Alliance Mkoba Communications Dept.

5th Edition

21 February 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination – Whither to?

This weekly publication is meant to inform fellow citizens on various matters concerning the deadly covid-19 pandemic, and to facilitate informed decisions by every single one of us. Today we continue to examine the issue of the covid-19 vaccine to see if we could do better as a nation than what we have done so far.

Now that 200 000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine are here, have we arrived? Are we going to continue to procure more Sinopharm vaccines? How should Zimbabwe proceed to maximize benefit from the availability of vaccines against Covid-19 from various manufacturers and diverse technologies? What is the way forward? These are some of the questions that urgently beg an answer.

The arrival of the Sinopharm vaccine is only but the beginning. Whether we started well or not, and whether or not the processes leading to the arrival of the Sinopharm vaccine were correct, can no longer be undone. We now need to focus on the way forward, and this is what we are going to dwell on today.

Moving forward, there is need for government to carry the people with it. Transparency is key in all processes for the vaccination program to work. The government cannot just say, “If you don’t want to take the vaccine, you are free to opt out”, NO! Hear the people out and address their fears and concerns, and address all the conspiracy theories scientifically, as best we know how to. Zimbabweans deserve better, and information is key. In this process, we must immunize against corruption, wrong executive decisions propelled by greed and avarice, and the devaluation of the lives of the people of Zimbabwe through intransigence and autocracy.

Let me lay out upfront the concerns of the people of Zimbabwe before we move on. Firstly, the government in Harare is notorious for corruption, ranking 157 out of 180 countries in a recent Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report. We are in the top of the league. We therefore demand transparency from government on how they chose the vaccine, and how much they are paying for it. This irregular vaccine procurement can be used for looting the already moribund treasury. Our comment has nothing to do with the vaccine being Chinese per se, but we are just demanding accountability from the government, which is our due.

History tends to repeat itself. A considerable portion of the public health community in Zimbabwe is worried that government is not paying attention to the recommendations of the “National Immunization Technical Advisory Group” (ZimNITAG). Sadly this confirms that our decisions are not science driven and do not have the nation at heart.

Next, we demand information. How are the field trials going to be conducted? What information is going to be collected? When do we expect results of the field trials, which will inform us as individuals on whether to take the vaccine or not. We need transparency on why government is collecting samples as they vaccinate. What are we studying?

We need transparency on what other vaccines are coming, when and how much? We need transparency on the cost of all the vaccines. We need to raise awareness and educate the people about these vaccines. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is still assessing data submitted by Sinopharm and has not yet issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for this vaccine. It looks like such approval may only come in March at the earliest as it remains unclear why we rushed to get a vaccine that WHO has not yet okayed. We are however aware that countries like the UAE have done their own Phase 3 trials on this vaccine and have issued their own EUA. We must likewise be diligent to do our own field trials and keep the nation adequately informed as it is important to examine all options on the market.

What role is Parliament playing in terms of oversight in all these corruption prone processes, including choice of vaccine, procurement, logistics and distribution? Does the government not perceive a need to do extensive stakeholder consultations to distil the wisdom of the population and to get buy-in?

Now let us look at what government should be looking for as they choose vaccines to use in Zimbabwe. If we are going to spend money, let us spend it on something that works for our people.

1. SAFETY: The golden rule here is, first do no harm. We continue to emphasise the importance of properly conducted clinical trials in the field, to detect adverse events. Thereafter continued post-marketing surveillance is important to detect rare adverse events. A thorough risk-benefit analysis must be done for every vaccine candidate.

2. EFFICACY: This is a measure of the ability of the vaccine to prevent disease in the target population. The gold standard for measuring this is Randomized Controlled Trials in healthy populations. With the South African variant firmly established in Zimbabwe, it is important to document the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine before we spend any more money on it, and this applies to any other vaccine that we may consider to bring in. We aver that the 200 000 doses donation is adequate to conduct conclusive trials on the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine before we buy anymore.

3. EFFECTIVENESS: This is a measure of the total protection that we get through programmatic implementation, and depends not only on the efficacy of the vaccine, but on other parameters like the actual vaccine storage (do Zimbabwe fridges work?), transportation, preparation and administration of the vaccine, fairness of the roll out plan, and completeness of coverage. Indirect effects like herd immunity will amplify effectiveness of the vaccine to protect even those who have not been vaccinated. We are generally worried about the state of our cold chain infrastructure and equipment, staff morale and training, and vehicles & staff for mobile outreach services. The reported statement by the Zimbabwe Nurses Association does not inspire confidence, and government should take the requests of health workers seriously. This will negatively affect the effectiveness of our vaccination program.

4. VACCINE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS: Storage and transportation requirements differ among vaccines. In Zimbabwe, we are better off taking only those vaccines that are stored and transported at normal refrigerator temperatures (2oC – 8oC). Pfizer seems to be reviewing the low temperature requirement for their vaccine, and it seems this was done out of an abundance of caution. We need to keep our ears to the ground, as this is a developing story.

Having to reconstitute a vaccine before administration increases the workload for health workers and vaccines that come in solution are easier and quicker to administer. There are many other vaccine characteristics to consider (e.g. wastage rate, demand for syringes and needles, presentation and packaging, etc) and these are well explained on the WHO website. The Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) mentioned earlier is the one best placed to advise government on vaccine choice, and government must pay attention. Of note is the number of doses required to fully immunize an individual. The Johnson and Johnson (J & J) vaccine requires only one dose for full immunization, and this is a great advantage when we look at the issue of completing an immunization schedule. South Africa has started rolling out the J & J single dose vaccine and there could be something for us to emulate right there. Remember 61% of our virus is the South African variant.

5. COST: This is extremely important. Information we have is that the Sinopharm vaccine is more expensive than most other vaccines on the market, including the single dose of the J & J vaccine mentioned earlier. One BBC report said “It’s not clear how much it might cost, but earlier this year, a BBC team in the Chinese city of Yiwu saw that nurses were administering the injections for a fee of around 400 Yuan ($60; £45)”

this be true, then we would like to know why Zimbabwe government chose this one, compared to the Astra-Zeneca @ $4 per dose, or Johnson and Johnson at $10 per dose. Furthermore, there is the COVAX and the African Union facilities for pooled procurement, which will make vaccines a lot cheaper and more available. It boggles the mind why our government was dithering on the issue of subscribing to these facilities when the benefits are clear. That brings the suspicion of intent to defraud the people by forming cartels, which no one can audit.

6. Finally, AVAILABILITY of the vaccine is critical and self-explanatory.
In conclusion, we want to thank The People’s Republic of China for their generous donation. We further want to implore the government to do the due diligent studies on the Sinopharm vaccine safety and efficacy before purchasing any, and to consider other suitable alternatives like the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. This we mention specifically because it is already in use in RSA, we have the same viral strains (61%), and we are really one people on one land mass. We need to coordinate our efforts because inefficacy in RSA means inefficacy in Zimbabwe, since our people travel a lot. We further implore the executive to take advice from the ZimNITAG, and submit to the oversight function of parliament particularly in procurement decisions. Government must engage us the people and give feedback continuously. With covid-19, no one is safe until we are all safe.

Dr Henry Madzorera
Secretary for Heath and Child Welfare
MDC Alliance

A Zimbabwean child Tapiwa Maobvera has been praised on the SABC channel as South Africa’s top pass, at number 2. FULL PRINT: